Alumni News and Notes

aluMnI news

1950s

Thaddeus Rychlik ’58 and his wife Vicky have move to Discovery Village Retirement Community in Fort Myers, FL where they are enjoying the good life with year round golf and new friends.

Anthony Rudnicki ’59 and wife Lynn celebrated their 50th Anniversary in January 2020 with a 38 day cruise in the South Pacific and New Zealand. They now are great grandparents. Tony also completed a two hour movie screenplay “Touching” that can be found online at his website touchingscreenplay.com.

1960s

Roger Marks ’62 moved to Castine, ME with his wife Peggy, and they recently became first time grandparents with the birth of granddaughter Julianna Rose.

John Compisi ‘66 and his wife Linda (Immaculata ’66) recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their daughter Aimie, along with her husband, Jim and sons, Jimmy and Jake, prepared an intimate but elegant backyard dinner in San Jose, California in early August. Due to the COVID restrictions, the party included four friends of John and Linda, and John’s brother Pete and his wife Rhonda, who drove cross-country from Indiana to participate. Aimie prepared amazing food, served by the boys, and the wine, as you might guess, flowed freely. The evening was complete with a cake topped by John and Linda’s 50 year-old wedding cake topper.

1970s

The Class of 1970 has been meeting regularly via Zoom as their 50th Reunion was put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. This photo of a March 3, 2021 gathering shows, from top row and left to right, Norb Pienta, Tom Kloc, Bill McCarthy, Tom Compisi,

Tim Krakowiak, John Bava, Chuck Rinaldi, Brian Parks, Robert

“Mr. T” Torgalski, coach and physical education teacher in 1970, Joe Twist,

Mike Kruse, Chuck

Goergen, and Mark Heckman. Others who have joined in prior calls include Larry Carter and Dan Steinmetz. If you are a class of ‘70 member and want to join future Zoom calls, email Norb Pienta at npienta6@ gmail.com.

Norb Pienta ’70 is retired in Athens, GA and is a talented artist as exemplified below in his recreation of a once a year blooming flower in stained glass.

Jim Dommer ’71 is retiring after 45 years as CPA at the end of tax season, Jim adds, “I know they extended the tax season but that was after I made my decision, so he who decides first wins.”

Larry Palaszynski ’72, under the artist name “Larry Pal”, has been recognized by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International listed him as “One to Watch” for songwriting. NSAI song evaluators have identified Larry as a rising songwriter.

The Class of 1972 is planning on their 50th Reunion for 2022. Please contact Allan Kasprzak at (716) 655-6575 or Dennis Ruda at (716) 544-4454 or dennisruda@gmail.com to get involved and informed. There is a Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/729820697567552

Gerry Fortain ’73 reports he is happily retired as of this year.

Jim Gould ‘76 is fast approaching retirement after a career as a college professor, a freelance journalist, and a senior executive in the energy industry. He is currently the Director of Corporate Affairs at Franklin Energy, a small national clean energy firm focused on energy productivity and grid optimization. He lives with his wife, Judy, near Boston, where they (barely) manage the comings and goings of their five teenagers.

Ed Pryzbysz ’79 has retired after 40 years in the chemical industry. He reports that he has relieved his mind of all worries caused by physical possessions that he can’t carry on his back, and plans to spend the rest of my life traveling the world looking for the next great adventure. He is currently in Thailand, and will be going wherever the winds take him.

1980s

Charlie Makey ’86 has been named President of Merchants Insurance Group in Buffalo, effective April 1, 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations. He will be the 10th President in the company’s 103year history and join the company’s Board of Directors.

and notes...

Thomas Orrange ’89 is the Interim Dean of the School of Leadership, Science and Technology at Medaille College in Buffalo. He has worked at the college since 2005 and previously worked in the legal and banking fields. During his career at Medaille he has also served as the chair of the faculty council, and as the faculty representative on the president’s cabinet.

1990s

Jonathan Wright ’94 was promoted to Detective in the Town of Hamburg Police Department. He has been in law enforcement for 13 years and on the Hamburg force for 11 years.

Lt. Col. Christopher

Glascott ‘96, U.S. Army JAG, and his wife, Lt. Col. Julie Glascott, U.S. Army JAG, are currently deployed to South Korea . Stationed at Camp Humphreys, Chris is Chief, Military Justice, and Julie is Chief, Administrative Law; their golden retreiver, Indiana is Chief, Dog. They are on a two year assignment.

David Hahn ’97 recently completed his PhD at SUNY Buffalo. He is a currently a Professor at SUNY Geneseo teaching Philosophy. Davis and his wife Laura are the proud parents of Gwendolyn, Cordelia, and Winston.

2000s

Clay Miller ’00 and his wife Heather welcomed their second child, Clayton James Miller born October 19th, 2020.

Timothy Quinn, M.D. ’00 was promoted to Chief of Critical Care at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has also been selected to the Buffalo Spree’s Top Doctors in Western New York list in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in both Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.

Paul Gorczyca ’02 is now the Supervising Customs and Border Protection Officer in the Area Port of Buffalo. Previously he served on the Port’s anti-terrorism team. Paul currently resides in Orchard Park, NY with his wife Kathryn and daughters Victoria and Evelyn.

Andy Lanigan ‘02 and his wife Sarah welcomed their first child, daughter Penelope Ruth Lanigan born on December 27, 2020. Penny was 8 lbs 7 oz and 21 inches. Mom, Dad, and Penny are doing great! Staff Sgt. Matthew Bauman ’04 has been named New York State Airman of the Year for his service in medical support missions, as well as an instructor in Self Aid Buddy Care and in the Tactical Combat Casualty Core.

Ilio DiPaolo ’06 is currently operating Sole’ at Woodlawn Beach as well as taking over many duties from his father Dennis at the family restaurant (Ilio DiPaolo’s) founded by his grandparents.

Frank Castiglia ’08 graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, completed his residency and has become a third generation Licensed Funeral Director for Castiglia Funeral Home, Inc. and Erie County Cremation Service. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Charles F. Castiglia, and grandfather, Frank R. Castiglia. Recently the family renovated and expanded operations at Castiglia Funeral Home, Inc., at 873 Abbott Road in South Buffalo, NY. This includes adding a cafe for refreshments, a modern audio/visual system, live streaming capabilities, flat screen tv’s for slideshows, three operating fireplaces, expansion of the visitation chapels, merchandise selection room and restrooms, increased parking, a heated driveway with ground level main entrance. Frank looks forward to continuing his family tradition of service to all those living in the WNY community.

2010s

Patrick Sullivan ’10 worked for the Biden-Harris Transition Team on the Domestic Policy Cluster. He has since joined the Biden Administration to work in the Office of Management and Budget on National Security Programs. Before working on the Transition Team he served as the Director of Operations for Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26).

Brett Cawthorn ’12 currently the Plant Manager at Prana Sleep in Depew, NY.

Tyler Siminski ’13 attended Duquesne University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2017 with a degree in Economics. After Duquesne he attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law School, graduating Cum Laude in May 2020, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. There were several delays with the bar exam due to Covid, but Tyler recently found out he passed the Pennsylvania Bar Exam. He currently resides in Pittsburgh and is employed at Reed Smith, LLP as a litigation associate.