Deaths
Alumni
Marjorie F. (Topliffe) King, Class of 1929
Melvina (Pognant) Burton, Class of 1934
Theresa F. (Castilone) Chiro, Class of 1934
Manoka M. (Beall) Hall, Class of 1935
Mary Lucariello, Class of 1935
Elizabeth P. (Payne) Olmsted, Class of 1936
Rita (Lee) Rosedahl, Class of 1936
Ruth M. (Gittinger) Finnegan, Class of 1938
Clayton F. Shufelt, Class of 1938
Althea M. (Bremmer) Johnson, Class of 1939
Mark Rubinstein, Class of 1939
Francis Hardy, Class of 1941
William J. “Bill” Schwan, Class of 1942
Dr. Arthur L. Kaiser, Class of 1944
D. Robert Remais, Class of 1947
Richard S. McPhee, Class of 1951
Russell C. Smith, Class of 1951
Elizabeth (Quick) “Liz” McCrory, Class of 1953
Dr. Lavern (Earle) Fadale, Class of 1954
Anne (Carpenter) Packard, Class of 1954
Peter G. Metz, Class of 1955
Barbara A. (Rahn) Krupinski, Class of 1958
Janet L. (Carlson) Berlinghoff, Class of 1960
Marie (Bongiorno) Braun, Class of 1960
Christine (Gruber) Cummings, Class of 1960
Carolyn (Murray) Feldbauer, Class of 1961
David W. Hobson, Class of 1966
Wolfgang G. Buergel, Class of 1967
Linda (Webb) Laub, Class of 1967
Michael Krebs, Class of 1968
Jane E. (Kocur) Garvey, Class of 1969
Mary Ann (Ausborn) LaShure, Class of 1969
Sidney Ditkowsky, Class of 1970
Thomas Speziale, Class of 1971
Gregory M. Hausenbauer, Class of 1979
Dr. Peter F. Gavin, Class of 1992
Keith L. Hansen, Class of 1994
Robert L. “Bob” Gloor, Class of 1996
Students
Christine Padasak
Faculty/Staff
Charmaine L. (Nowicki) Alessi Department of Art, 1973-1996
Adelaide Marsh Gaeddert, Fredonia College Foundation Board of Directors, 1984-1997
Edwin Lincoln Hamlet, Fredonia College Council, 1995-2002
Susan A. Luntz, Computing Services, 1977-1996
Thomas E. Malinoski, Publication Services, 1977-2007
Dr. Maurice C. Neveu, Department of Chemistry, 1964-1991
Dr. William A. “Bill” Neville, Department of English, 1961-1989
1950s
Suzanne (Bie) Russell, ’52, (elem. ed.) and her sister, Marcia (Bie) Smith, ’50, (elem. ed.) spent 17 days touring New Zealand and visiting friends.
Marriages Lisa Myers, ’07, (English) to Patrick Newell, ’08 (history/ soc. studies). Brendan Keiser, ’07, (English-adol. ed.) to Ashley Lenz, ’08 (child. inc. ed.). Marcy (Baldwin) Dice, ’06, (English) to Keith Dice. Births A daughter, Madelynne Alexa, to Christopher and Charlene (Zahm) Dodd, ’91 (bus. admin.). A son, Ethan Theodore, to Cheryl (Hilgert), ’99, (health services admin.) and Anthony Popielarz Jr., ’98 (chem./sec. ed.). 1961-1989 |
Rosamond (Gillespie) Burns, ’53, (elem. ed.) published, My Dear Jen, a non-fiction story spanning 100 years of love, loss and survival which focused on her parents and World War I. Her father was an officer in the “Fighting 69th” 165th Infantry Rainbow Division.
Dr. Anastasio Rossi, ’55, (music ed.) was recently awarded the Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Award at the Broadway Theatre in Westchester (N.Y.) for his leadership and contribution in the area of Performing Arts and Theatre.
John Aceti, ’58, (elem. ed.) from Kerrville, Texas, and Lawrence and Virginia (Knox) Ramsden, ’60, (music ed.) from Islip, N.Y., met on a 1,000-mile Danube River cruise through seven Central and Eastern European countries from Austria to Romania during the summer of 2010.
William Scott, ’59, (music ed.) completed the milestone of being a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) member for 50 years.
1960s
Helen (Tinch) Williams, ’60, (music ed.) is co-authoring a book with her daughter, Vanessa, which is slated for release in the fall of 2012. It will discuss topics such as success, failure, family, love, fear, loss, strength, resilience, children and living a meaningful life.
