Alumni Herald Fall 2013

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

Alumni Herald Fall 2013

Volume 24, No. 3

CAMPUS WILDLIFE Natural history going on display at ESU

Page 14

in this issue

10|‘Big Dig’ for ESU and middle-schoolers 20|Homecoming 2013

ESU Alumni Herald

Opening Remarks Dear Warrior Alumni and Friends,

But making these opportunities a reality is becoming increasingly challenging in these fiscal times. Now, more than ever, ESU is focusing its efforts on a student-centered campus – one that remains affordable for students, provides them with an exceptional academic experience and helps them to be aptly prepared for the job market.

Fall is a time we associate with students returning to school with great anticipation of learning new things, meeting new friends and expanding their life experiences.

But with that return to school comes the question, what did you do this summer? This issue of the Alumni Herald provides all of you with a glimpse of the research projects undertaken by our faculty and students since last May. Whether it was assembling satellites in partnership with the U.S. Naval Academy, teaching creativity to students at Shanghai Maritime University in China, monitoring the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the flora and fauna at the Marine Science Consortium at Wallops Island in Virginia or checking for blood parasites in turtles close to ESU’s campus, our students and faculty made the most of their summer. I hope you enjoy the article.

Significant progress has also been made these past few months on the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History at ESU. On pages 14-15, Art ’62 and Fannie Greene Schisler ’62 share their personal journey and vision for this museum with all of you. I visit the museum site regularly and the progress is simply outstanding! I can hardly wait until plans can be announced for its opening so it can be shared with all of you who have a deep appreciation and love for wildlife and its historical value in education.

These stories, among others, illustrate the incredible passion ESU students, faculty and alumni have for this university and its future. There’s so much to be gained from these initiatives and many other projects constantly envisioned for our campus.

However, in these difficult financial times when there are significant shortfalls in funding, ESU, like many other universities nationwide, counts on the generosity of our donors to provide scholarship funds for our students, particularly when the university does not have much institutional aid available to augment student needs beyond financial aid.

We need your help.

When ESU students call during our annual Phonathon this year, please be as generous as you can. Every gift makes a difference and helps us to continue to support student and faculty research as well as important projects like the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History. Your Warrior spirit can live on for years to come.

Thanks so much. I’ll look forward to seeing many of you during Homecoming activities in November. Until then, my best wishes to each and every one of you for a beautiful, productive, memorable fall.

Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. President

Follow Dr. Welsh on twitter.com

Alumni Herald The Alumni Herald is the official publication for East Stroudsburg University’s alumni and is published three times a year.

Please address all correspondence to: Office of Alumni Engagement East Stroudsburg University Foundation 200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 570-422-3530 800-775-8975 Fax: 570-422-3301 Email: alumni@esufoundation.org Website: esualumni.org/herald

Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. University President Frank Falso President and CEO ESU Foundation Editor Caryn Wilkie Design and Production Office of University Relations BGA Studios Photography Susie Forrester Rick Gordon ’05 Yi-hui Huang, Ph.D. Shane Izykowski Jeni Olsen VIP Studios Bob Weidner

@ PresidentWelsh

Contributors

Notice of Nondiscrimination

BGA Studios Brooke F. Donovan Joe Fite ’76 Caryn S. Fogel ’12 Brenda E. Friday, Ph.D. Greg Knowlden M’04 James L. Johnson Margie Peterson Tanya Trinkle Caryn Wilkie

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran’s status in its programs and activities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding this policy: Director of Diversity/Ombudsperson 200 Prospect Street 115 Reibman Building East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 570-422-3656

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Fall 2013

Table of Contents

Cover Story

ESU Foundation Henry A. Ahnert Jr. Alumni Center (800) 775-8975 esufoundation.org

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FROM THE WILD: The new Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History will exhibit North American game animals at ESU. Arthur Schisler ’62 and Fannie Greene Schisler ’62 are the hunters behind the displays.

Frank Falso

President and Chief Executive Officer

Betty Russo

Vice President for Development and Chief Operating Officer

BUSY SUMMER: Bats, bears, birds, bugs and turtles were being studied this summer by ESU students and faculty, as others spent their warmweather months with satellites and computers and traveling overseas.

Brooke F. Donovan

Director of Alumni Engagement

Abigail Behrends

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

Janis Russo

Administrative Support Specialist

Greg Wilson

Senior Director of Individual Giving

Michele Benfer

Major/Planned Gifts Officer

Cassandra Cleveland

Bob Weidner

Major/Planned Gifts Officer

Angela Beers

Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations

Belinda Diaz

Director of Information Systems

Mark H. Mazer

BIG DIG: Archaeologists big and little dig up history together at a former governor’s homestead in Bath.

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Kim Boyer

Features ESU, Marywood collaborate on graduate social work degree..........8 Dr. Stacey Cantrell ’99 offers hands-on help in Peru................... 12 50 years at ESU: Phi Sigma Kappa reunites.................................21 Doug McNamee ’67 M’69 seeks football scholarship support..... 22

Melissa Burke

Departments

Prospect Research Analyst

Caryn Wilkie

Communications Manager

Annette Stolte

Associate Director of the Annual Fund Assistant Director of the Annual Fund/Phonathon Finance and Accounting Manager

Michelle Ljubicich ’05

Website and Special Projects Manager

Laurie Schaller ’10

Staff Accountant and Scholarship Coordinator

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ESU Foundation .................................. 2-3 Campus News.................................... 8-11 Alumni Engagement......................... 16-20 Warrior Wrapup................................23-25

Class Notes...................................... 26-27 Marriages | Births................................ 27 In Memoriam........................................ 28 Giving Opportunities...... inside back cover

ON THE COVER: Taxidermist Steve Micio prepares a caribou collected by Arthur Schisler ’62 which will soon be on display at the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History at ESU. The 24,000-square-foot exhibit space is being prepared in the Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

Nancy Boyer

Executive Assistant

Patricia Smiley

Administrative Assistant

Kevin E. Brown ’78

Anthony F. Pasqua ’00

Board Emeriti

Jack P. Childs, III ’67

Dr. Ronald W. Prann ’84

Kelly E. Dries ’08

Ashley L. Puderbach ’09

Eugenia S. Eden ’72 M’76 Bryan L. Hill ’71 Phyllis M. Kirschner ’63 Dr. Frank Michael Pullo ’73 M’76 Dr. Faye Soderberg ’58 Virginia Sten ’71 John E. Woodling ’68 M’76

Thomas H. Fail ’11 M’12

Ritchey J. Ricci ’65 M’72

Joseph B. Fite, III ’76

Thomas L. Sabetta, Jr. ’09

Board of Directors

Dan H. Gale, Jr. ’06

Paul E. Shemansky ’96 M’01 M’04

Ernest R. Gromlich ’60

Robert B. Shoudt ’64

Collette L. Ryder ’96 President

Lynn F. Hauth ’08

Candice S. Sierzega ’10

Dr. William J. Horvath ’70 M’79

Ronald D. Steckel ’71

Christopher S. Yeager ’74 M’81 Vice President Anne M. Morton ’96 Secretary

Frank E. Johnson ’74

David A. Super ’80

Deborah A. Kulick ’80

Richard D. Vroman ’67

Johanna Mazlo ’91

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ESU Alumni Herald

ESU Foundation

President and CEO:

Scholarship connections mean happy givers ... and receivers The start of a new academic year always brings a smile to my face. Of course, the excitement of students returning to campus and those taking their first big step away from home is a time of joy and anticipation for everyone involved.

Our happiness here at the ESU Foundation lies in knowing we have been able to play a part — if even perhaps a small one — in helping provide young men and women with the needed resources to pursue their education.

The gift of scholarship is meaningful to those who give as well as to those who receive, and the Foundation is honored to facilitate those connections by the hundreds every year.

In fact, I’m proud to share that 31 new annual scholarship funds were created in 2012-2013, a more than 42 percent increase from the prior year.

We’re also taking strides to make it easier for students and ESU’s academic departments to connect through an online scholarship application system. Why? The more streamlined the process, the more students we can assist!

We could do so much more, but of course we need your help. As we kick off a new academic year, think about the impact you could make for a student through the gift of scholarship.

Perhaps made in memory of a loved one, of a close-knit group from your residence hall, or even spotlighting a program you found meaningful -- an annual scholarship is personal and we invite you to consider the possibilities!

As you enjoy this issue of the Alumni Herald, take a small trip down memory lane and plan a return trip to ESU for Homecoming weekend in November. You’ll find details further inside the magazine.

Also, fall is eventful for the Foundation and Office of Alumni Engagement as we celebrate those who mean so much to us: our donors, ESU’s retired faculty and staff, Legacy families, as well as every Warrior who proudly wore red and black!

This season we also launch fall Phonathon when dedicated student callers will reach out and ask for your support. Please … answer that call, connect with a young Warrior, and make a philanthropic commitment to your alma mater.

You’ll feel great for doing so!

I wish you and your loved ones the very best and look forward to seeing you at Homecoming.

Sincerely,

Frank Falso President and CEO ESU Foundation

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Fall 2013

ESU Foundation

Alumni Association Board:

Personal email outreach coming your way

By Joe Fite ’76 Communications Committee Chair When many alumni were students at ESU, email, computers, terabytes, hard drives, the Internet and cell phones were being talked about in the distant future by scientists or perhaps appeared in Popular Mechanics.

When I was a senior in 1976, it was exciting news when archery coach Maryanne Schumm came back after completing her doctoral work at Penn State and regaled us with tales of writing her dissertation on something called a word processor. I was in awe at the thought as I banged away on my Brother typewriter to create a paper.

