Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Making an Impact
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
David Conway In this issue:
EDITOR
James Jolly
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From the President
Hartwick
Education Defies
Commoditization
Tight economic times have inspired calls for ever greater accountability in success and satisfaction. The impact of this experience is only fully realized
higher education. I happen to believe this is a good thing—families should in the years after graduation, when Hartwick alumni are challenged to
know that their educational investment is likely to yield desired learning be flexible in their thinking, solve novel challenges, and adapt to shifting
outcomes (assuming purposeful effort on the part of their student). It intellectual and practice demands.
follows that students should only enroll in a college where their goals are
attainable. Making this “match” requires the transparency of the college, and You need only look at the educational experiences in this Wick magazine
thoughtful deliberation by the student. to see that a Hartwick education defies commoditization. These are stories
of impact: Hartwick January Term experiences that change perspectives
Unfortunately, the tight economy has also spawned proposals for greater and lives; Hartwick people like Gordie Roberts and John Johnstone, who
regulation, including for higher education. As is often the case, a rush to were changed by Hartwick and then changed the rest of us; Hartwick
regulatory “fixes” designed to guide errant colleges into more responsible supporters Fran and Skip Sykes, whose quiet support has tangibly advanced
business practices is likely to result in additional, unnecessary, and regressive this educational experience; record-holding coach Dale Rothenberger, who
burdens on the majority of colleges—those that act in the best interest of has shaped 26 years of Hartwick swimmers, divers, and leaders; and the
their students. Increased regulatory burden brings increased cost, which ubiquitous guide dogs in training who change not only the lives of those
is counterproductive at a time of reduced state and federal programs that they go on to serve, but the lives of their Hartwick student mentors, as well.
provide direct support to students and decreases in college net revenues due
to increases in the size of college-funded aid programs. A Hartwick College education: a commodity? Rather, the experience of a
lifetime.
By now, you may be wondering if I have spent too much time in Washington
in recent months. Perhaps! However, these dynamics, along with growing Best,
educational loan debt, increasing concern about the price of education (and
a limited understanding about the cost), and the temptation to regard all
educational experiences as “the same” have resulted in an ever increasing
commoditization of education.
Graduates of fine liberal arts colleges know their education has been
extraordinary. Preparation for a first job? Sure. But the true payoff for an
education of Hartwick’s quality is a lifetime of professional and personal
Statement:
brings employment, investments, visitors, and Hartwick’s annual economic impact on
new residents to its hometown. Oneonta, city and town, including:
City of Oneonta
Margaret L. Drugovich, citing the powerful housing, and more by employees, students,
history between town and gown. “It was time and visitors;
to update our understanding of the economic
impact of this decision.” $.5+ million
By Elizabeth Steele in non-monetary contributions through
The President initiated an economic impact 5,662 hours of organized volunteer work
and service learning and in-kind
study to quantify the College’s financial impact
contributions through free access to
on greater Oneonta. Against the backdrop
Hartwick library, museum, lectures, and
of a national discussion about whether non- events. (2010 survey data and 2009 expenditure records)
profit organizations should pay tax-like fees
for services, known as PILOTS (Payments in
Lieu of Taxes), an economic impact statement
elucidates actual dollars the institution regularly Lessons learned extended well beyond the
contributes to the local economy. analysis, or even the interpretation. “This study
was a rare opportunity for students to work on
Recognizing the study as a perfect learning an issue from the vantage point of a CEO,” says
experience for Hartwick students, Drugovich Drugovich. “Also, our very positive relationship
developed a comprehensive assessment approach with the people of Oneonta provided the context
with Accounting Professor Penny Wightman for this exploration. On a normal day, students
and eight students in the spring of 2010. and community members interact without
Together, they formed an in-house research and carefully considering the mutual benefits of this
analysis team. relationship.”
“Measuring economic impact, particularly of The President relished this opportunity to serve
not-for-profit organizations, is a very challenging as educator, saying, “I wanted to work directly
prospect; it’s not a typical undergraduate study,” with our students so that they could learn where
says Wightman. “These studies, by their nature, public policy and private good meet; so that
require significant independent work. As the they could appreciate the power of the scholar-
study progressed it provided a peer-to-peer practitioner approach to understanding complex
exchange of ideas that allowed the students to economic relationships; and so that they could
teach one another; I became a manager/mentor better understand how individuals impact the
rather than a lecturer/tester.” community in which they live.”
Student teams developed primary data through The work continues; this time in evaluating the
survey instruments assessing individuals’ College’s Pine Lake Environmental Campus.
spending patterns and evaluated secondary Drugovich is again collaborating with Wightman
research using college records of specific and three of the students-Cody Fiduccia ’12,
spending and service. Hartwick’s Institutional Ryan Kelly ’13, and Seth Canetto ’11-to
Review Board (IRB) approved the methodology. build on the progress made by the Pine Lake
Taskforce last year.
