VolumeVolume 8, Issue6, 3 Issue | Spring 1 | /Summer Summer 2014 2011
NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Teaching with Technology
M E S S A G E
F R O M
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P R E S I D E N T
NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume 8, Issue 3 | Spring/Summer 2014
State of the College As we near the end of the academic year, I want to take this opportunity to update the Nichols College community on recent successes, progress toward strategic goals, and initiatives to bring us closer to our vision of becoming the college of choice for business and leadership education. Last year, we highlighted four strategic priority areas on which to focus our attention: grow the number of endowed scholarships; design, construct and fund a new academic building; identify program needs and design for upgraded athletic facilities for all students; and design a “wow” first-year academic and co-curricular experience for students. Assisting our students and their families with scholarship support is a perennial need, so is growing the endowment to remain competitive. Since last year, we have added five new endowed scholarships from donors as diverse as the Class of ’63, which raised $100,000 in honor of their 50th reunion, and a 1959 alumnus, who sought to ease the financial burden for dyslexic students with a $380,000 endowed scholarship gift. To date, Nichols maintains 26 endowed scholarships. With 98 percent of our students receiving some form of financial assistance, we aim to continue to raise awareness and funding to meet the mounting need. Designs for a new academic building have been approved, and we broke ground this spring. The three-story, 27,500square-foot structure will house collaborative classrooms, a visual media lab, academic support services and faculty offices. Plans are also underway for our athletic facilities, beginning with a renovation to Chalmers Field House to accom-
modate much-needed locker rooms, a fitness center and weight training area. Construction is expected to begin this summer. Aspiring to become the college of choice for business and leadership education requires us to introduce our first-year students to the leadership-, confidenceand skill-building opportunities that are reinforced in sophomore, junior and senior years. A task force was charged with creating a first-year academic program and will launch “Learning to Lead” this fall. One of the events planned to truly differentiate this program – and our students – from our competition is a travel experience to London in March 2015. The strengthening of our leadership brand continues to result in new initiatives that radiate throughout the campus. The Athletics Department, for example, has developed a leadership academy, a series of weekly classes designed to build team captains. Sophomores and juniors who exhibit leadership potential learn about topics such as character, composure, teamwork, team chemistry, and conflict, and, in follow-up sessions, apply their lessons to real-life scenarios. Students who are eager to learn, lead and succeed inspire us to ensure the integrity and excellence of the Nichols education. We are also inspired by the support of the College community. As we progress toward our vision, we welcome your continued interest and feedback. Dr. Susan West Engelkemeyer
EDITOR Susan Veshi ON CAMPUS EDITOR Ron Schachter VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Bill Pieczynski CONTRIBUTORS Brianne Callahan MSOL ’11, Andrew Clark, James L. Conrad, Jr. , Peter DiVito, Jim Douglas, Julie Errico, Patti Najarian, Len Suprise, Kelly Vaillancourt ’13 DESIGN Patricia Korch PRINTING Puritan Press, Inc., Hollis, NH COVER PHOTO Patrick O’Connor Patrick O’Connor Photography, Shrewsbury, MA NICHOLS COLLEGE
PO Box 5000 123 Center Road Dudley, MA 01571-5000 508-213-1560 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., M–F www.nichols.edu Periodicals postage paid at Webster, MA, and additional mailing offices.
NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE
(UPSP 390480) is published three times a year by Nichols College, Dudley, MA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: College Advancement
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PO Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571-5000
On the cover: Professor Nick Barnes leads class in the Fels Student Center technology classroom. The screen image of the M2M sector map on the cover was created by Beecham Research
CONTENTS
5 ON CAMPUS
2 | Full house marks annual Career Fair 2 | PDS portfolios go digital 3 | Bush chief of staff addresses May graduates, receives
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honorary degree
3| 3| 4| 4| 4| 5|
Long-time trustee creates endowed scholarship Nichols historian unveils new book Recent alumni bring skills to Africa Findings of Nichols scientist published by NASA Three new trustees join Nichols board Breaking good: Nichols students better themselves and others on spring break
F E AT U R E S
6 | Teaching with technology 10 | From student to teacher, the Nichols way AT H L E T I C S
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12 | Hanging tough in the face of tragedy ALUMNI
13 | 14 | 15| 18| 20 | 21 | 24|
A View from the Hill Class Notes Catching up with Nancy Gervais ’98 From the Archives / Summer Boarders Catching up with Bo-Young Lin ’08 Nichols remembers A new home for academics
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ON CAMPUS
Full house marks annual Career Fair
Bush chief of staff addresses May graduates, receives honorary degree College also honors Commerce Insurance founder
Nearly 400 Nichols students thronged the Athletic Center on February 25, as they made the rounds of – and their introductions to – more than 70 potential employers assembled at the school’s 2014 Career and Internship Fair. In this annual late-winter rite, those students – clad in business dress, bearing the most recent editions of their resumes, and equipped with a good explanation of their qualifications – met representatives from a range of companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Nichols Director of Career Services Liz Horgan notes that the number of employers represented at the fair has doubled over the past four years and many have had positive experiences employing Nichols graduates. “This year, we had a number of alumni who came back to the Career Fair as employers,” Horgan points out. “They were excited to come back, and some of the younger ones had studied side by side with our current undergraduates just a few years ago. That was a great ice breaker.” Companies, such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, MAPFRE USA Corp. and banking and investment giant State Street Corporation, arrived with available positions from business development specialists and finance managers to management trainees and entry-level accountants.
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Those attending the gathering included more than 200 juniors, whose participation was required, as well as 80 seniors, 73 sophomores, and 18 freshmen. Horgan says that she was especially encouraged by the presence of the younger undergraduates. “This may have been the first time for them to suit up, introduce themselves, and make their pitch,” she says. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, Matt O’Connor ’93 and Paul Washburn ’92, juniors were also given the opportunity to have business cards printed to hand out to prospective employers.
Besides giving them a leg up on seeking a permanent job, the gathering gave students the chance to check out numerous internships, long considered a Nichols staple for career readiness. Nearly three dozen of the employers – Disney and Old Navy/Gap among them – were seeking interns for this summer and beyond.
PDS portfolios go digital For the past 15 years, one staple in Nichols’ Professional Development Seminar course has been an ever-expanding portfolio of student work, kept in a binder with plastic sleeves and tabs to organize their contents. But rather than snapping open those binders to add new pages or lugging them to advisor conferences or job interviews, Nichols students will be turning to their laptops and smartphones, through which they can electronically build and expand their portfolios. The green and white front page of the new portfolios, provide a picture, the major, and contact information for each
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student, as well as a link to a more in-depth profile. The tabs – now clickable on a screen – are aligned with the outcomes of Nichols courses and include such areas as Communication, Technology, Leadership and Teamwork, and Critical Thinking and Quantitative Analysis. The new technology also assesses how student work has met the various educational outcomes. At the beginning of the spring semester, 500 sophomores and juniors made the shift to electronic portfolios with the rest of the student body to follow next semester.
Former White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card, Jr. was the Nichols College commencement speaker on Saturday, May 10. He received an Honorary Doctor of Public Administration degree. The College also conferred an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree on Arthur J. Remillard, Jr., founder of the Commerce Insurance Company. Card has diverse experience at the highest levels in government, academia, and industry. Most notably, he served as the second longest tenured White House chief of staff from 20002006 under President George W. Bush, and as secretary of transportation from 1992-1993. On September 11, 2001, Card was the one who whispered in President Bush’s ear, while the President was sitting in a classroom in Florida, that terrorists had attacked the United States. Card then led a government-wide reorganization to best allocate resources to deal with the aftermath of 9-11 and the new terrorist environment. Card entered politics with his 1975 election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also served as vice president of government relations at General Motors, and as CEO of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. From 2011-2013, he was acting dean of the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University. Remillard founded the Commerce Insurance Company in 1971, along with numerous affiliated companies, and served as president, CEO and chairman of the board of The Commerce Group, Inc. from 1976 to his retirement in 2006.
ON CAMPUS
A graduate of Clark University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Remillard has been actively involved in numerous organizations in the insurance industry, including the Commonwealth Automobile Reinsurers and the Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts. He is widely known throughout the region for his philanthropic support and leadership of many organizations, including Nichols College.
Long-time trustee creates endowed scholarship As the first in his family to attend college, Constantine “Gus” Alexander understands the value of scholarships, which he received throughout his undergraduate education at Tufts University. As a member of the Board of Trustees at Nichols College since 1997, he also knows that today’s students are facing the same financial challenges he did. So, in October, he created the Alexander/Sargent Endowed Scholarship to help ease the burden. “Over the years, I have realized that there are many first generation students at Nichols. That was true of me. I was the first to graduate not only from college, but high school, and even junior high,” he says, adding that college would not have been a possibility without the financial support. The purpose of the scholarship, which is named for Alexander and his wife, Linda (Sargent) Reinfeld, is to assist an incoming or continuing student who demonstrates financial need and academic achievement or community service. Thanks to the scholarship support he received at Tufts, Alexander was able to continue his education at Harvard Law School. He currently serves as senior counsel for Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP in Boston. His allegiance to his alma maters is matched only by his respect for Nichols and the potential of its graduates. “I have been here a long time, and I do like Nichols,” he says. “It is a nurturing place for students and uncovers diamonds in the rough.”
Nichols historian unveils new book Standing before a 1931 map of Nichols projected on the screen behind him, and addressing more than 200 guests in a packed Daniels Auditorium on December 16, James L. Conrad, Jr., professor of history emeritus, formally introduced a history of Nichols College five years in the making and a product of his 45 years at the school as a teacher and administrator. The book, Nichols: A College for the Hill, 1931–1996, covers Nichols’ beginnings as a twoyear junior college, its evolution into a four-year institution in 1958, its transition to a coed student body in 1971, and its emergence as a leading business school. “Nichols was the first junior college exclusively in the East to focus on men, and the first to focus as a business college,” Conrad emphasized. “In 1931, colleges like this one didn’t exist. It was really ahead of its time.” Conrad described his research for the volume as a combination of personal recollections, experience in educational administration, and training as a historian. Besides his almost 45-year teaching career on campus, he has served as Nichols’ director of admissions, dean of faculty, vice president for external academic affairs, and a member of the Board of Trustees. He received an honorary doctor of humanities from the College in 2000. His father, James L. Conrad Sr., or better known to many as Colonel Conrad, founded the school as a two-year college in 1931, with just 11 students at first, and served as its president until 1966. Throughout his presentation, Conrad recalled significant moments in the College’s history, including the time when the hockey team played Notre Dame University. “It was quite
Professor Emeritus James L. Conrad, Jr., signs a copy of his book for Bates Craver at the December reception celebrating the book’s publication.
surprising,” he said of the match-up between a small college and a much larger one renowned for sports prowess. “Nichols won 9-0. It was the first and last time that Notre Dame played us.” The new 290-page history follows Conrad’s book chronicling Nichols between the years 1815 and 1931, which was published in 2008. “These works represent a significant contribution to the history of secondary and collegiate education, especially here in New England. These volumes will stand the test of time,” noted Edward Warren, professor and program chair of history at Nichols. “He’s found ways to link his life at Nichols with his work as a historian.”