Nancy (Queary) Sliker, ’61, (speech and hearing hand.) is retired but still doing a couple of special tutoring sessions per week. She is also taking a drawing and painting class, and a creative composition class, and had two entries on exhibit in April and May. In June she had several huge works on famous world image icons installed at her local public library.
Dr. Steve Lazar, ’63, (speech and hearing hand.) left the position of Assistant Dean at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City after 43 years to become the Executive Dean of the New York State/American Program of Tel Aviv University School of Medicine. As dean, he will be headquartered in Manhattan and travel to Israel several times a year. He was also awarded Einstein’s highest honor of achievement at a dinner
attended by 500 people in New York City.
Jacob Ludes III, ’64, (history) is retiring as the Executive Director/CEO of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in Boston, Mass., a position he has held for the past 12 years.
Dr. John Baust, ’65, (biology) was elected President of The American College of Cryosurgeons for 2011-2013.
Christine (Feinburg) Logue, ’67, (biology /sec. ed.) doesn’t plan on giving up full-time employment anytime soon. She and her husband are enjoying their Florida lifestyle and good weather. She is glad to be back at Hillsborough Community College where she is a biology labs manager/adjunct instructor.
Don Rogers, ’67, (music ed.) retired as the high school band director at Attica (N.Y.) High School after 45 years of service.
Peggy (Lawrence) Valentine, ’68, (elem. ed.) is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church and does volunteer work.
Phyllis (O’Hara) Straub, ’69, (elem. ed.) retired in June 2008 from Baldwinsville (N.Y.) schools after 30 years in education. She is enjoying her grandchildren, volunteering and traveling.
Phil Zimmer, ’69, (history) plans to retire in October from his post as a Senior Financial Advisor with Northwest Financial Services in Warren, Pa.
1970s
| The Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association held its annual spring music festival at Chautauqua Institution and the traditional finale to the concert, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” was conducted by Pauline (Kenney) Emilson, ’77 (music ed.). The All-County Elementary Chorus was conducted by Cindy (Gould) Mayo, ’74, (music ed.) and accompanied by Dan Bromsted, ’77 (music ed.). Daniel Reisdorf, ’05, (music ed.) directed the All-County Junior High Chorus; Philip Farugia, ’98, (music ed.) conducted the All-County Senior High School Chorus, and John Maguda, ’72, (music ed.) directed the All-County Senior High Band. |
Thomas Altherr, ’70, (history) received the Distinguished Service Award 2009-10 along with the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (1991) and the Faculty Researcher/Scholar Award (1999) from the Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Ralph Urban, ’70, (music ed.) retired after 37 years of teaching instrumental music and band at the Montauk School and was featured in an article in The East Hampton Press.
John Clendenin, ’71, (elem. ed.) has been named Associate Dean of Postgraduate Programs at IE University in Spain. His main role will be supporting the development, design and launch of new master’s degree programs, as well as their international promotion and reach.
David R. Cooper, ’71, (math/sec. ed.) recently taught a summer course in geometry at Adelphi University.
David Stewart, ’71, (math) has been appointed Academic Dean of the School of Mathematics at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland.
David Polechetti, ’72, (social studies/sec. ed.) retired from Fredonia Central School after teaching for 33 years and coaching boys varsity basketball and girls softball. He was recently named head softball coach at Medaille College.
Dr. Patricia (Kelly) Ralabate, ’72, (speech path.) taught as a speech-language pathologist for nearly 25 years in Connecticut Public Schools (i.e., New Milford, Danbury) until 2002 when she joined the National Education Association (NEA) in Washington, D.C., as the Senior Policy Analyst for Special and Gifted Education. She earned a doctoral degree in special education from George Washington University in 2008 and retired from the NEA in June 2010 to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston College in its Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), studying Universal Design for Learning (UDL). In September, Patti will become CAST Director of Implementation. Her primary responsibility is to create UDL online professional learning programs.
John Brown, ’73, (school admin.) retired as Superintendent of Cassadaga Valley Central Schools.
Dr. Michael Marletta, ’73, (chem., biology) has been named by the board of trustees as the next president of The Scripps Research Institute, effective January 1, 2012. He joined the Scripps Research faculty in July.
Wendy Woodbury Straight, ’73, (elem. ed.) was the guest speaker for the American
Association of University Women at its February meeting at the Alumni House at SUNY Fredonia. Her presentation was titled, “Eber Pettit and the Underground Railroad.”
Richard Carreno, ’74, (bus. admin.) was recently appointed Interim President at Morrisville State College by the State University of New York Board of Trustees.
Linda (Leberman) Williams, ’74, (elem. ed.) retired in June 2010 as a second grade teacher at Lake Shore Central Schools.
