Union College

UNION A Magazine for Alumni and Friends

COLLEGE

The need for speed: Faculty,

students, alums share love of all things fast | 20

Bali mini-term offers experiential enlightenment | 12

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Drew Ivarson ’15 enjoys Union’s newest

Steinway piano. The instrument, housed in

Memorial Chapel, will be played by students

and faculty, and world-class musicians

performing in the Chamber Concert Series.

Several members of the Union community

traveled to the New York City Steinway facility

to choose the piano. The group included

President Stephen C. Ainlay, Dean of Students

Stephen Leavitt, Music Department Chair

Diane McMullen, Dean of Academic Depart-

ments and Programs David Hayes, renowned

pianist Jonathan Biss, and Concert Series

Director Derek Delaney. The piano was made

possible by support from trustee Kelly

Williams ’86 and her husband Andrew Forsyth.

Williams is profiled on page 27 of this issue. Photo by Matt Milless

For video of Union’s

newest Steinway, visit

http://www.youtube.com/

user/unioncollege

S P R I N G 2 0 1 3

Volume 107 • Number 3

12 Living and understanding life through art: Experiential enlightenment in Bali

During the inaugural Bali mini-term in performing arts, Union

students discover that outside-the-classroom experience is an

integral part of learning, and that to fully comprehend a culture,

you must also understand art and its vital significance to

people’s lives.

20 The need for speedDozens share their avocations—and vocations—that fulfill their

need for speed. We’ve heard from car enthusiasts, of course, but

lots of others too. Some have airborne hobbies. Other described

their cameras. And on campus, students and faculty described

scientific instruments, improved processes, computers … even a

Shakespeare production where speed’s the thing.

Departments

2 President’s Message

3 Stay Connected

4 Across Campus

26 Profiles

28 focUs

30 Bookshelf

31 Alumni Clubs

32 The Classes

47 Unions

50 Arrivals

52 In Memoriam

56 Old Union

ON THE COVERA statue of Ganesha stands in the courtyard of Kertiyasa Bungalow, where Union students stayed in Ubud, Bali during a new mini-term.

Photo by Ryota Matsue

VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLEGE RELATIONSStephen A. Dare

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING Gail Glover

EDITORCharlie [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITORErin DeMuth [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSChristen GowanTina LincerPhillip Wajda

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSMatt MillessRyota MatsueTim Raab

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION2k Design

PRINTINGFort Orange Press

U N I O N C O L L E G E is published three times a year by the Union College Office of Communications, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308. The telephone is (518) 388-6131. Non-profit flat rate postage is paid at Schenectady, N.Y., and an additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to Office of Communications, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308-3169.

Alumni who want to inform the College about changes of address should contact the Alumni Office at (518) 388-6168 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The same phone number and e-mail address shouldbe used to correspond about ReUnion, Homecoming, alumni club events, and other activities.

12

» Visit us online at www.union.edu/magazine

UNION A Magazine for Alumni and Friends

COLLEGE

20

2 | UNION COLLEGE Spring 2013

S T E P H E N C . A I N L A Y , P h . D .

The Built, Un-built, and Yet-to-be Built Union

This spring, Union hosted an Alumni Symposium

in celebration of the 200th anniversary of

Joseph Ramée’s “grand plan” for the College.

Paul Turner ’62, the Paul and Phyllis Wattis Professor

of Art Emeritus at Stanford University, gave a talk on

the genius of the plan and its influence on American

campus planning. Art Lidsky, a well-known expert

on campus planning who has assisted us at Union,

gave a talk that provided a sweeping overview of the

development of campuses across the world, and

pointed to future architectural changes and colleges

that keep pace with change and try to hold down

costs. Panelists addressed the relationship between

architecture, sustainability, student life, learning,

and other captivating issues.

For my part, I delivered a talk titled “The Unbuilt

Union.” I traced the many decisions that have been

made to build and not to build, ranging from

decisions President Eliphalet Nott and Ramée made

in first conceiving of the Union campus to more

recent decisions that have been made to renovate

and build on our historic campus.

I concluded my remarks during the symposium

by discussing the meaning our campus “gives off.”

By this, I meant that Union’s campus design—its

architecture—provides messages to all those who

visit the College or who choose to live and work here.

Indeed, the messages provided by our architecture

compel many to join the Union community. I focused

on four: 1) Union as a community of learners, 2) Union

as an institution that prepares students for their

respective “frontiers,” 3) Union as a place where

people come to understand tradition and history

while being simultaneously encouraged to “think

outside the box,” and 4) Union as a place that affirms

of the richness of diversity and our common

humanity and purpose.

Ramée and Nott’s plan to place Union on a hill

looking down the Mohawk Valley, their decision to

build North and South Colleges with faculty and

students living and working together, far more recent

conceptions of the MacLean Atrium in the new Wold

Center as an “academic town square,” and many

other architectural decisions have created this special

place, conveying these architectural messages.

I am reminded daily that the Union campus

serves as a magnet for people—students, faculty,

and staff—who want to be part of such a place. I am

reminded daily the people who are drawn in by

Union’s campus are people who make a difference.

You will see evidence of this in this issue of the

magazine. While the campus was in its infancy

when William Seward (Class of 1820) attended, the

architectural qualities I described were already

apparent. We learned from Walter Stahr at Founders

Day that Seward was very much a product of Union

and he maintained an affection for the College

throughout his life. Drew Ivarson ’15, featured playing

the new Steinway Model D piano that now graces

Memorial Chapel, is current evidence that the campus

still compels and still draws remarkable students.

Like so many of his fellow students, Drew integrates

the study of STEM (science, technology, engineering,

and math) fields with the study of the arts, under-

standing that this is critical to preparing for the new

“frontiers.” Tory Chee ’13 has been central to building

our community and building bridges between

Union and Schenectady. “Campus Kitchens” is all

about innovative initiatives. You will read about

Joshua Anderson ’13 and Shilpa Darivemula ’13 who

received prestigious Watson Fellowships. Their work,

along with the work of the students and faculty who

participated in our Bali mini-term, demonstrates the

engagement of our students with the richly diverse

world that surrounds us. Is it accidental that Union

attracts these kinds of students? I don’t think so. I

believe they are drawn and drawn in.

Let us all commit to preserving, enhancing, and

supporting a campus environment that becomes

home to these sorts of individuals.

president’s message

| 3 Spring 2013 UNION COLLEGE

Correction:We would like to acknowledge

the following people, who

were listed incorrectly in the

Annual Report of Donors:

O N L I N E S P E C I A L S

Want to know more about your fellow

alums’ “need for speed?” Interested

in learning how Darren Binder ’90

started City Dogs Rescue to save

dogs from high-kill animal shelters?

For more content and video,

visit www.union.edu/magazine!

Join the fun and conversation on the

alumni Facebook page. It’s got everything

you need—campus news, ways to get

involved at Union, photos of your friends

at great College events. Check it out!

Visit www.union.edu/alumni and click on

the Facebook icon.

“The days of the boring website

read are over. The new EverTrue

app delivers up-to-date Union

news to your mobile and allows

U to keep up with other alumni!”

– Catherine Hedgeman ’96

Catherine is just one of 2,000

alumni enjoying EverTrue. Don’t

miss out on a fantastic way to

connect with classmates and

engage with the College. If you

haven’t downloaded the app yet,

go to the iTunes store or Google

Play today!

Stay connected

CLASS OF 1950

Frank Bailey League

William Mertz Heyer

CLASS OF 1956

Society of the Idol

Dr. Philip Goodman

CLASS OF 1974

Garnet Society

Stanley O’Brien

CLASS OF 1976

A gift from William Peck was made in

memory of June Rinkoff, Class of 1978

U


Seward’s place: A Founders Day tribute

When he arrived at

Union in September

1816, William Henry

Seward was a 15-year-old

boy unwise to the ways of a

nation divided. Yet by the

time he graduated in 1820,

the education he received

here unmistakably helped

shape his stature as one of the

most important American

statesmen of the 19th century.

“He helped to lay the

foundations of the American

empire,” said Walter Stahr of

one of Union’s most distin-

guished alumni. “And he would

be so proud to come back to

Union to see what you all are

doing, laying the foundation

of a great college here.”

Stahr gave the keynote

address at Founders Day

Thursday, Feb. 21 in Memorial

Chapel. In a season of all

things Lincoln, it was fitting

for him to help commemorate

the 218th anniversary of the

College’s charter.

As the author of the com-

pelling Seward: Lincoln’s

Indispensable Man, Stahr has

introduced a legion of readers

to Lincoln’s secretary of state,

closest friend and confidant

during the Civil War. The

biography, along with Steven

Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated

film “Lincoln,” has thrust

Seward back into the spotlight.

During his talk, Stahr

recounted the life of a man who

served as governor of New

York, a state and U.S. senator,

who survived an assassination

attempt. As secretary of state,

Seward engi-

neered the

$7.2

million

Union receives record

5,643 applications

from prospective

first-year students

vying to join Class

of 2017

Nobel Prize-winning

chemist, playwright and

poet Roald Hoffman delivers

a talk: “Indigo: A Tale of

Craft, Religion, History,

Science and Culture”For more detailed campus news,

visit www.union.edu/news JA

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Yet in his commencement

speech, Seward was confident

the “American Union will

probably be permanent” and

predicted Americans would

“worship the same God…on

the banks of the Hudson or

the Mobile or the Missouri.”

“The view of the Union that

Seward first expressed here, at

Union College, remained his

view throughout his life,” Stahr

told the audience.

across campus

A R O U N D

U.S. purchase of Alaska from

Russia in 1867, which has

been mocked as “Seward’s

Folly.” Stahr called that a myth,

stating that news-

paper coverage at the time

was mostly favorable, which

was borne out by the fact the

deal passed the Senate, 37-2.

Stahr also touched on

Seward’s time on campus,

including his thoughts about

longtime President Eliphalet

Nott; his academic prowess;

and his relationships

with the faculty.

After a fight with his

father over finances,

Seward left Union

midway through

his senior year and

headed to Georgia. By

the time he returned to

Schenectady in January

1820, the man who

later helped write and

sign the Emancipation

Proclamation confronted

a bitter North-South debate

over

slavery.Therese A. McCarty, the Stephen J.

and Diane K. Ciesinski Dean of

Faculty and Vice President for

Academic Affairs, with James

Iacketta, winner of the Gideon

Hawley Teacher Recognition

Award, and Samantha Griffiths ’15,

the student who nominated him.

Walter Stahr, author of a biography on Seward, delivers the keynote address.


Union celebrates Martin

Luther King Jr. Day with

events including a talk—“A

Separate Place: Documenting

African American History”—

by Dr. Jeanne D. Nutter

Wikoff Student Gallery

features works by six

students in an exhibit:

“Selections from

Photography 3: Color

Digital Photography”

S E W A R D : T H E U L T I M A T E S U R V I V O R

For William Henry Seward, 1865

was a year of anguish and loss,

as is clearly depicted in Walter

Stahr’s new book, Seward:

Lincoln’s Indispensible Man.

April 5, he fell from an

out-of-control carriage, trying

to stop its startled horses. He

broke his right arm and fractured

his lower jaw on both sides.

Confined to his bed, often

delirious from pain, his doctors

weren’t hopeful he’d recover.

But by the morning of April 14,

he’d improved considerably

and ate his first solid breakfast

since the accident.

That same night, however,

John Wilkes Booth fatally shot

President Abraham Lincoln,

and a Booth associate, Lewis

Powell, made a ferocious

attempt on Seward’s life.

Powell arrived at the

Secretary of State’s home at

about 10 p.m. and tried to

persuade Seward’s son,

Frederick, to admit him.

Frederick resisted and Powell

beat him with a pistol until he

collapsed. The would-be

assassin then climbed the

stairs to Seward’s room.

Powell rushed in and leapt

atop Seward, prone in his bed,

and began slashing the older

man in the face and neck.

Fanny, who had been keeping

watch over her father,

screamed and roused her

brother, Augustus.

Augustus and the male

nurse, Robinson, were both

stabbed in the struggle, but

forced Powell from the house.

All would survive the

encounter, even the grievously

wounded Seward. Fortunately,

Powell’s downward stabs did

not cause fatal injury and

Seward was able to roll off the

bed and away from his attacker.

But even after enduring

such violence, Seward’s trials

were not over. He was still

coping with Lincoln’s death and

closely monitoring Frederick’s

recovery, when his beloved

wife, Frances, died June 21.

Newspapers at the time

almost unanimously attributed

her passing to the assassination

attempt. The New York Times

reported that “infirm and feeble

as she had been for years, while

those she loved so devotedly

were in danger, disease had no

power over wife and mother.

But when the strain was off,

her over-taxed powers, mental

and physical, gave way.”

A year later, Seward’s favorite

child and only daughter, Fanny,

died.

And yet Seward persevered,

going on to serve as secretary

of state for President Andrew

Johnson. In this role, he

completed that for which he is

perhaps best known—the

purchase of Alaska from Russia.

Seward died in Auburn, N.Y.

on Oct. 10, 1872.

Acclaimed pianist Jeremy

Denk returns to Memorial

Chapel in Union College

Concert Series, playing

Bartok, Liszt, Wagner, Bach

and Beethoven

Earlier in the day, Stahr

and President Stephen C.

Ainlay appeared on

WAMC, Northeast Public

Radio’s program, The

Roundtable. To listen, visit

http://wamc.org/.

After the Founders Day

convocation, Stahr and

several faculty discussed

Seward's legacy in a video

teleconference with

alumni and other friends.

Also at Founders Day,

James Iacketta, a music

and band teacher at

Sillwater (N.Y.) High

School, received the

Gideon Hawley Teacher

Recogni tion Award.

The award, named for

the 1809 graduate of Union

who was New York State’s

first superintendent of

public education, is given

to secondary school

teachers who have had a

continuing influence on

the academic life of Union

students. Iacketta was

nominated by Samantha

Griffiths ’15, an electrical

engineering major who

performs in the College’s

jazz ensemble and pep

band.

To watch a Founders Day video, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/unioncollege


across campus

Union remembers Sean Murphy ’13, student killed in crash

More than 500 members of the

campus community gathered for

a heartfelt service in Memorial

Chapel March 15, 2013 to mourn the loss

of Sean Murphy.

A senior majoring in psychology,

Murphy was a passenger in a car that

crashed in nearby East Greenbush

early the morning of March 13. He was

pronounced dead at the scene.

The 30-minute service began with a

prayer from Frank Thomas, the College’s

Catholic chaplain. Calling Murphy a gift

to all those who knew him, he urged

people to “find the strength to carry on in

the face of this tragedy.”

A series of speakers followed, including

President Stephen C. Ainlay, Murphy’s

roommates and Sigma Chi fraternity

brothers, and religious and academic

leaders from campus.

Ainlay, the father of two sons not much

older than the 22-year-old Murphy, said

Union was made better by Murphy’s

presence on campus. He described the

close-knit community that makes Union

special, noting that “when we lose one

of our members, there is a hole, a tear in

the fabric of our community.”

His voice breaking at times, Ainlay

said his two boys call him a fixer.

“I can’t fix this,” he said.

Mark Wunderlich, dean of studies,

shared thoughts from faculty members

who taught Murphy. Jewish chaplain

and Hillel Director Bonnie Cramer read

Psalm 23 (“The Lord is My Shepherd”).

Then, one by one, some of Murphy’s

fraternity brothers approached the stage.

comforter had somehow been ripped

while he was gone.

“But rather than containing the

feathers, he (Murphy) decided he would

make our room a snow globe.”

As George Haydock ’14 said, “Murph

could make a joke about anything.”

As the service came to a close, a

collection of photographs of Murphy at

various times in his life served as a

backdrop to words of hope offered from

Viki Brooks, director of the Office of

Religious and Spiritual Life and campus

Protestant minister.

“As you leave this gathering, look for

hope in the frames of your own contexts,”

she said. “Search for wholeness even as

you struggle with this loss and be mind-

ful of the wealth of people prepared to

support you in your grief and walk with

you through your questioning.”

When she finished, Murphy’s father,

Stephen, asked to speak. He attended the

service along with his wife, Coreen, and

other family members.

He thanked the campus community

for giving the family “a glimmer of light

in the very dark place we are at right now.”

Then, barely holding back sobs, he

said, “Sean had a great 22 years. We want

to thank the Union family for making

what turned out to be the last phase of

his life, the best phase of his life.”

The service concluded with a piano

interlude of Psalm 121 (“Our help is in the

name of the Lord”) by Professor of Music

Dianne McMullen.

A candlelight vigil was held around

the Nott Memorial later in the evening.

Union celebrates Black History

Month with events including a

talk by educator and author

Vijay Giles, who spoke on

“Turning Your Stumbling

Blocks into Stepping Stones.”

Students once again performed

“The Vagina Monologues” by

playwright Eve Ensler, showing

their support for women

battling sexual and gender-

based violence.

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Kelly Adirondack Center receives

$95,000 from The Zemurray Founda-

tion ($80,000) and The F.M. Kirby

Foundation ($15,000) to support

lectures, concerts, the Adirondack

mini-term and other programs

^

To them, he was simply “Murph.” Their

emotions still raw since learning of his

death, they spoke of a loyal, sincere friend

adept at making people laugh.

Daniel Gross ‘13 recounted a trip some

of the brothers took last year to Key West,

Fla., in an RV. Murphy was put in charge

of the radio. He rewarded his travel party

by putting rapper Ludacris’ song, “Georgia,”

on repeat through the southern state.

“He was the best co-pilot you could ask

for, whether driving or in life,” he said.

Daniel Costigan ’13 talked of Murphy’s

love of the Washington Redskins and

Virginia Tech Hokies football team. Luke

Johnson ’13 recalled a Sunday afternoon

driving back to Schenectady from a

wedding when he got a text from Murphy:

“Dude, we got a feather disaster.” Ten

minutes later, Murphy texted again: “And

I mean a feather disaster.”

Johnson later learned his blue down


Students again participate in

the 13th annual Recyclemania

competition, a recycling and

waste-reduction contest

between colleges across the

U.S. and Canada.

An effort by Samantha

Muratori ’14, the first funded

by the new Green Fee program,

will result in wireless thermo-

stats in apartments along

Seward and Roger Hull Place.

Alvaro Peters ’14

revives the

mentoring

program, Phenomenal Males, with Alpha

Phi Alpha brothers Joseph Mason ’13 and

De’Sean Suarez ’14.

Civil rights hero John Lewis to deliver Commencement address

U.S. Rep. John Lewis,

an influential figure in

the civil rights move-

ment who has dedicated his

life to protecting human

liberties, will be the featured

speaker at Union’s 219th

Commencement.

Approximately 483 students

in the Class of 2013 will receive

degrees during the ceremony,

scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday,

June 16, on Hull Plaza. Lewis

will receive an honorary doctor

of laws degree.

The son of sharecroppers,

Lewis grew up in Alabama

and attended segregated

public schools. Later, at Fisk

University, he organized

sit-ins at segregated lunch

counters in Nashville. One

of the original 13 Freedom

Fighters who were beaten

and arrested for challenging

segregation on interstate

buses, Lewis helped form the

Student Nonviolent Coordi-

nating Committee.

At age 23, Lewis was an

architect and keynote speaker

for the March on Washington

in August 1963, when 250,000

people gathered at the Lincoln

Memorial for King’s iconic “I

Have a Dream” speech. Lewis

is the last surviving speaker

from the march.

Perhaps Lewis’s most

defining moment came less

than two years later, when

on March 7, 1965, he helped

lead hundreds in a peaceful

march for voting rights across

the Edmund Pettus Bridge in

Selma, Ala.

In what became known as

Bloody Sunday, marchers were

met by Alabama state troopers

with billy clubs and tear gas.

Lewis suffered a fractured

skull in the violent confronta-

tion. The televised images of

marchers being beaten jolted

the nation and were the

catalyst for the passage of the

Voting Rights Act several

months later.