We’ve come a long way. The Alumni Herald magazine is online, there are e-newsletters from the Office of Alumni Engagement and many social networking groups are available for our alumni. And now, you will begin receiving personal email from an Alumni Association Board member twice a year.

If you have an email address listed with the Office of Alumni Engagement, you already receive word about trips, on-campus events and class notes, but now you will receive an email tailored to you.

The Alumni Board’s email outreach will be shared by the 26 board members based on approximate graduation years. Each email will contain a personal message, updates from the Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Engagement as well as an invitation to send us your thoughts, concerns or ideas. Your reply will go directly to the board member who will represent you at Alumni Association Board meetings.

This is a great way to have your voice heard and concerns addressed. The first email will come out this September, with another scheduled for March.

Please visit www.esualumni.org/emailupdate to update your email address so when the emails are sent, they don’t end up in a spam or trash folder.

If something is on your mind, please take the opportunity to let the Alumni Board know. Otherwise, I may have to type each one of you a letter on my Brother typewriter! 

ESU Foundation board of directors names two new members, elects officers John Sickler Jr. ’93 and Christopher T. Wright ’91 were recently selected as new members of the ESU Foundation Board of Directors.

Sickler is senior vice president and chief financial officer of Soundview Paper Company and is relocating to northern New Jersey. His term began in July and expires in June 2016.

Wright, of Oley Valley, is a financial adviser for Black Diamond Financial Group.

His term began in May and expires in 2015.

Elected to one-year terms as board officers were Chairman Christian A. Steber ’91, Vice Chairman Timothy J. White ’83, Secretary Deborah E. Prince, Ph.D., Treasurer Roger L. DeLarco ’80, and Member-at-Large Jerrold E. Fritz, Ed.D. ’55. 

MailBag n Lenape Hall As a student, I lived in Lenape Hall for five years until I graduated. I visit the area every few months and am wondering when they are tearing it down?

It is something dear to my heart and I would love to just be there when they do it.

When I think of a home, I think of Room 421 (the triple).

I left a very abusive home life when I left for college and Lenape was my safe, calm peaceful home.

Tara Sturgis ’00 Lenape Hall alumni can breathe a sigh of relief! After reviewing the campus master plans and consulting with the director of facilities, there are no plans anytime soon for Lenape to be demolished.

Rest assured that it will be there for many more years of great memories like yours! 

Have something to say about ESU, its events and its issues?

Let us know what you think! alumni@esufoundation.org Office of Alumni Engagement Henry A. Ahnert Jr. Alumni Center 200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Attn: MailBag Please include your name and contact information.

Letters may be edited for clarity or space.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Feature Story

How did you spend your summer vacation?

Larry Laubach M’15, DNA technician for the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory, holds a 39-pound snapping turtle he caught in New Jersey this summer while researching a blood parasite. The laboratory is an integrated service of ESU’s Department of Biological Sciences, and is located in ESU’s Innovation Center just east of campus. ESU students and faculty there use state-of-the-art genotyping equipment to determine genetic variations in species of wildlife for clients.

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Fall 2013

Feature Story

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By Margie Peterson Shane Izykowski

If summer is a time to slow down and work on a summer tan, nobody told the East Stroudsburg University students and professors who spent the warmer months on everything from researching bird habitats and bat populations to assembling satellites and lecturing in China.

Students and professors could be found mucking about in streams, lakes and beaches, trapping turtles, tracking bears, launching satellites in Lancaster and speaking on creativity in Shanghai.

And that’s just for starters.

M’14 spent numerous nights trapping bats in mist nets in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to research how a deadly disease is affecting the local population. After gathering data on each, he would release them.

Hauer can wax eloquent about how those creatures found in horror movies and haunted houses are among nature’s best pest exterminators, gobbling up mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus and beetles that destroy crops.

Unfortunately, the species known as “little brown bats” are dying in unprecedented numbers due to a disease called “WhiteNose Syndrome” which prevents them from hibernating.

“Up to 99 percent of a decline in little brown bats is estimated,” Hauer said.

Biology graduate student Liz McGovern M’15 worked with Hauer trapping bats at the Water Gap in an effort to detect migratory species.

Shane Izykowski

TRAPPING BATS ESU biology graduate student Chris Hauer

Biology graduate students Chris Hauer M’14 and Liz McGovern M’15 take notes during their research on bats.

Bob Weidner

FLOATING A SATELLITE This July in a field near Lancaster,

Computer Science Professor Haklin Kimm and three ESU students launched a small satellite attached to a special balloon as part of a joint experiment with the U.S. Naval Academy.

Kimm called the launch “a remarkable success” with the satellite reaching higher than 100,000 feet in the sky (the typical airplane flies around 30,000 feet) and staying up for about three hours.

The project was more than a year in the making with Kimm and computer science graduate student Steve Kendall ’10 and undergrads Josh Gaston ’13 and Mohammad Khan ’13 working with two Naval Academy faculty members and three cadets.

First, the ESU group had to assemble a small cubic satellite about the size of “a Beanie Baby’s box,” according to Kimm.

They wanted to see how long and under what conditions they could communicate with the satellite by laptop computer.

Answers to those questions could contribute to research on al-

Joshua Gaston ’13, left, and Mohammad Khan ’13 work on a small cubic satellite which was launched this summer, below, using a balloon provided by the U.S. Naval Academy.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Feature Story

ternative forms of communication during emergencies, Kimm said.

“When you go up high in the sky, there is a kind of magnetic force there,” Kimm explained. The crew wanted to see what kind of effect the magnetic force would have on satellite communication.

The Naval Academy provided the special balloons, gas and high-altitude GPS tracking devices while ESU developed and provided the payload and a satellite modem with batteries.

Students retrieve the communication satellite after launching it to study the effect of Earth’s magnetic force.

Associate Professor of Art Darlene Farris-LaBar, center, with students and faculty at the Shanghai Maritime University’s Xu Beihong Art Academy in China.

HACKING COMPUTERS Kimm’s students weren’t the only computer science students immersed in their field. Jonathan Weber ’16 and Justin Moore ’16 were chosen to attend U.S. Cyber Challenge summer camp, funded by major defense contractors, the U.S. Defense Department and the FBI as a way to cultivate the next generation of experts in cyber security. To attend, the students competed in a nationwide online hacking challenge. Weber and Moore received full scholarships to the camp.

CREATING IN CHINA On the other side of the world, Associate Professor of Art Darlene Farris-LaBar was speaking to students and faculty at two universities in China about the value of creativity.

Farris-LaBar lectured at Shanghai Maritime University and ESU sister school Shanghai Normal University on how creativity can help meet challenges in areas as diverse as environmental issues and health care.

“In our country we use a lot of creative-thinking skills,” Farris-LaBar said. “Creativity is something that the Chinese students admire and it’s something they’re interested in.”

She described to her audiences the High Line, which is a public park in Manhattan built on an old freight rail line elevated above the streets. It took great creativity to imagine and develop green space in what was a historic structure once destined for the wrecking ball before preservationists saved it.

Her lectures were very well received, with students in fields as varied as accounting and tourism peppering her with questions.

The trip was an example of how ESU faculty and students and their counterparts in China have benefitted from frequent exchanges. “We’ve had various visiting scholars come to talk to us at ESU,” she said. “It’s been great for our students.”

SPEAKING IN SWEDEN Farris-LaBar was only back in the

U.S. for about a week when she headed to an environmental conference in Uppsala, Sweden — a leader in the sustainability movement — to present a poster she created and give a paper on her work.

Darlene Farris-LaBar and her presentation at the 12th Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment in Uppsala, Sweden.

STUDYING ‘SANDY’ Associate Professor of Biology James Hunt, who coordinates ESU’s involvement in the Marine Science Consortium on Wallops Island in Virginia, was busy over the summer looking at the effects that Hurricane Sandy had on the flora and fauna at the field station site there.

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Fall 2013

Feature Story

TRAPPING TURTLES Students pursuing their Master of

Science in Biology performed field work this summer that contributes to the body of research on subjects ranging from new bacteria similar to the one that causes Lyme disease to the habitat health of the Louisiana waterthrush.

One such grad student, Larry Laubach M’15, was out trapping turtles at lakes and ponds in Monroe and Northampton counties and in New Jersey looking for a blood parasite that is transferred to turtles through the salivary glands of leeches.

There hasn’t been much research done on the parasites’ effect on painted, musk and snapping turtles so his study is gathering data on its prevalence and impact on the population.

Laubach would set out the traps at night and process the turtles in the morning, taking blood samples and other data.

The snapping turtles proved to be a challenge.

“The males have that machismo and start snapping at you,” Laubach said. One snapping turtle he caught at Locust Lake in New Jersey weighed a whopping 39.8 pounds.

LEFT Graduate student Nicole Chinnici M’14 with a bear cub.

BELOW A group of biology graduate students with a bear. From left: Rabecca Lausch ’13, Christopher Hauer M’14, Kelcey Burguess M’97, Nicole Chinnici M’14, Teresa Ombrello M’11, and Thomas Rounsville Jr. M’12.

TESTING TICKS Back on dry land, graduate student Meaghan Butler ’13 spent the summer working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife on testing ticks, wild turkeys, voles and other small mammals for a recently discovered species of bacteria like the one that causes Lyme disease.

STUDYING BEAR DNA Those small mammals would be tasty morsels to the black bears that graduate student Nicole Chinnici M’14 studied this summer. Working with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Chinnici researched their genetic diversity and the health and size of the population.

When the agency had to trap a bear or handle it in some way, Chinnici would take a DNA sample.

LOOKING FOR BIRDS Graduate students Katie Barnes M’16

and Megan Napoli M’15 were working in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area studying the habitats of birds.

Napoli looked at the nesting success of the Acadian flycatcher in an effort to track how many return to the Water Gap area each year as part of a long-term study.

