Spring 2011
WYOMING SEMINARY
J
O
U
R
N A
L
Ruggles Award Recipients:
Sustaining
Sustaining aa Legacy
Legacy of Achievement
The Wyoming Seminary Journal is published by Wyoming
Seminary twice each year and is mailed free of charge to its
alumni, parents and friends. We welcome submissions and
story ideas, as well as letters to the editor.
PLEASE ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO:
Editor, Wyoming Seminary Journal
Wyoming Seminary
201 North Sprague Avenue
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2190
Editor: Alexis M. Kropp ’99
[email protected]
Contributing editor: Gail Smallwood
[email protected]
Design: Nanette Bozentka
Printing: Llewellyn & McKane, Inc.
Above: Kindergarten students Ainsley Eidam, Ella Panzik
and Claire Stretanski try out the didgeridoos that they
created for their celebration of Australia Day.
On Front Cover: Donna Zavada Wilkinson ’85, recipient
of the 1985 Harry W. and Emma R. Ruggles Award for
the Outstanding Graduate, is seen with her husband
Jeffrey Wilkinson on the home court of the Indiana Pacers,
Conseco Fieldhouse. Photo by Daniel Dubois, PS&E.
Photo Credits: Except where noted, all photos taken by
Wyoming Seminary Communications Office staff.
Happy to be back!
As I write this letter, the maintenance crew, for what
seems like the hundredth time, is outside my office
window shoveling snow and salting the walkway
between Sprague Hall and the Shafer House. The
sounds are familiar and a friendly reminder that I’m
back in northeastern Pennsylvania. Fortunately, my welcome to Sem hasn’t
been as cold and harsh as winter 2011. In fact, my welcome has been warm
and inviting, as I hoped it would be. Yes, some of the faces and buildings
have changed, but the sense of family, history and pride is the same, if not
stronger.
When my sister Madeline ’05 mentioned that Sem was looking for a
Director of Communications, I was working for Rosemont College, my
In this issue ...
Feature Story
2
Ruggles Award Recipients:
Sustaining a Legacy of
Achievement
Campus News
6
News & Laurels
10 Remembering Dr. Wallace
F. Stettler
12 Fall Sports Review
14 Grandparents Day and Parents
Weekend
other alma mater. In the blink of an eye I went from keeping my fingers
Alumni News
crossed for an interview to walking up the front stairs of Sprague Hall for
15 Alumni Director’s Message
my first day of work. Unlike most career transitions, this one has been fairly
smooth and how could it not? I went from one place that I love to another
that I love equally, if not more. I am so grateful for the confidence that the
search committee and Sem President Dr. Kip Nygren have placed in me, as
well as for my sister’s tip. As an alumna, a legacy and administrator, it gives
me a great sense of pride to be able to share Sem’s educational philosophy
and mission with the Wyoming Valley and the world.
I am delighted to welcome you to the Spring 2011 edition of the Journal.
As you turn its pages, you will have the opportunity to catch up with 10
Ruggles Award winners from the past five decades, as well as our leaders
of today. You’ll have an opportunity to say a final goodbye to beloved Sem
16 Homecoming
19 Class Reunions: 1990, 1995, 2000
and 2005
20 Dean School of Business/Alumni
Council
21 Sem on the Road: Philadelphia,
Boston, Hartford and Harrisburg
Class Notes
29 Class Notes
President, Dr. Wallace Stettler and, of course, catch up on all the news that’s
36 Marriages
fit to print.
37 Births
I look forward to welcoming all of you back to campus with the same warm
38 Obituaries
reception I have received.
All the best,
Alexis M. Kropp ’99
Director of Communications
Ruggles Award Recipients:
Sustaining a Legacy of
Achievement
By Gail Smallwood and Jo DeMarco
ach year at Commencement, one Wyoming Seminary senior receives The Harry W. and Emma
R. Ruggles Award for the Outstanding Graduate, in recognition of his or her accomplishments
throughout their years at the Upper School. Bright, talented, considerate, responsible, dedicated,
active, conscientious: Ruggles Award recipients display all these attributes and more.
In this issue The Journal presents brief profiles of 10 Ruggles Award winners, from the 1960s
to the first decade of the 21st century, describing some of what they have achieved since they
received the award. Sem has honored 57 graduates with the Ruggles Award since it was first
presented in 1953; these 10 individuals are a representative sample of the many contributions
and accomplishments of this remarkable group of alumni.
Reuben A. Munday, J.D. ’65
Chairman, Lewis & Munday, P.C.
Reuben Munday has spent his entire professional life in Detroit, Michigan, and the
Motor City has benefitted from his tireless efforts on its behalf. Since 1977, when he joined the law
firm of Lewis, White, Clay and Graves (now Lewis & Munday, P.C.) Munday has been recognized
for his expertise and accomplishments in real estate development and construction law. Since
January 2011 he has served as Chairman of the firm, one of the largest African-American-owned
law firms in the country. Prior to being named chairman, he served for nine years as President and Chief Executive
Officer.
“I am proud of having the opportunity to help build a law firm that now has offices in Washington, D.C., Lansing,
Michigan and New York City as well as in Detroit,” says Munday. “It is great to enjoy your work, but it is even better
to be able to enjoy your work in a law firm that you helped to build.”
Reuben Munday
As the first African American general counsel for Detroit Downtown Development Authority during Mayor Coleman Young’s administration,
Munday played a key role in many major real estate development projects. He also has been an active member of the boards of the Detroit Regional
Chamber of Commerce, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, The Greening of Detroit, the Detroit Board of
Ethics, the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as many other civic organizations. He served Sem as a Trustee from 1998 to
2007.
In addition, he has been named a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and is a sought after teacher and speaker on continuing legal
education. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, Detroit Bar Association and the National Bar Association.
Following his graduation from Sem, Munday earned his bachelor of arts degree in English and a master’s degree in African-American Studies
from Cornell University; he received his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School and joined his present law firm shortly
after.
Coming from Tuskegee, Alabama to the mostly white community at Sem in the early 1960s was a challenge, but Munday says he felt he came
into his own as a boarder and a leader in both athletics and academics; he credits favorite teachers such as Mr. Harry Nageli and Mr. Michael
Treese with helping him develop strong study habits. His academic preparation and discipline at Sem enabled him to succeed both at Cornell and
Michigan and gave him the confidence to tackle major challenges and find solutions, an ability much in demand in Detroit, which continues to
battle some of the most intractable issues found in society today.
2
“Most of the focus of my work in Detroit has involved the use
of public incentives, such as tax increment financing, tax credits,
tax abatement and federal grants and loans to attract economic
revitalization to an urban area,” he says. “The reality is that American
cities and regions compete globally to attract businesses to their
jurisdictions to improve the employment opportunities of their citizens.
I have found this work to be extremely interesting and important to
the revitalization of the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan. In
the long run, the success of the City will depend upon the ability of the
State to diversify its economy, lessen its dependence on the automobile
industry and improve its public education system.”
Munday and his wife Dr. Cheryl C. Munday, associate professor of
psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy, are the parents of
Reuben Ahmed Munday.
Pauline (Polly) A. Thomas ’69 M.D., F.A.A.P.
Associate Professor, New Jersey Medical School, Pediatrician
In the 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic exploded in the United
States, Dr. Polly Thomas was at the forefront of the fight against
this terrifying, unknown disease. Beginning in 1981, as a medical
epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
stationed at the New York City Department of Health, Thomas worked
in the city’s new AIDS epidemiology program and subsequently directed
the city’s AIDS and pediatric HIV surveillance projects. She was the
principal investigator on two studies that examined how women could
pass HIV on to their infants and the pediatric spectrum of HIV.
In 2001, as an assistant commissioner at the Department of
Health, she participated in the investigation of the anthrax cases which
broke out in New York City. And, in 2003, she helped establish the
World Trade Center Health Registry, one of the largest public health
investigations in U.S. history, to track the long-term health effects of
the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
For the past seven years Thomas has taught at the New Jersey
Medical School and the School of Public Health of the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Trained as a pediatrician, she
maintains a part-time practice in pediatrics at the Summit Medical
Group in Summit, N.J.
“I have been very privileged to have a career in public health that
allowed me to participate in analyzing and helping to bring clarity to
some of the public health crises that occurred on my watch, including
HIV/AIDS, anthrax and the World Trade Center disaster,” she says.
“I was lucky to be able to work at the CDC and at the New York
City Department of Health, fine institutions with many talented staff
and public service missions. Now I’m teaching public health and
preventative medicine in New Jersey, and
hope that I can provide more people with the
skills needed to face new
challenges.”
Thomas says she
started her career studying
the insects she found in
her Forty Fort backyard
as a child. While at Sem
she enjoyed her biology,
chemistry and most of all
French classes (with Mr.
Herbert Quick), and she
earned a bachelor of science
degree in biology at Yale
University in 1973. By
1977 she had completed
her medical studies at Yale’s
School of Medicine and
went on to the University
Polly Thomas is seen in Florida.
of Rochester School of
Medicine for her internship
and residency in the pediatrics department.
Thomas and her husband Fredric Bell, Executive Director of the New
York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, are the parents of
three young adults: Martha, Elisabeth and Thomas ’06.
Recipients of the
Harry W. and Emma R. Ruggles Award
for the Outstanding Graduate
1953
Ruth Schulz Cottrell
1956
James J. Karambelas*
1959
Arthur R. Edgar*
1954
Elizabeth Hutcheson Fetter
1957
Abigail Hutcheson Fair
1960
Richard S. Scott
1955
Janee Armstrong Friedmann*
1958
Maryellen Strassburger Davis
1961
Cynthia Townend Donaldson
* Deceased
Continued on page 4
3
Jeffrey S. Klein, J.D. ’74
Partner/Chairman of Employment Litigation Practice Group, Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP
The law and sports: both are
major aspects of American life,
and both have been passions for
Jeff Klein since his Sem days,
when he played varsity tennis
and basketball, and won awards
for his athletic prowess and his
debating skills.
Today Klein
is a partner in
the international
law firm of Weil,
Gotshal & Manges
LLP in New York
City. He chairs the
firm’s Employment
Litigation practice,
representing
employers in all
Jeff Klein is seen with Major League
Baseball player Dave Winfield in this aspects of labor relations and
mid 1980s photo.
employment law – with a
special emphasis on employment
discrimination, healthcare benefits and trade secrets litigation. He has
extensive experience in class actions, arbitrations, and mediation. His
current clients are a who’s who among Fortune 100 and other high
profile companies, and include: Avon Products, Bank of America,
Godiva Chocolatier, the Jumeirah Hotel Group, MasterCard
International, and UnitedHealth Group.
A recognized authority on employment litigation, Klein has been
the recipient of many industry accolades. He was named among the
“500 Best Lawyers in the United States” in 2010 by Lawdragon,
and one of “Nation’s 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys”
by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon magazines in 2008,
2009 and 2010. His peers have elected him a Fellow of the College
of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Klein is a regular speaker at
industry conferences and has been the author of a nationally syndicated
employment law column for 17 years.
Klein is also a sports law expert with extensive experience in
litigation, contract negotiations, licensing and endorsement agreements
on behalf of professional athletes and management personnel, sports
broadcasters, entertainers, players associations and sports entities.
His clients have included Dave Winfield, Joe Torre, Jeff Kent, Ernie
Grunfeld, the National Basketball Players Association and the YES
Network, as well as Creative Artists Agency, the Duchess of York and
Eddie Fisher.
“The world of professional sports and entertainment is frequently
a bit different from the inside than what is spun out for public
consumption in blogs or in newspapers,” Klein says. “What’s most
important is to focus on the issues, not the celebrity aspects. Getting
caught up in a client’s celebrity status is a mistake that people make,
and it detracts from your ability to render dispassionate advice. I have
been fortunate to represent smart, hard-working clients who want my
best thinking, regardless of what they do for a living. I appreciate the
opportunity to be a trusted advisor, not a member of an entourage.”
Klein holds a bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude in
economics from Amherst College and earned his juris doctor degree
from Columbia University College of Law in 1981. His wife Gayle
is also an accomplished attorney, and he is the parent of two grown
children, Megan and Doug.
Looking back on his days at Sem, Klein is quick to credit former
teachers for his jumpstart in education.
“My teachers challenged me to test myself,” he says. “Steve
Alinikoff, Bob Bond, Thelma Berger, Carver Collins, Jim Kersey, Louise
Loucks Moore and Winnie Shortz all truly cared about students. Dr.
Stettler was a great role model who captivated us with his inspirational
speaking style and devotion to community service. And Dr. Pritchard
taught a probability course that I have long remembered because he
had a talent for explaining complex concepts in simple terms – which is
critically important in the courtroom.”
Recipients of the Harry W. and Emma R. Ruggles Award
for the Outstanding Graduate continued…
1962
Carole Schalm Ertley
1969
Pauline A. Thomas
1976
Janet E. Murray
1963
Marion Harvey Morton
1970
Corey Zimmerman
1977
Lyle C. Myers
1964
William H. Stein*
1971
John H. Shafer
1978
Joan M. Hipp
1965
Reuben A. Munday
1972
Peter B. Davies
1979
Charles H. Parkhurst
1966
Meredith Hopkins Moses Maxwell
1973
Gail Lacy Hughes
1980
Raymond H. Cabot
1967
Mary Ann Butnor Martinez
1974
Jeffrey S. Klein
1981
Frank C. Carlucci, IV
1968
Henry Z. Horbaczewski
1975
Mary Shafer Wakeman
4
Continued on page 26
Janet E. Murray ’76
Director, Project One, Consolidated Edison of New York
“Scholar-athlete” was an apt description of Janet Murray during
her years at Wyoming Seminary and at Lafayette College. While at the
Upper School she played field hockey, basketball and softball, served
as captain of all three teams her senior year and received 11 varsity
letters; she also earned Most Valuable Player awards and was named to
numerous All-Scholastic teams in all three sports.
At Lafayette, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in civil
engineering, Murray served as captain and earned another 11 varsity
letters in field hockey, basketball and softball, as well as MVP awards.
She received the college’s Charles L. Albert Trophy as the Outstanding
Athlete at her graduation in 1980; since then she has been named
one of the college’s 15 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century. She was
inducted into the Sem Sports Hall of Fame and Lafayette College’s Hall
of Fame in 1986.
Murray’s first job after graduation was as a field service engineer for
Babcock & Wilcox, working on boilers and coal handling equipment
predominately for utilities, paper mills and shipyards. Her ability to
move quickly, be flexible and work effectively on a team, skills honed
in the athletic arena, was instrumental in helping her succeed in a field
where few women had made inroads.
Today, as a Director at Con Ed on Project One, Murray leads
a highly motivated cross-functional Supply Chain team on a major
corporate initiative. The team is responsible for assisting in designing,
testing and implementing the new Finance & Supply Chain Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) System supporting Oracle Supply Chain
applications for Con Ed and Orange & Rockland. The new system
will record financial transactions, purchase materials and services,
manage inventory, develop budgets and report financial and purchasing
data. The project represents Con Ed’s largest information technology
investment in its history and involves replacing 60 existing systems.
“I am learning
something every single day
and am never bored,” says
Murray, now in her 25th
year at Con Ed. “When
I confront a complex
problem, I often recall
the lessons I learned from
my teachers and coaches
at Sem. I call upon the
Janet Murray is seen with her sisters
analytical techniques I
Carol Murray Cavanaugh ’72, center, and
learned at the Day School
Deborah Murray Bokelman ’75.
in English class with
Winifred Shortz, who
taught me sentence diagramming, spelling and grammar.
“At the Upper School, my math teacher Patricia Podesta challenged
me every day to approach each math problem with a step-by-step
thought process and logic. And Karen Klassner, my teacher and coach,
emphasized sportsmanship and teamwork on and off the field.”
These tenets now make up the core principles that Murray practices
every day, she says, such as “plan the work and work the plan, seek
and accept responsibility, open communication, teamwork, continuous
improvement, and, at the end of every project, celebrate success.”
An avid field hockey player, Murray still finds time to volunteer for
Sem, where she received the Young Alumna Award in 1995; she has
been active on the Board of Trustees, in reunion activities and annual
giving campaigns and is co-chairing this year’s National Annual Giving
campaign with Stephen Rosenthal ’93.
Donna Zavada Wilkinson ’85 C.C.P., S.P.H.R.
Vice President of Human Resources,
Pacers Sports & Entertainment
There are a fortunate few among us who have the opportunity to work in occupations they
love, and Donna Wilkinson is one of the lucky ones. This former varsity basketball player now
works for Pacers Sports & Entertainment, an Indianapolis company that includes the Pacers, one
of the premier franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA); the WNBA Indiana Fever,
one of the top women’s teams in the nation; and Conseco Fieldhouse, a world-renowned basketball
arena.
As Vice President of Human Resources, Wilkinson is responsible for recruiting, policy administration, employee
relations, payroll, employee community involvement and many other areas for one of the state’s largest entertainment
companies, which has more than 1,200 full and part-time employees. In addition to professional basketball, Conseco
Fieldhouse is a venue for top-rated concerts, family entertainment, high school and university basketball tournaments
and many other major events. In May, 2010 she received the Ogletree Deakins/HR Dimensions Human Resources
Professional of the Year Award, given by the Indiana State Chamber in recognition of her work to establish both a
comprehensive wellness program and a community service program at the company.
Wilkinson also is very active in community organizations such as the board of directors for the Boys and Girls
Club of Indianapolis, the mentorship program at Decatur High School’s Common Goal Initiative, the Career Expo for
the Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, and in other leadership roles.
Donna Zavada Wilkinson
(and on the cover)
See Ruggles Award on page 24
5
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Lower School foyer features new school
medallion
Sem honors faculty, administrator
with endowed chairs
The Wyoming Seminary Board of Trustees recently announced
that four members of the Upper School faculty and administration
have been named recipients of four endowed chairs. The
recipients are JOHN H. SHAFER ’71, the Wilbur H. and Evelyn Fleck
Chair in Administration; JASON L. THATCHER, the John A. McCole
Chair in Mathematics; RENEE F. CASTERLINE, the Joseph C.
Donchess Chair in Science; and DAN KRUEGER, the Doris L. Patrick
Chair in Fine and Performing Arts.
Periodically, Wyoming Seminary honors its most
outstanding teachers and administrators by presenting them
with faculty and administration chairs. The honor recognizes
the person’s excellence in teaching and administration and
provides a stipend for the person as well as additional funds for
the recipient’s department. The recipients hold the chairs for five
years and the honor may be renewed.
Seen following the awarding of the Sem endowed chairs
are, first row from left: Jason Thatcher, Dan Krueger, Renee
Casterline and John Shafer. Second row from left: DR. KIP NYGREN,
Sem president; and RUSTY FLACK ’72, chair, Board of Trustees.
The Lower School
recently celebrated the
completion of a more than
$2 million renovation
of first floor classrooms,
hallways, offices and
meeting rooms with
the unveiling of a new
bronze floor medallion.
The medallion portrays
the seal of the school
and is embedded in the
floor of the school lobby.
The project was funded
by generous contributions from Sem alumni and
parents and included new educational technology,
remodeling of offices, corridors and classrooms and
new furnishings. Seen unveiling the medallion during
the celebration are, first row from left: SAMARA
SGARLAT ’25 and MARINA SGARLAT ’21; and
GUY EDMUNDS ’15. Second row, from left: DR.
KIP NYGREN, president; and RUSTY FLACK ’72,
chair, Board of Trustees.
Firouzi named Rising Star in
state politics
OMEED FIROUZI ’11 has been listed
as one of Pennsylvania’s Rising Stars
in politics, according to the Web site
PoliticsPA.com. Described as one of
30 top politicos under age 30, Firouzi was the only
high school student to make the list. He served as
campaign manager for State Representative Phyllis
Mundy (D-120th) during the summer before his senior
year. He managed all aspects of her campaign such as
messaging, polling and volunteers, helping her win
re-election in November, 2010.
Learn more about these stories and read other stories online at www.wyomingseminary.org, Quick Links, Sem News.
6
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Founders’ Day event highlights school’s history
with floods
In September the Upper School restored the tradition of Founders’
Day, a celebration of the history of the school and its accomplishments.
This year’s ceremony, a special assembly held at the end of September,
celebrated those people who have helped Sem overcome tragedy and
disaster, such as fires, the Depression and floods, especially the 1972
Tropical Storm Agnes Flood. Levi Sprague Fellows LARISSA BOHN ’11
and JACK CARTWRIGHT ’11 read excerpts of Prof. Leroy Bugbee’s
history of Wyoming Seminary which described previous floods, while
President DR. KIP NYGREN introduced a video about the ’72 flood,
which was narrated by Dean of Admission JACK EIDAM and included
images of the flood waters and the destruction the campus suffered, as
well as many stories of how students, faculty and administration coped
with the flood. Vice President of Advancement JOHN SHAFER ’71
also recounted his experiences as a resident of campus in 1972 when
the flood occurred. Participants in the Founders’ Day Assembly are,
from left: JAY HARVEY ’80, Upper School Dean; John Shafer, JAMES
KERSEY, senior faculty member; Kip Nygren, Jack Cartwright, Larissa
Bohn and REV. CHARLES CARRICK, chaplain. Not present for photo:
Jack Eidam.
Spring 2011
Vojtko, Kaschak receive Methodist teaching honors
BERNARDINE VOJTKO,
member of the fine and
performing arts department and
director and choreographer for
the Dance Company, and DR.
BRIAN KASCHAK, history
teacher and coach, have received
Teaching Excellence Awards
from the United Methodist
Church. They received the awards in recognition of their teaching
abilities, civility and concern for students and colleagues, commitment to
a value-centered education and their service to Sem and its students as
well as to the community.
Lower School students tour crime lab
Wyoming Seminary Lower School students in LISA ISKRA’S eighthgrade science class toured a State Police mobile crime laboratory and
learned about state police crime investigation techniques. The students
completed a unit on forensic science in which they studied how police
investigators gather, study and evaluate evidence. The students also
“solved a crime” using forensic tools and simulated reenactments.
Students receive Merit Scholarship Awards
Eight freshman
students have
received Upper
School Merit
Scholarships
for 2010-11,
and two Lower
School graduates
received
Henderson
Awards. NADA BADER ’14 received the first place, full tuition, fouryear scholarship, while JAMIE GOLDSTEIN ’14 and ANDREW
LEVANDOSKI ’14 received the Henderson Awards. Merit Scholarship
recipients are, first row from left: Andrew Levandoski, JONATHAN
ZIRNHELD ’14, Nada Bader and Jamie Goldstein. Second row, from
left: ZACHARY RIEGEL ’14, REILLY BREIG ’14 and SALVADORE
DIAZ ’14. Not present for photo: AVA ALEXANDER ’14, NOAH
BREWER-HOUGHTON ’14 and MARGUERITE WILES ’14.
Noted Tibetan Monk speaks at Sem
The Khenpo Lama Pema Wangdak, an internationally recognized
and respected Tibetan Buddhist monk, visited Sem in December
to discuss the role of enthusiasm in spiritual practice, as described
in the classic Buddhist text by Shantideva, The Guide to the
Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. At least 60 people from the Sem
community and the general public attended.
Seen during the tour of the crime lab are, from left: PATRICK
CORCORAN ’15, NICK KRAWCZENIUK ’15, Trooper John
Corrigan, Troop N Hazleton; CHARLOTTE BRECHER ’15 and
MARY LUNDIN ’15.
