Mystery Classmate 079

Congratulations to Beth Chufo Nichols, Coleman Brennan, and Karen Campbell Ricci, all of whom correctly identified Mike Topping ('84) as Mystery Classmate #79 and are listed in the order that their responses were received.

In case you were wondering, Mike earned a BS in Welding Engineering from Ohio State University, where he was a classmate of Steve Shaver and Karen LaFace. He then returned to Pittsburgh where he worked for the Elliott Company in Jeannette, and received his Master’s in Metallurgical Engineering from Pitt.

With his brother Drew, Mike then became half-owner of Piper’s Pub on East Carson Street, where Chad Calabria can often be found behind the bar. He confesses that his Master’s degree didn’t really have much use in the restaurant business. Mike has since left that venture to return to metallurgy.

Beth Chufo Nichols had fond memories of Mike, noting that “he is without the Afro he had in high school. I had a hard time seeing around it when I sat behind him in Mr. Nagy's physics class. He was a good lab partner, though.”

Pam Van Cara Collis guessed Frank Battaglia. Bill Stout guessed Lars Brinkmann. Amy Chufo Prezelski guessed Mark Liggett, although she knew she was wrong. Stef Andreas Falvo (’67) looked over Donna Andreas Copley’s shoulder and said that Mike looks like a Snyder.

Barbara Bender Pietro didn’t recognize Mike, but thought he looked like a nice guy.