Central New York Road Trip Following 9/11 Faces

Transcription

scene
Summer 2011
News and views for the Colgate community
Central New York Road Trip
Following 9/11
Faces of Fitness
scene
Summer 2011
24 Central New York Road Trip
Visits to five regional alumni-owned businesses
sketch a picture of imagination, optimism,
perseverance, and enterprise
30 Following 9/11
Through the lens of 9/11, Professor Christopher Vecsey
examines how the New York Times helps us understand the many dimensions of religion
34 Faces of Fitness
Colgate people build more than muscle at the new
Trudy Fitness Center
3
Message from President Jeffrey Herbst
4
Letters
6
Work & Play
13
Colgate history, tradition, and spirit
14
Life of the Mind
16
Arts & Culture
20
Go ’gate
22
New, Noted & Quoted
40
The Big Picture
42
Stay Connected
43
Class News
56 Reunion award winners
73 Marriages & Unions
73 Births & Adoptions
74 In Memoriam
76
Salmagundi: Puzzle, Rewind
DEPARTMENTS
On the cover: Flash mob, ’gate style. One lunch hour in Frank Dining Hall last semester, music started playing and dancers appeared out of nowhere. Watch the video at colgate.edu/
news/videos/flashmobvideo. Photo by Janna Minehart ’13. Left: Memorial Chapel. Photo by
Andrew Daddio
1
scene team
Contributors
Volume XL Number 4
The Scene is published by Colgate
University four times a year — in autumn,
winter, spring, and summer. The Scene
is circulated without charge to alumni,
parents, friends, and students.
James Leach (“Central
New York Road Trip,” pg.
24) retired in 2005 as
vice president for public relations and communications after 25
years at Colgate. He has
redirected his energies
to a second career as a
higher education communications consultant,
freelance writer, and
nature photographer.
Religion professor
Christopher Vecsey
(“Following 9/11,” pg.
30), has taught at
Colgate since 1982.
The author or editor of
a dozen books, he has
dedicated his scholarly
life to understanding
American Indian
religion, history, and
culture. For the past
decade, he has incorporated an analysis
of journalism into his
religion courses, as featured on PBS Thirteen/
WNE’s Religion & Ethics
Newsweekly in 2004.
As one of our communications interns,
Kate Hicks ’11 (“Jewish
author adds flavor,” pg.
9, and “Get to know:
Andy Peng ’12,” pg. 45)
wrote numerous pieces
— from event coverage
to news stories to profiles — for www.colgate.
edu and the Scene.
After graduation, she
moved to Washington,
D.C., where she hopes
to put her English and
political science double
majors to good use in
the media.
8
scene online
Listen
World Affairs: colgate.edu/about/president
jeffreyherbst/podcasts
President Jeffrey Herbst talks with influential
campus guests in four new podcasts.
Watch
Reunion 2011: colgate.edu/video
Enjoy sights and sounds from the many activities
surrounding this year’s reunion.
Get connected
Community: colgateconnect.org/hillathome
The Hill at Home puts Colgate at your fingertips with
webcasts, Reunion College classes, presentations,
event information, and more — visit today.
2
scene: Summer 2011
Greg Herbowy (“Soul
food, Thai style,” pg. 70),
a former staff writer
at Fashion Institute
of Technology, spent
the last six months in
southeast Asia, traveling and writing. He has
freelanced for Rolling
Stone and Queen’s
College and continues
to write for Hue, FIT’s
alumni magazine. And
there’s a Raider in his
family: his dad is Dr.
Nestor Herbowy ’70.
Look
Success after Colgate: colgate.edu/success
New microsite links alumni careers with specific
majors and showcases newest graduates.
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Message from President Jeffrey Herbst
One of Colgate’s many distinctions
is the emphasis
we place on our faculty, who will always be the heartbeat of our university. As I traveled the country and
the world to meet Colgate alumni during my first year as president, it struck me how often alumni told me
that their fondest memories involve the relationships they formed with their teachers.
Lorenzo Ciniglio
Over and over, they described profound and personal interactions
that deepened their immersion in the liberal arts, and sometimes led to
friendships and professional contacts that have lasted a lifetime.
As president, one of my most important responsibilities is to further
strengthen the faculty. In the years to come, we must be able to promise
Colgate students that they will enjoy the same unique opportunities as
previous generations to engage intellectually with their teachers. We are
taking major strides toward achieving that goal.
Next year, we will add five more teaching positions and also convert
six visiting-faculty positions to the tenure stream. Combined with the
eight new faculty positions we added during 2010–2011, this increase of
19 potentially permanent positions represents a 7.8 percent growth in
teaching power at Colgate.
During 2011–2012, new searches will be held for assistant professor positions in English (African-American literature), geography (ecohydrology
with a regional focus on Asia and Africa), history (South Asian), philosophy (non-Western), and writing and rhetoric (communication studies
and public address). These new positions will strengthen our curriculum
and allow us to meet the new intellectual challenges of students who
will live and lead in a much more global, ecological, and diverse society.
Colgate’s progress in this area stands in sharp contrast to national
trends. For the past several decades, colleges and universities around the
country have been reducing the number of tenure-track faculty positions
on their campuses, replacing them with part-time teachers, graduate
students, and adjuncts. Last year, a New York Times story pointed out that,
while 75 percent of U.S. college instructors were full time and tenured in
1960, that number stands at only 27 percent today.
We have been able to afford these new opportunities because of
the generosity of our alumni and the thoughtful manner in which our
administration and Board of Trustees addressed the financial crisis that
began in 2008. The $420 million raised to date through the Passion for
the Climb campaign has greatly strengthened our finances, most notably in the faculty realm by endowing seven professorships. Making
tough decisions on budget and administrative reorganizations, including
the elimination of vice presidential–level positions, has also allowed us
greater financial flexibility.
Of course, our work along these lines is far from complete. We face
challenges posed by a major upcoming transition throughout our faculty
ranks. Due to a high volume of faculty hires in the 1970s and 1980s, we
project that approximately 30 percent of our tenured professors will
retire in the next five to seven years. The departure of so many senior
teachers represents the loss of many accumulated years of experience
and disciplinary wisdom. These excellent teacher-scholars and friends
have rendered tremendous service to the university for more than a generation; replacing them will be one of our greatest challenges.
At the same time, the prospect of hiring a significant number of new
colleagues must be viewed as an opportunity. Given the number of hires
we are likely to make in the next several years, we have a chance to shape
another generation of outstanding professors. They will join superb colleagues — the next generation of senior faculty — in providing that deep
immersion in the liberal arts so valued by our graduates. These transitions will allow us to explore new areas that are vital to the education of
future students as well as energize and enhance existing subjects with
new approaches and ideas.
As part of attracting new faculty members, now, more than ever, it is
critical for Colgate to be an attractive employer. First and foremost, we
want to enhance the intellectual home professors find on our campus.
Second, we want to encourage new members of the faculty to establish
their family homes in Hamilton in order to foster their participation in
the life of the university outside the classroom. We are working energetically to help enhance village life, with a focus on the Hamilton schools
and daycare, as well as cultural and economic vitality.
Our conversations on campus about the faculty of the future are truly
exciting and hold the promise of advancing this great university. This
privilege is due in great part to the continuing support of alumni who
recognize that maintaining and enhancing the excellence of the faculty
must always be the central priority at Colgate.
3
Letters
scene
A great read
Received the spring Scene today, and
you do not disappoint! Smiling over
the “Get to know” interview with Jen
Servedio, the “Page 13” on Adam and
SPRING 2011
I could, for example, decide that the
19th Amendment (women’s suffrage)
doesn’t suit the times, or a sitting
president could decide that the twoterm limit (the 22nd Amendment) is
inconvenient and not what we want
to “live” in our Constitution today.
It is hard to imagine the rule of law
without a Magna Carta or a constitution with substance and durability. Is
anyone thinking up there?
Robert Watson ’66
New York, N.Y.
Buhoma Bonds
Great Reads
A Supreme Victory
4
scene: Summer 2011
Mills’s story elicits pride
Eve, and then “A Supreme Victory.”
Very well done. I had goose flesh.
Wonderful writing. Thank you.
Jane Robertson
(widow of Tom Robertson ’56)
Unadilla, N.Y.
Questioning the notion of
“lived Constitution”
I was disappointed to read the fawning
appraisal of Robert P. Moses’s talk to
the student body (“Constitution must
apply equally,” pg. 9, spring 2011). To
wit: “the students and faculty members who crowded into the chapel
seemed to hold their breaths.” Really,
or were they just quiet?
Education as a constitutional right
is an interesting concept, as if an education can be granted and not earned
by studying and thinking seriously
and analytically. Sounds like Dorothy’s friend the straw man getting his
diploma. One’s education could simply
materialize out of space by government or a wizard’s decree, I suppose.
But it gets worse when Moses
speaks of the “lived Constitution.”
What on earth does that mean? The
written Constitution doesn’t matter? Then why bother at all with a
constitution? Certainly, then, it is a
waste of time to write it down. Accordingly, each of us can have our own
version floating around in our heads.
I just got through reading your article
about David Mills’s Supreme Court
victory (spring 2011). Wow! Sitting
in my bathrobe, Saturday morning,
sipping coffee, watching This Old
House and reading the Colgate Scene,
I obviously wasn’t expecting to need
the Kleenex box. I’m proud of Colgate,
David Mills, Ms. Ortiz, and central New
York. Take that, ROW (rest of world).
We’ve got soul, dammit! David’s tenacity is a lesson to all of us.
Elsewhere in the Scene, an alum
calls for turning Colgate into a real
university by adding a law school; I’d
Steve Parker ’74
Matthews, N.C.
Proposes lecture series to
honor Ted Herman
I was a student of Ted Herman’s
(“In tribute,” pg. 75, spring 2011) in
1979–1980. I would be interested in
coordinating with others (preferably
on the East Coast/in the NYC area) on
a geography lecture series that would
pertain to areas of conflict — Iran,
Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts
of the Arab world, Turkey, or Korea,
for instance — with the idea that a
better understanding of the physical
realities of a place makes war harder
to justify, and peace making a more
natural response.
I believe this would be a beautiful
way to celebrate Ted’s life and prolong
his personal mission as well as ours.
I would like for the lecture series to
focus on the natural landscape.
If you are at all interested, please
Jim Stroup
The Scene welcomes letters. We reserve
the right to decide whether a letter is
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for accuracy, clarity, and length. Letters
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opinions expressed. On occasion, we may
run additional letters online.
vote for schools of communications,
government, and business, too. ’Gaters
have left big marks in these fields, and
it might be nice to “pay it forward.”
Thanks for a great read.
David Mills ’99
On Colgate’s Facebook page
June 9/ColgateUniversity: Colgate
bucks trend by expanding tenurestream faculty
Mary Ellen Lane I’m going to get
my checkbook now. This is good news.
Way to go, Colgate.
June 2/ColgateUniversity: A ‘before’
Reunion photo. The tents are up and
ready!
Sande Pisik ’76 On my way. Do I
need a ski parka?
Ted Herman
contact me by phone (646-326-4910)
or e-mail (Kaitilin61@gmail.com). I
am open to any interpretation of the
above that you would like to explore.
Kaitilin Griffin ’83
New York, N.Y.
What they’re saying
online
At www.colgate.edu
In response to the flash mob video
shot during the spring semester in
Frank Dining Hall and unveiled on
May 13 to help celebrate Colgate Day
(see this issue’s cover image):
Thank you for this beautiful moment.
— Rico Rodriguez ’76
There’s nothing better than being at
Colgate where you can see this spirit
all around. GO, GATE!
— Carolina Swift ’14
I’m a Class of 2015 student, and I can’t
wait to arrive! I’ve been celebrating
Colgate Day all day but my personal
celebration has not been quite so epic!
— Michelle Cohen ’15
May 2/ColgateUniversity: How did
you learn about the death of Osama
bin Laden? Network news bulletin?
Facebook or Twitter? CNN email alert?
A friend? Here on campus, students
studying for finals in the library broke
out into chants of USA, USA, USA, and
also sang the national anthem after
hearing the news.
Gary Rubin Printed newspaper,
believe it or not...
Paige Prigel an Afghan jeweler on
an ISAF base :-)
Cris Edward Johnson White House
app alert
Katie Briggs Freeman Morning
news, local NBC affiliate (DC). Took me
back to my Manchester semester in
’01.
Jessie Solcz A bunch of the London
Study Group found out via Facebook
about the excitement in the library
and joined in with mini “God Bless
America” music marathons before our
morning finals :)
Chris Wilhelm Honestly macabre
chants and songs of national pride
to celebrate the death of a murderer
smacks more of revenge than the
justice this event should represent.
Call for nominations: Colgate Board of Trustees
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Trustees welcomes recommendations from alumni, parents, and friends of the institution for
candidates who will bring guidance and wisdom to the university’s
governing board.
The board seeks energetic and committed candidates who possess
expertise in various important areas including, but not limited to: higher
education, finance, the arts, technology, global learning, legal affairs,
marketing, or media relations. Those nominated should display the
ability to exercise informed, independent judgment and to act in the
best interests of Colgate to properly steward the university’s academic,
program, and fiscal resources.
Candidates should be willing to fully immerse themselves in the
work of the board. They should place Colgate as a priority in terms
of time and philanthropy, and be committed to staying abreast of
the changing landscape of higher education. The full board meets in
Hamilton at least four times a year, and trustees must be committed
to actively participating in board meetings and committee meetings
that may be scheduled at other times of the year. Trustees are also often
asked to attend and/or host other university-related events.
Each year, the board will have opportunities for three to five new
trustees for a three-year term that may be followed by two additional
three-year terms.
The Nominating Committee welcomes recommendations for future
consideration, which may be made through the online form at www.
colgate.edu/about/boardoftrustees/buildingtheboard or by mail to:
Trustee Nominating Committee, Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive,
Hamilton, NY 13346.
Correction
RV Smith was incorrectly mentioned
as deceased in the Class of 1958 column in the spring edition of the Scene.
We apologize for the error.
— The editors
5
work & play
6
Campus scrapbook
B
A
C
A
Students were on “Cloud 9” as they joined rap artist B.o.B. on
stage at the spring party weekend concert in Sanford Field
House. Photo by Ashlee Eve ’14
B
As the semester wound down, students put their heads together to finish papers and projects. Photo by Andrew Daddio
C
These hips don’t lie. The Bellydancing Club shimmied and
shook things up at Dancefest. Photo by Phuong Nam Kieu ’11
D
It was “time for a change” — of clothes! — after participating
in Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color during which people splash
a rainbow of powders on each other to celebrate the advent
of spring. Photo by Phuong Nam Kieu ’11
E
Geology professor Bruce Selleck ’71 led fellow alumni on a
tour of energy collection facilities around Madison County
during a Reunion College session on June 3. The tour included
stops at wind towers, a shale outcropping, and a natural gas
well near Lebanon Reservoir. Photo by Andrew Daddio
F
Greeting old friends, introducing the new generation, reliving the glory days, and catching up — that’s what reunion at
Colgate is all about. Photo by Andrew Daddio
G
Using the human body as a percussion instrument — as well
as actual drums and sticks — Step Afrika! combined traditional African dance with African-American stepping and
spoken word for two upbeat, sold-out performances at the
Palace Theater in March. Photo by Janna Minehart ’13
H
From saris to kimonos, students modeled cultural couture
at a fashion show that raised funds for the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation in South Dakota. Photo by Janna Minehart ’13
scene: Summer 2011
D
E
F
G
H
7
Colgate graduates are well prepared
to enter an increasingly media-centric
world because of their formidable
liberal arts education and mentorship
with alumni who are already playing
key roles in this digital age. That was
one of the messages delivered at the
university’s 190th commencement
exercises — in person and through a
live webcast — by Howard Fineman
’70, editorial director of the Huffington Post Media Group.
The veteran journalist, a wellknown analyst for NBC News and
MSNBC and the former deputy Washington bureau chief at Newsweek, provided a “crash course” in journalism to
the 698 graduates of the Class of 2011,
several of whom were live-tweeting
images and impressions during the
event in Sanford Field House.
The baccalaureate speaker was
Rev. Maria A. Scates, the visionary
founder and CEO of Johnson Park
Center in Utica, which offers safe
and supportive housing for homeless
families with special needs, youth
programs, mentoring, advocacy, food
distribution programs, and community development. While restoring
hope and transforming the Cornhill
neighborhood since 1995, the center
has welcomed Colgate tutors, Upstate
Institute interns, and other volunteers.
Both Scates and Fineman received
honorary degrees during the com-
mencement ceremony. Other honorary degree recipients were: Irene
Brown, founder of both the Community Action Partnership of Madison
County and the Lifelong Learning
Program; J. Christopher Clifford ’67,
outgoing chair of Colgate’s Board of
Trustees and a passionate supporter
of the university through decades of
service; Frans de Waal, author, Emory
University professor, and researcher
on the social intelligence of primates;
Robert H.N. Ho ’56, former Colgate
trustee and supporter of the science
center that bears his name as well as
an endowed Asian studies professorship and an endowment that supports the China study group; and Gen.
Thomas R. Morgan ’52, USMC (Ret),
Colgate’s most celebrated and highestranking member of the U.S military.
At the senior awards convocation,
Kiki Koroshetz was honored with the
1819 Award, the highest honor given
to one member of each senior class.
An English major, Koroshetz was cocaptain of the women’s soccer team as
well as a Charles A. Dana Scholar, and
she earned the distinctions of Phi Beta
Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma.
This year’s valedictorian was Jonathan Thomas Joelson of Stamford,
Conn., a double major in computer
science and mathematics. The salutatorian was Radoslav Svetlozarov
Ivanov of Sofia, Bulgaria, a double
major in mathematical economics and
computer science.
Talking points
Andrew Daddio
work & play
Commencement weekend
wrap-up
Rev. Maria A. Scates
“For the foundation of positive
change to work in and through your
life, you must A) be accountable for
your action, B) set clear boundaries,
C) be committed and available, and
D) stand firm in the decision to be a
person who brings positive change.”
— 2011 Baccalaureate speaker Rev.
Maria A. Scates, CEO and founder of
Johnson Park Center, Utica, N.Y.
“Aid can be used well or it can be used
poorly; it depends on the priorities of
the government.”
— President Jeffrey Herbst, sharing
some his research and experience in
Africa as part of the Doing Well by
Doing Good series
“If the past four years that I’ve been
here is in any way indicative for the
future for LGBTQ students at Colgate,
I can honestly say that students will
find a safe and caring community
here.”
Andrew Daddio
— Ben Pollok ’11 in Colgate’s video
that was part of the national suicide
prevention program It Gets Better
project in support of LGBTQ youth
8
scene: Summer 2011
An Evening to Benefit Autism Speaks
and The Gillen Brewer School, held in
partnership with the National Hockey
League in March.
A campus landmark was bathed in
blue as part of a worldwide effort to
raise awareness about autism when
the university participated in the
Light It Up Blue campaign initiated
by Autism Speaks. Memorial Chapel
joined buildings such as the CN Tower
in Toronto and the Empire State Building in New York City to commemorate
World Autism Awareness Day on
April 2.
Ashlee Eve ’14
Jewish author adds flavor to
Faith Week
The campus effort was led by the
women’s hockey team and coach
Scott Wiley, who together raised
approximately $18,000 for autism
awareness. Wiley and the team were
recognized at the Face-Off for a Cure:
Go figure –
Reunion 2011
1,777 attendees
1941 oldest class present
10,278 miles traveled by William ’84
and Erica ’85 Higbie, who came the farthest
— from Southbank, Australia
21 colorful tents decorated Whitnall
Field
3,638
photos taken by the university
photographer, Andrew Daddio 1,106 people stayed on campus 68 classes taught during Reunion College 13 (seriously!) golf carts transported
alumni and guests
55 student workers helped the event run
smoothly
Having worked as a peace activist
in Israel, Merle Feld is well suited
to facilitate controversial yet eyeopening discussions. Appearing on
campus March 22 as part of Colgate’s
annual Faith Week, she met with a
different kind of audience than the
Palestinian and Israeli women she had
been working with, but one no less
interested in what she had to say. A
self-described writer and teacher, Feld
has published a play, a memoir, and
most recently, a book of poetry, all of
which pertain to her deep connection
with her Jewish faith.
For her lunchtime talk at the Women’s Studies Center, she read from
her memoir, A Spiritual Life: A Jewish
Feminist Journey, and facilitated
discussion about issues she addressed
in the book, including faith, food, and
feminism.
Feld chose a passage about preparing the Sabbath, or Shabbat, meal.
She described her process, emphasizing the interplay between food and
prayer, and conveyed the sacredness
of the weekly ritual through her
careful attention to the details of its
preparation. She also reflected on her
identity in connection to making the
meal, musing on the seeming disconnect between her feminism and
domesticity.
“We are often asked, ‘What do you
do?,’ indicating the way a paid occupation defines us. I had never thought of
myself as a person who made Shabbat, and yet, that is so integral to who
I am,” said Feld.
Sammi Steinfeld ’11, a member of
the Colgate Jewish Union, said that
this was her first Women’s Studies
brown bag, and that she attended
because of the connection to Jewish
life. “That’s the great thing about Faith
Week — it ties in these seemingly
disparate groups, so organizations can
get a new and wider audience than
they ordinarily would.”
Additional Faith Week events
included a gathering to celebrate
Muslim culture and food; a dinner
discussion on faith, sexuality, and gender; and group meditation and yoga.
— Kate Hicks ’11
Back on campus
In preparation for this year’s commencement address, Howard Fineman ’70,
editorial director of the Huffington Post Media Group, surveyed Colgate alumni
working in the media to ask for life advice to share with the graduating Class of
2011. Here are some of their nuggets of wisdom:
“Nothing is beneath you. To the contrary: accept and excel at everything in front
of you, no matter how medial or tedious — and you will excel in life.”
— Jeff Fager ’77, chairman of CBS News
“The single most important attribute, and most often ignored, is the ability to
listen.”
— Ken Schanzer ’66, COO of NBC Sports
“Always pursue your goals with passion and energy. And if things get really tough,
call a Colgate friend for a beer.”
— Chase Carey ’76, president, COO, and deputy chairman of News Corporation
“If you ever act in a movie, don’t do a nude scene on a cold day.”
— Kevin Heffernan ’90, part of the Broken Lizard comedy group
As for one of Fineman’s own pieces of advice: “A Skyped person is not in front of
you; Google Earth is not the actual Earth. Talking to people face to face — iris to
iris — is indispensible because, sadly, it is increasingly rare; traveling to distant
countries and cultures — as you did on your Colgate study groups — is crucial
because doing it virtually is way too easy now. You need that third dimension.”
Loveless surprised with
endowed scholarship
Although RuthAnn Loveless MA’72
retired from her post as Colgate’s
vice president of alumni affairs, her
name will forever be remembered at
the university. At a dinner in April,
Loveless was not only surprised to
find a roomful of 170 well wishers, but
she was also caught off guard when
presented with an endowed scholarship in her name. A steering com-
mittee, led by former vice president
for advancement and former Alumni
Council president Ron Joyce ’73, had
raised $350,000 toward the scholarship, which will give preference to
applicants from Madison County.
Loveless retired June 1 after 19
years with the alumni office and 27
years total with the university. Although she expected a “small dinner”
at the beginning of a long Alumni
Council weekend, Loveless never real-
Heather Ainsworth
Light It Up Blue
9
Heather Ainsworth
The temporary Parkside
Gallery in Hamilton
10
scene: Summer 2011
“Every day, I’ve been able to interact with incredible alumni who are so
committed to this special institution,”
she said. “What could be better?”
Out with the old,
Inn with the new
In April, the revamped Colgate Inn
opened its doors for the first time
since November 2010. The extent of
the renovation effort reflects both the
venue’s civic importance as well as
the structural needs of the building
itself, which hadn’t been addressed
comprehensively in many years.
Every one of the inn’s guest rooms
has been updated, and six new suites
have been created, complete with
luxurious bathrooms large enough
for soaking tubs and walk-in showers.
Three suites feature balconies that can
be accessed through French doors.
Downstairs, the tap room has been
moved from the back of the building
to the front along Payne and Madison
streets, creating a vibrant corner with
an outdoor seating area. To serve
guest rooms and social spaces more
Goodwill took flight at the Hamilton Public Library
when several volunteers made paper cranes in support
of victims of Japan’s
catastrophic earthquake
Village Green
in March. At Massage for
Japan, a two-week fundraiser in May, people could
donate a dollar to write
their names on the cranes,
which became a growing
sculpture wall. Children
could donate 25 cents to
make their own origami or learn to write their names in
Japanese on coasters. Chikako Ikeguchi, wife of Colgate
Maureen McKinnon
work & play
ized that the room would be packed
with council members past and present, wishing to recognize her efforts
on their behalf.
“For thousands of alumni, RuthAnn
is their lifeline to Colgate. When she
is in the room, you’re at Colgate, and
that’s one of the many reasons why
we’ve come together to celebrate her
tonight,” said council president Gus
Coldebella ’91.
President Jeffrey Herbst, who traveled around the world with Loveless
during his inaugural tour, spoke of
her profound impact on the alumni
community and, by extension, the
university itself.
Loveless came to her position by
way of the Center for Career Services
and the advancement office, where
she worked for eight years prior to
heading up the alumni office. While
serving the university, she also built
her family and carved a presence in
the broader Hamilton community,
holding positions on the Hamilton
Central School board and with other
local organizations.
efficiently, the kitchen was relocated
to the center of the first floor.
The Green Room meeting space
can now be joined with the quiet
tavern and the tap room to form a
single, large reception space.
Visit www.colgateinn.com for
details.
Sustainability is second nature
In June, Colgate received a Second
Nature Climate Leadership Award
in the Baccalaureate category from
the American College & University
English professor George Hudson, organized the event
and used her massage therapist license to raise additional funds. On two Friday evenings, she and six other
massage therapists gave massages and reiki therapy
to raise funds for the Japan Society, which sends 100
percent of donations straight to victims in Japan. “I
was born and raised in Japan,” Ikeguchi said. “When the
earthquake hit, even though my family wasn’t from that
area specifically, I thought I must do something within
my ability.”
Local art lovers and artists joined forces to fill the
vacated premises of the former Parkside Deli in May
and June, creating the temporary Parkside Gallery.
MAD Art member Jean Deming gathered her artist
friends to set up an installation titled “Let It All Hang
Out,” which ran from May 12 to June 5. The for-sale artwork on display included sculpture, pottery, watercolor
paintings, and an eclectic collection of photographs.
Colgate students and Hamiltonians no longer have to
leave town to satisfy their cravings for Indian cuisine.
India Café opened its doors on Broad Street in downtown Hamilton at the end of July. The owners’ third location is open daily for lunch and dinner. New items will be
added to the menu every few weeks; lunch specials and
a weekend lunch buffet will be offered.
Wine enthusiasts gathered at the Colgate Inn for
a tasting and book discussion led by Evan Dawson,
the author of Summer in a Glass: The Coming of Age
in Winemaking in the Finger Lakes. Each chapter of
Dawson’s book is dedicated to a different Finger Lakes
vineyard; many of those wines were sampled at the
event organized by the Colgate Bookstore.
Welcome aboard!
Ashlee Eve ’14
Happy Birthday, Raider! More than 40 children helped Colgate’s mascot celebrate his
eighth birthday on April 30 at the Eaton
Street Fields. The party was complete with
face painting, a Raider piñata (filled with
8 lbs. of candy), and games.
Kara Bingham joined the Colgate staff
as director of international programs
on March 1. In addition to overseeing Colgate study groups, Bingham is
charged with expanding the services
provided to students by the Office of
Off-Campus Study and developing
new opportunities for study abroad in
non-traditional destinations. Previously, Bingham was director
of study abroad at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. She holds
an MA in intercultural relations from
Lesley University.
In July, Debra Townsend joined
Colgate as the vice president for
communications. In addition to leading the Office of Communications,
she will also serve as a strategic
communications adviser to President
Jeffrey Herbst and other senior administrators.
As the principal of Communications on Demand, a consulting firm
based in Loudonville, N.Y., Townsend
advised clients including more than
40 educational institutions and an
equal number of charitable and health
care organizations, corporations,
and marketing and consulting firms.
Townsend has assisted her academic
clients in developing successful
alumni and enrollment management
communications plans. On several
occasions, she served in an interim
role as head of communications at
various academic, government, and
corporate institutions. Over the years,
she has worked with many liberal arts
colleges, as well as several large state
universities and technical institutes.
Get to know: Gert Neubauer
Andrew Daddio
mental concerns, these efforts give
students a number of educational
opportunities.
“When an organization like this
recognizes our achievements among
nearly seven hundred other colleges
and universities, it recognizes the
tireless efforts of dozens of Colgate
students, faculty, and staff over the
past year,” Pumilio said.
Now in the process of completing a
three- to five-year Sustainability and
Climate Action Plan, the university is
continuing to explore a number of potential projects to continue reducing
its carbon footprint, including switching to a cleaner alternative to fuel oil,
reforestation projects, and carpooling
incentives, Pumilio explained.
— Monica Dutia ’13
Presidents’ Climate Commitment
(ACUPCC). At the organization’s
Climate Leadership Summit on June
23 in Washington, D.C., John Pumilio,
Colgate’s sustainability coordinator,
and Lyle Roelofs, provost and dean of
the faculty, accepted the award on the
university’s behalf.
The ACUPCC is a network of college and university presidents and
chancellors committed to eliminating
net greenhouse gas emissions from
certain campus operations. Colgate’s
former president, Rebecca Chopp,
joined 151 other presidents and chancellors in signing the commitment in
2009.
Colgate’s efforts include a significant decrease in campus greenhouse
gas emissions between 2009 and
2010, which has saved the university
nearly $300,000 in operating costs. In
addition, the university has implemented an electronic waste recycling
program, a composting program,
and a new online rideshare program.
Colgate professors also offer numerous academic courses that focus on
sustainability and climate change. In
addition to helping address environ-
Deputy Chief of Campus Safety
What are your main areas of responsibility? I oversee daily operations — dispatch, ID cards,
and whatever the officers are doing, whether it’s building security, complaints, investigations, parking, you name it — plus our 25 student workers.
Do you only wear a uniform for working events? Actually, I always wear a uniform. There
was a time when I didn’t, but I got back into it. I’m proud of where I work and of what I do.
How did you find your way into campus safety? I got interested in law enforcement because
of my husband, Don. He retired out of the Chenango County’s Sheriff’s department after 29
years. My original thought was to go into the state police, but I got hired here in 1983 and
really enjoyed it. This was a job that allowed me to combine law enforcement, security, community policing, and getting to know people. Besides, it’s close to home, and I’m a homebody.
What’s your work philosophy? Whatever the situation might be, it’s: be fair, be consistent,
and treat people the way you want to be treated. With the students, I try to remember that
we were all that age at one point, and recognize that everybody makes mistakes.
What has been your most memorable moment here? I’ll name a couple. In 1997, when I was
promoted to assistant director, I was fairly young, so that was a morale booster. And in
2008, I was the first recipient of the Dean of the College Award for Student Services. That
was quite a shocker. I never knew who nominated me.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? I would have to say between Lathrop and Lawrence,
during the summer, at five in the morning when the sun’s coming up. I spent 9 or 10 years on
the midnight shift, and I’d stop there on patrol. It’s just very soothing, calming, quiet.
What was the most bizarre circumstance you’ve responded to? In the late ’80s when I was
still working midnights, we got a call from Stillman Hall that a student was stuck in handcuffs. After trying a couple keys, we had to call maintenance to come with bolt cutters.
We hear you’re from a family of nine. Where are you in the birth order? Dead last, including
my twin brother. I like to say that I got tired of him [in the womb] and kicked him out.
What else do you do with your spare time? Walking our 17 acres (we live in Sherburne),
maintaining our property, riding my ATV. The last four years, Don and I also maintained
the lawn and cemetery at Church of Epiphany. To me, it was giving back to the church that
my family’s been in for many years. And we hunt — I always take the first week of deer
season off.
And rumor has it you’re a Harley enthusiast. Do you ride with your husband? I am not a
rider — I’ve gotta be driving my own bike! I have a Harley Sportster 1200; it’s my therapy. In
the summer, you can usually find us at Wednesday Bike Night at Gilligan’s Island [ice cream
shop in Sherburne].
— Rebecca Costello
11
“Nothing human is
foreign to me”
By Jake Kleinman ’07
“I just can’t take it anymore.” Those
words, from a 15-year-old Madison
County–area high school student,
made my heart pound through my
chest, and my eyes start to water.
They made what I was doing finally
feel real. I had just spent an hour sharing my own trials in coming out to my
friends and family and my metamorphosis from a scared-straight college
student to an out-and-proud medical
student. That this well-spoken young
man had opened up to me in front
of a crowd in the Colgate Bookstore
touched me deeply.
I had been invited back to talk
about my chapter in Dan Savage and
Terry Miller’s It Gets Better: Coming
Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living. The book’s
personal stories — from everyday
people like me as well as President
Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, and David
Sedaris — were compiled from a viral
video project launched in response
to tragic suicides by lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and queer
(LGBTQ) teens.
Andrew Daddio
work & play
Passion for the Climb
12
scene: Summer 2011
I’m often asked about my experience at Colgate. The truth is, I was
horrified to divulge my sexuality when
I discovered it before my junior year. I
thought that those close to me would
either be upset that I had been lying
for so long or “unfriend” me because
I was now “the gay kid.”
I remember driving to school to
tell my roommates and best friends
before I left for my semester abroad
in Spain. While, previously, I had been
deathly afraid of the speed traps on
Route 17, this time I couldn’t make it
fast enough. I had prepped my roommates for important “upsetting” news
for weeks. When I finally reached
the Parker Apartments and divulged
my secret, I was shocked that they
laughed. When I asked why they were
laughing, they responded, “Jake, we
thought you had cancer; you being gay
is just funny compared to that.” Their
reaction, and the acceptance I found
in my final two years at Colgate, made
me realize that, while I was afraid
about others judging me, I was being
ignorant about judging others.
Then came medical school. After
being accepted to Tulane University
School of Medicine, I had to face the
fact that I was gay, Jewish, and from
the north, attending a medical school
in the Deep South. I thought I would be
shoved back into the dark closet that
I had come so far out of at Colgate.
That was until I met Father Don, Tulane’s medical school chaplain. When
I first met him, I was scared away by
his black shirt and white collar. Then
I heard him speak in a medical ethics
course, delivering one of the most important sentences in my life: “Nothing
human is foreign to me.”
What does that mean? As humans,
we have the ability to understand
and respect decisions and actions of
all others. We may not always agree,
nor may we have done the same, but
it is our duty — particularly those of
us in professions like medicine, the
priesthood, and education — to live a
life free of judgment of others, a life
of mutual respect and understanding. What I heard was the message
that I can use my experiences as a
gay person to educate and relate to
my patients. Father Don continues
to be a mentor for me as well as for
my partner, Robert. For the last two
years, he has asked me to speak to
incoming medical students about the
importance of respect and acceptance
of diverse patients and peers.
During my talk at the Colgate
Bookstore, someone asked me, “How
does it feel to be an advocate and
activist?” I looked around the room,
thinking that question was meant for
someone else. While I had been called
an advocate before, mainly for my
pediatric patients, the word “activist” gave me a visceral reaction. I’ve
always thought of activists as people
like Harvey Milk and Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr., who gave their lives for their
cause — a frightening thought. Once
I took a moment to collect myself, I
realized that, if helping others and
ensuring fair treatment is a form
of activism, I would wear that title
proudly.
So, as this ninth-grader shared his
traumatic story of being bullied after
coming out at school, I saw my chance
to tangibly help someone, as a tribute
to the support that I received while
I was at Colgate.
Right then, I made a promise to
myself — and, more importantly, to
him — that I would no longer stand
on the sidelines waiting for times to
change, for someone else to step up.
I vowed to work toward the goal that
no student will ever feel that he or she
is not welcome in school.
Now, I’m working with his school
district, setting up diversity and
acceptance training for students,
faculty, and staff so that all students
can feel welcome and accepted there.
They, too, realize we can no longer
wait for more teenagers to take their
own lives because of senseless bullying.
Had it not been for my family and
friends who have given me the support that allowed me to be myself, and
the invitation and sponsorship of the
Colgate Bookstore and the Office of
LGBTQ Initiatives, I would not have
been able to tell that young man “it
gets better!”
8
Read more essays from our
Passion for the Climb series, or see
how you can submit your own essay, at
colgateconnect.org/scenepfc.
On your shelf
Whether you’re enjoying family game night, having
a midnight snack, or doing laundry, a product you use
daily might have been created by a Colgate alumnus.
Chilly citrus
John M. Fox ’34 (1912–2003)
Fox’s company, Florida Foods (later Minute Maid),
made the first commercial batch of frozen orange
juice concentrate in 1946. A branding maven, Fox
later put the ubiquitous blue sticker on Chiquita
bananas.
Wash & wear
Harold Selmer Jensen ’34 (1912–2003)
A research chemist, Jensen held several patents for
household products including Woolite, the go-to
detergent for delicates, as well as Griffin shoe polish.
Creamy delights
Bennett Cohen ’73
Cohen and his childhood friend co-founded
Ben & Jerry’s in 1978 — they invested $12,000
to open a scoop shop in a renovated gas
station in Burlington, Vt.
Genius edition
Ed Werner ’71 and John Haney ’70
These friends were among the four creators of
Trivial Pursuit, which Time magazine once deemed
“the biggest phenomenon in game history.”
Healthy hydration
Darius Bikoff ’83
After a New York City water scare in the early 1990s,
Bikoff founded Energy Brands in 1996 to create the
nutrient-enhanced beverages Vitaminwater and
Smartwater as alternatives to tap and spring water.
13
Page 13 is the showplace
for Colgate tradition, history,
and school spirit.
scene: Summer 2011
Dick Broussard
life of the mind
14
Documenting Colgate’s past
This spring, students in History 200
not only got a lesson on Colgate’s past,
but they also learned how to use new
media to portray the days of yore. In parallel classes taught by professors Alan Cooper and Rob Nemes, the
students made brief history documentaries on Colgate topics of choice. The
videos explored such subjects as the
university becoming coed, the evolution of the Konosioni honor society,
and the 1970s student protests against
bulldozing Hascall Hall (“Old Bio”).
The project started with conducting research in the archives, assisted
by university archivist Sarah Keen,
who laid out sample materials including photographs, yearbooks, and
letters to give students an idea of
what was available.
Carefully combing through the
belly of the archives was a good
exercise for potential history majors,
Cooper explained. “It’s not a matter of
getting on the Internet, cutting and
pasting, and cobbling it together,” he
said. “You really have to systematically
work through a vast quantity of stuff,
and it’s good to know how to do that.
It’s a different level of seriousness.”
Some students, like Travis Larrison
’13, also interviewed alumni for the
project. For the video he produced
with partner Alexander Hong ’13
about the student protests over the
administration’s proposal to demolish
Hascall Hall, Larrison spoke with Dean
Wise ’76. “Dean was one of the leading
student supporters of Hascall Hall,
and he provided me with a bevy of
information,” Larrison said.
For the backbone of each video, the
students narrated scripts that they
prepared. Once the narration was in
place, they could focus on the visual
and audio details needed to create a
film. Sarah Kunze, instructional technology analyst, helped the students
work with the editing software Final
Cut Pro to compose their videos.
After creating their videos, students wrote a 10-page research paper
— something that Cooper said was
made easier because they had to identify the heart of their stories when
writing succinct scripts. “They learned
all the skills that we try to teach in an
ordinary history class: have a hook,
know your argument, and get right to
the point,” he said.
“It’s one thing to learn about
history through journal articles and
books, but it is entirely different —
and much more exciting — to learn
about history by doing the investigating yourself,” said Larrison.
Watch the videos at http://www.
youtube.com/user/cu13video
Researching NHL relocations
An independent study project that
student-athlete Wade Poplawski ’11
worked on with economics professor Michael O’Hara has turned out to
have timely implications. Poplawski,
an economics major and a member
of the university’s
hockey team, had
approached
O’Hara —
his adviser
and a Raiders fan who
attends
every home
hockey game — about his interest in
examining the best prospective locations for teams in the National Hockey
League (NHL). The research project led
to a co-authored paper that is being finalized for submission but has already
drawn interest from The Hockey News
magazine, for which both Poplawski
and O’Hara were interviewed.
“It was exciting that I was able
to use some of the information and
econometric techniques that I learned
at Colgate and apply it to a real-world
scenario, and to add to the existing literature in the field of sports economics,” Poplawski said.
The Colgate researchers examined
the factors that make a location most
fitting for an NHL team. At the time of
their research, rumors were circulat-
ing of a possible relocation of either
the Atlanta Thrashers or the Phoenix
Coyotes to Winnipeg, Canada, because
both teams at the time had the lowest
potential to generate revenue. As a
native of Winnipeg, Poplawski was
curious to study the prospects of an
NHL team moving to his hometown.
The research model that Poplawski
and O’Hara employed showed that
Winnipeg would be a good market for
a team under the current NHL structure, and that, out of all the teams
in the league, either a Thrashers or
a Coyotes move to Winnipeg would
make the most sense economically.
The Coyotes were considered the
favorite to relocate, especially because
the team had been a longstanding
franchise in Winnipeg before moving
to the Southwest in 1997. But after
months of speculation, True North
Sports and Entertainment formally
announced at the end of May that it
would purchase the Thrashers and
move the team north.
O’Hara said he enjoyed studying
the economics of professional sports,
a field he had not previously explored.
He was quick to add that, despite both
of their personal interests, they were
careful to let the data stand on its
own merits.
— Monica Dutia ’13
Faculty laurels
The following members of the faculty
were recently recognized with new
appointments.
Chemistry professor Ernest Nolen
was named a Presidential Scholar for
July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2014. One
of the organic chemist’s numerous
grants allowed Colgate to acquire a
high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. Nolen teaches a
range of courses including a First-Year
Seminar called Juggling Science and
Judeo-Christian Thought (he is an accomplished juggler). Roger Rowlett, also in chemistry,
has been named the Gordon and
Dorothy Kline Professor of chemistry.
Rowlett focuses his research on enzymology (the isolation, purification, and
characterization of enzymes, especially experimental kinetics) and protein
engineering (the specific alteration of
enzyme structure and function using
recombinant DNA methods). English professor Phillip Richards
has been appointed to the Arnold A.
Sio Chair in Diversity and Community
in the Department of English for July 1,
Jennifer Cooney Vulpas
Arnold A. Sio Chair in Diversity and
Community
2011, through June 30, 2013. Richards’s
research interests include Puritan and
evangelical traditions in American
and African-American culture, and
African-American literature and intellectual history. Maura Tumulty, in the Department
of Philosophy, received continuous
tenure and promotion to associate
professor. Her specialties include
philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and feminism in philosophy.
Those promoted to full professor
include Maureen Hays-Mitchell,
Department of Geography, as well as
Anne Kebabian and Michael Poulin,
in the University Libraries.
Hays-Mitchell’s scholarly interests lie “principally in the gendered
dimensions of economic development
in Latin America,” where she has
conducted grassroots fieldwork for the
past 20 years.
Kebabian’s work centers on providing the means to discover and use
library resources of all types through
the Colgate libraries’ online catalog.
As head of digital initiatives and
resources, Poulin focuses on reorganizing the management of all library
digital resources that support the
curriculum as well as users both on
and off campus.
Seniors’ sabermetrics savvy
An independent study project by two
seniors that examined Major League
Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement has helped fuel the debate
over the labor pact and led to several
requests for the student researchers to
make conference presentations.
Ethan Levitt ’11 and Harry Raymond
’11 teamed up to study two of the
most controversial parts of the current agreement: the revenue-sharing
program and the draft pick–free
agent compensation system. Utilizing sabermetrics, a field of advanced
statistical analysis of baseball, Levitt
and Raymond worked with physics
professor Ken Segall in compiling data,
creating and testing various models,
and ultimately writing papers analyzing their results.
Levitt, a mathematical economics
major, found that the revenue-sharing
program, which redistributes local
revenue from the large-market teams
to the smaller ones in order to theoretically create competitive balance,
creates a disincentive for smallmarket teams to spend money on
team payroll. Using a model based on
three expectedly positive relationships
(payroll spending and winning, winning and attendance, and attendance
and team revenue), Levitt deduced
that several underlying factors were
damaging these positive relationships
for the teams they were designed to
benefit.
Raymond, a political science major,
noticed that the correlation between
payroll spending and winning has
been decreasing steadily over the
past decade. Because this is the relationship that the revenue-sharing
program focuses on, he decided to
explore why this was
occurring. He found
that the current
system of rewarding teams that lose
free agents with
premium draft picks
was outdated. Raymond used
sabermetric statistics to quantify in a
more definitive way the relationship
between the value of free agents and
corresponding draft picks in terms of
wins. His findings suggested that the
current system significantly overcompensates teams that lose a player to
free agency, which encourages teams
to spend less money on free agents
and focus more on developing young
players.
Both papers written by the seniors
were featured in the conference
proceedings of the MIT Sloan Sports
Analytics Conference sponsored by
ESPN. The authors also presented at
the National Undergraduate Research
Conference in Ithaca, and they pre-
sented at the Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American
Culture at the National Baseball Hall
of Fame in June. Front-office personnel from the Tampa Bay Rays have
reached out to the students to discuss
their findings, as have officials with
the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Both Levitt and Raymond hope that
owners and players will avoid a player
lockout, and reach a new agreement
before the current pact expires in
December.
Live and learn
Two retire from faculty
On April 29, I was one of the million
people who filled the streets outside
Westminster Abbey for the extravaganza that was Prince William and Kate
Middleton’s royal wedding. But rather
than just a fan, I was a working journalist,
braving the hordes to seek quotes, colorful anecdotes, and factoids.
As part of the London Economics
Study Group, I spent three weeks interning at the Associated Press with European news supervisor Sheila Norman-Culp
’80. I spent my first day on the job — the
Tuesday before the wedding — outside
Westminster Abbey, interviewing fans
already camped out in the cold. I snagged
the story of the morning when I got a
few words with John Loughrey, a selfproclaimed royal “super-fan.” Loughrey
was the first to stake out a front-row
seat for the big occasion and told me the
day would be “fantastic for everyone.”
On Friday, I reported the latest news
to anxious editors: Was that a smile on
Victoria Beckham’s face? What shade of
yellow is the queen wearing? Can we get
a hold of dress designer Sarah Burton?
These were buzzing questions that
needed answers quickly. It was a busy
start to the day, to say the least.
The story didn’t end when the newlyweds exited the abbey. At one of 800
street parties in London, I spoke with
locals who believed the wedding was a
great way for people of all nationalities
to come together ... and have a few pints
before noon.
The wedding was watched across the
globe, so I had a feeling my hard work
would be seen back home. The AP is the
world’s oldest news agency, with a daily
estimated audience of two billion people.
At the end of a long day, I was proud to
see my name on a contributor’s byline.
Longtime professors Peter Sheridan
and Marilyn Thie were both recognized at the awards convocation
during commencement weekend for
achieving emeritus status.
Sheridan joined the chemistry
faculty in 1980. As his citation read,
“He pursued research projects in the
area of thermal and photoinduced
reactions of coordination compounds;
his teaching in the areas of inorganic
chemistry, general chemistry, and
energy issues was superb; and he
led the inaugural study group to
Cardiff, Wales.” Sheridan served his
profession as chief faculty consultant
to the Advanced Placement Chemistry
Program and as a member of the Advanced Placement Test Development
Committee.
Thie, who will officially retire
on December 31, joined the Colgate
faculty in 1974. In her scholarship and
teaching, she integrated American
philosophy and feminist philosophy
of religion in path-breaking ways.
Winner of four teaching awards and
holder of the Christian A. Johnson
Chair in Liberal Arts Studies, she
combined learning with service.
Thie introduced Colgate’s first Latin
American study abroad program,
co-founded and directed the Women’s
Studies Program, led efforts to launch
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies minor, and
oversaw the revision of the core curriculum. Her citation noted that “her
commitment to social, economic, and
gender justice, and her willingness to
speak truth to power, have continuously renewed her own pedagogy
and shaped Colgate itself.” As she
leaves Colgate, Thie assumes elected
office in the Sisters of Charity of Saint
Elizabeth.
—Caroline Morrow ’12 (above, right, with
Sheila Norman-Culp ’80)
15
Students performed
They Say Her Name
is Alice in Brehmer
Theater before taking
the show on the road.
Like Alice in Wonderland, seven
theater students went down the
rabbit hole and came through with a
different perspective after participating in the spring Children’s Theater
Workshop. Directed by April Sweeney,
assistant professor of English in the
University Theater, the class presented They Say Her Name is Alice, inspired
by Lewis Carroll’s beloved novel.
After two shows at Colgate’s
Brehmer Theater, the troupe took to
the road and delivered four performances for children in upstate New
York. From writing the script to acting
to unloading the bus and setting up
the stage, the students collaborated
on every aspect of the play. On top
of their theatrical duties, the group
cooked and cleaned for each other in
the cabin where they stayed. Sweeney started fostering a close
group dynamic from the beginning
with one of the first assignments: to
come in with two special talents. “The
class sees the person in front of them
as vulnerable and doing something
that they most likely did as a child,”
she said. “It’s an entryway into the
soul of that person.” Like all of the
class assignments, those special talents were woven into the production.
For example, Alex Heller ’13, a native of
Toronto, speaks Quebecois French, so
in one of his roles as the White Rabbit,
he translated for the French king.
and listened and communicated. It
was the last time they were ever
going to do the play, so they took a lot
of risks.”
Uhlig agreed: “We learned a lot
about our characters through the trip,
and that was a great culmination.”
Two alumnae also worked on the
production: Kat Yen ’09 was stage
manager, and Rachel Vining ’07 made
all of the masks and objects.
Making a cameo for the Hamilton shows was 11-year-old Georgina
Godfrey, daughter of art professor
Dewitt Godfrey. Dressed like a mirror
image of Laura Uhlig ’14, who played
Alice, Georgina faked out the audience
as a young Alice in the opening and
closing scenes. She also gave students
their first taste of what’s it’s like to
perform for children, who can be both
the toughest and easiest audience at
the same time, Sweeney explained.
“Children don’t lie,” she said. In rehearsal, Georgina “would tell us that
a part was boring or ask us why we
were doing something, so she put the
students on guard,” Sweeney added.
With the children in the audience
seated on the croquet grass of the
set, the actors interacted with them
during the play: when the Mad Hatter
first came out, he put hats on all of
them, and there was a scene in which
one was “kidnapped.”
The performance venues were as
varied as the Mad Hatter’s moods —
including a two-room schoolhouse
in the woods, a community center,
a large gym for a K-12 school, and a
theater in the Adirondacks. The last,
at the Pendragon Theatre in Saranac
Lake, was the best, said Sweeney. “The
troupe really played with each other
Protecting cultural property
Ashlee Eve ’14
arts & culture
Down the rabbit hole
16
scene: Summer 2011
The damage inflicted on Egypt’s
museums and monuments during the
recent chaos in Cairo, the destruction
of Afghanistan’s heritage sites in the
Afghan war, and the selling of Nazi
plunder — issues of cultural property
in times of conflict are ever present.
Carolyn Guile, assistant professor of art and art history, has been
researching the destruction and
protection of cultural property during
times of armed conflict, specifically in
Poland, since her time as a graduate
student at Princeton University. At the
end of March, she brought together
other Colgate professors and scholars
from U.S. universities for an interdisciplinary look at cultural property
worldwide. Derek Gillman, director of
the Barnes Foundation and president
of the International Cultural Property
Society, was the keynote speaker.
The two-day forum, Form and
Content: A Symposium on Cultural
Property, kicked off with a screening
of The Rape of Europa, a film about
the deliberate destruction and looting
of Europe’s art during World War II.
The symposium continued the following day with paper sessions and
discussions in Little Hall’s Golden
Auditorium.
“Cultural property is an extension
of ourselves,” Guile said. “I want to
understand that relationship between
who we are as societies and individuals as expressed through cultural
property, by which I mean the built
environment, the arts, and intangible
property; and what happens when
cultural property is altered and reinterpreted according to historical and
political circumstances.”
Participants explored the link
between cultural property and human
rights, in addition to the efficacy of
the legislation addressing these issues
— specifically the 1954 Hague Convention. “In World War II, the Bosnian
War, and the Armenian Genocide,
for example, we saw the deliberate
destruction of cultural property as
an extension of the targeted eradication of human beings. Buildings and
monuments embody and represent
culture. One way to degrade a culture
is to dismantle its cultural property,”
Guile explained.
The forum was an extension of
Guile’s Borderlands course, an upperlevel seminar that studies early modern art and architecture in Europe’s
eastern-most frontier. After attending
forum sessions, her students participated in rigorous discussion and
wrote papers based on what they
found most compelling.
Student involvement also included
co-sponsorship by STAND, Colgate’s
chapter of a nationwide student genocide prevention organization.
“It is rare that we, as students, are
active participants in a discussion at
such a high, professional level,” said
Courtney Diamond ’12, who assisted
Guile with the planning and organizing. “The issues and opinions posited
during the forum allowed us to gain
a deeper level of understanding about
the issue of cultural property.”
Seniors’ swan song
This year’s senior art projects explored
concepts of dreams, societal constructions, human excess, capitalism, and
just plain having fun. From recycled
material to video, students used a
range of media to express themselves
in their final works at Colgate.
Lamont Sonds asks “Where U
Goin’?” in the title of his sculpture
that represents struggle and a desire
to escape. “The figure is trying to get
away from the wall, constrained by
metal plates,” Sonds explained. “The
internal struggle is evidenced by the
cracks, abrasions, breaks, and crevices
of wood and metal. I want the viewer
to feel what the figure feels — that
struggle is associated with strenuous
activity, that struggle comes at the
expense of some type of energy.”
Julie Caroline Barraza’s interest in
the portrayal of the female body in
contemporary popular culture fueled
her to focus on the visual power of a
woman’s silhouette in Digital Vitality and Megapixel Persuasion: Digital
Heroines. “The digital nature of these
images achieves a delicately balanced
visual complexity that exudes energy
and confidence but also maintains an
air of mystery,” Barraza explained.
Amandine Kaya explained her
piece (On Endless Discourse. On Progress.) with a poem: Staircases. / Step
by step / they take us. / Where are we
going / as we move through time / a
change of elevation / from stage to
2011 Senior art projects
Top
Where U Goin’?
(wood, metal, screws; 63"x 32")
by Lamont Sonds ’11
Above
Digital Vitality and Megapixel
Persuasion: Digital Heroines
(1 of 4 digital multimedia prints;
16" x 20")
by Julie Caroline Barraza ’11
Right
On Endless Discourse. On Progress.
(tissue paper, metal, crochet thread, linen
thread, plywood, mirrors, screws, paint;
11'7" x 20")
by Amandine Kaya ’11
Photos by Mark Williams
17
arts & culture
stage? / Step by step / are we climbing
/ or are we descending?
Find a slideshow of all the senior
art projects at http://merz.colgate.edu/.
No loss in translation
Seated in the one-room
set of Waiting for
Godot, audience members were treated to
an intimate theater
experience in Starr Rink.
Performing a play in a hockey rink
might seem absurd, but it actually
dovetailed perfectly with the spring
production of Waiting for Godot.
Adding another layer of complexity,
Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play —
originally written in French and translated into English — was performed
by famous Russian actors while English supertitles were projected onto a
screen above.
University Theater director Adrian
Giurgea had directed Waiting for
Godot in St. Petersburg, Russia, in
January before recreating the professional production in Colgate’s Starr
Rink this past April. Calling Godot “the
most representative play of the 20th
century,” he explained that it takes
place in the aftermath of World War II,
when “things really didn’t make any
sense. The play came out of the sensibility of the postwar human experience — it was not Russian in any way,
but we made it Russian,” said Giurgea,
who has done most of his professional
work in Russia over the last 10 years.
Because no theater on campus
could accommodate the 70-foot set,
Giurgea and his students “did heroic
work to mount the Russian set in the
rink in record time [a little more than
a week],” he said. The set was one
large, rectangular, wallpapered room
with 13 doors and a little stove in the
center. The audience was seated in
the room with the actors, creating an
intimate experience.
“The placing of chairs, being in a
closed space with an intriguing décor:
all this created a great deal of interest and suspense in what was going
to happen,” said audience member
John Gullucci, associate professor of
romance languages and literatures.
Because many of the well-known
actors from the Takoy Theatre
Company are professors at theater
academies in St. Petersburg, they also
led workshops with Colgate theater
majors during their stay.
Ming Peiffer ’11, who worked
backstage as a crew member, said she
thought it was an amazing opportunity to observe the professional actors.
“I don’t speak Russian; however, the
actors were so clear and focused in
their performances that you were able
to understand the action of the scene
despite the language barrier.”
An unexpected hiccup provided an
additional learning experience: when
some of the Russian stage hands were
not granted visas at the last minute,
students had to fill those roles. Even
former theater major Kat Yen ’09 was
Preview
An Architect’s Vision
Picker Art Gallery
August 30–October 7
When Colgate’s Creative Arts Center
was designed by preeminent architect
Paul Rudolph in the mid-1960s, it was
conceived as a two-phase project.
Dana, as we know the building today,
represents only Phase I; Phase II
was never executed. As a result, our
campus is home to an extraordinary
— if controversial — building, many of
whose peculiarities may be best appreciated when we understand the full
original concept.
This exhibition of drawings, prints,
and models will illuminate a fascinating moment in the history of Colgate’s
campus and offer a glimpse into the
mind of one of the great architectural
visionaries of postwar America.
A second, concurrent exhibition
will feature 24 images by Brooklynbased photographer Chris Mottalini,
who documented three Rudolphdesigned homes just prior to their
demolition.
Heather Ainsworth
8
18
scene: Summer 2011
For information on other arts events,
visit www.colgate.edu/arts
hired as the stage manager.
“All the challenges only reminded
me of the remarkable spirit of theater,” said Yen.
Finding beauty in decay
Trickling streams, jutting mountains, and coastline scenes appear in
watercolor paintings by Robin Jaycox
’53, MA’57. But it’s decadent barns —
specifically those on Route 20 — that
have become the longtime Hamilton
resident’s trademark work.
As Colgate’s director of student
aid for 35 years, Jaycox often traveled
that route back and forth between
Hamilton and Albany. “One day, I
counted forty barns that were no
longer there or were in such a state
of disrepair that they could no longer
be used anymore,” he said. Jaycox
is able to show the beauty in these
crumbling structures as well as make
a statement.
Although he’s been an artist for
“as long as I can remember,” it wasn’t
until he retired from the university in
1993 that he was able to fully devote
himself to his art.
Jaycox’s palette isn’t as muted as
that of his inspiration, Andrew Wyeth,
but he does tend to prefer earth tones. As a member of six local art associations, Jaycox shows his paintings
at area galleries like the Arts Center of
Old Forge, where he exhibited some
of his work in July. Also, look for his
paintings next time you’re in one of
Hamilton’s downtown galleries.
A window into African homes
Ornate doors from Nigeria, serving utensils from Côte d’Ivoire, and
800-year-old wood-carved headrests
from Mali are just a few examples
of the pieces that were on view in
the spring exhibition African House
and Home. Drawing from its own
extensive collection of African art, the
Longyear Museum of Anthropology displayed the array
of architectural sculptures
Warren Wheeler
Andrew Daddio
Hamilton artist Robin Jaycox ’53, MA’57, with his painting Route 20 Decadence
and home furnishings from February
until June.
“The focus of this exhibition is permanent African architecture in which
the owner has invested time, labor,
and expense in order to create a home
that will testify to his wealth, good
taste, and standing in his community,”
explained senior curator Carol Ann
Lorenz. “To beautify one’s home is a
gift to the community, because to
make a beautiful façade increases the
stature of the entire community as
well as the homeowner.”
There were some exceptions to the
theme of permanent architecture: African House and Home also included
items from Saharan semi-nomadic
herders, like leatherwork and decorative tent posts from the Saharan
Tuareg.
In addition, not all of the pieces
came from elite homes. Representing a male initiation system shared
among many central African groups
was a polychrome panel that is believed to be an element of the richly
colorful initiation house, kikaku, of the
Congolese Nkanu people.
Although the architectural objects
were from different eras and various parts of Africa, common images
emerged: the human body, deities,
and symbolic animals.
In Lorenz’s African Art course
this past semester, students created a companion exhibition,
featuring images showing the
architectural pieces in context.
Case Library staff members helped
by reserving a study room with
African architecture books in
which students could pick out the
images. Launching at the same
time as African House and Home,
the students’ own exhibition gave
them the opportunity to speak
about their findings at an opening reception.
Colgate’s collection of African
art is also used in educational
programs for local school children and loaned out to central
New York museums. “We are
so lucky to have that here at
Colgate,” Lorenz said. “We are
a resource for the whole area
— including the MunsonWilliams-Proctor [Utica], the
Everson [Syracuse], and the
Fenimore [Cooperstown]
museums.”
Open mic
The Rumor That The Girls At 124
Brunnerdale Go Skinny Dipping
The girls go swimming
in bathing suits the color of skin.
The boys jump after them,
splashing at these
supposed angels, making
water droplet designs
on their shiny,
polyester bikinis.
