The Magazine for Alumni and Friends of the State University of New York at Potsdam
Fall 2011 Vol.6 | No.1
No Easy Journey
P E O P L E
snapshot
CAMPUS CelebrATeS GrOUNDbreAKING FOr PerFOrMING ArTS bUIlDING
Marissa Ovsak ’14 and other students from the Dance Improvisation class led the festivities at the groundbreaking of the new performing arts building in May 2011. The building will be home to the growing programs in theatre, theatre education and dance. It will also serve the campus and area school children by giving the entire community access to guest performance artists from around the world. The new building is tentatively scheduled to open to the public by Fall of 2013.
Profiles
On the cover:
brock & Janie Mcelheran
The view atop an Andean peak in
An unwavering commitment to music and the love of learning.
Peru photographed by
Kaitlyn beachner
Connor Adams, ’10
The Kimball Family Healing, helping and creating hope for the future.
Joy & Chester Douglass The education of future teachers through lessons learned.
B.A., History Minors, Literature and Classical Studies
fall
The new face of the SUNY Board of Trustees.
“The trip to Peru was certainly one of the high points of my
time at Potsdam,” said Adams
Departments News & Notes Class Notes In Their Own Words Alumni Opportunities Reunion Special
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who believes it served as a culminating experience to his undergraduate career at Potsdam.
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No Easy Journey Taking the long way to class means students travel to far away places to experience unique lessons.
Almost a 46-r In his own words, Ben Houck ’12, describes the 46-r challenge.
Potsdam People is printed using the lowest VOC inks, 100% Certified Renewable Energy and paper that is certified by SmartWood to the FSC® standards.
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leTTer FrOM
the president
FA L L 2011
R
alph Waldo Emerson is widely credited with the aphorism that “Life is a journey, not a destination.” The observation has gained great traction because it is so true. For most of recorded history the metaphor of the journey has been applied to the life well lived. We go through many different terrains of life: hard times, good times; sometimes it’s a tough road, other times it’s as sweet as we could ever hope. We are challenged and somehow find a way to grow from the hurdles placed in our way. Certainly my wife, Anne, and I have had a marvelous journey which brought us here to Potsdam. An important component to our journey has been the opportunities which we have had to live and study abroad. For us, living outside of the United States has taught us so much about ourselves and about this wonderful country in which we live. Those experiences have been so decisive in creating who we are that we wanted to share it with others by endowing scholarships for study abroad. Having worked with students who have studied abroad, I can attest to the life-changing impact it has. There is nothing which can compare to the experience of moving to a foreign country and having to manage on one’s own.
Yet college is itself an important stop on our journey. While study abroad is a transformational experience, here at SUNY Potsdam we hope to provide a wide range of high-impact educational opportunities to all of our students. These range from recreating Paleolithic digging tools and techniques for an undergraduate research project to traveling to an international conference to present on an important fossil discovery. Others are involved in strategically placing road signs to help protect endangered Blanding turtles at their natural crossings or teaching young summer arts campers creative writing techniques or introducing them to digital photography. For many that experience will be traveling to New York City to perform with your fellow students at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City next April to celebrate 125 years of the Crane tradition. National data clearly indicate that these high-impact educational opportunities are critical elements of a strong undergraduate education, as they call upon the student to bring to bear a wide range of skills and knowledge they have acquired in their studies. Our alumni have made the difference for students securing the benefits of these experiences through a wide range of actions. They have shared their journeys with us: returning home to campus to share experiences and insights with current students. They have helped to create internships in the workplace so that students can see how their studies have an application in a career-oriented environment. Our alumni endowments and scholarships are critical in defraying some of the costs of these experiences. For this we are truly grateful. Your small detours help out the next generation of students in their journey. Emerson also wrote: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
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Vol. 6 | No. 1
POTS DAM P E O P L E STA F F A n D CO nTr i b uTO rS e D ITOr S Deborah Dudley, Director of Marketing and Communications Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Director of Alumni relations Wr ITe r Alex Jacobs, Communications/ Government relations Associate Web M A N AG e r Mindy Thompson, Director of Web Communications CONTr I bUTOr S Sarah Carr ’08, Public Affairs Christa Carroll, Director of The Fund for Potsdam nancy Griffin, Hon. ’08, Development Officer Emily Hutchison, Director of Development Jason Ladouceur ’94, Director of Planned Giving Sherry Allen Paradis ’00, Director of Donor relations Laura Stevenson, Hon. ’07, Alumni & Donor relations Vicki Templeton-Cornell, Vice President for College Advancement MaryAnne Vervaet ’78, Development Officer D e S IG N & A rT D I r e CTION Jessica rood, Director of Publications P H OTOG r A P HY Kathryn Deuel, Principal Photographer
CAMPUS
news & notes New INItIatIves
Rational Tuition Bill Passes State Legislature The New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation that will allow the SUNY Board of Trustees to set annual tuition increases for the next five years establishing uniform tuition rates for in-state residents at all 64 SUNY schools. The SUNY Board of Trustees is expected to raise tuition, now $4,970, by five percent or $248.50, bringing the total cost of SUNY tuition to $5,218.50 for 2011-2012. deveLOPMeNt & awards
Potsdam Ranks No. 1 in Charitable Donations
Internationally renowned conductor Maestro Helmuth Rilling conducts the Crane Chorus and Orchestra in the 2011 Spring Festival production of Bach’s “Mass in B Minor.” COLLege News
2012 Spring Festival Save the Date Announcement The Crane School of Music’s 125th Anniversary Spring Festival, April 23–28, 2012 Conductor Ann Howard Jones will journey to Potsdam for one week to work with Crane students as the 2012 Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor*. A week of masterclasses with Ann Howard Jones along with visiting soloists, lectures, workshops, rehearsals and other events, will be open to the public. Crane Chorus and Orchestra Performance of the Verdi Requiem in Potsdam and New York City • Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. • Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York City. Guest soloists include two Crane alumni: Margaret Lattimore ’91, mezzo-soprano, and Dimitri Pittas ’99, tenor, as well as former Crane student, Charley Temkey, bass. The New York City performance at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall is an exciting return to a Crane tradition for Crane students to experience the thrill of performing in the world’s most prestigious concert halls across the country. This is made possible by the Adeline Maltzan Crane
Chorus Performance Tour Fund funded by Dr. Gary C. Jaquay ’67. Ann Howard Jones is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Boston University. She conducts the Symphonic and Chamber Choruses, supervises conducting students in the Concert Chorus and the Women’s Chorale, teaches graduate choral conducting and administers the MM and DMA programs in Choral Conducting. Dr. Jones is also the conductor of the BU Tanglewood Institute Young Artists’ Vocal Program Chorus, an auditioned ensemble of high school singers which rehearses and performs at Tanglewood in the summer. Crane alumni may remember Dr. Jones, as she served for many years as the assistant conductor to Robert Shaw. For more information, visit: www.potsdam.edu/ crane/125years *The partnership of the Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor Fund, established by Dorothy Albrecht Gregory ’61, and the Adeline Maltzan Crane Chorus Performance Tour Fund, established by Dr. Gary C. Jaquay ’67, brings distinguished conductors to The Crane School of Music for festival performances by the Crane Chorus and Orchestra, and funds travel for major Crane Chorus performances to venues outside Potsdam.
Among all 13 State University of New York master’s degree-granting institutions, SUNY Potsdam ranks No. 1 in the percentage of undergraduate alumni who make charitable donations to the College each year. Generous giving by alumni shows the great value they place on their education at SUNY Potsdam and the College’s important role in preparing them for success in life. studeNt sPOtLIght
Emerging Leaders Raise $18K The Emerging Leaders organization is a unique student group with a focus on leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy at SUNY Potsdam. The organization coordinated the student body vote for the 2010-11 student gift. They choose to give to The Fund for Potsdam. The total, with a match from the Student Government Association and gifts from families, surpassed $18,000 for 2010-11, an increase of more than 15 percent over last year. Emerging Leaders met at their year-end meeting with the Paper Plate Awards, an exchange in which each person is recognized by another member for a positive attribute from the past year.
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CAMPUS
news & notes DEVELOPMENT & AwArDs
sChOEr
Alumnus Schoer Receives Honorary Degree SUNY Potsdam alumnus and honorary degree recipient, Allen Schoer ’71, encouraged students to unlock their full leadership potential at the College’s 177th Bachelor’s Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 22, 2011.The founder and CEO of New York City-based The TAI Group, Schoer delivered the keynote address to 652 bachelor’s graduates. In recognition of his successful career as an actor, consultant and entrepreneur, and his advocacy of support for and dedication to the power of liberal arts education, Schoer was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl Hayden. COLLEgE NEws
AMOriELL
Appointment of New Deans President John F. Schwaller and Provost Margaret Madden announced that Dr. Steven Marqusee has officially assumed the position of Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Peter Brouwer ’79 has officially assumed the position of Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies, thereby removing the interim status, effective July 1, 2011. Both Drs. Marqusee and Brouwer have exhibited exceptional leadership in their roles as interim deans and have been endorsed by Faculty Senate recognizing their outstanding service to the College. DEVELOPMENT & AwArDs
Dean Emeritus William Amoriell Keynotes Master’s Commencement 2011
CLAss Of 1961
SUNY Potsdam School of Education and Professional Studies Dean Emeritus Dr. William J. Amoriell ’68 shared wisdom from his years as an educator and administrator as the featured speaker for the College’s Master’s Commencement Ceremony. Amoriell delivered the keynote address to 181 master’s graduates, along with their family members and friends, on Saturday, May 21. DEVELOPMENT & AwArDs
Crane Opera Ensemble Receives National Award In July 2011, the Crane Opera Ensemble’s spring 2010 production of L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (music by Maurice Ravel, libretto by Collette) was awarded first prize in The American Prize in Operatic Performance for 2011. The production involved student singers, instrumentalists and stage crew from The Crane School of Music and SUNY Potsdam. Dr. Kirk Severtson was Music Director and vocal coach; Dr. Carleen Graham was stage director
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and production designer; Dr. Francois Germain, vocal coach; Kerri Canedy, choreographer; Julia Ferreri, costume designer; Jeff Reeder, technical director; Andrew Frey, production stage manager; and Audrey Saccone, production manager. The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit national competitions providing cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best-recorded performances of music by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States. DEVELOPMENT & AwArDs
Class of 1961 Sets New Class Giving Record The class of 1961 helped SUNY Potsdam surpass its annual fundraising goal. In celebration of its 50th reunion, the SUNY Potsdam Class of 1961 set a new class giving record, donating $820,000 to benefit students and programs. COLLEgE NEws
Alumni Board Announces New Members The Alumni Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that the following alumni were voted in as new board members during the July 17, 2011 annual meeting: Betsy Webb-Bronzetti ’79, Casey Nelson ’96 & Jason Lang ’01. COLLEgE NEws
SUNY Chancellor Commends Potsdam on National Community Service Recognition SUNY Potsdam was one of only 16 SUNY campuses named to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by President Barack Obama, recognizing these institutions of higher education for their commitment to and achievement in community service. COLLEgE NEws
Dr. Richard Del Guidice Teaches Last Class, After 43 Years Professor Emeritus and former Chair of Politics stepped away from the chalkboard for the last time on May 12, 2011, having taught at the College since 1968. He retired on paper in 2001, but kept teaching as an adjunct for another 10 years. Del Guidice is best known for courses in Constitutional Law and Bioethics and Law, and for being perhaps one of the toughest taskmasters on campus. Del Guidice was Dean of Liberal Studies at SUNY Potsdam for many years, as well as academic advisor for the women’s basketball team and the Bridges Program. He and his wife, Kathryn Horvath ’83, plan to retire in Florida.
