snapshot
MOUNTAIN HIGH For 20 days in August 2012, six students from SUNY Potsdam’s Wilderness Education Program traveled nearly 130 miles across the Pasayten Wilderness of Washington State. While in the Pasayten, the Leadership two students engaged in stream crossings, mountaineering and off-trail map and compass navigation. Because Leadership Two is a six-credit honors course, students take a primary role in planning, preparing and raising funds to support the trip. With the help of generous donors, and the support of instructors Mark Simon and Adam Wheeler ’98, the group was able to successfully complete their expedition. The SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Program fosters students’ love of the environment and trains them to be future leaders, with both a wilderness leadership track and an adventure education track to choose from.
Profiles
On the cover:
Roger Linden ’74 Leading by example.
Michelle Holmes Ladouceur ’95 SUNY Potsdam’s next generation of leadership.
Dr. Neil Johnson, Hon. ’ 01 A lifelong love of coaching.
Dr. Maria Hepel Leading the way for a new generation in chemistry.
Departments News & Notes Mini Reunions Class Notes Reunion Announcements In Their Own Words
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12Potsdam Pride
A Rich History of Making the Future
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The cover illustration for this issue is by SUNY Potsdam in-house graphic designer J. P. Manke. This artwork represents the 2013 Academic Festival titled “Making the Future.” From April 10-13th, SUNY Potsdam will introduce the community, students, faculty and staff to cutting-edge research and creative activity. All events are free and open to the public. This year’s festival keynote speakers are Dr. John Warner, president and chief technology officer of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry speaking on “Green Chemistry: New Eyes and New Ideas in Science” and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, attorney and writer as well as former Lieutenant-Governor of Maryland. Townsend will be discussing “Women Taking Power Seriously.” For a full schedule of events please visit: www. potsdam.edu/academics/ specialprograms/campusfestival
Reunion 2013
Registration information and complete schedule of events. www.potsdam.edu/alumni/reunion
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MEET TODAY’S
leadership
A heartfelt thank you to our departing President The SUNY Potsdam community would like to thank Dr. John F. Schwaller for his seven years of dedicated service to the College. His leadership has ensured that the College is well positioned to face its third century head-on. Fritz’s steadfast dedication to ensuring a handcrafted education is afforded to each student is reflected in the dynamic academic environment at SUNY Potsdam, and in the College’s clear vision for the future. During his tenure, SUNY Potsdam enhanced the student experience with increased support for first-year programs and undergraduate research, established partnerships with international universities and earned glowing reviews from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In addition, Fritz oversaw the transformation of campus through renovations and improvements, including the opening of Becky’s Place and the groundbreaking for the Performing Arts Building. The College has also seen increased charitable giving, thanks to the generosity of our donors, leading to restored traditions and new programs of distinction. We wish Fritz, and his wife Anne, all the best for their future endeavors.
S P R I N G 2013
Vol. 7 | No. 2
Potsdam People Staff and Contributors EditorS Deborah Dudley, Director of Marketing and Communications Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Director of Alumni Relations WriterS Sarah Carr ‘08, Public Affairs Assistant Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, Communications & Government Relations Web Manager Mindy Thompson, Director of Web Communications
Meet Today’s Leadership Jeff Washburn ’79 President, SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association Inventory Control Manager, Empire Merchants North As a student, I was active in many campus activities that provided me with amazing educational and life experiences. My service on the Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees has given me the opportunity to work with faculty, staff, students and alumni to advance the mission of the College. Today, I am honored to serve as President of the Alumni Association and am looking forward to a future that is only brighter for SUNY Potsdam as we move towards our 200th anniversary and beyond.
Jan Trybula Chair, Faculty Senate Trustee, Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. Assoc. Professor of Biology, SUNY Potsdam I accepted a teaching position at Potsdam because it offered the small, liberal arts environment that would allow me to work directly with students. I never dreamed that I would also become Chair of the Faculty Senate and serve on the Foundation Board. As a first-generation college student, this opportunity to support and encourage not only students, but my fellow colleagues and thousands of alumni as well, has been incredibly meaningful.
Lynne Boles ’74 President, Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. Currently - Independent Marketing Consultant Formerly - VP of Global Advertising, Procter & Gamble When I was President of the Student Government Association at SUNY Potsdam and a student member of the Foundation Board, I never thought that I would someday become President of that same Foundation Board. The leadership skills I gained at Potsdam helped me achieve personal and professional success. What an amazing opportunity this new role is for me to build upon Potsdam’s legacy of quality leadership, helping to ensure a strong financial future for the College.
Ryan Williams ’13 President, Student Government Association Trustee, Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. Senior, SUNY Potsdam Although I come from a family involved in advocacy, I never thought I would follow that same career path until overhearing a debate one day in the student union regarding tuition issues. From that point forward, I dedicated myself to being an active participant in campus issues and a voice for all students. At Potsdam, students are respected and their opinions truly do matter. As President of the SGA, I am helping to make this a better College for all of us.
Roger Linden, Esq. ’74 Chair, SUNY Potsdam College Council Secretary, Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. Partner, Cappello Linden & Ladouceur As Chair of the Potsdam College Council, I have the immense privilege of helping guide the College through the many opportunities for growth and transformation it faces each year. That I can now serve in multiple leadership roles at this exciting time in the College’s history is a great honor.
Contributors David T. Britt ‘73, Director of Business Planning and Analysis Dan Bronson ‘03, Sports Information Director Christa Carroll, Director of Annual Giving Nancy Griffin (Hon. ‘08), Development Officer Emily Hutchison, Director of Development Jason Ladouceur ’94, Director of Planned Giving Sarah Maneely ’07, Assistant Director of Research and Donor Relations Ellen Nesbitt, Assistant Director of Annual Giving Donna Planty, Project Manager/Production Artist Sherry Allen Paradis ’00, Director of Donor Relations Laura Stevenson (Hon. ’07), Alumni & Donor Relations
Vicki Templeton-Cornell, Vice President for College Advancement Design & Art Direction J. P. Manke, Graphic Designer/Production Artist
Another note of thanks Thanks also to Dr. Stephen Immerman ’75 for his many years of service as President of the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees. Under his guidance, the Foundation has retained a strong financial position for the future. The College is grateful for his continued service as a Trustee.
PHOTOGRAPHY Kathryn Deuel, Principal Photograper
CAMPUS
news & notes
faculty honors
new initiatives
SUNY Potsdam Professors Receive $20,000 to Research Student Success in Hybrid History Courses
Lockheed Martin STEAM Partnership
History professors James German and Natalia Veinott will receive up to $20,000, including 25 percent matching funds for their project, “Enhancing Student Success in Potsdam’s Hybrid History Courses.” The State University of New York named 48 recipients of the 2012 Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG), which fund campus innovations and initiatives that have the potential to be replicated throughout the SUNY system and benefit students and faculty worldwide. This is the first year for the IITG program, which considered 117 grant proposals. College News
The Annual Fund for Potsdam: Emerging Leaders Sponsor 4th Annual Potsdam Appreciation Week
Each fall, Emerging Leaders hosts Potsdam Appreciation Week (PAW), designated as a special time to honor various groups on campus. During this year’s PAW, Monday honored students, Tuesday honored faculty, Wednesday honored student groups, Thursday honored teaching staff, and the final day, Potsdam Pride Day, celebrated the entire campus community, as everyone was invited to wear Potsdam apparel to show their love and support for the College. The week’s activities included sending “hugs and kisses” candy-grams to students or employees, selling magnets, taking photos with friends, sending apple-themed gifts to professors and making outright contributions toward the Student Gift. The Student Gift, championed each year by Emerging Leaders, was voted by the student body early in the 201213 academic year to be a gift to the Annual Fund for Potsdam (the College’s greatest opportunities and needs). Through all their efforts, Emerging Leaders exceeded last year’s PAW proceeds, a net of well over $1,200, all of which goes to the Student Gift, benefiting the Annual Fund for Potsdam.
Haden Land ’84 (pictured second from left) has secured a partnership between Lockheed Martin and SUNY Potsdam that involves a new approach to education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Haden is vice president of engineering and chief technology officer for Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions, Civil Product Line. The Lockheed Martin-SUNY Potsdam partnership will explore the science of creativity, with the goal of developing an interdisciplinary curriculum that incorporates the arts. This new “STEAM” curriculum will prepare students to be scientists who can engage in the creative and innovative thinking that is critical to the nation’s future workforce. SUNY Potsdam faculty from music, art, theatre, mathematics, psychology, computer science and biology are involved in the partnership. Led by Provost Margaret Madden (pictured center), the “STEAM Dream Team” is planning to complete their work by August 2013. Other team members who attended the announcement of the partnership in Washington, DC, in November included Lockheed Martin’s Mike Nance (left); Nancy Griffin, College Advancement; and Dean of Arts and Sciences Steve Marqusee.
College News
Golf Classic Raises a Record $96,000
In September 2012, SUNY Potsdam scholarship students benefited from the overwhelming, record-setting generosity of loyal friends of the College. At the 24th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic, dozens of sponsors and more than 200 golfers competed at the Potsdam Town & Country Club. For the second consecutive year, the tournament’s title sponsor was Northland Associates. CEO Jim Tyler and his wife, Charlene, established a scholarship with their sponsorship gift. All the sponsors contributed to a net $96,000 raised for the College’s Scholarship Fund! Pictured on tournament day is the Northland Associates team, featuring Jim Tyler, President & CEO, second from the right.
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student spotlight college news
Success for Scholars
SUNY Potsdam Unveils Renovations to Largest Residential Complex
At the 24th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic in September 2012, Cheyne Aiken ’14 (pictured), of Cortland County, NY, addressed golfers and sponsors at the awards dinner. Aiken explained how his scholarship made it possible for him to excel in geology and wilderness education. “Earning a scholarship to SUNY Potsdam was pretty much the deciding factor for me,” said Aiken. “The money not only helps me have fewer loans to pay off, but more importantly, Potsdam has opened many doors for me in aspects of leadership, education and professional experience.” student spotlight
Crane Opera Ensemble Racks up Awards for Production
The Crane Opera Ensemble may be used to standing ovations following its performances on campus, but the group’s productions are also consistently earning accolades in major national contests as well. The American Prize in Operatic Performance for 2012 awarded first place in the colleges/universities category to the group from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, for the second year in a row. Directed by Dr. Carleen Graham, the Crane Opera Ensemble earned the national award for its Fall 2011 production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” Crane beat out two other finalists for the 2012 award, including productions by the University of Houston’s Moores Opera Center and the University of Connecticut School of Music, both doctoral degree-granting institutions. In addition to the first-place award for the production, music director Dr. Kirk Severtson, chair of the performance department at The Crane School of Music, earned second place in the colleges/universities division for The American Prize in Conducting for 2012. The National Opera Association has also recognized the “Amahl and the Night Visitors” production, awarding the ensemble second prize in Division 3 of the 2012 Opera Production Competition. The National Opera Association award was presented at a gala banquet in Portland, Oregon, in January 2013.
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POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
In September, SUNY Potsdam celebrated the grand opening of a state-of-the-art addition and renovations to its largest residence hall. Bowman Hall, which houses more than 700 students, was upgraded with the completion of a 15,000-squarefoot addition. This unique student space features a technology center, a communal kitchen, social gathering areas and game rooms with air hockey, ping-pong, foosball and pool tables. The extension also houses multi-purpose rooms with floor-toceiling dry erase boards and moveable walls, plus a media room. The large space opens up to outdoor patios. The addition includes a geothermal heating and cooling system, enhancing the campus’s sustainability as it reduces the College’s carbon footprint. In addition, it has a Brita hydration station for students to fill their water bottles on the way to class, in order to cut down on plastic consumption.
student spotlight
Art Student Receives Prestigious Award
Jonathon Lalonde ’14, a fine arts major, had a sculpture chosen from 316 submissions for the Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition. A jury selected the 64 pieces from SUNY students across 64 state campuses. His sculpture was constructed out of metal using both blacksmithing and welding techniques. Lalonde was also recently honored for high academic standing as a department scholar for the arts.
CAMPUS
news & notes
spotlight
FACUlty honors
Provost Appointed to NYS Teaching Standards & Practices Board
SUNY Potsdam All-Greek Alumni Council Meets
SUNY Potsdam Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Margaret E. Madden has been appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to the state Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching. “High-quality instruction throughout levels from pre-kindergarten to graduate work in education is vital for creating a productive and informed citizenry of New York State,” Dr. Madden said. The board was established in 1998 by the Board of Regents to advise the Regents and the Commissioner of Education on matters related to teaching in New York State. The board is comprised of 28 members, including K-12 teachers and administrators, higher education representatives, public representatives and one teacher education student.
college news
The Crane School of Music Welcomes Gunther Schuller
SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music was honored to welcome the innovative and influential composer, conductor and performer Gunther Schuller as a guest artist-in-residence in November. One of the most influential Americans in music history, Schuller worked with Crane students in panel discussions, masterclasses, coaching sessions and concerts throughout his visit. The visit marked Schuller’s first return to Potsdam since 1981, when he was a conductor for that year’s Spring Festival at Crane.
Gunther Schuller
“It was my great honor to bring my mentor, Gunther Schuller, to campus” said Crane Symphony Orchestra Music Director Dr. Ching-Chun Lai. “I was very excited and felt quite humbled when he accepted the invitation. What an incredible experience this has been for our students—the opportunity to work with one of the most influential musicians of our time.”
The SUNY Potsdam All-Greek Alumni Council recently conducted a survey of over 700 Greek alumni and is working on developing programs and strategies designed to address the needs and interests of our Greek alumni in terms of house management, recruitment and scholarship development. The mission of the Council is to bring together alumni of SUNY Potsdam’s recognized fraternities and sororities in collaboration with current Greek members and the College to perpetuate and support Greek Life at SUNY Potsdam. Row 1: Donnalyn Eaton Shuster ’78 (Omega and President of Council), Lauren Moran Sheldon ’04 (President Alpha Delta Kappa Alumni Association), Emily Walts (President, All-Greek Council). Row 2: Lois Little ’84 (VP Omega Delta Phi Alumnae Association), Sue Rice ’77 (Agonian), Patrick Grimaldi ’79 (Phi Kappa Sigma), Christopher Knight (Phi Mu Alpha)
new initiatives
Dean Michael Sitton Begins Music Therapy Initiative with United Helpers
The Crane School of Music is partnering with United Helpers to bring music therapy to residents of Mosaic’s Lisbon Intermediate Care Facility. The initiative began through the efforts of Crane Dean Dr. Michael Sitton and Mark Martin, assistant program manager at the facility. The two recognized the value of music and wanted to bring an interactive program to the residents. Using the United Helpers Wish Book program, they enlisted the help of music therapist Tracy Wanamaker ’08, who performed a session for the residents. “It is amazing to see the transformation as soon as Tracy walks in the door,” said Gisele Groulx, activities leader for Mosaic. “The smiles, the clapping and encouraging each other—it’s very contagious.” The Wish Book program is provided by the Society of the United Helpers and offers loved ones, family members and friends of the United Helpers organization the opportunity to help grant a facility wish. Donors simply browse the book and choose which item they would like to sponsor.
