The Magazine for Alumni and Friends of the State University of New York at Potsdam
P E O P L E
Spring 2008 Vol.2 | No.2
The IMPACT OF IMPACT
REUNION Weekend 2008
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July 10-13
The Class Dinner is
our biggest event of the weekend,
where alumni, faculty and friends of the College come together to celebrate Potsdam. Tables will be reserved for your class. Following dinner, the Alumni Association will present its annual awards.
Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award: Cynthia Carlin Pacini ’78 St. Lawrence Academy Medal: Vernice (Ives) Church ’61 Rising Star Award: Dimitri Pittas ’99 Honorary Lifetime Membership: Nancy Griffin & Dr. Millard Harmon Distinguished Service Award: Jane (Gatta) Subramanian ’72 Minerva Award: Dr. Manuel Martinez ’83 Note: Prior to the presentation of awards, annual Alumni Association business will be conducted. This includes approval of 2008-2009 trustees and proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.
Congrats!
44 Pierrepont Avenue Potsdam, NY 13676
snapshot
Sarah sachs Sarah Sachs ’82 is a librarian with a mission. Above and beyond her work at the Potsdam Public Library, her involvement includes working with the Head Start Program and serving as a board member of the St. Lawrence Childcare Council and 1st Book St. Lawrence County, among other organizations; all of them are focused on getting books to kids. “When I give away a book to a child, it is the best thing in the world. A certain segment of our population doesn’t have any books at home, and there is a significant impact on their children’s preparation for school. I see my job as connecting families with a collection that belongs to them. All families have access to books and resources at the library and everyone owns them.” Sachs has also been working with SUNY Potsdam faculty Lynn Hall, Deborah Conrad and Carolyn Stone on a grant-funded project called “Where Are the Books?” to expose elementary education students to the breadth of materials available to them for use in the classroom. Professor Hall explains, “Since our collaboration with Sarah, our students are using a much more varied selection of texts to engage learning of science… as a result of our collaboration school children benefit as they are exposed to more variety of literature. We couldn’t do this project without Sarah and her leadership.”
spring Profiles
Anne Righton Malone
GREEN zone
Lessons from the classroom and a life well-lived.
Thomas Palmatier ’75 A commanding performer with presidential flair.
Carol Menchel and Vernice Church ’61
Potsdam People ARE
STAYING Green! We talked about it in our last
Honoring and celebrating their college years.
issue, but We’re living up to
Todd McCabe ’87
our promise!
Bringing compassion to the dentist’s chair.
Departments News & Notes 3 Class Notes 21 In Their Own Words 27 Alumni 28 Calendar of Events 29
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SUNY Potsdam has partnered with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to take part in a biofuel study that will give Potsdam students the opportunity to grow and manage a crop of willow shrubs that will be turned into a source of petroleum-saving fuel. PRESIDENT SIGNS CLIMATE COMMITMENT....see pg. 6
The Impact of Impact
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How green is that?
Historical, technological and emotional. Just scratching the surface of the many facets of impact. On the cover: Illustrating impact can take many shapes. We wanted to have some fun with it so, yes, that’s real paint. And we threw it at them. Thanks to our helpful students and to all of the faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who impact their lives in many ways! From the left: Issac Snell ’08, Art Education; Nicole Wilson ’09, Childhood Education; Bridgit Noone ’08, Art Studio Major
Reunion Weekend 2008 Thirty-seven events and hundreds of memories in only four short days. Join us!
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Letter From
the president
S P R I N G 2008
Vol. 2 | No. 2
Impact. While it is a difficult thing to quantify, here at Potsdam I see it
everyday. On our campus, it is often the intersection of giving and receiving that has a profound impact on people’s lives, in or out of the classroom. Quite frankly, our alumni’s impact on the College is what sustains Potsdam’s greatness.
Potsdam Pe o ple Staff and Co ntributo rs E d ito r
During one of my first visits with an alumna now living in California, I was struck by her appreciation of the excellent education she received at the College. Since her years at Potsdam, she has endowed three full scholarships, enabling students to experience and pursue their own excellence. These are extremely competitive scholarships and are responsible for bringing the best and brightest students to Potsdam. The magic and the impact of her gift were obvious as I witnessed the alumna meet the scholars whom her gift empowered. That gift has an impact not only on the students and their families, but on the alumna herself. Her joy was palpable. Potsdam has also demonstrated to me that impact does not always occur in large measures. It is manifested in the everyday efforts of Potsdam people. So many of our graduates are teachers, who have a profound impact on the lives of small children and young adults everyday, enriching their lives in many ways. We witness their influence as educators when our first-year students arrive on campus, and they consistently astound us with their creativity and potential. Many of our students dream of becoming teachers, having experienced excellent teachers throughout their own educational journey. How do you quantify that impact? What impresses me most with Potsdam is that we find ways to make many small things add up to far more than the simple sum of their parts. Potsdam continues to present itself as a force with which to be reckoned. How is it that one of the smallest of the SUNY comprehensive colleges has one of the highest alumni participation rates and one of largest endowments? Our alumni prove again and again that size is not the important characteristic. Wealth is not a simple indicator of quality. The commitment to excellence trumps all. This issue of Potsdam People just scratches the surface in telling the story of the enormous impact that our students, faculty, alumni, emeriti and friends have on the lives of so many people. Every conversation I have with students quickly reveals the transcendent impact that Potsdam has on individuals and, in turn, the enormous impact that individuals have on the College.
Deborah Dudley, Director of Marketing and Communications Sherry (Allen) Paradis ’00, Director of Alumni Relations Wr ite r /Ed ito r Deidre Kelly, Media Relations Manager Liz Tuttle, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator We b M a n ag e r Mindy Collins, Director of Web Communications Co ntr i b uto r s Christa Carroll, Director of The Fund for Potsdam Nancy Griffin, Development Officer Boyd Jones ’95, Sports Information Director Jason Ladouceur ’94, Associate Vice President for College Advancement Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Development Officer Donna Planty, Publications Associate Laurie (Balles) Simpson ’97, Director of Donor Relations Vicki Templeton-Cornell, Vice President for College Advancement De s i g n & A rt Di r ection Jessica Rood, Director of Publications P HOTOGR A P HY
Let us take a little time to reflect on impact and celebrate it in all of its complexity. We look to our greatest assets, our alumni, to continue to maintain the momentum necessary for the maximum impact in the years to come.
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POTSDAM PEOPLE
SPRING 2008
Principal Photography: Kathryn Deuel
CAMPUS
news & notes College News
Potsdam Officially Breaks Record with Largest Freshman Enrollment in 25 Years SUNY Potsdam welcomed its largest freshman class in a quarter century this semester with a total of 837 full-time first-year students. Even though admission to SUNY Potsdam is becoming increasingly selective, the College’s Class of 2011 broke the admission record set back in 1982.
Once completed, SUNY Potsdam’s new dining facility “Becky’s Place at Pratt Commons” will be unlike any other dining area at the College. DEVELOPMENT & Awards
Potsdam Breaks Ground on Becky’s Place & Announces Second $1 Million Gift As SUNY Potsdam broke ground on the new dining facility “Becky’s Place at Pratt Commons,” made possible in part from the College’s firstever $1 million gift, President John F. Schwaller announced Potsdam’s second $1 million gift from that same donor. The gift is from the estate of Dr. Frederick B. Kilmer, who was the original science director for Johnson & Johnson from 1888 to 1933. It was made to SUNY Potsdam by a member of Dr. Kilmer’s family who wishes to remain anonymous in memory of a family friend, Rebecca R. “Becky” Pratt, a 1997 politics graduate of SUNY Potsdam who passed away in 2001.
New Initiatives
Helen Hosmer Bust Unveiled
Local physician and sculptor Dr. John B. Savage (l) and Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller.
“We are exceptionally thankful for this remarkable gift. The impact of this donor’s generosity will undoubtedly be a fitting tribute to Miss Pratt and her family,” said Dr. Schwaller. “The College is working with the donor and the Pratt family to determine how best to use the gift to enhance the student experience and how the contribution will be designated as a lead gift to inspire others to invest in SUNY Potsdam.” Becky’s Place at Pratt Commons is being funded in partnership with Potsdam Auxiliary and College Educational Services, Inc. (PACES), SUNY Potsdam’s five-year capital plan funds and the generosity of the anonymous donor. The anticipated completion date is August 2008.
The likeness of one of SUNY Potsdam’s most legendary music educators will now live on forever in the concert hall that bears her name. Thanks to the generosity of donors Michael Maresca, MD and Barbara Maresca along with donor and sculptor John B. Savage, Jr., MD, Dr. Helen M. Hosmer’s bronze bust graces the Hosmer Concert Hall. After attending a performance of “Rodelinda” in May 2006 at the Metropolitan Opera featuring the world-renowned talents of Class of 1993 alumna Stephanie Blythe and Class of 1981 alumna
Renée Fleming, Drs. Maresca and Savage discussed ways in which they could facilitate the creation of bronze busts representing some of The Crane School of Music’s most accomplished and successful alumni. After much discussion about who should get the first honor, it was decided it would be most appropriate to recognize the legacy and vision of Dr. Hosmer with the inaugural sculpture.
Included in this year’s incoming freshmen were 13 students at the top of their class, including five valedictorians and eight salutatorians. Director of Admission Tom Nesbitt attributes the increase to a number of factors, including SUNY Potsdam’s fine reputation for high quality academic and student life programs as well as implementation of an aggressive marketing and recruiting effort. College News
Potsdam Ranked among Top Universities in the North For the ninth consecutive year, SUNY Potsdam is ranked among the top public and private regional universities in the northern United States in the University-Master’s category of the 2008 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s guide, “America’s Best Colleges.” “It is encouraging to know that all the efforts made by so many at SUNY Potsdam do not go unnoticed,” said Dr. John F. Schwaller, president of SUNY Potsdam. “While it is gratifying to be recognized by U.S. News and World Report as an exceptional regional university, we work hard to be more than the story numbers alone can tell. Our students are fully enriched by the handcrafted education and personal attention we offer, and our distinguished alumni often remind us of how important the Potsdam experience has been in their lives.” w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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CAMPUS
news & notes
ALL-STEINWAY
VOLUNTEER
NEIL & MARILYN JOHNSON
DEVELOPMENT & Awards
SUNY Potsdam officially became SUNY’s only “All-Steinway” School with the conveying of the prestigious title by Steinway & Sons Senior District Manager Ray Rotuna (l to r) and Steinway & Sons National Director of Institutional Sales Sally Coveleskie to The Crane School of Music Dean Dr. Alan Solomon and SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller. The presentation took place before a performance by internationally acclaimed Steinway Artist Jeffrey Siegel (seated).
