Spring 2010 - Western Connecticut State University

AlumniNews
The magazine for alumni and friends of Western Connecticut State University
Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2010
Dedicated,
fired up and
in charge
Geoffrey Herald ’82
25
WCSU Alumni Association’s
25th Anniversary Golf
Tournament
See page 3.
Spring 2010
AlumniNews
Alumni Association Board of Directors
Elisa Beckett ’05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Fairfield
Joan Boughton ’89, ’95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Virginia Crowley ’69, ’74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Lois Crucitti ’71, ’98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury
Tom Crucitti ’69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury
William Druschell ’04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Terry Eberhard Asch ’64, ’72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Sharon Fusco ’67 (Life member) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Jeffrey Heyel ’90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bethel
Jan Maria Jagush ’75, ’81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodbury
Ray Lubus ’80 (Life member) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Fairfield
Lillian “Sissy” McKee ’04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookfield
Jack Quinlan ’67, ’93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newtown
Daniel “Josh” Reilly ’00, ’05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Milford
Helen Curtin Rosenspire ’07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Fairfield
Elizabeth Salame ’82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Elaine Salem ’64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Milford
Breina Schain ’05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheshire
Kay Schreiber ’79 (Life member) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Robert Scribner ’95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookfield
Monica Sousa ’04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Richard Stabile ’89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookfield
Neil Wagner ’52 (Life member) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danbury
Eric Wellman ’64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newtown
John Wrenn ’74, ’80 (Life member) . . . . . . . . . . . . New Milford
Executive Committee
President: Richard Stabile ’89
Vice President: Jan Maria Jagush ’75, ’81
Treasurer: Eric Wellman ’64
Secretary: Elaine Salem ’64
Immediate Past President: Tom Crucitti ’69
Director, Alumni Relations: Tammy Hammershoy ’97
AlumniNews
Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irene Sherlock ’84, ’91
Associate Director, University Publications & Design
Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherri Hill
Associate Director, University Relations
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Steinmetz ’07
Director, University Relations
Writer/Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Conway ’96
University Publications & Design
Contributing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tammy Hammershoy ’97
Director, Alumni Relations
Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Gregory ’97
Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Davis ’97
Director, University Publications & Design
Layout & Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frederica Paine
Assistant Director, University Publications & Design
Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peggy Stewart ’97
Campus Photographer, University Publications & Design
AlumniNews is an official bulletin of Western Connecticut State University
and is published twice a year, spring and fall, by Western Connecticut State
University, Danbury, CT 06810. The magazine is distributed free of charge to
alumni, friends, faculty and staff. Periodical postage paid at Danbury, Conn.,
and additional mailing offices.
Change of address: Send change of address to Office of Alumni Relations,
WCSU, 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810, or e-mail
[email protected]. For duplicate mailings, send both mailing
labels to the address above.
Contents: ©2010 Western Connecticut State University. Opinions expressed
in AlumniNews are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent
the opinions of its editors or policies of Western Connecticut State University.
Postmaster: Send address corrections to Office of Alumni Relations,
WCSU, 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
Spring 2010
8
6
9
8
7
Feature
Stay Near, Go Far!
9
Table of Contents
3
Message from WestConn’s president
4
WCSU accepts $100,000
gift from Morganti
5
President’s Club reception
6 Stay Near, Go Far!
6 Frank Dye ’63
16 Class Notes
18 Calendar of events
▼
W
7 Bryn Gillette ’09
Read these full stories at
wcsu.edu/alumni.
8 Scott Brunjes ’85
Tina Heidrich ’76, ’79
6 Stay Near, Go Far!
6 Frank Dye ’63
9 Geoffrey Herald ’82
Sharmese Hodge ’01
7
Bryn Gillette ’09
10 Homecoming
8
Scott Brunjes ’85
Tina Heidrich ’76, ’79
12 M.F.A. in Creative & Professional Writing
program hits five-year mark
9 Geoffrey Herald ’82
Sharmese Hodge ’01
13 Women’s tennis captures
LEC championship
12
M.F.A. in Creative & Professional
Writing program hits five-year mark
14 Class of 1959 and 1969 Reunions
13
Women’s tennis captures
LEC championship
15 Class of 1988, 1989 and 1990 Reunions
WCSU 1969 Football Team Reunion
WestConn President
James W. Schmotter
Hedgehogs
and Foxes
Sometimes seemingly unrelated events put a new light
on what we do in our work. Here’s an instance.
My wife Daphne and I have a farmhouse near Ithaca
in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, where
we try to spend some long weekends every summer.
One morning in late July, we returned from grocery
shopping to find all power off in our neighborhood
and a tractor trailer truck overturned diagonally across
the state highway about 20 yards in front of our living
room. The rear end of the trailer, which had clipped off
a power pole across the road, was in our driveway spilling its contents — pickled pigs’ feet.
We spent the rest of that Friday watching a skilled
team resolve the crisis. Two tow trucks righted the
huge vehicle as state and city police directed traffic
and fire department responders sopped up the diesel
fuel that had leaked across the thoroughfare. Highway
department workers cleaned up debris, environmental
experts checked to make sure none of the truck’s cargo
had invaded the water supply, and the New York State
Electric and Gas Co. waited to erect a new pole and
restore service. Twelve hours after the crash, the truck
was gone, the power was on, and we were watching the
Yankees on reconnected cable television.
The way those 50 or so emergency responders worked
together strikes me as an excellent model for the
education we seek to provide our students with here at
WestConn. Each was an expert in his or her own specialty, from the assistant police chief who commanded
the incident, to the young woman who operated the
giant auger used to drill a hole for the new power
pole, to the photographer who chronicled the day. This
level of expertise is what our students develop in their
major area of study — be it accounting, social work
or music. It’s what will carry them in the early years of
their careers.
Yet the emergency responders also demonstrated effective teamwork, a result, no doubt, of training for their
specific roles. At universities, general education courses
afford a broader viewpoint. Often students don’t immediately recognize the value of such courses. It’s only
after a few experiences in the complex world of work
and life that their value becomes apparent.
The great philosopher Sir Isaiah Berlin once characterized humanity as divided into two types: hedgehogs,
who know one thing and know it well, and foxes, who
know a little about many things. In the complex world
of the 21st century, WCSU graduates, like the upstate
New York emergency responders, will have to possess
the best of both species’ talents to be successful. It’s our
job here on campus to make sure that happens.
▼
25
WCSU Alumni Association’s
25th Anniversary
Golf Tournament
Monday, Oct.18, 2010
For information, visit
wcsu.edu/alumni/Golf.asp.
June 5
0 ni
1
0
2
lum
1
See
2
ay
, year’s A riday, er
3
2
- or this n on F olunte .
ds f s begi , with v eekend 2,
n
e
i
r
ie
w
3
2
nd f estivit May 2 ut the
a
May d,
i
,
y
F
,
n
o
y
a
.
h
turd e foo P.
alum kend unda roug
Join g Wee end S able th s on Sa includ . R.S.V.
n
d
l
u
ly
ill
Spri 21, an s avai
join hich w le fami
o
t
e
y
i
ho
Ma rtunit
ted
y, w
invi ily Da r the w
o
p
e
r
p
o
a
m
fo
ilies onn Fa nd fun
m
a
F
estC ent a .
for W rtainm -8298
7
ente 03) 83
2
(
to
M
you
the
re!
For more information, visit wcsu.edu/alumni.
Visit Hudson Valley’s
Mohonk Mountain House
Join alumni and friends for a trip to the
magnificent Mohonk Mountain House, a
magical resort in New Paltz, N.Y. The
day includes a brief presentation of the
history of Mohonk Mountain House, a picnic
lunch, afternoon tea, and discount coupon
to use in the gift shop and greenhouse.
Transportation departs from the Midtown
campus at 8 a.m. $85/person or $65/
person if no transportation is needed. For
more information, contact the Office of
Alumni Relations at (203) 837-8298.