Lower School awards Merit Scholarships
Four area students
received Lower
School Merit
Scholarships
for the 2010-11
academic year.
Seen shortly after
beginning classes
are, first row
from left: RILEY
CALPIN ’18, REEYA LELE ’17, ANDREW ALDAY ’16 and DEVON
CARPENTER ’18. Second row, from left: KATIE CALLAHAN ’88,
Director of Lower School Admission; WILLIAM DAVIS, Coordinator of
Middle-School Division; MARY KOLESSAR, Dean of Middle School;
and HEIDI SIMS, Associate Director of Admission.
7
Walking expert visits Sem
Mark Fenton, nationally
recognized pedestrian advocate,
met last fall with Wyoming
Seminary Upper School students
to discuss the importance of
physical activity, the rising
number of overweight and obese
Americans and especially the
increase in overweight teenagers,
and why he decided to become a public health and pedestrian
advocate. Fenton, a former Olympic-level race walker, former
editor-at-large of Walking Magazine and author of two books
on walking, was the keynote speaker and panel moderator at the
Healthy Community Challenge Launch, held at the Upper School
campus. Seen following his meeting with the students are, first row
from left: Mark Fenton and RENATA O’DONNELL ’12; second
row from left: CAROLINE REPPERT ’13, CHUNHUI YU ’13;
third row from left: BENJAMIN HORNUNG ’14, EVAN BOTWIN
’12; fourth row from left: OMEED FIROUZI ’11 and JEANNETTE
KUSI ’11; fifth row: YINBO GAO ’14.
College panel advises students
Wyoming Seminary graduates from the classes of 2007, 2009 and
2010 recently returned to the Upper School campus to participate
in a College Panel, sharing their college experiences with current
students.
JAY HARVEY ’80, former Interim Upper School Dean, Class
Dean, Curriculum Coordinator and mathematics faculty
member at the Upper School, has been named Dean. He succeeds
John Gordon, who accepted an administrative position at St.
Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia.
The Mock Trial Team has been earning numerous honors and
successes this year and most recently won the state championship for
the first time in school history.
First Liberty Bank & Trust, a division of Community Bank,
N.A., recently made a $12,500 donation to Wyoming Seminary
in support of its scholarship funds, through the Educational
Improvement Tax Credit Program.
Last fall Wyoming Seminary inducted 11 seniors into the Cum
Laude Society, the national academic honor society for college
preparatory schools.
Conductor YOON JAE LEE of New York City has been named
music director of the Wyoming Seminary Civic Orchestra,
announced JOHN VAIDA, chairman of the fine and performing
arts department at Sem. Lee succeeds Jerome Campbell, former
chairman of the Wilkes University Music Department, who
founded the orchestra and had served as its music director and
conductor since 1999.
Forty-four current students and recent graduates of Wyoming
Seminary have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in
recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level
AP (Advanced Placement) Examinations.
Seven seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2011
National Merit Scholarship competition.
For the 43rd year members of the Wyoming Seminary student
government delivered Thanksgiving dinner baskets to area families.
Seen prior to taking part in the College Panel are, first row from left:
ALLISON CONSIDINE ’10, Pace University; ELLEN HUGHES ’09,
Lafayette College; CHRISTOPHER OSTROWSKI ’09, Ohio
Wesleyan University; ADAM THALENFELD ’10, Eugene Lang
College New School for Liberal Arts; JOSH DEMILTA ’09,
University of Southern California. Second row, from left:IAIN
FLANNERY ’07, Stonehill College; GIA QUERCI ’10, Pratt
Institute; BLAIR SABA ’10, Wilkes University; EMILY ROGERS ’10,
Boston University; BRENNAN TWARDOWSKI ’10, Merrimack
College.
Math Club wins national recognition
Members of the Upper School Math Club have
been recognized as being among the best high
school mathematicians in the country, according
to National Assessment and Testing. The club
members competed in the 2010 Fall Startup Event,
a national math contest, and HOANG VIET
TRAN ’13, of Hanoi, Viet Nam, placed 20th in the national 10th
grade division. The team also placed 24th in the Team Scramble
competition held in November.
8
KASEY KORETZ SMITH ’15 survived six rounds of competition
to win the Lower School’s annual spelling bee.
MEERA PATEL ’15 won the Lower School-level competition of
the National Geographic Bee contest and a chance to continue on
to state competition.
DENNY BARBER, a college guidance and personal counselor
at the Upper School, has attained certification as a National
Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for
Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC).
Lower School students participated in the school’s annual Holiday
Gift Giving Community Service Project, benefiting the Luzerne
County Children and Youth Social Services.
Learn more about these stories and read other stories online at
www.wyomingseminary.org, Quick Links, Sem News.
Class of 2010 Colleges and Universities
Kristina Ishimwe Adera
University of Scranton
Charles A. Adonizio
University of Arizona
Benjamin Russell Adrian
Rollins College
Tachporn Akharaekpanya
New York University
Khalid Abdullah Al-Rashed
University of Tampa
Nicole D. Amaranto
State University of New York,
Buffalo
Michael Carl Kachmar
Pennsylvania State University,
Schreyer Honors College
Michael Anthony Kapolka
Wilkes University
Courtney Hannah Karg
Wilkes University
JaJa Kentwell
Old Dominion University
Connor Michael Kincheloe
Penn State University
University Park
Simon M. Kitzis
University of Missouri, Columbia
Katrina Rose Klunk
Seton Hill University
Artur Kochuev
New England College
Elizabeth Helen Kolvik
Hudson Valley Community
College
Kathryn K. Reinert
Albright College
Amanda Elyse Reiser
American University
Beau Reznak
King’s College
Pharoah Xavier Rodriguez
Syracuse University
Emily Bly Rogers
Boston University
Thomas Clifford
Romanowski
Bucknell University
Chelsea Anne Ruane
The Art Institute of Philadelphia
Elizabeth Blair Saba
Wilkes University
Marco J.Santarelli
New York University
Louise Bulow Andersson
Connecticut College
Kyun Il Bae
Syracuse University
Gregory M. Barber
Lehigh University
Igor Bayder
Randolph College
Keland Sarno
Wagner College
Mordechai Judah Bell
Tulane University
Garrett Konecke
Wilkes University
Max Samuel Schwager
George Washington University
Lukas Bilek
Susquehanna University
Kyle Joseph Kopervas
Alvernia University
Sarun Seepun
Pitzer College
Caleb William Bowers
Gettysburg College
Jason Daniel Kwiatek
Marist College
Sierra Marie Segear
Lehigh University
Stephen Andrew BravoBrown
University of South Florida,
Tampa
Hyuck-Jun Kwon
New York University
Kristina Seiger
Wilkes University
Emmanuel Justin Brown
Seton Hall University
Duc Van Le
Rochester Institute of Technology
Robyn Lynn Shonk
Rebecca Nicole Bub
Temple University
Chieh-Mei Lee
Parsons School of Design,
New School University
Luzerne County Community
College
Tyler Anthony Skroski
Lebanon Valley College
Bryce Edward Caiazzo
University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill
Leah Levine
Penn State University,
University Park
Emily Smallwood
Clarion University of
Pennsylvania
Jee Min Cha
Boston University
Yu-Jui Lin
Boston University
Brigid Louise Smith
Han-Wei Chen
Boston University
Olivia Lumia
Colby-Sawyer College
Penn State University,
Schreyer Honors College
Julia Loftus Clements
Saint Joseph’s University
Ronni-Lynn Aurelia Martinez
Bowdoin College
Matthew Brian Smith
Susquehanna University
Allison Considine
Pace University
Molly McFadden
Misericordia University
Sunny Marie Mericle
Stirewalt
University of Pennsylvania
Emily Rose Cornett
Lake Forest College
John Jesse McHugh
Moravian College
Nicholas Strzeletz
Georgetown University
Amelie Corriveau St-Louis
Neumann University
Bridget Forcier McLaughlin
McDaniel College
Adam Thalenfeld
Max I. Cutler
Temple University
Michael John McMullan
Northwestern University
Eugene Lang College,
The New School for Liberal Arts
Olivia Rose Dworak
Wilkes University
Ambrose Jeru McMurphy
Elmira College
George Tsioles
King’s College
Marissa Egipciaco
St. John’s University
Queens Campus
Donald M. McNeil
University of North Carolina,
Greensboro
Korey Nathaniel Tucker
Harvard University
Brennan Twardowski
Merrimack College
Molly Alexandra Friedman
McDaniel College
Connor Stuart McRae
Concordia University
Megan Elizabeth Ustynoski
Michigan State University
Joseph Fulginiti
Concordia University
Anastasya Menaker
Wilkes University
Chelsea Lee VanGlahn
Plattsburgh State University
Brendon Rashad Gannon
Western Michigan University
Katelyn Mericle
Fordham University
Sonali Kranti Varhade
Tufts University
Audrianna Nicole Gavin
Drexel University
Katharine Michaels
Fordham University
Zazriel Villamor
Arcadia University
Brandon Joseph Golden
Franklin and Marshall College
Vanessa Mok
Dean College
Kathryn Marie Voelkner
Saint Joseph’s University
Amber Alayna Gollhardt
Baptist Bible College of
Pennsylvania
Christopher Michael Moon
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
Michael Paul Voitik
Jacksonville University
Katherine Granger
Boston College
William Edward Moore
Monmouth University
Rafiq Olufemi Wallace
Nassau Community College
Kelsey Rose Grossman
Brown University
Anusorn Mudla
Purdue University
Banner Matthew White
Bucknell University
Madeleine Hackett
Boston University
Giang Hoang Nguyen
Lake Forest College
James J. Wieller
Drexel University
Eun Young Han
Boston College
Quoc Anh Nguyen
George Washington University
David Joseph Wimsatt
Trinity University
Kelsey Brett Hannigan
Drexel University
Atsuro Nishiuchi
Drexel University
Yue Wu
College of William and Mary
Dalton Richard Harbula
United States Merchant Marine
Academy
Johnathan Michael Novak
Penn State University,
Wilkes-Barre
Xin Zi Xu
University of California at
Berkeley
Danielle Michelle Harbula
Manhattanville College
Sara Iris Ouellette
Arcadia University
Komo Yamashita
University of California at Los
Angeles
John Patrick Henry
Bucknell University
Gibb David Parks
Lafayette College
Mengyi Ying
Boston College
Chung-Hua Ho
Drexel University
Pooja A. Patel
University of Pittsburgh
Longdi Yu
Huy Nhat Ho
Bryant University
Jesse Aaron Placourakis
Mesa Community College
University of California at San
Diego
Jakub Husek
Susquehanna University
Cheuk Yan Pong
Manhattan School of Music
Zara Zaman
University of Scranton
Gina Insalaco
New York University
Giovanna Querci
Pratt Institute
Xiang Zhao
Fordham University
Kyle Lewis Johnson
Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania
Amanda Quick
Syracuse University
Allison Zoranski
Boston University
Through an inadvertent error, the names of six graduates of the Class of 2010 and their colleges and universities were omitted from the
Class of 2010 Colleges and Universities, published in the Fall 2010 issue. We are reprinting the complete list here. The editorial staff of
The Journal apologizes for the omissions.
9
Remembering
D r . W allace F. S tettler
Dr. Wallace F. Stettler, ninth president of Wyoming Seminary, passed away on October 21, 2010. A memorial service
was held on October 27 at the Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston. Members of the Sem community joined
together to remember their beloved friend, colleague and mentor. Dr. Stettler was a man of great faith, compassion
and kindness, gifts that he gladly shared with all who came to know him.
Below are a few of the many remembrances of Dr. Stettler that were posted to the Sem Web site following the
announcement of his passing. To read his full obituary, please turn to page 43.
Marching at Commencement
Three presidents together: Dr. Kip Nygren, Dr. Wallace Stettler and
Dr. Jeremy Packard
“Dr. Stettler made my stay at Sem special. We had lots of laughs and too much ice cream!”
~ Caterina Andreae ’84
“It was truly our privilege knowing Dr. Stettler. Our son, David, was a student at Sem. His high school
years were a challenging time for him and for us as parents. Dr. Stettler believed in him and always
supported him. He offered words of encouragement to all of us and changed the lives of our family.”
~ Joan & Richard Bass
Parents of David P. Bass ’84
“There was much to learn from the Stettlers, and they were willing to share their wisdom and
knowledge, both educationally and ethically. Dr. Stettler brought the school through the flood of
1972 and led it to become an even better institution.”
~ Laurel & Brad Garrity
Former faculty & administrator
Dr. Stettler’s portrait on display during the
reception following his memorial service
10
Dr. and Mrs. Stettler together in Fleck Hall
Richard Pearsall, Frank Henry ’50, Congressman
Dan Flood and Dr. Stettler at groundbreaking of
the Pettebone Dickson Student Center in 1977.
Dr. Stettler frequently
attended Lower
School games and
events.
“Though I didn’t spend much time face to face with Dr. Stettler, I certainly remember his kindness and calming
demeanor. Whether I was just passing him on campus, or visiting his house for a reception, I always felt he was
more than welcoming. Small gestures, perhaps, but they were significant to me then, and to this day, as well.
I will remember Dr. Stettler most fondly, and as a President who was kind to a kid from Maryland, and who
always carried a smile on his face...when he could just as easily have been a distant figure.”
~ Ken Lovett ’86
“When I received the notice that Dr. Stettler would be my faculty advisor, I was concerned. He seems a bit too important
for me to talk to in an honest way. Yet, I quickly learned how wrong I was. No matter how insignificant an issue, if I
needed to talk to my advisor, space was immediately cleared on Dr. Stettler’s calendar. Whether helping with selecting
electives, or calming my worries about AP Physics, he treated my issues as amongst the most important of his own day.
During my four years of high school, Dr. Stettler was my sounding board, personal cheerleader and role model.”
~ Alison Nelson ’86
“My first table seating for family style dinner was at Dr. and Mrs. Stettler’s table. I was a sophomore, away
from home, a little scared and VERY nervous. Dr. and Mrs. Stettler could not have made me feel more like a
family member if they tried; they were so kind, gracious and loving. Dr. Stettler always had a quick smile when
he saw his students, and never failed to take the time to stop, say hello and chat about how the day was going.”
~ Julie Bierne Newman ’83
“Dr. Stettler was perhaps the most influential person in our careers, taking a chance on our family back in 1986 and
welcoming us into the Seminary educational community. His belief in our potential and his never-wavering support of
what we tried to offer the school were a constant source of inspiration and confidence to us. And in the years of his
retirement, his friendship and good counsel continued to nurture us and give us courage and hope.”
~ Patti & Bill Summerhill, Former faculty & administrators
Parents of Karen ’97 & Jeffrey ’99
“He was a scholar, a friend, a mentor and a counselor. He was passionate about those for whom he cared
and the things he considered to be socially important; yet he was always a gentleman and inevitably left an
indelibly favorable mark on those with whom he disagreed.”
~ Margery & Murray Ufberg ’60
Parents of Aaron ’89, Joshua ’92 and Rachel ’94
You will find more remembrances on our website www.wyomingseminary.org
Frank Carlucci ’48, third from right, first row, meets with Dr. Stettler
and other school officials and trustees following the Hurricane Agnes
flooding in 1972.
The Stettlers welcome students to their annual Christmas Open House
at their home.
11
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Boys Cross
Country:
Head coach: John Dickinson
Overall record: 5-15
Girls Cross
Country:
Zachary Perlmutter ’11
Head coach: John Dickinson
Overall record: 7-10
Football:
Head coach: Terry Karg
Record: 3-6
Golf:
Head coach: Tim Foran
Overall Record: 6-5
Seniors Evan Leas, Ronald Rose and Christian
Santarelli all qualified for district play.
Soccer:
Girls Tennis:
Head coach: Rev. Charles Carrick
Overall Record: 13-7
League Record: 11-5
The team closed out the regular season with
a nine-game win streak, finishing in second
place in Div. II of the Wyoming Valley
Conference. In the District II playoffs the
squad won in the quarterfinal round and lost
in the semifinals. Chib Onwunaka ’11 was
named to the Wyoming Valley Conference
Division II All-Starts First Team, while Hyo
Bum Shin ’12 was named to the Second Team.
Head coach: Mike Balutanski
Overall record: 15-1
League Record: 13-0
League Division Champions
District Runner-up
Caroline Meuser ’11 and Alyssa Joanlanne ’13
won the District 2 PIAA Class AA Doubles
Championship, qualifying for state
competition. Both athletes were named to the
Citizens’ Voice’s Tennis All-Star team.
Christian Santarelli ’11
12
Hyo Bum Shin ’12
Emma Spath ’12
All Sports Photos: Michael Touey
Kyle Wallace ’11 and A.J. Vizcarrondo ’12
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Field Hockey
Head coach: Karen Klassner
Overall Record: 26-2
League Record: 15-0
League Division Champions
District Runner-up
PIAA Class AA State Champions
in the last ten years; the Blue Knights also
won state championships in 2001, 2006 and
2008. Sem was the state runner-up in 1987
and 2004. Coach Karen Klassner has now
coached the Sem field hockey team for 40 seasons and has
a remarkable record of 549-132-42.
y of The Citize
This was Sem’s fourth state title
The field hockey
AshLeigh Sebia ’12 and Jessica Swoboda ’11 were named
to the First Team All-State Team. Lauren Skudalski ’11 and
Kristian Stefanides ’12 were selected for Second Team AllState and Ann Romanowski ’12 received state Honorable
Mention recognition.
team celebrates
winning the 20
10 State Champi
onship.
Photo courtes
ns’ Voice
CHAMPIONSHIP
Returns to Sem
In addition, Sebia was named the Citizens’ Voice’s
Athlete of the Year for field hockey, and she joined
teammates Swoboda, Stefanides, Skudalski and Carly
Sokach ’11 on the newspaper’s All-Star Team. Skudalski,
Sokach and Swoboda were named to the First Team Pa.
All-Scholastic Team, and Jennifer DiMaria ’11, Sokach
and Swoboda were named to the NFHCA’s National
Academic Squad.
y
Photo courtes
Photo courtesy of The Times Leader
ns’ Voice
of The Citize
i hoist
Lauren Skudalsk
d
an
a
od
ob
Sw
Jessica
am co-captains
Field hockey te
.
hy
op
onship tr
the state champi
AshLeigh Sebia controls the ball during the state
championship game against Lehighton.
13
Wyoming Seminary Journal
1
Spring 2011
2
3
Grandparents Days October 7-8, 2010
On October 7 (Upper School) and 8 (Lower School) Sem students enjoyed sharing their school with their grandparents
during the annual Grandparents Day events. At Lower School, the grandparents accompanied their grandchildren to classes,
applauded performers in a special musical presentation, and learned about colonial America during the eighth-grade Early
American Day event. Upper School students joined their grandparents for chapel and lunch and accompanied them in class and
on walks about the campus.
1 Hope Austin ’21 welcomed her grandparents Bob and Alice Austin to her second grade classroom.
2 Evan Leas ’11 is seen with his grandparents Nick and Trish Colangelo, chairs of the Grandparents Appeal for the 2011 Annual Giving Campaign.
3 James and Jean Meeker observed Early American Day with their grandson Curry Hennigan ’15.
Parents Weekend October 22-23, 2010
Conferencing with teachers, attending classes, enjoying art displays and showcases,
mingling at receptions, cheering on the Blue Knights at the Homecoming football
game: it was a busy Parents Weekend, and one of the most popular events on the
Sem calendar!
1 Nora Kornfeld ’11 and her father Rick pause between classes and conferences.
2 Omeed Firouzi ’11, at left, catches up with his mother Fariba and father Masoud in front of
Sprague Hall.
1
2
14
3 Scott Edmunds ’14 and his parents Scott and Maria Agati Edmunds ’80 experience their first
Upper School Parents Weekend.
3
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
News from the Alumni Director
Stay connected to Sem … it’s FUN!
When I accepted the Alumni Director position last year, it was with enthusiastic anticipation. After all, I had been at the helm of the annual
fund for six years and a change was welcome. While my new position would require some fundraising, the focus of the Alumni Director’s
job has traditionally been more on the “friend-raising” side. What fun it certainly would be!
Now, after seven months, with the help of a fabulous alumni and development staff, I am happy to report that all is well. Thanks to many
passionate volunteers, the fall event schedule was a resounding success. For the first time in awhile, Homecoming halftime festivities were
presented by members of the Alumni Council. Executive committee member Jennifer Eidam Davis ’94 organized the volunteers and
galvanized the crowd for an entertaining halftime show. That evening, more than
80 alumni from the classes of 2005, 2000, 1995 and 1990 celebrated in style at the
newly-renovated Rodano’s on Public Square. Credit goes to several great committees
chaired by Alex Flack ’05, Ali Kornfeld ’05, Clem Gover ’00, Jonathan Tenenbaum
’95, Jane Goldberg ’90 and CJ Kersey ’90. The word got out early and often that all
were welcome and encouraged to attend. By all accounts, the evening was fun-filled
and went to the wee hours of the morning—surely a sign of a successful reunion!
Perhaps the best and most exciting news I have is the development and launching of
the Web site’s alumni portal, a component originally funded by proceeds raised by
the Alumni Council. Join me in saying thank you to past presidents Tara Mugford
Wilson ‘88, Steve Rosenthal ‘93, Cathy Fields McHugh ’78, current president Bob
Tamburro ‘91 and many years of council members who had the foresight to know
how important an online alumni community could be for Sem grads.
The online community will enable alumni to log on to a private
community and:
• Update contact information
• Upload class notes and images, which will be immediately viewable by
other Sem alumni
Beth Doherty, at left, works very hard behind the scenes
with me and the rest of the Development team to serve
the needs of all our alumni.
• Add RSS feeds like Facebook, Twitter and even our own student
newspaper, the Opinator
• Read the monthly alumni newsletter
Most importantly, the new online community will enable you to find and
connect with friends from your time at Sem easier and faster than ever before.
If you have a current e-mail address, you should have received instructions
on how to navigate Sem’s new community, including your personal username
and password. If you did not receive it, please contact Patty DeViva, Sem’s
webmaster, at [email protected], and she will assist you.
Then log on and have fun!
If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to call or email.
Until next timeCheers!
Julie McCarthy Strzeletz ’81
Director of Alumni Programs
[email protected]
Getting together again five years after graduation: seated from
left: Catie Gibbons ’05, Catie Kersey, history teacher and class
dean; and Torey Davie, English teacher. Second row, from left:
Michael Lloyd ’05, Mark Vanderburg ’05, and C. J. Kersey ’90,
history teacher and class dean.
15
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Homecoming
Five friends enjoying the football game: Tim Gershey ’00, David
Conyngham ’00, Christian Wielage ’98, Dennis Packard ’00, Taylor
Wielage ’00.
October 22–23, 2010 Daytime
Jennifer Eidam Davis ’94 announced the
nominees for the Alumni Service Award as
they drove onto Nesbitt Field.
Eight seniors were nominated by the student body to receive the 2010 Alumni Service Award. Seen before the
award presentation are, from left: Jack Cartwright, Jessica Swoboda, Carly Sokach, Patrick McMullan, Omeed
Firouzi, Lina Bader, Rebecca Hosey and Joshua McLucas.