Barnes’ research spotlights the interdependence of species.

The woolly adelgid is an insect killing hemlock trees, which in turn is hurting the food supply for the Louisiana waterthrush.

The shade provided by the hemlocks keeps stream waters cooler, which allows for the breeding of aquatic insects the birds eat.

“They’re not providing shade anymore so all this sun is coming in and it’s changing the habitat,” she explained.

“We’re using the bird and aquatic insects as bio-indicators of habitat health.”

For Barnes, mucking about in streams and doing research that has the potential to help save bird habitats is her kind of summer. “It’s what I’m passionate about,” she said. “I love the field work.” 

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Graduate student Katie Barnes M’16 studied the effect of a changing environment on the Louisiana waterthrush.

Above, some waterthrush nestlings she found.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Campus News

Signing the agreement Seated, from left, are Sister Anne Munley, IHM, Ph.D., president of Marywood University, and Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of ESU.

Bob Weidner

ESU, Marywood agree to collaborate on graduate social work degree Marywood University in Scranton will offer its master of social work degree (M.S.W.) at ESU starting this fall.

MU’s Pocono Program at ESU will allow students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program to apply for advanced standing in Marywood’s master’s program, requiring them to earn 39 credits.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in another field will be required to earn 60 credits for their M.S.W. Celeste Geering ’07 M.S.W., L.C.S.W., of the Warren County,

N.J., Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center and Jane Koelble of Women’s Resources in Monroe County talked about how social work programs at both universities helped them in their careers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Ann L. Williams, MU graduate admissions, awilliams@marywood.edu 570-348-6211, extension 2368 Dr. Lloyd Lyter, Pocono Program director Lyter@marywood.edu 570-348-6211, extension 2388.

Standing, from left: n Diane Keller, director, school of social work and administrative studies, MU; n Jane Koelble, M.S.W., L.S.W., executive director of Women’s Resources of Monroe County, Inc.; n Alan Levine, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs, MU; n Lloyd Lyter, Ph.D., M.S.W., L.S.W., director of the Pocono Program, MU; n Marilyn Wells M’87 M ’91, Ph.D., M.P.H., vice provost and graduate dean, ESU; n L. Patrick Ross ’67, chair, ESU’s council of trustees; n John Kraybill-Greggo, Ph.D., M.S.W., L.S.W., A.C.S.W., chair, department of sociology, social work and criminal justice, ESU; n Van Reidhead, Ph.D., provost and vice president of academic affairs, ESU; n Celeste Geering ’07, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., bilingual counselor, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County, N.J.; and n Peter Hawkes, Ph.D., dean of the college of arts and sciences, ESU.

ESU graduates 1,150 in spring ESU awarded approximately 1,150 degrees at three separate commencement ceremonies this spring: 964 bachelor’s degrees and 183 master’s degrees.

The grand marshal for the graduate ceremony was Dr. Frank M. Pullo ’73 M’76, distinguished professor of sport management. The speaker was Dr. Steven Scheinman, president and dean of The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton.

Dr. Constantinos Christofides, distinguished professor of economics, served as grand marshal for both the morning and afternoon undergraduate ceremonies. The keynote speaker for both was Billy Staples ’93 M’10, actor, Billy Staples ’93 M’10 educator, philanthropist, author and inspirational speaker.

Two graduating seniors also spoke. Aminata Touray ’13 addressed the crowd at the morning ceremony and Sarah Morabu ’13 spoke at

Susie Forrester

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the afternoon ceremony.

The University Leadership Award, the highest nonacademic honor a senior can receive, was presented to Felicia Revero ’13 of Sewell, N.J. The University Service Award was presented to Nico E. Ramirez ’13 of Dingmans Ferry for demonstrating exceptional service to the university through on-campus activities.

To be eligible for these awards, a student must have attended the university for at least two years and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.60 or above. 

Bob Weidner

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Fall 2013

Campus News

VIP Studios

ESU News

9

Preisdent Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., center, accepted a Community Partnership Award from the American Red Cross this spring. The university was recognized for hosting the community at a shelter set up at Koehler Fieldhouse in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

At left is Jim Rienhardt, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Poconos & Wayne/Pike Counties, and at right is Kim Bell, chairperson of the local Red Cross board of directors.

Strauser on display

In June, ESU held its second annual gallery event featuring paintings by Sterling Strauser, the late self-taught artist of national note.

This year’s exhibit, titled “The Significance of Strauser,” highlighted important works on loan for a limited show at the temporary gallery in the ESU Innovation Center.

An auction of paintings owned by local community members followed the reception and brief program. Donated proceeds from the sale will be used by The Sterling Strauser Gallery to fund future acquisitions.

The Sterling Strauser Gallery will have a permanent home in ESU’s new Keystone Center when the building is completed in 2015. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Vice President for Economic Development and Research Support Mary Frances Postupack mpostupack@esu.edu 570-422-7920

recognizes ESU for shelter

Bob Weidner

One of Strauser’s notable works, entitled “Grandparents.”

The United Way of Monroe County wrote a $79,370 check to the American Red Cross of the Poconos to help it replace supplies depleted by its response to Superstorm Sandy and the operation of the “mega shelter” set up for the community in Koehler Fieldhouse last fall.

From left: Lorna O’Farrell and Rose Walsh of the American Red Cross of the Poconos; Peter Brown, CEO, American Red Cross Northeast Pennsylvania; Jim Rienhardt, executive director, American Red Cross of the Poconos & Wayne/Pike Counties; Kevin Lavelle, American Red Cross of the Poconos board of directors vice chair; Mathilda Sheptak, executive director, United Way Monroe County; Lynn Lansdowne, president, United Way Monroe County; Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president, ESU; and Adrian Grieve, regional emergency services officer for the Red Cross.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Campus News

Bob Weidner

Archaeologists

big and little

dig together at historical site

By Margie Peterson ESU professors and students helped Allentown seventh-graders take part in an archaeological dig at a historical homestead during the spring semester.

Students from Harrison-Morton Middle School dug for artifacts at the home and one-room schoolhouse of George Wolf, who served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 1829 to 1835 and was a pioneer in public education for all children.The late 18th century homestead is at 6600 Jacksonville Rd. in Bath at the Route 512 intersection.

Nicknamed the “Big Dig,” the project was months in the making.

Last October, Dr. Doug Lare, professor of Professional and Secondary Education, took some ESU students to supervise middle school students on a simulated dig.

The college students buried items near the school and had the seventh-graders dig them up using proper archaeological procedures for documenting finds.

Then the seventh graders had to use critical thinking skills to try to figure out what the items – including a crown and tablet with coded writing – indicated about the culture they came from. The kids had a great discussion over what the finds revealed and looked forward to doing the same at the real dig, their teacher said.

“This will give students an idea how this area played a key role in our nation’s history,” said Lucia LeVan, who teaches social studies.“It not only brings history alive but it’s something they’ll never forget.”

Lare sees it as a great lesson for future teachers in how to get the community and local organizations

involved in their lessons.

“I’m planting the seeds so that these ESU students will see it’s possible and valuable,” Lare said.

Lare and ESU Early Childhood Education Associate Professor Dr. Alison Rutter helped the students use ground-penetrating radar to find the best places to dig at the homestead.

Rutter said the home and school are especially appropriate because Gov. Wolf was such an advocate for free public education for all children.

“For the middle schoolers to be able to come up here and compare their school to this one-room school, it’s incredible,” Rutter said.

The experience will make ESU students better teachers, she said.

“If they don’t experience teaching like this, they’re not going to when they go out in their own classrooms,” Rutter said. 

ABOVE: Dilan Aracia, a seventh-grader at Harrison-Morton Middle School in Allentown, working at the Governor Wolf homestead in Bath with graduate student Mike Pacanowski ’15, from Tobyhanna.

VIDEO GRANT Dr. Alison Rutter, associate professor of early childhood and elementary education and Dr. Michael P. Gray, associate professor of history, helped obtain a grant to videotape the dig for viewing by other students. See it at bit.ly/18cgx4f.

RIGHT: Seventh-grader Anmy Castillo working alongside ESU student Conner Bayer ’14.

Bob Weidner

The Office of the Provost and the Faculty Development and Research committee awarded the grant.

For more information on the archaeological dig, contact Dr. Doug Lare: dlare@esu.edu or 570-422-3431

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Fall 2013

Campus News at the end of the spring Gift buys camera equipment use semester, according to YiHuang, Ph.D., assistant for photography students hui professor of Media Com-

Yi-hui Huang, Ph.D.

A gift of nearly $30,000 from the R. Dale and Frances Hughes Foundation enabled the university to purchase professional-level camera equipment for the Media Communication and Technology Department.

The two Mamiya DMSeries DSLR camera kits, along with two macro lenses, filters, memory cards, batteries and chargers, replace one 40-year-old film camera.

The gift was made in memory of Julianna V. Bolt, an employee of the ESU Foundation who was a longtime supporter of the department. Bolt passed away on January 15.

The new equipment arrived in time for students to

From left: Wayne Bolt, husband of the late Julianna V. Bolt; Elzar Camper, Ph.D.; Kevin Hughes of the R. Dale and Frances Hughes Foundation; Dr. Richard R. Otto, chair of the Media Communication and Technology Department; President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and Frank Falso, president and CEO of the ESU Foundation.

munication and Technology. One of the cameras may be checked out for outside projects while the other will remain at the department for studio work.

The gift couldn’t come at a better time, said Huang, as problems kept cropping up.

“These are very highend cameras — types used by professional free-lance photographers,” said Huang. “Every photography student would love the opportunity to use them.” 

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine manufacturer located in Swiftwater, has made a $300,000 commitment to ESU, which was presented on April 30 by Frank Epifano, a company vice president.