3
WCSU President James W. Schmotter shakes hands with Nabil Takla, president of Morganti USA of Danbury.
The company’s $100,000 donation will be used for student scholarships.
WCSU accepts $100,000
gift from Morganti
By Paul Steinmetz
Last fall, the university received a $100,000 donation
from Nabil Takla, the president of Morganti USA of
Danbury, to fund a scholarship for WCSU students.
Takla presented the check to WCSU President James W.
Schmotter in a ceremony at the university, acknowledging that support from industry is an important
component of the university’s financial health.
“Support from Morganti Group will provide benefits
far beyond today,” Schmotter said. “The Morganti
Scholarship will allow more students to stay in school
or to attend the university without taking another
job. When they graduate, these students tend to stay
in Connecticut and contribute to the state’s economy.
Today, Morganti took a giant step toward securing the
future for all of us.”
Takla said the gift is a reflection of Morganti’s commitment to the region and to its employees, many of
whom have graduated from WCSU.
“We have an active interest in supporting the essential
institutions that support our youth,” Takla said. “We
feel an obligation to help whenever we can.”
4
The Morganti Scholarship will support students who
qualify based on merit and/or need. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2010.
The Morganti Group was founded by John Morganti in
1920. The company has grown from a small familyowned Connecticut general contracting firm to a major
international construction management organization
and a leader in construction industry techniques.
In 1988, Morganti was acquired by Consolidated
Contractors Co., one of the largest international
construction firms, headquartered in Athens, Greece.
Morganti was the construction administrator for the
WCSU Science Building and general contractor of the
university’s Fifth Avenue parking garage. Other area
projects include the wastewater treatment plant in
Danbury, and the YMCA buildings in Brookfield and
Ridgefield, with several hundred other projects that
include airports, hospitals, prisons, industrial buildings
and educational facilities around the
world.
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
(Top, l-r): WCSU Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Walter B. Bernstein chats with Morganti USA
administrators Jerry Librizzi, director of business
development, and Kimberly Morris, director of
human resources.
(Bottom, l-r): At the reception, WCSU Dean of the
School of Professional Studies Dr. Lynne Clark
shares a laugh with Tim Gunn, vice president
of operations for Northeast Regional Offices for
Morganti USA.
Institutional Advancement
By Paul Steinmetz
On Oct. 8, WCSU President James W. Schmotter hosted
a reception at the Ridgewood Country Club for members of The President’s Club, a donor group whose
contributions support a variety of student-focused initiatives approved by the president.
The event was underwritten by Gary C. Smith, president
and chief executive officer of Fairfield County Bank
and Ridgefield Bank.
“Few institutions benefit the entire region,” Smith told
an audience of about 70, including other bankers,
business people and community leaders. “WestConn
provides more benefits than nearly any other.”
Smith particularly noted the university’s role in providing new employees for a constantly changing and
increasingly educated workforce. Schmotter thanked
Smith for his support and acknowledged the leadership
of Fairfield County Bank and Ridgefield Bank in the
region.
(l-r): Last fall’s President’s Club event was underwritten by Gary C. Smith, president and chief
executive officer of Fairfield County Bank and
Ridgefield Bank. Beside him is WCSU President
James W. Schmotter.
Professor of Music and Department Chair Dr. Dan
Goble described how support of all kinds can lead to
student opportunities. He noted that when the university choir was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall last
year, Goble accepted the invitation but had no way
to pay for buses to transport the singers to New York
City. When he presented the problem to the president’s
office, Schmotter was able to supply funding provided
through resources made available by The President’s
Club.
(Top right): Savings Bank of Danbury President Hal
Wibling (center) and wife Barbara (left) chat with
Terry Eberhard Asch ’64, ’72 at the reception.
A $1,000 contribution gains President’s Club membership, which
includes VIP tickets to annual university events, invitations to receptions with lecturers, and opportunities to discuss the future of the
university. For information about joining the President’s Club, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (203) 837-8279.
“You helped get us to Carnegie Hall,” Goble told the
audience.
(Bottom, l-r): Danbury Probate Judge Diane Yamin
and husband, attorney Bob Yamin ’79, chat with
Carolyn Wagner ’52 at the President’s Club event.
Join the Alumni & Friends Circle
Check one q Alumni & Friends Circle q WestConn Sweethearts
Ordered by:
Indicate how you would like to contribute to WestConn (select one):
Name
q WCSU Alumni Association q Ancell School of Business
q School of Arts and Sciences q School of Professional Studies
q School of Visual and q Unrestricted
Performing Arts
q Other
Address
City
State
Phone E-mail
ZIP
Your phone number may be needed to verify the engraving.
q MasterCard q Visa
No.
Make check payable to: WCSU Annual Fund/Foundation. Mail completed
form and check to WCSU Annual Fund/Foundation, 181 White St.,
Danbury, CT 06810. For more information, please call
(203) 837-8279.
Exp.
Total enclosed $
Print the message you wish to engrave below. Use all capital letters.
Indicate the quantity next to the item you are ordering.
Item
4” x 8” engraved brick ($100 each)
20’ tree with engraved marker in ground ($500 each)
Park bench with engraved brass plate ($1,000 each)
Light post with engraved brass plate ($2,500 each)
Bricks
Quantity
Bricks can accommodate up to three lines with 16 characters per line; spaces, punctuation
and symbols count as a character. Trees, benches and light posts have double the space: use
a separate piece of paper.
5
Stay Near, Go Far!
These alumni have
excelled in their field and
done so in or around
the Danbury area.
“Stay Near, Go Far” has been WestConn’s signature slogan for more than a dozen years. It was developed to
remind Greater Danbury’s students of the excellent university education available to them right in their own
backyard. With an outstanding faculty teaching classes deliberately kept small, WestConn’s long-standing
reputation had always been characterized as student-focused. In addition, its low tuition made college possible for students who otherwise couldn’t afford to earn a degree.
Thus the catchphrase, still often used today, merged two key attributes of this university — accessibility and
excellence — to suggest a formula for future success. Over the years, a great number of our students have
proved its truth. This issue is devoted to those who have excelled in their field and done so in or around the
Danbury area.
We think you’ll be impressed with these individuals.
focused on biology.” Cellular biology, to be precise.
Eventually the family moved up from the Bronx to
Putnam Lake, N.Y. The young enthusiast was only in
junior high, but the die (no pun intended) had already
been cast: even his non-science teachers knew of his
deep interest in biology.
But money for college was an issue, so as graduation approached, Dye considered doing a stint in the
Navy instead. Once more, fate stepped in: an English
teacher told him, “There’s a small but good college in
Danbury that’s affordable. They have a two-year lab
technician program that could be of interest to you.”
Fifty years at WCSU
Dr. Frank Dye ’63
By Connie Conway
WestConn Professor of Biological and Environmental
Sciences Dr. Frank Dye ’63 was born in the Bronx,
“about a block from Arthur Avenue,” he says, “where
all the great Italian food is.” Here a love of the Yankees
was inherited, and a no-excuses attitude marked you
even more than your accent did as a real New Yorker.
This was Danbury State College, soon to become
Western Connecticut State College. It offered an excellent faculty and a tuition rate today’s students would
describe as to die for: $50 per semester.
Looking back, it was the right place for him in so
many ways, says Dye. “Ruth Haas was still president.
The campus was only a shadow of what it is now. But
it was a truly nurturing institution with a dedicated
administration. As a student, you knew your professors
well and they knew you.”
His delight in pasta and his chosen team would stay
with Dye throughout life; but an altogether different
subject would ignite his imagination early and engage
him far more profoundly. That subject was science.
Dye stayed four years, earning his B.S. in secondary
education - biology/chemistry. He taught chemistry
at Danbury High School for a year before taking a lab
assistant’s position at Rockefeller University. Fordham
University had accepted him into its doctoral program
as a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pre-doctoral
Fellow. He obtained a Ph.D. from Fordham in 1969.
