1950s
Warren C. Wohltjen, ’51, (music ed.) and his wife Anne (Tiffert) Wohltjen, ’51, (elem. ed.) sailed to Alaska to celebrate their 63rd anniversary last August.
Dr. Gerald Chesin, ’55, (speech and hearing hand.) has been awarded four International Fish and Game Association (I.G.F.A.) World Records for line class catchers. Dr. Chesin is a retired professor and real estate developer, who fishes in Alaska and the north west territories of upper Canada. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pa., with his wife, Dr. Carole Chesin. He would enjoy hearing from ’55 alums at DOCTORLTROUT@yahoo.com and is looking forward to the 60-year reunion.
Frank Pullano, ’56, (music ed.) arranged all the music and performed the program, “Bach to Broadway,” for the Rock Hill Music Club at the Oakland Baptist Church in Rock Hill, S.C. Sally (Shapley) Pullano, ’58, (music ed.) also sang during the program.
Richard Geise, ’58, (music ed.) is retired and has 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Thelma (Floyd) Seaburg, ’58, (elem. ed.) celebrated her 100th birthday this past September. She still plays bridge and played golf until she was 92.
1960s
John McGlarry, ’60, (elem. ed.) completed his first book, The Leaving, a historical romance that follows the life of Liam McGinley in the 1840s as he leaves potato famine-stricken Ireland and travels to New York City.
Dana Mathewson, ’64, (music ed.) celebrated the world premiere performance of his composition, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” a festival setting of the “Navy Hymn” for chorus and orchestra, at the Minnesota Twin Cities 9-11 Tribute Concert on Sept. 11, 2013. Dana and his wife Martha Dickinson-Zona, ’70, (music ed.) both played in the orchestra, Dana on clarinet and Martha on keyboard.
Martin Zavadil, ’65, (music ed.) continues conducting, performing and adjudicating musical events.
Lucille (Schneider) Mehl, ’66, (speech and hearing hand.) was selected as a 2013 Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award recipient in Delaware.
On June 30, 2013, Brian J. O’Donnell, ’69, (history) completed nine years of service on the Watkins Glen Board of Education, the past four as president. In May, he was honored as one of six tri-county (Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler) winners of the “Jefferson Award.” In June, the Watkins-Montour Lions Club named him as a “Melvin Jones” Fellow.
Phil Zimmer, ’69, (history) placed a 6,500-word cover feature in the September issue of Military Heritage magazine. The eight-page feature in the national publication focused on the 1939 clash at Nomonhan along the Mongolian-Manchurian border where Soviet forces defeated the Japanese. The lessons learned there by Gen. Georgy Zhukov were to later play a vital role in Russia’s life-or-death World War II struggle with Nazi Germany. He also had an article in WWII History magazine dealing with sophisticated Soviet military deception during the war.
1970s
Dianne (Pugh) Bennett, ’70, (elem. ed.) and Dr. William Graebner (emeritus) published a second alternative Rome guidebook in eBook format, Modern Rome: 4 Great Walks for the Curious Traveler. The book is available on Amazon’s Kindle store.
Barbara (Epstein) Wieder, ’70, (music. ed.) is beginning her fifth year of retirement from teaching elementary school orchestra. She has the best part-time job teaching one day a week doing what she loved for 38 years. But the best part of her retirement is spending time with her 8-month-old grandson.
Dr. Greg K. “Doc” Gibbs, ’71, (elem. ed.) was selected as the sole recipient of the “George B. Evans Grassroots Veterans’ Advocate of the Year Award 2013” at the National Sons of the American Legion Convention in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 24. He was also honored as a Distinguished Guest of the National Convention by then National Commander Christopher J. Huntzinger.
Beverly (Williams) Seaman, ’71, (elem. ed.) retired as assistant manager of the Ole Miss Golf Course. Beverly and her husband, Tony, moved to Sun City in the Atlanta, Ga., area. She is looking forward to golfing, singing and camping. She would love to hear from old friends at bevseaman1977@gmail.com.