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Warren underscored the latter vocation, pointing to Conrad’s training in a highly regarded doctoral program at the University of Connecticut. “Only he could tell a story like this one,” Nichols President Susan West Engelkemeyer added about Conrad in her remarks to the audience. “He is a treasure to Nichols.” Besides thanking President Engelkemeyer and previous Nichols Presidents Gerald Fels and Debra Townsley, Conrad acknowledged his Nichols colleagues and 1969 Nichols graduate and longtime Nichols trustee and benefactor, Robert B. Kuppenheimer, who funded the history project over the past 10 years. Kuppenheimer expressed his own appreciation to Conrad. “The College is indebted to you,” he said. “This is an exciting day for me. I’ve dreamt about it for a long time.”
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ON CAMPUS
Recent alumni bring skills to Africa
Mary Fehr ’13 shared her experiences with several classes via Skype.
Myles Stanley ’11 and Mary Fehr ’13 have spent the last year in Ghana and Tanzania respectively, working with organizations focused on improving the health and economy of local residents. Stanley, who returned to Nichols this past January as a guest speaker in two sections of the College’s Around the World course, currently lives in the coastal town of Elmina, in the central region in Ghana. He works for a non-profit organization that helps villagers create small businesses, such as textile manufacturing. More recently, Stanley says, he has expanded his efforts to aid larger enterprises, including the production and export of salt and the creation of a fledgling local tourist industry. “There’s a huge entrepreneurial spirit,” he explains. “Everybody has something that they do.” Along the way, Stanley notes, he has made good use of his Nichols education in general business, accounting, and economics. He returned to Massachusetts in January looking for help in marketing the salt from Ghana to high-end supermarket chains such as Whole Foods, which follow “fair trade” practices that pay producers as much as 40 to 50 percent of the retail price of their products. Stanley is also aiming to find
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a U.S. market for the textiles created in Elmina under the same “fair trade” agreement. “I need somebody in the States to deal with the red tape and need people to help market the products,” he says. “What I really need is a class of students to get it going.”
Recent Nichols graduate Mary Fehr, meanwhile, has been working in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a non-profit organization that aids in the distribution of mosquito netting to poor families. Along those lines, Fehr helps manage a voucher program that subsidizes bed nets for women and children at risk of contracting malaria. As part of her job, Fehr works to keep the supply of bed nets flowing and to make sure that retailers and health clinics maintain sufficient inventories to meet the considerable demand. Last November Fehr spoke via videoconference with students to several classes taught by International Business Chair Marcus Goncalves. “The poverty over here is huge. It’s really life or death,” Fehr told them, adding, “I really wanted to work for something I believed in.”
Findings of Nichols scientist published by NASA The work of Mauri Pelto, professor of environmental science and expert on glaciers, has been featured on the Lansdsat web site of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Landsat program focuses on images of Earth and detailed data collected by government satellites.
For his NASA report, Pelto chronicled changes in the glaciers of the Juneau Icefield in Alaska. He found that 14 of 15 glaciers have retreated. “The ongoing warming of our globe will continue to lead to retreat,” Pelto concludes. A recent article by Pelto for the journal Hydrological
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Processes focuses on the thinning, as revealed by satellite imagery, of the Brady Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Pelto recorded a drop of between 65 and 330 feet of snow and ice depth along the glacier over the past 60 years. He predicts that the glacier will retreat rapidly in coming years. An article for the Journal of Glaciology, meanwhile, details the decrease of snow levels on two Arctic glaciers. Pelto also examines changes in glaciers firsthand, travelling every August to and living on a set of glaciers in Washington state. There, Pelto takes measurements of snow depth, even next to large crevasses (pictured) to determine how much the glaciers have diminished over the last year. Pelto maintains a blog detailing his work an findings at http://glacierchange.wordpress.com/. The site receives 10,000 visitors a month.
Three new trustees join Nichols board At its recent meetings, the Nichols College Board of Trustees elected three new members: Stephen A. Davis ’80, Edwin B. Donahue ’72, and Tammy (Cardillo) Wolf ’94. Davis is president of Ventry Industries, an investment practice, and was previous president and chief operating officer of the family-owned American Saw & Mfg. A senior trustee of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, Davis has served as a trustee for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, American International College, Clarke School for the Deaf, the Springfield Symphony, and the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. Donahue has more than 32 years of experience in the gas and oil industry, retiring recently as the executive vice president and CFO of Vitruvian Exploration LLC, headquartered in Houston. Previously, he served as the CFO for Elk Resources Inc. and TransTexas Gas Corp., and began his career at Arthur Andersen. Wolf recently returned to Hewlett Packard, a company she has had more than 23 years of experience with, as services account manager. Before returning to HP, she served as a sales account executive with VMWare, which specializes in eBusiness cloud servers and application hosting.
ON CAMPUS
Breaking good: Nichols students better themselves and others on spring break
Rico o t r e u P , n a u SanJ While soaking in the sun and sights of San Juan on spring break, 11 students in the Nichols Educator Preparation Program moved closer to their goal of achieving teacher certification after graduation. Meanwhile, some 1,700 miles northwest, seven students spent an Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans repairing homes still ravaged by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. From San Francisco, where the Honors Scholar Program spent a productive week, to cities in Virginia, Florida and Puerto Rico, where spring athletes warmed up in early competitions, Nichols College students used their March breaks to recharge in a variety of ways. And for some, a break from college classes did not mean a break from learning. Students preparing to be Massachusetts teachers, for instance, worked toward fulfilling an upcoming state requirement to be SEI-endorsed (Sheltered English Immersion). To do that, they must complete an English Language Learners course, which Nichols began to offer last fall, and then test out their teaching skills and strategies in the classroom. “The best way to do that is to actually go into a classroom where students are learning to speak English,” says Dr. Diane Bemis, director of the Educator Preparation Program. She accompanied the students along with Dr. Joanne Newcombe, professor of education and associate dean for liberal arts, who initiated plans and led the San Juan academic trip. Students spent the week observing and demonstrating methods of teaching English to Spanish-speaking elementary students, such as the use of pictures to teach vocabu-
lary, role play and small group discussion. “It was an awesome experience,” says Bemis. “The students were such a wonderful representation of Nichols College. I was so proud to say, ‘Yes, we are from Nichols!’” In turn, the Nichols group felt welcomed by the students, principals, teachers YOU ARE ABLE TO and student-teach- SEE THE REALIZATION ers in the program, THAT THEY ARE which is affiliated with the University MAKING A DIFFERENCE of Puerto Rico. COME FORTH IN THE Some Nichols stu- STUDENTS AS THE dents have formed WEEK PROGRESSES. connections with Beth Gionfriddo their counterparts Assistant Director, Center for Student Involvement and continue to stay in touch. In addition to the valuable teaching experience – and except for the giant iguanas freely and creepily roaming the streets of San Juan – the Nichols students loved being immersed in the culture, according to Bemis. “It gave them a better understanding of where these kids lived, the way they learned, the way they grow, and their
perspective,” she says. “There is a lot of poverty there, even though it is an island with beautiful beaches. It is a very different world.” For the third year, the Alternative Spring Break crew travelled to New Orleans to lend a hand in the city’s ongoing recovery efforts. Working with Gulf Coast Volunteers for the Long Haul and the St. Bernard's Project, the Nichols group, led by Justin Dolan, project coordinator, and Beth Gionfriddo, assistant director of the Center for Student Involvement, spent the mornings mudding, sanding and priming a home in the Seventh Ward and the afternoons completing a variety of projects – from painting, gardening and working in the Habitat ReStore Center. “The Alternative Spring Break experience is important because it immerses students into a new culture that they may otherwise never see,” says Gionfriddo. “They are able to learn about themselves, what it means to help others and take part in New Orleans traditions. You are able to see the realization that they are making a difference come forth in the students as the week progresses. Students come back from this trip with a sense of accomplishment and a drive to continue to help others.” Despite long hours, it wasn’t all work and no play for the spring break travelers. Students in New Orleans enjoyed jazz on Frenchmen Street and a dinner at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant. After teaching in the mornings, students in San Juan spent the afternoons going on cultural and historical adventures or relaxing on the beach. “After all,” says Bemis, “it was their spring break.”
isiana u o L , s n a e l r New O
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Teaching with
technology By Andrew Clark
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Frankly, it’s difficult to imagine a classroom that doesn’t use some level of high tech assistance, he says. “It’s crucial now,” says Barnes, assistant professor of business and law, and chair of information technology management, of the use of technology in the modern classroom. “Students now expect a certain level of technology in the classroom. They’re immersed in it 24/7 and it’s unsettling for them not to have it,” he adds.
Bringing tech into the class According to Barnes, there has been an effort at Nichols to begin preparing students for using technology right out of the gate in their academic careers.
There was once a time when students simply relied on
“Starting in the freshman year, we are
a pen and a pad of paper to take notes. But those days
teaching students how to communicate
seem like ages ago. In fact, if you step inside any college
digitally,” says Barnes. Barnes says that there are many differ-
classroom, you’re likely to see dozens of undergrads furiously
ent ways students at Nichols are learning
typing away on laptops, scribbling notes in their tablets, or
whether it’s understanding how to give a
surreptitiously firing off a text message to a friend on their smart phone.
presentation or simply how to utilize a certain piece of novel technology, such as a tablet. As Barnes notes, these skills are not just necessary for college. In fact, they
This is what education in the digital age is like. And as Professor Nicholas Barnes will tell you, the benefits of infusing technology in the classroom are ostensibly endless—especially on a campus like Nichols which is focused on preparing students for the business world.
the ropes of digital communication,
are talents students need to use in life after graduation. “We’re increasingly trying to get students to work more effectively with technology because it’s become expected in the workplace,” he says.