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College News
Crane Honors Past & Looks to Future at Teacher Education Symposium
New initiatives
The Crane Symposium on Music Teacher Education September 13, 14 and 15, 2012
Celebrating 125 years of Music Teacher Education at The Crane School of Music
Drawing on its rich history as a pioneering institution for music education, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music hosted a unique symposium in September 2012. Visiting speakers and panelists came from universities across the U.S. and Canada to share current thinking, scholarly advances and teaching practices from teachers, researchers and musicians. A number of Crane alumni who are currently teaching music returned to speak and were joined by guests from across New York State. Undergraduate and graduate students also presented their research. “Whether you are a prospective student, a current undergraduate or graduate student, a college or university professor or administrator, or an active or retired member in the profession, we seek to connect with those who wish to perpetuate our rich heritage and participate in a community of ideas regarding innovative music teaching and learning,” said symposium organizer Dr. Mark R. Campbell, professor of music education at Crane. The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam boasts one of the oldest and largest music teacher preparation programs in North America. In fact, music education is the largest major in terms of undergraduate degrees awarded at the College today.
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POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
SUNY Potsdam to Webcast Live Video of Home Athletic Events
The SUNY Potsdam Athletic Department has teamed with SIDEARM Sports and will now stream live video of its home athletic contests over the Web. Fans will now be able to watch free webcasts of all home Bears soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, swimming, lacrosse and softball contests. Visit www.potsdambears.com, and click on “Bears Live.”
college news
Hunter Cooke Drafted by Bears
The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team has drafted Hunter Cooke to be an honorary Bear for the 2012-13 season. Potsdam has joined with Team IMPACT to welcome Cooke into its family. Cooke, a 10-year old Hogansburg resident with cystic fibrosis, met Coach Chris Bernard and Bears Brett Waters ’13, Mike Arnold ’14, Vinny Buttitta ’15, Max Fogel ’15 and Ken Simon ’15 on Oct. 19 at Maxcy Hall. He talked about hockey with the players, watched a highlight video and was interviewed by “Voice of the Bears” Chris Engel. The new Bear signed his team contract and was presented with his own Potsdam jersey. Throughout the season, Cooke will attend Potsdam practices and home games and visit the Bears in their locker room. Cooke dropped the first puck at the Bears season opener against Saint Michael’s College.
news & notes
Bears Women’s Lacrosse Named IWLCA Academic Squad
The SUNY Potsdam women’s lacrosse team has been named an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Squad for the 2012 season. The Bears were one of 61 Division III teams to be recognized after posting a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better during the 2011-12 school year.
Men’s Basketball, Women’s Hockey “Walkin’ for Wilz”
The SUNY Potsdam men’s basketball and women’s hockey teams participated in the Walkin’ for Wilz 5K Walk/Run to Cure Juvenile Diabetes in September. The funds raised by the walkers went to support the Juveniles Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The Walkin’ for Wilz event is named in honor of Billy “Wilz” Howlett, who in 2008 lost his battle against diabetes at the age of 20. The 5K walk/run has raised more than $80,000 for the Central New York chapter of the JDRF since its inception.
Potsdam Working with NCAA on Compliance Issue
SUNY Potsdam, a Division III school, was informed by the NCAA in April 2011 that it inadvertently violated an association bylaw. The violation related to SUNY Potsdam’s International Initiative Grant, which the College gave to all international students, both athletes and nonahtletes, through a blind review process. The program was found to unintentionally benefit a slightly higher proportion of student athletes compared to the number of international students in the entire student population. SUNY Potsdam remains committed to finding a solution that satisfies the NCAA while protecting the College’s rich educational and experiential opportunities and financial support available to all students regardless of their country of origin.
Women’s Alumnae Game
Former SUNY Potsdam women’s lacrosse players returned for the team’s annual alumnae game in September. The Bears alumnae overcame former Clarkson Golden Knights late, for an 8-7 victory at the Maxcy Hall Turf Field. Potsdam had representatives from teams dating back to 2007, including standouts from last year’s graduating class. Bears Head Coach Lauren Bruce was pleased with the turnout. “It was nice to see the longstanding friendships that have continued since playing together at Potsdam,” Bruce said. “We shared some favorite memories including beating Clarkson in 2012 and Buff State in 2007, and of course, spring training travel experiences and the bonds formed with teammates.” Lacrosse alumnae included: Alex Brown ’05, Sally Barber ’06, Kate Flynn ’07, Kristen Jacobs ’07, Christina Domser ’06, Sarah Rosintoski ’06, Gabe Cloonan ’08, Liz Clohessy ’09, Maribeth Simmons ’12, Aubrey Macintosh ’12, Sierra Langkammerer ’12 and Lizzy Penree ’12.
Four Bears Earn All-SUNYAC Soccer Honors Four SUNY Potsdam men’s soccer players were selected to the All-State University of New York Athletic Conference soccer team. Senior goalkeeper Joseph Glackin and sophomore forward Eduardo Figueroa earned first team recognition, while junior midfielder Alessio Vitale and freshman midfielder Mike Jackson claimed spots on the third team.
Two Bears Earn AllSUNYAC Honors
VITALE
For the second straight year, the SUNY Potsdam volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Dr. Richard Williams Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award. The Bears were one of 90 Division III squads to be recognized after posting a cumulative 3.38 grade point average during the 2011-12 school year. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.3 cumulative team GPA.
Bears Return for Women’s Alumnae Game
GLACKIN
BEARs volleyball
Bears Volleyball Earns Second Straight AVCA Academic Honor
FIGUEROA
CAMPUS
Two SUNY Potsdam women’s volleyball players were selected to the AllState University of New York Athletic Conference volleyball team, the league announced. Junior setter Jenna Blujus earned first team recognition, while freshman outside hitter Rachel Auerbach claimed a spot on the second team.
www.potsdam.edu/athletics/bearpride
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Potsdam
profile
ling students to achieve more. Linden recalls after turning a paper in early, “He graded it and said, ‘This is OK, but you can do better. If you want, try again and give it back to me.’… Over the years we fell into the pattern of immediate response and critical feedback. It worked.” For Linden, Del Guidice’s tactics showed how faculty excellence manifests itself at Potsdam.
By Deborah Dudley For Roger Linden ’74, partner at the Cappello Linden & Ladouceur law firm in Potsdam, leadership is revealed more in the action one takes, than in the words that are spoken. Linden is economical with his words and uses only those necessary to articulate what is important. No more. No less. But behind his pragmatism is a passionate and prolific contributor to the SUNY Potsdam family. Linden likes to joke, “When I first came to Potsdam as a student, I aspired to mediocrity. I didn’t see myself at the time as an ambitious academic achiever.” However, Linden was subjected to what he has heard described as “Potsdam’s abiding intolerance of mediocrity.” Faculty such as political science Professor Emeritus Richard Del Guidice (Hon. ’92) have a particular way of compel8
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
“It was obvious at all stages, as with many professors, that he always strove to do better, he always made the conscious effort to make the best of his capabilities each and every day.” That lesson has stuck with Linden in everything he does today. Growing up in Kinderhook, NY, Linden graduated from Ichabod Crane Central Schools with a Regents Scholarship, allowing him to attend the SUNY school of his choice. After earning an associate’s degree at Hudson Valley Community College, Linden transferred to SUNY Potsdam in 1972, just after marrying Audrey Mazure (now his wife of 40 years). In his senior year, Linden became one of the first Potsdam students to participate in a pre-law internship set up at the Ingram & Ingram firm in Potsdam. It was during this internship that Linden was convinced that a small-town law practice was his professional calling. Albany Law School was next, and Linden decided to come back to Potsdam in 1978 to work for the then-Ingram, Ingram & Cap-
pello law firm. He stayed, and went on to establish Cappello & Linden in 1992. “As in so many things, when you are in it, you are going with the moment, and it is only upon reflection you realize the impact,” Linden said. The impact that professors, internships and contributions make in people’s lives are what resonate with Linden, and they inspired him to host a robust internship program at his current firm, which has already nurtured the lives and careers of many SUNY Potsdam students, including generations of Potsdam graduates. That includes current law firm partner Michelle Holmes Ladouceur ’95 (see next page) who became a partner in 2002. When talking with Linden, he wastes no time with bravado, so it is necessary to know the actions of Linden’s life to understand the extraordinary contributions and leadership he has exhibited over the years. Along with a strong internship program for SUNY Potsdam students interested in a career in law and a host of pro bono legal services he provides to the College, Linden serves his alma mater with distinction. He is the chair of the College Council, the secretary of the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees, the national chair of the Annual Fund for Potsdam, and a founding contributor to the new Third Century Endowment. It is no wonder that the College’s highest award for service has been named for him—the Roger B. Linden Distinguished Service Award, which he presents every year at Commencement. However, for Linden, listing his contributions holds little interest. He is far more adamant about starting a dialogue about the importance of giving back to the student experience that shaped him and generations of students like him. SUNY Potsdam is stronger with the support of alumni and friends, period. According to Linden, the action of giving back and impacting people’s lives is far more valuable than anything he or anyone else could say. w w w.potsdam.edu/people
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Potsdam
profile
By Sarah Carr ’08
with Linden.
For most college students, senior year is a scary time, as they contemplate going off into the world not quite sure what the future holds or what they really want to do with their lives. Thanks to Roger Linden ’74, this was not the case for Michelle Holmes Ladouceur ’95.
“Roger also went to Albany Law School and prepared me for what to expect and gave me advice on classes to take and how to survive the dreaded first year,” she said. “Most importantly, I went into law school with background experience and substantive knowledge that most of my peers didn’t have, and that gave me an advantage.”
Ladouceur, a politics major minoring in business economics, became interested in politics after taking some courses in high school, but wasn’t certain that this was the career path she wanted to pursue. After taking a constitutional law course with Dr. Richard Del Guidice (Hon. ’92), now a professor emeritus, that all changed. “Richard deserves a great deal of credit for where I am today,” she said. In fact, it was Dr. Del Guidice who set up the internship that introduced her to her mentor and now law firm partner, Roger Linden. “I remember like it was yesterday, the moment in his office one afternoon in October 1994 when he told me that he had arranged for me to do an internship with a local attorney. That moment defined my future education and my career path.” During her final semester at Potsdam, Ladouceur did a legal internship with Linden. “For about 20 hours each week, I shadowed Roger and was able to take part in the day-to-day activities of a busy law office, including office conferences, real estate closings, and will signings, and on many occasions I was able to accompany Roger to court,” she explained. It was while participating in this internship that Ladouceur decided law was the career path for her. “Roger played a pivotal role in my decision to go to law school. When I decided to do the internship, I was interested in law but wasn’t sure it was for me,” she recalled. “Roger encouraged me to pursue it and gave me the confidence and the foundation to follow through.” After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam, Ladouceur worked at Linden’s firm for a year before attending Albany Law School. She credits her success at law school, in large part, to her internship
After graduating at the top of her class from Albany Law School in 1999, Ladouceur had her pick of top law firms, but it was a no-brainer for her – returning to Potsdam was her ultimate place. With family here, and her connection to Linden, she had a great opportunity. “I worked in a large firm in Albany after law school, but it was not the right fit for me and in many ways felt like a fourth year of law school. In Potsdam, I had a better opportunity to build a career and a practice,” she said. “If I hadn’t done the internship with Roger during my final semester at Potsdam, I’m not sure where I would be today. I can’t
recommend the experience highly enough. Students need to take these opportunities and embrace them.” Today, Ladouceur is a partner at Cappello Linden & Ladouceur, where she has worked for the past 12 years. She and her partners practice general law, but she concentrates her practice in the areas of family and matrimonial law, real estate and estate planning. When she takes time away from her busy practice, she and her husband, fellow SUNY Potsdam alum Jason Ladouceur ’94, enjoy traveling the globe, from the national parks of the West, the rainforests of Central America, the beaches of the Caribbean, to the ancient ruins of Europe. Each year their travels take them to at least one NFL football game to watch their beloved Denver Broncos. Ladouceur didn’t have to worry about her direction in life because of the relationships she formed with Potsdam faculty and alumni and the internship opportunity afforded to her. Instead, she found her passion for law, and now attributes both her successful career and her life to her rewarding experiences at SUNY Potsdam.
