2014-Winter-DU-Magazine

alumni updates
assistant professor of pharmacy and
director of the Academic Research Center
for Pharmacy Practice at Duquesne.
In Memoriam: Floyd R. Ganassi, Sr.
John J. Fry, GA’97, chair of the history
department at Trinity Christian College,
recently edited Almost Pioneers: One
Couple’s Homesteading Adventure in the
West (almostpioneers.wordpress.com/).
The book is a memoir by a woman from
Iowa who homesteaded in Wyoming
during the 1910s.
Michael Grandinetti, B’99, master
illusionist, has been busy around the
country with many projects. Highlights
include opening the Miami vs. Pittsburgh
Pirates game by magically making the
baseball appear and then throwing out
the first pitch of the game. He is one of
the stars of the new CW series Masters
of Illusion, where viewers will see his
“Walking Through Steel” performance.
Masters of Illusion Live! will begin touring
in February.
Michael A. Rynn, A’99, L’02, was
promoted to senior counsel within the
legal department at FedEx Ground.
2000s
Darcy Monteverde Dayton, A’01, L’04,
Jennifer L. Enciso, L’03, and Amy E.
Peck, B’07, have opened the law firm
of Dayton Enciso, PC in Pittsburgh’s
Bloomfield neighborhood. The practice
areas include real estate, business and
estate planning, and family law.
Alumni Spotlight
Floyd R. Ganassi, Sr., of Fox Chapel, Pa., died Aug. 19 at the age of 87.
Ganassi fought in Europe during World War II, and never attended
college. His “rags-to-riches” story began with jobs as a salesman and
baggage handler, but he built an empire starting with a paving company
in 1950, and bought a prominent sand and gravel business in 1966.
He later branched out beyond the construction industry, forming the
FRG Group, which included telecommunications, technology and
manufacturing holdings.
Ganassi was elected to Duquesne University’s Board of Directors in
1988, and became an emeritus member in 2000. His son, Duquesne
graduate Floyd R. “Chip” Ganassi, Jr., B’82, is a former auto racing
champion and a leading team owner on the NASCAR and IndyCar
circuits.
Samara O’Shea, A’01, will have her third
book, Loves Me…Not: How to Survive
(and Thrive!) in the Face of Unrequited
Love (February Books), published early in
2014. The book is described as comforting
“the broken hearted with hilarious tales,
enlightening advice, and a little tough
love to help readers rediscover their selfesteem
and move on after a breakup.” Her
website is www.SamaraOShea.com.
Heather Lynn (McNeish) Gray, GLPA’02,
took third place as a finalist in the 2013
Steeltown Film Factory competition. From
more than 250 entrants, she was awarded
$2,500 seed money to develop her short
screenplay, Life After Death. She works
in the Pittsburgh area as a certified ASL
interpreter, actor, photographer and writer.
Dawn Rich, P’90, has produced short films, and
instructional and fundraising videos. Her most recent
project is Trattoria, a drama/comedy inspired by real
chefs and set in the exciting San Francisco restaurant
scene. The film’s story centers around a chef and his
son who reconnect and heal their past through cooking.
Rich serves as executive producer, producer and screenwriter for
Trattoria. She also brought to the film skills developed in her current
position as director at Genentech, a biotechnology firm located in San
Francisco. She earned her MBA from the University of San Francisco
and is a licensed registered pharmacist. She has several other scripts
currently in development. More information about Trattoria can be found
at www.trattoriathemovie.com.
Cassandra Pritts, GA’03, and Steve
Oberlechner, A’99, recently married, are
both professors at Potomac State College
of WVU.
Preston Dibble, GM’04, was appointed as
diocesan director of music for the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Paterson, N.J. He is
also the organist and director of music at
the Church of the Immaculate Conception,
Montclair, N.J.
Barron Whited, GE’04, guidance
counselor at Agora Cyber Charter School,
has recently completed TV segments
on the topics of school bus safety,
back to school tips and helping college
homesickness. He has appeared in local
and national media.
Tracy (Stolz) Lyons, A’05, GLPA’07, was
promoted to director of alumni services at
Gannon University in Erie.
Erin Trageser, HS’05, recently attained
board certification as a diplomate of the
American College of Veterinary Internal
Medicine (cardiology). She earned her
veterinary degree from the University
of Pennsylvania and completed a
rotating medical/surgical internship
at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and
Emergency Center (PVSEC). She moved
to Prince Edward Island for a residency
in cardiology, simultaneously earning a
master of science degree for her research
in feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. She
returned to Pittsburgh and is a veterinary
cardiologist at PVSEC.
44 DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE Winter ‘14