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Te ch n o l o g y i n t h e C l a s s r o o m
tech world and academia when it comes to the material being taught in classes. Barnes offers an example from one of his courses that deals with legal issues. He says that he spent a class discussing
he expects tablets to play an increasingly
The impact of technology on campus
important role in classroom activities.
When it comes to the infusion of technol-
Citing them as an inexpensive alternative
ogy at Nichols, Barnes says that the
to laptops, Barnes predicts that more
future looks rather auspicious. He notes
students will begin shifting to tablets for
that the new academic building will actu-
In the coming years, Barnes says that
have been prevalent. But ultimately, given the multitude of ways people can communicate digitally these days, cyber bullying has become a rather big prob-
everyday use. Devices such as iPads
ally feature classrooms that are specially
lem, making it go from a relative nonissue to a hot topic that’s necessary to
already have a crucial place in education,
built for high tech use. For instance,
discuss in the classroom.
from the high school level to the grad
Barnes says that amongst the
school ranks. Currently, there are myriad
amenities of the new building will
applications that enhance the educa-
be that students can have the ability to
tional experience in ways that people
sync up any device with the screen in a
could have only dreamed of just a decade
room and easily deliver a presentation.
ago. An app like GoodReader allows
If there’s anyone who can speak to the
students to open documents on their
impact of the technological revolution on
screen and take notes on top of them,
campus, it’s Barnes. Before arriving at
Ultimately, the benefits to utilizing technology in the classroom are seemingly endless, though there can be disadvantages to having classes plugged in with technology. For instance, in the smart phone era, professors have to deal with students who are constantly texting
while another app called Dragon Dicta-
Nichols, Barnes had an extensive career
or surfing the internet. Frankly, as Barnes admits, as much of a blessing technology
tion lets the writer speak while the appli-
in the tech world. In the past decade, he’s
can be—it can also serve as a roadblock
cation does the typing.
worked as a technology consultant,
to progress in the classroom. “The biggest challenge is to find a way
From helping students create visual
general counsel for a startup company,
demonstrations for class to simply giving
and as an intellectual property attorney.
them unparalleled access to thousands of
Technology doesn’t just invade the
to make technology supportive and not a distraction,” says Barnes, who adds that
research papers with the scroll of their
classroom through the usage of gadgets
finger, the tools available for students
and gizmos, Barnes adds. Given the ubiq-
keeping the students focused in class can get tricky when they have the ability to
have increased exponentially over the
uitous nature of high technology in the
communicate with anyone in the world at
past few years.
modern age, it’s nearly impossible to not
their fingertips.
have some kind of overlap between the
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the problem of cyber bullying. Just a decade ago, something like this wouldn’t
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GIVEN THE UBIQUITOUS NATURE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN THE MODERN AGE, IT’S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT HAVE SOME KIND OF OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TECH WORLD AND ACADEMIA . . .
But despite the challenges that are attached to teaching in the digital age, the access to a seemingly limitless tool-
“Technology has also made it easier to be an educator,” says Barnes. “For example, it’s one thing to try to
box is an educator’s dream, says Barnes.
explain a complex topic like denial of
Years ago, the only ways to teach were
service to students, but to show a video
through textbooks and a chalkboard. Now
on YouTube adds a whole new dimension.
teachers have the ability to deliver infor-
A picture is really worth 1,000 words.”
“ THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTIVE AND NOT A DISTRACTION. . .”
mation in ways that were once unimaginable, from creating movies on a tablet to recording MP3s for their students’ iPods.
Andrew Clark is a graduate of Suffolk Law School and a Boston-area freelance writer.
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From student to teacher, the Nichols way From teaching English learners to adapting to new technology to meeting new state requirements, students who want to become teachers face an increasing number of challenges. At Nichols, students are trained to meet these challenges from the moment they step into their first education class, through the unique and successful Educator Preparation Program.
By Julie Errico
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The Educator Preparation Program prepares students to teach in either middle or high school in the subjects of math, English, history, or general business education, with the most popular major being history. One hallmark of the program is the practicality of courses that focus on becoming effective teachers. From the first course, Foundations and Philosophies in Education, along with a 20-hour prepracticum field requirement, students are immersed into classroom lesson planning and preparation, an aspect that makes the Nichols program unique. “Since I began teaching, I have been asked several times where I went for my undergraduate degree. I proudly tell people that I earned my BA in history at Nichols, which is traditionally known for its business programs,” says Liz (Draper) Lamonica ’06, a
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“I WAS VERY WELL PREPARED TO ENTER MY OWN CLASSROOM UPON GRADUATION . . .” Liz (Draper) Lamonica ’06
social studies teacher in the Lynnfield Public Schools. “I was very well prepared to enter my own classroom upon graduation, as is evident by the fact that I have taught in one district since graduating.” In addition to practical experience, small class sizes at Nichols ensure students receive the attention they need. “Professors can focus on the true basics of being a good
Program graduates Ashley Sahagian ’12 (page 10) and Ashley Tolman ’12 (left) are teachers at Oxford Middle School. Below, Diane Bemis, standing, consults with Joanne Newcombe.
teacher,” says Dr. Diane Bemis, director of the Educator Preparation Program and chair of the Education Department. “The most beneficial aspect of the program at Nichols is the individual attention students receive from professors and the advisers,” agrees Dan Vreeland ’10, who teaches middle school English and high school math. “Because the faculty has personally worked as school district superintendents, they can relate the knowledge we are learning to real-world experiences. Helping students succeed is their first priority.” With the program’s strong emphasis on practical application and lesson planning, students are well prepared for their teaching practicum in senior year: 15 full weeks of student teaching – seven more weeks than Massachusetts requires. In addition, a faculty member observes students every week enabling them to maintain a much closer connection with the cooperating teacher and to be more prepared when they become classroom teachers themselves.
“THE MOST BENEFICIAL ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM AT NICHOLS IS THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION STUDENTS RECEIVE FROM PROFESSORS AND THE ADVISERS . . .” Dan Vreeland ’10
As part of a predominantly businessoriented college, the Educator Preparation Program offers benefits to both education majors and business majors, many of whom pursue a minor in education. “Taking education classes gives business students the flexibility should they choose to make a career change in the future,” says Dr. Joanne Newcombe, professor of education and associate dean for liberal arts at Nichols, who is the former director of the Educator Preparation Program and a former superintendent of schools. In addition to taking education courses and courses in their major, future teachers in the program are also required to study business, including a first-semester introduction to business course, a mathematics course, and an economics course. “Business is an integral part of daily life. It opens up additional opportunities for students who eventually wish to advance to a principal or assistant principal position or for finance and business majors who plan on working in school business management,” says Bemis.
Ultimately, the success of the program is reflected in the success of its graduates. With a 100 percent employment rate and a positive reputation in the community and school districts, the preparation is clearly working. “The teacher prep program is exceptionally well run,” says Kevin Wells, principal of Oxford High School. “Whether it’s from student placement to preparing students for a current teaching role to helping program graduates implement new state standards in the classroom, Nichols students enter the classroom prepared, ready to teach with integrity and to take pride in their work.” In addition to his role as a principal, Wells also is a father of an education program graduate. “For my daughter Julie, it was the best choice, especially with the continued support she received from her professors,” Wells says. “As a principal, I would definitely be more inclined to hire successful Nichols students who completed their practicum here,” he adds. “The working relationship that I have with Nichols is better than any of the other colleges I work with.”
“ . . . NICHOLS STUDENTS ENTER THE CLASSROOM PREPARED, READY TO TEACH WITH INTEGRITY AND TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK.”