James Collymore, ’75, (psych.) recently published his first book of poetry, Wind & Autumn Leaves, in the summer of 2010, a selection of poetry, prose, and haiku from his larger work, Heart, Mind & Soul. It includes the Internet favorite, “Perfect Woman,” and is available through Lulu.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and the Apple iBookstore.
2000s Lakisha Bennett, ’00, (elem. ed.) earned her Master of Social Work degree and assisted with the opening and development of the Lake City College Preperatory Academy in Lake City, S.C. Dr. Donna (Vallese) Okrasinski, ’00, (music) completed her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Jim Briggs III, ’01, (sound rec. technology) was the sound and dialogue editor on the film, “The Greely Expedition,” shown on the PBS history series, “The American Experience.” Tom Wilson, ’02, (media arts) was promoted to Interim Head Coach of Track and Field and Cross Country at SUNY Fredonia. Sarah (Goldstein) Post, ’03, (music perf.) was promoted to Director of Development with the Rochester (N.Y.) Philharmonic Orchestra. Brian Usifer, ’03, (music perf.) is a conductor/accompanist for the production of the Tony award-winning musical, The Book of Mormon, currently on Broadway. Kathleen (Butts) VanStry, ’03, (literacy) was named Employee of the Month at the Cassadaga Job Corps. She is a reading instructor in its Career Development Department and has worked at the academy for three years. Anne Zdrojewski, ’03, (literacy) Maria Fasciano-DiCarlo, ’05, (music perf.) sang at the Metropolitan Opera national audition’s Four City District/Great Lakes regional competitions held at the Flickinger Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, N.Y., in January and was among one of six winners of the Four City District competition. Louise Wolfe, ’05, (chem.) was selected as 2011 Teacher of the Year for Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, Fla. August John-Alfred (A.J.) Bloomquist, ’06, (comm./TV & digital film) is working for ESPN in its Production Operations department on shows including ESPNEWS, “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” “Outside the Lines,” “College Football Scoreboard” and “SportsCenter.” He lives in Bristol, Conn. Matthew D. Clark, ’06, (pol. sci.) was named golf professional at Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk. He is a two-time Western New York PGA Assistant Professional of the Year Nominee and has had two third-place finishes at the Mt. St. Mary’s PGA Pro Am. Marcy (Baldwin) Dice, ’06, (English) started her own business selling crafts as “Marcy’s Crafts and Collectibles.” Nathan Ingrao, ’06, (bus. admin./ marketing) has been appointed WCA Hospital Lifeline Community Outreach Manager at the hospital in Jamestown. Vincent Welch, ’06, (comm./ TV & digital film) was named assistant editor for the CBS Films feature comedy, “The Hand Job.” He has worked as an assistant editor for television shows and films including, “The Whitest Kids U Know,” and “The Otherworld,” and for Comedy Central and ESPN. Kate (Dahlin) Moore, ’07, (math) is a teacher at Hugh H. Cummings High School in Burlington, N.C., and was recognized as a 2010 Outstanding Secondary Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Lisa (Myers) Newell, ’07, (English) recently received her master’s degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State College and has been named the Coordinator of Judicial Affairs at SUNY Fredonia. Amanda Anderson, ’08, (English) represented President Dennis Hefner and SUNY Fredonia at the inauguration of Drexel University’s 14th president, John A. Fry, on April 15. Patrick Newell, ’08, (history/soc. studies) recently received his master’s degree in social studies-adolescence education from SUNY Fredonia. Brianna Alsfelder, ’09, (bus. admin.) was named the WCA Home Employee of the month. Merissa Fusco, ’09, (comm./pub. rel.) has been working as a Marketing Consultant handling Southeast business accounts with AT&T in its corporate office in Nashville, Tenn. She will graduate in December from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. with a master’s degree in corporate communication. Clarissa Hamm, ’09, (child. ed.) is pursuing a master’s degree at Canisius College in differentiated instruction. Angela Pucciarelli, ’09, (bus. admin./market.) received the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Betty F. Jaynes Internship. 2010s Robert Herrmann, ’10, (bus. admin.) has signed a professional contract with the Las Cruces Vaqueros in the Pecos League, an independent baseball league headquartered in Houston, Texas, and consisting of eight teams in cities throughout West Texas and Eastern Mexico. Faculty/Emeritus News
Dr. Don Lang, (School of Jonathan Mann, (School of Dr. Ted Schwalbe, (Communication) was named a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor. Dr. David Rankin, (Political |
James Pace, ’75, (music ed.) published the book, West Seneca, about the history of West Seneca, N.Y. It is available through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com and national bookstores.
