Albert E. Filano, a stalwart champion for West Chester University A stalwart champion for West Chester University,Albert E. Filano, 89, died May 18.
Dr. Filano served the University for 35 years as professor and chair of the mathematics department, director of sciences and mathematics, vice president of academic affairs, and interim president. In addition to teaching math to thousands of WCU students, he was responsible for securing $1 million in National Science Foundation funds for the school. Also, he was faculty advisor to the Newman Center and served on the board of directors of the Swope Scholarship Foundation. He authored five K-8 workbook-textbook series in mathematics, which are still in use. Later, he was named emeritus vice president for academic affairs and emeritus professor of mathematics. In retirement, he volunteered for the University in many capacities including as a Charter Trustee of the Fund for West Chester University, and consulted on science matters for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The University honored him with the President’s Medallion for Service in 1993. On Aug. 19, 2000, the 50th wedding anniversary of Dr. Filano and his wife, Mary Rita, the building where he and his staff had worked was renamed Albert E. Filano Hall in recognition of his leadership, teaching, inspiration and the contributions he made to the evolution of West Chester from a state college into a university. Dr. Filano was also a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, completing 33 combat missions against the Japanese mainland as a B-29 Aerial Gunner and Radar Bombardier Navigator. He was awarded the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars. He was discharged in November 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant. After the war, Dr. Filano earned his bachelor and master of science degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and his doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. Donations in honor of Dr. Filano may be made to the Dr. and Mrs. Albert E. Filano Mathematics Scholarship Fund, c/o West Chester University Foundation, P.O. Box 541, West Chester, Pa. 19381. Scholarships made possible by the fund are awarded to an incoming WCU mathematics major with a demonstrated commitment to the community through service.
I n M emoriam 1930 Helen Kline Howland 1936 Claire Saussaman 1937 Dorothy Davis Lindecamp 1940 Marion Baker 1942 Robert Vaughn 1944 Samuel Cosby 1947 Marie Greiman Hildebrecht 1947 Robert Ziegler 1948 Katherine Margerum 1948 Betty Reindollar Deickman 1949 Patricia Elliott 1951 Donald Deibel 1952 Robert Edwards 1956 Carolyn Murphy Lamey 1956 Charles Foltz 1957 Barbara Nale Hendrickson 1961 James Pentimall 1965 Carol Flynn Malloy (2004 Distinguished Alumni Award) 1966 Laura Hulton Allison 1967 Robert Mansell 1975 James Callahan 1978 Christine Brooks Clay 2014 Michael Wallover IV
F uture A lumni Jenna Cardaciotto Birch’06 and Seth Birch’06 welcomed Madeleine Grace on April 1, 2015 Judd Strauss’04 and Shannon Gaffney Strauss’04 welcomed Patrick John Strauss on April 10, 2015
M arriages Ann Fackenthall Krauss ‘06 to Ron Krauss, Esq.
Rachel Fromm ’07 to Colin Heydorn on December 13, 2014. Their wedding was highlighted in The Inquirer’s “Style” section in March 2015.
Michael Sheridan’07 and Leah Kugelman Sheridan’09 welcomed Riley Paige Sheridan on January 19, 2015
Death Notification Procedure To notify West Chester University of the death of an alumnus, please contact the Alumni Relations Office via email: alumni@wcupa.edu or via US Mail: 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382. The notification must include a copy of the decedent’s obituary from a newspaper or the internet, or, a copy of a letter or email from a family member of the deceased. Please note: death notifications will not be accepted via telephone. S U M M ER 2 015 | 19