CAMPUS
news & notes
DEVELOPMENT & AwArDs
SUNY Potsdam Alumni and Friends Take the Lead Once Again Thanks to the leadership of alumni and friends, SUNY Potsdam exceeded its 2010-11 fundraising goal of $24 million, raising more than $3 million to support student scholarships and the College’s educational mission. “I am exceedingly proud to say that we have not only met but once again surpassed our goal for charitable giving this year. This achievement is even more exceptional when we consider the tight financial times which we all face,” SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller said. “Our alumni, friends, emeriti, faculty and staff continue to set an example of dedication and generosity that leaves me awestruck with gratitude.” New Endowments 2010-2011: • The Joseph C. Sarnoff Endowment established by Tom Nesbitt and others, to support student projects • The Dorothy Gregory Albrecht Visiting Conductor Fund established by Dorothy Gregory ’61, to bring world-class conductors to visit Crane • The Brock and Jane McElheran Endowment, for Crane’s greatest needs • The Michael R. Sitton Endowment established by Michael Sitton and Mark Martin, also for Crane • The Adeline Maltzan Crane Chorus Performance Tour Fund established by Gary Jaquay ’67, to provide funds for the Crane Chorus to perform under world-class conductors in venues outside Potsdam • The Crane School of Music Orchestra Endowment established by Brock and Jane McElheran, to support the Crane Orchestra
• The Community Performance Series Guest Artist Endowment established by Michael and Barbara Maresca, to support bringing world-class artists to Potsdam • The D’Addario Family Scholarship for Music Education established by John & Joan D’Addario, to support music education students • The James M. and Charlene Tyler Endowed Scholarship established by Northland Associates, to support students who have demonstrated academic growth since high school • The Elizabeth “Betsy” Burgan Northrop ’61 Scholarship established by Bill Kirchgasser, to support early childhood education students • The Lloyd DeShawn Osborne Memorial Scholarship established by Darrel and Nancy Johnson, to support Education Opportunity Program students • The Chuck and Claudia Thomas Ayer ’75 Scholarship, to support students from Crane and The School of Arts and Sciences • The Anna Ashwood Collins ’67 and Susan L. Morrison Scholarship in support of students with financial need • The Marion Lee Frazier ’40 and Lulu M. Lee Scholarships established by Christina Frazier, to support early childhood, music education or music majors • The Kathleen Friery and Bill Ritter Scholarship • The Katya Greer Memorial Scholarship, to support art education students • The Rita Itkin Schwartz ’58 Crane School of Music Scholarship, to support music students • The Claire Freedman ’56 and Marty Koshar Writing Internship Scholarship, to support a writing internship for a SUNY Potsdam student to create a writing club for North Country fourth- to sixth-graders
COLLEgE NEws
Stephanie Blythe Guest Artist-in-Residence at The Crane School of Music SUNY Potsdam once again welcomed internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe ’92 back to campus as a guest artist-in-residence at The Crane School of Music from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, 2011. The Metropolitan Opera star shared her professional experience with Crane vocal students, conducting individual coaching sessions, as well as two masterclasses with select singers. Additionally, Blythe hosted a “Liederabend,” or intimate evening of song, where she performed along with Crane students for a small audience, in a special night celebrating art songs.
Show your pride with a SUNY Potsdam VISA Visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni or call 1-800853-5576 ext. 8723 to learn more about the SUNY Potsdam Visa card.
START EARNING REWARDS TODAY!
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SUNY Potsdam sophomore Amanda Perry was named to the 2011 All-State University of New York Athletic Conference Softball Team. On March 6 and 7, Perry hit a home run in four consecutive games, setting a NCAA Division III record for consecutive games with at least one home run. For the season, Perry hit .363 and finished in the top five in the conference in home runs (8) and runs batted in (32).
Durden is SUNY Potsdam’s FirstEver SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Year Junior Rashaun Durden started 16 of the team’s 17 games, posting 12 groundballs and 10 caused turnovers. A 2010 honorable mention All-SUNYAC selection, Durden defended the opposition’s top offensive player in every contest, earning a reputation around the league as a disruptive force on the defensive WWW .pot
sdA m.ed u/Al
umn i
Visit the Alumni AssociAtion Web site There are many ways you can get involved with the SunY Potsdam alumni association. attend an alumni chapter event or mentor a current student - you can visit our web site and learn more today. We hope you like the new look!
www.potsdam.edu/alumni
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student-athletes compared to the number of international students in the entire student population.
Four Players Named All-SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse
SUNY Potsdam remains committed to finding a solution that satisfies the NCAA while protecting the College’s rich educational and experiential opportunities and financial support available to all students regardless of their country of origin.
Senior Pat Corbine, juniors Zeppy O’Geen, Peter Pike and sophomore Robbie Ashlaw earned All-SUNYAC second team accolades. Corbine, a Canton, NY, native, earned his spot as the Bears’ starting goalie just prior to conference play, and didn’t disappoint. He finished with an 11.08 goals against average and 128 saves in 12 games. A first-year junior, O’Geen led Potsdam in groundballs (94) and faceoff percentage (.593) while finishing third in the league in groundballs per game (5.69). Another junior in his first season with Potsdam, Pike led the team with 46 points on 24 goals and 22 assists, and totaled 16 groundballs. The Watertown, NY, native enjoyed a breakout performance in the SUNYAC Playoffs, tallying 10 points while finishing with a tournament-record six assists against Geneseo in the semifinals. Ashlaw finished just behind Pike with 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists). The attacker finished fourth in the conference in assists per game (1.88) and tied for second in the league with four game-winning goals, including the decisive tally against Geneseo in the SUNYAC semifinal game.
Potsdam Working with NCAA on Compliance Issue SUNY Potsdam, a Division III school, was informed by the NCAA in April 2011 that it inadvertently violated an association bylaw. The violation related to SUNY Potsdam’s International Initiative Grant, which the College gave to all international students, both athletes and non-athletes, through a blind review process. The program was found to unintentionally benefit a slightly higher proportion of
Frear and Richards named All-SUNYAC Women’s Lacrosse
Senior Kathleen Frear and junior Carly Richards earned All-SUNYAC second team accolades. Frear started all 16 games for the Bears in 2011. In the senior midfielder’s three seasons with the Bears, Frear started 44 of the 46 games and totaled 79 groundballs, 39 draw controls and 25 caused turnovers. Richards led the Bears in scoring for the second straight season with 42 goals and 21 assists for 63 points, while starting all 16 games. The effort put her at the top of Potsdam’s all-time scoring list with 134 goals and 60 assists for 194 points in 45 career games. She also topped the league with 2.62 groundballs per game.
Coach Berkman Honored as Paul Rose Lacrosse Coach of the Year Head Coach Rick Berkman earned his second SUNYAC Coach of the Year accolade after gaining his first award in 2007. In his 17th year at the helm, Berkman guided the Bears to their 14th postseason appearance and first-ever win in the SUNYAC Tournament. “Any time you get an individual award, it’s a reflection of the team and its accomplishments,” Berkman said. “I appreciate the award. It’s a direct reflection of how hard the team worked this season.”
www.potsdam.edu/athletics/bearpride
MacLeLLan
Perry Named to ALLSUNYAC Softball
end. He was a 2011 captain and an All-SUNYAC Tournament selection.
FReaR
SPORTS
DuRDen
news & notes
SHROuT
CAMPUS
POTSDAM
profile
Brock & Janie McElheran
Janie’s Piano The McElheran Legacy By Deborah Dudley
I
t all started with the gift of a Steinway concert grand piano for the love of his life, Janie. Really, it doesn’t get any more romantic than that. The gift was also an experience of hundreds of concerts and performances by students she adored and mentored, as well as, international artists she admired. That is what set the stage for Brock, long-time Professor of Music at Crane and his wife Janie McElheran’s legacy. It is a legacy of generosity which is unrivaled at Potsdam to date.
For many in the Potsdam family, just saying “Brock and Janie” is sufficient. Their recent $1.6 million bequest to the College is the largest single gift in SUNY Potsdam’s history. However, it is clear to all who knew the McElherans, that their gifts are just a continuation of their shared passion for music, their love for each other and an unwavering commitment to learning. Jane Munro McElheran served for 35 years as the children’s librarian at the former SUNY Potsdam Congdon Campus School and was a mentor to many schoolchildren, college students, future teachers and choral conductors at Crane. She also developed an outstanding teaching library and was instrumental in educating prospective teachers about effective methods for incorporating library resources into the learning experience. Janie was a tireless supporter of the Crane choral program and attended hundreds of rehearsals and performances, hosted many distinguished conductors and served as a mentor to her husband’s students at Crane. In 1988, she was awarded lifetime membership in the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association. She died in 2009 at the age of 92. Before his death in 2008 at the age of 90, Professor Emeritus N. Brock McElheran established an international reputation as a choral conductor. Brock joined the faculty at the College in 1947 as Helen M. Hosmer’s assistant conductor. Known as “Mr. Mac” to his students, McElheran conducted the Crane Chorus from 1969 to 1988. He was renowned for his skill and precision in preparing large choruses and had the honor of preparing and leading the Crane Chorus in ceremonies at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics and at the 1986 Liberty
Weekend rededication celebration of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. McElheran was a pioneer in avant-garde music, composing such pieces as “Funeral March on the Death of Heroes,” and his textbook, “Conducting Technique,” is considered a definitive text in the field of choral conducting. He was a 1984 lifetime honoree in the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association as well as an honorary recipient of a Doctor of Music degree from SUNY in 1993. Beyond their 60 years as members of the SUNY Potsdam community, Brock and Janie remain alive in the life and learning at Crane through their historic bequests. “The McElherans’ vision for Crane and their passionate advocacy for music and music students will be felt every year as their wonderful gifts continue to support the School and to benefit its students and faculty in perpetuity,” said Michael Sitton, Dean of The Crane School of Music. What started as a gift of a concert grand has grown into an arsenal of opportunities for student success. The couples’ recent bequest has provided support to enhance the existing McElheran Visiting Artist Series endowment established by Brock’s former student, Janice Rowlands Johnson ’56. The gift has also added to the N. Brock McElheran String Scholarship endowment, to assist talented string students to attend Crane. Their bequest also created endowments for the Crane Symphony Orchestra and for the greatest needs of Crane which provided funds to support the School’s 125th anniversary in the 2011-12 academic year. Through their generosity, they have provided opportunities to hundreds of students who have passed and will pass through the halls of Crane in the future. The concert grand Steinway piano that Brock donated to Crane in his wife’s honor remains in use at Hosmer Hall, articulated with a plaque and the inscription “Janie.” To find out more about the many events planned to recognize 125 years at The Crane School of Music, visit www.potsdam.edu/crane/125years.