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Kevin Wells Principal, Oxford High School
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AT H L E T I C S
Hanging tough in the face of tragedy The 2013 Nichols College football season may not be remembered as a successful one in terms of wins and losses. For junior Rob Ricci, however, his individual accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable. He was named to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Academic All-Conference Team for the second consecutive year, and he also earned a spot on the 23rd annual Steve “Merc” Morris Worcester Area All-Star Second Team. But behind Ricci’s football and academic success lies a man whose football and academic career were nearly struck down by tragedy not once, but twice. When Ricci was three years old, his father was diagnosed with brain cancer and given less than two years to live. He fought a courageous battle for a decade – including after he was left paralyzed on the left side of his body following brain surgery – before succumbing to the disease when Ricci was 13. It was then, as a seventh grader, that Ricci began playing football. “It was an outlet for me, something to help take away my anger,” he says. “After my dad passed, my mom suggested that I take anger management classes because I was pretty angry. I felt cheated. I wanted the father experience that everyone else had. My dad played football in high school, so he always wanted me to play, but my mom never wanted me to because she felt it was too dangerous. But I needed something, so I asked her if I could play.” Ricci spent his freshman year at Chelmsford High School playing for both the freshman and junior varsity squad, due in large part to his size. He made the junior varsity “A” squad as a sophomore, which presented him the opportunity to work with varsity offensive line coach, Eli Gioumbakis, who was employed at the same middle school Ricci
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By Pete DiVito
“To this day, I still have that demon telling me I can’t do it, and it fuels me every day I wake up...” attended and who knew of Ricci’s loss. “I really liked him, and I felt that he would be able to give me the help I needed to become the best football player I could be. He took me under his wing and was a role model to me,” says Ricci. Then, after Ricci missed the majority of his junior campaign due to injury, tragedy struck again. This time, it was his mother. She suffered a massive heart attack and could not be revived. “It was a lot harder than [losing] my father,” explains Ricci. “I knew my father was sick, so I knew it was going to happen at one point. I truly thought my mother was never going to die. She worked 60 hours a week and missed most of my games, but I completely understood and never held it against her.” Ricci, who says he felt “orphaned” at the time, moved in with his uncle. It was also at this time that Ricci’s elder sister, Kristin, and her husband, Joseph, became prominent figures in his life. “My mother had let me get away with anything because my father had passed, but my sister
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always dropped the hammer on me, so we didn’t have a great relationship. When my mom died, we worked on fixing that.” Ricci says that he didn’t want to continue playing sports after his mom passed, but Coach Gioumbakis told him that he had “come too far” to give up now. “I lost my love for sports. They weren’t fun anymore,” says Ricci. “I’d see people’s parents at their games, and I’d be jealous because I didn’t have that. When I decided to play my senior year, I also decided that I wanted to play in college. That became my dream. My sister began to get on my case about my studies, and I don’t know if that would have happened had my mother not passed. It opened my eyes to the things I needed to do to become a better person.” Following Ricci’s senior season, he began the college selection process, and one of his stops included a visit to Dudley. “I did a
day visit and really liked it, but truthfully, I thought it was way out of my league. In the end, Nichols offered me the best package, and I wanted to show them they made a good decision taking a chance on me.” From a young age, Ricci had hoped to become a state trooper or work for the U.S. Marshall Service, emulating his father who was a police officer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. As a criminal justice management major at Nichols, he is making that dream come true. But not a day goes by where he doesn’t think about his parents and credits the man he feared more than anyone growing up – his brother-in-law, Joseph – with making sure he didn’t slide down a slippery slope. “I’ll never forget the night my mother passed,” explains Ricci. “Joseph came to my room and gave me a hug. He’d lost both of his parents before he turned 18 as well. He said, ‘Kid, you need to make the most out of this.’ And when I told him I didn’t know how, he said, ‘You need to have a demon deep down inside of you telling you that you can’t, for everything. Then, do it. Prove everyone wrong.’” Entering his senior year at Nichols under first-year Head Coach Dale Olmsted, Ricci will be looked upon to help lead the transition. Despite the team’s struggles on the field, nothing will ever compare to what Ricci has overcome off the field. “I never wanted to use my parents passing as an excuse for anything,” says Ricci. “To this day, I still have that demon telling me I can’t do it, and it fuels me every day I wake up. I don’t think about my parents when I’m playing, but I can feel them there when I’m doing well. That’s what keeps me going.” Action photo: Jill Souza Portrait: Pete DiVito
ALUMNI
A View from the Hill by Dr. James L. Conrad, Jr. Professor of History, Emeritus
Understanding the Nichols College History, 1931–1996 In his classic book on business history, Strategy and Structure (1962), Alfred D. Chandler, Jr., explained that long-term goals and objectives – referred to as "strategy" – generally brought desired results – termed the "structure" – for large 19th century American industries. Importantly, historian Chandler’s theories also are applicable to much smaller operations such as 20th century Nichols College. Consequently, to understand the Nichols history, one should focus on institutional goals or strategies and the structures that followed. Helpful too in understanding the Nichols College history is the fact that it extended over three separate time periods or eras. The first relates to the College’s beginnings (1931–1948); the second focuses on reshaping Nichols Junior College (1949–1970); and the last era, at least for the moment, is a time of institutional transformation (1971–1996). For instance, Nichols Junior College of Business Administration and Executive Training began in Dudley, Massachusetts, in September 1931, during the Great Depression. According to its organizers, the College was the “first junior college exclusively for men in the East” and the “first institution of junior college rank to offer business administration courses.” The College featured a rural campus, dormitories, and a recreational program designed “to give young men an opportunity for wholesome and competitive sports.” Survival was the necessary goal for this beginning. Everything about the College was new: a campus, a program, and a student body. Unfortunately, all did not go well initially. Early events included fires in the 1930s that destroyed two College
buildings and the Hurricane of ’38 which nearly flattened the Academy building. War then closed the College from 1943 to 1946. Yet enrollment increased yearly, the curriculum was applauded, and the College’s athletic program had eight different teams competing against college and university freshmen and junior varsity teams. These successes made it possible to move to the next era. A period of campus reshaping for the Dudley Hill college began in 1946 after Nichols Junior College purchased its previously leased Nichols Academy campus. The primary goal of the College president was to achieve four-year college status. To accomplish this, campus buildings and their functions had to be relocated; some were reconstructed to meet higher standards. The dining hall was relocated, the president’s office was moved, and a new library was constructed. By 1961, each move had worked to establish the College’s academic center on its upper campus. A second part of this era’s reshaping process began on the lower campus with the shift of the College’s athletic facilities and fields from the old gym (now
Daniels Auditorium) and the west side of Dudley Hill to the east of the Hill. It was a massive undertaking that dramatically changed the College campus. Included was the construction of a swimming pool, field house, tennis courts and outdoor recreational facilities, a new football field, and lesser practice fields. Concurrently, College academic programs were revised to support a four-year college degree in business and a twoyear, later a four-year program, in conservation and forestry. With the addition of the bachelor’s program in 1958, Nichols athletic teams competed in the NAIA (1961) and then in the NCAA (1966). The College’s first president, James L. Conrad, retired in 1966. Dr. Gordon C. Cross followed as the College’s second president. Prior to the 1970s, Nichols was all-male, with undergraduates in business concentrations and a unique program in forestry and
conservation. Students generally conformed to a dress code. However, by the late 1960s, a "Great Transformation" was sweeping through higher education in America, and Nichols was on its way to becoming a larger college. In 1971, Nichols became coeducational, offered Bachelor of Arts degrees, a Master of Business Administration degree, and eventually constructed two new modern buildings. The term, "Business Administration," was removed from the College’s title and many former social rules were eliminated. A substantially larger evening school and a master’s program also evolved. In 1973, when the NCAA created Div. lll for small colleges, the College athletic program greatly benefited. And, as enrollment numbers quickly increased, Nichols women’s athletic teams experienced much success. By their nature, these and many other changes then led toward a future era with its own goals and structures.
200 and counting…
If memories of Nichols College light the corners of your mind, share your favorite with us! As part of Nichols’ bicentennial celebration in 2015, we aim to collect 200 memories of the College that launched thousands of careers and lifelong friendships. Your memory will be posted on a special bicentennial website! Name_________________________________________________________ Class year_______________ My favorite Nichols College memory: _______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to: Nichols College Alumni Relations, 123 Center Road, Dudley, MA 01571 or return in the enclosed envelope. Email to: alumnioffice@nichols.edu with the subject line, Favorite Nichols Memory.
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1940s Class Scribe: Stanley E. Finn Jr. 70 Franklin St. Northampton, MA 01063-0001 413-586-0886 65th REUNION
1950s Class Scribe: Robert Risk Jr. 309 Conestoga Rd. Wayne, PA 19087-4009 610-688-8242 From the Class Scribe… I was a no-show in the last couple of issues of Nichols College Magazine, and I’m sorry about that, as I enjoy writing about all my old classmates. I took a tumble but am 110 percent again. Growing old ain’t for sissies! First off, I want to mention a few of our classmates that I have talked to recently. They are well and asked to be remembered to our class: Walt Peters, Bob Bacon, Alden Ingraham, Fred Levitan, Al Hanlon, Bill Loughran, Bill Abel, Dick Kosse, Stan Jones, Dave Graham, Homer Jones, and Tom Hyland. Our class had no-shows at Homecoming 2013 but Mayor Walt is planning a get-together for our 64th in 2014…more news coming on this soon. Stan Jones [below] has been very active on Cape Cod with the Korean War veterans and
Remembering when…the Class of 1950 lines up for a freshman photo.
has led the event and parade for many years. Dave Graham informed me he has 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. He said, “Not bad for a guy who was an only child.” Our class had 41 percent participation in the annual report of donors. Not bad for a bunch of old guys! Of the top five classes, we were second. Good job, gang! I look forward to seeing you at Homecoming in 2014. Please call me with any news you might have. Laugh all you can; it’s cheap medicine.
Dan Berman writes: “Still working full time. Regards to all.” 60th REUNION
Donald Siegel writes: “I remain good friends with my lifetime friend, Donald Schafer, Nichols roommate and fellow alumnus. We graduated together from grade school, high school, and
Nichols. Don recently attended my surprise 80th birthday party, and we live only five minutes apart in Carmel, IN.”
Class Scribe: Arthur L. Fries 917 Jordan Ct. Nipomo, CA 93444-6625 949-287-4710 friesart@hotmail.com
Class Scribe: Kent Tarrant 45 Valley View Dr. Hampden, MA 01036-9504 413-566-5130 kent100@charter.net From the Class Scribe… Michael Ricci ’15 was named as the recipient of the Class of ’57 Endowed Scholarship. A small celebration was held at the Publick House. Einar “Bucky” Jorgenson passed away in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Classmates will recall his various roles in Dramatic Club productions where he served as president.
Class Scribe: Paul D. Price 3214 Sudbury St. Springfield, OH 45503-1731 pprice@woh.rr.com William Schmertz writes: “Since retiring in 2000, I have been spending as much time as possible with my daughter, son, and three grandchildren. I also help coach the girls’ basketball team at Red Bank Catholic High School, who were state champs in New Jersey last season at 29–2.” 55th REUNION
Message from Charlie Howe… This year will be the 55th anniversary of your graduation from Nichols College. It is also a year of celebration for the College. Many of you have never returned to the Hill, which is unfortunate because what you were a part of many years ago has transformed into a highly acclaimed and respected institution. Some of the same traditions and experiences that were
Classmates from 1957 meet up with the recipient of their class scholarship at the Publick House. They are, from left, Dave Fleming, Art Rizy, Michael Ricci ’15, Kerry Barnes ’05 MBA ’07, former director of the Nichols Fund, Kent Tarrant and Don Claprood.
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part of your college life continue today. Many of the people who have held leadership roles on staff and on the board are Nichols graduates. We've come a long way, baby! Be a part of today and help by being a part of the future. A visit to the Hill would be a great first step. You'll know what to do after that! Nichols Pride! ~ Charlie Howe '59 '62, aka "Whale."
1960s Class Scribe: Charlie N. Howe May–September 212–22nd St. Surf City, NJ 08008-4926 charleskatehowe@gmail.com 609-494-5450 October–April 17468 Cornflower Ln. Punta Gorda, FL 33955 941-575-8150 From the Class Scribe… George Bartlett writes that he and his wife, Deanie, celebrated their 48th anniversary in October. Their son, Todd, and wife, Tina, live close by. One granddaughter, Savanah (12), attends the First Wesleyan Christian Academy. Interestingly, she is attending the same school that her father did and is a straight A student. George noted that she gets that from him. He is still living at Greenhill Drive, High Point, NC. John Turro and his wife, Adele, keep in regular contact with me. They traveled to Italy this past summer. I’m still waiting for the update on the trip. He returned to campus for homecoming. I think that he has the best attendance record of anyone in the class. They also visited Hugo Pagliccia and his wife, Carol. Hugo has had some health issues but appears to be on the way to recovery. Kate and I are planning to see Hugo and Carol in Florida.