Lewis has represented

Atlanta and several other cities

in Georgia as a U.S. Congress-

man since 1986. The recipient

of dozens of awards and

honorary degrees, Lewis was

presented with the Presidential

Medal of Freedom in 2011 by

Barack Obama, who praised

him for his courage and

commitment to social justice.

To learn more about Lewis,

visit http://johnlewis.house.

gov/. For more on Commence-

ment, visit http://www.union.

edu/events/commencement/

President to take sabbatical

Following the completion of the $250

million You Are Union campaign, which

surpassed the goal by $8 million, the

Board of Trustees has granted a six-month

sabbatical to President Stephen C. Ainlay.

President Ainlay will be on leave from

July 1 to Dec. 31, 2013 during which time he

will develop recommendations for advanc-

ing the priorities of a revised Strategic Plan,

in particular how the College will finance

critical future projects.

“While there are many who helped the

Campaign succeed, the Board is especially

grateful to President Ainlay and Judith Gardner

Ainlay,” said Mark Walsh ’76, chairman of the

board. “They have travelled the country and

the world, telling the Union story, building

support, and working with donors to secure

transformative gifts. This leave is an invest-

ment in Union’s future.”

Sabbatical leaves for college presidents

have become more common in recent years,

Walsh said, as seen at a number of local peer

institutions including Hamilton, Vassar and

Skidmore.

Therese McCarty, vice president for

Academic Affairs, will serve as acting president

during President Ainlay’s leave. David Hayes,

dean of academic departments and programs,

will serve as acting vice president of Academic

Affairs.


Teacher and historian

Don Papson discussed

“Abolitionism in the

Adirondacks” as part of the

Kelly Adirondack Center’s

lecture and concert series.MA

RC

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01

3

President Stephen C.

Ainlay recalled the day

a couple of years ago

when Carl George, professor

emeritus of biology, asked

him to take a ride.

The two got in George’s

car and drove 3.4 miles from

campus to St. David’s Lane in

Niskayuna. There, Ainlay saw

property that includes a home

built by noted Adirondack

conservationist Paul Schaefer

in 1934, and the Adirondack

Research Library, which boasts

one of the largest collections

of Adirondack material

outside the Adirondack Park.

“We can own this,” said

George, who has lectured

Kelly Adirondack Center dedicatedextensively on the Adirondacks.

That quick trip culminated

Feb. 16, 2012 in the formal

dedication of the Kelly

Adirondack Center. Its acqui-

sition, made possible by the

generosity of longtime College

benefactor and trustee John

E. Kelly III ’76 and his wife

Helen-Jo, is the start of a

new chapter in Union’s rich

history with the Adirondacks.

Noting the College’s

proximity to the six-million

acre Adirondack Park, the

state capitol and Tech Valley,

Kelly, senior vice president

and director of research at

IBM, said “this is the perfect

opportunity for Union to play

across campus

a role in helping to preserve

this park, while driving the

economy of the region.”

In recent months, the

Center has hosted public

lectures and musical events,

including conservationist and

author Bill Weber, Adirondack

singer and storyteller Dan

Berggren and a photo exhibit

by Matt Milless, director of

Student Activities.

To learn more about the

Center, visit www.union.edu/

offices/adirondacks/index.php

To watch a video of

the dedication, visit

http://www.youtube.com/

user/unioncollege

President Stephen C. Ainlay speaks at the dedication of the Kelly Adirondack Center.

Student honored for volunteerism

(Ph

oto

by

Ch

arle

s St

ec

kle

r)Richard Blanco, the fifth

presidential inaugural poet,

read from his works and

participated in a dinner and

discussion with students.

Victoria Chee ’13, a

Leadership in Medicine

student who coordinates

Campus Kitchens and is

active with the Presidential

Interfaith Campus Challenge,

has been named a “Future

Stakeholder” by the Stake-

holders, an Albany-based

not-for-profit that inspires

people to take positive action

in their communities.

She is among 10 winners

of the group’s 2013 GOBY

Awards (Get on Board Volun-

teer Awards), which recognizes

exemplary volunteer service.

“Tori has emerged as a true

campus leader,” said Art History

Professor Lorraine Morales

Cox, who nominated Chee for

the award. She got to know

Chee last fall, when a core

group of faculty, staff and

students mobilized to collect

donations for Hurricane Sandy.

“What is really amazing

about Tori is her excellent

ability to build coalitions of

people and build bridges

between diverse groups who

share a vision in addressing a

need in the community.” She

is, Cox added, “someone who

clearly wins the admiration of

everyone around her yet does

so in a very humble, ‘behind

the scenes’ kind of way.”

A native of Little Neck, N.Y.,

Chee is an interdepartmental

major in biology and Asian

studies, with aspirations of


This year’s winter dance

concert, Circling Beginnings:

Dancing the Seasons,

explored changing seasons

and the splendor of nature.

Union makes President’s

Higher Education

Community Service

Honor Roll for fourth

time in five years

A paper by Robert Olberg, the Florence

B. Sherwood Professor of Life Sciences,

and colleagues, about dragonfly visual

neurons and prey interception, received

the Cozzarelli Prize from the National

Academy of Sciences.

Christopher Chabris,

rap star?

Not quite. But the

associate professor of

psychology got to spin his

science recently on the stage

of “Ingenious Nature,” a

theatrical mixtape that

recently completed its run at

the SoHo Playhouse.

A creation of Canadian

rapper and playwright Baba

Brinkman, “Ingenious Nature”

featured “mashed up stories

from his love life with

findings from the seductive

field of evolutionary psychol-

ogy, which tries to explain

gender relations, political

beliefs and teenage reckless-

ness through the lens of

millions of years of genetic

selection,” according to the

New York Times.

Throughout its six-week

run, the show featured

members from the science

community who would

speak to audiences after the

performance. Brinkman was

familiar with Chabris, having

referenced his notable book

with Daniel J. Simons, a

psychology professor at the

University of Illinois, The

Invisible Gorilla, and Other

Ways Our Intuitions Deceive

Us, on his 2010 album, “The

Rapper’s delight: Professor mixes it up off Broadway

Rap Guide to Human Nature.”

Chabris spoke about his

research on cognition, intelli-

gence and behavior genetics

after one performance.

Chabris, who joined Union

in 2007, has appeared on the

Today show and National

Public Radio (NPR). He has

written for the New York Times

and The Wall Street Journal.

But he never expected

his research to infiltrate the

world of rap.

“A lot of things have

happened as a result of

writing our book, but being

cited in rap lyrics and

appearing on the stage of a

rap show have to be two of

the best,” Chabris said.

Student honored for volunteerismworking in international health

care and health care policy.

Much of her campus volun-

teerism has addressed issues

of poverty and hunger.

She has been involved in

the Union chapter of the

national Campus Kitchens

organization since its incep-

tion three years ago. As

director, she streamlined the

method of organizing weekly

shifts of students who cook

food for the City Mission and

also implemented a summer

program. Last November,

she organized the Campus

Kitchens Thanksgiving

“Turkey Palooza.”

In other volunteer and

leadership roles, Chee is vice

president of philanthropy and

programming at Omicron

Delta Kappa, the national

leadership honor society, and

philanthropy chair of Alpha

Delta Lambda, the community

service sorority. She is a

member of the Empty Bowls

planning committee, the

Leadership in Diversity Council,

LGBTQ Allies and the Garnet

Society, the student Alumni

Association.

She has also volunteered

at the Community Hospice

of Schenectady and worked at

a rural clinic in Cusco, Peru.

Last year, on an independent

study in Taiwan, China and

Hong Kong, she researched

comparative health systems

between Taiwan and the

United States and studied

with practitioners of traditional

Chinese medicine.


After winning its second straight ECAC

Championship, the men’s hockey team

headed to the NCAA Tournament,

defeating Boston College (5-1) in the

first round. Union fell to Quinnipiac (5-1)

during the East Regional Final.MA

RC

H 2

01

3across campus

Fans at the inaugural

Mayor’s Cup men’s hockey

game between Union and

RPI were treated to an unusual

shootout during the second

intermission: Robo-Hockey.

Four teams of mechanical

engineering students who

designed and built the wheeled

robots—about the size of a

briefcase—competed in a

four-minute period in front

of thousands of spectators.

Starting from one of the

face-off circles, one robot got

20 seconds to fire a four-ounce

blue puck past another robot

positioned in the goalie

crease. The process repeated

itself until the period ended.

“This was a perfect oppor-

tunity to get engineering

students and their academic

accomplishments out in front

Face off: Robots take to ice during Union-RPI game

of people who normally

wouldn’t go to an engineer-

ing competition,” said Ronald

Bucinell, associate professor

of mechanical engineering.

“We hope it also inspires

young people to consider

careers in engineering.”

Bucinell, along with David

Hodgson, assistant professor

of mechanical engineering,

and Sudhir Khetan, visiting

instructor of bioengineering,

oversaw the project.

“This has been a good

learning experience,” said

Zach Reinert ’13, a mechanical

engineering major from

Houston. “We were skeptical

at first, but it turned out to be

fun. We ran into some things

that didn’t work, but that’s

good, because you just keep

working until you get it right.”

As Tena Clark’s anthem

“Break the Chain” rever-

berated from the first

floor of the Reamer Campus

Center, more than two dozen

faculty, staff and students

dressed in red or pink quickly

assembled in front of Dutch

Hollow February 14.

While the dancers and the

crowd carried smiles, the mes-

sage was serious: end violence

against women and girls.

The event was part of a

global campaign called One

Billion Rising. With the

United Nations estimating

that one in three women in

the world will be beaten or

raped in her lifetime (or one

billion), organizers encour-

aged participants to “walk out,

Union joins global campaign against gender violence

dance, rise up and demand”

an end to the violence.

The message was even

more poignant in light of

recent horrific events,

including the gang rape of

an Ohio teenager and the

Taliban shooting of 15-year-

old Pakistani activist Malala

Yousafzai for insisting girls

be educated in Afghanistan.

“We are saying no to

gender violence,” said Shilpa

Darivemula ’13, moments

after leading the dance. “It’s

an important issue; we’re

excited to bring awareness

of it to Union.”

She, along with Suraiyah

Abdul-Wahab ’13, Diana

Tettey ’14 and Victoria Chee

’13, organized the event.

Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”) spoke

to a capacity crowd in Memorial

Chapel. Nye hosts three T.V.

series—“The Eyes of Nye,” “Stuff

Happens” and “The 100 Greatest

Discoveries.”

Seamus Feider-Sullivan ’13 works on his robot under the guidance

of Dave Hodgson, assistant professor of mechanical engineering

Ph

oto

by M

att Mille

ss


Joshua Anderson likes

things simple. The

mechanical engineering

major helps run his parents’

self-sufficient farm in Maine,

spent part of winter break

traipsing around Paris with

little but his backpack and

doesn’t own a cell phone.

Shilpa Darivemula loves

medicine and dance. A pre-

med student majoring in

biology and Spanish,

Darivemula has performed

Kuchipudi, a classical Indian

dance, since she was eight

years old. She has also taught

dance to inner-city youth and

interned in dance therapy.

The two students are

among 40 nationwide who

have been awarded a presti-

gious Thomas J. Watson

Fellowship to spend the next

year pursuing their passion.

The fellowship offers a

one-year grant to seniors “of

unusual promise” to study

independently outside the

United States. The stipend for

individual award winners is

$25,000.

Anderson will travel

through the United Kingdom,

Denmark, Belgium, Nepal and

Two seniors awarded prestigious Watson FellowshipsTanzania in support of his

project, “Holistic Self-suffi-

ciency: Exploring the

Intersection of Community,

Innovation, and Self.”

Tapping into his engineer-

ing background, he plans to

immerse himself in eco-

villages, monasteries and

other self-sufficient commu-

nities to see how they provide

basic necessities like utilities,

shelter and farming.

For her independent study

abroad last winter, Darivemula

lived with indigenous Mapuche

communities in Chile. There,

she witnessed the power of

communal healing through

traditional dance.

Her Watson project, “Of

Medicine and Mudras:

Exploring Healing through

Traditional Dance Cultures,”

continues that theme.

Darivemula plans to visit

Bolivia, Ghana, Indonesia and

Cambodia. She will fuse her

background in medicine with

the mudras, or hand gestures,

used to narrate stories in four

traditional dances.

For more about the

Watsons visit www.union.

edu/news

Thirty students participated in

a 10-day trip to Israel over

winter break, 27 of them through

Taglit-Birthright Israel: Hillel. They

were the largest-ever Union contingent

on the popular cultural immersion

experience. Students, in their garnet

Hillel T-shirts, are pictured here with

their Dartmouth peers in Jaffa, Israel.

Largest-ever group on Israel trip

Joshua Anderson ’13

Ph

oto

by Z

ak Smo

len

’13

Shilpa Darivemula ’13


B Y E R I N D E M U T H J U D D

E X P E R I E N T I A L E N L I G H T E N M E N T I N B A L I

iVinG and UndERSTAndiNG iFE

Photos by Ryota Matsue

Background: Wayang Kulit (Balinese shadow puppets)

Right: A statue of Ganesha stands in the courtyard of Kertiyasa Bungalow, where Union students stayed in Ubud, Bali.

The reason: life is lived through art in this Indonesian country.

“For almost every milestone in life, there is a ritual performance—everything from the first time a baby’s feet touch the ground to cremation ceremonies and temple celebrations,” Matsue said. “You can’t understand daily life in Bali without an awareness of gamelan (Balinese orchestra) and dance—they are integral to so many events.”

Colin Turley ’13, a physics major minoring in music and electrical engi-neering, certainly found this to be true.

“Unlike in the West, music and performing arts are integrated into everyday life. So to understand Balinese culture, we had to start by understanding art,” he said. “By studying and practicing their arts intensely for a few weeks, we received a window into Balinese culture.”

And they didn’t just study one art form; they studied many of them. And not just from a scholarly standpoint either. Students were expected to become proficient enough to perform in the Balinese tradition, for the Balinese.

“This is a truly interdisciplinary mini-term, during which students study gamelan, dance, Balinese puppet-making, suling (Balinese flute), Balinese painting and Balinese drumming (kendang),”


wenty four days. That’s all it took for Maria Dreeszen ’14 to realize she didn’t entirely get it before Bali.

“I gained first-hand experience of the role of religion in Bali by actually attending rituals and participating in them,” said Dreeszen, a pre-dental religious studies major. “I was living their spiritual way of life, rather than just solely reading a book about it, writing a paper on it or watching a video. And now I get that you really can’t understand something until you actively live it.”

Between Nov. 26 and Dec. 19, 2012, Dreeszen and 11 other students participated in Union’s inaugural Bali mini-term in performing arts. Developed and led by Jennifer Matsue, associate professor of music, director of the Asian Studies Program and director of the World Musics and Cultures Program, the term fully immerses students in Balinese culture through the performing arts.

“The arts are vastly important to understanding culture—any culture,” Matsue said. “Music and dance don’t exist in a vacuum, they exist in a culture and express the culture in which they exist.”

“You can learn so much through music, for instance. You can learn about political and spiritual beliefs, about gender and race, about history, economics, technol-ogy,” she added. “And there’s no better place than Bali to experience this deep relationship between arts and culture.”

ARTT

iVinG and UndERSTAndiNG iFE through

Matsue said. “In addition, they study

some Indonesian language and

participate in lectures about social

issues in Bali.”

To be asked to do so much in so

short a time, with art forms that were

just weeks ago unknown to them,

was difficult for the students. But they

never shied away from the challenge.

“Performing these arts was both

exciting and intimidating. I was intimi-

dated because my novice understand-

ing was not even level with Balinese

children, and I was scared I would

offend the Balinese with how

much I was struggling to perfect

these art forms,” said Caroline

Aldrich ’14, a visual arts major

minoring in mathematics. “But

I knew I’d never again be able to

experience or learn these things,

so I did the best I could.

“And happily, everyone was

pleased with our final performance,

so I know the Balinese felt we had

done a good job.”

They were able to perform well, in

part, because of the instruction they

received and experiences they had.

Learning from Balinese

masters and witnessing

real Balinese performances

honoring the gods in

temples—and even


attending a royal cremation ceremony—

made it possible for Union students to

do what few other visitors to Bali do.

They did what the Balinese people do.

Their dance and music lessons, and

the temple celebrations and important

rituals they attended, were not of the

tourist variety. All experiences were

traditional and authentic, and shared

with the Balinese themselves.

“Learning Balinese performing arts

was extremely difficult at first, and

my having been trained in ballet, tap

and jazz since I was three, didn’t help

much at all,” Dreeszen said. “The way

I had been trained to dance with my

core contracted and my rib cage closed

counteracted Balinese instruction,

which is more focused on creating

bent lines.”

“This completely different dance

style felt unnatural initially, and I

struggled mentally and physically,”

she continued. “But our teachers were

nothing but supportive and patient.

They helped us all feel like real Balinese

performers by the end.”

This accomplishment left these

young men and women much changed.

Aldrich, for one, knows that amassing

possessions won’t amount to content-

ment or a sense of fulfillment.

“The Balinese live with so little, yet

they are the happiest, most vibrant

BY StudYinG And PRActicinG THEiR ARts INtEnSElY FOR

A FEw WEEKs WE REcEiVEd A WindOW intO BAliNEsE CuLtuRE

— Colin Turley '13

‘‘

’’.

Meghan Murphy ’14 (front) dances Rejang Dewa


Clockwise from top: Union students witnessed a royal cremation ceremony in Bali, part of which was this parade; Students take a gamelan

lesson; I Gusti Nyoman Darta (middle) gives a drumming lesson to Jessica Rivetz '14 and John Lynch '16; Colorful sarongs on sale in Bali.


Caroline Aldrich ‘14

makes a shadow puppet

Students at Rangki (Palace of Carvings)


people,” she said. “Their kindness and

true desire to help anyone they can

taught me that material things aren’t

going to make me feel happy or

complete, but being comfortable with

who I am, and helping others, will.”

Dreeszen too will strive to find more

balance in her life, and she’ll call on

this experience for a very long time.

“I want to be a pediatric dentist one

day, and I am confident the lessons

of cultural awareness I learned in Bali

will serve me well in terms of patient

interaction,” she said. “A better under-

standing of how to interact with

people who are different is invaluable;

it’s something everyone should have.”

Matsue couldn’t agree more, which

is why she remains dedicated to growing

Union’s World Musics and Cultures

Program. It highlights jazz, and the

music and culture of Africa and Latin

America, with Associate Professor of

Music Tim Olsen, and East Asian and

Southeast Asian studies with Matsue.

In 2006, Matsue oversaw the

acquisition of Japanese drums (taiko),

and a gamelan. The same year, she

arranged for a Fulbright scholar to

give courses on Balinese music and

culture. In 2011, two masters in Balinese

performing arts taught at Union.

Union’s gamelan, named Gita

Semara or “Song of Love,” is the only

one in the Capital Region. It also

figures prominently in Matsue’s

dream to build a college and commu-

nity gamelan ensemble.

“Gamelan is so wonderful, partly

because students can learn to play so

quickly,” she said. “Without a Balinese

gamelan master, we can’t give perfect

instruction, but it’s a start. Hopefully we’ll

be able to hire a master in the future.”

Until then, though, she’s thrilled

with the progress made so far.

THEiR KindNEss And TRuE DEsiRE TO HElp AnYOnE THEY CAn TAuGHt ME THAt MAtERiAl THinGs AREn’t GOinG TO MAkE ME FEEl HAppy Or COMplEtE,

But BEinG COmfORtAblE WitH WHO I Am, And HElpiNG OthERs, Will.

— Caroline Aldrich '14

‘‘

’’

Africa djembe drum

(Union's World

Musics and Cultures

Program also focuses

on African music and

culture.)


Students can officially minor in

World Musics and Cultures, or can

create their own organizing theme

major incorporating many of the

program’s offerings. And of course,

there’s the Bali mini-term. It took

two years to build and launch, and

will be led again in 2014 by Miryam

Moutillet, senior artist-in-residence

in Theater and Dance.