“I’d always loved observing animals and had pets,”
says Dye. He can pinpoint the moment when youthful
interest became a fascination with living organisms in
general. “An aunt gave me my first microscope. Once
I put the slides under and saw the distinctive shapes
of cells and realized what I was looking at, I became
Previously, in 1967, he’d started teaching at his alma
mater, WestConn. “It was a place where students
developed self-esteem,” he says. “A college where, if
you applied yourself, you could go literally anywhere.
It still is. Today, our biology students go on to many of
the best medical schools and research institutions, like
6
Tufts or the Ivy Leagues, to prepare for careers in science, teaching and medicine.”
Dye is justly proud of that. His 42-year teaching tour at
WestConn is the longest still running at the university.
That same “no excuses” stance of his has gone a long
way toward successfully preparing his students for the
pragmatic, multi-faceted disciplines of science.
“Saturday labs with Dr. Dye were challenging,” recalls
Thomas A. Valluzzo, DMD, ’71, whose periodontic
practice is in Danbury. “They went from 8 a.m. to 1
p.m., so there’d be no partying Friday night.” Valluzzo
chuckles then adds seriously, “The fact is, Frank Dye
was absolutely one of the best teachers I ever had.”
Cellular biology goes to the most fundamental building blocks of life. Dye’s commitment to its study has
been life-long and is reflected in the bounty of his
research and writing, from peer-reviewed studies into
“The in vitro movement of mammalian epithelial
cells” to books like the Dictionary of Developmental
Biology and Embryology (published by John Wily &
Sons in 2002).
Dye has done research at UConn Health Center and
Yale University, among others. Indeed, the body of
work he has produced to-date is vast, yet as finely
detailed as the biology of the cells he studies.
The university’s Westside Nature Preserve, of which
Dye is the founding director, has been his project of a
lifetime. Established in 1993, it has brought research,
teaching and environmental concerns together in a
green accomplishment of exceptional value to nowand-future students as well as to the university community as a whole.
W Read the full story about Dr. Frank Dye
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
“I try to capture on canvas the interaction between
whatever’s going on in my daily life with some of my
deeper spiritual concerns,” Gillette says.
Sometimes he paints in front of an audience. Worship
art, he calls it –– painting that’s done during church
services. On Sundays, he can be found at the Walnut
Hill Community Church (WHCC) in Bethel, Conn.,
responding in the moment to song, music and words of
the pastorate and congregation.
“Just as music is transcribed in the heart,” he says of
the process, “I try to visually transcribe the spirit of
what’s happening in the church.”
A world view
Bryn Gillette ’09
By Irene Sherlock
Each day artist Bryn Gillette contemplates first in his
mind, then in his heart, an image of all that surrounds
him. It’s a shifting universe, reflecting a myriad of
interests to which he’s deeply and spiritually committed. One of them is painting.
Gillette is an intuitive businessman, though he would
hardly describes himself as one. For three years, he was
a manager at Vertigo, a skateboard park in Brookfield,
Conn., where students learn skateboarding, but where
the real agenda is leadership development and mentorship. Currently, he is pastor of the up-and-running
“TenForty Skate Church.” Each Sunday a diverse and
growing group meet up at Vertigo for an alternative
church service, one authentic to the skate culture. The
public skate, lessons and lunch are free. Sometimes,
there’s live rock music, as well.
“Skateboarding is typically associated with a rebellious
crowd,” Gillette explains. “It tends to draw the insecure
–– the kids who do it to gain instant access to being
cool.” The clothing is there, and the music, he says.
“We’re getting them at a great age, showing them they
can be cool and still be men of character.”
A series of trips abroad –– first as a youth, then
as an adult –– to war-torn places such as BosniaHerzegovina, Rwanda and then Haiti, convinced
Gillette he would find a way to aid the poorest and
most underprivileged populations of the world.
Besides his own family, which includes wife Kirsten,
son Cai, 3, and daughter Kea Eden, 9 months, Gillette’s
most passionate cause remains the people of Haiti,
specifically those in group homes that care for
orphans, a number that’s grown exponentially since
the earthquake.
“The people of Haiti have won my heart,” Gillette says.
“In the middle of political chaos and social upheaval
–– in the middle of whatever economic crisis or natural disaster they’re enduring on any given day –– you
can still see their dignity, their beauty.”
Last year, Gillette founded Team One.27, a nonprofit
organization whose goal is to aid Haitian orphans. Half
of all proceeds for artwork sold on his Web site, artbybryn.com, supports Team One.27.
To view Gillette’s art or to learn more about Team One.27, go to
artbybryn.com.
W Read the full story about Bryn Gillette
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
“When I was 16, I accompanied my dad to Bosnia and Sarajevo just before the war
ended. I saw the effects of war first-hand: the rape, the massacres of women and
children, the unbridled hatred and demonic capacity of humanity. My childhood GI
Joe concept of heroic war was entirely redefined. “Crven,” stamped on the crayon
in the image, is Croation for “red, scarlet, bloody.” I structured this composition
after the famous “Annunciation” by Rosetti, where the angel Gabriel comes to tell
Mary she will give birth to God’s son. Here my own dark angel, the visage of childhood innocence, haunts my son’s bedroom where I read him bedtime stories. This
is the “denunciation”... the harbinger of war threatening the future of my son. How
much do I tell him? How long do I protect his innocence and ignorance?”
Bryn Gillette ’09
7
advantageous deals so we can grow a client’s business.”
By Irene Sherlock
During tough economic times, advertisers must make
every dollar count.
Brunjes got plenty of media experience when he was a
student at WestConn, where he worked as disc jockey
and then station manager at WXCI, the university’s
student-run radio station.
Enter Mediassociates Inc., a media planning and
buying agency partnering with marketing or creative
teams to design and implement multi-media campaigns that can be mapped and assessed.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in
Communication and Media Arts, Brunjes began working at I-95 WINE FM in Brookfield. He and disc jockey
Ethan Carey have remained long-time friends.
“Most businesses don’t have the necessary tools to
adequately judge advertising performance,” says
Mediassociates President and Chief Executive Officer
Scott Brunjes.
“Experience shows that at least 20 percent of a media
spend gets nothing for the advertiser. Our job is to identify what’s underperforming and redeploy it into media
that works.”
Brunjes, who has run his Danbury-based agency
since 1995, says various methods operate in concert
to track media effectiveness. “We use unique, toll-free
phone numbers and specific URLs to track ad response.
Wherever possible, we tie it into a client’s revenue to
calculate returns on investment.”
These last five years, Brunjes says, advertising venues
Measuring
what works:
Scott Brunjes ’85
have shifted dramatically. “Twenty-five percent or more
of a client’s budget is now allocated to the Web. We
manage a client’s search engine, develop key words,
analyze data,” he says. “Overall, our job is to identify
the most appropriate media and negotiate the most
“Scott was on the air at 940 WINE AM back when they
had an all-music format. From there, he went into
sales and became an account executive for I-95,” says
Carey, who’s the longest-running disk jockey at the
station.
He adds that Brunjes has always been very focused.
“He was largely responsible for our broadcast tower
that was built in the ’90s. I’m not surprised he has
gone on to build one of the leading media agencies in
Connecticut.”
W Read the full story about Scott Brunjes
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
By Irene Sherlock
The White House. Carnegie Hall. Lincoln Center.
members of adult and children’s choirs from around
the country.
These are just some of the impressive venues at which
Tina Johns Heidrich and her multi-community troupe
of award-winning choristers –– the Connecticut Master
Chorale (CMC) –– have entertained audiences during
the last 11 years.
“I’ve been doing this sort of work for 34 years now,”
Heidrich says. “These special events are wonderful
but I also love the everyday process of rehearsing and
performing.”