Catching up with
Nancy Gervais ’98 Since graduating from Nichols College in 1998, Nancy Gervais has become the manager of entry-level recruitment strategy at State Street Global Human Resources in Boston. She manages a team of recruiters who specialize in filling entrylevel positions within the company. Despite her demanding role at State Street, however, Gervais is actively involved on the campus of her alma mater. In addition to representing State Street at the annual Nichols College Career Fair, Gervais participates in on-campus recruiting – a process that involves interviewing students for internships and entrylevel positions. In recent years, she has also participated in an employer panel, a small group of alumni representing different industries who provide college seniors with valuable information regarding the hiring process. Gervais is hoping her expertise in recruiting can enhance programming for the newly developed Institute for Women’s Leadership at Nichols. She is
Richard Knoener writes that the house on top of the hill is ready for winter. (Based on what we have seen so far, you had better be ready in Western Massachusetts.) Gloria and Richard spent time in Maine during June and later in October. He said that he is in the process of getting the K&S Associates customers booked for spring. He writes that except for a little mental derangement on his part, both he and Gloria are in good health. Best to all. Paul Zimmerman writes that, yes, he is out there somewhere, not sure where, but somewhere. As I mentioned in my note to all, Paul visited the campus for the President’s Society gathering. What I didn't know at the time was that Cal Hills also attended the gathering. A special thanks to both Paul and Cal for their continued and generous sup-
discussing the possibility of upcoming projects including serving as a guest speaker and providing a workshop to female students. When asked why she has chosen a career in recruiting and why she is as involved as she is here on the Hill, the answer is quite simple: “I enjoy working with those who are bright-eyed and bushytailed – young, aspiring professionals who can bring a new and fresh perspective to a company.”
port of the College. Cal writes that he is working some and spends the winter in Vero Beach, FL. Bart Henkle is currently living in the Villages in central Florida and enjoying the lifestyle. He points out that they have over 2,000 clubs/organizations to choose from, plus 500 holes of golf. He plays bridge and says they have 52 different opportunities to play each week. If you haven’t gotten the second book on the history of Nichols by Dr. James Conrad, Jr., you may want to. The Hill is planning a big celebration for the bicentennial in 2014-2015. It would be nice if many of you could attend. Had a recent chat with Warren Bender '64 (“And the beat goes on”) who will be planning a 50th class reunion. Let's talk it up.
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~ By Kelly Vaillancourt
Rene Langevin is finally retired as athletic director of Bartlett High School. He did mention that Karen has been saving a “to do” list for this very occasion. I'll bet that there are still a few grandchildren around that will need some coaching. Will keep you updated. "That's all, folks." George Withington writes: “The Class of 1962 and I enjoyed our 50th class reunion for homecoming in 2012. Nichols has made great strides academically in the last 50 years. It has done well financially and in name recognition amongst business colleges.”
Class Scribe: Bruce I. Haslun 16 Gilder Point Ct. Simpsonville, SC 29681-5249 hashardt@att.net
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From the Class Scribe… Naturally, the big news this time is our 50th class reunion that occurred last October. If you missed it, you really missed a terrific event! As you know by now, the class met the $50,000 Challenge set by Tom Niles, coming through with more than $52,000! The Class of ’63 Endowed Scholarship is the largest such class scholarship in Nichols’ history. To be honest, I hope we don’t hold the record for very long. In today’s world, scholarships are so very important that I hope many future classes can equal and surpass us. In 1963, tuition, room, and board totaled $2,500. As a guy who largely put himself through college, I can tell you it was an astronomical amount, and I had to ask Mr. Gromelski on more than one occasion to be patient. (God bless him, he always was.) Currently, the cost for tuition, room, and board is around 16 times what I was trying to scrape together. Is it any surprise that at Nichols, as at colleges across the country, affordability is the biggest reason for leaving before graduation? You can understand why scholarships are so appreciated. And news of The Brethren. Ross Chambers and his wife, Gloria, took top honors for distance traveled in the U.S., coming to the Hill from Seattle, with a side trip to Brooklyn, to welcome their first grandchild, a girl. As usual, Frans Keesing, our ever faithful Hollander, took top honors for worldwide distance traveled.
Bruce Haslun and his wife, Carol Erhardt, share a moment at the Class of ’63 reunion.
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Sandy Stropp and his wife, Bonnie, are also new grandparents by now, as they were expecting any moment during the reunion weekend. Peter Brusman and his wife, Diane, had just come from river cruising in Prague, Czechoslovakia, before the reunion and were continuing on with further travels before heading home for house guests. John Turro ’62 and his wife, Adele, whom we saw at the football game, had just been to Italy for their 50th wedding anniversary. Bill Cleary and wife, Helen, drove up from San Antonio for the weekend and were then headed to Cape Cod. It was good to see Bry Beeson and his wife, Susan. Bry has become a tree hugger. Oops! Sorry! I took that note during Saturday cocktail hour. Found out later that it should read, “Bry Beeson has become a tree farmer.” Jim Feindel is living in Hooksett, NH, and retired in 2008 from A.W. Chesterton where he worked for 41 years. He was in various management operations and his work took him to Mexico, the Netherlands, Ireland, and England. I had mentioned Harry Murdock ’62 to Jim. The three of us were good friends in Merrill Hall. Jim reminded me that his ex-roommate preferred Grayson, H. Grayson Murdoch, instead of Harry. I stand corrected. Jack Lubbers has bought a home in Aiken, SC, as an investment and a “retreat.” Jack and Teresa live in Charleston, SC. Aiken is 400 feet above sea level. Apparently the scary results of hurricanes made a “retreat” in Aiken seem very appealing! Heard from Bob Therrien just before this submission. He saw a picture of the reunion and asked about Pete Smith, who he played hockey with while at Nichols and who was an usher at Bob’s wedding. Bob is wintering in Myrtle Beach. The football team brought back memories to all of us at the
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Lou Stroller ’63, who has been involved in movie production for more than 40 years on films such as Scarface, The Rock, Carlito’s Way, and Carrie, speaks with students at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles about how earning a business degree at Nichols helped him in the film industry.
reunion by losing to Salve Regina College 32-0. We all thought it would be a pushover until some young person in the stands informed us that SRC was no longer an all-female institution. I wouldn’t say Nichols was under pressure, but at the end of the 3rd quarter, Coach sent handwritten notes to Art Tozzi and Don Mafera requesting they “suit up!” I am pleased and thankful to report that I heard from Curt Stiles ’64 on November 2. I quote, “Roughly 70 days since my bone marrow transplant. We just arrived back in the Adirondacks last night. We have been staying at Hope Lodge in Boston, run by the American Cancer Society. Not a medical facility but rather a supportive, healing process where we have met people from all over this world. All is going very well and our next major checkpoint is a series of tests after day 100 which will determine the ongoing treatment plan and how soon I can ski this winter.” Bob Falkenstein reports that his wife, Elaine, passed away in November 2013. Bob is still in California and if any of you wish to drop him a line, you can do so at sonefalcono3@yahoo.com. May the Lord watch over all of us this year, but especially those who are hurting and who are afraid. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. ~ Then, Now, Always…Bruce
50th REUNION
Class Scribe: Warren C. Bender 3604 Kingsley Dr. Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-7714 843-492-6727 wbender@sc.rr.com From the Class Scribe… I start with the sad news of the passing of Bob “Gas” Gascoyne on September 3, 2013. He was buried with military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida on November 27th. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in July of this year in New Jersey. If any alumni would like to know when and where, drop me a line, as I've asked his wife, Marian, to inform me when she has the details. “Gas” was my dorm neighbor for our last two years on the Hill, and three or four of us did a lot of studying at Red's. He was the goalie for the soccer team, had a good voice in the choir and a great sense of humor, and above all, was a real good friend. Leaving us with military honors isn't too shabby either. I've included a picture of some of the Red's gang with these notes. Our 50th class reunion is only a few months away. We have formed a Reunion Committee and are working on creating the Class of ’64 Endowed Scholarship. Your support will be greatly appreciated! I am truly hoping for a great turnout at our reunion. Even if you have not been to the Hill in many years,
ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES
now would be good time to see the people you spent four years with and all of the changes that have occurred at Nichols. Dr. James Conrad's book on the history of Nichols (1931– 1996) has been printed and is now available. Let me, or the school, know if you have any interest. I had a nice conversation with Ernest Hesseltine, who has spent most of his working career with Merrill Lynch. He spends winters on Kiawah Island, SC, and summers in Burnsville, NC. I saw him at a lunch meeting in
The Red’s Gang, Class of ’64: front row, from left, Barry “Gordo” Gordon, and Bob “Gas” Gascoyne; middle row, from left, Carl “Gillis” Gilbert, Warren “Wazy” Bender, and Carl “Swede” Swenson; back row, from left, Harvey “Earl” Sykes, Mike “Bosco” McCarthy, and Steve Besner.
Myrtle Beach when Bri Callahan, director of alumni relations, visited to discuss our 50th reunion and a possible event in this area to celebrate the bicentennial. I also had a brief discussion with Steve Smith ’61, who is in Myrtle Beach. He and his wife are working their way through some health problems and doubted he could attend the luncheon with Bri. Also at the luncheon were Art Tozzi ’63 and Ron Schmitt ’62, who came down from North Carolina. Of course, most of the conversation was stories concerning the early ’60s, which Bri enjoyed as much as her older lunch mates. I left starting to look forward to our 50th. ~ “And The Beat Goes On.”
Paul Ceccarelli writes: “In December 2013, I sold my business which was in my family for 88 years. Yeah!”
Herbert Losee writes that he is currently living in Simsbury, CT, with his wife, Janice, and is the proud grandfather of two beautiful granddaughters, Clair and Chloe. He also notes that he has been undergoing treatments for kidney cancer. While the chemo is difficult, he says, he remains optimistic.
Jim Jackson ’69 surrounded by grandkids on his birthday.
Bruce Demoranville writes: “My wife, Melanie, and I have completed our travels to all seven continents. Our last was to Antartica, which was just spectacular! We just returned from Singapore, Sri Lanka and India.”