Three McGinnies Hall roommates from 1968 gathered at Leunig’s Bistro in Burlington, Vt., to celebrate 45 years of friendship. Tricia Foley, ’72, (visual arts) of Yahpank, Long Island, is a designer and curator, and Louise (Margosian) Laughlin, ’72, (English) of Sarasota, Fla., and Carol Maxwell Conley, ’72, (English) of Essex, Vt., are retired high school English teachers. The roommates spent three days at the Conley’s Vermont home and toured many interesting Vermont locations.
Victoria (Sandwith) Washburn, ’72, (music ed.) retired in June 2012 after teaching K-5 music for 40 years in the Plattsburgh (N.Y.) City School District.
Nanette (Mignone) Girolamo, ’75, (speech and hearing hand.) retired from the Bethpage School District after 36 years as a speech language pathologist.
Allan Wilson, ’75, (music perf.) has been conducting and orchestrating music for public release cinema films. He recently worked on, “Iron Man 3,” “Now You See Me,” “Thor - The Dark World,” and other films. Allan and his daughter, Charlotte, walked the famous red carpet into the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square in London and were seated with the the “Iron Man” cast, including star Robert Downey Jr.
Denise Comeaux, ’76, (speech and hearing hand.) works for the Catawba County Schools in North Carolina as a specialist in the field of special education process compliance, after 18 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Elizabeth Petiprin, ’76, (English/sec. ed.) is semi-retired but remains an adjunct English instructor at Jamestown Community College.
Mark Zanghi, ’76, (pol. sci) was inducted into the Brocton Central School Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Christina Rausa, ’77, (theatre) portrayed a doctor in the play, The Clean House, at the Road Less Traveled Theatre in Buffalo, N.Y., and gave a much acclaimed performance as Maria Callas in, Master Class, at MusicalFare in Buffalo.
Alan Siebert, ’77, (music ed.) is serving in a two-year position as President of the International Trumpet Guild. In September, Alan and his colleagues at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) of the University of Cincinnati hosted the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet competition. He has begun his 23rd year as a trumpet professor at CCM.
Cathy (Hoffmann) Siebert, ’77, (music ed.) is celebrating her 25th year as Kindermusik educator. Her studio in Cincinnati has achieved Conductor’s Circle status as a Kindremusik Maestro, one of the top 1% of programs worldwide.
Doug Fenton, ’78, (special studies) was selected to receive the Community Service Award by the Dunkirk Community Chamber of Commerce.
R. Timothy Eades, ’79, (pol. sci.) was selected as the Community Service Award winner by the Fredonia Community Chamber of Commerce.
Herman “Moose” Erbacher, ’79, (music ed.) retired in June 2013 after teaching high school instrumental music for 33 years at Newfane (N.Y.) High School.
Cynthia Flaherty, ’79, (music ed.) traveled to the Amazon as a participant in the, “Educator Academy in the Amazon,” this past summer.
Susan (Fulkerson) McCafferty, ’79, (elem ed.) recently became a Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and is a Nurse Case Manager at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
1980s
Michele (North) Erbacher, ’80, (music ed.) is a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the Managed Care Network in Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Heidi (Feraldi) Salva, ’80, (English) was named CEO at Enterprise Charter School in Buffalo, N.Y.
Gregory S. Lindquist, ’81, (bus. admin.) joined the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation as its Executive Director. He will oversee JRC’s downtown and riverfront development efforts.
Sue (Steele) Thomas, ’81, (art) was selected as one of the guest artists at the Automotive Fine Arts Society exhibit in the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance show. The exhibit showcased brilliant works including original paintings and sculptures created by “A-list” artists from around the world.
Elizabeth (Bestercy) LaFantano, ’82, (music ed.) was selected, “Educator of the Year,” in the Kings Park, N.Y., school district.