“The project gave our students an opportunity
to learn invaluable research methods— “The Taskforce brought us to a greater
data collection, analysis, and meaningful understanding of the obstacles to fully
interpretation,” explains Drugovich. “We pursued integrating Pine Lake into our academic
primary data collection rather than employing program,” says Drugovich. “The student team
multipliers that are often used to estimate financial is now detailing revenues and expenses, and
impact. The learning was richer. If we had applied looking at opportunities for a more expansive use
a multiplier, the impact estimate could have been at of Pine Lake, both within the academic program
least twice the amount we found.” and outside of it.”
Distinguished Alumnus to
Deliver Commencement Address
research develops and investigates biological biologist, head of ultrastructural research,
models designed to reveal the cellular, molecular, senior investigator in the laboratory of biology,
and genetic basis for breast cancer and focuses senior investigator in molecular genetics, senior
on using stem cells to induce cancer cells to investigator in oncogenetics, and chief senior
become normal cells. investigator in mammary stem cell biology.
President Drugovich and Dr. Gilbert Howlett
“Dr. Smith exemplifies a life in education and Smith has received numerous awards for his
Smith ’59.
humanitarian pursuits,” President Margaret work, including the 2005 National Institutes
L. Drugovich said. “A lifelong research of Health Merit Award, the 2003 National
Dr. Gilbert Howlett Smith ’59, one of the scientist, Dr. Smith has had a remarkable career Cancer Institute Mentor of Merit Award,
world’s leading cancer researchers, will address devoted to original research on the causes and and the 1996 Glenn Foundation Award. He
the Class of 2011 at Commencement on prevention of breast cancer. He is an exemplar of is a two-time nominee for the E.B. Wilson
Saturday, May 28. not only the value of a Hartwick education, but Medal, the highest award from the American
the critical impact original scholarly research can Society for Cell Biology given for “far-reaching
Smith is the head senior investigator of have upon each of our lives.” contributions to cell biology over a lifetime in
mammary stem cell biology at the National science.”
Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. He earned Smith joined the National Cancer Institute
his bachelor’s in Biology from Hartwick and an in 1965. He has held numerous positions In 2010, Smith received Hartwick’s
M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Brown University. His there during his career, including research Distinguished Alumnus Award.
MetroLink 2011
For one week in February, Hartwick students
traveled to Boston and New York City to gain
valuable job-shadowing experience.
MetroLink gives Hartwick students the opportunity to take a closer look at their
chosen careers through job-shadowing opportunities. Shadowing professionals
in the workplace is one of the best ways for students to learn what their future
careers are really like. Alumni and friends of the College have made MetroLink a
successful experiential learning program for more than 20 years.
“MetroLink let me explore the work environment of the industries that are
appealing to me while expanding my professional business network,” said David Nursing majors Katherine Spass ’14 and Allyson Kist ’12 went behind
Esposito ’11, a Business Administration major. Esposito has since had a job the scenes in the ER and labor and delivery at Lenox Hill Hospital.
interview with one of the companies he visited during MetroLink.
Government Funds
Faculty-Student
Environmental
Research
Abramo Honored as
Outstanding Emerging
Researcher
One of Hartwick’s newest faculty members recently was recognized for
his high-quality research in music education. Assistant Professor of Music
Joseph Abramo was named this year’s Outstanding Emerging Researcher
Two Hartwick students will join Associate Professor of Chemistry
by the Center for Music Education Research.
Richard Benner this summer at Brookhaven National Laboratories on
Long Island. The work will be funded by a highly competitive $23,000
“It is a great privilege and honor to receive this recognition,” Abramo says,
award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“especially from an organization and people for whom I have great respect.
I teach and conduct research for the intrinsic desires and rewards that they
Biochemistry major Mackenzie Shipley ’11 and Chemistry major
provide, but with that said, it is nice and humbling to receive acknowledge-
Shannon Walsh ’13 will join Benner for 10 weeks of environmental
ment.”
science research as a Faculty and Student Team in the Atmospheric
Tracer Technology Labs. They will work to improve and modernize
As part of the award, Abramo presented his research in February at the
analytical instruments and methods to measure perflourocarbon
Suncoast Music Education Research Symposium in Tampa, FL. His work
compounds in air samples at ultra-trace levels. The group also will help
looks at how children’s gender identities influence the type of popular mu-
develop instrumental techniques for analyzing liquid PFTs and methods
sic they write in schools. He found that participants in his study “borrowed
for formulation of PFT calibration standards.
gender stereotypes from popular culture when they wrote their music.
When teachers use popular music in schools, they must be aware of how
Throughout the project, Benner, Shipley and Walsh will have the
students’ perception of gender plays a part in their musical experiences.”
opportunity to interact closely with world-class scientists. The award
The work also will be published in Music Education Research Interna-
further provides Shipley and Walsh with the experience of research in a
tional.
national laboratory, where they can begin to establish the professional
network that will support them throughout their careers.
