classnotes 1960s ’63 MSED Amy M. (Joseph) Habib and her family received the 2016 Bishop’s Medal at the 16th annual Catholic Education Dinner.
1970s ’70 BS Thomas B. Housler, an orthopedic/spine consultant at Stryker Orthopedics, was inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame. ’70 BS, MBA ’85 Lawrence T. McGowan, president of Arbor Capital Management, was named a Hall of Fame honoree by the Bishop Fallon High School and Holy Angels Collegiate Institute Alumni Associations. ’72 BA Michael W. Breen, a grant writer and administrator for the city of Buffalo, received the Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School Distinguished Alumni Award. Breen was recognized for his contributions to the arts. ’72 BA Patrick J. Keem, Orchard Park town supervisor, was named to the board of directors for the Association of Erie County Governments. ’73 BA William J. Krebs, mayor of Springville, was sworn in as president of the Association of Erie County Governments. ’74 MBA James R. Golding, retired director of sales and marketing for Franklin Global Strategies, was appointed to the Goodwill of New York Board of Directors. ’74 BS Eileen K. Maloney, a teacher for the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, received The Franciscan Charism Award at the school’s Christus Super Omnia Awards Dinner. ’74 BS David Nalewajek, PhD, senior principal scientist and research fellow at Honeywell International Inc., received the James H. Crowdle Award for Distinction in Chemistry from the Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society at Canisius College. ’74 MBA Christian A. Willmott and his business partner leveraged the success of their Black Market food truck into their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Marble & Rye, on Genesee Street in Buffalo. ’75 BS Ann Marie R. (Rooth) Cellino announced her retirement as president of National Fuel Gas Company’s utility business. ’75 BA Daniel P. Schaefer, MD, an ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, received the Outstanding Contribution Award by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Society. ’77 MS Diane L. Cozzo, director of educational services for the Buffalo Board of Education, was named a member of the marketing and development committee for Every Person Influences Children (EPIC).
’77 BA Edward C. Gelia Jr., executive vice president at United Insurance Agency Inc., was elected chair of the Hilbert College Board of Directors. ’77 BA Joseph J. Marusak, attorney with Kloss Stenger & LoTempio, received the Robert F. Moss Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those who “go above and beyond to positively impact the lives of children facing adversity.”
Come Back Award at the Friendship Foundation banquet. ’80 BA Mary V. Travers Murphy, executive director for the Family Justice Center, was a finalist for the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s 2016 Athena Awards, which recognizes those who actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potentials.
’83 BA Rev. Dr. Jimmie Hardaway Jr. was selected as the new senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church of Niagara Falls, NY. ’83 BS Kathleen B. (Barry) Kane, vice president and branch manager for First Niagara Bank, was recognized by Leadership Buffalo as someone who is “Making Buffalo Better.” ’84 MBA James R. Deuschle, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Rich Products Corporation, was named treasurer for the West Seneca Charter School Board of Trustees.
’77 BA John G. Mrozek, counselor for the Hamburg Board of Education, was appointed to the North Collins Town Board.
’80 BS Joseph F. Widmer is the new director of finance for Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was vice president for Billit Accounting and Information Technology.
’77 BS David J. Reedy, an insurance and pension specialist with Beck Reedy and Associates, was named to the Million Dollar Round Table.
’81 BA John E. Ballow, an attorney at Ballow Law Firm PC, was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
’84 BA, MS ’01 Patricia G. Duffy, a teacher for Village Oaks Elementary School, was elected president of the Democratic Women’s Club of Lee County, FL.
’77 BA Hon. J. David Sampson was nominated by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and confirmed by the New York State Senate as a judge of the New York State Court of Claims.
’81 BA Martin Burruano, vice president of pharmacy services for Independent Health, and his wife, Janeen, served as co-chairs of the volunteer fundraising and planning committee for the Western and Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 24th annual Diamond Ball.
’85 BS Todd C. Kraus was appointed controller of Ford's truck plant in Louisville, KY. The plant is Ford’s highest revenue-producing manufacturing facility in North America and produces the new all-aluminum F-250 Super Duty and Expedition/ Navigator vehicles.
