2006 Alter High School Alumni Hall of Fame
Distinguished Inductees
Rick Fersch, Class of 1967
Working as CEO and President of Eddie Bauer, Inc., Rick had truly reached the top in his professional achievements. In September 2000, he was suddenly reminded that “God does own it all.” At only 50 years old, Rick suffered a severe stroke. With eight months of therapy Rick did fully recover, but he had resolved to change his life with God’s help. Rick decided to leave his high-powered, high-demand corporate lifestyle and seek, instead, to devote his energies to charitable activities. He received numerous business opportunities following Eddie Bauer, but it wasn’t until he received a phone call from the Archbishop of Seattle, asking him to become the Executive Director of Stewardship and Development for the Archdiocese, that he knew where God was leading him. Having taken on the Catholic appeal during a difficult time for the church, Rick has increased contributions annually, bringing the Archdiocese from $8.8 million in 2002 to a record-breaking $12 million in 2005.
" At some point in everyone's life, I believe one moves from the pursuit of success to the pursuit of significance. God has been so good to me...all along He was simply preparing me for a life of helping others. It feels wonderful!"
Dan Graham, Class of 1974
With his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics from Heidelberg College, Dan started in telephone sales with The Berry Company in 1978. Dan has aggressively and successfully grown his career, having held positions in Sales, Administration, and Management, to include Area Manager in Dayton and Milwaukee, Division Manager in Wisconsin, and Regional Vice President for the Tennessee and Kentucky region. Most recently he was Group Vice President, responsible for Berry’s Independent Line of Business, Marketing, Internet and Publishing, and was also President of Berry Network, the company’s national sales channel.
As of August 2003, Dan is now President and CEO for The Berry Company. Dan is also on Alter’s Board of Trustees as Chairman of the Development Committee where he works directly with the President and those in fundraising and marketing functions for the school. Dan has further been involved in the Dayton community as President of the Moraine Rotary, a member of the Advisory Board for Buckeye Ecocare, an advocate for the Hipple Cancer Research Center, a member of the Dayton Business Committee, and as a coach for a variety of youth sports.
Rebecca L. Glaser, Class of 1975
As both a surgeon and physician for women with breast cancer, Dr. Rebecca Glaser has become an icon in women’s health issues in the Dayton area. To the medical community she is known to be a leader in combining modern science with holistic healing, thereby treating not merely the disease but the whole person. Rebecca’s evaluation and guidance for her patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well being, combined with her relentless attention to current literature, proper nutrition and exercise, has been her successful formula in both preventing and ridding women of breast cancer.
Rebecca retired as a surgeon in the spring of 2004 but still maintains her practice, helping countless women with wellness issues. Most recently, she has a new practice at the Millennium Wellness Center dealing with bio-identical hormone balance and aesthetics for men and women. She has published numerous medical articles on breast cancer. She lectures nationwide on “Bioidentical Hormone Balance and Health” and evidence based anti-aging therapies. She is currently working on several research projects dealing with hormone levels in breast cancer patients. Rebecca’s Bachelor of Arts degree is from the University of Dayton. She attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati and did her surgical residency at Wright State where she is now an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery.
Julie Pfeiffer, Class of 1980
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts in Art Education from Miami University, Julie spent 15 years as an Art Specialist in the Cincinnati area’s primary and elementary school systems. She has also taught at Miami University, Xavier University, and the College of Mount Saint Joseph. She was honored by the Martha Holden Jennings foundation of Ohio for encouraging creativity through teaching. In addition, several corporations, including Procter and Gamble, hire Julie to conduct creativity workshops that have positively influenced business productivity and invention.
Currently, Julie is president of “Imaginattic,” a creativity studio that she founded in 2001 for children ages 2-12 in Cincinnati. As many as 750 children at her studio each season benefit from Julie’s conviction of nurturing the whole child through creative exploration. Julie has worked in service to others in both East Africa and on Navajo reservations in Arizona. She has always found ways to volunteer in her local community as well. She participates in a “Cuddler Program” for newborns and has designed and painted the interiors of residential homes where the homeowners contributed 50% of the invoice to a charity. Currently, Julie is the catechist teacher at Bellermine parish of Xavier University.