Potsdam
profile
Dr. Neil Johnson Neil Johnson is pictured with former members of his wrestling team. Back Row; Mike Schmidt, Neil Johnson, Tony Fiacco ’80, Terry Bernat ‘85. Front row: Kregg Bruno, Richard McAllister ‘83
By Daniel Bronson ’03 Neil Johnson (Hon.’01) recognized at an early age that he had a lot of energy and always needed to be active. That talent and a love of sports set him on a path to become one of SUNY Potsdam’s great coaches and athletic administrators. Johnson grew up playing sports in the streets of Upper Darby, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. In high school, he was a talented wrestler and tennis player. Each summer, he attended Boy Scout camp, and there, he realized his knack for teaching sports in addition to playing them. After high school, he prepared for a career in sports at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. In college, Johnson wrestled and played soccer. He graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, and intended to become a Physical Education teacher. However, he was encouraged to apply for an assistantship at Penn State while working on his master’s degree. Upon completing his master’s in 1960, Johnson married his wife, Marilyn, also a sports-minded person, who later became Clarkson University’s volleyball and ski coach. Shortly afterward, he was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army. “I was shipped to Hawaii and got pulled into the garrison unit’s special services,” Johnson said. “They singled me out to help run their sports program because I already had my master’s in that field. That experience helped prepare me for a college-level job.” After being discharged in 1962, Johnson was hired as a physical education teacher in Kennett Square, PA, and started the school’s wrestling program. “I was there for just one year when I got the call from Sam Molnar,” said Johnson of Potsdam’s then-athletic director. “I was asked to w w w.potsdam.edu/people 10 10 POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
come to Potsdam to start a wrestling program and be the assistant soccer coach.” Johnson did take some time to consider accepting the position. “I thought the world ended at Syracuse,” said Johnson. “Back then, Interstate 81 ended at Binghamton. It took me 13 hours to get up here, and Potsdam was a really small school.” Fortunately, Johnson accepted, and arrived in Potsdam for the 1963-64 school year. He immediately threw himself into coaching and after just one successful club season, his wrestling team was admitted into the SUNYAC and the NCAA. With Johnson at the helm, the wrestling team continued its rise. In their tenth season, the Bears captured the 1973 SUNYAC Title in the brand-new Maxcy Hall. The team followed it up with national championships from Richard Molbury ’74 and Tony Peraza ’76 and strong team finishes at nationals over the next few seasons. From 1963 until the program was discontinued in 1991, Potsdam was 146-119-3 in dual meets, and generated 11 All-Americans and 12 SUNYAC individual champions. Johnson coached the team in all but two of the seasons. Though coaching and working on his Ph.D. kept him busy, Johnson always looked to involve himself in other areas of the College and the local community. For 20 years, he was on the Potsdam Auxiliary and College Educational Services (PACES) Board of Directors and served as its chairman for nine years. He was also on the Potsdam Recreation Commission for 30 years and a founder of the Potsdam Youth Soccer program. Eventually, Johnson moved up the ranks from coach and professor to administrator. In 1987, he became the director of programs and operations. Three years later, he took over as the
Department of Health and Physical Education chair, and served in both positions until he retired in 1999. Johnson’s commitment to the College hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has received multiple honors, including the President’s Award for Excellence in Public Service (1994), the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service (1996) and the Leadership Through Service Award (2007). Last year, he received the SUNYAC Dr. Patrick Damore Distinguished Service Award. Johnson hasn’t slowed down in retirement. In 2000, he helped form Stimulating Opportunities After Retirement, or SOAR. The program allows local residents to come together and share their hobbies and talents. Since its start, SOAR has grown to include more than 370 members and 50-plus classes, which are all taught by volunteers. SOAR uses Potsdam facilities to conduct its courses and SUNY gives back to the College through donations, scholarships and other gifts. The Johnsons have also given back to SUNY Potsdam through their lead gifts to endow the Neil and Marilyn Johnson Scholarship for a Community Health student, a program that Neil was instrumental in starting. Many of his former students contributed to the fund in his honor, recognizing the tremendous influence he had on them. In retirement, Johnson’s focus is now also on his family. He and Marilyn have two sons and six grandchildren and spend as much time with them as possible. They are often travelling from a soccer match to a swim meet to a theatre event, and enjoying every minute of it. Johnson still resides in Potsdam and can frequently be found on campus. He’s very proud to be associated with SUNY Potsdam, the programs he helped develop and lives he touched. “I still bleed maroon and gray,” Johnson said. “Potsdam has great people, and I’m a people person. I got here at the right time, and I was able to grow with the College.”
Dr. Maria Hepel Potsdam
profile
By Alexandra Jacobs Wilke Dr. Maria Hepel’s laboratory in the Department of Chemistry doesn’t just produce groundbreaking research—it also turns out some very accomplished graduates. “Maria is probably the main reason that I have a successful career in chemistry,” said Doug Sears ’87, tech nical sales specialist for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “I still keep in touch with her to this day. She got me involved with laboratory studies and undergraduate research projects. To me, this was a defining moment as I recognized how I wanted to use my education and what I wanted to do.”
Kaitlin Coopersmith ’11, a graduate student and teaching assistant in chemistry at Syracuse University, agreed. “I would not be where I am today without Dr. Hepel. She is a vibrant and caring advisor while still pushing her students to work hard,” Coopersmith said. “In her lecture notes, she in-
cluded slides of puppies, kittens and glittery butterflies when she saw students getting too stressed out. She always saw potential in her students.” Dr. Cynthia Rice ’95, assistant professor in the Center for Manufacturing Research and Department of Chemical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University, started out in Hepel’s lab too. “She enlightened me to a world of research and discovery that I never knew existed, by engaging me in undergraduate research,” Rice said. “I credit her infectious drive and love of research for my pursuit of a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. As an assistant professor now myself, I hope to emulate her professionalism and commitment to inspire a future generation of research scientists.” In her 28 years at SUNY Potsdam, Hepel has supervised more than 240 undergraduate research projects, and coauthored 77 peer-reviewed papers with her students. The young scholars have in turn presented their research in 230 presentations at national and regional scientific conferences. Now in her third term as chair, Hepel is proud to say that the number of chemistry majors has more than quadrupled in the past 10 years. Hepel said that impressive record comes from her excitement to share scientific discovery with her students. “You have to love this. You have to have the passion to present your work,” she said. “My students ask me to come do research with them on Saturdays, and frequently I come. I enjoy seeing students perform well and succeed.” While growing up in Leszno, Poland, Hepel’s first encounter with science was in her involvement with the high school chemistry club. Her team went on to win local and regional competitions in the Chemistry Olympiad, and she had her pick of any university in Poland. Hepel chose Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the country’s oldest university, and went on to earn her master’s and doctoral degrees in chemistry there.
In 1980, she accepted a postdoctoral position at the University at Buffalo. She then spent two years as an adjunct professor in chemistry at Brooklyn College. In 1985, Hepel joined the faculty at SUNY Potsdam as an assistant professor. “Some people say that I make SUNY Potsdam a unique place to study chemistry. In my lab, the undergraduate students have the opportunity to work through research on many cutting-edge projects involving nanotechnology and the use of advanced methods and equipment,” Hepel said. Hepel’s multidisciplinary research interests include nanotechnology, biosensors, oxidative stress, materials science, electrochemistry, catalysis and the effect of toxicants on DNA damage. At last count, Hepel had some 148 peerreviewed publications in leading journals in her field, as well as 40 book chapters and one book to her name. Her record of external funding is also impressive. In the last three years, she has been awarded $804,000 in grants through the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. Now, she has made SUNY Potsdam history, as the College’s first SUNY Distinguished Research Professor, which is conferred upon faculty members who have achieved international prominence and a distinguished reputation in their field. The SUNY Board of Trustees bestowed the title upon Hepel in May 2012. It’s an honor Maria feels she shares in part with her students. “My reputation in the international scientific community is largely the result of my work with undergraduate students. By engaging students in undergraduate research, we will continue to inspire them to study and succeed in their pursuit of excellence,” Hepel said. “I think that our strong commitment to inspire a future generation of conscientious chemists and active research scientists will lead the chemistry department to a bright future.”
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As SUNY Potsdam nears her third century, faculty, staff, students and alumni are reflecting on the past, harvesting the learning opportunities of the present and building the foundation for the future. If you know anything about Potsdam, it is that the people are very down-to-Earth. Most folks here are humble and reluctant to boast. You’ll find that people in Potsdam are more apt to laugh off compliments, return the favor, or maybe make a joke, than to slap themselves on the back. So if you want to know about SUNY Potsdam’s rich history, you sometimes have to dig a little deeper. The campus is a place you have to experience firsthand to truly appreciate. Once you do, you find that First known photograph of the South Academy, 1850. underneath the modesty of this community is a legacy of unassuming leadership and history of making the future. Perhaps it was said best by a visitor who came to Potsdam in 1909 from a rival institution in Central New York (which shall remain nameless). He said: “My dear boy, you have got here the greatest school I have ever witnessed in my life. Are you aware of the spirit of this school? There is nothing like it to be found in the country. I would give anything if I only had the spirit of this school in my school. We haven’t anything like it, and I don’t think it can be duplicated anywhere else.” (Source: The Normal Magazine, XIII (July 1909), p. 23-24) Time ticks on and Potsdam pride still shines! We continue to celebrate a unique spirit that cannot be duplicated. So let’s take a moment to look at some of the diverse accomplishments of our past and yes, let’s allow ourselves to brag a little bit too.
A sense of place
Drawing of the Presbyterian church flanked by the North and South Academies.
Humble Beginnings
• Founded in 1816 as the St. Lawrence Academy, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges and is the oldest institution in the SUNY system. The first class consisted of 42 students in a one-story building with a vestibule and a bell. • Rev. Asa Brainerd was hired as preceptor in 1828. He became the first school principal in New York State to make a systematic attempt to classify teacher training separately from other courses. In 1835, the New York State Legislature designated St. Lawrence Academy as the teacher-training academy for the region. • Potsdam fought hard to be named one of four sites to join the brand new Normal School system, established in 1867. • In 1942, the state legislature named the campus the State Teachers College at Potsdam, and it began to offer its first bachelor’s degrees. Master’s degrees soon followed, in 1947. • In 1948, the College became part of the newly founded State University of New York system.
• The first school was held in the home of Benjamin Raymond before a separate academy was constructed on the west side of Union Street between Main and Elm Streets. • 1837: North and South Academy buildings were placed on the public square between Main and Elm Streets. • In 1867, the two academy buildings were demolished, and the new Potsdam Normal School was constructed. • 1868: The cornerstone for a bigger campus between Elm and Main Streets was laid. • 1917: A third building was reconstructed on top of the same site. Now, the Potsdam sandstone structure is known as “old” Snell Hall, and is used by Clarkson University to this day. • In the early 1950s, the Pierrepont Avenue campus began to take its shape. • Renowned American modern Cornerstones architect Edward Larabee Barnes, who developed the original campus master plan, made the library the focal point of the Academic Quad by placing it in the center of a quadrangle of academic buildings, and directly adjacent to the Student Union. Students, faculty and staff pitched in to carry books into the new facility upon the completion of the Frederick W. Crumb Memorial Libary in 1967.
Potsdam Normal School 1928 yearbook.
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Mission statement
The State University of New York at Potsdam prepares students to act as engaged global citizens and to lead lives enriched by critical thought, creativity, and discovery. As an inclusive scholarly community rooted in our historic role in providing exemplary teacher and music education and our leadership in the fine and performing arts, we are committed to the liberal arts and sciences as an academic foundation for all students. With an abiding sense of responsibility to our region and to the world beyond, SUNY Potsdam fosters an appreciation of and respect for the variety of human experience.
School mottos
“Perseverance is the key to success.” –Potsdam Normal School “Let each become all he is capable of being.” –Early SUNY years “A tradition of excellence”–The current College seal
Not just bricks and mortar: Leaders in their own time
1816 Course Offerings Reading and Writing: $2.50/quarter English Grammar, Ciphering and Mathematics: $3/quarter Dead Languages: $3.50/quarter Logic, Rhetoric, Composition, Philosophy, French: $4/quarter
Dr. Thomas B. Stowell
Room & Board: $2.50/week MacVicar 1869-1880: Malcom MacVicar was the first principal in the newly built Potsdam Normal School facilities documented in “Math Education At Its Best: on Main Street. He was an author, The Potsdam Model.” The Potsdam Model is teaching innovator and inventor of various “based on the premise that the study of pure devices to illustrate objectively the principles of mathematics can be undertaken successfully by arithmetic, geography and astronomy. a large number of students if they are provided with a supportive environment including: careMOREY 1869: Amelia Morey was hired by Dr. MacVic- ful and considerate teaching by a well-trained and dedicated faculty, continual encouragear and became a leader in teacher training ment, successful (student) role models, enough practices as “preceptress of the practice school.” success to develop self-esteem, enough time to develop intellectually, recognition of STOWELL their achievement, and the belief 1889-1909: Dr. Thomas B. Stowell that the study is a worthwhile served as principal of Potsdam Norendeavor.” mal. He was a well-known scientist and progressive administrator. Seismic Network Stowell was one of the first in higher Founded by Professor Emeritus education to view student life as an of Geology Frank Revetta integral part of the educational pro(Hon. 2005), the Potsdam cess and recognized the force of the Seismic Network is the largest teacher’s personality on the lives and network of its kind in Northambitions of students. He advocated ern New York, encompassing for new programs in the sciences, eight seismograph stations. vocational training and physical Established in 1970, the network education in the public schools. provides hands-on educational opportunities for SUNY Potsdam HOSMER students and valuable information for interna1936: under the direction of Helen M. tional seismic researchers. Hosmer, director of the Crane Department of Potsdam also is one of the first SUNY Music, a group of 18 college students spent campuses to have a planetarium in 1964. one semester in Germany, France and the British Isles on a music study tour. This was the Undergraduate Research first time a Normal School in the United States SUNY Potsdam is one of very few institutions had offered a semester abroad in Europe. where undergraduates can get hands-on experience using advanced scientific technology, The Potsdam Model which at other schools only graduate students “More than 50 years ago, I came to the conand faculty can utilize. The College’s Departclusion that every college student who desired ment of Chemistry was awarded $126,525 to learn mathematics could do so. I spent my from the National Science Foundation in entire professional life believing that this was 2009 to purchase the first isothermal titration the case.”—Clarence Stephens, June 20, 1997 calorimeter in the North Country, and was also “The Philosophy of Teaching Mathematics.” given $199,733 from the NSF to purchase a In 1969, Stephens left Geneseo to join the raman scattering microscope in 2010. mathematics faculty at SUNY Potsdam. He served as chairman of the mathematics depart50 Years of Anthropology ment from 1969 until his retirement in 1987. SUNY Potsdam recently celebrated 50 years During his tenure, the department became of teaching anthropology. Potsdam is the only nationally known as a model of teaching excellence in mathematics. For several of these years, SUNY campus to offer an undergraduate archaeology bachelor’s degree which requires the program was among the top producers of students to complete a field school, giving mathematics majors in the country. them real world hands-on experience in field The teaching techniques that Profesmethods and artifact analysis. SUNY Potsdam’s sor Stephens introduced at Potsdam were
Sketch of the first building of the St. Lawrence Academy
Department of Anthropology is one of very few to train students in all subfields, including cultural, physical, and applied anthropology, as well as linguistics and archaeology.
Personal Attention
In 2009, SUNY Potsdam became one of the first SUNY comprehensive colleges to move to a test-optional admissions policy. After extensive study, the College found that the best indicator of student success at Potsdam was strong performance in high school, not scores on standardized tests. After the policy was adopted, the selectivity of the College’s incoming first-year classes has actually increased, along with applications for admission.