“Our World Musics and Cultures

program has grown a lot. It’s all the

more impressive because it’s rela-

tively rare to have so much world

music in such a small liberal arts

environment,” Matsue said. “It

augments Union’s interdisciplinary

approach to education in a remark-

An AppREciAtiON OF OtHER WaYS Of liFE COntRibutEs TO

SOciAl JusticE And MAKES EvERyOnE FEEl AccEptEd, It Adds A SEnsE Of PEAcE TO thE WORld.

— Maria Dreeszen '14

‘‘

’’

able way, engaging students with

cultures and globalization in very

immediate and theoretical ways.

“All the issues we study in different

departments across campus—history,

economics, gender, race, technol-

ogy—can be learned about through

music and the arts.”

This kind of interdisciplinary and

intercultural learning, to Dreeszen, is

imperative for one big reason.

“All people of all cultures laugh,

dance, speak, eat and seek happiness

in unique, amazing ways,” she said.

“An appreciation of other ways of life

contributes to social justice and

makes everyone feel accepted. It adds

a sense of peace to the world.”

Sarah Darsigny ’13 has make-up applied for the final music and dance performance she and her fellow Union students will give in Bali

Union students learn to dance Baris

For more on Union’s World Musics

and Cultures Program, and the Bali

mini-term in performing arts, visit

http://www.union.edu/academic/.

Click on “majors and minors.” A Bali

mini-term video is also available at

www.youtube.com/user/unioncollege


Clockwise from top left: Maria Dreeszen ’14 and Mary Kate MacKenzie ’15 enjoy themselves as they prepare for their final performance in Bali;

Pendet dancers Sarah Darsigny ’13, Maria Dreeszen ’14, Mary Kate MacKenzie ’15 and Zoralys Molina ’13; Students wear formal Balinese temple

clothing to attend a temple festival called Odalan. From left to right are Professor Jennifer Matsue, Hikaru Matsue (her son), Meghan Murphy

’14, Sarah Darsigny ’13, John Lynch ’16, Mary Kate MacKenzie ’15, Jacqueline Smith ’13, Caroline Aldrich ’14, Soun Sheen ’13, Zoralys Molina ’13,

Jessica Rivetz ’14, Colin Turley ’13, Shim-In Borneman ’13 and Maria Dreeszen ’14.


We’d long had a suspicion that a number of readers of this

magazine are fascinated with things that go fast; classnotes

entries were full of high-octane cars, airplanes and the like.

But nothing could have prepared us for the response we received to the

story call in the winter issue. Dozens were eager to tell of their avoca-

tions—and vocations—that fulfill their need for speed.

Predictably, perhaps, many of the responses came from car enthusiasts.

(Interestingly, we discovered an active community of alumni who are

connected through cars and racing.) Others told of their airborne

hobbies. Some described cameras. On campus, students and faculty

described scientific instruments, improved processes and computers.

Here we offer a selection of Union people who love things that go fast.

Alas, there were too many to share on the printed page. So, we’ve created

a web page with links to photos and videos. For much more, visit the

web at: www.union.edu/magazine

NEED FOR

Think fast. B Y C H A R L I E C A S E Y



NEED FOR SPEED

Experiments with fast particles: UCIBAL > > > > > >At the Union College Ion-Beam Analysis Laboratory (UCIBAL), students and

faculty do experiments with sub-atomic particles traveling at speeds up to 20 million

meters per second (45 million miles per hour). The particles attain these speeds by

being accelerated with a 1.1-million-volt electrostatic accelerator, which is the primary

instrument in UCIBAL. Scott LaBrake, senior lecturer and accelerator manager, and

Michael Vineyard, the Frank and Marie Louise Bailey Professor of Physics, use the

accelerator for experiments in several courses and for student-faculty research projects.

Most of the research is on the elemental analysis of environmental materials, such as

atmospheric aerosol, water, and soil samples to study pollution. The accelerator is

also used in an annual outreach program for local high school students and

teachers. In the last 10 years, 230 Union students, 84 high schoolers, and

29 high school physics teachers have performed experiments in UCIBAL.

Taking Flight: Union’s SAE Aero Team > > > > > > While most students were enjoying spring break, the five mem-

bers of Union’s SAE Aero Team were cramming to get their plane

ready for a mid-April competition. The plane is remote-controlled

and must lift and carry a payload over a prescribed course. Of the 40

teams in their category, Union placed eighth, fourth among U.S. teams.

Each member of the team had a specific task—engine, structure, landing

gear, controls and others. A team leader integrates all the parts, and together

they troubleshoot what comes along. What makes the experience most

valuable, according to their advisor, Associate Professor of Mechanical

Engineering Brad Bruno, is the opportunity to work with a real-

world engineering team. “It’s a great experience for the students,

and great exposure for our program and the College.”

The mythical Ferrari: Howard Blank ’70 > > > > > > Race cars. Airplanes. Space craft. Howard Blank seems to have the

speed thing pretty well covered. But of all the things that go fast, the

semi-retired commodities trader has a special place in his heart for the

mythical Ferrari. He races regularly at events including the Ferrari Challenge

Europe, with one race at the famed LeMans track, the Morocco Classic Rally

and the 24 Hours of Spa. Last summer, he hosted President Stephen C.

Ainlay at an event he drove at Nürburgring, the legendary track

regarded as one of the most challenging circuits in the

world. Blank, a pilot, also has his sights on outer space.

He has reserved a spot on Sir Richard Branson’s

Virgin Galactic suborbital space program.

Top: The SAE Aero Team, from left, Bessena Cabe ’13, Charles Bouchard ’13, Jeff Ehrlich ’13, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Brad Bruno, Jason Hargreaves ’13 and Joshua Rathgeb ’13. Bottom: Salina Ali ’15 and Prof. Michael Vineyard at the Union accelerator.


Shakespeare, and step on it > > > > > > Each July, the Saratoga Shakespeare Company, with Prof. Bill

Finlay as artistic director, mounts a full, professional production of

a Shakespeare play in 10 days of rehearsal and “build” time for sets

and costumes. Finlay, the chair of Theater and Dance at Union, has

directed more than 12 productions for the company. “It is an intense,

no-holds-barred, VERY speedy activity, a learning experience and profes-

sional artistic event that serves a very large Capital District audience,” said

Patricia Culbert, senior artist-in-residence at Union and director of

interns for SSC. Union interns get valuable real-world theater produc-

tion experience and the benefit of professional artist workshops,

and many have earned their Equity cards through SSC. They also

get an appreciation for putting on a play in record time.

What is a femtosecond? > > > > > > Union’s IBM intelligent cluster, a gift from the company in 2011, is advancing research on

campus in notable ways. The first paper published using the machine, by Janet Anderson in

the journal Biophysical Chemistry, analyzed the way protein G rotates in aqueous solution, by

predicting properties measured in nuclear magnetic resonance experiments from molecular

dynamics simulations. Each of five simulations consisted of 20,000,000 iterations, each represent-

ing a femtosecond (there are a quadrillion femtoseconds in one second). “Computer simulations are

helpful in understanding molecular behavior that is invisible to the eye, and to interpret the results of

experiments,” Anderson said. “These 20,000,000 steps of protein motion, equivalent to 200 nano-

seconds of molecule time, would normally have taken months on a desktop computer. They

took only 13 days on the cluster.”

Aerogels, better and faster > > > > > > Aerogels are unique nanoporous materials that have applications

ranging from insulating materials to windows to sensors to catalytic

converters. But with aerogels, it’s all about time. They are not widely avail-

able due to the complex, time-consuming and expensive methods used to

produce them. The College’s Aerogel Team, led by Profs. Ann Anderson of

Mechanical Engineering and Mary Carroll of Chemistry, has developed and

patented “rapid supercritical extraction” (RSCE) techniques using a confined

mold in an automated hydraulic hot press. The process is fast (and potentially

less expensive compared to current techniques), and more environmentally

friendly due to minimized use of solvents. The work has been supported

by six National Science Foundation grants. Now, the team is pursuing

support that could lead to the commercialization of the process.

Middle: Onstage summer 2012 in Twelfth Night (left to right), Union College intern & theater major Robyn Belt ’14, cast member Sarita Luz

Cordoba, Union College intern & theater major Carla Duval ’14, Senior Artist-in-Residence Patricia Culbert (partially hidden) & Union

College intern Ryan Semerad.

The IBM intelligent cluster helps faculty and student researchers model and analyze molecular

behavior in days instead of months.


Russell Gee ’68 > > > > > > Russell Gee came by racing honestly, having grown up

near the famous Watkins Glen track in western New York.

But it wasn’t until he retired at 59, in 2006, that he indulged his

need for racing fender-to-fender. Today, he has a few podium

finishes in the competitive Miata series in the SCCA, but “those

young guys …” He also races vintage cars like a 1969 BMW 2002 and

a 1969 Porsche 911. He has twice run the La Carrera Pan-America

Race, a seven-day event from southern Mexico to Texas. In 2009,

in the Porsche, “we were happy to have finished the event

alive.” In 2011, in a 1959 Jaguar XK150S, he won first in class. A

resident of Cambridge, Mass., he is a regular racer at tracks

including Daytona, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen and Sebring.

Tony Romanazzi ’77 > > > > > >Tony Romanazzi, a dentist based in Glens Falls at the southern end of the Adirondacks,

has the perfect way to get around the lake-filled region: an amphibious airplane that is air-

craft, boat and land vehicle all in one. He built the experimental seaplane (Buccaneer Super X

Cross Country B1B 503 RG) from a kit in 1990 and has been prowling the skies of Lake George

and the Champlain Valley ever since. “To swoop down from the sky, land on water, drop the land-

ing gear and taxi up a boat ramp at a marina … is nothing short of incredible,” he said. Among his

favorite memories, he recalls meeting his Union mentor, the late Will Roth, professor of biology, at

a small airport near Roth’s camp. As Romanazzi approached and saw Roth standing at the air-

field, he thought, “Oh, what my pre-med buddies at Union would give for an opportunity like

this.” Like the scene in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest in which a bi-plane crop duster

chases Cary Grant, Romanazzi made a low pass that sent Roth diving behind his car.

When he emerged, he asked the smiling Roth, “Were you expecting Charles Lindbergh?”

Ian Prout ’94 > > > > > > Ian Prout has made a career out of teaching people to drive fast. He is founder, owner

and president of Sports Car Driving Association, a Deep River, Conn.-based entity that

sponsors about two-dozen high-performance driving events at the Northeast’s premiere

tracks. So it figures that last year Ian would set two lap records at Watkins Glen and take five

wins in as many starts in his ITR BMW 325i. Prout’s “dream weekend” came after 20 years of

racing that included five race wins and a road racing championship. “I have had a good amount

of success in it and won in a variety of cars over the years,” he said, “but the lap records are

what mean the most.” Prout, who attributes his passion for motorsports to his father, Bill, did

his senior thesis at Union on the political, social and economic implications of the devel-

opment of the automotive industry. “Racing is a sport that requires preparation, discipline,

planning, and strategy,” attributes he says are essential to running his business. “If you

put in the work and planning, then the results are incredibly rewarding.”

NEED FOR SPEED


Lorraine Thomas ’87 > > > > > > Birds, like athletes, can be very fast. Just ask

Lorraine Thomas, whose hobby involves capturing

through photography the athletic prowess of avian

creatures and other wildlife. So it’s critical that she has a

fast camera that can shoot eight frames per second to stop

the fast motion. Equally important, she needs a high burst

rate (consecutive shots before the camera slows or stops).

“Just like in sports photography, I don’t want to miss the

best action,” says the Florida-based mechanical

engineer. “Sometimes you just have to take several

photos of the bird in action, so that you can select

the best one.” (photo by Lorraine Thomas)

Jim Taylor ’66 > > > > > > Jim Taylor splits his time between working as CEO of

Taylor Made Group, tending an eclectic collection of

automobiles and driving those cars in exotic places. From

his first car, a 1959 MG coupe he bought in his senior year at

Union, his collection now numbers about 70 cars, most of

which he drives as much as possible. His road rallies have taken

him across China, Africa, Central America, Europe and through-

out the U.S. Taylor, a trustee of the College, played a key role

in the founding of the Saratoga Automobile Museum,

where a number of his cars are on display. Taylor Made,

based in Gloversville, N.Y., is a diversified supplier to the

recreational marine industry and other markets.

Ted Goneos ’94 > > > > > >As a student, Ted Goneos drove laps around campus in a big 1985

Chevy Blazer, a great car in the snow. Now, he does laps around the

country, among other performance driving events. A friend of Ian

Prout ’94 (see below), he has taken street and race cars to Ian’s driving

events for a decade. He is also a graduate of the Skip Barber Racing School

and other performance programs. In 2004, he began competing in the One

Lap of America (www.onelapofamerica.com), first in a 1978 Pontiac Trans-

Am, later in Porsches. His brother, Petros ’90, was co-driver in 2005 and

2006 for the one-week, 4,000-mile event. Goneos, with a Resumé of

more than 40 race tracks, ice racing and endurance races, was plan-

ning for the 2013 One Lap this spring. For more on his automotive

endeavors, visit Team Theogon at www.theogon.com.

Above: Jim Taylor ’66, left, and President Stephen C. Ainlay in a pair of Taylor’s rare sports cars near Great Sacandaga Lake.


profiles

graduated with the top of his class from

Linton High School in 1980. He followed

his older brother, Phuoc, to Union where

he graduated with honors in 1984 with

degrees in mathematics and biology.

Also at Union, he earned the Bruce M.

Garber Prize for the premedical student

who exemplifies integrity and humane

concern. Two younger brothers also

graduated from Union, Thu T. Le in 1989,

and Phu To Le in 1992.

He earned his M.D. degree from the

University of Rochester School of

Medicine and Dentistry in 1988. He

completed his internship and residency

at the Johns Hopkins Hospital/Sinai

Hospital in Baltimore where he received

the Best Resident of the Year Award in

1989 and 1991.

Dr. Le was chairman of the Division of

Gastroenterology and director of

endoscopy at Harbor Hospital of

Baltimore in 1998-2004. He also had a

part-time appointment as a clinical

assistant professor of medicine at the

University of Maryland School of

Medicine in 1995-2012, and as instructor

in medicine at Johns Hopkins School of

Medicine in 1995-2005. As a teaching

faculty at Sinai Hospital and Harbor

Hospital, he received the Golden Apple

“Best Teacher of the Year” Award in 1996

and 1998.

Today, Dr. Le is a senior partner at

Woodholme Gastroenterology Associates

epatitis B in the Asian commu-

nities is a silent disease that

often isn’t detected until it’s too

late. Dr. Loc T. Le ’84 is out to

change that.

A gastroenterologist in Baltimore, Md.,

Dr. Le has just been named to a two-year

term as chairman of the National Task

Force on Hepatitis B, which focuses on

education, research and intervention

among Asian and Pacific Islander

populations in the U.S. He also will

advocate for screening and vaccination

among the high-risk populations.

Most of those in the high-risk groups

don’t know they have Hepatitis B until up

to 80 percent of the liver is damaged or

they develop liver cancer, Dr. Le said.

Those in high risk groups need to be

tested, and education is key.

Education is something that comes

naturally from Dr. Le’s upbringing.

Born in 1961 in Quang Tri, a small

town on the border of North and South

Vietnam, his early education was poor

and frequently interrupted by the war.

But his parents, Thi and Dong Nguyen

Le, put a premium on education for their

10 children.

The family fled Vietnam in 1975 and

came to New York state under the

sponsorship of a family in Cobleskill.

The family settled in Schenectady, and

Loc—though previously lacking a formal

education or familiarity with English—

Hwith several offices in and around

Baltimore. He and his wife have three

children.

Hepatitis B among Asians is different

from the Hepatitis B among the general

population in the U.S., Dr. Le explains.

Within Hepatitis B, there are eight

subtypes, two of which—more prevalent

among Asians—are more difficult to

treat. Without screening, prevention and

treatment—especially at birth when the

immune system is weak—patients can

take on Hepatitis B, which can develop

into cancer or cirrhosis of the liver by

age 40.

Among the general American

population, the disease, normally

transmitted between young adults in

their late teens or early twenties, is

usually transient and rarely becomes

chronic.

He wants to aggressively advocate the

CDC guidelines for Hepatitis B screening

and vaccination in the high risk popula-

tions in the U.S., namely the Asians and

the Pacific Islanders.

Dr. Le says he wants to make a real

difference in the lives of people, and is

very busy reaching out to the media,

politicians, NGOs, CDC, NIH, drug

companies, community activists, college

students, and other physicians. He is

forming a panel of advisors to help carry

out the difficult mission of the Task Force

in reducing Hepatitis B infection in Asian

and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.

Fighting Hepatitis B | D R . L O C L E ’ 8 4

UNION COLLEGE Spring 2013 | 27 Spring 2013 UNION COLLEGE

managing director and head of the

Customized Fund Investment Group at

Credit Suisse. She earned a bachelor’s

degree magna cum laude in political

science and mathematics from Union,

and a law degree from New York Univer-

sity in 1989. She spent her early career in

global finance law at Prudential. In 2000,

she joined Credit Suisse, one of the

leading private equity and real estate

investment management firms.

A generous benefactor of the College,

she has counseled students seeking

careers in the finance industry and hosted

a series of events for alumni.

rustee Kelly Williams ’86 does not

play the piano.

But she appreciates the transforma-

tive power of music, which is why

she and her husband, Andrew Forsyth,

donated a Steinway concert grand piano

to the College.

“It’s a blessing for us,” Williams said

after a concert by Drew Ivarson ’15 on

the new piano in Memorial Chapel. “It’s

not often that you can give a gift that can

be enjoyed so much, so often and by so

many. For me, it’s the perfect gift.”

The piano is the new musical center-

piece of Memorial Chapel and the

acclaimed Union College Concert Series,

which features internationally-renowned

musicians in an acoustically superb setting.

Last fall, a piano selection committee

from the College met at the Steinway

factory in Queens, N.Y., where the group

picked the best piano for the hall with the

help of renowned pianist Jonathan Biss.

“It’s the perfect gift for Memorial

Chapel because it’s a very enduring place

for so many people and one of the most

beautiful buildings on campus,” Williams

said. “It’s like bestowing a gem on a

beautiful woman.”

Williams' husband, Andrew Forsyth,

says the gift is a fitting one for the school

that helped to nurture his wife’s pragmatic

and artistic nature. “Union is one of the

finest embodiments of combining the

principles of engineering and fine arts,”

Forsyth said, “and Kelly is that herself.”

“It is wonderful to have an instrument

which reflects the high quality of the

world-class musicians who appear on

the series,” said Derek Delaney,

director of the Union Concert

series. “We are so grateful to

Kelly and Andrew for their

generous gift.”

Williams, on the Board of

Trustees since 2008, is

TLast year, she was honored as a “Woman

of Power and Influence” by the New York

chapter of the National Organization

for Women (NOW), and was presented

at the awards ceremony by President

Stephen C. Ainlay.

Since 2006, she has served as a mentor

to fellows of the Robert and Susan Toigo

Foundation. She was elected to the

YWCA Academy of Women Leaders in

2007. She is also a member of the Metro

Chapter of the Young Presidents Organi-

zation. Last year, American Banker

magazine named her one of the 25 Most

Powerful Women in Finance.

For videos on Union’s newest

Steinway, visit http://www.youtube.com/

user/unioncollege

New piano is ‘perfect gift’ | K E L L Y W I L L I A M S ’ 8 6

Andrew Forsyth,

left, and Kelly

Williams ’86

admire the new

Steinway in

Memorial

Chapel

that gets you there. Other forces,

like a plane, are involved. It’s these—the

mechanisms of gene action—we study to

see how the heart actually twists.”

Ramasubramanian and his colleagues

analyze chicken embryos (their develop-

ment is similar to humans’) using

computer models and an atomic force

microscope. Both help identify forces

acting on the chick heart, which is only

1 mm long with a tube circumference

of 400 microns in the s-looping stage

they’re studying.

