Fall 2006
Gatherings and Events
Shawnee ‘Siblings’ - Forever a ‘Family’
Thirty-five years after arriving at East Stroudsburg State College, the bonds of friendship are as strong as ever for this group of alumni. A self-described group of “middle class kids” from Scranton, the suburbs of Philly, and the state of Connecticut, arrived as individuals in the fall of 1970 and 1971 but graduated years later as a cohesive family. Frank Johnson ’74 recalls, “We had a lot in common … none of us had any money or a car and we didn’t go home on the weekends!” What they did have was each other, and the third floor of Shawnee Hall was their home. In the early ’70s most of them participated in athletics like football, soccer, cross country, basketball, wrestling, Celebrating the wedding of a child is a great reason to get together in Towson, Maryland! From left, Jim baseball or track and field. None of Shearouse ’74, Cherie Shearouse, Frank Johnson ’74, Sarah Johnson, Dave Hair ’76, Moira (Portius) them pledged a fraternity but they Hair ’77, George Vance ’74, Maryann (Van Dyke) Vance ’75, George Shultz ’74, Cindy (Masenheimer) formed their own bonds of steel that Shultz ’74, Dean Gardner ’74, Mary (Pakenas) Gardner ’74, Robert Smith ’73 and Diane Smith. have remained as strong today as when they were forged. They supported each other in the hard times and celebrated with each other during the good times. Today they are professionals with their own lives, wives, careers and children; yet they still find time for each other. Over the years they have vacationed in Florida and New York, held special events and joined each other at Homecoming. It used to be they celebrated with one another at their weddings and the birth of their children; now they still make time to party, but it is at their children’s weddings! This group of alumni possesses a special relationship that transcends the term “classmate.” In recalling the years of In the backyard with some of the “Shawnee Boys circa 1971” (L-R) Frank Newby ’75, friendship, Frank notes, “We were lucky to find John Helgesen ’74, Frank Johnson ’74 and his son Reese, George Vance ’74, Frank each other, grow up together and appreciate the Hollaran ’75, and Dave Hair ’76. bond of friendship that will last forever. We are grateful to the university for providing us Gardner ’74, John Helgesen ’74 and Irene Helgesen, with the skills to be successful, both in and out of the Al Keglovits ’74 and Linda (Keenan) Keglovits ’74, classroom, and for the quirk-of-fate that brought us Denny Mohn ’74 and Cathy (Mukai) Mohn ’74, Jim together.” Shearouse ’74 and Cherie Shearouse, George Shultz Frank’s family, in addition to his wife, Sarah, ’74 and Cindy (Masenheimer) Shultz ’74, Scott and children, includes: Robert Smith ’73 and Diane Willoth ’74 and Denise Willoth, George Vance ’74 and Smith, Loren Brink ’74, Roger Dontonville ’74 and Maryann (Van Dyke) Vance ’75, Frank Hollaran ’75 Anne Dontonville, Lee Fahnestock ’74 and Mollie and Margaret Hollaran, Frank Newby ’75 and Doreen Fahnestock, Dean Gardner ’74 and Mary (Pakenas) Newby, Dave Hair ’76 and Moira (Portius) Hair ’77.