Alumni Field Hockey Game: Gaye Gustitus ’82, Caroline McCarthy Youngman ’84, Liane Kersey Thakur ’87,
Johanna Ashley ’96, Chrissy Ashley ’99, Ali Kornfeld ’05, Jessica Swoboda ’11 and Lauren Skudalski ’11.
An enthusiastic crowd filled the stands at Nesbitt Field for the Homecoming game.
16
The 2010 Outstanding Alumnus Award was presented
to Matthew S. Bruno ’94. Seen presenting the award
are, from left: John Shafer ’71, Vice President of
Advancement; Bruno; and Robert Tamburro ’91,
Alumni Association President.
Winners were Joshua McLucas and Lina Bader.
Ryan McMullan ’14, Cohl Fulk ’12 and Jason Cholish
’11 helped lead the cheering section.
2005 classmates David Glauber and Cliff Jackson
cheered on the Knights at the football game.
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Banner competition: Members of the Alumni Council
judging the class posters from left: Jennifer Eidam
Davis ’94, Alumni Association Secretary; Bob
Tamburro ’91, Alumni Association President; Jason
Cohen ’97, Joe Perfilio ’91, Alumni Association Vicepresident; and Madeline Kropp ’05. The Class of 2011
won first place.
Abbie Sordoni ’07 and Ali Kornfeld ’05 get together at
Nesbitt Field.
Spring 2011
Running back Domenico Colati ’11, at right, carries the ball while offensive lineman Kyle Wallace ’11 blocks and
quarterback A.J. Vizcarrondo ’12 hands off during the Homecoming football game. The Blue Knights defeated
the Cushing Academy Penguins 6-0.
Alumni Soccer Game: First row from left: Duncan Campbell ’09, Joe Nardone ’84, Kevin Davies ’03, Alex Flack
’05, Brian Dempsey ’03, Josh Morgan ’03, Stephen Molitoris ’97, Ryan Molitoris ’06, Guy Llewellyn ’86, CJ Libassi
’06, Jordan Carrick ’06. Second row from left: Coach Charles Carrick, Lindo Sabatini ’91, Ryan Kranson ’95, Noah
Blum ’03, Eric Schwartz ’04, Philipp Seeberger ’10, Mason Astaneh ’09, Harry Flack ’06, James Humenansky ’07,
Michael Molitoris ’07, Matt Smith ’10, Tyler Morris ’03, Patrick Son ’03.
Five alumni athletes inducted into
Hall of Fame
The Wyoming Seminary Varsity Club honored five Sem
graduates for their outstanding athletic achievements
at its 36th Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on
Homecoming Weekend. Seen following their induction
into the Hall of Fame are, first row, from left: Liane Kersey
Thakur ’87, girls athletics, and Chrissy Ashley ’99, girls
athletics. Second row, from left: Keith Mecca ’89, lacrosse;
Sean Robbins ’88, triathlon; and J. Hampton Oberle ’80,
football.
More than 225 athletes and contributors to Wyoming
Seminary athletics have been inducted into the Hall of
Fame since the school began the program in 1974.
17
Homecoming
October 22–23, 2010 Evening
5:30 Cocktail Party at The Shafer House
7:00 Reunion at Rodano’s, Wilkes-Barre
1. Alexa Eidam, John Eidam ’90, Robyn Price and Norman Price ’90
2. Jillian Seeley ’05, Alex Flack ’05, Tim Gershey ’00, Josh Katyl, Elizabeth Clements ’05
3. Friends from the class of 1990: Jane Goldberg, Kim Ertley Degooyer, Ronni Racusin Stuart, Pamela Conway MacNeely, Josh Rudin
4. The class of 2005 catches up: Katlin Bunton, Jaime Brand, James Gonos, Amanda Cogswell
5. Science teacher Jean Ris, Tom Lull ’90, and French teacher Elaine Eidam
6. Harry Russin ’05 and David Glauber ’05
7. Lilla Galambos ’00, science teacher Dr. Andrea Nerozzi and Michael Davies ’00
1
5
2
6
3
7
4
18
Reunions
Reunions
1990
First Row: Pamela Conway MacNeely, Shavertown; Kim Ertley
DeGooyer, Allendale, N.J.; Namita Penugonda, New York, N.Y.;
Jane Goldberg, Oakland, Calif.
Second Row: Dylan Jones, Washington, D.C.; Norman Price,
Shavertown; John Eidam, Dallas; Tom Lull, Rutherford, N.J; CJ
Kersey, Kingston; Ronni Racusin Stuart, Roslyn, N.Y.; Josh Rudin,
Pittston.
2000
First Row: Dennis Packard, Kingston;
Julia Chiampi, Williamsport; Taylor
Wielage, New York, N.Y. Second
Row: Tim Gershey, Philadelphia;
David Conyngham, Dallas; Lilla
Galambos, Telki, Hungary;
Michael Davies, Pittsburgh.
1995
Sheila Flanagan-Sheils, Clarks Summit; and
Jonathan Tenenbaum, Dallas.
2005
First Row: Catie Gibbons, Pennsburg; Ali Kornfeld,
Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sara Rosenberg, Kingston;
Elizabeth Clements, Shavertown; Rebecca Howell,
Shavertown; Jillian Seeley, Shavertown;
Madeline Kropp, Media.
Second Row: Amanda Cogswell, Los Angeles, Calif.;
Jamie Brand, Kingston; Ashley Amato, Waverly;
Sasha Anselmi, Shavertown; Katlin Bunton, Kingston;
Mark Vanderburg, Plains.
Third Row: Jason Reck, Conshohocken; James Gonos,
Mountain Top; Alex Flack, Dallas; Joseph Arowcavage,
Kingston; Cliff Jackson, Dallas; Ross Brown, Kingston;
Zachary Polin, Doylestown.
Fourth Row: Aaron Richterman, Dallas;
Harrison Russin, Kingston; Steve West, Forty Fort;
David Glauber, New York, N.Y; Matt Perrone,
Wilkes-Barre; Perry Freifeld, West Chester;
Michael Lloyd, Shavertown;
Bob Urban, Lexington Park, Md.
19
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Dean School of Business graduates attend reunion
Graduates of the Wyoming Seminary Dean
School of Business celebrated a reunion at a
luncheon held last fall on the Upper School
campus. Members of the classes ranging from
1937 to 1969 attended the event held in Swetland
Parlors. The school, established in 1863 and
closed in 1969, offered courses and a degree in
all aspects of business practice. Seen during the
reunion are, first row from left: Florence Austin
’40, Mary Besteder ’50, Irene Hoch ’50, Alice
Delaney Winters ’37, Janice Ann Yarrish Giebus
’61, Magdalen Benish ’54 and Elizabeth Crawford
Killian ’40. Second row from left: Maribeth Jones
’69, Gail Hillard Elston ’58, Arlene Barnowski
Domzalski ’59, Lorraine Porzuczek Revitt ’59 and
Elaine Hritzak ’62.
Benish receives Business
School Service Award
Magdalen Benish ’54 received the Dean School of
Business Outstanding Alumni Service Award at the
reunion luncheon. Benish, a retired vice president of
the First Union National Bank, received the award in
appreciation of her many years of dedicated service to
the school and to Wyoming Seminary. Seen following
the award presentation are, from left: John Shafer ’71,
Vice President of Advancement; Benish; and Dr. Kip
Nygren, President.
Alumni Council awards grants
The Wyoming Seminary Alumni Council voted to
award $1,500 to the Science Research Group and
$1,200 to the Theatre Department to contract the
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble for a performance
and workshop. The grants were awarded through
the student grant program, in which Sem students
submit written proposals and present ideas at the
annual December meeting. The Alumni Council
raises funds through their annual golf tournament
and disperses them through various grant programs.
Seen seated from left are: Joe Perfilio ’91, Alumni
Assistant Vice-President, Karlina Zikor O’Donnell ’01,
Sarah Killian ’03 and Bob Tamburro ’91, President.
Standing from left are: Sue Dantona Jolley ’82, Julie
McCarthy Strzeletz ’81, Director of Alumni Programs;
Stephen Killian ’66, Past President; Clem Gover ’00,
Brad Cox ’89, Trent Miller ’01, Guy Llewellyn ’86 and
Cathy Fields McHugh ’78, Past President.
20
10
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Philadelphia
October 13, 2010
Triumph Brewing
1. Gretchen Vanderburg Niggel ’91, Laurie Nelson
’87, David Rowland ’88, Susan Vanderburg ’87
2. Alisa Berger Cotter ’69
3. Stacey Kutish ’94, Polly Mitchell ’72, Caitlin
Conyngham ’04, Jonathan Lawrence ’04, Sarah
Frangos ’04
4. Howard Morris
’63, Julie McCarthy
Strzeletz ’81,
Director of Alumni
Programs
5. John Pfeiffer ’68,
Gail Karnofsky
Morris ’64
6. Matt Packard
’03 and Jonathan
2
Lawrence ’04
4
5
1
3
6
Boston
November 9, 2010
Daedalus Restaurant & Pub
1. Colby Connell Balazs ’93, Melanie Evans ’93
2. Bob Rosenkrantz ’66, Kay Young, Director of
Development
1
3. Madeleine Hackett ’10, Alex Steinberg ’58
4. Margery Hutter Silver ’50, Hilma Unterberger ’44
4
5. Sarah Connolly ’82, Nina Santarelli ’09,
Sonali Varhade ’10, Doug Sherwood ’97,
Emily Rogers ’10
2
3
5
21
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
Hartford
November 10, 2010
Town and Country
Club
1. Hal Buckingham ’48,
Kay Young, Director of
Development
2. Irwin Gerstein ’60, Helen Hoffa
Hughlett ’56, Don Hughlett
3. Joyce Buckingham, Walter
Buckingham ’49
4. Debra Turner Reinhardt ’74,
Steve Reinhardt
3
1
2
4
Harrisburg
November 16, 2010
West Shore Country Club
1
1. Sharan Baran ’71, Pam Pethick Gale
’70, Randy Gale ’70, Gloria Wassil
Nace ’73
4
2. Bill Warren, Ellen MacCartney Warren
’60, Gedd Schweikert, Jennifer Bradbury
Schweikert ’96
2
3. Liz Frosini, Associate Director of
Development; Shirley Beane, Bob
Buckingham ’44, Kay Young, Director
of Development; Howard Beane ’49
5
4. Ellen Firestine Rebert ’71, John Shafer
’71, Vice President of Advancement
5. Dr. Kip Nygren, President; Bill Warren
6. Matthew O’Donnell ’98, Karlina Zikor
O’Donnell ’01
3
22
6
Wyoming Seminary Journal
Spring 2011
WYOMING SEMINARY NIGHT
AUGUST 20, 2011 • 7:05 p.m.
PHILLIES vs. NATIONALS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Discounted tickets available!
Bobblehead giveaway night!
For future National needs, contact:
Megan Dimond Holeman (Class of ’96)
202.640.7652
[email protected]
For more information, contact:
Julie McCarthy Strzeletz (Class of ’81)
570.270.2142
[email protected]
DESMOND
Sem Launches
Alumni Community
The online community will enable you to
find and connect with your Sem friends
easier and faster than ever before!
You will also be able to:
• Update contact information
• Upload class notes and images to share with other Sem alumni
• Search the Class Directory
• View your own Class Page
• Add Facebook, Youtube, Gmail, RSS feeds, your weather and more to customize
your landing page
• View the Alumni Multimedia gallery
All alumni with current e-mail addresses received their usernames and passwords with instructions how to login
was e-mailed with the March Alumni Newsletter on Friday, March 25. If you did not receive the email with your
username and password, please contact Patty DeViva, Sem's webmaster, at [email protected].
Thank you
23
TheHistory
of the
Ruggles Award
for the
Outstanding
Graduate
A man of foresight and conviction,
Harry WyndhamRuggles graduated from
Wyoming Seminary in 1899. In the years
that followed, hemarriedclassmateEmma
G. Rickardandassumedthe management
of his family’s lumber business. Under his
leadership,RugglesLumberCompany
expanded froma regional retail and
Ruggles Award continued from page 5
“I have been fortunate to land here in the field of sports and entertainment and I
would have to say it has been a great fit for me; probably my dream job in many ways,”
Wilkinson says. “I enjoy sports and I do get to go to a lot of games and other events. My
job also requires little travel so I get to be a mom and work in a job I love at the same
time.”
Before joining the Pacers in 2002, Wilkinson served as Vice President of Human
Capital for eSkye Solutions, an Indianapolis-based pre-IPO technology start-up. She
also worked for Sara Lee Corporation’s Meat Group in various human resources roles
throughout the United States.
A stand-out athlete in field hockey, basketball and softball at Sem, Wilkinson was
the school’s first female graduate to receive an athletic scholarship to an NCAA Div. I
institution, Duke University. There she co-captained the Blue Devils’ 1988 nationallyranked field hockey team, and graduated in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree in
economics. She later completed her M.B.A. at Vanderbilt University where she met her
husband Jeffrey. The couple now lives in a suburb of Indianapolis with their two daughters
Natalie and Claire.
Wilkinson credits the vision and good counsel of her Sem teachers, coaches and
advisors for her success.
vast timberingandmillingalongthe
“For me it was a time to stretch and explore, to build my self-confidence, weigh my
interests in potential careers and target my goals for the future. Sem gave me a solid
foundation on which to build a career – a foundation that has enabled me to reach higher,
northerntier of Pennsylvania.
achieve more and clearly see a future of wonderful possibilities.”
In 1928, Ruggles joined the
Frederick (Fritz) Bittenbender ’89
wholesalelumber businesstoinclude
WyomingSeminaryBoardofTrustees.
Heservedfaithfully until his deathin
Vice President of Public Affairs, Cephalon, Inc.
1953. During his tenure, he served
under the direction of three presidents and was directly involved
Fritz Bittenbender’s career in
biotechnology began in a rather
unusual place: Pennsylvania
government. During his nearly
eight years in the Governor’s office
he worked to bring in business and
advance the state’s economy; his work with
the growing biotechnology sector inspired
him to join the industry and focus his efforts
on establishing Pennsylvania as a leader in
the bioscience field.
in the planning of various Semprojects including the construction
of Carpenter Hall. Outside the Semcommunity, Ruggles was active
in numerous community organizations including the Kingston
Methodist Church, theWilkes-Barre– WyomingValley Chamber of
Commerce and the Community Welfare Federation, in addition to
manyothers. However, nonewouldcaptureRuggles’ attentionmore
thenSem.
Following Ruggles’ passing in 1953 his children established
The Harry W. and Emma R. Ruggles Award for the Outstanding
Graduate to commemorate their parents’ appreciation and love
of Sem. At the time, the school presenteda small groupof awards
at Commencement celebrating the academic contributions of
the graduating class. The Ruggles children recognized the need to
celebrate the positive contributions made by those outside of the
classroom.
Five generations later the Ruggles name has been followed
throughthehalls of Spragueby: son, John’30; grandsonJohnJr. ’55,
Fred’58andRichard’64; great grandchildren, Harvie’79, JohnIII ’82
andTaylor ’85; andgreat, great grandchildren, Michael ’04, Andrew
’07andBlair Saba’10.
24
Photos courtesy of John Ruggles Jr., ’55
Bittenbender, who began developing
his interests in politics while at Sem, first
became involved with state government
as a graduate student at the University of
Pennsylvania’s Fels Center of Government;
he worked on the Tom Ridge gubernatorial campaign in Philadelphia. After Ridge’s
successful campaign, Bittenbender joined his administration in 1995, and was later named
Director of the Governor’s Office of Public Liaison. He later was named Deputy Chief of
Staff for the Governor where he acted as liaison between the Governor and Cabinet level
agencies in state government. Bittenbender remained in the Governor’s office during Mark
Schweiker’s administration and served as the secretary of administration, which acts as
the non-financial chief operating office for state government. As secretary, he chaired the
Commonwealth’s important Tobacco Settlement Investment Board, which established the
endowment of Pennsylvania’s tobacco settlement funds; $60 million of those funds were
invested in private venture capital companies for development of Pennsylvania bioscience
companies.
Fritz Bittenbender is seen with his wife
Heather and their family in St. Andrews,
Scotland last summer: Emma, 8, Teddy, 1
and Alec, 6.
In 2002 Bittenbender took his career in a new direction. He was
named president of Pennsylvania Bio, a statewide trade group that
works to unite and advance the Commonwealth’s more than 2,000
bioscience-related companies. He served as a spokesman and advocate
for the industry and directed the association’s federal and state
government relations activities, communications and overall industry
relations.
Bittenbender now is vice president of public affairs at
Cephalon, Inc., joining the firm in 2005. One of the fastest growing
biopharmaceutical companies in the nation, Cephalon employs about
4,000 people around the world and sells numerous branded and
generic products in about 100 countries. There he is responsible for
the company’s global corporate communications, strategic positioning,
directing its federal, state and local government affairs activities,
representing the company to community and industry groups and
managing Cephalon’s charitable giving.
“During my tenure in state government it became obvious that
the biopharmaceutical industry presented tremendous economic
opportunity to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he says.
“Few people realize it because we have not done an adequate job
telling the story, but our state is a global leader in the development
and manufacturing of innovative medicines and medical devices.
The research and development that Pennsylvania companies are
undertaking will have an incredible impact on human health around
the world.”
Bittenbender also serves as president of the Cephalon Cares
Foundation which donates free medicines to thousands of patients in
need. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia
Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Committee of Seventy in
Philadelphia. In addition, he is a board member of PACT, the Chester
County Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Biotechnology and
Life Sciences Congress and Sting Communications.
He admits that while at Sem, politics and government was much
more interesting to him than science. “I am certain that my two
outstanding science teachers at Wyoming Seminary, Gary Vanderburg
and Dr. John Dickinson, would both be shocked that I entered a
field that involved science! However, I can say without equivocation
that the education I received, the relationships that I forged and the
opportunities that I was given at Sem in large part prepared me for the
role that I have today.”
Bittenbender holds a bachelor of arts degree in international relations
and a master of arts degree in government administration, both from the
University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife Heather Schleicher are the
parents of three children, Alec, Emma and Teddy.
The Rev. Natalya Sharp Cherry ’94
Pastor, Christ United Methodist Church
Although from its inception Wyoming Seminary has been formed
and inspired by the United Methodist Church, very few of its recent
graduates have chosen to become Methodist ministers. Natalya Cherry
is one of those graduates, and even for her, the road to ministry did not
become clear until after she had left Kingston.
“I knew this was my path in life when I couldn’t walk away from
the experience of hearing God’s voice, because all the neon arrows
pointing the way were so obvious and because everything I needed just
kept falling into my lap,” she says.
In 1998, in her senior year as an English major at Georgetown
University, Rev. Cherry received the Denit Fellowship at Wesley
Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., which allowed her to earn
her master of divinity degree in 2001. Her first appointment, to a small
trio of churches in Knoxville, Pa. in rural Tioga County, also included
work with a dynamic group called “Salt n’ Light Youth Ministry,”
encouraging youth and young adults who were interested in ministry.
She and her husband Paul, had a countryside wedding there in 2002.
In 2005, at the request of her bishop, Rev. Cherry moved to the
Aldersgate UMC in Mechanicsburg, Pa. to serve as the Community
Life Pastor. Only a year later, however, she was appointed to the Christ
UMC congregation in Tower City, a growing church family of about
212 members who come from Schuylkill and Dauphin Counties. There
she pioneers a mission-focused church renewal initiative, sings in the
Family Choir and is initiating a 34-week DISCIPLE Bible Study, in
addition to her regular pastoral duties. She also is a member of the
Williams Valley Ministerium and served as its president; she is active
in the local food pantry and crisis pregnancy center; and has served the
Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church on several
major committees.
Within the United
Methodist community,
as well as other faith
communities, Rev. Cherry
is perhaps best known
for her series of dramatic
and comedic Bible scripts,
which explore the common core
of Christian faith. Her scripts are
performed at Annual Conferences
and have been disseminated on the
Conference web site to all member
congregations. “My scripts are
now being performed in churches
of all denominations throughout
my area so people think of faith in
new ways and take action together
across denominational lines,”
she says.
The Rev. Natalya Sharp Cherry and
her husband Paul and son Gregory.
A faithful four-year member of the Sem Players who frequently won
leading roles, Rev. Cherry, her husband and their three-year-old son
Gregory enjoy visiting retired English teacher and drama director Carver
Collins who directed her in many productions. She credits him and other
Sem teachers with teaching her critical thinking, analysis and logic.
“These vital elements of my Sem education equip me to practice
prophetic leadership responsibly, as I’m sure they permit many other
Ruggles Award winners to challenge the system effectively as well.”
Continued on next page
25
Katherine A. Gale ’96 J. D.
Associate, Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Katherine Gale is
seen at a concert
in Chicago.
Today’s media are filled
with stories and opinions
about the soaring costs
of health care and public
services and the considerable
challenges in providing these
services to the American
public. Perhaps no one
understands these challenges
better than attorneys who
specialize in healthcare and
public finance. This difficult
field is the one Katherine Gale
chose when she entered the
law profession.
Gale joined Ungaretti
& Harris LLP, Chicago,
Ill., in 2007, shortly after
receiving her juris doctor
degree from the Washington University School
of Law in St. Louis, Mo. She works in the
Corporate, Securities & Finance Department, where she focuses on
tax-exempt financing for entities such as schools, hospitals and housing
departments as well as conducting research into various compliance
issues. Her firm is considered one of the premier midsize litigation
and transactional firms in the country and represents professional
organizations, healthcare providers, government agencies, Fortune 500
companies and professional and trade associations.
A member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, The
American Health Lawyers Association and the Chicago and American
Bar Associations, Gale also serves on the associate boards of Women in
Public Finance, a nonprofit, educational and professional networking
organization for women in the public finance industry, and the
American Cancer Society, Illinois, and the junior board of Catholic
Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Assisting healthcare facilities and educational institutions with their
financial issues and helping them deal with an ever-changing maze of
regulations requires extensive knowledge of not only federal but also
state law as well as the stamina to work 60-70 hour weeks. But it is vital
work that helps make it possible for hospitals and clinics to serve as
many patients as they can, and allows schools to expand their programs
to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges.
“Although the work is complex and challenging, it’s very rewarding
to know that, at the end of the day, I’m helping these public entities
achieve their financial goals so that they can continue their mission
within the communities they serve,” she says.
Gale did not go directly into the law profession. After she received
her bachelor of arts degree in economics and international studies from
Johns Hopkins University in 2000, she moved to New York City, where
she worked as a strategic planner for D’Arcy Worldwide and Saatchi
& Saatchi, firms part of the Publicis Groupe, the world’s third largest
communications group.
These days, when her schedule allows, Gale loves to travel, a passion
she developed early in life through her mother’s many domestic and
international assignments with Proctor & Gamble, leading to numerous
family moves. She still plays tennis and swims, harkening back to her
days on the Sem varsity tennis and swim teams, and enjoys
photography.