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profile
’08
Kaitlyn Beachner
POTSDAM
Her visit to SUNY Potsdam sealed the deal. “It was just meant to be. I knew it the first time I walked on campus—I fell in love,” she said. Kaitlyn became involved on campus, serving as a Resident Assistant in the Bowman West and Knowles residence halls. Eventually, a fellow RA suggested she run for SGA Executive Board, and to her surprise, Kaitlyn won. “It was an extremely exciting time for me. There are so many things that happen behind the scenes at the College that students don’t even know exist unless they seek them out,” she said. “It was also President Schwaller’s first year after his inauguration, so we developed a close working relationship.” After graduating with two bachelor’s degrees, one SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher stands with newest SUNY in history and the other in anthropology, Kaitlyn went trustee board member, Kaitlyn Beachner. on to work in national sales for Paychex, Inc. in Rocheshere’s a new face on the State ter. She was promoted after University of New York Board a year to working in the national corporaof Trustees—an alumna who got tion’s unemployment department, which her start in student government at SUNY advised companies on filling out claims. Potsdam. Pretty soon, she was ready for a new chalKaitlyn Beachner ’08 was elected Presilenge. dent “I like having a desk, but I don’t want to “ of the SUNY Student Assembly, which represents the system’s 465,000 students, be glued to it,” Kaitlyn said. “I kept wanting in April 2011. She was nominated by a to do my little sister’s homework for her— friend from her alma mater, current SUNY that was my sign that it was time to go back Potsdam Student Government Association to school.” President Sam McCaffrey ’12. As she wrote a letter of intent to apply A native of Webster, NY, she first found for graduate programs in higher education out about SUNY Potsdam when her high administration, Kaitlyn found herself crying school guidance counselor handed her as she recounted her leadership experiences a viewbook. Excited, she told her father, at SUNY Potsdam. Scott, about the suggestion when he got “The people at Potsdam have influenced home. “Dad laughed and said, ‘I went to everything I’m doing with my life. They Potsdam!” Kaitlyn said. Turns out, he had taught me to want to be a better person and attended in 1976-77 and then transferred to seek out knowledge, not just wait for it closer to home, but thought his daughter to fall into my lap,” she said. would also fit in at the College.
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Kaitlyn was accepted into the graduate program at Buffalo State College, where she is seeking her master’s degree in higher education student affairs administration. Based on her extensive experience from having served as SGA President at SUNY Potsdam, she also earned a graduate assistant position in Buffalo State’s Student Life Office to help her afford her degree. She served on the SUNY Student Assembly last year as a representative for four-year colleges, and before she knew it, people were encouraging her to run for President there too. “I realized this was the last chance I have as a SUNY student to be as involved as I can be. It was very humbling just to run for the position,” Kaitlyn said. After being nominated by McCaffrey, Kaitlyn campaigned against five other candidates and participated in a debate before the vote took place. In order to win, a nominee must earn a majority of the vote, so usually, there are run-off elections with so many candidates to choose from. But Kaitlyn got 51 percent—and a clear victory—right off the bat, the first time that has happened in several years. “My parents are extremely thrilled. The Chancellor invited them to my swearing-in ceremony and they got a tour of the System Administration building in Albany,” she said. Kaitlyn was a strong advocate for the SUNY rational tuition plan that was passed by the New York State Legislature and was signed by the Governor in the spring of 2011. Her next priorities are to establish “safe zones” and work with counseling centers on each campus to make sure SUNY is welcoming to its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. She is also interested in studying student happiness. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Kaitlyn as she takes on the role of Student Assembly President and becomes a voting member of SUNY’s Board of Trustees,” SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher said. “Kaitlyn brings to the table a proven track record of effective representation, and SUNY students can be proud, as we are, of their choice in leadership.”
The K imba l l F a m i l y Potsdam
profile
Hope and Healing By Alicia Clifford, sister of Jeff Kimball
S
ometimes we are thrown, landing on our behinds, on a path in life that we have no interest in being on. Some people stay sitting on the path, stubbornly refusing to move forward. Others get up and move along, but do so with an overwhelming sense of misery and hopelessness, knowing they are destined to travel a sorrowful path that was not of their own choosing. Then there is my family, who never imagined being on the path that we got thrown on when my brother, Jeffery Kimball, died to suicide on May 9, 2007. It was a journey that none of us chose, but nonetheless, there we were. After the immediate shock began to ebb, we knew that we needed to make the best of this treacherous path by making something positive come of something so awful. It soon became clear that this journey would include not only healing ourselves, but helping others, and creating hope for the future. When Jeff was accepted to SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, our family was not surprised because we had long known his passion and prowess as a percus-
sionist. We saw his pride and excitement as he embarked as a freshman member of “The Alley,” the percussion studio at Crane, in the fall of 2004. Jeff often spoke of the love he had for Crane in stories of hanging out in “The Alley” or having some sort of crazy adventure with his Alley comrades. It was very clear that Jeff felt part of something very special at Potsdam. In our journey of healing, we needed to create a lasting legacy to honor Jeff ’s love of Potsdam. Our first step was to endow a scholarship in Jeff ’s name. In the fall of 2007, my mother, Susan Kimball, created the Jeff Kimball Memorial Alley Scholarship. In December 2007, a second scholarship was created in honor of Jeff by his father, Dennis Kimball. It was meaningful to us that the first two recipients of the Jeff Kimball Memorial Alley Scholarship were both Jeff ’s friends from “The Alley.” We also decided that we wanted to help protect Potsdam students and families from the impact a future suicide could have. Every year, approximately 1,100 college students die by suicide, making suicide the second leading cause of death for college students in the U.S. Something needed to be done.
In the fall of 2010, my sister and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Aaron Arnold, my mother and I began talking with the SUNY Potsdam Counseling Center about ways to help. In April, my mother created the Jeffery D. Kimball Fund for Suicide Prevention and Awareness. This gift supplements the campus and communitywide outreach and training initiatives of the College’s Counseling Center. The fund has allowed for the creation of off-campus Wellness Advocates as well as training for students, faculty and administrators in QPR or “Question, Persuade, and Refer.” QPR teaches individuals three simple steps that can help save a life from suicide. By the fall of 2014, the Counseling Center believes that all students, faculty and staff will be trained in QPR, further reducing the risk of suicide occurring in the Potsdam community. In April 2011, our family returned to Potsdam to walk with 250 others in the St. Lawrence County Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk, partially funded by the Jeffery D. Kimball Fund for Suicide Prevention and Awareness. Moving stories and heartfelt connections with others who have lost a loved one to suicide filled the day, but most importantly, it created an open dialogue. We must break the silence surrounding suicide. It was our wish that the messages our family shared that day brought healing and hope to others. We hold to Jeff ’s ideals, particularly the belief in the Buddhist mantra, “Om Mani Padme Hum,” which means to seek generosity, ethics, patience, tolerance, perseverance, concentration and wisdom within oneself. We hope to create ways to honor Jeff ’s passion, love and energy. Our journey has brought us to a place of purpose and hope for a future free of suicide. We are grateful to the SUNY Potsdam community for taking this journey with us and for making us feel like we too, are a part of something special.
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’56
Joy & Chester Douglass Potsdam
profile
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n 2009, SUNY Potsdam celebrated 175 years of publicly funded teacher education. The ranks of educators and school administrators with the Potsdam experience under their belts number into the thousands across New York State, in every discipline. The number of students they reach is exponentially larger, and their experiences in this critical profession are a diverse collection of stories and lessons learned. For Joy Anthony Douglass, her calling to music education happened in the middle of her junior year at St. Lawrence University just before winter break. “That is when I realized I wanted to become a music teacher and go to Crane. My father drove me to Potsdam, where we met with Dean Ralph Wakefield, who encouraged me, after a few musical tests, to come right away in January. There was a lot of musical ‘catching up’ to do, but I felt I was ‘home’ when I arrived at Crane and the School provided me outstanding preparation for my career,” Joy said. “I never looked back, and it is the spirit of welcoming into the music education profession that I received at Crane and the delight in being well-prepared to teach music that inspired us.”
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Whenever possible, visiting master teachers will be invited who particularly value the role of the singing voice in early music education and extending to all aspects of music education. Joy recalled Helen Hosmer and Mary English “raising the standard of musicianship, basic music skills, good pitch and intonation.” They wanted students to aspire to the highest level of both musical performance and teaching. “I always felt that Crane was a ‘singing school’ and Mary English, who followed in the path of Helen Hosmer and Julia Crane, instilled in us the idea that standards of excellence in classroom singing was the foundation of our curriculum,” said Joy. “And of course, singing was for everyone, not just the gifted. This stayed with me, and I have been enriched by working with all types of children, helping them develop their singing voices.” The Visiting Master Teacher Fund For this reason Joy and her husband encourages that, when possible, invitations Chet Douglass felt it important for seasoned be extended to outstanding recent Crane professionals to make the journey back to graduates as visiting master teachers. AcPotsdam and share their expertise with the cording to Douglass, students will benefit next generation of educators preparing to from becoming familiar with outstanding teach. Through the Joy Anthony Douglass, Class of 1956,Visiting Master Teacher Fund, role models and inspire new young teachers to become clinicians or master teachers visiting master teachers each academic year themselves. will share their insights Douglass continued, “As and experiences with a teacher of music educacurrent Crane stution at Boston University, “I found that dents, faculty and music I noticed that the students educators from the surlearning from the are impressed by the excelrounding region. lent younger teachers they “I was active in teach- masters enriches observe. Perhaps it is because ing public school music your teaching and they are closer in age or life and as a church musician gives you confidence experiences and they can every place we lived,” somehow see themselves in said Joy Douglass. “Crane in your own ability this role.” instilled the importance Douglass knows firsthand to grow and explore of continuous learnhow important the interacing. I developed almost new methods.” tions between master and a passion for attending student are. She added, “I conferences, conventions must say that my husband, and workshops. I found Chet, who is chairman of the that learning from the masters enriches board for the American Boychoir School, your teaching and gives you confidence joins me in this excitement.” in your own ability to grow and explore new methods.”