The mothers do not care
their daughters look naked.
They are busy watching
the bobbing of the boys
and smoking, returning
to when they were those girls,
sharing cigarettes behind
the shed near the pool.
They cry into the lapels
of their husbands tonight
and go to bed with mascara circles.
Watch the yellowing and curling
of the wallpaper, feel the weight
of the smoking habit
their husbands do not suspect
until the smell works into
their leather briefcases.
There are parties
where the shrieking
of the children and the firecrackers
do not drown out rustling
in unfamiliar beds,
heavy anxious breathing
and the incessant smoothing of skirts.
By Katherine Rice ’13, first published in
The Colgate Portfolio XXIII literary/art
magazine
A door from the Senufo tribe in
Côte d’Ivoire
19
go ’gate
Langel new leader of men’s
basketball
In April, the men’s basketball program
welcomed Matt Langel as head coach.
Langel comes to Hamilton after serving as an assistant coach at Temple
University under the tutelage of Fran
Dunphy, who was recently named
the Eastern College Coach of the Year
after guiding the Owls to their fourthstraight NCAA Tournament.
Langel was also a two-year member of Dunphy’s University of Pennsylvania staff. There, Langel helped guide
his alma mater to two consecutive
Ivy League Championships. A 2000
graduate of Penn’s Wharton School of
Business, Langel helped lead the Quakers to two Ivy League titles and NCAA
Tournament appearances during his
four-year playing career (1996–2000).
The Quakers went 27-1 in Ivy League
action during his junior and senior
campaigns and sported a 42-14 overall
record. Langel was named Ivy League
and Big Five Player of the Week
numerous times and received the Big
Five’s Most Improved Player Award.
He was also named to the Holiday Festival All-Tournament team (1998) and
the University of California Golden
Bear Holiday Classic All-Tournament
Team (1999). Langel etched his name in the
Penn record books in several differ-
ent categories. He is a member of the
1,000-point club with 1,191 points. In
all-time Penn basketball history, he
stands second in three-pointers made
in a game with eight; is eighth in
three-pointers made in a season with
70; and fourth in career three-pointers
made with 201.
After taking over that NCAA Division II program in 2002, she coached
seven All-Sunshine State Conference
selections, the 2004 SSC Freshman of
the Year, and three other all-freshman
picks. The Monroe City, Mo., native served
as an assistant coach at Nicholls State
University from 2000 to 2002 and
was the first head coach at the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy during the
1999–2000 season.
As a student-athlete, Hays Fort was
a two-sport letter winner in basketball
and softball at Truman State University (Mo.) before finishing her education
at Culver-Stockton College (Mo.).
Hays Fort named women’s
basketball coach
The women’s basketball team brought
on Nicci Hays Fort as the new head
coach. She comes to campus after five
years at DePaul University as an assistant coach and associate head coach,
helping the Blue Demons to a No. 9
national ranking in the final polls of
the 2010–2011 season.
Hays Fort honed her skills working
with legendary coach Doug Bruno,
who was recently selected to assist
the 2011 USA Basketball Women’s
National Team. She helped guide the
Blue Demons to five NCAA Tournaments and a combined 112-54 record.
Last season, DePaul advanced to the
Sweet 16 for the second time in program history. The team finished 29-7
overall (the most wins by any team
in DePaul’s history) and ranked in the
top 10 of the national polls. Before joining the staff at DePaul,
Hays Fort served as the head coach at
Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.
Larkin gains gold at IIHF
World Championships
As the youngest player on Team Italy,
Thomas Larkin ’13 helped score the
gold medal at the 2011 International
Ice Hockey Federation Division IA
World Championships in overtime
with a 4-3 win over Hungary on
April 23.
Italy held on for the win in overtime after giving up a 3-1 lead. Larkin
had one shot and a minus-1 rating in
the win. One of two ECAC and U.S. hockey
players in the tournament, Larkin is
the first Italian-trained NHL draft pick.
He finished the tournament (his firstever international event) with a goal
on five shots and a plus-1 rating. He
netted his first international goal in a
6-0 win over South Korea during pool
play, which came as a shorthanded
goal.
With this win, Team Italy will jump
up to the top division of the next tournament and will compete against the
likes of the United States, Canada, and
Russia in the summer of 2012.
In the April 23 game against Bucknell, Colgate’s seniors scored five of the lacrosse team’s seven goals — including a goal
and two assists by Andrew Mould ’11 (#16) — in their final home game. Unfortunately, a second-half setback gave way to
a loss to the Bison 12-7. The team ended its season on a high note, beating the University of Maryland for the first time
in the program’s history, on the Terps’ turf in May, and closing with an 11-5 overall record.
Bob Cornell
Swimming Coaches Association
honors Roach
20
scene: Summer 2011
Director of Athletics David Roach is
the 2011 recipient of the Daktronics’
Ben Franklin Award, given by the College Swimming Coaches Association
of America. The award is presented to
the individual or organization whose
efforts best promote the integrity and
enhancement of the student-athlete
ideal.
“The sport of swimming has
always been near and dear to my
heart,” said Roach. “It’s something that
shaped my career. To be remembered
by my peers and fellow swim coaches
is an honor.” Day and Brisebois make
AHL debuts
Two graduating hockey players made
their professional debuts once Colgate’s season ended.
Brian Day ’11, a draft pick of the
New York Islanders, played 10 games
with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (the
Islanders’ AHL affiliate) after signing
an amateur tryout contract.
Day had a successful tryout with
two goals and three assists for five
points in the 10 games. He scored one
of his two goals in his first professional game in a 5-1 win over the Portland
Pirates. In his next game, he recorded
a Gordie Howe Hat Trick, which includes a goal, an assist, and engaging
in a fight, when they played against
the Connecticut Whales.
The Sound Tigers didn’t make the
playoffs, so Day’s season came to an
end prior to Colgate’s graduation, but
the senior has a good chance at signing a contract after his performance in
those 10 games.
Francois Brisebois ’11 also signed an
amateur contract, with the Binghamton Senators. He played three games
for the Ottawa Senators’ affiliate.
Get to know: Kathy Brawn
13 teams honored by NCAA
Thirteen Colgate athletics teams were
honored by the NCAA with a Public
Recognition Award for their latest
Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.
These awards are part of a broad effort
by the Division I to enact academic
reform. Among the Colgate men’s
teams recognized were basketball, ice
hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, indoor
track, and outdoor track; the women’s
teams included cross country, rowing,
swimming and diving, indoor track,
outdoor track, and volleyball.
These teams posted multi-year
APR scores in the top 10 percent of
all squads in their respective sports.
High-performing teams receiving
awards posted APR scores ranging
from 978 to a perfect 1,000. The APR provides a current look
at a team’s academic success each
semester by tracking the academic
progress of each student-athlete on
scholarship. The APR accounts for
eligibility, retention, and graduation
and provides a measure of each
team’s academic performance.
Andrew Daddio
Roach spent eight years (1978–
1986) at Brown University as the
women’s swimming coach, taking
the Bears into the national spotlight
through conference championships
in 1983, 1984, and 1985. As head coach
at the University of Tennessee, his
women’s swimming teams won 85
percent of their meets and improved
from 39th to 4th at the NCAA Division I Championship. Roach was twice
named SEC Coach of the Year.
— Head Coach of Women’s Soccer since 1991
— Hometown: Franklin Lakes, N.J.
— Among the winningest coaches in NCAA Division I women’s soccer history; 11 Patriot League Championships, 3 ECAC Championships,
5 NCAA Tournament appearances
What was your first job? When I was only 15 years old, I worked as a photographer for the
local newspaper. In college, I was a photographer for Hubert Birkenmeier, goalkeeper for
the New York Cosmos, when they were playing at the Meadowlands and drawing 60,000
people to a game. That gave me amazing access to the soccer world, which was relatively
new back then.
What was your first soccer-playing experience? I didn’t start until I was about 13. I think
the statute of limitations is up on this… My younger sister’s team didn’t have enough players for a game. They asked me if I would play, but I needed a player pass. The girl I looked
the most like on her pass photo was Peggy Connelly, so I was Peggy Connelly for the game.
For all the news of the
spring sports season, visit
gocolgateraiders.com
How did you get into coaching? When I was 15, a woman in town asked me to help coach her
daughters’ team. I enjoyed it, and started coaching my own teams. When I was 18, I started
my own camp, and it just took off from there. In college, I coached high school teams, club
teams, and in the Olympic development program. My first foray into coaching at the college
level was when I got a phone call from the Yale coach, who was looking for an assistant.
In a twin bill against the University at Albany in early April, Colgate took game one 7-1,
but the Raiders lost the nightcap to the Great Danes 8-0. The women’s softball team
finished its season as the 2011 Patriot League regular-season champion and reached
the championship game of the tournament — hosted by Colgate for the first time in
school history — for the second-straight season.
Is there a certain drill you love to work your players through? I like drills that revolve
around goal scoring and goal tending. I think you get people’s rawest emotions at either end
of the field. When you focus on attacking or defending and bring them together, you can see
that coming out in a game. Even when I go to watch games, a lot of people like to be right up
at midfield, because you can see everything, but I tend to gravitate to one end of the field or
another, just off center. I’m a little off-center anyway, so that’s probably very fitting!
Do you have any rituals or superstitions? I have a couple from when I played. My shoelaces
are never twisted. To this day, I never step on the lines on the field. And when the national
anthem is playing, I always dedicate the game to somebody important to me.
What’s the most treasured thing in your office? All these photographs elicit memories.
See this black-and-white picture of my first recruiting class? One of the players, Susan
Meyercord [’96], actually called me recently. We got to catch up about almost everybody in
her class; they’re all in touch with one another. Trophies are great, but it’s about the people.
Bob Cornell
Your gumball machine’s a curiosity. I go to antique auctions — I collect things that draw my
eye or have a sense of whimsy. They were auctioning off two machines, neither one of which
was in great shape, but I morphed them into one decent one.
Do you have any hidden talents? I don’t know if it’s a talent, but I can write backward in
script. When I go into Maxwell’s downtown, I’ll write stuff in the guest book backward like,
“Have a wonderful time today!”
—Rebecca Costello
21
new, noted ,
& quoted
Books, music &
film
Information is provided by publishers,
authors, and artists.
Eat Your Breakfast or Else!
Jackie Jafarian Broad ’90 (with recipes
by Lauren Braun Costello ’98)
(Three Puppies Press)
In Jackie Jafarian
Broad’s second
children’s book,
Jared is a little
boy who would
rather play with
his rockets than
eat his breakfast.
His grandma warns him that it is
important to refuel every morning or
he could lose power, but it isn’t until
a harrowing journey to Mars that
Jared finally understands. Included
are chef Lauren Braun Costello’s fun
and healthy pancake recipes. Eat Your
Breakfast or Else! is a recipient of the
Mom’s Choice Award.
Things Are Getting Better
Luther Hughes & the CannonballColtrane Project
(Primrose Lane Music)
Colgate’s music
department chair,
Glenn Cashman,
completes the
five-piece ensemble of the LA
group Luther Hughes & the Cannonball-Coltrane Project, who recently
released their fourth album, Things
Are Getting Better. Cashman played
tenor saxophone and composed four
selections for the group’s latest CD.
Bassist Luther Hughes initially formed
the group as an homage to revered
jazz saxophonists Julian “Cannonball”
Adderley and John Coltrane. With
12 songs and more than 70 minutes
of music, Things Are Getting Better
peaked at #2 on the Jazz Week national radio airplay charts.
The Philosophy of the Western
Edited by B. Steve Csaki ’89 and
Jennifer L. McMahon
(The University Press of Kentucky)
The Philosophy of the Western examines philosophical themes in the western film genre, revealing the influence
22
scene: Summer 2011
of the western
on the American
psyche. Investigating subjects
tHe
pHilosopHy
of nature, ethics,
oF tHe
identity, gender,
environmentalism, and animal
JenniFer l. McMaHon and b. steve Csaki
rights, the essays
draw from a wide range of westerns
including the recent popular and critical successes Unforgiven, 3:10 to Yuma,
and No Country for Old Men, as well as
literature and television series such as
Deadwood.
WESTERN
edited by
Domestic Broils: Shakers,
Antebellum Marriage, and the
Narratives of Mary and Joseph
Dyer
Edited with an introduction by
Elizabeth A. De Wolfe ’83
(University of Massachusetts Press)
In 1813, Joseph
Dyer, his wife,
Mary, and their
five children
joined the Shaker
community in
Enfield, N.H.
Joseph quickly
adapted to the
Shaker way of life, but Mary chafed
under its strictures and eventually left
the community two years later. When
the local elders and her husband refused to release the couple’s children
to Mary, she embarked on what would
become a 50-year campaign against
the Shakers, beginning with an 1818
publication. The following year, the
Shakers countered by publishing a
scathing attack on Mary’s character.
Domestic Broils reproduces the dueling accounts of the Dyers for the first
time since their original publication.
Elizabeth De Wolfe, a history professor at the University of New England,
introduces the book by placing this
marital dispute in a broader historical
context.
8 Ways to Great: Peak
Performance on the Job and in
Your Life
Doug Hirschhorn ’94
(Putnam)
In 8 Ways to Great, performance
coach and executive trainer Doug
Hirschhorn offers practical tools
that anyone can use — regardless
of profession or personal goals — to
break through
self-defeating behaviors and excel.
These are tools
that “Dr. Doug”
has provided to
thousands in his
lectures, one-onone coaching,
and media appearances including the Today show.
Your Daughter’s Bedroom:
Insights for Raising Confident
Women
Joyce Turcotte McFadden ’84
(Palgrave Macmillan)
Psychoanalyst
and mother
Joyce Turcotte
McFadden is on
a mission to help
mothers raise
their daughters
to have healthy
views about
sexuality. In her new book, McFadden
explains how a mother’s insecurities
about her own sexual identity can be
a detriment to her daughter’s sense
of self and how open communication
about sexuality is crucial to the development of secure, self-aware women.
Peppered throughout are testimonies
from hundreds of women, including
Colgate alumnae, who participated in
McFadden’s Women’s Realities Study
(see p. 52 for more).
The Eternal Sea of Creativity
Arthur Rashap ’58
(CreateSpace)
Arthur Rashap’s
The Eternal Sea
of Creativity
includes poems
and thoughts
about life and
love. These views
and insights,
written over a
span of 40 years,
reflect a continuing fascination with
the question “Why are we here?” The
emerging answer relates to a synthesis of religion, quantum physics, experiences with past lives, out-of-body experiences, and dreams. A “renaissance
man,” Rashap has had approximately
45 different career experiences.
In the media
Take It Like a Mom
Following 9/11: Religion
Coverage in the New York Times
Stephanie Johnson Stiles ’89
(NAL Trade)
Christopher Vecsey
(Syracuse University Press)
In Stephanie
Johnson Stiles’s
new novel, Take
It Like a Mom, Annie used to be a
lawyer who wore
dry-clean only
and shaved both
legs. But things
have changed.
Now a stay-at-home mom, she wears
cargo pants and ponytails and harbors
a nearly pathological hatred toward
hipster parents. With a 3-year-old and
a baby on the way, Annie knows what
to expect … at least, she thought she
did. Faced with her husband’s job loss,
pre-school politics, and a playground
throwdown with her arch nemesis,
Annie realizes that even with her
husband and friends by her side, what
she really needs is to learn to suck it
up — and take it like a mom.
BookCase
A selection from the new titles
shelf at Case Library
• Proxy Warriors: The Rise and Fall of State-Sponsored Militias
Ariel Ahram
• Mattaponi Queen: Stories
Belle Boggs
• Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters
Donald Bogle
• Haiti Noir
Edwidge Danticat (editor)
• Why Marx Was Right
Terry Eagleton
• The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World’s Oil Market
Leah McGrath Goodman
• The Life of an Unknown Man
Andreï Makine
•
Smoking Typewriters: The Sixties
Underground Press and the Rise of
Alternative Media in America
John McMillian
• The Devil As Muse: Blake, Byron, and the Adversary
Fred Parker
• Andy Warhol: Behind the Camera
Stephen Petersen
In Following 9/11,
Christopher
Vecsey, Harry
Emerson Fosdick
Professor of the
humanities and
Native American studies and
religion, examines the religious ramifications of 9/11
through the lens of one of the world’s
primary news sources.
Vecsey shows not only how the
Times reported on the 9/11 tragedy
and its consequences, but also how
the paper presented conventional
religious themes such as traditions,
diversity, tolerance, institutional
organization, interfaith cooperation,
and ethical judgment. Vecsey seeks to
perceive the ways in which 9/11 crystallized and recast concepts important
to understanding the political dimensions of religion over the past decade.
He also explores how the paper went
beyond political coverage to the social,
the cultural, the artistic, the intellectual, and the religious and, above
all, showed how religion, politics, and
journalism define each other in these
times following 9/11.
The Politics of Necessity
Elke Zuern ’90
(University of Wisconsin Press)
The end of apartheid in South
Africa broke
down political
barriers, extending the formal
rights of citizenship to all races,
but the country
remains one of the most economically
polarized nations in the world. In The
Politics of Necessity, Elke Zuern argues
that working toward greater socioeconomic equality — access to food,
housing, land, and jobs — is crucial to
achieving a successful and sustainable democracy. Zuern is an associate
professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence
College.
Drawing on interviews with local residents and activists in South
Africa’s impoverished townships during more than a decade of dramatic
“The emotions were so strong, I think, because the event
was compacted: Bin Laden was found and killed, and it was
done — done and over, just like that.”
— Professor Kevin Carlsmith, an expert in the psychology of retribution, in a New York Times article about the killing of Osama Bin Laden
“… As Malcolm [X] lived on through his best-selling autobiography, so will Marable, through his unmatched body of
writing, his educational contributions, his illuminations on
Malcolm X’s legacy and his devoted students.”
— A CNN.com commentary by Maytha Alhassen, who was a research
assistant for Manning Marable, former sociology professor and founding director of the Africana and Latin American Studies Program at Colgate. Marable died April 1, 2011, shortly before the publication of his book
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (see In Memoriam, p.75).
“There are charlatans everywhere, and it is not easy even
to give money away effectively. But it is vital to remember
that there are many good people doing good work for the
oppressed, the poor and the uneducated, and they need
your help. It’s up to you to ask the questions before you
make your choice.”
— Thomas Brackett, professor of computer science emeritus and
president of the Brackett Refugee Education Fund, in a Post-Standard (Syracuse) op-ed about the dilemma for charities revealed by the Three Cups of Tea controversy
political change, Zuern tracks the
development of community organizing and reveals the shifting challenges
faced by poor citizens. By comparing
movements in South Africa to those
in other African and Latin American
states, this book identifies profound
challenges to democratization. Zuern
asserts the fundamental indivisibility
of all human rights, showing how
protest movements offer opportunities for modern democracies to evolve
into systems of rule that empower all
citizens.
Also of note:
A public defender in the foothills of
the Sierra Nevada Mountains, David A.
Brooks ’81 reveals the characters who
live there, and uncloaks some hidden truths about our justice system,
in his new book Foresthill: A Public
Defender’s Bedtime Reader (YourBookPlace.com). Although the characters
have been fictionalized, the stories are
based on actual cases and events.
The Happiness of Pursuit: A Father’s
Courage, a Son’s Love and Life’s Steepest
Climb (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) by
Davis Phinney, with Austin Murphy
’83, is a story of overcoming adversity.
Phinney, one of America’s most successful cyclists, won two stages at the
Tour de France and an Olympic medal,
but then was diagnosed with early
onset Parkinson’s. This is the story
of how he fought to overcome the
disease by reaching back to what had
made him so successful on the bike.
In Deane Beman: Golf’s Driving Force
(East Cottage Press), Adam Schupak
’96 writes about the former PGA Tour
commissioner who was once called
the most powerful person in golf.
Using never-before-seen documents
and candid interviews with players,
associates, and corporate chieftains,
the book offers an intimate portrait of
Beman’s shift from hardened competitor to an executive of change.
23
Central New Y
Visits to five regional alumni-owned businesses
sketch a picture of imagination, optimism,
perseverance, and enterprise
By James Leach
Johanna Ames Coats ’98
A fourth generation
for Ames Linen
Her faculty mentor in
geography was such an
inspiration that when
Johanna Ames Coats ’98
graduated from Colgate,
she “wanted to be the next
Ellen Kraly.” Thirteen years
later, after Ames Coats cut
short her plan to earn a
PhD at the University of
North Carolina, she has
instead become the next
Bud Ames, succeeding her dad as
head of a central New York family business that goes
back four generations and more than 90 years.
By the time Ames Coats had finished her master’s at UNC, she was “a little disenchanted” with an
academic life that wasn’t all she’d imagined. So, on a
visit home to Cortland in 2000, when her father said
the time could be right to see what she thought of
working in the family’s commercial laundry business, she agreed to a one-year trial.
“My first day on the job, I was here at 5 a.m.,
sorting soiled linens, which was a little tough to
swallow,” she said. Six months later, after she had
worked every job from the production floor to delivery routes, Bud gave his daughter an office and made
her his customer service manager.
As she took on more responsibilities, she said, her
father asked, “Are you sure you want to work this
hard?” When it became clear to them both that the
answer was “yes,” the transition continued.
Together, they bought and refitted a plant that
more than tripled their space, modernizing Ames
Linen Service and ensuring the business would stay
in Cortland. And in 2007, father and daughter agreed
24
scene: Summer 2011
to a sale that would keep Ames Linen in the family
for at least another generation.
A lot has changed since great-grandfather Harry
Ames started his laundry business in Ithaca, making
deliveries by horse and buggy. He later purchased
Cortland Steam Laundry and the downtown plant
that was the company’s base for 75 years. While the
business has evolved from doing local families’ wash
to a full-service linen rental supplier for more than
500 health care and hospitality providers within
a 75-mile radius, Ames Coats will tell you that the
emphasis is still on service.
“When an event starts in an hour and a restaurant discovers it under-ordered 200 napkins, or the
bride changes her mind at the last minute on what
color linens she wants, our customers need a partner
that they can count on,” she said.
With that in mind, when Ames Coats and her
father designed their new $2.5 million plant, they not
only outfitted it with the most modern equipment,
they also provided backup at important stations
— insurance against the unexpected. Converting
to new equipment allowed for efficiencies that
improve both energy conservation and the plant’s
capacity. In what serves essentially as the engine
room of the operation, water is softened, heated
to 160 degrees, and recycled, and a maze of tubing
delivers chemicals to the washing machines in carefully measured, computer-controlled amounts.
In the adjacent production space, an operator
feeds sorted linens onto a conveyor to begin a fully
automated washing and drying operation, not to
be touched by human hands again until they come
out the far end, clean, dry, and ready to be sorted,
pressed, folded, packaged, and prepared for shipping. The plant can process more than a ton of
laundry per hour.
Ames Coats is especially proud of her family’s record of employee relations. In a business where she
says annual turnover rates of 300 to 400 percent are
common, most of her staff have been on the payroll
for years. “We’re like a family,” she said. The new
plant allowed room for a bright and well-equipped
area for employees to take a break. Recognition
posters paper the bulletin boards. Incentive pay rewards special effort. The management treats to the
occasional lunch or donut. And when your kids need
linens for their weddings, it’s on the house.
In an upstate community the size of Cortland
(roughly 18,000, including SUNY-Cortland’s 6,500
students), Ames Linen Service, with its 50-plus
employees and $1.1-million payroll, is an important
part of the economy.
Businesses in central New York don’t experience
the soaring economic highs that affect other parts of
the country, said Ames Coats. At the same time, that
provides some insulation from big swings in the
market. “We have been extremely fortunate because
about half of our business is health care, an industry
that tends to remain
more stable,” she said.
“We’ve been able to
hold our own and actually see some growth.”
Her biggest economic
challenges at the moment are the shortage
and record-high price
of cotton for the linens,
which, after payroll, are
her greatest expense.
The Ames family has
a long record of service
to the Cortland community. “My grandfather
and my dad taught me
that was an important
role to play as a business owner,” said Ames
Coats. “As someone
who’s living here, I’m
invested.”
In addition to her
volunteer work for
the Cortland Regional
Medical Center and
the Cortland County
Business Development
Corp., she also serves
on the board of the
Family Health Network.
“We run a series of
federally funded health
clinics for the underserved populations
and some of our rural
communities.”
ork Road Trip
C.V. “Major” Bowes ’41
Adirondack host
and advocate
From the window of his winter
home at Covewood Lodge on Big
Moose Lake, C.V. “Major” Bowes ’41
watched eagles feeding on deer
carrion in the yard. “I’m glad I’m
here. I’d like to do it all over
again,” he said of his nearly 60
years (and counting) as proprietor
of the historic Adirondack camp.
Andrew Daddio
In recognition, the Cortland County Chamber of
Commerce named Ames Linen Service its Business
of the Year in 2009.
Central New York has always been home for
Ames Coats. “I like being in a small town, that sense
of community. You make those connections. I’ve had
a lot of opportunities that I don’t think would have
come my way if I hadn’t had grown up here.”
Ames Coats and her husband, Matt (an assistant athletic director at Cornell), have a 2-year-old
son, Mason. When asked if Mason might some day
become the fifth-generation owner, Ames Coats
didn’t make any assumptions — but she did say that
the company’s service manager of 14 years gave his
25-year notice when he met Mason for the first time.
Ames Linen Service, Johanna Ames Coats ’98, president, was Cortland County Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Business of the Year.
Built in the 1920s by legendary Adirondack architect/builder Earl Covey, Covewood was added to the
National Register of Historic Places in 2004. As other
resorts in the south central Adirondacks have come
and gone, Covewood has operated continuously,
with only three owners over its history.
The hospitality business has changed during
those years, and Bowes and his wife, Diane, have
adapted to keep pace. The American plan with its
three meals a day in the dining room has given way
to housekeeping cottages where guests have more
control of their schedules. The hotel no longer does
its own laundry. Summer crews once staffed by
U.S. college students now draw largely from countries such as New Zealand, Scotland, Lithuania, and
Colombia.
“I’m from the pipe wrench generation,” said
Bowes, “and I still know where all the plumbing is —
more than a mile of it. But Covewood now is run by
buttons — the website, online reservations, and the
like — and Diane takes care of that. I couldn’t run it
without her.”
Still, the central character of Covewood, with its
one-of-a-kind structures, game-preserve setting,
and family appeal, has not wavered, as the families
who have returned for three and four generations
attest in stories and photos on the pages of the lodge
website.
A third-generation Mohawk Valley native, Bowes
was introduced to the Adirondacks at the family
camp on Seventh Lake, not far from Big Moose.
During his undergraduate days, Colgate professors
sometimes joined him there on hunting trips. He fell
in love with the mountains.
After graduating, Bowes joined his father’s insurance business, which served clients in New York and
New Jersey. “I hated it,” said Bowes. He enlisted in
the Navy at the height of World War II. “It’s ironic
to say this, but the war saved my life,” he said. “I
dreamed about this place every day I was away.”
The options were limited, as he saw it: logging,
or the resort business, “and I needed something to
justify my education.” He enrolled in cooking school
at Cornell, and when he graduated, his father helped
him establish a business. Following a short stint
operating a camp at Darts Lake, just down the road
from Covewood, Bowes purchased the hotel that
became his life’s work.
A fellow Colgate alumnus, the late Allen Wilcox
’29, who ran the Mohawk Hotel on Fourth Lake,
helped Bowes get established, even assisting with
his first buffet.
Earl Covey and his wife had run a spartan operation at Covewood, and the hotel’s second owner had
25
Ellen Griffin ’83
Andrew Daddio
A running living
C.V. “Major” Bowes ’41 has been operating the historic Adirondack resort Covewood Lodge in Big Moose just shy of 60 years.
followed suit. When Bowes took over, he recalled,
“We were offering good meals and good lodging for
eight bucks a day. When I raised the rate to nine, the
fellow next door asked, ‘What are you trying to do,
pay for this all in one year?’”
Still, the guests kept coming. Many of the names
in Covewood’s 2010 guest register are of third- and
fourth-generation descendants of families who
visited in the 1950s. Ninety percent of his guests are
repeat visitors. The late Dick Meltzer ’42 and his wife,
Amy, became so attached to Covewood that they left
instructions for their ashes to be buried there. And
they were not alone.
During the winter off-season in those early years,
Bowes ran natural history tours in Cuba, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. He and Diane
stopped giving tours in the 1970s when the first of
their two daughters was born.
That was when Covewood started its winter
business, beginning by renting a couple of cottages
to snowmobilers. That evolved to serving snowshoers and cross country skiers, some 50 to 60 of whom
would gather at the hotel most winter weekends. As
the winters have become milder (“We used to have
snow until mid-April”), Covewood shut down its
winter operation about five years ago.
Now the season runs from May through October,
with peak business in June through September. The
nation’s poor economy had an effect on the resort
business the past couple of seasons, although Covewood’s repeat clientele helped the hotel weather
the downturn.
Bowes is an advocate and proactive defender of
the Adirondacks. He marshaled other landowners
on Big Moose to post their property from the road
26
scene: Summer 2011
to the lake’s edge, creating a de facto game preserve
that is now written into the state syllabus.
When airborne industrial wastes from Midwest
manufacturing operations rained down on the Adirondacks, turning some lakes (including Big Moose)
acidic, he experimented by first adding limestone to
his springs, and later by blasting tons of limestone
into one of the lake’s bays. Major television networks,
as well as Sports Illustrated, reported on the project.
It worked, but was such a massive undertaking that
the project was abandoned. Today, largely the result
of clean-air regulations and shifting weather patterns, the lakes are coming back (“They called them
‘dead,’ but of course they weren’t”), and Covewood’s
guests are once again catching largemouth bass and
brightly colored native trout. Colgate geology professor Rich April and his former student Michele Hluchy
’81, now a professor at Alfred University, continue to
monitor the acidity of Covewood property as part of
a study funded by the National Science Foundation.
And Bowes has paid careful attention to preserving the architecture of Covewood, in particular the
main building, which he describes as “a collector’s
item.” It is said that Covey had thought about the
building for so long that when he finally started construction, he needed no formal plans, referring only
occasionally to details sketched out on paper sacks.
Given the economic and regulatory challenges
today, Bowes said, “If you wanted to go into business
for yourself, you’d probably pick a business other
than this one — it would be more profitable. Yet it’s
such a beautiful place to live. I can’t think of any
place I’d rather be, or anything else I’d rather do. But
if it were real enticing, there might be a few more
of us left.”
Hard as it may be to
imagine that one of
the country’s best
running shoe stores
could be found in
a city that’s snow
covered half the
year, that is exactly
what Ellen (Strohm)
Griffin ’83 and her
husband, Ed, have
achieved with Fleet Feet Sports in Syracuse.
At last November’s annual conference of running
store retailers nationwide, the print and Internet
publisher Competitor Group named the Griffins’
store one of the top four, and the best in the east.
Stores are ranked on 20 criteria that range from
community service and vendor evaluations to the
in-store experiences of a team of “secret shoppers”
dispatched by the judges.
While the Griffins’ store is part of a national
franchise, the corporation’s commitment to on-site
owner-operators fosters the idea that individual
stores will take on the character of their owners.
The Syracuse store is one of the most successful —
enough so that last year, while the U.S. economy was
floundering, the Griffins moved out of the location
they had leased for 10 years and into their own facility with more than three times the floor space. With
30 employees — half of them salaried, full time —
and an annual payroll exceeding $500,000, the store
is, as Ellen put it, “a real business.”
A national wave of interest in running to stay fit
has expanded the marketplace, she said, adding, “The
challenge from a business standpoint has been how
to reach out to people who don’t regularly run races.
They’re a whole separate market from the traditional
running community.”
And the Griffins also serve customers beyond
those with an interest in running to compete or stay
fit. “We don’t even call ourselves a running store
anymore,” said Ellen. “We’re a footwear fit store. We
are fitting people who are doing everything from
going to the gym to walking to, frankly, just needing a comfortable pair of shoes.” Area orthopedists
and podiatrists refer their patients daily. “We’ll have
people in their eighties in here who’ve got bunions
or hammer toes or plantar fasciitis — not that
footwear is always the cure, but it can relieve a lot
of their symptoms.” Thus, the Griffins’ emphasis on
getting their customers into the right shoes, starting
with fit. There’s nothing hurried about the process. Off
come a customer’s shoes and socks as the interview
begins. “Any particular problems? How will you use
your shoes?” For runners: “How many miles are you
doing? Any events coming up? What kind of times
are you running?” And, as the customer is answering,
the salesperson is evaluating not only the customer’s
answers, but also the condition and shape of both
feet, including length, width, and arch while seated
and standing. After factoring in the customer’s gait,
the salesperson might recommend an insert to correct a condition such as flat feet or placing too much
weight on the inside or outside of the foot.
With all those variables taken into account, the
salesperson heads off to the stockroom to select
from the more than 6,000 pairs on hand and returns with a variety for the customer to try. The trial
includes running or walking on the store’s section
of indoor track, always under the salesperson’s
watchful eye.
At checkout, the customer is offered the opportunity to join the Griffins’ e-mail list and register
for discounts on future purchases. A handshake
closes the deal. And that’s what Ellen means by “full
service.”
The competition, which comes from big-box
stores and Internet sales, “almost hasn’t been a factor,” said Ellen. While chains and online merchants
may price their shoes a few dollars less, they can’t
match the Griffins’ level of product knowledge and
personal attention.
Recognizing that service is what sets their store
apart, the Griffins spend upward of two months
training each new employee before turning that
person loose to work the floor alone. A big investment of time, Ellen acknowledges, “but we don’t
have people work for us for a month and then leave.
We try to make it a place where people want to
come to work every day.” As employees gain experience, they take on additional roles, in the personnel
department, or marketing, or purchasing. Hours can
be made flexible to accommodate the schedules of
competitive runners on staff, like Fred Joslyn who
qualified in February for the 2012 Olympic marathon
trials. But everyone — Ellen and Ed included —
continues to work on the floor, staying in touch with
customers.
Communication with the running and fitness
crowd doesn’t stop at the point of sale. In the community room attached to their store, the Griffins are
hosts to regular events such as organizing sessions
for local benefit runs and training sessions for athletes, from first-time 5K runners to elite triathletes.
The store’s website is a clearinghouse for information on the local running and fitness scene, and the
newsletter shows up each Monday morning in the
16,000 e-mail inboxes in the database.
Ellen took up running at Colgate “to lose the
freshman fifteen.” She met Ed when he was broadcasting Colgate hockey for a Norwich radio station,
and one of their first dates was lining up for the old
Lake Moraine Run, a 5-miler.
“I’m not a competitive athlete,” she said. But she,
like Ed, has the trim build of a runner, sustained
personally and professionally by regular outings
on those central New York roads and trails that are
covered in snow from November until April.
Dick Najarian ’63
Made in Greene, U.S.A.
Andrew Daddio
Above the clatter, Dick Najarian ’63
tells a story for every pattern being woven on
the 40 jacquard looms
at the heart of his
mill in Greene, N.Y.
There’s the elegant
Godiva logo woven
into ribbon that will
adorn boxes of the chocolatier’s finest assortments.
Black ribbon with orange
script and ghostly images
spins out of an adjacent
loom, destined for one of Godiva’s seasonal offerings.
A rich gold braid developed on spec for the Navy
could be a reliable long-term product if it wins approval for the trim on dress blues.
Patterns that seem strangely familiar become
instantly recognizable when identified as the bands
for venetian blinds.
Reflective tape will be applied to the woven
flame-resistant day-glo lime and orange bands
that will make roadside workers highly visible;
the U.S. Postal Service has a fancier, personalized
version of its own.
And a well-known philanthropist will distribute as
bookmarks the inspirational
messages woven into ribbon on
two of the looms.
Alongside the looms, cones
of colorful yarn are stacked high,
waiting to be wound onto spools
to form the warp and weft of the
next intricate pattern. Cardboard
boxes of samples arranged on
metal shelves nearby make up
the library of Najarian designs
across the years.
The ancient hardwood floor
and massive wooden pillars hint
at the building’s early life as a
silk mill and then a warehouse.
In 1937, Najarian’s father —
Leon Aram (L.A.), a 30-year-old
Armenian émigré from Egypt —
adapted it to its current purpose.
As a teenager, L.A. had learned
weaving and ribbon making at
the Chenango Ribbon Mill. By
1932, he had begun manufacturing his own ribbons on two
looms in a rented barn.
L.A. passed the skill of ribbon
making along to his sons Jack
and Dick. There were no spring
college breaks to warm climes
Despite the sour economy, Fleet Feet Sports in Syracuse, co-owned by Ellen Griffin ’83 and her husband, Ed, tripled its space last year.
for the Najarian boys: “We went
27
“You have to adapt,” he said. “It’s always been one
much the last mill in the States operating warp
home to work in the mill,” Dick said. “Dad put us
thing or another. In this day and age, we won’t see
jacquard looms,” he said.
with the employees, and we did what they told us.”
a new massive user. The domestic manufacturers
Fate intervened in 2000 when Najarian’s wife,
When L.A. grew ill in the 1960s, recent college
who’ve decided to stay here will continue — now
Pat, his partner in business and in life, died after
graduates Jack and Dick moved back to Greene to
our thrust is to find them and determine what size
a brief illness. He took time away to regroup, and
help in the family business. Jack oversaw the weavthe business has to be.
when he remarried in 2003, he left the day-to-day
ing in those days, and Dick managed the business
“What an odyssey,” said Dick Najarian, whose hismanagement of the business and moved to Hilton
affairs.
tory is the history of his company.
Head, S.C.
After their father sold the business in 1970, Dick
But the market continued to decline, bottoming
stayed on to help the new owners fine-tune their
out a year ago, Najarian said. Last fall, it became
looms and relocate their operation to Pennsylvania.
Kingsley Wratten ’64
clear that the only way to save the business was to
A career move to Montreal followed, to manage a
downsize. And the only solution he saw that would
mill for the largest ribbon maker in Canada.
and Harold Davies MA’65
allow a reduction in staff and still keep the skills nec “I learned a lot in Canada,” he said, “but we still
essary to operate was for him to return to what he
wanted to do something else.” So in 1978, financed
had been doing at the mill 15 years earlier. “I had the
by a loan from the Small Business Administraskills to do any of the jobs, and I was willing to work
tion, he bought a dozen looms from England and
Painter Kingsley Wratten ’64 tells the
for nothing,” he said. So he committed to return to
reopened the family mill in Greene. He, his wife, and
story of how a course at Colgate led to
Greene for three weeks each month through the end
his nephew were the original workforce, but the
the creation of a fine French restaurant,
of 2011 to redirect and reenergize the company.
business grew steadily and he was soon up to a staff
and how now — 35 years later — that
The same optimism that motivated Najarian
of 10, working two shifts.
restaurant will nourish the arts.
the first two times around is evident again today.
He bought more looms and in 1979 began making
Wratten’s sophomore core class
“There’s a return to high-end manufacturing of some
hatbands for a mill in Alabama. With three people
brought together music, visual arts, and
apparel in this country,” he said. “Being the only
working one shift, Najarian said he was out-producarchitecture. All were subjects that had interested
producers in this specialty, we should see an uptick.
ing 28 people working two shifts at the Alabama
him since high school, but he had never before
And we don’t need a lot of extra business to make it
plant. The Alabama mill bought Najarian out in a
clearly seen the connection between them.
worth doing.”
profitable arrangement that assumed his loan and
To make his business more visible in the 21st A year later, studio professor Arnold Herstand recallowed him to continue managing the operation.
century market, Najarian is turning to a 21st-century
ommended Wratten to a Yale summer program for
The Alabama mill was, in turn, bought out by
solution and reengineering his website.
the nation’s largest ribbon manufacturer, Berwick
painters and musicians that fostered his emerging
Offray, with Najarian and his
group’s focus on fine ribbons
included as part of the deal. “It
soon became obvious it wasn’t
a fit,” said Najarian. “A big company automatically figures if a
small guy were smart, he’d be
big. I told them we stay small
because we cater to small markets.” He had all the business
there was to be had for his
specialty.
So in 1984, for the second
time, he bought back the family business and started L.A.
Najarian, Inc., over yet again.
This time, he was literally
starting from scratch.
“The landscape had
changed,” he said. “Our traditional customers — apparel
manufacturers — had moved
to other countries.” At first the
competition came from the
Japanese in the ’60s and ’70s.
Then ribbon manufacturers
followed the apparel mills
to Taiwan, Korea, China, and
eventually into Thailand and
Vietnam.
As his traditional markets
moved offshore, he adapted
by selling specialized ribbons
and labels such as those on his
looms today. “We are pretty
While his competition has moved to Asia, Dick Najarian ’63 still operates high-end ribbon manufacturer L.A. Najarian, Inc., in Greene.
Andrew Daddio
Appetite for the arts
28
scene: Summer 2011
29
Andrew Daddio
being directed to creating a self-sustaining place
Bankers, doctors, and lawyers travel from Utica and
awareness of how the disciplines relate, but left
where writers, musicians, and visual artists can
from Syracuse.” Add gourmets from Cooperstown,
the artist longing for more interaction with the
come together to learn from one another as they
Albany, Ithaca, Binghamton, Hamilton, New York
musicians.
practice their art. They will live and have studio
City, and points in between.
Back at Colgate for his senior year, Wratten found
space in a collection of restored homes within walk As their restaurant prospered, they restored a
a kindred spirit in writer Harold Davies MA’65, a
ing distance of the restaurant. In the evenings, they
nearby Italianate mansion to add four elegant guest
graduate student who had spent a year studying bawill gather at the restaurant, along with the Horned
rooms. The buildings are listed together as The
roque art and architecture in Madrid. “We began to
Dorset’s other guests, to discuss their work. Artists
Wheeler House Complex in the National Register of
dream about a utopia where a painter like myself, a
in other disciplines may be added to the mix as the
Historic Places. Years later, they established Utopia,
writer like Harold, and a musician like my girlfriend
colony matures.
an adjacent bookstore that became both a commerand wife-to-be, Roberta, would sit down for dinner
Students will be chosen based on exceptional
cial enterprise and a venue to foster conversation
and discuss the ideas and feelings and experiences
aptitude. Scholarships will assist those who cannot
about the arts.
that went into their art,” said Wratten.
Through graduate
school and their early
careers as teachers, the
three remained close and
kept their dream alive. At
the same time, “We got
tired of working for someone else,” said Wratten. A
restaurant, they decided,
might help to bring their
ideas together.
With little to invest,
their options were limited,
but they saw possibilities
in a century-old, abandoned building across the
highway from the auto repair shop in Leonardsville,
a village of 150 souls about
20 minutes from Colgate.
“The building didn’t even
have a roof,” Wratten said.
“We bought it for an offer
on the overdue taxes.”
Roberta continued
teaching to help meet living expenses while Davies,
Wratten, his brother, and
two friends, funded by
a loan from the Small
Business Administration,
began a two-year project
restoring the building.
“The commitment was all
Kingsley Wratten ’64 and Harold Davies MA’65 are layering an art colony onto their Leonardsville restaurant, The Horned Dorset.
and labor was zero,” said
Wratten. “We were pretty
afford the cost of a four-week residency. Professional
Even as they developed their properties in Leongutsy.” They fashioned a bar and public and private
artists will be chosen on the strength of their work
ardsville, the partners had begun exploring sites
dining rooms, a music room, and a library, accenting
and their willingness to exchange ideas and experiin the Caribbean where they might build a luxury
the spaces with architectural details reclaimed from
ences with students in a working environment.
resort. In Rincón, on the western shore of Puerto Rico,
urban renewal.
The Leonardsville Horned Dorset will be closed
they found their setting and began construction
The Horned Dorset, named for the sheep they
this year as the partners visit other arts initiatives,
of The Horned Dorset Primavera, which opened in
raised that became one of the house specialties,
explore funding possibilities including the creation
1987 with guest rooms and suites featuring private
opened in 1977. Davies, who had some cooking
of their own foundation, and work on the property
pools and balconies on the waterfront. Condé Nast
experience, was chef. Wratten was maître d’ and
that will become their campus. They are determined
Traveler’s Gold List describes the hotel as, “intimate,
bartender. Roberta played the harpsichord on Thursto create a program that can have a lasting impact
like a friend’s elegant oceanside estate, with service
day and Sunday evenings. Their former students
on the area and survive beyond their day-to-day
that really takes care of you.”
and a few Colgate undergraduates waited tables and
involvement. “But it’s not like we’re retiring,” Wrat In 2011, their story is coming full circle with the
staffed the kitchen.
ten said, reflecting the vitality of three partners who
founding of the Horned Dorset Art Colony, centered
Word of mouth and the reviews were all the
continue living their lifelong dream.
around the properties in Leonardsville.
advertising they ever needed. “Who comes to eat?”
The energy and enthusiasm that has resulted in
asked New York Times critic Jane Perlez in a 1985 rave:
two hugely successful commercial ventures is now
“A white stretch limousine idled outside one night.
American Religion in These Times
You can learn much more than the news by reading the newspaper
By Christopher Vecsey
n September 12, 2001, only
two weeks into the fall semester, my colleague Tim
Byrnes and I found ourselves
in a classroom with our 19 students, all
of us stunned by the devastation of the
day before. We gathered around our
seminar table, poring over coverage of
the catastrophic events of September
11 in the New York Times. In our case,
reading the paper wasn’t a diversion
from the syllabus; indeed, this was a
first-year seminar called American Religion in These Times.
I had designed the course to assess
the depth, scope, and slant of religion
coverage in the New York Times. The
students were to investigate religious
developments in contemporary America in a global context by reading the
paper every day, in addition to books
about American religion and journalism. I wanted them to learn what was
new and newsworthy in Christianity,
Judaism, Islam, and the many other
religious traditions that coexist in
the United States; in the interplay between church and state; in emerging
forms of spirituality, community, and
ethical discourse; and in the relationships between religiousness, on the
one hand, and the arts, sports, ethnicity, politics, sexuality, and secularism,
on the other.
In order to enhance their understanding of contemporary religious
developments, the students were simultaneously examining the political
dimensions of human life in another
course, America as a Democracy,
taught by Byrnes, a scholar with expertise in politics and religion. Little
did he and I know when we devised
these linked courses that an unprecedented world event would bring our
investigations into such sharp focus.
But there we were that morning,
around a seminar table in Lawrence
Hall, absorbing the grim words and
images depicting the attacks. There
was no lecture that day, hardly any discussion among us. I said some words
30
scene: Summer
Summer 2011
Photo by John D. Hubbard
On September 12, 2001, the author (center) found that his first-year seminar American Religion in These Times
suddenly had taken on tremendous new dimensions.
of assurance to the students, about
carrying on — in their college studies,
and with their lives into the decades
to come. (A student in that class, who
lived in the neighborhood of the World
Trade Center, wrote to me recently of
the catharsis she experienced that day,
and that semester, as we pondered the
ramifications of September 11 in our
seminar learning community.)
From that juncture, through the end
of the semester, we studied how the
Times shed light upon the complex set
of phenomena that we all soon came
to call “9/11.” Rarely did a day pass in
which the paper neglected to run an
article about the varieties of religious
causes of and responses to 9/11 in the
United States (particularly in New York
City) and in the world among the adherents to all the major (and many of
the more local) religions.
A vast collection of clippings
Why, you might ask, would I devote a
religion course to reading the newspaper? And why the New York Times?
Here is my claim: you can get an education in religious studies by reading
the Times. This notion was inspired by
my own personal roots and academic
interests, and eventually led to a book
that, to a great extent, was influenced
and underscored by that very class in
2001.
Both of my parents were journalists. George S. Vecsey spent almost
his entire adult working life in news
media, especially sports, at the Long
Island Press, the Associated Press, and
the New York Daily News. May Spencer
Vecsey was society writer and editor at
the Press until she began her career in
maternity. In our New York City home,
we got more than a half-dozen papers
every day, and we read them; our fingers were often black from handling
the newsprint.
I now have in my office almost
12 file drawers — three complete
file cabinets — filled with Times
clippings about religion and
related matters, dating to the
early 1970s.
My father died shortly after his 75th
birthday in 1984, having just perused
several newspapers before falling to
sleep. My mother, whose funeral fell
on my birthday in 2002, used to stuff
the books in our house with newspaper articles. She clipped pieces she
thought relevant — to something or
other — and inserted them into what
she considered the appropriate books.
Today, I have most of these volumes in
my office, and I am edified regularly
by what I can find between the pages
about Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Vladimir Nabokov, Chaim Potok, P.G. Wodehouse, and many others.
I professionalized my mother’s obsession — but as an academic rather
than a journalist. While earning a PhD
in the history and literature of religion,
and then going on to teach history and
religion, my daily routine has always
included more than just casual reading
of the New York Times for all manner
of religion coverage. I call it research,
because although my scholarly focus
has been on Native American Studies
in general, and American Indian religions in particular, I have never lost
sight of contemporary religious developments worldwide. (The fact that my
oldest brother, George — now a longtime Times sports columnist — held a
several-year assignment covering religion for the Times only intensified my
interest in religion journalism.)
Over the past four decades, I have
collected, examined, and catalogued
Times coverage of religion, occasionally sharing my clippings with my classes, and waiting for the appropriate
moment to analyze them in full. I now
have in my office almost 12 file drawers
— three complete file cabinets — filled
with Times clippings about religion
and related matters, dating to the early 1970s. That doesn’t count the other
several cabinets filled with American
Indian materials. (Yes, I know: it’s all on
the web now.)
Having perused almost every Times
article about religion from 1970 to the
present — about 15,000 of them from
1970 to 2001 (available to readers on
my Colgate website at www.colgate.
edu/vecsey911clips) and at least as
reading the Times in an encyclopedic
manner, over time, with all the complexity included. Of course, 9/11 makes
good copy, but what I found was that it
also unveiled persistent themes in the
Times’s treatment of religion. It has taken almost a full decade for that work to
see print: my recently published book,
Following 9/11: Religion Coverage in the
New York Times.
actually increased in the Times. I can
offer a few explanations for this phenomenon.
First, there is a sizable audience for
religion news, and it is prudent to give
readers what they want. A paper such
as the Times has come to recognize
the importance of religion and its role
as a motivating factor for good and ill
in contemporary society worldwide.
Looking back through the latter part
In the post-9/11 world, religion is constantly in the news, and the volume
of religion reportage in the Times has
become overwhelming. I used to clip
perhaps one article each day. Now it’s
religion all the time, in almost every
section. On some days, several frontpage articles are focused on religion,
and several full pages inside are replete with religion articles.
In writing my book, my aim, much
like a reporter’s, was to examine —
copiously citing the paper itself with
a minimum of theoretical interpretations on my part — how the Times has
covered religion and its many dimensions in contemporary life in the aftershocks of 9/11. There is no question
about it: 9/11 was a religion story, an
event that revealed just how important a force religion could be in modern times.
Contrary to the widely held notion
that our nation and the world used to
be more religious, and that both citizens and the media pay less attention
to religion than they used to, my examination of Times coverage revealed
just the opposite: from the 1970s to the
early 21st century, religion coverage
The Times has documented
the revival of public
religiousness as it has swept
across the globe.
The moment of the 9/11
crisis ... became a timely lens
through which to investigate
and analyze “religion”
A 9/11 curriculum
reported in the Times.
many since 2001 — I have come to
judgments about the paper’s definitions of religion’s dimensions over that
period of time and what we can learn
from its coverage of religion.
The moment of the 9/11 crisis —
perhaps the most galvanizing event
concerning religion in our lifetime —
became a timely lens through which
to investigate and analyze “religion”
reported in the Times. I determined to
wait five years before organizing this
study, in order to see how the stories
played out. I set about conducting an
exhaustive examination of Times religion coverage, rather than picking out
a few articles on a common theme or
with a common viewpoint. I was interested in what we would learn about
religion, politics, and journalism by
of the 20th century, we see that religion has become a powerful force in
public political life in the United States
and abroad, and both consumers and
producers of the news are now cognizant of this fact. Whether one points to
Jimmy Carter’s successful presidential
campaign in 1976, the ascension of Pope
John Paul II in 1978, the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, or the creation of
the Moral Majority in that same year,
it is clear that, since the late 1970s,
religion has become de-privatized.
Secularization — an earlier trend perceived as inevitable — has been overturned over the past several decades,
3131
and the Times has documented the revival of public religiousness as it has
swept across the globe.
Then came 9/11. As my brother
George said to me, “My frequent role
while covering religion was to assure
editors: no, seriously, some people actually believe this stuff — and act on
it, Jonestown just being one example
[referring to the 1978 cult mass suicide
there]. Then Jonestown arrived downtown.”
For several years after 9/11, it seems
as if most Times articles about religion
— whether as tradition, institution, belief, supernaturalism, faith, ethics, ritual, or unifying or factionalizing force in
communities — possessed a 9/11 subtext. For the first five years, the events
made religion front-page news almost
on a daily basis. Even 10 years later, the
mass of religion reportage and commentary in the Times looms large.
On April 12, 2011, the day I read the
publisher’s proofs for the epilogue to
my book, nine substantial religion articles covered perspectives on Christi-
Above all, the paper showed
how politics and religion can be
mutuallydefiningdimensionsof
human life.
anity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam; civil
religion in the United States, Europe,
and Africa; theology, gender, meditation, ethics, ritual, personal life, politics,
and the law. These articles appeared
not only on the front page and the editorial page, but also in the foreign, national, and metropolitan sections and
the “Science Times.”
In short, the Times demonstrates a
thoroughgoing journalistic discipline
akin to an academic course of study. It
created an extensive 9/11 curriculum
right from the start, through news
coverage; through features, which pro-
32
scene: Summer 2011
vide a sense of what is happening on
a personal level in the culture; in the
“Week in Review” summaries, which
put things into context; in the “essays
beyond the news” — the op-eds and
magazine articles that allowed for expression of opinion; and, of course, in
the book reviews, which provided the
accumulating 9/11 bibliography. The
Times moved beyond political coverage to the social, the cultural, the artistic, the intellectual, and the religious.
Above all, however, the paper showed
how politics and religion can be mutually defining dimensions of human
life.
Through this curriculum, the Times
has provided insight into post-9/11
religious phenomena. “Religion” was
now largely politicized, and the politics
were those of the “culture wars” in the
United States and beyond. The religion
angles were interpretations of causation: What motivations brought about
9/11, and how did people respond to it?
What meanings did people construct
about 9/11, and how did they behave
as a result? The religious foci were religion in America, Islam at home and
abroad, and the wars kindled around
the world by the 9/11 attacks. In addressing these topics on the pages of
the paper and beyond, Times personnel
pondered the significance of these galvanizing events and their portentous
unveiling of a supposed “clash of civilizations” between Islam and the West.
And in asking probing questions about
religion news, the Times was able to inform its readers about a monumental,
breaking story of religious import.
Understanding religion in
contemporary life
That coverage serves as rich source
material — tangible, relevant examples that illustrate the themes and
concepts I teach in my classroom.
In the Times’s view, religions are
salient when their representatives attempt to define or reassess their teachings about the transcendent, spiritual
world and its relationship to the material universe and people’s lives within
it. People behave religiously when
faced with life crises (disease, death,
disillusion, scandal, catastrophe) or at
times of great joy (birth, rebuilding,
the seasonal celebrations of renewal
and forgiveness) — in short, when facing critical, imminent concerns. In ad-
Its editors and writers and
photographers’ concern is to
understandcontemporarylife.
dition, people behave religiously when
they take defined moral positions, espousing principles that entail doing
good and avoiding evil, grounded in
their community (conceived locally,
nationally, internationally, and even
cosmically). Religion is a code of ethics,
a set of values, with concrete ramifications in daily life and in public policies.
Times articles reveal that certain
people behave religiously when they
celebrate their ethnic identity as something greater than their individual
selves and when they set themselves
off against other peoples, absorbing
themselves in their community and
setting themselves against those outside it, whom they may sometimes
come to perceive as enemies. Religion
has the function of fostering community consciousness, providing principles of organization, and informing
legal and political structures. A shared
way of life, a shared set of ultimate
Photo by John D. Hubbard
Transfixed Kevin Meehan ’03, a student in Vecsey’s course American
Religion in These Times, pores over the paper’s first coverage of the
9/11 attacks on September 12, 2001.
their religious traditions of piety and
reverence or in individually conceived,
spiritual philosophies of life, and
when, molded by ethics and in light of
ultimate concerns, they act upon their
moral convictions for the good or ill of
concerns, shared ethics, a shared belief in God, and shared ritual activities — over time and space — are the
real stuff of religion because they are
shared.
Religions are thus foundational
in the creation of culture: the shared
way of life with its common symbols
and meanings. Religion is a means of
forming social solidarity. Indeed, it
might be argued that whatever serves
to bind humans together is religious,
including social and political systems.
The Times is especially interested in religion’s place in these systems, both at
home and abroad. Its editors and writers and photographers’ concern is to
understand contemporary life.
Beyond a “first draft of history”
Although we speak of “the Times” as
an institution or an individual, a collective examination of its coverage shows
that the paper does not have a single
viewpoint. In addition to several staff
religion writers with a variety of backgrounds, many other reporters cover
religion stories on other beats: from
metropolitan, regional, national, and
international to politics, science, food,
and family, to arts and sports.
The writers without religious studies on their résumés inform themselves and their audience by turning
to academics, firsthand players in
religious developments, and denominational officials for comments and
angles. Experts and interested parties
themselves are also called upon or
volunteer to write op-ed pieces and
features of all sorts. In addition, the paper commissions scholars with professional training in analyzing religious
phenomena.
Op-eds, obituaries, and book reviews are written by theologians, historians, sociologists, anthropologists,
and other observers of religion skilled
in characterizing religion, its pluralism,
its vocabulary, its symbols, its mystery,
its faith, its wisdom, its spirituality, its
quest for meaning, its connection to
human needs and divine calling, its
temptations, and its transcendence.
Collectively, the Times brings as much
expertise to its pages as most academic authors do in writing a book.
Perhaps, then, Times reportage and
commentary constitutes not only a
“first draft of history,” but also a more
accurate version of history than a subsequent, single-authored work on the
same period could accomplish — because it includes these many perspectives under the same canopy. In the
totality of reportage in its post-9/11 religion coverage, the Times allows multiple visions, knowledges, disciplines,
ideologies, and conventions to find
expression on its pages. There is a constant reaching toward other perspectives. One op-ed contradicts another;
one report adds a dimension that a
previous report left out. Balance comes
from this range of views; however, it is
balance built on its own and its readership’s conventional worldview as locally, regionally, and nationally defined.
The Times is not published in Kabul or
There might be no better place
to learn about religion, politics,
and journalism reported in
these times.
Baghdad. If it were, its center of gravity
would be significantly different.
Good journalism, former Times religion reporter Ari L. Goldman (now
professor and dean of students at Columbia University’s Graduate School of
Journalism) writes, is like good Talmud.
Each issue begins with a summary
statement, fair and inclusive, followed
by argument — one voice, another
voice, expressing valid opinions, each
“worth listening to and recording.”
Each may be right, even though they
diverge and disagree. Neither Talmud
nor good journalism is willing to “set-
tle for only one opinion.” For Goldman,
Talmud “is the ultimate newspaper of
Judaism,” striving toward “equality
and justice” with “logic and perseverance.” The Times seems committed to
the same goals.
Not coincidentally, these are also
the aims and practices of religious
studies in the context of liberal arts
higher education. Consequently, there
might be no better place to learn about
religion, politics, and journalism reported in these times, in this epoch of
ours following 9/11.
Teaching with the Times
Through this process, we get a textured picture of our age in its contradictory details. For that reason, I have
continued to use the Times in several
courses over the past decade: Religion
and the Quest for Meaning (a firstyear seminar in fall 2003), Religion in
Contemporary America (fall 2009),
and three iterations of the Core Distinction seminar, Religion and Politics
in These Times (fall 2005, spring 2008,
and spring 2010). In spring 2012, I shall
offer the Religion and Politics class as
the last Core Distinction seminar at
Colgate. I think that there is much to
learn in the myriad journalistic details
regarding history, culture, society, and
human religiousness.
In recent weeks, I have heard from
two Colgate alumnae who earned
Core Distinction Honors in my courses.
They are both developing high school
curricula focused upon 9/11, employing Times coverage as source material.
An alumnus who took my first-year
seminar in 2003 and is now a Marine
Corps captain stationed in Afghani-
stan credits our course with preparing
him for his present assignment: working with local Afghan communities. To
understand the religious expressions
of diverse peoples is crucial to effecting humane communication with
populations from afar.
Journalism helps us understand
both our neighbors and ourselves. In
recognition of the 10th anniversary of
9/11, I am planning to mentor members of the Colgate Maroon-News staff
in local religion reporting. In fall 2011,
with guidance from Times reporters
and editors, past and present, we hope
to produce a series, “Portraits of Belief,” about religious life at Colgate and
its environs, in the light and the long
shadow of 9/11.
Being a professor of the humanities,
I celebrate journalism’s complexity, as
well as its diversity of viewpoints and
their expressiveness. There is richness
in the coverage. It can educate you. You
won’t learn everything you need to
know about religion in these times by
reading the newspaper — even if that
paper is the Times. But it is an edifying
place to start.
— Christopher Vecsey is the Harry
Emerson Fosdick Professor of the humanities and Native American studies
and religion. This essay is adapted from
his book Following 9/11: Religion Coverage in the New York Times (Syracuse
University Press).