Recipients of the Harry W. and Emma R. Ruggles Award
for the Outstanding Graduate continued…
26
1982
Lisa M. Caputo
1992
Edward J. Stankus, III
2002
Liqian Ma
1983
Milton C. Johns
1993
Stephen J. Rosenthal
2003
Emily R. Alinikoff
1984
Frank E. Kulbaski, III
1994
Natalya Sharp Cherry
2004
Peter J. DeMarco
1985
Donna Zavada Wilkinson
1995
Jessica K. Fried
1986
Terrell Davis Smith
1996
Katherine A. Gale
2005
Harrison B. Russin
1987
Justin C. DePasquale
1997
Elizabeth A. Murphy
2006
Ross N. Feinstein
1988
Rachel Greenwald Skaistis
1998
Michael T.C. Packard
2007
Janine N. Musheno
1989
Frederick I. Bittenbender
1999
Michael E. Messersmith, Jr.
2008
Lauren A. Onofrey
1990
Joanne Garbush DuPriest
2000
Jennifer E. Blum
2009
Katherine Levandoski
1991
Jane S. Oh
2001
Madhan Srinivasan
2010
Jakub Husek
Liqian Ma ’02
Graduate student, Harvard University
Liqian Ma’s path from Wyoming Seminary has taken him
from Harvard to Goldman Sachs back to Harvard, from which
he will graduate in May 2011 with a M.B.A. After completing
his bachelor of arts degree in economics in 2006, Ma worked as
a financial analyst in the Investment Management Division of
Goldman Sachs in New York, serving high net-worth individuals,
families and foundations. He became interested in the concept
of preparing young entrepreneurs to create businesses and
organizations that improve society while being profitable.
Since 2005 he has been a member of the StartingBloc
Institute for Social Innovation, which works with up-andcoming leaders and future business owners in the United States
and abroad. Another interest of his is clean energy; he has been
active in the Harvard Office for Sustainability as a Green Living
Representative, promoting recycling and energy conservation
on campus. He also works as a volunteer with a company that
deals in solar power. He plans to combine his work experience in
the financial markets and StartingBloc with his interest in clean
energy when he completes his graduate degree and re-enters the
work force.
Ma’s views about energy, the environment and how to work
with and manage both began forming while he was a student at
Sem. He credits Dr. Andrea Nerozzi’s AP Environmental Science
course with sparking his interest, and during his senior year he
produced a video documentary about coal mine drainage in the
Wyoming Valley. He presented the video to the student body on
Earth Day 2002 and, in part due to the success of the project,
he became very interested in pursuing a career in financing or
developing clean energy.
“Building awareness
of renewable energy
sources, recycling and
energy conservation are
important,” he says.
“Such issues are tied to
our national security, our
economy and the health of
our planet. It is possible
that one day I will work
at a policy think tank or
government agency that
addresses these issues.”
Liqian Ma is
seen in a recent
photo taken
in northern
Michigan.
Sem also has played
a role in Ma’s personal
life in a way he could not
have anticipated when he
came to Kingston from
Binghamton N.Y. as a
freshman. Chorale Director John Vaida convinced him to join
the Chorale and later the Madrigal Singers, and Ma discovered
that he enjoyed it. So much so that when he went to Harvard
for his undergraduate work, he joined the co-ed choir there and
met Samantha Morrison, now his fiancée and love of his life. The
couple will be married in June.
“I really have fond memories of Sem. My years there were the
most formative for me: living in the dorm, discovering new
interests and making lasting friendships.”
Peter J. DeMarco ’04
Rising law school student
As he prepares to enter law school later this year, Peter DeMarco reflects on
his experiences on the highly competitive Furman University Mock Trial team,
his year earning a master of arts degree in African studies in Ghana, and his work
as the co-founder of and grant writer for an employment agency for low-income
workers in Charleston, S. C. The common theme: using rhetorical and writing
skills on behalf of society’s disadvantaged whose voices too often go unheard.
After graduating from Sem in 2004, where he excelled on the Mock Trial team
and in the annual Oratorical Contest, DeMarco enrolled at Furman University in
South Carolina. He majored in political science and served as the president and team
captain of the university Mock Trial team. A recipient of the Rotary Ambassadorial
Scholarship in 2008, he studied at the University of Ghana and became interested
in agricultural and economic policy making and the politics of food. “It is both
interesting and disturbing to look at the politics behind access to food, and why some
people’s lives matter more than others,” he says.
Peter DeMarco is seen
presenting a banner
to the president of the
Rotaract Club of the
University of Ghana.
27
In October, 2009, while living in Charleston, S.C., DeMarco
co-founded In Every Story, a non-profit temporary employment
agency. He also has worked as a licensed tour guide for the
Palmetto Carriage Works in the historic section of the city.
Many aspects of his Sem education have been a benefit to
him, he notes: the rigor of his academic work (he took eight
Advanced Placement (AP) courses), the opportunity to live
and study with people from many different countries and the
discipline he developed while participating in Mock Trial,
basketball and other campus activities.
“Mrs. Levy was a very important influence for me. Working
with her in Mock Trial taught me how to develop articulate,
rigorous arguments, and these skills were very useful in my
literature and political science courses at Furman, as well as in
the university’s Mock Trial program,” he said. “Living in the
dorm at Sem also helped me in Ghana because I had already
Leaving a
Legacy...
“One generation plants the trees...
Another gets the shade.”
– Chinese Proverb
The inspired leaders who founded Wyoming
Seminary believed they had a special calling:
to prepare young men and women to meet
the demands of their changing times. That
calling is as vital today as it was in 1844. Over
the years, Wyoming Seminary has grown
into a remarkably distinctive independent
school with an incredibly complex mission;
it serves both young women and men, day
and boarding students, preschool through
postgraduate, from the Wyoming Valley and
from around the world.
Wyoming Seminary has been able to achieve
this mission through the loyal and generous
support of generations of alumni, parents and
friends who have included the School in their
estate and financial plans. Over the last thirty
years, these planned gifts have provided
more than one-third of all support to Sem.
Leaving a legacy to future generations is
a rewarding and noble act. Since 1981,
Wyoming Seminary has received bequests,
trust distributions or proceeds from
insurance policies from the following alumni
and friends. We are indeed grateful for the
“shade” their gifts have provided!
28
1896
Emory H. Westlake
1903
Ray Rood Allen
1904
Helen J. Graham
1907
Mary Sheeder Wilson
1909
Ralph L. Newing
Arthur R. Roat
1912
Bertha Pringle Dix
1914
Harden Coon
Ruth Shaw Jacobson
Neil D. Kelley
1916
Roger S. Clark
Robert C. Laycock
Walter L. Morgan
Edith L. Roat
1917
Dorothy R. Morgan
Robert Stull
1918
Helen L. Brown
Harold S. Callen
1919
Harold C. Buckingham
J. Antrim Crellin
1920
John Maddaford
Sarah Stewart Peirce
1921
Oscar N. Barber
Benjamin Kubilius
Rebekah Streng
Nicholson
Marion E. Richards
Anna Y. Weeks
lived and studied and played basketball with students from other
cultures. I learned that the world is made up of different places.”
Now as he prepares for his wedding in July to Emily Pusser
and mulls over offers of admission from law schools such as
Stanford, Yale and New York University, DeMarco is thinking
ahead to the type of law he would like to practice. It will be
some sort of public interest law, possibly indigent defense or
international law, but certainly something that reflects his desire
to represent the disenfranchised.
“There’s a connection between food scarcity in Ghana and
homelessness in Charleston. It’s a type of structural injustice, a
topic that is a particular interest of mine,” he says, adding that
he first started thinking deeply about concepts of integrity and
service while competing in Oratorical Contests. “Sem has had an
important role in structuring my life, because it was at Sem that I
first began thinking about those things.”
1922
Martin I. Freeman
Clement W. Perkins
1923
William B. Crane
Jane K. Freas
Marian Hornbaker
Hutcheson
William R. Toomb
1924
Carrie Shook Lewis
Howard B. Matthews
Elwood Quesada
Isabel Weeks
1925
Phyllis M. Evans
Alvah Fassett
Adele Alden Merriman
Esther Moyle Owens
Hamilton R. Young
1926
Joseph C. Donchess
Grace Dick
Hunsberger
Margaret Atherton
Wagg
1927
C. Benjamin Bodle
George F. Galland
William P. Kocher
1928
William C. Dick
Dorothy I. Lewis
Paul R. Mehm
Arthur Ross
Frederic Salzman
Ethel Partridge Tippett
1929
Margaret P. Hoffman
Geraldine Nesbitt Orr
Cromwell Thomas
V. Samuel VanScoy
1930
Helen Anderson
John F. Connole
Anna H. Griffiths
Daniel King
Irving Lottman
Harry Moat
Stella Miner Moat
1931
Mary Harris
Montgomery
Frank Schmitt, Jr.
Thomas Williams
1932
Robert N. Weller
Edward Williams
1933
David Davis
Irene Knapp Harding
Elizabeth Sickler
Lampp
Carl Prisbeck
Dorothy James Sinon
1934
Sarah Barr
Merritt Harding
1935
Mary Keeler Beacham
Agnes Gregson
Doris Harris Hamilton
Effingham P.
Humphrey, Jr.
Regis J. Kennedy
Charles Laycock
1936
Alice Davies Stanley
Marie Welker
Kennedy
John Zaleski
1937
Olive Barr
William Conyngham
Mary Pulverman
Judson
Helen Beaver Platten 1969
Craig Ulrich
1938
Robert Buntz
1996
G. Guthrie Conyngham John Connell, III
Charles K. Morgan
Parents and Friends
Warren Tischler
Bernard Baschkin
1939
George Behler
Mary Sigafoos
Helen Berryman
Harshbarger
Catharine Birth
Marshall Rumbaugh S. A. Buhrman
Adaline Burgess
1940
Clarence Busse
Margaret A. Sloan
C. Frederick Chadwick
John R. Somers
Margaret Sordoni
John Thomas
English
1941
Mary Anne Flaherty
Betsy Albert Price
Nancy Burdick
Ruth Shennen
Galbraith
Lois Harvey
1942
Jessie T. Henderson
Leland Pierson, Jr.
Lila K. Hildebrant
1943
Emily R. James
Ernest Buckman
Dorothea L. Keeney
Ruth Kluger
1945
George Kuryloski
Malcolm F. Smith
Marian D. Littleton
Jessie Lovett Morgan
1946
Maurice Moskowitz
John McCole
Wilbur A. Myers
1947
Martha I. Parker
Joseph Bittenbender Doris Patrick
Ann Phillips
1950
Peter Phillips
Laning Harvey
J. Rammling
R. Peter Shurtleff
R. Willard Reese
1951
Marian Schaeffer
Albert Kozischek
Phyllis Smith
Leslie E. Morgan
Kathleen Stack
Wallace Stettler
1953
Harold Tippett
Robert B. Currie
Ethel Vandermark
1957
Walter Vorbleski
Jozia Mieszkowski
James M. Wachtler
Mabel Scott Wandell
1958
Bettie J. Weeks
David Rosenthal
Class Notes
Class Notes printed on the following pages represent news
sent to us by February 18, 2011.
Please send hard copy news and photos to:
Class Notes
The Alumni Office
Wyoming Seminary
201 North Sprague Avenue
Kingston, Pa. 18704
1929
MARY POWELL BLANDFORD, Pittsburgh,
celebrated her 100th birthday in September. For
17 years, Mary worked in the china department of
the Kaufmann’s store in Mt. Lebanon, surrounded
by fragile treasures that rarely survive long
enough to become antiques. Now she is the rare
treasure who made it to 100. She was named
Mary Patience Powell when she was born on
Sept. 29, 1910, in Nanticoke. She was one of five
children born to Violet and John Powell, a British
immigrant who began working in coalmines at
age 10. In a letter to a granddaughter, she recalled
riding in a buggy between her aunt and uncle
when they were courting. She said her shiny black
hair was the envy of all the boys, who plastered
their hair with pomade. She graduated from
high school in 1928 and received a diploma as
a stenographer from Wyoming Seminary. Her
first job was for $10 a week at the California
Perfume Co., which became Avon. In 1933, she
married Thomas E. Blandford Sr. They had two
children, Tom Jr. of Clearwater, Fla., and Joan
Stitt, deceased. She also has seven grandchildren,
15 great-grandchildren and three great-greatgrandchildren. They moved to Harrisburg in
1965 and to Mt. Lebanon in 1967. Mary worked
at Kaufmann’s from 1967 until 1984, retiring
when she was 74. Her husband died in 1969.
She was very active at Christ United Methodist
Church in Bethel Park and belongs to the United
Methodist Women’s Ruth Circle. An avid baker,
she specialized in sour cream coffee cake, lemon
squares, peanut butter balls, cookies, muffins and
many kinds of pies but especially lemon meringue.
Mary gets her hair done every Saturday and
enjoys watching the Steelers, Penn State football
and the Penguins on TV. Although she wouldn’t
eat vegetables for many years, she now enjoys
fresh green beans, Harvard beets and coleslaw
and Panera Bread’s broccoli cheddar soup every
night before dinner. For dessert, she has a coffee
float and a fun-size Butterfinger candy bar. Her
favorite birthday meal is prime rib with a Brandy
Alexander. She celebrated the week before her
100th birthday with family and friends at the
Crowne Plaza in Bethel Park.
1948
COLLETTE TOUEY KEAN, New York, N.Y.
On January 12, 2011, Collette was feted at a
surprise party where she learned that over 100
friends had made possible The Collette T. Kean
•Digital news and images can be
e-mailed to:
[email protected].
•Digital images will reproduce better
if they have a resolution of at least
200 dpi and are at least 4 inches
wide.
Patient Suite at New York-Presbyterian Hospital
in New York City. This new suite, with a
spectacular view of the city, honors Collette for
her decades of volunteer efforts on behalf of the
hospital and reflects the enormous esteem and
affection in which she is held by the donors.
REBEKAH NICHOLSON MALKEMES, West
Pittston, celebrated her birthday with friends, July
2010.
He and his wife are enjoying their cottage on Lake
Chautaugua, N.Y.
ARLENE KRIEGER MINOTT, Grasonville, Md.,
writes, We are active boaters on the Chesapeake
Bay. We belong to Kent Narrows Power Squadron
and Kent Island Yacht Club. We own a 50’ Chris
Craft Constellation.
1952
NANCY WAGNER BANZ, Venice, Fla., writes,
Bob and I are enjoying our life in Venice. We
are so fortunate to live three houses away from
my sister, SUE WAGNER CLARK ’53 and her
husband, PETER CLARK ’46. Together we’ve
explored much of the west coast of Florida and
every restaurant of note.
JOHN “JACK” MUELLER, Lake Forest, Ill.,
writes, The forthcoming five years will be among
the most important in the long history of our
school as we upgrade our curricula, enhance our
faculty and add new facilities for the Arts Center
and the Sem School for Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM).
1954
Shown are MARY EAGAN MCDONALD,
JEAN ROBBINS HUGHES, GERRY RUDDY
HOURIGAN, ELLEN DAVIS BENDER and
(seated) REBEKAH NICHOLSON MALKEMES,
all from the Class of 1948.
1950
QUINCY ABBOT, West Hartford, Conn., The
following appeared on the website for The Arc
of Connecticut: Quincy Abbot Receives ADA
Award. Our own Quincy Abbot was presented
with The Spirit of the ADA Award at the 17th
Annual Meeting of the Americans with Disabilities
Act Coalition of Connecticut on October 26 at the
Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden. The honor
was in recognition of Quincy’s indomitable spirit,
which has touched so many lives over the years.
Congratulations, Quincy, on this well-deserved
award!
1951
60th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
NORMAN CLEMENS, Cleveland Heights, OH,
reports that he is continuing part-time practice
of psychoanalysis and adult psychiatry, but
preparing for retirement, while teaching in Case
Western Reserve University School of Medicine
and Cleveland Psychiatric Institute. His family is
doing well with four grandchildren ages 6 to 16.
WILBUR WRIGHT was posthumously inducted
into the Central Bucks West Hall of Fame for
earning four varsity letters in his senior year of
high school. He was one of the last Central Bucks
varsity athletes to letter in four sports in a single
year, football, basketball, baseball and track. After
graduation in 1953, Willbur attended Wyoming
Seminary prior to attending the U.S. Naval
Academy. He played both baseball and basketball
for the varsity teams at Sem. At Navy he caught
for the freshman baseball team. Graduating
from the Naval Academy in 1958 (classmate of
John McCain), Wilbur joined the U.S. Air Force
and became a bombardier-navigator flying B-58
bombers. In 1967 he deployed to South Viet Nam
flying combat missions.
In October of 1969, while on a routine training
flight in a B-52, the eight-engine Stratofortress
assigned to the Strategic Air Command crashed
at Castle Air Force Base in California. The pilots
were practicing night touch-and-go landings when
an accident occurred. All six airmen aboard,
including Willbur, were killed. He was 34 years
old at the time and left a widow, Annette, and a
daughter, Yvonne. Wilbur is buried in Arlington
Cemetery, just a few yards from Audie Murphy,
the most decorated Army veteran from World
War II.
1955
HARRIET MOFFAT MACFADYEN,
Madison, Tenn., and her daughter, MARNEY
MACFADYEN COBURN ’83 lost their
husband and father, respectively, last year.
Gilbert MacFadyen passed away in December in
Nashville, Tenn.
29
Class Notes
1956
55th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
CHARLES BEAM, Springfield, Va., and his wife,
Paulette, are living at the Greenspring Continuing
Care Retirement Community in Springfield, Va.
HENRY WADZINSKI, Arlington, Mass., writes,
We now have four grandchildren: three boys
(including James who arrived September 2009) in
our youngest son’s family and the oldest, a girl, in
our older son’s family.
1961
50th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
BETSEY BELVIN, Bennington, Vt., writes, Doing
multiple things, processing multiple experiences.
Biggest event is the unexpected death of my
husband, Harris Snoparsky, December 24, 2009.
So my single most important process is being
alone after 34 years---lots of transitions. Also, I
managed his chiropractic office. I am now mostly
out of work. Right now I’m in the office one day
a week with another doctor. I am 66—soon to
be 67, and it’s retirement time, but I have no clue
of what that means, so I continue to work that
one-day plus do occasional adjunct teaching in
our local college, Southern Vermont College (not
Bennington College), plus volunteer work. Our
daughter is 28 and in her last year of law school. I
am seriously focusing on being a mother and not
mothering. I continue with my watercolors in a
group of women all of a certain age. I rarely show
as I don’t mass-produce, but do my art just for
the sheer pleasure of it. I can’t believe we’re at our
50th reunion. I remember in 1986 my mom had
her 50th from Girls High in Philadelphia. It never
occurred to me that I’d be there someday—after
all, 2011 was some futuristic date! I’m really
looking forward to seeing all of us!
RAY HOWARD, Tucson, Ariz., writes, After all
these years out of school, I’ve decided to join a
conversational French class to brush up on my
foreign language skills. I’m finding it to be a lot
more fun than I had anticipated, discovering that
it’s coming back to me much faster and easier than
I had expected. So thank you to both Sem and Mr.
Herb Quick who taught me so well.
JOHN UNGER, Hamilton, Va., writes, Carolyn
and I just spent six weeks in the wilds of the
North where we helped MIT classmates of mine
build a cabin in McCarthy, Alaska, and then
jumped in a pick up to tour Denali Park and drive
back to the “lower 48” on the Alaskan Highway,
camping along the way. We saw lots of spruce
and perma frost, large mammals and few people.
Enjoyed hiking along the way and trying not to
think of grizzly bears, too much. Now back at
home in Virginia, it looks like we avoided one of
the hottest, driest summers in recent memory.
30
ALAN WILCOX, Williamsport, writes, After
returning to Williamsport, and working for
awhile until laid off, we finally took our Social
Security early. Linda still works a couple days a
month at a local health-food store, and I’ve been
doing amateur radio service. Visit my website
http://WilcoxEngineering.com for all the details.
The latest news is that I finished a fifth book,
my memoirs this time. Say For Me Kaddish:
An Engineer’s Life and Advice is available on
Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, plus others,
as an ebook. Perhaps I’ll select a print publisher
one day, but the electronic version allows wide
distribution on the Internet. A natural for an
engineer! Looking forward to the reunion in 2011.
1962
TONY CAREY, Wilbraham, Mass., writes, I am
enjoying retirement and time spent with our two
grandchildren. My wife, Rita, continues to work
as Director of Communications at Wilbraham
& Monson Academy. We are looking forward
to the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, to be
celebrated in Washington D.C. in September.
Oops! Sem roommates and lifelong friends
HOWARD WATSON ’61 and AL THOMAS ’62
enjoy Munich’s Hofbrau Haus during their recent
European sojourn with their wives. A good beer
was had by all.
ALFRED THOMAS III, Greenville, S.C., is still
nominally working but he finds time to ski a lot in
Colorado and volunteer as an assistant rugby
coach for the Greenville High School Rugby
Team. He is looking forward to his 50th reunion
in 2012.
Kenneth W. Layshon, Wyoming, is looking forward to the 50th anniversary of
the graduation of his class in May, 2012. He has written the following poem
in anticipation of his reunion and is now composing music to accompany it.
Classmates may reach him at [email protected]
rum • Bonum
h
Verum • Pulc
are no more.
h such days as mes of yesteryore?
ut
yo
of
l
al
ec
R
ti
those pleasant
Oh, where …
enable all,
l spend at Sem e recall.
el
w
s
ar
ye
ur
O
sw
ious memorie
secure the prec
,
ly we then sing
tic praises glad and soul to 'Wy˘o 'ming!
es
aj
M
om heart
give thanks fr
ue, yet free)
(so pure and tr hat we see.
ve
lo
e
th
rn
Disce
for w
heart for Sem
that stirs our
ore strong,
es our bond m .
ak
m
ch
hi
w
ide,
long
Perceive the pr what well we should, and
ell
w
h
is
er
ch
d
an
n sing:
s boldly we ca ices ring!
se
ai
pr
c
ti
es
aj
M
l vo
emotion, loya
with charged
ks the way
white yet mar
d
an
ue
bl
er
ills today.
That bann
h in stellar sk
ut
yo
g
in
ol
ho
for sc
e beauti'ful;
nd, the true; th ce in full!
Across this la
tes all excel'len
the good; deno
d;
’ly now resoun
tic praises happ ices sound!
es
aj
M
fervent vo
in jubilation,
er serene,
dly standing e’ on, queen!
ou
pr
g,
in
m
ac
Wyo
preceptress, be
we honor you,
wards its end,
ers, burning to m, our friend!
ck
fli
le
nd
ca
n
Whe
s at Se
prize our root
then still we’ll
ar,
ly we’ll yet he
tic praises fond e we revere!
es
aj
M
er, dear on
for Alma Mat
Class Notes
1963
HARRY SCHOOLEY, Williamsville, N.Y., writes,
In June 2010, after teaching history for 38 years
at the other college prep school called “Sem”
- Buffalo Seminary, I retired from my 43-year
career in education. In recognition of my years
there, Buffalo Sem named a classroom in my
honor. To celebrate, Lon [LON YOUNGQUIST
SCHOOLEY ‘63] and I bought a new house in
Williamsville, N.Y., and in January we traveled
to Kauai for a delightful escape from the Buffalo
winter!
diplomatic skills,” Mr. Rosenthal said. “It is
going to be an even bigger, more fun, and harder
job now, as we seek to expand and develop
our Opinion report.” Before joining The Times
in 1986, Ms. Hall worked for The Wall Street
Journal as a copy editor and a reporter. She left
The Times in 1996 to become executive editor
of the magazine Martha Stewart Living and then
returned to The Times after a few years. In her
most recent role, Trish served on the masthead as
the assistant managing editor responsible for six
weekly sections: Dining, Home, Thursday Styles,
Travel, Real Estate and Sunday Styles.
