Class Notes

UPDATES FROM ALUMNI ON PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL MILESTONES

1950s

John Downing
Journalism ’58
A former editor of the Toronto Sun and Toronto Telegram, John has published a history of Ryerson titled Ryerson University: A Unicorn Among Horses. He writes: “The book is chatty and filled with anecdotes about the early days.” blog.johndowning.ca.

1960s

Michael Englebert
Radio and Television Arts (RTA) ’65
Though retired, Michael continues with his weekly radio program, now 20 years running, titled “Applause, music from Broadway, Hollywood & the London stage.” The program originally ran on AM 740 Toronto from 1994 to 2014 and Michael resumed the program in 2016 as a weekly podcast focusing on new musical theatre and classic recordings of past shows. The program can be found at mixcloud.com/radioapplause.

Michael Fallat
Metallurgy ’67
After graduation, Michael completed his bachelor in metallurgical engineering at Michigan Tech University. He worked for Placer Dome for 32 years, in Canada, the Philippines, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, and started a consulting business in 2002.

Burt Rairamo
Gas Engineering Technology ’63
A past general manager and vice-president of Liquid Carbonic Inc., Burt is also a poet and has written a novel about the gas industry, In the Shadows of a Gas Plant. burtrairamo.com.

Ryerson partners with 140 institutions in 41 countries.

1970s

Valerie Lampard
RTA ’79
She writes: “After graduation, I got a job with CFTR Radio, then worked at CHFI-FM. I left the radio business in 1984 but continued working in communications and promotions, including product licensing for the MLB, NHL, Warner Bros., Looney Tunes and DC Comics characters.” After retiring, Valerie settled in Mesa, Ariz.

Valerie Pringle
RTA ’74
After a 35-year career as a prominent broadcast journalist with CTV, CBC and the Discovery Channel, Valerie is a volunteer board member and fundraiser for the TransCanada Trail and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Last March she was named a Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation mentor.

Randy Ray
Journalism ’76
Randy published his 10th book last June, titled As The Years Go By … Conversations With Canada’s Folk, Pop & Rock Pioneers. The book, written with Mark Kearney, contains more than 130 stories and photos about 1950s, ’60s and ’70s performers such as Lighthouse, The Diamonds, The Stampeders, Streetheart, Bobby Curtola, The Five Man Electrical Band, Steppenwolf and Prism. triviaguys.com.