The funding, provided through the ESU Foundation, will be used to buy state-of-the-art scientific instruments, which will help students learn laboratory skills relevant to employers and help ESU attract students and retain faculty. The money will also support scholarships for non-traditional students who transfer from area community colleges into ESU’s science and technology programs.

“I extend my thanks to Sanofi Pasteur for their commitment to stewardship, particularly in these difficult economic times for institutions of higher education,” said Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of ESU. “We are very proud to partner with such a community-minded organization.”

“There are many reasons Sanofi Pasteur considers ESU a key strategic community partner,” said Epifano.

“First, from a recruitment standpoint, there have been more graduates of ESU among Sanofi Pasteur’s Swiftwater employee base than of any other university. Additionally, through the Center for Research and Economic Development and related programs such as the 2013 Economic Outlook Summit, ESU has taken a leadership role in driving the economic vitality of Monroe County -- a role it shares in part with Sanofi Pasteur.”

Frank Falso, president and CEO of the ESU Foundation, expressed his gratitude as well.

Susie Forrester

Sanofi Pasteur gift will buy instruments and scholarships

President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., accepts a $300,000 commitment from Sanofi Pasteur. From left: Peter J. Hawkes, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of ESU, Frank Epifano, vice president, North America & Global Finance, Commercial Operations, Sanofi Pasteur, Frank Falso, president and CEO of the ESU Foundation, and L. Patrick Ross ’67, chairman of the ESU Council of Trustees.

“Time and again, Sanofi Pasteur has reaffirmed its commitment as a community partner,” said Falso.

“Through this support, ESU will be on par with its peers in the areas of scientific instrumentation as well as provide talented and deserving students the opportunity to pursue their education through the gift of annual scholarship.”

Sanofi Pasteur and ESU have a long history of working together on local science, technology and economic development initiatives. The company helped fund the construction of ESU’s Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center and has provided in-kind donations of lab equipment. 

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ESU Alumni Herald

Alumni Spotlight

Photos courtesy of Jeni Olsen

Alumna heals with her hands and heart

By Brooke F. Donovan

As one of three pregnancy and pediatric certified chiropractors in Maine, Dr. Stacey Cantrell ’99 is trained in gentle and effective chiropractic techniques for infants, children and pregnant women. Daily, she heals patients with her hands, but this past spring in The Sacred Valley, Peru, she had the opportunity to heal others with more than her hands, extending her services and her heart to more than 2,600 people.

Cantrell was one of four American chiropractors who made the trip this spring to Peru to offer services at the Clinica Kausay Wasi. The clinic hosts teams of doctors monthly who provide a variety of services to the people of The Sacred Valley. Although this was Cantrell’s first time serving at the clinic, she is no stranger to serving out of the country. During chiropractic school, she traveled to Fiji and participated in a similar project.

In addition to serving at the clinic, the team also offered services at nine schools and two orphanages. One of the primary focuses of the team was to see as many children as possible. As Cantrell specializes in pediatric chiropractic, she was thrilled with the opportunity to see a lot of children.

“Children do not carry the stressors that adults often do, and just one adjustment in a child can have a lasting

effect on their health and their life,” said Cantrell.

After personally benefiting from chiropractic care after years of headaches, Cantrell understands the power of a simple adjustment. Cantrell also shared details on some of the patients that she and the team saw, noting that many people in the villages are in poor health due to the many physical demands on their bodies and poor diets. While they live a very simple life compared to the American lifestyle, they are without “our” everyday toxins and stress, and are more receptive to adjustments.

“It’s impossible to come back from a trip like this the same person you were when you left. Doing this type of work opens your heart and allows you to see the world and your own life from a place of complete gratitude,” said Cantrell.

The team’s efforts from last year’s trip and primarily this year’s trip were documented by a film crew present to capture footage for “Love Bomb,” a feature documentary about healing and transformation through love and service. The film is being produced and directed by one of the team’s chiropractors, Dr. Rhea Zimmerman.  For more information about the team’s efforts and the documentary“Love Bomb,” visit www.lovebombthemovie.com.

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Fall 2013

Alumni Spotlight

“

Doing this type of work opens your heart and allows you to see the world and your own life from a place of complete gratitude.

”

Dr. Stacey Cantrell ’99 offers her helping hands in Peru

Dr. Stacey Cantrell ’99 spent time in Peru’s Sacred Valley last spring, one of four American chiropractors to serve at a clinic there.

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EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION OFFICE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

of ries, ESU

Legacy Family Brunch & Pinning

Ceremony

Celebrating families that have had more than one generation attend ESU. Brunch followed by a formal pinning ceremony that recognizes ESU’s Legacy family members.

Sunday, October 20, 2013, 10 a.m.

The Keystone Room at the Center for Hospitality Management East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania To register your Legacy family with the Office of Alumni Engagement, go to www.esualumni.org/legacyform.

For more information on the Brunch and Pinning Ceremony, contact Janis Russo at (570) 422-3530.

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

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ESU Alumni Herald

Campus News

The Great Outdoors comes indoors

By James L. Johnson

In Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park the majestic peaks of the Teton Range stand nearly 7,000 feet above the valley floor. Arthur Schisler ’62 visited the Tetons in 1971 on his first major hunting trip. He had been hunting since he was 12, and had shot his first deer at 14. This time, though, his trophy would be a Rocky Mountain mule deer. And it would not be the last big game Schisler would hunt.

In fact, Schisler made a complete collection of big game animals his goal. He fulfilled that goal about five years ago with a Tule elk from California.

“To my knowledge,” Schisler said in the summer 2010 issue of the Alumni Herald, “there are only 109 complete collections of North American big game animals.”

Schisler’s assemblage totals more than 100 animals, including 31 of the big game variety, and all species of deer found in North America.

Fannie Greene Schisler ’62 hunted with her husband at times, and accompanied him more often once their three children, Aaron, Harold and Rebecca Schisler-Szilli ’94 were off to college. Whether Art traveled solo or with Fannie, the Schisler family has hunted Spain’s Cantabrian Mountains three times, Zimbabwe twice, and Newfoundland, Alaska and Mexico, among other points of the globe.

Schisler’s collection resided in the family’s weekend home in Dingmans Ferry, but was recently moved to ESU. Work is progressing on what is tentatively named the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History. While a firm opening date has not been set, late fall is the hope; but the location of ESU’s Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center is definite.

The idea for the museum began in 1984 when Schisler began to reflect on what will happen to his extensive wildlife collection when he is gone. As he and Fannie are both

alumni, the answer wasn’t long in coming. So, Schisler talked with the university folks, the years rolled by, plans were hatched, designs drawn, until . . . now we nearly have a fine new museum. The idea truly pleases the couple; though Schisler puts it simply: “I think it’s really neat to pass it on.”

The exhibits will astound you. Each will be equipped with interactive touch screens and “reader rails,” allowing people to conduct self-guided tours. Such detailed tableaus as the Frozen North, the African Bush, Cold Forest and Canyon Country will include preserved wildlife offered in open settings (without glass — the too-curious beware, however — alarms will sound if you try to enter the animals’ private world).

Taxidermy is an art, as the Alaskan moose, Coues deer of Mexico, mountain lion, coyote, leopard, hyena, grizzly and polar bears, snowshoe hare and desert bighorn — among so many others — will prove. Patience is also an art, evident not only in the exhibits’ details overall, but in what must be tedious work arranging the tiny creatures of the insect display. Admirable as well is the ongoing care to maintain the aquarium, part of the Verdant East, which will hold the aquatic life of the Delaware River, the only live exhibit.

The background murals that make up the animals’

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

Fall 2013

Campus News Arthur ’62 and Fannie Greene Schisler ’62, left, have donated their extensive collection of taxidermied game animals — collected from throughout North America — to ESU to establish the new Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History.

BELOW: Taxidermist Steve Micio cleans a pair of ruffed grouse – the Pennsylvania state bird — and prepares them for the exhibit.

The Schislers hope people gain an appreciation for animals. Along with donating the museum’s wildlife, the Schislers deserve thanks for financial assistance as well. The couple has firm ties to the university. Art is a 2006 inductee to ESU’s Athletic Hall of Fame for football (1959-61). He also served on the ESU Foundation Board of Directors, and he and Fannie are long-time donors to ESU’s Arthur ’62 and Fannie ’62 Schisler Endowed Football Scholarship.

Nearly three decades have passed from idea to actuality. It has been time well spent, filled with research, design, creativity – and much work. And always, the Schisler’s museum has produced an awful lot of caring.

It is not too much to promise that when all is said and done, it will prove worth the wait. 

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

Bob Weidner

homes are also works of art, as well as more illustrations of detail. In the Verdant East, for example, which will present exhibits from the northeast geographic area, the artist accompanied members of ESU’s biology department to study the area chosen for representation.

The particular species of trees, their leaves, the flow of streams, even the certain way water cascades over rocks are all reproduced in exacting detail.

And that is the way in every part of the 2,400 square feet of the Schisler Museum. (Check the carpeting at your feet and note the pattern of black bear prints, anatomically correct down to foot size and number of toes.)

Everywhere huge amounts of research are involved.

Everyone, from faculty of the biology department who gave months of hours of time, to the artist recreating the wild indoors, to the exhibit fabricators and the ESU staff, deserves many thanks.

There is an initiative to make the museum part of the curriculum, meaning that when something being taught is pertinent to exhibits, faculty might hold class in the museum. The University also hopes it will be a community resource, a place people, regardless of age, will visit; and, of course, school children, community organizations, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl and Boy Scouts and, well — everyone is welcome.