1965
1970
REUBEN MUNDAY, Detroit, Mich., was elected
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the law
firm of Lewis & Munday, P.C., effective January
1, 2011.
JASON SMITH, Forty Fort, has had two articles
published in Eye Care Professional Magazine in
2010, one in March and the other in September.
Jason is a graduate of the New England College
of Optometry in Boston, Mass. He received his
master’s degree from King’s College in WilkesBarre. He is a graduate of the University of
Florida, Gainesville and the University of South
Florida, Tampa. He has served as the Chief of
Optometry at the White Haven Medical Center
for mentally challenged patients and served as
Clinical Director for the Omni Lens Contact Lens
Corporation. Jason is also the founder of Home
Eye Care, which provides eye care to homebound
and nursing home patients throughout Luzerne
and Lackawanna Counties. He has been in
private practice since 1993 at Forty Fort Eye Care
Associates. His most recent article can be seen
at http://issuu.com/eyecare_professional/docs/
ecp_0910.
1966
45th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
DAVID BRIGGS, Santa Barbara, Calif., writes,
I retired from the California Department of
Rehabilitation in February 2009. I am fulfilling
one of my bucket list items by going to every
Baltimore Oriole home game this season. When
the Orioles are on the road, I stay with my
97-year-old mother in Easton, Md. My wife and
I met up with JOHN SCHOOLEY ’66 at his
home in Maine this summer. In October, I will be
heading back to California and then over to our
place in Kona for some waves.
BARBARA HAUCK, Fairview, writes, I published
a book last year A Picture Palace Transformed:
How Erie’s Warner Theatre Survived a Changing
World. Now I am spending my time weaving,
working on my genealogy, writing and teaching at
the Inner City Neighborhood Art House. I teach
children from 7-12 various classes in weaving
and fiber arts. My husband, Tom George, and I
have been married now for over two years. We
travel throughout the country to see our children.
Our last trip was to the state of Washington to
celebrate my son Matt Fogarty’s wedding on
September 5.
ROBERT ROSENKRANTZ, Brookline, Mass.,
writes, My wife, Kari, and I are enjoying living in
the Boston area, playing with our two grandkids,
and skiing and snowboarding in Vermont.
1968
PATRICIA “TRISH” HALL, New York, N.Y.,
was appointed the New York Times Op-Ed
editor. Andrew Rosenthal, editor of the opinion
pages, announced Trish’s appointment. Mr.
Rosenthal said the nature of the job, which
consists of soliciting and editing opinion articles
from writers outside the paper, required someone
with a breadth of experience. “I can’t think of
anyone better suited for a job that has always
been hard, requiring a broad range of knowledge
and interests, as well as editing, managing and
1971
40th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
BARBARA ROSS, Sommerville, Mass., published
her first mystery novel The Death of an Ambitious
Woman in August 2010. Following the sale of
her educational technology company, also in
August 2010, she was named as a co-editor/copublisher at Level Best Books, which publishes an
anthology of short stories every November. The
2010 edition, titled Thin Ice: Crime Stories by
New England Writers, contains Barbara’s story
“Key West,” which received the Al Blanchard
Award presented by the New England Chapters of
Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Barbara recently donated copies of these books to
the Wyoming Seminary library.
JANE TROUP, Springfield, Mo., writes, I’ve
continued my work as an artist with great
success, and it only took 35 years! This fall I was
just named Best Dog Artist by Doggieaficiano
Magazine, funny. My two daughters are enjoying
and working hard in college. My wonderful
husband and I spend weekends at our country
home riding our horses through the beautiful
Ozark mountain landscape. Life is very good. I
think of my time at Sem with great fondness and
would love to hear from old friends. You can
see my work on my website janetroup.com and
artfulhome.com.
1972
MARY LOPATTO, Washington D.C., has been
named Managing Partner of the firm Chadbourne
and Parke LLP in Washington, D.C. Mary joined
the firm in January 2006 as a partner in the
Insurance/Reinsurance Group. Prior to joining
the firm, she was the Managing Partner of the
Washington, D.C. office of LeBoeuf, Lamb,
Greene & MacRae, LLP (now Dewey & LeBoeuf
LLP).
POLLY MITCHELL, Philadelphia, writes, In
September of 2010, I accepted a job at Girard
College in Philadelphia, leaving Wyoming
Seminary after 13 years as its PR Director. An
alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, I have
wanted to return to the Philadelphia area for
some time, and this job offer gave me the chance
to do so. Girard College (It’s not a college, just
as Wyoming Seminary is not a seminary. Hmmm
... there seems to be a pattern in my employment
history!) is an independent school for children
in grades 1 through 12 located in the Fairmount
section of the city, and I am the new Director
of Communications. I love the hustle bustle of
Philadelphia, and I am delighted to support
Girard’s extraordinary mission. Of course, I
miss many Sem people and various aspects of
my old job; I am particularly sorry that I wasn’t
in the crowd watching Sem’s field hockey team
earn another state championship! I hope all
of you loyal Journal readers know how much
I will miss serving as editor of this wonderful
publication. It has been an honor and pleasure
writing or editing stories about you, taking
photos and planning each issue with the AlumniDevelopment and PR teams. I look forward to
being a Journal READER, and I am determined
to be IN FRONT of the camera occasionally at
alumni events! (Ed.’s Note: Look for Polly in
the Philadelphia gathering photos on page 21.)
Contact me at [email protected].
1973
CRAIG PHILLIPS, Baltimore, Md., writes, After
not seeing my cousin DUANE PHILLIPS ’75
(who has lived in Berlin Germany for the last
25 years) in over a decade, I decided to combine
a visit with the Berlin Marathon. He, his wife
Marina, and Honey their Basset hound, are all
well and happy. Duane, being an internationally
renowned architect, aficionado of German
beers and a rather poor snooker player, was the
perfect guide and host. He also entertained me
with fascinating tales of his nearly single-handed
responsibility for the fall of the Berlin wall… By
the way, if anyone is looking for a running partner
please contact me at [email protected].
31
Alumni Profile: Harry “Mike” Katerman ’71
Relational Business
by Andy Bolig
M
ike Katerman knows how important it is to have
long-lasting relationships to help you weather the
storm. Ironically, the day that we were scheduled to get
some pictures of Mike and his collection of Corvettes,
that storm had moved in with a vengeance. With rain
pouring down like buckets upon us, Mike said, “Well,
we can take the pictures in my barn.”
As you can imagine, this is no ordinary barn. Mike
has a secluded area inside his secure “toy room” that
adequately accommodates all of his Corvettes and their
stablemate, an all-original, 42,000-mile, 1955 XK-140
Jaguar, bought at the stables at Watkins Glen in 2001.
His Corvettes take up the rest of the area. Depending on
whether your passion is for performance or history, the
highlight of Mike’s collection could easily be the brandnew ZR1, which Mike aptly describes as, “Incredibly
fast!” On the other end of the spectrum, you might
prefer his 1953 Corvette. The first-year Corvette sits
proudly with its sister C5, also wearing a matching
white exterior, red interior and black convertible top. …
The Katerman story actually begins long before any of these
cars were even constructed. … This recently retired executive was the
President and CEO of Magee Carpet, a supplier of automotive carpeting
to GM and several other automotive manufacturers. The relationship
between GM and Magee Carpet even predates GM! Possibly GM’s
oldest supplier, Magee Carpet started selling hand-woven tapestries
for the floors of Fisher Brothers coaches. The company signed the first
contract with the Fisher Brothers in 1908, the same year that Billy
Durant founded General Motors Corporation. Since then, Magee
Carpet has manufactured carpeting for various GM lines ranging from
Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet cars, Astro vans and SUVs. …
During Mike’s tenure with the company, the focus was more on
making carpeting to help supply our voracious demand for automobiles.
… Besides possibly being the oldest supplier to the largest auto
manufacturer in the world, Magee Carpet also held the honor of being
one of only two GM suppliers to win the General Motors Supplier of the
Year Award for 14 consecutive years, spanning the time from when GM
started handing out the award until the time when Mike retired. Mike
also chaired the prestigious General Motors Global Supplier Council for
eight years. …
While Mike is the original owner of both the ZR1 and the 2003
convertible, the ’53 came into the Katerman collection by his father,
Myles Katerman in 1967. The elder Katerman treated the car to a twoyear restoration, starting in 1978 by the now-defunct, Classics and More
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was then shown at the A.A.C.A.’s special
New England Meet in Danbury Connecticut, on July 17, 1982, where
32
it received a Senior Grand National Award. Of course, restoring the ’53
was pretty straightforward, as all records indicate that each of the 300
Corvettes produced that year came decked out with the entire option
list, all two items. The heater was a $91 option, and the signal-seeking
AM radio would set back the buyer another $145. Of course, the ’53
came with the standard six-cylinder engine wearing those three little
air cleaners, one for each carb on the side-mounted intake. While Mike
admits that the other two Corvettes get the lion’s share of the driving
duties, the little white roadster still proudly wears a custom set of Magee
Carpet floor mats complete with the GM logo emblazoned on them, just
for those times when he does take the car out.
Much like the cars have changed since GM hand-built a small
number of ’53’s in a small assembly plant on Van Slyke Road, so has
the automotive industry. Mike was cognizant of the changes that were
happening, and understanding GM’s desire for their suppliers to be
diverse, Magee Carpet merged with the Swiss firm Rieter Automotive
Systems to create Magee Rieter Automotive Systems. Mike explains the
hard decision to merge his company by stating, “If we stay the same, we
won’t be here tomorrow.”
… although now retired from the company, Mike hopes that the
future for Magee Rieter Automotive is just as bright [as ever]. After all,
the company was built on long-term relationships. He’d like to think
that even though there are new relationships, they’ll merge in nicely to
help build a foundation that accepts both the proven trends in history
and the new, more complex scenarios and issues on a grander scale.
Reprinted with permission from Corvette Enthusiast Magazine, July
2010 issue. Photo by Andy Bolig.
Class Notes
1974
DAVID STETTLER, Cambridge, Mass. will
assume the position as the next headmaster of
Fessenden School, an all-male boarding school in
West Newton, Mass., effective July 1, 2011. David
is currently the Head of School at Oak Meadow
Montessori School in Littleton, Mass.
1976
35th Reunion: April 29 –
May 1, 2011
1979
JOHN HORRIGAN, Baltimore, Md., has
become the new Vice President of Policy Research
of TechNet, a bipartisan policy and political
network of CEOs that promotes the growth of the
innovation economy. John joins TechNet from the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission where
he served on the leadership team of Chairman
Julius Genachowski that crafted the National
Broadband Plan (NBP). In his capacity at the
FCC, John developed the research agenda for the
“Inclusion” portion of the NBP and also designed
and conducted the agency’s first national survey
on broadband adoption and usage. Prior to the
FCC, he was Associate Research Director with
the Pew Internet & American Life Project where
he studied the online behavior of broadband
Internet users, mobile Internet users and other
leading edge information technology. “We are
thrilled to welcome John Horrigan to TechNet,”
said Rey Ramsey, President and CEO of TechNet.
“We at TechNet believe that in advocating more
effectively for smart innovation policies we must
be data driven in our approach to results — John
is a key asset to help us do just that as he’s one of
America’s leading experts in innovation policy. John’s work at the Pew Center and the FCC
on the first ever National Broadband Plan was
indeed groundbreaking and shed a bright light
on the need for our nation to be more focused
on connecting more people to the information
network. When I assumed the role as TechNet
President and CEO earlier this year, I promised
our executive committee that we would soon have
a depth of knowledge and reach like never before
and I am proud of the talented and hardworking
team we have here.”
“Much of my career has been dedicated to
communicating to stakeholders in the public and
private sector technology and innovation policy
research findings in a way that contributes to the
quality of debate and decision-making,” said John
Horrigan. “Continuing this with the TechNet
team is an exciting opportunity. If there’s one
thing I learned in helping develop the National
Broadband Plan, it is the urgent need to expand
the knowledge base needed to develop public
policies that support innovation in our economy.”
Class Notes
1981
30th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
1982
LISA CAPUTO MORRIS, New York, N.Y.,
a former Brown field hockey and lacrosse
standout, was named one of six former studentathletes as recipients of the 2011 NCAA Silver
Anniversary Award that annually recognizes
distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary
of the conclusion of their college athletics careers.
Lisa joins a group that includes Teresa Edwards
(Georgia), Joe Girardi (Northwestern), Tim
Green (Syracuse), Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Scott
Verplank (Oklahoma State). Winners were
presented with the NCAA Silver Anniversary
Award on January 14, 2011 at the NCAA
Honors Celebration at the Grand Hyatt in San
Antonio, Texas. Lisa currently serves as executive
vice president and chief marketing officer for
Citi and is founder, chair and CEO of Citi’s
Women & Co., an organization designed to
address the unique financial needs of women.
Previously, she served as deputy assistant to the
President of the United States, press secretary to
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and chief
spokesperson for the First Family. She is a regular
TV commentator. Lisa graduated magna cum
laude from Brown in 1986 as a political science
and French concentrator. Lisa was a member of
Brown’s 1984 Ivy League champion field hockey
team, while also playing lacrosse. She was also a
staff writer for the Brown Daily Herald. She also
received a graduate degree from Northwestern’s
Medill School of Journalism, graduating with a
4.0 grade-point average. Lisa was also one of 12
persons appointed by President Obama to become
a member of the William Fulbright Foreign
Scholarship Board. President Obama said, “The
J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
will be well served by the experience and expertise
these impressive individuals bring to their new
roles. I am proud to have them serve in this
Administration, and I look forward to working
with them in the months and years ahead.”
ELAINE ELBICH, Wayne, was recently
awarded Woman of the Year by the Women’s
Transportation Seminar (WTS), Philadelphia
Chapter. This award is given to an individual
who has made an outstanding contribution to the
transportation industry. WTS is an international
organization dedicated to the professional
advancement of women in transportation.
Elaine began her successful 22-year career with
PennDOT as an engineer in training after college
in 1988 and has moved up the ranks to her
current position, one of the most demanding
roles at PennDOT District 6-0, that of Portfolio
Manager. In this role, Elaine oversees PENDOT,
DVRPC and consultant staff involving more than
3,600 roadway miles and 2,800 bridges in the
Greater Philadelphia Region that includes Bucks,
Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, as
well as the City of Philadelphia. Elaine has made
an outstanding contribution to the transportation
industry, not just through her accomplishments at
PennDOT but also through her active involvement
in professional societies. Elaine has been on the
Board of Directors of the American Society of
Highway Engineers since 1992 and was President
of the Delaware Valley Section in 1996-1997.
She was honored with the Delaware Valley
Young Engineer of theYear award in 1998 by the
Engineers Club of Philadelphia, in recognition of
her role in the profession. She has been a member
of the Board of Directors of the Engineers Club of
Philadelphia since 1996. In the late 1990’s, Elaine
helped coordinate the Math and Science Teachers
Workshop, to help math and science teachers
enhance their classroom teaching with inquirybased instruction. As a successful female engineer,
Elaine has been a role model to young women in
the profession for her entire career. She also feels
passionately about mentoring girls who would
like to become engineers. Recently, she visited the
Agnes Irwin (all girls) School to speak to them
about careers in engineering. In the mid 1990’s,
Elaine committed time to the Girl Scouts to talk to
girls about engineering careers. She has also visited
Rowan University and Villanova University to
promote women in engineering.
Shown from left are Bo Jackson, Lisa Caputo
Morris ’82, Tim Green, Teresa Edwards, Joe
Girardi and Scott Verplank.
Elaine Elbich is seen with her husband Peter
Berthold and children Peter Jr. and Claudia.
33
Class Notes
1986
1996
25th Reunion
April 29 – May 1, 2011
1987
CAROLYN (ADI) KEPLINGER KUDUK, San
Diego, Calif., and her husband, Kip, welcomed
their son, Caleb, on July 8, 2010. Adi passed the
California bar and is completing her LL.M in tax
law in May 2011.
1989
CARRIANNA EURILLO TRAVINSKI, Clifton
Park, N.Y., lives just outside of Saratoga Springs,
N.Y. She is an attorney in private practice and
serves as the Director of Paralegal Studies for
Mildred Elley, a small college in Albany, N.Y. Her daughter, Zara, almost 4 (probably 4 by the
time you read this), is blooming from an amazing
toddler into an extraordinary child. 1991
20th Reunion
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011
1993
JEFFREY MALAK,
Shavertown, was recently
named one of the 2010
Pennsylvania Lawyers on
the Fast Track by The Legal
Intelligencer, the oldest law
journal in the United States.
Jeffrey was selected from
lawyers throughout the state as a future leader of
Pennsylvania’s legal community by the editorial
staff of The Legal Intelligencer and by a statewide
panel of judges. He is a Pennsylvania Super
Lawyer Rising Star, a recipient of the Times
Leader Top 40 Under 40 and a recipient of the
Northeast Business Journal’s Top 20 Under
40. He is a 1997 graduate of Johns Hopkins
University and a 2000 graduate of the Penn
State Dickinson School of Law where he earned
both a Juris Doctorate and a Masters Degree in
Public Administration and Management. Jeffrey
is licensed to practice law in all state and federal
courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a
partner in Chariton, Schwager & Malak, WilkesBarre. His practice areas include Corporate and
Business Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate
Litigation, Government and Municipal Law, Real
Estate, Civil Litigation and Non Profit Law.
Look for Wyoming
Seminary on facebook
34
15th Reunion
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011
RUSSEL BECKER, Uvalde, Texas., graduated
from the United States Border Patrol Academy
in Artesia, N.M. on November 16, 2010 as a
member of Class 938. Russell completed the two
part academy with the top scores in Law and
Spanish, which should come as no surprise after
his accomplishments at Sem. Russell has been
stationed in Brackettville, Texas, about 100 miles
west of San Antonio. “I’m excited about getting
to my station and continuing my training.” Since
graduating from Hartwick College in 2000, he has
worked throughout the Southeast and Northeast
as an archaeologist and as a land surveyor.
1997
DAVID HARRIS, Boston, Mass., writes, I am still
editor of the Cambridge Chronicle, the newspaper
of record in Cambridge, Mass. I will also be
teaching a graduate-level course in the journalism
department at Boston University during the spring
semester. The class is “Advanced Journalism
Research” and is focused on the Freedom of
Information Act and computer-assisted reporting.
I’m pretty excited to be teaching a class that I had
to take when I got my master’s from BU eight
years ago.
Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management
Alliance (NAILSMA). Our project focuses on
assisting coastal Aboriginal people to collect and
manage data to support local monitoring and
decision making. I have been privileged to travel
extensively to remote areas across the northern
coast of Australia as a part of this work, and have
experienced stunning landscapes, culture and
critters during that time. We also go “out bush”
(as they say here) often outside of work, mostly to
chase and photograph wildlife. I am also playing
in the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, and credit
my continuing passion for playing viola to my
time at Sem, particularly summers at PAI!
MATTHEW KERNS, Jacksonville, Fla., recently
graduated from Florida Coastal School of Law in
December. While in law school, Matt worked at
the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia in the Hague, Netherlands and earned
multiple awards for written and spoken advocacy.
2005
MADELINE KROPP ‘95, Media, recently
accepted a position at Friends School Mullica Hill
(N.J.) in the admissions and advancement office.
2006
5th Reunion
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011
1999
ANDREW HOLLANDER, Philadelphia, received
his M.D. and M.S. in translational research in
May 2010 from the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine. He is currently a resident
in Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania.
2001
10th Reunion
Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2011
2003
MICHA JACKSON, Darwin, Australia, writes, I
have been living in Darwin, Northern Territory,
Australia with my partner Pete since early 2009,
working for an organization called the North
LINDSAY STEVENS ’06, MATTHEW
KOVACS ’04 and ASHLEY TOCZYLOWSKI ’06
are all currently doing a full-time year of service
with City Year. City Year is a national non-profit
organization that brings together a diverse group
of 17-24 year olds to perform a full-time year
of service. City Year corps members work in
schools across the country as tutors, mentors
and role models with students in six through
ninth-grade in order to keep them in school and
on track towards their high school graduation.
Corps members also lead transformative service
projects in the communities in which they serve.
Ashley, Lindsay and Matthew are all serving this
year with City Year Greater Philadelphia. Ashley
serves at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
in Northeast Philadelphia where she works with
a sixth grade class in math, literacy and social
studies. She, along with her team at Franklin, also
organizes and runs after school programming
for the students. Lindsay serves in a seventh
grade classroom at Birney Elementary School in
North Philadelphia. Her team tutors and mentors
the students at Birney and leads lunchtime and
Class Notes
after-school programs to enrich their educational
experience. Matthew, back for his second year
of service with City Year Greater Philadelphia,
serves as the Team Leader at Andrew J. Morrison
Elementary School in North Philadelphia where
he leads a team of corps members throughout
their year of service.
JESSIE HOOKER, Winchester, Va., is in the
final weeks of performances as a cast member
in the national tour of “Legally Blonde: The
Musical,” which has taken her to at least 97 cities
and Canada. The tour will wrap up in May in
Connecticut. Jessie is in the ensemble where she
plays a sales manager, member of the Delta Nu
sorority, cashier, Harvard student and a judge;
she also understudies the characters Paulette and
Pilar, a sorority sister to the lead character Elle
Woods. The show came to Scranton in November
and Jessie, a native of Wilkes-Barre, was featured
in local newspaper coverage. In this performance
shot she is fifth from the left, wearing shorts and
fringed boots. (see photo below)
2007
2010
SHAUN STAMM ’08, TYLER SKROSKI ’10
and NICK AVERONA ’07, along with their ice
hockey team at Lebanon Valley College, recently
took part in a fundraiser for the Wounded
Warrior Project. The team faced off against the
U.S. Naval Academy, with both teams raising
funds to support the project, whose mission is to
honor and empower U.S. soldiers wounded in
combat. In preparation for the event, the team
began fundraising early
this season using the
WWP fundraising website.
Combining those funds
with all raised on the
evening on Jan. 28, the
team has counted over
$21,800 to donate.
GREG BARBER, Kingston, is surrounded by
a swarm of elementary school students on a
playground in Shanghai, China, part of a January
trip with fellow Global Citizenship students at
Lehigh University. (see photo below)
Help us find our lost alumni!
The Alumni Office does not have a current address on the following alumni who will be
celebrating reunions in May 2012. If you have a current address, or can direct us to someone
who might, please email [email protected] or call us at 570-270-2140.
