We are always excited when new members become part of our community. They each add a new dimension to life at Memorial UCC.  Here are the people who have joined in 2012. You can meet people who joined in 2012 and  2011 and 2010 and 2009 by clicking on the years. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

April 14, 2013

Colette and Stan Corwin moved to Madison last September from Ashville, N.C. Just a couple of weeks ago, they moved into their new house near the Glenway Golf Course on Madison’s West Side. For Colette, moving back to Wisconsin fulfilled a long-held wish. She looks forward to a more balanced life, renewing family contacts, making new friends, doing more reading and finding meaningful ways to be involved in the community. Environmental concerns are a priority for her. She’s hoping to make good use of Madison’s bike and hiking paths and become familiar with the city’s bus service as a mode of transportation.

Stan retired from General Electric Co. in 1996, ending a career in Patent Law. Now he is an avid gardener and - after heart surgery at the end of this month – he looks forward to biking, playing golf and continuing to teach T’ai Chi Chih, I see myself as an environmentalist and look forward to the possibility of forming an Earth Team here at Memorial.

Chris Hollenback grew up in Green Bay, went to Vince Lombardi Middle School, and high school on Packerland Drive. After graduating from UW in 1998 where he majored in journalism and political science, his first job was working in PR for the Packers. So guess how he spends his Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings in the fall? In his younger days, he was also a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Eighteen years ago this weekend, he met Jamie, now his wife. She joined Memorial last year. Their children, Belle and John, have been great participants in our programs here, including Belle’s debut in our musical last Sunday. Chris’ first thriller novel titled Sleep When You're Dead is being published as we speak and will be out soon. He is an outreach specialist for the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention Unit.

Chris credits Memorial with restoring his faith in God and the human spirit." He also thanks us for letting the rif-raff like me in. He’s got lots of good company here.

Jeanne Prueher lives in Stoughton with her husband, Dan, to whom she has been married for 40+ years. They have two kids - Nick is in NYC, where he has made a name for himself as a comic, including appearances on Jimmy Kimmel and upcoming with Jimmy Fallon. Daughter Jessica lives with her husband, Mike, in Sun Prairie. They are the parents of Jeanne and Dan’s two grand kids - Allie and Jacob. Spending time with those grandkids is one of Jeanne’s favorite pastimes. She also has a standing date for knitting almost every Monday, loves to read and belongs to a book club. She enjoys weekend getaways and belongs to the Stoughton Lioness Club.

She says she was longing to start attending church after a five-year absence and found Memorial UCC in the internet. In her words,  “This congregation welcomed me from the moment I stepped inside.  I'm especially pleased about the possibilities for participating in a number of outreach programs.”

Damon Smith is a native of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, which is worth noting since his birthday was yesterday. He was active in Boy Scouts achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He also was active in the Honeoye United Church of Christ.  He attended the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Geneseo where he received his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.  He then moved to North Carolina where he attended North Carolina State University, receiving his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology.  That’s where he met his wife of the last six-and-a half years, Carrie.

Carrie Smith was born and raised at the Jersey Shore.  She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Delaware and a Ph.D. in Genetics from North Carolina State University. 

After graduation, Carrie and Damon moved to Oklahoma where they both worked for Oklahoma State University for five years.  In September of 2012 Damon and Carrie moved to Madison and they have been attending Memorial for several months since then.
Damon is currently an assistant professor of plant pathology at The University of Wisconsin.  Damon has extension and research responsibilities for diseases of soybean, corn, wheat and alfalfa. Carrie works in the Environment, Health, and Safety Department at UW-Madison as a biosafety specialist, overseeing laboratory safety for work with infectious and recombinant materials.

Damon likes to hike, run, and bike. Carrie enjoys cooking, reading, zumba and hiking.  And they both like to spend time with each other … and their miniature dachshunds, Ruby and Ellie.

January 27, 2013

Jaren Bailey grew up in Muscoda along the Wisconsin River a bit west of Spring Green.  She has been an English teacher for 12 years. She started teaching in the Bronx, New York in September 2001, then she moved to Milwaukee and taught at a charter school for 4 years. Now she is teaching English at Verona Area High School.

She has been married for almost six years, and has two stepdaughters and two daughters. We see Rhya and Jonna around here with her.  I asked her about hobbies and she said, “I don't think English teachers and parents of small children have time for any!  I do enjoy reading, but lately don't get to read much beyond Brown Bear, Brown Bear and student essays!”