Chip Detwiller writes: “I have lived in Sudbury, MA, for 23 years and am planning to downsize. I have two grandkids (ages, 6 and 8) living in Groton, MA, and hope to move closer. We have traveled lots since my wife, Carly, has been in the travel business for 30+ years.”
Kenneth Alton notes that he is retired from TransCanada, and is living in Strafford, VT, where he keeps busy with Vermont Special Olympics, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. 45th REUNION
Class Scribe: Robert B. Kuppenheimer 4627 Tremont Ln. Corona del Mar, CA 92625-3130 bob.kuppenheimer@nuveen.com From the Class Scribe… I have enclosed photos of me fighting the bear, and winning the fish at Brooks Falls, Alaska. Ed Michalik writes: “I have been retired for some time now.
Classmates on a steak-out: Jack Hills ’69, Bob Kuppenheimer ’69, Tom Hall ’69, Frank Petrillo ’70, and Joe Batthany ’70 lunching on Feb. 20th at Bobby Vans Steak House in New York City.
I have four children, Brie (23), Alex (26), Mike (40), and Marc (45). I remarried in October 2010 to my current wife who is a Chinese National. We live most of our life at our horse ranch in southern Colorado (Walsenburg), but also spend time at our metro Denver, Colorado, condo and at our home in Beijing, China. My wife is semiretired but retains the position of chief representative for Central Asian Oil, China's largest independent oil company. I spent my working life, before retirement in 2001, as both a building contractor and civil contractor, working on both a national and international basis.” Jim Jackson celebrated his birthday with family, and Lee McNelly reports the birth of his fourth grandchild, Felicity Philomena Barger, on Nov. 18, 2013.
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Bob “Kuppy” Kuppenheimer ’69 fishes at Brooks Falls, Alaska, as a bear looks on.
Kuppy and his catch of the day
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From the Archives
Class Scribe: Mark B. Alexander markalexander68@yahoo.com 40th
Summer Boarders
Contributed by Jim Douglas
REUNION
One of the true pleasures of doing research is the discovery of unexpected connections. Take for example, something that I came across while looking for information on Roger Conant Hall in preparation for Nichols’ 200th anniversary:
The Great Cthulhu Slept Here? Roger Conant Hall, often known as just Conant Hall, was built at the behest of Hezekiah Conant in 1885 as a boarding house for Nichols Academy students and named for a family ancestor. As James L. Conrad, Jr. notes in his Nichols Academy: The Spring on the Hill 1815–1931, “This structure contained a dining hall and kitchen in its basement, suites for the preceptor and steward on the first floor, with at least ten sleeping rooms on each of the upper floors for student boarders.” During summers the building also served for many years as a boarding house for vacationers. According to one newspaper it offered “a healthful and cool retreat from the city in the most delightful hill town where all the charms of outward nature may be used to advantage.” Advertisements were enthusiastic about the “high elevation, always a breeze; refined patronage; beautiful drives and views, good auto roads; pure
water, home cooking, fresh fruits and vegetables: rates low.” And, according to one short history of Dudley, “many prominent personages gathered at the Inn in its early days.” No one could know it at the time, but perhaps the summer boarder who would become one of the most prominent was a two-year old boy who would grow up to write stories that in the words of Joyce Carol Oates would, along with those by Edgar Allan Poe, exert “an incalculable influence on succeeding generations of writers of horror fiction” (including Stephen King). When he was 34, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, better known to fans of horror and weird tales as H.P. Lovecraft, wrote that his first memories were “of the summer of 1892 – just before my second birthday. We were then vacationing in Dudley, Mass. & I recall the house with its frightful attic water-tank & my rocking horses at the head of the stairs.” (Joshi, S.T., A Dreamer and a Visionary: H.P. Lovecraft in His Time, p. 11). We’ll probably never know for sure, but it is highly likely the “house” Lovecraft recalled was The Dudley Inn.
Ernest “Smokey” Aumand writes: “I graduated from Nichols in 1978. I was dorm director of O'Neil Hall (I believe it is now a parking lot or tennis court), a member of the Business Club, Marketing Club, Finance Club, Tutoring Club and Commuter Club. I represented O'Neil Hall in intramural sports and was a security guard during semester breaks. I have lived in Washington, DC, Vermont, Florida, and California (Army/NSA, Contractor/Procurement) before retiring six years ago in my early 50s and moving back home to North Walpole, NH. I was recently appointed to the Selective Service System while working and volunteering with the local school district special education programs and coaching/officiating at various sporting events.“ 35th REUNION
Conant Hall/The Dudley Inn c. 1905
Great Cthulhu is a cosmic character created by H.P. Lovecraft, which first appeared in “The Call of Cthulhu,” published in Weird Tales magazine in 1928. Nichols Academy buildings (Conant Hall/Dudley Inn on right) around the time the Lovecrafts vacationed on the Hill.
David Parkinson writes: “Retired from Experian. Six road trips, nine national parks, purchased a summer house in Cape May, NJ, have six grandkids, and married to Carla.”
1980s 1970s Tony Downey writes that he has retired from M&T Bank in Buffalo, NY, after a career in government banking. He and his wife, Jeanne, recently moved to Hilton Head, SC, to enjoy warm
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weather, golfing and a relaxed style of living. He has three grown children, Christopher (43), Carrie (40), and Brendan (35), and two grandchildren who live in Buffalo. Willi Benoit writes: “Hello to all friends made during my years on the Hill.”
Spring/Summer 2014
John Steepy notes that “Life is good,” as he “finally” retired from a management career in accounting, human resources and safety.
Jim Lyons writes about two new granddaughters: Brooklyn was born to Erica (33) and joins sister Jameson (2), and Kelsey was born to Jim (32), his first. His youngest daughter, Lyse, is 26. He adds, “All are doing well. Lori and I are enjoying being grandparents. Regards to all.”
ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES
30th REUNION
Paul Fitzpatrick was appointed senior vice president of GFA Financial Group, the wealth management division of GFA Federal Credit Union. He joined the GFA Financial Group in 1994 as vice president. As senior vice president, he will continue to manage GFA Financial Group as well as its recent expansion of services beyond the Greater Gardner, MA, area and into Southern New Hampshire.
Class Scribe: Michael L. Donehey 508-376-5469 (phone) 509-376-5043 (fax) mdonehey@live.com From the Class Scribe… It’s hard to believe 30 years have passed since the Class of '83 graduated from the Hill. I wish I could have made the reunion this year. Thanks to Pam Murphy for taking the lead on this; however, my son's college had a conflicting date. I did, however, make an unofficial reunion down in Old Lyme, CT. On Friday the 13th (yep) of September, a bunch of Class of '83 grads and other Nichols friends embarked on a fishing trip/clam bake. I could spend hours writing about the exploits; however, as they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. To view the action, visit YouTube and search for “Nichols 30 Years Later” by Mark Tarca. The video pretty much says it all. Thanks, Tarca and Timbo, for the video and hospitality, and Henny for the coordination. The rest of you need to practice up on your caps. Send me any information you would like me to include in the next editions. ~ Spike
Class Scribe: Rose (Cummings) Mamakos 3 Woodland Ave. Kingston, MA 02364-1029 mamcraz@comcast.net
From the Class Scribe… Jude Tomasino, associate director of admissions/transfer at the Community College of Rhode Island, was presented with the Distinguished Member Award from the Rhode Island Association of Admissions Officers (RIAAO). The honor is given to a current RIAAO member who has
1815 ~ 2015
Class Scribe: John P. Donahue 10 Corsham Dr. Medford, NJ 08055-8434 609-257-8191 jdonahue5@csc.com
Class Scribe: Susan Zimonis 18930 Misty Lake Dr. Jupiter, FL 33458-3785 561-707-8781 susanzimonis@bellsouth.net From the Class Scribe… Antoinette “Toni” Lucier has recently been promoted to human resources supervisor at Votran located in Daytona Beach. Toni would enjoy hearing from alumni and can be reached at RidingFL129@gmail.com.
Class Scribe: Diane (Bellerose) Golas 90 Lebanon St. Southbridge, MA 01550-3020 508-764-6077 spongedicat@aol.com 25th REUNION
1990s Class Scribe: Donna Small 5783 Misty Meadows Ct. Clemmons, NC 27012-9675 336-692-5157 (cell) dsmall9242000@yahoo.com 20th REUNION
Class Scribe: Danielle (Troiano) Sprague 20 Stagecoach Rd. Leominster, MA 01453-3472 508-845-6604 thedwoman@yahoo.com
given generously of his or her time contributing to the growth, development, and management of the professional association. Also, having just completed his term as immediate past president, Tomasino was elected to serve another term as president.
Come celebrate Traditions at Nichols College as we kick off the year-long Bicentennial Homecoming Weekend September 19 and 20, 2014
(Below is a tentative list of events. For schedule updates, watch your mail or visit community.nichols.edu/homecoming2014)
Friday, September 19
• Bicentennial Tour • Men’s Soccer vs. Endicott College • President’s Reception for Golden Bison (Pre-registration is required) • Bicentennial Kick-off Reception & Dinner (Invitation only) • Bicentennial Fireworks Display
Saturday, September 20 • • • • • • • • •
Bicentennial History Presentation by Dr. James L. Conrad, Jr. Hospitality Tent & Tailgating Athletic Hall of Fame Brunch (Pre-registration and cost required) Bicentennial Tour Women’s Soccer vs. Endicott College Women’s Tennis vs. Roger Williams University Football vs. Becker College Reunion Dinner (Pre-registration and cost required) Concert
Hotel Information
Homecoming attendees are encouraged to stay at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center. Be sure to mention Nichols College when you call to make a reservation for a special discount of $119/night. Shuttle service from Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center to Nichols College is available on Saturday, September 20. For other hotels, contact Alumni Relations at 866-622-4766. Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center 14 Mechanic Street, Southbridge, MA 508-765-8000 | www.southbridgehotel.com When making a reservation online, please enter group code NICHOLSHC2014.