Honoring Akwesasne
• We are the only SUNY campus to offer Mohawk language courses. • SUNY Potsdam ranked 20th in the nation for master’s degrees awarded to Native American students in 2003. • Largest percentage of Native American and Canadian students of any SUNY campus.
The Birthplace of American Music Education
Music first appeared in the St. Lawrence Academy curriculum in 1831. But a graduate took this to a new level when she created the first curriculum designed to prepare public school music teachers in the United States. In 1884, Julia Ettie Crane was appointed head of the Potsdam Normal School music department and with her tremendous leadership and insight, she founded the first normal training course for public school music teachers in the United States. Named for its founder, The Crane School of Music was founded in 1886. Current estimates indicate that nearly half of all music teachers in New York State are Crane w w w.potsdam.edu/people
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graduates, and music graduates can be found teaching in nearly every state in the country.
1980 Winter Olympics The Crane School provided a 600-member Olympic Chorus and Orchestra, a 50-member wind ensemble and three Olympic bands of 50 each, for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid. Then a Crane student, Renée Fleming (now a world-famous soprano) was selected to perform a solo along with the Crane Chorus at the Games.
Statue of Liberty ceremony
Statue of Liberty The Crane Chorus was invited to perform at the unveiling of the newly refurbished Statue of Liberty on July 3, 1986. President Ronald Reagan spoke at the ceremonies, which marked the 100th anniversary of the statue. Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center In 2012, the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra earned a standing ovation for their performance of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem under the baton of Ann Howard Jones in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.
A culture of creativity
“I had a feeling that real appreciation of the arts was going forward at the college. I think this is one of the most important things that can be done for our young people, and I was grateful for the opportunity to see what they were accomplishing.”—First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about the College in her syndicated column, “My Day,” after her 1955 visit to the Potsdam State Teachers College Festival of the Arts.
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
#1 in Generosity
According to the Fiscal Year 2010 Voluntary Support of Education Report, SUNY Potsdam ranks No. 15 in the nation in alumni participation in giving for public master’s universities. Although Potsdam is one of the smallest comprehensive colleges within SUNY, among its 13 master’s-granting peers, SUNY Potsdam ranks: • #1 in the total amount given by alumni • #1 in the percentage of undergraduate alumni who give, and • #2 in total funds raised per student. Generous giving by alumni shows the great value they place on their education at SUNY Potsdam and the College’s important role in preparing them for success in life. • Potsdam’s first $1 million gift was for undergraduate research: The Kilmer Fund was established through a generous donation by an anonymous donor to honor Dr. Frederick Barnett Kilmer, a physician and analytical chemist, who was the Director of Scientific Affairs for the Johnson & Johnson company from 1889 to 1934.
The first in suny • The first theatre education program in SUNY. • The first creative writing Bachelor of Fine Arts program in SUNY. • According to the 2012 National Survey on Student Engagement, both SUNY Potsdam freshman and seniors reported significantly higher rates than peer institutions for: Attending an art exhibit, play, dance, music, theater or other performance.
tive campus celebration every year. For more information about this year’s schedule of events visit www.potsdam.edu/artsfestival
The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam The art museum is home to two remarkable collections of international distinction. The Japanese Collection contains the largest single number of Gutai artworks in the United States and is a time capsule of Japanese painting from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. The Gutai were a group of about 25 young abstract artists whose innovative artistic experiments defied previously held notions about art and painting. The Italian Collection is a one-of-a-kind mix of mid-20th Century paintings, sculptures and works on paper by a myriad of Italian artists from the postwar period. It is the only collection of its kind in the country. The collection provides a unique window into the Italian experience in the mid-20th Century. The museum offers unique access to oneof-a-kind exhibitions for North Country elementary and high school students through the ArtPartnership program.
The Best Dining Experience in SUNY
Best of SUNY SUNY Potsdam students are frequently chosen for the Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, and consistently earn the “Best of SUNY” scholarship and honorable mentions from the juried show each year. Lougheed Festival of the Arts Now in its second year, the Lougheed Festival of the Arts at SUNY Potsdam is set to blossom even more, now that Kathryn Kofoed Lougheed ’54 and her husband Donald (Hon. 2012) have made the largest outright gift to the College to support this unique and transforma-
Minerva
Minerva is Potsdam’s guardian angel and unofficial mascot. The graduating class of 1892 presented the campus with Minerva, who is the Roman goddess of wisdom, science and the arts. As the College grew, “Minnie” traveled from building to building. Now she resides in Frederick W. Crumb Memorial Library, at Minerva’s Café. An exact replica, better suited to Potsdam weather, oversees Minerva Plaza. While many Normal Schools had similar statues donated by a graduating class, Minerva is one of only three surviving statues in the state.
In the most recent SUNY Student Opinion Survey, SUNY Potsdam was ranked the highest among comprehensive colleges for food service on campus. Kudos to PACES for taking first place for dining services, with their dedication to local, sustainable produce, quality and variety.
Delivering for Students
National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE) In this national survey, which surveys both first-year students and seniors, SUNY Potsdam compares favorably in multiple categories both to its peer groups of mideast public institutions and to the NSSE data overall. In particular, the College scored significantly higher
Minerva
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Dr. Patience Haggard
ALL STEINWAY INSTITUTION The Crane School of Music has made the largest piano order in Steinway & Sons history—twice! In 1955, Crane purchased 125 Steinway grand and upright pianos for the historic order, and in 2007, the College purchased 141 pianos, the most the company had ever received an order for once again. Crane is the only All-Steinway School within the State University of New York system.
EXPRESSION IN THE ARTS Dr. Patience Haggard was appointed to the staff in 1930 as professor and dean of women. Haggard, along with Helen Hosmer, was instrumental in organizing the “Expression in the Arts” course, with its emphasis on humanities and the interrelationship of the arts. This was initiated in 1947 and involved faculty members in art, music and English.
SUNY Student Opinion Survey In this survey of SUNY Potsdam students, we are also ranked highly among our comprehensive college peers for the following categories: • #1 for availability of courses in students’ majors • #1 for discussions, meetings or conversations with instructors outside of class
• #1 for developing a mentoring relationship with a faculty/staff member • #1 for developing skills in speaking clearly and effectively • #2 for engagement in research or other creative projects under the guidance of a faculty member • #2 for collaborating with other students on class assignments • #2 for developing an understanding of self • #3 for parking • #3 for athletic/recreational facilities • #3 for course registration processes • #3 for academic advising
Athletics:
SUNY Potsdam was a founding member of SUNYAC in 1958. Hockey Potsdam Normal was one of the first universities in the country, and one of the only colleges in the state, to have a women’s ice hockey team, which began in the 1920s and continues today. Basketball in our blood The Potsdam Normal School employed a true pioneer of the game of basketball—Ernest Blood, known as basketball’s first great coach,
With its rich history as a liberal arts and sciences institution, SUNY Potsdam is home to scholars from across the disciplines. In recognition of this, the College will mark its triennial Academic Festival in Spring 2013, with the theme, “Making the Future.” As a celebration of academics on campus, the purpose of the festival is to introduce the community, students, faculty and staff to cutting-edge research and creative activity on topics of importance. All events are free and open to the public and many students will be granted permission to leave their classes to participate. The Academic Festival will feature lectures, panel discussions, workshops, seminars, displays and performances from April 10 to 13. The “Making the Future” festival will feature the following scholars as keynote speakers: Dr. John Warner, president and chief technology officer, Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, will present “Green Chemistry: New Eyes and New Ideas in Science,” on Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Warner is one of the two founders of green chemistry, which is transforming the field by making sustainability a central theme of modern chemistry. Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will speak about “Women Taking Power Seriously” on Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. Townsend is an attorney and writer, and she helps to raise funds for the Democratic Party. She is the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and niece of John F. Kennedy.
who was an associate of James Naismith, who invented the game. Blood coached at the College from 1906 to 1915, posting a 72-2 record. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960, a year after it opened. • Led by Coach Jerry Welsh, in 1981, SUNY Potsdam became the first SUNY school to win an NCAA Championship in Division III men’s basketball. • In 1986, SUNY Potsdam became the first undefeated NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship with a record of 32-0. The following year, the team won its first 28 games, extending the winning streak to 60 games, a Division III record and second only to John Wooden’s UCLA team’s record of 88 games. • SUNY Potsdam is the only SUNY school to have won an NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship. Ernest Blood
statistically than our peers for: • Student/faculty interaction, with seniors giving high marks for their quality of relationships both with faculty members and with administrative personnel and offices. • An institutional environment which provides the support students need to succeed academically. • Talking about career plans with faculty members or advisors. • Discussing ideas from readings or classes with faculty outside of class. • Receiving prompt written or oral feedback from professors on academic performance. • At the end of the day, when they asked seniors if they could do it all over again if they would come to SUNY Potsdam, 87 percent responded positively, higher than the mid-east public, the Carnegie class and the NSSE 2012 data overall.
Festival topics include: Science • The discovery of the Higgs boson, or ‘God particle’ • NASA’s black hole finder mission • Studying bugs to make futuristic swarms of robots • Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity • The future of archaeology Arts and media • The leading edge of Latin and global music • Radio in the digital age Education • Bringing Facebook and Skype into the classroom • Case study: Application of arts-based education • Teaching writing in the 21st Century Sustainability • Individual impact and climate change • Youth activism and the environment • “A Fierce Green Fire” film Human rights: • Antiracism activism • Empowerment of women • Translation as a human rights tool • Legacy of blue collar women For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/specialprograms/campusfestival
Rendering of the new arts building.
We have so much to celebrate at
ReunionWeekend 2013 JULY 11–14 Check in
Raymond Hall Lobby adjacent to Becky’s Place in Pratt Commons Thursday 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Men’s Wrestling Team’s 50th Anniversary of 1st Season, 40th of SUNYAC 1972-73 Championship The men’s wrestling team will be returning to campus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first season along with the 40th anniversary of their 1972-73 SUNYAC Championship. Come back to campus to celebrate this historical milestone! Saturday, July 13 11:30 a.m. – Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon 2:30 p.m. – Combined Men’s Wrestling Team & Swim Team Reception – A photo of all wrestlers will be taken at the “Bear” statue after the reception. 5 p.m. – Reception and Class Dinner, with reserved seating at dinner
Omega Delta Phi’s Alumni Association’s 30th Anniversary Join the sisters of Omega Delta Phi in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their alumni association. Saturday, July 13 10 a.m. – Annual Meeting Noon – Greek Alumni Informal Lunch at Becky’s Place on campus 4:30 p.m. – Unity Hour 5 p.m. – Dinner at the Lobster House For updates and additional events visit: www.odpalumni.com
General Education Program’s 25th Anniversary
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Prometheus Fraternity’s 45th Anniversary Registration is through the College’s Alumni Relations Office. On campus housing is available. For updates and additional events visit: www.prometheusnetwork.com Friday, July 12 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Service Project 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Revitalization 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Prometheus Brothers Dinner on campus 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. – Prometheus Evening at Hurley’s Nightclub Saturday, July 13 9 a.m. – Breakfast 10:30 a.m. – Business Meeting Noon – Greek Alumni Informal Lunch – Join your fraternity brothers & sorority sisters at on campus for lunch and a visit. 5 p.m. – Gala Reception and Silent Auction 6 p.m. – Prometheus Tables at the Reunion Weekend Class Dinner or dinner on your own Sunday, July 14 9:30 a.m. – Memorial Service
Phi Kappa Pi Celebrating 107 years of Sisterhood Join the sisters of Phi Kappa Pi who are celebrating 107 years of sisterhood and hope to have 107 sisters attend Reunion Weekend 2013. Activities will begin on Friday night, July 12th, and continue throughout the weekend. Contact Charlotte Wolcott ’87 at budsfavorite@gmail. com for details.
Crane Youth Music’s (CYM) 40th Anniversary
Thursday, July 11 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Concert and Post Concert Reception Friday, July 12 11 a.m. – Noon – Tour of The Crane School of Music Noon – Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Lunch with the 2013 Campers and Counselors 7 p.m. – Crane Youth Music (CYM) Concert – Featuring: Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Treble Choir, Men’s Ensemble and Chamber Choir 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. – Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Reception Saturday, July 13 10 a.m. – Crane Youth Music (CYM) Piano & Harp Recital 11 a.m. – Noon – Tour of The Crane School of Music 8:15 p.m. – The Crane School of Music Concert Sunday, July 14 10 a.m. – Crane Youth Music (CYM) 40th Anniversary Brunch – with a tribute to its founding director Dr. Roy Schaberg
Men’s Swim Team’s 30th Anniversary of the SUNYAC 1982 & 1983 Championship Teams Gather with alumni and friends of the Men’s swim team as they return to campus in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their SUNYAC 1982 & 1983 Championship Teams. Saturday, July 13 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Alumni Swim Meet – Alumni from the men’s and women’s Potsdam swim teams are invited to a special swim meet at the Maxcy Pool in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Men’s
Swim Team 1982 & 1983 SUNYAC Championships. 11:30 a.m. – Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon – Celebrate the careers of the 2013 Hall of Fame Class. 2:30 p.m. – Combined Men’s Wrestling Team & Swim Team Reception
Louise Tyo’s 10th Anniversary with the Summer Orientation Leader Program To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Louise Tyo coordinating the New Student Orientation program and to take a trip down memory lane, Louise would like to extend a special invitation to ALL former Orientation Leaders to attend Reunion Weekend 2013. Plan to come and recall all the fun-filled summers we’ve shared over the years. Friday, July 12 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Orientation Leader Alumni Reception 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. – BBQ Picnic & Ice Cream Social – special seating for OL alumni Saturday, July 13 5 p.m. – Reception and Silent Auction 6 p.m. – Dinner with Awards Presentation immediately following
turn to page 26 for the complete
schedule of events
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notes Philip Klein ’51 appeared on WCNY TV, Syracuse, on the “Jim Reith Show.” Norma Jean Lamb ’51 and Marion Donnelly ’50 spent a happy weekend reconnecting with old friend Terry (Gardner) Paulson ’50. Laura (Lillian) Palka, Sr. ’51 was thrilled to attend last spring’s Lincoln Center performance of Verdi’s Requiem by the Crane Chorus and Orchestra.