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Retired Professor and Wife Establish Scholarship Dr. Neil Johnson, SUNY Potsdam retired professor and former chair of Health and Physical Education, and his wife, Marilyn, retired physical education instructor and coach at Clarkson University, have contributed a lead gift to establish an endowed scholarship for a student majoring in Community Health. The Neil and Marilyn Johnson Scholarship will provide a $1,000 award each year to a Community Health major with financial need, to be awarded for the student’s junior and senior years. While the criteria have not been finalized, the Johnsons’ intent is to help students who are involved in athletics or other fitness activities, and also students who are interested in working with the elderly, which is a growing field with many opportunities for graduates in Community Health. Preference may also be given to students from St. Lawrence County, where the Johnsons have resided for 44 years. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson have also established the Neil Johnson Excellence in Community Health Award, which is given to the top Community Health major who is a role model for physical fitness and wellness. The couple has funded the award each year since 2000. Student Spotlight
115 Students Volunteer for Make a Difference Week With students out in force using volunteer opportunities to help others, SUNY Potsdam celebrated “Make a Difference Week” from October 21 to October 27. A total of 115 student volunteers helped their neighbors and had a positive impact on their community, raising more than
$5,000 dollars for different local and national charities. Senior Dana Farley of Redwood, NY, got involved with the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce’s Fright Night Event because she wanted experience working with children outside of a classroom setting. “Not only does it feel good that you did something for your community, but it also gives you a chance to meet new people,” Farley said. “I met some students that go to SUNY Potsdam that I would have never met otherwise and also met people within the community.”
said William J. Amoriell ’68, dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies and Graduate Studies. “This new program is unique in that it is part-time, offered evenings and weekends, and will require significant fieldwork in the public-school classroom.” After more than six years of preparation for accreditation in Ontario, SUNY Potsdam received approval from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer a part-time graduate program of professional education in Ottawa. Learn more at www.potsdam.edu/ottawa.
DEVELOPMENT & Awards
Potsdam Takes Home Three SUNY Student Affairs Awards SUNY Potsdam won top honors from the State University of New York’s Outstanding Student Affairs Awards in the Student Government and Organizations category for their work on “Promoting Engagement in Student Organizations.”
The College also earned runner-up status in the Emerging Programs category for their “Family Programs” and in the New Student/First Year Program category for their “First Year Experience” program. New Initiatives
Potsdam Offering Part-Time Graduate Teacher-Education Program in Ottawa SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education and Professional Studies is now offering a part-time Master of Science in Teaching (MST) Program tailored to the needs of adult learners in Ottawa that will lead to Ontario certification in the primary and junior divisions. “SUNY Potsdam has been preparing teachers for Ontario schools for decades in our fulltime, on-campus programs,”
Student Spotlight
Potsdam Theatre Students’ Works Performed in NYC Fall 2007 theatre students in Associate Professor of Theatre Kimberley A. Bouchard’s honors class submitted work to a call for entries in the spoken word genre to “Words of Choice.” Of the 150 nationally submitted writings, four of the Potsdam submissions were selected and performed at The TACT Studio on Broadway. Bouchard, sophomore Meghan Brill of Farmingville, NY; senior Caitlin P. Brock of Massena, NY; and sophomore Tia Federice of Amherst, NY, traveled to New York City to see their pieces performed. SUNY Potsdam represented one-quarter of the final 16 performance pieces performed by an ensemble of actors under the direction of Francesca Mantani Arkus.
CAMPUS
news & notes
New Initiatives
BearTracker on the Move: Online Aid for Internships and Jobs Finding a worthy volunteerism opportunity, an exciting internship, the perfect job or an alumni mentor is just a click away for SUNY Potsdam students since the launch of BearTracker, a new Web-based system that allows students and employers to post information about themselves in hopes of finding solid matches. BearTracker combines the efforts of SUNY Potsdam’s Offices of Experiential Education, Career Planning and Alumni Relations to provide a platform for student and employer registration, résumé referrals, placement tracking, job posting and management, interview scheduling and alumni mentoring. College News
National Survey Reaffirms Potsdam’s Academic Excellence According to the results of a recent national survey, seniors and first-year students rank SUNY Potsdam above peer institutions for numerous academic and social opportunities as well as for engaging practices associated with high levels of learning and development. The 2007 report from The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) measures five key areas of educational performance: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, studentfaculty interaction, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment. In all areas, SUNY Potsdam seniors rate the College higher than its peers. Seniors exceeded
The CSO Interfase software allows the services of these three offices to be integrated with the overall education experience. It provides a user-friendly searchable database; builds relationships between students, employers and alumni; and develops a collaborative partnership among students, faculty, employers, the community and alumni. Employers and alumni can begin posting their information by contacting Toby White at (315) 267-2483 or whitetj@potsdam.edu to schedule a training appointment.
their peers in more than half of the questions across the five categories. College News
Dr. Fossum on Leave to Serve as Director of NSF Dr. Timothy Fossum, professor and chair of SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Computer Science, is on leave for the 2007-2008 academic year to serve as a program director with the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Washington, D.C.
Research
Collaborative Book by 15 SUNY Faculty Published After two years of being available in limited release, the collaborative work of 15 SUNY Potsdam educators has been released nationwide through SUNY Press. Written from the point of view of 13 different campus
departments, “Ideas That Work in College Teaching” reflects SUNY Potsdam’s diverse and innovative teaching techniques, which contribute to its standing as a distinguished institution of higher education. With a foreword by Dr. Galen Pletcher, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, co-authors include past and present faculty members Drs. Joel Foisy, Heather Sullivan-Catlin, John Massaro, Liliana Trevizán, Peter Brouwer, Caroline Downing, Robert Badger, David Curry, Oscar Sarmiento, Ronald Woodbury, Sergei Abramovich, Larry Brehm, William Herman, Peg Wesselink and Walter Conley. Each of the 15 chapters succeeds in providing a candid look into the faculty member’s teaching methods. Emphasis is placed on participatory learning giving practical examples that encourage faculty to get their students more involved and excited about learning. Copies of “Ideas That Work in College Teaching” are available at the campus bookstore and also through SUNY Press at www.sunypress.edu/details.
He will serve as program director for three programs reviewing and awarding grants: Scholarship for Service, Advanced Technology Education and Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement. “Having received grants in the past, this experience will enhance my understanding of what makes a grant proposal successful,” Dr. Fossum said. “It will be beneficial to see what other institutions are doing and to see what ideas interest the National Science Foundation so we can be on the cutting edge with future proposals.”
Do you have your SUNY Potsdam VISA yet? Visit www.potsdam.edu/creditcard or call 1-800-853-5576 ext. 8723 to learn more about the SUNY Potsdam Visa card. Show yours off today!
SUNY Potsdam Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of the Potsdam College Foundation Vicki Templeton-Cornell (l) congratulates Crane School of Music Professor of Opera and Musical Theatre Carleen Graham with the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees 2007 Campus Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award. Instrumental in last year’s world premiere opera “The Sailor-Boy and the Falcon,” Graham helped to secure more than $220,000 in support of the Snell Music Theater renovation and the Opera Program. w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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CAMPUS
news & notes
DEVELOPMENT & Awards
Potsdam’s “Out of the Darkness” Walk Raises More Than $10,000 In November of 2007, 261 people took part in the inaugural Out of the Darkness Community Walk hosted by SUNY Potsdam that raised more than $10,000 for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
cast to play roles in the premiere of “The Highwayman,” with lyrics by Bardsley and music by Parry, as well as substantial excerpts from Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” and “Die Zauberflote.” The performances will take place April 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and April 13 at 3 p.m. in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater.
Following the walk, people were invited to speak about why they were participating in the event and how suicide had touched them.
Bardsley is teaching at Potsdam for the 2007-2008 academic year in place of Carleen Graham, who is on sabbatical. He is a senior lecturer at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. Parry is director of music at St. Paul’s School in London. He will be visiting Potsdam to work on the opera production and to hold master classes with several Crane students and groups.
Student Spotlight
DEVELOPMENT & Awards
Crane Opera Ensemble to Present World Premiere
Faculty and Staff Share CASE Kudos for Work on Opera
A taste of England will be part of this year’s Opera Ensemble performance as visiting professor Garth Bardsley brings the world premiere of the original musical he is writing with fellow Englishman, Ben Parry, to the stage.
The work done by Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, SUNY Potsdam development officer, and Carleen Graham, director of SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music Opera Ensemble and faculty member, on the November 2006 world premiere opera event “The Sailor-Boy and the Falcon” featuring Met-
Every 16 minutes in the United States, someone dies by suicide.
After auditioning a large turnout of 66 students, a final 45 were
ropolitan Opera star and alumna Stephanie Blythe ’93 has been selected by the Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) District II 2008 Accolades Awards Program as the Silver Award winner in the Special Events/Individual Events Category.
New Initiatives
President Signs the Climate Commitment SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller has signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and pledged to address global warming by neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions of the College and to accelerate the campus’s research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. “Although SUNY Potsdam is one of the largest consumers in the North Country region, we are continually looking for ways to lessen our energy needs and support sustainability,” said Dr. Schwaller. “We pledge to do our part to make our local practices more ecologically sound.
College News
Volunteer to Work with New Freshmen “We C.A.R.E.” (College Active Retention Effort) is a campusbased program celebrating its third year at Potsdam. Regional alumni, college employees and student leaders volunteer to keep in regular contact with a group of students to help them with questions or problems, and to remind them of important campus deadlines. If they desire, they also send their students some small gifts, such as something appropriate at the beginning of the college year. For the gifts, the Student Government Association has been helpful in partially subsidizing these costs. If you’re interested in helping our new freshmen during the 2008-2009 academic year or if you need additional information about the program, please contact Joe Sarnoff, director of retention programs, at askjoe@ potsdam.edu.
DEVELOPMENT & Awards
Scholarship Golf Classic Connects Students and Donors At the 19th SUNY Potsdam Scholarship Golf Classic, generous community and corporate sponsors teed off in support of SUNY Potsdam student scholarships. Thanks to the support of the more than 150 golfers and dozens of generous sponsors, this year’s tournament raised approximately $50,000 for the College’s Scholarship Fund and students’ dreams. “The scholarship I received has provided me motivation to truly excel while at Potsdam. It also made me feel very welcome and greatly enhanced my smooth transition from JCC to Potsdam.” -Calvin Burr ’09 Scholarship recipient
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news & notes
advisor? Our Website can help: www.potsdam.edu/advance/ giftplan As you plan your future, invest in Potsdam’s
SPORTS
ECAC West Hockey League Welcomes Lady Bears The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) recently announced that they are admitting the SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team into the ECAC West Women’s Hockey League beginning with the 2008-2009 season. “We’re excited to become a part of ECAC Women’s Hockey. This is a tremendously competitive league. We are looking forward to the competition as we develop our team for the 08-09 season,” said Bears Athletic Director Jim Zalacca. ECAC West boasts two of the nation’s top women’s programs, the Elmira College Soaring Eagles and the 2006-07 National Champion, the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals. Other members include Buffalo State, SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oswego, Utica College, Chatham University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Neumann College.
LaRowe Leads NCAA 1-Meter Diving List SUNY Potsdam diver Nathan LaRowe broke both school and conference records for the 1-meter diving event in a meet against St. Michael’s College. LaRowe totaled 329 points for the 1-meter dive in six dives. The sophomore from Latham, NY, smashed the previous
Kraus Named Academic All-District Jamie Kraus, a member of the SUNY Potsdam volleyball team, has been named to the Academic All-American District 1 Women’s Volleyball Second Team. The All-District team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors Association (COSIDA) and presented by ESPN Magazine. A Potsdam senior with a 3.90 grade point average, Kraus is a music business major. A New Paltz, NY, native, Kraus recently made her fourth consecutive appearance on the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) AllConference Team.
Wilson, now making her second All-SUNYAC appearance, is from Warwick, NY. She led her team with 632 digs for a 4.94 digs/game average. Wilson also served 37 aces during ’07 regulation play.