Bob Weidner

Artist Michael Rosato, left and above, works on the backdrops to exhibits at the Schisler Museum of Wildlife and Natural History at ESU. Rosato specializes in large-scale murals for public spaces, including the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Schisler wildlife museum prepares to open at ESU

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Alumni Engagement

VOLUNTEER! Your Alumni Association

W A NTS YOU

Show your Warrior pride by becoming an alumni volunteer. There are plenty of opportunities: n Admission volunteers — Help recruit future Warriors at college fairs, make phone calls and recommend students to ESU. Email Agnes Brannan ’08 M’13, alumni admissions outreach coordinator, at abrannan@esu.edu or go online: www.esualumni.org/alumnivolunteer. n Career volunteers — Recruit at job fairs, volunteer at workshops, provide internships, mentor students and serve as guest speakers. Contact Daria Wielebinski, director of career development and student success, at careerdevelopment@esu.edu or go online: www.esualumni.org/careervolunteer. n Entrepreneur volunteers — Did you start your own business? Mentor students, volunteer for workshops, provide internships and speak to students.

Email Christopher Landino, Entrepreneurial Leadership Center coordinator, at clandino@esu.edu or www.esualumni.org/entrepreneurvolunteer. 

New assistant director of alumni engagement Abigail Behrends was named assistant director of alumni engagement in August.

She received her bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies in May from Penn State University, where she was involved with philanthropic events such as THON and interned with the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s publications department.

“I’m eager to build a relationship with Warrior alumni,” said Behrends, of Saylorsburg. “I’m looking forward to hearing their successes, planning events and engaging them with this wonderful university. As a recent college graduate, I am excited to still be connected to a collegiate atmosphere.”

Behrends welcomes alumni ideas for events, as well as hearing their concerns and success stories.

Contact her at abehrends@esufoundation.org or 570-422-3194. 

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ESU Alumni Herald

C E L E B R A T E

The 2013 Alumni Awards and Reunion Banquet Recognizing the accomplishments of those receiving this year’s Alumni Awards and to commemorate the reunion classes of 1958 and 1963.

Sherry Salway Black ’74 Distinguished Alumni Award

Gilbert Romaine ’66 Jim Barniak Award

Thomas Petro ’72 Distinguished Alumni Award

Melissa Owens ’06 M’11 Young Alumni Achievement Award

Julio Guridy ’84 Dr. George Thompson, Jr. Award

Matthew Semcheski ’03 Young Alumni Achievement Award

Melanie Hand ’13 George Ockershausen Student Service Award

Bettyann Fischer Creighton ’74 Helen G. Brown Honor Award

Denny Douds Great Teacher Award

Patricia Alberts Hibschman ’62 Conrad “Skip” Idukas Service Award

Friday, November 1, 2013

The Stroudsmoor Country Inn -Terraview Room 257 Stroudsmoor Road, Stroudsburg, Pa. Hors d’oeuvres/cash bar - 5 p.m.

Dinner/Program - 6 p.m.

Fireworks at Eiler-Martin Stadium - 9:30 p.m.

Cocktail Attire

Register online by October 28, 2013, at www.esualumni.org/2013alumnibanquet For more information, contact Janis Russo (570) 422-3530 or jrusso@esufoundation.org.

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

Fall 2013

Alumni Engagement Off i ce o f A l u m n i E n g a g e m e n t

Upcoming Events Alumni events are added throughout the year. For information or to register for any of these events, go online to: esualumni.org/events or call 800-775-8975

October 12

November 1-3

Homecoming Weekend 2013

Full listing of events online.

See ad on Page 20 Be sure to register online so we know you’re coming! esualumni.org/homecoming

Economics Department Alumni Reunion

Friday, November 1

11 a.m.-2p.m., Lower Dansbury

Alumni Awards/Reunion Banquet

October 14

5-9 p.m., Stroudsmoor Country Inn-Terraview 256 Stroudsmoor Rd., Stroudsburg • $50/person

Retired Faculty & Staff Luncheon

Orientation Leader Alumni Gathering

Stroudsmoor Country Inn-Terraview 257 Stroudsmoor Rd., Stroudsburg

November 12-14

Athletics Auction 6-10 p.m., Blue Ridge Cable TV (Channel 13) To donate items for the auction, contact Angela Beers: abeers@esufoundation.org or 570-422-3179

6-8 p.m., Flood’s, 732 Main St., Stroudsburg

Saturday, November 2

October 18-20

Athletic Hall of Fame Luncheon

More details at www.esu.edu

8 a.m. Registration 9 a.m.-Noon, luncheon, Keystone Room, ESU

ESU’s Family Weekend

$30/person. Pre-register with Cara Bell: cbell11@esu.edu or 570-422-3578.

Alumni Tailgate and Hospitality Tent 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Henry A. Ahnert Jr. Alumni Center 2 p.m., Best Tailgate Award presentation

October 20

Must register and be over 21 to enter area

Annual Legacy Family Lunch & Pinning Ceremony

Reunion Class Farewell Brunch

Sunday, November 3

10 a.m.-noon — The Keystone Room, ESU A special event that brings together and celebrates the generations of ESU Legacy families.

10 a.m., Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center • $15/person

December 7

Bus Trip — Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular 9 a.m., bus leaves ESU 2 p.m., show. All seats on first mezzanine. $175/person - Show ticket and bus trip $150/person - Show ticket only.

Register online at:

www.esualumni.org/radiocity2013

or call 800-775-8975

give a gif t that gives The Liztech

‘Great Expectations’

Inaugural Pin

Unveiled in April to commemorate the inauguration of Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., as the 13th president of ESU, this one-of-a-kind handcrafted piece designed by Liztech Jewelry of East Stroudsburg reflects the spirit and pride cherished by every Warrior.

for a specia l someone . . . or a gif t for yourself!

$65 Net proceeds benefit ESU student scholarship esufoundation.org/esuliztech

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ESU Alumni Herald

Alumni Engagement

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Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

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Fall 2013

Alumni Engagement

ALUMNI EVENTS 1

Sigma Pi work group

Sigma Pi brothers young and old gathered for a monthly work day at their chapter house. Pictured are Ryan Yusella ’13, Kevin Stumpf ’14, Larry “Doc” Moyer ’64, Eric Koch ’86, John “Goody” Gudikunst ’63 and Ron Steckel ’70.

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Lehigh Valley Meet the President

More than 35 alumni and friends gathered at ESU’s Lehigh Valley Center in Bethlehem in April to meet with ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. The event, sponsored by Robert ’75 and Julieann Willever, also offered tours of the center.

First photo, from left: Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., Julieann Willever and Robert Willever ’75.

Second photo: Grace Moore-Mattes ’86, Peter Heesen ’77 and his wife, Emilie Heesen.

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Annual lunch group

Gathered for their annual lunch meeting at MaZAR’s BridgeView Restaurant in Nicholson are, from left: Roseann Ryszka Klees ’64, Kathy Foley Kerl ’63 and Barbara Strzelczyk Quinn ’63.

Seated from left: Grace Andrulis Nicolaisen ’63, Phyllis Belcher DeWolf ’63 and Ann Salansky Wood ’63.

HALFWAY TO HOMECOMING Alumni gathered in Willow Grove, Media and New York City, N.Y., to celebrate the halfway mark to Homecoming 2013. Special thanks to hosts Chris ’86 and Danielle Blythe ’87, Jack Childs ’67, Bob Harmon ’68 and Barbara Carnival-Dannenberg ’94.

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Willow Grove

More than 25 alumni gathered at Taqueria del Sol. Alumni at the event included Chris Blythe ’86, Danielle Blythe ’87, Helene Bachich Dunn ’87, Cathy Hoffman Villella ’87, Rick Smith ’72, Christine Rohr Thompson ’73, Bettyann Fischer Creighton ’74, Joe Fite ’76, Christine Dean Clements ’77, Geri Stofko Ameri ’77, Barbara Strzelczyk Quinn ’63, Bob McLaughlin ’68 M’71, Karen Ujj Becker ’89, Christie Everett Mendez ’98, Tawanna Green Frasier ’93, Ross Cohen ’94, Ed Mendez ’97 and John Renna ’06.

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New York City

From left are Barbara Carnival-Dannenberg ’94, Jennifer Bell ’05 and Kristin Modica ’05.

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Delco

The Delaware County (Delco) group gathered in Media. From left: Drew Pearsall ’78, Tim Daniels ’05 M’07, Eileen Bortulin Kampf ’81, Karen Giglio ’66, Walt Rogers ’77, Evie Heise Giegerich ’63, Jack Gillen, Fred Quercetti ’66 M’67, Sheila Quercetti, Lou Collins ’77, Al Yannelli ’76, Bob Harmon ’68 and Jack Childs ’67.

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Commencement volunteers

Alumni Association Board members Bill Horvath ’70 M’79, Collette Ryder ’96 and Debbie Kulick ’80 distributed Alumni Association zipper pulls to the May 2013 graduates and congratulated the class. In photo, Stephan Cilurso ’13, left, receives his zipper pull from Horvath.

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Philadelphia School District

More than 15 ESU alumni were in attendance when Philadelphia School District health, safety and physical education teachers gathered for their annual in-service day. Front row, from left: Rob Resnick ’76, Howard Waxman ’84, Bettyann Fischer Creighton ’74 and Nancy Quarry Juka ’74.

Second row: Jack Brenner ’75, Joe Fite ’76 and Geri Stofko Ameri ’77. Third row: Ken Artur ’85, Kevin Lockett ’09, Jaret Smoyer ’98 and Fred Herling ’09. Not pictured are Debbie DeShields ‘76 and John Creighton ’01 M’03.

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1970s Reunion

Alumni from the 1970s gathered for a mini-reunion. From left: Tom Steinly ’76, Larry Hess ’75, Joanne Stock Kelly ’75, Mike Flaherty ’75, Bill Thomas ’75, Gary Baez ’75 and Joe Fite ’76.

