Spring 2009 - Seattle University

in memoriam, cont.
Arizona College. Preston accepted the offer to
attend SU and met his wife, Susan, here. While
at SU he earned degrees in criminal justice and
law, and embarked on a successful career, including
as the in-house attorney for Safeco Insurance
Company. He built a beautiful home for his family,
including his two beloved children, Olivia and
Castromo III. His athleticism continued into his
adulthood, as he enjoyed playing golf, basketball
and soccer. He also loved being by the water.
Playing, fishing and boating with his children on
the beaches of Vashon Island, Wash., were among
his greatest joys. His humor and love will be
deeply missed by his friends and family, Preston
is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Olivia
and Castromo III; his parents, Castromo and
Rosina; his sister, Karinka Copeland; and many
nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Michele Roedel, ’83, died Jan. 2, 2008. She was
54. A graduate of the College of Nursing, Roedel
spent most of her professional career at Seattle’s
Children’s Hospital. She lived a full life surrounded
by many friends and family. In her spare time
she enjoyed gardening, quilting, sailing, music
and the outdoors. She also enjoyed her work at
Children’s, where she touched many lives. Roedel
is survived by her husband of 20 years, Charles
Douglass; their children, Emma and Clayton
Douglass; her sisters, Ellen Cole, Melanie Green,
Nancy Roedel and Gwen Roedel; her brother,
Bob Roedel; six nephews; and many members of
the Douglass family, including Charles’ parents,
Clayton and Helen Douglass; and siblings, Denise,
Diane and John.
Annette Roppo, ’71, died Feb. 12, 2007. She
was 57. Roppo was raised in Vancouver, Wash.,
where she lived until she came north to Seattle
to attend college. At Seattle University Roppo
earned a degree in fine arts. After graduating she
worked for Boeing and later for design firms in
the Seattle area, where she did illustration, 3-D
design and graphic arts work. A love of design led
Roppo to pursue other artistic endeavors, including
stained glass and calligraphy. In 1976, Roppo
married Phil, and together the couple had two
sons, Joel and Joshua. In 1988, Roppo and her
family moved back to her hometown of Vancouver,
where she became a dedicated homeschool teacher
to her sons for the first eight years of their education.
Roppo is survived by her husband, Phil; her
sons, Joel and Joshua; her mother, Ruth Issler; her
brother, Jack Issler and his daughter, Sarah Issler;
and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded
in death by her father, Frank Issler.
William Sroufe, ’49, died Jan. 16, 2008. He was
87. Born and raised in Seattle, Sroufe attended
Ballard High School, where he lettered in both
baseball and basketball. His success as an athlete
led to his basketball team’s City Championship in
1937, and his appointment to the All-City team
in 1938. After serving in the Navy during World
War II, Sroufe graduated from Seattle University
in 1949, the same year he married Jean Louise
Horton. Together, the couple had three children.
Following graduation, he began a successful career
as an electrical engineer at Seattle City Light and
Northwest Electric, where he was vice president
and a partner. After he retired from these companies,
Sroufe continued to work as a consultant
for Cochran Electric. After the passing of his
first wife in 1996, Sroufe reconnected with a high
school friend, Mary Nielsen Lackie, whom he
married. Sroufe was an active member in many
social and industry organizations, including the
NECA, AGC, Shriner’s, Vasa Hope Lodge and
Vashon Island Golf & Country Club, as well as
the Ballard High School Class of 1937–38 Men’s
Club. Sroufe is survived by his second wife, Mary;
his brothers, Tom and Jim; his children, William,
Jr., Kathy Petrait and Lesa Sroufe; as well as
nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean
Louise.
Dennis Steltzer, ’70, died Dec. 27, 2007. He was
63. Born in Arizona, Steltzer headed to Seattle to
attend college here, where he earned a business
administration degree. For 29 years he worked
at the Oroweat Baking Company, where he met
his wife, Irma. For the last three years of his
life, Steltzer and Irma, lived in Arizona, where
the couple enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle and
leisure activities of their community. Steltzer is
survived by his wife, Irma; his brother, Alvin; his
sister, Phyllis Olson; and many family members
throughout Canada, Europe and the United States,
as well as his beloved black poodle, Chico, who
never left his side.
Gail LaJune Vitulli, ’83, died July 21, 2008.
She was 52. As a child, Vitulli lived in many
different states, with her family eventually settling
in Washington and the Seattle area. In
1973, she graduated from Queen Anne High
School before leaving for a brief stay in Southern
California. Later she moved back to Seattle to
attend Seattle Central Community College and
Seattle University, where she earned an accounting
degree. To support herself through college, she
worked at Charlie’s on Broadway, where she was
a favorite waitress of the Seattle Sonics basketball
players during their championship years in the
late 1970s. After she graduated, Vitulli passed
her CPA exam and began a successful career as
an accountant for several area companies. In her
last position she was controller for the VLST
Corporation. In her spare time, Vitulli enjoyed
gatherings with family and friends, visiting the
beach, traveling, shopping, reading novels, listening
to music, gardening, fine dining and a
good bottle of red wine. Vitulli is survived by her
husband, Darrel; her mother, June Bratcher; her
father, Milton LaJune; her brothers, Wayne and
Cary; and her two stepbrothers, three nieces,
two sisters-in-law, and many friends and other
relatives.
Rolando Yumang, Sr., ’93 MEd, died Jan.
13, 2008. He was 58. Born in the Philippines in
1949, Yumang was an active member of Seattle’s
Filipino American community. After attending
the University of Washington, he received a master’s
degree in education from Seattle University.
After graduation he began his career in education
and was a popular teacher of English as a Second
Language in the Seattle and Highline school districts.
Yumang was a past president of the Filipino
American Educators of Washington, and director
of the BnK Oral History Project, which he
founded to preserve the first-person narratives of
Filipinos and Filipino Americans. He was also a
founding board member of the Seattle Transplant
House, after his own liver transplant inspired him
to support other patients. He is survived by his
wife, Kathleen; his sons, Rolando, Jr., and Roman;
his sister, Remedios Trinidad; his nephews, John,
David, Steven and Roman; his grandniece, Nia;
and his grandnephew, Victor. Yumang was preceded
in death by his parents, Francisco and Victoria.
Obituaries
Seattle University Magazine relies on
family members to inform us of the
deaths of alumni and friends. If a news-paper
obituary is available, we would appreciate
a copy. Send notices to:
Attn: Obituaries
Seattle University Magazine
Seattle University
901 12th Avenue
PO Box 222000
Seattle, WA 98122-1090
E-mail: sumagazine@seattleu.edu
Online: www.seattleu.edu/magazine/
44 | Alumni Focus