2008 Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Announced The Department of Athletics recently announced the Bears 2008 inductees for the Sports Hall of Fame. They include Peter Eberhardt ’78, Jennifer Ims Hallworth ’94 and John Ivery ’95. The induction ceremony will be held on July 12 as part of the College’s Annual Reunion Weekend. An All-American member of the swim team, Eberhardt was team captain during the Bears two SUNYAC Championships in ’77 and ’78. Hallworth, a volleyball player from 1990-93, was awarded both All-SUNYAC and All-Academic honors. An All-American goalie, Ivery played on the men’s lacrosse team during both the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
SUNYAC Honors Three Volleyball Players The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has chosen three SUNY Potsdam volleyball players for 2007 East Division honors. Freshman setter Kim Plummer was named the Rookie of the Year while senior Jamie Kraus was chosen as a first team middle hitter. Sophomore Priska Wilson was selected as libero for the second team. Plummer, the Bears primary setter and a Horseheads native, finished regulation play with 1094 sets to average 8.75 per game. She also tallied 38 aces as one of the team’s top servers.
LaROWE
visit your attorney or financial
PLUMMER
About to retire? Preparing to
A New Paltz native, Kraus is now making her fourth consecutive appearance as an all-conference team member. During regular season action she led the Bears with 314 kills and 107 blocks.
WILSON
Planning your future?
Potsdam record (308.70), which LaRowe set himself last January. He also broke the SUNYAC record (328.65) set in 2007 by SUNY Oswego diver Kevin Morgan. LaRowe also owns the SUNYAC record for six dives from the 3-meter platform (347.60). He holds the Potsdam records for 11 dives from the 1-meter (455.70), six dives from 3-meter (347.60) and 11 dives from the 3-meter (495.05). LaRowe has now positioned himself as the number one NCAA Division III 1-meter diver in the nation and has already qualified for the NCAA Championships.
KRAUS
CAMPUS
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POTSDAM PEOPLE SPR I NG 2008
IMPACT.
The word itself is almost onomatopoeia. When you say it, you can feel it with that collision of “c” and “t” together. If you say it over and over it is like hitting a punching bag. You can feel the word. Impact. Impact. Impact. It is also a word that conjures up so many applications. Physical, chemical, spiritual, technological, emotional, financial: each descriptor changes the nature or the experience, but the core definition remains basically the same. Impact: 1. The striking of one body against another; collision. 2. The force or impetus transmitted by a collision. 3. The effect or impression of one thing on another. 4. The power of making a strong, immediate impression. What does it mean in the Potsdam context? We scratched the surface a bit and found a few examples that we will share. But our research revealed that it would take volumes to capture the impact that Potsdam has had on the lives of so many and the impact that they have had in return on the College.
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HISTORICAL Imagine being able to accomplish a childhood dream and solve a 200-year-old local mystery all as part of your job. That’s what Aaron Gore ’93 was able to do in his position as project manager with the New York State Museum. Gore refers to himself as an “accidental archeologist.” He was a history major at Potsdam with a minor in German. When the German program was no longer an option, he opted for a minor in archeology, which changed his life. As part of his minor, Gore participated in a field school in Virginia with Dr. Steven Marqusee, associate dean and professor of anthropology. It was there that Gore received hands-on training in excavation techniques, documentation of excavations and general site management on a 19th-century farm site. A native of Ogdensburg, NY, Gore grew up hearing about Fort La Presentation, a military fort built by the French on the St. Lawrence River dating back to the mid-18th century, which was later occupied by both the British and Americans. Over the years, parts of the fort were destroyed or buried five feet underground. As a result, the exact location was lost, until now. Lighthouse Point in Ogdensburg at one time was used as an oil storage facility and the soil was contaminated, but it was also the suspected location of the fort. Originally, it was work done through Potsdam archeological student fieldwork in the 1980s that first revealed the contamination 10
POTSDAM PEOPLE
SPRING 2008
Aaron Gore ’93 on site at Fort La Presentation. To the right: musket and ceramic artifacts.
at the Fort La Presentation site. Since spring 2007, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been cleaning up the soil from petroleum contamination. Last summer, ground-penetrating radar identified four target dig spots and one of those spots resulted in the discovery of the fort’s original cobblestone floor, solving the mystery of Fort La Presentation’s location. As an archeologist for the New York State Museum, Gore manages the clean up and recovery efforts by collecting and preserving as many artifacts as they can find. “The archeology field training at Potsdam was an absolute necessity to get any job here at the New York State Museum,” said Gore. The archeology department at the New York State Museum is responsible for archeological impact studies
when an area of proposed construction or development is included in any state or federally funded plan for development. Gore’s job at the museum is to determine whether there are artifacts and historical information, like at Fort La Presentation, to be collected. He then rescues them before any work is done. His work includes helping with the city of Albany’s recent revitalization efforts and being on hand to look for historical artifacts when changes were made to Pearl Street. It was there that his team discovered a portion of the palisade wall, which surrounded Albany during the 18th century. The wall was used as a defense mechanism by towns and villages. The historical impact of this find is immeasurable and would otherwise be lost to state researchers and communities.
Technological The Fort La Presentation project goal is to clean up the soil and recover any remaining artifacts. However, Gore’s personal goal was to find the cobblestone floor, a thrilling discovery for an accidental archeologist. While Gore would have preferred to locate some of the walls as well as the floors, he admits that it would be unlikely. Historical reports show that the early residents of Ogdensburg took materials from the fort to use in the building of their own homes. The remnants can still be found in some of the foundations today. Gore hopes that the floor will not be lost through the soil remediation process. He sees it having a large impact on the community because it is a part of their history and has tremendous value for local researchers and historians. He believes it offers the community a renewed sense of pride for its rich history.
When Mike Teglasi of Mount Sinai, NY, a student of Dr. John Ellis at Crane, received a trumpet lesson from Pace Sturdevant, an artistic associate with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, he didn’t travel to Canada, nor Sturdevant to The States. They used a new technology called Internet 2 to provide a realtime video conference lesson.
“To be able to invite a top person in your field to work with your students is amazing.” (cont. on pg. 12)
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It is a form of space/ time travel – a broadband connection reserved for educators to foster real time video conferencing and other creative technologically enabled collaboration across continents. “Internet 2 expands our abilities to offer quality interactions with experts and high profile teachers from around the world,” said Dr. Peter McCoy, SUNY Potsdam associate professor of music technology.
S INTERN ’ T A H ET
The original Internet started off being
2?
used by the government, scientists and the military, but in the mid-1990s it was opened up for commercial use. As more information became available on the Internet, the amount of bandwidth could not keep up with the traffic and began to be cluttered and slow – something we’ve all experienced. Internet 2, however, mimics the dawn of the Internet as an “expressway” available only to colleges, the government, military and research institutions who subscribe to use it, limiting the amount of traffic and allowing for students to go from Potsdam in seconds. Actually, less than seconds.
“I think it’s not only great for the community, it’s great from a research perspective, for archeologists and historians to learn a little bit about the French occupation of Northern New York and later on the British and American occupation as well.”
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The trumpet lesson allowed Sturdevant to see Teglasi’s exact finger placement as well as hear his playing in real time with virtually no delay, only a quarter of a second. It is similar to an echo and normally unnoticeable, allowing student and master to see and hear each other instantaneously. Imagine the impact. You can be anywhere in the world at Potsdam. The Crane Latin Percussion Ensemble had the opportunity last fall to collaborate with Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria of the Manhattan School of Music. Considered a specialist in Latin Percussion, the students were given an opportunity to be coached by one of the leading experts in the percussion field. Sanabria’s students then performed for the Crane students, providing a unique opportunity for instrumental dialog without braving the elements of the North Country to get to Manhattan. At this point, Internet 2 does not move quite fast enough for the two ensembles to play together because music timing is too precise and even a quarter of a second is significant. They could, however, have a natural conversation to provide feedback after listening to each other’s performances without any pauses or breaks for the data transmission. While Crane offers many innovative music programs, one course it lacked was a seminar on conducting. Through Internet 2, Pinchas Zukerman, director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, provided a conducting master class with Crane students, thus filling a void otherwise found in the program. Dr. McCoy has other hopes for the use of I2. Internet 2 will give Potsdam’s future music teachers experience teaching in an urban environment without leaving the North Country. “This technology virtually eliminates the distance between teachers and students,” said Dr. McCoy. “Future teachers can interact with students in other places for teaching experience.” Other departments are looking at ways to capitalize on the exclusive bandwidth. Faculty are exploring 12
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the potential for collaboration with their global counterparts in both a scholarly and creative way. Theatre performances may include actors from stages around the world, or language students could practice French with students in Paris. Currently the only other option for video conferencing, other than commercial Internet, is the use of satellite which is time-consuming, requires reserving the time and can be costly. With Internet 2, Potsdam students and faculty have an opportunity to utilize the technology whenever they see fit. In the video conferencing world, this is the newest, most cutting-edge technology. “It’s the best way to have a human connection without having the physical connection,” said Dr. McCoy. With an increased use of Internet 2, Crane students will continue to collaborate not only with experts from Canada and Manhattan, but also with experts from around the world.
Emotional When you ask Melissa Brewer ’07 why she wanted to go into the field of applied theatre she will tell you, “I want to tell people’s stories in new ways. I want people to know their stories aren’t forgotten, and I want to make people know how important their lives are.”
Sound vague? It is. As Tiffany Weller ’07 puts it, “It’s really hard to attempt to describe it or put a definition on it until you do it.” To ease the students into the right frame of mind, Dr. Pecora starts with a project called Memory Theatre. During this project, each member of the class visits with residents of United Helpers, a nursing home located in Canton, NY, and interviews them to learn their life stories. Those stories and memories are then turned into a play, which is performed for the residents of the nursing home. Each scene is a different memory tied together through a holding form, or method of tying together two seemingly unrelated scenes. In the case of the spring 2006 class, music from the residents’ generations was used, the music they would remember the most. Applied theatre is not like traditional storytelling, where each action is built off the previous actions. With the memory theatre concept, the students could take many different memories, such as former military service or a wedding, and make them flow into a cohesive performance. As a result, an emotional journey through the lives of the residents was created.
Brewer is now pursuing a master’s degree in applied theatre at Royal Holloway, part of the University of London system. She was introduced to applied theatre during a class on the concept taught by Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Jay Pecora in spring 2006. Applied theatre is an overarching term that includes many different types of theatre. It is a chance to take theatre into traditionally non-theatrical areas such as education, social work, therapy and political activism. There is no limit to what method of theatre can be used to bring the audience’s attention to the story or issue being addressed. It is a way to impact people’s lives. From the left: Tiffany Weller ’07, Erin Gandia ’07 and Melissa Brewer ’07 in Hong Kong to perform their original applied theatre work titled “Project Homecoming.”
Impact is:
singing on stage; surviving 20° below wind chill; voting for SGA president; faculty who know your name; a new computer; having Mt. Arab as a science lab; facing a class full of 7-year-olds
In the conversations that followed the performance at the nursing home, Brewer recalls being told that the play allowed the residents to remember how great their lives were. Weller also remembers distinctly the performance with the nursing home residents and how it affected them, knowing that they had someone interested in hearing their stories. “It was a great way to bridge the generational gap,” she said.
the group interviewed another female soldier or family, they would update the play and eventually they decided to continue their research even though the class was over.
Dr. Pecora submitted the piece to be presented at the International Drama Education Association (IDEA) Conference in Hong Kong during the summer of 2007. Much to their surprise, they were selected to participate. After months of research, the final version of Project Homecoming was performed for the first time at the conference. They were the only Americans selected to perform.
“In my opinion, it has changed my life, and it has the potential to change the liVES of others.”-Melissa Brewer ’07
Both Brewer, of Vooheesville, and Weller, of Potsdam, took it to another level, getting international attention when they created Project Homecoming with fellow classmate Erin Gandia ’07 of Natural Bridge, NY. They developed an ethno drama detailing the experiences of women soldiers who had come back from Iraq and Afghanistan. The project was one of the first of its kind to focus on the stories of women soldiers and also included research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Through interviews and qualitative research, they put together a performance for the end of the semester, and it went on to be accepted and performed at the American Alliance for Theater and Education Conference in Washington that summer. Each time
For the international community, this was a fresh new perspective on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the students maintain that they took a neutral approach and showed all sides of the issue, their audiences received it in very different ways. Some saw it as a pro-war message; others saw it as anti-war. Regardless of the side the audience saw, the performance was well received and resulted in discussions on United States foreign policy, military politics and people’s views on war in general. It was a unique dialogue not normally associated with going to the theatre.