No Easy Journey
The ImpacT of Travel on TransformaTIon By Deborah Dudley
Imagine you are a student traversing the jungles of the Amazon rainforest and venture on to explore the coasts of the Galapagos, returning three weeks later to sit with friends at Dexter’s CafÊ in Potsdam. What has changed? Perhaps you come from a one-traffic-light town in western New York and have to find a grocery store in a city of three million people, where everything around you is foreign. What happens? You are being tested in a way that no classroom exam can test you. You have experienced exhaustion, fright and hunger. You have been lost, lonely and overwhelmed. Along the way, something inside of you changes. You become courageous, open and empowered. With new confidence, you are transformed.
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This is what SUNY Potsdam students experience each year, as individuals choose from the more than 450 travel courses, international exchanges and semesters abroad offered through SUNY Potsdam and the greater SUNY system. This is not new for Potsdam students. In fact, according to The New York Times, in 1936 Helen Hosmer and a group of Crane Department of Music students pioneered the first interdisciplinary study abroad program of any American Normal School. Their trip was a European tour lasting from August 1936 to January 1937. According to a music faculty member of the time, Dr. Samuel Spurbeck, the “important outcomes of this study tour will be an increased knowledge of music from the historical, appreciative, and performance angles; a practical working knowledge of French and German acquired in their natural settings; a first-hand background of the art of Europe; an enlarged vision of the entire European educational plan; a better, more workable knowledge of European history, geography, social, political, and economic conditions; the ability to become superior teachers by reason of a richer background; and a large contributing source of knowledge brought back to the entire school.” No small agenda. The learning outcomes of immersing yourself in a culture where you don’t speak the language, the food is odd, the music and art are unfamiliar, the teaching styles are radically different and driving is done on the opposite side of the road, as Dr. Spurbeck acknowledged, are numerous.
Donna Ali, Class of 2011 and a resident of Verona, NY, recently studied history through a direct exchange program at York St. John’s University in York, England. “The hardest part about it was the normal culture shock deal,” said Ali. “I didn’t like the food and I was away from all of my friends.” According to Ali, the way they taught was also different, with infrequent face-to-face time and “one massive deadline at the end of the semester that you had to manage on your own.” “Now I can manage my time effectively. I can make all new friends. I can find a store in the middle of a big city. I can be an efficient, independent person and rely on myself,” she said with pride, adding, “… and I’m going back to England for my master’s in leadership and management.” Journeying abroad for many is a way of switching the lenses of your life. Jerry Zwaga, Class of 1968, and his wife, Carolyn, feel that changing lenses is a critical lesson and have committed to helping Potsdam students in the form of an annual scholarship for study abroad experiences. “Travel has given us a different perspective on life, culturally and politically,” said Zwaga. “We have come to appreciate how people in foreign countries look at America and Americans. Our first foreign trip was to the Netherlands, my grandparents’ homeland. This was not a tour. We were by ourselves and had the chance to immerse ourselves in the Dutch culture. We rode bikes like the locals and ate Dutch meals. We came away from that trip ‘different people.’ It sounds trite, but travel also helped us appreciate what we have here.”
Tunisia 2008
They have even made it their legacy, by naming Potsdam as the sole beneficiary of their estate, allowing for the support of entire classes and faculty sponsors to leap over an ocean for at least a two-week trek. SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller and his wife, Anne, have been long-time supporters of travel abroad experiences and immediately after his inauguration to the College, set up a scholarship to help students succeed in making the journey. At Potsdam, you can spin the globe, close your eyes and point. Chances are, there is a way to get to the spot under your finger. The next question would be, is it a good fit and are you prepared to have your world spun upside-down for real? That is the job of Krista LaVack, international program director at SUNY Potsdam. “There are lots of choices,” explained LaVack. There are short-term faculty-led experiences, with trips to Africa, Tunisia and China, as well as a Jamaica field service experience concentrating on music education, literacy, community health, sociology or visual arts.
“While studying at SUNY Potsdam, I never took that opportunity [to study abroad], a decision I greatly regret. As a result, The Judy Weise Memorial Scholarship has been established to make the study abroad experience available to more SUNY Potsdam students, especially those who may not have the financial means to participate.” Sean T. Leous ’86 12
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Students are placed into an experience that matches their academic discipline. LaVack makes it clear that “this is not a vacation experience. Students come home and then have a culminating paper reflecting on the intensity of the work experience.” According to LaVack, “the majority of Potsdam students are not well-traveled or have never been on a plane.” She says traveling in a controlled environment with an expert and a planned agenda can help open their eyes to the option of a longer study abroad program.
For example, students who participated in the recent Winterim travel course that voyaged to the Galapagos and Amazon rainforest were required to have a diverse packing list. Along with a parka, students also packed hiking boots, swim trunks, shorts, sandals and a snorkel for their trek to the high peaks of Ecuador and the Amazon. Eleven students traveled for this interdisciplinary course team-taught by Dr. Steve Marqusee, anthropology professor and dean of SUNY Potsdam’s School of Arts and Sciences; Glenn Johnson, chair of biology and Christopher Kelson, associate professor of geology. The students spent two weeks studying biology, geology, anthropology and environmental studies in the exotic locales of South America. There are also full-semester or full-academic year exchanges, as well as numerous study abroad opportunities, and through the power of 64 campuses, SUNY students have more than 450 programs to consider. LaVack notes that the hurdles for longterm experiences include a significant amount of planning involved, as well as financial support. “We start one year prior, to ensure the class credits count and that financial needs are met. We want the program to push them toward graduation and not hold them back.”
continued p. 17
Bob and Kay Margevich hosting Durbak (c) in Amsterdam.
potsdam’s first International Internship Potsdam student Keith Durbak experienced another country through Potsdam’s first international internship. The site is a polymer chemical company called AkzoNobel in Amersfoort, The Netherlands made possible by Bob and Kay (Schwasnick) Margevich ’79. Bob Margevich is president and managing director of AkzoNobel Surface Chemicals. According to Durbak, this internship “has significantly helped my career path. It has allowed me to completely immerse myself in a new culture and adapt to their values. I do not think that I could even try to imitate the things that I have learned, while staying in the United States. I have learned task management, ethics, efficiency, global communication, common business practices, etiquette, presentation, language and a million other life skills. There was not a negative aspect to this internship, which I am extremely grateful for.”
“This is not a vacation experience.” Krista LaVack, International Programs Director
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>> Amersfoort, The Netherlands at AkzoNobel Surface Chemicals is home to SUNY Potsdam’s first international internship.
INTERNATIoNAL oPPoRTUNITIES FoR SUNY PoTSDAm STUDENTS
L L
National Student Exchange
Univer Englan Conse Birmin
450 study abroad opportunities are available through the SUNY system. The are both short-term (summer/ Winterim) and long-term (semester and academic year long programs). Students studying abroad in spring 2011 and summer 2011 participated in other SUNY programs to:
Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) Puebla, mexico
Univer Pays d Pau, F
Australia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Spain, France, Denmark, Israel, Scotland, Argentina, Kenya, China & Ireland. SUNY Potsdam is also a member institution of the National Student
Academia Hispano Americana San miguel de Allende, mexico
Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH) Pachuca, mexico
Exchange (NSE) Program. This semester we have sent Potsdam students to institutions in Louisiana, Arizona & North Carolina.
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>> SUNY Potsdam hosts visiting scholars from abroad each year.
>> SUNY Potsdam hosts 160 international students from more than 20 countries. The top three are Canada, South Korea and China. More than 100 students participate in study abroad each academic year.
Liverpool Hope University Liverpool, England
rsity of Central nd Birmingham ervatoire ngham, England
Luleå University of Technology Luleå, Sweden
York St. John University York, England
Universität Potsdam Potsdam, Germany Odessa State Environmental University Odessa, Ukraine Kherson State University, Kherson, Ukraine Tunisia Student Teaching
rsité de Pau et des de l’Adour (UPPA) France
Jamaica Field Service Abroad Program
Operation Crossroads Africa
National Taipei Univeristy Taipei, Taiwan University of the Philippines Manila, Phillippines
Australia Student Teaching
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Study abroad Funds John F. and anne C. SChwaller SCholarShip For Study abroad
Established by President and Mrs. Schwaller upon his inauguration, along with support from family, friends and campus community members.
Judy weiSe MeMorial SCholarShip For Study abroad Established by Sean Leous ’86 in memory of his beloved professor, Dr. Judith Weise. Peru 2009, Students at Machu Picchu.
annette plante Modern languageS SCholarShipS
Established by Florence Ricaud in honor of faculty emerita Annette Plante for students studying in France or Spain.
robert waShburn Fund
In addition to gifts from faculty emeritus Robert and Beverly Washburn, friends, family, colleagues and alumni established this fund in support of students traveling abroad for an international music experience.
teaCher eduCation Study abroad SCholarShip
Created to support an Education major studying abroad or that is completing his or her student teaching abroad.
Jerry & Carolyn Zwaga Study abroad Fund
Created in recognition of the profound impact that opportunities to study abroad can have upon student development and education.
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...JOURNEY p. 13
As imagined, the pre-departure advising is intense. “We talk to them about everything— cultural differences, culture shock, homesickness, re-entry, health and safety, emergency management, staying connected, money management, and the fact that they will change from this experience,” LaVack says. The impact of each student’s journey is not always apparent. It takes time to digest and understand it all. LaVack confessed that the impact of her own study abroad in Thailand wasn’t immediately understood. Each student is different and the challenges are often seen superficially; it takes time to understand them as personal growth. “It took me ten years to process and understand the impact of my own experience, but it is the reason I am here today,” she said. “What can be exciting are the changes and transformations that happen outside of the classroom. Academic challenges are there, but the work involved outside of the classroom experience is what is profound.”
Now she is getting organized to return to Japan for a job, having overcome the numerous challenges of social connections and the long distance from her very tight-knit family in New York City. This time, Pena knows what she is getting into and is exploring the boundaries of owning her independence. To some, the foreign land is Potsdam, NY, with its funny red sandstone buildings, an extraordinarily friendly community, the academic intensity and the sometimes surprisingly rigorous creativity found here.