Abramo’s dissertation at Columbia University’s Teachers College, where
he received his master of education and Ed.D. in music education, was a
“This award is a consequence of the student-centered, research-rich
qualitative multiple case study that looked at how popular music is influ-
curriculum embraced by Hartwick’s Chemistry Department, and of
enced by gender. This continues to be the focus of his research, along with
the dedication of the Chemistry faculty to mentoring students on
multiculturalism, instrumental music, and poststructural theory.”
meaningful and productive research grants,” said Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs Michael G. Tannenbaum.
“It is a great privilege and honor to receive this recognition, The group’s project emerged from Benner’s expertise in environmental
especially from an organization and people for whom I have great analytical chemical methods and instrumentation, and his strong
respect. I teach and conduct research for the intrinsic desires commitment to involving students as peers in the research process.
and rewards that they provide, but with that said, it is nice and The DOE award is based on earlier research conducted in the summer
humbling to receive acknowledgement.” and fall of 2010, funded by a contract from Brookhaven National
—Joseph Abramo Laboratories.
4
second-team honors in two events, setting
a trio of Hartwick records and securing an
NCAA “B” cut time at the championships.
Willcox was named second team in the 200
butterfly. Ha earned second-team honors
in the 100 butterfly with a College record
and NCAA “B” cut time of :57.51. She also
set a new Hartwick benchmark in the 200
IM. Head Coach Dale Rothenberger passed
the 400-win mark since his career began
in 1985.
4
4
4
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL closed out the year
10-14 overall and fifth in the Empire 8 Conference with
a 7-9 mark. At the conclusion of the season, guard Kate
Purcell ’14 was selected to the conference’s second
team by the league’s coaches. Guard Maria Foglia EQUESTRIAN finished third in Zone
’14 received honorable mention. Purcell was a three- II Region 3. The Hawks placed third in five
time conference rookie of the week who ranked in the shows to close out the regular season,
Top-10 in the Empire 8 in seven different statistical including a season-high 38 points at ’Wick’s
categories. In mid-November, she notched 12 assists home show in Otego. Four Hawks earned
in a Hartwick victory over Salem College. The total is their way into the regional competition.
tied for the 16th-highest in Division III basketball this Lauren Lamoureux ’12 and Francesca
season. Foglia was the Empire 8 Rookie of the Week on Brattoli ’12 earned top-five finishes.
February 21 and she led Hartwick in scoring, averaging Lamoureux took third in the intermediate
19.8 points per game and added six rebounds over the flat division. She also was eighth in
final five games of the season. Fritzi Flores ’11 ended intermediate fences. Brattoli secured a
her career with 722 points, 387 rebounds, 97 three- fifth-place ride in walk trot canter. Rachael
pointers, and 175 steals. She ranks second in Hartwick Suite ’11 competed in novice fences in her
history in three-pointers and her 175 steals puts her final collegiate competition, while Elizabeth
seventh on the all-time list. Allers ’13 competed in novice flat.
The
Origin and
Evolution By Professor of Biology Stanley Sessions
Stan Sessions holds a Ph.D. in zoology from the University
of Cancer
of California-Berkley and has taught at Hartwick
since 1989. His expertise includes evolutionary and
developmental biology.
It has been called “The Emperor of All control. These cells, like a broken record, keep
Maladies,” and for good reason. Cancer is not playing the same program over and over again,
the only disease that can harm you or kill you, proliferating as if there was no tomorrow.
but it is probably the most feared. It is also one
of the least understood, in terms of causes and As a scientist, I feel frustrated and helpless in
cures. This is due partly to the fact that cancer the face of a life-threatening disease for which
is not one disease, but is a class of diseases that there is little hope for a cure and almost nothing
are as variable as the diverse tissues that are known about the cause. It is clear new insights
affected, and this diversity is reflected by the are needed to help us understand how cancer
array of names given to various kinds of cancer: works and to develop more effective means
lymphoma, leukemia, carcinoma, adenoma, of prevention, if not cures. In fact, a major
mesothelioma, sarcoma, melanoma, and so on breakthrough in our understanding of cancer,
and so forth. Some are named simply after the as well as many other areas of biomedicine,
organ they affect, such as breast cancer, prostate has come from modern evolutionary theory.
cancer, brain cancer, esophageal cancer, and Specifically, we now know that cancer cells
pancreatic cancer, to name a few. evolve through natural selection acting at the
cellular level within the body, and this explains
Cancer can hit at any age, but the probability why it has been so difficult to find cures.