During this critical period, occur-

ring in the first 48 to 56 hours of a

chick’s 21-day incubation, groundwork

is laid for the basic cardiac shape—

two atria at the top and two ventricles

at the bottom.

“Many babies are born with heart

abnormalities, but most of these condi-

tions we can’t treat in utero, partly because

cardiac development is poorly understood,”

Ramasubramanian said. “We study this with

the hope of understanding.”

The team’s work is funded by an NIH

Academic Research Enhancement Award.


Ever wonder what

Union professors

are up to when they

aren’t teaching?

Just about every-

thing, as it turns out.

Nothing is beyond

their collective

reach or curious

minds. Here’s just

a glimpse of the

diverse and intriguing

work they do.

focUs

B Y E R I N D E M U T H J U D D

Ashok Ramasubramanian, assistant professor

of mechanical engineering (With Quynh

Chu-LaGraff (Biology), Kristin Fox (Chemistry),

Tak Buma (Electrical Engineering), Kevin Chico

’14, Kyra Burnett ’13, Meagan Carnes ’14, Sarah

Bradner ’14, Kateri Molinaro ’13, Kaelan Hansson

’15, Alex Jaksic ’15, Shaun Gordon ’13)

A pair of atria, an aorta, a tricuspid valve, a

pulmonary vein, the superior vena cava. All

this—the human heart—is just a minuscule

cylinder at first.

And that’s pretty wild.

“Initially, the embryonic heart forms

as a straight tube, like a garden hose. To

become the complex mature organ, it

twists and bends as a baby grows,”

Ashok Ramasubramanian explained,

curling a string from his winter hat in

demonstration. “But there are no fingers

inside; the heart has to bend by itself—a

process called looping.”

“Certain genes change its shape, but

there are also forces,” he continued.

“Consider that you go to California and your

head is a gene. If your head falls off you

won’t go, but you can’t just say your head is all

How a tube becomes a heart

S-looping heart development in chicken embryo (By Sarah Bradner ’14)

Jim de Sève, filmmaker-in-residence

Traditional Javanese wisdom says that a real man must have a wife, a

house, a dagger and a singing dove. It’s this final requirement—still

highly prized today—that Jim de Sève explores in his documen-

tary ManDove, which he directed with husband Kian Tjong.

The film follows Indonesian men as they raise perkutut

(zebra doves) and enter them in singing competitions.

Winning birds not only prove their owners’ masculinity, they

also sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Believed to possess magical abilities, like warning a family

of danger, doves are hand-bathed and hand-fed. The cherished

birds are also housed in ornate, colorful cages that cost about

$800. During competition, these cages are hoisted up on 23-foot

poles so that judges can walk beneath, choosing the best singers

based on cadence, rhythm and other criteria.

None of this is described outright in the documentary, there is

no omniscient narrator. But viewers learn much from the actions of

the subjects themselves.

“Audiences are used to a National Geographic-style documentary

that makes them privileged viewers,” de Sève said. “We want viewers to

want to know more, and experience the curiosity and ambiguity of

travel. Thus, we withheld some information.”

ManDove has been screened to acclaim at the Russian Academy of

Science, the Flaherty Film Seminar Series in New York City and the

Taiwan International Documentary Festival. Learn more at www.singing-

dove.com.| 29

Jillmarie Murphy, John D. MacArthur

Assistant Professor of English

“An attack on the brain first drove me

from the haunts of men to seek mental

repose and physical strength in the

woods.” – Joel Tyler Headley, Adirondac;

or Life in the Woods

Headley, Class of 1839, isn’t the only

writer who extolled nature’s capacity for

healing. So did Ralph Waldo Emerson

and Henry David Thoreau. To discover

why, Jillmarie Murphy is studying select

19th-century nature writers, using the

psychoanalytic paradigm of attachment

theory and the tenets of restorative

environment therapy.

A clergyman, associate editor of the

New York Tribune and secretary of state

(N.Y.), Headley was one of the first to hail

the Adirondack Mountains as a health

resort. Adirondac (1849) chronicles his

experiences inside the Blue Line, where

he spent two summers escaping the

strain of urban life.

“I’m interested in the importance these

writers placed on developing affectional

bonds with their surroundings, and how

attachment to place became pathologized

as a result of war, disease, death, race and

gender,” Murphy said. “Adirondac is one

of the earliest attempts by an American

writer to explain how withdrawing to

nature restores both mind and body, and

helps provide a more direct connection

to one’s inner spirit.”

Murphy plans to publish an article

analyzing land attachment and restor-

ative environments in Adirondac, as well

as a book covering attachment theory

and place in the literature of the early

American Republic.

The deification of nature

Of doves and menJim de Sève (center) with Sukur (left)

and Nur (right) while filming

ManDove

Spring 2013 UNION COLLEGE


RAYMOND J. STECKER ’78

Cancer, Courage and Collateral Damage: An Inspiring Story of Resilience, Hope and Determination

Xlibris Corporation

In this deeply personal memoir about his battle with brain cancer, Ray Stecker gives readers intimate access to his experiences and those of his family. The book is a journey through the unknown, through every-thing from fear, sadness, panic, loneliness and anger to flat-out, gut-wrenching laughter. The intent is to give a cancer patient, a patient- to-be and their loved ones the strength to fight the battle they must fight, and the courage to adjust to whatever future lies ahead. Stecker explains his transformation—physically, emotionally, medically—from what he calls his before-cancer self to his after-cancer self. The differences aren’t always what you expect.

SIMON SOBO ’64

Commodore

BookBaby

It is 1876 and the world’s richest man, 84-year-old Cornelius Vanderbilt, lies dying in a New York town-house. Obsessed by the legacy he’ll soon be leaving to the world, Vanderbilt invites a journalist inside, wanting one more chance to spin his life story. It’s a story filled with risk and intrigue: his legendary service in the English Navy during the War of 1812; his dominance in the steamship and then railroad industries; his construction of Grand Central Station; his inner battles with the ghosts of his father and mother. Down but never out, Vanderbilt’s life is one of extraordinary resilience and passion. In Commodore, readers see the man behind the facade, his childhood hunger and desperation, his inner doubts, and his fierce determination to succeed at all costs.

bookshelf

MATTHEW A. KARLYN ’94

A Guide to IT Contracting: Checklists, Tools and Techniques

CRC Press

Co-written by attorneys Matthew Karlyn and Michael Overly, A Guide to IT Contracting distills critical business and legal lessons the authors learned drafting and negotiating IT-related agreements. It provides detailed information concerning technology agreements and makes understanding IT contracting issues easy for non-legal professionals. Key resources within the book include checklists to help readers organize concepts, online references, resources and aid for contract drafting, and a CD-ROM with reusable check-lists and a complete glossary.

Bookshelf features new books written or edited by or about alumni and other members of the Union community. To be included in Bookshelf, send the book and the publisher’s press release to:

Office of Communications Union College Schenectady, NY 12308

or send publisher’s press release and a high-resolution book cover image to [email protected].


alumni clubs

U P C O M I N G A L U M N I C L U B E V E N T S

M AY 3 1 - J U N E 2 : Union CollegeReUnion

J U N E 1 6 : Union CollegeCommencement

For more, visit www.union.edu/alumni

s

U

Peter Li ’15 and Rachel Refkin ’15 joined other Union students, alumni and community members at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. in January for the inaugural Mayor’s Cup. Union won the exciting match 3 to 2, besting rival RPI.

sAlumni enjoy the Sigma Chi golf outing in St. Augustine, Fla. in December 2012.

Alumni gather at a pub to watch the nationally televised Union vs. Dartmouth hockey game in Philadelphia.

Members of The Garnet Society, Union’s student-alumni association, promote Union’s new social media app, EverTrue. From left to right are Jenna Langhans ’13, Alexa DiBenedetto ’14, Josh Davis ’14, Shari Kram ’13 and Cristina Vazzana ’13.

s

s

J U N E 2 9 : Cape Cod1st Cape Cod Club gatheringBarley Neck/Orleans Playhouse

J U LY 1 3 : New York CityN.Y. Yankees vs. Minn. Twins

J U LY 1 7 : Troy, N.Y.Tri-City Valley Cats game, picnic

A U G . 1 1 : Saratoga Springs, N.Y.Day at the track

O C T. 1 1 - 1 3 :Union CollegeHomecoming & Family Weekend


Garnet GuardAlumni who have celebrated their 50th ReUnion.

GARNET GUARD CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Bob Howe ’58135 Chevy Chase Dr.Wayzata, Minn. 55391

[email protected]

1950N. Donald Boink writes, “Lynn and I went on a cruise to the Panama Canal this March and made a few stops along the way. We’re enjoying being back in central New York after 18 years on Cape Cod. It’s wonderful to have kids and grandkids nearby. Cheers to all.”

1952CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Dr. Arthur Stockman7124 Switchgrass TrailBradenton, Fla. 34202-4177(941) 907-8064 [email protected]


Garrett Murphy7 Maxwell StreetAlbany, N.Y. [email protected] (518) 438-7319

From the correspondent: “This will be our first ReUnion without our leader and head class agent, John Moses, who passed away in December. Your correspondent will very much miss his many upbeat messages of class happen-ings. John’s love of Union was pervasive. In his pres-ence or in his correspon-dence, he made us feel it as well. As we come back to the

the classes

campus for the 60th time this spring, we will be warmed by our memories of John.”

William R. Holzapfel was recently sworn in for his sixth four-year term as city attorney and director of the Law Department of the City of Elizabeth, N.J. Bill has been the city attorney since 1993. He is the recipient of the diplomat designation in municipal law and the Distinguished Service Award from the New Jersey Utilities Association, for his work on the New Jersey Digest of Public Utility Decisions. Bill has also been elected a fellow of the American Bar Founda-tion and is a retired colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.


Avrom J. GoldP.O. Box 559Whitehouse Station, N.J. 08889


Ken Haefner1346 Waverly Pl.Schenectady, N.Y. [email protected]

Dom Carbone writes, “Fran and I, plus Betty Ford, Fran’s 92-year-old mother, attended President Ainlay’s reception in Naples and enjoyed his commentary about Union, its glorious past, current happen- ings and a positive look into the future. Hey guys, two years until our 60th. Let’s talk it up. I was sad to hear from his daughter that Walt Tennant

passed away. He was a great leader and will be missed.”

1956CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

Dr. Alan Greene241 Perkins St. H401Boston, Mass. 02130

Martin Stein1107 Pipestem PlacePotomac, Md. [email protected]

Philip Dubois writes, “It was a pleasure and an honor to spend three years with Ernest Gardow, who passed away in June 2012, as a fraternity mate in Chi Psi at Union. He was a very unselfish man who gave much of himself, his time and his extensive knowledge to friends, fraternity brothers, schoolmates, and a wide array of clubs and associations during his college years. He was the most instrumental person in overseeing the business functions of the fraternity house for three years. Rarely was it run better. After graduation he continued sharing his time and talents for a wide array of associations and college functions, and this continued into his business career. It was an honor to have known, lived and worked with him—to have listened to his music and socialized with such a

Lewis W. Hallenbeck ’40 visits

Jackson’s Garden with his

grandson, Tim M. Palace ’15 in

September 2012. He and Tim

come from a long line of Union

alumni. Lewis, who passed away

in December 2012, represented

the sixth generation of his direct

family to attend the College.

William R. Holzapfel ’53 is sworn in for his sixth four-year term as city

attorney and director of the Law Department of the City of Elizabeth,

N.J. He was wearing his Union tie for the occasion.

William “Bill” Rudolph ’55, a

member of Delta Upsilon

fraternity, Student Council and

the Block U Society who played

lacrosse during his Union days,

passed away Dec. 17, 2012.

His daughter, Deborah Rudolph

Keenan, is a member of the

Class of 1982.


A CHARITABLE RETIREMENT PLANInvest in a quality education for

generations of Union students.

Establish a charitable gift annuity

at Union College that:

• Guarantees fixed income for

your lifetime (a portion of which

may be tax-free)

• Realizes significant tax breaks,

including an immediate federal

deduction

• Gives satisfaction from financially

supporting Union College

AgeAnnuity Rate Deduction

Annual Income

65 4.7% $6,653 $1,175

70 5.1% $8,673 $1,275

75 5.8% $10,254 $1,450

80 6.8% $11,673 $1,700

70/70 4.6% $5,997 $1,150

75/75 5.0% $8,185 $1,250

80/80 5.7% $9,863 $1,425

T O L E A R N M O R E , P L E A S E C O N T A C T :

Jacqueline Cavalier, Director of Gift Planning

(518) 388-6156 or

toll free (888) 843-4365 ext. 6156

[email protected]

www.union.plannedgifts.org

Based on a $25,000 cash gift using the IRS discount

rate of 1.2% for Feb. 2013.

regular guy with so much talent during my years at Union College. Good-bye and fond farewell.”


James R. Fisher172 Patriot’s CrookMartinsville, Va. [email protected]

Paul Mohr140 E Duce of Clubs Ste AShow Low, Ariz. [email protected]

Jay Fromer, Ben Levy, Ted Davis and Harry Benedict, and their wives, all attended a recent Union alumni recep-tion with President Stephen Ainlay in Palm Beach, Fla. They enjoyed the time they spent with each other, as well as other class representatives. These four members made the Class of ’57 the most repre-sented class at the reception.


Richard T. Steinbrenner9 Hunters TrailWarren, N.J. [email protected]

Heiki Ellermets writes, “Enjoying second retirement after 30 years in the Air Force (retired as a colonel in 1989) and then spent 10 years as a Realtor.”


William D. “Dal” Trader5361 Santa Catalina AvenueGarden Grove, Calif. [email protected]@wbct.us

John Williamson writes, “A few months ago at the Kona Airport on the big island of Hawaii, I had a chance meeting with the governor of the state, who happens to be our classmate, Neil Abercrombie. By all accounts, Neil is serving his state well. He looked great and I had a very enjoyable talk with him. Speaking of classmates, I spend a few days each year with Allen Peck. Allen lives in suburban Denver and is tough to keep up with on the slopes. As for me, I am a retired law book publisher in Denver who spends a lot of time playing golf, skiing, trout fishing and traveling with my wife, Beth.”

Donald J. May writes, “I was a practicing lawyer for 47 years in Ellicot, Md., when I suffered a severe heart attack on 29 May, 2011 (my birthday). It required the replacement of a heart valve and the installation of the pacemaker. I also suffered a stroke and some brain injury from lack of oxygen during my heart attack. When I awoke three weeks later, I was blind in one eye, had some facial paralysis and lost all memory of my years professing the law and practicing from before the heart attack. It was a heck of a birthday present. Yes, I can walk and talk, but little else. Not fun. I have learned too that yes, women outlive men. In my assisted living facility, there are five women and one man—me.” Don, who was also a warrant officer in the Army Reserve for 22 years, would

William “Bill” Allen ’59


welcome hearing from Union classmates and swim teammates. Write him at The Woods, 3830 Baker Road, Westminster, Md. 21157, or call him at (410) 635-2930.


John H. Nickles1303 River RoadWest Coxsackie, N.Y. 12192

Charles Roden writes, “Please copy me at [email protected] on notes you submit for my next class letter.”


Bill Condon1365 Van Antwerp RoadApt. I-91Niskayuna, N.Y. [email protected]

(518) 382-1096

Dr. Peter Adasek writes, “Sun Hui and I have been together four delightful years. We continue to enjoy Czech/Slovak folk dancing, waltzing with the Broadmoor Waltz Club, and ballroom dancing at the International Dance Club in Colorado Springs. In May 2012, we visited my former Union College wrestling coach, Bruce Allison and his wife Ann, in Loveland, Colo. Neither seems to be aging. And in

September, I represented Union at the inauguration of Colorado College’s new president, Jill Tiefenthaler. I got to wear an academic gown for the procession and then Sun Hui and I dressed up ‘to the nines’ for the inaugural dance. This year, I was also very happy to be promoted (honorary) to clinical professor at the University of Colorado School of medicine. I continue to do pro bono lectures on child abuse where the opportunity arises, and we continue to enjoy living in Colorado Springs.”


Ollie R. Bunch441 Stub Hollow RoadNew Hartford, Conn. 06057-2513

Thomas R. Zentall writes, “I am the DiSilvestro Professor of Arts and Sciences (an endowed chair) and professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. I am president-elect of the Eastern Psychological Association and will preside over the annual meeting in Boston in March 2014.”

Harry Sauer writes, “I retired last July after 50 years in the global engineering and consulting business. My wife, Lynne, a Skidmore graduate, and I spend time at our condo

in Florida, travel and watch our grandkids play ice hockey, soccer, baseball and football. Our 17-year-old granddaughter is the place kicker for the boys’ football team. It won’t be long before our great-granddaughter will be playing sports as well.”


George Ball6929 Country Line RoadWayland, N.Y. [email protected]

James Gross writes, “Our 50th ReUnion is this May and I will attend. My son Peter ’05 was captain of the lacrosse team junior and senior years. We’re grandparents of Pete’s kids, Leila, 3, and Matty, 1. I’ve been vice chairman of Williamson, Picket, Gross Inc. (real estate) since its inception in 1971 and I work with son, Peter, who is my partner. I’ve been married for 42 years to Marsha, the chairman of the board.”

Dan Schwarz writes, “I had a festschrift published in my honor—Reading Texts, Reading Lives: Essays in the Tradition of Humanistic Cultural Criticism in Honor of Daniel R. Schwarz. Endtimes? Crises and Turmoil and the New York Times, 1999-2009 has been getting quite a bit of attention. I had many NPR and other media interviews about the book and lectured at major NYC venues like the NYPL. My talk, ‘The History and Future of the New York Times,’ filmed at the Museum of the City, was aired on CSPAN at least twice in late December and January. I was part of a February 2012 BBC documentary on Damon Runyon, about whom I had written a book: Broadway Boogie Woogie; Damon Runyon and the Making of

Dr. Peter Adasek ’61, right, visits with Bruce Allison, former Union

College athletic director and wrestling and lacrosse coach, and his

wife, Ann, in Loveland, Colo.

Seven brothers of the Kappa Sigma pledge class of 1957, who went

on to graduate from Union in 1961, got together on Cape Cod in

October 2012 to celebrate their 55th pledge reunion. Front row,

from left are Sam Selwood, Bob Morgan and Bill Reaman; back row,

from left are Bill Marx, Don Crist, Dave Muench and Bob Hurlbutt.

the classes

Thomas R. Zentall ’62


New York City Culture. I edited the Penguin book on Runyon, Guys and Dolls and Other Writings.”

Mike Slomka writes, “Still practicing orthopaedic surgery in St. Pete, Fla. Have three grown children and eight grandchildren in St. Pete, Charlotte and Atlanta. I attended the Frozen Four Hockey game with Joel Nussbaum, Dave Scheichet and Jimmy Gross in Tampa (old farts watching hockey). We hope to see all of you at ReUnion.”


Anton Warde36 Two Lights Rd.Cape Elizabeth, Maine [email protected]

Simon Sobo writes, “My new novel, Commodore, is now available at Amazon.”

Alan Horn became chairman of The Walt Disney Studios in June 2012, overseeing worldwide operations for a diverse collection of movies from Disney (live action and animated), Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm, as well as the company’s music and theatrical groups. Upcoming films from The Walt Disney Studios include Marvel’s Iron Man 3, Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University and Disney’s The Lone Ranger. Alan previously served for 12 years as president and chief operating officer at Warner Bros. Entertainment and was an executive producer on 2012’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Alan and his wife, Cindy, reside in Los Angeles and have two adult daughters, Cody, NYU (2010) and Cassidy, Stanford (2012).

PLANNED GIFTS

A bequest distribution was

received from the estate of

Lionel Furst, Class of 1950.

This gift is restricted to the

Wicker Wellness Center,

which is consistent with

his lifetime of support of

organizations and issues

related to health and

medical care.



Allen J. Wood; the proceeds

restricted to the Union

College Concert Series.

An unrestricted bequest

distribution was received

from the estate of Barbara

Groundwater. Barbara was

the widow of Robert E.

Groundwater, Class of 1943.