To some, the foreign land is Potsdam, NY, with its funny red sandstone buildings, an extraordinarily friendly
The College is also host to many incoming international students for short-term and long-term exchanges from partner institutions overseas in England, Sweden, Germany, France and Mexico, as well as students who matriculate into degree programs, as is the case of many Korean nationals enrolled in graduate education courses here. Katie Foulk is an international exchange student from England who spent a semester at Potsdam as a dance major. LaVack recalled Foulk coming into her office in tears with one question: How do I stay? She is now in the process of transferring to SUNY Potsdam to finish her undergraduate degree in dance. “Whether you are coming or going, this is a lesson that you don’t just take, but rather, you live through it,” LaVack advises students. “There is realness to it and that reality can be a struggle.”
community, the academic
Ali also has a list of advice for those who are venturing out. “Step outside of your comfort intensity and the sometimes zone. Don’t sit on Facebook all day. Stick to keeping a diary and surprisingly rigorous save your stories for when you get creativity found here. home. If you are always wondering what you are missing at One example is the story of home, you are not really there,” Jessica Pena, a self-initiated she says. “Study abroad can be interdisplinary major in Asian the most rewarding but most difstudies, who spent a semester in Japan SUNY Potsdam is home to hundreds of ficult thing done in your life and you will and experienced waves of culture shock Canadians, students and faculty, and it is be transformed.” with no “honeymoon period” like most easy to take for granted that we enjoy the students have. cultural riches of both the Ontario and Québec provinces, as well as having people “Most students have a honeymoon before from the Akwesasne Mohawk nation as things get difficult,” said LaVack. “Pena our neighbors and classmates. Our region stuck it out, but it wasn’t easy.” has a built-in international flavor we can capitalize on and enjoy.
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notes
1940s Rita Pangborn Osborn ’48 received recognition as Faculty Emeritus at St. Petersburg College. She is a retired professor, completing her 25-year career teaching piano and music theory, Western humanities, and Eastern humanities. During her tenure, she led efforts to create healthier environments in classrooms and practice rooms that have resulted in recent large-scale reconstruction. hertha hackl thayer ’48 and Elsie Panzner shulman ’48 were roommates at SunY Potsdam for four years and still keep in touch by writing, talking on the phone and visiting. They hope to make it to their 65th reunion in 2013.
1950s margaret Gerstner black ’52 has lived in Cape Cod since 2005 with her husband, raymond. She enjoys music making in her church choir and performing piano duets. She and ray celebrated their 50th anniversary last year, and her SunY Potsdam roommate Rachel Greiner Farfaglia ’52 and husband, Ziff, were in attendance. Lex dashnaw ’56, Rita itkin schwartz ’58, dale Zurbrick ’68 and mary helander ’83 attended the Feb. 16 concert “Lincoln Center Presents American Songbook 2011,” featuring stephanie blythe ’92, in a tribute to Kate Smith. Peter bagley ’57 was invited to conduct the national Men’s Honor Choir for 2011 at the national ACDA Convention in Chicago, iL. After 54 years, jazz pianist bunny beck ’57 (a.k.a. bunny Sideman Levinson) is broadening her skills by
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taking jazz arranging lessons from maestro Vince Corozine. martha Williams cloer ’58 loves being a first-grade teacher because “it is so gratifying! My thanks to Potsdam for four fabulous years and teaching me to be such a successful and happy teacher.”
InFAnTIne...
ClASS
sylvia Amarel infantine ’58 visited classmates Rita itkin schwartz ’58 and Ellen Gold ’58 in new York City for three days of music, theatre, sightseeing and reminiscing about great fun at Crane.
1960s Arthur Pitz ’64, an ACCEL instructor for the past seven years, received the 2011 ACCEL Excellence in Teaching award from the St. Ambrose university adult learner program. Nancy bond, bythema (byrd) bagley, Jim brophy and wife, bonnie, sally (cox) Johnston, and carol (callaway) sturdevant, all from the Class of 1959, met last summer at the opening weekend of the Tanglewood Music Festival and spent the weekend at Douglass House, a bed and breakfast run by Joy Anthony douglass ’57 and her husband, Chet. barbara maylott miller ’65 is enjoying retirement in sunny naples, FL, and would love to see any former classmates or friends who may be in the area.
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The Minisink Valley Middle School auditorium in Slate Hill, nY, was named after John R. Lawrence ’69 during his 2002 retirement year. donna Wing mason ’69 retired in May 2010 after teaching General Music K-5 for 40 years, 38 of them with boulder Valley Schools in Colorado. She and her husband are traveling and enjoying retirement. “The Crane School of Music shaped my life and i am forever grateful for the excellent and awesome career this education has provided me. i also have discovered through genealogy that Julia Crane was a distant relative of mine! Viva la Musica!” cynthia minerd moringiello ’69 retired from Verizon after 27 years as a switchman. She and her husband, Dan, moved to Hollidaysburg, PA, due to his interest in trains. With the encouragement of friends, she started playing the bassoon again and enjoys playing in several groups in blair County.
1970s maria Argyros ’70 is a Visiting Associate Professor of Voice at Hunter College and the Aaron Copland School of Music and a Master Teacher for the McClosky institute of Voice. She is a contributing author for the 5th revised edition of “Your Voice at its best.” michael Jackson ’70 retired from Cox Communications in Las Vegas on August 1, 2010. He and his wife, Margaret, moved to the retirement community Lake Havasu City, AZ, in late 2010. christine meda ’70 joined response Genetics in February 2011. She most recently served as President and Chief
Alan Goldstein ’68 was awarded his second navy Superior Service Medal, the highest honorary award the Secretary of the navy may bestow on a civilian employee in the Department of the navy, by the navy’s Chief of information, rear Adm. Dennis J. Moynihan, at ceremonies April 28, 2011, in norfolk, VA.
Executive Officer of Arcxis biotechnologies, an earlystage molecular diagnostic company, since December 2007. Meda brings nearly 30 years of experience in strategic partnering, and is founding President of rxDxLink, a consulting service company to early state and small biotechnology companies. dana malloy barry ’71 earned a Ph.D. in Engineering from Osaka university, Japan, in March 2011 and previously earned three other graduate degrees, including a master’s degree from SunY Potsdam in 1972, and was awarded an honorary doctorate. Dana has served as a Visiting Professor in Japan, England and Malaysia, and is Scientific board President for Ansted university. She has received many awards and honors having authored more than 150 professional publications 12 books and several book chapters. donald Eaton ’71 retired from the Chesapeake Public Library, Chesapeake, VA, in December 2010. Kevin moore ’71 has been a Professor of Music at Onondaga Community
College since 1975 and licensed to practice law since 1987. constance (seifert) Knott ’72 has been appointed to serve the two churches in Corning, nY: First united Methodist and Grace united Methodist. On June 12, 2011, a farewell event celebrating the 25th anniversary of her ordination was held in Pennellville. She has served the Pennellville uMC for eight years and the First uMC in Phoenix, nY, for five. sheila dai ’73, who served at SunY Cortland’s Counseling Center for 35 years, retired on December 31, 2010 and has been designated Assistant Director Emerita of Counseling. Ann hardiman ’73 was appointed a member of the President’s Committee for People with intellectual Disabilities by President barack Obama. She is currently the Executive Director of the new York State Association of Community and residential Agencies (nYSACrA).
notes
Take advanTage of the IRa Charitable Rollover before it expires on december 31, 2011. If you’re age 70 ½ or older, you can use your IRa to make charitable contributions to SUnY Potsdam, without undesirable tax effects. To learn how, visit
http://www.plan.gs/article.
Keith Smith ’73, director of SUNY Cortland’s Educational Opportunity Program for 18 years, retired on December 31, 2010, and has been designated Director Emeritus of the program. He now resides in the province of Davao del Sur on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Anne Cavolo Tedesco ’73 is a Professor of Music at St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY, where she teaches music history, fine arts history, music theory and classical piano. One of her private piano students was accepted to perform at Bruno Walter Auditorium, Lincoln Center, for the 2011 Concert Festival. Barbara Cattrall Wallace ’73 works on community garden plots outside of the Second Presbyterian Church in Lockport, NY. The mission of the garden is to help people grow and share fresh produce and to be an active resource for sustainable organic gardening.
Dorothy Drahzal ’74 “remembers 14-foot snows, a giant vegetable garden, lots of potlucks on Cherry Street, our dogs Lifer and Musher, many, many long hours dancing in the old dance building and then the new. Great times with the Dance Club, burgeoning Dance Department. Also running intramurals programs.” Cynthia (Hall) Lee ’74 retired from teaching and performing in 2007. She married CSM(R) Nathaniel Colter in February 2011 and they spend most of the year touring the U.S. in a 40-foot motor home. Harris Schlesinger ’74 received an honorary doctorate from the University of Konstanz, Germany, in July 2010 for “outstanding research contributions to the field of risk and insurance theory.” Marie Engels ’75 was awarded “Best of Show” for her acrylic painting “Moonlit Night” at the 26th Annual Juried Art Exhibit by the Massena Artists Association. Mary Jane Walsh ’75 and her husband, Roger, are involved in the Utica
Curling Club. Mary Jane’s team recently took first place at the U.S. Women Curling Association’s 2011 National Senior Women’s Bonspiel in Wisconsin. Roger’s team won the Mitchell Bonspiel, one of the oldest competitions in sports. Barney Watson ’75 retired from Federal Civil Service in June 2010. He is now working as an EMT in Ruidoso, NM, during the winter months as a ski patroller at Ski Apache and during the summer months at the Ruidoso Downs Horse Racing Track. He also enjoys taking to the sky in his hot air balloon. Susan Smrekar Godshall ’76 retired on May 31, 2011, from Eastman Kodak Co. after 35 years of service. She is looking forward to a more relaxed pace with time for volunteer activities, travel and enjoying her new grandson.
her church, Three Steeples United in Paris Hill, NY, and also teaches private piano and voice students at her home. Doug Burt ’78 retired from IBM after 32 years and currently volunteers for a local food pantry, the Boys and Girls Club, and a senior computer learning center. Jim Meiller ’78, the Director of Instrumental Music for Norman High School, was the recipient of the National Federation of State High School Music Association Outstanding Music Educator Award. James Rozzi ’78 and his 10-piece pro Atlanta-based jazz band, Tempest Little Big Band, released a new CD titled “Round Midnight.” The title track was arranged by Crane grad Scott Slocum ’79.
