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Cla ss No t e s
Alumni news
(Continued from page 21) tary school, where she taught for 32 years. John McCoy ’75, industrial relations, Hernando, FL, writes that after graduating in 1975, he served in the Army, from which he has retired with the rank of Sergeant Major. He works for the state of Florida as a disabled veteran outreach program representative. He married in 1968 and has three children. His youngest daughter graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University School of Law, and is an attorney in Tampa. He plans to travel to North Dartmouth this year, his first such trip since 1975. “Great school! I met many Vietnam veterans while enrolled there and thoroughly enjoyed my experiences in college.” Jay Gonsalves ’76, psychology, Rochester, is president of Action Collection Agencies Inc. in Middleboro. He has his master’s degree in health services administration from Salve Regina University. A longtime coach and former commissioner of Rochester youth baseball, Jay is also deacon of the First Congregational Church of Rochester. He and his wife Connie have three children. Kim Holland ’76, biology, Seattle, is a physician at Group Health Permanente at the Rainier Medical Clinic. Jerome C. Rosperich ’76, management, Charles Town, WV, is the assistant principal at Leslie Fox Keyser elementary school, Warren County. He also owns Stonewall Farms, specializing in the breeding and training of horses. Ronald Teachman ’76, political science, New Bedford, a 30-year veteran of the New Bedford police department, was appointed the city’s chief of police by Mayor Scott W. Lang. Edward Hill ’77, multidisciplinary studies, Swansea, was reelected as the town’s representative to the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee. He is the first school committee member in Massachusetts to earn the “distinction of fellow” for completing 100 training hours with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. He is a program specialist for People Inc., Fall
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D a r t m o u t h
Alumni Awards
Homecoming Weekend 2006 featured the annual presentation of Alumni Association awards. Gathered above are: (l to r) Alumni Association President Gloria Craven ‘77, former Alumni Relations Director Donald Berube ‘84, Representative Michael Rodrigues ‘83, Phyllis Lopes (grandmother of Cecil Lopes III), Kevin Santos ‘81, Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack, Christina (Tina) Bruen, Alumni Relations Director Joe DeMedeiros ‘99.
Family of slain student among those honored with Alumni Association awards
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he death of his son, UMass Dartmouth student Cecil M. Lopes III, was a tragedy. But Cecil Lopes Jr. said his family, while still grieving, has tried “to turn a negative into a positive and make a difference in people’s lives.” Their efforts have been twofold: becoming increasingly active in efforts to halt violence and establishing the Cecil M. Lopes III Scholarship Fund to aid New Bedford residents who enroll at UMass Dartmouth. For their work, the Alumni Association presented the Lopes family with its University Service Award during the Fall Fest weekend, one of five awards given at the annual homecoming brunch. Cecil’s grandmother Phyllis accepted the alumni honor on the family’s behalf. Lopes family members have championed the cause of anti-violence since Cecil, 18, died in a drive-by shooting on Oct. 31, 2004. An athlete at New Bedford High, Cecil had planned to use his energy and education to better his community. Joe DeMedeiros, alumni relations director, said the Lopes family has pledged $100,000 over the next several years to the scholarship they established, which “will serve as a testament to Cecil’s life.” Also honored at the brunch were: v Christina Bruen, director of UMass
Dartmouth’s International Student Center, Alumni Employee Award. Bruen was alumni relations director from 1991 through 1996, and her stewardship was crucial as Southeastern Massachusetts University became UMass Dartmouth; v Representative Michael J. Rodrigues, (D-Westport), Alumni Service Award. The 1983 graduate recently stepped down after a stint as the longest serving president of the Alumni Association. On Beacon Hill, Rodrigues is a tireless university advocate; v Kevin Santos ’81, a Dartmouth assessor and founder of Stat Ambulance Service, Personal Achievement Award. In 26 years, Santos’ company has grown from a oneman, basement operation to a leader in ambulance service in New England. Santos provides in-kind ambulance services for university athletic events; v Donald A. Berube ’84, former director of alumni relations, the Alumni Association Award. An attorney who now heads the Association of New England Title Agents, Berube oversaw alumni relations from 2002 to 2005. The 2006 award recipients “are truly deserving of the honors,” said DeMedeiros. “The university is fortunate to count them as friends.”