33 33
Faces of
Fitness
BY ALETA MAYNE
Building more than muscle at the new Trudy Fitness Center
There’s no other spot on campus where, on a given day,
you’ll find an alumnus from the Class of ’41, the president
of the rugby club, a staff member from the accounting
department, and a geography professor. Not only can they
be found in the same building, but they’re also all sweating
it out in tandem. The campus’s focus on fitness has no
boundaries, and since the opening of the new Trudy Fitness
Center in January, Colgate’s collective physique has been
pumped up even more.
These vignettes — featuring some of Trudy’s newbies,
regulars, and lifelong exercise devotees — depict the
newest driving force behind Colgate’s reputation as one of
the fittest college campuses in America.
The wellness champion
As co-chair of the university’s Wellness Initiative, Mark Thompson — who is also director
of counseling and psychological services — knows the strong correlation between physical
and emotional health. He notes that the popularity of the Trudy Fitness Center has already
begun to benefit the Wellness Initiative, which encourages balanced lifestyles within the
Colgate community. Physical fitness is just one spoke in the wellness wheel, but Thompson
hopes that the new fitness center will serve as an entryway into a comprehensively healthy
lifestyle for campus and community members.
Thompson doesn’t just preach the power of physical health — at least four days a
week, he can be found on an elliptical machine or doing calisthenics, either at 6:30 a.m.
or at the noontime hour reserved for faculty and staff. “When I work out, I feel more
mentally focused because I’ve had the chance to discharge stress,” he said. “We know
from research that when people are exercising regularly, that has a positive effect on
stress, anxiety, and mood.”
The coach
With space-age–looking machines and a regular crowd of musclemen deadlifting hundreds
of pounds, it’s easy to understand why there can be an intimidation factor on Trudy’s firstfloor weight room. But Ryan Baker, head volleyball coach, is helping people
shed that notion.
Baker is one of two varsity coaches who have been leading orientation classes to get
people accustomed to using the new machines. The sessions have been so well received
that many more had to be scheduled, and Baker has seen a boost in attendance and selfassurance in those whom he’s instructed. “It was really great to see their confidence go up
— especially females, who often shy away from the weights,” he said. “I’ve gotten a lot of
pleasure out of watching their facial expressions change because they could do it.” It’s also
been gratifying to see those who participated in his orientation sessions working out on the
weight floor on their own afterward, Baker said.
All photography by Andrew Daddio
34
scene: Summer 2011
A strong proponent of pumping iron, Baker said the new
Hoist machines are designed to glide with the body’s natural
movements. “They take a lot of pressure off your back because
your feet move with you; biomechanically, it’s much better for
you,” he explained. “Strength is important, especially as you get
older and need to maintain your bone density.”
His efforts and the orientation sessions have clearly paid
off: now, there are days when more women can be seen
weightlifting at Trudy than men.
The motivator
Suzie Meres can attest to the empowerment of knowledge when it
comes to getting familiar with the fitness center. Meres is business
manager for Greek Letter Operations in the accounting office. “As
soon as I walked in, I felt overwhelmed,” she said of her first time
visiting the new facility. “There were a lot of monster machines, and
I thought, ‘Ugh, this isn’t for me.’”
But, she signed up for an orientation session with Baker, and she
encouraged her co-workers to do the same. With Baker’s guidance,
Meres learned how to use the machines and realized that they were
something she could incorporate into her exercise regimen. “It was
like a whole new thing,”
she said. “I felt like I was
“I used to hate working out,” said Rui Nakata ’14. Having been to in a playground.” Now,
the former fitness center only once, Nakata begrudgingly went to Meres and a few of the
the new facility on the second day of its opening — she and her
women with whom she
friends wanted to get in shape for their spring break trip to Miami. took the orientation
Once Nakata saw the open space, with its shiny floors and
class go through the
state-of-the-art equipment, her appetite for athleticism went
entire row of machines
beyond getting bikini-ready. And, although spring break is
together twice a week as
long over, fitness is still part of her lifestyle. “My friends and I
part of their workout.
motivated each other to go for a week, and then it just became a A deep-water fitness
routine,” she said. “Now I’m more comfortable going alone, so I
instructor for faculty and
go whenever I feel like it.”
staff for 15 years, Meres
Nakata admitted that this lifestyle change has even given
has always been one to
her studies a boost. “It helps me get my homework done faster foster physical activity
— I plan out my days better now instead of wasting my time on in others. “I really enjoy inspiring people and motivating them to make themselves feel
Facebook.” She added, “It makes me feel more accomplished
better,” she said. “If someone’s feeling down, I’ll say, ‘Let’s go to the fitness center and work
because I’m more productive.”
out. I’ll show you how to use the weights now that I know how.’”
The spring breaker–
turned-perennial
35
A fit footprint
The new Trudy Fitness Center is the most energy- and resource-efficient building on campus.
The project managers and architects are striving to get the building LEED certified (an internationally
recognized green building designation). To earn that certification, the building must earn points in
five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources,
and indoor environmental quality. Here are some areas where Trudy is racking up points:
- 2 0 percent greater
energy efficiency than a
typical building of its size
- T
he reflective white roof
reduces the “heat island”
effect (the rise in a setting’s
temperature when dark
surfaces absorb the sun’s heat)
- A
ir handling system
(HVAC) constantly
recycles fresh air
ESS CENTER
T R U DY F I T N
- A
t least 25 percent of the
building’s footprint is tree/
shrub plantings to minimize
ecological impact
36
scene: Summer 2011
- 3 1,595 plastic water
bottles saved from 2
water fountains as of
press time
- 3 0 percent greater
water efficiency than a
typical building of its size
- N
ew bike racks and
preferred parking for
fuel-efficient vehicles
The professor
With this year’s seemingly endless winter, Peter Klepeis ’94 was
grateful for the Trudy Fitness Center. During the academic year, the
geography professor and his wife had a routine of dropping their
kids off at Hamilton Central School and then going to the gym to
work out together. “It helps to have a partner in crime,” he said.
Klepeis particularly enjoys the new facility because it allows
users to control their own experience, with individual TVs and
iPod docks on the cardio machines. The allocated mat space on
both floors for stretching out and doing calisthenics is another
advantage, Klepeis said.
On the weekends, his family also participates in Colgate’s
fitness offerings (family
members and local residents
can join for a fee); his three
children swim in the pool, or
Klepeis plays racquetball with
his 7-year-old son.
“Having access to this is
a big perk from a faculty
point of view,” he explained.
“It’s a top-notch facility … big,
high ceilings, natural light,
wood beams, and a diverse
mix of machines.”
- 114 windows that assist daylight
harvesting (light sensors in the building
read the outdoor conditions, and the
fluorescent lights adjust accordingly)
- Low–VOC paints
- X
eriscaping: use of
native vegetation that
does not need watering
- 4 32 tons, or 89%, of the
construction debris was
diverted from a landfill
Illustration by Katherine Mutz
- Retention pond
that can store
and treat storm
water runoff at
rates of up to
800 gallons per
minute
The circuit trainer
A father of five, Aurelius Henderson is used to running around. So, the assistant dean and
adviser to the opportunity programs isn’t daunted by the stairs separating the weight room
from the cardio floor. He’ll warm up on the elliptical machine for five minutes, run downstairs
to lift, go back upstairs to bike, hit the weights again, and then finish his workout on a third
cardio machine. “I come up with this crazy stuff,” said Henderson, who, three times a week,
also organizes a group workout in Huntington Gym to the Insanity
workout DVDs, a high-intensity conditioning program.
Henderson is a fan of the new facility because it has helped
him be able to do what he really loves: shoot hoops. His doctor
told him that basketball could aggravate his old injuries, but that
if Henderson strengthened his knees, he could play. “With the
old machines, I couldn’t strengthen my legs the way I wanted to
because of the swelling in my knees,” he explained. “But now there
are the machines that move with your body, and you get strength
without straining and pulling,” he added, citing the merits of the
squat machine especially.
Henderson’s other favorite part of the new fitness center is
unexpected, but something that many report: the social scene
(another dimension of the
campus Wellness Initiative).
He’s part of a group of people
who arrive many mornings
before the doors open at 6
a.m., waiting to get a jump
start. “People from all areas
of the community come
— including teachers from
Sherburne and Hamilton — so
it’s a whole mixture, and we
have wonderful conversations,”
Henderson said.
37
The career exerciser
Varsity basketball player Evan Librizzi ’11 is another Colgater who prefers to get to the
fitness center first thing in the morning to beat the crowds — although waiting in line
for a machine is no longer an issue with all the new equipment. But, morning workouts
have become part of her routine and are how Librizzi likes to start her day. In fact, fitness
is such an integral part of the senior’s life that she plans to attend graduate school
for exercise science. “From a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of
exercise for a healthier life, both mentally and physically,” she said. “I would love to one
day coach and train all types of athletes from a strength and conditioning standpoint.”
The iron girl
It was the university’s fitness opportunities that first attracted Vicky Stone to start
working at Colgate 18 years ago. Stone is senior administrative assistant for alumni
affairs. Her friend, Grace Huff (another longtime employee, who today is associate
director of planned giving), had been telling Stone about taking aerobics classes during
her lunch break. “She made it sound so nice,” Stone recalled. “So, my first day here,
I went to aerobics and just got right into it.” She even ended up teaching the class to
faculty and staff members for a number of years.
Now, Stone uses the fitness center as part of her robust workout — which, in a typical
week, includes power yoga at home or spinning class in Huntington Gym in the mornings,
running on the treadmill or swimming laps at the noontime faculty and staff hour, and
later joining the evening Insanity group.
Stone has always been fit, but this year, she has kicked it up a level because she’s
been preparing for Syracuse’s Iron Girl triathlon in August. The new Precor treadmills have
helped Stone train for the footrace portion. “You can do so many programs, and they’re
very customizable,” she explained of the options that offer changing inclines and varying
speeds throughout the workout. “You can even go downhill!”
Colgate people have helped her prepare, too. Bob Benson, the former swim coach
(who is also Stone’s neighbor), and the current assistant diving coach, Shannon Cutting
(who also leads orientation sessions at Trudy), have both offered Stone tips. “There are
some great people who reach out and help you, if you just tell them what you want to
do,” Stone said. “It’s nice that you can meet like-minded people with the same values,
and you can strengthen friendships.”
The rugger
Julian Michaels ’11 had to take a couple of weeks off from lifting weights when his hand
got stomped on by a cleat during the spring rugby game between alumni and students.
Having just finished the season, the Rugby Club president shifted his focus from
energizing his teammates to helping his girlfriend, Jackie Wakeen ’11, and classmate
Maddi Love ’11, get conditioned for their summer bike trip down the Pacific Coast from
Canada to Mexico. “I push them to go harder and faster,” explained Michaels, who got
into the gym culture through working as a front desk monitor for two years.
Michaels won’t be going on the bike trip because he’s conducting geology research
with Professor Bruce Selleck on campus this summer. But, he has planned a long-term
fitness adventure for himself: seeing the highest peaks in all 50 states. Saying he’s a firm
believer in the power of physical strength and wellness, Michaels hopes this bucket list
will be a way to keep him fit for life. Because of the costliness of traveling to the more
distant states, Michaels said, there are some peaks, like Alaska’s Mt. McKinley, that he
probably won’t ascend while he’s young. “I might not see that 50th peak until I’m 70, so
I’ve got to keep working out.”
38
scene: Summer 2011
The young at heart
When John LeFevre ’41 feels the impulse to miss his
workout, he thinks about a quote he read: “Once you skip
a day of exercise, it’s the same as telling your body that it’s
OK to rot.” At 92 years young, the alumnus and Hamilton
resident can be seen working out at the Trudy Fitness Center
three to five days a week.
On his way from the stationary bike — where he usually
begins his workout — to the weight room, LeFevre says hello
or stops to chat with the many people he knows. The IBM
retiree worked in the Office of Admission for 13 years, but
he’s gotten to know even more Colgate folks from going to
the fitness center. “I have a good time when I go there, and I
feel very much at home,” he said.
The former hockey player recalled the evolution of
fitness in his time at Colgate, starting with team dry-land
practices using tennis balls on the third floor of Huntington
Gym. After a hiatus from Hamilton, when LeFevre returned
in the 1980s and began working for admission, student
Sue Dolly Lathrop ’88 (today a senior associate dean for
admission) introduced him to the small gym that had been
assembled on the third floor of Huntington. The next version
of Colgate’s gym, the Wm. Brian Little Fitness Center, was
built in 1994 on the first floor of Huntington, atop the old
pool where LeFevre had passed his mandatory swimming
test as a freshman.
With the Trudy Fitness Center, Colgate’s workout space
has come a long way since the days when the hockey team
raced back and forth on Huntington’s third floor or the
football team ran up the old ski hill to get in shape. “We have
to be proud of this facility because it is a first-class show,”
LeFevre said. “I’m always impressed that students are taking
advantage of it. That’s today’s world, and it’s a great world.”
See wellness champion
Mark Thompson and
others, including President
Jeffrey Herbst (pictured right)
and the Colgate Thirteen,
in the mockumentary “At
the Trudy Fitness Center” at
youtube.com/cuatchannel13.
8
At least four days a week, several members of
Brothers — a multicultural student organization
— work out together in the evenings to spot and
encourage each other. They say they dig the new
fitness digs for many reasons — including more
space, added weightlifting options, and the new machines that are easier on the
body. Pictured above (L to R): Chris Dell’Amore ’11, Javier Magana ’14, and Dave
Fuentes ’11.
Right: Medvis Jackson '11 spots Dell'Amore.
The figures supporting
Colgate’s figure
1/31/11 opening day of the Trudy Fitness Center
153 people filed in at 6 a.m. when the
doors opened for the first time
50 Raider bobbleheads given to
those first in line opening morning
14,825 square feet
71 Precor cardio machines
183% increase in student attendance
at 6 a.m. on weekdays (comparing February
2011 to February 2010)
10 lbs this reporter lost while doing
hands-on research for this article
20 orientation sessions offered to faculty and staff
Bodybuilding Brothers:
39
40
scene: Summer 2011
Andrew Daddio
41
Alumni bulletin board
Andrew Daddio
stay connected
to know:
Know:Karl
Name
Here ’91
Get to
Stewart
– Alumni Council 2005–2011; career services, awards, and district clubs committees
– Maroon Citation, 2011; class gift committee;
member, LGBTQ Alumni Association
– MFA, acting, Brooklyn College; MA, social organizational psychology, Columbia University
– Human Resources Coordinator, CNN
– Founder, WorkWellGroups.com
The actor in HR: People respond to somebody on stage that they
relate to, so I bring that to bear in orientations, training programs,
and one-on-one career conversations. In improv, you’re taught to respond to your partner, so I watch people’s body language to see what
they really need. Sometimes someone comes with what seems to
be a basic question, but they’re asking for something different.
About Work Well: I counsel young professionals, helping them
diagnose what pains them in their job or job hunt.
Career counselor’s insight: The people who love what they do seem
to be the most successful. It’s the natural extension of who they
are, so it’s very little like work.
What it takes to love his own work: It has to be helping people.
There are “people” people and there are “things” people. I have a
split brain — I was a math major and a theater minor.
Alumni Council Notes
New to the council
I am pleased to announce the successful candidates of the 2011 Alumni
Council election:
Era I: H. Gerald Nordberg Jr. ’57
Era IV: Mark R. DiMaria ’84
Era V: Thomas J. Murphy ’90
Era VII: Katie R. Finnegan ’05
These alumni join five other uncontested candidates unanimously
elected on June 4, 2011:
Era II: Bob Seaberg ’69
Era III: Bruce Crowley ’79
Era VI: Sara Golding Mullen ’99
At Large: Lisa Oppenheim-Shultz ’85
At Large: Joy Buchanan ’99
The following new regional vice presidents were appointed by the Alumni
Council:
Metro I: Joanna Allegretti ’05
Metro II: Melissa Coley ’79
New England: Travis Leach ’94
Career mistakes to avoid: Instead of fire, ready, aim, always
practice ready, aim, fire. For example, you may have a brilliant
idea, but the way that it’s presented can get it shot down in five
seconds. Sometimes it’s more successful to check in with other
people before making a proposal in a meeting. Talk not just to a key
advocate, but also get feedback from a person you think is going to
say, “That’s not going to work.”
Congratulations to all our new Alumni
Council members!
Favorite Alumni Council role: Real World in January, when we talk
with students about our careers. I emphasize that there are no
mistakes with the first job. Whatever you end up trying, you learn
something. For me, I was an actuary. I learned that I never again
want to figure out whether red or blue cars get into more accidents
— it requires too much separation from human beings.
The nominations committee of
the Alumni Council seeks recommendations for candidates for this
55-member volunteer board. From
unique perspectives and diverse
backgrounds, the council advises the
university; opens lines of communication between Colgate and its alumni;
mentors the next generation of graduates; and proudly tells Colgate’s story
to the world.
Each year, 11 to 13 new members
are selected to represent specific
eras and geographic areas as well as
at-large positions. Candidates, initially identified through the nominations
committee, are ultimately ratified by
Pastimes: I love Scrabble. The beach — I just lie there like a shell.
And my 8-year-old godson, Judah, who’s adorable — and reminds
me of myself.
Favorite cause: I volunteer for two places. God’s Love We Deliver
brings food to people who are homebound from HIV/AIDS and
other debilitating diseases. And I am usually a key player on the
AIDS Walk team at the company where I work.
Guilty pleasure: 75 percent dark chocolate. I have to be specific;
I was a math major, after all.
42
Questions? Contact the alumni office
at 315-228-7433 or alumni@colgate.
edu
scene: Summer 2011
Christine Cronin Gallagher ’83
President, Alumni Corporation
Call for nominations
the full council. Ideal candidates exhibit several of the following qualities:
• Varied Colgate volunteer service
• A demonstrated commitment to Colgate over time
• Meaningful personal or profes-
sional accomplishments or contributions to the greater community
• Readiness and willingness to become more involved on behalf of the university
• A consistent history of giving financial support to Colgate
The awards committee of the Alumni
Council seeks nominations from the
classes ending in 2 and 7 for awards
to be presented at Reunion 2012.
Categories include:
• Ann Yao Young Alumni Award (Class of 2007)
• Maroon Citations
• Humanitarian Award
• Wm. Brian Little ’64 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service*
*All candidates having previously
received the Maroon Citation will be
considered.
Send nominations for alumni awards
and Alumni Council candidates by
Sept. 1, 2011, to: Tim Mansfield,
Executive Secretary, Colgate University, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY 13346.
Please include a supporting statement
for each person you nominate. For
more information, visit www.colgate
connect.org.
Travel opportunity:
Colgate in East Africa
May 17–May 30, 2012
President Jeffrey Herbst, four Colgate
professors, and the Benton Scholars
invite 13 alumni or parents for a oncein-a-lifetime experience. See www.
colgateconnect.org/africa for details.
class news
Alumni news and deadlines
Class news: Class editors will be
submitting their columns on Oct. 7,
2011, and Jan. 6, 2012. Please keep
these deadlines in mind when sending
information to your correspondents,
and understand that your news may
take a while to appear in print.
Marriage and birth listings — please
mail to the Scene, attn: Births/
Marriages, 13 Oak Dr., Hamilton, NY
13346; fax 315-228-7699; or e-mail
alumnirecords@colgate.edu.
For address changes, or to report
the death of a Colgate graduate,
please notify alumni records. If possible, please identify surviving kin
and an address for condolences to be
sent. If a newspaper obituary is available, we would appreciate receiving a
copy: 315-228-7453 (tel.); 315-2287699 (fax); alumnirecords@colgate.
edu.
Should anyone up through the Class of 1934 have
news to share, please contact Aleta Mayne: 315228-6669; amayne@colgate.edu.
1935
George Carmichael
930 Regency Square 110
Vero Beach, FL 32967-1811
George: 772-569-6951
hoagiec93@pavlovpost.com
1936
Elizabeth Gallagher-Saward
Apartment 513
505 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611-3499
Elizabeth: 312-527-1492
1937
Gerald A Vernon
23 Lighthouse Way
Darien, CT 06820-5612
I am able to reach 7 of our classmates; 2 others
have moved, but I do not have their numbers,
and 1 whose phone has been disconnected. I
report on 6 of us this time.
Jim Sprague in Miami, who rode a dolphin
and feeds squirrels off his hand, now grows
tropical fruits not including citrus. He said he
would send me a mango!
Dr Ed Phillips in Claremont, CA, will be going
to his house in MI, where he goes every summer.
He and a friend sail a 28' boat in the lake nearby.
Duke Husser’s daughter returned my call,
informing me that Duke is well and celebrated
his 95th bday with many of his family.
Dr Charles Harris in KY reports that his 1937
Packard, which he drove to reunion some years
ago, is still in working order. I think he gave it to
a son or grandson.
George Hunt in Owego, NY, asked me a great
question! Was I planning to go to reunion in
2012? As we all know, Jim Sprague was thinking
along those lines as we were leaving the ’07
Reunion when he assured us, “Hey, 2012 is just
around the corner!”
Jerry Vernon said, “I must report that our
youngest grandchild really wants to go to
Colgate in 2012 and is working hard to have good
marks.”
1938
Don Foley
1050 Mariposa Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707-2444
Had a pleasant phone chat with Irv Ryerson in
Wilmington, NC. Sounding upbeat, he is caught
up in activities at Plantation Village. He writes
for their quarterly publication. He designs computer greeting cards, also helping other residents.
A member of a sailing club, he’s active in Sunday
races of small radio-controlled boats.
I asked Irv if as class pres he’d like to pass
on any thoughts to our classmates. Here’s his
reply (slightly abbreviated). “Dear classmates:
Unfortunately, I have no pearls of wisdom to
share. With our being geographically spread, it
is not possible (at our ages) to get together for
a good old-fashioned bull session. But here are
2 thoughts: 1) foremost, hang in there; 2) let’s
try to keep each other better informed through
our class news, reporting on activities, interests,
and family, and recalling any memories of our
Colgate experience. Hopefully, this could lead to
more direct personal communication with each
other.”
Ev Hanke in Brunswick, ME, now claims to be
fully retired, having terminated his last investment acct in Dec. He said that govt red tape had
become unreasonable. He’s looking forward to
summer so he can use his new golf clubs. Ev
reminds us we are just 2 years from our 75th
Reunion. How many classmates will be there?
We in Berkeley are enjoying lovely weather.
Our backyard wisteria, now in full bloom, was
never more beautiful. Katharine and I feel blessed.
Don: 510-525-6983; dfoley@berkeley.edu
1939
Jim Dickinson
PO Box 910
Moody, Maine 04054-0910
If anyone in the Class of 1939 would like to
volunteer for the class editor position, please
contact associate editor Aleta Mayne at 315-2286669 or amayne@colgate.edu.
Jim: jdickin918@aol.com
1 9 40
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203-544-8168;
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Fred Tedeschi
Unit 9D
2555 Youngs Avenue
Southold, NY 11971-1630
1 9 41
Ted Clapp
Lewis Point
PO Box 579
Damariscotta, ME 04543-0579
The recipient of our Class of 1941 Endowed
Scholarship wants you to know how much he
appreciates our gift to him. He writes, “Being
recognized for my accomplishments at Colgate
is an overwhelming sensation and I can’t thank
you enough for helping me!” Nice going, ’41, for
being a booster!
Yes, we are all growing older. I must report the
death of 3 classmates. Bill Rothermel, a pre-med
major, served as a radiologist in the Medical
Corp in WWII for 3 years and was a merit badge
examiner for the Boy Scouts at home in OH.
Chuck Williams was a naval officer in the
Pacific Theater in WWII. Shot down once, Chuck
rose again to win the Air Medal with 2 gold stars.
He was a great worker in his church in FL. His life
is a great story! He is a particular friend of mine.
Fred Williams, who died recently, certainly
has ‘Music’ for his middle name. After graduating from Colgate, he earned a BS at Juilliard and
an MA at Columbia. He served as organist and
choir director at the Ossining United Methodist
Church for 35 years while also composing music.
It grabbed my gut when John LeFevre sent a
photo of our Class of 1941 25th Reunion held in
1966. Yes, time passes, but memories are very real!
Ted: 207-563-8369; tlcbwk@tidewater.net
1 9 42
Robert C. Smith
Apt. 329
3804 Brandon Avenue SW
Roanoke, VA 24018-7004
Heard from Henry Willcox, Art Rasi, and Dean
Hatheway.
Two of our classmates passed on: Raymond I.
Dawson Jr in FL and Benjamin Howard Metzloff.
My records show that there are 55 of our class-
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geology.
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dapibus, quam magna porttitor
last year: Normandy and a nearby town of Dounisi,laidDeliveranda
sollicitudin
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from a duck-hunting trip with a group of friends.
metus, sodales ac, iaculis non, sagittis
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he?) est. Aliquam neque. Fusce
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Jim Noble
passed Septmauris.
10 last year.
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in the European
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sodales.
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rhoncus
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NU, Jimleo,
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libero.
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fermentum eu, euismod tincidunt,
the student govt and played basketball, tennis,
neque.
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and
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Johnelit.
Kohnle,
ATO,
passed Sept 30. John served
in the Marines in the Pacific and received a
Bronze Star. John rose to be CEO of Monarch Marketing. He was very active in community service,
serving on over a dozen groups.
Richard Scheuermann, Sigma Nu, passed Dec
8. Dick spent 4 years in Europe with the OSS. He
was an intramural handball and squash winner.
Bob: 858-395-3213; husselrath@mac.com
43
1 946
Don Schaefer
45 Lydecker Street
Englewood, NJ 07631-3008
It’s hard to be nostalgic when you can’t remember anything. But I do remember. I remember
climbing the hill for the first time in 1942. I
remember chapel with Everett N Case, Colgate’s
new pres, speaking to us very slowly. Case saved
Colgate by attracting V-5 and V-12 programs to
our campus. He was a superb president.
By the time you read this, we will have had
our 65th Reunion. I hope as many as possible
attended.
Phil Ingle is now home, having spent several
months in rehab after breaking his hip. He was
disappointed because recovery has taken so long.
Doc Edwards retired after 30-plus years covering VA, WV, and MD as a manufacturers rep. He
lives in Arlington, VA. He is enjoying retirement.
Doc was always a golfer and he still belongs to a
nice club. He reminded me of our being paddled
by Bat Batorski, a huge football player. We were
Phi Gams. We remember (not fondly) hazing. Doc
is enjoying good health.
Bob Anderson lives in Wheatfield, in western
NY. His wife passed away 5 years ago. He lives
not far from where he grew up. Bob had a very
satisfying career in the lumber and hardware
business. His hobby was woodworking. After I retired, I finally went to see Niagara Falls. They are
beautiful and impressive. Bob says you should
see them in the winter, the frozen water makes
a sensational ice bridge. You can walk across the
river if you have the nerve.
Bob Pierce received his MD from NY Med C
and went into family practice in Clinton, NY. He
retired 5 years ago. He was still working when
he was 80. In the course of a long career, he
delivered more than 5,000 babies and, at times,
5 a day, making sure that every mother and baby
were fine before moving on. He sounds great, as
does wife Maggie. Bob walks 2 miles a day with
his dog. He pursues one of his keener interests
— fishing for Atlantic salmon. Each year he goes
to Ireland, the UK, or Norway salmon fishing. We
talked about Ballynahinch, a famous fishing spot
in Ireland. Bob is also a big game hunter, mostly
in Canada and the NW Territory. He has bagged
moose, elk, bear, and many deer — everything
except a mtn lion. Some of his game were trophy
size. He is a doer. Bob and Maggie have 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Bob had a
very satisfying med career. Soon he will be off
again, fishing for Atlantic salmon.
Gale Benn lives in Westport, NY. It’s far north
on Lake Champlain. At the time of this report,
they still had tons of snow. He bet his wife $100
that he would be able to make a snowball June
1. Gale is doing fine. He enjoyed his career in
publishing. He lived in Switzerland for 14 years.
One of his books, Olympic Gold, sold 300,000 copies. He also published Business Digest Internatl;
later he became a VP of the NY Times. He was a
Navy fighter pilot in WWII. He continued flying
after the war, and he logged 13,000 hours. He had
a Beechcraft Bonanza, a single-engine private
airplane. It was delivered to him in Switzerland
by a 63-year-old grandmother, Louise Sockie. She
flew it from Boston to Lausane. It turned out she
was in Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in WWII and
ferried bombers across the Atlantic.
Al Norman is having some trouble with equilibrium, but hopes to make our reunion, as does
Blair Vedder. I’m proud of our class. We became
lawyers, doctors, publishers, teachers, businessmen, and artists. We have contributed to our
communities and to our professions. Most of us
44
scene: Summer 2011
have had the same wife for over 50 years. Many
of our children and grandchildren have attended
Colgate. Not a bad legacy.
And remember, 1 hair on the head is worth 2
in the brush. Ouch!
Don: 201-568-0309;
donald.a.schaefer@verizon.net
1947
Jack Scollay
Apt. 315
95 Elizabeth Street
Delaware, OH 43015-4312
Jack: 740-362-4035; afscollay@aol.com
194 8
George F Greene Jr
59 S. Hale Street
Unit 307
Palatine, IL 60067-6268
George: 847-485-8578; thegomar@comcast.net
194 9
David S. Davies
109 Barker Street
Wellington, OH 44090-1132
This is written in a week in April when the
baseball season begins, and you will read it in
late summer when many Major League races are
decided. It’s written also in the week when the
House of Reps proposed that Medicare should
be privatized for our children and grandchildren
and private health policies substituted for sr
citizen health care, when fright wigs are appropriate for any discussion of Social Security, when
Pell Grants (remember how your kids needed
those and how much your grandchildren depend
on them?) are reduced, when wars are fought
off budget, and when those who bribed bankers
with large federal subsidies now claim that
deficits should be addressed with tax benefits for
the wealthy among us and expenditures cut for
raising the quality of public education, for homeowner assistance, for retraining factory workers,
and for medical benefits for everyone. Looking
back as you read this, what came of all that April
madness?
And in this 3rd year of our first African-American pres, it seems appropriate to remember that
126 years ago, also in April, Abraham Lincoln was
murdered, an event whose consequences we
still suffer. Lincoln’s 2nd term of “malice toward
none” could have set our nation on a course that
accepted blacks as equals, instead of a society
where pockets of racism are still prevalent. I
went to a HS basketball game recently between
Rocky River (where I was raised) and Bay Village,
in a gym packed to the rafters. I didn’t see a
single black person.
The news from classmates is that we continue
to live lives full of activities and hope, and nothing illustrates this better than a recent letter
from R Allyn Fox, writing from Chattanooga. “I
have been in good health for 84 years, playing
football after Colgate. Played handball to keep
in shape, worked into racquetball for 26 years,
and was a football official for 20 years.” Al began
his letter, written in response to a request that
he tell what life has given or taken away: “The
move from HS to Colgate was big and prepared
me to become a man. I was a member of Delta
Upsilon and played football. I entered the carpet
business and stayed in it for 40 years, becoming
a company pres as well as an owner of mills.
“The carpet business took me all over the
world, spending 5 years in Saudi Arabia. In 1964,
after 10 years covering the islands, FL, and other
areas, I was asked to come to Chattanooga to
run the carpet operation. We moved lock, stock,
and baggage and have lived here ever since.”
Carpets have gotten only part of Al’s attention.
He and wife Shirley have a commercial couriers
company, are partners in an auto sales and parts
company, and participate in the real estate market with a title insurance operation.
“My wife and I will be married 60 years on
Sept 11 (6 decades ago there was no foretelling
the internatl significance of this date). We have
5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 6 greats. I have
been lucky enough to watch 1 granddaughter
become all-American in softball, and others excelling in baseball and football, and all without
health problems. I am very active in the Catholic
Church, holding positions of authority. We have
seen no pickup in our businesses in the last 22
months, but we look forward to 2012 with great
hopes. All I try to do is keep busy.”
Harold Bush writes, through wife Edith, that
declining health has necessitated moving into
Wayside Village Gardens in Indianapolis “where
we have services available as needed.” Hal says
that after Colgate, military service, and a grad
degree from Cornell, his life “has been blessed
with good friends, a wife of 63 years, 3 children,
work I enjoyed, and a strong faith.”
Howard L West Jr called from Haverford, PA, to
say that he has 4 children and 5 grandchildren,
the 4 being Howie III (52), Jay (51), Addison (33),
and Sarah (31). His 1st wife, Joyce, died in 1973 at
the age of 41. He has been married to Virginia
“Vinny” since 1976, and has had an active residential real estate partnership with her since
then. Howie says it’s “great to catch up with
classmates. I was a Merion Twp commissioner
for 18 years, until 1997, am pres of the Charles
Knox Independent Living Home, which has 19
residents, and am an elder in the Bryn Mawr
Presbyterian Church, where Rex Clements ’26
was minister when I joined in 1953.” Howie says
that the passing years have not interfered with
his tennis and golf.
The Class of 1949 has something that no other
class in any other US institution — educational
or otherwise — can claim. Our classmate, Jack
Cashin, is the nation’s oldest polo player, still
up on a horse at age 85 and still running his
Chukkar Farm & Polo Club in Alpharetta, GA. Eric
Plasker, author of The 100-Year Lifestyle, has written, “Jack Cashin has been living the 100-year
Lifestyle before it even had a name. His healthy
attitude and adventurous spirit is awarding him
the vitality to truly enjoy a sensational century.”
Jack reports that his longtime wife and partner
in the Chukkar Farm, Helen Heath, is suffering
from Alzheimer’s. But, Jack is continuing to make
the farm a community asset, including 20 years
of the annual Colgate-Ivy Polo Match, hosted
by the Colgate and Yale Clubs of Atlanta, and
co-sponsored each fall by the Club of Atlanta,
TeamIvy, the Atlanta Business School Alliance,
and the alumni clubs of Cornell, Harvard, Penn,
Princeton, Columbia, Bucknell, and Mt Holyoke.
Jack invites any classmate passing through
Atlanta to give him a call, stop by Chukkar Farm,
and climb up on a gentle horse, or heave a grandchild up.
Edward Hopkins, who at 95 may be the oldest
’49er, claims that “I don’t look forward to much,”
but reports that he goes to the YMCA several
times a week, continues his interest in reading
and classical music, and sometimes travels with
his wife, Lois Marie, “but not as much as before.”
Ed came to Colgate from service as a sergeant in
the artillery of Patton’s 3rd Army. He writes that
he was not well known on campus because he
commuted each day some 17 miles from George-
town, where his wife taught school. He says that
his interest in classical music came from several
classes at Colgate. In 1967 he and his wife moved
to Roanoke, where he was adult education dir of
the Roanoke Public Schools. He also joined the
Shrine and became active in the Marching Patrol,
and later was co-chair of the Circus Committee
for 8 years, “which kept me busy.” He has been
active in the Northminster Presb Church, “where
I have held every office and have made many
friends in my various activities.”
“I only speak in summary terms,” e-mails John
Kendall from Vancouver, WA, “because there
are too many details to write here.” He says that
“having passed 83, I still look forward and hope
for better times.” John retired as a Delta capt and
says that although his health is not what it once
was, he is “mobile enough to enjoy sunshine,
nice weather, balmy air, and a weekly night out
with friends.” He is politically active and keeps
up with events. “You won’t be surprised, therefore, to learn I have opinions on everything and
love to discuss them with anyone who can stand
it! As I age, what used to be important is not, and
basic things are. My thoughts are centered on
the hope that the people of the world learn that
problems of life are the same for everyone, and
I try to be understanding and as helpful as possible. I think this is the best purpose I can serve.”
Thoughts of an airline captain who has traveled
the world.
Donald Trischett writes from St Augustine
that he and Maureen moved there in 1994 “and
should have been here earlier. A great place to
live. Don’t tell anybody about it.” Don says he
used to talk with Frank Warren and Tom Street
’50, both deceased, and would like to be in touch
with John Paul Kennedy ’50, but has lost track
of him. “Certainly happy to be living in FL and
not having to drive up the hill for classes with
my head hanging out the window of my car so I
could see where I was going.” Don says he has a
son in Frisco, TX, another son in Schenectady, and
a daughter in Portsmouth, NH, and loves seeing
them, “but it’s always nice to get home.” He says
that the next time he goes to TX he’s going to
call Ken Ruether, who lives in Dallas: “Last time
I saw him was at our 50th Reunion.” Don says he
enjoys receiving the Scene and catching up with
what’s going on at Colgate and with classmates
and others from the same generation.
Ross Robinson sends an update on his 4th
career, 10 years as dir of tech development at
Norman (OK) Economic Development, a business
incubator, where he works with young entrepreneurs starting new tech companies. “I find it is a
great day-to-day motivation to get to work. It is
a major influence on my well-being, the stimulation of doing something new nearly every day
with innovators who become friends.” Recent
projects that Ross has worked on are a network
of “filling stations” for electric cars, semiconductor tech for high-efficiency conversion of heat to
electricity, and instruments for measuring biomolecular interactions, as well as designing the
“business incubator of our future.” Ross says he
has not gotten the hang of retiring and expects
his gravestone to have on the back of it “my yet
to do list.”
Jay B Goerk writes that he and Coralie have
moved from Manasquan, NJ, to an assisted-living
home in Lakewood. They have been married
for 62 years, “a great marriage with 4 children
to prove it, including Jay Jr ’72, the oldest, who
is now retired and living in NYC.” Jay says that
David, the next child, went to the Philly C of the
Arts, graduated in 1973, and then did grad work
at IN U. Next son, Roger, was an athlete who
went to IL U and was named an all-American in
soccer. Daughter Jennifer went to Hood C and
1 950
Bunn Rhea
383 Clearbrook Drive
Avon Lake, OH 44012-3117
Charles ‘Cheever’ Morrison, one of the most
widely traveled among our classmates, has
provided a splendid report for us: He, his son, and
2 of his 3 daughters went to Cozumel and Playa
del Carmen over the Christmas holiday for some
family togetherness. And, at the time of this
writing, he had just returned from a life-changing, month-long trip to Indochina. The trip was
led by a young Cambodian who lost 7 relatives
in the Pol Pot genocide. “He was an outstanding
guide,” Cheever says. He continues, “At the beginning of the Indochina trip I spent 2 days in SF
and, with my youngest daughter, visited Stuart
Miller’s widow, Valerie, on her houseboat in
Sausalito. She is still very distressed over Stuart’s
passing last year.
“There were 6 Canadian guys on our Intrepid
Travel (an Australian company with offices in
CA) tour, an Aussie couple, an English couple, and
a single English woman. I was the sole American.
On Feb 16 I flew to Bangkok via Hong Kong. Our
trip began there, after which we took the night
train to Laos, where we stayed in both Vientiane,
the capital, and Luang Prabang, a beautiful World
Heritage city on the Mekong River. Laotians are
still suffering from unexploded ordinance from
the secret saturation carpet bombing of half
of the country during the Vietnam War, while
aiming for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. It seems that
we are doing nothing to help with the problem
we created. Same in Cambodia. Meanwhile, little
children are losing arms and legs.
“We then went to Hanoi, staying overnight in
a boat on beautiful Hanoi Bay, coming back to
Hanoi again where we visited the Hanoi Hilton,
the terrible prison originally established by the
French and where death and torture make Abu
Ghraib look like a Sunday school.
“After a couple of days in Hanoi, we took the
night train to Hue, the old capital of Vietnam
and the site of the Tet offensive by the Vietcong
during the war. Continuing south through
Da Nang, we stayed in Hoi An, another World
Heritage city, where I took a cooking class. Then
on to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, where the War
Museum mainly depicts the atrocities committed by America during the war, including the use
of Agent Orange, whose horrible effects will last
for generations. We then went west by microbus
into Mekong delta, stopping at the famous Cu
Chi tunnels, where the Vietnamese went underground during the war and which have been
turned into a museum.
“In Cambodia, in Phnom Penh, we had a
chance (didn’t take it) to eat dried insects outside
of the King Siam’s palace and saw the results
of Pol Pot’s genocide in the detention camps
and killing fields, where half the population
of Cambodia and nearly all of the professional
class were lost. We finished the tour in beautiful
Siem Reap, at Angkor, Angkor Thom, and other
temples.
“On the way home I spent a day in Hong
Kong, where the development and transportation systems are amazing, and then a few days
in Seattle, where all 4 of my children now live. I
had lunch there with one of Mark Randall’s sons,
DeWitt. We are planning for a Randall Reunion,
mainly swimmers, in Hamilton, in June.
“This trip was more than about genocide,
the war and its lingering effects, and the fact
that the average person in Laos and Cambodia
is getting by on just a dollar a day. These are
beautiful countries and beautiful people with a
fantastic history. We ate wonderful food and saw
amazing and interesting things. Travel there is
easy. English is everywhere, and the US dollar is
widely accepted. This trip skimmed the surface.
I’d go back in a heartbeat to get more of it.”
Phil Moses brings us up to date with the
careers of his 2 talented sons. Mark continues to
be the bad guy on Desperate Housewives, while
Burke is between jobs, having done Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels in Sacramento, and Sound of Music in
Vero Beach earlier this year.
Al LeBlang writes that he and Pat celebrated
their 60th anniversary in Nov. They got out some
of their old Colgate pictures, which brought back
great memories. Among these is a fine picture
of the Sigma Nu house party, all in formal attire,
and almost the total house. If you would like to
have a copy, you can e-mail Al (contact me for his
address or check the alumni directory at Colgate
Connect.org).
Among those classmates who wanted to
come back for our 60th Reunion, but couldn’t
at the last moment, was Richard Fadil. He is a
urologist in Clifton, NJ, and has sent us evidence
that he is very much alive and well. Dick came
to Colgate in 1946 fresh out of Garfield Public
HS, where he was, among other things, active in
boxing, dramatics, and debate, and an All-State
Get to know: Andy Peng ’12
Andrew Daddio
graduated with a major in special education.
Jay is equally proud of 2 grandsons: Peter, a jr
at Rumson, NJ HS, who runs track and crosscountry, excels in studies, and was selected as
Outstanding Student last year; and Gus, who is a
good grade-school student at Alexander Robertson School in NYC. Jay reports that he worked for
many companies, the last being Abbots Dairies
in Philly, where he was pres when the company
had 3,000 employees and did about $350 million
of business. He and Coralie had an apt in Delray
Beach, FL, “which we sold 3 years ago before the
market went to hell.” Jay says he thinks he went
to Colgate at the best of times. “Colgate was a
great school where I learned to read and study,
and it’s just too bad that it couldn’t work things
out with DKE, my fraternity.” Jay served as a
Navy pharmacist mate and made it to 2nd class
petty officer in WWII and Korea. “Coralie had polio during my 2nd tour of duty in San Diego and
now has post-polio syndrome, a real downer.”
Jay’s advice from an 80-year-old perspective:
“Retire early if you can and stay healthy, play lots
of golf, make good friends, and, most of all, have
a good marriage.”
Glen Gardner, the son of Robert Gardner,
wrote in. Robert died at age 85 in his cottage at
Cache Lake, Algonquin Park, ON, in July 2010.
Glen writes that his father knew many people
because of his years as manager of Callander
Camp, 15 miles south of North Bay. One of those
friends wrote to Glen: “Your dad was a tough
cookie who lived life exactly as he wanted to, and
he passed away in a land he loved.”
Two deaths of classmates have been reported.
Robert G Schreiber died in Jan at the Bay Regional Med Ctr in CA. Bob was a KDR. He lived in San
Marcos, CA, with wife Barbara and also leaves a
son, James. Henry P Brefka Jr was 86 when he
died in March. Hank lived with wife Nancy in
Pensacola, FL. He had 4 daughters: Cheryl Weir,
Pamela Brefka, Suzanne Chambers, and Kathleen
Brefka. A DKE, Hank served as a member of our
class gift committee in 2001–2002 and was on
the Internatl Relations Council. At Colgate, he
majored in poli sci.
You responded to a request to share your
thoughts with a welcome shower of info. Thanks,
and keep it up. I love to talk with you, but info by
e-mail or letter doesn’t challenge my shaky hand.
David: 440-647-5306; davidsdavies@frontier.com
— Hometown: Harrison, N.Y.
— Chinese major, film and media studies minor
— 2010 George W. Cobb Award winner
Great gigs: My freshman year, I was in Gatehouse, and a bunch of us were into music — I play
bass, guitar, and piano. We founded the Colgate Rock and Roll Association for Brothers and
Sisters. Originally, it was a way for student musicians to work with each other and to play
and record original music. That same year, a group of seniors created Broad Street Records,
and their mission was similar. We combined forces and became more of a band than a student group. This spring party weekend, we opened for White Panda and B.o.B.
Festival co-founder: We came up with the idea for Gatestock because we wanted to have
a Woodstock-like music festival to give students the chance to get on stage. Part of the
format involved different activity booths alongside the stage, where student groups served
food or set up games.
New moves: I was in Dancefest this year. Coming to college, I had two primary goals outside
of academics: to learn how to cook and how to break-dance. This semester, one of my
friends was in WalfPack, a hip-hop group, and he asked me if I wanted to be in it. I think my
repertoire of dance moves really expanded.
Cameraman: While doing an extended study program in Beijing last summer, we each had to
create an original movie based on what we were studying. My friend and I made an 18-minute documentary on contemporary versus traditional music in Beijing, and used that to
metaphorically portray Beijing as a place torn between tradition and modernity. We interviewed people who are well versed in traditional Chinese instruments and then explored the
underground hard rock and metal music scene.
CU VJ: Through that project, I discovered the video journalism program with the communications office. I film different events around campus, get student interviews, and then edit the
footage down to clips, which go on the website under “CU13 TV.”
Meaningful moments: This past summer, career services recruited me to be in a pilot
program for the Manzi Fellowship called the Music and Youth Initiative. Another student
and I went to the Boston area, where I [worked with a] group of six kids, aged 10 to 12, from
underprivileged neighborhoods. It exposed me to different aspects of how kids can change
through having a solid community foundation. It was one of the more real experiences I’ve
had.
Major-minor: My background is Chinese, but I never learned the language, so studying that
as a major in college seemed like a great opportunity. I figured film studies would be a great
way to get the academic grounding for stuff I’m doing outside the classroom.
Senior plans: A personal goal is to finish recording a solo album through Broad Street
Records. I’ve been working in the studio for the last year and a half, putting together tracks
with voice and guitar, and before I graduate, I’d like to have an EP ready to be released.
— Kate Hicks ’11
45
Surviving the Tween Years
The Scene recently chatted with
David Celio ’65, author of Twelve
Principles of Effective Parenting:
Surviving the Tween Years (Paulist
Press). A clinical psychologist for
more than 35 years who practices
in Seattle, Celio and his wife of
41 years have raised five children.
How has parenting changed
in recent years — what new
challenges do parents face?
I think parenting is more difficult
today because the popular culture
emphasizes heroic accomplishments without noting the day-today work it takes to achieve them.
And our technology can instantly
inflate even a minor social error
into a public humiliation or dissatisfactions into cyber bullying.
There are more challenges for parents to create supportive emotional conditions within the
family, as well as to support stimulating activities in and out of school.
So, what’s a parent to do?
Build trust and confidence in your child by establishing a continuous dialogue that provides
guidance and encouragement. With confidence, your child can strive to achieve in school,
establish trustworthy relationships, and make healthy choices. If parents follow some
basic healthy principles, they can guide their children through the maze. It means close
supervision and sensitivity in responding to your child; although high expectations are good,
“tiger parenting” will fail with most kids. It’s better to listen and guide with encouragement.
Realize peers have a big influence, so be in the know of what is valued and apply healthy
principles within that framework.
Many parents are in two-career families and have lots of demands on their time.
Yes, we take on a lot, but we have to ask ourselves, where is the balance in our lives? How
can we achieve in a career, maintain a healthy marriage, and be a conscientious parent? It’s
a matter of priorities, and couples have to discern their values and order their lives to meet
their decisions. Sometimes it means deferring some opportunities in careers or at least
considering the impact of these decisions on each family member.
The book includes 10 situations to which parents can apply your 12 principles. Which drew
the most response?
One involves middle school girls expressing aggression by gossiping and excluding a
girl from their sleepovers and parties. The parents are faced with how best to help their
excluded daughter. So much of parenting is teaching; hopefully, parents can anticipate
social challenges by establishing a foundation of unshakable love and loyalty in the family.
Developing a daughter’s confident sense of self as a caring and understanding girl can
anchor her against a tide of vagaries. Although she will want close friends, she need not
totally depend on them for validation. Parents should encourage their daughters to develop
multiple groups of friends — from school, extracurricular activities, and religious groups —
to socialize with. Fallings out are usually temporary, but like so many family problems, they
provide useful lessons for later life.
guard in 1945. At Colgate he was a 1950 cum
laude grad with honors in chemistry and German. (George Mundt was his favorite prof.) He
graduated from NYU Med School, Bellevue, in
1954 and interned at St Vincent’s Hospital, NYC,
1954–55. He took a residency in genl surgery at
the U of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, 1958–59,
and also in urology at the same school, 1959–62.
During 1958–59, he was on active duty with the
USNR as a medical officer at Parris Island, SC, and
aboard the USS Montrose in the Pacific Theater.
Dick is an active public speaker on medical
subjects. He has made numerous radio and TV
appearances on panels and interview programs,
and has appeared before many community
46
scene: Summer 2011
service clubs and professional groups on urological subjects. He has been an active member of
Toastmasters Internatl and the Natl Assoc of
Physician Broadcasters.
He is a fellow of the American C of Surgeons
and a diplomat of the American Board of Urology. As a clinical asst in urology, he is associated
with both the C of Physicians and Surgeons in
NYC and the U of Medicine and Dentistry in NJ.
Among his many other staff and teaching positions, Dick is dir of urology at Beth Israel Hospital
in Passaic, pres of the medical staff of Passaic
Gen Hospital, and pres of the urology section, NJ
Academy of Medicine. He is also pres of the Collegiate School Board of Trustees in Passaic, NJ.
Wedding anniversaries are always big things.
Norma and Dave Wilson celebrated their 60th
on Feb 10 with the entire family in NJ. Betsy and
Paul Perry did the same for #60 on March 24 in
FL. The neat coincidence is that Dave was Paul’s
best man and paved the way for him with a
honeymoon in Bermuda, which Betsy and Paul
duplicated some weeks later. Dave says he is curious about the longevity of classmates’ marriages
and wonders how many can beat 60 years.
Howard E Sutliff’s business card reads
“Program Speaker, Educational Consultant,
Colgate Representative and Counseling.” That
pretty much sums up his very impressive career,
which included 4 1/2 years of teaching, 6 years
of guidance, 5 years as a HS principal, 14 years
as asst school superintendent, and 9 years as a
school superintendent. Along the way he taught
chem, bio, physics, and genl sci, while now
and then coaching JV basketball and varsity
track. Included in all of that were 90 grad hours
completed at SUNY Albany, Clarkson C, the U of
RI and SUNY Oswego. He earned 2 master’s, one
in guidance, the other in school admin. There
was an interruption of 2 years (1951–53) when he
served in the Army with the Corps of Engineers
(Korean draft).
Howie, who lives in Vero Beach, FL, retired in
1985. Since that time, he has turned his efforts
whenever needed to Colgate: for College Nights,
as pres of his alumni club (14 years), and as a
member of the Alumni Corp from 2006–2010,
he’s stayed active with the university 10 years
after receiving the Maroon Key Award in 2000.
His primary concern now, however, is as a member of the Bd of Dirs of the Gifford Youth Activity
Ctr in Indian River Cty, FL, where great progress
is being made through their education program
working toward parity in HS graduation rates
among the whites, blacks, and Hispanics. He uses
his well-known skill and experience of 25 years
as an informative and amusing speaker as chair
of the GYAC speakers bureau for their county.
Many thanks to those who wrote in. Please
keep sending me your updates.
Bunn: 440-933-4137; 50news@oh.rr.com
1951
Nels MacCallum
1915 Clark Road
Rochester, NY 14625-1830
Writing this column in early April to meet the
editors’ long lead time for this issue. Feels like
spring is about to arrive here, but then it felt like
it was happening in mid-March with 2 warm
days and green, not white, grass on the neighboring golf course, and we got an all-day 6˝ snowfall. (Meanwhile, Colgate was making the natl
news with 20˝.) It has been a more than usual
snow-filled winter in upstate NY. The snowfall
derby snows, in the normal order: Buffalo 110.8˝,
Rochester 127˝, and Syracuse 178.6˝.
Thinking of reunion and hoping that many
of you will be there. You’ll be reading this in the
summer and we’ll know how it turned out.
Joe Campbell announces from Oneonta, NY:
“Thank you for all you do for the Class of 1951.”
(As long as you and others continue to send
“news” in, it’s easy and there will be a class column, Joe.) “I think I’m retired now after 38 years
of teaching, 30 years of coaching, and 50 years
of commercial radio. However, I may go back on
the air. I’ve enclosed an article that appeared in
Hometown Oneonta in Jan. Jim Kevlin, who put
it together, is the editor of the newspaper and
he’s a ’73 Colgate grad. Thanks again, Nels, for
all you do!” The full-page article was titled “Joe
Campbell’s Sentimental Journey” (the name of
Joe’s most popular program, in which he would
play old favorites and spoof old radio shows), and
was filled with fun stories, anecdotes, and info
about his careers in Oneonta over the decades.
The article closes with: Every once in a while
George Wells, general mgr at CNY Radio, urges
Joe to revive “Sentimental Journey.” As Joe walks
around town, folks call out to him “Bring back
‘Sentimental Journey.’” Joe pauses, “I never really
signed off or anything. So who knows?”
Dave Cavanaugh drops a short note: “I’m still
in Tonawanda, NY. Retired, I travel a lot with
Maxine — she is still working. Our son, who
graduated Colgate ’83, is director of HR at Cisco
Systems (CA).”
Forrest Clapp writes from Richmond, VA:
“Betty and I have moved to a retirement facility:
Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond. Health
problems will keep me away from our 60th Reunion. I look forward to your report.” (In our mag
format, which requires a long lead time for class
columns in quarterly issues, the ’51 report on
the 60th won’t appear until the autumn issue.)
“We have many interesting activities available
here in our new home as well as in downtown
Richmond. Still rooting for the Red Sox, Celtics,
and Patriots, and 2 local teams in the Sweet 16.”
(Sorry about the health problems and that we
won’t see you at reunion. Audrey and I plan to
be there. Still a New Englander with your pro
teams; we have 2 teenage grandsons, both very
good ballplayers, who agree with you, especially
the Red Sox. Hope you and Betty stay well and
active.)
Gerry Clemons briefs from Panama City, FL:
“Currently chair of A/P Authority; just completed
construction of a $33,000,000 new airport —
very interesting, lots of problems. This was
my first assignment after being the mayor of
Panama City for 24 years.” (Good luck, Gerry!)
Dave Conrad checks in from Bloomfield, NJ:
“Nothing of significant interest. I enjoy retirement, travel, composing music and plays, and the
4 grandchildren who live here in town.” (Sounds
pretty significant to us, Dave!) “I want to thank
you for your diligence as class rep.” (Thanks,
Dave, it’s easy to do when classmates like you are
diligent respond.)
Virg Conway updated from NY in March:
“Even with our physical limitations, mostly
problems of the advancing years, Elaine and I
had a wonderful 12 months. Because I no longer
drive on high-speed expressways and thus
depend on my son for long-distance transportation, we spent the entire summer on our home in
Montauk. This proves that for every unfortunate
development in your life, there is an offsetting
advantage. We had a glorious summer during
which there was sunshine every day.” (How did
you arrange that, Virg? You must have sent some
rain up this way on the thruway…) “We love our
location right on the ocean beach. Elaine and I
spent the fall and early winter at our home in
Bronxville. Both of us are still on several boards
— in my case, the NY State Thruway Authority,
where I am chair of the finance committee.”
(Great that you’re both still actively involved!)
“We spent Feb and early March at the Hillsboro
Club in FL. Bill Edwards ’52 and his wife joined
us one day for lunch, and it was delightful to
catch up with them. He winters in Palm Beach.
As many of you remember, he was one of our
renowned golfers.” (I remember well; believe
he lost only 1 match at Colgate, and he holds
some course records on LI. He’s a member of
the Colgate Athletic Hall of Honor. We call each
other occasionally and I hear about him and Art
Thompson ’52, and Rochester snowbirds Dick
Merrill ’52 and Al Moore ’52, who get together
with them in FL.) “We look forward to celebrat-
ing St Patrick’s Day this week. Later this year,
we plan to spend another delightful summer
in Montauk. I look forward to seeing you at our
60th Reunion.” (That will be great, Virg.)
Ralph Coxhead splashes from Clearwater, FL:
“For 35 years, Marcia and I have lived in Clearwater. I still swim in the Masters Programs” (Good
for you, Ralph! See below about your teammate
Bob Reiners’s swim meet participation) “and am
a member of Rotary, and on the advisory board of
the Salvation Army.”
Gene Cremins shoots from beyond the
3-point line in Saddle River, NJ. “Glad to hear
you and Audrey are ‘hangin’ on.’” (We are, Gene,
by our arms, not fingertips … yet.) “We are very
fortunate to still be able to see the sun rise and
set, even though life is full of ups and downs!
I’m not going to be able to get to our 60th, but
I’ll be thinking of you guys up in the Chenango
Valley. Don Stichter has contacted me and, in his
usual positive voice, has kept me up to date on
the coming ‘bash.’ Still doing part-time consulting chores with a couple of my old financial
customers. I find this work both interesting
and rewarding! Best part of it is to stay close to
a vibrant group of young executives and sales
people. Keeps the brain working and adrenaline
running even though everything else has gone
to hell. Thanks for your nice note; let’s stay in
touch!” (We’ll do that, old friend.) “Say hello to all
my old friends for me, OK?” (Will do, Gene.)
Our diligent, voluntary foreign correspondent
Danny Michelson e-mailed from Spain, where
Hanne and he were vacationing through April
(from their home in Denmark). He described a
wonderful little village, Altea la Vella, where
they took their Spanish mtn dogs for morning
walks with a view of great mtns facing them on
2 sides, the Mediterranean and the coastal line in
the distance. He declared that these sights — the
blue skies and racing clouds — and walking with
happy dogs make for a contented Colgate grad
(and this Colgate grad envious). Coffee, breakfast,
etc at charming cafes in the village, tennis on a
court surrounded by orange orchards, exhilarating drives in the mtns… sounded idyllic to this
old romantic. But then Danny freaked me out by
introducing unwelcome nighttime visitors: sapes
are Spanish toads, all large, some venomous,
some harmless; and small caterpillars that drop
down from trees and form long lines, 1 right after
the other (they are called processional caterpillars in English). Touching them, or the slime they
leave in their wake, can cause intense irritation
on a human. I replied to Danny and told him he
should contact classmate Charles Tillinghast and
they could have a chat about night visitors —
Spanish sapos and AZ kissing bugs…
Bob Otterbourg e-mailed me from Durham
in Jan to ask about reunion details and also gave
a brief update: “I’m well and I’m keeping busy
in these trying times. Still writing regularly for
a number of publications, and involved actively
either on the board or doing hands-on work for
several nonprofits. No more tennis — my knees
have given up. Look forward to spring and another Durham Bulls season.” (My gosh, Bob. How
did we get to this stage so quickly? 60th Reunion
and it has been 57 years since I played a season
for the Bulls.)
Bob Reiners reminisced from Rochester in
Feb: “Seeing the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
reminded me that I had yet to tell my classmates
that I had crossed off a big one of my bucket list
when my son Bob Jr and I played Pebble Beach
in April 2010 (celebrating his 55th bday and my
80th).
“The golf course is incredibly beautiful, and
to be able to play it with my son just before the
2010 US Open was a memory I will treasure for-
ever. My goal was to break 100, and I shot a 4551/96. Unashamedly, this was from the forward
tees.” (Was that the red [ladies] or gold [seniors]?
I was using the reds with Audrey when I stopped
playing 4 years ago.) “Bob Jr had 87 from the
whites. I’ll give anyone (who will listen) the shot
by shot at our reunion. I hope this doesn’t keep
you from coming!”
Bob has another event he can reminisce
about: at the final multiple college swim meet
of the season, in Rochester, Bob received a long
standing ovation and multiple accolades when it
was announced that he was retiring from swim
meet officiating after 50 years of dedicated excellence. He was honored with another medal for
his trophy case. Well done, Bob!
Bob Reith writes from Bethel Park, PA: “I was
a bit upset to read that some of our baseball
teammates had been called home to the Lord:
Jennings Marburger ’50 and Blair Davis. And
when I saw that Steve Kuczek ’50 was not in
good shape, I called his son (Steve G) and found
out Steve had passed away in Nov. Not good info.
As for my update, all I tell people is ‘I’m holding
my own.’” Bob went on to tell that shortly after
our 55th Reunion, which Gladys and he attended,
he went into the hospital for scar tissue removal
from an earlier successful cancer surgery. This
“simple” surgery became infected, and it led to
further surgeries that continue to hamper Bob’s
activities, particularly in eating/digesting and
travel. And he indicated his bride of 58 years had
hip-replacement surgery and is having difficulty
getting in and out of cars, chairs, etc. He closed
by saying, “So just want you to be aware that I
don’t feel it would be possible to get to our June
reunion.” It would be great to see Gladys and
you, Bob, but we understand. Gladys and Bob
handled their earlier difficult medical issues with
strength and faith, and they are doing it in the
present situation.
