Charlevoix High School inducts Hall of Fame alumni honorees

CHARLEVOIX — Five former graduates were inducted into the Charlevoix High School Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday, June 3, in a ceremony that took place in the school auditorium.

With musical accompaniment by the high school band, Charlevoix Public Schools Superintendent Mike Ritter presented Dr. Gilbert B. Saltonstall (Class of 1926), George Allan VerWys (Class of 1951), Luther Kurtz (Class of 1995), Jan Boss (Class of 1975), and Dr. Catherine Golski (Class of 1998) with the honor of admission into the Hall of Fame.

Photos and information about the honored graduates hang in the hallway near the auxiliary gym at the middle/high school in hopes of inspiring current and future students, said Ritter.

“The inductees we honor are a prime example of the fact that our students are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to achieve great success,” he said. “I find working on the Hall of Fame a rewarding and inspirational experience. The success of our graduates has never ceased to amaze me. I’m so proud of our current and past Rayders.”

Nominees for the Hall of Fame must be a graduate of Charlevoix High School and have achieved one or more of the following:

• An advanced degree such as PhD., M.D., D.O., D.D.S., O.D., J.D.

• Significant life achievement, honor or award

• Significant contribution toward improving the lives of others

The 2022 inductees

Dr. Gilbert Saltonstall, son of Brayton and Annie Saltonstall, moved to Charlevoix when he was four years old. He graduated from Charlevoix High School as valedictorian in 1926.

Following graduation, he attended the University of Michigan undergrad and graduated from the U of M Medical School in 1933. He served his internship at Grace Hospital in Detroit. In 1934, he married Charlotte Mathauer and following his internship they moved to Charlevoix.

He was a family doctor and surgeon, practicing in the Old Hospital, and was involved in developing the new hospital. He built an office that still stands on Clinton Street next to the Episcopal Church. He did the first blood transfusion in Charlevoix, and was a skilled surgeon, operating multiple times a day. He guessed that he delivered about 3,000 babies in his 42 years of practice.

He served as president of the Charlevoix County Medical Society, the Michigan State Medical Society, and the Michigan Association of Professions. He was a delegate to the American Medical Association and was one of the founders of Blue Shield of Michigan, serving on its board. He also served on the State Board of Registration for Medicine, grading the exams of future doctors.

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As salutatorian of the Class of 1951, George VerWys served as class president, ran track with top times in the mile, played football, and performed in class plays. His classmates voted him "Best All-Around," "Nicest Eyes," and "Best at Avoiding Women."

VerWys earned his way through the University of Michigan with three scholarships, summer jobs and internships, and ROTC. He graduated from U of M in 1956 with double majors: a bachelor of science in electrical engineering and a bachelor of science in mathematics.

In his first job at RCA in New Jersey, he applied his engineering skills to microwave technologies on defense contracts for radar antenna systems. While working for RCA, he earned his master's in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961. His master’s thesis garnered him a guest lecture at MIT.

Also while at RCA, George was drafted for the Vietnam war. VerWys was patriotic and ready to go, however, RCA recognized the worth of his work as an engineer for the welfare of the nation and petitioned for VerWys to serve his country in the civil sector, continuing his defense contract work. The government agreed. VerWys dedicated his career to serving his country.

In 1962, VerWys’ published articles on “Low-Noise Antenna Systems” from his work on radar detection of missiles, his college studies, and his experience at RCA landed him a job at IBM’s Federal Systems Division in Owego, New York where he spent the rest of his career working on radar detection applications that advanced national security.

He was recognized with numerous accolades and awards for his technical contributions and excellence throughout his career with IBM, including ESC Hall of Fame, FSD Technical Excellence Award, Air Force and Navy commendations, and Outstanding RF Systems Engineer. His contributions brought several national radar frequency tracking applications to success. Two years before his retirement, his designs earned his name on two patents with the U.S. government.

He met and married Lois in 1961, and together they raised four children. Throughout his life, VerWys also served his communities with volunteer work in Boy Scouts, Habitat For Humanity, becoming its longest volunteer in his metro area, his church, and the Red Cross, winning the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2005 with commendations from the White House as well as IBM.

Jan Boss was born and raised in Charlevoix. She graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1975 where she participated in band, both marching and symphonic, playing the French horn. She was also part of the Campus Life Club and the Charlevoix Forensics Team with an emphasis on radio broadcasting.