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Catching up with Bo-Young Lin ’08
Mark Primavera sends the following update: “I graduated in fall ’96 but walked with the class of ’97. After graduating, I worked as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant. I left those fields to concentrate on teaching special education at the Kennedy Center in Trumbull, CT. I got married on April 8, 2011, to Laurissa Toigo, who graduated from UConn in ’95 with a degree in liberal arts. She is the director of sales for FME, a software company based in Germany. We have two children, a boy, Colby, who is 12 and who I adopted when he was eight. We had a baby girl on June 18, 2013, and her name is Adelaine. We live in Milford, CT. Please feel free to contact me at Primo1m@hotmail.com or 203-606-9091.” Alicia (Moreau) Shambo MBA was the featured cover story in the Fall 2013 edition of the College of Charleston Magazine for her heroic efforts as a volunteer for the Boston Marathon during last year’s bombings. Shambo is a 1989 graduate of the College of Charleston. To view the article online, go to http://issuu.com/ college_of_charleston/docs/ cofcmagfall13.
Bo-Young Lin ’08 believes in the value of education. Since earning his bachelor’s degree at Nichols, Lin has earned two certificates, completed a Master of Arts degree in international studies and is expected to complete a Master of Arts in banking and finance at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) in Switzerland in October. Given his experience and education, Lin’s short-term goal is to find a job in the financial sector, preferably in asset management or wealth management, with a long-term goal of starting a wealth management company. Lin recognizes that education will help get him there. “While at Nichols, I learned that economics is the foundation of understanding how this world operates. This is the primary reason why I have continued my education in economics,” he says. “On the other hand, I am also very interested in finance. That is why I wanted some additional education in finance and pursued professional certification in the field.” A native of Taiwan who speaks three languages, Lin proved his academic ability at Nichols by double majoring in management and economics with a minor in psychology. He was selected as a candidate for North American Free Trade Agreement Honor Program and was awarded an internship with the prestigious CATO Institute, a
Bo-Young Lin is exploring the world on a trip to Brazil.
D.C.-based think‐tank promoting free markets and limited government, and its Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he researched economic policies. Since graduation, Lin has made his way through a number of internships dealing with international issues at the World Bank Group, the United Nations, and ATHGO International, a non‐profit organization dedicated to youth empowerment. Through all of his experiences, Lin has followed the advice he gives others: “Go explore the world. Learn from different cultures and people and their ways of thinking. When you encounter people from other parts of the world, expect that the experience will open your eyes to the world beyond your own.”
Class Scribe: David J. Twiss 978-979-7658 (cell) david.twiss14@gmail.com
~ By Julie Errico
Class Scribe: Jillian H. Smerage jnhayes80@gmail.com 10th REUNION
Class Scribe: Emily (Seiferman) Alves millie.176@hotmail.com 15th REUNION
Tony Volpone MBA ’02 has been named head football coach at Castleton College in Vermont. Volpone brings 15 years of coaching experience to the position,
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spending the past seven seasons at Endicott College as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.
2000s Class Scribe: Andrea Sacco andrea.j.sacco@gmail.com
Spring/Summer 2014
From the Class Scribe… In October 2013, I was promoted to AVP/commercial loan officer at Georgetown Bank. I now reside in Georgetown, MA, with my wife, Catherine, and two children, Lilliana and Lando. Steve Malcolm is now an enterprise account executive at Work Market.
Class Scribe: Erica (Mello) Boulay erica.boulay@hotmail.com Class Scribe update... I was married to Daniel Boulay on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Hartford, CT, followed by a
NICHOLS REMEMBERS
We’d like to hear from you!
2010s Please send your news directly to your class scribe. If you do not have a class scribe, news may be forwarded to classnotes@nichols.edu. Digital images are preferred, but please do not crop them! The higher the megapixels (resolution) the better. (We need 300 dpi – dots per inch – for print). Digital images may be sent directly to: classnotes@nichols.edu. Prints may be sent to: Nichols College, Alumni Relations , P.O. Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571
reception at The Riverview in Simsbury, surrounded by many family and friends. We recently celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary and purchased a new home in South Windsor, CT.
Class Scribe: Alexandria M. Hallam aliemchal@gmail.com From the Class Scribe…
Maura (Fregeolle) Agnelli and her husband, Joseph Agnelli III ’04, announce the birth of their first baby, Joseph Francis Agnelli IV, on Aug. 7, 2013. 5th
REUNION
Erica (Mello) Boulay ’06 and her husband, Daniel Boulay, above; Joseph Francis Agnelli IV, below
Class Scribe: Katelyn M. Vella katelyn.vella@yahoo.com
Donny Wynia ’09 MBA ’10 and Rich Walters ’10 have started their own business, AllSprtz Inc., a website designed to connect the athletic community and promote athletic development. “The website provides a centralized place for athletes to gain access to ways to develop in sports,” says Wynia. “As athletes ourselves, growing up we werelimited to traditional coaching platforms that tend to be very expensive. So we ended up putting together AllSprtz, to provide an alternative method for developing in sports.” Both Wynia and Walters credit the education they received at Nichols with the ability to start this business. “Even to this day, the professors are willing to support us and provide us with advice,” adds Wynia.
Here is news of recent engagements: Jen Mayer to Aaron Francis (above) and Noelle Duncanson to Billy Hotham.
Kevin Leary is now a mental health counselor at Walden Behavioral Care, Children's Hospital in Waltham. Christine Ward accepted a new position at Socially Yours. Deborah Sweeney started a new job at GE in commercial support.
Roosevelt Evariste ’13 is working at O’Neill Electric in Portland, OR, after making a connection with Ali O’Neill on campus last spring. He is pictured at the Portland Farmer’s Market.
AllSprtz Inc., started by Donny Wynia and Rich Walters, is an online athletic network designed to promote athletic development through the use of technology.
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Arthur O. Wurtmann ’41, of Brookfield, Conn., died Oct. 25, 2013. In 1943, he joined the State Department and was posted to the Office of Naval Attaché in London where he was commissioned into the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant. Wurtmann worked for a number of Madison Avenue advertising agencies, including BBD&O, where he became involved in live-broadcast radio and television programs. He later joined Reader's Digest as merchandising manager. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; three sons; three stepchildren; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy. Robert C. Forbes ’47, of Lakewood, Colo., died Sept. 5, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army as a Technician Fourth Class, 22nd Medical Detachment, from 1942 to 1946. He held marketing positions for A.C. Nielsen, Miles Laboratories (Bayer AG), and Schering Plough. He leaves three children; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Madeline, and a daughter. Herbert “Buddy” Filer, Jr. ’49, of Boynton Beach, Fla., died Sept. 23, 2011. A Korean War veteran, he worked as a partner at Filer, Schmidt & Co. on Wall Street. Survivors include his wife, Eileen; and two children. Allan P. Dunn ’50, of Pinole, Calif., died Dec. 2, 2013. Dunn had a career as a store manager with W. T. Grants and was particularly effective at turning around underperforming stores. After Grants closed its stores, he served as owner-manager of an independent toy store in Richmond, Calif., from 1976 until his retirement in 1981. For his athletic abilities in football and track, he was among the first group of inductees to the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972. Dunn is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lynn; four sons; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren;
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a great-great-grandchild; and a brother. He was predeceased by a sister. Edward A. “Skip” Sutton ’50, of Palm City, Fla., died Dec. 21, 2013. He served as a medic in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and then joined his father and brother at Sutton Publishing Co., serving as vice president for 35 years. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Pat; three children; five grandsons; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by a brother. William Cairns, Jr. ’51, of Arlington, Vt., died Sept. 29, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a cryptographer in Paris from 1953 to1955 and then worked for Hardware Mutual Insurance Co. in Boston before moving to Vermont. Cairns was the first director of the Orvis Fly Fishing School in Manchester, where he managed travel programs and worked in sales and product development. He later became vice president of the H. L. Leonard Rod Co. As a Master Fly Caster, he authored articles for several publications and has also written two books. He leaves his wife, Norma; three children; six grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. James Naum ’52, of North Grosvenordale, Conn., died Nov. 11, 2013. Naum arrived in the U.S. from his native Jankovec, Yugoslavia, in 1931 and served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a real estate broker in both Connecticut and Massachusetts for some 40 years and taught in Thompson Public Schools for 33 years. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Anna; a son; four grandchildren; and a brother. He was predeceased by a son; and a brother. Charles P. “Bunky” Burnett III ’55, of Stanwood, Wash., died Dec. 22, 2013. As the grandson of Seattle pioneer, Joshua Green, Burnett served as a trustee and officer of the Joshua Green Foundation. He raced sailboats in Puget Sound, San Francisco, Canada, and Australia; his current sailboat is a
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Pacific Cup class winner and Fastest Elapsed Time record holder in the 2007 Swiftsure Race. In later years, he and his wife, Dee, moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he owned and operated the Chaparosa Ranch, importing and breeding Haflinger horses. He is survived by his wife; four children; six grandchildren; three stepchildren; and two siblings. John “Bones” Fountain ’57, of Springfield, Mass., died Feb. 23, 2014. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, leaving with an honorable discharge. A retired restaurateur, he was a lifetime member of the Elks, VFW and Knights of Columbus. Survivors include two daughters. He was predeceased by a brother. Einar “Bucky” Jorgenson ’57, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died Jan. 29, 2013. His long career as a supervisor with American Can Co. took him to Los Angeles, Houston, and Stamford, Conn., before he retired in Fort Lauderdale. He is survived by his sister; and his partner's children. He was predeceased by his life partner, Nate Bullock, and a brother. T. Matthew Donnelly ’59, of Mechanicville, N.Y., died Jan. 7, 2014. He served three years in the U.S. Army and, upon his honorable discharge, attended Wanakena Ranger School. Following 29 years of service with the New York State Troopers, he worked 16 years for AKAL Security as a court security officer in the federal courts in Albany, retiring in 2011. He leaves his wife of 27 years, Karen; two daughters; one granddaughter; two stepchildren; and five step-grandchildren. Raymond G. Smith ’60, of Rockport, Mass., died Nov. 26, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army until 1962 and worked in the family lumber and hardware business, which was started in 1874. In addition to his wife of nearly 40 years, Mim, he leaves three children; two stepchildren; three grandchildren; and a sister.