of contracting it increases dramatically as you
get older. For this reason, many cancers are Natural selection is a powerful force that
becoming more common as people in this depends on two things: proliferation and
country and around the world live longer genetic variation. Proliferation means making
thanks, ironically, to steadily improving health copies, and when you make copies, you make
care and medical technology. By now, cancer mistakes. In preparation for dividing, cells
is second only to heart disease as the number copy their DNA, and mistakes are made. The
one killer, and at least one in every four people more and faster you copy, the more mistakes
can expect to struggle with some kind of cancer are made. (This is why so many cancers begin
during their lifetime. in adult stem cells, such as in the skin or
developing blood cells.) These mistakes in
The one unifying characteristic held in common DNA replication are called mutations, and they
by all cancer is uncontrolled cellular growth. can affect the way a cell functions, including
Normally, cell proliferation is controlled by how or whether it proliferates. Here’s the
genes called “growth control genes.” But thing: Cells with mutations that allow them to
mutations can destroy these genes and result survive better and proliferate at a higher rate
in cells that have completely lost their growth will accumulate faster than other kinds of cells.
Eventually, some cells will acquire mutations and other diseases, a growing understanding Lung cancer, for example, is strongly correlated
that also allow them to spread (metastasize). of how cancer cells evolve within the body via with tobacco, mesothelioma with exposure to
Over time, this competitive process among Darwinian natural selection can lead us to more asbestos, and leukemia with exposure to certain
cancer cells can result in extremely aggressive sophisticated treatment. It has been found that environmental chemical pollutants, especially
cells that can spread and grow as a tumor or HIV can be managed by alternating treatment benzene and related hydrocarbons (e.g. from
cancer. This explains why treatments such as drugs to inhibit the proliferation of resistant car exhaust). Cancer is also probabilistic, and
chemotherapy, radiation, and even surgery so viruses. Likewise, with cancer, an effective so not everyone who smokes or chews tobacco
often fail in the long run. Such treatments do approach might be to alternate chemotherapy or who is exposed to benzene gets cancer, but
not usually eradicate every single cancer cell, drugs. This would be particularly effective such exposure can cause the kind of genetic
and thanks to random mutation, some of the with cancer since the name of the game is to mutations that can dramatically increase the
remaining cells are, just by chance, resistant prevent tumor growth and metastasis. A better probability of getting cancer. Genetics also
to the treatment. These resistant cells then approach to combating cancer than treatment, of plays a role, and some people inherit genetic
proliferate and are more difficult to get rid of. course, is prevention, but that requires a better mutations that increase their chances of getting
This is pure Darwinian evolution at work. understanding of what causes cancer. cancer (e.g. breast cancer). In many cases cancer
just shows up without any apparent cause, even
Another scary thing about cancer is that, unlike In order to become cancerous, a cell must in people who had none of the risk factors.
diseases caused by foreign microbes such as survive from one to (usually) several separate
viruses and bacteria, cancer is not a disease mutations, each of which is usually lethal to the We may never be able to completely eliminate
caused by an invader. It is more of a rebellion, cell. On top of this, our immune systems are cancer as one of the many diseases that we have
a revolt of some wayward cells of your body. very effective at identifying and killing wayward to worry about, especially as our population
This is another reason cancer is so difficult cells, including any cell that is in the wrong place ages. And given the fact that cancer cells evolve
to cure, and even to treat effectively. Most at the wrong time doing the wrong kinds of in response to treatment, it is probably unlikely
treatments involve chemotherapy or radiation or things, such as a cancer cell. So why do we get we will ever have a cure to all cancers. But
both, which kills dividing cells, both cancerous cancer? The answer to this question involves cancer research is gaining momentum, and I can
and normal. Thus, people undergoing such three possibilities: chance (bad luck), genetics imagine a future, perhaps only 10 or 20 years
treatment often lose their hair, have reduced (bad genes), or exposure to an environmental from now, when even the most dreaded forms
blood cell counts, and sometimes even lose their toxin (mutagen or carcinogen). Cancer is a very of cancer will not only be easily managed (if
fingernails and teeth as side effects. It is a tribute individualistic disease, and there are probably as not cured), but prevented as well. Meanwhile I
both to the effectiveness of cancer treatment many specific causes as there are cancer patients. intend to do what I can, as a biology professor,
and to the resilience of the human body that, The common thread is mutation that damages to encourage promising young undergraduates
though they are difficult or impossible to the structure of genes that control cellular to aim for a career in biotechnology and
cure, an increasing number of cancers can be growth. Thus anything that can cause genetic biomedical research. Recently, we were
controlled over an extended period of time, mutations can cause cancer, and we now have awarded a five-year biotechnology grant from
allowing people to live with cancer for many some very strong correlations between specific the National Science Foundation to provide
years. As we have already discovered with HIV kinds of cancer and their probable causes. scholarships for students to do just that. n
Egypt’s Youth:
Hope in Arab Revolution
By Professor of Political Science Mary Vanderlaan
Mary Vanderlaan holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and has taught at Hartwick since 1979.
Her expertise includes international relations and politics and development in poor countries.