“This is the point of applied theatre. To get people talking and to provide a space for people to think outside their normal comfort zone and frame of mind,” said Brewer. It has no boundaries. The Theatre Program is using drama to bring student actors together with actors with developmental disabilities to collaborate on an emotional piece about what it is like to be disabled. The work has a profound impact on the actors as well as the College’s relationship with the community. “We view it as part of creating wellrounded theatre artists so they are aware of all the opportunities available for people with theatre degrees. Students need to know there is a lot more to theatre than pursuing your big break on Broadway. You can also do incredible community work and get people motivated towards breaking down social barriers,” said Dr. Pecora. Applied theatre has become popular abroad but isn’t as well known in the United States. Developing countries have used it to teach people about health and education issues facing the world, such as HIV, women’s education and crime. The inclusion of this class in the Theatre Education Program is a big step towards teaching younger generations new ways to solve their problems or to make a difference while also providing a creative avenue for people currently working in the drama field to make a difference. As Brewer put it, “In my opinion, it has changed my life, and it has the potential to change the lives of others.”
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200 Schedule of Events Check in at Reunion Headquarters Barrington Student Union * Thursday 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. * Friday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. * Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, July 10 Noon – 2 p.m. Emeriti Picnic Emeriti faculty are invited to start the weekend with a picnic at the home of President John and Anne Schwaller. Alumni are invited to attend, as well. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. “Early Bird” Gathering 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Wine Tasting Hosted by First Crush, Potsdam’s first wine bistro.
Friday, July 11 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Shane T. Shaul Fitness Center Open to all Reunion guests. 8:30 a.m. – noon Visit The Wild Center in Tupper Lake Visit this natural history museum located in the heart of the Adirondacks. Directions and carpool information will be provided. 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CUPID Breakfast for all PotsdamClarkson couples Held at the Adirondack Lodge, Clarkson campus.
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9 a.m. – noon Highlighting Arts in the Village of Potsdam This short tour will include a viewing of the acclaimed Tiffany windows at historic Trinity Church, a visit to the studio of sculptor Dr. John Savage and a final stop at the St. Lawrence Arts Council on Market St. 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Dedication of the Kirchgasser Collection The collection is a complete teaching suite of fossils collected throughout the world by Dr. William Kirchgasser during his 40-year career. 10:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m. The Potsdam Seismic Network and Earthquakes in New York State Seminar Presented by Professor of Geology Dr. Frank Revetta, Hon. ’05. 10:30 a.m. – noon Campus Walking Tour 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Planetarium Show Presented by Professor of Geology Dr. Frank Revetta, Hon. ’05. 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Viewing of the 1967 Library “Booklift” Led by College Archivist and Librarian Jane Subramanian ’72. If you participated in this booklift, bring your tales to share!
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Estate and Will Planning Seminar Presented by Roger Linden Esq. ’74, College Council Chair. 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Introduction to Video Game Studies Presented by Professor Brian Ladd. 2:30 p.m. ¬ 3:30 p.m. Potsdam People through the Years Led by Ben Baker ’07. Attendees are welcome to stay and browse the Mary E. English Commons. 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The Two Faces of Facebook Presented by Marianne Hebert and Jenica Rogers. 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Class of 1958 Informal Gathering Please bring your memorabilia. 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Welcome Reception (formerly President’s Reception) 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. North Country Regional Juried Art Show Opening reception. 6:30 p.m. Potsdam Family Barbecue A tent party for all ages. Come enjoy the barbecue and bid on baskets of North Country specialties. 7:30 p.m. Ice Cream Social 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Double Axel Maxfields, downtown Potsdam.
Children are welcome at all events, but these are activities they will especially enjoy!
08 Saturday, July 12 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Shane T. Shaul Fitness Center Open to all Reunion guests. 9 a.m. School of Education Alumni Association Annual Meeting and Continental Breakfast Meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. 9:15 a.m. 5K Walk/Run Registration, 9:30 a.m. start. 9:30 a.m. “Meet at Minnie” The Class of 1958 will meet at Minerva Plaza for the class photo. 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. 50-Year Club Reception All alumni from 1958 and earlier are invited. The Class of 1958 will be officially inducted into the 50-Year Club during a diploma ceremony led by President John F. Schwaller. 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Campus Walking Tour 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 50-Year Club Luncheon All members of the 50-Year Club are invited to a luncheon hosted by the Golden Year Class.
11 a.m. Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon Join alumni and friends as Peter Eberhardt ’78 (men’s swimming), Jennifer Ims Hallworth ’94 (volleyball) and John Ivery ’95 (men’s lacrosse) take their place in the Bears Hall of Fame.
8 p.m. – 11 p.m. Wally Siebel’s All-Star Big Band featuring vocalist Carol “Kickie” Holloway Britt ’69.
11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Picnic Lunch at Lehman Park Shuttle service available.
Sunday, July 13
10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Double Axel Maxfields, downtown Potsdam.
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Farewell Breakfast
Noon Army ROTC Hall of Fame Induction & Barbecue Held at the Army ROTC house. 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Blast from the Past This is a party you won’t want to miss! For those who remember Potsdam “beer blasts,” be sure to stop by. Do you have photos, posters or other memorabilia to share? Bring it along! 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Kayaking and Canoeing at Lehman Park Equipment and shuttle service will be available. 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Tour of The Crane School of Music 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Choral Reading Dale Zurbrick ’68 will conduct a series of major smaller choral pieces as selected by Robert Shaw for the 100th anniversary of Carnegie Hall. 5 p.m. Class Dinner and Award Presentations (Cocktails 5 p.m., Dinner 6 p.m., Awards 7 p.m.)
Ways you can register: • Mail form to the Office of Alumni Relations SUNY Potsdam 44 Pierrepont Avenue Potsdam, NY 13676 • Register online at www.potsdam.edu/alumni/ reunion • Fax form to (315) 267-3172
Please note: There will not be any additional registration brochures mailed to you.
Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (315) 267-2120 or alumni@potsdam.edu.
Potsdam
profile
Anne
Righton
Malone
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hen trying to put into words the impact of Dr. Anne Righton Malone’s life on SUNY Potsdam and the community, it is as if trying to put into words the impact of a president or a queen on a nation. It is no easy task to summarize someone who made such a large impact, both concrete and intangible at the same time, in the space of one meager page. Dr. Malone, who lost her battle with esophageal cancer on Sept. 24, 2007, wore many hats to many people both on campus and in the community. She was a wife, mother, friend, colleague, boss, advisor, professor, mentor and leader, among others. After completing her Ph.D. in English from the University of New Hampshire, Dr. Malone came to SUNY Potsdam as an assistant professor of English and communication just in time for the ice storm of January 1998. It was during the storm that a then non-traditional student, Louise Tyo ’00, waited out the storm in a shelter with her family and first met Dr. Malone and her husband, Milner Grimsled. Little did Tyo know that Dr. Malone would immediately fill a void in her life that had been empty since the death of her own parents a few years earlier. Through Dr. Malone’s guidance and classes, Tyo minored in women’s and gender studies and was the first graduate of the 16
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPR I NG 2008
reformatted Master of English and Communication program. Dr. Malone also hired Tyo to work in the Writing Center and as a teaching assistant for her First Year Success Seminar. Tyo, now director of first year transitions, remembers, “Every opportunity she saw that could further my future success, enhance my growth as a professional, as a student and as a grad student, she was on the lookout for me. And I know she was that way with a lot of students.” One of the first areas Dr. Malone focused her attention on was the role of women on campus. She was the driving force in creating a Women’s and Gender Studies major to complement the already existing minor. She also started a Women’s Taskforce with the goal of seeing more women in leadership roles on campus. She also served as chair of the Faculty Senate, the campus’s shared governance body and was a member of the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees. However, on campus first and foremost she was a teacher and passionate about learning. The courses she taught were extraordinarily diverse. In addition to numerous courses in composition studies and composition theory, she taught courses in communication, linguistics, literature, film studies and women’s studies. Perhaps a reason why she was loved by so many of her students is that she was
known for the personal attention that she gave to each member of her classes. She regularly met one-on-one with each of her composition students to learn their writing styles and to discover their inner writer. She was known to say, “All of us are writers, we just have to practice our skills.” Dr. Malone also held numerous leadership roles on campus and impacted the surrounding community on multiple levels. What seems to strike at the core when trying to summarize her impact is her activity with the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton, NY. In following the tenets of the church who believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals and in working for social justice and democracy, Dr. Malone was a person who gave so much of herself to ensure that others had the best possible life they could have. Dr. Malone’s death has left a void. A void on campus, in the community and in the hearts of those she touched. It is not one that can be settled on a page in a magazine. It is not one that can be filled with someone picking up the classes, or filling the positions on boards of which she was a part. It is one that can only be filled with her memory and the lessons she taught in the classroom and in a life well lived. Upon her passing, friends and family have established the Anne Righton Malone Fund for Women’s and Gender Studies at SUNY Potsdam. For more information, please contact the Office of Advancement at (315) 267-2190 or visit www.potsdam.du/giving/malonefund.
Thomas Pa l m a t i e r
Potsdam
profile
’75 T
raveling the world, meeting foreign dignitaries, visiting the Kremlin and attending four out of the past five Presidential Inaugurations sounds like a high-ranking government official’s job. It’s actually all in a day’s work for Colonel Thomas Palmatier, conductor and commander of the United States Army Field Band and 1975 Crane graduate. Over the past 30 years, Col. Palmatier has moved through the ranks of the U.S. Army Band starting with his enlistment in 1977. A tuba and voice major with a minor in history at SUNY Potsdam, Col. Palmatier then went to Truman State University in Missouri to get his master’s degree in fine arts with the intention of teaching. However, it was his desire to continue performing that brought him to the Army Field Band. And perform he has. After graduating to band master, Col. Palmatier became conductor of his own U.S. Army band in Panama. There, he traveled throughout South and Central America, each month traversing a different country. He even faced a small firefight in El Salvador when a rebels’ conflict broke out a block away from where he was performing.
After returning to the states as a commissioned officer, Col. Palmatier moved up the ranks taking charge of the Herald Trumpets at the White House, performing at every ceremony the president attended, meeting all of the currently living presidents and working on Inauguration Ceremonies for Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. “I was on television so much that I stopped setting my VCR,” he joked. His career mimics his time at Crane. “Getting to do a lot of different types of performing with different kinds of music at Potsdam really prepared me well. Because that’s what Army Bands do.You may be playing a serious chamber piece and in the very same day you do a jazz gig or you might do a rock thing.” For Col. Palmatier, one assignment might be conducting inaugurations, the next performing Aida with the Istanbul Symphony in Turkey and the next trying to raise spirits after the attacks of 9/11. After attending the Command and Staff College in Leavenworth, KS, Col. Palmatier worked for the Army Staff in Washington overseeing all of the Army Bands. He was in this position when the September 11 attacks occurred. It was here he witnessed how music can be a part of the mourning
and healing process. He described it as being “cathartic to feel like I was a part of the recovery effort.” From there, Col. Palmatier went on to command the Army’s largest band in Europe. It was in this position that he led the American contingent through the center of Moscow and performed inside the Kremlin to commemorate the 60th anniversary of V-E Day. This was the first foreign band to ever perform inside the Kremlin. Upon returning to the United States, he went to the Army School of Music to train all levels of Army musicians in conducting, giving Col. Palmatier the opportunity to teach. Most recently, he was promoted and is now the commander of the U.S. Army Field Band, putting on performances in local communities performing about 380 times a year, always to a full house. Col. Palmatier will be marching in the next Presidential Inauguration parade in 2009 for his fourth presidential inauguration performance but “looking forward to a possible future performance at Crane.” The request is in. Stay tuned.