1942
1952
Elizabeth Wildoner
Bogart
Irene Francis Bowen
Hunter Clark
Catherine
Klymaszewski
John McGuire
Helen Bixby Moore
Mary Morrett
Joseph Mosier
Elinor Woolbert
Nelson
James Schenk
Ellen Hunt Sears
Mary Senich
Evaline Steele
Leona Sabal Thomas
Dorothy Utter
John Breidenbach
Constance Genelow
Stella Ann Genelow
David Hirshorn
Emily Jones
Teresa Fronduti
Lepore
Eugene Lippi
Robert McAndrew
Ann Holden Neville
Bernard Rizzo
Joseph Smith
George Symons
Ruth Thomas
Charlotte Noti
Wallace
Herbert Williams
Verona Wolf
John Doyle
Bette Ferentz
Edward Hadala
Lois Totten Hawkins
J. A. Hughes
Ann Januszewski
Lorraine Kalafut
Kaczenski
Vera Green Kapustay
William Kelly
Harriet Love Kline
Helen Casey Kosar
Margot Lang
Betty Finan Lewis
Betty Lewis
Frank Martin
Catherine Messitt
William Mischak
Vincent Mondy
Fred O’Brien
Joseph Petryka
1947
Lee Rosenbloom
Georgia Ayre
Louise Skeoch
Edward Barrett
Juliet Tuchler
Eugene Bashinski
Joseph Whalen
Ralph Boguszewski
Robert Wilsey
Martha Breznay
Charles Wright
Eleanor Fahey Bryant Ruth Ponko Wright
Robert Bullard
Lorraine Zakowski
John Busha
Yeager
John Check
Praxeda Walker
James Cusick
Zavist
Norma Mae Smith
Mullison
Chung Myung
Robert Oliver
Marianna Reiley
Margaret Serafin
John Shuman
Joseph Slattery
Thomas Smith
Richard Warner
Judith George Willis
Theresa Zaledonis
1962
Joseph Blandina
Peter Boltz
Ruth Feldman
Carol Gale
Totila Grandbergs
Judith Gross
Justin Grosso
1957
Marjorie Smith
David Bailey
Harvey
Gertrude Dwyer
Patricia Havey
Boyce
Avrilla Scureman
Scott Brooks
Haywood
Glenn Cease
Leigh Hodgdon
Doris Brown Dean
Patricia Lee Knorr
William Hanley
John Kozloski
Mary Ann Marcovitch Richard Marcus
Barbara Roushey
Constance Napier
Messick
John Parry
Randolph Propos
Patricia Pizner Rentz
James Roushey
Marcia Serling
Wiley Sittler
Margaret Stedman
Marilynne Wagner
Styles
Jane Tabor
S. John Theis
1967
Margaret Bell
Brian Bendel
Daniel Bolender
Deborah Davidson
Jeffrey Davis
Walter Dawson
Christopher Frawley
Herbert Goldblum
Hugh Heim
Evelyn Howanitz
Marilyn Zbierski
Kochevar
Ruth Karp Mierzwa
Mary Parkhurst
Charles Rogers
R. Diane Shouldice
Townsend
Sandra Brobyn Wall
Daniel Walsh
1972
Thomas Attinello
Margaret Edwards
Elizabeth Geissler
Angelo Grasso
Robert Howard
Janet Jescavage
Thomas Maurer
Patricia Peters
McCabe
Lawrence Nomer
Francis Pauley
Richard Pfifferling
Roy Reese
1977
William Bensinger
Bruce Bikos
W. Samuel Edgar
Willard Everett
Gary Flannery
Joseph Hall
Richard Harris
Paul Hudson
David Judy
Susan Karp
Amy Miller
Raman Mitra
Karen Neavling
Barbara Jean
Hamilton Pena
David Reed
Phillip Seitz
1982
Winnifer Thomas Cox
Nathanael Craige
Lisa Das
Kerin Dellasala
Trishul Devineni
April Dombroski
Keith Galloway
Jenny Rosckowff
Roberts
Rebekah Thorick
Anthony Tweed
Christopher
Vasantkumar
Kenneth Alley
Elizabeth Mack Ervin
Marcus Humphrey
Kristen Lytle
Walter Mazur
Sara Meltzer
Stewart Pierson
J. Kentley Pritchard
Sara Sheesley Raab
Patricia Robertson
1997
Valeria Teekema
Rosemarie Vendegna Syed Atif Al-Mobarak
Maurice Young
Nami Aoki
Je Yun Choi
1987
Jacklynn Clause
Viki Oliver Ainsworth Nicole Coffee
Jamie Henderson
Christine Connor
Martinique Holmes
Nicole DePolo
Jana Jurkechova
Monica Desai
Erin Kane
Wendy Forbes
Tracy Kennedy
Holly Kisailus
Gi Soo Lee
Chan Woo Lee
Todd McAndrew
Laura Tinsman
Jeffrey McAvoy
Joseph Wolfe
William McLaughlin
1992
Zameer Mir
Allison Savage
Brian Atherton
David Sekellick
Shingo Sensui
Ji Hung Suh
Matthew Traynham
Tiffany Van Scoy
Michele Vella
Samuel Wolfe
2002
Lara Gidvani
Yuranan
Hanlumyuang
Han-Jin In
Woo-Sung Jang
Pairote Jeebjua
Derek Johnson
Kyung-Min Park
Lawrence Pascal
Caroline Romano
Halleluyah Walcott
Matthew Weiss
Sirilata Yotphan
Jill Zatorski
2007
Christopher Kenney
Hyung-Kyu Kim
Usamah Rashid
Casandra Santarelli
Soomin Song
Ukrit Thamma
Jiraphat Tiamsuphat
35
Marriages
1976
1998
ROBERT MALKEMES, Charlotte, N.C., married
Charity Kimmel on the auspicious date Oct. 10,
2010. Witnesses included the groom’s mother,
REBEKAH NICHOLSON MALKEMES ‘48,
and the groom’s sister, JANET MALKEMES,
Esq., ’73. The bride’s son, Alex Wilson, played a
flute solo for the wedding. Friends of the couple
gathered on Pine Island, North Carolina for a
celebratory week on the Outer Banks, ending
with a dinner in Duck hosted by the groom. The
couple will reside at Lake Wylie, S.C.
SARAH ALINIKOFF, Park City, Utah, married Mick Berry
on June 26.
First row from left: MIRIAM ALINIKOFF ’99, MEREDITH
CONNOR ’19, SALLY SIMS ALINIKOFF ’65, SARAH
ALINIKOFF BERRY ’98, Mick Berry, STEPHEN ALINIKOFF ’62.
Second row from left: Former faculty Justine Button, former faculty
Christopher Button, REBEKAH SAIDMAN KRAUS ’03, KERRY
MORRIS ’98, SARAH GREENWALD ’96, JAMIE FLACK ’05,
ALEX FLACK, ’05, BETSY SIMS ZUCKER ’60, MURRAY
UFBERG ’60. Third row from left: CHAD FLACK ’01, DAVID
BARRAS ’66, JACOB ALINIKOFF ’05, NAOMI GREENWALD Mick Berry and Sarah Alinikoff
’98, ZACHARY GREENWALD ’03, GARY MEYER ’86, EMILY
ALINIKOFF ’03. Absent from photo- RUSTY FLACK ’72, JUDY ALINIKOFF WELTMAN ’57.
2001
VINCENT LORUSSO, Bethesda, Md., married
Maria Laird on June 26, 2010 in Scranton. They
live in Maryland where Maria is a dental hygienist
and Vincent is the Associate Music Director at
Walt Whitman High School. His students recently
gave a Saturday evening performance at Carnegie
Hall, a truly once-in-a career event.
DANIEL DAVIS, New Orleans, La., writes,
Lindsey Nowakowski and I were married on May
1, 2010 in Atlanta, Ga. Fr. Jude DeAngelo from our alma mater, Wake Forest, officiated. Bridesmaids
were: maid of honor Chelsea Nowakowski, bride’s sister; Alexis Nowakowski, bride’s cousin; Gianina
Best, Laura Sherman, Ashley Today, and Sara Pheasant, friends of the bride. Groomsmen were: best
man and brother Andy Davis; NATE DAVIS ’99, groom’s brother; CHAD FLACK ’01, Tug Maude,
and Rey Quevedo, friends of the groom, and Nick Nowakowski, bride’s brother. Lindsey and I both
graduated with B.S. degrees in biology and chemistry respectively from Wake Forest in 2005. She then
received her M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in 2010. I received an M.S in Human Genetics
from Tulane in 2006 and will receive an M.D. in 2011 also from Tulane. We had a fantastic time at our
wedding and were lucky to have a great number of Sem alumni at the event. Lindsey and I are currently
applying for residency positions around the country. She is applying for Ob/Gyn and I am applying for
orthopaedic surgery.
First row from left: TIM GERSHEY ’00, PAUL SANTARELL ’01, Lindsey Davis, DAN DAVIS
’01, NATE DAVIS ’99, JAMIE FLACK ’05, BECKY WENTZ WOOD ’73, VIRGINIA DAVIS
HENDRICKSON ’70, LAUREN TOCZYLOWSKI ’02. Second row from left: TAYLOR
WIELAGE ’00, LOUIS BALTIMORE ’01, RUSTY FLACK ’72, ALEX FLACK ’05, CHAD FLACK ’01,
TRIPP GRAHAM ’99, CHRISTIAN WIELAGE ’98.
36
2002
TIMOTHY KLUGER, Hanover Township, was
married to Mary Jo Elizabeth Seamon on May 22,
2010 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church by Deacon
Joseph DeVizia. The bride, escorted by her father,
was attended by Kerry Hogan, maid of honor,
and bridesmaids Kathleen Hogan, Anne Wallace,
Mary Ellen Hogan-Balliet, Lindsay Moss and
Lindsey Klish. The groom’s brother, MICHAEL
KLUGER ‘00, served as best man. Groomsmen
were MEHUL SUMAN PATEL ‘02, ROBERT
SANTARELLI ‘02, ZVINAIYE MBEWE ‘02,
PETER SKUTIL ’02, and Kevin Wilkes. The bride
is a 2002 graduate of Milton Hershey School
and a 2008 graduate of Misericordia University
with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She
is employed in Dallas as a nursing supervisor
and charge nurse. Tim is a 2006 graduate of
Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor
of science degree in information science and
technology. He is employed in Wilkes-Barre as a
computer programmer.
Births
1987
1998
2000 & 2002
CAROLYN KEPLINGER KUDUK, San Diego,
Calif., and her husband, Kip, welcomed their son,
Caleb, on July 8, 2010.
1992
JANIS BECKER HURST, Cincinnati Ohio.,
writes, This past August, my husband, Danny,
and I welcomed fraternal twins into the world.
Lee Elmo Hurst and Kara Marietta Hurst were
born by C-section at 10:55 a.m. on August 28
in Cincinnati. Lee and Kara join older brother
Owen, now 2, in the growing Becker family- their
grandmother is BECKY SNEDAKER BECKER
’74 and their uncle is RUSSELL BECKER ‘96.
MARY JANE GOVER ASK ’02 and JAMES
ASK ’00, Orange Park, Fla., welcomed baby
Elizabeth Ann Ask on July 29, 2010. Betsy was a
healthy 7lbs 6oz at birth.
2002 & 2003
GINGER HALE QUINN, Robbinsville, N.J., and
her husband, Christopher, recently welcomed a
baby girl, Isabelle Rose.
1993
GREG WEAVER, Wilkes-Barre, and his wife,
Mia, welcomed twin daughters, Katheryn Rose
and Elizabeth Ann, on April 3, 2009.
1996
MICHAEL PACKARD, Cambridge, Mass.,
and his wife, Sarah, welcomed Connor
Jeremy Packard on Oct. 16, 2010, at 7lb 13.2
oz. Grandfather JERE PACKARD as well as
uncles DENNIS PACKARD ’00 and MATT
PACKARD ’03 must be extremely proud!
ERIC KOWALEK ’02 and KRISTIN
VOROZILCHAK KOWALEK ’03, Tucson, Ariz.,
welcomed their son, Jack, on September 22, 2010.
We are all doing fantastic and enjoying every
second of being parents!
Connect with us on
COLLEEN CONYNGHAM MAZIN, Natick,
Mass., and her husband, David, welcomed their
son, Joseph Guthrie, on October 1, 2010.
37
Obituaries
1931
BEATRICE CHAMBERS SHERMAN,
Lewisburg, July 9, 2010. She was a graduate of
the Dean School of Business.
1934
BAYARD HAND, Darien, Conn., better known
as “Dick,” passed away on August 2, 2010 in
Darien. Born on April 15, 1917, in Philadelphia
he was the son of the late Bayard and Margaret
Hand. He was 93. Bayard graduated from
Williams College ’39 and also attended the
Wharton Business School. He served in the U.S.
Air Force as a Captain during World War II in
the Pacific region. Mr. Hand was active with the
Darien Democratic Town Committee, Board of
Education, Board of Selectman and Board of
Finance. He was director and then president of
Meals-on-Wheels from 1982 to 2003. He was
treasurer of Person-to-Person from 1984 through
2005 and received special recognition in 2005 for
25 years of service. He was also given the Lifetime
Achievement Award by the Darien Chamber
of Commerce in 1993. He was treasurer of the
Darien Senior Center; president/vp/treasurer of
the Darien United Way; ABC board member and
driver; tutor, “I Had a Dream” program; and
a member of the Noroton Yacht Club since the
early 1950s. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth
F. Hand, better known as “B.A.” of Darien; three
children, Margot Hand of Darien; Taber Hand
of Cambodia and Julie Hand of East Calais, Vt.
He is also survived by nine stepchildren: Debbi
Caplan of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Sarah Hartigan and
Albert Hartigan, both of Darien; Charles Hartigan
of Norwalk; Julia Ryan, George Reilly, Roger
Hardon and Emily Hardon, all of New York,
City; and Alan Hardon of Gilbert, Ariz. He is also
survived by his grandchildren, Lydia Hand, Tulane
University in New Orleans, La.; Niles Rowland
of New York City; Peter and Annabel Hartigan
of Darien; and Calder and Eleanor Ryan of New
York City.
1936
FRANCES KELLY GLEN, Pittston, January 18,
2011. She was a graduate of the Dean School of
Business.
MARY MILLER PICKETT, Wilkes-Barre,
November 17, 2010. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business.
DANIEL WEISBERGER, Kingston, a son of the
late Bertha and Max Weisberger, passed away
October 22, 2010, at the Wilkes-Barre General
Hospital. He attended Pittston schools, graduated
from Wyoming Seminary in 1936 and from
Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1940. He
practiced podiatry in Pittston from 1940 to 1942
and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served
with the Marine Corps as a podiatrist, stationed
in Camp LeJeune, N.C., and the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. He was honorably discharged with Lt. JG
rank in 1946. He resumed his practice in Pittston
38
and had a long podiatry career before retiring in
1993. At one time he served as President of the
Luzerne County Podiatry Association. He was
very community-minded, having been President of
Temple Agudath Achim, Pittston, serving on the
boards of Temple Israel, the Jewish Community
Center and its Men’s Club. He gave time to Jewish
Federation and, in his late eighties, he delivered
Meals On Wheels. He was a member of Masonic
Lodge and other civic, medical and religious
organizations. In 1946, he married Gladys Crames
of New York City. He has two children, Judith
Leopold and her husband, Michael, and Terry
Adams and her husband, Jon; grandchildren,
Janet Max and her husband, Jeffrey; David
Leopold and his fiancé, Regina; Michael and Ben
Adams; and great-granddaughter Celia Max;
sisters, Geraldine Hyman, Edwardsville, and the
late ELAINE WEISBERGER LEVEY ’42.
1939
SYLVIA GOLOMBESKI CURRAN, Broomall,
June 21, 2010. She was a graduate of the Dean
School of Business.
BETTY CASE KUNKLE, Dallas, October 23,
2010. She was a graduate of the Dean School of
Business.
1940
MARY EDWARDS BAIRD, Rochester, N.Y.,
died on October 18, 2010. All her family and
friends will miss her keen intellect, her drive to
learn, her fiery attitude and all her wonderful
meals. Mary attended Rosemary Hall School
for Girls in Greenwich, Conn., and Sweet Briar
College in Virginia. She was actively involved in
Rochester area community work, having served
on the Allyns Creek Garden Club, Junior League
of Women, The Baden Street Settlement and at
the Covalescent Hospital for Children where
she worked for over 17 years. She never lost
her zest for travel and managed to accomplish
her dream of visiting many regions of the world
with her husband, the highlight being in 1981
when they lived a year in the south of France,
learning the language and immersing themselves
deeply into the French culture and developing
lasting friendships. Mary was predeceased by her
husband of 68 years, William C. Baird (Bumper),
a Rochester area home builder, who died in
January 2010. She is survived by her family of
four children, Daniel (wife, Caroline, deceased),
Gordon (Carol), Mary-Bryn Tucker (Alan), and
Barclay (Cindy), her nine grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
PHYLLIS HILEMAN MURPHY, Rushville, N.Y.,
October 27, 2008. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business.
1941
ELIZABETH “BETTY” CHIPMAN COKER,
Hokessin, Del., died on July 7, 2010. She was
born in Wilmington, Del. where she graduated
from Wilmington High School. She was also a
graduate of Wyoming Seminary. In 1945 she
graduated from Skidmore College, Saratoga
Springs, N.Y., where she received a BA in
sociology and psychology. During the summers
while attending Skidmore she volunteered as a
case worker for the Delaware State Hospital.
After graduating from college, she was employed
for 16 years as one of the assistant librarians
at the DuPont Experimental Station Lavosier
Library. Betty was a 74-year member of Grace
United Methodist Church where she served on the
Board of Trustees and was a member of United
Methodist Women. She more recently belonged to
and attended Westminster Presbyterian Church.
She was an active member of long standing of
AAUW. She also was a member of the Delaware
Art Museum, the DAM Council, Winterthur
Museum, the Brandywine River Museum, the
Historical Society of Delaware, the Seaford
Historical Society, Hagley Museum, the DuPont
Country Club (for over 50 years), the Textile
Museum and the International Hajji Baba Rug
Society (both of Washington, DC), New Castle
County Libraries and the former Delaware
Symphony League. Betty was very active in
volunteer work. She was a emeritus member of the
Junior Board of the Christiana Care, Inc, where
she served actively in a number of services for
forty-one years, first at the Wilmington General
Hospital and later at the Christiana Hospital.
She was also a volunteer on the Art Committee
of Christiana Care. She was a volunteer for the
Winterthur Guild.
ANN PUGLIESE GERARD, Memphis, Tenn.,
December 3, 2010. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business. She is survivied by
LINDA GERARD TRABUCCO ’75.
BRUCE ROSS, Union Dale, died on his 88th
birthday on October 31, 2010 at his residence,
Crosswinds Farm. He is survived by his wife,
Nancy Wind Ross. Son of the late Charles Seabert
Ross and Grace Burns Ross, he was born and
raised in the Green Ridge section of Scranton and
summered at the family farm in Union Dale. He
was a graduate of Scranton Central High School,
Wyoming Seminary and Penn State University,
where he earned his degree in arts and letters.
As a boy, he was active in Scranton Boy Scout
Troop 7 and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
A veteran of the 134th Regiment of the 35th
Division of the Army, he served honorably in the
European theater during World War II, where he
received two Purple Hearts and other awards,
including a Silver Star. He landed at Normandy
on D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Following the war, he resided in Chatham, N.J.,
and worked for 30 years in Clifton, N.J., with
the Fisher-Stevens Co. He began in sales and
retired as an executive vice president with the
company. Upon his retirement in 1985, he moved
to his beloved Crosswinds Farm, where he spent
Obituaries
the past 25 years. During his retirement, he was
active with Meals on Wheels as a volunteer driver.
Also surviving are four children: a son, Elliot Jr.
and wife, Kim Ross, Union Dale; a daughter,
Hilary and husband, Jim Lennox, Shickshinny;
a son, Jay Ross and wife, Nancy Cohn, Stowe,
Vt.; and a daughter, JESSICA DAVIS ROSS ’80
and her husband, John Davis, Naples, Fla.; and
four granddaughters, Lauren, Abby, PHOEBE
CUTTER ’08 and Grace, whom he loved dearly.
1942
FLORENCE DARRAGH LEGAULT, Mountain
Top, January 15, 2011. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business.
LEO NOLL, Bloomsburg, died on September
20, 2010. Born in Wilkes-Barre on February
20, 1924, he was a son of the late Edward and
Laura (Zweibel) Noll. He resided in Bloomsburg
since 1955 and previously lived in Danville for
five years. Leo was a 1942 graduate of Wyoming
Seminary, received his bachelor’s degree from
Villanova University and received his master’s
degree from Wilkes College. He was employed
by TRW Corp. at its former Danville plant from
1951 to 1988, when he retired. Leo was a member
of St. Columba Catholic Church, Bloomsburg.
He also belonged to Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436,
and was an avid golfer, belonging to Frosty Valley
Country Club, Danville. He served in the U.S.
Navy during World War II in the South Pacific
Theater and also in the Korean War, attaining the
rank of Lieutenant. He was a member of Valley
of Bloomsburg American Legion Post 273. Leo
was preceded in death by two brothers, JOHN
NOLL ’33 and GILBERT NOLL ’36. Surviving
are his wife, the former Mary Bartek, with whom
he celebrated his 59th wedding anniversary on
July 14, 2010; a son, Robert E. Noll, and his wife,
Holly, Bloomsburg; a daughter, Ann M., wife
of James McAvoy, Marcus Hook; as well as five
grandchildren and several nephews.
1943
GLORIA PINOLA CRAWFORD, Dallas, passed
away January 1, 2011. Born June 28, 1925 in
Wilkes-Barre, she was a daughter of the late
Judge Frank L. and Helen Grace Nicholson
Pinola. Living her early years in Kingston, Gloria
graduated from Wyoming Seminary. She went on
to become an alumna of Cornell University, where
she majored in sociology. In 1949, Gloria married
Harry Howell Crawford, an active member of
the U.S. Naval Reserve. When Harry was called
to active duty in the Korean War, Gloria and their
daughter, Carol, accompanied him to Bainbridge
Naval Training Station, Md., where he was
permanent O.D. After the war, the family returned
to make their home in the Back Mountain. Gloria
came to share her husband’s lifelong interest in
magic. Together they created a successful magic
act, performing professionally as stage illusionists
for more than 25 years. Gloria’s service to
organizations also included many years in support
of King’s College, continuing the work of her
father, Judge Pinola, who helped secure the charter
for the college; the Junior League of Wilkes-Barre,
becoming an emeritus member; the Wyoming
Seminary Alumni Association; and service on the
Board of Luzerne County Girl Scouts. She was a
member of Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas. Gloria
was preceded in death, in addition to her parents,
by her husband of 58 years, Harry, and brother,
FRANK PINOLA JR ’54. Surviving are her
daughter Dr. Carol G. Crawford, Dallas; sister-inlaw Beverly Sellers, Harrisburg; various cousins
and numerous friends. Gloria was a true joy to all
who met her. She will be remembered fondly for
her always smiling disposition, her warmth and
caring for others, and for her selfless generosity.
CLAIRE HANNAGAN THOMAS, Springfield,
Mass., December 6, 2010. She was a graduate of
the Dean School of Business.
ANNA YURCHISIN SENCHAK, Swoyersville,
January 25, 2011. She was a graduate of the Dean
School of Business.
1944
WILLIAM (BILL) EVANS, Dallas, passed
away on April 22, 2010 in the University of
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia. He was
born in Wilkes-Barre on March 24, 1926 to
William G. and Claire Kelly Evans. Bill graduated
from Wyoming Seminary on D-Day, June 6,
1944. He served in the US Navy as a gunner’s
mate. Upon graduating from Loyola University,
Baltimore, Md., he pursued an engineering
degree from Lehigh University, Bethlehem,
and was a member of the Phi Kappa Theta
fraternity. After graduation, he worked at Delma
Engineering, New York City, and then returned
to the Wyoming Valley where he joined the
family business as general manager and secretarytreasurer of Evans Asphalt Company in Wilkes
Barre. Bill served on the boards of the Boy Scouts
of America and Hanover Bank. He volunteered
for the Salvation Army, the soup kitchen,
American Cancer Society and Wyoming Seminary.