Though her involvement with the CMC consumes
considerable time, Heidrich also enjoys her work as
musical director at the First Congregational Church of
Bethel, a position she has held for the last 20 years. In
addition, Heidrich has conducted and directed musical
theatre, as well as numerous school, church and community choirs and orchestras.
“In my wildest dreams, I never envisioned performing at the White House,” says Heidrich, the chorale’s
founder and director. “It was right after 9/11 and security was extra tight, which meant we could only take
25 of our 55-member group. We drew a lottery. Even
members who didn’t get to go were jumping up and
down. It was very exciting.”
Those who did perform did so on a brisk December
afternoon in the book signers room of the White House,
then later at the foot of the stairs in the grand foyer.
Thousands of visitors, including military and Secret
Service members and their families, heard them sing.
“It was certainly one of the most thrilling moments of
my life,” Heidrich says.
She’s had a few of those moments, some of them in her
childhood. “My mother was the organist at our Greek
Orthodox Church and dad directed the choir,” she says
of her musical background. “I started piano lessons
when I was five and played violin in elementary school.
I was the only violinist in the marching band at Morris
Street School.”
8
Pitch perfect ––
Tina Heidrich ’76, ’79
In addition to performing at the White House, Heidrich
and her group also have sung at Madison Square
Garden and at West Point Military Academy. Three
years in a row, they won the annual McDonald’s
Gospelfest Competition.
They also sang –– three times! –– at Carnegie Hall,
twice under the direction of John Rutter, Carnegie
Hall’s famed musical director. In one of those performances, the 55-voice CMC was the largest single group
contributing to the 250-voice chorus, which included
“It has always been a dream of mine to form and
direct a select group,” she says of the CMC. “Also, I
wanted to do three concerts a year, instead of the usual
two, which makes our season a bit longer. Audiences
seem to like that.”
Joanne Moryl, a broadcaster at WMNR Fine Arts Radio
in Monroe, Conn., and a former adjunct instructor of
music at WCSU, has nothing but praise for Heidrich.
For years now, she has charted CMC’s progress and
success. “I have always been impressed with Tina’s
musicianship and her skill in putting together a very
professional group of singers,” Moryl says.
W Read the full story about Tina Heidrich
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
Geoffey Herald (center) instructs volunteer and
career firefighters during a mock disaster exercise
in 2009.
“Although fire suppression and medical assistance are
our primary responsibilities, we also respond to air
crashes, roadside emergencies and hazmat incidents,”
Herald says.
Dedicated, fired up
and in charge
Geoffrey Herald ’82
By Irene Sherlock
When asked how many cats he’s rescued from trees in
his 30-year career with the Danbury Fire Department,
Geoffrey Herald grins and admits, “I have to say, I’ve
rescued a few.” He points out that this unadvertised
and generally discouraged practice is thankfully only
a small fraction of what the department does to serve
the public.
Since 2007, Herald has been chief of the Danbury Fire
Department (DFD), which oversees 44 square miles of
neighborhoods. The first-response agency for fire, accident, hazardous materials (hazmat) spills and
rescue events, the DFD meets emergencies and maintains mutual-aid partnerships with neighboring towns
that stretch from Brookfield, Conn., across state lines to
Brewster, N.Y.
shakes her head. “Overnight, our idea of safety and
security vanished.”
For a brief time, she considered transferring to another
school, another city. “I realized that was not the
answer but the event certainly colored the way I look at
the world.”
She made her way through law school, broadening her
law experience by clerking first at the public defender’s
office, then at a private law firm. In addition, she
interned for a superior court judge. In 2004, law degree
in hand, she returned to her hometown of Danbury to
start a law practice.
Sharmese Hodge chats with Professor Emeritus
of Justice and Law Administration Dr. Harry
Schramm during the annual mock trial.
Sharmese Hodge ’01
Motivated by love
of the law
By Irene Sherlock
When the Pentagon was attacked on 9/11, Sharmese
Hodge ’01 was a first-year law student at George
Washington University Law (GW Law) School in
Washington, D.C.
“It was mayhem,” she says of the city on that day.
“People were running in the streets. Traffic was
blocked. I couldn’t get back to my apartment.” She
“After 9/11, I realized I wanted to be closer to family,”
she says of the move back. “Now occasionally I can
join everyone at Grandma’s on Sunday.”
For a year and a half, Hodge ran a general practice law
firm specializing in criminal and family law before
moving to a larger office with attorneys Roy Krueger (a
WestConn alumnus from the class of 1998) and Daniel
Sahl.
Then in 2007, she was offered a position with the
Connecticut State Prosecutor’s Office. “I love my
work,” she says about her duties as deputy assistant
state’s attorney. “I like trying criminal cases, fitting
the pieces together. It’s about serving the community,
being part of the process that allows justice to be meted
out.”
Professor Emeritus of Justice and Law Administration
Dr. Harry Schramm says it was clear from the start
Hodge was destined for success. “She sat in my office
“We also educate the public about emergency services.
Since 9/11 and (Hurricane) Katrina, part of our job
has been to encourage the public to prepare for any
kind of disaster or pandemic, the latest being the flu
pandemic of 2009.”
“My job is to make sure the people in my department
have the skill set, equipment and training to do the
best possible job out in the field,” Herald says. “The fire
department is key to making and keeping any city safe.
I’m happy to report Danbury is a safe city.”
W Read the full story about Geoffrey Herald
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
one day, back in her freshman year, and told me she
was going to finish her undergraduate degree in three
years, which she did.” He laughs. “She wanted to get
on to law school.”
Schramm helped her make that decision a reality. In her sophomore year, Hodge joined him and
other Justice and Law Club students on a field trip
to Washington, D.C. “I suggested to her that she
should consider D.C. as the place to study law,” says
Schramm. So began her journey toward that dramatic
morning in September of 2001.
Years later, Schramm has nothing but accolades for his
former student. “Not only is she intelligent and highly
focused, she also has a wonderfully infectious sense of
humor and a warm personality. Without a doubt, she’s
a role model for the kind of tremendous success students can achieve with a WestConn degree.”
She’s also an asset to the Connecticut State
Prosecutor’s Office. “Sharmese is hard-working and
thoughtful,” says her boss, Steve Sedensky, State
Attorney for the Judicial District of Danbury. “We’re
very fortunate she’s serving the Danbury community.”
Hodge remains faithful to WestConn, returning to campus several times a year to speak with students and
lend her expertise to issues related to law. Last fall, she
and other legal professionals served on a roundtable
panel to discuss student rights and responsibilities.
For years, she has served as ‘judge’ in Schramm’s
mock-trial class in the spring semester.
W Read the full story about Sharmese Hodge
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
9
A
E
F
G
H o m ecoming
2009
10
A. The 1969 football team members celebrated the 40th anniversary of football at WestConn. B. Alumni
enjoyed tailgating before the game. C. There was fun for all at the Street Fair that followed the game. D. More
fun at the Street Fair. E. Even a sudden downpour did not dampen the spirits of tailgaters. F. Cheerleaders’ spirits
were high despite the rainy weather. G. WCSU Colonials win the game! H. Fans cheer on the Colonials during this
year’s Homecoming Game. I. Neil Wagner ’52 signs a memento for Harvey Jessup at last fall’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. J. (l-r): Dennis Leszko ’95 and students Brian Salvia, Keri Piedescalzo and Francesca Testa enjoyed
alumni hospitality hosted in the Daily Grind at the Westside Campus Center.
▼
2010
Homecoming
Oct. 18 - 24, 2010
B
C
D
H
I
K. The 2009 inductees to the Hall of Fame include
(l-r): Ted Smigala ’59 (basketball, baseball, soccer); Wayne Mones (men’s soccer coach); Carl
Rivers ’03 (baseball); Debbie Jessup, daughter
of the late Harvey Jessup (athletic director); Kate
Manning ’00 (softball); Matt LeFever ’01 (football)
and Ray Parry (lifetime support). Far right is WCSU
President James W. Schmotter.