Terrie (Benson) Murray, ’76, (pol. sci.) presented a seminar at the New York State Bar Association’s Basic Elder Law Practice seminar. She was recently named a partner with the Cohen & Lombardo Law firm in Buffalo, N.Y.
Michael Bovolino, ’77, (bus. admin.) habeen hired as President of Action Cos., a hotel owner and operator based in Central New York and a Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant franchisee.
Tom Andolora’s, ’79, (musical theatre) original production of, The Spoon River Project, adapted from Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology, opened in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn in late June. Tom and the production were featured and reviewed in the New York Times’ arts section. Read the review>>
Cynthia Hall, ’79, (visual arts) had an exhibit of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures at two art shows at SUNY Orange County Community College’s Middletown campus.
1980s
Dr. Lori Hershenhart, ’80, (music ed.) completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership.
Mitchell Banas, ’82, (psych.) has been reelected to Jaeckle Fleischmann’s Executive Committee.
Andy Fisher, ’82, (pol. sci.) has been named Vice President for the Cohen Group in Washington, D.C., a global strategic advisory firm led by former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen.
Matthew Hens, ’82, (special studies) was ordained as a deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
Joe Magnarelli, ’82, (special studies) was the special guest artist at the Rome (N.Y.) Art and Community Center’s At Home in the ArtHouse concert series.
Brian Cummings, ’83, (biology) has been named Vice President for Technology Commercialization at The Ohio State University.
Stephen Keefe, ’83, (English) was elected Mayor of the village of Fredonia.
Scott Martelle’s, ’84, (pol. sci.) book, The Fear Within: Spies, Commies, and American Democracy on Trial, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. He also appeared at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. His website>>
David Ezzo, ’85, (anthro.) is currently teaching cultural anthropology at Genesee Community College and Villa Maria College.
Dr. Jonathan Green, ’85, (music perf.) has been named Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. In addition to his administrative appointment, he will also serve as a professor of music.
Howard Klayman, ’85, (music ed.) was appointed as Federal Account Manager for Actiance in the firm’s Washington, D.C., regional office.
Sisters Lisa Brigantino, ’86, (music theory) and Lori Brigantino, ’87, (special studies) performed at the Adams Art Gallery in Dunkirk as part of a mini-tour including Rochester, Saugerties and Provincetown, Mass.
John Cross, ’86, (music perf.) was a special guest at the Hurlbut Community Church at Chautauqua Institution for its “Midweek Vesters” worship events. He is an active performer on flute, clarinet, saxophone, flugelhorn and percussion, and has performed with The Temptations, Don Menza, Grover Washington Jr., Manhattan Transfer and the 10,000 Maniacs, to name just a few.
Mike Kaupa, ’86, (applied music) was an interim instructor of jazz trumpet at the Eastman School of Music for the 2010 spring semester. He also was trumpet soloist on, “Cycles Suite,” by Chris Jentsch with the Ithaca College Jazz Band, and his quartet performed at the Rochester International Jazz Festival and the Lewiston Jazz Festival.
University Police Officer Tad Mackey, ’87, (sociology) received the Farm Fresh Foods Law Enforcement Award at the ninth annual awards ceremony for the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Sean Patrick McGraw, ’89, (applied music) performed, “Git Yer Cowboy On,” at Super Bowl XLV. His third studio album, “My So-Called Life,” was recently released.
1990s
Lisa Fuller, ’90, (English) works for the Worthington Libraries in Ohio in community relations, and the marketing campaign she created helped the libraries win the 2011 John Cotton Dana Award for outstanding public relations. The award is considered to be the most prestigious award given by the American Library Association.
William Burley, ’91, (psych.) has joined Century 21 Turner Brokers as a full-time member of its real estate sales staff.
Jason Nowak, ’91, (chem.) is the U.S. Army ROTC Professor of Military Science and Commander of the ROTC Battalion at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. He and his wife, Michelle E. (Vitanov) Nowak, ’91, (chem.) have a 1 1/2 year old son, Lucas. Jason recently completed his third year-long deployment in support of the global war on terror and served as Executive Officer of the 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion comprised of 1,200 soldiers providing logistics support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) operating in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.
Joy Reed, ’91, (theatre) worked as an assistant editor for the film documentary, “Buck,” which opened June 17 in New York City and Los Angeles.
Cornelius Donovan, ’92, (earth science) is a science teacher at Lake Shore Central Schools.
Gregg F. Prockton, ’92, (account.) has been promoted to Chief of Operations at MJW Technical Services, a radiological consulting firm in Olean, N.Y.