Gary Sibbitts ’78 was promoted to Professor in the information systems department at St. Louis Community College at Meramec where he recently completed his 10th year as a full-time faculty member. Daniel E. Stetson ’78 was named the new Director of the Hunter Museum of American Art. He was the Executive Director of the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, FL, for the past 15 years and initiated the creation of “MayfaireFlorida: Festival of the Arts,” a countywide arts festival.
1980s F. Raymond Agnew ’80, who headed the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation for 12 years, is now the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Paul Smith’s College, Paul Smiths, NY.
Harriet Dennis Kline ’77 completed the Neuropsychology program at Texas Women’s University and has achieved ABSNP status. She has three children and five grandchildren.
Hill
class
Potsdam College Foundation Board Member Bob Hill ’77 won the gold medal in men’s golf (ages 55-59) at the National Senior Olympics, held in Houston, TX. Diane (Prentice) Bancroft ’78 is retiring from teaching vocal/general music after 30 years. She continues to enjoy being the music/choir director at
Thomas Veltre ’78 and Marilyn Mazur Weiner ’63 are both documentary film producers whose films were selected to be screened at the same festival, which is held at some of the most prestigious venues in Washington D.C. Tom’s film “Nature’s Greatest Defender” was shown at the Grosvenor Auditorium in the National Geographic Society’s headquarters building, and Weiner’s film “Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization” had its world premiere at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
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notes
david dik ’82 recently visited campus to speak to students in the business of Music 2 class and consult with staff at the Community Performance Series. During his visit, Dik was presented with a special Alumni of Distinction Award by carol “Kickie” holloway britt ’69, member of the Crane faculty and director of the Crane institute for Music business. Dik is executive director of Young Audiences – Arts for Learning, inc., the nation’s leading provider of arts in education services to children and youth. He was recently appointed to the Potsdam College Foundation board of Trustees.
carol bryant ’80 recently opened bluebird Music Together, a licensed center of Music Together LLC, an internationally recognized early childhood music education program. bluebird Music Together serves the western suburbs of Syracuse and the city of Auburn with family music and movement classes for infants through kindergarteners, together with the adults who love them. (Correction from spring 2011 issue) maria Gillard ’80 has been composing and performing for more than 25 years and performs at the Kirkland Art Center (KAC) Coffeehouse again after two decades. Ann Garczynski Altoonian ’81 received the Genesee Valley Psychological Association’s Outstanding Psychologist Award for 2010 on January 26, 2011. She is in her 16th year of practice as a licensed psychologist and has offices in rochester and Syracuse, nY.
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Robert higgins ’81 was named practitioner of the year by the local chapter of the new York Association of School Psychologists at Clarkson university in Potsdam, nY. susan hurley-Glowa ’81 has been teaching at the university of Alaska Fairbanks for the past four years and plays horn in the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Arctic Chamber Orchestra. Jayne Kelly ’81, a classical pianist and jazz vocalist, performs numerous concerts and teaches extensively with an emphasis on adult instruction. She was recently featured on WMur’s “new Hampshire Chronicle.” david Fenton ’82 is the new Village Administrator for Potsdam, nY, having served as Treasurer for years.
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Larry ham ’82, pianist, composer and arranger, is a noted new York-based jazz musician. He released two critically acclaimed CDs, “Carousel” and “Just Me, Just You…” and has worked with countless jazz legends during his extensive and successful music career, including Junior Cook and Dakota Staton. Owen Jones ’82 is a Knowledge Specialist at McKinsey & Co.’s north American Asset Management practice, where he conducts primary and secondary research related to private banking, retail brokerage and asset management industries for the global strategy-consulting firm. brian mcdowell ’82 published his 9th and 10th books, “Get it Together: The real-World Money Guide for Graduates” and “Whatever it Takes: The Antislavery Movement and the Tactics of Gerrit Smith” through his publishing company, Log Cabin books, last spring. brian also received the 2011 Distinguished Faculty Award from SunY Morrisville at its 100th Commencement Ceremony on May 14. christopher Nicotera ’82 retired from teaching music in public schools and is opening a private music studio.
Jeffrey t. Fallon ’84 was hired as Vice President and Commercial Lending Officer at Community bank System, inc. Commander tommy Lee summers ’84 retired from the u.S. navy during a ceremony at the naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL. Jeffrey Lipton ’85 was named Men’s Volleyball Assistant Coach in Hoboken, nJ. Valerie Patterson ’85, a signature member of the north East Watercolor Society, exhibits her art widely and has won numerous awards.
he performed in the American repertory Theater’s production of “Cabaret” and recently premiered “Prometheus bound.”
JOHnSOn
Lenore Aldi-snow ’83 completed her 25th year teaching instrumental music in the Guilderland Central School District and her 4th year teaching clarinet and Clarinet Choir at The College of St. rose in Albany. She wrote a method book for all band and string instruments entitled “Your Musical Voyage.” Her daughter, Cecilia, is a sophomore music education and performance major at Crane with a concentration in voice this year. Cecilia is a third generation “Cranie.”
stephen Johnson ’86 is a professor and coordinator of music, theatre and dance at the College of Southern Maryland. He has composed music for several campus bands and ensembles. tony Verderosa ’86 founder of Thwak! Music, a music/ sound design and music supervision company, debuted a commercial during Super bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. david belcher ’87 was promoted to the position of Senior underwriting Consultant at Healthnow new York, the parent company of blueCross blueShield of Western new York in buffalo. Dave has been with Healthnow since January 2009.
Anton schwarzmueller’s ’85 son, nicholas, is attending Crane this Fall as a freshman. He plays trumpet and is pursuing the music education program. thomas Washington ’85 was appointed superintendent for Penn Hills School District, which is building a new high school scheduled to open in 2012. tom duprey ’86, a music teacher since 1987 and a 14-year band director at the Dover-Sherborn Middle School, is an active performer, singing at churches, weddings and community events. Last fall
TOTH
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Frieda toth ’87 gave a solo voice recital May 27, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church, Glens Falls, nY with Derek Stannard ’07 accompanying.
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“Join me in the BFR - it’s the easiest gift
Denton Herbik ’91 was named the Southeast Regional Vice President of Sales by ShareVault, a leading provider of secure document sharing services.
you will ever make! It’s simple to do. Just name the Potsdam College Foundation as beneficiary in your will, trust, IRA, life insurance or other asset. It’s that simple.” - Alan Adams ’61 For more information visit the College’s estate and gift planning website at
WWW.PoTSDAM.EDU/ADVANCE/GifTPLAN
Alex Herzog ’91 was promoted to Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services at Utah State University Eastern in Price, Utah. In May of 2010 he earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Melinda Miller ’91, Director of Counseling at SUNY Canton, was presented with the 2011 Excellence in College Service Award by the College Council.
or contact Jason Ladouceur, director of planned giving, at (315) 267-2123 or giftplan@potsdam.edu
Jacqueline Murrell ’87 was named Elementary Principal of the Year for the State of California by The Association of California School Administrators. Brian Kern ’88 and his wife, Katherine Parisky, celebrated their son’s 2nd birthday in April. Brian’s musical interests include singing, ukulele and xylophone. Paul Meyer ’88 has been in the jazz community for a number of years, playing with many greats such as Wynton Marsalis (hon. ’10). He and his band have released an album, “Paul Meyer’s Quartet Featuring Frank Wess.” Steve Wood ’88 was promoted to Colonel on March 1, 2011. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon where he is with the Chief Asset Management & Operations Division, Installation and Mission Support Directorate, Headquarters for the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife, Lisa, celebrated their 16th anniversary and live in Annandale, VA, with their three children.
Marc Compeau ’89 is the Director for Clarkson University’s Center for Entrepreneurship. His program was twice a finalist for undergraduate entrepreneurship program of the year and was ranked No. 22 in the nation in 2006 by Entrepreneurship Magazine. Katie (Damp) Klossner ’89 recently joined the publishing company Gale/ Cengage Learning as their new Market Strategist for Public Libraries and has relocated from Colorado to Farmington Hills, MI.
1990s Capt. Todd R. Demar ’90 earned the Executive Fire Officer professional certification through the U.S. Fire Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, becoming the first City of Watertown firefighter ever to graduate from the course, and the only 2010 graduate from New York State.
Steven D. Uhl ’91 teaches junior high vocal and choral music and senior high music theory in the Baldwinsville Central School District. He is in high demand as an organist and currently accompanies the Syracuse Chorale. Sarah Emond ’93 is working with Winston Art Group, the largest independent art appraisal and advisory firm in the U.S., as head of Operations for the New York, Los Angeles and Boston offices. She is also teaching ceramics classes at the 92nd Y and The Jewish Community Center of Manhattan.
pursuing her passion to become a professional singer under the stage name Lisa Casalino.
Research. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Music at Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY.
Kelly Allen ’95 was promoted to Assistant Vice President and Human Resource Director of the Oneida Savings Bank. She was awarded a professional certification in human resources and resides in Liverpool, NY.
Matthew J. Curatolo ’99 was named the City of Ogdensburg Parks and Recreation Director. He is the former city editor for The Ogdensburg Journal and Sunday Advance News and resides in Ogdensburg, NY, with his wife and two children.
Scott Bacon ’97 is the owner-operator of Siegfried’s Call, which imports hand-made brass instruments from Germany for sales across North America and specializes in repairs and custom alterations of instruments. New York State Senator Patricia Ritchie ’91 hired Graham D. Wise ’97, an experienced administrator, to serve as her Chief of Staff to oversee her offices in the 48th NYS Senate District. Joseph Abramo ’99 is the 2011 recipient of the Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award from the Center for Music Education
Carrie Thomas Ryder ’99 is the Director of Marketing for Hancock Estabrook, LLP, a corporate law firm located in Syracuse, NY.
2000s Dawn (Cross) Mattice ’00 earned her master’s degree in Spanish literature from SUNY Binghamton in May 2010. Angie Nellis ’01 was named the 2011 Teacher of the Year by Atlantis Elementary School, Cocoa, FL, where she has taught for seven years.
Bob Lund ’93 was recently promoted to Vice President of Real Estate Lending at Bethpage Federal Credit. Bob and his wife, Candice Paccio Lund ’94, reside in Lake Grove, NY, with their four sons. Tara Visconti ’93 opened a full-service law firm, Buzzell, Blanda & Visconti, LLP in Melville, NY. She is active in the Kiwanis Club and was elected Vice President for 2010-11. Lisa Hertzner ’94, a former music teacher who wrote the alma mater for Durant High School in Florida, is
Brian Vlasak ’03 is pictured with his former Crane School of Music composition professor, David Heinick. Brian returned to campus in February 2011 as one of his compositions was premiered by Assistant Professor of Piano Hannah Gruber ’03 during one of her recitals. While on campus, Brian also met with student composers.