Gregory S. Clear, Class of

1975, named Union College

a remainder beneficiary of

the charitable remainder

trust established by his father,

Albert F. Clear. Ultimately,

proceeds will establish the

Gregory and Kathleen Clear

Endowed Scholarship.

A trust distribution was


Naomi Chambers, to be

added to the Walter R.G. and

Naomi Baker Scholarship in

support of students studying

engineering, science or

mathematics. Mrs. Chambers

was the widow of Walter

R.G. Baker, Class of 1916.

In support of the Union

College Annual Fund, a trust

distribution was received

from the estate of Robert L.

Slobod, Class of 1935.


received from the estate

Calvin G. Schmidt, registrar

emeritus, and member of

the Class of 1951. This gift,

along with earlier distribu-

tions, will be added to the

Calvin G. Schmidt ’51

Endowed Student Employ-

ment Fund. Cal was registrar

at Union for over 25 years.

A trust distribution was

received from the estate

of Nathan and Romana

Obenzinger. Proceeds

established the Ronald M.

Obenzinger Memorial

Endowment. This endow-

ment will be used to create

the Ronald M. Obenzinger

Professorship in memory of

their son, Ronald Matthew

Obenzinger, Class of 1961.



Seth R. Kline, Class of 2002.

The use of these funds will

be determined at a later date.



Elizabeth C. Milano. This

gift will establish the Dr.

Joseph ’36 and Betty

Milano Scholarship.

Mrs. Milano was the

widow of Joseph E.

Milano, Class of 1936.



Don Hewitt Blanks, Class of

1945. This unrestricted gift

will be added to an earlier

distribution and will be

used at the discretion of the

trustees.

CHARITABLE LEAD TRUST

Charitable Lead Trust

distributions were received

from:

• Willard G. Taylor, Class of 1952: proceeds were added to the Willard G. Taylor (1952) Scholarship

• Nathan & Romana Obenzinger: proceeds were added to the Ronald Matthew Obenzinger (1961) Memorial Pre-medical Scholarship and to the Ronald M. Obenzinger (1961) Prize

• Margaret N. Deal: proceeds were added to the Harold S. & Margaret N. Deal Memorial Scholarship in support of students majoring either in biochemistry or

pre-health programs

CHARITABLE GIFT

ANNUITIES

Charitable gift annuities

were estabished by:

• Paul E. Kummer, Class of 1943. The proceeds from this gift will be added to the Paul E. Kummer, Class of 1943, Endowed Scholarship.

• William S. Parry, Class of 1965. The proceeds from this gift will be added to the Jonathan Stanley Parry Scholarship.

Building Our Third Century



Jon Lechevet, Ph.D.206 Cross RoadEdmeston, N.Y. [email protected]

A paperback edition of Larry Baldassaro’s book, Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball, has been pub-lished by the University of Nebraska Press.

Charlie Plesums writes, “My wife is taking me out to dinner for my 70th birthday—in Paris. Not Paris, Texas or any of the dozen others in the USA. We both have part-time retirement jobs and love to travel. My retirement job is as a custom furniture maker, and my wife is CFO for about 20 (small) companies. Europe last year was England, and a separate trip to Netherlands/Belgium, plus domestic flights to Montana, Maryland, Hawaii, and a driving trip to Iowa and surrounding states.”

1966 CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Antonio F. Vianna7152 Tanager DriveCarlsbad, Calif. [email protected]

Edward (Ned) Shultz, dean of the School of Pacific and Asian Studies at University of Hawaii at Manoa and assistant vice chancellor for International Programs and Exchange, was recently named president of the East-West Center’s Alumni Association Executive Board. EWCA’s mission is to promote better relations and under-standing among the people and nations of the United States, Asia and the Pacific.

The photography of Dan Mead and his wife, Sally Eagle, was recently displayed in Westover School’s Schumacher Gallery. The exhibit, titled “Sustainable,” explored environmental issues facing the earth and society today. The couple and their work were featured in December 2012 in The Litchfield County Times.

Glen Rapoport writes, “What a nice and useful app [EverTrue is]. Greetings from Beaufort, S.C.”


Frank Donnini239 Rushlake Ct.Newport News, Va. [email protected]

Richard Lewis writes, “After 19 years at Wayne State University in Detroit, I have made a move to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. It’s an exciting time for my wife and I, bringing us close to my daughter in L.A. and my son in San Francisco, and new opportunities for work and pleasure.”


Henry Fein, M.D.1106 Cedrus WayRockville, Md. [email protected]

Kenneth A. Merchant ’68

the classes


Joseph Smaldino720 Cameron St.Sycamore, Ill. 60178

Doug Horan writes, “I still play gentleman farmer here in Lexington, Va., as I have been most years since I retired in 1997. My next excitement will be building a small barn for my John Deere tractor, Gator and assorted other manly farm implements. I am chair of the regional library board, which keeps me pretty busy. I also volunteer at the APCA, have tutored students with learning difficulties, read to pre-schoolers, and help out locally on civic issues. We love it here in the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy having W&L and VMI in town, though watching students troop past my coffee shop early in the morning might make a less deluded man feel old.”

Voice actor Jeffrey Hedquist can now be heard nationally on TV commercials for Premier Care and the National Peanut Board, and regionally in 11 states for Casey’s General Stores.


John DresserEtna, [email protected]

Stephen Cheuvront writes, “Recently retired after 40 years working for CSC in and around the Washington, D.C. area. I celebrated my one-year heart transplant anniversary on Valentine’s Day.”

Ben Volinski writes, “My plans for ReUnion are unsettled. Youngest son Jonathan is graduating from Tulane Law School and new daughter- in-law Faaria (wife of middle son Jeffrey) is graduating

from Columbia School of International Policy & Affairs at about that time. Oldest son Jay is an emergency vet in N.H. Judy and I are well.”

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the management accounting section of the American Accounting Association awarded the 2013 Lifetime Contribution Award to Kenneth A. Merchant. He is the Deloitte & Touche LLP Chair of Accountancy at the University of Southern California. He was honored “for his research on relevant topics that advance business practice, innovative case-based teaching focused on how business actually operates, and his service to both companies and profes-sional organizations.” Kenneth also earned degrees from Columbia University (MBA) and the University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D.), and he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Turku School of Economics (Finland) in 2010.


Ray PikeSalisbury, [email protected]

George CushingDelanson, [email protected]

Glen Rapoport ’69


Hal Tugal writes, “After working in commercial industry for 30 years and having held positions as VP engineering, VP marketing, and director of Program Management office, I moved to working for the Department of Defense USAF as an engineering supervisor heading environmental, manufactur-ing, quality assurance, and facilities groups for the Space Fence Program. Working as a civilian in the U.S. govern-ment is very different and I am enjoying every bit of it. My oldest son, Erik, graduated from Tulane University last spring, having majored in political economy and attended Russian Immersion Language school at Middlebury College in Vt. My youngest, Kurt, is attending High Point University at High Point, N.C. Being a hockey family, we follow Union with further personal interest from my son Erik, who played hockey at our hometown Acton-Boxborough H.S. with Wayne Simpson, who is a senior right-winger on the team. Go Union!”

Phil Di Sorbo writes, “Nice not to be working full-time anymore, but still actively engaged. Internationally, our Africa Hospice Initiative is alive and well. I continue to work every week with hospice colleagues in Zimbabwe. Grants work is done from my home office, with 2-3 trips a year in country. We finished 2012 having raised over $1.1 million for hospice care in Zimbabwe. Locally, I have started working two days a week with the Schenectady-based Ellis/VNS health system. We are building a practice to integrate palliative care and palliative medicine upstream in the management of degenerative chronic diseases. Part of that continu-

um will include a new palliative home care team and a new delivery model for hospice care—both intended to assure improved access and quality of life for patients and families in our region. On the home front, Cindy and I continue to enjoy our rural homestead, currently breaking in a too-active new golden retriever puppy named Barley. And our tenth grandchild arrived May 8! We have truly been blessed. Reach me at [email protected].”


Frederick A. Levy LCSW732 Thimble Shoals Blvd.Suite 702Newport News, Va. [email protected]

Howard Haimes is chief pharmaceutical scientist supporting the Medical Acquisitions Group of the Joint Program Executive Office at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He writes, “Our married daughter, Elana Pistorio, has completed her masters in museum science at Harvard University. Elana’s husband Michael is finishing George Washington Law School. Our son Elliot works in process development at Life Technologies and has married Teresa Fong, who is completing her MBA at Northeastern University.”

Ed Young writes, “Mike Rone, a brother of Delta Phi fraternity, and resident of St. Paul and then Orono, Minn., was 63 when he died on Dec. 29, 2012. Mike had a graceful and fear- less approach to life, which was honed early on through competitive diving at Union. He built a manufacturing company, Northern Contours, in which he enjoyed the people, risk and game of business. He was a philanthropist and proudly rode in the Dana Farber Pan Massachusetts ride for decades. His curiosity about the world and the people in it inspired him to seek lifelong learning and understanding. He was a private pilot, world traveler, skier, cyclist and, of special note, everyone’s best friend.”


George C. Schwab1710 Broadway, Apt. BSchenectady, N.Y. 12306(518) 372-6507

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln D. Chafee nominated Patrick A. Guida for the Rhode Island Board of Education in January. Patrick is an attorney with Duffy and Sweeney Ltd., and formerly with the Providence law firm of Tillinghast Licht LLP. He has served with numerous organizations relating to education, and was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2001 and elected as vice chair in 2005. Patrick has also represented his state at the National School Board Association National Delegate Assembly since 2000.


Gerald A. Dwyer [email protected]

Thomas Warger writes, “I have served as a fellow at the National Institute for Tech-nology in Liberal Education since 2011. My role is to assist development of their pro-gram in shared practices. NITLE helps liberal arts colleges integrate inquiry, pedagogy and technology.”

1975Cullen and Dykman LLP recently made Robert G. Wakeman a partner to the firm in its Albany, N.Y. office. Robert has nearly three decades of experience, concentrating in banking and commercial lending. Prior to joining Cullen and Dykman, he was a partner in the Albany office of Lombardi, Walsh, Wakeman, Harrison, Amodeo & Davenport PC. Robert is a member of the New York State Bar Associa-tion Section on Business and Banking.


Leslie Steinecker-McHugh17 Virginia PlacePatchogue, N.Y. [email protected]

Mike Rone ’72 Robert G. Wakeman ’75



Tony Romanazzi73 Bay St. Glens Falls, N.Y. [email protected]

Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University recently named Judy Aschner M.D., chair of the pediatrics department at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and professor and university chair of pediatrics at Einstein. Judy was previ-ously with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where she had served as director of neona-tology and the Julia Carell Stadler professor of pediatrics.

Dr. Robert A. Kaslovsky has returned to Albany Medical Center, where he will serve as professor of pediatrics and head the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine. He was previously at Albany Med from 1981-2005, during which time he progressed from pediatric resident to the director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division and head of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center. Most recently, Robert was the chief of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine and director of the CF Center at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.


Jeff [email protected]

Barb B. Desautels writes, “Enjoying being a full-time college professor—my students are awesome. I now have three grandchildren, whom I adore. Spend my spare time relaxing at my

lake house. Can’t believe our 35th ReUnion is around the corner.”

Ray Stecker writes, “I am planning to make it to ReUnion in June—what a bunch of old geezers we are! Hope to see many of you there. I headed over to Tufts University to catch up with Jed Kanner as we watched his daughter play in a basketball game. She was one of the stars; it reminded me of Jed’s prowess on the lacrosse field. I also continue to receive very entertaining emails from Peter Delahunt and am always cautious to keep my office door shut before opening them. I also keep in touch with Rob Sherman ’80 who was another lacrosse stand-out, and I hear occasionally from John Breault, who is a big honcho in the executive recruiting business. Of course, George Garivaltis, supreme athlete and all-around great guy, is the person I see the most. He has 50 acres on top of the world in Florida, Mass. He is a 1-handicap golfer and we get a chance to play a few rounds each year. His daughter is a Union graduate. Finally a plug for my book: Cancer, Courage and Collateral Damage, which was published late fall 2012. It is available on Amazon. According to the reviews posted so far, it has been helpful to quite a few people, and that is what I was hoping. Foosball in the ‘Skellar anyone?”

1979Market Probe, a global market research and consulting organization, recently named Steven Marks vice president and head of St. Louis opera-tions. He brings over 30 years

of research and management experience to the company. Prior to joining Market Probe, Steve headed his own strategic research and consulting group, serving clients in numerous industry sectors, including telecom-munications, entertainment, media, financial services, retail and CPG.

Eric Nodiff organized a successful Manhattan fundraising event, including attendance by Roger Landau and Steve Krisky ’80, on behalf of Ted O’Brien’s campaign for the New York State Senate. O’Brien, a former Democratic Party County Chairman and member of the Monroe County Legislature, was successful in his first run for the state Senate. He repre-sents the 55th Senate district, which includes portions of Monroe (Rochester) and Ontario counties.

Murray Levison writes, “Was back in Rochester, N.Y. in January 2013 and caught up with classmates Kevin Geary, Kevin Kilbourne and Paul McLaughlin. The weather reaffirmed my decision to live in California. I’ve worked more than 30 years in local government for five cities in three states. Recently, I was re-elected president of our labor organization, represent-ing nearly 550 of my agency’s management and adminis-trative employees. Between my wife and I, we have three children and two grandchil-dren. I’m starting to make plans for following my wife into retirement. I’m looking forward to seeing classmates at our 35th ReUnion in 2014.”


Richard BuddStefan Zavodnika 25971 01 Prievidza, Slovak [email protected]

James Loree recently became president of Stanley Black and Decker Inc. In 1999, James joined Stanley Black and Decker, an American manu-facturer of tools and house-hold hardware and provider of security products and locks, as its chief financial officer. He became the company’s vice president and COO in 2009 and is now responsible for all operations of the company, including revenue and income.

Russell A. Davidson, president of KG&D Architects & Engineers in Mount Kisco, N.Y., has been elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows for his contributions to the field and to society at large. Russell, a managing partner of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, has worked on numerous high-profile building projects, including the White Plains City School District’s Post Road Elemen-tary School; the Seven Bridges Middle School in Chappaqua; and the Media Arts Lab at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville.


Alan Saler17040 Magnolia BoulevardEncino, Calif. 91316

[email protected]

James Libous was recently named an IEEE Fellow, recognized for contributions to switching noise minimiza-tion in CMOS technology. Being an IEEE Fellow is the highest grade of membership

the classes


and is recognized by the technical community as a prestigious honor and an important career achieve-ment. The IEEE is the world’s leading professional organi-zation for advancing technol-ogy for humanity.

John Connor Jr. writes, “In November 2012, I was elected city judge of the City of Hudson (N.Y.). I’m also in private practice and am the track and basketball coach at Hudson High.”


Thomas Reynolds3440 Powells Crossing Ct.

Woodbridge, Va. 22193

Adelberg, Rudow, Dorf & Hendler LLC recently named Carol Ghingher Cooper a member of the firm. An ARD&H associate since 2002, she was selected twice as a “Rising Star” by Maryland Super Lawyers and named in Washington D.C. & Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers 2012 Edition. Serving in the firm’s family law and litigation practice groups, Carol sits on the Maryland State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assis-tance Program committee and is also a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland and the Baltimore County Bar Association.


Cory Lewkowicz74 Taylor St.Needham, Mass. 02494

[email protected]

From the correspondent, “I’ve switched gears a bit, and am going back to grad school—AGAIN. I have a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, but am in the process of re-specializing in clinical

psychology at the Massachu-setts School of Professional Psychology. My memory functioned much better the first time around. Also, if you are on Facebook and are not a member of the ‘Union College Class of 1983’ page, please join us! Feel free to email me at [email protected] for information.”

Randy Klimpl Neuringer writes, “I have recently started my own technology recruit-ing agency. I had worked for six years, running a recruiting team at HBO in the H.R. department, and decided to launch my startup. My company places full-time employees and consultants that focus on IT, digital and broadcast/production engineering and operations. In the few months that we have been in business, we have made placements in NBC, HBO, Huge and Cognizant.”

As the Class of 1983’s 30th ReUnion nears, the Blues Brothers announce they will be performing again. Rob Derbabian writes, “We are moving closer to a Union College Blues Brothers ‘final gig’ at ReUnion 2013. As of now we will be playing from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1 under the tent at Library Plaza.”

Ilene Landress won a Golden Globe (best television show—musical or comedy) as executive producer for the HBO show “Girls.” Many people commented on it on the Union College Class of 1983 Facebook page, includ-ing Jason Brandt, who wrote, “It’s a long way from ‘Not Like Dreams Do’ in the Nott for sure!”

Andy Levine was recently featured in Forbes magazine, as one of “10 Leaders Who Aren’t Afraid To Be Transparent.” Andy works for Development Counselors International.

Doug MacFadden was recently promoted to chief informatics officer for Harvard Catalyst at Harvard Medical School.

Frank Skorina and Holly Howard write, “Our oldest (of four), Erik Skorina, graduated from Union in June 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He returned to Union for an additional term to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.”

Dan Wawrzonek is the director of application development for United Health Care in Basking Ridge, N.J.


Kathleen Kozera Rowe33 Fairway Ave.Delmar, N.Y. 12054-3332

Jennifer (Shaw) Shaw- Brachfeld writes, “Just want to give an appreciative shout-out to my friend and Sigma Delta Tau Sister June Schech-ner for the quiet philanthropy her family provided for New Jersey Hurricane Sandy victims. I am her children’s pediatrician, and when they learned we were seeing

patients and running our practice for over a week without power or internet access, they provided space in their office building for us to set up internet access and lanterns to see patients— and a hot meal and warm beds for my family as well. On a broader note, they used personal resources to send trucks of supplies down to the shore communities during those first few days while others were still getting organized. Throughout the years, the Schechners support multiple charities and give freely of their time to support those less fortunate.”


Jon MathewsonPO Box 1262Middletown Springs, Vt. 05757-1262

Douglas Elder recently joined Automation Engineering Incorporated, a global supplier of high precision automation systems, as chief executive officer. Previously, Douglas was president and CEO of Boston Semi Equipment group, where he grew the company to over 50 employees and $26 million in revenue.

Tim Hesler is a senior expert for McKinsey & Company in the corporate finance strategy practice in New York. Still providing management consulting services after 14 years for companies in corporate treasury and financial risk, he also likes speaking at industry conferences and writing articles. He writes, “Being head agent for the Class of ’85 is always enjoy-able, and helping out as an alumni interviewer for future classes is terrific.”

Erik Skorina ’12, son of Frank

Skorina ’83 and Holly Howard

’83, with his nine-year-old sister,

Laurel Skorina



Phil [email protected]

Dr. Charlene Alouf was recently profiled by Delaware County News Network. The story focused on her work at the HAN Fertility Center and the joy she feels in helping couples start or grow their families.

Gale Burstein recently accepted a position at Erie County Department of Health located in Buffalo, N.Y. as commissioner. She writes, “My heart has always been in public health. The ‘commish’ is a challenging, but very gratifying, role. I feel that I have the opportunity to help make my community a healthier place to live.”


Paul Malatesta148 Washington AvenueChatham, N.J. 07928

[email protected]

Barton & Loguidice P.C. recently named Anthony P. DaRin P.E. vice president. Anthony manages highway and bridge design, dam safety engineering, and construc-tion administration for the firm. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Highway Engi-neers, where he serves as CNY Chapter president. Anthony has been with the firm for 23 years and has been involved with more than 200 transportation assignments working with the NYSDOT, NYSTA and various counties throughout New York State.

Dr. Hari P. Bezwada, a surgeon at Princeton Orthopaedic Associates who specializes in hip and knee replacements, was recently featured on www.nj.com. The story focused on the rising demand for these joint replacements.

Kevin Whitaker recently joined the Geneva City School district as assistant superintendent for school improvement and account-ability. Previously, he was high school principal at Newark Central School.