He enjoyed wintering in Marco Island, Fla., for
the past several years. He was also a member
of St. Theresa’s Church, Shavertown. He was
preceded in death by his son, CHRISTOPHER
CONLON EVANS ’83; his parents; and siblings,
MARYLYN CULP EVANS ’49, Robert and
George. Mr. Evans is survived by his wife of 53
years, the former CLAIRE CONLON ’52; sister
CLAIRE LOIS EVANS FAIR ’51, New York
City; daughter, CATHERINE EVANS BERGER
’75 and husband ANTHONY BERGER ’73,
Waccabuc, N.Y.; sons, TIMOTHY EVANS ’77,
Arlington Va.; WILLIAM B. EVANS JR ’81 and
wife, Tina, Arlington, Va.; JOHN EVANS ’85
and wife, Amy, Troy, Ohio; six grandchildren,
Caroline, Caitlin and William Berger; Reilly and
William B. Evans III and Christopher Evans; and
several nephews and nieces.
RUTH CULP MATTERN, January 3, 2011. She
was a graduate of the Dean School of Business.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents
and husband, were her brother, Jack Culp; sisters,
Evelyn Bettinson, Hannah Culp, Dorothy Krebs
and BARBARA CULP RAVE ’50. Surviving are
her daughter, Marie D. Fink and her husband,
Phillip, Finksburg, Md.; son, Joseph C. Mattern
and his wife, Cheryl, Newark, Del.; twin brother,
Royal J. Culp, Kingston; numerous nieces and
nephews.
1945
WILLIAM GOODWIN, Binghamton, N.Y.,
died on December 1, 2009. He was predeceased
by his wife, Bernice; son, John G. Goodwin Sr.;
brother, Donald B. Goodwin. He is survived
by his son and daughter-in-law, William J. and
Kathleen Goodwin Jr., Alaska; grandchildren
Kimberly and Bush Houston, William M. and
Dena Goodwin, Jennifer Goodwin, John G. and
Kimberly Goodwin Jr., Michael Goodwin and
Valerie Goodwin; great grandchildren Kayla,
Kortnie, Samantha, Savannah, Skylar, Kaytee and
Shelby; one great great granddaughter; sister and
brother-in-law, Marion and Robert Kniffen; sisterin-law, Doris Goodwin; several nieces, nephews
and cousins.
1946
CAROLYN CLARK, West Pittston, died January
19, 2011, at Wesley Village in Jenkins Township.
The Rev. Clark was born in West Pittston, a
daughter of the late Wilson E. “Pop” Clark
and Florence Hahn Clark. She graduated from
Wyoming Seminary, in the class of 1946, and was
also a graduate of Wilkes-Barre Business College
in 1948. She had been a medical secretary at
Pittston Hospital for five years; later, at Nesbitt
Memorial Hospital for five years; and for 22
years at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital,
leaving in 1985. She received a bachelor’s degree
in Theology from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre,
in 1995, and entered the ministry of the United
Methodist Church in the same year. She finished
her training at Wesley Seminary, Washington,
D.C., in 1990. As a lay pastor, she served at
the former Abbott United Methodist Church,
Parsons section of Wilkes-Barre; was visitation
pastor at the former First United Methodist
Church, Wilkes-Barre; and also served the United
Methodist Charges at Clifford, Lenoxville and
Tompkinsville. Prior to her retirement, she served
as pastor of the Shoemaker United Methodist
Chapel, West Wyoming, and participated in the
3Cs Cooperative Parish. She was a member of
the First United Methodist Church, West Pittston,
where she had been a member of the Sunday
School, sang in the choir, was lay leader, served
as secretary to the Official Board of the Church,
was president of Class 18 of the Sunday School
and was a member of the United Methodist
Women. Her civic and fraternal activities included
the Greater Pittston Business and Professional
Women’s Club, where she had been president;
the West Pittston Women’s Club; the Forty Fort
Branch, Nesbitt Auxiliary; and the Greater
Pittston Ministerium. She was a past matron of
the former Chapter 397 Order of the Eastern
39
Obituaries
Star, West Pittston, and later, was a past matron
of Wyoming Chapter 1, O.E.S. She was also
a member of the Past Matrons/Past Patrons
Association of Wyoming Valley. In addition to her
parents, she was also preceded in death by a sister,
Phyllis I. Clark.
FRANK MATHERS III, Mayen, Germany, died
on November 28, 2010, at the age of 81. He was
educated at Kingston Township schools, Wyoming
Seminary, and completed additional studies at
Pennsylvania State and the University of Miami.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force from 1951
through 1954, and served in Germany, where he
married his wife, Alwine Susanne Mathers, née
Lohn. He returned to the States and worked with
his father in the road construction business. Two
sons were born, Frank Gordon IV, November,
1959, and Michael Joseph, August, 1961. He was
a member and president of the Dallas Kiwanis
Club and also served as commander of the
Dallas American Legion. He was accepted in the
Wyoming Masonic Lodge, No. 468 as well as the
Trucksville “Odd Fellows Lodge.” In 1970, the
family returned to Germany where he was under
contract to the Military Advisory Group (MAG)
of the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, Germany, until his
retirement in 1992. He was also an active member
of the free Masonic Lodge “Zur Wahrheit und
Treue” No. 469 in Neuwied, Germany. His sister,
BETTE MATHERS TRUSCOTT is a member of
the class of 1950.
1947
LOIS FAYE KLINE SWANSON, formerly of
Flint and Swartz Creek, Mich., died on July 24,
2010 in Erie. Lois was born to the late Homer
and Ethel Jones Kline in Kingston, on March
15, 1928. She grew up in Kingston and attended
Wyoming Seminary. She later attended Baptist
Bible Seminary, then located in Johnson City,
N.Y., where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in
religious education in 1956. She married Richard
R. “Dick” Swanson on August 17, 1957, and they
celebrated 52 years of marriage before his death
on December 19, 2009. After her marriage Lois
taught second grade in Johnson City, N.Y. She
received an M.S. in elementary education in 1959
from the State University of New York Teacher’s
College at Cortland. Dick and Lois moved to
Flint, Mich. in 1960, where they both served
faithfully at Riverdale Baptist Church, with Lois
working in the children’s ministries and directing
daily vacation bible schools. Lois is survived by
one daughter, Cheryllynn D. Scruton and husband
Fred of Cranesville; one son, Mark J. Swanson
and wife Sara, of Greer, S.C.; two grandchildren,
Laura Beth and Jonathan Swanson of Greer, S.C.;
two nieces, Sally Miller of Buffalo, N.Y., and
Marjie Dennin, and husband Dave, of Selkirk,
N.Y. In addition to her parents and husband, Lois
was preceded in death by her sister, Lorraine K.
Miller, and granddaughter Allison Joy Swanson.
40
1949
1952
JOHN WELGOSS, Hanover Township, June 19,
2010. He was a graduate of the Dean School of
Business.
WILLIAM ROBBINS, Bear Creek Village, died
Sunday, September 26, 2010, after a 14-month
battle with cancer, following a short stay at the
Hospice of the VNA Inpatient Unit at Heritage
House, Wilkes-Barre. William was born
September 6, 1934, in Wilkes-Barre, a son of the
late Walter S. and Elisabeth S. Robbins. He resided
in Bear Creek Village for 53 years. He attended
Kingston schools, including Wyoming Seminary
for three years, and graduated from Valley Forge
Military Academy. In 1956, he graduated from
Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va. He then
completed two-and-a-half years in the U.S. Army
and was honorably discharged. Afterward, he
joined his father in the family business, Robbins
Door and Sash, where he eventually earned the
title of President.
ELIZABETH ZAVISLAK POMOROY,
Edwardsville, November 22, 2010. She was a
graduate of the Dean School of Business.
1950
JOSEPH NELSON, Kingston, passed away on
February 14, 2011. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Joe
was a son of the late Mendel and Rose Nelson.
He attended Wyoming Seminary and was also
a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joe and his brother, CHARLES NELSON ’35,
owned and operated Nelson and Sons furniture
manufacturing company until 1990. He was a
realtor with Lewith and Freeman for several years
and most recently managed Nelson StoreSecure.
Joe was a past president of Temple B’nai B’rith
and the Westmoreland Club. He was a past
board member of Northeastern Bank, Girl
Scouts of the USA, the Westmoreland Club and
the Salvation Army. He was a member of the
Masonic Order and Keystone Consistory. Joe was
an avid horseman and raced both thoroughbreds
and standardbreds for more than three decades.
Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents,
were his son, ANDREW ’80; brother, Charles;
and sister, Eleanor Weisbrod. Surviving are his
wife of 52 years, the former Louise Brenner;
sons, MARK NELSON ’78, New York City; and
ROBERT NELSON ’88 and his wife, Rhonda,
Montville, N.J.; daughter-in-law, Lisa Nelson,
Parkland, Fla.; grandchildren, Sydney, Maxwell
and Matthew; sister, MIRIAM NELSON
FLEISCHMAN ’42, Syracuse, N.Y.; several nieces
and nephews.
BARBARA CULP RAVE, Dallas, February 15,
2009. She was a graduate of the Dean School of
Business.
1951
JANET SHAVER TUCK, Shavertown, died
October 12, 2010, at the Wilkes-Barre General
Hospital. She was born in Kingston on January
14, 1934, and moved to Laguna Hills, Calif., in
1987. While in California, she worked for Fluor
Corporation and retired in 1996. Prior to moving
to California, she resided in Dallas and worked
for Franklin First Federal Bank at the main office
in Wilkes-Barre and its Shavertown branch. Her
career began as a stewardess, and following that
she worked for local travel agencies for many
years. Janet loved everything about movies and
movie stars, having grown up around the family
business—the Shaver Theatre in Shavertown.
She was also a very talented watercolor and
oil painting artist. Surviving are a son, Daniel,
Shavertown; five grandchildren; a sister, Patricia
Walter, of Oyster Bay, N.Y.
William was a member of many business boards
and community groups, including the King’s
College Advisory Board and Kiwanis. He was a
board member at Hanover National Bank and
was a trustee at Davis and Elkins College from
1976 until his passing.
A former member of the Wyoming Valley Country
Club and Westmoreland Club, William’s church
affiliations include Grace Chapel, Bear Creek, and
Church of Christ Uniting, Kingston. William had
a lifelong enthusiasm for sports, most notably the
Washington Redskins, and was a season ticket
holder since 1956. This sports passion extended to
myriad teams at Davis and Elkins College. He was
actively engaged in all aspects of D & E, including
athletics, academics, and student life. In addition
to sports and education, William was an inveterate
traveler, visiting extensively in the Americas and
Europe. Survivors include his beloved lifelong
companion, Deborah Madden, Shavertown; sons,
WILLIAM S. ROBBINS JR’ 78, Tunkhannock;
DONALD ROBBINS ’80 and wife, Liz, Saint
Augustine, Fla.; MARK ROBBINS’ 81, Forty
Fort, and SCOTT ROBBINS ’84, Bear Creek;
grandsons, Billy and Jack Robbins; sister JEAN
ROBBINS HUGHES ’48, Kingston; as well as
nieces and nephews in the Hughes, Madden, and
Padavan families; and cousins.
1953
BARRIE HESSLER SHIPMAN, Myrtle Beach,
S.C., April 8, 2003. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business.
1954
LORRAINE KAPRAL LISMAN, Swoyersville,
January 17, 2011. She was a graduate of the Dean
School of Business.
FRANK PINOLA, JR. Harrisburg, died
September 3, 2010. He was born October 3,
1936, in Wilkes-Barre, to the late Frank L.
and Helen Grace Nicholson Pinola. He retired
as a Bureau Manager from PennDOT. He
Obituaries
attended Wyoming Seminary, but graduated
from Delbarton Prep School, Morristown, N.J.,
and attended Lafayette and Wilkes Colleges.
He was a member of Saint Margaret Mary
Alacoque Roman Catholic Church, the Antique
Auto Club of America, as well as the Hershey
Region Antique Car Club, the Train Collectors
Association, and a director of the Central PA
Region Cadillac & LaSalle Club. He is survived
by his wife, Beverly Sellers; his niece, Dr. Carol
Crawford; four stepchildren, Sydney Minchin
(Thomas) of Harrisburg; Rick Sellers (Gayle) of
Austin, Texas; Jack Sellers (Kathy), of Camp Hill,
and Steven Sellers (Kathy), of Cape May Court
House, N.J.; and five grandchildren, Zachary,
Katie, Andrew, Christina and Alex.
1956
ALBERT ADOMITIS, Wilkes-Barre, died January
2008 at Hospice Care of the VNA, Heritage
House, Wilkes-Barre.
THOMAS WALSH, Pittston, died January 21,
2011, at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical
Center, Plains Township, with his family at his
side. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, on April 1,
1937, a son of the late Michael Thomas and
Clara Evelyn Zigenfus Walsh. He attended the
Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia, and
was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary. Thomas
obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology
from Wilkes University and his master’s degree
in psychology from The University of Scranton.
He had been employed as a rehabilitation teacher
for Blindness & Visual Services of Wilkes-Barre
for many years. Mr. Walsh was a member of the
Ashley Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus.
He served on the Bishops Annual Appeal for
Persons with Disabilities and was President of
the Luzerne County Council of the Blind for
21 years. He was appointed to the Governor
of Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council and
served for 12 years on the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation Board. He was the Chairman of
the Consumer Advisory Committee and Co-Chair
of Seeing Without Sight support group and was
a member of the Pennsylvania Association of the
Blind. Some of his notable achievements were
assisting in the implementation of the crossing
signals at crosswalks in both Lackawanna and
Luzerne County, the Braille menus in restaurants,
Braille notation on elevators, as well as his latest
achievement of ensuring that individuals who
are blind and visually impaired can utilize voting
machines independently. He was preceded in
death by his wife of 43 years, the former Maryann
Dreher Walsh, in 2005; and by a son, Robert
Patrick Walsh, in 1971. Surviving are his son,
Thomas Michael Walsh Jr., and his wife, Mary
Jane, Wilkes-Barre; daughters, Linda Mecca and
her husband, John, Dunmore, Mary Kroptavich
and her husband, James, Duryea, and Karen
Walsh-Emma and her husband, Joseph, Pittston,
with whom he resided; eight grandchildren
and one great-grandson; sister-in-law Dolores
Coombs, Narberth; along with nieces and
nephews.
1957
MORGAN “DICK” JONES, Wyndmoor, died
of pneumonia December 17, 2010 at Christiana
Hospital in Newark, Del. Born November
7, 1939, in Wilkes-Barre, Dick was a son of
the late Honorable Benjamin R. Jones Jr. and
Dorothy (Richards) Jones. He was a resident of
the Heights section of the city and later Dallas
Township until he completed his education. He
attended the elementary schools of the city of
Wilkes-Barre and attended Wyoming Seminary,
from which he was graduated cum laude in
1957. While a student at Sem, he excelled in
the school’s football and basketball programs.
In 1994 he received the Distinguished Service
Award from Wyoming Seminary. Following
the completion of his secondary education, he
entered Princeton University, from which he
graduated cum laude in 1961. During Princeton
University’s football seasons of 1959 and 1960,
he served as the general manager of the football
team. His service in that capacity was recognized
by the university in 2000 with his selection as
the leading Princeton football team manager
in the 20th century. Upon his graduation from
Princeton University, he served as a personal
assistant to the late Thomas H. Kiley, president
of the former First Eastern Bank, Wilkes-Barre,
who chaired a group of local prominent business
and professional leaders seeking to consolidate the
many boroughs and cities of the Wyoming Valley
into a single municipality and one regional labor
and marketing area. Following the long tradition
of his family, Dick decided upon engaging in the
legal profession, and, accordingly, he entered
the Dickinson School of Law, where he was
elected as an editor of the Dickinson School Law
Review and from which he was graduated in
1965, summa cum laude. Upon the completion
of service as a clerk of the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court, Dick joined the national law firm of
Drinker, Biddle and Reath, LLP, Philadelphia, Pa.,
and, in 1970, he was selected as a partner of the
firm. He was a founder of the firm’s Investment
Management Practice Group and was nationally
recognized as an expert in the fields of corporate
securities, mutual funds investment companies,
and the mergers and acquisitions of business
entities. Dick made significant contributions to
the internal structure and growth of the law firm,
presently designated as Drinker Biddle. He was
elected the chairman of the law firm in 1989, a
position he held for 11 years. During his tenure,
the law firm grew from less than 200 lawyers
located primarily in Philadelphia to nearly 650
lawyers in offices located in eight states. At the
time of his death, he served as the chairman of
the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group
and chairman emeritus of the firm. Upon the
occasion of his 45 years of service to Drinker
Biddle, his colleagues recently recognized his
many professional contributions to the law
and to the firm by the dedication of its main
Philadelphia conference room in his honor. Dick
served as a trustee of Wyoming Seminary and
The Elizabeth S. Hooper Charitable Foundation.
He was a director and officer of numerous
United States, United Kingdom and British
West Indian companies. He was confirmed as a
member of the First Welsh Presbyterian Church
of Wilkes-Barre, which he attended during his
residence in the Wyoming Valley. Upon assuming
permanent residence in Philadelphia, he became
a communicant of The Episcopal Church of St.
Martin-in-the-Fields, Chestnut Hill. Dick was
particularly loyal to his Welsh ancestry, and as a
young boy and later as an adult, in the company
of his parents, wife, children and grandchildren,
he frequently visited the several districts in
Wales in which his forebears had once lived and
from which they had came to America seeking
employment in the coal mines of Northeastern
Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 24
years, Carol W. Jones; and his sons, Evan L. Jones
and Sumathi R. Jones, his wife; Morgan R. Jones
Jr., and Brynley R. Jones; his grandsons, Kiran
Jones, Morgan Jones and Dylan Jones, and his
step-children, R. Tucker Lamberton, Amanda
L. Lamberton, and Stephen P. Lamberton; his
brothers, attorney BENJAMIN JONES III ’55,
and Judge Edward Griffith; as well as four
nephews.
1958
HELENE KELLOW FERREE, Sun City, S.C.,
November 29, 2010. She was a graduate of the
Dean School of Business.
JAMES HAAS III, Coconut Grove, Fla., died
on November 20, 2010. Born in Shenandoah,
January 6, 1940, he was the son of Ida M.
and James Franklin Haas II. He graduated
from Wyoming Seminary then went on to the
University of Miami, class of ’64. He continued
his education at Thunderbird University and
earned a masters degree in business. Early on,
he worked on the Alaskan railroad and on ships
as a merchant seaman. After returning from his
worldly travels he settled in Miami to start a
family. A veteran of three decades in the Miami
real estate and mortgage industry, Jim held various
positions at Merrill Lynch, Concorde Mortgage,
Ross & Associates and EWM. He was the most
remarkable, loving and compassionate father to
his four children and six beloved grandchildren.
He was a great friend to many and he cherished
the times he spent with all. His love for the
ocean and sailing inspired him deeply and gave
him the joy for living life to its absolute fullest.
He is survived by his dearly loved children and
their families; Kelly and (John) Lederman, Julie
and (Emilio) Rodriguez, Caroline and (Scott)
McAndrew , Jake and (Julie) Haas and his beloved
sisters, MARY W. HAAS ’55 and Margaret H.
Smillie.
DIANE RINGAWA MAGAGNA, Bloomsburg,
died peacefully at her home, surrounded by her
loving family. She passed from this life in the same
manner in which she lived it: with extraordinary
grace, remarkable courage, and a loving heart.
Diane was born in Nanticoke on June 7, 1940,
the daughter of Dr. Peter Ringawa and Winifred
Davey Ringawa. She spent her childhood in
Nanticoke, with wonderful summers at the
41
Obituaries
family home in her beloved Lake Nuangola.
She attended public schools in Nanticoke until
she transferred in sixth grade to the Wyoming
Seminary Lower School, in Forty Fort. There
she was inspired by the exceptional teaching
and unforgettable presence of the legendary
Bessie Garcelon Atwood and a host of other
outstanding teachers. She excelled in academics,
athletics, art, and music both at the Lower
School and during her four years at the Upper
School, in Kingston. Thus began a lifelong love
and appreciation for Wyoming Seminary and
its teaching staff, who gave of themselves so
unselfishly. Outside of school she also enjoyed
studying ballet with Barbara Weisberger and was
one of the two lead dancers in her production
of “Giselle.” Upon graduation from Wyoming
Seminary with academic honors and exceptional
athletic achievements, Diane entered Vassar
College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She received her
B.A. from Manhattanville College in Purchase,
N.Y., and an M.A. in early childhood education
from Bloomsburg University. In 1963, soon
after the beginning of her 18-year marriage
to JOHN MAGAGNA ’52, Diane’s extensive
world travels began with a five-year residence
in Tangier, Morocco, a country that she quickly
grew to love. Her years there were marked by
the births of her three daughters and frequent
travel throughout Europe. In 1968, the family
returned to the Wyoming Valley for affiliation
with the Wyoming Seminary Lower School,
during which time their son was born. In 1975,
the family moved to Teheran, Iran, stopping
along the way in Morocco for many happy
reunions with old friends. Two years later, Diane
relocated to Bloomsburg, where she founded
a day-care center that she managed for several
years. During this time she volunteered for the
Bloomsburg Women’s Center, and was soon
hired as the Children’s Counselor/Advocate. She
remained there for the next twenty years, devoting
her time to helping children in need. When her
own children were grown, she began a teaching
career in American schools abroad, including
institutions in Egypt, the Republic of Mali, Angola
and Lebanon. Because of her gentle graciousness
and her supportive and compassionate nature,
Diane was truly loved by children and adults
wherever she went. Her passion for life, art, music
and dance; her spirit of adventure; and most of
all, her love of and compassion for all people,
regardless of background, were contagious and
deeply affected all who knew her. Her bravery and
strength of character were inspiring. Diagnosed
with terminal cancer almost 20 years ago and
given six months to live, Diane battled valiantly
for many months and finally prevailed. Unhappily,
the intense radiation of that period caused bone
cancer to develop eight months ago. After lengthy
hospitalization and another courageous battle,
she was informed that further treatment would be
of no avail. In the face of this devastating news,
Diane opted to spend her final days at home in
Bloomsburg with her family. Among the many
things Diane loved and enjoyed most in her full
and rich life, nothing was more important than
her children and their families. Diane will be
missed beyond words by her family and many
42
friends and by all those, literally from around
the world, whose lives she touched. Diane was
preceded in death by her parents and by her
brother, DR. PETER EDWIN RINGAWA, JR.
’52. She is survived by her adoring children,
all from the Bloomsburg area: Erica Hock;
Diane Sherman and husband, Ken; JESSICA
MAGAGNA SNYDER ’86 and husband, Rob;
and John F. H. Magagna and his partner, Valerie
Stromberg; by her sister, Deborah Ringawa Luke,
of Bloomsburg; by her grandchildren: Gavin
Hawk; Alexandra Brown and husband, Michael;
Kelsey and Colby Sherman; and Ethan and Rachel
Snyder; and by her great granddaughter, Ava
Brown.