She then went to Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, with a BA in Bible and education. After graduation, Boss was director of education and youth at Trinity Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

In 1984, Boss returned to Charlevoix to accept the position of director of education at Community Reformed Church in Charlevoix. In that position, she initiated and oversaw programs in adult, youth, and children’s education and directed fellowship groups. Eventually, that grew to include administration and also community outreach programs. While working full-time at the church, Jan also completed studies at Western Seminary in Holland, graduating with an MA degree in religious education in 1987.

Boss has been active in the Charlevoix Ministerial Association planning a variety of programs for the community. During her 34 years at the church, she initiated and oversaw The Sunshine Club, an after-school daycare program held at the elementary school — a first in this area. She served on the United Way Board, the Homeless Association Board, and she currently serves on Chaplin Board at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital. Her volunteer activities also include service on the Community Food Pantry, and at the Community Christmas Project. Selected by Charlevoix Senior Class, Jan also was a baccalaureate speaker.

Safe Haven ministries began during Jan’s tenure at Community Reformed Church and upon retirement in 2017, she has continued to oversee and expand Safe Haven Ministries. There is the Breakfast Club — a free breakfast twice a week for anyone who comes for breakfast and stays for breakfast and community. Added, has been the Games and Grub Community program which helps under-resourced elementary-aged children in the community and their families. Games and Grub offers recreation and bags of groceries, during the summer months, tutoring, special Christmas opportunities, as well as dealing with needs as they arise. Safe Haven ministries also operates a Men’s Emergency Shelter open nights Nov. 1-April 1.

Boss lives in Charlevoix with her best buddy, Bosley, the Old English sheepdog who helps her with other endeavors such as going to nursing homes to spread love and joy.

Luther John Kurtz was a member of the Charlevoix High School Class of 1995.

After high school, Kurtz earned an electrical technology certificate in East Lansing and later earned his electrical journeyman’s license from the State of Michigan.

In 1999, Kurtz moved to San Diego to work as an electrician but instead signed up for classes at Mesa Community College.

He later graduated from the University of California at San Diego with a bachelor’s of science in aerospace engineering.

While in school, Kurtz started a skydiving company in Northern Michigan. By the time he graduated, he had additional locations in Lansing and San Diego. Today, he has eight locations around the country.

As a skydiver, he won two silver medals at the Skydiving Nationals and still has the Guinness World Record for most tandem parachute jumps in 24 hours.

In 2014, Kurtz was elected to serve on Charlevoix City Council, and in 2016 he was elected to serve as Mayor of Charlevoix.

During this time, Kurtz also attended Western Michigan Cooley Law School at night and graduated in 2016 with his Juris Doctor degree.

Since returning to Northern Michigan, he has served the community in nonprofit work with Live from Charlevoix, the Charlevoix Alano Club, and the Top of Michigan Trails Council.

Kurtz lives in Charlevoix, where he and his wife, Mary, are raising their son, Landon.

After graduating from Charlevoix High School in 1998, Catherine “Kate” Golski earned her bachelor of arts with high honors in linguistics from the University of Michigan, where her undergraduate thesis was awarded the Matthew Alexander Award for the best undergraduate thesis in linguistics.

While at U of M, she also had the opportunity to study abroad in Sevilla, Spain, where she learned Spanish, studied linguistics and developed a lifelong love of travel and Spain. She then received a Fulbright Award and spent a year in South Korea where, in addition to teaching English to rural middle and high school students, she had the opportunity to participate in medical and public health projects, which ultimately led to her decision to attend medical school.

In 2009, she received her MD degree with special qualification in biomedical research from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine while simultaneously completing a master's in public health degree at Case Western Reserve University. As part of her public health studies, she interned with the World Health Organization’s Health and Human Rights team in Geneva, Switzerland.

She subsequently completed her pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia before starting her career in general pediatrics on the Navajo Nation in 2012. At the time of her induction, Dr. Golski is a general pediatrician at the Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation on the western side of the Navajo Nation, where she cares for inpatient and outpatient indigenous children from a variety of tribal nations. She also serves in multiple administrative roles, including chair of the hospital’s Ethics Committee. She has a particular interest in child welfare and child safety, and she also helps to coordinate care for pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiencies and other genetic illnesses.

She received the 2019 Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Humanitarian Award for her work in Tuba City. Additionally, she is a nominated member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee of Native American Child Health, and she was appointed as the U.S. co-chair for the ninth and 10th International Meetings on Indigenous Child Health.

Outside of work, she serves as the vice-chair of the board of directors for the Life Sharing Center, the local food bank in Tuba City, and she is an affiliate of the Secular Franciscan Order in Flagstaff. She enjoys traveling, vacationing in Northern Michigan, and camping and rafting.

Contact reporter Annie Doyle at adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Charlevoix High School adds five people to Hall of Fame