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profile
’61
Potsdam
&
Carol Menchel Vernice Churc h 1961 Co-chairs with a plan
M
embers of the Class of 1961 are hard at work planning their 50th Reunion. Already, class co-chairs Carol Menchel and Vernice Church have reached out to fellow classmates to begin planning their celebration. They’re hoping for a rousing response from classmates as they work to shape their golden reunion. As class leaders, both have expressed their individual desire to honor and celebrate their days at Potsdam through personal giving while recognizing the importance of private support to the future of Potsdam. Both provide on-going annual leadership giving to the College and have named the Potsdam College Foundation a beneficiary in their wills. Their planned gifts ensure their philanthropy and stewardship of alma mater will continue. Their membership in the Benjamin F. Raymond Society ensures their generosity and thoughtful planning will never be forgotten. “Our 50th Reunion is a time to celebrate, and we want it to be exciting,” said Menchel. “It was important to Vernice and me to build anticipation among classmates – it’s not too early to begin planning and giving. “Potsdam provided me with a wonderful education and experience,” she added. “While I did not remain in the field of music after graduation, the level of music I learned has remained with me to this day. The inclusion of Potsdam in my will made sense. I am glad to know my gift will support The Crane School of Music.” Not one to wait, Church chose to make a significant gift in recognition of her 50th Reunion this year. As a result of her gift, she established the Vernice Ives Church ’61 Scholarship, which will provide financial support to Potsdam elementary education
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majors beginning in the fall semester. “Potsdam provided me with a solid foundation for teaching elementary school. When I was a student, we did not have to pay for tuition,” she said. “I never forgot this.” These days it is difficult to imagine that tuition at the College was free. For students today, leaving College means an average debt of $17,000. On a teacher’s starting salary that is a lot to bear. “Endowing this scholarship provides me with the opportunity to assist students with their tuition costs. I want students to know that a higher education is possible. I also believe it is important to train topnotch elementary education students, and Potsdam is the perfect place for that to happen,” Church said. Both know their gifts will have a lasting impact upon Potsdam. They hope too that their giving will inspire others to give what they can as well. They’re quick to point out it is simple to name the College a beneficiary in your will, trust, IRA or life insurance policy-adding, if each of us left the College something, the collective impact it would have on students is enormous. For more information on upcoming reunions or for more information on how to make a gift in support of your Reunion, please contact the Office of College Advancement at (315) 267-2190. A complete Class of 1961 Committee list can be found in Class Notes. Join Carol and Vernice in the BFR at www.potsdam.edu/advance/giftplan or contact Jason Ladouceur, associate vice president for college advancement, directly at (315) 267-2123 or giftplan@ potsdam.edu.
Todd M c C a b e profile
’87
Potsdam
T
he word “impact” means different things to everyone. For most, the last place they want to hear it is at the dentist in terms of an impacted molar. Dr. Todd McCabe ’87 works to make his patients’ visits as comfortable and efficient as possible. He is the owner of The Meadows Dentistry, a general dentistry practice with two offices in Sarasota, FL. With most of his patients being members of the local retirement communities, his office focuses on basic dental care such as cleanings, extractions and fillings and restorations such as dentures, caps and crowns. McCabe is convinced his undergraduate studies prepared him for this future. “When stacked up to the other students in my dental program, my Potsdam education prepared me well.” Dr. McCabe’s practice aims to create “beautiful smiles to last a lifetime.” They focus on preventative care and smile makeovers. Each of these is done with the patient’s comfort in mind. And by comfort they mean televisions in every room, mas-
saging chairs and also a variety of methods to minimize worry and anxiety in their more fearful patients. Even though the average age of Dr. McCabe’s patients is 74, he stresses that the way to alleviate potential fears of the dentist is by starting young. By exposing children to visiting the dentist, “riding the chair” and having someone else’s hands in their mouth other than their own or their parents’ as early as possible will help to get the child more comfortable with the dental experience. However, for those patients who already have a fear of visiting the dentist there are a variety of options to calm them. These can range from the traditional nitrous oxide to various levels of sedation medication. Dr. McCabe points out that if patients let their fear of the dental office keep them from going when needed, their problems will only get worse. As a result, when they do finally go in for a visit, the treatment could be more painful, thus validating their previous fear.
Dr. McCabe’s office goes one step further in decreasing common complaints of the dental office. Traditionally, being fit for a crown or cap requires at least two visits and the use of a temporary crown. That’s not the case with the new technology used by The Meadows. A procedure called CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) can have a restoration prepared for you in an hour, eliminating the need for multiple time-consuming appointments. “You would think that as you get older you would have more free time on your hands and it’s not important. In fact the reality of it is, it’s reversed. They don’t want to spend the time they have in the dental office. They want to be golfing, playing tennis, walking or riding a bike,” he said. More than being on the forefront of technology, Dr. McCabe holds true to his practice’s promise of putting the patient’s needs and comfort first and having the impact on people to overcome possibly a lifetime of fear and loathing the dentist. w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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class
notes
1940s Class of 1948 60th Reunion in 2008
Richard Swierczek ’49 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Fulton Music Association in recognition of his work at Fulton Public Schools. This highly celebrated event took place in May 2007.
1950s Marion Donnelly ’50 was named Citizen of the Year by the Phelps, NY, Chamber of Commerce in 2007 for her efforts in saving an historical local church building and creating an arts center for the community. Mollie Brown Babcock ’51 had the fun of playing the Delta Queen’s calliope while cruising the Cumberland and Tennessee River last year. She also played the tiny organ at Helen Keller’s Alabama home. Ann Phillips Barnes ’51 is proud of the standards reached by her Swiss Village Chorus in their two 2007 concerts in Winter Haven, FL. Pat Plumb Bretscher ’51 remains devoted to her new dance passion, the Argentine tango. Adele Porth Brown ’51 continues to play the harp and has also joined a Florida recorder consort. She portrayed the Mother Superior in The Sound of Music, which her condo complex produced. Jean Clark Burns ’51 looks forward to conducting her church choir when the director is on leave. Chester Canary ’51, has moved from Jonesborough, TN, to Johnson City, TN.
Pat Patnode Caringi ’51 is grateful to be cancerfree after years of battling the disease. Sr. Eileen Chambers ’51 is happily volunteering at a food pantry in Plattsburgh, NY. Shirley Leary Chambers ’51 was happy to get together this winter with Shirley Buckley Grow ’51 and Jackie Finnegan Harvey ’51. Tom Culhane ’51 has finally retired from the Rhode Island Career Resource Network. The state’s School Counselor Association made him an honorary life member in recognition of his work in the support of counselors. Long-time consul Bill Colwell ’51 is still working for the U.S. State Department. His wife, Luz Marina, is running an export-import business, dealing in coffee. Fay Guhring Davis ’51 conducted an ecumenical choir in three anthems at the Thanksgiving service in the historic Fort Herkimer church. Norma Vescovi Disinger ’51 is Ohio’s representative to the National Federation of Music Clubs and attended the annual conference in Salt Lake City. She also took a fall foliage tour of New England. She is pleased that her clarinet-playing granddaughter is majoring in music education, though not at Potsdam. Jane McDevitt Eagan ’51 lost her husband, Jerry, last April. Beatrice Lockley Follette ’51 and Ken delight in several musical grandchildren. One grandson is the fourth generation to attend Potsdam. A granddaughter won a scholarship named for Don Janse ’52 and is studying voice drama in Rochester. Yet
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Marshalls Sponsor Tour for Crane Students In October, Beryl Schuttler Marshall ’48 and her husband, Lysle, (pictured in back) sponsored a tour of the Shostakovia Quartet, a student group from The Crane School of Music in October. Under the direction of Dr. Shelly Tramposh and coached by Dr. Mathias Wexler of The Crane School of Music string faculty, the quartet performed for a number of youth orchestras and high school groups on Long Island and in the Buffalo area, including the Children’s Orchestra Society, based in Manhasset; the Long Island Youth Orchestra, based in Brookville; Great Neck North High School; Half Hollow Hills High School West; the Gemini Youth Symphony, based in Dix Hills; Roslyn High School; Brentwood High School; Amherst High School; Iroquois High School in Elma; and Orchard Park High School. Members of the quartet include (from left to right) Emily Staebell of Orchard Park; Sarah Bleichfeld of Amherst; Emeline Dehn-Reynolds of Searsport, ME; and Natasha Jaffe of Boynton Beach, FL. another granddaughter placed third in an international guitar competition. Though a high schooler, she studies at Crane.
Philip Klein’s ’51 song Attrape un Tout Petit was in the pilot episode of ABC’s Cashmere Mafia, which aired in January.
Bob Frank ’51 and Mary not only have musical grandchildren but also a granddaughter who is the Saratoga region’s Punt, Pass and Kick champion. The Franks enjoyed an art-oriented Elderhostel program in Philadelphia.
Norma Jean Lamb ’51 is still talking about her great trip to the island of Malta – a dream come true for history buffs.
Evelyn Quigley Lamotte ’51 lost her husband, Norman, in 2006 but is grateful they got to celebrate their golden anniversary in 2002. Shirley Buckley Grow ’51 is a widow since her husband, Harry, passed away in April 2007. Nancy Spencer Harris ’51 had to go through carotid artery surgery in 2007. Barbara Butler Herne’s ’51 vocal chords never cool down since she sings in four different groups. Ed and Joyce Brownell Kanze ’51 report all is well with them.
Ann Maggi Pacilio ’51 is proud of daughters Mary Ann and Catherine who ran in the New York Marathon in November. Marion Parker Mancini ’51 still loves substituting in special education. On a trip to Tucson last year, she got together with Doris Ferneding Ceccon ’51. Pat Pashley Paul ’51 is proud of her husband, Jerry, who recently finished replacing the last ‘old’ wall of their 1847 farmhouse near Skaneateles. Winnie Toelke Peer ’51 and Dick sing in the residents’ chorus at the Nottingham near Syracuse. They got to duet on I Remember It Well from GIGI. They were proud to watch granddaughter Susan graduate from Potsdam last May – the fourth member of the family to do so.
Shirley Fisher Pool’s ’51 husband, Sydney, died last September. They enjoyed 55 years of marriage. Al Renino ’51 still happily attends the Metropolitan Opera and has chalked up 126 different operas so far. Paul Sanford ’51, a retired Episcopal priest, finds life in the Adirondack village of Chestertown suits him much better than Florida, which he tried. Mary Lou Crane Sedlak ’51 and Steve continue to enjoy golf and many church-related activities. They delight in four greatgrandchildren. Arlene Lange Shelby’s ’51 family loves gathering at their summer place at Montauk, L.I. Two sons are ardent surfers. Barbara Brundige Sparks ’51 still won’t retire from the Ulster County Mental Health Association, where she thoroughly enjoys both staff and clients. Ed Taylor ’51 is a voracious reader, with world affairs being his favorite topic.
