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DAVID C. KOZAK, PH.D. gave his 14th and final Presidential election analysis on Nov. 2, 2016, before retiring in December, capping a distinguished 44-year career in the political science field. 1
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COL. DENNIS D. MCSWEENEY, USA (RET.) recently commemorated his 75th birthday. Col. McSweeney, now retired from the Army, has worked for the Department of Defense for 33 years, currently in the Office of the Inspector General.
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SISTER SUSAN HERZING, S.S.J. VMC celebrated her Golden Jubilee on Sept. 8, 2016. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on Sept. 8, 1966 and professed her final vows on Sept. 15, 1974. Currently, she serves as director of the Agregee program for the Sisters of St. Joseph, assisting women and men entering into an intentional commitment to live a simple lifestyle, to choose ministry in light of the mission of the religious community and to support one another in their membership. Sister Susan taught at schools in the Diocese of Erie and for
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ROBERT “BOB” J. DOBIESZ enjoys acting and filmmaking, performing in local productions and even had the opportunity to be an extra in “The Dark Knight Rises”, which was filmed in Pittsburgh. He has been cast in several films that were produced by fellow alumnus, Len Kabasinski ’97, including, “Warriors of the Apocalypse,” “Ninja: Prophecy of Death,” and “Wendigo: Bound by Blood,” and is currently preparing for his role in the film “Blood Prism.” He is Gannon University’s Archivist.
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Trio of Gannon Alumni Sail the Caribbean
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CHARLES A. PORA is in his 48th consecutive season as Gannon basketball statistician. During that time, he has kept Gannon’s statistics for approximately 1,500 men’s and women’s basketball games.
MELVIN WITHERSPOON was among the nominees for the Youth Leadership Institute of Erie’s three volunteer awards, The Charles Faulkerson Humanitarian Award, named after the late community advocate, the Luther Manus Trendsetter Award and the Antonio Del Rio Academic Impact Award, which were presented at the annual Gala to Salute Volunteerism and Service event held on Nov. 10, 2016.
20 years worked in several capacities with separated and divorced Catholics, a program of the Diocese of Erie. From 1982-85 she was the pastoral minister at St. Joseph Parish, Erie, and for 15 years, Sister Susan was a self-employed massage therapist and is renowned for her healing hands and heart. LEONARD I. JEFFERSON ’79M is a member of the Erie Times Old Newsies who collected donations for Erie’s Second Harvest Food Bank this year. Leonard was invited to join the Old Newsies by the late publisher of the Times, Ed Mead, and the late Vic Rotunda, and was one of the first African-American members of the Times Old Newsies. He is a retired outside plant superintendent for GTE.
Achievements by Gannon University faculty, staff and administration
In an effort to beat the Erie winters, these Gannon alumni have been taking sailing trips through the Caribbean for over 20 years. This February’s catamaran trip was to the British Virgin Islands with stops in Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Norman. No celebrities were spotted on this trip; however, the group did run into Rolling Stones guitarist, Ron Wood north of Grenada in 2012.
Left to right, Bill Bleil ’63, Bill Steger ’66 and Larry Weldon ’67.
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