Summer Connection 2020

ALUMNOTES
1954
The FAA recently awarded Maurice
“Maurie” Deming ’54 with the Wright
Brothers Master Pilot Award. This
prestigious award, named after
America’s first pilots, recognizes
“individuals who have exhibited
professionalism, skill, and aviation
expertise for at least 50 years while
piloting aircraft as Master Pilots.”
Maurie’s first solo flight was out
of DuPage County Airport in West
Chicago in 1957. His 20000+ hours of
flight time have taken him around the
globe. He has flown everything from
DC-9s to the A 300 with a sterling
record – no violations, accidents, or
incidents. The thrill of a takeoff in
an aircraft with a turbo compound
engine that shot blue flames to
the back of the wings remains
with Maurie. His older brother
Doug ’48, also a recipient of the
Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award,
was an encourager and mentor to
him as was Pastor Gene Frost. A
gifted singer, Maurie’s pilot career
opened opportunities for him to sing
and to share his testimony. He and
his wife Corlyn have been married for
59 years and reside in North Carolina.
They have four children (Jeff ’82,
Craig ’83, Tim, and Brooke) and seven
grandchildren. The love of flying has
become a family tradition as Brooke,
Craig, and Doug’s son Kevin are all
career pilots.
1979
One of the unique aspects of
Wheaton Academy is the lasting
friendships formed during high
school. One such example is a group
of four alumni from the class of 1979
– Rich MacPartland ’79, Tom Pienkowski
’79, Tim Hill ’79, and Steve Votava ’79.
Following their graduation from the
Academy (then Wheaton Christian
High School), these four guys started
planning a road trip to the west coast
which they took in the summer of
1980. They have remained in touch
with each other consistently. They
Rich MacPartland ’79, Tom Pienkowski ’79,
Tim Hill ’79, and Steve Votava ’79
have been in each other’s weddings
and brought their wives into
their friendship. They have traveled
across the country to support each
other at their parents’ funerals.
When one of the guys had some
health issues, the other three
immediately drove across the
country to visit and to help with
household projects. The four couples
have often gotten together and have
even vacationed together. Best of
all, they have enjoyed each other’s
company for all these years.
Laura (Broadhurst ’80) and Rich MacPartland ’79
and Steve ’79 and Sue (Pienkowski ’83) Votava
on a road trip in 2019 to Niagara Falls.
From left: Kristine (LeBarbara ’79) and Tom Pienkowski ’79, Teresa and Tim Hill ’79,
Laura (Broadhurst ’80) and Rich MacPartland ’79, and Sue (Pienkowski ’83) and
Steve Votava ’79 at the funeral of Rich’s mom in January 2020.
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