Steve Kuczek was the captain of the ’49
baseball team, and an outstanding shortstop. In
soph year, Bobby and I were backup infielders, he
at 2nd and me at SS. After the last game, Steve, a
24-year-old vet with a history of injuries, signed
a $9,000 bonus with the Boston Braves, a very
good contract for a non-pitcher at that, and it
shows how well he was rated (and at age 24,
and injury prone). At the end of the ’49 minor
league season he was promoted to the Braves,
who had won the NL pennant in ’48. He had only
1 pinch hit experience, and he hit a double off
Brooklyn Dodger ace Don Newcome. The injuries
continued to hamper him and he never got back
to the big leagues. So his major league statistics
show — 1 for 1, BA 1.000, slugging pct .500. Bob
always has cherished that ’49 year, playing with
a future major leaguer who deserved a better
career. (Regarding his injuries, I got my 1st varsity
start and played several games at SS when Steve
had to sit out, then started at 3rd base the rest of
the season.)
Bob e-mailed a copy of his letter to his college
roommate, Jay Hodes, and Jay nicely sent me
a copy of his reply to Bob from Santa Rosa, CA:
“Please excuse my tardy response. I’m sorry to
hear of the difficulty you’re having with your
health situation, but I’m glad to hear how well
you’re handling it. Your spirit is inspiring to me,
and a great lesson for remembering to live 1 day
at a time. Here in northern CA, spring is bursting
upon us (March 31), 85°. This is wine country, and
the vintners are thrilled to see buds appearing on
the chardonnay vines. Soon the golf courses will
dry out enough for us duffers to do our thing. Penelope and I are doing OK and pushing as much
as we can against the forces of old age. In that
vein, it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to make the
trip to Hamilton for our 60th Reunion. My good
wishes for a wonderful class get-together.” (Sorry
if you didn’t make it there, Jay. Thanks so much
for your good wishes!)
Don Smith (New Castle, PA) phoned me on
March 18 from Naples, on his yearly vacation
in FL to tell about the 2011 St Patrick’s Day gettogether of available ’51ers at the Erin’s Isle Irish
Pub. It was the 3rd annual celebration. The attendance at the first 2 was good, but this year, it was
low. Some reasons: some “regular” snowbirds
either didn’t come south this year or weren’t
there at this time, and some “residents” there
were hosting visitors (family, friends), more than
usual apparently because of the extended miserable weather in the north. There were only two
’51ers, John Sterzinar and Don, plus Shirley and
Bob Preston ’50, and PA friends of Nancy and
Don. But, they had a fun, fine time and toasted
the Class of 1951 and the 60th Class Reunion in
Hamilton. Don is looking forward to St Patrick’s
Day in Naples in 2012. Reservations? Contact me
for Don’s cell phone number.
Sad news: John W Peters died Dec 6 in Ft
Myers. Shortly after receiving the notice from
alumni records, I got a letter from John’s widow,
Jean Jones, advising of his passing and a copy of
the obit. I wrote a reply to Jean, expressing the
deep sadness of classmates and our sympathy.
Take care, be well and active. Hope to see
some of you in Hamilton some football (and
other sports) weekend.
Nels: nelsaud@webtv.net
1952
Jackson T King
476 Grace Trail
Orange, CT 06477-2619
I received the following note from Tom Sullivan: “I have not communicated since our 2007
Reunion, which was memorable. It should be
noted that the Lambda Chis outnumbered all
other groups (I think we had 4, plus 3 wives/lady
friends).
“I’m hoping to make the 2012 one, which is
only a year away. I hope Jim Whitelaw attends so
we can walk up the hill again.
“I’m in good health, playing tennis about
3 times a week, mostly with younger 60- and
70-year-olds. I know you play, as does Jordy
Natsch, although he’s too modest to mention
the various GA Sr Tourneys he has won. My
lone tourney is the obscure Lower Cape Open in
Eastham on Cape Cod but they are running out
of over-70 players.
“When I was a sr in HS and trying to get
into college with average grades, my father arranged a lunch with a friend of his who worked
for John Hancock Life Insurance named Manny
Camps. He had a son attending Colgate and endorsed my application. I never met Lowell Camps
’49 but was reminded of his father by Lowell’s
death notice in the Scene. I was fortunate to have
attended Colgate.
“Retirement has been kind to me, with no
major health problems and a great family of 3
daughters, a stepdaughter, a wonderful wife, a
grandson learning how to play basketball, 2 stepgrandchildren versed in the Chinese language
(graduates of U of IL and Carleton C, Northfield
MN).”
I also received a letter from Dick Merrill. He
writes: “It is hard to believe that next year at this
time we will be gearing up for our 60th Reunion
at Colgate. Much has changed at Colgate over
the years, but the commitment to excellence
remains the same.
“Our class is currently at $59,648 with 43%
participation. Our goal is $200,000 with 75%
participation. I look forward to celebrating our
success at the end of the campaign year.”
My picture of Colgate
The image for this Colgate reunion poster was painted by Dick LaBonte ’43 in 1988 as
a reunion souvenir. In his book Dick LaBonte: Paintings of the Jersey Shore and More,
he recalled: “We’d get up at 6:00 a.m. daily and march around, led by some Navy Air
Corps officers from a nearby airfield. The civilians reviewing the troops are Everett
Case, who was president of Colgate then, and Dean ‘Kal’ Kallgren. Hup-two-threefour!”
LaBonte, who created more than 175 paintings in his 30-year career as an artist,
died on April 26. For more on his life, see In Memoriam, p. 74.
Share your own favorite “picture” of Colgate — verbal or pictorial: scene@colgate.edu
or Colgate Scene, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.
47
I would certainly appreciate hearing from
you by phone, mail, or e-mail.
Jack: 203-795-9111; jtking@kingandshaw.com
1953
Lou Wilcox
27 Oak Avenue
West Yarmouth, MA 02673-8582
From roughneck to rig boss
Oil-drilling engineer George Lattimore ’73 likens his projects to building a house. But
instead of hiring a carpenter, clearing the land, and pouring a foundation, he assembles up
to 30 contractors, takes a drilling rig out to sea, and plans the trajectories for holes to be
bored more than a mile into the Earth.
This spring, Lattimore, who is based in Indonesia, was preparing to drill 40 wells in the
southern Java Sea, about 90 miles from shore. He’s helping lead the $500-million project
for Kodeco Energy, a Korean firm looking to meet the growing Asian demand for fossil fuels.
What lies beneath the Earth’s surface has long intrigued Lattimore. At Colgate, he studied archaeology, discovering how society has developed by unearthing artifacts left behind
eons ago. He spent his junior year at the American University in Cairo, where he worked on
an Egyptian archaeological dig, and savored the overseas life. In the hot African sun, however, he decided that archaeology wasn’t his professional destiny.
But he still was intrigued by the science of the earth, and returned to Colgate to major
in geology. After graduating, he was broke — and had college loans to repay. So he headed
south to work as a roughneck (a laborer) in the oil fields of Texas.
“I got interested in drilling, and never left,” he said. The work has taken him around the
world — from the Colombian jungles to a remote outpost in Mozambique, where his 42-man
crew included workers from 19 nations.
Drilling for oil is a highly technical operation, as the tungsten-carbide bit chews up rock,
and a pressurized viscous material called drilling mud gets pumped down to collect the
chipped rock and bring it to the surface. The drilling team is also assembling steel pipe, in
30-foot increments, to line the hole, which can be as wide as 26 inches, and then narrow in
concentric circles to 7 inches thousands of feet below the surface.
Lattimore has drilled his share of dry holes, such as a recent attempt off the coast of
Borneo, where the ocean floor was 1,000 feet deep, and he drilled 3,200 feet into rock
before calling it quits. “That’s always a disappointment to people when it comes up dry,”
said Lattimore.
Oil extraction also has its environmental dangers, evidenced by the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Lattimore, who prides himself on running a safe operation, said his crews follow extensive protocols, which include emergency drills and periodic
testing of safety equipment, including a series of hydraulic rams called a blowout preventer
that can close off a well before an explosion.
There’s personal danger, too. In 2008, Lattimore was drilling in a region of Colombia
contested by guerilla forces.
“As we were getting people trained, a couple of our trucks got blown up,” recalled Lattimore. “Then they blew up our production facility.” Unfortunately, the community relations
officer was killed. Since it was clear that security was not possible, they picked up and went
on to their next project, he said.
Drilling the southern Java Sea wells started in July. “It’s challenging, exciting work,” said
Lattimore, who lives in Jakarta with his wife, Marcia. “And it’s a seller’s market for someone
with my skills. We ultimately need the stuff that’s underground.”
— David McKay Wilson
48
scene: Summer 2011
Reminder: Our 60th Reunion is in 2 years, as
in 2013! Start making your plans to be there!
Your classmates sure would like to see you
there. Before the powers that be appoint some
stout souls (or soles, whichever you prefer) to
organize the reunion, why not volunteer to be
part of the organizing force?
I start writing each of these columns as
soon as I send in the previous column, and add
things as they come in, so when it comes time
to send it to the Scene, the column is all but
done. As I start this column in Feb, the temp is
a warm 28°, it is sunny, and my daffodils are
just about 2-3 inches up. So, this column will be
written amidst spring of 2011.
The big news for me is that for 2nd time in
my son’s life, we reduced his convulsions almost to zero with the addition of a drug called
Lamactil in Jan. Terry is once again laughing,
smiling, and talking up a storm; what a thrill it
is to see him back enjoying life without all that
comes with convulsions. And, he is running
the staff in his home ragged. On top of that, he
is once again walking, albeit still with some
assistance. Yeah for small favors!
Received a wonderful phone call from Jack
Fletcher. Jack and Cathy sold their home out
thar in WA state, and are in the process of moving into a retirement community: a 2-phase
move since their house is not ready yet. Jack
says they are coming east again this year —
will ride the RR and not drive their mobile
home — so we will have the pleasure of visiting
with them 2 years in a row. And then Jack sent
me a piece that has given me many laughs: it
had something to do with old men and errant
gas.
Norm Newman sent me an e-mail, to wit:
“Yesterday, Joan and I attended the luncheon for
Pres Jeffrey Herbst, which was held at the Oaks
Club in Osprey, FL. When the luncheon started
and everyone was seated, it turned out that
all the guys at our table were from our class.
Besides myself and Joan, there were Sara Lee
and John Sanborn, Jeanne and Jerry Blackwood,
and Al Wanamaker, who came stag. We had
a good time reminiscing about the ‘good old
days,’ including sliding down the hill on trays
after it snowed. Jerry and I got into a discussion
about our time in the Army. It turns out that we
were both in the Army Audit Agency stationed
in Europe. We did not meet, even though our
headquarters was located in Frankfurt, Germany, because Jerry was stationed in the Paris
branch office and I was in the Munich branch
office.
“That evening, Joan and I, Al Wanamaker,
and his brother Roger ’60 went out for a
seafood buffet at the Captain’s Table in Punta
Gorda, FL. I am not sure whether the restaurant
will ever let the 4 of us come back again. One of
the items on the buffet was oysters on the half
shell. Between the 4 of us, we must have worn
a path on the dining room floor between our
table and the oyster display. We probably kept
a couple of workers in the kitchen spending all
their time just opening up the oysters for us!
“The daytime temp here in Ft Myers is now
about 80 and will go down to the mid-60s
tonight. The forecast for the next 7 days is for
a duplication of today. Life sure is tough. I will
be going up north to Westchester Cty, NY, and
CT in about 4 weeks to help my partners with
the preparation of tax returns for our clients.
Fortunately, I will only be there for 10 days. Joan
and I congratulate you on your engagement to
Nicki and wish you both a long and happy life
together.”
Al Wanamaker reported in on the escapades
of ’53 in Osprey, FL. He says, “Apparently, John
(Venice) and yours truly (Sun City Center) are
the FL residents. Norm still travels from CT and
Jerry from MA, but they may be moving south. I
am thoroughly enjoying retirement at Freedom
Plaza. I’m so busy I don’t know how I found
time to work.”
Someone in the Class of ’53 sent me 6 pages
of good short ones. I include 1 here with the
hope that said classmate who sent them will
let me knows who he is: when filing them, the
page with your name and e-mail address did
not make it into my files.
“Manure: in the 16th and 17th centuries,
everything had to be transported by ship
and it was also before commercial fertilizer’s
invention, so large shipments of manure were
common. It was shipped dry, because in the dry
form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but
once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became
heavier, but the process of fermentation began
again, one of the by-products being methane
gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen.
Methane began to build up below decks and the
1st time someone came below at night with a
lantern, BOOM! Several ships were destroyed in
this manner before it was determined just what
was happening. After that, the bundles were
always stamped with the term, ‘Ship High in
Transit’ on them, which meant for the sailors to
stow it high enough off the lower decks so that
any water that came into the hold would not
touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the acronym for
Ship High In Transit, which has come down
through the centuries and is in use to this very
day. You probably did not know the true history
of this word. Neither did I. I had always thought
it was a golf term.”
Just received notice that Gerald F Giles
passed away on March 5. He is survived by wife
Judith and 7 children. Condolences from our
entire class to his wife and children.
Gene Schulze sent along a little piece of
space info, Neil Armstrong’s secret: “On July 20,
1969, as commander of the Apollo 11 Lunar module, Neil Armstrong was the 1st person to set
foot on the moon. His 1st words after stepping
on the moon, ‘That’s one small step for man,
one giant leap for mankind,’ were televised to
earth and heard by millions. But just before he
re-entered the Lander, he made the enigmatic
remark, ‘Good Luck, Mr Gorsky.’ Many people at
NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet cosmonaut. However,
upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either
the Russian or American space programs. Over
the years, many people questioned Armstrong as to what the ‘Good luck, Mr Gorsky’
statement meant, but Armstrong always just
smiled. On July 5, 1995, in Tampa Bay, while
answering questions following a speech, a
reporter brought up the 26-year-old question
to Armstrong. This time he finally responded.
Mr Gorsky had died, so Armstrong felt he could
now answer the question. In 1938, when he was
a kid in a small MW town, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard. His friend hit
the ball, which landed in his neighbor’s yard by
their bedroom window. His neighbors were Mr
and Mrs Gorsky. As he leaned down to pick up
the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs Gorsky
shouting at Mr Gorsky. ‘Sex! You want sex?!
You’ll get sex when the kid next door walks on
the moon!’”
Norm Newman wrote to the Colgate’s president, Jeff Herbst, asking if Susan Herbst, the
new pres of U of CT, is related to him. Jeff replied
that Susan is his sister. Norm “wonders if there
are any other brother-sister college presidents
holding office at the same time.”
Like Norm, Gene Schulze has sent me 2
pieces: this one is “It pays to be from NJ — I am:
After having dug to a depth of 10´ last year, NY
archeologists found traces of copper wire dating
back 100 years and came to the conclusion that
their ancestors already had a phone network
more than 100 years ago. Not to be outdone
by the NYers, in the weeks that followed, a CA
archeologist dug to a depth of 20´, and shortly
after, a story in the LA Times read: ‘CA archeologists, finding traces of 200-year-old copper wire,
have concluded that their ancestors already
had an advanced high-tech communications
network 100 years earlier than the NYers.’ One
week later, The Jersey Journal, a local newspaper
in Jersey City, reported: ‘After digging 30´ in
his back yard, Vinnie “The Salami” Manziano, a
self-taught archeologist, reported that he found
absolutely nothing. Vinnie has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, NJ had already gone
wireless.’ Just makes me proud to be from NJ!”
And, Jack Fletcher has sent in 2 pieces this
month! Jack writes that he is well established
at Panorama in a temporary home. He and
Kathy have looked at several homes, but have
not found the “perfect house” yet. On March 29,
Jack underwent a hip replacement. He did not
look forward to it, but was very positive it would
improve his quality of life. His doctor said he
would be walking briskly in 6 weeks. Good luck,
Jack!
Once back up and rolling, Jack and Kathy
plan to take an RV trip to southern CA to visit
Jack’s oldest grandson, John III, who flies a marine Osprey, and wife Allison, who flies helos off
of destroyers. When her obligated service is over,
Allison plans to resign her commission and start
a family. Following the CA trip, Jack and Kathy
plan to take a train ride cross-country (a 1st for
them) to Bristol, RI, for a reunion of Kathy’s family. No, if you wonder, Jack and Kathy will never
stop traveling!
Panorama provides more activities for residents than Jack and Kathy can consume. And,
they have joined the Green Team (conservation
of resources including recycling) and DART
(Disaster Assistance Response Team). Jack says
he has his backpack with supplies and a hard
hat ready. I wonder if he wore his hard hat into
surgery….
’Tis now April 6, the daffodils are just about
in bloom, and my tomato plants are growing
just fine in my living room under lights. Pretty
soon, it will be gardening time and then I wait
for the 1st ripe tomato. Have a great summer;
think about our 60th Reunion and start making
your plans.
Lou: 508-827-4080; bylou13@comcast.net
1 954
Peter W Rakov
159 Edgewood Avenue
Hurley, NY 12443-5406
Sad, bad news first: Don Perricone’s wife,
Donna, passed away Jan 27 in Syracuse. She was,
and is, truly one of our outstanding ’54 ladies —
and a dear friend to many of us.
In Jan, I learned that Craig Canner passed on
Aug 6.
Dick Robbins “always has Colgate in (his)
heart” but can’t get to Colgate because of his
wife’s illness. He stays in touch with Craig Rossi
and Tom Vincent ’53.
For the 1st time in 9 years, Alan Beals is back
in the US, in Savannah, working for the USAID
for the last 2 years in Kosovo and Moldova, “in
hardly garden spots, but rewarding work.” He’s
the volunteer pres of the Savannah Botanical
Garden. They get away to Well Fleet, MA.
Ann and Larry Norton are back home in Lone
Tree, CO, from their 7th return trip to India. In
the ’60s, Larry operated there for 5 years. No
surgery there now for him, but he lectures and
consults with other doctors. He wrote: “NE India
is developing rapidly in many respects but it still
has a huge population of extremely poor people.
How this problem can be resolved is unknown.
Reasonably good medical care is available to
those who can pay.”
Hope we all have a pleasant, safe summer.
Peter: 845-340-0659; therakovs@aol.com
1955
Bruce Burke
4661 Sweetmeadow Circle
Sarasota, FL 34238-4334
The news of our class activities are a little thin
this quarter; except the sad news of Hal Benson’s
passing. We do not have any more details than
that about Hal. Many of us who knew Hal best
found him to be the best of friends and we will
miss him.
The end of May marked the retirement of
RuthAnn Loveless MA’72. She has been a strong
support of our class, activities, and reunions. She
has been the Colgate VP for Alumni Affairs and
has served our class and many others with wisdom and vigor. Her successor is Tim Mansfield,
and we wish him greetings and good luck in this
important job.
Our classmate Art DuBois steps down from
the Alumni Corporation Board after many years
of brilliant service to our class and many others.
Thanks for all that you have done, Art! Good job!
Hope to hear from more of you. Keep in touch!
Cheers!
Bruce: 941-926-3244;
bruceb@msu.edu, johnbburke@comcast.net
195 6
Jerry Rhodes
101 Magerton Court
Cary, NC 27511-7303
First, it saddens me to relate that Ed Johnston
died on Feb 8 at his home in FL. According to his
son Chris, Ed died as a result of an unexpected
accident at home. We send our sincere condolences to Chris and the rest of the family. Ed was
a regular at our reunions and we will miss him
this year and in future years. I have also received
word of the deaths of Bill Carpenter’s wife, Ann;
Hilary Snell’s wife, Connie; and Phil Young’s wife,
Judie. We send our sympathies to these men as
they struggle with the loss of a beloved spouse.
I did get a chance to talk with Phil, who lives in
Burlington, NC, and he is doing well and was
hoping to be able to attend our 55th Reunion.
He was unable to come 5 years ago because
of Judie’s illness. A note came in from Vernon
Zane’s widow, Rhoda, saying how much Vernon
enjoyed our 50th Reunion, renewing friendships
with many classmates and DU brothers he had
not seen since graduation. She said it was a
memorable experience for both of them.
By the time you read this, winter will be over
in the Chenango Valley. Corky Steneri said it was
a miserable winter, but were slowly coming out
of it when he wrote in late March. The Steneris
didn’t get to go to FL this year due to his health
problems, but he said all is well now and he feels
great. Corky is still involved with the community, Colgate, and the Phi Delts. He also reports
that some of CU’s winter sports teams have
had difficult times and he thinks there will be
some coaching changes coming. Ben Patt sends
word that he attended an alumni lunch where
Pres Herbst spoke and he was quite impressed.
Attending the lunch were Nicki and John Wise,
Linda and Mickey Warburton, Duke Foster, and
Ben’s “1st wife,” the long-suffering Judy. Frank
Proietti writes that he and Larry Scharbach
had their usual winter ski week at Steamboat
Springs, CO, and had good weather and good
snow. He had spoke with Ron Barr, who had over
47 days on the slopes. Ron lives in Telluride and
goes out for a couple of hours a day. Ron also
wrote to me for Frank’s e-mail, wanting to tell
him, and Larry, that “the women are pretty and
the children are above average.” Maybe Telluride
is the real Lake Wobegon!
Bruce Holran wrote to tell me that a new
Charles W Tillou Scholar had been named. He is
a 1st-year studying to be an MD. He is active on
campus and prior to Colgate was an imaging science intern. Bruce thinks that this scholar is the
13th person since the scholarship was funded in
1959. Bruce says that all is well with the Holrans
and that he is in a church leadership role in their
sr ministry as well as serving as the church’s
historian and as a Stephen Minister.
Paul Comisar writes that he and Barb are
having a good time. They went to So Am on a
Tauck tour and it was great. Their son Peter ’89
was written up in Forbes mag and is vice chair of
Guggenheim Partners. Paul says they count their
blessings.
Ed Vantine wrote to tell me of this year’s
reunion plans. However, since you will read this
after reunion, I’ll not go into the details. I’ll save
the actuals for next time. Suffice it to say, the
plans sounded great and I forwarded his note to
all those on my e-mail list. If you didn’t get it, you
know how to fix that!
Gene Soechtig wrote to say how sad it is
to learn about the number of classmates and
spouses who have passed away recently. They
will be missed at the varied Colgate events. Gene
and Patty were heading off to DC, where she
was attending a Board of Trustees meeting at
the Grier School she attended for HS. The two
of them were eagerly looking forward to our
reunion.
George Economou says that he was invited to
participate in an event focusing on the modern
Greek poet CP Cavafy in April. He says he was
looking forward to visiting Colgate and seeing
some old friends again.
Ron Schaupp reiterated Corky’s comments on
Hamilton’s “brutal” winter. He also said that the
Trudy Fitness Ctr was completed and getting a
lot of use from students, faculty, and Hamiltonians, including Ron and June. At the time he
wrote, he said that the Colgate Inn’s renovation
was nearly complete and it looks great from
outside.
Gordie Miller says that he and Heidi spent
time in Vienna at a reunion with the Austrian
guides who worked with Heidi at the 1958
World’s Fair in Brussels. That is where the Millers
met and they were married in Vienna in March
of ’59 while he was stationed in Germany. He
says Vienna is a great place and they even tolerate his rather basic German. The Millers have
1 grandson at Colgate and another who’s been
accepted and hopefully will attend. Gordie gave
the boy his “unbiased” assessment of the college
and of his other options!
Harris Barer answered my begging note,
saying that “it was hard to resist someone who
sounds in near desperation!” (It is getting harder
to get up off my knees these days!) He is still
practicing law in NYC, although on a limited
basis, and the Barers divide their time between
NYC and Water Mill, NY, near Southampton. He
is active in community affairs and was CEO of
a natl health org. They love to travel and took a
great trip to Tanzania and wonders if Swahili
was taught at Colgate! They “try to ignore the
passage of time and its effect on health and are
busy planning our next trip.” Way to go, Harris,
keep it up!
Paul Hauler reports he is still sitting up and
taking nourishment and is looking forward to
getting back to sailing on Lake Ontario. I told him
to be careful out there and to dodge the ice floes.
Todd Colvin doubted he’d get back to
Hamilton from Austin, TX, for reunion. He and
Virginia are enjoying life down there and have
2 sons nearby with their families. The Colvins
have 2 sons, 3 daughters, 15 grandchildren, and 2
great-grandchildren. It’s a good thing TX is a big
state! Todd and his partners run Bed Linens Etc,
a web-based firm selling all kinds of bedding,
robes, etc. If anyone is interested in checking this
out, let me know and I’ll lead you to the site. Todd
gets to Charlotte occasionally and hopefully we’ll
be able to get together at a midway point some
time.
Lastly, I received a note from Ev Smethurst ’57
concerning a film produced by Bob Bleiweiss’s
firm, Pomegranate Pendant Productions LLC.
The Golden Pomegranate is to be released on or
around Sept 15 in Israel’s Cinema City. This is the
time of the Jewish High Holidays when many
people are off work and the mainly secular Israeli
population attends movies in large numbers. Bob
and his firm are “cautiously optimistic” that the
Israeli Academy Awards will nominate the film
in several categories. Best of luck with the film,
Bob, and please let us know how it all turns out.
Joe Karaman writes that he was unable to attend reunion, but he is doing well and he hopes
to see us in the near future.
Dick Martin said that he and Anne regretted
having to leave reunion, but had a prior engagement. They had great weather in Charleston
in March and had fun getting in some golf in
preparation for springtime in CT. He also reports
that Hoppy Hopkins had knee replacement plus
therapy but went home sounding good and feeling encouraged. Having had both mine replaced
in 2004, I know what you went through, Hop,
and I hope you’re back by now running around
the tennis court!
I can report that wearing Colgate gear on
vacations really works. In April, Carole and I were
in the Asheville, NC, area and while walking
downtown, a man passed by and called out, “Go,
Red Raiders!” He was a native Tar Heel but knew
of our school. (To my pleasure, he used our “totally un-PC” nickname!) The following day, at the
Biltmore Estate, I was taking photos on a porch
when, who should walk up, but Phil Bisselle ’58
and wife Holly. We had a nice chat and agreed if
I hadn’t been wearing my Colgate 1956 jacket, he
would not have known me. So, if you’ve got gear,
wear it — you never know who you’ll meet!
That’s all I have for now, but I’d sure appreciate it if you’d keep all the notes, letters, phone
calls, etc coming. And, as usual, if you have
changed your e-mail address, please let me know.
Until next time…
Jerry: 919-363-1980; rhodes_j_c@att.net
49
50th Reunion yearbooks for the years 1958, 1959, 1960, or 1961 may be purchased for $10 from the Office
of Alumni Affairs. Please contact Vicky Stone at 315-228-7433 or vstone@colgate.edu if you would like to
purchase one.
19 57
Ev Smethurst
6 Son Bon
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-8601
Happy summer. We are having another great day
in SoCA. It is in the high 60s and sunny. But it
has rained a little, so the natives are upset. I will
get to swim my laps later. I have entered the US
Masters Short Course Swimming meet in Mesa,
AR, later this month. I noticed that Jim Elder ’65
also entered. But, my friend Bill Grohe ’56 is not.
Bill has had some health problems, but he assures me that he is competing again at age 77. So
that is the whole story of elderly swimming by
Colgate alums. I will probably find other younger
Colgate swimmers at the big meet. By the way,
Jim Elder still swims very well at the big meets,
sometimes finishing 1st. Your editor swims in an
“age appropriate” way. That means it does not
matter where I finish: we always add the phrase,
“He did OK for age 76.”
On to the news: the cupboard is almost bare!
I have heard from a couple of my fellow alums,
Pete Bowser and Howie Lee. They have both
been traveling, Pete in the US and the Lees to
Sicily. We are planning to get together. We are
always planning to get together.
I had coffee with David Peck ’60 yesterday.
He reported that it was the 75th birthday of Carl
Straub ’58. Carl is retired from Bates C and still
lives in Lewiston, ME.
I have received welcome phone calls from
Sumner Northcutt in Munich, Germany. We
discussed March Madness and the beginning
of Major League Baseball. I think Sumner gets
better sports coverage in Munich than I do in
Laguna Niguel. We did discuss our next reunion,
in 2012. We plan to keep breathing until then.
Finally, some sad news. I am sorry to report
the passing of Frank T Bogardus, who died on
March 9 in Middleburg, FL. I had a brief talk with
wife Jean and passed on our deepest sympathies
for her loss. Frank is also survived by 2 daughters
and a son. Rest in Peace!!
That’s it. See you next time.
Ev: 949-495-4862; mrews@cox.net
19 58
Bob Woodruff
3017 West Garfield Street
Seattle, WA 98199-4243
As I am writing for the Scene in early April, it
seems that many of you are clogging Interstate
75 and 95 heading north out of FL, having spent
much time in the sun. I bet you are seeing many
license plates that read “Alumni of Colgate U.”
Those I have heard of from the sunny south
include Mer Humes on Captiva Island, FL, heading
back to Rochester; Wally Kraemer on his sailboat
in Great Abaco, Bahamas, heading north to NJ;
Phil Bisselle, reporting in from Asheville, NC,
after spending 2 months in FL and heading back
to Hamilton. While in FL, Phil noted that he connected with Dick Cheshire, Din Walker, and Pete
Hubbell. I spoke with Gris Hurlbert, who just
arrived home in Warren, OH, from 2 months in
N Naples, FL. While in FL he saw Denni and Bob
Stemmerman and Stu Lewis and his wife. Good
relaxation, you snowbirds. Al Ristori writes, as
50
scene: Summer 2011
a regular, that “I’m sitting in the shade at Bud N’
Mary’s Marina, Islamorda while answering your
e-mail. Released a 140-lb tarpon a few nights
ago, and then a permit on the flats later that
morning, and a sailfish offshore Sunday among
other critters. Not great volume, but a welcome
relief from winter in NJ. Back to reality tomorrow.” Ah, the great Class of ’58 migration north.
With some regrets, Bill Caprio writes that he had
to cancel their FL winter trip this year as he is
recovering well from back surgery/bone fusion.
Not everyone made it to FL. Best wishes in your
recovery, Bill.
Mer Humes said he didn’t have much to say
for the Scene and he then proceeded to write
about the pride he has that Colgate has a great
awareness of the need to change to stay on top
of the “fantastic explosion of info technology and
the spiraling high cost of campus education.” He
notes that since he took early retirement almost
25 years ago, he spends all his time learning and
literally only seconds searching for info to learn.
He speaks of the obsolescence of newspapers,
mags, and books and how his geology master’s is
virtually obsolete. He is pleased with his fantastic larger perspective and it is all about learning.
He is most excited to see this taking off with his
grandchildren. His message to Colgate: “Keep
searching to change if you want to stay ahead
of the ‘obsolete list.’” (Yes, Mer, it is all about
constant learning for me, too!)
My last 3 months have been or will involve
3 Colgate connections. At the start of the year I
received an e-mail from Hank Chapin’s daughter
Julia Bozzo announcing Hank’s visit and an
invitation to me to join them at her home in
Bellingham, WA. I responded and drove north on
a snowy Monday toward the Canadian border,
arriving at Julia’s NW Therapeutic Riding Ctr. Julia has a nonprofit riding ctr for disabled people.
The horses, a sturdy Norwegian fjord horse, are
fitted for the duty. She served a wonderful lunch
and we engaged in rich conversation. Hank lived
in Center Stillman our 1st year, as I did before I
moved to the renovated West Hall. He and I spent
a few minutes reminiscing about that time and
our Colgate experience. We spent most of the
time talking of teaching, academics, and elder
care as Hank has spent the last 4 years home caring for his wife who lives with Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s. As reported in the last Scene, she
is now in a care facility. That has allowed Hank
to get away at times from his home in HI. Great
lunch, Julia, and greater conversation, Hank.
Ellen Percy Kraly, prof of geography and dir of
the Upstate Institute, came to Seattle to speak to
the Colgate Club of Seattle on the subject, “From
Upstate to Uganda: How Colgate students never
cease to amaze!” I was there as I am enthralled
with the constant learning opportunities that
are presented to us as Colgate alums in the
world. She will also lead the class at Summer on
the Hill 2011 titled, “The Swinging Gate: US Immigration Policy in the 21st Century.”
And, as a 3rd connection, and speaking of
learning, I just got off the phone from a half-hour
conversation with my old roommate Bob Balentine. We discussed investing, the market, grieving for lost parents, and other meaningful topics
such as the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle
Mariners. It is great to be alive and learning.
Konne Perlman responds to my note of the
Japanese disaster and suggests that they, as a na-
tion, have had enough. He has tried valiantly to
have his photos shown in a museum setting. But
neither the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress,
nor the Baltimore Museum of Art have responded or said, “no show.” His style is of the great
classic art photographers of the ’30s through the
early ’60s. It is judged to be not current, yet the
NY Times, he reports, sells their photos of their
staff through journalism. He is not going to give
up! He and wife Kathleen just returned from a
trip to Barcelona, where they were particularly
attracted to the architecture of Gaudi, who did
“modern” churches, museums, and residences.
He comments that he has been in touch with
Hyde Perce, who is ferrying sick and poor people
to medical ctrs in his own plane. Konne has also
been in touch with Pete Stein, who is reported to
be even livelier than he was as an undergrad.
Bill Neisel writes from Plano, TX, that after a
career with JC Penney Life Insurance, he retired
and taught as a substitute in elementary school.
He now appears in color guard events with
the Sons of the American Revolution. He also
volunteers as a tour guide at the Plano Railway
Historical Museum. He married a twin, and has 2
sets of twin kids and 6 grandchildren. Welcome
to TX!
Gris Hurlbert earlier sold his family’s manufacturing business and has moved on to commercial and industrial real estate sales. After the
death of his 1st wife, he married Therese Lussier,
and they have between them 7 married children
and 16 grandkids.
The 2 Class of ’58ers in France, Robert Clegg
and Tad Brown, are constant with their reportins. Bob reports that he is still in the wine
business, doing all right with China. He reports
that he has a tough assignment upcoming. He
has to go to Bordeaux for the new “en primeur”
wine tasting at such little known chateaux as
Margaux, Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Lafite, and
Cheval Blanc, among others. “Let’s hope I survive.” (If not, maybe a few of us can fly over and
administer CPR. En Francais?) He signs off with,
“Avec tous mes meilleurs sentiments.” A tu, aussi,
Messieur Robert.
All the way to the east in France, Tad has been
floating on Lac Leman, the lake that borders
Switzerland and France, as he has been visiting
his son and wife in Evian les Bains, the home
of Evian waters. They were on vacation and
attended 3 art exhibits in Lausanne, Martigny,
and Evian. In his birding venture he discovered
a new (to him) water bird: the crested grebe in
full courting regalia. He also discovered a new
demarcation line for the Roman Empire and a
2,000 person encampment. He understood the
cause of the 1870 war. Ask him about it! (What do
I have to do to arrange a trip to France!)
The alumni office has informed me of deaths
of 2 classmates. Fred Kaiser passed away just
after his 75th bday in March in Yarmouth, ME.
Bill Rudman, who was at Colgate for some of our
4 years, passed away after battling cancer for 6
years. Our thoughts and prayers are with their
wives, Sunny Kaiser and Elaine Rudman, and
their families.
Finally, Cal Low responds with, “Hi, Woody:
Good to hear from you. I have to give you a lot of
credit for trying. Must be frustrating to eek out
news from a bunch of old men!” Who’s old, Cal?
No, it is an honor and a great deal of fun. Look at
the responses I got! I tend to hear from the same
folks who respond to my e-mail blast. Those
of you not on, or not comfortable with e-mail,
just drop me a line. I need to broaden my/our
horizons. Thanks, all, for your participation.
Bob: 206-550-6715; rbwoody@mac.com
19 59
Paul W Beardslee
The Riverside Retreat
Rt 1 Box 59-1
Elkins, WV 26241-9711
Focus, Louie, focus! Those 3 words are “oh so”
revealing! First Jim’s (Madura) quiz item received
the most “hits” in recent history and, in so doing, strongly suggested that one of our “social
highlights” in our undergrad days occurred in
that downtown Hamilton theater! Perhaps such
is a sad commentary on the quality of social life
in those days, but we all must admit that the cinema was a major influence in our lives. Thanks,
Louie, whoever you are/were! And thanks to Jim;
today we’d have no human interaction. Rather
we’d push several buttons to be told “our call is
important to us!” Two mates are herein credited
(there were several more later) for being the 1st
to identify Louie — Frank McCarthy and Dick
Hasz. Yes, we finally found Frank on Mr Bell’s
apparatus! Frank had just returned from his midwinter sojourn at Hilton Head to report that he
was facing heart valve work in the near future.
He also wanted to give regards to Jim Madura:
“The senator says hello!” Let’s pull for Frank with
the hope that a follow-up report will come soon.
Dick e-mailed from Hershey, PA, with his “Louie”
response. Dick and Faye (married for 50 years)
split their time between Hershey (Hershey Med,
part of Penn State) and their Emerald Island,
NC, beach house now that Dick is retired. Dick
says he is redefining the term “hacker” in his
golf game, but since there are 6 children and 13
grandchildren, he does have other activities to fill
his day. We are hopeful we might someday see
Dick in WV, since he has a daughter, a son-in-law,
and a grandson who are all grads of WVU, plus
a grandchild who’s currently a “mountaineer!”
Dick, if you can’t make it to our hills, you must
promise to make an appearance at our #55, a
mere 3 years away!
Speaking of reunion, we had a recent chat
with our dependable and loyal “reunion planner,” Dick Lowenberg. Dick is still working,
although he admits that he goes to the office late
and leaves early! He and Kathy are still traveling
(visiting children and their usual West Coast
junket) although they were home (upstate NY)
long enough to experience what Dick termed an
“old-fashioned winter, reminiscent of Colgate
days.” Dick also shared that Bill Schmeh has had
a “rough go” in recent months — 2 of same in
the hospital with a broken neck. Our latest news,
via Dick, is really encouraging. Bill is out and his
doctor has urged a return to the links! So, to date,
Bill has weathered a storm. I have a call into him
but have not hooked up at this writing. You are in
our thoughts, Sandy and Bill.
Also, within the past week, we had a good
chat with Ted Gregory. Ted had just returned
from completing a 30k, 3-day swim in the British
Virgin Isles with 10 other folks. Such had to go
well for, come July, Ted and 4 others are planning a “relay” swim across the English Channel
(they each do 1 hour stints in relay). We will try
to have a report for our next missive. Ted also
urged us to check out Bill Wyman, about whom
we wrote in our earlier submission. What we did
not emphasize was Bill’s current mission. In Ted’s
words, “Bill is changing the health care system
in Rwanda,” in a project developed by Bill’s bride,
Ro. Two or 3 clinics are up and running, with
that Madura bonfire quiz dangling out there,
and I should mention some changes on my
home front. You may have noted (above) a slight
change to our address. We still operate our vacation rental but we have closed our B&B. It’s been
a fun 21 years and, guess what? I still have to
make the beds! Please also note a phone number
change (the #59 is ever present, it seems).
Unfortunately and sadly, before we “retire”
this round, we have 2 losses to share. In late Jan
we learned of the departure of Bob Pattison
following an illness of several months. Readers
may remember Bob in Lamba Chi, ROTC, and
the Glee Club. And on Feb 13 we lost Bob Wilson,
one of our class leaders some 50+ years ago. Bob
was at our last reunion and, readers may recall,
Bob was assoc editor of our yearbook. If you can
locate your Salmagundi, I urge you to read Bob’s
editorial, found on p 256. What Bob said then
clearly stands the test of time; his writings could
still apply today! To the families of both Bobs we
send our heartfelt sympathies and thanks. Your
presence will be missed but, be assured, you’ll
both be remembered on Whitnall Field in 2014.
Bon voyage, mates.
And so it goes. To those mates who sent
holiday greetings, I convey my thanks. To those
reunion attendees not yet referenced, please bear
with us and continue reading your Scene. We’ll
catch up next round. Note the new numbers
below, be well, stay busy, and, hopefully, do some
good work some place. Cheers ’til next round.
Paul: 304-591-4311; beardslee@suddenlink.net
1960
Stephen Greenbaum
PH6
4242 Stansbury Avenue
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-4265
Jack Blanchard writes, “I had lunch with Phil
Perham, who told me of the death of our classmate and one of our Class of ’60 golf champions
honored at the 50th Reunion, Terry Van Houten,
a Sigma Nu. Phil sends his best regards and
continuing kudos for our 50th Reunion. It will
be a while before another class surpasses our
50th gift.”
I also report the death of William Bohnhoff, a
history major and member of Alpha Tau Omega.
If you would like a free copy of our reunion
yearbook, Reflections, or if you want to have your
bio added to the online book, please e-mail Vicky
Stone at vstone@colgate.edu. To see it online, go
to http://www.colgateconnect.org/s/801/
images/editor_documents/C60_50thbk_071310_
FINAL.pdf.
Fred Rosen writes: “I was interested to read
the remarks of Al McDowell in the recent Scene
about Skevo Soko, whom I knew quite well in
the early 1960s in Syracuse, at the time of his
death. In the autumn of 1961, Skevo arrived at
Syracuse U after doing an MA in econ at Yale (I
believe). The university at that time had expanded its intake of black and African students, but
had not done very much about housing them.
Most were forced to use private rented accommodation from lists provided by the university,
but the university had not bothered to ensure
that the landlords would accept black applicants.
I was involved after helping a very distinguished
black activist (Rudolph Lombard, former vice
chair of CORE) who was refused accommodation
to move into my apt. Skevo and a friend were
also refused accommodation, and a small group
of us organized a sit-in at the apt. There were
about 7 or 8 arrests, but the university eventually
woke up to its responsibilities. Skevo obtained
his living accommodation and the university
Andrew Daddio
more in the offing. We’ll try to keep tabs on this
as we move through the year. (Maybe Bill has a
model for us to follow!) Back in Feb, a greeting
arrived from Abel Merrill. Abel and Sue had just
returned from sailing in the FL Keys and indicated they will be off to visit their son in Israel
in April. Included will be a trip to Naples and the
Amalfi Coast. Abel mentioned Chip Carlson in his
missive, indicating that they were frosh roommates. Chip was 1 of several mates sending us
Christmas greetings in 2010. (Readers may recall
that Susan, Chip’s wife, hails from Elkins.)
We chatted recently with Brad Tufts, who is
not only doing well and playing golf, but has also
entered the “dating” world again. We shall hope
for progress reports to share in upcoming missives. We also heard from Dick Keating and I ask
you to join me in sending our sympathies to Dick
in IL. Dick lost Jody in early Jan, 33 months after
the initial diagnosis. Dick is moving on with the
help of the release of his book Colorado’s Spanish
Peaks this past March. Dick calls this a new (marketing) venture of a kind, where he begins with
almost no experience. We’re pulling for you, Dick.
My plans to share news about reunion attendees, while desirable, causes concern. At our
age and given the time gaps between reports,
too much can happen — or not. Hence I am
herein ramping up the process, listing a greater
number of names; providing less data. In the
process I urge you to review Scoop Seibert’s
“Reflections.” I shall hope to have listed all before
our next gathering occurs! In attendance (or on
the roster) at the 2009 get-together, in addition
to those heretofore cited, were the following.
‘Chick’ Biddulph, who may hold the record for the
number of Colgate alumni in 1 wedding party.
Bob Booher, who had 40 years’ experience providing strategic planning services. He now lives
on Good Earth Farm. Renny Bowers, who joined a
law firm with 18 lawyers; that firm now numbers
125. Renny was also a ranked squash player. Mike
Corwin did things in reverse, chased his dream
(harness racing) right out of Colgate; then found
success in local banking. Jack ‘Moon Man’ Cussen
entered a family business, sold it, stayed in banking, and now is an entrepreneur with 2 sons.
Bob Derrenbacker joined NW Mutual Life Ins Co
and never left (50+ years); his wife, Joanie, was a
blind date. Bill Doescher started in Binghamton,
NY, as a sportswriter and is one of our Maroon
Citation awardees. Bill Donahue was in the track
and field world all his working years, including
Mercersburg Acad (where I took my SATs!). Vinny
Eible is identified with General Motors. Do you
remember his bride, Louise, visiting Colgate on
weekends in her powder blue ’58 Chevy convertible?! Then there was Dick Ficke, who wound up
in the Strategic Air Command and B-52 ops for
most of his career; Tom Flood was in education
for a short time but switched to construction,
claiming a love for driving the bulldozer and
“knocking things down!” John Fox started in
the family textile business, becoming prexy
in 1980. He and Audree now live in ME. Dave
Gagliardi began his teaching career in Darien,
CT, but spent 34 years in Somers HS, Westchester Co, NY, retired in 1996. Sam Giordano was a
registered nurse, spent time in the restaurant
and construction business, and 10 years in the
NY Natl Guard. Still in West Chester, PA, is Dick
Goman, who learned early on that law was not
his forte, ended up with Xerox for 7 years before
forming his own business. Still loyal to his roots,
Dick is an avid Phillies fan. Finally, for this round,
we have Gordon Granger who joined CPC/Best
Foods for 38 years but now claims, “I don’t miss
my professional life one bit and we are enjoying
the hell out of retirement!” Stay tuned for more
in subsequent missives. Meanwhile, we still have
Drawn to the landscape
Michele Palmer ’82 needed graduate work to understand why she chose Colgate. Only after
she enrolled for her master’s in landscape architecture at Cornell University did she realize
how much Colgate’s campus factored into her decision.
“When I visited Colgate with my mother, it was a beautiful fall day, with the sugar maples
bright red and the gold dome of the chapel above the trees. It had what I wanted academically, but I fell in love with the classic, uncluttered landscape.”
Years later, she influenced that landscape herself, with her design of the wall and garden
in front of Merrill House at the top of the rise above Oak Drive. The Class of 2002 gave the
wall and garden as a place for reflection following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Palmer
consulted with the class and others in planning her approach. “I wanted it to look like it had
always been there, simple and clean,” she concluded, “and let the plants be the exuberant
part.” She chose plants that would come into season in the spring and fall, when students are
on campus.
That project reflects her architectural philosophy, which emphasizes the use of local
materials, practicality, and “designs that match the natural landscape and its place in the
world,” she said. “I was never interested in creating Tuscan villas in upstate New York.”
When she graduated into 1982’s shaky economy, Palmer followed a path well worn by her
fellow fine arts majors: retail. “For a lot of years, I ran stores — a home furnishings design
store, an art gallery, things like that.”
She finished her master’s in 1996 and worked with a landscape architecture firm based
in Ithaca, along the way earning her professional license and state registration. In 2004,
she struck out on her own, focusing on projects for clients in higher education, the public
sector, and individual homeowners, and earning certification as a Woman Owned Business
Enterprise in 2007.
“Some landscape architects only do planning work, and some only design for construction,” she said. “I’m in the middle, doing both. I’ve always been interested in the built world,
making things. I’m more technically oriented.”
Palmer’s technical abilities earned her an opportunity to teach site engineering at
Cornell, which she has done since 2009. “Super-creative, right-brain people sometimes
have trouble with this course because they worry about the math,” she said. “But I’m no math
genius. I teach them that it’s just understanding proportion. The ancient Roman surveyors
calculated grade the same way we do today — a three percent slope is still a three percent
slope.”
She speaks about the ancient Romans from experience. Her former professor at Cornell
recruited Palmer to an archaeological project at the ancient site at Stabiae. There, in 2008,
they discovered traces of a huge garden, which has become a forensic study for Palmer.
That, in turn, has led to speaking engagements and an invitation to help illustrate and coauthor an essay for a new source book on garden archaeology.
Late in 2010, she and her graduate assistant Tom Breiten, a landscape designer and
builder, opened Templeton Landscape Architecture & Planning, based in Cooperstown.
Their first project is helping a community college integrate new residential units into its
rural setting.
Palmer said their designs are “simple and sustainable, based on the underlying ecology
of the site. Sustainability is one of those buzzwords that people are starting to cynically
call greenwash,” she said. “But landscape architects have always been interested in the
environment and native landscape, so for us, adopting a sustainable point of view is a minor
extension of what we’re already doing.”
— James Leach
51
For many women, their thoughts and feelings about their own sexuality often involve
loneliness, embarrassment, and ignorance. That’s what Joyce Turcotte McFadden ’84 has
found during 25 years as a psychoanalyst. But with her new book, Your Daughter’s Bedroom,
McFadden is hoping to break that cycle.
In 2005, she started an anonymous web-based initiative, the Women’s Reality Study,
because she learned through leading therapy sessions that her clients were feeling shame
and isolation about experiences
that are, in fact, commonly shared.
“I wanted them to understand
that there’s a community of other
women out there,” McFadden said.
And although she told her clients
that their experiences were not
singular, she wanted to make that
known to all women by creating a
reference book.
The ongoing study (at womens
realities.com) asks women about
their varied experiences ranging
from body image to careers to
mental health. For the book,
McFadden narrowed her focus
to helping mothers teach their
daughters about healthy sexuality.
“I’m hoping it will help women and
girls feel freer in their lives,” said
McFadden, who also blogs about
feminist issues for The Huffington
Post. “There’s this huge chasm between women being the objects of other people’s sexual
desire and women being the subjects of their own sexuality.”
It starts with mothers giving their daughters the facts, she said. The mother of a teenage
daughter herself, McFadden said she began educating her daughter about her body at a
young age. “I started just by teaching her the names of her body parts — which sounds so
simple, but a lot of women don’t know [the basic terms and functions],” she explained. “When
they’re young, you can get so much more information in because when they start to mature,
it’s too uncomfortable and scary for them.”
Your Daughter’s Bedroom is structured around testimonials from those who have
participated in the Women’s Realities Study, followed by McFadden’s analysis and advice on
how mothers can support their daughters as they grow.
McFadden credits Colgate alumnae with helping shape the book. Wanting to disseminate
the study in a grassroots way, she initially sent it to just her female friends, family, and colleagues. Looking to widen her pool, McFadden advertised the study in the Colgate Gateline
e-newsletter, after which she saw a flurry of activity on the site. The topics that these
women most responded to were the ones McFadden addressed in the book. “They really
turned on a lightbulb that made me start to keep an eye out for what women were talking
about,” she said.
To date, approximately 450 women have participated. “I wanted it to be large enough
to be credible and small enough to be intimate; I really wanted to remember the questionnaires that I was reading as they came through.”
Publisher’s Weekly is calling Your Daughter’s Bedroom a “fascinating and empowering text for women of all ages.” McFadden is hoping her own daughter will read it, but she
admits that her daughter is “sick of having sexual conversations with me.” This indicates
that McFadden has been successful in normalizing sexuality for her. “It’s as if I were talking
about baking all the time, she’d be sick of me talking about cookie recipes.”
To learn more, visit www.joycemcfadden.com.
Photo courtesy of Philippe Cheng Photography
Let’s talk about sex
— Aleta Mayne
changed its policy. It was one of the 1st sit-ins
over housing to be held in a northern city like
Syracuse, was widely publicized in the media,
and Skevo was a brave and heroic participant
at the time. Unfortunately, later that winter he
bought a car but was unprepared for driving on
the snow and ice. He died in an accident, and
the world lost an excellent potential leader of an
African state.”
Frank Crane and Bruce Goodheart reported
that they and other Sigma Chi classmates got
together for cocktails and dinner at Peggy and
52
scene: Summer 2011
Frank Gundlach’s home in Bonita Springs, FL. Attending with them were Gwen and Bill Cooper,
and Ann and Don Gordon. They all had a great
time reliving their history and toasting to the life
and friendship of their dear brother, Bill Braden.
Visit the photo gallery on our class page at www.
ColgateConnect.org to see the group picture.
Howard Hughes called. He and wife Lynn
planned on attending Summer on the Hill at
Colgate from June 23–25. They hoped to see
others from our class there. They also hoped the
trip would give them respite from spending time
with their “curious” 4-year-old grandson.
Jim Christopher writes: “It’s been a busy time
here in the Tidewater area of VA. I’m in my 7th
year of serving as pastor of Bayside Christian
Church in VA Beach. Growth has been steady,
sometimes dramatic, as with the development of
a Children’s Learning Ctr handling an enrollment
of 100 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. My p/t
job in retirement will have to wait. Meanwhile,
I’ve been pres of Baypoint, our condo assoc for
a couple of years. We have a new owner down
the street, Michael Rudolph ’58, who commutes
here from Wilton, CT, several times a year. We’ve
enjoyed comparing notes of life back then. I
checked in the yearbook and report that neither
of us has changed a bit. I continue my retirement
avocation of watercolor painting, enter several
shows a year, and plan to set up my website
shortly. I’ll keep you posted. Life is good.”
Peter Berrall writes: “I was so glad I made it to
our 50th Reunion. When I got home, I had 2 badly
bruised big toes — probably caused by all those
fun parades and searching for my foursome’s
golf balls deep in the Seven Oaks rough! This past
week, Lynn and Phil Smith dropped by for 2 days
and a free night’s lodging on their way back to
frosty Buffalo after a brief sojourn in FL. ‘Smitty’
was a brother FIJI and former roommate. So great
to do all the catching up and telling of lies, lies,
lies! The very Rev Smith probably decided that I
am still beyond saving. He is looking well, but is
only slowed down a little by a hip replacement.
I think I could definitely take him now in 1-on-1
basketball. Selah!”
Bruce Munro writes: “I missed reunion last
year because we spent 5 months cruising on our
40´ sailboat in British Columbia and AK. It was a
fabulous experience and we plan to do it again
in 2012.” Check out the photo gallery on our class
page at ColgateConnect.org to see a photo of
their boat anchored in Fitzgibbon Cove off the
Behm Canal in SE AK. The mtn in the background
is on Revillagigedo Island, which is about the size
of LI but only has 1 town, Ketchikan, population
15,000 at best. “AK is a whole different world,” he
said.
Dick Leland writes: “Being the great-greatgreat-great-grandson of Joshua Leland, col in
Washington’s Continental Army, I was inducted
into the Sons of the American Revolution last
fall in an impressive ceremony at the Saratoga
Battleground Cemetery in Stillwater, NY, with
period-dressed soldiers, horseback riders, canon
fire, musket fire, etc. Got a kick out of Colgate
with their mediocre hockey season knocking
off both RPI and Union in the ECAC playoffs!
Go, ’Gate! I am looking forward to seeing Tom
Kirkpatrick ’61 and Ray Boushie ’61, my former
Phi Gamma Delta roommates, at their Class of
1961 Reunion. Hope everyone is well.”
Lee Carter returned the double postcard and
stated: “I still live in beautiful Lincoln City on
the central OR coast. I retired from real estate 5
years ago, and 3 years ago I beat prostate cancer;
vigilance is the key. I had lived in HI for 27 years
before moving to OR, and I don’t miss it. OR is
more friendly. [Ed note: I hope Honolulu-resident
Doug Parks below is too busy changing diapers
to rebut this. Further, I have Lee’s e-mail address
— or find it yourself in Reflections or in the
alumni directory online — if you wish to accept
his invitation to contact him].
David Peck writes: “Thanks for the letter
about Russ Speirs. I’m looking at my copy of
Shouts from the Bottom of a Deep Well as I write.
It’s been on my bookshelf for years now, but I
cannot remember when I got it (although the
1971 publication date seems to suggest I mailed
away for it from here). Although I carry plenty
of classroom memories, my strongest mental
pictures are of the production of Macbeth our
soph year. I was asst dir, which really meant
‘prompter.’ But, oh what a cast: the mercurial Lowell Citron ’59, the ever-dramatic Don
Collester ’61, the funny, funny Gordon Cloney
’61, and — the real reason all of us were in the
production, I think — the beauteous pair of Mrs
Mischel and Mrs Hackett.
“By the way, I love the look of the Scene these
days, and the [winter] issue continues to carry
us back to the campus: your letter, a photo of
Prof Mel Watkins ’62, mention of Krakusin,
etc. Life in Laguna continues well.”
In the winter issue, I submitted a Letter to
the Editor that told of my obtaining a copy of
Russ Speirs’s Shouts from the Bottom of a Deep
Well. Bruce Barth received it from a non-Colgate
friend and he sent it to me, knowing that I
was inspired by this Shakespeare and poetry
prof, and my faculty adviser, as well. I offer this
book on loan to any classmate who wishes the
pleasure of reading it. I discovered that many
do read the Letters section — David Peck, above,
as well as Alan Posner ’66, a cabin mate of our
good Prof Speirs, who described Alan as “flitting
from beautiful girl to beautiful girl,” while Russ
was early to bed and early to rise to work on his
autobiographical book.
By the time you read this, Ruth and I will
have visited Michele and Doug Parks and their
daughter Jennifer and her husband Eric — and
by now Doug has begun his rookie-hood as a
grandfather; we will have gone to an alumni
event welcoming Pres Herbst and his wife to LA
on the April 12; and we will have returned from
our big trip to the East Coast (Boston, Albany,
and NYC for 2 weeks), then to Budapest (visiting
distant cousins), and then connecting with
Princess cruises for a land tour through Prague,
Vienna, and Berlin. Off the bus and onto the
Emerald Princess in Copenhagen to see Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Estonia, Denmark,
and Oslo. After a few days in DC, we were back
to LA on the 28th.
Dave Maxfield writes: “50th Reunion was a
blast for ’60 TEKES: 7 of us plus significant others made it back and had a 2-hour reunion with
our cook/housemother, Ruthie Wallace, in the
lobby of the Colgate Inn. She’s in her 80s and
doing as well as could be expected. Even the
TKE Internatl offices in Indianapolis have taken
note and want more specifics. Also, it was fun
meeting TEKES from the Class of 1970 in their
reunion tent.” Keep the updates coming, and don’t forget
Reflections.
Steve: 818-999-2777; 788-2557 (fax);
stevegreenbaum@sbcglobal.net
19 6 1
Kent Blair
Quail Ridge Country Club
4535 Sanderling Circle West
Boynton Beach, FL 33436-5120
It’s early April as I write this column. S FL was
blessed with great weather this year, whereas
Hamilton had snowdrifts 10´ high. We all
remember those winters! By the time you read
this, our 50th Reunion will have come and gone.
A tremendous amount of work went into planning and organizing the event, and on behalf
of all our classmates, I want to send sincere
thanks to the reunion committee: Don Belgrad,
Ray Boushie, Bill Burkhardt, Stu Cahn, Bob
Cleveland, John Fornuto, Dick Hellstern, Jack
Homestead, Paul Ingrey, Bob Jones, John Kirkman, Tom Kirkpatrick, Ray Londa, Carl Luecke,
Clark Madigan, Carl Phelps, Don Roehm, Bud
Sales, John Stockton, Gary Sullivan, Bill Swezey,
Charlie Warner, and yours truly.
Not as much news this time as everyone is
focusing on reunion, but here’s what I have. Ed
Fincke e-mailed that he is looking forward to reunion and seeing old friends. He recently retired
from teaching and consulting but still occasionally appears in classrooms and boardrooms.
Over the past years, Ed and Wendy have enjoyed
dancing, camping in Big Sur, and skiing at Lake
Tahoe. Their interests are now more directed
at restaurants and shows. Priscilla and Jason
Gaines will be leaving shortly after reunion on
a Natl Geographic trip to AK, the only state that
he hasn’t visited. They’ll be accompanied by a
NG photographer, which should make the trip
especially exciting as Jason has a long-standing
interest in the hobby with past photo trips to
New Zealand, S Africa, and Tanzania.
After a year of convalescing from a broken leg,
Tom Jackson was hit by an unexpected cardiac
bypass operation in Jan. He’s recovering well
but still gets tired easily. I had lunch with Locky
Jones a few weeks ago in Ft Lauderdale. He’s well
and scheduled to take 3 cruises in ’11. Carl Luecke
was kind enough to call with some vignettes
on several classmates. Tom Mather can’t make
reunion but is enjoying retirement in TX. Ken
Monroe checked in from “Country X, which is
very near the Country Y border.” He had 1 more
adventure in the Middle East before coming
back for reunion. Can’t wait to hear his stories.
I had a long conversation with Frank Morris,
who’s had an extremely interesting life in the
foreign service, politics (ex dir Black Caucus),
education (graduate dean at Morgan St), and
advocacy causes. He recently testified before the
House Judiciary Committee on how the govt’s
immigration policy is negatively impacting black
Americans. Frank is now active with AARP, serving on its natl policy council.
Talked with Peter Neisel, who lives in IN. He
sold his company, which made fire-resistant
filing equipment, in ’02 and is spending a lot of
time with his favorite hobby — reading. For 10
years, Pete was very active as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) volunteer, representing
the interests of children in foster-care situations.
After 17 intense cases, Pete recently resigned
from that program but has joined the board of
the local Salvation Army chapter. Sam Savin sent
a long e-mail detailing his life, which has been
more than exciting! He received his PhD from
Caltech in geochem and then taught at Case
Western for 39 years, ending as dean of the C of
Arts and Sciences. Along the way, he crewed a
40´ sailboat from Honolulu to LA, participated in
research programs on the Antarctic ice cap and
the Amazon Basin in Brazil, and took a sabbatical
in HI. After retiring in ’06, he moved to Sarasota
to serve 4 years as provost of New College of FL.