Just before the new year, 26-year-old Mohamed protests in the cities. As if the deal had yet to be and university graduates. Adding pressure to
Bouazizi—a college-educated Tunisian unable to sealed, thousands of workers decided to strike. this brew, 20% of Egyptians are unemployed and
find a steady job—set himself on fire to protest Increasingly clear to the Mubarak government, 40% live under the country’s poverty line.
police confiscation of the fruits and vegetables a regime kept in power by an emergency decree
he was selling to support his family. His self- that mocked any claim of regime legitimacy or The 20- and 30-somethings who were the
immolation touched off massive protests that constitutional authority, there was to be no way key planners of the revolution are educated,
soon led to the fall of Tunisia’s wealthy president, this “genie” of an enlivened citizenry could be accustomed to sharing ideas via Facebook and
Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who had overseen 23 stuffed back into the proverbial bottle. Twitter, and tuned into their world via al Jazeera
years of political repression and economic misery and other satellite media. They are not only
for the average Tunisian. In the wake of Bouazizi’s immolation came the informed by social media and new technology,
dramatic political upheaval restructuring two they also are informed about their status relative
Here was an Arab country whose political and Arab states in North Africa. Most dramatic to the opportunities open to the college-
economic profile matched those of other states in would be the effects of political changes in the educated in emergent economies outside the
the Middle East, including Egypt. Bouazizi’s act larger, geographically-strategic state of Egypt. region.
of desperation resonated with young Egyptians Yet the world’s attention was riveted initially
in similar circumstances who were similarly on events played out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square; No doubt more important to the events that
deeply frustrated by a lack of opportunities television viewers around the world became would unfold near the Nile, the April 6 Youth
and political voice. Given the dramatic political voyeurs titillated by a story of how the powerful Movement had been in communication with
turn of events spurred by Bouazizi’s actions, could be called out and then toppled by a force similarly frustrated young people in Tunisia,
odds were greater than ever that Egypt’s restless built of truth, human dignity, and the rejection of Morocco, Algeria, Iran, and the Gulf states for
and tech-savvy youth would ask two inevitable violence by citizens so recently powerless. some time, sharing aspirations for change and
questions: “Why not us?” “Why not here?” tactics of non-violence that might be effective
Less than a month later, Egypt erupted into Television images of Egypt’s crowds reflected against ruthless regimes that, in the past, used
political turmoil. Soon, hundreds of thousands the wide range of individuals who had become protestors’ violence to justify brutal crackdowns.
were loudly, if non-violently, protesting in public energized activists in response to the outcry
squares, demanding an end to the 30-year against a corrupt regime. But who led this revolt, These Facebook politicos also had heard about
regime headed by former Egyptian military hero and how they did so, is a story of the population the success of the Serbian youth movement,
Hosni Mubarak. demographics and economics of much of the Otpor, which led the non-violent movement
Middle East. Like those of other states in the that toppled Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. But
Events from “Revolution Day” through the region, Egypt’s population is young (30% are it was events in Tunisia that became the tipping
next two and a half weeks, day by day, hugely under the age of 30), more highly educated than point for these Egyptians, some of whom later
enlarged the size of the politically relevant strata their parents or grandparents were, and left to confessed to feeling ashamed that they had not
in Egypt’s largest cities. Bolstering that new survive in an economy that has not generated done before what the Tunisians had just shown
political voice, poor citizens joined the massive enough jobs to absorb majorities of high school them was really possible.
Notably, among the youthful leaders were high other in turns, they responded: “I want to be a Egyptian “revolutionaries” paved a way to
numbers of Egyptian women. Similarly, women doctor,” “I want to be a scientist,” and “I want to democracy during the revolution itself. And
of all ages and backgrounds mingled in Cairo’s be an engineer, a computer engineer!” Nearby therein lies hope—if it can be sustained. If the
Tahrir Square and took over microphones to stood elderly protestors who may have been their Egyptian revolution proclaimed one thing, it
raise their issues and those of their families. grandparents. was that non-violence and civil protest can be
Egyptian academic Amr Hamzawy, a negotiator mightier, more effective than guns, bombs, and
between the protestors and the government Historical footage will show that people across violence. Now, newly empowered Egyptians
during the 18-day revolution, noted that women age, gender, socioeconomic class, and religious have promised regular Friday rallies to remind
had not shied away from events in the squares. affiliation had voted with their feet and bodies governors that they will be held to the demands
He cited the example of 20-something Asmaa to force regime change and defeat fear, knowing of the revolution. Reverberating a protester’s
Mafouz, who in the first days of the revolt that the Mukhabarat secret police were mingling comment that Egyptians “know the way back to
posted her picture with a provocative protest there, too, and sporadically using violence Tahrir Square,” new voices promise to hold feet
sign on Facebook, identifying herself to the against protestors. A critical dynamic thus to the fire.