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David Coakley ’02, a SUNY Cortland University Police Officer, received national recognition for successfully administering CPR to a visiting parent who stopped breathing and had no pulse. He was awarded the 2011 International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Award for Merit at the IACLEA 53rd Annual Conference and Exposition in Charlotte, NC, on June 17, 2011. Emily Wiley Peters ’03 joined the Dr. James Tague Dental Practice in Alexandria Bay, NY.
alumni
C•o•n•n•e•C•t•i•o•n•s
Kevin Elliott ’04 is a Survey Technician at Aubertine and Currier Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Sackets Harbor, NY, with their three children.
Megan Taylor Weikleenget ’05 was one of four guests soloists for Händel’s Messiah presented by the Northern Choral Society in Watertown, NY.
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Tracy Nhek ’04 is employed by Pinckney Hugo Group, a full-service marketing communications firm in Syracuse, NY, as an account manager. Vedrana Kalas ’05 was chosen as one of five singers to participate in the 63rd annual American Jenny Lind Competition for Sopranos at the University of Bridgeport’s Arnold Bernhard Art & Humanities Center.
Craig M. Cullen ’08 earned his executive leadership strategies certification from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business on March 23, 2011, and has been promoted to Performance Improvement Supervisor for the maintenance programs technical group at the FPL/NextEra St. Lucie Nuclear Power Station.
Yvonne Lee ’05 relocated to Singapore and is working at the National Cancer Center as an epidemiologist. She attended the translational medicine course at the Eureka Institute located in Siracusa, Italy.
2,171
993
facebook members
linkedin connections
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beartracker online mentors
Money-Saving Service for SUNY Potsdam Alumni The Alumni Association is proud to continue the alumni program with Liberty Mutual. To learn about all of the insurance discounts that you can receive by being a SUNY Potsdam alum, visit
www.libertymutual.com/ lm/potsdam
Hannah Young ’08 received a master’s degree in documentary film and history from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communication. After interning and working for Apple, Inc., Hannah said she “jumped on the opportunity to share my love for SUNY Potsdam with prospective high school students” by joining the Admissions staff at SUNY Potsdam.
2010s Molly Lehman-Lewis ’10 was hired as the women’s lacrosse assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College. Tina A. Silver ’10 recently graduated from Walden University in Baltimore, MD, with high honors. She intends to pursue a doctoral level degree in psychology.
Elizabeth Widzinski ’08 was appointed adjunct clarinet professor at SUNY Fredonia. Melissa Tinklepaugh ’09 joined The Licensing Book trade magazine in May as the assistant editor.
55,063 alumni web site visits Stay connected with your alma mater and your fellow alums... check us out online at
www.potsdam.edu/alumni 22
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Join our groups “SUNY Potsdam Alumni”
notes
Memoriam Kathryn (Kay) McAllister Wilkinson ’28 December 29, 2010 Ann Murray Scott ’29 December 5, 2010 John (Jack) O’Neill Gerrish ’30 November 29, 2010 Marjorie Knowlton Craine ’31 October 24, 2010 Dorothy Jones Gordanier ’31 February 22, 2011 Prudence Smith Love ’33 September 14, 2010 Doris Converse LaRocque ’35 October 23, 2010
Phyllis Wright Foster ’45 January 7, 2011 Anne Wilson Pindar ’45 June 5, 2011 Evelyn V. Hallenbeck ’47 September 6, 2010 Jean Ryder Bohlander ’48 January 9, 2011 Carolyn Longfritz Bulson ’49 May 15, 2011 Charlotte McCurdy Ellis ’49 September 5, 2010 Arthur S. May ’50 February 7, 2010 William Eldridge ’51 January 1, 2011 E. Jane Merkley ’52 November 25, 2010 Dixie Tucker Prittie ’52 December 22, 2010
Helena Dean Tolman ’35 & ’58 December 20, 2010
Phyllis Beckler Hutton ’53 April 22, 2011
Jennie Vairo Dempsey ’39 February 9, 2011
Josephine Rinaldo-Smith ’53 May 22, 2011
Jane Gill Houghton ’39 January 6, 2011 Marion Harmon Vienneau ’39 January 23, 2011 Mary LaVine Caruso ’40 November 26, 2010 Inez VanTassel Rose ’40 April 17, 2011 Susan Scott Maier ’41 May 18, 2011 Irene Mealus Wetsig ’42 July 27, 2010 Marjory Ryan Gallagher ’44 December 7, 2010 Barbara Rodee Laspina ’44 January 14, 2011 Ruth Tiernan ’44 February 23, 2010
Jeanne Ellis Waters ’53 October 12, 2010 Ruth (Zoeller) Buyck ’54 May 26, 2011 Joyce Morris Ashlaw ’56 March 19, 2011
Kathleen Young Glowacki ’62 February 11, 2011 Dorothy Mayhew Pierce ’64 March 27, 2011 Walter N. Putnam ’65 September 9, 2010 Mary Ellen Loson Powers ’66 December 5, 2010 Grace Snider VanVoorhis ’66 June 2, 2011
Androniki Thomas Litman ’71 April 9, 2011 Mary Evanoff Miller ’71 December 9, 2010 Francis Wallace ’71 April 28, 2011 Gladys J. Collins ’72 December 19, 2010 Margaret Cappione Fleming ’72 November 5, 2010 Dale E. Gibbs ’74 January 22, 2010
John Hogan ’67 March 1, 2011
Bruce J. Holland ’74 January 29, 2011
Kathleen Smith Mesic ’68 February 26, 2011
Susan F. Zecher ’74 December 8, 2010
Margaret Mahoney Simons ’68 January 12, 2011
William John Carroll ’77 June 4, 2011
Peter N. Gaskin ’69 May 20, 2011 Robert George Panthen ’69 June 26, 2010 Edna M. Brown ’70 February 7, 2011
Carol Krulinski ’77 February 28, 2011
Karen L. Bourdon Clark ’87 May 2, 2011 Robert D. Hand ’89 February 12, 2011 William E. McGuire ’91 March 10, 2011 Cynthia Terrance Smoke ’91 February 12, 2011 Patricia Anderson ’93 December 1, 2010 Jan W. Stevens ’94 November 11, 2010 Marsha A. Aldous ’95 September 29, 2010 Margaret McFarlane Guccione ’95 October 8, 2010
Robert Serwatka ’77 December 19, 2010 Stephen C. Clark ’78 June 18, 2011
Andrew B. Haas ’04 March 9, 2011
Hannah Oakes Chambers ’71 December 11, 2010 Daniel P. Decker ’71 April 19, 2011
Melissa Knight Gleichenhaus ’85 November 16, 2010
haas
POtSDAM PeOPle
Robert S. Ruggles ’05 September 8, 2010
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Constance Walker Bush ’82 January 26, 2011
Anne Clintsman Rapa ’56 September 5, 2010 Harry R. McKenna ’57 September 17, 2010 George B. Randall ’58 September 8, 2010 Nancy Evenson Clegg ’58 January 29, 2011 Nazaly Dershian Hill ’59 January 11, 2011 Mary Kibling Nims ’59 March 20, 2011
OUr Free GiFt tO YOU Our Free Gift to YOU! Plan for tomorrow today. Potsdam’s estate and gift planning website provides useful information and free resources to help as you navigate your future. Visit: www.potsdam.edu/advance/giftplan As you plan your future, invest in Potsdam’s.
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Sylvia Andrews, a secretary at SUNY Potsdam for over 33 years. March 26, 2011
Philip D. Paro, worked in dining services for 37 years.February 1, 2011
Connie Lee Barber, worked in food service for several years. April 19, 2011
Laura Patterson, honored by SUNY Potsdam as Sponsor Teacher-of-the-Year. February 4, 2011
Robert Briggs (Hon. ’87) Faculty Emeritus October 8, 2010
Ralph J. Prevost, worked as a painter for 20 years. April 26, 2011
Shirley J. Bryant, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of The Crane School of Music, retired in January 2010. September 11, 2010
Peter M. Wickman, professor emeritus of criminology and social policy and founder of the College’s criminal justice minor. March 6, 2011
Richard D. Church, a generous philanthropist supporting numerous Crane School of Music projects and programs, and husband of Vernice Ives Church ’61. November 13, 2010 Peter Clifford, a friend of the college. July 3, 2010 Rosann Deitz, worked in food service for 13 years. September 27, 2010
Births
Identical twin boys were born to Anton Schwarzmueller ’85 and his wife, Arlene, on September 3, 2010. They are their 16th and 17th children. Brian Learch ’89 and his wife, Colleen, welcomed their first child, Theodore Stanislaus, on September 1, 2009. Heather McAllister Sullivan ’96 gave birth to her second daughter, Kiley, on March 24, 2011. She joins her older sister, Keagan, who was born on January 29, 2009. Aaron Fuller ’97 and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their son, Evan, on November 13, 2009. Evan joins two older sisters, Kayla, 5, and Breanna, 2. Jennifer (Ross) Sheerer ’97, her husband, Raymond, and big brother,Parker, welcomed Christopher Peter into the family on December 23, 2010. Christopher was born at Saratoga Hospital in Saratoga Springs, NY, weighing 7 pounds, 10.2 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches long.
Dawn M. (Cross) Mattice ’00 and her husband, Peter, welcomed their 2nd son into the world on May 25, 2011. John Paul measured 20.5 inches and weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces. He joins older brother, Raymond, age 2, and is the second grandson of Gerald W. Cross Jr. ’71. Gilles Legault ’02 and Laura (Blais) Legault ’96 welcomed their fifth boy, Tyler Kennedy, on July 26, 2010. Tyler joins big brothers: Joshua, 8; Mathieu, 7; Christopher, 4; and Alexandre, 2.
Heather L. Sigler Smith ’05 and her husband, Jonathan, are enjoying parenthood since the birth of their first child, Hannah Lily Joan, on February 15, 2010. Jill DiPaola-Czarnecki ’06 and John Czarnecki ’06 welcomed their first child, Jason John, to the world on February 25, 2011.
Goldsmith
Esther A. Dominy, worked in food service for many years. February 4, 2011
Pati Derkowski Dunn ’03 and Matthew Dunn ’03 celebrated the birth of a son, Sean Patrick, on September 15, 2010.