Karen Valyou Zador313 Stonehurst ParkwaySt. Augustine, Fla. [email protected]

In November 2012, the United States Patent and Trademark Office officially welcomed Scott Daniels as a new administrative law judge to


Dana Rosen Isbitts480 Alexandra CircleWeston, Fla. [email protected](954) 385-9827

W. Todd Harder writes, “This summer I was selected interim head coach of the local high school football team. I’ve been an assistant there at Kingston High School for the last four years. We had a great year, which was supposed to be a rebuilding year, taking the team to the State’s Sweet Sixteen. Otherwise, I’m still with Morgan Stanley on the left coast in Seattle, although we’ve changed our name a number of times the last couple of years. I also earned my CFP in 2010.”


Stephanie Spencer Wiggs1722 Pine StreetLivermore, Calif. 94551

[email protected]

Jennifer Hermann recently joined MedRisk as director of data analytics, overseeing all outcomes analysis and reporting. Previously, Jenn held senior management positions at some of the largest workers’ compensa-tion insurers in the industry,

including Travelers Inc., The Hartford and Specialty Risk Services.

Jonathan Artz writes, “Hello from the West Coast, I’m glad to join the Dutchman network! Anyone who needs or wants information about the San Francisco area, I’d be glad to assist you with places to visit and to avoid—so you don’t waste your precious travel-vacation time.”


Mary Jo Burke532 Whitcover CircleCharlottesville, Va. [email protected]

Worcester Polytechnic Institute recently welcomed David Medich to its faculty. The assistant professor of physics was previously at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he was director of the Radioactive Materials Program and director of radiation safety. With research expertise in brachytherapy physics and nuclear diagnos-tic imaging, he is a consultant for the International Atomic Energy Agency.

David Adinolfi was promoted to head of the Special Prosecutions section of North Carolina’s Attorney General’s office on Sept. 3, 2012.

Karl Hartmann, Mark Zimmerman, Mike Schulitz and Christos Nikolis,

all Class of 1990, spent New Year’s together with their families. It is a

tradition they have carried on for the past 10 years.

the classes

Darren Binder ’90 and Dave

Liedman (left) have started City

Dogs Rescue in Washington,

D.C. To date, they’ve saved close

to 250 dogs from high-kill

animal shelters, mostly in the

south. All the animals have been

adopted into good homes. Here,

Darren and Dave sit with their

rescued yellow Labrador, Cody,

and a City Dogs Rescue puppy

named Chloe. She’s since been

adopted. For more, visit www.

citydogsrescueDC.org or www.

facebook.com/citydogsrescue


the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Previously, Scott practiced patent law at Davis & Bujold PLLC, before opening his own firm in 2008 in Concord, N.H. His legal career has increasingly evolved from patent and trademark prosecution in mechanical, business methods and electrical technologies into various IP litigation matters.

Jeff Kimball recently returned to his position as a pilot for FedEx after completing a four-year active duty mobili-zation with the U.S. Navy. He resides in Virginia Beach, Va. with his wife, Danielle, and daughters Lauren (6) and Kate (3).

Lisa DaRin has been execu-tive director for Upstate Orthopedics in Central New York for over 10 years. She was heavily involved with the launch of the Upstate Bone and Joint Center in East Syracuse as well.


Stephanie FrayApartment 7 D10 West End AvenueNew York, N.Y. [email protected]

Edwin M. Adeson ’91 and Lisa A. (McGloin) Adeson continue to reside in Queensbury, N.Y. with their three children, Jonah (16), Isaiah (13) and Elliana (11). Ed operates his own law office, specializing in bankruptcy and family law. Lisa is a practicing pediatri-cian and a partner with Glens Falls Pediatric Consultants PC. They write, “We still visit Union several times per year, especially during hockey season. Our email is [email protected].”


Jill Bernstein170 E. 83rd St., #3KNew York, N.Y. [email protected]

Sheri (Hoggins) Prevratil writes, “My husband Frank and I live in Colonie with our 15-year-old son, Seth, and 9-year-old son, Frank. I work as the manager, Corporate Credit for the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. Life is really good and we are very blessed. I can be reached at [email protected].”

Timothy Fisher writes, “I’ve been a practicing Ob/Gyn and chair of women’s health at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene since 2006. My wife, Kathy, has been expertly juggling her pediatrics practice and management of our household and crazy lives. Our children, Elizabeth (10) and Jackson (8), are keeping us plenty busy as we shuttle them to practices, swim meets, elementary band, dance recitals and hockey games. I recently completed a graduate program at Dartmouth in health care delivery science and am putting my new skill-set to good use as the chair of surgical services for our 125-member multispecialty group and 169-bed community hospital. Finally, I’m thrilled to report that my baby brother, William Fisher, will be joining the Union family this fall as a member of the Class of 2017! I’m looking forward to a few days of reminiscing with old friends in Schenectady this spring—is it possible that it’s been 20 years?”


Kristi Campbell & Kurt Venator7322 Cornell AvenueSt. Louis, Mo. [email protected] cell (314) 304-2323Kurt cell (314) 982-2671

Bill Callahan hosted a gathering of alumni families at his home in Los Angeles over Thanksgiving weekend. Guests included Eric Weinberger, Alex (Kreisler) Weinberger, Derek Evans, Steve Rotkiewicz ’95 and Fran D’Angelo.


Caroline Paine Pannhorst32 Nottingham Way NorthClifton Park, N.Y. [email protected]

Scott Steele was recently named director of the University of Rochester Medical Center’s new Office of Research Alliances. His appointment is part of a broader multi-year effort to enhance support for science and engineering research activities and the translation of research results into technologies that benefit society. Prior to first joining the university in 2008, Scott served in the White House Office of Science and

Technology Policy, as a representative of the National Science and Technology Council and later as the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Matt Baumgartner was honored with the Outstanding Communicator Award from the Capital Region chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in January. A well-known restaurateur in the area, Matt is the owner of Bombers Burrito Bar, with locations in Albany and Schenectady, N.Y.


Betsy Phelps Seplowitz104 Tompion WayBallston Spa, N.Y. [email protected]

Tanweer Ansari, his wife Erum and daughter Eva Shahzadi, who was born on Dec. 2, 2011, recently celebrated Eva’s first Eidh holidays in NYC. Eidh is an Islamic holiday which happens twice a year and is one of the most festive and holiest holidays in Islam.

Rachel Schaffer writes, “After years of wearing hard hats and steel toe shoes, I traded in practicing occupa-tional safety and health law

A Thanksgiving weekend gathering included, from left, the families of

Bill Callahan ’94, Eric Weinberger ’94, Alex (Kreisler) Weinberger ’94,

Derek Evans ’94, Steve Rotkiewicz ’95 and Fran D’Angelo ’94.



Kellie Forrestall360 First St.Lowell, Mass. [email protected]

Kathleen Barclay recently joined Maguire Cardona, P.C., a civil litigation and general practice firm, as senior associate attorney. Kathleen focuses her practice on medical malpractice defense, errors and omissions, product liability, general liability defense and insurance coverage. Prior to joining Maguire Cardona, she practiced law in Boston before moving to the Albany, N.Y. area. She spent the past four years as a senior associate and litigator in a highly regarded Albany firm.

Bacon Wilson, P.C. recently announced that Adam J. Basch was distinguished as one of the law firm’s six “Rising Stars” in Boston Magazine. Adam is a member of the litigation department whose areas of practice include construction litiga-tion, personal injury, general litigation and commercial litigation. He serves as a member of the Wilbraham Planning Board and the United Way Allocation Committee, and teaches litigation and business law at Baypath College.

Jason “Jay” Scherman writes, “Hello Union, I’m impressed with this [EverTrue app]. Good form!”


Erika Newell546 Pacific St. #2Brooklyn, N.Y. [email protected]

The Hill profiled Shennell Antrobus in December 2012. The story focused on his past career in public relations, his transition into law enforcement, and his new job as U.S. Capitol Police public information officer.

Michael Votto was recently named one of Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” The list honors some of the best and brightest young professionals in the publica-tion’s circulation area. Michael, associate general counsel of the Knights of Columbus, was recognized for his civically minded pro bono work, community involvement, and leadership in the family business. He is CEO of Votto Vines, a wine-importing, tourism and consulting company.

Jonathan J. Kelson has been named a Partner at Diserio Martin O’Connor & Casti-glioni LLP, a law firm head-quartered in Stamford, Conn.

for motherhood. I live in Baltimore, Md. with my husband and two children, Ethan (4) and Alexis (2.5). Best to all.”

Liza Burnett Fefferman was recently named executive vice president of publicity for RADiUS-TWC, the new boutique label from the Weinstein Company.


Sara Amann Garrand367 Schauber RoadBallston Lake, N.Y. [email protected]

Karen (Sigel) Carswell is marketing and alumni relations manager at Spanish Studies Abroad, located in Amherst, Mass. She writes, “I accepted the position February 2012 and am

currently organizing an alumni event for Seville Term Alumni July 7-13, 2013. Visit www.spanishstudiesorg/reunion for more. Abrazos.”


Ryan T. Smith, MBA ’00284 Sussex CircleJupiter, Fla. [email protected]

Courtney Seymour and Pete Farnum are pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child. They write, “We may miss our 15th ReUnion this year as our baby is due in late May.” This child will join three-year-old brother, Stuart. Having started her career at Union in 2001, Courtney is enjoying her new role as collaboration, out-reach, and initiatives librarian at Schaffer Library.

Saral Patel lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with her husband and four young boys. Saral works as an anesthesiologist assistant in Washington, D.C. and is the president of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants (2013-14).

Michael Votto ’00

the classes

Kathleen Barclay ’99Children of Saral Patel ’98, from left, are Shiv (6), Vir (1), Yash (5), and

Dhruv (2)

Ethan and Alexis, children of

Rachel Schaffer ’96


He focuses his practice on commercial and general civil litigation, and intellectual property.


Erin (Aloan) Grogan143 Streeter Hill RoadWest Chesterfield, N.H. [email protected]

Scott Schrum started with Allstate Corporate in Malvern, Penn. as a sales instructor in June 2012. Recently, he got engaged and the wedding is set for Sept. 28, 2013 in Lancaster, Penn. (http://sept28.com).

Danielle Marquis writes, “I was recently elected chair of the Marketing Committee for the Association of Energy Service Professionals.”


Gina L. [email protected]

Daniel Flint was recently featured in The Florida Times- Union. The story focused on his passionate and innovative approach to teaching history at A. Philip Randolph Acad-emies of Technology in

Jacksonville, Fla. Daniel has won several accolades for his work in the classroom. He writes, “I was selected as the 2012 Florida state winner of the Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award. I am also the winner of the 2013 Jacksonville Florida Chapter Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher award.”


Katrina (Tentor) Lallier50A Locust StreetDanvers, Mass. [email protected]

Portia Zwicker writes, “I recently earned a certificate in technical writing, and am now looking for my first entry-level job as a technical writer.”

Jeffrey Fairfield writes, “Hello from the Northwest! Glad to see a new forum (EverTrue) to connect with other alumni.”

Kelly Whalen recently finished a degree in educational leadership and administra-tion and continues as a special education teacher and the team leader at Holten Richmond Middle School in Danvers, Mass. She recently began part-time consulting and co-teaching at Salem State University.

Adriana Zavala lives in Manhattan and is mother of two beautiful children, Dylan and Violet. She and her husband, Anthony, wed last summer in NYC in company of their family and friends.


Rachel [email protected](973) 670-7692

Amie Tracia Geary writes, “This year has been a great year for me. My husband and I welcomed our daughter, Kylie Rose Geary, on Dec. 14, 2011. I also opened my own law practice, Geary Law LLC, in Boston and Burlington, Mass. in September 2012.”


Andrea [email protected]

Northjersey.com profiled Phillip Chorba in January. The story highlighted his acting career, which has included a role in “Silver Linings Playbook.” The film starred Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro.

2006 Marty O’Brion writes, “In my free time I recently started a bakery in Boston with my mom called ‘Tootles—where Goodbyes turn into Hellos.’ Business is cooking and it offers a great opportunity to spend more time with my mom. If anyone is in the area, be sure to give me a ring for finger-licking good cupcakes and muffins. Union provided me a great foundation to pursue my hopes and dreams, thank you!”

The New York chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) recently nominated Thomas Hickernell as 2013 Man of the Year. On April 26, 2012, the day he fulfilled requirements for medical school graduation from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Tom was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Determined to help, Tom’s sister Katherine set up ‘Team Tom’ to support the LLS Light the Night fundraising event. While Tom underwent intensive chemotherapy, he managed

Scott Schrum ’01 and his

fiancée, Bethany Edwards, stand

with Top Chef Season 7 winner

Kevin Sbraga. The couple ate at

his restaurant in Philadelphia on

New Year’s Eve.

Dylan, son of Adriana Zavala ’03 Violet, daughter of Adriana

Zavala ’03

Thomas Hickernell ’06, now in

remission after being diagnosed

with acute promyelocytic

leukemia, participates in a

telecast from his hospital room

to his graduation ceremony at

Columbia University’s College of

Physicians and Surgeons in 2012


Weiner ’08, Lara Levine ’08, Erin Lawson ‘08, Liz O’Connor ’08, Stephanie Hargadon ’08, David Schneidman, Jeff Meola ’06 and Brendan Merrell ran the Cape Relay, a 190-mile road race from Quincy, Mass. to Provincetown, Cape Cod. We were team ‘Neon Extreme’ and we raised $26,000 for the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration. This success inspired Alexandra, Eric, Todd and I to found the non-profit Project ReMind, to fund FTD research and raise awareness of the disease. In 2012, ‘Neon Extreme’ grew to 36 runners in the race, who fundraised over $50,000 for Project ReMind and FTD research. The team included most original Union members, plus Tom Simmons ’08, Marc Magee and Ryan Goltzman. This year ‘Neon Extreme’ has 72 runners in the race, adding alums Eric D’Silva and Ross Williams to the roster. Visit www.Project ReMind.org for information on FTD, and pictures and videos from our runs.”

Shirel Kozak, a former student of Andy Feffer who had a very strong interest in film studies just before Union College established the minor, has become a film producer in NYC. Most notably, she has

worked with documentary film director Eugene Jarecki, two-time winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film festival (2005 and 2012). Shirel was a co-producer for the 2012 film The House I Live In (and she was at Union recently for a showing of the film and to talk to interested students about the industry).


Dana Cohen250 E. 63rd Street, Apt. 1001New York, N.Y. 10065

[email protected]

Douglas Richardson, a captain in the U.S. Army, served a tour in Afghanistan and was awarded the Bronze Star. He is completing his MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business and is to become an associate in investment banking at a firm in New York City.

Christian Shultz, a doctoral student in theoretical nuclear physics at Old Dominion University, has been awarded a Jefferson Sciences Associ-ates/Jefferson Lab Graduate Fellowship for 2012-13. The award will support his research into hybrid mesons

to help raise more than $18,000 for the event, held in October 2012. It made ‘Team Tom’ one of the top fundrais-ing teams in New York City. Tom is now in remission and pursuing translational research projects in Colum-bia’s Center for Orthopaedic Research. And he’s competing with several other nominees to see who can raise the most for LLS research and patient initiatives, and thus be named Man and Woman of the Year. More information on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Man and Woman of the Year Campaign, and ‘Team Tom’ can be found at www.GoTeamTom.org.

Kevin Flike writes, “In spring 2012 my wife Kimberlee earned a 3.9 GPA while attaining her master’s in nursing from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. This is her second master’s degree; her first is from Boston University and is in the medical sciences. Kimberlee and I will be moving back to the northeast when my medical retirement from the U.S. Army is complete this summer. After six years of being away from the northeast, we look forward to re-connecting with family, friends and the Union community.”

Keith Gooberman, vice president of trading and platform operations at Varick Media, was recently profiled by Ad Age. The story focused on his career and the industry he works in. For more, visit http://adage.com.


Nick [email protected]

Victoria Morgan Hurley ’05, one of nine children, is engaged to Nicholas Salvatoriello, one of 11 children. The wedding ceremony will take place on June 1 in Cohasset, Mass. at the residence of Michael and Victoria Hurley. It promises to be HUGE, with many Union alums in attendance. The couple is grateful to Union for helping bring them together!

Mark Rautiola writes, “In 2011, Alexandra Sparks’ father Kenny died after a 6-year battle with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), a progressive degenerative brain disease. The family’s experience made it clear to Alexandra (Class of 2008) that there was little awareness of FTD and even less public funding for research. In May 2011, Alexandra, myself, Eric Rautiola, Todd Buffum, Abby

Valerie Gomes ’08, Kelly

Fitzpatrick ’07 and Kathleen

Rucci ’09 (right) attend Kelly’s

marriage to Marques Rich

Dec. 1, 2012 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Rachel Fitz ’09 and Brian

Glavotsky became engaged

Dec. 22, 2012. Rachel is in medical

school on Long Island and Brian

is a CPA in New York City. They

are planning a May 2014 wedding.

the classes

Team ‘Neon Extreme,’ which includes Mark Rautiola ’07 and 14 fellow

alumni, ran the 2012 Cape Relay in support of Project ReMind, and to

raise money for frontotemporal degeneration research.


Notes from Afar

1971Jonathan “Jock” Conly writes, “I’ve been in Islamabad since June as the Pakistan country director for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Given Pakistan’s size (sixth largest population in the world) and strategic signifi-cance to the United States (between Afghanistan and India, and with nuclear weapons), my classmates and the rest of the U.S. taxpayers are financing a robust foreign aid program here. We are helping Pakistanis increase the availability of electric power, stimulating economic growth in agriculture and small business, helping build community infrastructure in unstable areas, and improv-ing the availability and quality of basic education and health services. Security restrictions in Islamabad are not as tight as they are in other parts of the country, so life is pretty close to normal here. I’ve particularly enjoyed Pakistani hospitality, including, of course, the wonderful curries, tandooris, biryanis and other foods. I plan to retire from the Foreign Service and return to the old (1745) house that my wife Laurie and I just bought in Granby, Mass. this year. We’ve moved so often and so far in a Foreign Service career, that we are determined not to move again until they wheel us into a hospice in about three decades.”

1990Pamela Kustas writes, “I made a career change for an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I have moved to Singapore and joined Bloomberg as an equities market specialist to provide analytical equity expertise to prospective clients and current users. I will be traveling and covering clients in S.E. Asia. I am excited to be here collaborat-ing with customers and our product development team to influence the future direction of Bloomberg’s products. Can’t wait to start traveling!”

1999Jennifer Trotts Fein writes, “Married Rich Fein in 2005, divorced in 2010. Kept his name but left the country. Living my dream life as an ex-pat based in Melbourne, Australia, traveling around Asia and learning Chinese. Come say ni hao, mate!”

2005In January Adam Grode, visiting scholar at the Kazakh University of International Relations and World Lan-guages, gave a talk at the American Corner in Almaty (Kazakhstan) on the cultural heritage of the Silk Road. He focused on the rich traditions of the Silk Road, and his experiences in Russia and Central Asia, and after his talk he performed on a Kazakh dombra and Kashgar rawap.

1974Dave Vesty and his wife, Sandy, recently made their third, consecutive trip to Swaziland with the Young Heroes organization. While there they built playgrounds, participated in Bushfire (the premier music event in South Africa) and raised awareness of HIV/AIDS. They also visited and worked closely with children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic—children sponsored and helped by the fundraising efforts of the Vestys and others.

1976Ralph Auguste was posthu-mously honored for his dedication to social action, generosity and education in his native Haiti during a ceremony celebrating the University Quisqueya’s new building. The building houses the Rectorate of UniQ and the center of entrepreneurship and innovation. Ralph was considered one of the founding members of the university.

1983Jennifer Cornell recently had a chapter published in Adventures in Manifesting: Healing from Within. Jenna is a holistic general practitioner at the Healing Rooms in Western Australia. Check out her page on Facebook: “The Healing Rooms.”

using lattice quantum chromodynamics. QCD is the theory of quarks and gluons, the subnuclear particles that make up protons and neutrons. Gluons are the “glue” that holds quarks together.