secret police by so doing. Asmaa called on others arose from the collective experiences of the 18
to do the same as acts of defiance against the days of revolution. Those who once had little Since the dramatic Egyptian events, similar
regime. Her Facebook message: “If we go down recourse against a regime willing to beat and jail popular protests have emerged in Yemen, Libya,
and take a stance, there will be hope!” Many opponents and so were “victims” of Mubarak’s Bahrain and Syria.
were emboldened to follow her call to “defeat authoritarianism, now exercised their voices and
fear.” Likewise, 28-year-old school counselor “agency” in the streets. Exuberant protestors In each of those situations, authoritarian leaders
Mariam Suleiman cajoled other women to join accepted the risk of being agents of change. have responded with violence and further
in. “Women have to go down and participate, repression. Events continue to play out.
demand their rights, or is it going to be the With Mubarak gone, parliament dissolved and
men who fight for our rights? I am an Egyptian the constitution suspended, newly efficacious At Hartwick, faculty and students are taking
woman, a regular woman, rejecting injustice and citizens will have the choice to again be pesky note of history unfolding and are doing analyses
corruption in my country!” and vocal as a transitional government steers of socio-economic and political factors at work.
Egypt along a path to genuine reform. Issues are On the College’s J Term trip to Egypt in 2010,
One jubilant 40-something at Tahrir square, urgent. Inevitably, debates will emerge. Building students and Professor of Religious Studies
who was interviewed after Mubarak finally representative institutions will take time. In sum, Gary Herion, witnessed firsthand the political
resigned the presidency, shouted to a reporter, developing a new civic culture around issues and economic repression many people in the
“The neighbors’ kids did this!” But the story and activism of “the Egyptian street” will be a Middle East and North Africa have lived with
was not only being written by young adults. raucous affair. Divergent voices and urgent issue- and now hope to overcome.
Television images depicted parents with children agendas demand attention from new political
and whole families strolling the peaceful crowds leaders working under a new set of rules. All this In Political Science, study of these “Arab
as though on a weekend outing. Poignantly, three comes in the context of circumstances: 40% of revolutions” sheds light upon theory and
young girls, maybe 15 years old, were noticed Egyptians live on $2 a day. Aspirations are high, reminds us of the critical importance of
for their obvious excitement about events in the economic resources are low, and accountable understanding global events if we are to predict
square. A reporter asked them about their lives political change takes time! future events. n
and what they wanted to be. One following the
Puppy
Love
Hartwick Students
Help Craft a Legacy
of Dignity for the Blind
By Christopher Lott
Chris Lott is the College’s Associate Writer.
His family raised guide dogs throughout his childhood.
The process of raising a puppy while a full-time drug- or bomb-sniffing specialists. Some enter “The highlight of the reunion was seeing
student is often taxing, but far and away the the Heeling Autism Program, or go to work puppies around campus and seeing all the
most difficult moment for volunteers comes with police agencies. Others are offered back to current raisers,” Baroody said. “It was really
when the process concludes. At about two years their raisers and become pets. neat meeting them and hearing there’s a puppy
old, the puppies return to Guiding Eyes for the in every dorm. It was great to hear that Tawny
Blind to begin their intensive training and to be Both Shannon and Tawney returned to their and I had left a legacy behind us, which I think is
matched with their blind partner. student raisers. great—for the students, for Guiding Eyes, and
for all the dogs and the blind out there working
While they’re well aware that the puppy raising After Baroody and Tawney were reunited, and living together.”
process has an end point, for volunteers the they remained the best of friends. They
separation is often like losing a member of the walked together during Hartwick College Guiding Eyes has puppy raising programs at
family. Commencement, and Tawney helped Baroody Ithaca College, Cornell University, and The
learn that dog training wasn’t the career path University of Delaware, and dogs have recently
“The separation was heart wrenching—I cried for her. Yet it was the rewarding experience of been raised at Rutgers University and ROT. Yet
every day,” Baroody recalled. “I felt like I’d done helping others that led Baroody to the career in it is Hartwick’s program that is the most robust,
something good for the world, but it hurt a lot. I social work that she enjoys today. Hawksby said.
missed her a great deal. I was about eight weeks
with no puppy at all, and I couldn’t stand it.” Tawney lived for another decade, and the apple “Hartwick has the biggest puppy raising
of her owner’s eye is fondly recalled as “the best program with us. There can be a max of 10
“Once you have finished the cycle, it’s dog that ever lived.” puppies being raised that live on campus, and I
emotionally very similar to sending your kids always have a waiting list of students who want
off to college,” Blue said. “But once you’ve met “Being a puppy raiser at Hartwick has shaped to raise.”
the person who ultimately gets the dog, then it everything I’ve done in my life,” she said.
makes complete sense.” Since Lisa met Tawney in the summer of 1997,
“Volunteering as a puppy raiser helped me get Hartwick students, faculty and staff have raised
About 50 percent of puppies who begin with my first social work job, and I did my master’s more than 100 puppies—about a dozen by
Guiding Eyes complete their training and thesis on service dogs and discrimination. It’s the Blue family. These puppies have gone on to
are paired with human partners. Some fail pretty good training for being a parent too!” assist blind people across the globe in all walks
their training tests, and some do not graduate of life, making a significant impact on their
because their temperament is considered In 2009, Lisa and Tawney returned to Oyaron independence, mobility, dignity, and happiness.
unsuitable. In some cases, they are transferred to Hill for their 10-year reunion. n
other canine academies to become incendiary-,
Experiential
Learning
at its Best.