Now, fully retired, Sam is restoring his 32-yearold trawler, on which he and Norma plan to
cruise the southern waters. Jack Stovel wrote
that he couldn’t make reunion as it conflicted
with graduation at the school from which he is
just retiring. Jack is going to “bask in the sunset
of a long teaching career.” He wished everyone
well. Bill Thoms was teaching at U of Ottawa
the last week in May and plans to slip over the
border and arrive at Colgate in style — by bus.
Since retirement from practicing law, he keeps
busy teaching online courses for paralegals. His
ex will be taking care of his cat, Mauser, back in
MN. Bill has an article in the April issue of Trains
mag on the railroads of NM.
Thanks again to all of you who sent in info.
In the next issue, I’d like to include everyone’s
thoughts about our 50th Reunion. Please send
these to me ASAP, while your memories are
fresh, remember to keep those cards and letters
coming.
Kent: 561-731-5331(winter); 908-277-3295
(summer); kblairjr@aol.com
1962
Stuart Angert
179 Greenaway Road
Amherst, NY 14226-4165
It is encouraging to recognize that is it is never
too late to reinvent oneself. Ian Volner, a lawyer
of note in DC, has a 2nd home that he shares
with his wife, Martha, in the great state of WV.
He has thrown his hat in the ring to run for
Congress in WV on the Democratic ticket in
the Eastern Panhandle, an area that is solidly
Republican. He has adopted the campaign slogan
from the mayor of NYC: If you are not part of the
solution, you want to be part of the problem —
vote Volner. “I will accept contributions, but only
from PACs, so you guys need to organize one or
more. I will be running against a state assemblyman who has introduced a bill at the state level
opting for the Panhandle to secede from WV and
join VA. I expect support from the VA delegation, which did not want WV in the 1st place and
surely does not want any part of it now.” Good
luck, Ian!
Joe Medved shares his passion for Colgate
involvement. “One of the things I enjoy most is
serving as a volunteer for the Alumni Admission
Program. I attend college fairs at NH HSs and talk
to students who want to learn about Colgate. It is
refreshing to meet young men and women who
are interested in making something of their lives.
They ask good questions, and it is evident that
many are very bright. The fairs only take a few
hours’ time. Initially, I was concerned how well I
would relate to students 50 years younger than
I am — it really is not a problem. They are only
interested in getting the correct info. The university provides excellent materials. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for something
worthwhile and very interesting.” Volunteerism
and the focus on “giving back to the community”
is a worthy endeavor at any age. Joe adds, “My
wife and I continue to enjoy retirement. The
greatest thing in the world is getting up every
morning whenever I want. Our 2 grandchildren
just celebrated their 4th and 1st bdays. It was a
great time.
“We had a ‘real’ winter in NH this year. There
was over 4´ of snow on our lawn for months (Ed:
in Buffalo we call that a ‘dusting’) and it was
dangerous getting out of the driveway because
the snow was so high you couldn’t see the road.
We even had to have our roof shoveled once. We
enjoy all the seasons, but this year we got a little
sick of it. The only fear we have still centers on
the war. My nephew, who had been wounded in
Iraq, has just deployed to Afghanistan for a year.
We can only pray he will be well.”
We have lost another member of our class.
I received word that Christopher Bell recently
passed away. Our thoughts are with his son
Christopher Bell ’92 and his family.
Although it has been 12 years since initial
publication, if you have not read Mel Watkins’s
Dancing with Strangers, I would suggest that you
may wish to do so. Mel provides a cultural retrospective on growing up in America in the ’40s,
’50s, and ’60s. In response to my plea for updates,
Mel wrote, “Nothing much to report except that
I will be in Hamilton during reunion weekend in
June and will return for the fall semester for the
cultural history course on humor.” That’s significant! We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of
Mel’s wisdom and retrospection.
Mike Fiske reports that he served on a panel
at Methodist U, where he presented to grad
students. “Now I have been back in Pinehurst, NC,
for about 14 years enjoying retirement and lots
of golf! I have been in contact with Jim Delong,
Larry Stults, and Addison Woodword.” As a
synopsis of the last 40 years, Mike states that,
“In 1967 I was sent to Hong Kong by JC Penney to
be the regional mgr for SEA. At the time, Penney
was buying finished shirtings and electronics
from Japan and Hong Kong. By 1972 the offices
expanded to Taiwan, S Korea, and Singapore.
After my assignment was over, I elected to stay
in Asia and remained in the manufacturing and
retail industry for over 30 years. I was involved
in starting and running factories throughout
Asia, including such countries as China, India,
Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Saipan, Maldives, Vietnam, and
Pakistan. On my last assignment, I forged a joint
venture between a Scottish firm and Chinese
group in Inner Mongolia, which was involved in
spinning and weaving cashmere. It was a great
time.”
Ted Vaill, in the next chapter of his continuing
saga to denigrate our great city of Buffalo, turns
the screw 1 more time. “Yesterday, while you
Buffalonians were shoveling snow, Joan (Note:
this reference is to his long-time girlfriend, Joan
Yang, who has an established and very successful business in Buffalo) and I were enjoying 90o
weather here in LA. We plan to cruise the Baltic
out of Copenhagen in June, and, after that trip,
plan to be at her place on NYC’s Upper East Side
from July–Nov, at least 2 weeks per month. I
hope to see East Coast classmates then. After the
leaves fall in NYC, it is back to the beaches of LA.
Enjoying life as we near our 50th.”
Dan Adams updates us from his lounge chair:
“I am reclining on the deck of our beautiful
place in Eleuthera. Such a wide ocean vista, we
imagine we can see the earth curve. Suzanne and
I have just created a website (partridge-hill.com)
and store based on my family place in Barneveld,
NY. All you fly fishermen, especially, should check
it out as it’s on the banks of the catch-and-release
section of the W Canada.
Talk about perseverance, Jim Delong writes:
“Well, let’s see. In no particular order, am about
90% done in the restoration of a 1932 Chevrolet
Cabriolet that I started in 1964! I am now racing
the Grim Reaper to the finish line. Also, I have
been roped into doing some consulting work for
the Academy of Sciences regarding computer
applications at airports. Seemed like fun when
I agreed. Now it’s a reminder of why I retired in
2003. Other than that, life continues to be good.”
Michael Sullivan is now living f/t in Truckee,
CA (in the Lake Tahoe area), and reports that 1
benefit of our advanced age is the fact that he
can purchase truly cheap lift tickets at the ski
resorts. This year they received over 60´ of snow,
enabling him to be on the slopes more than at
any previous time. “Life is good.”
We received some sobering news from our
good friend Barbara, wife of Carl Langbert ’63,
that Carl is in the hospital with a malady that, to
date, doctors are unable to diagnose. As you may
know, we have enjoyed every New Year’s Eve and
4th of July with Barbara and Carl for the last 20+
years. They are family. It is distressing. We pray
for him.
Joyce and I traveled from Valparaiso, down
the coast of Chile, through Patagonia to Punta
Arenas and Ushuaia, around The Horn to the
Falkland Islands, and up the coast of Argentina,
disembarking in Buenos Aires. One comprehends
the force of history when the words inscribed in
the stone at the very tip, at Cape Horn, are read:
“In memory of the men of the sea from every
nation that lost their lives fighting against the
merciless forces of nature of the Southern Ocean
that prevail in the vicinity of the legendary Cape
Horn.” More ships were lost at the confluence
of the 2 oceans than in any other region of the
earth.
Fabulous cruise. We then spent 6 weeks in
Naples, FL. In Dec our son and daughter-inlaw in MT blessed us with a new grandchild.
They joined us in FL along with our daughter
Meredith ’94 and son-in-law Alex ’91 and their
3 daughters, and my sister and brother-in-law.
It’s all about family. When you read this column,
we will have attended the retirement party
on campus for RuthAnn Loveless MA’72, dir of
alumni affairs. It should be a special event. We
will have also hosted the reception for admitted
Colgate 1st-year students at our home. We have
had the pleasure of conversing with students
and their parents for many years. Based on the
caliber of current HS grads who will be attending
Colgate, it is plainly evident that, predicated on
my historical academic acumen, my chances of
matriculation today would be slim to none. Let’s
continue to live our lives by the words, “Life is not
measured by the number of breaths we take but
by the moments that take our breath away.” Keep
in touch.
From Jim Fewlass: “Spring has sprung in
Columbus. We had the best of northern winters
— never had more than an inch or 2 of snow on
the ground at one time with respites in between.
I keep busy as treasurer at church, church
volunteer office work Wednesdays and Fridays,
swimming at the Y Tuesdays and Thursdays, and
doing train shows with the Central OH S Gaugers
(S Gauge is based on American Flyer). I have my
own 12 x 9 layout in our condo. Other than that,
I look forward to sitting in the summer evening
breezes on our 14th-floor terrace looking out over
Franklin Park and the Columbus skyline.”
Rob Sullivan wrote in: “Busy right now, but
wanted you to know: life is great. Sitting on the
front stoop, puffing on my pipe, bib overalls,
contemplating the status of the north 40. E-mails
welcomed ... not an intrusion by any stretch!
Thanks for your work.”
Larry Stults sent an “Aloha” from Honolulu:
“Just recently, Sigma Nu brothers Mike Fiske and
Jim DeLong made contact with me by e-mail;
1st time in decades! Mike’s alive and well and
living in Pinehurst, NC, obviously playing a lot
of golf. I wonder if he can beat our ole golf-team
player, Stu Benedict. Jim retired from his career
in airport mgmt, during which he opened and
managed Denver’s magnificent airport and fell
in love with the ‘Front-Range’ of the Rockies. His
photos showed a lovely retirement home apparently near the Palmer Divide (splits eastern CO N
and S), between Denver & CO Springs. He says he
may attend our class’s 50th — me too. My wife’s
mother was visiting us for a month from Urawa,
Japan, when the triple ‘whammy’ hit. Fortunately, all our extended family and several friends
potentially endangered are all OK and have only
inconvenience — damage in their homes. On the
other hand, hardly mentioned in the news, HI, especially the Big Island, had substantial tsunami
damage, closing indefinitely the wonderful Kona
Village Resort. We were and are OK, alive and
well, and living in paradise. Best wishes.”
I received the sad news from Ken Kerr that we
lost another great classmate, Max Levine: “Max
was a good friend. When I think of my years at
Colgate, it seems that Max was always there as a
part of the good times from the football field to
the fraternity house. At our 40th Reunion, Max
gave me a framed picture of a 1960 DU spring
party. I have this picture hanging in my office,
and, of course, Max is front and center. When I
53
look at the picture, I am reminded of the many
friends that I made at Colgate. Max was one of
the best. I will miss him.”
Demi Read closes the column: “Tina and I were
in Chile for a couple of weeks in Jan and Feb to
reconnect with some friends in Puerto Varas
whom we hadn’t seen in 5 years and do some
trout fishing on the Rio Cisnes about 100 km east
of Puerto Cisnes in the XI Region in Patagonia;
also on the Petrohue River and Lago Todos Los
Santos about an hour and a half drive from
Puerto Varas near the Osorno volcano. Great fun,
weather, and fishing. It is such a beautiful area
— unspoiled and friendly. Hope that you are well
after this long winter and that you will make
time to go fly fishing soon. Five years ago, we
spent a week on a 50' Hatteras yacht, trout and
salmon fishing with another couple in the fjords.
We started at Puerto Aisen and moved daily
circumnavigating Isla Magdalena (a national
park) looking for new rivers to fish. Not a road or
a house in sight and wonderful aquatic and bird
life.”
Stuart: 716-913-7772;
stuart.angert@roadrunner.com
1 96 3
Carl G Langbert
Princeton Manor
46 Edgemere Drive
Kendall Park, NJ 08824-7000
Due to medical reasons, Carl was unable to submit a column for this edition of the Scene. Should
anyone desire to reach out to his family, feel free
to contact Carl’s son, Brett ’95, at blangbert@
optonline.net. We look forward to Carl’s catching
up with the next issue.
Carl: 732-422-0556 (H); 247-0630 (O);
545-1934 (fax); barbaralangbert@aol.com
1 96 4
Richard J Johnson
22 Goose Point Lane
Box 1825
Duxbury, MA 02331-5120
OK, so I was wrong again. Your beloved Patriots
had the most disturbing of losses — to the most
annoying of teams. So, there is no justice, and
who among us could be surprised at that? Just
wait until next year. Brady will get a haircut and
be back with a vengeance.
Bud Hilton e-mailed me not too long ago and
managed to slip in another Marilyn Monroe reference. This time he threw out the “do you want
me to scan and e-mail her autograph” gambit.
Actually, I was hoping for something even more
illustrative of their relationship, but perhaps an
autograph will have to do. By the way, I have
Steven Tyler and Joe Perry’s autograph — so I’m
cool!
Michael Schoenwald writes from sunny FL
that he is still practicing urology and managing to find time for plenty of travel with wife
Susan. In the last few years they have been to
Italy, France, England, Croatia, Turkey, the Greek
Isles, the Black Sea, Russia, the Ukraine, and Asia
Minor. In Dec Dr Mike met with Colgate football
coach Dan Hunt while he was on a FL recruiting
trip. Joining the coach and Mike at the Marriot in
Ft Lauderdale were Jim Wasserman ’54 and Kevin
Ryan ’82. Mike is wondering if anyone has heard
from his freshman roommate William Laubach?
Which reminds me, how is my freshman roomie,
Frank Barnett, doing? Frank, where are you? Let
us here from you. Lastly, Mike is already looking
forward to Reunion 2014. Don’t forget your cow54
scene: Summer 2011
boy hat, Mike.
Dr Edward ‘Biff’ Jones sent along some info as
to how things are going with the Jones family in
Greenwich. Son Charlie, 8, is playing hockey, and
his coaches are Mike Richter and Mark Messier.
Biff says Charlie likes the hitting and is looking
for fights (Biff says he takes after his mother).
It certainly makes it tougher to complain
about how lousy and clueless the coaches are,
doesn’t it, Biff? Biff and Mary’s boys go to the
Brunswick School (with the Richter and Messier
boys), and Mary and Veronica Richter are good
friends. Biff says there is a feeling that Mark
may be the next Rangers coach (remember, you
heard it here first). Biff says the boys are pretty
“free-range” when it comes to sports, and play
everything — hockey, flag football, lax, baseball,
basketball, tennis, squash, sailing, and wrestling
(hey, you forgot golf). Mary and Biff had dinner
with Debby and Rich St Pierre ’66 recently and
found that the St Pierres are moving from NJ to
Boston’s South End to be nearer to their son Greg,
who lives in Hingham, MA.
Thank you, Priit Vesilind, for so rapidly responding to my request for an autographed copy
of one of your histories of Estonia, The Singing
Revolution. I was telling one of my friends, who
is a history buff, about Juho’s storied career and
about how Estonia sang its way to independence, and, since his bday was coming up, it
seemed like a good gift idea. Juho came through
in heroic fashion and now hopes you will all
start the same tradition — books by Juho for every/any occasion. Remember, Juho, if it becomes
huge, I want my usual cut.
Blake Smith moved his Guardian Angel
Program from Wachovia to Comerica last Aug
and reports that while it was difficult to move 15
years of court-restricted guardianship accounts,
the good news is that most of the judges, attys,
and guardians are staying with WBS. Blake
invented the Guardian Angel Program in the
state of FL to handle certain accounts that were
being neglected because financial institutions
either didn’t understand them or were afraid
of the liability that went with handling them.
WBS has opened about 6,000 accounts since he
started the program. Way to go, WBS, performing
a public service for your fellow man, and actually
getting paid for it.
Pete Halstead sounds great: I know, he has
a great voice, so why is that such a surprise. We
spoke recently and he was dog sitting for one of
his kid’s Labs and was getting arm weary from
trying to throw a tennis ball out of the dog’s
reach. Pete has had some health issues, but he
is feeling good and thinks that things are under
control. Lin and Pete have 7 grandchildren — 4
around the Princeton area and 3 in Duxbury —
so he is spending a lot of time in and around
hockey rinks and athletic fields. One of his grandsons, who is 13 1/2, is already taller and heavier
than Pete — and Pete weighs 175+, so that is
saying something. Hopefully he will concentrate
on hockey and lax and lead Colgate to victory
in 5 years or so. Pete said that Biff Jones has had
some medical difficulties over the last few years.
Apparently, Biff sounds like he is now nearly bionic, with 2 new hips, a shoulder that required 3
surgeries to get right, and most recently, a broken
leg. None of it seems to slow Biff down though,
since he does have those young kids to keep up
with.
Gary Ripple reported that Robin Jaycox ’53,
to whom so many of us owe a debt of gratitude,
made his annual visit to Williamsburg and
stayed with the Ripples. They did play golf, but
the scores were either unreported, unreportable,
or both.
Thanks to Fred Von Zuben ’63 and Phil
Howlett ’66 for checking in to see how I was
doing. Ralph Verni and I touched base and are
going to get together for lunch once the weather
gets better in Boston (whenever that might
happen). Mike Foley and Kurt Brown are in touch
nearly every day in some form or another, and
it is good to hear from them so often. Dan Baird,
Biff Atwater ’63, Wayne Rich, and Doug Stay
’67 also seem to have a nearly endless supply
of amusing e-mails that they send along on a
very regular basis, and it is great to get things
to laugh about. Your input is appreciated; please
keep it up. Take care of yourselves — exercise
more, eat better, and laugh a lot. Stay healthy!
Dick: 800-829-9199 x5148; johnsonri@stifel.com
1965
Garner Simmons
22126 Providencia Street
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-4133
A couple of days ago, I attended the LA reception
for Colgate’s president Jeffrey Herbst — very impressive with a good sense of humor and a vision
for the future. At the same time, I had a chance
to catch up with Randi and Peter Desnoes who
drove up from their home in Indian Wells as well
as Debbie and Jim Eppolito ’66 and Ted Vaill ’62.
I gave Casey Knobel a call. Spent time catching up on the finer points of a snowbound MN.
Last Sept, Casey played his last tournament in
the goal for the MN Old Timers. Traveling to Vancouver for a seniors tourney, they made the finals
against another over-60 squad from London, Ont,
eventually losing in overtime. After more than a
half-century blocking everything that came his
way, Casey decided the time had come to listen
to his knees while they still actively connect
femur to tibia. Also caught up with another Phi
Gam, Bob Negley, who is still teaching HS in San
Antonio, TX.
On March 27, Bob Cranston wrote: “Just saw
Rocky Willard in Savannah this morning. He’s
doing well. He said to say ‘Hi’ to everyone and
that he’s looking forward to walking down Broad
St with all of us when the Class of ’65 turns 50.
He’s serious – intending to make it all the way
to the athletic center with his quad-cane. When
I told him he’d have classmates on either side of
him, he broke out in a grin.” On to 2015!
After reading my snow report in the last
column, George Johnson couldn’t help recalling:
“All this chatter about snow makes me nostalgic
about being ‘stranded’ in Sugarbush during the
famous first Jan Plan of the ’60s. A group of guys
from ATO had gone there for some weekend
skiing and were forced to stay several additional
days due to massive snow dumps in upstate NY
and VT. Dean Griffith was not amused, but only
chastised us for lack of good judgment, since we
were covered under ‘Acts of God.’ I had the best
skiing of my life following Andy Warner. Staying
with him on the slopes and trails allowed me to
ski way beyond my skill level and really enjoy it.
“Snow is extremely rare in Thailand but I
have heard rumors of it in the mountains to the
North. Here, on the Gulf, it rarely gets below 70.
Life here continues to stimulate and interest me.
My progress in the Thai language has been painfully slow of late, but I am renewing my efforts
since the locals really appreciate any attempt
to communicate in their language. The more I
learn about it, the more I understand that Thai is
truly a language of the heart, whereas English is
a language of the head, and therein lies the communication gap. They do not think like we do.
Thus, one of the better ways to understand them
is to learn their language.”
Lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fans Bic and Joe
De Luca are headed for Clearwater, FL, the site of
spring training to kick back, catch some rays, and
watch a little baseball.
Bob Chatelain still manages the Rite Aide
franchises in Albany, NY. Works out at the Y 4
times a week. His greatest sight this spring –
the snow melt. How much snow was there in
New England, you ask? So much that Klaron
and Andy Warner turned down a chance to join
Lynn and Bud Eisberg for skiing at their cabin in
Tahoe and opted for the beaches of FL instead.
Had a great call from Ev Egginton, who has
finally stepped down from his admin duties as
vice provost at NM State and is back in the classroom. Ev’s wife, Wynn, retired this past year, and
Ev’s looking forward to doing the same between
now and 2012 so that they can spend more time
traveling. This coming Oct, Ev is planning to attend the 3rd Annual Peter Schaehrer Memorial
Lecture at Colgate by the Peace & Conflict Studies program. He keeps his close ties with Riall
Nolan, who continues to teach anthropology and
international relations at Purdue.
Ken Roffe was back on campus in April: “I had
the privilege of attending this past weekend’s
Alumni Council Meeting, which was highlighted by celebration surrounding RuthAnn
Loveless MA’72, who is retiring after 25 years
of service. RuthAnn received all the accolades
you’d expect – plus Lee Woltman’s presentation
of a commemorative plaque containing a Phil
Karli original and signifying RuthAnn’s status
as an honorary member of the Class of 1965. We
have also established a $350K scholarship in her
name to help finance the cost of a Colgate education for Madison County students. At the same
time, this weekend, the university dedicated the
new campus fitness center.”
Geoff Craig’s verse novel The Brave Maiden
published by Wilderness House Literary Review
has been nominated for this year’s prestigious
Pushcart Prize, awarded annually to the best
poetry, essays, and fiction published by America’s
small presses. At the same time, his one-act play
“Do You Take This Man?” will be performed as
part of the F.U.D.G.E. (Friends United Developing Genuine Entertainment) 2nd Annual Short
Play Festival in Watertown, MA. Geoff writes:
“Inspired by Ken Kramer’s example, I’m starting
meditation training at the end of April and will
be, hopefully, working on a number of programs.
Also, I’ve begun working 2 days a week as a
salesperson in the Cotswold Furniture Gallery
in Great Barrington, MA. Will continue writing
(currently working on a new play and a novel)
but perhaps a little less intensely.”
Don Messinger has recently received a
number of accolades for his community service
in the Cleveland area. First, his firm, Thompson
Hine LLP, presented him with their distinguished
service award. Then, Cleveland’s United Way
recognized Don at its annual meeting for his
volunteer service; and, finally, ORT America
(Organization for Rehabilitation through Training) is presenting him with its Jurisprudence
Award for his continued professionalism. With
his usual dry wit, Don notes: “This year seems to
be remarkable for the number of times I’m being
recognized considering I am neither retired,
planning retirement, or dead (at least I don’t
think so). Nevertheless, these honors are much
appreciated, and I remain grateful to Colgate for
starting me on my career path.”
After 11 years of living in the mountains, Rick
Bailey and Ginny have moved from Evergreen,
CO, into Denver proper. With the U of Denver a
mile away, they’ve been able to see some firstrate hockey. Rick continues to substitute teach
while Ginny works as a volunteer.
Good news: Lee Woodward’s back operation
passing. We were acquainted in HS in Utica, but
I became much closer to him when we lived in
the same dorm freshman year and later both
pledged DKE. John and I explored many of
the haunts of the Utica area and the adjacent
Adirondacks during our days at Colgate. John
McGonagle joins me in remembering him as a
man you could count on and who was always of
good cheer. I will remember him fondly.” Anyone
else who remembers John Liddy and would like
to share a memory, please send them along for
inclusion here.
That’s it for now. Please take a moment to
jot down whatever’s shaking in your end of the
world and send it along. Until then, take good
care. In friendship, Gar…
Garner: 818-713-1353; 1392 (fax); runnrit@aol.com
1966
Robert Malley
322 Shore Road
Westerly, RI 02891-3904
I am sorry to pass along the sad news that Marty
Juredine passed away on Feb 1 after a bout with
cancer. I want to extend our sincerest sympathies to wife Nancy and 2 daughters. I remember
Marty as we shared a class or 2 together. He
was a good guy and very active in Phi Delt and
Colgate athletics.
In early Feb, I received the following e-mail
from Alan Posner in Boston: “Just finished reading your class notes. Your reference to Steve
Howlett reminds me that early (I think it was still
dark) one morning several months ago, I bumped
into Steve and Phil as they were getting off the
Hingham commuter boat at Rowes Wharf and
I was heading into my office. Had a nice chat
with them. Driving from Boston to Rochester, I
also had a chance to see (and stay with) my old
roommate Bruce Loveys last summer at his
mountaintop home in Richmondville, NY. He is
a retired school administrator. Bruce and wife
Kayellen were great hosts. I continue to make
the world a better place through litigation. In my
spare time, I babysit for 4 grandchildren, play
trumpet in a Klezmer band, and chair the board
of a mental health org.”
I also received an e-mail from John Golden,
who said he attended the Colgate-Columbia
men’s basketball game in Dec with Muni Saltoun,
and ran into Brad Anderson there. Brad owns
a winery on the North Fork of LI. Many of the
potato farms on the North Shore have been
converted (and saved from development) into
wineries and vineyards and they are certainly
fun to visit. Brad, if you’ll e-mail me the name
and location of your winery, I’ll give you some
free publicity in my next column, and if we visit
friends on the North Shore this summer we’ll be
sure to stop in and sample your products!
Alan Hall was in touch to say that Mike Berger
has been approached to be a guest speaker at
our reunion and that he believes Mike will agree
to this. Alan said that Mike is waiting on the
publication of the research papers regarding the
cancer drug AlloStim, which he is working on in
2 journals.
Now that I’ve retired from Colgate, Barbara
and I spent the month of March in Delray Beach,
FL. We had a very nice lunch with Susan and
Richie Palmer in Palm Beach on March 16, and
then Richie and I played golf 2 days later at the
lovely and challenging Palm Beach Municipal,
an 18-hole par 3 course redesigned by Raymond
Floyd and bordering the Atlantic. Needless to
say, we both challenged the flags on every hole,
but I admit that Richie won the “big bucks.” He is
planning to retire from the investment business
Kicking stupid cancer
She’s eaten dinner with Bette Midler, flown to London to interview Paul McCartney in his
office, and sat face to face with the King of Pop. Although she’s grateful for such extraordinary experiences, Lisa Bernhard ’87 said that those who have blown her away more than
any celebrity are the young adult cancer survivors whom she’s met through her talk-radio
webcast The Stupid Cancer Show. Bernhard co-hosts and co-produces the weekly show
with Matthew Zachary, the founder of the I’m Too Young For This! cancer foundation.
While children and mature adults with the disease get plenty of attention, young adults
are often neglected, Bernhard said. “People don’t realize — and that includes many in the
medical industry — that
you can get cancer from
15 to 40, so one of the
reasons [for the organization’s name and focus]
is because those of us
who were diagnosed in
that age range heard
‘You don’t have cancer,
you’re too young for
that,’” she explained. “So,
tragically, what happens
is, a lot of young adults
get misdiagnosed or
diagnosed at a very late
stage.”
Bernhard was 29,
climbing the ladder
in the New York City
media world, when she
was diagnosed with
breast cancer. She calls
herself “one of the lucky
Matthew Zachary and Lisa Bernhard ’87, co-hosts of The
ones” for a number of
Stupid Cancer Show
reasons. It took more
than a year for Bernhard to be diagnosed, after her gynecologist twice told her that a lump
in her breast felt like normal tissue and the initial test by a breast surgeon came back inconclusive. Fortunately, despite the time lag, Bernhard was still at stage 1. The oncologist told
her: “You have an older woman’s cancer, and that’s a good thing” — meaning that the tumor
was slow growing, which was rare for someone her age.
After researching her options, Bernhard underwent a mastectomy as well as breast reconstruction. (Her informative article about her experience, and the available options that
many women aren’t told about, appeared in the October 2009 issue of Self magazine.)
Following treatment and recovery, she was back on track with her career, working as
deputy editor of TV Guide, a Fox News entertainment correspondent, freelancing, and making guest appearances. But Bernhard always had in the back of her mind that she wanted to
do something “to help the next ‘me’” — because when she was diagnosed, she didn’t know a
soul her age to whom she could relate.
In 2009, Bernhard appeared as a guest on The Stupid Cancer Show, and in January 2010,
she officially teamed up with Zachary. With Bernhard on board, the show has exploded
from 30,000 to 660,000 listens. Episodes can be heard through stupidcancershow.com or
downloaded for free through iTunes. Bernhard’s celebrity contacts have helped her arrange
guest bookings including Patrick Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, and Darlene Hunt, creator of
the Showtime series The Big C, starring Laura Linney.
The show and I’m Too Young for This — or i[2]y, as it’s abbreviated — keeps their programming fresh for their audience. “We’re irreverent but always informative,” Bernhard said.
“We have fun because, as you can imagine, talking about cancer day in and day out can
take its toll. So, we want to give people a place where they can laugh, have some levity,
have community.”
The show has been nationally recognized by media outlets like the Washington Post
and the Wall Street Journal, as well as given an award by Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong
organization.
Counting 16 years without a recurrence of cancer, Bernhard hopes the worst is behind
her. She’s still a freelance writer and video reporter, and her favorite assignments are those
allowing her to intersect her “ridiculous amount” of entertainment knowledge with health
topics.
She recalled that her hair stood up on the back of her neck as McCartney told her about
writing songs with John Lennon in his dreams — but, it’s the empowering survivor stories of
her listeners that serve as Bernhard’s continuous inspiration.
— Aleta Mayne
55
John Sabia
was a howling success. Rehab has been taking a
bit longer (guess our bodies don’t bounce back
the way they did when we were 50), but he is
up and walking and on the road to full recovery
with wife Joan his main support. Home from
the hospital and looking for things to do, Lee
happened to notice an item in the local paper
announcing that they were holding a contest to
publish the best love letter for Valentine’s Day.
So, without telling Joan, Lee entered. His letter is
a truly touching account of their first kiss back
in jr high under the mistletoe more than 50
years ago — and obviously they haven’t stopped
since. Needless to say, Lee’s letter won and was
published as his Valentine’s surprise for Joan.
Talk about knowing how to still sweep your wife
off her feet 5 decades later. Way to go, Lee.
Heard from Steve Glasser asking for Charlie
Veley’s e-mail address: “Charlie and my wife,
Lynn, were HS classmates in Williamsport, PA,
and she wants to contact him to see if they are
having a 50th Reunion this year. Meanwhile, we
are still going strong here in NJ despite 4 operations in the last 4-and-a-half years including
open heart and lung surgery at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. Our Sandpiper Partners consulting
firm continues to serve many blue chip clients. Of
our 4, we have 2 kids in LA — including Laura ’93,
who has a writing career in TV (including a good
run on West Wing. Lynn and I took all 11 of the
family over Christmas to the big island of Hawaii
to celebrate our 45th.”
Noting Bob McCord’s passing and his
long-standing relationship to the children of
Turkey, former US ambassador to Latvia Jim
Holmes writes: “I have only the vaguest recollection of Bob McCord, but noticed the reference to
Turkey and the plans by a group known as ‘The
Bridge to Hope’ to do something in his memory
in rural Turkey. If you would put me in touch
with the group, I’d be interested and willing to
see if I could be of assistance. As the president
and CEO of the American-Turkish Council, I am
always looking for productive ways to strengthen U.S.-Turkish relations.” I put Jim in touch with
Kathy McCord in the hope of making something
happen. Having also helped reconnect Steve
Glasser and Charlie Veley (above) as well, if I can
do the same for you, just drop me a line.
After a long and courageous fight against
MS, John Patrick Liddy passed away. Appropriately, the date was March 17th — St. Patrick’s Day
— which means that somewhere John is raising
hell with the angels and hoisting a celestial pint
or two. An econ major, John worked for Kemper
Insurance for 32 years rising to head of marketing for the NE. He and his wife, Sharon, lived
in Manlius, NY, just up the road from Colgate
where he devoted himself to helping the Juvenile
Diabetes Assoc, the Oxford St Inn Shelter for
the Homeless, and St. Andrew’s Church. Back
in late 2006, I called John to see how he was
doing. The MS had taken its toll, making speech
difficult. But, he never lost his sense of humor
and we spent the better part of an hour while he
reminisced about everything from Colgate to the
DKE House to Hickey’s as well as a trip he took
to Ireland with his family to visit his ancestral
home and play a little golf.
Following our 40th Reunion, Lewis Knapp,
John McGonagle, Brian Edgerly, and John
Leader took time to drive up to see John and
spend the afternoon. He never forgot. He leaves
behind his wife, Sharon, his son, John, 2 daughters, Suzanne and Jennifer, and 4 grandsons. Ken
Roffe, Bob Cranston, Ev Egginton, and George
Johnson all wrote to extend their condolences.
And, from the Island of St. Croix where he was
visiting John McGonagle, Lewis Knapp wrote
to say: “I’m saddened to hear of John Liddy’s
Andrew Daddio (6)
2011 Reunion awards: recognizing dedication and service
The Alumni Corporation Distinguished Teaching Award was
given to Susan Cerasano, Edgar W.B. Fairchild Professor of
literature, and Robert McVaugh, professor and chair of art and
art history.
Robert Fenity ’06, Amy Dudley ’06, and Ivan Kara ’06 (not
pictured) were honored with the Ann Yao ’80 Memorial Young
Alumni Award.
later this year and can’t wait to spend more time
in Palm Beach. Richie is in “infrequent” contact
with Brooke Dudley, Ben Sibley, and Jim Rand
but doubts that he will be coming back for our
45th. He is planning to come back for our 50th,
though.
A couple of weeks later, I caught up with
Gerry Wald for lunch in Boca Raton, where he
was involved in an arbitration. Gerry is still in
the trenches at his law firm, but he and Bobbi
had just returned from a weekend in NYC, where
they attended the wedding of Munie and Jane
Saltoun’s son Andrew at the Brooklyn Museum.
They were joined by Suzanne and John Golden.
Gerry said that it was a wonderful wedding, that
both Jane and Munie were “glowing” throughout
the evening, and that Munie gave a wonderful
toast to the newlyweds. Hearty congrats, Jane
and Munie, on this wonderful occasion. Congrats
also to Gerry and Bobbi on the arrival of their
1st grandchild, a girl. Gerry did admit that they
were happy to leave the low 30º weather in the
city for warmer Miami. He isn’t sure if he will be
attending our reunion.
That’s all from here. This column will appear
after our 45th Reunion, so you’ll have to wait to
read about our reunion until the autumn issue of
the Scene. Have a great summer!
Bob: 401-322-0908; 322-7411 (fax);
rjmalley66@gmail.com
19 67
Edward A Ryan
69 Portland Road
Summit, NJ 07901-3011
The Humanitarian Award was given to
Louis Pizzarello ’71, chairman of Vision
2020/USA and vice chairman of the
International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness, North America Region.
John Nozell ’81 (left), Robert Kindler ’76 (right), and E. Virgil Conway ’51 (not pictured)
were recipients of the Wm. Brian Little ’64 Alumni Award for Distinguished Service,
the highest honor given by the Alumni Corporation.
Maroon Citation award winners included: (front, from
left) Raymond Boushie ’61,
Christine Chao ’86, Jeffrey
Oberg ’76, Mark Nozette ’71,
and Stanley Krohn, athletics
volunteer; (middle, from
left) Brion Applegate ’76,
Edward Werner ’71, Victoria
Chun ’91, MA’94, Todd Brown
’71, and Daniel Hurwitz ’86;
(top, from left) Barry Small
’76, Stephen Solomon ’76,
Lyle Roelofs, provost and
dean of the faculty, John
Brennan ’81, Karl Stewart
’91, and Jung Pak ’96.
8
For more coverage of
Reunion 2011, from
complete award citations
to photos and video, visit
www.colgateconnect.
org/reunion.
56
scene: Summer 2011
Pete O’Brien sent the following: “As we all get
older and body parts start to break down, I am
happy to report that a new right hip in Nov was
successfully tested on various golf courses in
Naples, FL, in Feb and March — 7 straight days of
golf, some 27- and 36-hole days, and no problems.
My orthopedic surgeon in Greenwich was more
anxious to talk about Colgate, where his daughter recently graduated and he loved to visit, than
about my hip. With my wife, Patti, retiring from
teaching preschool this year, we will probably
spend a little more time in Naples next winter
and I’ll follow up on my promise of trying to organize a few rounds with old fraternity brothers
on the west coast of FL. It’s hard to believe that
we are closing in on our 50th HS Reunions and
that Colgate’s will be right behind it.”
Former laxers Doug Magill and Charlie Peake
were delighted to see the nationally ranked
men’s lax team win a big game at Army. In a
follow-up message to Charlie, Rick Stege ’65
wrote: “Are you the same guy who used to room
up on the 3rd floor, back corner? Sort of a prepschool sort of guy, but not all that bad of a dude?
Are you in touch with Surfer Joe? Is the Count
alive or did I hear that he bit the dust? Have had
some limited contact with Concilus over the
years. He’s still in S Korea, I think. Still working
my butt off out here in OH. Trying to slow down
just a tad. Will root for the good guys from Butler
(naturally) in the finals. Have been going back
to Colgate pretty regularly for the Schaehrer lectures in Oct. They are kind of on the intellectual
side for you, but hell, it’s never too late to teach
an old dog new tricks. If Art Clark ’69, CB Blackshear, and Ken Schanzer ’66 are on board, they
must be pretty good.”
Also heard from Wayne Johnson: “I read your
column this evening and was pleased to see
your comments about Andy Rooney and Hank
Evans, Class of ’42 fathers. One of the last trips I
took with my own father, Gerald Johnson, also
’42, was in 1992 to attend his 50th Reunion and
our 25th. As I remember, Andy showed up with
a 2-seat convertible MG and everyone hovered
around enjoying the moment. I attended with
my brother Bruce ’69 and the 3 of us had an enjoyable, nostalgic time. Considering how difficult
my transition into Colgate was, I have always
admired my father’s 3.9 GPA and salutatorian
outcome while he worked in the Student Union
to make ends meet. Only Bert Ryder ’42, a good
friend of my dad, and whom I later met at Colgate, had a higher GPA (4.0).” Wayne, a trustee for
the Wentworth Institute of Tech in Boston, is a
strong advocate for lifelong learning. He recently
gave the keynote address at the 2011 Wentworth
symposium, in which he provided a framework
for thinking about the future of education and
what must be done to ensure graduates are
prepared for lifelong learning in careers that
combine professional challenge, mastery, and
purpose. In addition to serving as trustee for
Wentworth, Wayne is a member of the Franklin
W Olin C Pres’s Advisory Council, a member of
the Natl Academy of Engineering U Industry
Demonstration Partnership, the Kauffman Fndn
iBridge Strategic Advisory Board, and Chair of the
U of TX El Paso I-STAR External Advisory Board.
Most recently, Johnson was VP of university relations worldwide at Hewlett-Packard, and for 33
years he held a variety of leadership positions at
the Raytheon Company in Waltham, MA.
Speaking of lifelong learning, Colgate is offering its 2nd annual Summer on the Hill program
in early June. Will try to provide a report on that
program next time. Also, in case you missed it,
Colgate canceled classes when the Hamilton area
received over 2´ of snow on March 7. I’m sure
this is not an indication that today’s students
are pampered and otherwise not as rugged as
we were. I’m just saying they actually canceled
classes due to an abundance of snowflakes.
Lastly, Joan and Price Varty ’00, and son
Jackson, visited Kelly and Tom Houston ’00, and
son Joshua, at the home of Tom’s parents, Diane
and Robert Houston ’67, in Venice, FL, over Easter
weekend.
Ed: 908-277-4128; eandryan@comcast.net
1 96 8
Jay Benedict
333 Brampton Court
Lake Forest, IL 60045-3410
Well, it’s that time of year again in Chicago —
cold, rainy, and after 3 games, Cubs fans are
saying, “Wait ’til next year.”
Got a nice note from John ‘Hank’ Dow, who
writes: “In the fall, wife Roz and I visited the
widow of Prof Downie. He was in my father’s
graduating Class of ’33. She is well into her 90s
and is still living in her own house in Hamilton.
She enjoyed showing us some pictures of faculty
when they were very young.
“Roz and I also took my son John ’11, and some
friends to the Syracuse-Colgate football game.
I was astonished by how rude Syracuse was, at
one point playing clips of great Syracuse plays
when Colgate finally had managed to score.
“We went to the recent hockey win over
Harvard and sat with our son and friends. That
surely brought back memories of going with the
fraternity and heckling the opposition goalies.
What fun those days were.”
John also pinged me and asked whatever
happened to our ATO house dog, Lunch. I reached
our Jim Locke, who is living in Louisville, semiretired, and doing a bunch of volunteering with
the VA. Jim is also just starting mentoring of
business students at the U of Louisville grad
school. Jim last remembers that Lunch went on
to grad school, but not sure where. I asked if he
has heard from his roommate Mike Bonfils, who
also cared for Lunch, but no word in about 20
years. Mike, if you read this, please forward an
update for the next Scene.
Peter O’Neill writes that he and wife Ann
traveled with Michele and Cal Trevenen and
their respective children and grandchild to the FL
Keys for a week in March. Pete is happy to report
that it did not snow and they had to settle for
temps in the 80s, total sun, and gentle breezes.
Per Pete: “Given how we were toughened up
by the winters at Colgate, we managed to
survive. It was a great trip as Ann and I joined
Cal and Michele with our son Michael ’00 and
his wife, (Cal’s daughter) Brittany ’00, and their
3-month-old, Abigail ’XX, at Hawks Cay, Duck Key,
Mile Marker 61 in the FL Keys. The Trevenens’
son Matt, a Princeton grad, and his wife, Hilary,
another Tiger, and their 2-month-old, also joined
us. Sipping cooling drinks poolside, riding bikes
around the island, playing tennis, and eating
wonderful, fresh fish was quite relaxing. By the
way, Cal can still hit a mean tennis ball as he
took on the resort tennis pro. Cal does admit to
having been totally exhausted after 40 minutes
of hitting with the pro, though. Age has both
advantages (I was smart enough not to hit with
the pro) and disadvantages (Cal was “all in” after
his experience). We even traveled 1 day to Key
Largo to play golf at the “tony” Ocean Reef Club.
One of the overall highlights was having lunch
at a local “joint” and watching a squall come
across the water from the NW and slam into us.
We were safe, but the speed and forcefulness of
the storm were actually quite impressive. A temporary temp drop of some 15° to 20° was equally
impressive, but as we were leaving the next day,
the temporary change in the weather was not an
impediment to our high spirits.”
Also heard from Phil Goetz, who is winding
his business career down. Phil owned a sales
agency dealing with the denim jeans industry
for the last 11 years. Phil and wife Arlene spend a
lot of time skiing in the Aspen, CO, area. Ned Frey
and wife Gail visited in the fall. Phil talks to Russ
Jones several times a week. Russ owns a hearing
aid business (maybe we can get Colgate rates)
and visits Phil in S CA several times a year. Russ
is doing well and in great shape. Phil’s bones
creak on occasion, but other than that, his health
is good.
Karl Borden writes: “I’m still teaching at the
U of Nebraska (prof of financial econ). I took
a sabbatical 2 years ago as a sort of ‘trial run’
at retirement and drove myself crazy. Finally
determined that I am in no way ready to call it
quits. I just plain love what I do too much. Where
else does someone pay you to hold an audience
captive and pontificate for 3 hours every week?
My wife continues to practice medicine as an
independent-practice family nurse practitioner
and also has no intention of stopping any time
soon. Let my classmates know that I live just 3
miles from I-80, smack dab in the middle of the
country (the 1733 Ranch is just down the road
from us, so named because it is 1,733 miles from
Boston and 1,733 miles from SF). Anyone passing
by is welcome: we’ve got a big house, kids grown
and gone, and the best Scotch bar in central
Nebraska.”
Jim Smith is a 1st-time contributor to the
Scene. He and wife Kathy live in semi-retirement
in Hendersonville, NC, where Jim still practices
commercial real estate law. They have 2 daughters, Jennifer ’03 and Kelly. Both were recently
traveling together and were unlucky enough to
arrive in Christchurch, NZ, about an hour before
the recent earthquake and may have snapped
one of the last pictures of an undamaged Christ-
church cathedral. They were lucky enough
to escape Christchurch relatively quickly and
relatively unscathed.
Bob Locke writes: “Without boring you and
everyone else with the details, I have been very
fortunate. I have a wife of 40 years, Sherry (Wells
’71), 2 kids, 37 and 35, a son-in-law, daughter-inlaw, and 4 grandchildren aged 4 to 9. After starting out as a school teacher in NYC, I switched to
banking. My banking career was highlighted by
3 years in Mexico City, and in the late 1980s by
being fortunate enough to start a community
bank with a group of others here in MD. Today
I am semi-retired and am focused more on
interacting with grandchildren and exotic travel.
We plan on traveling now while we still can.” Bob
recently traveled to India with Sherry. As Bob
goes on, “The trip to India was fantastic, but not
for the fainthearted. We are still suffering from
sensory overload. The US seems very calm, clean,
orderly, and somewhat boring in comparison.
Tom Carpenter ’66 and wife Bonnie were on the
trip. You might remember Tom as a star halfback
at Colgate. Since retiring from the FBI, he has
spent his time becoming both a 1st-class punster
and photographer. Needless to say, he got many
fine pictures of our trip.
“One of the things that I found somewhat
frustrating is that it is hard to capture the
essence of India with a camera. Urban India,
complete with cows, camels, elephants, and
monkeys, not to mention rickshaws and assorted
overloaded modes of transport, was chaotic to
say the least. How our bus driver negotiated the
mayhem was nothing short of a miracle.” See
a picture of Bob and Sherry in front of the Taj
Mahal at our class page photo gallery at Colgate
connect.org.
Bob went out of his way to say his Colgate
education was a great preparation for the business world. And, in spite of living just 5 miles
from where he grew up, his best friends are the
friends he made at Colgate. Andy Weiss is an administrative law judge
with the Social Security Admin and is located
in the LI, NY, office. Andy recently volunteered
to conduct hearings in Utica (because of case
overloads) so he could sneak down and visit Colgate. In Nov 2010, Andy wrote an article for the
Maroon-News, which is great reading and brings
back more than a few memories. (www.maroonnews.com/commentary/alumni-column-what-astrange-long-trip-it-s-been-1.1746764)
Sue and Merritt Weisinger have been married
32 years. They live in Danville, CA, where Merritt
is a principal with Walnut Creek Family Law Ctr
Inc in Walnut Creek (specializes in high-conflict
divorce). He is a board-certified family law
specialist certified by the State Bar of CA and is
in court 4– 5 days a week. Merritt and Sue have
3 children. Their oldest, Aaron, is 27 and was to
be married in Santa Barbara in June, middle son
Ethan, 26, works for their firm as an atty, and
Elizabeth, now 22, is in a PsyD program in LA. She
started the program at 20 1/2 and was the youngest by 5 1/2 years.
They spend a lot of time at their house in Lake
Tahoe skiing in the winter and jet skiing, fishing,
etc, in the summer. As Merritt says, “It’s our
escape from reality.”
Heard from old roomie John Boardman. “My
youngest daughter is in Burlington, VT, so I get
to visit with Bill James (our other roommate),
who lives across Lake Champlain, from time to
time. School marches on, and I hope to sell the
house soon, and have already moved to Philly.
Finally heard from Kevin Gleason, who is in FL
for the moment, but often in CT. Driving through
Saratoga Springs reminds me of our visits to
Skidmore and a band out of Animal House, Otis
Day & the Nights. Stay well. Rock on. Still have
the Skyliners and Chuck Berry, and Little Richard
albums!”
Jill and Alan Frumin traveled to Westport, CT,
to join classmate Andy Roffe and wife Anna, as
well as Andy’s brother Ken Roffe ’65 and wife
Val, at the wedding of Andy’s son Michael ’02 to
Randy Nozik.
In Jan 2011, Alan spoke to the Colgate DC Study
Group (headed by Prof Michael Hayes) at the
Capitol. Later that day, he visited with many of
the students and Prof Hayes (and his wife) and
again at the University Club for the DC stop on
the inaugural tour of Colgate’s new Pres Jeffrey
Herbst. Alan’s daughter Allie ’07, a newly minted
member of the MD Bar, attended, as did Elizabeth Oblinger ’10, now working on Capitol Hill
for 1st-year senator Rob Portman of OH. At the
event, Alan chatted with George Abramowitz ’67,
Pat and John Gillick ’67, Doug Bregman ’71 and
his daughter Lauren ’04, the Huffington Post’s
Howard Fineman ’70, and Colgate’s VP for alumni
affairs, RuthAnn Loveless MA’72.
When asked how he is doing, David Vanderwerken writes: “Same ole, same ole — for 40
years. In April I will receive a mantle clock for
my 40 years in the Dept of English at TCU (That’s
Rose Bowl Champion TCU!) at the Service Awards
Ceremony.”
Bruce Calvert and wife Marjie are enjoying
semi-retirement. He retired from Alliance 6 years
ago. They live in Chicago 6– 7 months of the year.
“I am spending some time with my oldest son
on a fledgling investment business, so I have an
office to go to, which gets me out of the house
most days (Marjie is grateful). We still spend
summers in Southampton and take a short winter weather break, this year Sea Island, GA. Our
younger son is working in Beirut, which makes
him happy and us nervous.”
Bruce says he loves reading the Scene to hear
what everyone is doing now, so please take a
few minutes to send in your updates for the next
issue.
John Blackmore reports that it’s been nearly
5 years since his return to Hamilton, and says
it’s the best move he’s ever made. He’s recently
uncovered classmates David Hughes and Paul
Hadley living in the area (David being a Colgate
librarian and Paul the Madison County public defender). John’s father Robert Blackmore ’41 was
honored in March for his gift of the Blackmore
Jazz Archive to the university. Daughter Caroline
Blackmore ’08 plans to open Good Nature Brewery, Hamilton’s first microbrewery, in Sept using
locally grown hops and barley.
Fellow ATO Larry Anderson writes: “Richard
Cunningham, Cory Ferguson, and I had a mini
class reunion in Aspen earlier this month during
our annual ski trip. Cory is still very active in real
estate in Snowmass, and Richard is back in the
OR with United Health Services in Binghamton.
It is very convenient having an in-house doc to
tend to the damages these ski trips inflict. Also
joining us was Chum Landers (Yale ’68), who was
a regular attendee at our ATO parties, including
the memorable linen closet party of 1967.”
After 30+ years with Phillips Petroleum/
Conoco/ConocoPhillips, Bill Hakes has retired to
become a consultant to the petroleum industry.
He has been having a great time working with a
software company for the industry. Has relocated
from Aberdeen back to London and enjoys
spending time in the south of England.
Heard from my other Stillman roommate,
Bill James, who provided a great update: “John
Boardman and daughter Molly dropped by a
couple of months ago. Molly lives across the lake,
in Burlington. We’re hoping to see John again
this summer.
57
“Your note prompted me to find Kevin Gleason. He was at the beach in CT — having gone
up to make sure things were battened down for
‘Earl.’ After that, he spent several weeks in NZ
and Australia, and then back to FL. Since then, I
think he took a trip to Sardinia, just to burn off
some expiring air miles.
“My daughter Marion began college at ColbySawyer in New London, NH. She played on the
women’s soccer team and enjoyed it. Since the
college is only 2 3/4 hours away by ferry and I-89,
we were able to go to many of her home games.
“My wife, Kenda, spent several weeks this year
on Navy duty in Korea doing very interesting
work. She flies to CA monthly for her weekend
regular drills. Right now, she’s in Norfolk, VA,
working on a special project that will continue
through the summer. We have an apt there
and trade weekends away. She’s a captain (0-6,
equivalent to colonel in the other services) in the
Supply Corps (as I was when I retired).
“I’m continuing in my law practice in the
North Country. I closed the SF office last year and
am working from Willsboro. With all the new
technologies, I ‘see’ my clients in CA now more
than I did when I lived there, and either they or I
had to travel through traffic. This past semester
I’ve been teaching a course in labor history at the
local community college. I took it on for the experience and find I enjoy it. I’m no Doc Reading, but
I do a pretty good job. Most of the community
projects I had a hand in starting when I came
here (local fife & drum corps, Champlain Valley
Film Society, etc) have reached maturity. I’m looking around for something new. Haven’t settled
on anything yet. Right now, the front-runner is a
short film.
“With my daughter heading off to college, I
began to think about the books we had to read
in preparation for orientation and, later, in our
classes. So, I started reading them again. What
a revelation! I understand and enjoy them far
more than I did when I was 18. Perhaps that
shows some sign of growth in the past 45 years. I
hope so.”
Jay: jnbenedict@comcast.net
1 96 9
C James Milmoe
1700 Verrazzano Place
Wilmington, NC 28405-4040
My winter was brightened by some happy
personal news. Our daughter, Anne Milmoe ’97,
called in late January to announce her engagement. A few days later, Denis Cronin paid a
surprise visit to Wilmington. Denis reported
that his daughter is also getting married. This
led to many rounds of father of the bride toasts.
Denis sat in a Manhattan bar while his wife and
daughter took a limo to visit reception venues.
I stayed close to home and watched NCAA
basketball while my wife and daughter visited
Colorado Rocky Mountain venues on skis.
I saw Cronin again at Colgate in early April
at a dinner honoring RuthAnn Loveless MA’72
who retired in May. Mike Martin, Bob Seaberg,
and Ron Burton were also there. Denis’s term as
a trustee is over. He did a great job as a leader of
the successful capital campaign, and in selecting
our last 2 presidents. He confessed some disappointment at Rebecca Chopp’s somewhat premature departure, but expressed confidence that
new pres Jeffrey Herbst would be an outstanding president. I was able to meet briefly with
Pres Herbst and was favorably impressed. We
discussed several topics, including how long the
explosive growth on international student applications will continue and what the implications
58
scene: Summer 2011
might be. International students, now mostly
Asian, are very bright, most are full pay, and very
few play football or (except for the Canadians)
ice hockey. Also at the dinner was Paul Bradley
’67, who participated in a musical evening at
the Madison Restaurant in Long Beach, CA, with
Mark Miller, Bud Hedinger, and other Vintage
Thirteeners.
The debate between Barry Spitz and Barrett
Katz about who was the youngest person in our
class has ended. The Spitz-Katz debate ended in
a draw when Spitz conceded the honor to Katz
for our class, but claimed it for the Class of ’68,
the class he actually graduated with. It is a good
thing Spitz settled. NY Appellate Judge Tom
Dickerson, who remembers Katz well as a “very
bright, very young” classmate, might have taken
the case for decision in his appellate division
court in Brooklyn. Tom thinks he may have been
the oldest in our class having joined us in 1966
after a tour in Vietnam. I figure he is now Medicare eligible.
Internet Connections Dept: Like just about
all of you not named Barry (Spitz or Katz), I will
become eligible for Medicare next January. This
past January, thanks to Facebook, I got birthday
good wishes from Jep Possee, Tom McTaggart,
Don Kinsella, and Nick Brill. I also got good
wishes from several purveyors of products
promising to protect my health against what TS
Eliot called “the cold friction of expiring sense.”
More Internet connections … a business associate of mine was in a meeting to put together a
proposal for an international energy project. She
recommended that “CJ” Milmoe be on the team.
One of the proposal managers asked if that was
“Jim” Milmoe, from Colgate. She said, “No, his
real name is ‘Cornelius.’” Then Jim Christensen
fired up his laptop, went to his Facebook page,
and found my picture among his friends. Within
minutes, I got e-mails from both of them saying I
would be a good addition to the team.
Our class vintner Hank Skewis wrote that he
was at his local health club wearing a Colgate
T-shirt and he was accosted by the twin brother
of Jim Weaver. Hank stays in touch with track
teammate Greg Leroy, who works for the
Oklahoma Dept of Human Services. Hank, Greg
Costich, and Bill Miles sent notes expressing
their sorrow at Tony SantaCroce’s death. Greg
reminded me that Tony was instrumental in
the renovation and restoration of the Earlville
Opera House just after graduation, saving it from
demolition in 1971 and restoring it as a historical
landmark. Costich also found the promotional
material for our 40th Reunion that included a
Howard Cosell interview of Tony. Barnet Kellman
attended the SantaCroce memorial service in
January in LA. It was held at a large theater on
the Paramount lot, and it was moving and very
well attended. Tony’s family had flown in from
the East Coast; his brother, nephew, and son all
spoke lovingly about the “big brother/paternal”
impact Tony had on them. They were followed
by many of Anthony’s show biz collaborators
including Tony Shalhoub. Many people, old and
young alike, credited Anthony with giving them
their breaks, for generous mentorship, loyalty,
and a big, loving heart. Barnet himself said “a
few words to represent all of us from Colgate.
When I said I knew him since 1965, jaws dropped.
Hard to believe.”
NY broker Keith Radhuber wrote that he had
participated in 2 sleepovers for Paul Schneider
’70. Paul and Keith roomed together (along with
Bill Holbrook) in the London Borough of Chelsea
and Kensington near the Royal Albert Hall in
1968. They saw The Doors perform a second
time, along with the Jefferson Airplane, in an
all-night concert at the Roundhouse. Paul and
Barbara visited Janice and Keith at the Jersey
Shore in late spring and the Radhubers returned
the visit last fall. They are exchanging info about
Southern living as a possible venue for retirement. Schneider figured in another Colgate deal
I brokered. Rob Gunther ’72 was eager to get a
copy of the 1970 Beta composite. I had entrusted
that long-missing treasure to Schneider last year
so he could take it to his reunion. Paul is making digital copies of the composite for Rob and
other interested parties. Contact me or check the
alumni directory for his e-mail address.
I got grateful reader fan mail with little news
from Ted Schaefer and David Bailey. Bailey
requested that Arizona contractor John McCaleb
get in touch with him (John, please contact me
for Bailey’s e-mail address). David may need
work done on his home in Kiawah Island, SC, or
his home in Arden, NC.
John Higgins spent an extraordinary amount
of time organizing people to go to see the ragtag
Colgate hockey team during the regular season,
before their remarkable playoff run. He corralled,
at one time or another, Frank Gasparini, Dave
Knauer, Mike Brown, John Gibney ’72, Jep Possee,
Bill Reitzell ’74, Al Frank, Art Clark, Pete Lewine,
and Nick Brill. Gasparini attributes success of
the endeavor to the 6 main ingredients of a
road trip: good people, a car that doesn’t break
down, music, women, beer, and pizza. They sent
a picture of the group taken at the Yale game,
which I will post on our website. It looks as if
beer and pizza are the primary ingredients. Al
Frank put in a plug for burgers at Louis Lunch for
the New Haven trip. Proving that he is not just
a hockey fan, Art Clark asked me to mention the
3rd annual Schaehrer lecture at Colgate on Oct 13.
More sports news… CJ Milmoe was a big winner
in John Gillick’s ’67 NCAA Final Four Bracket
tournament for the 2nd year in a row. Winning is
not that difficult, since participation is mostly Hibernians who foolishly expect teams like Notre
Dame, BC, Villanova, Marquette, and St Johns to
win and go deep.
Several Colgate friends, including Don Kinsella and Jim Molt, who know I am in the nuclear
industry, asked me for reassurance that the Fukushima incident was not as bad as it seemed on
TV. I was able to say at that point, the economic
loss to TEPCO will be severe, but with no casualties from radiation, the losses from Fukushima
pale in comparison to the loss of life and property damage from the earthquake and tsunami.
Molt was particularly concerned because he was
retiring from his post managing regulatory affairs from a Japanese pharmaceutical company.
Effective March 22, he planned to be consulting,
taking it easy, and hoping his pension fund is not
entirely invested in TEPCO stock. Contact me for
his new e-mail address.
Jim: 910-256-5522; smilmoe@aol.com
1 970
George Murphy Jr
1510 Ocean Avenue
Mantoloking, NJ 08738-1516
Charles Wilson sent the following e-mail just
before our publishing deadline: “I’ve been consulting now for 10 years and enjoying the variety
and challenge very much. While not a consummate sales person (pretty typical for many
consultants), I really enjoy making clients’ lives
easier and less stressful. I’d be pleased to connect
with interested classmates via LinkedIn (Charles
T Wilson, CMC) or Facebook (Charles T Wilson)
and my business page (RiskSmart Solutions). We
are in the SF Bay Area and our son’s family, with
wife and 2 grandchildren, live close by. His 1st
2 years were spent in Hamilton, first above the
drugstore right downtown then house-sitting
Prof Nicholl’s home a bit out of town. Our daughter’s family, with husband and 1 grandson, is
near Pasadena, CA. Hobbies continue to be work
(!), fly-fishing, and road cycling. I just had a hip
replacement 7 weeks ago and am waiting to get
back on the bike soon.”
Bob Engelman just missed the deadline for
our last issue when he sent me his updated family info: “Danielle is a 1st-year at the U of Central
FL in Orlando. She’s livin’ large and lovin’ it. She
has a lot of friends from HS there, including her
boyfriend, and that made the transition easy.
She had a B average her 1st semester, which is
waaaay better than my 1st one at Colgate. Diana
is happy she chose UCF over FSU because she’s
only 4 hours away instead of 8. Joey is a HS jr.