Sherri Normand and Kyle Tilley recently became engaged. Sherri is a financial analyst at BNY Mellon and Kyle is an engineer at General Electric. An August wedding in York Harbor, Maine is planned.


Gabe Kramer123 North Arden Blvd.Los Angeles, Cali. [email protected]

Carl Winkler 2232 S. Gayoso St.New Orleans, La. 70125 [email protected]

Jordan Silletti became engaged to Thomas “Win” Schellens ’07 in Central Park in New York City on Jan. 19. Jordan is a project manager at NYSERDA and Win is a standards and certification engineer at ASME; both work in New York City. A spring 2014 wedding is planned.

Jordan Silletti ’09 and Thomas

“Win” Schellens ’07



Ewo HarrellOrlando, Fla.(407) [email protected]

Nicole Silverman earned a master’s in public health from Columbia University. She is an intern at NYU Medical Center and is going back to graduate school this fall to pursue a Ph.D.

Jack Scott is a casting assistant at Central Casting. He supports casting directors, working closely with produc-tions, casting background talent for shows that include Blue Bloods, Elementary and 666 Park Avenue.

Damond Health writes, “Almost 100 people turned out for the Union College Speed Networking event in NYC Feb. 28. The evening was a great success; I look forward to it next year, again.”

2011Jake Anderson and Sam Bartsow, owners of Forsake Shoes, were featured in Democrat and Chronicle in December 2012. The story focused on their fledgling business, a men’s shoe line that combines the rugged-ness of hiking shoes, the waterproof qualities of rain boots and the stylishness of casual kicks in an all-in-one kind of footwear. For more on Forsake visit www.kickstarter.com or http://www.forsake.co/.

Freestyle skier Kelsey Albert was included in a January story published in the Schenectady Daily Gazette. The piece focused on freestyle skiing, a January race event in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the World Cup.

Hilary Zelson is working as an artist in glitter and photography, and teaching art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her work has been incorporated into numerous shows, and she was one of the youngest to be included in the “Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors.” In 2012, her photographs from “Colors of Night” were on display in the Washington Art Association’s exhibition, “Young Talent 2012.” This past summer, Hilary’s painting, “Eagle Nebula,” was included in the 55th Annual Chautauqua Exhibition of Contemporary Art, judged and curated by author and art critic Kim Levin. The piece won the Deborah Anderson Award. In 2013, Hilary will be creating a display for the Boston Children’s Museum in honor of their 100th anniversary.

2012Brittany Gilbert spent summer 2012 traveling to the Canadian Rockies and Ireland to paint en plein air. In Ireland, she participated in Europe’s largest plein air festival, Art in the Open, where her artwork earned ‘Highly Commended’ recognition. Her paintings can be viewed at www.brittanyrgilbert.com.

Connor Gallo is a search consultant in Daley and Associates’ executive search division. The boutique executive search and contract staffing firm, located in Boston, is dedicated to matching the right talent with the right opportunity.

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Maura Driscoll '15 is one

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offering up thoughts on

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Alumni at the wedding of Sarah Meyer ’06 and Alexander Wilde ’06

2003Kelly Whalen and Matthew Mertens were married on Nov. 17, 2012 in Salem, Mass. The bridal party included Amy Fairbanks Smith, Jorie Kelly Johnson ’02 and Kelly’s twin brother, Michael. A.J. Bodden was an usher. Other alumni in attendance were Meredith Gaylord ’02, Adam Polansky, Stephanie Block Prokosch, Dennis Quandt and Sarah Joines ’02.

2004Michelle (Lividini) Loiacono married John Loiacono on June 30, 2012 in Larchmont, N.Y. Union alumni in attendance were Kara Cotich, Marti (Schulman) Freund, George Freund ’03, Laura (Maslauskas) Murphy, Edward Murphy, Kinzey Fritz, Annie Berkowitz, Leigh (Notestein) Avsec, Giselle (Parrelli) Ferraro ’07 and John Thompson ’77.

unions

2005Noah Kayman and Lia (Kim) Kayman ’06 are happy to announce their marriage on Nov. 20, 2011 at the New York Country Club. They reside in Riverdale, N.Y. with their two Boxer dogs.

Elizabeth Casler and Aaron Lazar were married on May 25, 2012 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Alumni in attendance included Robert Lazar ’75, Mike Silvestro, Will Tamm, Adam Howe, Marc Salvia, Mike Kane, Larry Kaplan, Bill Maron, Katie Bellucci ’08, Tim Moriarty, Jim Bush, Mike Freundlich, Grant VanDerBeken, Brendan McGuire, Courtney Riepenhoff Doucette and Jay Carrig.

On July 16, 2011, Aaron Ginsberg (son of Harris Ginsberg ’72 and Susan Ginsberg) married Jill Safinski in New York City. Among the guests were Mike Silvestro,

Kelly Whalen ’03 and Matthew Mertens with their wedding party

Michelle (Lividini) Loiacono ’04 with fellow Union alumni at her

wedding


Marc Frieman, Dylan Wilks, Matt Greene, Bill Silver ’72, Gary Starr ’72, Steve Karotkin ’73 and Nancy Kessler Karotkin ’74.

2006Sarah Meyer and Alexander Wilde are happy to announce their marriage on Oct. 7, 2012 in Cavendish, Vt. They reside in New York City. Alex and Sarah were married on a gorgeous fall day, just over a decade after they met during Union’s outdoor orientation. The ceremony was officiated by Adam Sultaire and attended by over 30 Union alums, including Jared Tilbor, Thomas Moffitt, Alexander Saunders, Chris Curcio, Caitlin Mahoney, Ben Birnbaum ’07, Ashley LoTempio, Sam Calder ’07, Nordo Nissi ’07, Jackie Coffey, Garrett Lunden, DeVer Warner, James Sargent, Charles Benedict, Andrew Draznin ’07, Dave Busino,

Ryan Laddey and Ashima Taneja are happy to an-nounce their marriage on Oct. 6, 2012 at Maritime Parc in Jersey City, N.J. They reside in New York, N.Y. and honeymooned in Australia and New Zealand. Alumni who attended included Dave Korim, Michael Simon, Marc Wiener, Ed Brandt, Dan Wardwell, Dan Taft, Ben McGuire, Amanda Goodman, Sarah Heitner, Jen Pangburn, Stephanie Schuman, Katha-rine Linehan, Rohan Singh, Jamal Ricks ’08, Nola Rudolph ’08, Heather McGuire (2008, MAT), Ryan Kaupelis ’07, Nevin Smith ’05, Courtney Allen ’03 and Lawrence Rosenthal ’88.

Ian Peck and Kimberly (Tentor) Peck are happy to announce their marriage Dec. 15, 2012 at The First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady’s Stockade. A reception at Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia followed. The couple resides in Pittsfield, Mass., where Ian is a lead systems engineer for General Dynamics and Kimberly is a

Alumni at the wedding of Elizabeth Casler and Aaron Lazar ’05 Alumni at the wedding of David Busino ’06 and Diana Koch ’06

Alumni at the wedding of Ryan Laddey ’06 and Ashima Taneja

Ian Peck ’06 and Kimberly

(Tentor) Peck

Diana Koch Busino, Mike Hamill, Michael Vila ’07, Kevin McCormick ’07, Dave McCormick, Adam Nebenzahl, Kristen Nelson, Sarah Bills, Tom Purcell, Elizabeth McCormick, Rachel Goldberg Nissi ’05, Josh Weissglass ’05 and Gregg Meyer ’84.

The wedding of David Busino and Diana Koch took place on May 26, 2012 in Manchester, Vt., with the reception at Hildene in Manchester. Alumni in attendance included Colby Garb, Harri-son Paras, Sarah (Meyer) Wilde, Alex Wilde, Samuel Coppola Jr. ’74, Ronna (Feldman) Coppola ’76, Andrew Palumbo ’05, Ann (Bartlett) Singer ’74, Mitchell Singer ’73, Lawrence Busino ’72, William Busino Jr. ’71, Dawn (Chupay) Tonneau ’88, Jeff Brais, David McCormick, Erin Loggie, Jeff Shrensel, Adam Sultaire and Kevin Murphy.

Members of the Class of 2009 attended the wedding of Chip Miller

’09 and Kaitlin Tierney in November 2012. Pictured are (front row)

Libby Fortier, Dan Spero, Carl Winkler, Rachel Smooke, Emma

Sands-Milsom, (back row) Tim Shelton, Andy Kehl, Fred Steiner, Matt

Douglas, Alex Wolf, Chip Miller, Gabe Kramer, Ted Hancock, Charlie

Bennett, Thayer Dennison, Paul Procops and Sam Werner.

unions


children’s photographer. In attendance were Cynthia (Howell) Battiste ’78, David Battiste ’77, Pamela (Howell) Tentor ’80, Timothy Howell ’84, Megan (Howell) Swenson ’94, Scott Swenson ’95, Katrina (Tentor) Lallier ’03, Matthew Lallier ’03, Edward Lallier ’00, Timothy Wade ’83, Esther (Quirk) Wade ’81, Scott Bradbury ’06, Erika (Schnitzer) Bradbury ’08 and Dr. Richard Breault ’52.

2007Julianne Sarah Passeri and Guy Anthony Mitrano were married Oct. 7, 2012 at a ceremony at the Mansion on Turner Hill in Ipswich, followed by a reception. The groom’s uncle, Robert Colt of Winchester, officiated. Julianne is a middle school English teacher in the Reading Public Schools. Guy is director of social media at Subaru of New England. The couple resides in Danvers, Mass.

2008Erika Schnitzer and Scott Bradbury ’06 were married on Nov. 10, 2012 in Maplewood, N.J. Alumni in attendance included Andrea Leifer, Rohan Singh ’06, Trevor Simon ’06, James Pagano ’06, Carly Hirschberg ’06, Mike Simon ’06, Ian Peck ’06, Kelli Ketcham ’06 and Jeffrey Schrensel ’06. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii before returning to their home in New York City.

Erika Schnitzer ’08 and Scott

Bradbury ’06

Alumni at the wedding of Nicole Silverman ’10 and Douglas Richardson ’08

2010Nicole Silverman and Douglas Richardson ’08 were married at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, N.Y. on Nov. 10, 2012. Alumni in attendance were Daniel Bloomstone, Lori Cassorla, Carly Mand, Britney Mironovich ’09, Stephanie Libous ’12, Lorry Xie ’11, Katie Suominen, Karen Chan, Simone Sampson, Kimberly Autuori, Gene Prentice ’07, Scott Lotherstein ’08, Caroline Kernan ’08, Pye Russell ’08, Kyle Tilley ’08 and Jude Mason ’08.


arrivals

1993Heather (King) Chaves is happy to announce that she and her husband, Claudio, have added a son to their family. Tanner Jaite Edward Chaves was born on Jan. 8, 2012. Heather has been working in sales as a senior radiology/imaging solution consultant for Cerner Corporation for 10 years. The family lives in Nashua, N.H.

1996Kate Hedgeman and Stephen Martini are proud to announce the birth of Brendan Robert on Aug. 20, 2012. He weighed seven pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 inches long.

Heather (Rock) Devin writes that Dillon Prior Devin was born July 18, 2012.

1997Daniel Wood and Sarah Wood are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Zoë Elizabeth. She was born on Sept. 24, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

1999Conor McKenzie and Julie Marcal McKenzie are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Beatrice Wren. She was born on May 30, 2012 and weighed seven pounds, four ounces. They reside in Arlington, Mass.

Hanno Froese writes, “I had an exciting end of 2012/begin-ning of 2013. On Oct. 22, our daughter, Hannah Saphira, was born. On Jan. 1, I took over the position of general manager of Hilti Kunststofftechnik in Germany, a subsidiary of the Hilti Corporation.”

2000Sameer Sayeed and wife Caroline are pleased to announce the birth of their twin boys, Carl Eric and Philip Adam, born Oct. 30, 2012 at 2:42 p.m. and 2:43 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. Carl was six pounds, one ounce and 21.1 inches, and Philip was six pounds, three ounces and 20.2 inches. Big brother Oscar Daniel, who is 27 months old, is very protective and loving already.

2001Stephen Flaherty writes, “My wife Jes and I are beyond happy to welcome a healthy baby boy into the world. Coleman John Flaherty was born Oct. 29, 2012 during Hurricane Sandy in Boston. The joy and love we have

received and felt over the past few months has been indescribable.”

Kate (Stefanik) Barry and Matt Barry ’00 welcomed a baby girl, Eliza Halpin Barry, 7 pounds and 3 ounces, on Oct. 29, 2012. They write, “Our 3-year-old daughter, Cameron, has proven to be a doting big sister and we are all doing well.”

Raffaella Murano and her husband Roberto Ticchioni of Perugia, Italy are happy to announce the birth of their son, Davide Nicholas Ticchioni, who made his debut on Sept. 15, 2012. Davide made his first trip to the USA in November 2012 and is looking forward to his second trip in May 2013. One day soon he also hopes to visit Union College!

Tanner Jaite Edward Chaves

(Chaves ’93)

Hanno Froese ’99 with wife

Petra Findeisen and daughter

Hannah Saphira

Brendan Robert (Hedgeman ’96) Dillon Prior Devin (Devin ’96) Beatrice Wren McKenzie

(McKenzie ’99)

Carl Eric and Philip Adam

Sayeed (Sayeed ’00)

Stephen Flaherty ’01 and son

Coleman

Cameron, 3, and Eliza Barry

(Barry ’01)


McArdle ’09. Molly, Ed and Tess live in New York’s Capital Region and look forward to introducing a new Union Athletics fan.

2006Jeff Marcoux ’05 and Stefanie Middleton Marcoux welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Juliet Bay Marcoux, on July 3, 2012. Juliet was 7.13 pounds and 20.5 inches long.

Davide Nicholas Ticchioni

(Murano ’01)

Sarah Antoinette Haushalter

(Haushalter ’03)

Cooper Pray Clark (Clark ’03) Rebecca Falzano ’03 and Steve

Pogson with daughter Clio

Mercedes and Amos Sheldon ’03

with son, Albert M. Sheldon V

Olive Pilar Dumais (Dumais ’04) Eloise Hennelly Eagleton

(Eagleton ’04)

Esther (Tess) Jeanne Larkin

(Larkin ’05)

Juliet Bay Marcoux (Marcoux ’06)

2003Dr. Lisa Visentin Haushalter writes, “My husband Jason and I welcomed our first daughter, Sarah Antoinette Haushalter, on May 31, 2012. She was 7 pounds, 8 ounces and 20 inches long. We live on Long Island, where I joined a private pediatric practice.”

Ned Clark and his wife Kate welcomed their first child, a boy, Cooper Pray Clark, on Aug. 17, 2012. Ned is vice president and program director of Travelforteens.com, a teen travel company based in Wayne, Penn.

Rebecca Falzano and husband Steve Pogson welcomed a baby girl into the world. Clio Kennedy Pogson was born in Portland, Maine on Jan. 15, 2013.

Amos Sheldon and wife Mercedes welcomed Albert “Quint” M. Sheldon V on Jan. 19, 2013. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Amos writes, “We are glad to have him arrive and he’s been working on figuring things out!”

2004Steve Dumais and Theresa Finney Dumais are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Olive Pilar Dumais, born Sept. 26, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Olive was 6 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long. She is thriving and can’t wait to visit Union someday soon.

Lindsay Haffner Eagleton and her husband Chris welcomed their daughter, Eloise Hennelly Eagleton, into the world on Sept. 13, 2012. Lindsay and Chris have been married for

four years and living in Brooklyn, N.Y. for the past two years. Lindsay is the program director for the Manhattan based non-profit REACH Grenada, and Chris will be graduating medical school in the spring of 2013.

2005Molly Flanagan Larkin and Ed Larkin welcomed a baby girl, Esther (Tess) Jeanne Larkin May 5, 2012 at 1:50 p.m., weighing seven pounds, 15 ounces and measuring 20 inches in length. Tess joins both large families of Flanagans and Larkins, including aunts Dr. Kelly Larkin ’89, Elizabeth Flanagan ’05 and Mary Larkin ’09; Uncle Tom Larkin ’04 and future Uncle Patrick Forrest ’02; Great-great-uncle H.W. Smith Jr. ’45; and cousins Mike Flanagan and Brandon

in memoriam


1930sJoseph A. Woolman ’35, of Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 9, 2012. He was 99.

John J. Morrison ’39, of Coatsville, Penn., who worked in sales in the metal finishing business and sang in the St. John’s Episcopal Church choir in Pleasantville, N.Y. for 25 years, and who enjoyed reading and opera, Jan. 6, 2013. He was 95.

1940sLewis W. Hallenbeck ’40, of Slingerlands, N.Y., who served with the Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) during World War II and worked with the Army Corps of Engineers before spending 32.5 years with the New York State Department of Transportation, where he was chief engineer, Dec. 4, 2012. A member of many community organiza-tions who was very involved with Union, supporting the Hallenbeck Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, Lewis was recognized by the College in 2010 with an Outstanding Alumni Engineering Award. He was 93.

Burton R. “Burt” Payne Jr. ’41, of Glendale, Calif., a metallur-gical engineer who created several companies, including Pasadena Steel Treating and Payne Chemical Corporation & Heat Treating Supply, Feb. 7, 2013. A member of the International Metallurgical Congress who represented the U.S. in several foreign countries, he was 94.

Harold J. Delchamps ’42, of Los Angeles, Calif., a medical doctor, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who enjoyed a career that spanned 55 years, Aug. 31, 2012. He was 92.

Edward S. Schulze ’42, of Peoria, Ariz., who flew PB4’s out of CoCo Beach, Fla. with the U.S Navy, logging many flying hours in the Bermuda Triangle before working with Sealed Power Corporation, eventually becoming group vice president, Dec. 22, 2012. He was 92.

Richard D. Conly ’43, of Haverford, Penn., a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran who served in Japan with Occupation Forces and wrote for the military newspaper there, and was a copywriter for N.W. Ayer in Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 2012. Richard, who also

worked for General Electric in public relations and sold advertising space for publica-tions including The Saturday Evening Post and The Atlantic Monthly, was 92. Survivors include his son, Jonathan “Jock” Conly ’71, and grand-son, William Deegan ’08.

D O N A L D S . F E I G E N B A U M ’ 4 6

Donald S. Feigenbaum

’46, who with his

brother, Armand ’42,

founded a renowned

Pittsfield-based interna-

tional systems engineering

firm, died March 5, 2013.

He was 87.

He was executive vice

president and chief opera-

ting officer of General

Systems Co., a firm that

designs and helps imple-

ment operational systems

for corporations and

governments worldwide.

The brothers have long

been involved with Union,

both as benefactors and

advisors. For more than a

dozen years, they hosted

the Feigenbaum Forum, a

gathering in which

academicians discussed

characteristics of a new

generation of leaders and

how better to integrate

liberal arts and other studies.

Union’s administration

building, where their

portraits hang in the first-

floor lobby, was dedicated

in their honor in 1996.

“All of us at Union

College mourn the loss of

Don Feigenbaum,” said

President Stephen C. Ainlay.

“He loved Union College

and always acknowledged

the profound difference it

made in his life. He was a

loyal ‘son of Union’ who

consistently increased

customer value, lowered

operating costs, and

improved innovations at

many major companies

throughout the world.

Donald Feigenbaum

graduated from Union in

1946 after serving in the

United States Navy. He

joined General Electric

and was rapidly promoted

to manager of the com-

pany’s jet engine business.

He left in 1961 to become

general manager of

International Systems

Company. In 1968, the

brothers founded General

Systems Company.

Donald and Armand

co-authored several

books. Their 2003 The

Power of Management

Capital is in essence “a

rule book for manage-

ment and leadership

innovation in the

21st century.” The book

considers the basic

drivers of productivity

and profitability and

integrates tested man-

agement concepts into a

single holistic approach.

In 2009 the brothers built

upon their earlier books

by assembling a roadmap

to promote constant

innovation and growth

called The Power of

Management Innovation.

gave back to the College in

many ways. He was also a

friend and I will miss him

very much.”