J Term—it’s a Hartwick tradition.
Students explore, investigate, think far outside the box, push to the edge
of their comfort zones, and redefine themselves all over the world.
This year faculty led courses in Arizona, the Bahamas, China, England, France,
Greece, Jamaica, Peru, Puerto Rico, Romania, Thailand, New York City, Hawaii.
Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. The following are seven students’
first-person accounts of what they call ‘life-changing’ experiences.
“Las tres cosas que uno necesita en la vida para ser feliz son: paciencia, calma, y
buen humor.” (Antonio de la comunidad de Huilloc que ayudó a Emily Becker y
yo con toda su paciencia, calma y buen humor cuando más lo necesitaba.)
“The three ingredients one needs in life in order to be happy are: patience,
calmness and a good humor.” (Antonio from the community of Huilloc, who
helped Emily Becker and me with all his patience, calmness and good sense of
humor, when we most needed it .)
Perú es un viaje para toda una vida. Yo aprendí mucho allí. Mi comunicación
oral es mejor y aprendí mucho vocabulario. Pero las mejores lecciones allí son
lecciones sobre la vida. Vimos mucho en Perú. Vimos injusticia y pobreza.
Vimos amor. Vimos personas muy fuertes. También vimos muchas formas
diferentes de vida. En Cusco encontramos una sociedad más machista.
Las mujeres hacían todo en la casa y los esposos no hacían nada. Pero en la
comunidad rural de Huilloc era diferente. Nuestro papá allí ayudaba a cocinar
y a en la casa. Había tareas para hombres y para mujeres, pero en general, toda
la familia ayudaba. El amor dentro de la familia de Huilloc me enterneció. Es
imposible que exprese todo lo que yo he aprendido en Perú. Es una experiencia
que nunca olvidaré. Mis experiencias en Perú estarán conmigo para siempre.
Perú has been an experience of a lifetime. I really learned a lot there. My oral
communication in Spanish has improved and I learned a lot of new vocabulary.
But the best lessons have been lessons about life. I saw many things in Peru.
We saw injustice and poverty. We saw people who were incredibly strong. We
saw love. We also experienced many different ways of life. In Cusco we found a
more male-centered society. Women did everything at home. They cooked and
cleaned for the entire family. But in the rural community of Huilloc things were
very different. Our host father helped in the kitchen and around the house. It is
true that there were tasks specifically for men or for women, but in general the
entire family participated in everything. The love we experienced in our family
in Huilloc was incredible. Their greatest happiness in life was simply having and
being around each other. Their love truly touched me. It is impossible for me
to express everything that I learned in Peru. It is an adventure that I will never
forget; my experiences will be with me always.
In the fall we prepped in class one day a week. We saw Hartwick theatre This was the most important part of J Term. We took what we had been
productions together, went on a day trip to the city, discussed theatre learning in class and directly applied it to what we were doing and seeing. We
production ideas, and addressed First Year Seminar information like weren’t just discussing a school play, we were critiquing Broadway.
scheduling classes and the ins and outs of college life. During J Term we met
every day for three weeks, and then for one week we lived together in the city, In just one week we saw Off-Off-Broadway shows in theatres with fewer
went to shows together, and did everything together, so we became really than 100 seats; Off-Broadway shows; and Broadway shows in huge theatres
close. holding up to 2,000 seats. We saw basic and elaborate sets, costumes, and
lights. We saw musicals about music (Jersey Boys), dance musicals (Billy
The entire trip was filled with memorable experiences, but one that really Elliot), musicals with puppets (Avenue Q), satirical plays (The Importance
stands out is when we went to see “The Importance of Being Earnest” on of Being Earnest), dramatic plays (A Small Fire), and just plain weird
Broadway. We had studied this work in depth for two weeks prior to the trip: plays (Pants on Fire’s Metamorphoses). That Saturday was the late, great
breaking into pairs to perform scenes, discussing our directing choices, and choreographer George Balanchine’s birthday. We went to the New York City
analyzing the purpose of the play as well as the writer’s intended meaning. Ballet’s celebratory performance and saw three acts of dances, all completely
When we went to see the Broadway performance, we were able to compare different in style, but all amazing to watch.
