People
Former Northwestern Wildcat Ike Kepford and his fellow Jolly Rogers in Fighter Squadron 17 helped foil what could have been a devastating Japanese anti-carrier attack in the early days of the Pacific War. For most of 1944, Kepford was the Navy’s leading ace with a total of 16 aerial victories, and for his service, he was awarded two Navy Crosses, a Silver Star and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
If Glenn DeWeirdt ’84 DDS is not in his dental office, he’s probably on a racetrack. From April through October, DeWeirdt moonlights as a high-performance vehicle driving instructor, an avocation that involves “hours of boredom tempered by moments of sheer terror.”
Barry Slotnick ’93, ’00 MBA knew about the fitness benefits of slide boards — smooth, low-friction devices designed to facilitate low-impact lateral movement exercises and mimic speed skating technique. Looking for an indoor activity to maintain his lower body strength in the winter, Slotnick built a slide board in his off-campus apartment in the fall of his senior year — and UltraSlide was born.
An impromptu jam session might just be a musician’s breakthrough moment. JamCorder ensures they never have to worry about recording it.
Wall Street Journal editor Justin Baer ’97 MS explores the famously secretive, family-owned company Fidelity in his new book, House of Fidelity: The Rise of the Johnson Dynasty and the Company That Changed American Investing.
Jason Rickard ’11 and his brother, Jordan, own and run FioRito, a “Midwest Italian” restaurant in their hometown of Wichita, Kan. This year they were named James Beard Award semifinalists in the Best Chef: Midwest category.
Julie Ritchey ’07 created Forts: Build Your Own Adventure, a unique theatrical experience that gives children the opportunity to exercise agency and tell their own stories through unstructured, unscripted playtime.
While producing a client event the Kentucky Derby Museum in 2019, Nancy Hays ’84 MS discovered a dimly lit gallery that highlighted the history of Black jockeys. She spent the next seven years uncovering the history of Isaac Burns Murphy, one of the most decorated athletes of the 19th century.
Emmy-winning Severance actor talks about Northwestern friendships, her tightrope-walking aspirations and the importance of being present.
As mayor of Highland Park, Ill., Nancy Rotering ’85 MBA prioritizes fiscal responsibility, public safety and community building. She also has a passion for teaching young people to advocate for themselves.