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Mildred Armet Wiedmann ’51 and Don now have a cottage in a seniors community in Lewes, DE. She is chairperson of the community’s library. Roger McKinney ’53 has been celebrated at The College of New Jersey for his 50 consecutive years of teaching clarinet performance and music history. Two different concerts and seminars took place in his honor. Since he joined the department in 1957, he has had a large impact on the college, students, faculty and community. Joan Gurley Scopinich ’53 spent the summer in Maine with her family, where she enjoyed spending time with her children. Class of 1958 50th Reunion in 2008
President John Schwaller recently visited Richard and Joy MacDonald Dorf ’58 in their hometown of Davis, CA. The Dorfs are creating their second scholarship.
1960s Vernice Ives Church ’61 and Carol Dethlefs Menchel ’61, co-chairs for the Class of 1961 50th Reunion, met in Potsdam in November to host a conference call meeting with their fellow committee chairs to begin plans for their Reunion, which is scheduled for July 15-17, 2011. In addition to Vernice and Carol, Reunion Committee members include Alan Adams, Sue Fay Geyer Allen, Richy Barz, Evelyn Kenrick Bernstein, Patricia Scheu Blackwell, Paul Bronchetti, Barbara
Cervenka, Dorothy Gregory, Connie Callaway Murray Lytle, Betty Ellis Mallott, Dave Naylor, Bill Rooke, Alberta Whetham Shouldice, Marion Reeves Stieffenhofer, Chris Weait and Lori Lauer Ziecker. Other volunteers are welcome. Please contact Vernice at RChurch248@cs.com or Carol at CarolMenchel@ aol.com. Or you may call the Alumni Relations Office at (315) 267-2120.
SUNY Potsdam School of Education and Professional Studies Dean Dr. William Amoriell ’68 thanks Vernice Ives Church ’61 of Norwood, NY, for endowing a scholarship to benefit SUNY Potsdam students majoring in elementary education. The first recipient of the Vernice Ives Church ’61 Scholarship will be named for the fall 2008 semester. Carol Dethlefs Menchel ’61 and her husband, Dr. Robert Menchel, Clarkson ’61, hosted a reception in their home in September for Rochester-area alumni to meet President and Mrs. John F. Schwaller. Also attending the reception at the Menchels’ home were Ron Terpening ’59, who provided music for the occasion, as well as Ann Gatta Beaucage ’64 and her husband, David; Laura Lumley Davis ’55 and her husband, Larry; Liz Jackson-Renner ’57; Jane Morale ’80; and Marion Reeves Stieffenhofer ’61 and her husband, Joe.
Class of 1963 45th Reunion in 2008
Terry Hammill ’63 and his wife, Martha Trembley Hammill ’63, are retired and looking forward to their 45th Reunion Weekend in July 2008. They currently reside in Oswego, NY.
Carol Guarnieri Johnson ’63 (center) is retired and living in St. Simons Island, GA. She vacationed with Terry Hammill ’63 and Martha Trembley Hammill ’63 in Savannah, GA.
Several alumnae reunited in 2006 at the cottage of Gail Hayne Stradling ’64 on Lake Morraine. Pictured are Nancy Millis Baldwin Bennett ’64 from Tully, NY; Barbara Maylott Miller ’65 from Morristown, NJ; Ann McDonnell Meehan ’64 from Lancaster, PA; Barbara Emperor Capozzella ’64 from Canon City, CO; Ellen Unwin Hall ’66 from Ma-
lone, NY; Barbara Branden Tyndall ’64 from Coos Bay, OR; and hostess Stradling from Cincinnati, OH. Donald Fiesinger ’66, dean of College of Science at Utah State University since 2003, was celebrated for his leadership and hard work as he stepped down. He returned to teaching and research in the college’s Department of Geology, which he joined in 1976. Patricia Plumb Kapitzky ’66 has retired after 13 years of teaching elementary music and being church organist, choir director and cantor for the last 15 years. She is now filling her time with weaving, gardening and substituting for other organizations.
endowing the scholarship, McGrath chose a fitting tribute to her mother, who taught grade school for many years and whose love of teaching and children had a profound influence on her decision to become an elementary school teacher as well. Having retired from teaching grade school for 32 years, McGrath decided to create this scholarship as a way of expressing her appreciation for the outstanding education she received at Potsdam, and to give others the opportunity to earn their teaching degree and go on to become exceptional teachers, as her mother had done more than 70 years ago. The Evelyn Perley Schmidt ’35 Scholarship was awarded for the first time in August 2007 to Kristin M. Costello of Syracuse, NY. She is a junior majoring in early childhood education (birth-2), with a specialization in English.
Anne Marie (Schmidt) McGrath ’67 has endowed a scholarship in memory of her mother, Evelyn Perley Schmidt, a 1935 graduate of the Potsdam Normal School. The Evelyn Perley Schmidt ’35 Scholarship was established to benefit students in SUNY Potsdam’s early childhood education program. In
Schauffler Endows Crane Scholarship Dorothy Jean Schauffler ’57 has established an endowment fund in support of The Crane School of Music, which is to be used for Crane’s greatest needs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education and later earned her master’s degree in music at Fredonia. She retired in 1992 after a 34-year career teaching instrumental music primarily in the elementary grades in Liverpool, Olean and Elmira. Schauffler also performed for many years with the Corning and Elmira Orchestras. At Potsdam, she was a member of the Agonian Sorority. Schauffler has very fond memories of her years at Potsdam and Crane. She especially treasures the experience of performing in Crane Chorus under the direction of Crane faculty Helen Hosmer and Brock McElheran and guest conductor Robert Shaw.
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Class of 1968 40th Reunion in 2008
Dr. Harry F. Brooks ’68, retired superintendent of Broadalbin-Perth Central Schools, Broadalbin, N.Y., and his wife, Susan, have established an endowed scholarship to benefit teacher education students at SUNY Potsdam. The Harry F. Brooks North Country Educator Scholarship was awarded for the first time in fall 2007 to Catherine Caraco of Johnstown, NY (pictured here with Dr. and Mrs. Brooks at the College’s annual Scholarship Luncheon in November). Caraco is a sophomore majoring in childhood education. The Scholarship is awarded to teacher education students from any of the following counties: St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren, Washington, Hamilton or Fulton. Preference is given to students from Northville Central School, located in Fulton County. Brooks earned his B.A. in psychology and elementary education and his M.S. in education in 1971 from SUNY Potsdam. His Doctor of Education degree is from SUNY Albany. Rosemary Callard-Szulgit ’68 has completed her fifth book, Twice Exceptional: A Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers, which is due for release this spring. Her other four books deal with gifted children, their
parenting and education. Her second book, Perfectionism and Gifted Children was featured on NPR radio shortly after its release. Heidi Schneckenburger Hunt ’68 moved to Topeka, KS, in 1999. She has worked for Mother Earth News Magazine since 2001. Alan Mullian ’68 performed a “Concert of Original and Traditional Christian Music” at Grace United Methodist Church in Corning, NY, on October 14. He returned to Corning at the request of his former high school music teacher, Dr. James Hudson ’53.
1970s Ronald Herbert ’71 retired in June 2007 from Fayetteville-Manlius Central Schools, completing a nearly 40-year career. At F-M, he served as the orchestra director and district coordinator of music. He stays active in music serving as the choir director at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cazenovia, NY, working with the town of Manlius summer musical, guest conducting for All-County and All-State Festival orchestras and providing clinics for school orchestra programs.
Class of 1973 35th Reunion in 2008
Paul Berry ’73, assistant district attorney, is now part of the state attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. He will be one of only two lawyers in the department that oversees cases in a 15-county area of Central New York. Barbara Cattrall Wallace ’73 has been busy writing manuals for high-end computer equipment and working part-time as director of community nurture for a North Buffalo Presbyterian Church. She recently earned the Distinguished Toastmaster Award, the highest award in Toastmasters International. Suzan Babcock ’74 was awarded a contract with McGraw Hill Publishing International to do a series of children’s listening books. Cheryl M. Guyett ’74 was a finalist for National Principal of the Year in 2008. Alexis Jenkins McAvoy ’74 received her Master of Science degree in library science from Clarion University in Pennsylvania in 2007. She is employed as an itinerant librarian at Allegheny Valley and Sheffield Elementary Schools and the Learning Enrichment Center. She presented at the 2005, 2006 and
Alumni Stress Importance of Networking Dale Zurbrick ’68 visited the “Essential Practices of Music Business” class in October 2007. He spoke to the students, team taught by David ’73 and Kickie (Holloway) Britt ’69, regarding the importance of networking and relationship building in the music and entertainment industry. In addition, he was a participant in the educator’s panel in the Sondheim Symposium at William Paterson University, Wayne NJ, in February. The panel discussion was titled “Children Will Listen: Sondheim and Educational Theatre.”
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2007 Pennsylvania School Librarians Association in Hershey, PA. Judith Scordino Hayes ’74 is working with Potsdam alumni Michelle Martin, Dave Kaufman, Lenny Lapinta and Steve Smith. Claudia Wolvington ’74 is playing viola at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy. Paul Beattie ’75 and his wife, Marie Costanza, were associate producers for an Off-Broadway Musical called Mimi le Duck. Beattie was named West Nyack Rotary Club’s Teacher of the Year. Ellen Feinman Sobczak ’75 was a South Florida Journal Excellence in HR Honoree in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She has volunteered for the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL, since September 2006. K. Kristian Truelsen ’76 has become a permanent resident of Canada and now resides in Toronto, where he is represented by Butler Ruston Bell Talent Associates. Since relocating, he has made two films and a commercial and is cast in a play that will be performed in British Columbia. Brent Wissick ’76 has been appointed a distinguished professor of music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he has taught since 1982. Mario Gaetano ’77, Western Caroline University professor of music, won the 2007 Hinda Hongman Cup for his composition Scenes from Earth for piano and percussion.
President Dr. John F. Schwaller and Vice President of Advancement Vicki Templeton-Cornell recently visited Jay Wanamaker ’77 at his country club in Westlake Village, CA, to discuss a possible event for SUNY Potsdam in beautiful Southern California. Class of 1978 30th Reunion in 2008
Tony Morabito ’78, Rich Campbell ’80, and Steve Moskowitz ’79 recently had the opportunity to dine together and reminisce about Potsdam. Luanne Blasting Murphy ’78 and her husband, Richard ’74, are currently busy at work. She is in her 28th year of teaching choral music at Rosati-Kaun High School in St. Louis, MO, and he is a piano technician at Southern Illinois University.
Donnalyn Eaton Shuster ’78 is an art teacher at the Frankfort-Schuyler School District in Frankfort, NY. She proudly displays Potsdam information in her classroom and talks to her students about Potsdam. She will be a Reunion chair this summer for her 30th Reunion.
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All-American Wins 400th Game Jeff Washburn ’79 and his wife, Joi, were the lead sponsors for the Rochesterarea alumni event in September featuring dinner and dancing to the music of Double Axel. Nearly 100 alumni attended the event, held at the Green Lantern in Fairport. Washburn is a member of the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Board of Trustees and also serves on the planning committee for the Rochester Alumni Chapter. Linda Tracy Lovins ’79 became arts education specialist for the state of Florida in March 2007. She continues to direct Chancel Choir, Children’s Choir, Kingdom Ringers and Rainbow Ringers at Lafayette Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, FL. Lisa Vroman ’79 was in the July 2007 issue of Opera News, and a review of The Most Happy Fella, which she was cast in with the New York City Opera, ran in the June 2006 issue.
1980s Capt. Richard A. Beane ’80 is the 2007-2008 president of both the Society of the U.S. Navy Flight Surgeons and the American Society of Aerospace Medicine Specialists. He currently serves as the officer in charge of the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, FL.