J
K
11
M.F.A. in Creative & Professional Writing
program hits five-year mark
“Our program is the only M.F.A. in existence that
requires the students to study both a creative and
practical genre,” Clements says. “Most of our students
write their theses in the creative genre, but a few have
opted to write more practically oriented theses. About
half of the theses among graduates have been fiction;
about a quarter have been creative nonfiction; and the
rest have been split among poetry, screenwriting and
practical genres.
Anne Witkavitch ’08
“Our mission is to produce writers who can immediately begin building professional careers without having
to rely upon the adjunct teaching treadmill to support
their creative writing,” Clements explains. “Successful
professional writers must have both creative skills and
practical knowledge of their fields, and must be able to
move easily among genres. We are the only program
that takes those realities as central points.”
Siedlarz, a poet who graduated from WestConn’s M.F.A.
program in 2009, works at Southern Connecticut State
University where she received a Master’s in English
in 2007. “One of my SCSU professors told me about
the program at WCSU so I looked into it and decided
to apply,” she says. “The low residency was especially
appealing to me because I could structure my course
work around my full-time work schedule. The M.F.A. is
a lot of work, and you get as much from it as you put
in to it. In the end it is well worth it.”
Lisa Siedlarz ’09
By Sherri Hill
Lisa Siedlarz, a loan administrator, and Anne
Witkavitch, a corporate communicator, are two people
who might never have crossed paths, even though both
live in New Haven County, Conn. The county boasts a
population of almost 850,000 people, but Siedlarz and
Witkavitch are members of a very elite group: both are
graduates of WestConn’s Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in
Creative and Professional Writing program.
The low-residency program, in its fifth year, has conferred degrees upon nearly 40 students thus far, with
another half dozen scheduled to graduate in 2010.
And though they are a small group, the program’s
alumni are quite diverse, hailing from Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and places as far
away as Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Brian Clements, coordinator of the M.F.A. program
since its inception, says another variable that affects
the degree of diversity is the way the curriculum is
structured.
12
Witkavitch earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with
a specialization in professional writing from SCSU in
1984. She’s built a career in marketing and corporate
communications. “I was an executive in corporate
communications,” she says. “I had always wanted to
return to school to earn a graduate degree but wasn’t
sure if I wanted to pursue an M.B.A. or something different. My love and passion for writing led me to pursue the M.F.A. in Creative and Professional Writing.
“I had spent years looking at graduate programs,”
Witkavitch continues. “The WestConn M.F.A. attracted
me because it was low residency and self-directed. It
was flexible enough that I could pursue my degree
while working and raising a family — not easy, but
more doable than classroom studies. I also liked that I
could mold the program specifically to what I wanted
to achieve for my writing goals. When you are returning to school in midlife, you want to be sure that what
you learn and apply directly correlates to what you
want to accomplish.”
The acknowledgement that most potential M.F.A.
students, like Siedlarz and Witkavitch, are already
employed and therefore unable to attend regular
classes is one of the things that makes WestConn’s
program unique. Students and faculty come together
at biannual residencies — which Clements calls “the
heart of the program” — and conduct the rest of their
interaction during the semester online.
Besides the wide-ranging hometowns represented and
writing genres pursued, Clements says it’s difficult to
characterize a “typical” student in WestConn’s M.F.A.
program because of the diversity of ages, writing
backgrounds and professional experience among the
students.
“We have students coming directly out of undergraduate programs, we have people like Lisa (Siedlarz) who
have been writing for a while on their own but have
been working professionally in other fields, we have
established professionals like Anne (Witkavitch) who
come to the program looking to enhance or change
their professional lives, and we have people who have
always wanted to write that novel or book of poems
but need the structure of a program to get the task
done. What is common among all of the students in
our program is that they’re serious about their writing
and they want to take advantage of the great resources
among our faculty and their peers.”
There are half a dozen full-time faculty members, six
writers-in-residence and more than 30 writing mentors
who teach in the program — and all of them have
successful, established careers in a variety of creative
and practical areas.
Clements says the real test of the program is whether
it is producing good writers who are advancing professionally.
“It is clear that our students are publishing and finding jobs in the real world, even before they graduate,”
he says.
Siedlarz can attest to that.
“I had my first book of poetry come out back in April,
just before I graduated, and I’ve been nominated for a
couple of awards,” Siedlarz says. “I’ve been appointed
editor of the poetry journal Connecticut River Review,
and I also facilitate writing workshops with veterans,
which is very rewarding.”
W Read the full story about WestConn’s
M.F.A. in Creative and Professional
Writing program at wcsu.edu/alumni.
matches for the Colonials. Junior Alison Mahony was
leading in the third set of her match when Kosiba
recorded the title-clinching victory on the adjacent
court.
The women’s soccer team, meanwhile, continued to be
a force in the LEC, reaching the tournament semifinals
before bowing to Keene State. Senior Kellie Veras led
the Colonials
The women’s tennis team was all smiles after winning the Little East Conference championship in 2009.
Women’s tennis captures
LEC championship
By Richard Gregory ’97
It was an historic season for WestConn’s women’s
tennis, as the Colonials capped an impressive fall season by winning their first-ever Little East Conference
(LEC) championship and qualifying for the National
Collegiate Athletic Association Division III national
championships, held in May.
The Colonials (13-2 overall, 7-0 in the LEC) won the
championship on their home courts with a come-frombehind 5-3 triumph over Bridgewater State. Trailing
2-1 after the doubles matches, the team won four of
five singles matches to claim the title. Junior Lauren
Post, senior Brittany Hoynack, sophomore Alyssa
Hoynack and senior Jenna Kosiba all won their singles
In men’s soccer, (4-13 overall, 1-6 LEC), junior Daniel
DaSilva and senior Damion Noble both earned All-LEC
second-team recognition. DaSilva, a midfielder, led the
Colonials with 10 points, while Noble started 16 of 17
games on defense.
For the WestConn field hockey team (4-13, 2-9),
senior Meredith Stuart received All-LEC first-team
honors after leading the team with 15 points on
five goals and five assists. She also scored two of the
Colonials’ four game-winning goals.
This past fall also marked the final season for the longtime quarterback of WestConn’s football team, senior
James Williams. He collected 1,334 passing yards and
10 passing touchdowns in his final year. Williams
started all but one of the 40 games played at WestConn
in his career.
W Read the full story about women’s tennis
at wcsu.edu/alumni.
▼
A
B
A. WCSU alumni participated in the men’s
lacrosse alumni game. B. The women’s alumni
lacrosse team included (l-r): Taylor Moore
’08, Caitlin Everin ’08, Cuyler Rush ’07, Tatum
Lakowsky ’06, Jennifer Lung ’08, Whitney
Fairchild ’09 and student Ashley Caruso.
C. Alumni participated in the annual baseball
game held on the Westside campus. D. Former
player Concetta Mastrianna ’81 gets ready to
pitch at the alumni softball game.
C
D
13
Class Reunions
Class of 1959 celebrates 50 years
C
A
B
A. (l-r) Participants of the class of ’59 reunion included June (Misura) Baldwin ’59, Grace Hanford ’59
and Eleanor (Kernicky) Adzima ’59. B. Reunion committee member Jerome Rose ’59 chats with a guest
during his class’ 50th reunion celebration. C. Other attendees included Cynthia (Block) Shapiro ’59, Fran
(Smolskis) Merante ’59 and Patricia (Fischer) Konopka ’59. D. WestConn Sweethearts Jon ’60, ’70 and
Claudia ’60, ’71 Anderson (center) stop by to celebrate with friends from the class of ’59.
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
D
Class of 1969 celebrates 40 years
by Emilia (Arata) Montalto ’69, ’72
On Homecoming Day, the class of ’69 celebrated
its 40th class reunion by attending a dinner in the
President’s Room on the Westside campus. The event
was a smashing success and a night to remember for
all.