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Cruise ship coincidence

When Joan Stanley ’67 and Dick Merring ’57 were cruising on the Norwegian Dawn in the Caribbean earlier this summer, they were amazed when they saw “Comedian Rick Starr,” also known as Henry “Rick” Starnadori ’71 listed as evening entertainment. Rick drew a standing ovation from the crowd and the three shared ESU memories.

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1956 luncheon in Eastburg

A group of Class of 1956 friends enjoyed lunch at Trackside Station Grill & Bar in East Stroudsburg.

From left: Vince Tomeo ’56, Wayne Stevens, Clayton Kern ’56, Ed Smith ’56, Patti Kuchinski Smith ’56 and Beverly Woods Stevens ’56. Not pictured is Angela Bacinelli Cobb ’56, who took the photograph.

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Early Start Career Panel

Six alumni volunteers were on campus in July to speak to nearly 95 Early Start students on their experiences, major choices and career paths. From left: Ryan Bratt ’10, Nick Casale ’09, Candice Sierzega ’10, Kate Hawley ’03, Ann McGinnis ’82 and Maury Molin ’76.

Capital to Capitol Bike Ride

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Thirteen ESU alumni, students and faculty members joined physical and health educators, school principals and community advocates in a 150mile bike ride from Harrisburg to Upper Senate Park in Washington, D.C. From left: Sue Lennon ’84, Audra Marsh ’02, Carol Andrews ’85, Beth DeLay ’84 M’88, Jennifer Hallet M’12, Shirley DeSantis, Dr. Kevin Casebolt, Nicholas Pirrocco, Dr. Kimberley Razzano M’94, Michael Spece ’90, Dr. Kelly Boyd, Anthony Pirrocco ’11, and Kaley Rode ’11. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Kelly Boyd)

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Alumni at Pocono Raceway

A group of 36 alumni and friends watched the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on ESU Alumni Day and met ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. They enjoyed skybox seating, a garage tour, pit passes and the race, thanks to the event sponsor, Sunoco.

Alumni in attendance were Stephen Redington ’84, Deb Donnangelo Albors ’88, Robert McDowell, Jr. ’01, Bettyann Fischer Creighton ’74, Nicholas Curcio ’66, Martin Priolo ’77, Andrew Sekol ’67, Brian Dishong ’98, Jennie DeMartinis Dishong ’96, John Larry Endy ’66, Linda Wolfe Shephard ’60, Carl Weigner ’58 and Trisha Schoenberger VanHorn ’10.

In photo at right, Sunoco Performance Products Manager Rob Marro ’81 and his wife, Cindy, greeted the group and shared information about Sunoco’s involvement with Pocono Raceway and racing fuels.

INTERESTED IN HOSTING AN ALUMNI EVENT? The Office of Alumni Engagement wants to help reconnect ESU Warriors!

Call 800-775-0975 or email alumni@esufoundation.org

JoinJoin WarriorsNation, WarriorsNation, youryour alumni alumni online online community, community, at esualumni.org at esualumni.org

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ESU Alumni Herald

Alumni Events

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For details and the full schedule of Homecoming 2013 events, go to

esualumni.org/homecoming.

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

Fall 2013

Alumni Events

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Photos by Rick Gordon ’05

Above: Brothers from the classes of 1963 and 2002 in a photo representing the “Bridge the Gap” theme of the Phi Sigma Kappa 50th anniversary banquet. At right: Jeff “Dewey” Kraus ’85 coordinated the weekend’s events and served as master of ceremonies at the lunch and banquet.

50 years at ESU

By Brooke F. Donovan

Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity had an incredible turnout when more than 300 people returned to campus April 5 and 6 to celebrate the momentous occasion of the local Beta Pentaton chapter’s 50th anniversary.

The weekend for Phi Sigma kicked off with a ritual event in Lower Dansbury. Brothers returning to ESU were amazed at the many changes at ESU, and joked that although the face of the campus had changed dramatically, the fraternity house looked exactly the same.

Saturday’s luncheon and alumni meeting at the Pocono Inne Town in Stroudsburg attracted more than 100 guests who were thrilled to catch up with classmates they hadn’t seen in years. Alumni put on their finest for Saturday evening’s banquet held at the Fernwood Resort. The banquet, themed “Bridge the Gap,” allowed brothers of all ages to celebrate the fraternity’s decorated history.

“It was important that we made the connection between the older alumni and the younger alumni,” said Jeff Kraus ’85, who coordinated the weekend celebration. “It’s important to remember our fraternity’s founding and never forget our ups and downs.”

The banquet, which featured speakers from the fraternity’s chapter office, also was a time to celebrate the organization’s successful alumni and present undergraduate awards.

Brothers Dan DiZio ’95, Len Lehman ’94, Ed Mendez ’97, Fred Catona ’69, and Eric Wyatt ’85 received

distinguished alumni awards for their professional accomplishments.

Devoted service awards were presented to Harry Hahnebach ’05, Scott Smith ’07 M’10, Ken Weiss ’99, Rick Gordon ’05, Greg Waller ’83, Phil Martocchi ’85, Roger DeLarco ’80, Walt Rogers ’77, Joe Piesecki ’85 M’87 and also to Kraus.

The fraternity’s Phil Falcone Award, presented annually to a graduating senior who best exemplifies the cardinal principles of the fraternity, was presented to Ricky Regan ’13 and Ryan Sinclair ’13.

“The weekend was a huge success and one that couldn’t have been pulled off without the help of undergrads, alumni, wives, girlfriends and staff,” said Sean Kelly ’06, alumni president. “The support shown through time, donations and everything else show that Beta Pentaton is ever-growing and is here to stay.” 

Join WarriorsNation, your alumni online community, at esualumni.org

From left, Doug Martin ’86 M’94, Tony Boore ’85 and Eric Wyatt ’85.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Warrior Spirit

‘Level the playing field’

Marilyn and Doug ’67 M’69 McNamee

Football alumnus rallies his playing peers to support scholarship

It’s a WIN all the way around.

Give back to the program that helped lay the foundation of who you are today while putting East Stroudsburg University’s football program on par with other Division II schools when it comes to scholarship opportunities.

For Doug McNamee ’67 M’69, it’s not just about supporting fantastic athletes, it’s also about leveling the playing field. The North Port, Fla., resident has generously supported football scholarships through the ESU Foundation, and now he looks to other former players and friends of the program to recognize the need and also rise to the challenge.

“There’s a disparity among the number of athletic scholarships within schools in Division II in general and specifically the PSAC,” he said. “I’m hoping to help raise awareness among alumni, particularly those who were fellow football Warriors!”

Through support of athletic scholarships, alumni can help more students attain a quality ESU education while also giving the program the flexibility it needs to acquire and retain talented players, McNamee said.

Through the years, he’s set an example of philanthropic support to multiple athletic funds, including creating the Doug ’67 M’69 and Marilyn McNamee Football Annual Scholarship. In his and his wife’s names, the scholarship provides a student the incredible life-changing experience McNamee had as a young man playing Warrior football.

At ESU, McNamee played on the 1964 and 1965 championship football teams, was captain of the 1966 team, and did his graduate assistantship with

the 1968 championship team. He went on to be the assistant coach at Wagner College, Drexel University, and the University of Rhode Island before completing his MBA and building a 33-year successful career in pharmaceutical sales.

He credits much of his achievement to the character and work ethic forged as a student athlete and he’s proud to say his son, Todd McNamee ’88, followed in his footsteps in attending, growing and learning at ESU. “It’s so important that other young men and women have the opportunity to experience Warrior athletics and, at the same time, help propel ESU into the same league of scholarship opportunities as other Division II schools,” McNamee said. “It’s my personal hope that every former athlete will step up to support their athletic program. If everyone could give just a little bit, the impact and outcome could be extraordinary.”

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Interested in supporting ESU athletic scholarships?

Learn more and show your support at www.esufoundation.org/givenow.

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Warrior Spirit

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Tory Stella ’15

Fall 2013

The Warriors were crowned PSAC baseball champions for the first time in 42 years and earned their second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three seasons.

WRAPUP WARRIORS WIN PSAC BASEBALL TITLE

Matt Tholis ’13 was ESU’s firstever recipient of PSAC’s Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year award when he was recognized in June.

Tholis, an exercise science major, was the NCAA Division II runnerup in the javelin and was also a first team Academic All-American. The award is named after the late Pete Nevins M’84, ESU’s sports information director from 1969 through 2002.

Tholis was also named the USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year, the PSAC Field Athlete of the Year, and was the Field Athlete of the Meet at the PSAC Championships.

At the NCAA Championships, he was the national runner-up with a mark of 232-0, the 12th-best in Division II history.

For more on Tholis: www.esuwarriors.com/MattTholis

Greg Pammer ’11

ALL-AMERICAN THOLIS PSAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF YEAR

FAR LEFT: Matt Tholis ’13 was named the PSAC’s Pete Nevins Male ScholarAthlete of the Year and was the NCAA Division II runner-up in the javelin this spring.

Bill Morgal, Shippensburg University

ESU’s baseball program won its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship since 1971 by going 4-0 in the postseason tournament in May. The Warriors, under sixth-year head coach John Kochmansky, set a school record with 34 wins and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second time in three years.

Pitcher/first baseman Brian Ernst ’13 was named PSAC Tournament MVP after pitching eight innings in a 7-1 win over West Chester in the championship game.

Ernst, pitching on two days’ rest, was also 8-for-16 at the plate over four games.

The Warriors opened with an 8-5 win over Gannon in a game that lasted six hours, 40 minutes — including a lightning delay of more than four hours. They beat Millersville, 6-2, and California, 7-4, to earn their spot in the championship game.