On a very rainy weekend in September 2012, 12 ladies from Omega Delta Phi Sorority ran the Adirondack Ragnar Race from Saratoga Springs to Lake Placid, NY. This event is a relay race, with each member running three different legs (of four to nine miles each) over a 34-hour period. The total race was 193 miles, with some being very hilly, with stretches during the overnight hours. These 12 ladies proudly represented both the sorority and their respective colleges. The women embodied nearly three decades of sisterhood and fondly shared memories and experiences of college life in Potsdam. Team ‘Omega Kicks Asphalt’ consisted of: Jen Karon ’04 & ’05, Kathy Meissner Hickey (Clarkson ’86), Nicole Dedes Eisenbach ’96, Meagan Gustafson Wilcox ’99, Stacey Carrara Friends ’88, Karyn Blake (Clarkson ’08), Paula Allen Braunschweig (Clarkson ’90), Kelly Mix Mayne (Clarkson ’99), Krystal Pomerville (Clarkson ’10), Melissa Muhlenbruch Fields (Clarkson ’84-’85), Jennifer Powers and Cindi Cole Shear. Not only does the spirit of Omega live on, but also the experiences and friendships that were built during those precious college years. What an unforgettable experience!
1940s After the passing of his wife in March, Leonard Lambert ’40 moved to Wallkill, NY, with his daughter, Jeannine Lambert Sylcox ’66, and her husband.
1950s Patricia (Plumb) Bretscher ’51 was forced from her Amityville, NY, home by Hurricane Sandy and took refuge with one of her daughters, who did have electricity. Former U.S. Consul William Colwell ’51, a long-time Virginia resident, retired to his family’s Mannsville, NY, home, where his Spanishborn wife, Luz, experienced her first North Country winter.
Fay (Guhring) Davis ’51 is very busy as a member of the German Flatts township (Ilion) board, as well as the board of the historic Mohawk Homestead.
Joyce (Merrick) Howitt ’51 and her husband, Wylan, have moved from Massena to Canton, NY.
Winifred (Toelke) Peer ’51 had a wonderful summer stay at the Otter Lake camp of classmate Ann Maggi Pacilio ’51. Shirley (Fisher) Pool ’51 happily traveled from Texas to Batavia, NY, to attend her 65th high school reunion last summer. Mary Lou (Crane) Dedlak ’51 is an active member of the Blue Star Mothers, who have family serving in the military. Nina Tepedino ’54 published her first children’s book, “If You Lived in Sam’s Neck,” and is currently working on an early childhood music book/CD, “Never Too Tired for Singing.”
Alice Jayne Hance ’56 retired from teaching vocal music for grades K-12 at Edwards-Knox Central School in 1998, but continues to substitute teach. She is also on the Russell Library Board in Russell, NY. Clifton Park, NY, resident Bill Rice ’58 is semi-retired from the Daily Gazette, where he was previously a classical music writer and continues to write a seasonal ski report for the newspaper.
1960s Since retiring, Barbara (Erickson) Dannenberg ’62 and her husband have visited all seven continents and continue to attend New York Philharmonic concerts at Carnegie Hall and Westchester Philharmonic concerts at SUNY Purchase. Nancy (Wyss) Gahtan ’62 is an accredited master flower show judge and accredited landscape design consultant. She serves on the executive board of the Garden Club of New Jersey, as judges’ credentials chair. She spends the winter months in Arizona, and has exhibited floral design in the Phoenix Art Museum.
Norma (Vescovi) Disinger ’51 played hostess to Norma Jean Lamb ’51 for an overnight visit in October. Mildred (Davey) Eldridge ’51 is active in the Potsdamarea Antiques Study Group, which she helped found 50 years ago. She also enjoys taking SOAR classes. Barbara (Butler) Herne ’51 was happy to perform Verdi’s Requiem in December, with the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Leslie (Goff) Hosley’s ’51 daughter, Anne, performed the robotic surgery which replaced her mother’s right knee last summer. Leslie was back at the bowling alley in two months.
Join the BFR – it’s the easiest gift you will ever make! It’s simple to do. Just name the Potsdam College Foundation as beneficiary in your will, trust, IRA, life insurance or other asset. For more information visit the College’s estate and gift planning website at
www.potsdam.edu/advance/giftplan or contact Jason Ladouceur ’94, director of gift planning, directly at (315) 267-2123 or giftplan@potsdam.edu As you plan your future, invest in Potsdam’s
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In 1996, William Martin ’62 retired as director of music and art for the Hauppauge School District. He enjoyed being an adjunct professor at Dowling College from 1998 to 2010. Carolyn (Marlow) Masucci ’62 stated that Reunion Weekend 2012 “was a wonderful experience. First class!” In February 2012, Arlene Sturm ’62 visited Cambodia and Vietnam. During the 2012 Reunion Weekend she was very pleased to see the growth of The Crane School of Music.
HAMMILL
Martha Trembley Hammill ’63 was selected as the first recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award, for her outstanding contributions to the Oswego County community. She and her husband, Terry Hammill ’63, have two sons and four grandchildren. Martha was an integral part of Terry’s campaign for mayor of the City of Oswego and assumed the many responsibilities of first lady of Oswego for eight years. Dr. Elaine (Minsky) Hyams ’65 of Maine Maritime Academy was selected to receive her second Fulbright Award as a senior specialist in the Fulbright Specialist Program. She is a full professor in the graduate and undergraduate programs and the director of Caribbean/Central American outreach for Maine Maritime’s Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics.
Arthur “Scott” McRobbie ’65 and Carol (Bodman) McRobbie ’73 are both retired and living in their riverside home in Colton, NY. Their three children all made it home for Scott’s 70th birthday in June. The couple is 18
traveling a bit more, usually to visit their children and to catch some sun in the winter. Margaret “Peg” Smallwood Inglis ’66 taught music for 29 years in Penfield, Newark and Dundee, NY, and was the director of education at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum for eight years. After nearly three decades, Inglis has retired from directing her church choir. Charlotte Mattice Lynch ’66 retired from NorwoodNorfolk Central School and has four grandchildren (three girls and one boy). The oldest is almost 18 years old and the youngest is six months old. Diane Tarbell ’67 is currently a resident of Sunnyside Care Center near Syracuse, NY, and would welcome any news from her classmates. Ronald Hebert ’68 is the orchestra coordinator for major organization evaluations for NYSSMA, and guest conducts for many Area All-State and All-County Festivals. He conducted the Area 9 Orchestra in Texas in November, the Onondaga County Junior High Orchestra in January and the Suffolk County Division III Orchestra in March. Marilyn Klerx-Hardie ’68 loves being retired and arranging music for herself and her daughter, singer/songwriter Margo Klerx. They have recently performed two concerts in Sandwich and West Yarmouth in Cape Cod, MA. After 34 years, Bob Robinson ’68 moved from Sacramento to the Irvine/ Newport Beach area, where three of his five children reside. He’s still doing hotel sales development throughout the U.S. Retired Carthage High School teacher Richard “Dick” Staab ’68 is an active deacon in the Roman Catholic church in Carthage,
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
Camp Sisson, friends and family of Sisson Hall 1973-74, came together for the 13th year on Isle au Haut, Maine at the summer cottage of Mat (Leo) Hastings ’74. The most wonderful event was the engagement of John Fortune Agan to Kimberly Lunde at the peak of Duck Harbor Mountain. “We ate lobsters, blueberries and anything not nailed to the floor. We played cards and games. We toasted absent friends and present company. We retold (for the 500th time) stories and showed slides of our Camp Sisson time that still amaze the petites. We chartered a boat and went to see the puffins. We went to church, swam and hiked. We ate too many Black Dinah Chocolates. We sang, we danced and we ate. We laughed until we cried. We had a week of paradise seven miles out to sea. No phone, no Internet, no television; but we did have a Cuisinart and a dishwasher.” 1st row: Sally Davis, Larinda Meade ’73, Molly Hartman; 2nd row: Liza Ambrosoini, Walter Cogswell ’75, Emily Cogswell, Linda Jones, Doreen Hodgkins, Aileen Fortune, Kim Lunde; 3rd Row: Joe Ambrosini ’75, Mat (Leo) Hastings ’74, Joanne Cogswell, Ryan Cogswell, Jerry Newberry, Sarah Hartman, Jon Hartman ’74, David Agan, John Fortune Agan. Absent Friends: Donna Leadley Milazzo ’74, Jeff Burkhart ’76, Mary Murray, Fran Dombeck Ambrosini ’75, Josie Ambrosini, Mike “Moose” Hartman, Julianna Cogswell, Andy Jones, Clare “Cupcake” Fortune-Agan, Eileen Milazzo and Kevin Milazzo. NY, where he has served since 1990. Michael Wicks ’68 has been playing bass in the pit orchestra in Schenectady, NY, for several traveling Broadway shows, including “Wicked,” “Legally Blonde,” “Mary Poppins” and “South Pacific.”
1970s Helen Miller Dick ’70 is a Zumba fitness instructor licensed in Zumba toning. In September, Gerald Ghidiu ’70 retired from Rutgers University as a professor in the entomology department, after 33 years.
’63
Lucille
Waterson
“This summer I will be celebrating my 50th Reunion as a Potsdam graduate. I am grateful for all my Potsdam education has made possible. As a high school teacher and later as a professor at SUNY Potsdam, I know full well the impact of education. It seemed natural to include the College as a beneficiary in my will. My deferred gift will support the School of Education for the education and training of future teachers.” I hope you will join me and consider how you can make your own meaningful gift to Potsdam. For more information on how to include Potsdam in your estate plans or for more information, visit the College’s free estate planning website at
www.potsdam.edu/advance/giftplan or contact Jason Ladouceur ’94, director of planned giving, at (315) 267-2123 or
giftplan@potsdam.edu.
notes
Ralph Hastings ’70 and Sharon Smith ’63 presented a musical program, “Meet the Composer,” at the United Methodist Church of Lyons, NY, in the fall. Ralph’s organ and vocal works were showcased together with instrumental selections by various composers, performers and genres. Walter ’70 and Carol Bongo Kissam ’71 would like to express well wishes to classmates, faculty and staff they remember from their undergraduate years. They are enjoying retirement and continue to keep active and involved.
NY, on Keuka Lake. “We are enjoying retirement and being back near our families and we’re looking forward to seeing friends at the Todd Hobin and Double Axel event” (held in September 2012). Marcia Levey Bandas ’73 retired from IBM after 34 years, and is loving it. “It’s amazing how excited people in non-profits get when they hear that someone is retired and available to help!”
Help Your Cause Today!
Fulmer
Retired music teacher Marjorie Rice Fulmer ’73 has been part of the Genesee Symphony After four years, Darlind Orchestra Jo Davis ’71 retired from for 25 directing a local substance Your Online Shopping & Searching Into Donations seasons abuse prevention coalition in December. She plans to for the Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. and is the principal flute player. She golf, garden and write for the and her husband, Jim, reside local paper. in Le Roy, NY, and have three ma: Just Shop or Search Online! children. Timothy ’73 and Sally (Alof the first and largest online’73 network exander) Acomb retired of shoppers, online stores, Barry Kolmanand ’73, professor y causes dedicated turning everyday online shopping in Marchto 2010 and moved of music at Washington back to the USA from Kuwait. nto much-needed donations. and Lee University, has They resettled in Dundee, published his first book. bership. Great Deals. “The Language of Music Revealed:deals A Real Easy s totally free. Plus, you get access to free shipping and ex-Way for ANYONE to Learn to Read shopping pons, on top ofWhile the great deals you’ll find every day through the and Write Music” teaches online, you can also 1,000+ stores. the fundamentals of music be donating to the theory, and publishers are ore Than 1,000 Top-Notch Online Stores, and Maybe Save on Potsdam College already interested in a secToo. ond volume, “The Origins of Foundation. American Wind Music.”
includes: Amazon.com, Pottery Barn, REI, Staples, Petco, Expedia, at Best www. QVC and many,Sign many in more. of all, up to 25%’73 (most 2-8%) Peter andare Susan Lass chase at each iGive.com, store is donated to your favorite worthy name Mahigian ’75cause… are retired living Phoenix, AZ, n even change Potsdam your cause College if you would like.and Many of in these contriwhich has turned out to be a uld even be considered tax-deductible*. Foundation as your beautiful thing. “Going from
a half-hour drive in Upstate of choice nny Per Searchcharity at www.iGive.com! New York, to being five minand every purchase from everything ise money every time you search the web?utes Try away iGive’s search enmake for through njoy free, easyyou fundraising a good cause.we need is wonderful. Let us know where you are in the the portal will area and we’ll have a great & get a $5 Bonus Donation! garner gifts for the visit!” To College. Start, Go To:
Bill Lilley’s ’74 article, “New York’s Gaslight Era and Its .iGive.com/PotsdamCollegeFoundationInc There is no cost to you! Legacy,” was published in the Fall 2012 issue of New York Archives. Bill is principal investigator at Eco Investigations, Inc., an environmental services company based in Pulaski, NY.