A
B
The buffet dinner offered chicken cordon bleu, flank
steak, vegetable lasagna, garlic mashed potatoes and
mixed vegetables. Participants were then treated to
Viennese pastries and make-your-own sundaes.
C
A. (l-r): Howard Kallstrom ’69 and Paul Just ’69
catch up at the reunion. B. (l-r): Dean Emeritus of
Continuing Education and Class of ’69 adviser Neil
Wagner ’52 greets Paul Montalto ’69, ’71 at the
reception. C. Reception attendees and classmates
included (l-r) Donna Strobino ’69, Lynda (Berner)
Kosky ’69, William Lemak ’69, ’75, Jane Lemak
and Marsha (Mainstruck) Coombs ’69.
14
At the event, alumni shared fond memories of their
days at WCSU. As classmates danced to the music of
the ’60s, they reminisced about teachers, their classes,
the float and singing competitions, and, of course,
McCarthy’s. The evening was made very special by
the presence of beloved class adviser and friend, Neil
Wagner ’52, and his wife, Carolyn ’52. Anyone who did
not know better would surely think that Neil, who is as
fit as the proverbial fiddle, was actually a member of
the class of ’69.
Attendees came from as close as Danbury and the surrounding areas, but also from as far away as Wisconsin
and Florida. Not wanting the evening to end, several
followed up the festivities with a visit to the Ethan Allen
Hotel, continuing to share memories and dancing until
well into the morning.
When all is said and done, the very special class of ’69
is made up of people who truly enjoy being with one
another. About 40 years ago, a dragon reminiscent of
one of our winning float competitions sat on top of
what was then the Student Union. It bore the prophetic
inscription, Never Let It Be Forgot! These words serve as
a reassuring reminder that there will be reunions in
the future for the class of ’69.
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
Classes of 1988, 1989, 1990 celebrate their reunions
B
A
C
D
A. (l-r): Karen (Gibbons) Hanna ’89, Dawn (Gucker) Myles ’88, ’92 and
Kimberly Lubus ’88 shared photos and recollections at the reception. B. (l-r):
Gordon Halas ’90 with Alyse and Glen Worthy ’88. C. Julie (Maxwell) Shull
’89 hugs a classmate at the 20th reunion celebration for the classes of 1988,
1989 and 1990. D. (l-r): Paulina (Pino) Daly ’91, Gregory Pagel, Christine
(Schneider) Shaw ’91, Deborah (Nanfito) Beaudoin ’90 and Christine (Colella)
Damato ’89 celebrated at the reunion.
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
1969 WCSU
football team
celebrates its
40th reunion
A. Members of the 1969 team who inaugurated
football at WCSU paused for the national anthem
before the start of the Homecoming game. B. (l-r):
Joe Sacca ’71, ’72 and Joe Giaguinto ’70 share
a laugh at the reception. C. Former Coach Jim
Krayeske (center) chats with guests at the 40th
reunion event.
A
▼
Class of ’60 Reunion
The class of 1960 will celebrate its golden
reunion this fall. For more information and
to insure we have your most current contact information, e-mail [email protected]
or call (203) 837-8298. Also, let us know
if you’d like to join the reunion planning
committee!
B
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
C
15
Class Notes
1960s
Lynne Gang ’65 moved to Vermont
after graduation. She would like
to contact classmate Rosemary
Fusco. If you have information about
Rosemary’s whereabouts, please
e-mail Lynne at lynnegang@aol.
com.
1970s
William N. Bellion ’71 retired
after 36 years of teaching French
and coaching sports in the New
Hampshire public schools. Currently,
he is working part time as a fire
chief/emergency management
director.
1980s
Emily Viner ’84, vice president of
agency management development
for Guardian Life Insurance Co. of
America, received the “Woman of
the Year” award at the Women in
Financial Services 2009 National
Conference in October. A pioneer
in supporting the advancement of
women in insurance and financial
services, Viner was instrumental
in helping create the company’s
nationally recognized Girls Going
Places® program, which provides
entrepreneurship scholarships and
mentoring opportunities for teen
girls. She is a frequent speaker and
author on topics that include recruiting and training leadership. Viner
resides in Stratford, Conn.
Dr. Doug Woundy ’89 was unanimously named faculty emeritus
by Averett University’s Board of
Trustees. A former faculty member
for the university’s Graduate and
Professional Studies (GPS) Program,
he retired in June after serving full
time since 1996. He was one of the
first faculty members of the GPS
Program and made many contributions during his tenure. Woundy
resides in Fairfield, Va., and plans to
continue to serve the university as
an adjunct professor.
1990s
Chiropractic physician Dr. Michael
P. Kane ’90 was named the
2009 Connecticut Chiropractic
Association’s (CCA) “Chiropractor
of the Year” at their annual meeting
last month. Kane, who practices
in the Brookfield, Conn., office of
New Milford Orthopedic Associates,
recently completed a two-year term
as president of the CCA and was
named Connecticut’s alternate delegate to the American Chiropractic
Association. After receiving a B.A.
in Biology from WCSU in 1990, he
attended Northwestern College of
Chiropractic in Bloomington, Minn.,
where he was awarded a Doctor of
Chiropractic degree in 1994.
David Rotatori ’95 joined Naugatuck
Savings Bank as senior vice
president, chief risk officer and chief
administration officer responsible
for commercial loan administration,
compliance and loan review. As
a certified public accountant with
more than 19 years of experience
in financial services organization, he
is a lifelong resident of Naugatuck,
Conn., where he resides with his
wife, Pam, and daughters, Cara, Mia
and Alena.
Lieutenant Commander Thomas
“Scot” Cregan ’97 is deploying to
Afghanistan for at least a year, serving as a U.S. Navy Reserve Public
Affairs Officer. He and wife Caroline,
a physician, welcomed daughter
Dervala Maeve on April 7, 2009.
And baby makes …
WestConn Sweethearts Melissa (Mercado) ’00 and Brett Bernardez ’01
welcomed daughter Alexis on April 6, 2009.
Wedding bells
Crystal (Barna) ’08 and Norman Buzaid III, May 23, 2009
WestConn Sweethearts Christine (Chapin) ’03 and Jeffrey Poklemba ’01,
April 25, 2009
Dawn (Butler) and Joseph DaSliva Jr. ’93, Dec. 6, 2008
Lauren (Ferrara) ’06 and Paul Turenne, March 28, 2009
Dawn (Fletcher) ’08 and Stephen Bailey, May 22, 2009
Meagan (Nota) ’06 and Christopher Landers, Sept. 12, 2009
Katie A. Raymond ’06 and Jennifer Santo, Oct. 3, 2009
In memoriam
Alfredo Almeida ’72, Danbury, Conn., August 18, 2009
Mary Y. Bonitz ’59, Ashburnham, Mass., August 29, 2009
Lucy K. Braibanti ’41, Durham, N.C., June 21, 2009
D. Elizabeth Brown ’62, Weston, Conn., Nov. 29, 2009
Dorothy L. (Ingalls) Camp ’35, New London, N.H., Jan. 22, 2009
Karen G. Casazza ’83, West Redding, Conn., August 11, 2009
Lois Clapp ’53, Littleton, Colo., Sept. 19, 2008
George S. DeSilver ’77, Northford, Conn., Feb. 28, 1988
Frances A. DiPreta ’57, Old Greenwich, Conn.
Margaret Eberle ’59, White Plains, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2009
Edmond T. Finaldi ‘61, Vero Beach, Fla., April 22, 2009
Martha Jane Maxwell Huester ’84, Southern Pines, N.C., Dec. 17, 2009
2000s
Bunny G. Jacobson ’00, Danbury, Conn., June 23, 2009
Michelle Nelson ’05 was promoted
to assistant director for Student
Conduct and Community Standards
at the University of Hartford.
William G. McKee ’48, Englewood, Fla., August 22, 2009
Lauren Ferrara ’06 is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counseling-student development in higher
education at Central Connecticut
State University.