Mike Deane ’74, Potsdam’s first basketball All-American, has officially won his 400th game as a head college basketball coach, making him one of only 28 active Division I coaches to do so. He is also one of just 13 active coaches and one of just 28 coaches in NCAA history to have led three different teams (Siena, Marquette and Lamar) to the “Big Dance.” Deane currently coaches at Wagner College in New York City. He served as an assistant basketball and baseball coach at Potsdam from 1974-1975.
Jean Cox Labanowski ’81 and her husband, Brian ’81, recently moved to Maine after living in New York for the last 46 years. Owen Jones ’82 has been promoted to research team leader for the Life and Wealth Management group of McKinsey & Company. This promotion has relocated him to Rochester, NY, from New York City where he, his wife, Karen, and their two children have spent the last 23 years.
Kent Fetter ’84 was named Section 10 Cross Country Coach of the Year. He was instrumental in bringing the New York State Cross Country Championships to Norwood-Norfolk Central School, where he teaches and coaches. He lives in Norwood, NY, with his wife, Robin ’91, and his two daughters, Skylar and Kiera.
Class of 1983 25th Reunion in 2008
Beth Custer ’80 took part in Euro-Russia Tour Autumn 2007, with the Beth Custer Ensemble. They played in Russia, England, Ireland and the Czech Republic. Larry Detwiler ’80 is in his 17th year of working at Jakarta International School. His responsibilities include teaching choir, electronic music and IB music. He also sings with the faculty a cappella group VOXessential. Maria Gillard ’80 is an adjunct professor at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY. She teaches private voice lessons and directs a vocal jazz ensemble. She tours regionally as a songwriter/folk musician and has produced two recordings of original music.
Joel Levy ’80, Scott Goodman ’78, Jack Knight ’80, and Gene Tranchino ’79 recently got together for some fun on a night out.
Glen Carlsen ’84 is one of the 68 chosen out of approximately 5,000 entries to have his story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Celebrating Brothers and Sisters.
Stephen M. Williams ’84, vice president of major accounts at Dumac Business Systems, was a guest speaker at Clemson University recently to kick off the second day of First Sun Management’s Annual Meeting. He addressed the Wendy’s Franchise as well as representatives from Coca Cola, The Sygma Network and The New Bakery Company.
SUNY Potsdam Day at IBM
On October 18, SUNY Potsdam faculty and staff gathered with alumni in the Poughkeepsie area who work at IBM for a reception sponsored by Mary Helander ’83. Pictured in the photo are Daniel Simmons, Andy Harradine ’88, Helander, Sue Hacket Zahn ’81, Denise Mari ’82, Joel Foisy, Dan Grazier ’96, Eric Rosenfeld’84, Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Pat Caffrey ’81, Susan Ceiller ’78, Galen Pletcher, Joseph Sullivan, Marianne Hebert and Doug Zobre ’80. The following day, faculty, staff and alumni attended a SUNY Potsdam Day at the IBM Hawthorne Industry Solutions Lab in Hawthorne, NY. The day was made possible by Helander and Caffrey.
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Terri Cromer Schwab ’86 has been teaching middle school social studies for 20 years at Canajoharie Central School. Mary Rose Giruzzi-Green ’87 recently moved to the Cincinnati area with her husband, Darryl ’86, and two daughters.
Diana Zinnecker Nole ’87 (second from right) and her husband, Angelo, hosted President John F. Schwaller and his wife, Anne, at a small gathering of Rochester-area alumni at the Noles’ home in Pittsford. She is president of the Digital Capture Solutions business for Carestream Health, Inc., a former subsidiary of Kodak, Inc. She was a mathematics and CIS major. Also attending the reception at the Noles’ home in October were Jerry McCue ’78 and his wife, Diane; Andrew Rawdon, Esq. ’77; Dianne Reed Strauf ’87 and Eric Strauf ’87; and Laura Hirschey Villanti ’87 and her husband, Sam. Class of 1988 20th Reunion in 2008
Steven Blusk ’88 has been promoted to associate professor of physics and awarded tenure at Syracuse University. The work that Karen A. Weisbeck Glass ’88 did as set designer for Potsdam’s world-premiere of The Sailor-Boy and the Falcon was on display in an exhibit titled Theatre by Design: From Sketches to Stage in Pittsburgh, PA in November and December 2007. Laura Zinngrabe Meikle ’88 is teaching art and pre24
school for the Iditarod Area School District in Alaska. This has fulfilled her lifelong dream, and she is having the adventure of a lifetime. Brenda Vorhauer Thornton ’88 and her husband, Chris ’88, own and operate a software company, Thornsoft Development, Inc. They recently won the 17th Annual Shareware Industry Foundation Award for “Best Application.” Cheryl Cirrito Parisi ’89 has been teaching music for 17 years and is currently directing band at St. Michael the Archangel School and teaching general music pre-K through grade 5 at St. Thomas More Catholic School. Joseph Parisi ’89 recently returned from England, where he conducted the Fountain City Brass Band as the principal conductor and music director. The group won the 2007 North American Brass Band Championship and finished ninth in the All-England Masters International Brass Band Competition, the highest an American group has ever placed in an international brass band competition. Catherine Jenks Whalen ’89 has been promoted to company vice president of SunFeather Natural Soap Company, where she has been employed since 1999. She was previously the vice president of graphic design and IT management at the company, which is owned by fellow Potsdam alumna Sandy Smithoover Maine ’78.
1990s Chris Hemedinger ’90 is the coauthor of SAS for Dummies published in June 2007 by Wiley and Sons, Inc.
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPR I NG 2008
JoAnn Paolantonio ’91 co-starred on this year’s season premiere episode of the hit TV sitcom Everybody Hates Chris.
Cheryl Lovelace ’94 recently opened an eco-friendly business called Footprint that sells clothing items made from bamboo fiber.
Stephanie Blythe ’92 received the Opera News Award for Distinguished Achievement in January.
Scott Hogan ’96 has spent three years running his organic pesticide- and insecticide-free landscaping company, GOGU Organic Lawn and Garden Service, in Saratoga, NY.
Mary Procopio ’92 was appointed assistant professor of music and director of instrumental studies at Mott College, where she directs the band and teaches classes in ethnomusicology and musicology. She presented a recital of Haitian music at the 2007 International Colloquium of KOSANBA in Boston. SUNY Upstate Medical University Director of Admissions Jennifer Cox Welch ’92 is the author of 101 Tips on Getting into Medical School. This new, easy-to-read guide provides practical advice on how to navigate the often overwhelming medical school admissions process. Class of 1993 15th Reunion in 2008
Ellen Bartel ’93, artistic director of Spank Dance Company in Austin, TX, returned to Potsdam this fall. During her weeklong residency, she worked closely with students, sharing aspects of her life in the world of professional dance. Jan Fredrickson Thome ’93 teaches group fitness at Bally’s Total Fitness in Amherst, NY, where she resides. She has taught French and Spanish at Clarence High School for 12 years. She has three children: Cassandra Alison, 5; Cynthia Nicole, 4; and Justin Evan, 1. Peter Conners’ ’94 collection of poetry, Of Whiskey & Winter, has been published by Marick Press and his novella, Emily Ate the Wind, will be published in April 2008.
Makaylia Roberts Binkley ’97 received her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in May 2003 and is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has worked with Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP in Philadelphia since 2006. She is the firm-wide conflicts manager providing risk management support to offices nationwide. Class of 1998 10th Reunion in 2008
Amelia Casselman Ahart ’98, a former fifth grade teacher, has been interning as principal of Durham Public School. She is completing her Master of School Administration degree at North Carolina Central University.
2000s Geoffrey Mackey ’00 has been promoted to the position of academic resources coordination at the Nyack College School of Adult and Distance Education. He and his wife, Erin Goodwin Mackey ’00, reside in Nyack, NY. James Lane ’01 is working as a technology transfer agent at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Cambridge, MA. Mary Jo Lightfoot ’01 has started medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Class of 2003 5th Reunion in 2008
Maureen Colson ’04 is the recipient of the Music Education Scholarship for Graduate Students sponsored by the Oak Park Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. She teaches middle school music while working on her master’s degree at Columbia University Teachers College in New York City.
Mary Rotando Bauer ’98 is happily married with two children living in Vermont. She loves her job at Mount Mansfield Union High School as the instrumental/strings teacher. Jason Emerson ’99 is a freelance writer and independent historian writing from Fredericksburg, VA. He recently published The Madness of Mary Lincoln, which is for sale in the alumni author section at Potsdam’s College Store. Kevin Kendall ’99 earned the position of assistant principal of Ogdensburg Free Academy.
Capt. Ryan Hunt ’04 proudly displays his Potsdam banner alongside an Iraqi soldier. Hunt is currently stationed in Baghdad. Gregory Weissman ’06 has enrolled at the Mannes College The New School for Music.
Class Notes include those submissions received as of Jan. 11, 2008. Those received after that date will be included in the fall 2008 issue due June 30, 2008.
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Potsdam People
Memoriam Celia Timerson Gallup ’48, Dec. 18, 2007. John William Fordham ’51, March 22, 2007. Rosalie Finch Mastracco ’51, June 25, 2007. Richard Meyer ’51. W. Edward Mullen ’51. Arlene Schmitter Burkhard ’52, Aug. 8, 2007. Ruth Christiansen ’54. Genevieve A. Baxter ’55, April 7, 2007
Potsdam People
Marriages
Ellen Feinman ’75 married Wayne Sobczak on Feb. 24, 2007. Linda Tracy ’79 married Bob Lovins on Oct. 4, 2003. Alyssa Verruso ’91 married Sean Grace in Naples, FL, on April 21, 2007. The couple honeymooned in Naples for two weeks before returning home to Atlanta, GA.
Shirley Ann Beach ’62, Sept. 20, 2007.
John Polnak ’74, May 7, 2007. Thomas Semanski ’81, September 2007. William T. Gambling, professor emeritus, studio art and art history, Jan. 9, 2008. Anne Righton Malone, professor emeritus, English and communications and women’s and gender studies, Sept. 24, 2007.
James Lane ’01 and Lara O’Brien were married on Oct. 7, 2007, in Saratoga, FL. They traveled to Hawaii to celebrate their honeymoon.
Makaylia Roberts ’97 married Neil Binkley on Sept. 29, 2007, in New Britain, PA. They live in Ambler, PA.
Jill DiPaola-Czarnecki ’05 and John Czarnecki ’06 married on Aug. 12, 2007.
Shannon Husjo ’98 and Jerry “Fester” Meyer ’97 married on Sept. 2, 2007. They spent their honeymoon in Aruba and now reside in Raleigh, NC. Marc Murray ’99 married Kara Sysyn on March 9, 2006.
Sarah (Sally) Elizabeth Skyrm, Crane Library, Jan. 25, 2007. Kelsie Brown Harder, English, April 9, 2007. Eric Gee ’01 married Amelia Amy Catalina ’01 on Aug. 4, 2007, in Kinderhook, NY, after 10 fabulous years of dating since freshman year in 1997.
Emily Reynolds ’05 married Patrick Ulceus on April 21, 2007, in Baldwin, NY. They honeymooned in St. Thomas and now live in Uniondale, NY.
Rachel Reiter ’05 and Joseph Randazzo ’05 were married in April 2007 in Los Angeles, CA, where they currently reside. They honeymooned in Jamaica and had a renewal of vows ceremony in Montgomery, NY, in July 2007.
Rob Broderick ’89 and his wife, Julie, welcomed Luke Joseph to the family after adopting him from Korea on Feb. 13, 2007.
Emily McAuliffe ’06 married Timothy Deschenes on June 14, 2007, in Negril, Jamaica.