Pamela (Krna) Barry, ’83, (chem.) was promoted to Associate Director, Global Clinical QA at TEVA Pharmaceuticals. She enjoys visiting lighthouses, hiking and birding.
Michael Knott, ’83, (psych.) accepted the position of Manager of Environmental Health Safety and Security at Liberty Utilities in Salem, N.H. He was also one of the subject matter experts who wrote ISO 26000 Guidance on Social Responsibility.
Bernie Prabucki, ’83, (econ.) was inducted into the Western New York Running Hall of Fame.
Scott Martelle, ’84, (pol. sci.) was a source for articles about the City of Detroit bankruptcy filing in the Washington Post and New York Daily News. He was also interviewed on Bloomberg Radio. His most recent book, The Admiral and the Ambassador: One Man’s Obsessive Search for the Body of John Paul Jones, will be released in the spring.
Kelley Briggs, ’85, (art/graphic design) continues her award-winning work at her business, DesignWorks NY, LC.
Patricia (Kale) Chaya, ’86, (sociology) is the Associate Dean at Genesee Community College at Warsaw and Lima, N.Y., and received the 2013 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.
Michael S. Ferris, ’86, (mus. theatre) performed in a benefit concert for the Boonville Black River Canal Museum at Boonville Elementary School in Boonville, N.Y., along with emeriti Dan Berggren, and Lisa Brigantino, ’86 (music theory).
Arthur Germain’s, ’86, (commun.) brand storytelling agency, Communication Strategy Group, turns eight and recently won a B2B “Killer Content Award” for its content marketing work with clients.
Dr. Colin J. McMahon, ’86, (biology) was appointed Medical Director, Hospital Operation at Buffalo General Medical Center.
Scott Herron, ’87, (art) joined Pinckney Hugo Group as a Senior Account Manager.
In the spring of 2013 Dr. Mark A. Neal’s, ’87, (English) latest book, Looking for Leroy: Illegible Black Masculinities, was published by New York University Press. In the fall, Neal was on sabbatical from Duke University, where he is Professor of African American Studies, and was in-residence at the W.E.B. Du Bois Research Institute at Harvard University where he is a fellow at the HipHop Archive. Neal also began production of the fourth season of, “Left of Black,” a weekly webcast that he hosts and co-produces in conjunction with the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke.
Lon Knappenberger, ’88, (biology) was selected by Governor Andrew Cuomo to join 28 other Western New York teachers to participate in a Master Teachers program at SUNY Buffalo State. He was selected based on his excellence in teaching, content knowledge and knowing the needs of his students.
Marlene A. Schmitt, ’88, (biology) is a Site Administrator in Napakiak, Alaska, at the William N. Miller Memorial School, which has 84 kindergarten through 12th grade students.
Stephanie (Debry) Widzinski, ’88, (account.) is a Senior Manager at Watkins Meegan LLC firm in Washington, D.C. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Managerial Accountant who holds active top secret clearance.
1990s
Jill (Arrance) Brown, ’90, (anthro.) was promoted to Assistant Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department at Western Kentucky University.
Anthony Casuccio, ’91, (sound rec. tech.) has written a book, Be Nice. As an award-winning music producer and music entrepreneur, he shares stories of how being nice and doing the “right thing” (no matter how hard or embarrassing) in a crazy business has created opportunities for him both professionally and personally. The book is available from all ebook sites and print.
Andy Flynn, ’91, (commun.) has been hired as Editor at The Lake Placid News.
John Georger, ’94, (music ed.) is the new Principal at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School in Dunkirk.
Kimberly Seeley, ’94, (commun.) recently relocated to Tampa, Fla., to work as a Concert Event Manager at the Tampa Bay Times Forum and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning organization. She also continues her charitable work as an auction coordinator for Positive Legacy, Cloud 9 Adventure’s non-profit branch which integrates music initiatives and community service projects in locales from Haiti to Turks and Caicos.