Julie credits her family for this special recognition: her parents, David and Claire Pfeiffer - Dayton; brother, Craig and his wife Cissy Haley (Alter '74) - New York City; sister, Lauren Childs (Alter '77) and her husband Gary - South Lyon, Michigan; and brother Tim (Alter '83) and his wife Susan - Denver, Colorado.
Athletic Inductees
Bob Vari, Class of 1966
As a member of Alter’s first graduating class, Bob concentrated his athletic abilities on football and basketball playing wide receiver and forward, respectively. During Bob’s senior year at Alter, the football team was state ranked and ranked #1 in area polls. Bob was named First Team All-Area by both the Dayton Daily and the Journal Herald papers. After Alter, Bob attended the University of Louisville on a full athletic scholarship. There he earned one letter in basketball and four letters in football, starting his last two years under Coach Lee Corso, current announcer on ESPN's College Game Day. Bob earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sales & Marketing. He began his career at the Holiday Inn Corporation and was named to the Board of Directors of Hotel Sales Managers at age 26. Later he returned to Dayton, working for five years at NCR and then for twenty years in the golf industry. He is currently the owner and operator of “Cloud 9” Enterprises in Dayton which specializes in mattress and other sleep products. Bob is a second generation inductee: his father, Frank (deceased), was named to the very first Hall of Fame at Alter.
Jack Kohls, Class of 1977
Winning the doubles state title twice with brother Jim as a partner, playing #3 singles, and helping take Alter to a state championship in 1976, it’s easily understood why Jack was featured in “Faces in the Crowd” in Sports Illustrated magazine in 1977. Jack’s tennis experience at Alter launched him into more impressive court achievements at both the University of South Carolina at Sumter and the Ohio State University. From 1977-1978 Jack played varsity tennis at South Carolina where he was the No. 3 singles player and on the No. 1 doubles team. He was the Region 10 Conference No. 3 Singles Champion and the No.1 Doubles Champion. Additionally, Jack was a qualifier to the NJCAA nationals. At Ohio State from 1979-1981, he continued playing singles and doubles and was named “Student Athlete” in 1980-1981. With his degree in Marketing, Jack embarked upon a sales career with Reynolds & Reynolds. He is currently with MADA (Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association) where he is the Director of Services.
James Kohls, Class of 1977
Doubles partner with his brother Jack, Jim won the doubles state title twice while at Alter. He also played #2 singles and helped gain the state championship for our tennis team in 1976. Jim was also part of the cross country team, and in 1977 he was featured in “Faces in the Crowd” in Sport Illustrated magazine. Jim then headed for the varsity tennis team at the University of South Carolina at Sumter. At U.S.C. from 1977-1979, he was the No. 1 player in both singles and doubles. He was a champion singles and doubles player in the Region 10 Conference as well as an NJCAA national qualifier. From 1979-1981, Jim attended the Ohio State University playing singles and doubles. Since college, Jim and his father, Gordon, were Doubles Champions in the 1987 Father/Son Ohio Tournament. Both have taken part in many other such national tournaments. Jim is now a self-employed CPA in the Dayton area.
Jeffrey Kohls, Class of 1981 Deceased
Jeff played varsity tennis all four years of high school, bringing Alter a great deal of recognition and honors during his time as a student. In 1980, Jeff was the State of Ohio’s High School Doubles Champion, and in 1981 he was a Doubles Finalist for the state. Jeff continued his successful tennis career at the Ohio State University in 1982 and 1983 playing number 3-6 in singles and 2-3 in doubles. Additionally, he was named a “Big Ten Scholar Athlete” at OSU in 1982. Jeff’s life, and the energy he brought to it, was cut tragically short by his battle with cancer in 1983. However, in his 20 years, Jeff left his mark on the tennis court and on the hearts of those who knew him as a friend, son, brother, student, and player. He will always be remembered as an Alter Knight of Men’s Tennis.