ESU’s pitching staff was the key, with Ernst, Ryan Lubreski ’14, Matt Smith ’14 and Keenan Stare ’14 all contributing.

In the NCAA Tournament’s Atlantic Regional, held at Wake Forest University, ESU opened with an 8-6 (10 inning) win over host WinstonSalem State before falling to Seton Hill and Shippensburg.

LEFT: Rose Mascoli ’13, a track and cross country standout, was ESU’s Female Senior Athlete of the Year and the co-Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year

FOUR RECOGNIZED AT ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET Rose Mascoli ’13, Corinne Fitzgerald ’13, Duane Johnson ’13 and Eric Boyer ’13 were the major award recipients at ESU’s Athletic Awards Banquet in May. Mascoli, a three-time All-American between track and cross country, was named the Female Senior Athlete of the Year and shared Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors with her teammate, Fitzgerald. Both were multiple-time Academic All-Americans and national qualifiers in both sports.

Johnson, a three-time All-PSAC East selection and member of the Warriors’ 2012 PSAC champion men’s basketball team, was the Male

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ESU Alumni Herald

Warrior Spirit Senior Athlete of the Year. Boyer, an Academic All-American and fouryear starting outfielder in baseball, was the Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

NATIONAL QUALIFIERS LEAD TRACK & FIELD THIS SPRING Matt Tholis ’13 and Josh Hontz ’13 earned All-America status in the javelin, leading five national qualifiers for the ESU track and field program at the NCAA Division II Championships.

Tholis, the national runner-up, and Hontz, who placed fifth, were both All-Americans for the second time in their careers. Hontz was the runner-up in 2011 before redshirting last spring.

Also qualifying were Corinne Fitzgerald ’13, who went to the NCAAs for the third straight year in the 3000m steeplechase, Travis Toth ’15 in the men’s hammer and Seth Bailey ’16 in the men’s high jump.

ESU had five individual champions at the PSAC Championships: Tholis in the javelin, Bailey in the high jump, Damien Boham ’15 in the 400m dash, Frank Fezza ’13 in the 1500m run and Danielle Smith ’15 in the 100m dash.

BENNIE, ERNST SIGN PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS Joe Bennie ’13 and Brian Ernst ’13, both key contributors to ESU’s PSAC championship baseball team, signed professional contracts following the season.

Bennie was a 28th-round selection in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics and was the third ESU player selected in the last five years. He was the fourth MLB Draft pick in school history.

A second baseman, Bennie was named to the All-PSAC East first team, ABCA All-Region first team and ABCA Atlantic Region Gold Glove team. He hit .348 with 18 extra-base hits, 28 RBI, 43 runs scored and 21 stolen bases.

Ernst, the PSAC Tournament

Koehler arena floor refurbished

The arena floor in Koehler Fieldhouse has a new look this year.

The entire floor was refinished and repainted, and some damaged wood was replaced, to enhance the performance of the floor for ESU’s student-athletes and the movement activities and lifetime fitness department, which uses the arena for academic work.

Longtime Warriors fans will notice the addition of “East Stroudsburg” in block lettering along both baselines, to go with the familiar Warriors logo at midcourt. New portable baskets will also be utilized for basketball season this winter.

MVP and a three-time All-PSAC East selection, signed with the FargoMoorhead (N.D.) RedHawks of the independent American Association.

He was the first player in PSAC history with more than 200 strikeouts and 200 hits in a career, and ranks in ESU’s career top 10 in 16 statistical categories. As a senior, he was seventh in Division II in strikeouts per nine innings, and his 88 strikeouts (in 66.2 innings) ranked second in school history.

KNOTT HONORABLE MENTION ON ALL-AMERICA TEAM Outfielder Chris Knott ’14 was named to the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) All-America honorable mention team as a driving force behind the Warriors’ PSAC baseball championship.

He ranked in the top 10 in the PSAC in almost every statistic and batted .374 with 25 extra-base hits, 46 RBI, 37 runs and 17 stolen bases

while starting all 52 games in center field. He was named to all three Atlantic Region first teams, the AllPSAC East first team and was selected to the NCAA Atlantic Regional AllTournament team.

RAS RETURNS TO FIELD Jessica Ras ’13 came to ESU from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area in 2008 as a softball player with big dreams for her career with the Warriors. Then she was diagnosed with leukemia in the fall of her freshman year, and everything changed. After more than two years of chemotherapy, followed by a double hip replacement due to its side effects, she won her battle to return to the field.

On track to graduate with a degree in health and physical education in December, Ras pitched in one game in the spring of 2012 and started the first game of Warriors’ Senior Day doubleheader in April 2013. With the help of her family, doctors and teammates, tremendous

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Fall 2013

Warrior Spirit

optimism and a great deal of determination, her ESU journey is truly inspirational.

For more on Ras, visit www.esuwarriors.com/JessicaRas

WILSON, WARRIORS HONORED ESU men’s basketball head coach Jeff Wilson ’86 M’92 and his program were recognized by the Pocono Medical Center’s Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center for their fundraising campaign, which has raised $8,475 in the last seven years through its “Man Up Against Cancer” program.

Wilson was the organization’s Susan Fritz Award winner and also received a certificate of recognition from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, presented by the offices of Rosemary M. Brown (R189th Dist.) and Mario M. Scavello (R-176th Dist.).

On the floor, ESU has advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in three of the last four years and made four straight PSAC Final Four appearances.

RECORD NUMBER OF ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS ESU student-athletes, annually among the top achievers in the PSAC, set a school record with eight selections on their respective Capital One Academic All-America teams during the 2012-13 academic year.

This year’s selections: n Khriswayne Wallace ’14 (soccer) n Rebecca Smith ’14 (softball) n Eric Boyer ’13 (baseball) n Brendan McKeown ’13 (at-large/ wrestling) n Rabecca Lausch ’13 (at-large/tennis) n Matt Tholis ’13 (track & field/cross country) n Corinne Fitzgerald ’13 (track and field/cross country) n Rose Mascoli ’13 (track and field/cross country) The eight Academic All-Americans join three other student-athletes to give ESU a total of 11 Academic All-District selections.

In the last six years, ESU’s 66 Academic All-District picks are secondmost in the 16-member PSAC. 

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS ANNOUNCED ESU will induct six individuals and the 1982 through 1984 men’s gymnastics teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming Weekend on November 2.

Warriors selected for induction are Steve Mummaw ’72 (football), Jim Vargo ’80 (wrestling), Dawn Strunk ’93 M’02 (field hockey/lacrosse), Kevin Nagle ’00 M’04 (football), Cheryl Griffin Birmingham ’01 (track and field) and Sean Stewart ’03 (soccer).

The 1983 and 1984 men’s gymnastics teams were crowned NCAA Division II champions, and the 1982 team was the national runner-up.

Following the induction of this year’s class, the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame will include 277 individuals and 13 teams. 

Old Hats Gathering The Old Hats Early 1990s football group gathered in May for their annual gettogether and to watch the spring game.

Kneeling, from left:Mike Santella ’94, Roger Straub ’94, Jake Hlavac ’94, head coach Denny Douds and Bob Stelma ’95.

Standing, from left: Dave Hahn ’95, John Catalano ’94, Chris Romanowski ’95, Frank Lupin ’62, Don Fureman ’94, Matt Giarretta ’95, Mike Terwilliger ’78, Ed Myers ’94 M’95, Des Hussey ’94 and Doug Leonzi ’94.

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ESU Alumni Herald

Class Notes

CLASS NOTES 1950s Rose Marie Chisesi Mellman ’59 was honored at the annual History of Easton Area High School Day in April. She was an elementary school teacher for 36 years, spent 15 years as the high school cheerleading coach, and is still involved at athletic events.

1960s William “Bill” Blewett ’60 is living in the greater Baltimore area and is a Western film producer for One-Eyed Horse Productions.

Jack Pencek ’63 and Diane Ritter Pencek ’64 of Tunkhannock have four grandchildren.

Martin Handler ’68 was appointed superintendent of the Pine Plains (N.Y.) Central School District.

Daniel Blaschak ’69 retired in 2010 from Norristown High School after teaching for 41 years. He is married to Joan O’Neil Blaschak ’70 who retired from the Marple Newtown School District in Newtown Square in June.

1970s Katherine Andrews ’70 is the director of liturgy at the Church of the Presentation in Stockton, Calif.

James Day ’70 was an Air Force officer for five years. He retired in 2010 after a 32-year career as an elementary school teacher in the Fort Leboeuf School District, located just south of Erie.

Maury Molin ’76 retired in June from the East Stroudsburg School District after teaching for 35 years. He plans to travel, coach and volunteer in his free time.

Michael Sitler ’76 was named deputy provost for operations at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Terry Barry ’89 M’99 was named associate dean of the College of Education at ESU.

Bob Perry ’77 M’80 is a strategic consultant with Siemens AG Health Services Division.

Carol Pierce Frysinger ’78 and her husband, Jeff, live in Ephrata.

1980s Ken Coleman ’81 was appointed vice president and general manager of Thales Avionics Services Worldwide, Americas, in Piscataway, N.J. He has more than 25 years of experience in global sales management of radio frequency and microwave applications.

Dave Lutz ’81 M’08 was named the head girls basketball coach at Easton High School in Easton. He teaches health and physical education at Easton Area Middle School.

Alex Todoroff ’81 was promoted to lieutenant by the East Brunswick (N.J.) Police Department, where he is a 28-year veteran.

William “Bill” Fitzgerald ’82 was named president of the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau in King of Prussia.

Christine Laquidara ’83 M ’89 was appointed principal of Woodside Avenue Elementary School in Franklin Lakes, N.J. James Viola ’84 has been named manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Flight Standards General Aviation and Commercial Division.