POTSDAM PEOPLE
smith
Emeriti & Friends
mattice
class
Richard Hibler, professor emeritus of Education. January 7, 2011 Paul Merritt (Hon. ’90) Faculty Emeritus. September 26, 2010 William C. Merwin, President of SUNY Potsdam from 1989-1997. May 6, 2011
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meyer
Benedict Goldsmith, professor emeritus. April 2, 2011
Shannon (Humsjo) Meyer ’98 and Jerry Meyer ’97 of Cary, NC, happily welcomed their first child, Ella Rose, into the world on January 28, 2011, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.
ARE YOU RECEIVING ALMA MATTERS? Alma Matters is SUNY Potsdam’s monthly electronic newsletter for alumni and friends. Visit www. potsdam.edu/alum/newsletter to check it out!
notes
THAN K YOU! christopher c. Wheeler ’07 married Jessica L. Todd on September 24, 2010. A reception was held at St. Lawrence university Golf and Country Club, Canton, nY.
POTSDAM PEOPLE
Marriages
thomas O. morrison ’97 & ’03 and maria d. conger ’04 & ’06 were united in marriage on november 26, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Potsdam, nY. david h. dufrane ’98 and Sara C. Manchester were married on October 30, 2010. The couple will travel to San Francisco in spring 2012 for their wedding trip. carrie Gould ’99 and Andrew bonekemper were married on April 2, 2011, in King of Prussia, PA. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii for 10 days.
danica h. sharrino ’05 wed Michael r. Murray October 30, 2010, at the north Stone Country Club in Huntersville, nY. The couple honeymooned in Costa rica and resides in Lincolnton, nC. Justin david Kahn ’05 and Kristen Marie beck were married on October 16, 2010. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii and now resides in Painted Point, nY.
Jason Giachetti ’00 and Amy were married July 31, 2010. michael O’Neill ’00 married Susan rider on September 12, 2010. Cantor Rebecca Robins ’01 and Zerek Schwartz were married October 10, 2010, on Long island, nY. Nicole Roussie ’02 married Mike Jeswald on July 3, 2010. They had their first child, a son, in September 2011. stacie m. cornwell ’03 and Caleb K. Shelton were married October 16, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Palmyra, nY.
lAlOnDe
barbara Jackson ’99 wed robert Gauthier, Jr., on July 24, 2010, at St. raphael’s Church, Heuvelton, nY.
matthew F. LaLonde ’05 and Christianne M. Smith were wed on June 12, 2010, at immaculate Conception Church, brownville, nY, and spent their wedding trip in Jamaica. Anika E. Willis ’06 married Patrick Fullum on October 18, 2008, at the Plattsburgh Memorial Chapel.
Class Chair(s) 2006 5th reunion
Total Committed $1,000
Steven King ian Keefe Tricia (Day) Pierce nicholas Wright
SHARRInO
tamara Russell ’93 married ross Arndt on April 16, 2011.
2011 Reunion Classes Celebrate Their Memories and the College
$ JOHnSTOn
ClASS
Jessica A. Johnston ’08 married Paul T. ramos on October 1, 2010. The couple honeymooned in Puerto rico. megan m. seguin ’08 and bryan E. Matthews were married July 24, 2010, in an outdoor ceremony at the Gran View in Ogdensburg, nY. The couple honeymooned in Aruba and resides in Clayton, nY. tracie Lynn scully ’09 married Lawrence Lateef on March 26, 2011, with many SunY Potsdam alumni in attendance.
Ann (breitner) O’Reilly ’66 and her husband, Arnold ’71, celebrated their 45th anniversary on April 11, 2011. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Rachel A. Piatt ’07 married Joshua dettman ’07 on September 5, 2010, in Lake Placid, nY. The couple now resides in rochester, nY.
Anton schwarzmueller ’85 and his wife, Arlene, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on April 5, 2011.
1996 15th reunion Casey nelson
$3,224
1991 20th reunion Hilary (Lopata) nawoj Kevin Scully
$5,449
1986 25th reunion
$42,409
1981 30th reunion Diane (Mimken) brouwer Donna (Collett) Ce’ Cartel John Panaro
$11,852
$
1976 35th reunion
$66,240
$
1971 40th reunion Jim brewer Michele Delperuto Scott LaVine Dennis Pennington Joyce (barnholt) Yianoukos
$58,126
1966 45th reunion
$12,000
Amy (Hind) Henry Susan (Schonger) Manfred
Ken beckwith Michael berens Eileen (Minscher) boots Faye (Cohen) Jeser Mary (reagan) La Pointe
Anniversaries
shawn P. Kelley ’07 and stacey m. clark ’07 were married on August 1, 2010, at the cottage of the bride’s parents in Sackets Harbor, nY.
$4,880
Karen bigelow-Varney Carl Herron James Jones brian Kurish Sean Leous
POTSDAM PEOPLE
Grace A. (holland) Londraville ’48 and her husband, robert Cain, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 26, 2011. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
2001 10th reunion Daniel bader David bresnahan Jason Lang Mike ramos nicole (Lescarbeau) Sutorius
$$
1961 50th reunion Alan Adams Sue Fay (Geyer) Allen richy barz Evelyn (Kenrick) bernstein Pat (Scheu) blackwell Paul bronchetti Connie Callaway Murray Lytle barbara Cervenka Vernice (ives) Church Dorothy Albrecht Gregory betty (Ellis) Mallott Carol (Dethlefs) Menchel Dave naylor bill rooke Alberta (Whetham) Shouldice Marion (reeves) Stienffenhofer Christ Weait Lauire (Lauer) Ziecker TOTAl
$820,000
$1,025,180
$ exceeds Goal
$$ Set reunion Giving record w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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IN THeIr
own words
beNJAMIN HOUCK ’12 ADIrONDACK 46-r english & Communications Major economics & Computer Science Minor Hometown: Preston Hollow, nY One of my goals while going to SUnY Potsdam is to finish the ADK 46-r challenge. That is to climb all 46 original high peaks above 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks. I began climbing in scouts as a teenager, but then I was doing the Catskills 3,500 Club, completing 35 peaks over 3,500 feet. now at Potsdam, I am 45 minutes from the edge of the High Peaks Wilderness, so naturally, I renewed the challenge I started in high school, as I try to finish the 46er. At 21 peaks, I am picking up speed and pressuring my friends even more to go with me on day hikes. Tempting them with the promise of an eight-ounce cheeseburger and a fresh lake Placid Brewery pint usually works! Taking friends and classmates who are new to hiking with me is really rewarding, even if it is just to see the progression of faces as you climb. In the beginning of a hike, there is a lot of complaining, sweating and demanding breaks to apply more bug spray and drink quarts of water. When you get to the scramble (the steep parts) of the mountain there are even more faces. The “Are you serious I have to climb up that rock?” face is one of my favorites. But when you get to that first open rock summit, especially with someone who has never been so deep in the woods before or so high in elevation, to see them go speechless and stare out is truly rewarding. There is nothing like the climbing experience. Some of my best experiences have been going alone (After extensively telling local friends exactly where I was going in case I was to run into any trouble, of course.) Realizing that you are not just traveling, but thriving out in the middle of thousands of acres of wilderness, with no roads, electricity, food supplies or any other modern safety nets, is uplifting and one of the better epiphanies in my life. To have to fully rely on myself makes me realize my own independence, self-motivation, and helps me appreciate how small I am in the natural beauty of the Adirondack Park.
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alumni
opportunities
Calendar of events Del ray Bea
For a complete listing of events and registration information, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni
ch, FL
Double Axel At DinosAur bbQ 9.24.11 syracuse, nY
Wh elley
PotsDAM ColleGe FounDAtion boArD AnD AluMni AssoCiAtion FAll boArD MeetinGs 10.1.11 sheard literacy Center • Potsdam, nY
N YC
Cis AnD MAth AluMni rounD tAble 11.1.11 • rolling Greens, Dutchess Golf and Country Club Poughkeepsie, nY
nYssMA Winter ConFerenCe & CrAne AluMni reCePtion 12.1.11 rochester, nY
Sarasota, FL
AnnuAl FloriDA lunCheon 3.10.12
Alumni gAther in DelrAy BeAch, Fl
Alumni and friends gathered in sunny southern Florida on March 14, 2011 in Delray Beach for Lunch at Boston’s on the Beach. Old friends reconnected and new friendships were made. Photo: L-R Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Faye Rosenberg, Alex Raskin ’89, Stephanie Capone ’64, Ann Levy ’56, Gail Vroman Gage ’77, Charles Dana’58 and Barbara Dana
Alums gAther in sArAsotA, Fl.
Our annual Sarasota gathering was held at the Laurel Oak Country Club on March 12, 2011 and was hosted by Roberta (Bobbie) Hamilton Reed ’60. Great food and stories were shared by all along with making many new friends.
eileen Whelley, DistinguisheD Alumni speAker
Eileen (Goss) Whelley ’76 recently visited campus as SUNY Potsdam’s 2011 Distinguished Alumni Speaker. Whelley, executive vice president for human resources for The Hartford Financial Services Group, spoke to classes in the Women’s and Gender Studies program and met with women leaders on campus. She also presented open sessions on “Making It In Today’s Job Market – Is It Still A Man’s World?” sponsored by the Office of Campus Life and “The Real World . . . Prepare Now To Succeed Later” sponsored by the Future Business Leaders of America.
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nYC reCePtion 5.1.12
MAster’s CoMMenCeMent 5.19.12
bAChelor’s CoMMenCeMent 5.20.12
reunion WeeKenD 7.12.12-7.15.12 Potsdam, nY
reunion
special Visiting campus? Check out the complete campus calendar to see what’s happening. Visit: www.potsdam.edu/newsand events to see a full listing of athletic events, concerts and more!
p a c e R In July, over 600 alumni, friends and emeriti returned to campus to celebrate our special College. In addition to class reunions, the following celebrations took place over the weekend: the 125th Anniversary of the Crane School of Music, the 50th anniversary of Omega Delta Phi Sorority, 30th anniversary of the 1981 Men’s Basketball NCAA Division III Championship, the 25th anniversary of the 1986 Men’s Basketball NCAA Division III Championship, the 60th anniversary of PACES, and the 40th anniversary of Double Axel.
Fa cu lty Em er
With 2012 just around the corner, plan now to join us in Potsdam this July 12-15! Seen below, Kay McCabe Hall ’36, returned to campus to celebrate her 75th Reunion! Pictured with Kay is her daughter Carol Hall Ledwith ’68 and President John Schwaller.
iti Pi cn ic
and fun !
M cC ab e Te a m m a
te s .. .
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4 NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID VILLANTI
44 Pierrepont Avenue Potsdam, NY 13676 www.potsdam.edu/people
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Join us for Reunion 7.12.12 -7.15.12 for information:
www.potsdam.edu/alumni