Dave Simpson, ’96, (sociology) is an investigator for the Rochester ( N.Y.) Police Department.
Elizabeth (Kelley) Derosa, ’97, (English) was named Volunteer Coordinator at WCA Hospital in Jamestown.
Jeff Bucki, ’98, (English) was promoted to Associate Creative Director/Copywriter at Travers Collins in Buffalo, N.Y.
Craig Harris, ’98, (commun.) was named Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Canisius High School in Buffalo, N.Y. He also serves as a trustee for the Kenmore Mercy Hospital Foundation and is a board member of the Valley Community Association.
Casey Jakubowski, ’98, (soc. stds./sec. ed.) graduated from the State University of Albany with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Leadership.
In addition to teaching chemistry full time at Hamburg (N.Y.) High School, David Mancuso, ’98, (elem. ed.) is a professor of chemistry at Erie Community College where he teaches both lecture and laboratory courses.
Scott Spaulding, ’98, (commun.) recently formed a voice over and audio production company along with his wife, Susan. Decorated Air Studios is a Philadelphia-based production house specializing in voice overs and audio production for websites, TV and radio commercials, on hold messaging services and more.
2000s
Ben Kirst, ’00, (English) has joined Quinlan, an Amherst, N.Y.-based tradigital advertising agency, as Copywriter and Content Strategist. His responsibilities include traditional copywriting as well as development and management of digital content including web sites, blog posts and social media.
Marcus Goldhaber, ’00, (mus. theatre) released a song, “Come Home America,” available on iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon. He is a New York City-based jazz-pop singer songwriter whose recordings have been praised by People magazine and Jazz Times. He was proud to not only be releasing the music on Veterans Day, but to have aligned with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Marcus joined IAVA in the New York City Veterans Day Parade, as well as the following day at the Seventh Annual Heroes Gala hosted by NBC’s Brian Williams and featuring Jon Stewart. The project was also endorsed by Michelle Obama’s Joining Forces program.
Matthew Lux, ’03, (media arts) was promoted to Manager/Digital Solutions at Chakra Communications.
Susan Amatuzzo, ’06, (early childhood/English) is the new Director of the Campus and Community Children’s Center at SUNY Fredonia.
Percussionist and composer John Bacon, ’06, (music perf.) an Adjunct Instructor in the Fredonia School of Music, has received a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Fellowship in Music/Sound.
Terry Caber, ’06, (visual arts/ graphic design) was hired as Art Director for SKM Group in Depew, N.Y., a full-service marketing communications agency.
Jill Lemme, ’06, (music ed.) was named an Instructional Designer and Trainer by SofTrek Corp., a fundraising software developer.
Dr. Monica Erbacher, ’07, (psych.) completed a Ph.D. in quantitative psychology at the University of Virginia and is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Graduate Department of James Madison University.
Joshua Freifeld, ’07, (history) is the new Executive Director of the Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corp. (CHRIC).
Jessica Hespen, ’07, (childhood ed./math) received Honors Award recogition from the Stafford County School District in Virginia. She is a fifth grade teacher at Falmouth Elementary School. Katherine Loiselle, ’07, (early child. ed./math) also received Honors Award recognition from the same district. She is a first grade teacher at Anne E. Moncure Elementary School.
Erin Schurr, ’07, (interdisc. stds./sports mgmt.) is the new Women’s Lacrosse Coach at SUNYIT.
Alan Wiseman, ’07, (music ed.) is currently teaching instrumental music, grades five to eight, in Glendale, Ariz. He recently completed his master’s degree in Music Education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Kevin Freese, ’08, (math) has been named a Relationship Manager at U.S. Bank in Lawrence, Kan.
Kimberly Luangpakdy, ’08, (English) was appointed Director of Resource Development at the Buffalo (N.Y.) History Museum.
Stephen Allen, ’09, (childhood ed.) was named Head Coach of the men’s basketball program at the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.