1990s Lori Chaplin Masterson ’93 was appointed principal of Surfside Elementary School in Satellite Beach, Fla. She lives in Viera, Fla., with her husband, Doug and son, Ryan.

Mike Stracco ’93 was recognized as 2012 “Teacher of the Year” at Rutherford (N.J.) High School. He teaches English and public speaking and directs theatrical productions at the school.

Patrick Steidle ’95 was promoted to assistant athletic trainer with the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team.

Sue Mendenhall ’96 was awarded the 2013 Citadel Heart of Learning Award in the Oxford Area School District, where she has taught English since 1998. This is the second time in her career to earn this honor.

Jason Peters ’98 was named head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Bethany Graybill ’99 was hired as an administrative manager with North Group Consultants, a Lancaster leadership consulting firm.

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Fall 2013

Class Notes | Births | Marriages

2000s Matthew Fischl ’03 received a doctoral degree in integrated biology from Lehigh University in May. He will continue his research with a fellowship at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany.

Barry Krammes ’04 placed fourth in the javelin at the U.S. Track & Field Championships in June. A teacher at East Stroudsburg High School, he has competed in the championships for eight years and this marks his bestever finish.

Alicia Marinelli M’07 has been hired as the marketing manager at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center velodrome in Trexlertown.

Katie Ord ’07 M’08 received her Level II coaching certification from the United States Field Hockey Association. She is entering her third season as an assistant field hockey coach for the ESU Warriors.

Ken Parrish ’07 signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. Parrish has played with the NEPA Miners and was an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007.

Marc Sinclair ’08 was named as one of the teacher of the year award recipients from the Bogota (N.J.) School District. Sinclair is a physical education teacher and coach.

2010s Michael Kane ’10 was named the Stroudsburg High School boys’ soccer coach.

Jeremy Owens ’10 M’12 was recently named an adjunct professor at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. He has been teaching office administration there for two years.

Michael Kalusz ’11 graduated from basic infantry training in Fort Benning, Ga. Jason Oszvart ’11 works for the New York Jets football team as a strength and conditioning intern.

Joseph Costa ’12 is in the Philippines with the Peace Corps training as an education volunteer.

Once sworn into service, he will be assigned to a community for two years.

Lauren Ryder ’12 is a multimedia general assignment reporter for KNOETV 8 in Monroe, La. Zach Kaytes ’13 is an inside sales consultant with the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team in Charlotte, N.C. Sara Czyz ’13, Stacy Gray ’13 and Daniel Rosenberg ’13 will teach English to K-12 students in Spain from October 2013 through May 2014. All three have received a prestigious scholarship from the Ministry of Education in Spain to serve as ambassadors of the North American language and culture.

BIRTHS Nicole Pelleschi Darley ’00 and her husband, James, announce the birth of their first child, Hazel Elizabeth Darley, born on April 24. The family resides in Conshohocken.

Leah Kunkle Behler ’07 and her husband Josh, announce the birth of their son, Barrett William, born on August 23, 2012. The family resides in Dayton, Ohio.

MARRIAGES Barbara Carnival ’94 wed Neal Dannenberg on August 18, 2012, in Tribeca, N.Y. The couple resides in New York City.

Josh Aronowitz ’04 married Tracey Pereda on March 29 in Woodland Park, N.J. The couple resides in Harrison, N.J.

To Submit Class Notes Class Notes list the year alumni received their undergraduate degree first, followed by their graduate degree if they attended East Stroudsburg University for both. ‘M’ denotes a master’s degree.

Email alumni@esufoundation.org Submit online esualumni.org/classnotes Call 800-775-8975 Fax 570-422-3301 It is our policy not to publish engagements or pregnancies; however, we do publish marriages and births.

Please note that the editorial staff makes every effort to publish the information given to us by alumni as it is received.

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IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam

Lester G. Abeloff ’39, 95 July 16, 2013

Lester Abeloff ’39 and his late wife, Clementine, were well-known local philanthropists.

The retired owner and founder of Abeloff Buick, Pontiac, GMC & Nissan of Stroudsburg, Abeloff was a member of the ESU Heritage Society and a member emeritus of the ESU Foundation Board of Directors. In 2000, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education presented Abeloff with the Eberly Award for Philanthropy.

The Abeloff Center for Performing Arts is named in his honor, and ESU awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2004. He was a supporter of the Warren E. ’55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center.

The Clementine Abeloff Community Health Center at the Pocono Medical Center (PMC) was created in 1996 and Abeloff was named honorary campaign chair for PMC’s Capital Campaign in 2000.

Born on Dec. 5, 1917, he attended East Stroudsburg High School and graduated from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College in 1939. He was an Air Force veteran, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel upon retirement from the Air Force Reserve. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart medals for his service in the Army Air Corps in World War II.

Dr. Kurt Wimer ’44, 98 August 2, 2013

Dr. Kurt Wimer ’44, professor emeritus of political science, was born in Germany in 1915, and came to the United States at age 23. After graduating from East Stroudsburg University, he earned his Ph.D. from New York University in 1957.

He was employed at ESU from 1945 to 1985, and as a leading scholar on Woodrow Wilson, wrote many academic articles. He corresponded with a number of U.S. presidents and other dignitaries, and recently donated those letters to ESU.

ALUMNI Rosemarie P. Abitanta ’87 Marita F. Barrington M’79 Jean E. Behler ’73 Margaret A. Brecker ’98 Stephen D. Clay ’87 Barry G. Fleischmann ’63 Robert W. Garis ’79 Russell M. Hayes ’47 Lester L. Himmelreich ’49

ESU Alumni Herald

Dr. Wimer remained interested in campus and world events long after his retirement. For many years he attended the annual Kurt Wimer International Lecture Series named in his honor, which brings international scholars and political figures to campus to broaden international awareness.

Memorial gifts may be made to the ESU – Dr. Kurt Wimer International Lecture Series Fund.

Dr. Joseph ‘Jay’ Brennan, 82 August 11, 2013

Dr. Brennan’s passion for life, the arts, books, film, and travel drove him to a career in theater. He taught and directed generations of ESU students as a theater professor from 1960 to 1999.

He was chairman of the ESU speech communication and theater arts department from 1973 until the departments separated in 1982. He then chaired the theater department for 10 years.

Dr. Brennan directed more than 70 plays at ESU, ranging from Shakespeare to modern comedy and drama. He also taught theater courses at Oxford University, England, where he was one of the founders of the Oxford Court Players. Before his appointment at ESU, Dr. Brennan taught junior and senior high school English and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Iona College, a master’s from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from New York University.

Memorial gifts may be made through the ESU Foundation to the J.J. Brennan Theatre Excellence Scholarship, which was established in 1999 upon his retirement.

Dr. Larry Hapke Dr. Hapke served as dean of the Graduate School and Continuing Education from 1982 until his retirement in 1999. He spent his retirement years in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Memorial GIFTs ESU Foundation, 200 Prospect St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Or give online: esufoundation.org/givenow

Helen Koshensky ’96 Jodielynn F. Kuhn ’92 M’00 Joseph M. Mikelski ’83 William B. Nonnemacher ’79 Jennifer Parduski ’91 Eric R. Polchin ’95 Elaine M. Robinson M’88 Kenneth M. Rozelsky’60 Herbert A. Smith ’58 Caroline Vandemark ’13 David A. Walls ’60

Andrew M. Wertz ’79 MaryCarol Wipperman ’74 Donald B. Whalen ’49 Jane Moll Yoder ’48

FACULTY (Retired) Kenneth Winfield

FRIENDS Murray H. Abeloff John H. Grant

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Meaningful Ties T

here’s warmth and a sense of comfort in the home of Willard and Evelyn Werkheiser. Their Wind Gap, Pa., farmhouse holds so much of all they cherish. It’s there they have each other, and decades of memories of raising their children at the foot of the picturesque Pocono Mountains.

The couple doesn’t get back to ESU much, returning the last time in 1994 for Evelyn’s 50th class reunion, but their feelings for their alma mater run deep. So deep that when they sold a portion of the farm to a preservation land trust in 2010, they reinvested some of the proceeds into a charitable gift annuity through the East Stroudsburg University Foundation.

The years of hard work on the farm now help ESU students realize their dreams, they said. An added bonus…the land he once owned and still adores, will never be developed.

“Doing the charitable gift annuity was the best place for us to invest this money,” Evelyn said. “It was safe. And we wanted to do something that was meaningful to us.”

Now retired and enjoying their family, neighbors, friends and church activities, the Werkheisers take things slower. And Willard, with a smile on his face, and a loving glance to Evelyn, couldn’t really ask for more.

“The sun comes up and the moon shines at night, I’m satisfied,” he said.

“That is heaven on Earth.”

Please consider making the ESU Foundation part of your estate plans.

Contact the ESU Foundation at plannedgiving@esufoundation.org or (570) 422-3333.

Read the Werkheiser’s full story at www.esufoundation.org/donorstories.

East Stroudsburg University Foundation Henry A. Ahnert Jr. Alumni Center 200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999

One Book, One Campus Come read with ESU

President Welsh invites alumni and friends to join in the university’s new One Book, One Campus initiative that is promoting deep reading, critical thinking and campus unity among students, faculty and staff.

ESU is reading

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,

by Wes Moore.

Pick up a copy of the book and become part of the university’s conversation!

SAVE THE DATE

November 19 at ESU AN EVENING WITH WES MOORE Details at esu.edu

ABOUT THE BOOK: Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners, both ran into trouble with the police. How, then, did one grow up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House Fellow and business leader, while the other ended up a convicted murderer serving a life sentence?

“The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.”