’81 BS Michelangelo Infurnari is the new director of development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, London. He was the executive director of The Foundation for Fairfax County Public School in Fairfax, VA.
’85 BS Jeffrey D. McArthur, a finance director for Ellicott Development Company, was elected to the 2016 Leadership Buffalo Board of Directors.
’77 MS Donald P. Spasiano is the new associate dean for the Russell J. Salvatore School of Hospitality and Business at Trocaire College. ’78 BS Richard A. Wall, PhD, professor of economics and finance at Canisius College, was named president of the board of directors for The Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Buffalo. ’79 BA Richard G. Battaglia, MD, was named chief medical officer of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). He leads ABIM’s effort to incorporate feedback from practicing physicians and key stakeholders into clinical aspects of all ABIM activities, including Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC). ’79 BS Timothy M. Konicki, retired operations manager for the Erie County Office of Child Support Enforcement, was named to the board of directors for Every Person Influences Children (EPIC). ’79 BA Hon. Gerald J. Whalen, was named presiding justice of the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court for Western and Central New York. He was also inducted into the John Timon Society of Bishop TimonSt. Jude High School.
1980s ’80 MS Joseph J. Cozzo, chief executive officer for Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center Inc., was elected a trustee for the West Seneca Charter School. ’80 BA Joseph M. Grisanti, MD, a rheumatologist with Buffalo Rheumatology and Medicine, was inducted into the John Timon Society of Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School for his distinguished career and contributions to the community. ’80 BS, MBA ’90 Kenneth P. Houseknecht, executive director of the Mental Health Association of Erie County, received the Courage to
’82 BA Jean M. Wactawski-Wende, PhD, dean of the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions, was appointed to the rank of State University of New York Distinguished Professor. ’82 BS Bernadette Franjoine, senior director of operations for Mount St. Mary’s Hospital of Lewiston, was named to the Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara Foundation Board of Directors. ’82 BS Ann M. Galli, administrative vice president with M&T Corporation, received the Catherine McAuley Distinguished Alumna Award from Mount Mercy Academy.
’85 BS Donna Nocera-Perna, vice president and general manager of Transit Lanes Inc., was inducted into the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) VIP Woman of the Year Circle. She was recognized for her perseverance, work ethic and leadership. ’85 BS Michael J. Orlowski was promoted from tax supervisor to tax manager for Dopkins & Company LLP. ’85 BS Gerald F. Pullano is the new chief financial officer for Thruway Fasteners Inc. He was a partner with Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. ’86 BS John R. Ahrens, president of Ahrens Financial Group, was named to the Million Dollar Round Table.
’82 BS Vincent G. LoTempio, a patent attorney and partner in the law firm of Kloss, Stenger & LoTempio, was featured on the A&E History Channel show “Million Dollar Genius.” He appeared on an episode entitled “Selfie Made Man,” for his contribution in creating the world’s first selfie stick, known as the Quik Pod.
’86 BS Mark E. Hoffman, a vice president with M&T Bank Corporation, was recognized by Leadership Buffalo as someone who is “Making Buffalo Better.”
’82 BA, MS ’89 Leah Poplawski, a therapist trained in children’s mental health, opened an office in Amherst.
’86 BS, MSED ’99 James G. Weimer is the new associate superintendent for school leadership with the Buffalo School District. He is the former principal of Emerson School of Hospitality.
’82 MBA John R. Pustulka was promoted to chief operating officer for National Fuel Gas Company. He served as president of the company’s pipeline and storage business unit. ’82 BS Michele (Kolniak) Walter, a corporate relations assistant for Uniland Development Company, was recognized by Leadership Buffalo as someone who is “Making Buffalo Better.”
’86 BS Maureen M. Lehsten, chief financial officer with the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care of WNY, was elected to the Every Person Influences Children (EPIC) Board of Directors.
’86 BS, MBA ’91 Renee M. (Woerner) Wolf was appointed Project Pro Consultant for GEMKO Information Group, a division of the Bonadio Group. She was controller at Construction and Service Solutions Corporation.
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