A L U M NI NO T ES n
ROSEMARIE VITHAYATHIL, ’03, is an
associate professor at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill. MATT KASCAK, 6th Yr. ’04, is the
principal of South Elementary School in New Canaan, Conn. ROBERT DANIEL IRWIN, 6th Yr. ’05,
has released his debut album, Nature vs. Nurture, an acoustic blend of vocals, guitars, violin, and piano, with rock, folk, country, and blues influences. The album, which features 10 original songs, is available on iTunes, Spotify, and other streaming music sites, as well as on CD. Irwin teaches high school English in Meriden, Conn. DIANE M. MYERS, ’05, is the senior
vice president, special education-behavior, at Specialized Education Services, which serves K-12 students with alternative learning needs. Previously, she was chair of the department of teacher education at Texas Woman’s University, where she was a professor and the program coordinator for special education. She is the author of Classwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports: A Guide to Proactive Classroom Management and Implementing Classwide PBIS: A Guide to Supporting Teachers. STEVEN WALKUSKI, ’05, celebrated 16
years at PFP Services, where he is manager of the information technology department. He is the winner of the Director’s Cup and other awards. THOMAS ERMINI, ’06, is the new
athletic director at Branford High School in Connecticut. MARK OTTUSCH, ’06, was named
athletic director/K-12 health and physical education coordinator at New Fairfield High School. GINA GALLO REINHARD, ’06, M.S. ’11,
who teaches Italian at Bristol Central High School, was named the school district’s Teacher of the Year for 2020-21. ABBY WARREN, ’06, was promoted to
partner at Robinson & Cole. Warren represents employers in labor and employment matters. She focuses her practice on counseling private-sector employers, including multinational corporations, health care organizations, educational institutions, and manufacturers, in all areas of employment law. REBECCA CAVALLARO, 6th Yr. ’07,
is the director of pupil personnel services for Southington Public Schools in Connecticut. ANDREA ULERY, ’07, is the program
director, CH-53K production at Sikorsky Aircraft, Lockheed Martin. She has held increasingly responsible roles in program and operations management with Sikorsky Aircraft. 44 | Southern ALUMNI MAGAZINE
ADAM COPPOLA, M.S. ’08, 6th Yr. ’10, is
a Connecticut-based commercial photographer specializing in lifestyle, sports, tourism, and portrait photography. His recent projects include “COVID Superheroes,” a social media campaign that he and his wife, Christy, ’04, created, that juxtaposes images of children dressed as essential workers transformed into superheroes. NICHOLE QUERZE, M.S. ’08, was
named interim dean of students of Middlebrook School in Wilton, Conn., for the 2020-21 school year. ALECIA POST WALKUSKI, ’08, M.A.
’12, was named to the Renaissance National Honor Roll of educators for guiding effective implementation of the program designed to enhance student success. Walkuski is a high school English teacher with the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System. MICHAEL GIAMPETRUZZI, M.S. ’09, is
the head football coach of Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Conn.
2010s
CARLA JACKSON, MBA ’11, has joined
the Newton, Mass., firm of DangerLaw, with a focus on family-law, including divorce, custody and prenuptial agreements, and asset protection. She earned a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. KRISTIN AHERN, ’13, joined the law
firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith in the medical malpractice group, focusing on the defense of dentists and other health care professionals. KELLY ZIMMERMAN BAINER, ’13, was
named the 2020-21 District Teacher of the Year for Watertown Public Schools. She is a special education teacher at Polk Elementary in Oakville, Conn. ANNE JORDAN, ’13, was named the
new director of human resources at the Anderson Center for Autism. Jordan is a certified professional with the Society of Human Resources Management. She also holds certification as a public librarian with the New York State Education Department and completed an executive leadership program sponsored by the Dutchess County Chamber Foundation. DAISY HERNANDEZ, ’16, is the emer-
gency preparedness coordinator/ health educator for the East Shore District Health Department, as well as the lead of the Connecticut Medical Reserve Corps Region 2. She heads up Region 2’s Shoreline Unit, covering towns stretching from East Haven to Old Saybrook. Hernandez led key COVID-19 crisis-focused efforts, supporting public health and medical needs.
MICHAEL PEREIRO, ’17, a volunteer
emergency medical technician, ran a 24-hour ultra-marathon to raise money to help Echo Hose Ambulance Corps purchase a new ambulance. He is a resident of Shelton, Conn. JARED POLTRACK, ’17, is a staff ac-
countant at Burzenski and Company in East Haven, Conn. ARIANNA RIVERA, ’17, was sworn in to
the East Hartford Police Department. HALEY R. MCGUANE, ’19, has passed
the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.
2020s
TIFFANIE EDWARDS, ’20, was the col-
legiate winner of the Aspirations in Computing Award from the Connecticut affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology. At Southern, Edwards was a computer science major and also completed an honors minor in transdisciplinary concepts and perspec-
n
tives, and a minor in mathematics. The two runners-up for the award attended Yale University and Connecticut College.
IN MEMORIAM SOPHIE BIALEK, ’38, March 13, 2020 LUCILLE J. MAROTTOLI, ’42,
March 22, 2020 DORIS I. MAIORANO, ’43, April 4, 2020 JEAN G. SHEA, ’48, May 14, 2020 MARJORIE VISEL, ’49, May 1, 2020 LAVERLE A. CONNELLY, ’50, July 22,
2020 C. JEAN MATTHEWS, ’51, M.S. ’60,
March 25, 2020 MARILYN FINN MENTA, ’52, Aug. 9,
2020 CARLYLE P. AVENI, ’53, Nov. 25, 2020 JOHN “JACK” MCCARTHY, ’53,
Aug. 24, 2020 CYNTHIA J. BUTLER, ’54, July 4, 2020
In Print and On Screen
MaryEllen Beveridge, ’72, is the author of After the Hunger: Stories. The central figure in many of the stories is a psychically wounded World War II veteran. Characters question ideas about selfhood and their roles as daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, wives, and lovers. Beveridge is an honors graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a two-time nominee for a Pushcart Prize. Linda Froschauer, 6th Yr. ’94, is the co-author of Bringing STEM to the Elementary Classroom. She lives in Pasadena, Calif. John Whitmeyer, ’94, is the author of Feel Through Me, a memoir of his journey after a life-threatening autoimmune disease. The book was published by Christian Faith Publishing. Mahogany Lowery, ’12, is the author of Greatness Over the Rainbow, which follows the story of four children from an urban city who are facing personal challenges. The book was designed to encourage children and inspire them to overcome obstacles. A first-time author, Lowery holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a graduate degree in human services. Mona Gustafson Affinito, professor emeritus of psychology, is the author of My Father’s House: Remembering my Swedish-American Family. Karl Artur Johan Gustafsson left Sweden in 1910 to follow his older siblings to America. Affinito, his third child, shares the family’s journey through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the tumultuous ’60s and ’70s. Affinito taught at Southern for 30 years before retiring in 1986.
