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Scholarship, tree to honor Van Geet “ALL MY LIFE I HAD MY HEART IN preserving nature,” Dr. Anthony “Tony” Van Geet, professor emeritus of chemistry, used to say. So when Johanna Van Geet wanted to honor the memory of her husband after his death in 2002, the choice was obvious: a scholarship for an Oswego chemistry student interested in environmental science and a tree in Tony’s memory near Snygg Hall, where he taught. “He was very interested and very involved in preserving nature and was a charter member of several environmental organizations,” she said. He was president of Save Oswego County, which eventually combined with Save the County in Onondaga County. A counselor for the Nature Conservancy, he was active as a leader for outings sponsored by the group. DICK BLUME, SYRACUSE POST-STANDARD
Dr. Anthony “Tony” Van Geet, shown in this 2000 photo, advocated turning abandoned railroad tracks into biking and hiking trails.
“He was involved in the Audubon Society, Rails to Trails, anything that had to do with nature,” Johanna said. The Van Geets came to America from their native Netherlands as a young married couple. Tony was an engineer at Proctor and Gamble and was one of the original “Crest Kids,” when he helped to test the new toothpaste. The couple moved to Los Angeles, where he earned his doctorate in chemistry at the University of Southern California. After post-doctoral work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a teaching job at SUNY Buffalo, the Van Geets settled in Oswego, where Tony taught in the chemistry department from 1970 to 1998. “Tony was very involved in his work,” Johanna remembered. The couple raised three children, all grown. “Dr. Van Geet loved the land and spent his life fighting to preserve it for future generations,” according to the chemistry department newsletter. “It is inspiring to consider the concentric waves of influence that this man, with his intelligence, expertise, energy and moral commitments, has had and will continue to have,” said Dean of Arts and Sciences Sara Varhus at the tree-planting ceremony. “The tree that we are planting here today will remind me, at any rate, of this continuing influence here at Oswego and out in the world, where his 5,919 environmental science students are, in their turn, passing along his influence.” Through her generous scholarship, Johanna Van Geet has insured that her husband’s passions will continue to live on in generations of Oswego students. ●
Election 2004 We’re working right now on a story for the summer issue about alumni involved in the 2004 elections. If you’re a candidate, campaign worker, analyst or poll watcher, let your alma mater know. Please write to Oswego alumni magazine, King Alumni Hall, 300 Washington Blvd., Oswego, NY 13126, call 315-312-2258, or e-mail us at alumni@oswego.edu (put Election in the subject line.) You can also submit story ideas online at http://oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/magazine. We may not be able to use all story ideas, due to space available and deadlines. ●
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Former Oswego student David Levy will be among those returning for “Don’t Forget to Remember!” Safe Haven’s 60th anniversary celebration, set for Aug. 6 to 8. Residents of the Fort Ontario Refugee Shelter and community members will gather to reminisce about the days in World War II when Oswego housed the only refugee camp on American soil. Events will include a synagogue service, Safe Haven museum tours, video stories of shelter and community residents, and an anniversary dinner. For more information, contact Mary Vanouse at 315-342-3582 or mvanouse@twcny.rr.com, or Judy Coe Rapaport at 315-342-4265 or erapapo1@twcny.rr.com
Under 40? Doing fine? If you’re one of Oswego’s young alumni and are doing something great, unique or interesting, we want to hear from you! Oswego is planning an issue next spring on alumni under 40. So if you are an under-40 success story, or know of someone who is, please write to Oswego alumni magazine, King Alumni Hall, 300 Washington Blvd., Oswego, NY 13126, call 315-312-2258, or e-mail us at alumni@oswego.edu (put Under 40 in the subject line.) You can also submit stories online at http:// oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/ magazine. Submissions will be selected based on interest and space available. ●
OSWEGO
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Spring 2004