The College honored

Donald’s achievements with

an honorary doctorate in

1996. In 2003 he was awarded

the “Outstanding Engineering

Alumnus” award. Among his

many other awards, he

received an honorary Doctor

of Humane Letters degree

from the University of

Massachusetts, and a Doctor of

Science from the Massachu-

setts College of Liberal Arts.

Donald Feigenbaum’s

work and publications in the

field of systems technology

profoundly influenced the

origin and application of

systems engineering principles

that have fundamentally

changed modern manage-

ment practices. His approach

^


Lewis Orlowski ’43, of Laguna Beach, Calif., an engineer specialist with Ford Aerospace who developed electrical and optical circuit designs for guided missiles, June 29, 2011. He was 89.

Dean C. Eger Jr. ’45, of New Bern, N.C., Dec. 5, 2012. He was 90.

Victor T. Starsnic ’46, of Whitehall, Penn., a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Pacific during World War II, earned master’s degrees in education and engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and worked at Dravo, retiring in 1988 as head of the civil and structural engineering department, Jan. 10, 2013. He was 88.

J O S E P H M . H I N C H E Y ’ 4 7

Joseph M. Hinchey ’47,

of Westwood, Mass.,

a life trustee and

former chairman of the

Board of Trustees, died

Feb. 2, 2013 at the age of 87.

An attorney and retired

senior vice president of

Analog Devices Inc., he

was elected to a four-year

term as chairman of the

board in 1994.

He was national chair-

man of the $150 million

Bicentennial Campaign,

and chair of the Presidential

Search Committee that

hired Roger H. Hull. He

received the Alumni Gold

Medal for distinguished

service in 2007.

Born in Elmhurst, N.Y.,

he enlisted in the U.S. Navy

Submarine Force at age 17.

After World War II, he was

selected for the V12 Officer

Training Program at Union.

Hinchey received his

B.S. in electrical engineer-

ing and went on to earn

his law degree from Boston

College Law School in

1980. He had worked for

General Dynamics and

Texas Instruments before

taking a leave to study law.

He joined Analog Devices

in 1980.

He was predeceased

by his wife of 58 years,

Barbara (Bright) Hinchey.

Survivors include five

children, a brother and

10 grandchildren.

Memorial contribu-

tions may be made to

Pond Home, 289 East St.,

Wrentham, MA 02093;

Scholarship America,

Hinchey Scholarship

Fund, Development

Department, 1550

American Blvd. E., Suite

155, Minneapolis, MN

55425; or the Joseph M.

and Barbara B. Hinchey

Scholarship, College

Relations, Union College,

807 Union St., Schenectady,

NY 12308.

Morris J. Brookner ’46, of West Palm Beach, Fla., a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Pensacola, June 18, 2011. He was 90.

Jamie Dennis ’48, of Hillsboro Beach, Fla., April 8, 2012. He was 85.

Warren F. Howe Jr. ’48, of Essex, Conn. and formerly of West Haven, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II and was an agent with Connecticut General and Manufacturer’s Life before spending 20 years

with Colonial Bank, becoming assistant vice president and West Haven branch manager, Jan. 1, 2013. He was 88.

Alfred J. Siesel ’49, of Carlsbad, Calif., former president and chairman of the Siesel Company, who led the company for 38 years with his brother, Daniel, until his retirement in 1988, Oct. 23, 2012. Also president of the League of Advertising Agencies, he was 83.

Arthur H. Summers ’49, of Endwell, N.Y., a U.S. Navy veteran who participated in

N O R M A N L . K R E I S M A N ’ 4 7

A World War II veteran

and champion of

mental health

services in Florida, Norman

L. Kreisman ’47, of Sarasota,

died Dec. 26, 2012. He

was 87.

He spent his professional

career in the wallpaper

business, leading several

companies he worked for

as president, before retiring

from Dunhill Wallcoverings

in 1986. Shortly thereafter,

inspired by his daughter,

Diane, who has faced

challenges associated with

a mental health disorder,

Norman became a staunch

advocate of mental health

services.

During the past 20 years,

he mobilized influential

individuals in Florida to

improve treatment availa-

bility—across all races and

socio-economic classes—

for those with mental

illnesses. A two-acre health

care campus and inpatient

crisis hospital at not-for-

profit Coastal Behavioral

Healthcare in Sarasota is

named after Norman, in

recognition of his efforts to

establish the city’s first and

only publically supported

psychiatric emergency crisis

center in the early 1990s.

Involved with many

community organizations,

Norman served three

consecutive terms on the

board of Coastal Behavioral

and was honored with

the title director emeritus.

And on July 28, 2011, the

mayor of Sarasota declared

it Norman and Dorothy

Kreisman Day. On this date,

Sarasota’s Kreisman Center

was renamed the Kreisman

Campus for Integrated

Health Care.

Norman was also active

at Union, having been

treasurer of the New York

City Alumni Association

and an Admissions

interviewer. He received

the Alumni Medal in 1967,

in honor of his service to

the College.

Norman is survived by

his wife, Dorothy, and

children Stuart and Diane.

^ ^


the V-12 program during World War II and was a professional engineer with NYSEG who volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, Oct. 26, 2012.

Edward R. Younglove ’49, of Johnstown, N.Y., who served with the U.S. Naval Reserve aboard the USS Marias in the Far East and Persian Gulf before heading the Fabmika Division at Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams, Mass., and then retiring from Custom Electronics in Oneonta, N.Y. as quality control manager. Edward, who was 88, also taught for many years at the Sprague-Franklin Institute.

J. George Follett ’49, of Watertown, N.Y., who was St. Lawrence County district attorney before becoming St. Lawrence County family court judge in 1967, retiring from the bench in 1982, Nov. 27, 2012. He was 85.

George F. Abbott ’49, of Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 30, 2012. He was 85.

1950sLionel Furst ’50, of Beverly Hills, Calif., a travel executive for 41 years who co-owned APA Travel and later worked with Revel Travel and Altour, and was active on the boards of numerous community organizations, March 24, 2012. He was 83.

Francis H. Meehan ’50 on Oct. 25, 2011. He was 83.

Charles V. Emmi ’50, of Callahan, Fla., who served with the U.S. Navy as a machinist during World War II before working for General Electric, the U.S. Postal Service and eventually the FAA, Dec. 14, 2012. Actively serving his community in a number of

James H. Derby ’56, of Masons Island, Conn., who served with the U.S. Army during the Berlin Crisis and in Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal, before practicing orthopedic surgery in New London for many years, Jan. 1, 2013. He was 78.

George S. Kang ’58, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., an Air Force weather officer who coordinated Korean Air Force training with the 30th U.S. Air Force Weather Squadron stationed in Korea at 10 U.S. Air Force bases, Jan. 4, 2013. George, a research scientist in the voice system section of the information technology division at the U.S. Department of Defense Naval Research Laboratory, was 82.

1960sGarrett Richard “Dick” Mullee ’62, of Fort Myers, Fla., a U.S. Air Force veteran who spent 31 years with General Electric, during which time he was involved with the first decommissioning of a U.S. nuclear power plant, Jan. 18, 2013. Dick, a member of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Fort Myers, also worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s nuclear division.

Robert F. Ehrlich ’63, of Bangor, Penn., who was repeatedly honored by IBM during his long career with the company, and was COO of Information Systems at Mack Printing in Easton, Penn., Dec. 24, 2012. He was 71.

Peter George Tierney ’66, of Bluff Point, N.Y., who served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnman and was director of the Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District before beginning a 30-year career in investments and financial planning, Dec. 28,

capacities Charles, 96, also sat on the Callahan Town Council for 10 years.

Richard A. Insogna ’50, of Amsterdam, N.Y., who served in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Army during World War II and earned his J.D. from Cornell University, going on to practice law for nearly four decades, Dec. 28, 2012. He was 86.

Jack L. Shangraw ’50, of Keene, N.H., who served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and was onboard the USS New Orleans when it was badly damaged by torpedo fire, and went on to work for Sylvania Electric as an electrical engineer for 29 years, Dec. 9, 2012. He was 89.

Henry Gardner Moyer ’50, of Gilbert, Ariz., May, 3, 2012. He was 84.

John P. “Jack” Miller ’50, of Chandler, Ariz., who served with the Army in North Africa and Italy during World War II and spent 30 years in law enforcement, including the New York State Troopers and Schenectady Police Force, Jan. 28, 2013. Jack, who attained the rank of captain and volunteered with the Tempe and Chandler Police Departments, was 89.

Robert D. Conklin ’50, of Daytona Beach, Fla., a U.S. Army veteran who enjoyed collecting stamps and camp- ing, Oct. 5, 2011. He was 82.

Robert B. Grindley ’51, of Wheeling, W.Va., who served in the U.S. Navy and Reserve and was manager and then president of the Hawley Corporation, Oct. 10, 2012. “Grin,” who was involved with many community organiza-tions, was 83.

Richard C. Speidel ’51, of Fayetteville, N.Y., a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War, retired from AT&T as district manager in 1987, and was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Calvary Club, Nov. 19, 2012. He was 83.

Hubert Bedford “Hugh” Harris ’51, of Aliceville, Ala., a U.S. Army veteran and industrial engineer who retired from Huyck Felt Company, and was a member of West End Baptist Church, Dec. 12, 2012. He was 82.

Jerome F. Hanshue ’54, of Bridgeport, W. Va., and formerly of Saratoga, N.Y., who served in many civic and service organizations, and was executive vice president and director of Adirondack Trust Co., Oct. 11, 2012. He was 81.

Joseph Honet ’54, of Detroit, Mich., Feb. 13, 2012. He was 78.

William David Rudolph ’55, of Asheville, N.C., a U.S. Air Force first lieutenant and Air Force Reserve captain who earned his J.D. at Columbia University, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Dec. 17, 2012. William, who spent most of his law career at Colt Industries Inc., rising to assistant general counsel, was 79.

Frank R. Kiwus ’54, of Lancaster, Penn., a budget executive with the New York State Government who earned a master’s in public administration from SUNY Albany and operated several antique shops during his life with his wife, Nancy, Feb. 5, 2013. He was 80.

Arthur Simolunas ’56, of Arlington, Va., who spent 30 years working with the FAA, Nov. 7, 2012. He was 78.

in memoriam


2012. Also the owner of The Bloomin’ Lily, he was 68.

Martin F. McDonald Jr. ’68, of Glenville, N.Y., who enlisted in the U.S. Navy and joined the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. before starting a career at General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y., where he worked as a contract admin-istrator and manager for 40 years, Nov. 11, 2012. He was 81.

1970sMike Rone ’72, of Orono, Minn. and formerly St. Paul, who worked with his father in the family cabinet manufac-turing business, Medallion Kitchens, before co-founding Northern Contours in 1992, Dec. 29, 2012. Mike, who was 63, loved to travel and visited countries including Africa, Turkey and Italy.

James “Johnny” Healy ’74, of Schenectady, N.Y., and formerly of Chelsea, Mass., a World War II veteran who was a communications expert in the Marshall Islands and was a nuclear engineer with General Electric until his retirement in 1988, Oct., 21, 2012. He was 89.

Robert Peter Toal Jr. ’74, of Amsterdam, N.Y., an electrical engineer who worked with General Electric, WGY and New York State Government Services, and was a member of the Schenectady Amateur Radio Association, Nov. 12, 2012. He was 69.

Dave Kodl ’76, of LaGrange, Ga., a mechanical engineer at Duracell and a member of MENSA and Westminster Presbyterian Church who loved the outdoors, Nov. 6, 2012. He was 57.

David Bartosh ’77 on April 7, 2011. He was 62.

Gordon E. Clickman ’78, of Colonie, N.Y., who worked for the New York State Department of Environmental Conserva-tion for 35 years and operated a marina on Lake George for several years, Feb. 1, 2013. A member of the Northeast Stock Car Racing Old Timers who enjoyed auto racing, he was 64.

S. Paul Anzalone ’79, of Rotterdam, N.Y., a senior civil engineer with the state Department of Transportation, Structures Division, who served with the U.S. Air Force and New York Air National Guard 109th Tactical Airlift Wing, Jan. 12, 2013. A member of the Carman Volunteer Fire Department and many other community organizations, he was 73.

1980sTimothy S. Agar ’82, of Sacramento, Calif., an avid outdoorsman and accom-plished businessman and journalist who earned his master’s degree in journalism at the University of Arizona, Dec. 19, 2012. He was 52.

David C. Owens ’83, on Aug. 7, 2012. He was 57.

William Alan Rose ’84, of Clifton Park, N.Y., Jan. 12, 2013.

2000sKathryn Barry Truax ’04, of Ruxton, Md., who taught fifth grade and literature to sixth- and seventh-graders at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic School in Bethesda, and was the school’s director of development, Dec. 2, 2012. Kathryn, who enjoyed sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, was 30.

Friends of Union CollegeNorma C. Jacob, an adminis-trative assistant at Union for 26 years who was an active member of Annie Schaffer Seniors and Scotia-Glenville Seniors, and a longtime member of Eastern Parkway United Methodist Church, Oct. 15, 2012. She was 92.

William C. Dixon, of Clayton, N.Y., who served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and received numerous honors for his service, and who spent 27 years with the New York State Department of Trans-portation before retiring and working as an adjunct professor of engineering at Union, Jan. 24, 2013. He was 82.

J O H N M O S E S ’ 5 3

John Moses ’53, of

Stamford, Conn., who

served as an M.P. in the

U.S. Army, was a longtime

Union College supporter

and enjoyed a successful

career in management, died

Dec. 8, 2012. He was 84.

Following his military

service, John, who earned

a master’s degree from

New York University,

worked with New York

Telephone (now Verizon),

where we became director

of operations and develop-

ment. He was also employed

by Marriott International as

director of management

training, development and

quality.

John, always dedicated

to his community, was

president of the CT/

Westchester chapter of the

Association for Psycho-

logical Type; president of

the Stamford Senior Center;

and a member of the

advisory board of the

Southwest Connecticut

Commission on Aging.

He also did much for

Union College.

A head agent of his class,

longstanding member of

the Alumni Council and

Annual Fund National chair

who served on numerous

ReUnion committees, John

was instrumental in the

creation of the 1953 Room

in Abbe Hall. For his devo-

tion and hard work, he

received the Alumni Gold

Medal and the Distin-

guished Service Award.

Survivors include his

wife Patricia, daughter

Debbie, son Jonathan and

stepsons Nicholas and

Paul Verbitsky.

^

UNION COLLEGE Spring 201356 |

Union College doesn’t

have all the president’s

men, but it has its share.

William Henry Seward,

Class of 1820, Abraham

Lincoln’s secretary of state, is

arguably the most famous

and important. Yet Henry

Reed Rathbone, Class of 1857,

has his place in the Great

Emancipator’s history, and

that of this country, as well.

He was there, in that Ford’s

Theatre box, the night the

16th president was shot.

But 11 years before the

assassin’s bullet felled Lincoln,

Rathbone was a 16-year-old

young man entering Union

College. He lived in North

College, was a member of

Sigma Phi fraternity, and

followed a classical academic

path, taking courses in Greek,

Latin, physics, geometry and

moral and mental philosophy.

Upon graduation in 1857, he

practiced law for a short time

in Albany, N.Y., where his

father was mayor.

Rathbone joined the

Union Army at the start of the

Civil War, serving as a captain

in the 12th Infantry Regiment

and fighting in the Battle of

Antietam and the Battle of

Fredericksburg. By war’s end,

he had attained the rank of

major and soon asked Clara

Harris to marry him.

The daughter of U.S.

Senator Ira Harris, Class of

1824, trustee and former

acting College president,

Clara Harris was Rathbone’s

stepsister. His mother,

Pauline, married Ira Harris

after she was widowed.

Newly engaged, Clara

Harris and Rathbone, then an

aid to the president, were

invited to join the Lincolns

for a production of Our

American Cousin at Ford’s

Theatre on April 14, 1865.

That night, John Wilkes

Booth crept into the presi-

dential box and shot Lincoln

in the back of a head. Rathbone

tried immediately to prevent

the assassin’s escape. He failed,

and bore the scars of it forever.

Accounts differ on the

old union

nature of the dagger wound

Booth dealt Rathbone. Some

report it was grievous (running

from his shoulder to his elbow),

others that it was not severe.

But most agree that his

inability to prevent the death

of Lincoln, combined with

the horrors he witnessed as a

soldier, must have contributed

to his unfortunate end.

Despite marrying Clara

Harris in 1867 and raising three

children with her, Rathbone

suffered emotionally.

A New York Times story

from the period mentions

that he experienced dyspepsia

and melancholy, and while

normally “quiet and agreeable,”

sometimes “exhibited violent

and overpowering temper.”

The man who witnessed Abraham Lincoln’s assassination

Clara, the paper stated, consid-

ered separation from her

husband, but decided against

it because she didn’t want to

be parted from her children.

In December 1883, while

living with his family in

Germany and serving as U.S.

consul there, Rathbone

murdered his wife and then

attempted to stab himself to

death. According to the same

New York Times article, pub-

lished Dec. 28, 1883, “They

found Mrs. Rathbone dying

on the bed, weltering in her

blood. Mr. Rathbone lay on

the floor, bleeding from five

different wounds. A six-shoot-

er, with three empty chambers,

and a dagger covered in gore

were found nearby.”

The report goes on to say,

“Doctors were summoned

immediately, but Mrs.

Rathbone died without being

able to give an account of

the deed … [Mr. Rathbone]

appeared not to connect

himself with the crime. He

seemed to believe a stranger

had committed it. The neigh-

bors say that Mr. Rathbone

lived on most affectionate

terms with his family.”

Following his wife’s death

at 49, Rathbone was institu-

tionalized in the criminal

ward of a German asylum,

where he lived until his death

at the age of 74 in 1911.

make all the difference

Union volunteers, who serve as ambassadors and cheerleaders for their

alma mater, are integral to the success of the College’s Annual Fund,

its class ReUnions and alumni club events. The classmate-to-classmate

connection has proven the most effective way to engage others and encourage

them to become involved with the College.

So join the ranks of over 800 alumni volunteers; we’d love to have you! All it

takes is 2 to 10 hours each year. You’ll be helping your alma mater, having fun

and making great memories at the same time.

Visit www.union.edu/alumni/volunteer/ or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (518) 388-6168.

When it comes to mentoring current students, rallying support

for the College or planning the best regional events, alumni

volunteers—like U—are better qualified than anyone else.

Union sends heartfelt thanks for your time, energy and wisdom.

U

SUSANNA RYAN BERGER ’99

“I worked with a

great team to

establish an alumni

club in Boston,

bringing together

Union’s family and

friends in an

exciting way.”

MATT COHEN ’98

“Union is far more

than our college

years alone.

Volunteering helps

us stay connected

and share our love

for Union while

giving back.”

LARRY SWARTZ ’73

“It borders on cliché

to say I have an

obligation to

support Union

because I was

supported by those

who came before

me, but it really is

that simple.”AP

PR

EC

IAT

E

EN

GA

GIN

G

ME

MO

RA

BL

E

CLIFF MASTRANGELO ’63

“The benefits I have

accrued for my

voluntary time are

immeasurable, it’s

been sheer enjoy-

ment. You will be

amazed how

gratifying it is to be

a volunteer.”RE

WA

RD

ING

V O L U N T E E R

THE REWARDS

OF VOLUNTEERING

ARE MANY.

YOU CAN:

•

Reconnect with

your classmates

•

Expand your

Union network

•

Give back to Union

in a whole new way

Office of Communications807 Union StreetSchenectady, NY 12308-3169

Please recycle

See this fall!

October 11–13, 2013

• Pre-game tailgate cookout and kid’s carnival

• Attend the harvest dinner with your family

• President’s welcome reception

• Generation U young alumni reception

• Traditional Sunday brunch

• Union College athletic events

• Departmental receptions & gatherings

• Alumni lectures

W E E K E N D A C T I V I T I E S :

www.union.edu/hfw

We look forward to seeing back!U

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