Spring/Summer 2014
Jared C. Finch ’61, of Wilton, Conn., died Oct. 29, 2013. He served in the National Guard for six years and, in 1969, founded Finch & Co. Tree Experts Inc. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Christine; two children; four grandchildren; and his dog. He was predeceased by a brother. Alan R. Peterson ’62, of Columbus, Ohio, died May 28, 2013. He was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. In 1966, he started working for American Electric Power Co. He moved to Columbus in 1983, when AEP relocated, and retired in 1996. He is survived by a brother and was predeceased by his wife, Pamela. Robert “Bob” Gascoyne, ’64, of Fort Myers, Fla., died Sept. 3, 2013. He was a retired vice president at Konica Corp. He leaves his wife, Marian; two children; and four grandchildren. William “Bill” C. Hasson ’64, of Palm Coast, Fla., died Sept. 1, 2013. He worked for Maxwell House, American Home Products, and the City of Jacksonville, and retired from the City of Miami as an Oracle consultant. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Theresa; and his canine companion. Richard “Dick” Spugnardi ’64, of Fort Myers, Fla., died Dec. 24, 2013. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corp., he began his professional career as a regional salesman at Hubbell Inc. In 1978, he began work for Diversified Lighting Associates becoming president in 1987 and retiring in 2011. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Penny; two sons; four grandchildren; and a sister. John M. Haight ’65, of Blandford, Mass., died July 31, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea. He was assistant farm manager for Blanford Brand Blueberries. In 1981, he became a town police officer and retired as sergeant after 17 years. He returned as a special officer and served as a constable for over 30 years. Haight is survived by two siblings.
James D. “Dennis” McGrath ’66, of Harwich, Mass., died Feb. 23, 2014. He founded Progress Homes, a building and development company, building over 300 homes and apartments in the greater Spencer area. In 1977, he relocated his family to Dennis, where he started JDM Plastering as well as Pine Harbor Wood Products, the only sawmill on Cape Cod at the time, which continues to be family owned and operated. McGrath is survived by his companion, Brigit Rutten; two sons; seven grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother. George W. LeGacy, Jr. ’67, of Worcester, Mass., died Jan.13, 2014. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. As a musician, he played the bass and sang lead in the band circuit for many years. He worked as a vice president at Guaranty Bank in Worcester, as well as a consultant, before pursuing a career in softball coaching. He coached at WPI for 11 years, acting as head coach for eight years, and served at Clark University as an assistant coach. He is predeceased by his wife of 29 years, Patricia, and a brother, and leaves two children; three grandchildren; and four siblings. Paul G. Graham ’68, of Fairport, N.Y., died April 30, 2013. He held management positions in marketing and sales at Eastman Kodak Co. and Torrey Pines. Graham is survived by his wife, Jane; two children; a granddaughter; and a brother. Alan Aittaniemi ’69, of Marstons Mills, Mass., died Feb. 17, 2014. Graduating from Nichols with a concentration in forestry, he worked at the Sandwich Game Farm and eventually became manager of the Sandwich Fish Hatchery, where he raised trout and stocked ponds for the enjoyment of the sportsmen. He later was a realtor for Century 21. In addition to his wife of 33 years, Barbara, he is survived by a daughter; a granddaughter; and a brother.
NICHOLS REMEMBERS
J. Douglas Cameron ’69, of Scotland, Conn., died Dec. 10, 2013. His career in accounting spanned several fields, including non-profits, an airline, manufacturing and insurance. He worked at Orion Capital Corp. from 1981 to 1995, retiring as vice president of accounting, and later served as a consultant for private business and municipalities. Survivors include his wife, Susan; and four siblings. William R. Holka ’72, of Merrimack, N.H., died Feb. 19, 2014. He was founder, president and chairman of Omni Components Corp. of Hudson, which he started with his wife in 1978. In addition to his wife of 43 years, Nancy, he is survived by a son; two daughters; four grandchildren; and two brothers. Frederick W. O'Neill ’72, of Port Orange, Fla., died Dec. 1, 2013. He worked for over 20 years in the automotive business, as a parts manager with a Volkswagen dealership and then as the director of service, body shop and parts at Friendly Motors Mercedes-Benz until 1995. After receiving a degree in graphic design, he worked for the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, winning several awards for his work including an international competition, and freelanced for several arts and humane organizations. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Becky; a daughter; two stepsons; and a sister. Timothy A. Cronin ’73, of Worcester, Mass., died Sept. 26, 2013. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a partner at KPMG and Peat Marwick Main and Co., and also worked for the City of Worcester as treasurer and tax collector and assistant city manager for finance and budget. Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Julianne; and three siblings. John G. Sommers, Sr. ’78, of Manchester, Conn., died Oct. 19, 2013. He served his family's business, Allied Printing Services, for 35 years, most recently as chairman and CEO. He leaves his mother, Betina; his wife, Liz; three children; a sister; and several pets. He was predeceased a brother.
Robert J. Bergantino MBA ’92, of Waltham, Mass., died Dec. 9, 2012. During his career, he has worked as a pre-post sales consultant at QAD and a controller at BioPure Corp. He leaves his mother, Marie E. “Betty”; his wife, Linda; a daughter; and two siblings. Richard “Dick” Tyler MBA ’92, of Webster, Mass., died Sept. 3, 2013. He worked for Bose Corp. for over 25 years in both manufacturing and home entertainment product development. He leaves his mother, Marilyn; his wife, Judith; five children; three grandchildren; and a brother. James M. Masterson ’96, of Bedford, N.H., died Sept. 23, 2013. During his career, he was employed at Neles-Jamesbury, Bose Corp., and Datamax-O'Neil. He is survived by his father, Matthew; his wife of 23 years, Ann; three children; three sisters; stepfather, Ronald Casault; and three stepsiblings. Vincent R. Sullivan ’11, of Shrewsbury, Mass., died Dec.18, 2013. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then worked as an accountant in the President’s Office for the University of Massachusetts, Worcester campus. He leaves his parents, Michael and Arlene; fiancée, Kelly Boulay; and five siblings. Virginia L. Tierney DBA (Hon) ’81, of Cumberland, R.I., who served on the Nichols College Board of Trustees, died Nov. 3, 2013. She is survived by two children; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Charles. John F. Kennedy, of Oakham, Mass., former director of maintenance at Nichols College, died Feb. 6, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Catherine; four children; and eight grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister.
Michael J. Vendetti, of Charlton, Mass., whose career spanned 24 years at Nichols College as a coach, athletic director and associate professor, died on March 20, 2014. Upon his induction in the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996, Coach Vendetti was described as “one of the most important figures in Nichols College history.” His influence extended beyond the playing field and touched the lives of countless students during his tenure at Nichols and following his retirement. From 1962 to 1986, Vendetti was the head football coach, head track coach and director of intramurals at Nichols College. As football coach, Vendetti and his teams compiled a record of 103-83-5, the highest winning percentage of any football coach in school history. His teams won the New England Football Conference in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978, and he was named the NEFC Coach of the Year in each of those seasons. Over the years Vendetti also coached tennis, women’s basketball, and men’s junior varsity basketball at Nichols. He was associate professor and director of physical education and served as the director of athletics from 1975 to 1986, when he retired. He then taught physical education at Park Avenue Elementary School in Webster for a number of years. Vendetti earned a BS in public relations from Boston University in 1954 and a Master of Education degree from Worcester State College in 1960. In 1981, he became an Honorary Alumnus of Nichols College, and in 2008, was granted a Doctor of Sport Administration from the College. In addition to his NEFC recognition and his induction in the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame, Vendetti received the “N Club” Recognition Award and the Distinguished Service to Football Award from the Central Mass. Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Inc. In 2005, Nichols named its new multi-purpose athletic field his honor, and in 2011, he was inducted into the Leominster High School Hall of Fame. Among Coach Vendetti’s survivors are three sons and their spouses; seven grandchildren; and a brother-in-law. He was preceded in death by wife of 54 years, Joan; and two sisters. Donations may be made in his memory to the Michael J. and Joan F. Vendetti Endowed Fund, c/o The Office of Advancement, Nichols College, P.O. Box 5000, Dudley, MA 01571, or online at community.nichols.edu/donate.
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Your Success Is Our Business
A new home for academics
Nichols also hopes to achieve its first LEED certification with the new academic building.
Construction will begin this summer on an academic building that will usher in a new era in teaching at Nichols College.
The building, which is expected to open in the fall of 2015, will house several collaborative classrooms designed to easily accommodate flexibility in teaching styles, from lectures to group work, and prepare students for team-based projects they will undoubtedly encounter in the business world. Classrooms will be equipped with tables, and one classroom, initially, will be equipped with television screens for visual and web content.The plans also include a student board room where students can present their work in a real-life setting. Similar to the Fels Student Center, the new academic building is designed to promote “one-stop shopping� for students. In addition to classrooms, the facility will house the registrar, advising services and dozens of faculty
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offices. A sound stage and editing suite will support the growing number of communications student projects and presentations requiring visual and digital applications. The building will also be the headquarters for the newly established Institute for Women’s Leadership. Distinctive design elements of the new building include a three-story lobby with a water feature, several breakout areas for studying, gathering, or group work, and a patio/garden that will bridge the academic building with Davis Hall and serve as the primary entrance for students. Nichols also hopes to achieve its first LEED certification with the new academic building. LEED status, which is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is granted by
Spring/Summer 2014
the U.S. Green Building Council, a private non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in buildings. The program recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices and assigns points based on the number of perquisites the College can satisfy in categories such as design, construction and maintenance. Nichols is going for the Gold!
If you are interested in making a contribution toward the new academic building, please contact Bill Pieczynski, vice president for advancement, at 866-622-4766 or bill.pieczynski@nichols.edu.
STAY CONNECTED
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alumnioffice@nichols.edu | community.nichols.edu Nichols.College.Alumni
@NicholsAlumni
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PA I D
PERMIT #375
P.O. Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571-5000
NASHUA NH
Visit online at community.nichols.edu NICHOLS COLLEGE
Alumni Association
Saturday, July 19, 2014 Dudley Hill Golf Club 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
$125 per golfer
36th Annual Golf Tournament
Includes: • 18 holes of golf • Florida Scramble • 2 carts (per group) • Beverages on course • Dinner at Fels Student Center Lounge • Open Bar (beer/wine) Prizes: • Longest Drive • Closest to the Pin • Best Score • Worst Score
For yo accept aur convenience, ll major c w redit car e ds. R
egister o ity.nicho nline at ls.edu/re gistratio n LIMITED TO THE FIRST 7 PAID AP 2 PLI
commun
CANTS
Full payment must accompany your registration form.
Please mail your check and registration form below to:
Alumni Golf Tournament Alumni Relations Office NICHOLS COLLEGE PO Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571
Return form by Friday, June 27th, to reserve your spot.
For more information call 866-622-4766.
Register online at
community.nichols.edu/registration