ons made to IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations may be considered taxort details, visit: http://www.iGive.com/html/taxdeduct.cft
Lynn Black ’75 retired from the Franklin County Department of Social Services in November 2010. John Danis ’75 taught instrumental music at Hermon-DeKalb Central School for 33 years and enjoys playing classical, jazz, rock, folk, bluegrass and country music at various functions and venues both individually and with his band Stringfolks. Jim Gower ’75 is the director of music at First Church in New Britain, CT, and is on the music faculty of Central Connecticut State University. He is in his 24th season as a member of Connecticut Choral Artists, an all-professional choir. Gower is also program chair for the American Guild of Organists’ Region I and II Convention, which will take place in Hartford in July. Schuyler (Skip) Rhodes ’75 is beginning his 13th year as the senior pastor at Temple United Methodist Church in San Francisco, CA, where he lives with his wife, Lisa, and their twins Emma and Aaron, who are off to college this fall. Rhodes is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry degree at Drew Theological School and in June was the recipient of the Melvin G. Talbert Award for Racial Justice from the California Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Debra (Catlin) Copeletti ’76 retired from Pfizer, Inc. this year, and her husband, Peter, retired from the Newburgh School District in 2011. They are enjoying retirement in Saratoga, NY, while also keeping a home in Newburgh. Debra continues to teach group fitness at Gold’s Gym in Newburgh. In 2009, Nancy Hays Pooley ’76 retired after more than 32 years of music education with Fulton City Schools. She and her husband, Bryce, are enjoying their two beautiful granddaughters, Cadence and Kaelyn and are very
In November, more than 300 scholarship recipients and their families attended the annual Scholarship Donors Luncheon to say thank you to their generous donors. Alumni Association President Jeff Washburn ’79 (pictured, right) joined recipients of the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Scholarship. Pictured are Justin Green (son of Vincent Green ’91), Carissa Cuccia (daughter of Trina Closs Cuccia ’89), Nicholas Sundberg (son of Eugene Sundberg ’78) and Molly Gray (daughter of Rob Gray ’87). proud of their parents, Kevin and Alisia Pooley, as well as their son Derek Pooley ’09. After 36 years, Katherine Flanagan Ring ’76 retired from Indian River Central School in Philadelphia, NY, where she was teaching high school math and was an advisor to the National Honor Society. Donna Scocco Mazzeo ’77 has retired from a very successful and satisfying career as a chief health planner with the NYS Department of Health. She and her family have relocated to Florida and are enjoying this new chapter of their lives. Stephen Squires ’77 is the principal conductor and a professor of conducting in the Music Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Art at Roosevelt University. At CCPA, he conducts the symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and wind ensemble. After approximately 33 years in education, Lura Sharp Elementary Principal Cathie Adams ’78 retired. Decorated folk singer/songwriter Robin Dow Hopper ’78 is a classroom music teacher in the Anchorage School District and is an
adjunct faculty member at the University of Alaska in the music education department. This year marks her 35th year of teaching music education and she has recorded five CDs, with a sixth on the way. James Rozzi ’78 and his wife both retired from 30 years in education in May 2011. They are enjoying the slower pace, more travel and further dedication to their businesses of running a 10-piece jazz band in Atlanta, and creating wheelthrown pottery. Peter Malinverni ’79 was named director of jazz studies at the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music. Formerly on the jazz studies faculties of New York University and William Paterson University, Malinverni brings his own years of experience from stage and studio to the job. Malinverni
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Michael Rosenberg ’79 recently retired after 20 years at PepsiCo, Inc., and is now the director of risk management at the University of Kansas.
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notes She has worked for the village for 21 years. Sharon Burns Fusco ’88 has been teaching in the Pennridge School District for the past eight years. She was chosen to have her biology classes pilot the new Pennsylvania state standards’ project-based assessment, which is provided for students who do not pass the assessment after two attempts.
Guy “Chip” Lamson ’81, Jon Hunkins ’97 and Tim Savage ’84 are members of The Debt, an eight-piece band whose members take time off from other playing commitments to forge a powerful ensemble playing a broad range of music. Karen (Lorenz) Walker ’82 has relocated back to Dallas, TX, after spending nine years in Atlanta, GA. She and her husband, Lewis, are empty nesters. They have three Bernese Mountain Dogs to keep them busy and enjoy playing tennis. Lisa Hadcock Wood ’82 moved to Virginia Beach to be closer to her children. Lisa Coutu ’83 ran her first 5K race at age 50. Paul Buell ’84 is a member of The Riverside Brass Quintet, which includes Crane School of Music faculty member Peter McCoy and faculty member emeritus John Schorge. Lois Little ’84 hopes to make a career move at the end of the 2012-13 school 20
year, as she will have completed her Master of Science in Education degree. She would like to pursue professional development and hopes to relocate out of Northern New Hampshire. Dan Mosher ’84 taught music for 33 years and retired in June 2012 from Carthage Central School. He is the immediate past president of the New York State School Music Association, and was a member of the New York State Band Directors Organization, a conductor of the Jefferson Community College Band and a member of the Elks Club. Mosher enjoys winemaking and long-arm quilting. He and his wife, Sandy, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in August 2012. Roland Neiss ’84 recently retired from the U.S. Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State. His overseas service included postings in Madagascar, Eritrea, Tanzania, the Bahamas, Iraq and Pakistan. He also retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in 2009. Alan Reno ’84 was a civilian photographer for the U.S. Army from 1985 to 2007.
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
Chris Jensen ’85 published his first book, entitled “Baseball State by State: Major League and Negro League Players, Ballparks, Museums and Historical Sites.” Recently featured in Drumhead magazine, Rich Mangicaro ’85 is an in-demand drummer/percussionist, author, musical consultant and educator and has had an illustrious career with Paiste as head of artist relations for 19 years. He currently directs his own company brand, www.artistrelationships.com, where he proudly manages A&R for Gon Bops Percussion and Innovative Percussion.
Chris Tonjes ’86 was hired by the mayor of Baltimore as the new chief technology officer. He was previously the chief information officer for the District of Columbia Public Library in Washington, DC. The Massena Village Board of Trustees appointed Julie Sharlow ’87, the Department of Public Works senior account clerk, as treasurer.
McMahon
1980s
Mangicaro
LAND
Vice President, Engineering and Chief Information Technology Officer at the Lockheed Martin Corporation Haden Land ’84 (fourth from left) was named a 2012 Top 10 Breakaway Leader, one of the most significant awards programs across the global enterprise CIO community. The prestigious program celebrates world-class IT leaders and their organizations and honors CIOs whose leadership elevates their people, partners and business.
Kevin McMahon ’88, a Trinity College political science professor since 2005, is the author of two critically acclaimed books on presidents and their relationships to the Supreme Court. His first book, “Reconsidering Roosevelt on Race: How the Presidency Paved the Road to Brown,” came out in 2004, and last year, he published a book on Richard Nixon, called “Nixon’s Court: His Challenge to Judicial Liberalism and its Political Consequences.” He is also the co-author/ editor of three books on the presidency and presidential elections and several book chapters and journal articles. He previously taught for two years in Russia with the Civic Education Project. He also taught at SUNY Fredonia, where he was honored with the Hagan “Young” Scholar Award. In 2006, he was a Fulbright Distinguished Research Chair at the University of Montreal. Dale Strong ’88 is a physics teacher in the Germantown Central School District. He would love to hear from all
who remember him. George Hurlburt ’89 was one of two professors named the 2012 winners of Corning Community College Regional Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching. A mathematics professor, Hurlburt joined the college in 2000 and received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service in 2011. James “Jay” Posteraro ’89 just finished his 18th year as director of bands at Mesa Verde Middle School in San Diego, CA. He had the pleasure of having his daughter, Rachel, in band with him for three years. Posteraro is still doing a great deal of trumpet playing throughout San Diego, most notably with his group Select Brass, and Orchestra Nova, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.
1990s Joseph Seeber ’90 was hired by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice as superintendent of Falkenburg Correctional InstituteMental Health. In May, Stephen Tyksinski ’90 was hired as senior environmental engineer at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors in Moorestown, NJ. Paul Geer ’91 conducted the world premiere of “The Christmas Rose” at Carnegie Hall in Nov. 2012. The program, hosted by actress Jane Seymour, included the American Boychoir and a mass choir composed of high school students.
Plan for tomorrow today. Free to you, Potsdam’s estate and gift planning website can help you navigate your future.
www.potsdam.edu/advance/giftplan As you plan your future, invest in Potsdam’s
notes
Kristie Farr Fuller ’92 is the theater manager and theater teacher at Indian River Central School. She is currently working with Michelle Smiley Maphey ’92, an American Sign Language interpreter and director of the Watertown, NY, based Aldebaran Interpreting Service, on the
Deadline for class notes submissions for the Fall 2013 issue is: May 20, 2013 Submit to: alumni@potsdam.edu
Justin Sipher ’92 was appointed vice president for libraries and information technology at St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY. He currently serves on the board of directors for NYSERNet and the Microsoft Higher Education Advisory Group. In 2011, Sipher was named a Frye Leadership Institute Fellow.
Cheryl Steckly ’92, who has been the Lowville Elementary School principal since 2007, was appointed interim superintendent of the district. She has also been director of the district’s students with disabilities program since 2006. She and her husband, Edward, live in the Croghan area. Musician First Class Charles Birkby, Jr. ’93 transferred to the U.S. Navy Band in New Orleans, LA, in July 2012. He serves as a trumpet instrumentalist and band operations supervisor. Roger Clough ’93, who has been with the Massena Central School District since 1995, has been an administrator since 2002. He served as a teacher, fol-
Ilissa Miller ’93 launched her own agency, iMiller Public Relations, in November 2011, where she serves as chief executive officer. She has worked in the telecommunications industry for 16 years, during which time she has launched companies, messaged new business models and has extensive experience in international business development. Miller resides in Rye Neck, NY, with her husband and son. Christopher Still ’93 joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007. He has performed with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Portland Symphony, Boston Philharmonic and can be heard on recordings with the Los Angeles, Grant Park and Dallas orchestras, among others. Amy Leonard Sipher ’94 was honored at the combined Jefferson Community College Alumni
Rebecca Petruck ’95, represented by KT Literacy, had her first novel, “A Weird Kind of Normal,” published by Abrams/ Amulet.
Thomas “Tucker” Biddlecombe ’98 was recently appointed associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Vanderbilt University. He received his Ph.D. in music education from Florida State University in 2012. His wife, Mary (LaCasse) Biddlecombe ’99, will serve as director of the Blair Children’s Chorus at Vanderbilt. They now make their home in Nashville, TN.
Scott Rizzo ’95 is a new Reading Memorial High School faculty member, bringing a great deal of experience as well as energy and enthusiasm to the mathematics department. David Clarence Scott ’95 was one of 30 people honored at the annual Black Achievers in Industry Awards Dinner, held to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions in career and community endeavors. Scott earned a master’s degree in human resources development, and is the diversity program manager at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Thomas Higginbotham ’96 is the new principal of Newmarket Elementary School in New Hampshire, where he resides with his wife and three daughters. Thomas Morrison ’97 was promoted to master instructor level in the art of Taekwondo by Grandmaster John Pellegrini of the Independent Taekwondo Association in September 2012.
2000s George Sheehan ’01 retired from the U.S. Army in 1985 after 23 years, having served as a military police officer and a special agent in the Army Criminal Investigation Command. Following his military retirement, he was a chief in the nuclear security department at two Nine Mile Point plants. Sheehan has taught at the middle and high school levels, as well as at Jefferson Community College. (photo credit Watertown Daily Times) SHEEHAN
Literary agent for the Knight Agency Lucienne Diver-Wheeler ’92 is the author of the “Vamped” series of young adult novels for Flux Books, and the “Latter-Day Olympians” series of fantasy novels for Samhain Publishing.
Andrew Bentley ’98 obtained his Ph.D. in conservational social sciences from the University of Idaho in May 2012. He and his wife reside in Vermont, where he teaches at Green Mountain College in the Outdoor Adventure Program.
Higginbotham
James Cruikshank ’92, a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, has served the North Country as a member of the board of directors for the New York State Middle School Association. He is principal of A. A. Kingston Middle School at Potsdam Central School, which is a re-designated School to Watch.
Indian River school play, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
SIPHER
Alexander Herzog ’91 has been the associate vice chancellor for student services at Utah State University since 2008. He has taken several backpacking trips throughout the Southwest and has climbed hundreds of mountains.
Joshua Dickinson ’93, the grandson of late Alumni Association President and Minerva Award recipient Kenneth Campbell ’40, was awarded the 2012 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. He and his wife, Nicole Sacco Dickinson ’00, an elementary school teacher, reside in Harrisville, NY, with their three children.
Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in August 2012, at the Watertown Elks Lodge, for her achievements in women’s basketball. In 2007, she was also inducted into the SUNY Potsdam and Gouverneur High School Athletic Halls of Fame.
petruck
Do you have a funny or significant story to share about your time at Potsdam? What is it about your Potsdam experience that made it memorable or special? E-mail us at alumni@potsdam.edu.
MILLER
Tell us your story!
lowed by stints as principal at the elementary and junior high schools and then was named superintendent in June 2009.
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Zachary Benson ’02 has been carving duck decoys since he was 13 years old because it combines his love of the arts and the outdoors. He was the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Oregon Waterfowl Festival and Best of Show at the Art Knapp Decoy Competition in Clayton, NY.
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After eight years as the business office manager, Katherine Fisher Allott ’03 was appointed executive director of the Massena Housing Authority by its board of commissioners. Prior to her work at the Housing Authority, Allott worked as a veterinary technician at the Potsdam Animal Hospital. Hannah Gruber Creviston ’03 is a visiting professor of piano pedagogy, coordinator of class piano and interim director of piano prep at Arizona State University. She and her husband, Christopher Creviston, recently released two CDs on the Albany Records label. Entitled “Snell Sessions” and “Columbia Sessions,” both albums are available on Amazon. Jerome Socolof ’03 graduated in August from Ohio State with a Ph.D. in art education. Angela Drumm ’05 became a licensed real estate agent in 2006 and received her associate broker license in 2007. She is currently employed at Century 21/ Dufrane Realty and resides in Massena, NY, with her husband and their two daughters. Amanda Javarone ’05 was one of 133 individuals to graduate as a New York State Trooper in 2012. Leah Schneider ’05 runs New Buffalo Productions with Christopher Wiegtig. She is playing the female lead in her company’s production of the play “The Last Five Years.” Schneider owns Main Stage Studios in East Aurora, NY, where she teaches private voice 22
lessons and is on the faculty of the Academy of Theatre Arts. Alex Aboussleman ’06 was one of 17 recruits who comprised the Durham County Sherriff’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy Class 34, an 18-week law enforcement training that he completed in October 2012. Aboussleman previously worked as a detention officer in the Durham County Jail. Clare Ennis ’06 accepted the head coaching position for the girls’ basketball team at Gulf High School in Florida. Brandon Mendelson ’06 published a book “Social Media is Bulls**t,” which is available in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, and will be displayed in all major Barnes & Noble stores. (photo credit Watertown Daily Times) Working musician and educator Eric DiVito ’07 made his recording debut with “Breaking the Ice.” The CD was co-produced by the New York City guitarist/composer and was released in October. Brendon Knight ’07 was hired as Syracuse University women’s ice hockey assistant coach. He joins the program after a six-year appointment as the head coach of the Hamilton College women’s ice hockey team. Mark LaFave ’07 was recently inducted into the St. Lawrence Central Hall of Fame for his talents in football and hockey. He is employed as a teacher in North Carolina, where he resides with his wife, Emily, and their new son, Kain. In August 2012, Colleen McAllister ’07 was named associate director for literacy initiatives at the Syracuse University Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service.