1959
JOHN VAN HORN, Dallas, died Tuesday,
May 4, 2010. Born on Feb. 16, 1941, he was a
graduate of Wyoming Seminary and attended the
U.S. Naval Academy. He earned his bachelor’s
degree from the University of Scranton. John
served in Korea and Vietnam. He was a member
of Grace Community Church in Dallas and
was an active member of the National Rifle
Association and several veterans groups. Surviving
are a niece and a nephew.
1969
MARK ALLEN, Wilkes-Barre, died on January
10, 2011. Mark is survived by his mother,
Dorothy Allen, and sister, Beth Allen Decker. He
attended Wyoming Seminary, but graduated from
Coughlin High School. He is a graduate of the
University of Denver.
EDWIN SHORTZ, Portsmouth, N.H., passed
away on December 21, 2010. He was born
August 29, 1950, in Wilkes-Barre, son of
WINIFRED SCHOOLEY SHORTZ ’40, of
Newtown and the late Robert E. Shortz. He
resided and was employed in New Hampshire for
many years. Surviving, in addition to his mother
are his twin brother, ROBERT E. SHORTZ
’69, Wilkes-Barre; sister WENDY SHORTZ
’66, Edwardsville; and brother FREDERICK
SHORTZ ’73, Chester, Conn.
1976
PAUL WILLIAMS, New York, N.Y., died on
August 23, 2010. He was 51 years old. Paul was
executive director of the National Association of
Independent Publishers Representatives (NAIPR)
and co-publisher of Bunim & Bannigan, Ltd,
books. Despite his encroaching illness, Paul
deployed his years of experience in book sales to
build and launch Frontlist Plus Universal in 2009,
a web-based data service provided by NAIPR free
to booksellers and aimed at fostering the bond
between independent booksellers and bookstores.
Paul had worked in the book world continuously
since graduating from Haverford College in 1980.
He started as a store manager, and later a regional
manager for the Encore Books chain. In 1985, he
became manager of the Doubleday Book Shop
at 53rd Street and 5th Avenue in New York City.
Deciding to take his book trade knowledge inhouse, Paul took positions as sales manager and
national account manager at Ballantine Books and
Grove Press/Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the 1980s.
He went on to serve as director of marketing and
sales at Rizzoli International Publications and
Routledge/International Thompson Publishing
in the 1990s. He was responsible, with Bill
Germano, for the “Routledge Revolution,” which
brought cultural studies to bookstores and readers
everywhere. From 1997 to 2002, Paul devoted
himself to independent publishing, running
Herodias, Inc., a literary press he founded. From
2005 to the present, he was co-publisher, with
James Munves, of Bunim & Bannigan, Ltd., a
press based in New York and Prince Edward
Island, dedicated to unique literary works and
political nonfiction. He was particularly proud of
B&B’s award winning new translation by Stephen
Pearl of the Russian classic Oblomov. A Quaker,
born of a long line of Quakers on his father’s
side, Paul was a member of the 15th Street Friends
Meeting in Manhattan. Surviving are his wife,
Livia Tenser, and their daughter, Julia (age four)
of New York City, as well as son Corey (age 22),
of Lancaster; his mother Irene Sieminski Williams;
and his siblings Hugh Jr., David, Margaret and
Mark.
FORMER FACULTY:
NORMA J. AGATI, Kingston, passed away at
home on December 7, 2010. She was a daughter
of the late Angelo and Genevieve Cartesano
Zanghi. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Norma
relocated to the Wyoming Valley upon marrying
her beloved late husband, Guy A. Agati. Norma
graduated Valedictorian from Philadelphia
High School for Girls. She received a full merit
scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania
and then earned her master’s degree in education
from Temple University. Norma also earned her
real estate certification and an associate’s degree
from King’s College. In her early career, Norma
taught at Temple University, Wilkes-Barre Business
School, and Wyoming Seminary. Norma held the
position of vice president in her husband’s primary
business, Superior Millwork Co., an architectural
woodwork and cabinetry company located
in West Wyoming. Norma was founder and
president of Rosewood Realty of Kingston, a real
estate management and development company,
which she operated until her death. Norma’s long
and distinguished career extended into various
civic, church, and community organizations.
Community boards and involvements include
the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association,
Saint Michael’s School for Boys, Mercy Hospital
Auxiliary, Catholic Youth Center, Hoyt Library,
Luzerne Law and Library, Allied Services/John
Heinz, Wilkes-Barre Ballet Co., Fine Arts Fiesta,
American Red Cross of Luzerne County, Greater
Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, Ethics
Institute of NEPA, Citizens’ Advisory Board of
Kingston and the Kingston Zoning Board. Norma
placed great value on education and was involved
Obituaries
in a number of educational boards as well. She
was on the board of trustees for Marywood
University and King’s College, as well as the
Founder’s Society at King’s College. She was
on the Parents’ Council at Bucknell University
and was their chosen commencement parent
speaker in 1984. Norma served as the Northeast
Pennsylvania chairperson for the University of
Pennsylvania Secondary School Committee.
She was active in Wyoming Seminary’s Parents’
Council and chaired their annual fund drive. She
also established scholarships in her late husband’s
memory at Bucknell University, King’s College
and Marywood University. Norma served on
area bank boards including the Hanover Bank
of Pennsylvania and, later, First Valley Bank. She
was the first woman in the Wyoming Valley to
be appointed as a bank director. While banking,
education, and business involvements were
undoubtedly a big part of Norma’s interests, her
primary focus and devotion was to her church
and her Roman Catholic faith. Norma served the
bishop on the Advisory Committee to Catholic
Education, the McGowan-Mercy Foundation,
the Advisory Board for King’s College Center for
Ethics and Public Life and was the first woman
to be elected president for the Wyoming Valley
Chapter of the Serra Club. She also served as
a lector, Eucharistic minister, and acolyte with
Saint Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church
in Kingston. Norma was a member of the
Westmoreland Club, Wilkes-Barre, and Fox Hill
Country Club, Exeter. Norma enjoyed vacationing
at the beach at Avalon, N.J., and her home in
Lauderdale by the Sea, Fla. She enjoyed traveling
to New York and Philadelphia for cultural events
with her family. She especially cherished sharing in
events and activities with her grandsons. Norma
was preceded in death by her adoring husband,
Guy Angelo Agati. Norma’s legacy will endure
through her devoted family; daughter, MARIA
AGATI EDMUNDS ’80 and husband, H. Scott
Edmunds, of Kingston; daughter, ANGELA
AGATI NORCUP ’85 and husband, Stephen
Norcup, of Pittsburgh; grandsons, SCOTT
EDMUNDS ’14 and GUY EDMUNDS ’15; sister,
Marion Zanghi Sammartino and husband, Col.
Angelo Sammartino, Oceanside, Calif.; as well as
nieces and nephews.
DONNA GRIETEN COTTLE, Centermoreland,
died December 5, 2010, at Mercy Center, Dallas,
surrounded by family and friends, after a nearly
17-month battle with brain cancer. Born March
17, 1965, in Wilmington, Del., Donna was the
third child of Frank L. Grieten Jr. and Jean Harter
Grieten, Newark, Del. She was a 1983 graduate
of Newark High School, Newark, Del., where she
met her husband, the Rev. William A. “Drew”
Cottle Jr. She was known and loved as a mother,
aunt, organizer, music leader, Sunday school
teacher, volunteer, neighbor and dear friend.
Donna had a long association with J.C. Penney
Corporation, working in and managing stores
in Delaware and Texas. She was a department
buyer and manager at the home office in Plano,
Texas. More recently, Donna was an assisting
administrator for the Performing Arts Institute at
Wyoming Seminary. Surviving, in addition to her
husband and parents, are son JOSIAH COTTLE
’17, at home; sisters Sharon L. Hamilton and
husband, Todd, Rising Sun, Md., and Linda J.
Moss and husband James, Wilmington, Del.;
brother John D. Grieten and wife Chimene S.,
Newark, Del.; 10 nieces and nephews; father and
stepmother-in-law, Wm. A. “Andy” and Rebecca
Cottle, Newark, Del.; mother-in-law, Sandra J.
Williams, Centermoreland; sister-in-law, Katherine
B. Cottle, Newark, Del.; as well as many other
relatives and friends, in particular her close friend,
Nancy Sanderson, Wilkes-Barre.
of Bucknell’s Association for the Arts. In 1992
she re-met a former high school sweetheart, John
Quitzau, of Budd Lake, N.J., a widower and
father of six (plus many grandchildren), who
became her loyal and constant companion for
almost two decades. They enjoyed travel, their
families and grandchildren, bridge and many other
activities in their retirement. John also survives
her. She also leaves behind other family and
many nieces and nephews who adored her, and
many, many friends. All of her friends and family
members were dear to her throughout her life. BERDA JEANETTE STOUT JOHNSON
RITTENHOUSE, Holland Township, N.J., died
December 13, 2010 at St. Luke’s Hospital in
Bethlehem. Berda was born in Waterloo, Iowa
on December 10, 1931. Her parents were John
Henry Stout, Jr. and Thelma Harrison Stout. She
had one older sister, Norma Jean McAvoy, who
passed away in July of this year. Berda is a ninth
generation direct descendant of Penelope Stout
who emigrated to America in 1642 where she
survived a shipwreck and Indian attack. Berda
graduated from Bucknell University in 1953. She
married John Van Wirt Johnson, son of Federal
Judge, Albert W. Johnson, of Lewisburg. He
predeceased her in 1969. They had four children,
three of whom survive her. Their oldest son John
Van Wirt Johnson, Jr. ’72, predeceased her in
1985. She is survived by his wife Judy Johnson
and daughter Courtnay. She also leaves behind
her daughter Elizabeth Johnson Markevitch,
her husband Leonid and their daughter Leslie;
son RICHARD JOHNSON ’80, his wife Carole
and their daughters Virginia, Margaret, Lilli
and Caroline; and daughter Alice Johnson Kelly
and her children Wilson and Elizabeth. After
being widowed in 1969, she married Oscar W.
Rittenhouse (d. 1979). This marriage brought
her three step-daughters who also survive her:
Gretchen Rittenhouse, Carol Rittenhouse
and Janet Daniel. In 1972 the family moved
to Holland Township and she began to work
as an art teacher at Wyoming Seminary Day
School. Berda had a lifetime love of the arts. At
Bucknell and in community theater she played
many prominent roles: Blanche in A Street Car
Named Desire, the wicked witch in Snow White,
the mother in All the Way Home and the lead
in The Mad Woman of Chailott. Professionally,
she worked as an art teacher and then spent 14
years working for the New Jersey State Council
on the Arts (NJSCA) as the Arts in Education
Coordinator. In that role she pioneered programs
like Artists in Education (AIE) that put hundreds
of young artists in residence at public schools
throughout the state, and the Artist Teacher
Institute (ATI), a summer camp program for art
teachers that hosted nationally known artists.
After retiring from the NJ State Council on the
Arts, she worked as a consultant assisting arts
organizations in the development of education
programs. Her client list included the Delaware
Theater Company, the New Jersey Performing
Arts Center and The Pennsylvania Council on the
Arts. She also was a Director on several boards
including Art Pride/NJ and Hunterdon Art
Museum. She was a founder and board member
WALLACE F. STETTLER, 89, Dallas, died at
home on Thursday, October 21, 2010, following
a brief illness. Born on February 25, 1921, in
Philadelphia, Pa., he was a son to Arthur L. and
Bertha B. Stettler. He moved to the Wyoming
Valley when he became the ninth president of
Wyoming Seminary in November of 1967. He
retired in 1990 after a distinguished 23-year
tenure as president and served as President
Emeritus until the time of his death. A graduate
of Overbrook High School, Philadelphia, he
matriculated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.,
where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in
Philosophy and English in June of 1944. He was
awarded a Master of Sacred Theology degree
from Drew Theological Seminary, Madison,
N.J.; a Doctor of Humanities degree from King’s
College, Wilkes-Barre; a Doctor of Laws degree
from College Misericordia, Dallas; and a Doctor
of Humane Letters degree from Wilkes University,
Wilkes-Barre.
Prior to assuming the Presidency of Wyoming
Seminary, Dr. Stettler was pastor of the Covenant
United Methodist Church, Springfield, Pa.,
for more than 14 years. During his tenure at
Wyoming Seminary, Dr. Stettler was very active
in both school and community activities. He led
the school in realizing more than $15 million in
capital funds. Funds were used to restore, renovate
and replace buildings severely damaged as a
result of the devastating flood of 1972. In 1989,
renovation of Nesbitt Science Hall was completed
at a cost of $1.2 million. Additionally during his
tenure, the endowment funds tripled to more than
$14 million and all indebtedness was liquidated.
Dr. Stettler’s educational expertise extended
from the administration of Wyoming Seminary
to the Board of Trustees of Lycoming College,
Williamsport, Pa. Elected to the board in 1961,
he served for 27 years and in 1988 joined the
ranks of the Emeritus Trustees of the college.
He was a member of the Board of Directors
and the Executive Committee of the National
Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities
of the United Methodist Church. In June of
1970, Dr. Stettler was elected to the prestigious
University Senate, the accrediting body for all
church-related educational institutions of the
United Methodist Church where he served
during the 1970 through 1978 quadrenniums.
He was re-elected for the 1980 through 1988
quadrenniums and was instrumental in leading the
University Senate in establishing the Commission
of College Preparatory Schools. He also served
43
.
Obituaries
as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Chicago based Educational Institutional Insurance
Administrators Inc. He was past Vice President
and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Association of
Independent Schools and a past President of the
Boarding Schools Headmasters Association of the
Middle States.
In addition to educational activities, he was
involved with church-related concerns. He served
as a Trustee Emeritus of the Board of Trustees
of the Wyoming Annual Conference and was a
member of the Long Range Planning Council and
the Conference Administrative Council. As an
equally active participant in the community, Dr.
Stettler was an involved member of the Board of
Directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley,
serving a two-year term as chairman of the board.
In 1984, he was General Campaign Chairman in
an effort that surpassed the goal by $28,000 and
broke the $3 million dollar mark for the first time.
He also led community fundraising efforts for the
Osterhout Library in Wilkes-Barre, the Wyoming
Valley Boy Scouts’ Annual Dinner, and a capital
funds campaign for a new Children’s Wing at
the Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas.
He served on the Wilkes University Council,
Leadership Wilkes-Barre Steering Committee,
the Wilkes-Barre YMCA Board of Directors,
as secretary of the F.M. Kirby Center for the
Performing Arts Board of Directors, and was
vice-president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Philharmonic Board of Directors from 1991
through 1996.
Based on his involvement and dedication to
various people and organizations, Dr. Stettler
has received numerous awards and honors. On
October 13, 1978, the Wallace F. Stettler Learning
Resources Center on the school’s campus was
dedicated in his honor by the school’s Board of
Trustees at an event with Frank C. Carlucci III,
former Secretary of Defense and National Security
Adviser, as the principal speaker. In October 1982,
Dr. Stettler was selected among 50 prominent
civic leaders, business executives and sports figures
to receive the “Distinguished Pennsylvanian
Award” by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce. He was the recipient of the Wyoming
Valley Interfaith Council Annual Award, the
Community Service Award of the Seligman J.
Strauss Lodge of B’nai B’rith, the Francis Asbury
Award of the Wyoming Annual Conference, the
Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser and Lifetime
Achievement Awards from the Association of
Fund Raising Professionals, the Distinguished
Service Award from Wyoming Seminary, the
Distinguished Citizen Award presented by
the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council Boy
Scouts of America, the Anti-Defamation League
Distinguished Service Award, the Mary Bevevino
Community Service Award from the Luzerne
Foundation and the Community Service Award
from the Salvation Army. He was inducted into
the Business Hall of Fame of Junior Achievement
of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and in 1998 was
appointed by Gov. Tom Ridge to serve on the
Governor’s Judicial Advisory Commission for
Luzerne County to provide recommendations
44
to the Governor of qualified individuals for
nomination to the Court of Common Pleas.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue
Brill Stettler, to whom he was married for
53 years. He is survived by his three sons,
STEPHEN STETTLER ’70, Weston, Vt.,
SAMUEL STETTLER ’72 and his wife, Barbara,
Hillsborough, N.J., and DAVID STETTLER ’74
and his wife, Rachel, Cambridge, Mass.; two
grandchildren, Erik, New York, N.Y., and Will
Stettler, Cambridge, Mass.; as well as a brother,
Arthur and his wife, Doris.
FRIENDS:
FRED MORGAN KIRBY II, New Vernon,
N.J., former Chairman and CEO of Alleghany
Corporation and President of the F. M. Kirby
Foundation, died on February 8, 2011 in North
Carolina. He was 91. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
on November 23, 1919 to Allan P. and Marian
S. Kirby, he attended grammar schools near
home while also enjoying time with family and
friends in Glen Summit, Pa. and Palm Beach, Fla.
Those days were fodder for many entertaining
escapades shared with future generations. So too
were the decades that followed. Kirby enrolled in
the Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y. and took
a post-graduate year at the Lawrenceville School
before joining the Class of 1942 at Lafayette
College in Easton, Pa. There, among other
activities, he played on the College’s most recent
undefeated football team, a source of pride for
the remainder of his life. Kirby’s progression was
disrupted, however, with the bombing of Pearl
Harbor on December 7, 1941. Like so many
young American men at the time, he enlisted in
the military within a week. He graduated from
Lafayette shortly thereafter and headed off for
training with the U.S. Naval Reserve. Among
his station assignments were the Advanced
Amphibious Naval Base on the English Channel
in Teignmouth at Devonshire and a similar port at
Salcombe, both in preparation for the Normandy
invasion. Following the Allied Invasion, he was
assigned to an advanced port and reconnaissance
party in the Brest Peninsula of France. Returning
to the U.S. at the conclusion of World War II,
Kirby attended the Harvard Graduate School
of Business. Later hired by the Vick Chemical
Company, he underwent orientation at the
company’s facility in Greensboro, N.C., where
mutual friends familiar with their shared
equestrian backgrounds, introduced him to his
future bride, Alice Walker Dillard. They wed on
April 30, 1949, launching a devoted, inspiring and
eternal partnership. Following several successful
entrepreneurial ventures, in 1967 Kirby succeeded
his father as Chairman and CEO of Alleghany
Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange
listed company with interests over the years in
railroads, trucking, insurance, asset management
and industrial minerals, among others. Over his
nearly 39 years as Chairman ending in 2006,
Alleghany stock delivered a cumulative return
to its shareholders of 23,903 percent compared
to the S&P 500 cumulative return over the
same period of 5,215 percent. Kirby’s senior
professional partner throughout most of that
time was John J. Burns, Jr. Outside of Alleghany,
Kirby served on numerous corporate and notfor-profit boards, including: American Express,
Chicago Title & Trust, Cyclops Industries, Hotel
Waldorf Astoria, Investors Diversified Services,
Pittston, Woolworth, the F. M. Kirby Foundation,
Fred M. & Jessie A. Kirby Episcopal House,
Morristown Memorial Hospital, the National
Football Foundation and Lafayette College.
His charitable interests vastly exceeded those
mentioned above, and he devoted countless hours
and much attention to the advancement of such
organizations. He was the recipient of honorary
degrees from Drew University, Lafayette College,
St. Joseph’s University and Wake Forest University;
The International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Gold
Medallion; the National Football Foundation’s
Gold Medal; The Pennsylvania Society’s Gold
Medal; and Sports Illustrated’s Silver Anniversary
All-American Award. He received the Wyoming
Seminary Distinguished Service Award in 1990.
A former vestryman at Church of The Redeemer
in Morristown, N.J., he was a member of Grace
Episcopal Church in Madison, N.J. at the time
of his calling home. Fred Kirby was a pilot,
motorcyclist, sailor, fisherman, tennis player and a
fox-hunting member of the Spring Valley Hounds.
Multiple excursions took him scuba diving and
hang gliding. He frequently spent full days in
the woods of his beloved Jerseyfield Preserve in
the Adirondacks – hiking, laying out trails and
cutting limbs, occasionally his own. Even in his
90s, unable to hike, he would drive his ATV
through remote and rugged stretches. He got his
motorcycle license at age 63. On his 85th birthday,
his wife gave him a jet-ski. He was a dear friend
and a valued advisor to many, a devoted husband,
and a cherished father, grandfather and greatgrandfather.
In addition to his loving wife, Walker, he is
survived by their daughter, Alice Kirby Horton
and her husband, George of Durham, N.C.;
sons, Fred M. Kirby III and his wife, Barbara of
Greensboro, N.C., S. Dillard Kirby and his wife,
Adrienne of Mendham, NJ, Jefferson W. Kirby
and his wife, Karen of New Vernon, N.J.; ten
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Fred Kirby took seriously the words found on
his family’s coat of arms: “Facta Non Verba,”
meaning “deeds, not words.” Though he was
masterful with the written word, he leaves behind
a legacy of momentous deeds. His academic,
athletic, military, professional, civic and charitable
achievements combine with his steadfast devotion
to family and nation to personify all that is
so redeeming about his country’s “Greatest
Generation.” He lived by the highest standards of
personal conduct and will endure as an example
for future generations.
Building-Maintenance
Photo: Eric Pogganpohl
Photo: Michael Kudelski
Financial Aid
Photo: Eric Pogganpohl
Greatest Current Need
Athletic Department
Photo: Michael Touey
A memory
can begin @ any
time …
Like today.
Your contribution
ensures that
memories of Sem
will last forever.
The Arts
Photo: Michael Kudelski
Photo: Eric Pogganpohl
Academic Support
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 29
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Alumni Office
C o l l e g e P r e pa r a t o r y S c h oo l
201 North Sprague Avenue
K ingston , P ennsylvania 18704-3593
Notice: Postal regulations require the school to pay
a fee for every copy not deliverable as addressed. Please
notify us of any change of address, giving both the new
and old addresses. You may e-mail changes to alumni@
wyomingseminary.org.
A d d r e ss S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d
Beautiful Front Campus painting available for purchase
Mark your
Calendar!
April 29 - May 1
May 6
Open Golf tournament at
Blue Ridge in Mountain Top
Prominent area artist Sue Hand recently painted a scene of the Upper School, August 4-5
PAI performance of
“A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum”
September 30 -
October 1
depicting the Front Campus at night in a light snowfall. Hand, a long time friend
of Dr. Wallace Stettler and Wyoming Seminary, visited Dr. Stettler at his home in
Dallas shortly before his passing to show him this unusual painting of the Sem
campus. Upon seeing the painting, Dr. Stettler remarked that it was the most
beautiful he had seen of the Upper School.
Alumni Weekend
Homecoming
October 6 Upper School
Grandparents Day
October 7 Lower School
Grandparents Day
To order, go to Sem’s website (www.wyomingseminary.org), email [email protected] December 7 Prints of this striking painting are now available for sale. Proceeds will benefit the Wallace F.
and Sue B. Stettler Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Small print: (11 x 20)
Large print: (22 x 40)
$150
$300
The original artwork now hangs in the Stettler Learning Resources Center.
or call Julie McCarthy Strzeletz ‘81, Director of Alumni Programs, at (570) 270-2142.
Holiday gathering at the
Westmoreland Club