He stopped playing baseball (broke my heart)
to concentrate on his passion for producing
videos. He’s making good bucks each month
from YouTube. His channel is uncuthashbrown,
and he mostly does comedy shorts. He is now
working for www.ubeea.com hosting a show
aimed at teens called Real High School Life. Good
buck there, also, and if Google TV takes off and
the web and TV viewing kind of blend, he stands
to have a real career while still in his teens. The
boss thinks he has the “It factor.” It turns out he
would have easily made his school team, and everyone was kind of surprised he didn’t go out. He
was getting hitting lessons from former Marlins
outfielder Bruce Aven, and when I told him that
Joey might not play, he went and spoke with him
since he was really impressed with his hitting,
smarts, and attitude, but he had lost the passion
for baseball. I really miss watching him play, but
I’m proud of what he’s accomplishing with the
video work.
“Diana and I are doing well. She keeps the
home fires burning while I’m off flying the 777
for United Airlines, mostly to Shanghai and
Beijing, China. I was on the larger 747-400 for 4
years, but the flying got lousy, with only 5– 6 day
trips to Asia, and I like the 3-day type, so I bid
down to the smaller plane for the better routes.
“I recently had the good fortune of being
introduced to 2 ’Gate ATOs at their annual spring
break brunch at Peggy and Bat’s Beach House
in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Kenny Hale ’74 and
Phil Gunn ’74 and spouses provided plenty of old
’70s Red Raider stories and good-natured jousting with each other about the Red Sox-Yankees
rivalry etc. “That’s it for now, hope everyone is
enjoying a great summer with family, friends,
and relatives.”
Ed O’Donnell wrote in with the following:
“Blair Davis ’51 embodied the ‘spirit that is
Colgate’ as much as any grad ever. He was pres
of Colgate Club of DE and held beautiful events
in Hotel Dupont, where he worked for Dupont
Company. I can still taste the food at the 1st
event 40 years ago. He made me pres of the
local alumni club as his successor. In later years,
whenever I needed a lift, I would knock on the
door of the house where he and wife Pat lived.
He would always give me donations for my
charitable fndn. Food, rides, friendliness, and
vintage Colgate positive thinking. When he was
sick, once I visited him in St Francis Hospital and
took him a beautiful rosary. He was a devout
Catholic. He loved Colgate with a passionate love
and exemplified Colgate’s best values!
“Joe Dilts ’46, football captain under Andy
Kerr, had the strength and discipline of his Aug
football training camp days. When he was at Dupont Company he made people rewrite anything
that lacked grammar, syntax, diction, spelling,
and proper sentence structure (good thing I did
not work for him!). He bought former DE gov
Russell Peterson’s autobiography from me and
made a financial donation to my charitable fndn.
He loved the Kiwanis Club and did much good
work for it. He and his wife had delicious food at
their DE and Colgate football tailgates!”
Murph: 732-892-0217; 7806 (fax);
gfmdmw@aol.com
1 97 1
Richard C Beck
4290 SE Augusta Loop
Gresham, OR 97080-8435
As you read this column, our 40th Reunion
will have come and gone. As of this writing, 21
classmates have signed up to attend our June celebration. My next column will have something
on the reunion. But, for now, this is what I have
to report on our class.
Barry Spodak writes that in the aftermath of
Rep Gabrielle Giffords’s assassination attempt
in Tucson, he made his 4th appearance on 60
Minutes. He was interviewed about the threat
assessment work he does with the Secret Service,
the US Marshals Service, FBI, Capitol Police, and
numerous college campuses. By coincidence, at
the time of the interview, he is scheduled to visit
Colgate in May to help the university set up a
campus threat assessment team.
Marc Black teamed up with artists John
Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful), Eric Weissberg
(“Dueling Banjos” — Deliverance), and noted pianist Warren Bernhardt to perform “No Fracking
Way” to raise concerns on the use of hydrofracking to mine natural gas in NYS. The artists
performed at NYC’s Great Hall of Cooper Union
on April 14. Proceeds from the program will help
raise money to produce a music video on the
topic.
I am saddened to report that Dr Alan M
Gewirtz passed away last Nov after losing his
battle with lung cancer. A researcher of cancers
of the blood, he was affiliated with the U of PA
School of Medicine. He headed the school’s hematologic malignancy program at the Abraham
Cancer Ctr, where he spent his career working
on novel therapeutics for the treatment of
leukemia. After graduating from Colgate, Alan
attended SUNY Buffalo, earning his MD in 1976.
He performed his residency at Mt Sinai in NYC.
After spending the 1982–1983 academic year as
an instructor at the Yale School of Medicine, he
began his Philly career at Temple U School of
Medicine. He was an asst prof from 1983–1989
and an assoc prof in 1989–1990. With the move
to Penn, he held an assoc professorship until
1996, when he was promoted in 1998 to full prof.
In 2004 he became the C Willard Robinson Prof
of Hematology-Oncology. Since 1993 he had been
a member of Penn’s Institute for Human Gene
Therapy, where he became a leader in stem-cell
biology and therapeutics research. Alan’s scientific contributions were published in numerous
scientific journals, and he was recognized for
his professional contributions by the Doris Duke
Fndn, the American Soc of Hematology, and the
American Soc for Clinical Investigation, among
others. Besides being a gifted researcher, he was
a talented physician, being recognized multiple
times as one of Philly’s “top docs.” Colleagues
viewed Alan as a true “renaissance man,” who
had a sense of grace, life, and whimsy. He was a
passionate pilot who never failed to bring smiles
and laughter to those who met him, and who
was even known to bring his dog Sparky to a
conf. Alan is survived by his wife, Joanna Opalinska; son Jamie and daughter Emily Stiebel; 3
brothers (Elliot ’69, David, and Henry ’67); a granddaughter; and former wife, Elizabeth Bien ’72.
I have also learned that John K Leonard died
peacefully this past Feb at his home in Wayne,
PA, after battling a brain tumor for 7 months.
Upon leaving Colgate, John had a long and
successful career in the insurance business
from which he retired as pres of CIGNA’s group
insurance in 2000. Since that time, he remained
active as a consultant. Outside of work, John had
3 passions. He devoted time and energies to his
community, volunteering as pres of the congregation at the United Church of Christ Valley
Forge; chair of the board at the Lancaster Theological Seminary; and chair of the board of Philly
Academies. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed
hiking, river rafting, and kayaking. John had a
special love for Blue Mtn Lake in the Adirondack
Mtns, where he realized a childhood dream by
purchasing Thatcher Island in 1989. John was
dedicated to protecting the beauty of the lake by
participating in the Blue Mtn Lake Water Watch.
His 3rd passion was for owning and racing
thoroughbred horses. He was a founding partner
of both Marchfore Thoroughbred Enterprises and
Lionheart Stables. He was also a partner in West
Point Thoroughbreds. John is survived by his
wife of nearly 40 years, Linda; his 2 daughters,
Sarah and Jennifer; his mother, Marjorie H Leonard; his sister and brother-in-law, Janet and John
O’Loughlin; and a niece, nephew, and 2 cousins.
Mark D Nozette notes that a number of classmates reached out to him in the wake of Michael
Michael’s death. Regrettably, he and Michael lost
touch with each other over the years, so Mark
was shocked as anyone to learn of Mike’s passing. In talking to Carol Michael, Mark learned
that Michael had been diagnosed with stage IV
colon cancer on New Year’s Eve 2009 and died
the following Oct. Mark remarks: “As we approach our 40th Reunion, Michael’s loss brought
back a flood of memories: the enormous contributions he made to the school while we were
there and also the daily examples of his kindness
— and good humor — that made him so popular
and that enriched all of our experiences at such a
formative age. I am grateful to have known him.”
Until next time…
Richard: 503-512-8085 (H); 986-3375 (W);
504-8431 (C); richardcbec@frontier.com
1972
David M Brockway
201 Lincoln Road
Horseheads, NY 14845-2267
Well, as I write this in early April, there is still
snow piled in store parking lots. It’s been a long
winter. I drove through a snow squall the other
day on my way to Norwich, 25 miles south of
Hamilton (more on that later). As I was driving, I
seemed to recall some actually very warm April
days in Hamilton back in the ’70s. Must have
been later in the month, but I especially recall a
few such April days when dozens of us would be
playing Frisbee, catch, or whatever on Whitnall
Field, with someone having The Beatles’s “Here
Comes the Sun” blaring out of a window nearby.
No MP3s back then. Just good old scratchy vinyl.
On Harman-Kardon turntables. With things
called “needles.”
Via Frank Barrie, about whom I wrote in
the last column, I received news regarding Tom
Bennett, who’s been teaching history and social
studies at Jamesville-Dewitt HS (near Syracuse)
for the past 37 years. Tom and wife Renee Bennett (MA ’74) reside in Manlius. Tom was recently
given the Distinguished Service Award from the
NYS Council for the Social Studies (NYSCSS). Tom
adds this to his other accomplishments, including the CNY chapter’s Distinguished Service
A helping paw As a child, Kelly Connolly ’96 was the “Dr. Doolittle” of her street. At Colgate, after an experimental psychology course, she rescued what became her pet rat, Ralph, from euthanasia, making him an unlikely popular resident of her sorority house. So, it’s not surprising that
Connolly continues to both support animals and use animals to support people.
Currently a student at
Vermont Law School, Connolly
was named an Albert Schweitzer
Fellow last May. The fellowship
is a national program that aims
to develop graduate students
into “leaders in service” by helping them design and develop
a community service project
dedicated to the health needs of
underserved communities. Connolly is building a pet therapy
program for the assisted-living
center at Gifford Medical Center
in Randolph, Vt.
The project is in its infancy,
but is quickly gaining momentum, even among Connolly’s busy
classmates. She has built a core
group who regularly volunteer
their time — and pets — to visit
the folks at Gifford.
“Pets are becoming increasingly prevalent in people’s lives,” Connolly explained. “Their
emotional and physical benefits can only help when you have someone in a facility who can’t
speak, who doesn’t necessarily recognize their own family, or who may feel isolated. That’s
why I decided to implement the program at Gifford.”
Connolly’s familiarity with the benefits of therapy pets stems from her volunteer and
career experiences. From 1996 to 1998, while working as a paralegal in New York City, she
volunteered at night to gather data about the effectiveness of a pet therapy program at
St. Vincent’s hospital. “That experience cemented my interest in helping people with pets,”
Connolly reflected.
Connolly then earned a master’s in public policy with a focus on animal welfare from
Tufts University in 2001, and her pet therapy involvement rose to the next level when
she took a job with the Humane Society of the United States as an issues specialist for
companion animals. There, she promoted the benefits pets confer onto their caregivers,
including lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and increased levels of endorphins,
which lead to feelings of well-being. Connolly noted that “pets help maintain mental acuity.
If someone is with an animal, they are more likely to interact with the environment around
them.” Additionally, pets are proven to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. “It’s kind
of like having yoga with paws,” she said.
Even with Connolly’s background, building the program at Gifford had its obstacles. “It’s
tricky because people always think that therapy animals have to be certified, but [in fact]
there is no universal therapy program,” she explained. Initially, she hoped to use animals
from Humane Society shelters, “but it’s difficult to analyze the behavior of a pet that has
just been dropped off or rescued by a shelter. It became a little bit of a liability issue I had
to work around.”
Instead, Connolly’s program relies on volunteers’ pets, including one of her own cats,
Paddington. Of course, she, too, experiences Paddington’s therapeutic benefits. Connolly’s
pets have helped her manage the stress of returning to a busy school schedule. “They’re my
own therapy animals!” she exclaimed.
Connolly also might call her animals “career counselors,” because they helped give
direction to her law career. “I always knew that I wanted to go back to law school and work
on public policy issues,” she said, “but working with pets in a hospital setting has led me to
pursue a career in health care and insurance policy reform. It’s a great way to combine my
two greatest passions: public policy and animals.”
— Jason B. Kammerdiener ’10
59
Get to know: Barry Small ’76, Colgate Trustee
– Board of Trustees since 2005; chair, finance and endowment
committee; vice chair, athletics committee
– Athletics Hall of Honor, 2008 (soccer and baseball)
– Chairman of the Board, Weeden & Co. LP
What’s your most memorable experience at Colgate? There are two. I met my wife, Laurie
(Feeney ’78), at Colgate. We didn’t start dating until later, but we met on her first day as a
freshman. The other is my relationship with my soccer coach, John Beyer, which continues
today. He still lives in Hamilton. Every time I come to town, we get together and have dinner.
We hear you once challenged the men’s soccer team to a footrace. Back in 1998, the coach,
Mike Doherty, asked me to make a donation to the team. I said, “I’ll race the entire team in a
60-yard dash before the alumni game. For everyone who can beat me, I’ll contribute $1,000.”
Here were all these 20-year-old kids looking at this 45-year-old man saying, “There’s no
chance I’ll lose.” I had a quick step out of the box, so after 20 yards, I was near the front.
Then they started catching up. More than half beat me, so I still had to write a good-sized
check to Colgate, but we had fun, even though a lot of the players weren’t too happy with me.
They didn’t know you’d played professional soccer! Those two years were my MBA in life.
I got drafted out of Colgate by the Dallas Tornadoes. Soon after, I switched to the New
York Apollo in the American Soccer League. The team only had one other American, and
the goalie didn’t speak English. The different cultures and perspectives were a tremendous
education.
Tell us about your work. I’m one of those rare people who’s been at his job his entire career.
I started at Weeden & Company — an institutional broker-dealer specializing in equities
trading and research — in 1978. The trading desk is an exciting place. News is disseminated
immediately, so you have to adapt quickly. And you’ve got to study — there’s a lot of information out there to be synthesized.
As the board’s finance and endowment committee chair, could you explain how Colgate’s
endowment is managed? Our committee of about 10 people makes the ultimate decisions.
Outside consultants help us consider asset allocations and manager selections, and the
talented Colgate staff reporting to David Hale ’84, financial vice president, and led by J.S.
Hope ’97, director of investment, helps us frame the challenges and sift through opportunities. Our portfolio is structured to hopefully do well in almost any market environment.
There is a conservative element that we think is very important and appropriate for the size
of Colgate’s endowment. The real goal of an endowment is intergenerational equity. We not
only have to provide for students today, but also tomorrow.
What would you do with an unexpected afternoon off? I’m gonna read, read, read. I have a
book on my desk, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, so I’ve got a long list. I’m reading Ted Conover’s The Routes of Man. My son, Colin, who’s 23, gave it to me for Christmas.
Would you go parachuting? I like adventure, but heights are not my thing. I like speed, so I’d
go 200 miles per hour in a car.
What advice would you give yourself 35 years ago? There’s a voice deep inside you, which is
your moral compass. Listen to it.
Award and the SS Teacher of the Year award.
He has also served for 12 years as VP of the CNY
NYSCSS and ran the professional development
program. For over 10 years he has helped lead
State Sen Lorraine Hoffman’s Civil Rights Connection trip to MI and serves on the board of
the Natl Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterborough
(NY). Both Bennett sons attended Colgate, Ethan
’06 and Jeremy ’09. Ethan has been contributing
restaurant reviews to Frank’s knowwhereyourfoodcomesfrom.com website.
I was reminded that I truly failed my editorial
duties last year by neglecting to report on a
mini-reunion that I, myself, had even attended in
July. Becky and Dave Bliss, along with sons Orrin
and Reyer, hosted a long weekend gathering
at Newfound Lake in central NH. Among those
making the trip were Robin and Harry Mullin
from HI, Terri and Alan Chipperfield from Jax
Beach, FL, Peter ‘Luke’ Lukacsko from Westchester, Joyce and Jeff Bliss ’75 (and son Garret) from
Alexandria, VA, and Bill Webb, who wandered
over from his Inn on Golden Pond located on
Squam Lake. (Visit our class page photo gallery
at ColgateConnect.org to see a group photo.) The
weekend included wonderfully warm weather,
great food and appropriate libations, as well as
swimming, tubing, and boating captained by
Dave. We also pored over old pictures, Colgate
paraphernalia, and what was left of our memories. A number of us had spent a month living
on the Navajo Reservation in Seba Dalkai, AZ, for
our ’72 Jan Plan, so we also pulled out the vintage
Kodak slide projector and marveled at how little
we had aged in 38 years.
Speaking of Harry Mullin, he recently sent me
a picture taken during one of his ocean kayak
trips. It is an amazing photo of Harry with a few
other people sitting in a kayak in the middle of
the ocean as a whale jumped up out of the water
some 50´ from their kayak, close enough to see
the barnacles attached to their bellies.
Meanwhile, I had occasion to exchange some
electronic hellos with Dr Paul Russo ’75, a
classmate of Jeff Bliss ’75. Paul’s eldest daughter,
Grace, is a pre-med student at Dartmouth,
and Paul was able to get up to at least one
Dartmouth-Colgate hockey game in Jan (looks
like Dartmouth won 7-3 that night). He also saw
an earlier game at the Prudential Ctr (Newark)
where Cornell edged out the ’Gate 4-3.
In March, I hosted a regional child welfare
court improvement gathering for judges,
lawyers, and social workers in Elmira. Our guest
speaker was Michele Cortese ’83, who is an atty
and dep dir of NYC’s Ctr for Family Representation. Also in attendance at the conf was Judge
Julie Campbell Fein ’84, who is a county judge in
Cortland, NY. Now, about that Norwich trip. That
was for a judicial meeting. Colgate connections
were around the courthouse. Julie Campbell Fein
was in attendance, and I also had occasion to
visit with Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dowd, father of DC atty Kristen Dowd Calic ’98. Chenango
County Judge Howard Sullivan was also present,
father of Denver atty Charles Sullivan ’90.
Given the hour, I’m going to wrap things up
for now. Keep me posted and best to you all for
an enjoyable summer!
David: 607-739-0267 (H); 737-2901 (O);
737-2961 (fax); dbcolgate@gmail.com
1 973
Marc Gettis
43 Summit Avenue
Gillette, NJ 07933-2007
Dick Weiss became a grandpa. His eldest, Emily
— now living in Ft Lauderdale with her husband,
60
scene: Summer 2011
Nate (an editor for CBS Sportsonline) — gave
birth to a daughter. Dick is a contributing editor for the St Louis Beacon, an online nonprofit
journal founded by a group of people who left
the St Louis Post-Dispatch in 2005. The journal
has attracted millions in grants and is considered
one of the leading online news sites of its kind
in the nation. Dick also operates WeissWrite LLC
(website listed on our class web page), which
offers writing, editing, and coaching services
to students, journalists, and businesspeople
nationwide. He recently met up with fellow ’73
alums John Menard, a dentist in Clinton, NY, and
Tom Murano, a marketing exec with Panasonic,
living in NYC. While I will not disclose the source,
it was reported that since 1973 Dick is slightly
heavier, Tom has slightly less hair, and John looks
exactly the same.
Already a grandparent, Jennifer Smith Linck
is pretty much retired these days, but remains
active in dance classes, a nearby Bible study, and
visiting her 2 children. Jennifer’s son, Brett, is a
flight surgeon in the Air Force (major), though
formally trained in pediatrics, and is stationed
in Germany with Jennifer’s grandchildren, Erin,
6, Anna, 2, and a newly born grandson (whose
name was unavailable at press time). Jennifer’s
daughter Kimberly is married and works as a
critical care nurse in the neuro ward (all spinal
cord/head injuries) in Salt Lake City.
After years as a partner in a large law firm
and later heading his own small firm, Rob
Besanceney has limited his practice to assisting
land conservation orgs, mostly on a volunteer
basis. A significant part of his efforts has been on
farmland protection projects with federal, state,
and local funding and involvement. “Since NYS
is behind many states in these efforts, the work
has been challenging.” Rob’s youngest daughter,
Christen ’04, is in a doctoral program at Albert
Einstein Medical School in the Bronx. Rob’s oldest
daughter, Laura, is the upstate public affairs
specialist for Empire State Development. Because
Rob’s wife, Laura, and Christen’s husband all
attended St Lawrence, things get a little touchy
in the household around the time of Colgate vs St
Lawrence hockey games.
David Michonski’s book, Unlocking the Gate:
Power Marketing for Luxury Real Estate, (see
winter and spring columns) got 5 stars (out of 5)
from Clarion Reviews, an independent reviewing
service. When David checked in, he was headed
to Colgate to attend a Thirteen concert and the
annual Thirteen banquet at Brae Loch. David’s
son, who recently completed his jr year, is a
member of the Thirteen. Scheduled to join David
on this outing was Anne Eddy Beaty ’76.
Also among the authors in our class is David
Rasch, who lives in Carmel, CA, and works as
the ombudsman for Stanford U, where he does
conflict resolution and mediation with faculty,
staff, and students. David recently wrote a selfhelp book for blocked and procrastinating writers (which he says took him years to finish), The
Blocked Writer’s Book of the Dead (see our class
web page for info about the book and David’s
blog). For enjoyment, he’s been writing songs
the past several years, which recently led to the
creation of a rock band, The Droolers, consisting of David and his 3 nephews. “I know I was
supposed to do this in my 20s, but evidently I am
a late bloomer.” David married Ixchel Leigh in
June 2010 in Carmel, CA, with Gene Morrison and
Kevin Smith in attendance.
I will dispense with the usual plug for our
class web page, as it has numerous mentions
in this article (just a reminder, our class web
page is now located at www.colgateconnect.
org; open the alumni menu, go to “clubs, classes
and groups,” and select “Class of 1973” on the
pull-down menu). If you’re not receiving my
periodic e-mail blasts, please adjust your settings
(or check your spam folder) so as to allow e-mails
from my address and from noreply@imodules.
com.
Gabe Schechter took time out from freelance
editing, researching, and writing the 1st draft of
the best thing he’s ever written to make the drive
to Hamilton with wife Linda for the dedication of the Robert Blackmore Jazz Alcove in the
library, and filed this report: “The reception (with
a 3-piece jazz combo, very fittingly) included
speeches by John Blackmore ’68, Pres Herbst, and
Prof Jane Pinchin. I enjoyed talking with profs
emeriti Donald Berry and Tom Brackett; even
though I didn’t have any courses with them, it
was good to make the connection with people
who were at Colgate when I was. After the
reception, we got a tour of where the collection
is stored, a remarkable apparatus called LASR, in
which 17,000 of his jazz records are stored in 40
bins containing 425 albums apiece. The alcove,
on the 3rd floor, is a fitting tribute to Blackmore,
including lots of photos, and featuring the
historic Duke Ellington concert at Colgate on
Dec 12, 1940. I got a special kick out of the photo
of the man who later introduced Ellington, described as Colgate’s ‘biggest swing fan,’ making
Ellington crack up backstage. The swing fan with
the jutting chin? I give you… Dr Douglas Kugler
Reading.” During our time at Colgate, I remember
hearing stories that Prof Blackmore’s floors had
to be reinforced to sustain the weight of his
LPs, but assumed this was more urban legend
than fact. However, Gabe reports that, according
to John Blackmore in his talk at the reception,
the foundation of the Blackmore house was
reinforced not once but twice. Apparently, Prof
Blackmore did not go for passing format trends
such as 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs, mp3s, etc, as it is
believed his entire music collection consisted of
LPs. “His entire album collection numbered about
40,000, so less than half of his collection was
jazz. He had lots of blues, rock, and classical, too.”
For info on 3 of Gabe’s books, which have already
been published — Victory Faust, Unhittable!, and
This Bad Day in Yankees History — see our class
web page.
This issue’s award for the most succinct
summary of accomplishments goes to Ted McLyman, who wrote, “I’ve recently started 2 new
companies, completed a couple of triathlons,
and written a book, Money Makes Me Crazy! A
Prescription for Money Sanity.” (See our class web
page for more details about the book and Ted’s
websites.)
Kathy Burns was kind enough to check in,
primarily in response to my plaintive e-mail
blast soliciting material for this column. She’ll
have more news in a subsequent column, but for
the time being, mentioned that she had met Pres
Herbst at one of the West Coast stops on his tour.
Jim Kevlin and wife MJ proudly report that
their son Joe, who graduated from Cooperstown
Central School in June, has been accepted and
will be attending LaSalle U in Philly beginning
in Sept. He has received LaSalle’s Presidential
Scholarship. Jim’s older son, John, is a real estate
lawyer in SF.
Sean Hallahan received an invitation from
Pres Herbst to the dedication of the new fitness
ctr and promises a review. In Feb, Sean again
joined Colgate students and ALANA administrators on their annual NYC tour of Harlem. The tour
focused on Spanish Harlem, but included visits to
Sugar Hill, the Abyssinian Baptist Church where
congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr ’30 was
pastor, dinner at Amy Ruth’s, and a private tour
and mini-amateur night at the Apollo Theatre.
A fascinating and very detailed account of the
entire tour, with significant historical context,
provided by Sean, is posted on our class web
page. Sean was recently in contact with Hon
Patrick ‘Hopi’ White, a judge of the US District
Court, S District of FL, about plans to visit Colgate
students. “Hopi had addressed the Colgate summer OUS program when we met on campus
some years back. He’s a terrific, inspirational
speaker. The kids were riveted. We had a great
catch-up. We spoke about maintaining a state of
grace in our lives, and being present for wisdom,
and maintaining our health and vitality for
decades to come.” Colgate’s ALANA has expressed
considerable interest in meeting Judge White
and possibly bringing him to campus, which
Sean hopes works out.
When Fausto Miraglia checked in, he had just
spoken to Bill Barnaskas, whom he’s planning
on catching up with at the Jersey Shore this year.
The inclusion of Rick Eytel will make it a small
Phi Psi reunion. Fausto assures us that the cast of
The Jersey Shore will not be included, as he finds
the show to be “a big slur against Italians and the
stereotyping should hear loud protests from all
of us.” Fausto also heard from Bill Cornachio, who
had just celebrated his 60th bday and sounded
very happy on the phone. Marco Caviglia, who
is still practicing law and is still a bachelor, has
told Fausto that he may take a trip to MD on
his motorcycle. Fausto occasionally speaks with
Steve Worthy, who is still involved with music
and who Fausto says “is one of the most talented
musicians I ever had the pleasure of playing with
during my time at the ’Gate.” Fausto traveled
to Italy again in May for his niece’s wedding in
Rome by the Lake Bolsena area.
Rob and Laurie Allison ’75 Gunther live in
Narberth, PA, outside of Philly, and have raised 3
terrific kids, who all went to great small liberal
arts colleges: Russell ’04, Paul (Kenyon ’06), and
Allie (Bowdoin ’10). In what is now his 4th year
as a class agent, Rob has been in contact with a
number of classmates including Dennis Martin,
with whom Rob worked at Keating Building Corp
in the middle of the previous decade. Russell
recently became engaged to Meg Lyons ’06, adding another Colgate couple to both the Colgate
and Gunther families. Laurie is a partner with
Alexander & Pelli, a boutique trusts and estates
law firm in Philly. Rob has a solo law practice
concentrating on software licensing, commercial
agreements, and general corp and real estate
matters, and is a member of GenCounsel LLC, a
consortium of former in-house attys supporting the needs of corp legal depts. Rob notes that
GenCounsel attys often serve as p/t “in-house”
counsel much the same as employed counsel do
(although without the great benefits package).
He attended a Marc Black ’71 house concert
hosted by Tom Mauceri in Holland, PA, in Jan. In
March he caught up with former English prof
Janet Francendese, who taught at Colgate in the
late ’60s and early ’70s and is now a sr editor at
Temple U Press. Rob sings with the Orpheus Club
of Philly, a men’s choral group formed in 1872
(of which, he hastens to add, he is not a charter
member) and will be heading off to the 50th
Philadelphia Folk Fest in Schwenksville, PA, in
Aug as the kick off to his 60th bday celebration
later that month. Rob would love to hear from
classmates.
A few correspondents have mentioned 60th
bdays, and I assume the overwhelming majority
of us have reached or will reach this milestone
this year. Any thoughts or words of wisdom? Is it
the new 40? Is it the new anything?
Marc: 908-580-1414, 580-1946(f);
marcgettis@comcast.net
1 974
Gregg McAllister
21 Ross Street
Batavia, NY 14020-2307
I enjoy writing class news, but there has to be
some news to write. Send it my way. Any little
news is good; don’t think it’s too trivial.
Hope everyone has a great summer.
Gregg: 585-345-6154 (O); 343-9796 (H);
greggmca@verizon.net
1 975
Carolyn Swift
Apt. 514
2022 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009-1316
Summertime greetings to one and all. Not much
news this time, so I’m hoping to hear your summer plans for vacations this year. I’m hoping
they bring you all to the DC area so we can get
together and chat!
I heard from classmates saying that the video
link I had in my last column didn’t work: the
correct link to the 2010 Reunion (for those who
missed it on the updated electronic column) is
http://offices.colgate.edu/Video_Console/Console.asp?VideoID=737.
I was really happy to hear from Amani Ayers,
asking about Colgate events in S FL, where she
lives. She unfortunately missed the Thirteen
when they were there, and then missed another
Colgate event because her mail came late. She
says she reads each issue and is always excited
to hear all the positive contributions grads are
making in the global community. HEAR! HEAR!
Makes me very proud to be a Colgate alum!
Meanwhile, my HS class has been planning a
40th Reunion this summer, and it’s really making me wish I had a Colgate get-together coming
up, too! Are you having a 40th HS Reunion? If so,
tell me about it and we’ll compare notes!
I also finally managed to get together with
Kathy Rohn LeDain in March and we both have
heard classmates saying they wished classmates
saw each other more often. We are thinking of
ways we might be able to do that, and if you
have any ideas, either of us would love to hear
them! We are both really looking forward to the
Colgate WAC Book Club meeting here in DC.
And that’s it for the summer issue. Until fall,
enjoy and take care!
Carolyn: 202-483-0809 (H); 752-7169 (O);
752-6158 (fax); cs14105@yahoo.com
1 976
Valerie Avedon Gardiner
40 St Andrews Road
Severna Park, MD 21146-1439
Reunion 35 is 2 months away as this column is
being written. Frustrating for this editor, as by
the time this Scene is in your hot little hands, you
will be eager to read of Hamilton highlights and
that issue but those won’t be along for another
few months.
In the meantime, let’s catch up with Joelle
Procopio Taylor in Rome, NY, reporting that
daughter Rachel has accepted an invitation to
join the Peace Corps, stationed in Burkina-Faso,
a French-speaking country in sub-Saharan
Africa. With a 2-year commitment, the Taylors
are already planning an African adventure to
go visit. Very cool. Already overseas, Gail Cohen
Zamri shares that she is working on a real estate
license, continues teaching seniors exercise
classes, and that her youngest, son Adam, is commanding a course in his stint in the Israeli Navy.
The rest of her “kids” are working and thriving
in various corners of the world. Maybe they’ll
run into Kevin Glynn, who recently shared some
Facebook news that he has been recalled to active duty by our Dept of the Navy and was due in
for a physical as of this writing. Yikes, stay safe,
K. More military-ish news: Jeffrey Jay Johnson
proudly announces that though it’s not CU for
his son Max, he did receive an appointment to
the Air Force Academy. Congrats to the Johnsons.
Happy to report that Lawrence Marceau,
who — although he lives in New Zealand, is very
connected through marriage to Japan — said
his friends and family were not directly affected
by the deadly tsunami. Hallelujah. It was good
to hear so quickly back from him after I posted
a Facebook query as to his well-being. Love
Faceboook. And speaking of social media, our
own HS admissions counselor extraordinaire,
Lee Shulman Bierer, was selected as a member
of the Unigo Expert Network, along with other
top admissions experts throughout the US. Lee’s
advice will be found each month in places such
as US News & World Report, Seventeen mag, The
Huffington Post, and more. I’d like to personally
thank her for her advice and support as my HS sr
went through the process. Times have certainly
changed in the college admissions world and it
was great to have a go-to gal. Gracias, Lee.
Our class update continues with proud parent
scoops: Both Rob Collum ’75 and Chris Carsky
have super swimmers in the news. Daytona
Beach, FL’s, News Journal’s “Male Swimmer of the
Year” is one of many kudos for Rob’s son David,
a sr at Deland HS. And Cece Carsky-Bush, a Saratoga Stingray, nails the 100-yard butterfly, which
has landed her more than 15 minutes of fame
and press coverage in upstate NY’s Saratogian.
Andrew Rubin’s son Matt has chosen a musical
path and dad updates us via Facebook on a
regular basis. Google “Mikey Jr and the Stone
Cold Blues,” fresh off their stunning success as
semi-finalists in the Memphis Internatl Blues
Challenge, and check to see if they are coming
to a venue in your town. Hats off to all these
sons, daughters, and the ’76 parents who support
their endeavors and achievements. Parents Mike
and Cathy Schneider Dowgin took their kids (CU
Classes of ’06 and ’09) along with them and
uber-couple Harry and Sue Shibel Horwitz and
Jeff Grossman ’75 and his wife on a NYC Alumni
Pub Crawl where Cathy reported that they were
by far the “oldest” group. HA! All the crawling
tired them out after only 2-and-a-half pubs and
they all found themselves continuing their gettogether in the peace and quiet of a fine Italian
eatery instead. Can’t say you guys didn’t give the
pub crawl the old college try. Ha!
Putting this column together continues to
be a thrill for me — and so many of you have
encouraged me to take up “real” writing. I am
doing just that for Patch.com, as a contributor for
the Severna Park edition of this AOL-sponsored
daily online “newspaper.” Interviews, photos,
and several columns under my belt, I truly enjoy
my new work, much of which I can do from the
comfort of my couch, computer in lap. Friend us
on Facebook to see my stuff. Check online, too, for
a Patch in your hometown. A great new resource
for local happenings, it’s all about keeping in
touch — something our class does well, so I’ve
had excellent training.
Look for news on Reunion 35 next time
around. Can’t wait to CU ’76ers.
Valerie: 410-987-8808; valgate76@aol.com
61
1 97 7
1978
Carl P Barone
176 Reilly Road
LaGrangeville, NY 12540-9530
Linda Pattillo
Suite 230-271
245 N. Highland Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30307-1936
Now that everyone has made it to another
summer season with time to unwind and kick
back, hoping some of that spare time allows you
to send in some news for the column. True to
fashion, received holiday greetings from Carolyn
and Ladd Connell around Valentine’s Day this
year. That is one way to make your greetings
stand apart from the rest! Carolyn continues
to sell real estate in northern VA and enjoys
participating in the New Dominion Chorale. Ladd
has completed his 2nd year with Conservation
Internatl, as dir for multilateral relations, having
retired from the State Dept in 2008. Conservation
Internatl’s focus is on using innovative finance to
incorporate ecosystem services into sustainable
development strategies. His work has taken him
to the Asian Development Bank in Manila, the
African Development Bank in Tunis, the UN Food
& Ag Org in Rome, and most recently, to Conservation Internatl’s office in Madagascar, to co-lead
a workshop on donor relations. Ben is in his
3rd year at VCU, majoring in econ, while Mollie
graduated from George Mason U with a double
major in global affairs and French last spring.
Paul Florentino, MD, FACP has been elected
governor of the VA chapter of the American College of Physicians. Paul is the deputy commander
for the National Naval Med Ctr in Bethesda, MD,
and future Walter Reed Natl Military Med Ctr
Bethesda. He’s also an assistant prof of med for
the Uniformed Services U of Health Sciences.
Paul lives in Alexandria, VA, and his main areas
of expertise are internal and executive med.
Enjoy your summer!
Carl: 845-227-1854; marooncarl@aol.com
I hope all are having a relaxing summer and
spending time at their favorite beach, lake, mtn,
or other serene place.
Congrats to classmate Michael Jenkins, who
was profiled in the spring Scene. Michael won
the prestigious Skoll award for his foundation,
Forest Trends. Michael sent in this note: “I spent
10 years in Haiti, Paraguay, Brazil working in
tropical forestry. Would be great to appeal to any
grads who run businesses interested in sustainability that would want to partner with Forest
Trends.”
It was great to receive an e-mail from my former next-door neighbor at Newell Apts, Shelly
Orenstein. She is living in Toledo, OH, writing
grants for her local science ctr. Shelly’s daughter
is a jr at Middlebury and her son is spending his
jr year of HS in Australia.
A last-minute appeal for news sent to
Manny Bonnesen produced a quick and welcome
update: Manny writes that her son is graduating from U of Richmond this spring and Ginny
McColough Keeshan’s daughter is graduating
from Tulane. “So how old does that make us?”
asks Manny. Reports are that Lindsay Mather
Forgash, Maureen O’Connor, Robin Flam Salzman, and Caroline Davenport Johnson had a NYC
meet-up. Must get details of that one!
Linda Upsall Feuss sent a text from Colgate,
where she was attending the Alumni Council
meeting and hanging with Bruce Morser ’76 and
Karl Sparre ’77.
Through LinkedIn, I got to catch up with
one of my favorite former W Andrews buddies,
Randy Pickard, who wrote: “Listening to a
Barry White song the other day brought back
memories of W Andrews.” So true. Randy is in
wholesale now, having launched a new website, shoppingbasketsplus.com, and he is still in
Chicago.
After hearing from more than 30 classmates
on LinkedIn, I started a new LinkedIn group
called Colgate 1978, so please join, share news,
and pass on an invite to other classmates. We
also have a Facebook group called Colgate 1978
that needs members and updates!
As the Scene is published quarterly now,
there is a lag from when news is sent to when it
is published. The Facebook and LinkedIn groups
are a way to share news on a more immediate
basis, and I will repost in the column as well. So
reach out via Facebook, LinkedIn, or e-mail and
send news!
Linda: colgate78@gmail.com
1 979
Kimi de Murga
Apt. 1A
227 E 66th Street
New York, NY 10021-6413
I received this news via Facebook after my last
deadline.
Susan DeVico continues her work as a communications consultant in the solar industry.
She has been very focused on the efforts
to make this renewable energy technology
mainstream. She represents several key solar
companies, and chairs the communications
committee for the Solar Energy Industry Assoc.
Last summer Susan had a great time with Amy
Vecchione and Claudia Kuhnlein Eaton when
they visited the Bay Area.
The day after Thanksgiving, Goldie Blumenstyk enjoyed seeing Kenny and Patti Binder
Spindel, Claudia Dricot, Ivy Epstein Austin,
Tammy Payne, Walter Steinmann, and Mary Jo
Ashenfelter, along with various spouses and
their musical children. Although Goldie was not
able to take advantage of DC’s record snowfall
last year, due to a tendon injury, she was able to
hit the slopes this winter.
Bob Feeley and Tammy Payne are thrilled
Patrick will be graduating from college this
year, so they will be down to only 3 college
tuitions!
If you haven’t had a chance to buy Gary
Hughes Bender’s book, From Grief to Celebration: How One Family Learned to Embrace the
Gift of Down Syndrome, it is available at down
syndrome teenager.blogspot.com. It truly is an
inspirational and touching story.
Kimi: 212-517-6776; Gate79@aol.com
1980
David H Alvord
424 Washington Avenue
Oneida, NY 13421-1906
Shirt tales
Wellness wardrobe: From “Colgate Runs on Wellness” to “Why Not?” to “What’s
in Your Tank?” The three iterations of T-shirts for Colgate’s Wellness Initiative
encourage healthy, purposeful, and balanced lifestyles.
62
scene: Summer 2011
Your editor has a niece and great-nephew who
were sitting in the Tokyo airport when the
earthquake hit. They escaped unscathed but the
baby has had to be evacuated here to Oneida
due to the environmental hazards.
Dan Kobrin reports that he and wife Marj
overnighted in NYC around the time of his bday
in March. Mark Williams helped his mother
up in Rochester celebrate her bday and visited
with his father in Alberta.
Betsy Olum has been appointed gen mgr
of beauty and merchandising strategy at HSN,
where she began consulting in January. Previ-
ously, she spent 10 years at Sephora as SVP of
marketing.
I’m hoping to visit the Big Apple sometime
this summer. In the meantime, I’m happy to get
any news you have.
David: 315-363-2117; jalvord@cnyconnect.net
19 81
Nancy Horwitz
77 Islington Road
Auburndale, MA 02466-1009
By the time this column appears in the Scene,
our 30th Reunion will be in the past. I’m sure
that it was a great event with lots of memories
and stories of 1977–1981 told (and retold … and
retold) and laughed about. I am also certain that
quite a few new stories/memories were created
during the great weekend. Many were unable to
make it to Hamilton for reunion, so please don’t
hold back … drop me a note or e-mail me so I can
update our class on your news!
Looks like more and more of the children of
our classmates are following in our footsteps.
Lucas Meyer’s older daughter will be attending
Colgate in the fall, which prompted him to write
the following: “It’s been many years since I’ve
written something to the Scene. As you know, life
sort of happens. But since my older daughter was
admitted early decision to Colgate’s Class of 2014,
I wanted to say that a) I am renewing my commitment to the university, and b) I’m overjoyed
that Alexandra (Ali) is going to follow in her old
man’s footsteps. Colgate was the first school she
visited, and it was love at first sight. I remember
feeling the same way back in the fall of 1976
when I visited for the first time; mother lent me
her new Mercury for the trip.”
For many of us, we can relate as our first
trips to Colgate were quite special as were the
years that followed. Although our life journeys
have taken many differing paths in the years
following our graduation, those 4 years were, for
all of us, the starting point. Keep the e-mails and
letters coming so that we can stay connected to
one another as those journeys continue on…
Nancy: 617-558-9781; nhorwitz@nlhcoaching.com
19 82
Margie Jiampietro Palladino
37 Boulder Road
Wellesley, MA 02481-1502
This is yet another difficult column to write.
After reporting in a recent Scene column the
deaths of 2 classmates (Eric Schoenlein and
Lennox Sterling), I am sad to report the passing
of Jeff Warlich. Jeff spanned the classes of ’81 and
’82. Colgate alums from our class as well as ’80,
’81, and ’83 were present at his memorial service.
Some ’82 attendees included Paul Leesman, Ted
Trautwein, Lee McConaughy Woodruff, Lauren
Potter D’Onofrio, Meg Heffron Fraser, Mark
Miller, and Pete Palladino.
Jeff loved life and his passions — golf and
athletics, friends, work, and most importantly, his
daughters and family. His Colgate friends said
Jeff had “not a bit of arrogance and a mellowness
that is rare in such an accomplished man.” Jeff,
who lived in Rowayton, CT, spent 25 years at JP
Morgan in NYC, most recently as executive dir.
He was a strong role model for his work team,
and his competitive nature ensured he excelled.
His family and many great friends will miss Jeff’s
tremendous warmth, generosity, sense of humor,
and love of life. He lives on in his 3 daughters,
in the successes of his JP Morgan team, and in
many strong and lasting memories he made
with his family and friends. A catalyst for keeping good friends connected, Jeff held an annual
Retro Day Party, which became legendary among
his Colgate friends, and was an avid participant
in the annual JS Golf Tourney at Seven Oaks.
Ted Trautwein, now mourning Jeff’s passing,
had previously written to me about his memories of Lennox Sterling. Ted writes, “The summer
before I entered Colgate, I, like all of us, received
a letter or postcard — can’t remember — stating
our new roommate’s name. The name typed on
my letter was Lennox Sterling. ‘What the hell is a
Lennox Sterling,’ I asked myself. Evidently, it was
a Canadian hockey player. That fall, we met in Eaton, the 1st day of 1st year — just he and I in this
shoebox of a room. We shared those cinderblock
and linoleum quarters for 3 days and 3 days only.
I played a practical joke on him, which evidently
did not go over very well; he moved out the next
day to room with Ky, a fellow teammate on the
hockey squad. Before I really understood what
had happened, he was gone. Over the course of
the next 3 years, things reversed themselves; we
became very good friends, pledging the same
fraternity and sharing more than a beer or two
together. Graduation came and went, and we
subsequently followed the individual courses
of our lives. I did not know what had become of
him, nor him of me, I’m sure. But he is an indelible part of my memory, in the same way any college roommate becomes a thread in life’s fabric.
In my mind, he remains as he always was, as I
knew him in 1978, this chubby-cheeked, curlyhaired hick from Canada, eh, whose nickname
perfectly captured his personality: ‘Harpo.’ I am
saddened by his death, which is remarkable because I knew him, in the grand scheme of things,
so briefly. If I think about it, that’s probably a testament to the incredibly gentle and kind guy he
was. And I can only imagine that his family and
friends are diminished by that loss. I guess why
I’m ultimately writing is because Lennox’s death
reminds me of the sudden, random nature of life
(or is that death?). I find myself sitting down at
my keyboard, watching the years evaporate, and
pondering the fact that Lennox was just here,
just moments ago. And before I knew what had
happened, he’s gone (again).”
Thanks, Ted, for sharing those memories with
us. Although I have other news, I will reserve it
for the next column in honor of Jeff, Lennox, and
John. I just want to leave you with the thought of
our 30th Reunion, which is coming up next year,
May 31 to June 3. It would be great to see all of
you back under the tent. The years are going by,
so let’s make the most of the present.
Margie: 781-235-9386; mjpalladino@comcast.net
1 983
Gwen Tutun Campbell
22 Old Hill Road
Westport, CT 06880-3016
Hello all! I received an e-mail from Steve Boulay
out in UT: “My company (I am 1 of 5 partners)
produced 2 profitable shows on Broadway this
year: a limited 4-week run of Donny & Marie:
A Broadway Christmas in Dec and an ongoing
run of Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, which just
replayed tonight at the Brooks Atkinson theater
after a 3-week hiatus. We produce and present
a number of other touring shows, including the
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tour, Rain: A
Tribute to the Beatles on tour, The Magic of David
Copperfield, and Lord of the Dance, and produce
Broadway seasons in Salt Lake City, Akron,
Kalamazoo, Detroit, Boise, Albuquerque, Fresno,
Eugene, CO Springs, and Honolulu with shows
like Wicked, Lion King, etc. Our website is www.
newspaceentertainment.com if you want to see
all the shows and markets we currently have
running.”
Mark and Wendy Matthews Kluge had much
news to report! “Wendy and I haven’t reported
any news for a while, but we’ve been emptynesters for a few years now. Our oldest son, David, was married in July 2008, and he and wife
Holly live in the Rochester area near us. Our
daughter Carolyn was fortunate to be hired as a
music educator in Buffalo last fall after spending her final semester studying violin in Seville,
Spain, and our youngest son, John, is finishing
his undergrad degree in music, studying the
cello while applying to grad schools for composition. No grandchildren! Wendy went back
to college about 10 years ago and earned her
music education undergrad and grad degrees
and is the 6th-grade band director in the town
we live in and loving it! I have been a partner in
a wealth and risk mgmt firm that I co-founded
over 20 years ago.”
Finally heard from Austin Murphy, who, in
his unique fashion, writes: “Trauma of recent
50th bday party ameliorated from Neil Torpey
’82 — having flown from Hong Kong. Surprised
by my parents, Patricia and Austin ’51, who flew
to the Bay Area from Rhode Island. In 29th year
at Sports Illustrated, 4th book coming out in
May — The Happiness of Pursuit — a collaboration with Davis Phinney, pioneering US cyclist
(1st American to win a stage of the Tour de
France), who is now suffering from early onset
of Parkinson’s. The book is a memoir of hope.”
Katy Badt Frissora wrote in about an April
weekend gathering with Class of ’83 gals in
Cazenovia for a 50th bday celebration: “We
danced to music that brought us back to
evenings playing pool at the Jug, including The
Police, Squeeze, and Marshall Tucker Band. The
weekend included a wistful look at the old
Hickey’s bar, now used as a cosmetic counter,
and ironically, seeing Arthur on the movie
theater marquis (wasn’t the original Arthur
playing back in 1981 at the Hamilton Theater?).”
Visit the photo gallery on our class page at
Colgateconnect.org to see a photo of the group:
Nancy Cox McSorley, Kristen Peth Klawitter,
Laurie Schmall Kedersha, Kathie Deasy Kinney,
Paula Chestnut, Christina Kelly, and Katy Badt
Frissora. (Out in Seattle, Nancy Pratt Hawkes received a late-night phone call from her partying
pals. If you’re ever in Seattle, visit the Woodland
Park Zoo, where Nancy is general curator.)
In other news, John Hooper is in NY and
recently was named one of five 2011 BTI Client
Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting Group. An
atty, John’s practice includes defending companies in complex litigations, including a variety
of commercial, product liability, financial services, intellectual property cases, and consumer
class actions.
Thank you to those of you who wrote in.
Would love to hear more! Happy summer!
Gwen: 203-226-2608 (h); 203-856-2922 (c);
gwentcamp@gmail.com
198 4
Diane Munzer Fisher
4356 Stilson Circle
Norcross, GA 30092-1648
As I am writing this column, I am getting
ready to attend a congratulations reception
for the new members of the Colgate Class of
2015. Anyone from ’84 with a child heading to
Colgate in the fall? Time does march on. In the
news of just how old we are, David Rosenbloom
writes: “I was playing hockey at the Park City ice
arena when I spotted a 20-something woman
with a Colgate hockey jersey. Turns out she
played for the Colgate women’s team in 2007
or so. Complicated mathematical calculations
revealed to me that she wasn’t yet born when
I attended ’Gate, which caused me to feel very
old.” If you can’t remember what Colgate was
like back in the day, check out the Colgate 1984
Video Yearbook that Bob Connelly posted on
the Colgate Class of 1984 Facebook page. Lots of
memories to relive!
Class news is a little thin this issue, mostly
because I didn’t send out my usual call for info
via electronic means. I am happy to report that
Michael Michalski won a natl quilting competition with his entry, Prairie Window. Michael,
who studied costume production at Yale, has
had a successful career working on Broadway
shows.
John Chin is working at Verizon Wireless in
Basking Ridge, NJ, as a user experience design
manager in the device marketing dept. Last fall,
he traveled to Boston with son Matthew to see
the Museum of Science and other points of interest. While there, John met up with Elizabeth
Hinkelman for dinner near Harvard Square.
Elizabeth is the VP of development for Galactic
Village Games.
Virginia Grote McAllister’s company, Iron
Horse Architects, was selected as part of a team
lead by Anderson Mason Dale Architects to
work with Santiago Calatrava as the architect
of record for the New South Terminal at Denver
Internatl Airport.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Looking
forward to hearing from more of you next time
around!
Diane: 770-209-9341 (h);
diane_fisher@post.harvard.edu
1985
Michael Yardley
18806 North 95th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85255-5562
It’s difficult to believe that a whole year has
passed since reunion. It seems like only yesterday we were under the tent in Hamilton, catching up on old times and listening to the curious
musical selections of the most sought-after DJ
in Madison Cty (or so we were told), EJ the DJ.
Interestingly, though, the song selections didn’t
seem to deter Glenn Sandler from asking girls
to dance. What a refreshing reminder that even
after 25 years, some things haven’t changed a
bit. On to the news: I’m still trying to get more
people to visit our class page on Facebook. I
saw recently that John MacDonald checked
in from faraway Madrid. John said he was
“thinking about old friends, and last reunion”
and he would love to hear from classmates via
Facebook. He appropriately signed off his post
by saying, “Big Saludos to all!” I also got a note
indicating that Jeffrey Issacs is now COO of
Goldman Sachs’s legal dept in the NYC area. I
was sent a recent newsletter article from Orthopedics This Week that featured Dr Jeff Goldstein,
who is dir of spine service at NYU Hospital for
Joint Diseases. The article went into detail about
Jeff’s area of focus in his orthopedic practice and
also touched on many of the research initiatives
he has led in his field of medicine.
Lastly, I got a nice note via e-mail from John
Fountain, who passed along lots of classmate
news. According to John, “I met up with Tim
Yates a couple of weeks ago in Tahoe. Tim is the
risk manager for the Northstar ski resort, which
was just recently bought by Vail Resorts. Tim
put myself, my daughter, and her friend up
Colgate seen
The spirit of alumni sporting their Colgate
gear is seen here, there, and everywhere
around the globe. Where was your latest
spotting? On a Machu Picchu trek? At a
mini-reunion in Pocatello? An election
polling site in Houston? We’re collecting
photos of Colgate sightings around the
world. Send them to scene@colgate.edu.
Alison Fraser Heisler ’89 and children
Amelia, Thomas, Honor, and William at
the Grand Canyon on a family road trip
out West. “Our Suburban will never be the
same!” Heisler said.
Julie Puchkoff ’87 is triumphant in maroon
after completing the 71 km (with 3,553
meters of elevation gain) Queen Charlotte
single-track mountain bike ride through
Marlborough Sound, New Zealand.
63
1986
1988
PeacePlayers International
for now. Please send me an e-mail, or go out and
post on our Facebook page!
Michael: 480-301-4459;
Yardley.Michael@mayo.edu
Owen and daughter Emerson Kate. Mike recently
caught up with Jim Ruggeri, who is a partner at
the law firm Hogan & Lovell in DC and lives in
VA. Jim’s oldest daughter, Courtney, is graduating from HS this year and will be attending
Colgate in the fall! Mike saw Mike Capuano, who
is working at Cisco and enjoying life in sunny
CA. Mike spoke with Jim Digan, who is doing
well and working as the head of development
for Rochester Hospital. Jim travels a lot and has
continued to race in a number of marathons and
half marathons. Jim also recently bought a ski
house in VT.
David Shaw writes that he is still primarily
a sculptor and has been exhibiting his work
internationally since 1989. Last year he taught
Advanced Projects in Sculpture, a grad seminar,
as adjunct prof at NYU. He is represented by the
gallery Feature Inc in NYC, and is included in
the traveling museum exhibition Psychedelic:
Optical and Visionary Art Since the ’60s, which
is presently at the Telfair Museum in Savannah,
GA. Jim is working toward another exhibition at
the Atlanta Contemporary Art Ctr in June and
an exhibition at Gallerie Astuni in Bologna, Italy,
in May. Jim has been married for 12 1/2 years
to Jennifer Sirey (SVA ’90), who is also an artist
and an educator, and they live in Brooklyn. Jim
and Jennifer have a son, Cook, who is 10. You can
check out David’s artwork at www.inuverse.com.
Kim Kirkman Krueger texts that she saw
Laurie Ward Burke, who “looks exactly the same!”
Kim will be up at Colgate this year celebrating
her dad’s 50th Reunion. Kim is frequently in
touch with Maria Lazarra Tetzlaff and Laurie
Martin Ward (the other Laurie Ward, Nick’s wife),
and Liz Stookey Sunde.
Dave Johnson and Neal Durant met up in DC
for a Capitals game. Neal, or Dr Neal as he now
prefers, works for Geosyntec Consultants and
travels the globe “fixing” corp environmental
problems. Dave is with MeadWestvaco in Richmond, VA, and works with commercial teams to
establish market pricing for their global packaging businesses.
Thanks again to everyone for keeping in
touch. Again, you can see the class notes online
at our class page at ColgateConnect.org, Colgate’s
new alumni website.
If you’d like photos posted on the website,
send them either to me or the alumni office
(alumni@colgate.edu).
Adam: akweiss65@yahoo.com
Managing director Gareth Harper leads a team at the Spring Jam, PeacePlayers
International–Northern Ireland’s largest annual event.
Royally chosen
The question of “What to give the couple who has everything” took on new meaning when
Britain’s royal couple was married in April. In lieu of wedding gifts that the public might
want to send, Prince William and Kate Middleton set up a charitable gift fund, and a Colgate
alumnus’s nonprofit organization was one of the fund recipients.
PeacePlayers International, the global nonprofit group co-founded by Brendan Tuohey ’98 and his brother Sean, was the only U.S.-based charitable organization of the 26
selected. PeacePlayers uses the game of basketball to unite and educate people in divided
communities. It works to overcome sectarianism through a range of integrated sports
activities, peace education, and leadership development. Launched in 2001, the group has
reached more than 52,000 individuals worldwide.
During their visit to Belfast on March 8, the royal couple met representatives of the
Northern Ireland branch of PeacePlayers International, which works with young people
between the ages of 8 and 25 in Protestant and Catholic communities.
“Prince William told our managing director [that] as soon as he saw PeacePlayers and
what we did, he said, ‘I knew this had to be part of our big day,’” Brendan told The Today
Show. “Is there a bigger wedding in history to be part of than this? I don’t think so. We were
both thankful and shocked.”
at his house. He also hooked us all up with lift
tickets for the week. While we were there, they
got over 7´ of snow throughout the week. It was
a skier/boarder winter wonderland. When Tim
and I were at Colgate, we talked about a crosscountry motorcycle trip. Although we did not get
that to happen, we did do a trip out to Sturgis,
SD, a few years back. We got the juices flowing
again, checking out some bikes and talking about
a trip from AK to Costa Rica. On my family, my
daughter is in her 3rd year at Marist, where she
is starting to take some grad courses. The Marist
women’s swim team won their conf championships, and she got a few school records. My son
will be heading to Annapolis in the summer to
start his plebe year at the US Naval Academy.
Wife Donna is a systems analyst for financial
medical systems. I am gearing up for another
season teaching kite boarding out in the great
south bay on LI. With all the snow we got here, I
managed to get out on my snowboard with my
kite on the various open fields and golf courses LI
has to offer, for a bunch of snow-kiting sessions
this past winter. I also went to the Stony Brook/
Colgate men’s basketball game. Although Colgate
lost, the turnout for the ’Gate was amazing, and
we all got together before the game for some
food and drinks.” John also told me that Albert
Ingrassia (who used to be my partner on security
duty at Colgate) got married and that his wife
Lisa gave birth to Vincent Matthew. That’s all
64
scene: Summer 2011
Michele Radin
681 Indian Ridge Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92211-7485
Michele: 706-641-6357; mlledaffodil@aol.com
1987
Adam Weiss
54 Alan Lane
New Canaan, CT 06840-2001
Congrats go out to Christian Wolfe on his recent
appt as VP of business intelligence & strategy for
CCH Group, a global provider of tax, accounting,
and audit info, software, and services based in
Riverwoods, IL.
Margo Burnham is moving from DC to SF with
husband Kenneth Kornfield and 2-year-old son
Phineas. She still works for The Nature Conservancy on internatl projects.
Mike McCarthy reported in. He is the chief legal officer for a Silicon Valley tech company, but
lives in Bethesda, MD, and commutes coast-tocoast. Mike and wife Jennifer have 2 kids — son
Jack Kearney
Sarah Bowen Shea
2508 NE 24th Avenue
Portland, OR 97212-4830
Greetings from Portland. April 9 was a big day
for Sarah, who celebrated the 1st anniversary
of Run Like a Mother, with nearly 80 running
mothers at a Portland fitness club. Sarah read
from the book, chatted with moms, and led them
on a group run. Sarah and co-author Dimity
McDowell ’94 have opened a new website called
anothermotherrunner.com, where running
moms (heck, even non-running moms) can get
engaged and encouraged to run like a mother.
Jack continues to follow Sarah’s running zeal
from afar. He enjoyed watching the upstart
Colgate hockey team make it to the ECAC semis
before falling to eventual-champion Yale. Jack
took the twins to Seattle during spring break,
where they stayed with Will Shaw ’78. The family
is planning an East Coast swing in the summer
to visit grandparents and friends in NY and CT.
On to the news.
Facebook meets Incunabulum: It’s interesting
to watch the weekly Facebook updates to see
who is turning 45. It seems like there are 3 or so
per week. I broke out the Inky the other day to
see what we looked like when we were 17/18.
Lots of big hair (aside from the Flock of Seagulls
hairdos), wide lapels and ties, cheesy Western
backgrounds for senior pics, etc. We sure have
grown up since 1984.
Movin’ on Up: We received a press release on
Drew White from Anlyan & Hively Asset Mgmt,
an investment advisory firm located in Wilmington, NC. Drew is now running their new office in
Raleigh and will specialize in managing assets
for high net-worth individuals, endowments, and
privately held businesses. Congrats to Drew on
the new position.
That’s all for now. Until next time, Go, ’Gate!
Jack and Sarah: 503-288-7874;
kearndog1@yahoo.com
19 89
Dan Bornstein
3 Everett Drive
Newtown, PA 18940-1655
Alison Fraser Heisler
From Brent Goldstein: Hello, classmates. After 17
years and some 96 columns, I am finally passing
the class-notes torch and happily receding into
relative Colgate obscurity. It’s been a great run
reporting our news, and I feel privileged to have
done it for so long. Thank you for your submissions over the years. And more importantly,
thank you for your kind words of appreciation. With that, I now welcome our fellow classmates Dan Bornstein and Alison Fraser Heisler
as our new class co-scribes. They are excited and
eager to share your info, so be sure to help them
out. Cheers, everyone! Take it away, Alison.
Thank you, Brent! Wow — 17 years. Let’s hope
that with 2 editors, we receive twice the news!
Fellow classmates, we look forward to hearing
from you. Here’s how it will work. Dan and I will
alternate writing columns, but you are welcome
to contact either one or both of us with your
updates. And before we let Brent recede into relative obscurity, we want to wish him luck as he
competes in his 5th Leadville 100 mtn bike race
in CO in Aug. Brent will be leading a team of 20
riders for the 1st Descents cancer fndn (for which
Brent is chair of the board).