Todd Catalano, ’93, (pol. sci.) is the Library Automation Coordinator for the WNY Regional Information Center/Erie I Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in West Seneca, N.Y.
Greg Krauza, ’93, (school admin.) has joined the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce as Director of Member Development.
Guitarist Kenneth Meyer, ’93, (music comp.) performed at a program at the Geneva (N.Y.) Public Library.
Karen Volpe, ’93, (musical theatre) played Fanny Brice in the Downey Civic Light Opera’s production of, Funny Girl, and has been writing/producing and performing in, The Movie Guys Live! at The Second City in Hollywood, Calif. Video previews and clips from her live stage show can be seen at online
Tracy Collingwood, ’94, (psych.) was appointed Director of Career Development at SUNY Fredonia.
Shawn Connolly, ’94, (pol. sci.) has been appointed the newest associate at Jensen, Marks, Langer & Vance, a Buffalo, N.Y., wealth planning firm.
Kevin Kruger, ’94, (music ed.) was hired as Principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School
in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda (N.Y.) Union Free School District in August 2010, after 11 1/2 years of teaching music in the West Seneca (N.Y.) Central Schools and 4 1/2 years as an assistant principal at Kenmore (N.Y.) West High School.
Sharon (Hansen) Powers, ’95, (psych.) has been named Associate Director for Employer Relations at Ursinus College in suburban Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. Matthew Hurtgen, ’96, (geology) was keynote speaker at the SUNY Fredonia Undergraduate Research Exposition in April and also gave a geology lecture. He teaches at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Jason Irwin, ’96, (commun.) published a poetry book, Watering the Dead.
Greg Borowski, ’97, (commun.) recently co-authored and published a white paper on TV Everywhere, “TVE 101: A Guide for MVPDs and Programmers.” He also performed demonstrations of Synacor’s TV Everywhere technology to the cable and telecommunications industries at the NAB Conference in Las Vegas, and the NCTA Cable Show in Chicago.
Brian Carlson, ’97, (math-physics) was appointed as a Senior Bridge Engineer at Abate Associates Engineers and Surveyors, PC in Buffalo, N.Y.
Dr. Jason Gestwicki, ’97, (chem.) was featured on the University of Michigan’s web video series, “Out of the Blue,” as a member of the Life Sciences Institute faculty who was awarded one of its Innovative Partnership grants for work on neurodegenerative disease.
Randy Merrill, ’97, (sound rec. technology) and Stephen Roessner, ’04, (sound rec. technology) were recently associated with a Grammy-winning album. Stephen was the recording and mixing engineer and Randy the mastering engineer on, “Messiaen: Livre du Saint-Sacrement,” performed by organist Paul Jacobs, which won for “Best Solo Instrumental Performance (without Orchestra).” Stephen is a former recording engineer for The Juilliard School in New York City and is in graduate school at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering and musical acoustics, and Randy is a mastering engineer at Masterdisk in New York City.
Carmen Jude Aquila, ’98, (music comp.) gave a composition recital, “A Little Night Musing,” at Villa Maria College in Buffalo, N.Y. He also composed a piece for the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony that was performed at a Mother’s Day concert at the Reg Lenna Civic Center in Jamestown. He is a music instructor and program coordinator of the music department at Villa Maria College. His works and orchestrations have been performed as far away as Beijing, China.
Joel Keefer, ’98, (commun.) was hired by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation as the organization’s new community relations officer.
Dr. Jeffrey McLean, ’98, (biology/sec. ed.) graduated from the City of New York Graduate Center at Queens College with a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. He has done extensive research on Influenza A and Dengue virus manipulation of cellular biochemistry, and has been invited to present his work to a worldwide audience in Brazil, China, South Africa and the U.S. He also spoke at the American Society for Microbiology’s 2010 Biodefense and Emerging Diseases conference.
Anthony Popielarz Jr., ’98, (chem./sec. ed.) graduated in December from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with his M.B.A. He is currently Vice President of Innovation and Research at Vegetable Juices in Chicago.
Dr. George Harper, ’99, (biology) is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., where he also jointly holds the Nancy and Craig Wood Odyssey Assistant Professorship.
Cheryl (Hilgert) Popielarz, ’99, (health services admin.) earned her CPCU (Charterer Property and Casualty Underwriter) designation in December 2010. She is currently a Financial Officer with Hanover Insurance Group in Chicago.
Victor Prial, ’99, (English) has joined the firm of Green & Seifter, Attorneys, PLLC in Syracuse, N.Y., as an associate.
Harry Shoemaker, ’99, (biology) was named the Task Force Shadow Battalion Soldier of the Month while serving as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the Task Force Destiny, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.
