USD Magazine Summer 2009

T H E C A L A M I T Y C O N T I N U E S I F W E F O R G E T T O D R E A M .

CONTENTS 28 / AFTER THE STORM It takes a certain kind of pragmatic optimist to be on the front lines in the aftermath of devastating catastrophe. When light- ning strikes and the world

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splinters, two USD graduates have made it their job to pick up the pieces. Tracy Reines ’94 oversees a team that’s responsible for handling the logistics of every international disaster response undertaken by the American Red Cross. The end result is that she tells time less by strict chronology than by geographical calamity. Meanwhile, Jennifer Gerbasi ’95 (J.D.) works in southern Louisiana, in hopes of insulating communities from future disasters. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.

C OM F O R T F O O D I S F O R D A Y S L I K E T O D A Y .

CLASS NOTES 32 / A Taste of Chocolate

Food artist Diolinda Monteiro ’93 pairs her science background with a love for chocolate when it comes to crafting her inspired concoctions.

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36 / The Super Bowl of Homebuilding Brothers Ryan ’03 and Brandon De Young ’07 helped transform the housing situation of a family by pitching in to make a dream come true on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. 41 / In Memoriam Judith Rauner dedicated her life to family and community service and touched a great many lives with her work. Sadly, she passed away in late March from a malignant brain tumor.

POINT OF VIEW 18 / Solving the Puzzle When Christopher Yanov ’03 won big on Wheel of Fortune , his winnings helped him to stop the downward spiral in San Diego’s toughest neigh- borhoods.

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