Michele Reuter ’02 married Kristopher Fudge on Oct. 9, 2007. They were married and honeymooned in the Bahamas. They currently live in Charlotte, NC. Mary Jane Freligh ’03 married Peter Arquette ’03 on July 1, 2006. The couple honeymooned in Bar Harbor, ME.
Ronnie Frech Trinkle ’63, Aug. 26, 2006. Carol Jean Gibbs Smith ’64, Nov. 11, 2007.
Jennifer Kosinski ’01 and James Mazza ’02 married on July 14, 2007. The couple now resides in Port Washington, NY.
Rebecca Nelson ’06 married Adam Jacobs ’06 on July 21, 2007, in Potsdam. Members of the wedding party included John Burmeister ’06, Aimee LaRue ’06 and Rebecca Gardner ’06. The photographer was Alyssa Farenell ’06. The reception was held in the Barrington Student Union. They are both currently pursuing doctorates at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. They live in Storrs-Mansfield, CT.
Cathleen Chatland Bonville ’91 and her husband, John, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Cali Alexandra, on July 25, 2007. She joins her brother, Johnathan, 19, and sisters, Rebecca, 6, and Cathleen Belle, 4. Mario Pratti ’92 and his wife, Ginger Coller Pratti ’00, had their first child, Amelia Margaret, on Aug. 7, 2007. Jennifer Cox Welch ’92, and her husband, Dennis, announced the birth of their third child, Ryan, on March 21, 2007. He joined sister Emily Catherine, 8, and brother Matthew Charles, 5.
Potsdam People
Births
Candace Perkins Mack ’87 and her husband, Robert, welcomed their third child, Julia, to the family on Feb. 28, 2005. She joins brother Joshua and sister Jessica.
Jude Kiah ’91 and his wife, Renee Turck Kiah ’92, welcomed their daughter, Andra “Addie” Elizabeth to the family on June 19, 2007.
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NOTES
Potsdam Celebrates Dr. N. Brock McElheran This May, former students, colleagues and friends will honor Brock McElheran’s many contributions to The Crane School of Music. Dr. McElheran celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year and on Saturday, May 3, a commemorative benefit concert will be held in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater at 1:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
New Service for SUNY Potsdam Alumni The Alumni Association is proud to announce the launch of an alumni program with Liberty Mutual. To learn more about alumni discounts on your auto, home or renters insurance, visit www.libertymutual.
Gifts will be accepted to the N. Brock McElheran Fund in support of Crane student scholarships. To make a gift in Brock’s honor or to register for the reception online, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni/ events. A scrapbook will be compiled and presented to Brock. Please submit your special memory, photo or message to the Alumni Office by Friday, April 25. E-mail submissions to alumni@potsdam.edu or mail them to 44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676.
com/lm/potsdam or call 1-800-524-9400
John L. Bedell ’94 and his wife, Ann, celebrated the birth of their second child, Samuel Kelsie, on Dec. 24, 2007.
Heather Parmenter Reiffer ’95 and her husband, Michael, announced the birth of their daughter, Anna Marie, on April 24, 2007.
Deborah Gevens Peltz ’94 and her husband, Randall, welcomed their first child, Zachary Lowell, on Aug. 22, 2007.
TJ Adams ’97 and his wife, Tara Keany Adams ’97, welcomed their daughter, Katelyn Hope, to the family on Aug. 27, 2007. She joins her big sister, Kiera Maureen. Kim Welnhofer Cooper ’98 and her husband, Doug, celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Julie C., on Sept. 19, 2007. She joined her sister Mia C., born on April 18, 2006.
Christine Carter Greco ’95 and her husband, Patrick, celebrated the birth of their second son, Kinan Patrick, on June 6, 2007. He joined his older brother, Carter Christian.
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POTSDAM PEOPLE SPR I NG 2008
Christopher Greer ’99 and his wife, Valerie, welcomed their second daughter, Sophie Anne, to the family on March 24, 2007. Marc Murray ’99 and his wife, Kara Sysyn, announced the birth of their first child, Adelyn Libby, born on June 24, 2006. Craig Garass-Johnson ’00 and his wife, Kristin, welcomed the birth of their first child, daughter Emerson Grace, into their family on July 24, 2007.
Krista Weber ’02 and her husband, Chad Kenna ’02, celebrated the birth of their son, Owen David Kenna, on May 30, 2007.
Michael Balonek ’05 and his wife, Amanda, were blessed with the birth of their first son, Micaiah Thomas, on Aug. 16, 2007.
Kyle Beckham ’03 and his wife, Mandi, announced the birth of their son, John Kyle, on July 23, 2007.
Stay in Touch! Your alumni association wants to know where you are and what you’re doing. Go online at
www.potsdam.edu/alumni
IN their
own words
IRONWOMAN
So what is the physical impact of doing an Ironman? You are pretty much hungry all the time. I burned 5,555 calories in the last one. I suffer from arthritis, so for me it is excruciating. Everything about it is very detailed and it can be expensive. Lake Placid, NY is the hardest bike loop in the world and when you get off the bike you run a marathon. This is all to be completed in 17 hours or you are disqualified. After my first Ironman, they took me right into the medical tent, and I passed out twice. They had to take me to the hospital. I never thought the fourth leg of an Ironman was the hospital.
+ m i w s e l i m 4 + . 2 e k i b e l mi + 112 + = n u r e 26.2 mil 3
=
x k c i n i e arol H
C
r esso usic Prof of M iate l c o Asso Scho Crane The
But then when they put the medal around your neck, you think, “I can’t wait to do this again.” At the last one, my husband came out and ran with me part of the course, and my back was killing me. It hurt so bad, but I loved it and I said to him, “Would you be mad at me if I did this again?” I got up the next day and was at the registration table signing up for next year. It has helped in my teaching. The endurance and focus you have to have applies to the work with my students. I know I can focus mentally on getting through any obstacles: professional, personal and physical. So far I’ve finished 21 marathons and my second Ironman. Next stop, Lake Placid Ironman, July 20, 2008.
w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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alumni
opportunities
Special thanks to the Alumni Board of Trustees
connected to one The Alumni Board of Trustees works closely with the College to keep alumni out the year through y tirelessl works rs voluntee another and Potsdam. This dedicated group of more!) to par(or year a twice least at campus to return They alumni. its and promoting Potsdam ion, Associat Alumni the and College the of behalf ticipate in meetings and planning sessions. On . grateful truly are We do. you that all for our sincere thanks
TS H G I L H G I H ON I N U E R 8 0 0 2 lumni th 1948gAto Celebrate their 60
Plannin tsdam ss of 1948 n in Po Reunio from the Cla en ni Gold
Alum d for their nd now retur ne n in 1998… a e back to m io o Reun n’t wait to c their 60th they ca to celebrate l gatherPotsdamr. With specia memor ies, togethe many shared great class ings and to be another it’s sure ! reunion
25th Reun
Celebrated by Class of 198 3
R
The Prom eunions! etheus brothers c elebrate th eir 40th anniv ersary and Psi Phi Delt a alumni return for their 6 0th…spec ial activities will be he ld for both!
n Celebrated by
ion
Members of the Class of 1983 will retu rn to Potsda m this summer to celebrate this milestone re union. Com mittee members ch allenge their classmates to join them an d make sure the 25th reunion class is well represented!
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GREEKS
Celebrat e
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPR I NG 2008
Golden Reunio the
f 1958for Class o ial milestone
This very spec will be cel58 the Class of 19 riety of special va a ith w d s ebrate plete with a clas gather ings com ceremony, a a photo, a diplom r honor… and ei luncheon in th of the class are more! Members eir mail this th asked to watch ete their class pl m co d an spring will be comsurvey. Surveys emorative 1958 piled in a comm memory book.
Class Reunion Committees Reconnect with Classmates
Volunteers from reunion classes have been hard at work assisting the College in Reunion Weekend efforts. Phone calls have been made and e-mails and personal notes have been sent to their classmates encouraging attendance at Reunion Weekend and participation in class giving.
Year Class Chair(s) 2003 (5th) Kristen L. Martin Joseph P. Pate 1988 (20th) Rebecca Liddell Huppi Pam M. Ouimet Kathy Goodman 1983 (25th) Lori A. Blaha Shari Greenleaf Mark B. Hassenplug Mary E. Helander David W. Vroman 1978 (30th) Maureen (Buffardi) Winney Donnalyn (Eaton) Shuster Glenn E. Albin 1973 (35th) Michael M. Messitt Sheila Dai Mark A. Dreschler 1968 (60th) Donald Tompkins Dale A. Zurbrick 1963 (45th) Lucille (Livolsi) Waterson 1958 (50th) Arlene (Rutherford) Bliven David A. Conner Toby (Cerasoli) Conner Nancy (Fordon) Johnston Rita (Itkin) Schwartz Barbara (Seaman) Taranto Tom Wallace Special thanks also to the numerous other volunteers working alongside the Class of ’58 committee to ensure an unforgettable 50th! The Classes of 1993 and 1998 are looking for committee members to represent them at Reunion 2008. If you are planning to attend and would like to get involved, contact Beth Goolden at gooldeba@potsdam.edu or Kristin Sherburne ’01 at sherbukm@potsdam.edu
calendar of
events
March 27 April 11
April 18-20
Visit our online calendar anytime for a current list of events in your area.
www.potsdam.edu/alumni/calendar
New York City SUNY Potsdam Celebrates the Arts Join alumni & friends as we showcase arts and our students at SUNY Potsdam. Look for displays, performances and more celebrating Potsdam’s fine arts, theatre, dance and music. Washington, D.C. Potsdam Alumni Gathering Kick off your weekend with a Potsdam alumni reception at the Irish Times Pub on Capitol Hill. Potsdam Potsdam Brass Quintet’s 40th Anniversary Celebration Join past and present members as they celebrate 40 years of dedication to brass music.
May 3
Potsdam Dr. N. Brock McElheran Commemorative Benefit Concert Former students, colleagues and friends will celebrate the incredible life of Dr. McElheran, who just celebrated his 90th birthday, and his many contributions to The Crane School of Music with a concert and reception. Gifts will be accepted in his honor.
May 16
Potsdam Party in the Plaza The Class of 2008 will be welcomed into the Alumni Association during a picnic with alumni, faculty and staff.
May 17 and 18
Potsdam Commencement Weekend Master’s students will graduate on Saturday, with Bachelor’s students graduating on Sunday.
May 31
Colonie, NY Albany Chapter hosts an evening with Double Axel Last year was so much fun, they’re at it again! Join capitol region alumni and friends and dance the night away.
July 10-13
Potsdam
REUNION WEEKEND 2008
Another fun-filled weekend is planned for alumni and friends returning to campus to celebrate their reunions.
July 27
Cooperstown, NY Glimmerglass Opera presents Lisa Vroman ’79 in Kiss Me Kate Catch this witty show and enjoy summer in scenic Cooperstown, NY. The show begins at 2 p.m. Alumni can order tickets and enjoy seating with the Potsdam group by calling (607) 547-2255. Be sure to mention that you’re with the Potsdam Alumni group. After the show, mingle with friends and catch up with Lisa!
September 11
Potsdam 20th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic Enjoy our new format - a 6-person scramble. $125 per person includes meals, greens fees, prizes and a gift to SUNY Potsdam scholarships! www.potsdam.edu/golfclassic. Sponsorships are also available.
September 20
East Rochester, NY Rochester Chapter hosts Double Axel Double Axel returns to Rochester for the fifth year to get Potsdam alumni and friends on their feet and enjoying the classic rock music that they know and love! w w w. p o t s d a m . e d u /p e o p l e
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