Henrietta G. O’Hare ’69, Greenwich, Conn.
Meagan Nota Landers ’06 attended
the University of South Carolina
Graduate School where she earned
a Master of Arts in Teaching
Elementary Education in May 2009.
Barbara Jane Rogers ’00, New Fairfield, Conn., July 9, 2009
Joseph J. Dzamko ’07 and Sarah
Koenig ’07 became engaged on
August 30, 2009.
Marion Louise Timmins ’32, Wilton, Conn., Dec. 2, 2009.
Helen Meyer ’08 is currently working at Danbury Hospital. Her goal
is to become an oncology nurse
specialist.
Letitia N. Mutter ’72, Northampton, Mass.
Jean A. (Hauge) Nonemaker ’54, Newport Beach, Calif.
Ursula M. (Kane) Otto ’24, Brookfield, Conn., Dec. 11, 2009
Jean L. Pierson ’72, New Milford, Conn.
Robert G. Pratt ’66, Salisbury, Md., June 28, 2009
Gary E. Samuelson ’77, Georgetown, Conn.
Robert E. Sills ’63, Guilford, Conn., Nov. 12, 2008
Betty Ann Smith ’48, Norwalk, Conn., Sept. 27, 2009
Helen M. Wargo ’38, Syracuse, N.Y., April 29, 2009
WestConn Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Dr. Paul Wilhelm Beck, Ithaca, N.Y.,
May 9, 2009.
▼
Want to help plan your next class reunion?
E-mail the Alumni Office at [email protected] or call (203) 837-8298.
16
Class Notes
Ursula M. (Kane) Otto ’24
G
Ursula M. (Kane) Otto, 103, passed
away peacefully on Dec. 11, 2009, at
her home in Brookfield, Conn. She
was the wife of the late Fred Otto Jr.
and the daughter of the late Malachi
and Helen (Smith) Kane. Otto was
raised in Danbury and moved to
Brookfield in 1962. She was a graduate of Danbury Normal School, now
WCSU, and taught elementary school
in Norwalk before she married and
became a homemaker.
lden
Circle
Luncheon
Throughout her life, she enjoyed baking and sewing. A civic-minded individual
during World War II, she served as an Air Raid spotter in Danbury. Also, she was a
devoted parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Brookfield. Otto is survived by a
daughter, Annellen Gleissner, and her husband, William; two sons, Frederick (Ricky)
Otto and his wife, Ann; John (Jack) Otto and his wife, Carolyn; 10 grandchildren and
seven great-grandchildren. Contributions can be made in Otto’s name at St. Joseph’s
Church, 163 Whisconier Rd., Brookfield, Conn., 06804.
(Top, l-r): Participants at the 13th Annual Golden Circle Luncheon
included Phyllis (Halpine) Kriksciun ’39, Mary (Walsh) Burke ’43 and
Nancy Lenihan ’43.
(Left, l-r): The Class of ’57+ held an informal annual reunion in 2009 at
Hot Shots Grille in Newtown, Conn. (Contributed photo)
(Bottom, l-r): Also in attendance at this year’s luncheon were Georgia
(Wilkinson) Perry ’52, Rita (Pawloski) Lundebjerg ’42, Mort Johnson ’42,
Jean Appleton, and Alumni Association board members Helen Curtin
Rosenspire ’07 and Kay Schreiber ’79.
Tell us about yourself
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name (maiden, if applicable)
Graduation year
Spouse’s name (maiden, if applicable)
Spouse’s graduation year
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Employer
Spouse’s employer
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Home address E-mail
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Information for class notes
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Use additional paper if necessary. Please print or type and return to Office of Alumni Relations, WCSU, 181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
q Yes! I want information about the
Alumni Association Board and its
volunteer committees.
q Yes! I want to help organize an
event in my area.
q Yes! I would be interested in
sponsoring an internship with
my company.
17
Save the date
Western Connecticut State University
Mock Trial April 21
Join alumni, students and staff
for a Mock Trial. 6 p.m., Westside
Classroom Building Room 218,
Westside campus. For more
information, call the Alumni
Office at (203) 837-8298.
Alumni Day at Yankee Stadium
Join alumni and friends for a game
at Yankee ballpark. Transportation
included. For more information, go
to wcsu.edu/alumni or call
(203) 837-8298.
Alumni Family Day August 7
Hubble Space Telescope
20th anniversary
Hubble space Telescope Symposium
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of its launch
April 20 - 24, Midtown campus
Western Connecticut State University
Featuring a spacesuit exhibit, one-fifth size model of the telescope, demonstrations of Hubble repair technology, and
many more offerings on space exploration. WCSU will host an astronaut lecture and panel discussions on women in
science and careers in the aerospace industry, teacher training and more events throughout the spring.
For more information, call WCSU at (203) 837-8771.
WCSU will offer CEU credit for this program. Pre-registration is required to earn CEUs. For information, call (203) 837-8486.
Alumni reception with astronaut Story Musgrave — April 22
The Alumni Office will host a complimentary reception during the Hubble Week Celebration on
Thursday, April 22, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in Warner Hall, prior to the President’s Lecture Series featuring
astronaut Story Musgrave. The highlight of this event will take place at around 7 p.m., when Musgrave
will arrive at Warner Hall to address the reception attendees prior to the lecture. Both the reception and
lecture are free and open to all alumni.
May 1 Gala in the Key of Jazz
Featuruing internationally acclaimed artist Maria Schneider in
concert. See ad on this page.
March 3 (7:30 p.m. Gala Reception), 4, 5, 6, 7, 11,
12, 13 Theatre Production –– “A Flea in Her Ear”
Presented by the theatre arts department. 8 p.m. (with
additional 2 p.m. performances on March 7 & 13),
Berkshire Theatre, Midtown campus. Tickets: $20, $15 for
seniors and students. WCSU students free with valid I.D.
Box office: (203) 837-8732.
March 19 WestConn Society Luncheon
11: 30 a.m., Westside Campus Center Ballroom.
April 7 WCSU Alumni Association Annual Meeting
6 p.m., Alumni Hall, Midtown campus.
April 9 CMEA Music Reception
A complimentary reception for alumni attending the 65th
annual CMEA In-Service Conference and All-State Music
Festival. 6 p.m., Riverside Lounge, Conn. Convention
Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Conn.
April 20-24 Hubble: 20th Anniversary Celebration
See ad on this page.
April 21 Mock Trial
See ad on this page.
April 22 Hubble Week Alumni Reception
See ad on this page.
18
May 21 Cap and Gown Distribution
3 to 7 p.m., Westside Campus Center, Westside campus.
May 21 Graduate Commencement
7 p.m., Feldman Arena, O’Neill Center, Westside campus.
May 22 Alumni Barbecue
Noon to 3 p.m., Quadrangle, Midtown campus.
May 22 Health Education/Health Promotion Studies
(HPX) Reunion
Reception 4 p.m., Alumni Hall, WCSU Midtown campus.
Cost.
May 23 Undergraduate Commencement
10:30 a.m., Athletic Stadium, Westside campus
Continental Breakfast at 8 a.m. Wish to participate?
Call (203) 837-8298.
y
iversit
ate Un ents a
es
ticut St
Connec n, Inc. pr
estern Foundatio
Spend a fun-filled day with family and fellow alumni
at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Conn. $33/person (No
charge for children three & under.) (203) 837-8298
May 12 Alumni Nursing Society Reception
A complimentary reception for nursing alumni and seniors
graduating from WCSU’s nursing program. 4:30 p.m.,
Westside Campus Center Ballroom.
The W
Fun at
Lake Compounce
Saturday, May 1
gala
ey
k
e
h
t
in
of
Featuring internationally acclaimed artist
Maria Schneider in concert. For information,
visit wcsu.edu/ball or call (203) 837-8298.
Alumni Trip — July 8-16
June 5 Trip to Mohonk Mountain House
See ad on page 3.