As the lead editor of this column, and in the
spirit of reconnecting to Colgate, here is a quick
update on my “doings.” (Not sure if any of you
noticed, but in the last issue of the Scene, my
name, Alison Fraser Heisler, was listed in the “If
You Know the Whereabouts” section of the mag
… ouch!) A year and a half ago, my husband, Matt,
(Princeton ’87) and I, and our 4 kids, aged 13, 12,
10, and 7, set out on a 2-year adventure to Aspen,
CO, from Westport, CT. Matt has been working
remotely from home, and I’ve been working p/t
at a local mag and teaching yoga. In addition to
enjoying all the great stuff Mother Nature has to
offer, we have been able to reconnect with many
Colgate friends who live in the area or have come
through to ski some powder: Jeff ’87 and Kim
Calise Veber, Peter Maguire ’88, Warren Adams
’88, John Hayes ’88, Geo Tamblin ’90, Chuck
Sullivan ’90, and Kevin Zimmerman ’90, and,
of course, some ’89 classmates, including Dean
Gregory, Susan Gegan Fleming, and Mary Cohn
Liddicoat. I am happy to report all are well. I’ll let
them write in with their own more detailed updates (hint, hint). Before coming out to CO from
CT, my family spent some years in London and
then Chicago. Whilst in Chicago, I reconnected
with Peter Luglio, who recently e-mailed. He and
wife Candice lovingly welcome daughter Sabine
to their family (joining 3 brothers). Congrats,
Pete! Welcome to the “4 kids equals chaos” club!
Now a quick word on my co-editor Dan
Bornstein. Dan’s been busy keeping the state of
NJ clean as dep atty genl. He is assigned to the
Gangs & Org Crime Bureau and the Appellate
Bureau of the Div of Crim Justice, prosecuting all
kinds of criminal cases and loving it! Dan lives
in Newtown (Bucks County), PA. This spring,
Dan can either be found in Yankee Stadium or
hitting the pavement as he trains for his 1st half
marathon. Go, Dan, go!
The following is some recent news from fellow classmates forwarded to me by Brent before
he signed off. Connie Pantone Oehmler, who
just so happens to have been my housemate on
College St during our soph year, shared some
great news about the startup company that she
launched in 2009, Verity Wine Partners. Connie
is co-founder and CFO/COO of this booming
venture. If you are in the NY area, keep a lookout
for Connie. She was recently asked to speak at a
Harvard B-School event in the city and has been
approached by a freelance writer interested in
writing an article about her. Cathy Halliwell also
checked in with news about herself and fellow
classmates. Cathy reported that Nichole Bernier
Ahern, who lives in Wellesley, MA, with husband
Tom and their 5 beautiful kids, has signed a contract with Crown/Random House. Look for her
novel, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D, due
to hit bookshelves in 2012! Cathy also noted that
Kelly Linehan looked stunning at her wedding
this summer to Jack McDonough in Schenectady,
NY. Kelly is a Spanish teacher at Niskayuna HS.
As for Cathy and her husband, Russ Mayes (Duke
’89), she reports that their big adventure of the
past year and a half has been fostering dogs with
the help of their boys, Will, 11, and David, 9. They
have had 15 dogs in and out of their home over
the past 18 months. Cathy still resides in Richmond, and is looking forward to taking a break
from the “Petting Zoo” to summer in Lake Anna,
VA.
A shout-out to Eric Berger, a fellow survivor
of the 4th floor of KED, who was recently highlighted in an industry-specific publication for his
promotion. Eric now holds the title sr VP, Digital
Networks, Sony Pictures Television. Congrats,
Eric!
Finally, while this space is most often a place
to update each other on good tidings, sadly, from
time to time, it must also be a place to share
tough news. So, it is with a heavy heart that I
report the passing in mid-Feb of our classmate
Justine Bouldin Swaim. Justine’s husband, Jeffrey, wrote to Colgate to let us know of her peaceful passing at home after a long and courageous
battle with cancer. She leaves her husband and 3
children — Katherine, Laura, and Matthew. Obviously, those of us who knew Justine and shared
fond Colgate memories with her are deeply
saddened by this news. In celebration of her life,
listed are just a few of Justine’s Colgate experiences. Justine majored in mathematical econ.
She was a member of the London English Study
Group and the Maroon, as well as being active in
career advising/seminar. I am sure I can speak
for all of us in wishing Justine’s whole family our
condolences and support.
In closing, I’d like to thank you all in advance
for giving Dan and me the opportunity to serve
as co-editors for our class. We wish you all a
warm and wonderful summer. Please keep in
touch!
Alison: 203-858-6631; alisonfheisler@gmail.com
Dan: 215-860-3744 (home); 808-7238 (cell);
danbornstein@comcast.net
1990
Julie O’Leary Muir
48 Barr Farm Road
Bedford, NH 03110
nhmuirs@comcast.net
Greetings, Class of ’90! Once again, I am a
chronicler with no information. The well is dry,
my friends. So, in an effort to spin this column
out of thin air, I thought I’d put my money where
my mouth is. For months I’ve been telling my
tech-adverse husband that the main reason I
joined Facebook was to connect with Colgate
classmates to make my column writing easier.
Ummmm, yeah. That’s it, that’s why I joined.
Yes, I am strangely ashamed of my Facebook
habit … it feels so, well, voyeuristic. Let’s not
mince words — it IS voyeuristic. And slightly addictive. And wonderful and terrible at the same
time. In my hour of need, I sent a plea to all of my
Colgate Facebook friends for information — ANY
information — and sadly only 2 replied. So, true
to my word, I have mercilessly mined some of
your FB pages for shreds of information for this
edition’s column. I warned you, didn’t I, my pretties? I’ll mine your FB and find pictures of your
little dog Toto, too! But I digress. This month’s
incredibly well thought-out thesis is: What I’ve
Learned on Facebook.
I will lead off with the heroine of my quest.
Kimberly Nierenberg Gild, you are a rock star.
Kim took pity on me almost immediately and
sent me a fabulous update. She lives in Atlanta
with her 2 lovely daughters, 7 and 10, and is
recently engaged to Dr Doug Josephson (Swarthmore ’92). Doug has 2 boys, 7 & 8, so they’re
adding on to his home to accommodate their
Brady Bunch. Kim manages social events at the
Georgia Aquarium — galas, weddings, mitzvahs,
etc. Based on the pictures that she’s occasionally
tagged in, it looks like a super fun job, and honestly she hasn’t changed a bit from our Colgate
days. Best wishes to you and your family, Kim. I
can’t thank you enough for your speedy reply!
What else can Facebook do, besides deliver
sweet acts of mercy? It can keep faces from
the past fresh in your mind. Imagine me, fully
enrobed in ski gear and helmet, looking my absolute best and hanging out on a random couch
in a ski lodge at Sunday River. Imagine one Chris
Murray, similarly attired, zipping by me and all
I could muster was “Hey — Colgate!” and boom,
a reunion was born. We were both enjoying
the slopes with our families, and we have since
learned — via Facebook — that we were leading
parallel skiing lives at Sunday River and Sugarloaf this past winter. Chris lives on the North
Shore of MA with his wife and 2 daughters. He
enjoys skiing, beach life, Parrothead weekends,
and golfing with cronies Marty Nagle, Joey Pizzarelli, Chris Brown, and Brit McAdams.
Speaking of skiing, I would be remiss if I did
not celebrate Andrew Sheppard ’89 and his
skiing career, which I have enjoyed following all
winter. Andrew and Team Sheppard (4 adorable
kiddos and wife Maggie) live in Park City, UT,
where they ski 24/7 — or at least it seems that
way to me. Yes, I am jealous. Yes, I drool with
your fresh powder reports. But, seriously, this
family can ski. At the Nat’l Championships at
Winter Park, CO, in March, all 6 Sheppards came
in the top 10 of their divisions. Andrew skis the
Grand Slalom, Super G — in short, he’s simply
amazing. And maybe more so for the fact that he
skied with a broken arm after a bad fall on black
ice. Apparently, Sean White was there for the
fall, and was helping Shepster up and remarked,
“Dude that was a bad fall.” Bad fall indeed.
Andrew skied and competed for the rest of the
season with a cast I dubbed The Fist of Triumph,
and it certainly didn’t slow him down.
What else have I learned on Facebook? That
Nicole Wetzold Daw and husband Michael rang
in the New Year by welcoming daughter Kylie
Michele on January 2. Kylie grows more adorable
each week, and I have to say that I have loved
keeping up with Nic and her dry wit, enjoyed her
exceptional Halloween costume creativity, and I
take delight in watching Miss Peapod grow — all
because of Facebook. Nicole and family live in
NYC, where she is a proud mama and is director
of marketing at BBC America.
And speaking of adorable babies, Lynda
Dennen Costello and husband Brian welcomed
son Denny in early November. I don’t have the
proper words to express how deliciously cute
Lynda’s son is, but if he and Kylie go to the ’Gate
together in the future, well, it’s a match made in
my Facebook heaven. Lynda and Brian live in Boston, MA, and appear to be thoroughly enjoying
parenthood.
Another reason I love Facebook is that I
feel like Michael Sippey might be living down
the street from me, when he is really living in
much cooler Berkeley, CA, with his wife, Katrina
Traywick, and 2 adorable daughters. Through
Michael’s posts, I keep up on his running, his
facial hair progress, I’ve discovered that he has
a penchant for good wine and food as I do, I was
reminded that he has great taste in music, and
learned that he’s an avid blogger. It is perfectly
delightful keeping up with you virtually, Michael, and I agree, Sunday IS for pancakes! He is
VP of Artist Development at SAY Media, and from
what I gather, he is a fantastic dad.
Marty Johnson is to be commended. He is the
hero to Kim’s heroine. Marty J came to my aid
with a delightfully worded post that I’ve had to
severely edit (sorry!). Marty J lives in Rochester,
NY, and is a Health & Benefits Practice Leader at
Rose & Kiernan. He recently spent time with Tom
Flynn at a BC/BS breakfast seminar in Rochester.
Tom is a local benefits expert who was there
along with 12 other insurance professionals sharing their insights at the meeting. The business
partner of Bob Relph ’78 was another invitee, “so
it was kinda cool to think that of the 13 invited
insurance brokers, 3 are Colgate alumni.” Mary J
enjoys watching his 401K rebound, cheering for
the Bflo Sabres, golfing, and spending time with
his manly dogs Kelsey and Ricki.
So closes another stunningly coherent and
elegant thesis, my friends — Facebook or otherwise. Like it or not, social media has absolutely
made me feel as if I can reach out and touch
many of you in a special way. Seriously, though,
it is a great way to keep up with fellow alums as
we enjoy our journeys and adventures through
life. I hope to ‘like’ many of your witty remarks,
pictures, or posts soon.
Finally, I am signing off of this column for the
last time. I fear that the tens of you who actually
read this column may weary of my quarterly
drivel, so I thought I would pass the torch on to
a new perspective, and I found a willing taker in
Marty J. I knew he was the right person to take
the helm when he noted that the job “will be a
great way to connect and cleanse my soul … we
can celebrate the births, degrees attained, and all
of the wonderful events of our classmates lives.
If no one helps me, we can just make up stuff…”
Ahhh. Make up stuff indeed. I’ve found my man,
and you have too, Class of ’90. It has been my
pleasure to massage your information lo these
many years. I’ll look forward to doing it again
sometime in the future, but for now please send
your news to Marty.
That is all. See you at our 25th! And Kenny
Maroon’d…
in San Diego
Born and raised in San Diego, Chris
Schweighart ’97 served as the president
of the Colgate alumni club there for 10
years, stepping down at the end of 2010.
Surf & Sand… San Diego is famous for
its beach culture. Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are the two most popular in
the county, and centrally located. A local
favorite is La Jolla Shores, and Coronado
State Beach is consistently rated one of
the top beaches in the country.
Sights… Visit Cabrillo National Monument, where Spanish explorers first
landed in San Diego in 1542 (and where
you’ll have the best view of the city);
Balboa Park, with its many museums
and Spanish influence (be sure to eat at
The Prado); and Mission San Diego de
Alcalá, the first California mission built
by Spanish settlers.
Fore!… The city’s public golf courses are
second to none. Torrey Pines became famous after hosting the 2008 U.S. Open.
The South Course is the most challenging, but also the most picturesque. Close
to downtown is Balboa Park Golf Course,
offering views of the skyline and the
Pacific Ocean. A hidden gem in the hills
to the east of the city is Mt. Woodson.
Take a hike… Cowles Mountain is the
tallest point in the city limits. Torrey
Pines State Natural Reserve has a
number of hilly trails, some leading down
to the beach. And Seaport Village is a
fun collection of shops, restaurants, and
entertainers right on the bay downtown.
Nightlife… The Gaslamp Quarter is the
place to go at night. My favorite bars
are Altitude and Top of the Hyatt. My
favorite burgers ever are at Bare Back
Grill. I also recommend dinner on the
rooftop patio of Mr. A’s. Similar classy,
high-end restaurants are Island Prime
and Peohe’s; both are right on the bay.
Have tips for people who might be
maroon’d in your town? Write to us at
scene@colgate.edu and put Maroon’d in
the subject line.
65
Reisman, my shoulder will be available for naps
at reunion.
Send your information to Marty:
585-233-0490; martyj1@mac.com
19 9 1
Kathryn Dillon Marcotte
45 Ridgewood Lane
Wakefield, RI 02879-1749
By now, reunion is behind us, and hopefully
everyone took full advantage of a nostalgic visit
to our alma mater and priceless “reacquainting” with old friends. For the fall Scene, I hope to
have all kinds of info from friends far and near.
I was lucky enough to hear from some amazing
classmates about their lives and travels. Michael
Brown has been engaging in an amazing life
full of travel and immersion in some of our
most tangible world concerns. He has been
living in New Delhi for the past 18 months. His
wife, Ameena, has a job with India’s version of
Sesame Street and Michael is a sr communications manager with the Institute for Middle East
Understanding, focusing on Israel and Palestine
and can operate anywhere there is an Internet
connection. They have 2 sons — Amrit (6 1/2)
and Rayhan (4 1/2). During a trip to Tahrir Square
with his octogenarian father in Dec 2009, they
found themselves attacked as they tried to
participate in a symbolic march to Gaza to break
the siege. They did suffer injury and found it
somewhat satisfying to see Mubarak run out of
office earlier this year. He laments that life for
friends and loved ones in Gaza, where he lived
and worked off and on between 1993 and 2000,
remains grim. Future plans include visiting in
Canada with Ameena’s family starting in July
and then moving to Asheville, NC, in Aug where
he will be starting at UNC Asheville as an asst
prof. Their children are amazing and will be integrating their Indian and “mtns of NC” heritage, a
wonderful adventure.
Family is such a big part at this stage of our
lives. Tim Benedict touched base and has created
a remarkable family. He and wife Chris celebrated their 10th anniversary in May, and they have 3
young daughters, 7, 5, and 2 1/2. They are in a new
roomy home in Ridgefield, CT, and enjoying the
ride. Scott Avanzino touched base and assured
me that he has matured a lot since his days and
nights in Hamilton. I’m not convinced that was
the right path to take, but he finds himself in LA
with his incredible wife of 16 years, Sandy. They
have 2 kiddos — Noelle, 15, and Kenneth, 12. Scott
is coaching boys lax at Mandeville HS and works
as a geologist for Small Oil and Gas E&P in New
Orleans. He recently reconnected with Andrew
‘Doc’ Halliday and Tom Flynn ’90 from men’s
lax. Doc is putting together an alumni team for
a men’s tourney in Lake Placid. He told them it
was a long shot for him unless they promised an
“Over 40” bracket.
I’m guessing that by this time, Gary Opin is
recovering from Reunion 2011, where he and the
gang were renting a house on Payne St for the
festivities. Gary is an orthodontist and lives in
Milford, CT. He was able to send updates on some
other friends as well. David Gould is still living in
Moscow, Russia, and working for a conglomerate
called Alpha Group. Dave was instrumental in
his company going to market with a revolutionary product that is used for male back waxing.
Crazy stuff! Other classmates who were reunion
bound included Steven Simmons, Peter Oltchick,
Craig Dauer, and Ed Doodian ’92. Fran lives in
Ridgewood, NJ. He has 2 children, and is the
general counsel for Sotheby’s Internatl Realty.
Steve ‘Duts’ is living in Westport, CT. He has a
66
scene: Summer 2011
little boy, Harlan, and dog, Beckett. He is still
working in the finance industry. Peter is living in
NYC (2 children) and is writing children’s books
while waiting for the call from the Mets to be
their genl manager. Craig is living in Richmond,
VA, with his 2 children, and is working for Eagle
Asset Mgmt. Scott Ackerman is living in Rye,
NY (3 boys), and working for Deutsche Bank on
their foreign equities desk. Bruce Ferguson is
living in Darien, CT (4 kids). Ferg started his own
software company (aptly named FergTech) that
serves the auto insurance industry. Also, I know
that Fran visited with Josh Weil in Chicago this
past year. Josh has a daughter and is still in the
family line of business (funeral homes). So good
to hear from everyone. Keep the updates coming,
particularly those about the antics from reunion
weekend!
Kathy: 401-783-3897; dkmarcotte@cox.net
1992
Crissy Singer Shropshire
66 Indian Hill Road
Mt. Kisco, NY 10549-3827
While I spent an extremely snowy winter in
NY, dreaming of escape from the tyranny of the
shovel, our classmates found much more happy
ways to bide their time until spring.
Joel Brebbia has been introduced to the Age
of Aquarius. On Jan 31, he and wife Christen
welcomed baby Cal to the world (weighing in at
a strapping 8 lbs and 1 oz). So far, Cal is breaking
from typical Aquarian traits and is being kind to
his parents, sleeping and eating well. Let’s just
hope he stays that way through the teen years.
He joins sister Kenzie, who turned 2 in Jan.
Krista Pilot is now a married woman. On Feb
26, she married Ian Zakrocki (Holy Cross ’99) in
Warren, VT. The beautiful, snowy wedding was
attended by an intimate group of close friends
and family. Melinda Teter Dodge did an amazing
job as the couple’s officiant and earned Krista’s
perpetual gratitude for flying cross-country in
the midst of a snowstorm to be there. Ian and
Krista have settled into a new place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and are both working in
Manhattan. Krista is running the corporate social
responsibility practice at DKC PR. They are planning a honeymoon in the fall.
David Ganz has been named CMO at Event
Support Services RX in Parsippany, NJ. ESSRX is
an expert audiovisual and satellite production
and support company, offering high-def broadcasts and webcasts to the financial services and
pharma industry. Dave and wife Dina Cagliostro
’91 live in Montclair, NJ. Congrats to Dave. Must have unwittingly sent out a siren’s call
to Daves this month, because David Johnstone
also wrote in (now if only I had heard from David
Allinson, the trifecta would have been complete).
But, I digress… David Johnstone and wife, Heidi
Splete, bought a house in Chevy Chase, MD,
(formerly the home of Sen Jim Sasser [D-TN] and
Bucky Harris [Hall of Famer and manager of the
1947 World Champion NY Yankees]) and are still
trying to figure out what color to paint the interior and where to hang at least 3 dozen antique
Colgate postcards (1908–1950 or so), which Dave
has found on Ebay over the last decade. Dave
is editing a lot of books, traveling with Heidi
all over the place (Rome, Napa, etc), and taking
lots of pictures. The Johnstone/Splete license
plate says 2G892S (in case you happen upon it
in the DC area). And Dave is also finally getting
a chance to spread out and display his beer-can
collection, which numbers north of 1,200 and has
been in progress since 7th grade. On the Colgate
Manchester trip in 1990, Bart Mediratta gave
him the only one he didn’t empty himself — a
Guinness draft. That’s what friends are for.
As for myself, summer has finally arrived,
though I won’t be able to enjoy it as much as I
usually do. This past winter, I re-joined the ranks
of the f/t employed. I am now on staff at Food
Network. And no, the offices are not full of food.
In fact, the pantry is quite bare except for an
automated coffee machine. I was disappointed,
too.
Crissy: 914-864-1387; cshrop@optonline.net
1993
Kaori Nakamura DiChiara
61 Mustato Road
Katonah, NY 10536-3725
Since I last wrote to you all, Justin Timberlake turned 30, Heather Locklear turned 50, I
witnessed a 49-year-old Ralph Macchio dance
on DWTS, Britney Spears made her “come back,”
Charlie Sheen lost his mind, and I have been
(shamelessly) Bieberized! In addition, I recently
walked into an Urban Outfitters and literally
felt like I experienced a time warp — it was as if
I was in 9th grade again, just saw Pretty in Pink
in the theater, and was inspired to find some cool
outfits that resembled Molly Ringwald’s attire
in the movie. Seriously, where the *#%& did the
time GO?! We are older and wiser (hopefully),
and at least I’m not completely lost and clueless
to what is current: when my daughter asked me
who Snooki was (she saw her book displayed at
the Target superstore), I was able to identify and
describe the MTV reality star along with the rest
of the Jersey Shore gang. They’re the spring break
version of Friends … the life of GTL, partying, finding those who are DTF, and avoiding grenades
at all costs. What a minute, wasn’t that our
social life at Colgate — without the tanning?! OK,
now back to 2011! Our class pres is now a daddy. Dan Rhynhart
wrote in about his beautiful daughter Olivia
(aka Rhyno Jr), who was born on Nov 4, measuring 18.5" and weighing 7.2 lbs — despite being
born 3 weeks early! Luck would also have it that
she inherited Dan’s awesome head of jet black
hair. Wife Nicole is doing well, and he reports,
“I spend my nights bouncing and running the
vacuum cleaner.” Price Roe informed me of
another Colgate baby birth: Matt Kaplan and
wife welcomed another daughter in early March.
Congrats!
After reaching out to some classmates (I’m
not through the class list yet), I heard back from
Jeff DeMarrai, who sounded better acclimated
to life in England. Last summer, the DeMarrais’
relocation started with their possessions “getting
lost at sea.” They responded to that unfortunate event by taking the T-shirts, sneakers, and
bathing suits they had with them and enjoyed
a vacation in Spain until things got sorted out.
He still describes the new life abroad as a great
adventure. “This whole driving on the ‘wrong’
side of the road is even becoming normal (after I
blew out my front tire taking a left turn the 2nd
time I drove).” Jeff’s 4-year-old son already has a
British accent and his 7-year-old son is playing
in the local soccer/football league and is having
a blast. When he wrote in, GE sent him on 12
internatl flights in 30 days; hopefully he has had
some time at home since then!
When Robin Beth Schaer, Joanne Schmitt,
and Carter Walker Saeteren shared their
updates with me, I started to see my busy life
as pretty boring. Robin lives in NYC, where she
writes, teaches, and “occasionally ships out to
sea.” She’s a prof of creative writing at Marymount Manhattan C and spends the summers
getting her hands salty, dirty, and wet as a deckhand aboard the 180´ HMS Bounty — a wooden
3-masted replica of the 1784 ship of mutiny
fame. Her recent publications include poems
in Tin House, The Awl, and Prairie Schooner. A
bit fascinated by her life, I jokingly asked her if
we could switch lives for a while. She shared,
“It’s a little bit of a split personality for me:
callouses, sailors, and cursing all summer, and
then literati, books, and my best attempts not
to drop the F-bomb in the classroom the rest of
the year.” Joanne continues to reside in Hong
Kong, where she runs a small counseling practice
called The Support System. This practice specializes in substance abuse and couples counseling.
This is her 2nd career and she has really loved the
change. She used to run a residential program
on board her houseboat, which she shares
with her partner, Wayne, but now they rent out
the space to those passing through HK. Their
houseboat is an old ferry that they take around
the various bays and islands in HK. It looks amazing! Joanne reported that “the typhoons can
make life a bit exciting, but otherwise it’s great.”
You can see some pictures on www.airbnb.com/
rooms/55502. Congrats to Carter on the release
of her first book, Moon Montana & Wyoming,
a guidebook from Avalon Travel Publishing. It
took 2 years in the making, but now she and her
family are very well traveled in the area! Her kids
were described as “fearless road warriors.” Carter
continues to live in MT with husband Bjorn and
their 2 adorable daughters — Sissel, 6, and Siri, 5
— and she is the managing editor of Western Art
& Architecture. The Saeterens travel frequently
to Norway as well since Bjorn is from there. She
also added that they were going to celebrate Easter skiing in the Norway mtns. It seriously made
my plans for Easter totally lame by comparison!
As for more local news, Sally Burnett Wilson,
Kat Griffin McCleland, and I enjoyed dinner
and drinks together in NYC. Sally was in NY
on business and we were able to make this
mini-reunion happen. Kat made the trip in from
Bridgehampton and looked fabulous and well
rested despite having a 3-year-old and 3-monthold at home. After a tough winter of snowstorms
and a week of 60° weather the previous week,
we got together on the day when NY had another winter snow/freezing rain warning after
the official 1st day of spring! Sadly, Kim Russo
Rutenberg could not join us for this reunion.
Hopefully we can plan an event to celebrate our
milestone bdays together! Jed Hellstrom is a
person I hope to see this year. Jed travels to the N
Westchester ’burbs because he is the godfather
to the child of a close friend of mine. During his
last few visits, I always missed seeing him by
a matter of minutes. Of course, during his visit
in March, he spent time with my son Chris, 6,
who was having a play date with his godchild,
and met my husband, who on this rare occasion,
went to pick up our son before dinner!
Well, if you haven’t heard from them already,
there are 2 lovely classmates who will be sending kind reminders for us to donate to our alma
mater. After serving as our class gift chairs for
15 years, Carrie Clifford and Sara Wolk Weiner
have passed their batons over to Andy Sweet and
Amy Satin Spinelli. Thank you for all of your hard
work and dedication to an important role over
the years! Amy stated that there are “tall shoes to
fill, but we will try our best!” Amy also informed
me that she and her family are relocating back
to NYC from Hong Kong this summer and she is
looking forward to reconnecting with her ’Gate
gang and celebrating some big bdays! Speaking
of bdays, there are some 4-0 celebrations to
report:
In Feb, Anne Marie Rose celebrated her 40th
farm animals in your hotel suite, or encounters
with Mike Tyson and his tiger...
Only 1 column left in 2011 — write in! I’d love
to hear from you!
Kaori: 914-232-0549; kaoriotrl@optonline.net
1994
Allison Good
#8
319 West 88th Street
New York, NY 10024-2271
Caroline Devlin planned a Colgate reunion in
NYC with Stephanie Andrews Young, Denise
DiBacco Cudden, Kerry McLoughlin Johnson,
Sheryl Salmons Culotta, Kim Campbell Allen, and
Christine Loehr Kagan. They had a fun weekend
with great dinners, some theater, shopping,
and time at the spa. I joined them one night for
dinner and it was fantastic to see everyone doing
so well.
Sean and Jennifer Buckley ’95 Clive wrote to
share the news of the birth of baby #6: Jerome
Andrew was born Dec 27, and joins siblings
Emma, Maggie, Brigid, Seamus, and Eoin. More
exciting news from the Clives: Sean co-wrote
(with Dave Smith and Nick Cardilino) the 2011
National Catholic Youth Conf theme song, “Called
to Glory.” They are looking forward to hearing
20,000 people sing it live in Indianapolis, Nov
2011.
Joel Eisenbaum and wife Amy (U of Houston
’98) are proud new parents who are, in his own
words: “Clueless, sleepless, and never happier.
Jackson Five Eisenbaum was born March 8. We
call him Jack. His favorite hobbies include making weird noises, trying to breast feed from his
dad’s man boobs, and pooping himself moments
into a fresh diaper. Amy, Jack, and I live in Houston and 2 of us work at the NBC station here.”
Cat Bryant Crocker answered my desperate
cry for some news with a great update: “I’m still
busy teaching — chair of the math dept at Riverdale Country School, which is a lot of work but
rewarding and I love it. My kids are 7 and 10, and
are busy with school and other activities. I saw
Christina Chen Paul last spring at a baby shower
for her 4th boy and I got to catch up with Brooke
Seidler Beck there as well.” Thanks, Cat!
Happy 4th of July, Bastille Day, and July in
general.
Allison: 212-875-0751; agood@email.com
1995
David A. Schreiber
1717 West Schubert Avenue
Greetings ’95ers! All’s well here in Chicago (now
that winter has finally left us...) and I hope this
finds you and your families all enjoying a happy,
healthy, and festive summer season. Without
further ado, here is the latest news on our fellow
classmates...
Andrew Thomas sent a handwritten letter
(Andrew, I rarely receive actual mail any longer
and appreciate the personal touch!) from St Paul,
where he proudly reported that his girls — Lucy,
3, Cordelia, 6, and Katherine, 8 — spent the winter season refining their increasingly impressive
snow-fort construction skills while wife Angela
(Georgetown ’94) helped to ensure cold weather
survival for the entire family with her expert
knitting. Andrew has nearly wrapped up his
post-Colgate education with his recent election
as a diplomat of the Am Board of Surgery.
Sean ’94 and Jennifer Buckley Clive sent word
from New Hartford, NY, where they recently wel-
Andrew Daddio
at NYC’s Sambuca restaurant. Attendees were
John and Elizabeth Wort Clyde, Dan Glusker, Jen
Walton, Jacqui Woods Marcus, Rob Rollins ’92,
and Vicki Brakl. In the same month, Peggy and
Price Roe drove down from DC to attend Scott
Lisson’s 40th in Raleigh. In an homage to his
days as the drummer for Captain Black, Scott
rented out a bowling alley and everyone dressed
up in tacky heavy metal ’80s theme. Based on
the pix I’ve seen, everyone nailed the attire —
except for Price, who in his button-down shirt
and khakis, looked exactly how he did in the
’90s — and Scott rocked out in an awesome
long-haired wig! In March, Sarah Lane Sproha
wrote in about her fabulous 40th bday celebration with dear friends Kelly Lehmann Johnson
’94 and Mike ’94 and Jenn Gardner Mason. Kelly
flew in to NJ from TX to celebrate with them for
13 hours. She arrived in Newark at 4pm Sat night
and departed at 5am Sun morning to fly back
to Dallas. Needless to say, they had a great time
staying up all night! Sarah continues to be a CFO
for a NJ company and has been happily residing
in Wyckoff with her husband and 2 daughters
(Tara 7, Amanda, 11) for 10 years.
Due to her temp medical condition (hint,
hint), Lili Rosenberg Siegelson celebrated her
milestone bday early over a weekend with Nancy
Midthun Morgan and Holly Rendle. They both
flew into NYC to keep her company, and the
3 caught up with David Cenedella over brunch.
Nancy lives in FL with husband David and 2
sons, and is the head of park services in the Cane
River Natl Heritage Area. On her way to NY, Holly
dropped her husband and daughter off at the airport as they were on their way to his native Zambia. Holly met her husband when she worked in
the Peace Corps in Zambia 13 years ago. They also
have a son, and they all reside in Boston, where
Holly continues to teach. David is enjoying life on
the Upper West Side, where he lives with his wife
and daughter and teaches accounting in NYC. Lili
also added that she had dinner with Sharon Kim
and Jen Walton. Sharon continues to work for
Christie’s and is traveling a significant amount.
After living on the Upper East Side for many
years, Sharon is debating the move to downtown. Jen continues to work at Country Living
and often escapes NYC with husband Tim. Lili is
also in touch with Elizabeth and John Clyde, who,
despite having 2 young children, are described as
traveling quite a bit as a family — oh, the difficulties in running a travel business! When Lili wrote
me, she was in the process of moving and sent
me her update via phone, so many thanks for the
effort (and looking forward to hearing from you
soon)!
Last but not least, Dan Glusker has a new
job as dir at Commerz Bank, which is the 2nd
largest bank in Germany. His wife, Bethany, also
a lawyer, went back to work f/t about a year ago
after accepting a job at Lehman. With the job
changes and changes in work hours, I watched
them manage their lives with their kids (Sam,
6, Robbie, 5.5) and finally find child care that
suited their needs. As he and Doug Goldberg
approach their 40th year in June, they have
planned a Hangover-equivalent bday weekend in
Vegas with the following ’Gate friends who are
expected to attend this adventure: James Birkelund, Greg Collett, Jan Frouman, Max Hirsh, Chad
Hull, ‘Big Ed’ Jasaitis, ‘Mafia Mike’ Mabardy, Joe
Raymond, Art Roulac, Eric Scuderi, Scott Cooke
’92, Jon Fellman ’92, Rob Rollins ’92, Chris Ackerman ’94, Patrick Convery ’95, Bill Gellman ’95,
Ryan Smith ’95, and Scott Hague ’96. This story
will be rehashed in the next issue. Gentlemen,
I hope that by the time I am writing the next
column, I will not hear of any spontaneous marriages to exotic dancers, stolen police vehicles,
Sendach revealed
At risk of blowing his cover, the Scene talked to Jon Sendach ’98, who leads a double life —
well, for at least four weekends a year. The health care professional dons a Colgate Campus
Safety uniform for special events on campus, but his real job is as associate executive
director of hospital operations at Long Island’s North Shore University Hospital.
Back when he was a student, Sendach had worked for Campus Safety, transporting
injured students to class, dispatching calls, and acting as an Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT). Although he had turned over his badge upon graduation, he fell back into his role
working for the department when he attended commencement a year later. The campus
was buzzing with activity, so when Sendach dropped by to visit his former co-workers, he
ended up pitching in by dispatching calls. When the director at the time called and said, “I
need to see you upstairs,” Sendach thought he was going to be reprimanded. Instead, the
director had recognized Sendach’s value as a certified EMT and an alumnus — plus, he was
often in the area visiting family — so he asked Sendach if he would work for them on his free
weekends. Sendach took a few days off from his consulting job in Manhattan to complete
the state training program and has been going “undercover” ever since.
For move-in day, family weekend, spring party weekend, commencement, and sometimes
other events, Sendach comes north to fill in, handling criminal reports, student motorist issues, disorderly persons, and medical emergencies. There’s also a fun aspect to the job. “My
favorite is move-in day,” he said. “I’m a fixture on College Street, greeting every car, saying
‘Welcome to Colgate!’” Despite his gregarious nature, Sendach has never been recognized by
a classmate — or even the students he has met representing the admission office at college
fairs — when he is in uniform. “It’s like Undercover Boss,” he joked.
Sendach believes his experience as a former Colgate student helps him relate to current students because “I was one of them,” he said, adding, “I made a lot of the same errors
and acted out in much the same way.” His perspective is also valuable to the parents he
welcomes at gatherings like the ice cream social on move-in day. “Uniform aside, I enjoy the
public relations side of the job,” explained Sendach, who has several years of professional
PR experience under his black leather belt. “I remember how excited I was when I got here,
and I think that Colgate is an unbelievably special place.”
Noting that he enjoys his “on-the-scene connection” with the university, Sendach
sometimes trades his uniform for a suit to talk about the health care business at Real World
panels and Career Services brown bag lunches.
When he’s at home on Long Island, he continues to beat the drum for Colgate, attending
send-off barbecues for incoming first-years, some of whom he’s helped recruit.
And at work, Sendach often hires summer interns from Colgate. Once they’ve earned his
trust, he lets them in on his secret identity. They oftentimes don’t believe him, so he pulls
out a photo of himself in uniform that he keeps in his desk drawer — but they usually think
it’s a Halloween costume.
— Aleta Mayne
67
Road taken
Fradley Garner MA’70: freelance
writer, distance runner, bass player,
Denmark
comed their 6th child, Jerome Andrew, on Dec
27. Jerome joins siblings Emma, Maggie, Brigid,
Seamus, and Eoin. Life is certainly busy and fun
for the Clive family! In other exciting news, Sean
co-wrote (with Dave Smith and Nick Cardilino)
the 2011 Natl Catholic Youth Conf theme song,
“Called To Glory,” which they are very excited to
hear 20,000 people sing live in Indianapolis in
Nov 2011.
Britt Norlander van der Woude shared some
fun news that she and her family recently made
a big move on the home front. Her husband’s job
provided an opportunity for the family to relocate to India, so, with their 2 boys, they packed up
their belongings and moved to New Delhi during
July 2010. They expect to be in India for the next
few years and would enjoy some visitors!
John and Ann Marie LaCava Ferrante welcomed their 4th child, Gianna Maria, on Jan 14.
Gianna joins sisters Danielle, 8, and Josephine, 6,
and brother Gregorio, 5.
That’s all I have for now. Please send updates.
Take care and stay well.
David: 773-281-8152;
dschreiber2004@kellogg.northwestern.edu
1996
Fifty years ago, I resigned as a PR manager
of Pfizer in Manhattan and gave up my
Greenwich Village pad to move to Denmark.
Kelly Connolly
Apt. 2
15 Hale Street
Randolph, VT 05060-1219
Why leave a secure job to scuffle for a
living abroad? I was 34 and newly married.
My Danish wife, Bodil, and I were happy
living in the Village. My dream was to open
a jazz club in Copenhagen. When that didn’t
work out, I became a foreign correspondent specializing in medicine and science
— later expanding to many fields, including books for Walt Disney publishers in
Scandinavia.
Hello, fellow ’Gaters. Happy summer! Sure, it’s
meterological spring here in VT, but there’s actually snow falling outside as I write. I remember
our graduation day, where temps topped off in
the 90s, causing some serious sunburn and a run
on Gatorade for those of us recuperating from
Torchlight. Ah, those were the days. I definitely
don’t recover quite as quickly as I did when I
was 21. And I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t
pull all-nighters to study anymore either. Well,
we can all commiserate together at reunion. And
we will have to make sure our tent is the “cool”
one.
So in response to my numerous requests (I
think I was actually begging) for news to make
up for a serious dearth in the last issue, I received
lots of e-mails. Thank you! See, ask and ye shall
receive. So here you go:
Todd Marquet married Kirstin Christman on
July 31 in CA. Colgate attendees included groomsmen Pat Mikus and Gordon Lichter, and John
Faith, Chris Nicholas ’95, and Billy Ivers ’98 as
guests. Kirstin and Todd now live in Encinitas,
CA, where they both work for the San Diego
School District.
Josh Liberman sent in a nice update. He and
wife Lindy welcomed a baby boy on Dec 27. Nathan Beckett joins sisters Hannah and Leah, who
are already spoiling him. The family lives in Milwaukee, where Josh has been in private practice
as a cardiologist for 5 years. He notes that “with
all the WI cheese, beer, and bratwursts, there’s
plenty of business for a heart doctor here.” Josh
keeps in touch with Laura and Dan McShane,
who live in Glenview, IL, with 4 kids under
the age of 5. Josh also mentioned that Colin
Young left his law firm to work as a community
college prof in Brooklyn. Christina Kennedy Davia had this report from
GA: “Chris ’94 and I have had an eventful year.
We moved to CT in the fall of 2009, after 13 years
in Atlanta. We also have 2 additions to our family. We had identical twin boys on Dec 11, Lucas
Edward and Liam Andrew. Their sister, Cora, is 3.”
It was great to hear from Amanda Peel
Crowley, which brings back tons of Hilton Head
memories. Amanda drove me home from Hilton
After our first son arrived in 1964, I came
to appreciate Denmark’s national health
care system, and wrote articles about it.
Reader’s Digest international editions sent
me to Greenland to write about Denmark’s
Dogsled Patrol Sirius. I wrote for SAS
Airlines’ inflight magazine, Scanorama.
Ecology Today and the Washington, D.C.based monthly Environment took me on as
international editor and columnist.
I’ve enjoyed a side career as a voiceover
narrator of slideshows, films, and videos
for Danish firms: Kellogg’s, Pepsi, Stimorol;
movie ads for Four Roses Bourbon; a video
for Volvo — all told, some 500 “speaks,” as
the Danes call them.
Bodil and I parted in 1979. I’d met Hanne
Ingerslev, and we’ve shared life for 32 rich
years. I’m now international editor of Jersey Jazz, and a columnist for AllAboutJazz.
com. Latest project: editing and translating Harlem Jazz Adventures: A European
Baron’s Memoir, 1934–1969.
I love New York and still fly over for
recharges, but Denmark is my home.
68
scene: Summer 2011
Head during sr week, and I still don’t know how
she managed to get out of a ticket from the cop
who stopped us on I-95 in SC for following too
closely to Reed Lewis in the car ahead of us. (I’ve
certainly never gotten myself out of a ticket,
thank you MA Hwy Patrol.) Anyway, Amanda
and hubby Todd moved to Amanda’s hometown
of Bethesda, MD, in Feb ’10, with their 2 boys —
Will, 4.5, and Sam, 3. The fam’s having fun being
back in her hometown and looking forward to
catching up with people at reunion.
That’s it from me. Keep in touch over the
summer, especially with any news from reunion.
Cheers, Kel
Kelly: 240-686-1538; keconnolly@vermontlaw.edu
1 9 97
Amy McKnight Fazen
68 Pine Crest Road
Newton Center, MA 02459-2118
Hi, everyone. I hope this issue finds you all well. Paul Griffin writes, “I’ve recently (Dec) uprooted the family from Alexandria, VA, to establish
new roots in Broomfield, CO, where I accepted a
job with Tri-State Generation and Transmission
Assoc in Westminster, CO. The kids — Nicholas,
3, and Benjamin, 1 — love it and I’ve traded a
16-mile and up to 90-minute commute in DC for
a 6-mile, 10-minute commute. So nice to be out
West!”
Laney Katherine joined Kate Johnston Reed,
her husband, Mark, and sister Maggie Nov 30.
Jess Salins Malloy and her husband, Mike,
welcomed Marissa Francesca Malloy on December 23. On Jan 20, Courtney Conant Maunsell,
husband Bill, and daughter Charlotte welcomed
sister Gemma. The birth of Laney and Gemma
means that all 4 sr year roommates — Kate,
Courtney, Kyle Patterson Martin, and Jessica
Salins Malloy — had children within 4 months
of each other!
1998
Carmella Alvaro
Apt. 355
3939 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612-4900
Greetings, ’98ers! Sue Lord Stephen here, filling
in for the Prez Carm Alvaro while her new business, Melina’s Kitchen, takes off. Not surprisingly,
Carm has created an incredible and successful
business … and this is only the beginning. Kudos
to her on her success thus far! A huge thank you
to her as well in remaining our loyal pres and for
writing the Scene updates for us regularly for 13
— yes, 13 — years.
We have a wonderful update from 1st-time
contributor Cheryl Meltz: “Lots of exciting things
have been happening recently. My fiancé, Marc
Kroopnick, and I live in Fairfax, VA. After over
12 years of working for Lockheed Martin, the
company divested my division due to some more
stringent govt regulations, so I now work for the
spinoff, The SI Org Inc, where I am a sr manager
doing lots of fun things I can’t really talk about. I
just finished my 11th season of coaching Oakton
HS’s diving team, where one of my boys just
placed 3rd in the state and made all-American.
Besides that, I’ve been coaching a summer diving
team, Oakton Swim & Racquet, and a Jr Olympic–
level club team, Dominion Dive Club, where 1 of
our divers, Kim Pilka, is now a soph at Colgate
and just won the Patriot League championships this year! My 4th coaching job is running
my own club, where Krescent Hancock Telleen
coaches with me. Yes, I’m keeping pretty busy
with 5 jobs! Also, a couple years ago, I got back
into diving myself and started competing on the
World Masters circuit. Most recently, I traveled
to Gotenborg, Sweden, in July 2010 for the FINA
World Championships, where I won both the
1-meter and 3-meter springboard competitions.
In Oct 2009, it was Sydney, Australia, for the
World Masters Games, where I also won both the
1-meter and 3-meter springboard competitions.
In April 2008, I went to Perth, Australia, for the
previous FINA World Championships, where
I won the 1-meter springboard. I also set an
American record last year, in the Grand Masters
competition, and this year, I won the USA award
for most outstanding female masters diver. It’s
just fun to be able to do the dives that I could
in college, show up the kids that I coach ;-), and
to travel around the world. I’ve turned each trip
into a vacation, traveling over a fair amount of
Australia, NZ, and Scandinavia. I’m taking this
year off to focus on the wedding, but I’m looking
forward to Italy 2012! Of course, my old Colgate
coach, Matt Leone, has been very helpful with
tips and encouragement. In Oct, Marc and I came
back to Colgate to visit Matt and get his allimportant seal of approval before the wedding!
It all turned out OK, so I’m allowed to marry
Marc! Next, to teach him to dive…”
Garine Serengulian Magary writes: “The DU
Annex has been seeing quite a bit of each other
in the last year. It has been wonderful to reconnect. In Oct, all 10 of us (Nicki Crane, Sarah Thurston McGuire, Amber Bryant DiCioccio, Tasha
Doyle, Flory Wilson, Michelle Warmus Leetmaa,
Elise Berenbroick Hergan, Val Cornwall Kincaid,
Liza Partlow, and me) met up in Naples for a
fun girls’ weekend at Nicki’s parents’ house. On
March 19, 7 of us made it to Michelle’s wedding
here in MD. She was a beautiful, glowing bride
and everyone danced like they were back at the
Jug. Amber was busy in KS having baby #2, a girl
named Emma Grace. And Flory Wilson is getting
married this Oct in Tucson.”
Darcy Halsey recently returned from Vietnam
after spending 3 weeks there building houses
for Habitat for Humanity. And back in LA, she
recently went to a baby shower for Dave Coggeshall and her good friend Lori, his wife … who
had a baby boy. Jesse Johnston and wife Abby
also attended with their new baby boy!
Susanne Stallkamp adds, “Emily Hayes
made partner at her law firm, Wilson Elser, as
of Jan 1, and we celebrated with a party here in
NY at the end of Feb. There was a good Colgate
turnout, including Sarah Lopez, Natalie Volkman, Caitlin Oldham Bohlman, Deb Iorio, Lauren
Galliker ’90, Steve Donahue, Greg Dahlberg, and
Pete Quelch.”
Matthieu Raillard was awarded tenure at
Lewis & Clark C, where he is now assoc prof of
Spanish. He has also been serving as chair of
the Spanish Dept, and continues teaching and
researching Spanish lit. “Anne Samuel and I are
loving living out here in Portland, OR, though we
do sometimes feel nostalgia for the East Coast!”
Jill Allen Murray just started a new job with
The Sheridan Group after completing a term as
Congressman Dan Maffei’s chief of staff.
Caroline de Oliveira got married on March
5 in NYC to Alden Burgess, and adds that “the
wedding was a blast! We had a couple of Colgate
friends in attendance: Caroline Westin-Garcia,
Andrea Mason, Jimmy Wohl, and Mei Chiu ’97,
who was one of my bridesmaids. I also started
a new job at Mercer, an HR consulting firm, in
Feb.” In other wedding news, Jeff Embree got
married on Jan 16 to Emily Carey (Cornell ’01) in
Tarrytown, NY, at Sleepy Hollow CC. Dave Shaw
and Peter Lindahl were in attendance.
Stephanie P May Beaumier reports, “Exciting
1 99 9
Katie Raisio Abstoss
Greetings, fellow ’99ers! This spring brought a
slew of new babies, and possible Class of 2033
graduates?!
Tara Lyons Morley announces that she and
husband Scott (USMA ’00) welcomed their 1st
child just in time to ring in the New Year. Alexis
Brooke was born at West Point, NY, on Dec 30,
and “with all of the snow we got in NY, it was the
perfect time to be housebound with a little one!”
Senta Rand Wilson is excited to report that
she and husband Angus welcomed their 1st, Finn
Alexander, on Jan 8.
Nick Pascale wrote that he and wife Natalie
welcomed a daughter, Elena Rose, on Valentine’s
Day; Elena joins brothers Christian, 4, and Nathaniel, 2.
Julia Milona Halewicz, husband Tim, and
3-year-old daughter, Athena Johanna, welcomed
Timothy Paul Jr on Dec 27.
Shannon Brown Routhouska reports that
she continues to work in a private dermatology
practice in Rochester, and just had another baby,
Paige Marie, on April 3.
Erin Bradshaw and husband Dan Kleinman
(Tufts ’97) welcomed Matthew on April 5. “He
is doing great and we are all watching closely
to see how his brother, Petey, 2 1/2, rises to the
competition!”
Sean ’97 and Katie Bartlett Brebbia are
excited to report the birth of their 2nd daughter,
Mary ‘Mae’ Collins, on Oct 15. “She joins sister
Maddie, 3, and Mae got a little buddy 2 months
later when Liz Kerr gave birth to Harper Louise
on Dec 12!”
Shannon Lundeen got her PhD in philosophy
in 2005 and has since been at the U of PA as the
assoc dir of the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s
Studies Program and the Alice Paul Center.
Shannon married Macavan Baird ’98 in 2006,
and they have a son, Paxton, born Feb 2008, and
another son, Harlan, born Aug 2010. Macavan got
his JD from Rutgers Law in 2006 and works for a
firm in Philly. “The irony of this update is that after being out of college for over 10 years, we still
live in a dorm: we are faculty fellows living in
residence in one of the college houses on Penn’s
campus and we even eat regularly at the dining
hall. Sounds crazy, I know! But, we love Philly and
we love living on Penn’s campus with our kids.”
Sasha Wiesen is happy to announce that after
5 years of being an asst DA (State’s Atty) for Cook
Cty, he transitioned to state level and accepted
a position at the Illinois Atty Genl’s High-Tech
Crimes Bureau, based in downtown Chicago.
“In the few months so far, I have been working
closely with state investigators, executing search
warrants to seize electronic evidence, helping
to conduct computer forensics, and ultimately
prosecuting these high-tech cases at trial. It’s
very exciting work and I am thrilled to have this
opportunity!”
Jeff ’01 and Lilah Fisher Wise and their
daughter, Charlotte, 2, are still living in the W
Village of NYC. Jeff completed his MFA from NYU
in acting and is currently auditioning, directing,
and teaching. Lilah is busy with Charlotte and
working on a novel, and reports that “last Oct
I attended Don Parker’s beautiful wedding in
Chicago, visiting with Beth McAndrews Seppala,
Mike Favazzo, Vin Randazzo ’98, and Joanna
Snyder! It was a great Colgate reunion.”
More on the career front: Allison Ridder
recently moved to West Palm Beach to join
NextEra Energy Resources to trade as a senior
attorney. Jacob VanRyn reports that he was
recently named the assistant commissioner for
Strategic Communications of the Northeast-10
Conference, and is living in Mansfield, MA. And
after 4 years, Andrew Meier is leaving the NTS
Atty Genl’s Office to enter private practice with
the Manhattan law firm Oved & Oved LLP.
Matt Lipson is looking forward to his nuptials
in Sept, where he will be joined by “lots of Colgate people, including Nick and me.”
Lastly, James ’98 and Tricia Keith Baione welcomed their daughter, Jocelyn Marie, on March
22: “She was 8 lbs, 2 oz of Colgate squishiness!”
Hope everyone is having a great summer so
far, and keep those updates coming!
Katie: kabstoss@gmail.com
2000
Katie Tone Brock
411 Sloan Road
Nashville, TN 37209-4654
Summer greetings from the hot, hot, hot South. I
hope you’re all well and enjoying summer vacations, weekends by the pool, evening barbeques,
and lazy golf-filled afternoons. Thanks to all of
you who sent in updates — lots of great news to
share this quarter:
We’ll start with a Class of 2000 women ruggers mini-reunion in Vegas in Jan. Dana Smith
Walsh hosted Tiffany Alvarado McKenna, Anna
Richter Lee, Lesley Hall Milhauser, and Mary
Thornton ’01. “We had an awesome time hitting
up the Pinball Hall of Fame, the world famous
Double Down Saloon (also known as the Happiest Place on Earth), taking in a Cirque du Soleil
show, and working up a sweat hiking at Red
Rock. It was really nice to catch up and to try and
remember rugby songs from 10 years ago!”
Another mini-reunion of sorts occurred
at the Nov wedding of Lauren Sclafani to Ric
Weisgerber. Colleen Henry Burgin shares: “It was
a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Ocean
Club in the Bahamas. There was a big group from
Colgate in attendance, including Sarah Lohr,
Thomas ’02 and Leanne Nassar Wines, Caroline
Lineen, Lise Lynam, Mike Galvan ’99, Denise
Hatzis, and Esty Gorman. We all had a fabulous
time celebrating with Lauren and enjoying a
vacation with old friends!”
Also in 2010, Michelle Lent married Philip
Rosenbaum (Clark U ’04) in May. Colgate alumni
who attended included Brian and Jennifer
Greer-Morrissey, Dana Ross, Jennifer Johns, and
Jessica Biggs. Michelle also defended her PhD
dissertation in clinical psych at Yeshiva U in Oct
and has headed to Temple U for an internship.
Colleen Fleury kicked off 2011 with exciting
news: “In Jan I married Mike Moisio (Middlebury
’96) on Grand Cayman Island. There were several
Colgate alums in attendance: Colleen McVearry,
Kate Wissel-Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Mueller,
Rachel Montague, Hilary Abell Bednarz ’98, and
Daniel Moisio ’07. The wedding ended up doubling as a send-off party, as Mike and I moved to
Singapore directly after that as part of a relocation for Mike’s job. We are loving Singapore so far
and are looking forward to exploring this whole
region.”
In more good news, the Colgate Class of
2030-something continues to grow: Brian and
Rachel Cherry Hudson are happy to announce
the birth of their 1st, Grace Genevive, born Oct 16
in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since the family is on expat
assignment in Brazil, Grace has the good fortune
of automatic dual citizenship!
Ryan ’99 and Judy Culhane Faubert welcomed
their 2nd, Tyler Ryan, on Dec 30. Tyler joins
brother James Hamilton, born June 13, 2009.
Will (Syracuse ’98) and Paige Springer Candee
welcomed twins Conner Patrick and Braeden
Scott on Jan 5 in Vegas. Paige writes: “All the
sleepless nights are worth every second. Fellow
twin Lyla Bibi was able to come out to the baby
shower in Orange Cty, CA, in Nov. We spent the
night in Venice Beach celebrating with O’Douls
and getting some great twin tips.”
A Colgate boy through and through, Sullivan
James was born to Mike and Kristin McHenry
Collins on Feb 13! In additional good Collins’
family news, Mike was promoted to CIO at Gold
Bridge Partners.
Josh and Shana Berkowitz Cooper welcomed
Sadie Liana in Feb.
Jenn Greer-Morrissey shares double the news:
“I was very sad to miss the 10-year Reunion last
year, but at least Brian and I got to see many
Colgaters the weekend directly before reunion
at Michelle Lent Rosenbaum’s wedding. The
other big news from my last update is our new
addition to our family. Benjamin was born Feb 17,
joining brother Adam, 3. Benjamin was born on
my dear friend Kiki Hinman Lansdale’s bday. We
got to celebrate with her as she was at the same
hospital, down the hall with her new daughter
Jane Elizabeth, who was born on Feb 16! It was
so fun to be at the hospital together for such a
special occasion. Jane joins brother Charlie, who
is just 3 weeks younger than my Adam, and it’s
wonderful to live so close to each other and have
our children at the exact same age.”
Also in mid-Feb, Michael and Erica Schrader
Knopp welcomed their daughter Hailey Elizabeth on Feb 19. She joins brother Parker, 4. “We
recently had a visit from Jackie Pirone Palumbo,
husband Larry, and daughter Claire (6 months
old in March).”
Jamie Schwarz and his wife moved this winter into a brownstone apt in Prospect Heights
and welcomed Miles Bennett on March 8. Mom
and Dad are looking forward to BBQs and kiddie
pools in their back yard this summer.
Jay Menton shares: “We are still happily living and working in Chicago. We welcomed our
2nd child, Caroline, on March 22. Caroline joins
brother, Jack, 2.5, in making our house entertaining, busy, and chaotic!”
Tre and Katie Waszkiewicz McCroskey ’02
welcomed the birth of Christopher John on
March 31. Chris weighed in at 9 lbs, and his
2-year-old sister Maddie is excited (sort of) to be
a big sister!
Melanie Randall Sanborn writes: “Everything
in the Sanborn household is going well. I am loving my job as a pediatrician for military children
at our local Navy base. I get the chance to do
outpatient medicine, inpatient medicine, and
newborn care. It is perfect for me. Adam is back
from Cuba (he was deployed for 9 months), and
I am sure glad to have him home. Our biggest
success is that Audrey is potty trained. It seems
like yesterday that I was bringing home my 4 lb,
10 oz preterm miracle baby. If anyone comes to N
FL, let me know — we have an extra room.”
Classmates continue to be on the move. In
addition to the relocations and career developments previously mentioned, David Williams
writes: “ After 3 months in India with my wife,
Kathy, and 18-month-old son Bodhi (it was quite
an adventure with a toddler) studying Ayurveda,
I have moved to Maui and am working as a
hospitalist physician. If you ever want to escape
the cold, look us up.”
After 7 years at Ft Bragg, to include 2 deployments to Iraq totaling 19 months, Eric Danko
plans for a summer graduation from his 2-year
comprehensive dentist program and a move to
Ft Myer, VA. The whole Danko family, including
twin 4-year-old boys, are excited for the move
and fun times ahead!
Answer key to the You Were Here
puzzle on p. 76
1 (Madison) + 2 (Payne) =
NOISY DEAN MAP
3 (Lebanon) + 7 (Kendrick) =
OLD BREAKNECK INN
4 (Pleasant) + 5 (Broad) =
ADORABLE PANTS
6 (University) + 9 (College) =
OILY LECTURES GIVEN
8 (Hamilton) + 10 (Alumni) =
MINIMAL LOAN HUT
news here. My stepdaughter Zoe Beaumier
was accepted into the Colgate Class of 2015 and
will also be one of the 10 first-year field hockey
recruits joining Coach Foto’s team this fall. (I’m
guessing this probably makes me the 1st of the
class to have a kid at Colgate.) We are on our way
to the 2015 congratulatory reception up in Cleveland tonight to celebrate with the other accepted
students from OH. Go, ’Gate!”
Duncan Hughes writes, “Since I last wrote, my
wife gave birth to our 2nd boy, Holland. He and
brother Camden are doing well. I am finishing
my genl and trauma surgery training at Cornell
this June and we are moving to Durham, NC, for
my specialty training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Duke. We just bought a house and
can’t wait to leave the confines of NYC for a more
‘Hamilton-esque’ lifestyle!”
Marion Bend Ruthig reports that “we had a
beautiful baby girl last June, Anne Lucille. She is
adored by her brothers, Robbie and Jackson. We
are moving to Naperville, IL, this summer and are
very excited!” Tracy Rinaldi Hardy also has baby
news! “We had our 3rd baby last week! Thea
Adriana was born happy and healthy, and bro
Owen and sis Elise are in love! Dave ’96 and I are
doing well, if a bit groggy...”
Stacey Viola Summers adds, “I’m very excited
to report that our son, Brennan Thomas, was
born on Jan 17. He is beautiful and we are loving
life as 1st-time parents. In Dec, we were lucky
to have a visit from Beth Vuolo Gousman, baby
daughter Mia, and husband Matt. I was also
grateful for a visit from Carrie Ciaccia Mathews,
who came bearing food and gifts shortly after
Brennan’s birth, and from Lori Breier Strong,
who flew all the way from Austin to Boston for
a long weekend to offer invaluable support (and
sleep strategies)!”
And with more baby news, Kurt Mueller
writes, “My wife, Megan, and I are very pleased
to announce the birth of our son, Kaden Donald,
who was born in Boston on March 31. I’m the last
of my roommates (Tim Hawkins, Josh Decerbo,
and Jay Won) to become a parent. Now what will
Irene Beers Hawkins have to ask me about when
I call to talk with Tim? Megan and I look forward
to introducing Kaden to all our friends from
Colgate and Clark U.”
Sam Solovey writes, “I know you get lots and
lots of baby news and would like a little variety,
but I’d like to report that on June 14, Lori gave
birth to a little boy we named Adam. When not
changing diapers, I’m selling residential real
estate and occasionally conducting auctions for
charitable orgs in the DC area.”
Scott Hoekman is at Colgate right now for
another Alumni Council meeting. The renovations are almost finished with the Colgate Inn.
My quick review: I think the alumni will be
impressed. The amenities, decor and style have
been upgraded tremendously.
Congrats to everyone and thanks for all the
wonderful updates!
Carm: colgate1998@gmail.com
69
Soul food, Thai style
Last fall, only days after opening his Bangkok restaurant, Soul Food Mahanakorn, Jarrett
Wrisley ’02 found himself without a staff. They had all called in sick — hung over, it turned
out, from a night of heavy drinking. It was the latest in a series of frustrations for the
first-time restaurateur who, until then, had made his living as an Asia-based travel and food
writer for publications like National Geographic and Food & Wine.
First came the discovery that the space he had leased was reputedly haunted. Then
there were floods and bad wiring, dishonest designers, and crooked cops. Last, and worst,
was the realization that the manager he’d entrusted with keeping the books was, well, not
trustworthy. “I’m fighting back bugs and sewer gas
smells and furniture that is already breaking after
only a month,” Wrisley wrote at the time on the Atlantic’s website, where he kept a column on his fledgling
enterprise. “These are the joys.”
When he decided to start Soul Food in late 2009,
Wrisley shrugged off warnings from friends in the
industry about the business’s risks and rigors. “Restaurant people like to say that,” he said. He likewise
wasn’t discouraged by his relative newness to his
adopted hometown — he and his wife had moved to
Bangkok from Shanghai only a year earlier — or his
“not very good” grasp of the language. He had cleared
those hurdles twice before: on his semester abroad
at Beijing University and after graduating, when he
went back to China to find work. Growing up in Allentown, Pa., Wrisley was fascinated with Asia, passionate about food, and had “always wanted” a restaurant
of his own. Little could dampen his optimism for his
dream venture. “The restaurant might fail,” he wrote. “The food might stink, or the people
might not come. But I don’t think those things will happen, or I wouldn’t be writing this.”