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
Cape Air Captain Kurt Thomas ’07, who has all the higher-level authorizations, including instrument flying and multi-engine ratings, commercial certification and airline transport pilot rating, is the owner and instructor of Potsdam Aero. He is certified as a flight instructor and since beginning teaching in 2006, Thomas has trained 36 pilots, including five just this past summer. Scott Schild ’07 and Rosanna “Annie” Higgins-Schild ’06 have relocated and are now living in Liverpool, NY. Matthew Durkin ’08 is a Ph.D. student in English at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Julie Menechian ’09 is currently teaching fourth grade in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Jonah Piali ’09 is an active chamber musician and accompanist performing regularly with solo voices, instruments and choirs. This fall, he will be attending the Conservatoire de Montréal to study vocal accompanying with vocal coach and pianist Olivier Godin. Piali enjoys working collaboratively with voices and hopes to make a career of teaching and performing. Melissa Tinklepaugh ’09 joined Penton Media as the associate digital content editor for www.supermarketnews.com in August 2012. Andrea Long ’09, a thirdyear student at Albany Law School, is the executive edi-
tor of the Center for Judicial Process. She is a senior editor on the Albany Law Review, served as project director of the Education Pro Bono Project and works year-round as a law clerk in the Office of General Counsel of New York State United Teachers. Long was both the winner and named best oral advocate of the 2011 Domenick L. Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Competition. She was also a legal intern in the law school’s Domestic Violence
Prosecution Hybrid Clinic for the Fall 2012 semester.
2010s Gena Griffiths ’10, a multimedia visual artist and arts educator, was selected as East End Arts’ artistGRIFFITHS
AKINS
Sheryl Boothe Akins ’03 recently published her first book of poetry, titled “Reasons for the Seasons of Change.” She resides in Port St. Lucie, FL, where she works as a high school English teacher.
Mendelson
class
President’s Club
members are leading by example! Thank you to those who have joined the President’s Club this year. You are, quite literally, changing lives at SUNY Potsdam and for that we are most grateful. The President’s Club is a distinctive giving society that recognizes alumni and friends who give $1,000 or more during the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). Learn more and/or join today by contacting the Annual Fund for Potsdam at (315) 267-3054 or by visiting www.potsdam.edu/giving.
class
notes
in-residence, during which time she gave art classes and workshops for children. She spent the past two years working as a teacher assistant in the Mattituck School District and resides in Cutchogue, NY.
HAYDEN
Amanda Hayden ’10 is the founding member of the Strawberry Hill Fiddlers, touring from New York to Minneapolis. She has been a guest artist with the Susquehanna String Band on several occasions and has participated in the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp for the past four years. Hayden teaches elementary music in the Union Springs School district and fiddling classes at Cayuga Community College. Former SUNY Potsdam Student Government Association President Leanne Merrill ’10 recently won a university-wide teaching award for first-year teachers from the University of Oregon. Hannah Nugent ’10 graduated summa cum laude in May 2012 from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in Spanish language literature and culture. She also received a certificate of advanced study in language teaching.
Johnston
BERRUS
Brittany Berrus ’11 was appointed as the SUNY Potsdam Bears swimming and diving assistant coach for the 201213 season. Jennifer (Robert) Johnston ’11 is the director of the Franklin County Histori-
cal and Museum Society’s House of History. Her goal as director is to get children involved in new projects with more hands-on experiences. Katie Beck ’12 attended a month-long vocal study program in August 2011 in Salzburg, Austria, and has performed in various recitals and operas at school in Potsdam, in her hometown of Bennington, VT, and in Salzburg, Austria. Beck plans to pursue a career in opera performance in the United States and Europe, and Metropolitan Opera star Stephanie Blythe ’92 has served as her vocal coach mentor in recent years. Andrew Fund ’12 was admitted to Columbia University Teachers College and received a scholarship. Sarah Garnsey ’12 is a conservation and education intern at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park in Gansevoort, NY, where she gives hikers tours of the park’s flora and fauna. Nia Rowe ’12 is the new company assistant at Ross Valve, a company that makes control valves for water and wastewater industries, in Troy, NY.
Jamin A. Osborne ’98 and Kristina Alegre Osborne were married on June 16, 2012, on Folly Beach in Charleston, SC. The couple honeymooned in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.
Alexander Ellis, on July 26, 2011 in Tulsa, OK.
Meghan Nuffer ’08 and Curtis Angel were married
Sheila Jordan ’97 married Patrick Kemble Jr. on October 21, 2011.
Potsdam People
Marriages
On July 14, 2012, Brianne Wicks ’10 married Benjamin Sterling in the garden at the
George Sanders ’71 married Janet Rosen on August 12, 2012, at Hopkins School, New Haven, CT. Stephanie Bakyta Seltzer ’87 married Bradley Baldwin
Potsdam People
Births
on June 9, 2012 at Densmore Bay Church. The couple resides in Virginia Beach.
Scott and Colleen Conerty Christiansen’s ’97 daughter was born on August 16, 2012, weighing four pounds, eight ounces, and measuring 18 inches long. Jessica (Dashnaw) Crisci ’01 and her husband, Richard, welcomed their second son, Leo Austin, on July 5, 2012. Peter ’03 and Mary Jane (Freligh) Arquette ’03 celebrated the birth of their daughter, Khloe Josephine, on July 18, 2012. James ’03 and Shannon Hennessy Ontiveros ’03 welcomed their first child,
Haley E. Redmond ’08 wed Brian Bullecks on April 6,
Gran-View Hotel and Restaurant in Ogdensburg, NY. She is employed as a choral music teacher at Lowville Academy and resides in Copenhagen, NY. Alissa Carlson ’12 married Robert Haller ’12 on
II in a ceremony in Las Vegas, NV. The couple resides in Gloversville, NY. Morgan Andrews ’06 was married on June 9, 2012. Matthew Benner ’08 married Kelly Mostyn ’10 on June 30, 2012, at Snow Ridge, with the town justice officiating. The couple spent a seven-day wedding trip in Bar Harbor, ME.
2012, at the Lubbock County Court House in Lubbock, TX, where the couple resides.
November 3, 2012. The couple reside in Canton, NY.
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class
notes
Potsdam People
Anniversaries Anna (Bergin) Murrock ’49 and her husband, William, observed their 60th wedding anniversary on August 16, 2012. The couple celebrated with a dinner hosted by their children at the Edgewood Resort in Alexandria Bay, NY. Mildred (Armet) Wiedmann ’51 and her husband, Don, celebrated their 60th anniversary at West Virginia’s Greenbrier Resort. Kyle ’71 & ’89 and Sally (White) Hartman ’71 & ’89
observed their 40th wedding anniversary on June 24, 2012. Francis Gray ’72 and his wife, Sally, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 4. The couple has three children and six grandchildren. William and Janet (Cole) Premo ’72 celebrated 45
Potsdam People
Memoriam Charlotte (Parker) McKeefe ’33 May 2012 Aleatha Cota Gilman ’34 March 25, 2012 Mildred Taylor Howard ’37 October 11, 2012 Elizabeth Smith Manfred ’37
24
Pauline Lenhart House ’51 June 24, 2012
Barbara Brundige Sparks ’51 July 9, 2012
Claire Hill Begeal ’71 August 12, 2012 George C. Joyal ’72
August 9, 2012 Constance “Conni” A. Vebber ’72 July 5, 2012 William R. Lamb ’74 June 29, 2012 Albert H. Vervaet ’75 October 29, 2012
October 8, 2012 Elizabeth “Betty” Ellsworth Mount ’39 April 27, 2012 Doris Louis Pond Benoit ’40 October 9, 2012 March 15, 2009 Adele A. Manso ’56 Lillian Jeffers Fleming ’40 May 25, 2012 September 6, 2012 Ronald J. McLennan ’57 Margaret Roch Phillips ’40 June 21, 2012 August 27, 2012 Maria DeJulio Harriet (Plume) Renison ’40 DiMaria ’58 July 25, 2012 September 29, 2009 Madaliene (Morgan) Lambert ’41
Charles F. Beeler ’69 July 5, 2012
Margaret Mosseau Pringle ’51 June 8, 2012
Nan (Armstrong) Mancuso ’55
Mary Jane DiNoto Hughes ’78 December 29, 2011 Lawrence “Larry” M. Littman ’78 April 23, 2012 Donna Shoen ’78 October 3, 2012 Richard “Rick” Backus ’79 September 6, 2012 Gail Wilson Vroman Gage ’79
Patricia S. Allison ’62 December 13, 2008 Alan C. Crabb ’66
October 15, 2012 March 13, 2012 Geraldine M. (Atwood) McLaughlin ’42 July 29, 2012
September 15, 2012
Robert P. Coats ’87 August 5, 2012
Sandra Bryfonski Besig ’67 April 10, 2011
Rebecca Barbeau Montroy ’89 October 8, 2012
Katherine Sullivan Hugaboom ’67 June 19, 2012
Richard E. Merchant Hon. ’96 July 8, 2012
Teresa Kelly Pomerville ’46 October 8, 2012
Kathleen Wood Johnston ’67 July 9, 2012
Seth A. Kilburn ’01 August 12, 2012
Bernice M. (McCabe) Mullen ’47 May 2012
Justine P. LeBaron ’67 June 13, 2012
Ruth Woods Wagoner ’46 October 9, 2012
Susan (Carozza) Clough ’86 and her husband, Peter, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on July 22 with a party hosted by their children in Watertown, NY. The couple has four children and eight grandchildren.
Ralph S. Verity ’50 September 15, 2012
Joyce Tooley March ’53 September 17, 2012
Roberta A. Parow ’42 October 10, 2012
years of marriage in June. The couple has three sons and seven grandchildren.
AnnaMay Hrubes Wilson Hoffmann ’50 June 3, 2012
Anne Martin Zimmerman ’48 August 26, 2012
Joan Tompkins Mattison ’67 August 20, 2012
Shirley A. (Thompson) Tewksbury ’49 October 2012
Maureen Regan Baker ’69 January 10, 2012
POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
Grant A. Ness ’04 October 2012 Kelly A. Haley ’12
December 17, 2012
Emeriti & Friends Emma D. Ames was a former supervisor of housekeeping. August 12, 2012 Jason “Jay” O. Cook January 17, 2012 Marilyn Doelger retired from the College after twelve years working in the Watkins’ Student Health Center as Director. December 4, 2012 Clarence McKinstry, faculty emeritus of the Psychology department. October 26, 2012 Dorothy E. Mitchell worked in custodial services, retiring in April 1986. October 10, 2012 Dorothy M. Powers worked in dining services for many years. June 19, 2012 Marie A. Proulx worked as a senior stenographer, retiring in 1992. November 3, 2012 Constance Van Deusen, was Helen Hosmer’s secretary and liaison for the Star Lake Campus. September 17, 2012 Paul Herbert Waite worked as a maintenance custodian for 21 years. September 18, 2012 Sharron Welch worked in the Physical Plant for 25 years, retiring in May 2005. October 23, 2012
reunion
announcements
Alumni Awards
Reunion Weekend
SUNY Potsdam is proud to acknowledge the achievements, dedication and service of this year’s alumni awards recipients
Alumni Award Recipients
Hall of Fame Inductees
Minerva Award Mary Helander ‘83
Edane Barton ‘05 Men’s Basketball
Distinguished Service Award George Arnold ‘92
1972-73 Men’s Wrestling Team
REUNION COMMITTEES Reunion committees are hard at work encouraging classmates to attend Reunion Weekend this summer, July 11-14. Committee members want to remind
Rising Star Award Jarrett Felton ‘04 & Sandra Thornton ‘03 Honorary Lifetime Membership Donald Lougheed
Christopher Lee ‘04 Men’s Hockey
everyone that there’s still time to contribute to your class gift. Join your class in celebrating
Christopher Mele ‘87 Men’s Lacrosse
your time at Potsdam and your successes that followed. For committee lists and fundraising
1995-96 Men’s Hockey Team **
St. Lawrence Academy Medal Donnalyn Eaton Shuster ‘78 Helen M. Hosmer Excellence in Music Teaching Award Melinde Mospaw Poupore ‘79
** The Men’s Hockey team will be recognized during Reunion Weekend, but will be formally inducted on November 2, 2013, during the Maxcy Hall Ice Arena grand opening.
progress visit: potsdam.edu/alumni/reunion.
ALUMNI CAN SAVE!
ni m u l A d e oint p p A y l New Members Board omes the tion welc socia
mni As dam Alu ts o P Y N The SU tees: new trus g in w o ll fo
4 and
asham ’8
John B to right: Gray ’87, b o R , From left 2 ’9 Prescott Romeyn 9. ’7 n lomo Laurie Sa
We’re always looking for ways to help out our alumni. So we’ve arranged for Liberty Mutual to provide our alumni with a special discounted rate on Auto and Home insurance. For more information visit www.libertymutual.com/lm/potsdam or call 1-800-524-9400. Discount and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow and may vary by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten. Not all applicants may qualify.
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reunion
special
Reunion Weekend 2013 Schedule of Events
JULY 11–14, 2013 Check in: Raymond Hall Lobby adjacent to Becky’s Place in Pratt Commons Thursday 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ***indicates family activities
Thursday, July 11 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. “Early Bird” Gathering - In Becky’s Place adjacent to Raymond Hall (cash bar). *** 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Concert and Post-Concert Reception
Friday, July 12 8 a.m. Cupid Breakfast for All Potsdam-Clarkson Couples - On the SUNY Potsdam campus in Dexter’s Café. 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Tour of President’s Gardens - Come and view the lovely presidential grounds & renowned gardens with a guided tour. 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Campus Walking Tour Will conclude in The Crane School of Music. A tour of Crane has been scheduled from 11 a.m. to Noon. (You may also take our Virtual Tour at: http://www. potsdam.edu/about/visit) 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Hike Mt. Arab, Piercefield, NY Led by Alumni Board Trustees Mike Lahendro ’77 and Robert Gray ’87. 10 a.m. - Noon “Get Out of Your Own Way! And Hurry!” Presented by Life Coach Jacqui Sparks Biernat ‘77. Stop sabotaging yourself and learn how to: understand your brain’s sabotage and over-ride systems; how to re-program yourself to do what YOU want to do; and how to STAY on track, building momentum and faithfulness = maximum productivity (maximum enjoyment - even more important)!