Megan Erbacher, ’09, (commun./TV digital film) is a producer at WKBW, Channel 7, in Buffalo, N.Y.
Laura Noack, ’09, (music ed.) led the cast of singers of Buffalo Opera Unlimited’s, “Viva Verdi.”
Angela Pucciarelli, ’09, (bus. admin./market.) has been named Assistant Director of Athletics at Jamestown Community College.
Pat Williams’, ’09, (commun./audio-radio) band, “Colors in the Air,” appeared on the USA Network’s hit comedy, “Royal Pains.”
Jordan Basile, ’10, (commun.) was hired as a graduate assistant for the Division II Lake Erie College Storm in Painesville, Ohio. He will serve as the Hitting Instructor and Outfield Coach.
Jessica Drake, ’10, ’13, (interdis. stds./music bus.) was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing for the animated TV show, “Kung Fu Panda,” in 2013.
Jillian Pettis, ’10, (curr. and instruc.) was the recipient of the Employee of the Month award at the Cassadaga Job Corps Academy.
Diver Christian Torres, ’10, (bus. admin.) participated in the Spring Nationals in Denver, Colo.; the Pan Am Meet in Largo, Fla., and the Summer Nationals at the University of Michigan.
Lucas Willard, ’10, (comm./audio-video) received the Best Feature Story award from the New York State Broadcaster’s Association for his piece, “Musicologist Dr. Neil Lerner Discusses the Sounds of Early Video Games.”
Lauren Williams, ’10, (English) reports that the movie, “12 Years a Slave,” is based upon a book by Solomon Northup, who is her fifth great-grandfather. She is honored and proud to be a descendant, and noted, “the writing gene must’ve passed down the generations.”
Andrew Feldmann, ’11, (bus. admin./finance) was promoted from part-time to full-time Marketing Associate at Athena SWC, LLC in Amherst, N.Y., a subsidiary of the Bonadio Group.
Carolyn Klotzbach, ’11, (computer info. systems) was named a Marketing and Sales Support Specialist at SofTrek Corp.
Rachael Pinkoski, ’11, (geophysics) has accepted a position with Berry Petroleum of Denver, Colo., as an Environmental Specialist. She recently graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a master’s degree in hydrology/geology. Rachael works and resides in Bakersfield, Calif.
Karen Swank, ’11, (childhood ed./math 7-9 ext.) was appointed Universal Pre-K Teacher at the YWCA in Westfield.
Carl Caughell, ’12, (earth sci./adol. ed.) accepted a graduate assistant position at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., with the track and field team.
Gabrielle Ciccarello, ’12, (sport mgmt.) has been hired as an Athletic Assistant for the Utica College softball program.
Jud Heussler, ’12, (commun.) was selected in Business First Magazine’s 30 Under Thirty class and won the Buffalo Broadcasters Association’s Radio Personality of the Year Award.
Rebekah Bretl, ’13, (pub. rel.) has joined the staff at the Office of Admissions at SUNY Fredonia as an Admissions E-Counselor.
Samuel Dolcine, ’13, (bus. admin.) was hired as a teller at Citibank and recently finished training.
Brad Nunn, ’13, (physics) has signed a professional contract with the Gwinnett Gladiators in the East Coast Hockey League.
Chelsea O’Donnell, ’13, (commun./audio-radio) was a finalist for Best Documentary in the New York Festivals International Radio Awards Competition for 2013.
Maxwell Radley, ’13, (econ.) served as the campaign manager for Chautauqua County Clerk candidate Lori Cornell.
Tyler Stanley, ’13, (commun./audio-radio) was hired by SKM Group in Depew, N.Y. as Traffic Coordinator.
Faculty/ Emeritus
Dr. John Hofmann’s, (School of Music) book, Flor Peeters: His Life and His Organ Works, is being translated into Italian by Pierluigi Facchin for publication in Padua, Italy.