July 8-16 National Parks Tour
See ad on this page.
July 25 New Milford Alumni and New Student
Barbecue
Join alumni and new students for a complimentary barbecue at the home of WestConn Sweethearts Tammy
(Hammershoy) ‘97 and Todd McInerney ‘97. 2 to 4 p.m.,
33 Sterling Dr., New Milford, Conn. E-mail alumni@wcsu.
edu or call (203) 837-8298.
August 7 Alumni Family Day at Lake Compounce
See ad on this page.
For a full listing of alumni events,
visit wcsu.edu/alumni.
National Parks Tour
Looming mountains, natural wonders and historic mining towns!
Join alumni and friends for a tour that begins in Salt Lake City,
Utah, and ends in Rapid City, S.D. Accommodations and 11 meals
are included in the nine-day trip. Sights include: Temple Square,
Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Buffalo
Bill Historical Center, Devils Tower, Badlands, Crazy Horse, Mt.
Rushmore and more! For more information and reservations,
call Kay Schreiber ’79 at (203) 790-8342.
March 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
April 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 • May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Marketplace
M1
E
G
I
N2
M2
M3
J
F
A
M4
H
C
N3
D
B
L
K
(l-r): Rebecca Woodward ’88; Logan & Zack Yezierski (mom: Rebecca
Woodward ’88); Grieg Irving ’09; Rebecca (Tozzoli) Diot ’85, ’01;
Devin & Lindsay Diot (mom: Rebecca ’85, ’01); Juan Obreros ’07.
Clothing and accessories
A. WestConn alumni vintage crewneck
sweatshirt: $29.98 (Champion). S-2XL.
Available in navy.
B. Western open-bottom sweatpants:
$28.98 (Jansport). S-2XL. Available in
navy and charcoal.
C. WestConn toddler tee-shirt: $14.98
(College Kids). 2T-5/6. Available in
white oxford gray and pink.
D. WestConn toddler zip-hood sweatshirt: $29.98 (College Kids). 2T-5/6.
Available in navy.
E. WestConn alumni hat: $15.98
(Cobra). One size fits all. Available in
khaki and navy.
F. WCSU polo shirt: $29.98 (Club
Colors). S-4XL. Available in navy or
light gray (ash).
G. Western Colonials long sleeve jersey
tee-shirt: $19.98 (Champion). S-2XL.
Available in navy and oxford gray.
H. WestConn alumni hooded sweatshirt: $39.98 (Champion). S-2XL.
Available in granite heather and
bleached red (cardinal heather).
I. Western Colonials hooded sweatshirt:
$49.98 (Jansport). S-2XL. Available in
pink fusion, light blue (carolina blue)
and oxford gray.
J. WCSU alumni tee-shirt: $14.98
(Gildan). S-2XL. Available in navy only.
K. WestConn banded sweatpants:
$24.98 (Champion). S-2XL. Available in
granite heather, navy and black.
L. WCSU license plate holder: $19.98
WCSU alumni desk accessories
Seal and school name with “Alumni”
engraved on black and gold.
Masterpiece medallion.
M1: Desk set: $49.95. Attached solid
brass business card holder and ball
point pen. 10” x 1/2” x 3/4” (base).
M2: Desk box: $44.95 Black suede
lining and magnetic closure. 9” x 6”
x 2 1/2”.
M3: Letter sorter: $34.95. Keep your
mail organized. 10” x 3” x 4”.
M4: Paperweight: $22.95. Genuine
marble. 3” x 3” x 7/8”.
Personalization is available on desk set
and desk box for additional $4.95. See
order form below for shipping costs.
N4
N1
Diploma frames
N1: Campus Scene Edition showcases
a beautiful panoramic photo of Fairfield
Hall mounted above diploma with seal
and school name gold embossed on
black and gold museum-quality matting and features a high-gloss Galleria
cherry molding, $167.95.
N2: 23K jewelry-quality medallion,
black and gold museum matting, gold
embossed WCSU, cherry, $144.95.
N3 & N4: Regency or Gallery style
frames: $119.95, seal and school
name gold embossed on black and
gold museum-quality matting. O2:
Gallery: cherry. O3: Regency: mahogany. Both: gold inner lip. Signature style
frame.
Please specify O1, O2, O3 or O4. For
pre-1998 styles, call the Office of
Alumni Relations at (203) 837-8290.
Photo frames are also available in the
above styles for $44.95 (vertical or
horizontal).
For detailed photos, descriptions and
other available styles or to purchase
diploma/photo frames and desk accessories online, visit: wcsu.edu/alumni
and click the Alumni Marketplace
button.
Furniture and accessories
O. WCSU rocker, Standard Chair
(not shown) and Heritage Lamp (not
shown). Can be personalized at an
additional charge. For detailed information and photos, call (203) 837-8298 or
visit standardchair.com.
O1: Boston Rocker or O2: Standard
Chair: classic solid maple hardwoods
and satin black finish with laser
engraved WCSU seal, $360.
O3: Heritage Lamp: classic solid maple
hardwood and satin black finish
with laser engraved WCSU
seal. Shade is black
parchment with gold
trim, $210.
O1
Marketplace order form
Name _______________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
City, state, ZIP _______________________________________________
Daytime phone no. w/area code________________________________
E-mail address_______________________________________________
Active alumni discount no. _____________
Delivery in four weeks or
less. Proceeds generated
from Marketplace sales
help fund alumni programs,
events and initiatives. For
more information, call
(203) 837-8298.
(The number on your Alumni Association membership card)
Item (letter)
Color
Price
Description
(use additional sheet for more items)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
All items are taxable including apparel.
Item total
– 10% active alumni discount
$________________
$________________
Tax (6% Conn.)
$________________
Subtotal $________________
Shipping* $________________
Total $________________
*Shipping Costs: wearable merchandise: $6.95 first item and $1.95 each
additional item; diploma frame: $18.95; paperweight: $6.95; photo frame,
desk set, desk box, and letter sorter: $9.95 each.
Make checks payable to and send orders to:
WCSU Alumni Marketplace
181 White Street, Danbury, CT 06810
rsity
te Unive
a
esents
ticut Sta
Connec n, Inc. pr
estern Foundatio
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
The W
Danbury, CT
Permit No. 111
Join us Saturday, May 1, 2010
▼
Non-Profit Org
US Postage Paid
y of
e ke
la in th
ga
Address Service Requested
Featuring internationally acclaimed
artist Maria Schneider in concert.
For information, visit wcsu.edu/ball
or call (203) 837-8298.
Parents: If the address label lists a son or daughter
who no longer lives at this address, please notify the
Office of Alumni Relations of the correct address. Send
to: Office of Alumni Relations, WCSU, 181 White Street,
Danbury, CT 06810 or e-mail [email protected].
Visit mariaschneider.com.
B
A
C
E
Fall ’09
Happenings
G
D
To see a gallery of images from
this event, visit wcsu.edu/flickr.
F
A. WCSU’s Property Control and Mail Services Manager Kevin Koschel ’85 (left) and wife Beth (right) congratulate Jessica
Costello who received the Peggy Will Koschel Memorial Endowed Scholarship at the ceremony in October. B. (l-r) Joan ’68
and Al Mead ’67, ’69 visit with Eric ’64 and Diana Wellman ’64 at the Alumni Dinner Theatre last fall. C. WestConn’s oldest
living alumna, Mary Edgett ’24, who turned 107 last November, celebrated her birthday at the Filosa Convalescent Home.
D. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves on the brunch cruise around the Big Apple last September. E. (l-r): Ron ’83 and
Kathy Pollaro ’77, ’86, Elaine Salem ’64 and Sharon Fusco ’67 took in the view during last fall’s trip to the Culinary Institute of
America in Hyde Park, N.Y. F. Attendees sampled wine at last fall’s 11th Annual Wine Tasting event, which raises money for
student scholarships. G. Mets fans attended the first Alumni Day at Citi Field.