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POTSDAM PEOPLE SPRING 2013
Special Information
Maxcy Hall (use is free of charge to registered Reunion attendees): Shane T. Shaul Fitness Center: Friday, July 12: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
The Rock Climbing Wall & Swimming Pool will be open periodically during Reunion Weekend. Check the Registration Table for hours of operation. The tennis and basketball courts are also available for use during the weekend along with the soccer fields. College Archives at Crumb Library: Thursday and Friday, July 11 and 12: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. College Bookstore Hours: Friday, July 12: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Double Axel Performance at Maxfields, downtown Potsdam: Friday, July 12: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. Saturday, July 13: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Mary English Commons Tour Join fellow classmates, alumni and friends at the Mary English Commons to enjoy pictures and displays from our College’s history. Members of the English Commons Committee will be on hand to answer questions. 11 a.m. Tour of Maxcy Hall Facilities Get your workout in before or after at the PEP Fitness Center! Come see all of the new and exciting changes in Maxcy Hall. This is the tour you won’t want to miss! 11 a.m. Book Discussion by Dr. Phil Neisser ’79: “You’re Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You’re Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative” Dr. Neisser is the associate dean of Arts and Sciences and a professor of Politics. He will be available for book signings after the discussion. 11 a.m. – Noon Tour of The Crane School of Music 11 a.m. – Noon “Highlights of SUNY Potsdam’s History” Did you know that SUNY Potsdam is the oldest unit of the SUNY system? This presentation will cover various aspects of the College’s history, illustrated with many photographs from the SUNY Potsdam College Archives and Special Collections. Following the presentation will be a book signing with co-authors SUNY Potsdam alumnae Jane Gatta Subramanian ’72 and Virginia Rose Cayey ’60 of SUNY Potsdam’s new photographic history book, which was released last year. ***11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Planetarium Show Presented by Professor Emeritus of Geology Dr. Frank Revetta (Honorary Class of 2005).
Noon Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Lunch with the 2013 Campers and Counselors Noon – 2 p.m. Emeriti Picnic Alumni and friends are invited to visit with some of your favorite professors. Join us for this popular event at the President’s house overlooking the Racquette River. (Lunch will be served until 1:30 p.m.) 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. The Potsdam Seismic Network and Earthquakes in New York State Seminar Presented by Professor Emeritus of Geology Dr. Frank Revetta (Honorary Class of 2005). 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. An Update on the New Performing Arts Building Learn more about the exciting progress on the College’s newest building, which is scheduled to open Spring 2014. 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. “Crane Chorus: Historic Performances by the Class of 1963” Presented by Audio Engineer Gary Galo ’73. ***3 p.m. Campus Walking Tour of Art Work Join the staff from the Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam on this exciting new tour around campus to see the incredible works of art on display. 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. “SUNY Potsdam’s General Education Program at 25: Where Do We Go From Here?” Join Dr. Caroline Downing, director of General Education, in this discussion about our Gen Ed program’s current trends and its future.
3 p.m. – 4 p.m. “The History of Crane Chorus” Presented by Jane Gatta Subramanian ’72. Discover how and why Crane Chorus was formed, as well as significant events and personalities related to Crane Chorus. A very brief video of Helen Hosmer talking about Crane Chorus will also be shown.
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Alumni Swim Meet Alumni from the men’s and women’s Potsdam swim teams are invited to a special swim meet at the Maxcy Pool in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Men’s Swim Team 1982 & 1983 SUNYAC Championships.
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Orientation Leader Alumni Reception Join us to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Louise Tyo’s coordination of the New Student Orientation program. A special invitation is extended to ALL former Orientation Leaders to attend this reception, in which we will catch up and talk about some of our favorite Orientation traditions and memories.
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. “A Tour of Bayside Cemetery and Its Legends” Dale Zurbrick ’68 will conduct this very popular tour and lead us down memory lane at the local historical Potsdam site.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Class of 1963 Informal Gathering (cash bar) Please bring your memorabilia to share. 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Welcome Reception for All Alumni and Friends (cash bar) 5 p.m. Class of 1963 Dinner Come and gather for great food, spirits and most especially, great company! ***6 p.m. – 8 p.m. BBQ Picnic & Ice Cream Social This will seem like old times…friends, beverages, food and music! BBQ will be served until 7:30 p.m. *The Class of 1988 will have their informal gathering at the picnic along with the Orientation Leader Alumni. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Prometheus Brothers Dinner ***7 p.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) Concert Featuring: Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Treble Choir, Men’s Ensemble and Chamber Choir. 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Class of 2003 Informal Gathering Meet at the Cactus Grill & Cantina Restaurant, downtown Potsdam. 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) Alumni Reception 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. Prometheus Evening at Hurley’s Nightclub
10 a.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) Piano & Harp Recital
Join Us in July “I am an American and a modern educator who believes in experiencing, experimenting, and integrating experiences” -Helen Hosmer
***10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Planetarium Show Presented by Professor Emeritus of Geology Dr. Frank Revetta (Honorary Class of 2005).
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Choral Reading One of our most popular Crane alumni events of the weekend, conducted by Sandra Bosher Thornton ’03, 2013 Rising Star Alumni Award Recipient.
10 a.m. – Noon Campus Walking Tour Will conclude in The Crane School of Music. A tour of Crane has been scheduled from 11 a.m. to Noon.
1:30 p.m. “Preparing Future Teachers in Today’s World” A discussion led by faculty from the School of Education and Professional Studies.
10:15 a.m. Class of 1963 Photo “Meet at Minnie” in Minerva Plaza.
1:30 p.m. Greek Alumni Council Meeting
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. 50-Year Club Reception All alumni from 1963 and earlier are invited to attend. The Class of 1963 will be officially inducted into the 50-Year Club during a diploma ceremony. 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 50-Year Club Luncheon All members of the 50-Year Club (1963 graduates and earlier) are invited to a luncheon hosted by the Golden Year Class. 11 a.m. – Noon Tour of The Crane School of Music ***11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Kayaking Family Outing at Lehman Park Come enjoy the great outdoors! Free kayaks, frisbees, badminton, volleyball nets, etc. will be provided for all to enjoy. Bring a blanket for your picnic and don’t forget sunblock. Shuttle service will be available throughout from Raymond Hall. First come, first served with kayaks. Stop at Becky’s Place first to pick up your own lunch to bring along with you.
Saturday, July 13
11:30 a.m. Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Luncheon Celebrate the careers of the 2013 Hall of Fame Class. Open to all alumni and friends.
***8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Bear Walk/Run Start off the day by joining friends at the annual alumni 5K walk/run and one-mile run for children. This is a great event for all ages!
Noon Greek Alumni Informal Lunch Join your fraternity brothers & sorority sisters for lunch and a discussion about Greek Life at the College.
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Estate and Will Planning Seminar and Continental Breakfast Learn helpful tips for estate planning, how to best plan for the future and how to create a better will. Presented by Roger Linden, Esq. ’74, College Council Chair, and Michelle Holmes Ladouceur, Esq. ’95.
1 p.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) Final Concert Celebrating CYM’s 40th Anniversary. Featuring commissioned work by CYM alumnus and Crane Professor Greg Wanamaker and lyrics by former Crane faculty member Garth Bardsley.
2:30 p.m. Combined Men’s Wrestling Team & Swim Team Receptions All are welcome to attend. A photo of all wrestlers will be taken at the “Bear” statue after the reception. 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. President’s Club and Benjamin F. Raymond Society Reception (Invitation Only) The College wishes to thank members of the President’s Club and Benjamin F. Raymond Society for their generosity. Gala Reception, Silent Auction, Class Dinner, and Alumni Awards Presentation Join us at the biggest event of the weekend where alumni, faculty, emeriti and friends of the College come together to celebrate Potsdam. Tables will be reserved for classes and mini-reunions. 5 p.m. – Reception and Silent Auction 6 p.m. – Dinner with Awards Presentation immediately following 8:15 p.m. The Crane School of Music Concert Featuring faculty & alumni
Sunday, July 14 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Farewell Breakfast 9:15 a.m. Annual Alumni Association Meeting Annual Alumni Association business will be conducted, including approval of 2013-2014 trustees and proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws. 10 a.m. Crane Youth Music (CYM) 40th Anniversary Brunch with a tribute to its founding director, Dr. Roy Schaberg.
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alumni
opportunities
Save the Date SUNY Potsdam invites everyone to participate in these upcoming activities, all of which are on campus unless otherwise noted. For a complete listing of all activities, including specific dates, locations and registration/ticketing information (when applicable), visit the Campus News & Events tab on the SUNY Potsdam website at www.potsdam.edu or contact Katie Deuel, campus events coordinator at (315) 267-2102 to be connected to the correct department. General alumni questions may be directed to the Office of Alumni Relations at (315) 267-2120 or alumni@potsdam.edu
SPRING 2013 20 Annual Pointercounts Invitational
Foundation & Alumni Board MeetingS
Commencement Celebrations (May 17 – 19)
(April 26 – 27)
Graduation celebrations will begin with Party in the Plaza for the Class of 2013 on Friday, followed by the Master’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday and the Bachelor’s Commencement Ceremony on Sunday.
th
(April 6, 7:30 p.m., Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall) You won’t want to miss this fun-filled evening with Potsdam’s award-winning a cappella groups, including the Potsdam Pointercounts, Potsdam Pitches and the A-Sharp Arrangement, as well as a cappella groups from other colleges.
Academic Festival (April 10 – 13) This tri-annual celebration of academics introduces the community, students, faculty and staff to cutting-edge research and creative activity on topics of importance. This festival, entitled “Making the Future,” will feature lectures, panel discussions, workshops, seminars, displays and performances.
Rock and Fossil Fair (April 13, 9 a.m. to Noon) Join us at this annual family favorite for hands-on activities with rocks, minerals and fossils, as well as face painting, crafts, games and delicious homemade foods.
Spring Fest (April 20 – 27) This annual festival coordinated by student groups for the benefit of both students and the community includes a week of events that culminates in a “block party.” Bring the family and enjoy the carnival of games, food, entertainment and giveaways.
School of Education ALUMNI Board Meeting (April 27) Lougheed Festival of the Arts
SUMMER/FALL 2013
(April 26 – May 4) Through a variety of performances, lectures and exhibits, the second annual, week-long campus festival celebrates all artistic expressions, including theatre, dance, music, visual arts and creative writing. You won’t want to miss exciting events such as: • A public reading by acclaimed author and SUNY Potsdam alumnus, T. C. Boyle ’68. • A lecture by New York Times art critic Roberta Smith, ranked by ArtReview as one of the 100 most powerful figures in contemporary art. • An illuminated sculpture garden (in the Academic Quad) created by students and faculty. • A multimedia performance by renowned American artist Carrie Mae Weems. • The Festival concludes with a Crane School of Music performance (May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Hosmer Hall). The Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s monumental War Requiem, conducted by Maestro Christof Perick, the 2013 Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor.* The American Boychoir will perform as part of this large work, along with a chamber orchestra and three vocal soloists.
Earth Week (April 22 – 26)
Alumni & Friends Pre-Concert Reception
Join us for a variety of activities on and off campus in order to promote and spread the word about becoming more eco-friendly, such as community clean-up activities, lectures on green living and nature hikes.
(May 4, 5-6:30 p.m., Crane Commons)
Reunion Weekend (July 11 – 14) Visit the center section of this magazine for a full schedule of events and registration information.
Saratoga springs day at the races alumni event (August) 25th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic (September 12) As the largest golf tournament in the area, this day of golf at the Potsdam Town and Country Club increases awareness about and raises significant funds for SUNY Potsdam student scholarships. Tournament founder and two-time Division III Men’s Basketball National Championship coach Jerry Welsh will be our honored guest.
Syracuse Alumni Regional Event (September 28) Double Axel at the Dinosaur BBQ, Syracuse, NY. Join us for dinner and an evening of music and dancing. Watch for registration information closer to the event.
OPENING Of the new maxcy hall ice arena (November 2)
In honor of Benjamin Britten’s centennial year, join us for a pre-performance alumni and friends reception, including a brief lecture on the historical significance of the Requiem.
* The partnership of the Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor Fund, established by Dorothy Albrecht Gregory ’61, and the Adeline Maltzan Crane Chorus Performance Tour Fund, established by Dr. Gary C. Jaquay ’67, brings distinguished conductors to The Crane School of Music for festival performances by the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra, and funds travel for major Crane Chorus performances to venues outside of Potsdam.
IN their
own words
Tanasia
Betts
’13
August 23, 2012 Ms. Eileen Goss Whelley c/o The Office of College Advancement SUNY Potsdam 44 Pierrepont Ave Potsdam, NY 13676 Dear Ms. Eileen Goss Whelley, Thank you so much for your generous donation that has made my scholarship possible. I am very grateful and honored to receive the Eileen Goss Whelley ’76 Scholarship for Women Leaders. Your scholarship is very important to me because it has helped me to achieve my goal of earning my degree from SUNY Potsdam. I thought you might like to know a little bit more about me. I’m from Brooklyn, NY, studying sociology along with human services, as well as women’s and gender studies and theatre. My grandmother raised me and my sister after my mom and dad died. In my short life of 20 years, I have experienced what I believe to be hopelessness and harsh realities. But I aspire to be an impactful person wherever I go. Helping others see a light in their darkest hours drives me to my profession in social work and counseling. My internship this summer was essential in deciding what direction I want to take. I learned a lot about myself and the young men I worked with at the Berkshire Farm Detention Center and Burnham Youth Safe Center. They may be troubled youth, but I never felt threatened or worried. I saw myself in them. Our stories are different, but we all need love, attention and someone to listen. Thank you again for investing in my education. I hope to meet you again at the Scholarship Luncheon on November 3, 2012, so that I can thank you in person for your generosity. Sincerely,
Tanasia Betts
Tanasia Betts is the 2013 recipient of the Chancellor ’s Excellence honoring the best and the brightest stu Award for dents throughout the entire system. On No vem the annual Scholarship Do ber 3, 2012, she joined Whelley ’76 at nors Luncheon at SUNY Potsdam.
Class of 2013
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44 Pierrepont Avenue Potsdam, NY 13676 www.potsdam.edu/people
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