Wrisley thought right. A year and a half (and several staffing changes) later, Soul Food is
humming, its dining room is crowded each night, and its press coverage has included notices
from the Daily Telegraph, the Thailand Tatler, and New York magazine. Named for the
similarities between Thai food and America’s Southern cooking — fried chicken, slaw salads,
smoked meats — and for Bangkok itself (Mahanakorn is the city’s Thai name), the restaurant is inspired by tapas and izakaya bars. Both, Wrisley explained, serve food meant to be
shared over drinks; both follow “the same front-back philosophy. The dining area is casual,
but the kitchen is very disciplined, very tight.”
Wrisley is a constant presence at Soul Food, although, he admitted, his crew of 11 now
operates smoothly enough that “I don’t really need to be here.” Sometimes he works in the
kitchen, sometimes he tends bar, and sometimes he roams the floor, joking with regulars,
welcoming newcomers, and offering travel tips — where to eat in Goa, beaches to visit near
the Thai-Malaysian border — to all comers. He is also putting together a book of essays
on the travels and foods that inspired Soul Food and already thinking of expansion: more
places, new concepts, different locations.
“I’ve done it once,” he said. “I can do it again. I know now to check people’s references.
I know how to write a contract that will protect me. I know to trust my instincts.”
— Greg Herbowy
70
scene: Summer 2011
Mike Esposito shares that he and his family
recently visited with Evan Timbie, wife Janelle,
and son William, who are also looking to relocate
to the Westfield, NJ, area.
Eric and Kasey Sudmyer Conrad also plan a
near-future move: “Eric just accepted a new job
as VP of sports at Univision in NYC. We will be
relocating to Fairfield Cty and we’re excited to be
able to spend time with our NY friends! Also, so
happy that my roommate Anne Currier Michaels
is now living in the Boston area! Can’t wait for
lots of road trips!”
Finally, 2 of us plan to be the newest residents
of the Lonestar state. Devon, Courtney, and Cullen Skerritt plan to relocate to Dallas. Courtney
accepted a great job at an all-girls’ school in the
Dallas area. Also this summer, my husband and I
are planning a move to Austin. While we are sad
to leave Nashville, and I cannot believe I am moving farther south (into the heat!), Doug accepted
a position at a TX-based firm where he will
practice education law, and we are excited about
our new TX adventure.
Devon and I both plan to work in education
policy and administration field in Dallas and
Austin, respectively.
Keep your updates and news coming. I thank
you and look forward to hearing from you. Take
care and be well.
Katey: 615-417-9727; kptone@gmail.com
2001
Jane Seney
83 Bradford Road
Watertown, MA 02472-1215
Jane: janeseney@gmail.com
2002
Betsy Yates Long
445 Legacy Ct
Westerville OH 43082-6032
Hi, Colgate Class of 2002! Not many people have
written in, so I urge everyone to write in for the
next issue with your news! Remember that I am
available both on Gmail and on our Facebook
page. Babies, weddings, promotions, and other
news are all fair game for our column!
First, congrats are in order for Dan Cappucci,
who was selected as a winner of the Boston 2011
5-Star Wealth Managers with Baystate Financial.
Congrats are also in order for Margaret Neill,
who moved back to El Paso as the technical
services manager for the El Paso Public Library
System in April. Margaret’s move back home
promoted her from working in a single library to
managing an entire 12-library system. Congrats
to both Margaret and Dan. I love to hear how
diverse our career paths are!
Congrats are also in order for the Schiffer-Asmussen family! Lauren Schiffer’s wedding was
in the beginning of Oct to Erik Asmussen ’04.
Included in the wedding party were Lauren’s sister Jen ’98, Emily Roper-Doten, Alyssa Verbalis,
Whitney Baer ’04, Jesse Czecanski-Moir ’04, and
Lindsey Slenger ’04, with Sarah Compter ’04
as officiant. Many other Colgaters were in attendance, including Evan Moran ’00, Doug Miller,
Lori Mele ’05, Marty Dinn ’99, and Curt Doten ’03.
Lauren carried a homemade bouquet of family
heirloom brooches, which is such a beautifully
meaningful idea! Congrats to the newlyweds!
Another family has also grown. Lee and Lindsey Cohan Swad have welcomed baby Audrey
Jane into the world. Audrey was just under 9
lbs and was born the 1st week of Jan. So happy
to hear that the new family is doing well and
adjusting fabulously!
In a different tone, I wanted to let you know
of the incredibly sad news of Sarah Kulkofsky’s
death in Jan. Sarah’s death was a shock to many
of us. In her time at Colgate, Sarah held the presidency our jr year for Tri Delta and was involved
in the Maroon-News, WRCU DJ, and Student
Senate. She was a prof at TX Tech U in Lubbock,
TX, and had recently accepted a job at Oberlin C.
She was looking forward to being closer to her
family and to working at a place with educational ideals similar to Colgate. As a demonstration of the strength of her friendships, Yaeka
Katsuta and Phill Ramey (married and living in
Seattle), Bethany Cutts, Lea Vacca Michel (prof
of microbiology at U Rochester), Meredith Vacca,
Emily Taylor, Alyssa Verbalis (in Cinci doing her
post-doc work), and I attended the services in
Marion, OH. Many other Colgate friends, profs
in the psych dept at Colgate, and members of
Tri Delta also sent their condolences. The loss of
Sarah was felt not only at TX Tech, who also held
a memorial for Sarah, and Colgate, but also by
friends from Cornell grad school and Marion HS.
At the ceremony, Yaeka recounted the origin
of her and Sarah’s “Pals Day,” a Feb 15 holiday for
friendship, and invited the rest of us to celebrate.
Sarah’s parents have started an educational
fund in Sarah’s hometown and those who wish
are also encouraged to make a gift to Colgate in
Sarah’s memory.
I can’t believe it has been almost 10 years,
Class of ’02. I look forward to hearing from you
for the next column. Until then, stay safe and
healthy!
Betsy: 614-506-0534; betsy.yates.long@gmail.com
2003
Melanie Kiechle
Apt. 3
7040 Chew Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1846
Hello, ’03! I’m just back from a fantastic weekend
to celebrate bachelorette Kelli Wong’s final days
as a single lady, and class council’s old meeting
break resurfaced among the many happy memories recounted. Laura Simmons Kovacs and Kate
‘Kegga’ Gallagher also shared in the wine tasting
and toasting to upcoming nuptials. We had a
wonderful weekend, made all the better by the
well wishes that Amy Hargrave Leo sent along in
her absence. Can’t wait for the wedding!
But right now, on to everyone else’s news.
First up is Bridget Fitzgerald Alexander, who
wrote about her and Jamin’s trip to India for
Arjun Mehra’s wedding to Meghna Ladha in
Calcutta. It sounds like a fantastic trip: “We traveled through India with Michael Cheung and
his fiancée, Kelly Keehan (they got engaged in
November), for a week before the wedding. We
went to Delhi, Agra to see the Taj Mahal, took an
overnight train to Varanasi, and made a last stop
in Bodhgaya, where I meditated under the Bodhi
Tree. Mike and I both celebrated our 30th bdays
in Varanasi. It was the best bday day I’ve ever
had! Once we got to Calcutta, it was a nonstop
week of wedding festivities! Traditional Indian
weddings are multiple days long, and this was
no exception! Other Colgate alums we met up
with to celebrate Arjun’s nuptials included Ed
Travaglianti and new wife, Amy (they tied the
knot on Sept 26), and Nayma Qayum ’02. The 1st
night, the Colgate crew had lessons in Indian
dance, which we performed in front of wedding
guests a few days later! After the wedding, Jamin
and I traveled to Nepal. Jamin grew up in Nepal,
and he had not been back since his family moved
to the US in 1992. It was exciting for both of us
— and my 1st time seeing the great Himalayas.
I even went paragliding!” In everyday life, you’ll
find Bridget working as a graphic designer at
NEMO Equipment, a small outdoor equipment
company in Nashua, NH, and Jamin is still working at Childrens Hospital Boston, managing a
7-year study on post-surgical glucose regulation
in the cardiac ICU.
Josh Page sent me a thorough update (with
bullet points! Love it!) on the people he sees most
regularly. But what I really want to know more
about is Josh himself, since he reports he has
earned an MS in sports business from NYU and
now has a job with the NHL. Alas, we’ll have to
wait until next time, because Josh thought the
news of friends’ weddings and engagements was
more important — I guess we can’t argue with
that! “Justin Goldman is engaged to Andrea Girolamo (Sarah Lawrence ’04) and they live on LI.
Ed Travagliani and Amy Vittorio (Villanova ’04)
got married on LI. It was a beautiful ceremony,
with Arjun Mehra and Mike Cheung standing
by Ed’s side, followed by a wonderful reception.
Colgate ’03 was represented by myself, Joe Henderson, Justin Goldman, Rachel and Chris Montalbano, and Colgate couple Jamin and Bridget
Alexander. This past Dec, a Colgate reunion took
place in Rochester to celebrate Joe Henderson’s
30th bday. His wife, Tracey Perazone Henderson
’04, threw a surprise party with Colgate friends
coming from all over. Homemade food, craft beer,
and an impromptu jam session kept us partying
’til all hours of the night. Colgate ’03 was represented by myself and Chris Montalbano, with
Sarah Compter and Stephanie Cowles McDonald
holding it down for the Class of 2004.”
Maxim Wynn recently got engaged to Candice
Austin and promises to keep us posted on the
wedding. He also is back at Colgate as an asst
football coach and had a great year coaching for
alma mater. According to Max, “I have so much
pride in Colgate that it’s easy being passionate
about my job. I enjoy getting up and coming
to work every day!” Max spends plenty of time
away from Hamilton though, and appreciates
everyone whom he visits on his travels. “In a
nutshell, I will give a few shout-outs to friends
who have been hospitable in the past. Kaleb
Berhane, Aaron Morton, and Desmond Alexander
always show me a good time when I’m in DC. If
I make a stop in Charlotte, NC, TJ Marion Smith
displays his newfound Southern hospitality
(he’s a Syracuse native). I frequently visit my
hometown of Atlanta; there are plenty of Colgate
friends to hang out with there: Antrell Tyson ’05,
Gemorial Johnson ’05, Lisa Cowan, Ronnie Millen
’06, Alexis Yancey ’05, Phaedra Tucker, Drahcir
Smith ’02, Andrew Moore ’07, Will Arnold ’06,
Megan Ballard ’06, etc. If I left a name out, blame
my mind and not my heart. When I stop in the
Bethlehem/Allentown, PA, area, Tyrone Russell
and Ingrid Alvarez ’04 definitely show me the
‘happening spots.’ Barry Jones showed me
around Toronto a few years back when I visited
during the Caribana Festival! I had a great time
and want to make it back. Kyle and Tamara Serrano Chandler, Jamal Lamb, and Antwone Porter
are living the life in the Motor City. Jeremy and
Khatera Abduwali Ballard keep me posted on
life in the Midwest. NYC … where do I begin?
Nigel Goodman, next time I’m in Brooklyn, we
need to find a bar that serves that mixed drink
we stumbled upon. I don’t even know if it had a
name. It was a bartender’s special! There are so
many people in NYC. I’ll just name a few. Brian
Anderson ’05, Amir Mohammed, Meryl Ashkenazi,
Rachel Lally, Keith Williams ’05, and Rich Grant,
thanks for giving me a shout when I’m in your
‘neck of the woods’ and vice versa. When I cross
the Hudson into NJ, I must hang with Vaughn
Crowe ’02, Chris Brown ’05, Ainsworth Minott
’05, and Sean McCune ’04. Thanks to Antwaun
Dixon in Syracuse for giving me an outlet while I
reside in Hamilton. It is needed at times! Lastly, I
must take a trip out to the Czech Republic to visit
Martin Marek one of these days.”
Cacula Jutte wrote with the exciting news
that she married “my longtime love, Ryan Stoddard (RIT)” in Honolulu last Oct. They live just
north of Seattle in Everett, WA.
Vanessa Simpson is definitely keeping busy
and enjoying life. In 2010, she moved from Alexandria to Fairfax, and now has finally settled in
Reston, VA, where she enjoys exploring the town
center and surrounding area. She also earned her
certificate of accounting from UVA at the end of
Dec, and now has only a few classes left to fulfill
the requirements for the CPA. In her spare time,
Vanessa is taking ballroom dancing and yoga
lessons, and she loves them both.
Lisa Chuda Witzler moved to DC last summer
for an internship as part of her PhD program in
dispute resolution. The internship at the Ombudsman Office of the Natl Institute of Health,
where Lisa was doing mediation and conflict
resolution for scientists, became a f/t position
in Jan, and Lisa is still having an amazing time
there. Congrats!
Rachel Mascetta is loving life in Milan, where
she teaches in a bilingual kindergarten and
tutors primary school students. As Rachel put it,
“It’s a relief to find what I think I’m really meant
to do for a living,” and I couldn’t agree more. I
also think I should visit!
Miranda Clark, whose name is often followed
by the word “photography,” reported some
exciting and unique events in her life. “In 2010,
I installed a chandelier in the Black Forest and
hung love letters in an abandoned castle in Barcelona. 2011 brings me to Detroit and to planning
my 2nd wedding for the summer.” Hopefully
she’ll share the results of these endeavors in a
future column. You can also check out her work
at mirandaclarkproductions.com.
Ruth Stothers flew to Chicago in July, where
she, Kate Sibel, Chrissy Demart Woodring,
Jeanne Fu, and Tess Horsky celebrated Caitlin
Ostrow’s wedding to Andrew Seidler. It was a
nice mini-reunion of old roommates, and they
had a great time on the Wrigley Field Tour. Ruth’s
home life is also busy, but very good. Read on: “I
gave birth to my 2nd child, Patrick Michael Dolan,
on Nov 5. He weighed 7 lbs, 12oz and was 21" long.
My husband, Mike, and I are also the parents of
Gweneth Marguerite, who turned 2 in Jan. Life is
crazy with 2 kids, but we are happy.”
Lee ’02 and Lindsey Cohan Swad also celebrated a new addition: Audrey Jane was born on
Jan 5 at 2:23pm. Vanessa Kramer ’02 and Kristina
Scharf Cuomo ’02 visited Lindsey in Columbus,
OH, for her Nov baby shower, and I’m sure that
if they haven’t already been back to see Audrey,
they will be arriving shortly. Congrats!
One more baby update that slipped through
my fingers ’til now — but it’s never too late for
great news. Edmund and Lorissa Wellenstein ’01
Durant have a baby boy! Isaiah David was born
on Jan 7, 2010, and according to his mother, “is
the most beautiful and best baby ever.” To be fair,
Lori warned me that she might be biased, but I’m
sure she’s absolutely right.
I’m going to sign off by sharing some experiences from Garrett Mason, who left the US last
July to teach science in Liberia as part of the
Peace Corps. Though Garrett only has occasional
access to computers and the Internet, he’s been
sending accounts of his experiences to friends
and family every month or so. Some highlights
include his new Loma name, Zaza, and learning
(bits and pieces of) 8 local dialects; the natural
beauty and colorful butterflies of Zorzor (where
he’s stationed); students who really want to
learn; the Sierra Leone-Liberia Olympic–qualifying soccer match (in which Liberia prevailed!)
and the stadium’s ninja security force; and
everyday adventures on the streets and in the
classrooms. Garrett also has encountered lots of
new challenges — both expected and unexpected — that range from communication to disease
to a new diet to rain, mold, and dust. Because I’m
writing this sunny summer column on a rainy
April day, I’m going to share a few of Garrett’s
thoughts on the rain: “Despite knowing that
Liberia is located in the Upper Guinea rainforest and has a rainy season, I was still at a loss as
to what ‘rainforest’ and ‘rainy season’ actually
entailed. Would the sky send down a light drizzle
or gush water continuously? Was it going to rain
every day? Should I have brought 2 bathing suits
instead of just 1? All of these questions floated
through my mind as the wheels of the 747 I was
flying in touched down on Liberian soil. That
1st night — I won’t ever forget — it poured. It
poured like I’ve never experienced before (and
having lived in New Orleans for 4 years, this is
saying a lot). The falling water pummeled the
zinc roof of the convent like a hundred caffeineinduced teenagers let loose in an orchestra’s
percussion section. I couldn’t hear my own voice
over the noise — nor could I sleep through it. So
I just laid there, hour after hour, listening to the
violent collision of metal and water. After a week,
I’d estimated that it had rained for 130 of the 168
hours I’d been in Africa. And though I’d only been
in Liberia for a short time, I felt that I had a much
firmer grasp on the terms ‘rainy season’ and
‘rainforest.’ And to be quite frank, I felt whoever
had 1st used these words to describe the climate
and landscape of Liberia really hit the mark spot
on.” Garrett has adjusted to the rain, and welcomed its return after the very dusty dry season,
but he always appreciates hearing about the
spring rains he grew up with and other details of
daily life. If you have the chance, send Garrett an
e-mail to say hello; he’d love to hear from us!
Melanie: 315-778-0497; mkiechle@gmail.com
2004
Moira Gillick
Tottering Hall
2501 Calvert Street NW
Apt. 705
Washington, DC 20008-2654
Hello, beautiful people. I write as I am unpacking
my bags from a trip to New Orleans, where I
ran into Andrew Houston in the French Quarter
(he was there with his mates celebrating his
bachelor party, “Moira, I am getting married!
Can you believe it!” was his refrain) and I am
repacking my bags for a trip to (where else but)
London (but when else does my trip involve a
wedding, much less a royal one?!). Did you see an
article in The New Yorker about how theirs (Wills
and Kate, that is) is a conventional collegiate
romance?! Christine LaRusso, marrying her
college beau and our classmate Rich Virginia in
May, sent it to me: “So far, so conventional — a
college and postcollege romance. This sort of
thing is undoubtedly playing out right this very
moment at Colgate and Hamilton and Skidmore
and Amherst and anywhere else people smart
enough and rich enough and Barbour-jackethaving enough assemble to study art history and
slum it with cheap beer.” Ha! Do you really think
that is Colgate?! The cheap beer seems a compliment, the art history part less so, and the Barbour
jackets comment an open palm face slap (Jersey
Housewives style). Here’s what I heard from the crowd this time
around: Rob Anderson writes from close to the
valley, “I’m finishing residency this summer in
family medicine. My wife, Rachel, and I will be
moving to the Finger Lakes (Penn Yan, NY), and
I’ll start practicing Aug 1. We’re approaching our
6th anniversary (we never put the announcement in the Scene). Graduated SUNY Upstate
Medical May 2008. In March, we got a visit from
Michael Tringali, Eric Koleda ’05, and Christine
Naclerio ’05 for a birthday party. Many laughs
were had by all. Earlier this month attended the
Colgate at Union hockey game on the Saturday
of the playoff series with my wife and Robert
Masters ’07. Colgate came back in the 3rd period
to start their big upset and we showed up their
fans. Go, Gate!”
Scott Chabina writes from NYC: “I just
recently got engaged and wanted to share the
news!”
Carrie Brummer wrote from the sand land: “I
have been teaching in Dubai for 4 years now and
will be staying at least 1 more. Besides teaching,
I am a visual artist and have been fortunate
enough to show in some galleries in Dubai.
I write a blog called Artist Think, which has
featured photographer Chris Conti and writer
Shannon O’Hara (who is currently studying at St
Andrew’s, go find your Prince William! inserts
MG). I am planning my summer trip to the states
to visit friends and family, including Kate Beideman, who was recently engaged to Jim Heitzenrater. I will be returning to the states next
May for the wonderful couple’s nuptials. If any
’Gate alumni happen to be in Dubai, look me up.
I’m happy to show you around or meet up for a
drink. Best wishes to all from sand land.”
Thom Lappas writes from the West Coast: “I’m
finishing up a PhD in cognitive sciences from UC
Irvine in June.”
Barbara Stcherbatcheff writes from London,
“I was reporting on the CESCO copper conf in
Santiago, Chile, April 4–6. I attended the inauguration of Antofagasta’s Esparanza mine in the
north of Chile, which brought together various
leaders throughout the political and business
worlds, including the pres of Chile, Sebastian
Pinera, the Minister of Mines, Laurence Golborne,
as well as various natl and regional authorities,
including the Japanese ambassador to Chile, and
managers and workers of Antofagasta Minerals,
alongside its Japanese partner Marubeni. Antofagasta put on a show worthy of its billionaireridden audience, complete with a performance
from the Antofagasta city orchestra, and a
multi-media presentation of lights, music, and
computer animation that transported the audience into a sensory journey of copper extraction
powered by desalinated water.”
Allison Taylor, aka Carmen Sandiego, writes
in from who knows where: “I finished up on the
Sorlandet in mid-Jan and have been hanging
out in CA with my relatives, my boyfriend, and
a couple boats. Next up is second mate on the
Geronimo, a 70' sloop owned by St George’s
School in Newport, RI; Chesapeake Bay and ME
for the summer, and the Bahamas to tag turtles
in the fall with crew of 3 with 7 HS students.”
The commemoratives (stamps, tea towels,
china), the buzz about the dress(es), the reality
shows, the iPhone apps — it’s all glorious and
once-in-a-lifetime stuff. However, I am not down
with Prince William’s “Naked Finger” because
this once-in-a-lifetime wedding is supposed to
be a marriage for the rest of your life. Take note,
young betrothed men, and put a ring on your
finger.
As always, I look forward to hearing from you,
and if not, hearing about you. Best, MG
Moira: moirag@gmail.com
71
2005
Amy Griffin
Apt. 3
847 North Oakley Boulevard
Amy: amyegriffin@gmail.com
2006
Megan Sobel
I hope everyone had a great time at reunion!
There are lots of updates, including a bunch
of weddings and engagements. In an effort to
save space, I’ll wish all my congrats to the many
happy couples here!
Abby King has been hiking the Appalachian
Trail since April and will be continuing her
journey through Sept. Her travels are taking her
from GA to ME and you can follow along on a
blog she’s keeping.
New Orleans was crawling with 2 groups of
’06ers this past Mardi Gras. Just as they had done
many times when they were at Colgate, Brian
Yellin, Phil Pearson, and Andrew Lang returned
to New Orleans for a long weekend of partying
before Fat Tuesday. While there, they ran into the
other group of Colgate revelers, who met up in
NOLA from all over the country to celebrate with
Matt Drummond for his bachelor party: Charlie
Pearson (who’s recently engaged) from Chicago;
Mike Oliver, Sam Higgins, Scott Donohue, Brad
Backenstose, Drew Lane, Jay Armstrong, and
Ned Thrasher (who is finishing up his 2nd year
at Brooklyn Law) from NYC/Hoboken; Mark
McVeety (also recently engaged) from Tampa,
FL; Tristan Kessler from DC; and DJ McLaughlin
from London.
Katherine Donovan, who is living in Boston, is
engaged to Tristan Noyes.
Dave Policano recently asked Courtney Little
to marry him in Paris — how romantic! Of
course, she said yes.
Tiffany Gonzalez rang in 2011 aglow, as she
got engaged on New Year’s Eve. She is the intern
for counsel to the VP and occasionally bumps
into Amy Dudley, who is deputy press secretary
for the VP, at the White House.
Ariel Falconer will be marrying Peter Kramer
this Aug in CT. Elizabeth O’Leary, Stefanie Telvi,
and Karla Yeh are all bridesmaids and will be
making sure it is a fun and beautiful day!
Susan Tahsler married Mike Bowser, of
Gamma Phi formal fame, in a lovely PA ceremony. Abbie Bloom, Ali Sherbach, Sheila Rao,
Vanessa Foreman, Hadley Debevoise, Andy
Chiquoine, Mike Chase, and Simon Schwam were
all in attendance. Susan is living in NY and has
seen her hard work at the Today Show pay off, as
she now is in possession of an Emmy Award! She
produces a weekly segment on the hottest videos
on the web, so if you ever see any funny new
YouTube videos, send them her way!
Sarah McCarthy and Mark Mushel got hitched
in CT. Among the attendees were Jennifer
Weisholz and Ryan Hall. Ryan will also soon be
getting hitched to Colleen McCarthy this Aug;
in the meantime, he continues to frequent the
watering holes in the DC area with fellow DUs
Bill Gaughan, Josh Wurst, and Jeremy Wurst.
Alex Shindler was recently admitted to the
bar of DC. This is his 4th license, joining his present admission to the NY, NJ, and CT bars.
Jim Marusich has a whole slew of exciting
news: “A few cool things have happened to me in
the past year. I’m currently completing a 1-year
dental residency at St Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. My wife, Vanessa (Oneonta ’06), and I had a
72
scene: Summer 2011
son named Jonathan Duke on Jan 20, 2010, and
he is doing very well. I was in NYC at the end of
Jan for a fraternity meeting, where I saw several
good friends: Jimmy Liu, Ryan Mellon, Jarman
Russell, Dennis Wong, and several brothers from
other years.”
Jessica Winicki and Eve Soderberg, who
have been roommates since graduation, have
both recently completed additional degrees. Eve
graduated from the U of MD School of Law and
plans on moving to DC. Jess has graduated with
a BSN from the Johns Hopkins U School of Nursing and has recently started as an RN at the U of
MD Medical Center in surgical transplant. She’s
also busy planning for her wedding that will be
taking place this Oct!
Steve and Rachel Cox Sheridan recently
welcomed a prospective member of the Class
of 2033 into the world. John Charles was born
on March 13. Sounds like he’s going to have
some awesome Colgate Day bday parties in his
future!
Brent Smith has started his own company
called Fresh Mint Media and is working on a
movie called SICKCARE, which is a lighthearted
documentary on health in America. In his
free time, he has been participating in “Tough
Mudders” across the country with Tom Cassano,
Breton Fischetti ’09, Will Fitzgerald ’09, Jaime
LaBelle ’05, and Merissa Porter ’07.
Becky Armstrong married Brian Babcock
in her hometown of Auburn, NY. She writes,
“There were 11 other ’06ers there: Sophia
D’Addio (played a beautiful piece on the violin
for the ceremony), Ethan Bennet (was one of
the readers for the ceremony), Richard LeBeau,
Nicola Harper and Matt Barber, Kyle Dolan,
Christine Swanson, Sarah Fryc, Renate Schultz,
Carolyn Collins, and Maureen Lynch. It was a
perfect late summer day and I was lucky that so
many of my Colgate friends were able to make
the trip to CNY to celebrate the special day with
Brian and me.”
Matt Whipple has been busy singing and
playing bass guitar in his band, Cymbals Eat
Guitars. They’ve been touring throughout the
US and Europe since releasing their critically
acclaimed debut album, Why There Are Mountains, sharing stages with the likes of The Flaming Lips and Wilco. They are currently recording
their follow-up album: look for it this fall!
Rachelle Dennis recently got her master’s in
counseling at Teachers C, Columbia U. She’s now
pursuing her passion as an academic guidance
counselor at a charter school in Boston and
planning her summer 2012 wedding.
Phil Munderville and Kyle Rudolph got
married in an outdoor ceremony at the top of
Hunter Mtn, in which guests took a chairlift up
for the intimate ceremony. The wedding party
included Chelsea Swank Rossman and Matt
Ogden.
Luke Merkel, Sean Curran, Nate Rosenthal,
Sean Baumann ’08, Jeff Tufts ’08, Sam Evans
’08, Emily Oliver ’09, Mike Hanlon ’07, and Cole
Aaronson ’08 all recently got together to wish
Brett Merkel ’07 well as he transitioned to his
new 3–5 year stint in Heidelberg, Germany,
working with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Megan: MeganRSobel@colgatealumni.org
2007
Allie Grimes
Apt 2B
120 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003-5311
Allie: Alexandra.grimes@gmail.com
2008
Sarah Greenswag
2124 Birchwood Lane
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-6683
Hello, classmates! I hope this column finds you
feeling good and enjoying the relaxing months
of summer. Thanks to everyone who sent in an
update. I am constantly amazed at how motivated and involved our class is. There has been
a lot of travel and visiting for our classmates
during the spring. Erica Leffler, Jill Blinderman,
Courtney Dunlaevy, and Mara Kaufman enjoyed
a little too much sun in the Dominican Republic
this March. Ari Hershey, Taylor Daly, and Kinnon
McCall went out to California in April to visit
Kathryn Everett. Kathryn is living in Venice
and working for an organization called Artists
for Peace and Justice. Several of our classmates
are continuing to pursue higher degrees in a
variety of areas. Darcy Gordon just accepted a
position as a PhD student in ecology, behavior,
and evolution at Boston U to study the sociobiology of ants. She will receive her MS in behavior,
ecology, evolution, and systematics next month
from IL State U, where she studied the evolution and maintenance of nuptial food gifts in
crickets. Darcy is looking forward to returning
back east and starting this new chapter in life!
Mila Adamova has joined Becky Billmire, Paul
Glineburg, and some other friends in Philly as
she started the MBA program at the Wharton
School this May. Tanya Lubicz-Nawrocka is enjoying her studies at Cambridge U in England. She
recently visited Ayanna Williams, who is living in
Morocco while working for the Peace Corps. Colleen McCann will be moving from Portland, OR,
to Cambridge, MA, in August to pursue a MEd
in education policy and mgmt at the Harvard
Graduate School of Education. Meanwhile, Elliot
Conn graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law
in May. And Sheila Giovannini graduated from
Northeastern School of Law in May. Sheila also
shared the exciting news that Matt Torti and
Erin Kanetzke are engaged! Congratulations! In the working world, several of our classmates have enjoyed promotions and career
changes. Jon Cornfield has accepted a promotion
to regional faculty mgr for Kaplan Test Prep &
Admissions. He will now manage the DC North
region, which includes DC, MD, and certain parts
of PA. Jon has moved to Baltimore and lives in the
Fells Point area with 2 roommates. Out in Seattle,
Katie Castino received a promotion at Big
Brothers Big Sisters and is now the enrollment
supervisor. Ben Camper is shooting a hockey
movie, set to hit the big screen late this year in
LA. Ben and fellow classmates Tyler Burton and
Justin Kowalkoski played in a worldwide men’s
hockey tournament in Tempe, AZ, over Memorial
Day weekend. Michelle Wiggins became a CPA
and is working at a public accounting firm in
Binghamton, NY. Cassie Rotman is still enjoying
living in Boston, where she works for Windhaven
Investment Management. Cassie visited Ande
Reisman in Seattle, where she is studying at the
U of WA. Finally, Mackenzie Millar has moved to
Hong Kong and is excited to host visitors!
It is with great sadness that I share with you
this next bit of news. Our class has suffered a
great loss this spring. One of our classmates,
John Kelly, passed away on March 28, 2011. It was
difficult to think about how to write about John,
so I am going to borrow from Cassie Rotman,
who had very kind words to share about John:
“He was a wonderful friend — always so full of
life and energy. He was selfless and not only put
others before himself and gave back to those
less fortunate, but he also taught people to enjoy
every opportunity life provided. He truly will be
missed.” Donations can be made in John’s honor
to the International OCD Foundation in Boston.
Sarah: sarah.greenswag@gmail.com
2009
Samantha Gillis
2000 N St. NW Apt 211
Washington, D.C. 20036
Hi, Class of 2009. Hope you all are enjoying your
summer!
Amanda Gilmore came through DC and writes
that she was very fortunate to be a part of another Colgate reunion. She, Laura Flisnik, Kaley
Zaharris, Kate Joyce, and Mark Anderson got
a last-minute surprise visit from Garrett Gish,
who had just returned from military training.
Amanda will be moving to DC this spring.
Other members of our class are moving to
start graduate school programs. Emily Ha will
be enrolling in the U of Iowa’s MFA in creative
writing program in the fall. Charlotte Keenan
will be beginning law school at the U of Tex. Alex
Golden has safely returned from Japan and is
back home in PA getting ready to start graduate
school. Mari Jones moved from Telluride to Denver this spring.
Monica Williams is in Cleveland, working as
Info, please:
If you know of the whereabouts — home
address, phone, fax, or e-mail — of anyone
on this list, please contact alumni records:
315-228-7435; 315-228-7699 (fax);
alumnirecords@colgate.edu. Thanks for
your help!
Neale W. Peck ’41
Maurice A. Uran ’48
Walter L. Griffith ’49
David T. Ernst ’69
Barbara A. Thompson MA’69
Karl O. Kluever ’72
Leah B. Ward ’77
David N. De Tone ’78
S. Douglas Curtis ’79
Russell L. Varakuta ’81
James R. Bollinger ’85
Dan’l H. Brush ’86
Beth M. Hollander-Harris ’88
Nicholas G. Theotocatos ’88
Pamela B. Druckerman ’91
Laura R. McLaughlin ’91
Steven M. Straka ’93
Fay M. Dearborn ’96
Gabriel S. Velasco-De Armas ’97
George S. Donovan ’98
Barbara E. Kerr ’99
Teviah E. Sachs ’99
Marlene Coates ’00
Laura E. Rohrbacher ’01
Eric V. White ’01
Corinne D. Kravitz ’04
Audrey M. Thompson ’04
Jason T. Bailey ’05
Anne Gruppo ’06
Natalia Linares ’06
Ritwik Bose ’10
a coordinator for a dual enrollment high school
called Design Lab. She stays active with the Colgate community there and was recently elected
to serve as co-president of the Colgate Club of
Cleveland.
Please send updates.
Sam: 207-807-4116; shgillis@gmail.com
201 0
Kim Siembieda
734 Arlington Road
Narberth, PA 19072
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the Class
of 2010 descended the hill, torches in hand, as
a unified group. Some of us have gone back at
different times throughout the year for various
events. In April, many returned to partake in the
various events that occur during Spring Party
Weekend. Aside from reminiscing about Colgate,
fellow classmates have ventured out to take on a
variety of challenging initiatives.
Sam Daly graduated from Officer Candidate
School and was commissioned as a 2nd lt in the
US Marine Corps on March 18 in Quantico, VA.
In attendance were fellow Colgate friends and
classmates John Greenfield, Emily Bradley, and
Lindsey Simpson. Sam is attending The Basic
School at Quantico, where he will choose his
military occupational specialty at the end of the
6-month program. He was one of the youngest in the company (he entered at 22 and the
average age was 25) and excelled in the 3 major
components of the program: academics, physical
fitness, and leadership. On base, he recently ran
into fellow Colgate graduate Jeremy Fisher, who
had just received his MOS as an infantry officer.
Ooh-rah!
Andrew Wickerham is completing his Dartmouth MPH program with a spring health policy
internship at the New America Fndn in DC.
He works across the street from Mollie Reilly’s
offices at Washingtonian mag and lives with
Elizabeth Oblinger, just steps from her Capitol
Hill desk in the offices of OH Sen Rob Portman. Joining them for weekend cocktails and
cherry-blossom watching are John Greenfield
Emily Bradley, Vinnie Freccia, and Mark Kelso.
Emily is working for the DC bureau chief at CBS
News while Mark is working at MarketBridge, a
marketing consultancy. Andrew, John, and Bobby
LeGaye would also like to make a plea for annual
fund donations!
Over the winter, John Williams moved west to
Alta, UT, while working at Rustler Lodge and skiing everyday. He works with Shasheen Shah ’92
and has had visits from Jon Gimber, Rob McCary,
Johnny Russell, and Teddi Hoffman. In May, John
joined the Peace Corps and went to Suriname as
a community econ development volunteer. Visit
our class page photo gallery at Colgateconnect.
org to see a photo of John Williams, Johnny Russell, and Rob McRary during a visit to Jackson,
WY, with Grand Teton in the background.
Stefanie Kovacic is about to finish her 1st year
at St John’s U School of Law and will be interning
at NYU Law’s Ctr for Human Rights and Global
Justice this summer!
In Feb, John Paul Ortiz moved to Columbus,
OH, to work at Abercrombie & Fitch Home Office
as a merchant for Hollister Male Woven Shirts.
Julie Gibbons is a grad student at NW U and
is expecting to get her master’s in elementary
education in early Aug.
Rebecca Kahn is currently attempting a thruhike of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail that
runs from Springer Mtn in GA to Mt Katahdin in
ME. She started her trek in GA on March 20, and
hopes to reach Katahdin by early Sept.
Rebecca Blake is living in NYC and working at
UJA-Federation of NY in the planned giving and
endowments dept.
Greg Hadley took a job at St Lawrence U as the
linebackers coach.
Tara Desai got promoted at JPMorgan and
moved from NY to Dallas as an analyst.
Morgan Krieger got a 2-year teaching fellowship at a public charter school in DC.
Carlton Walker finished his 1-year teaching
fellowship in Atlanta. Carlton believes it was
an incredible and fulfilling opportunity that
will undoubtedly help him in his next business
endeavor. This summer, Carlton is moving to
DC and will be part of CIGNA Healthcare’s Sales
Training Academy.
Katie Garman is finishing her 2nd semester of
grad school in geology at the U of FL. Also at the
U of FL is Katie’s former Colgate roommate Jess
Sabo, who is studying in the bio dept. Katie and
Jess also meet up with Jason Kammerdiener and
Ilona Matulaitis. The nice weather in FL makes
Katie nostalgic for the 1st true spring day in
Hamilton!
Josh McLane is moving to Chicago to work as
an assoc for PwC’s Diamond Advisory Services, a
mgmt and tech consulting firm.
Last summer, Emily Rawdon worked at Colgate’s reunion for the 45th Reunion of her father,
Dick Rawdon ’65. In Aug of 2010, Emily moved
to Chicago and is studying in the Performance
Studies Dept at The School of the Art Institute
of Chicago. Simultaneously, Emily is working at
the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Club in the
communications dept doing press releases, club
stories, special event, and game-day photography. Emily has had photos featured in MLS.com,
futbolMLS.com, and the Chicago Sun-Times. She
has managed to stay in touch with her Colgate
roots. She lives with Adge Brodyn ’08 and meets
up with Tre Vinson ’09 and Kate Betteridge.
Emily also continues to keep up with Annette
Goldmacher and Amanda Katz. Amanda has an
art show going up in MI this summer!
David Gongora ’11 is backpacking in Belize
with his family.
Will Griffin toured the Western Caribbean
and started a new job in FL.
Ty Henry and Garrington Spence started a
new music group, Ivy League Kidz. In Feb, Christine Gayles celebrated her bday
in NYC with Toya Powell, Gabby Jones-Casey,
and Karen Assad ’09.
Kismeth Caminero has been accepted to
Columbia U to the Teacher’s C.
Thank you to everyone for the updates. Keep
them coming!
Kim: 610-952-0491; kimsiembieda@gmail.com
2 0 11
Madeline Love
The Scene welcomes Maddi Love as the first 2011
class editor. Please send your news and updates
to Maddi at madelinemlove@gmail.com.
Marriages & Unions
(2011 unless otherwise noted)
Carla Macaluso ’93 and Ralph Lucci, Feb. 15, 2009
Ian Blackburn ’98 and Elizabeth Saft ’98
Colleen M. Lang ’01 and Eduardo L. Crosa,
February 19
Becky Bye ’02 and James Rufus Garts III, Oct. 9,
2010
Lauren R. Bregman ’04 and Daniel B. Barrie ’05,
March 12
To Lance and Lynn Hoffman ’98 Carlton: Bridger
Hoffman, May 24, 2010
Rebecca A. Armstrong ’06 and Brian Babcock,
Aug. 21, 2010
To Jesse R. ’98 and Jamie Rubino ’00 Moore:
Natalie, Oct. 5, 2010
Births & Adoptions
(2011 unless otherwise noted)
To Terry O’Brien ’98 and Lindsay: Colin Mainwaring, April 1, joining Nicholas and Jason
To Thomas P. DiTosto ’86 and Melissa Chuilli:
Serena, January 3
To Sam N. Solovey ’98 and Lori: Adam, June 14,
2010
To Jay and Betsy Crisler ’91 Sharma: Anne Crile,
February 2, joining Libby, Phoebe, and Penelope
To Scott and Tara Lyons ’99 Morley: Alexis
Brooke, Dec. 30, 2010
To Joel Brebbia ’92 and Christen: Cal, January 31
To Graham and Rebecca D. Minert ’99 Rule:
Charlie David, Oct. 24, 2010
To Christopher J. ’94 and Christina L. Kennedy
’96 Davia: twins Liam and Lucas, Dec. 11, 2010
To Daniel and Katrin M. Peterson ’99 Moffroid:
Tristan Alec, Aug. 1, 2010
To Denniston Reid ’94 and Charlene: Denniston
M. III, March 9
To Andy and Margot H. Martin ’00 Angstrom:
Angus Slater, Oct. 11, 2010
To Marcel and Jenna Siracusa ’94 Trommel: Keira
Iris, May 25, 2010
To AJ Migonis ’00 and Jen: Drew, Dec. 28, 2010
To Kent and Heather Savoca ’95 Masden: Gillian,
Nov. 17, 2010
To Seth and Dori Popkin ’00 Chait: Samara
Brooke, Nov. 11, 2010, joining Zachary
To Kerry A. Reynolds ’97 and Andrew J. Janocha
’98: Aiden, June 3, 2010
To Brendan Wolf ’00 and Courtney: Charles
Robert, Nov. 22, 2010, joining Jeb
To Edward and Betsy Doepke ’98 McDermott:
Mary “Mae” Elizabeth, March 30, joining Ann
and Jane
To Matthew ’01 and Mary Kate Walders ’02
Coseo: Ian Matthew, January 18
Connect with Colgate
Move-in day is almost here: just the
beginning of what becomes a lifelong
connection with Colgate.
In no time at all, the enthusiastic welcome will give way to the
shared experiences of the core, Willow Path, lucky 13, and
Torchlight. Then it's class notes, club events, reunions, and
loyal support for the Colgate Annual Fund.
Please make your gift today.
Online at www.colgateconnect.org/makeagift
Or call 800-668-4428.
73
In tribute
To Jeffrey D. Falciano ’01 and Rosa: Alexandra
Rose, Sept. 29, 2010
To Dan ’01 and Carrie Ruggles ’01 Tarrant: Juliet
Lilly, Sept. 14, 2010
To Steven and Elizabeth Wise ’01 Brown: Isabella
Dean, July 30, 2010
To Sarah Baird ’02 and Bryan Dixon: Walker
Graham, Nov. 17, 2010
To Mark and Lauren Moore ’02 Roche-Garland:
Mairin Sylvia, July 7, 2010
To Steven C. ’06 and Rachel A. Cox ’06 Sheridan:
John Charles, March 13
In Memoriam
The Scene runs deceased notices on all alumni,
current and former faculty members, honorary
degree recipients, and staff members and others
whom the editors determine would be well
known to alumni.
Harry C. Behler ’44, professor of
political science emeritus, 89
Professor of political science emeritus and alumnus Harry C. Behler ’44 passed away at
the age of 89 on March 30 in Ithaca, N.Y. An adviser to Colgate’s debate team for more than
20 years, Behler’s influence was so great that the university renamed that organization the
Harry C. Behler Debate Society.
Coming to Colgate in 1940 from working-class roots in rural Pennsylvania, Behler was
the first in his family to attend college. Between hard work and his diligent studies that
earned him a Presidential Scholarship, Behler was able to cover his tuition. His background
was known to have shaped Behler’s passion for issues impacting workers, farmers, teachers,
and children. With a deep respect for all working men and women — whom he considered
the backbone of our country — he never lost sight of how politics affects real people,
colleagues say.
Behler spent a year studying at Yale Law School after graduating from Colgate. He
returned to his alma mater in 1945 as a political science instructor, teaching courses in
intergovernmental relations, state government, and political parties. While teaching, he
continued his graduate studies at Yale and joined the Colgate faculty after receiving his
master’s degree in political science. He is remembered by colleagues as a tough-minded but
kind man.
Behler coached the debate team through their shift from conventional to international
parliamentary debate and led them to many major intercollegiate tournament wins.
He received the Colgate Alumni Corporation’s Maroon Citation in 1969.
While at Colgate, he advocated for minority programs and opportunities as well as
opening the institution to coeducation. Behler also worked for Cornell University’s New
York School of Industrial and Labor Relations, teaching extension program courses to local
business leaders and labor union members across upstate New York. In addition, he acted
as a negotiator and mediator with numerous labor unions, as well as advanced programs
broadening union membership and training programs for minorities and women.
Active in the Democratic Party, Behler worked across upstate New York on electoral
campaigns for Harry Wallace, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and others.
Following his retirement from Colgate in 1987, he continued to teach a first-year seminar as well as arrange internships in state government and career exploration projects.
Behler is survived by Betty, his wife of 63 years; their four children, Stephanie, David,
Matthew, and John; and eight grandchildren.
Arthur W. Johnson ’40, February 18, 2011. Delta
Phi Alpha, Commons Club, student government.
US Army Air Corps, WWII. He built his career as a
meteorologist with the Army and subsequently
worked in the weather service as a distinguished
civil service diplomat. He was predeceased by a
daughter and a grandson. He is survived by his
wife, Anne, 3 sons, a daughter, and 5 grandchildren.
William S. Rothermel ’41, February 8, 2011.
Sigma Chi, Salmagundi, baseball, swimming. US
Military Service. MD, Jefferson Medical College.
A radiologist, his most recent position was as
associate director of the radiology department
and president of the medical staff at Aultman
Hospital in Canton, Ohio. He was predeceased
by his wife. He is survived by a daughter, a son,
William Jr. ’70, a daughter-in-law, 6 grandsons,
5 great-grandsons, his sister-in-law, and many
nieces and nephews.
Frederick H. Williams ’41, February 28, 2011. BS,
Juilliard; MA, Columbia University. Chorus, cheerleading. He served as church organist and choir
director for 46 years at Ossining, N.Y., United
Methodist Church. He won the Freedom Foundation Award for writing the music for the words
on the Statue of Liberty. He was granted about
200 copyrights for his musical compositions.
Benjamin H. Metzloff ’42, December 22, 2010. US
Army. He was president of Dickinson Lumber in
New Jersey. He was predeceased by his first wife,
June, and his second wife, Joan. He is survived by
4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Richard H. LaBonte ’43, April 26, 2011. Beta Theta
Pi, Maroon, Salmagundi, Banter, Maroon Key.
US Navy, WWII. His business career included 28
years with the McGraw Hill Publishing Company
in New York, as promotions director for Business
Week magazine, among other positions. He
took early retirement in the 1970s and began
a second career as an artist. In 1978, he bought
the Anchor & Palette Gallery in Bay Head, N.J.,
where he sold his original paintings along with
other artists’. He painted more than 175 paintings
and authored several books. He is survived by
his wife, Kathryn, a son, 2 daughters, his sister, 3
grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Charles P. Parker ’43, January 23, 2011. Lambda
Chi Alpha. MS, Syracuse University, 1967. US
Army, World War II. For many years, he taught
74
scene: Summer 2011
as an English teacher. He was predeceased by
his first wife, his second wife, and his sister.
He is survived by 4 children, 4 stepchildren, 7
grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, and a greatgrandchild.
Robert S. Koch ’45, February 18, 2011. Kappa Delta
Rho, chorus, marching band. US Army, WWII.
He began his career with Liberty Mutual before
starting his own business as an independent
claims adjuster. Later, he joined the Hartford
Insurance Company. He was predeceased by his
wife, Jean. He is survived by 2 sons, 2 daughters,
10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and a
sister.
Henry P. Brefka ’49, March 13, 2011. Delta Kappa
Epsilon, International Relations Council. US Navy,
WWII, Air Medal Gold Star. He worked for Johnson’s Wax for 35 years. He is survived by his wife
of 58 years, Nancy, 4 daughters, 5 grandchildren,
a great-granddaughter, his sister, and his brother.
Robert G. Schreiber ’49, January 14, 2011. Kappa
Delta Rho. US Marine Corps, World War II. MBA,
Bryant and Stratton, 1950. He worked for Reynolds Aluminum and Anaconda Metals Co. prior
to forming and serving as president of Schreiber
and Co. in 1979. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and son.
Robert M. Conner ’50, March 6, 2011. Phi Kappa
Psi, Outing Club, Salmagundi, International
Relations Council, soccer. Army Security Agency,
Korean War. He began his business career with
the Amstar Corporation, now called the Domino
Sugar Corporation. After 35 years, he retired as
general manager of raw sugar operations. He is
survived by his wife, Jan, 2 daughters, a son, his
brother, and 4 grandchildren.
William J. Harjes ’51, December 1, 2009. Outing
Club. US Navy, 1945-1946.
Gerald F. Giles ’53, March 5, 2011. Alpha Tau
Omega, Washington, D.C., Study Group, International Relations Council, football. JD, University
of Chicago, 1956. He opened a law office in
Portsmouth, N.H., in 1957. He served as judge of
Rye Municipal Court from 1960–2000 and was
appointed to serve on the Administrative Committee for the District & Municipal Courts by the
state Supreme Court in 1967, from which he retired as chairman in 1973. In 1998, he established
the Public Protection Fund with the state Bar Association and New Hampshire Charitable Fund.
He is survived by his wife, Judith, 4 children, 3
stepchildren, 12 grandchildren, and a brother.
John T. Stoner ’53, February 15, 2011. Tau Kappa
Epsilon, soccer, swimming. US Navy, Korean War.
He began his career working for his father at
Stoner Mudge and retired as head of international operations for Valspar. He is survived by
his wife, Gail, a daughter, 2 sons, 2 stepdaughters,
2 stepsons, a sister, a sister-in-law, 14 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 8 nieces and
nephews.
Myron S. Strasser Jr. ’54, February 5, 2011. Phi
Beta Kappa, Commons Club, London Economics
Study Group. US Air Force. He was co-owner of
Pak-Wik Corp. He is survived by his wife of 48
years, Marion L. Strasser, his son and daughterin-law, a grandson, a brother, and cousins, including Emily Aronowitz ’09.
William M. Updike ’54, March 5, 2011. Delta Upsilon, Masque & Triangle, Maroon Key, chorus. He
was an office planner for TIAA-CREF in New York
by his wife of 44 years, Paula, 2 sons including
Christopher ’92, and a grandson.
Harold A. Benson Jr. ’55, March 23, 2010. Phi
Kappa Tau, Masque & Triangle, Maroon, Salmagundi. MS, Columbia University. He was a retired
consultant and co-owner of Benson, Kramer,
McAllister & Associates in Delray Beach, Fla.
John P. Liddy ’65, March 17, 2011. Delta Kappa
Epsilon, WRCU, student government. A longtime
employee of Kemper Insurance, he retired from
his position as northeast marketing manager
after 32 years. He is survived by his wife, Sharon,
a son, 2 daughters, 4 grandsons, a stepdaughter, a
stepson, and 3 step-grandchildren.
Edward L. Johnston ’56, February 8, 2011. Lambda
Chi Alpha, Maroon, Maroon Key, Colgate Thirteen,
University Chorus, ROTC, indoor track. He was
predeceased by his wife, Wendy. He is survived
by 2 sons, a daughter, 4 grandchildren, and 3
nieces.
Frank T. Bogardus ’57, March 9, 2011. Delta Kappa
Epsilon, Maroon, Banter. He was owner of Bogardus Reconstruction Services. He is survived by his
wife, Ellen, and a daughter.
William J. Rudman ’58, January 3, 2011. Sigma Nu.
US Marine Corps. He taught at the Manchester
Township Middle School for 30 years as well
as coached football there. He is survived by his
wife, Elaine, children, grandchildren, sister, and
sister-in-law.
Robert A. Wilson ’59, February 13, 2011. Phi Beta
Kappa, Konosioni, Pi Delta Epsilon, Phi Society,
Kent Memorial Scholar, Austen B. Colgate
Scholar, Maroon Key, Salmagundi, International
Relations Council, WRCU, Young Republicans
Club. US Army, 1961-1963. MA, John Hopkins University, 1961. From 1963 to 1972, he worked for the
U.S. Information Agency as research analyst and
senior editor. He began working for Pfizer in 1972,
and served as president of the Pfizer foundation,
Inc. as well as VP of public affairs and corporate
affairs division. He is survived by his wife, Marcia, 2 children, a brother, a sister, grandsons, and
nieces and nephews.
Daniel N. Fox ’60, August 15, 2010. Outing Club,
basketball, water polo. BS, Fordham University,
1963. He had a long career as a pharmacist. He
is survived by his wife, Sandy, a son, 2 daughters
including Deborah Rush ’86, and grandchildren.
A. Terry VanHouten ’60, March 16, 2011. Sigma
Nu, Outing Club, Russian Club, soccer, basketball,
golf. MA, American University; JD, Georgetown
University. He practiced management labor law
and served as the firm’s partner and chair of
its Labor and Employment Law Department. In
1983, he became the first in-house labor lawyer
for Eastman Kodak, and worked his way up to
assistant general counsel, Employment Law &
Personnel Relations, and VP, Legal before retirement. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Judy,
2 children, 2 daughters-in-law, 3 grandchildren,
and his mother.
C. Leonard Corbin ’61, January 23, 2011. Debate
Society, Delta Sigma Rho, Russian Studies Club.
US Army, 1961-1964. He taught English and
debate at private schools in the Unite States and
around the world for many years before working
for the Immigration and Naturalization Service
in the US Department of Justice. He is survived
by his mother, his daughter and son-in-law, his
son and daughter-in-law, 3 brothers, 5 grandchildren, his ex-wife, 3 stepchildren, and many
nieces and nephews.
J. Christopher Bell ’62, March 3, 2011. Phi Kappa
Psi. US Army. He worked for Wilmington Trust
for 35 years and served as president of the Donner Corporation. He was also the treasurer of the
Historical Society of Delaware. He is survived
Martin E. Juredine ’66, February 1, 2011. Phi Delta
Theta, football, lacrosse, wrestling. He owned the
Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland, Ohio. He is
survived by his wife, Nancy, 2 daughters, a sonin-law, and a granddaughter.
George R. Reid II ’68, July 31, 2008. Sigma Nu,
Colgate Thirteen, Outing Club, Washington, D.C.,
Study Group, student government, chorus. JD, Columbia University, 1973. He was an attorney. He is
survived by his wife, Debbie, and children.
Alan M. Gewirtz ’71, November 17, 2010. Maroon,
Salmagundi. SUNY Buffalo: MA, 1973; MD, 1976.
Having dedicated his career to the development
of novel therapeutics for the treatment of leukemia, he held 9 patents. He was the C. Willard
Robinson Professor in medicine and pathology
at the University of Pennsylvania and headed
the Hematologic Malignancy Program at the
Abramson Cancer Center. In addition to being
widely published, he also served on 2 editorial
boards and edited a book. He is survived by his
2 children, brothers Henry ’67 and Elliot ’69, and
nephew Eric ’02.
Catherine Kane Whitbeck ’71, January 26, 2011.
Phi Beta Kappa. She worked for Questar III as a
counselor and advocate for high school students
for 30 years. She is survived by her husband, Carl,
4 children, 3 brothers, 2 grandchildren, cousins,
and nieces and nephews.
Jeffrey C. Warlich ’82, March 18, 2011. Lacrosse,
soccer. He worked for J.P. Morgan Chase. He is
survived by his wife, 3 daughters, mother, 2
sisters, and nieces and nephews.
Noel W. Kaufmann ’86, January 26, 2011. MDiv,
Chicago Theological Seminary, 1991; PhD, Emory
University, 1995. He was a piano technician
by trade. He is survived by his parents and his
brother.
Justine A. Bouldin Swaim ’89, February 17, 2011.
Maroon, London English Study Group. MBA,
Boston University School of Management, 1995.
She held positions with the American Express
Shareholder Services Group, the Prudential Insurance Company, and in marketing for UMASS
Memorial Health Care. She is survived by her
husband, Jeffrey, 2 daughters, a son, her parents,
a brother and sister-in-law, a niece, and her
grandmother.
Manning Marable, April 1, 2011. BA, Earlham
College; MA, University of Wisconsin; PhD,
University of Maryland. Having joined Colgate’s
sociology and anthropology department as a
professor in 1983, he taught a range of courses.
He also was the founding director of the Africana and Latin American Studies Program. In
1987, he left Colgate for Ohio State University,
and subsequently worked at the University of
Colorado at Boulder and Columbia University. He
was a prolific author, most recently publishing
a biography of Malcolm X. He is survived by his
wife, Leith, 3 children, a sister, 3 grandchildren,
and 2 stepchildren.
In tribute
John M. Longyear III, professor of
anthropology emeritus, 96
The man for whom Colgate’s Longyear Museum of Anthropology was named passed away on
March 27. At age 96, John M. Longyear III, professor of anthropology emeritus, died at home
in Kennebunk, Maine.
Joining the university in 1948, Longyear founded the anthropology museum using many
of his own artifacts and oversaw the construction of the gallery in 1965. It was conceptualized as a teaching
museum where
students would
learn from handson involvement in
curatorial work
and, in turn, visitors would learn
from viewing the
exhibitions. Longyear served as the
curator from 1968
until his retirement in 1978, and
the museum was
named after him in
1981.
In addition,
Longyear cofounded Colgate’s
interdisciplinary
program in Native
American studies
with Professor
Anthony Aveni and
Flora Clancy. He
also was chair of
the Department of
Social Relations on two separate occasions: 1961–1965 and 1976–1979. Remembered by colleagues as a Maya scholar of the first order, Longyear wrote his doctoral dissertation, Copan Ceramics: A Study of Southeastern Maya Pottery, in 1940. That
work established a chronology for Maya ceramics from Copan that is still in use today.
Longyear’s teaching specialties included cultural anthropology, American archaeology
and ethnology, old world prehistory, and human evolution. Known for his dedication to students, he conducted off-campus research with them through several January Plan programs
in the 1960s.
Born in Houghton, Mich., Longyear earned his AB at Cornell University in 1936. During World War II, he was a research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s radiation laboratory, developing radar applications for the military — several were
patented in his name.
In 1940, he earned his PhD in anthropology at Harvard University, where he was a
graduate assistant and research fellow at the Peabody Museum before coming to Colgate.
A distinguished anthropologist, he had conducted archaeological excavations and reconnaissance in the American West, Honduras, El Salvador, and Panama.
In addition to teaching and research, Longyear’s other loves were ornithology and music.
A vocal performer, he starred as the comic lead in the annual Gilbert and Sullivan productions of the Hamilton Lyric Opera Company.
He continued his love of bird-watching until his passing, submitting bird counts to
Cornell University’s ornithology lab and regularly contributing to the Rochester Democrat &
Chronicle’s bird column. His wife, Marian, daughter Carol, and grandson Christopher predeceased him. He is
survived by his daughter and son-in law, Joan and Bob Wuerthner, of Kennebunk, Maine;
grandchildren Robert Wuerthner, Jr., Eric Wuerthner, Peter Clothier, and Melissa Clothier;
seven great-grandchildren; his sister, Marion Sonderegger; and several nephews and nieces. News and views for the Colgate community
75
Dick Broussard
City for 38 years. He is survived by a daughter, a
son, 2 grandchildren, and a sister.
Ten familiar local street names on the Hamilton map detail below have been replaced by numbers. We’ve
taken those 10 names (without their St., Ave., or Rd. indicators) and paired them, then scrambled together
all the letters in each pair, resulting in the five signs shown. Can you unscramble the two street names
that make up each sign? For example, OAK and MONTGOMERY might be scrambled to spell TOOK ANGRY
MEMO. The letters of each street name on a sign appear in a consistent color. See page 69 for the answers.
Eat
on
St.
2
1
s St.
Charle
Montgomery St.
salmagundi
You Were Here
St.
John
5
6
3
St.
Pine
Ave.
Maple
4
7
Oak D
r.
8
Newell Dr.
9
10
When I cracked the spine of my new
Colgate Datebook, volume XII, this year,
I reminisced how these little calendars
have helped me organize my life. Each year
since 1999, I’ve ordered a new one from
the university bookstore.
The daily glimpse of the Colgate seal
reminds me of those fond years, and a
quick glance reveals what’s on tap for
my day, the following week, or the next
month. As a visual thinker, the ability to
see Sunday–Saturday on the page offers
me clarity.
I occasionally glance back at 10 years
of my life: first dates, wedding planning,
birthday gatherings, client meetings, tae
kwon do tournaments, family vacations …
all documented in these little books. Each
winter, I count the number of ski/telemark/
snowboarding days I enjoyed (record: 32 in
2001–2003). Come tax season, when I’m
calculating my travel mileage, the process
takes less than 30 minutes as I flip through
my datebook, reminded about fun engagement sessions and compelling conferences. Tax stress melts away. Take that,
Microsoft Outlook!
I’ve considered digital calendars;
however, the process of writing it down
forces me to remember it. Batteries don’t
die, operating systems don’t crash, and
I can still read and plan my time after the
flight attendant says, “Please turn off all
portable electronic devices.”
Thank you, Colgate Datebook, for making my life easier!
Do you have a reminiscence for Rewind?
Send your submission of short prose,
poetry, or a photograph with a description
to scene@colgate.edu.
Puzzle by Puzzability
scene: Summer 2011
My Colgate Datebooks
— R.J. Kern ’00, a wedding photographer,
dedicated a longer version of this post on
his blog, kern-photo.com, to his grandfather Jim Quigley ’48, who he said “continues to inspire my entrepreneurial spirit.”
.
Ln
lly
a
L
76
Rewind
Above: Homework, en plein air. A perfect spring day
to bring the laptop out on the Quad. Back cover: An
unusual profusion of yellow irises sprung up around
Taylor Lake this year. Both photos by Andrew Daddio
scene: News and views for the Colgate community
Colgate University
13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY
13346-1398
colgate
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Colgate University

Central New York Road Trip Following 9/11 Faces

Transcription

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