Raymond Rushboldt (pol. sci.) was the guest of honor at the United Way’s annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast. He was recognized for his hands-on volunteering within the community.
Births
A daughter, Catherine Louise, to Jennifer (Reeve), ’00, (elem. ed.) and Scott Adelmann, ’00 (pol. sci/legal stds.).
Marriages
Teresa McCarthy, ’10, (interdisc. stds.) to Michael Renn, ’10 (criminal justice).
Rebecca Glogowski, ’00, (psych.) to Michael Sabin.
Deaths
Louise S. (Swanson) Kimball, Class of 1936
Helen J. (Narusiewicz) Szczerbacki, Class of 1937
Jessie (Nobbs) Congdon, Class of 1938
Marjorie R. (Robinson) Owens, Class of 1940
Laura (Hunter) Reyes, Class of 1940
Dorothy “Elaine” (Bolm) Roll, Class of 1941
Miriam A. Irvine Newcomb, Class of 1942
Shirley D. (Haack) Harms, Class of 1943
Minnie M. Healy, Class of 1944
Angela S. (Del Popolo) Castle, Class of 1950
Charles E. Taylor, Class of 1952
James D. Barhydt, Class of 1953
Phyllis (Borzelliere) Saltus, Class of 1953
Mildred J. (Thurn) Kolodziej, Class of 1954
Dr. Bennett Reimer, Class of 1954
Robert C. Keating, Class of 1955
Carol V. White, Class of 1955
Barbara (Dunn) Morris, Class of 1956
John K. Park, Class of 1957
Sally A. (Baynes) Mirth, Class of 1958
Alfonso S. “Al” Smeragliuolo, Class of 1958
Geraldine A. (Seitz) Davis, Class of 1959
Melvin W. Foxton, Class of 1959
Anthony P. LoGuidice, Class of 1959
Dr. James C. Sobecki, Class of 1959
Diane (Baker) Heller, Class of 1963
David G. Rich, Class of 1966
Audrey M. Dobek-Bell, Class of 1967
Peter Wilberg, Class of 1968
Jeannette L. (Sneddon) Fanale, Class of 1970
Mary Alice (Fenwick) Jackson, Class of 1970
Judith A. (Hojnacki) Pollard, Class of 1970
Gregory P. Ziobrowski Sr., Class of 1970
Gloria J. (McIlhagga) Cross, Class of 1971
Marie (Kitchen) Valachovic, Class of 1972
David M. Allen, Class of 1974
Edward J. “Ed” Tavalsky, Class of 1974
Mary Lou Trunzo, Class of 1976
Robert S. Guiffreda, Class of 1977
Ted L. Harriger, Class of 1977
Daniel J. Shaughnessy, Class of 1977
Robert M. VanDerlaske, Class of 1977
Matthew J. Grohol, Class of 1981
Michael D. Pieri, Class of 1983
Samuel J. “Sam” Falzone, Class of 1984
Michael E. Matthys, Class of 1985
Cheryl A. (Paupst) McMillan, Class of 1985
Janice (Caldwell) Judge, Class of 1986
V. Richard Boye, Class of 1987
Dolores R. (Scarlata) DeTolla, Class of 1988
Lori S. (Farrell) Marrs, Class of 1992
Laurence C. Wells II, Class of 2000
Faculty/ Emeritus
Dr. James F. Calarco, ’65, Director of Institutional Research and Planning, 2001-2011
Dr. Osvaldo Chinchon, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, 1970-1995
Dr. Therold “Terry” Lindquist Jr., Department of Art/Photography, 1966-2002
Marcia E. Mackowiak, Faculty Student Association, 1982-2011
Dr. David E. Meerse, Department of History, 1966-1986
Dr. Wilma Jean Pyle, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, 1965-1978
Dr. Richard F. Sheil, School of Music, 1949-1980
Herman A. Zebraski, Supervising Carpenter, 1970-1999
Student
Thomas Dean