Dale
“Dale Rothenberger is a great motivator who
January 29, 2011—“Away” at St. Lawrence helps athletes realize their true potential,”
University. Hartwick’s 52 swimmers and observes Keith Murray ’96, head men’s
Rothenberger
divers chalk up another triumph and their coach and women’s swim coach at The College of
reaches a milestone: his 400th career win. Saint Rose. “The lessons that he taught us are
beneficial in and out of the water. I remember
Between these two great moments stand things that he said and things we did at
By Elizabeth Steele hundreds of Hartwick athletes, three of them Hartwick like it was yesterday.”
the coach’s daughters (Dana ’00, Tara ’02,
Elizabeth Steele is a professional writer and Nicole ’05) and one of them a son-in-law “When I first came to Hartwick, people said you
partner of President Margaret L. Drugovich. (Jason Faulconer ’00); thousands of meets; 39 can’t build a program here, there is not enough
All Americans; a two-time national champion to work with,” Dale recalls. “That challenge was
(Susan Torell ’92); and countless hours of all I needed.” He and his wife, Cathy ’88, chose
training. Hartwick for his career and Oneonta for their
young family.
“A lot of alumni have been congratulating me on
the 400 wins,” says Dale, with his characteristic First step – build a team. “I can lay claim to
grin. “I tell them this achievement is theirs. I was being Dale’s first recruit,” asserts Sean Wagner
the guiding force, the leader, yes, but the results ’89. “The 400 wins, although a tremendous
really came from the athletes, and what they were feat, pale in comparison to the impact Dale has
willing to do. had on the lives of his swimmers and divers.
Dale is much more than a coach—he is a mentor, It comes from a life well grounded. “I live my
a confidant and, above all, a friend.” life as triangle,” Dale explains. “All sides are
connected. They may change length, the shape
Nothing could please this coach more. “At “I live my life as a may change, but it is always a triangle.” One
graduation each year, I’m not thinking about length is mental activity; one is social; the
wins and losses and records,” Dale says. triangle … all sides are last, physical. Dale cites exam weeks when the
“I’m thinking about each senior’s personal
development and ways that I may have helped.
connected. One length mental side is long for students and the social
and physical sides are short but still present-
The pool is my classroom, the sport is my is mental activity; one is for balance, for perspective. At the center,
lesson.” comprising the volume, is family; always family.
social; the last, physical.
“I am so proud of my dad,” says Dana The triangle works for me; “The triangle works for me; it works for my
Rothenberger Faulconer ’00. “Celebrating athletes,” Dale says. “It’s simple, but effective.”
400 wins is also celebrating 26 years of it works for my athletes.”
really hard work; 26 years of memories and —Dale Rothenberger His insights include knowing when to hang up
friendships for our family. My parents make a his towel and, thankfully, it’s not yet. “I’ve told
great team.” my athletes, when I think I know everything,
then I’m done,” he says. “I still feel that I have
“Dale has a tremendous work ethic and one a lot to offer, and that there’s a lot the students
that I try to emulate in my life,” says Dana’s Roecker Ford ’98, whose husband Kenny can offer me.” Including, undoubtedly, many
husband, Jason Faulconer ’00, a swimmer and Ford ’94 was a Hartwick swimmer and, later, more wins for the ’Wick. n
Hall of Famer. “He has always shown through assistant coach. “Dale leads by example,”
his actions as a coach and athlete that there is no she says. “I remember trekking the steps to
substitute for hard work and dedication.” morning practice and seeing Dale already there
training for his next triathlon. His discipline is
The coach’s commitment still impresses Femi inspiring.”
Portrait in Philanthropy:
“Skip and I take a back-to-basics approach to basics-that’s what trustees do,” Fran says. go. If it was Pine Lake, support that. If you
giving,” Fran explains. “Certain things in a “Our primary responsibility is to preserve the appreciate the strong faculty, give to fund
college are core and must be supported. Certain capital. Once you have done this, then you their work and to build on their relationships
things have to be done to protect the integrity build.” with students. This kind of support allows the
of the facility. Curb appeal is very important; college to do something else, something more.”
it indicates care and pride. But it’s what’s Building informs the couple’s philanthropic
underneath, the infrastructure, that’s at the choices. “You can give to correct something,” Budget relief can feed advances in the
source of strength.” she says. “Or you can give to build on classrooms and around campus. “It’s exciting
something wonderful and make sure that to see what’s happened at Hartwick in recent
The couple works closely with President another student can have the experience that years,” Fran observes. “At a time when many
Margaret L. Drugovich, whom Fran calls, your child did. I feel strongly about building on colleges are cutting back and many students
“the right person in the right place at the right our strengths and thinking big.” need five years to graduate because they can’t
time for Hartwick. She is able to do what has to get their courses, Hartwick is at the forefront.
be done. She recognizes people’s strengths and Fran and Skip appreciate the value of Pine Not only can all our students graduate in four
is able to encourage leadership and sustained Lake, calling it “an alternate experience, and years, some may do it in three. Hartwick is
long-range planning.” an important one.” Tiernan participated in innovative in meeting the needs of students.”
Awakening as a freshman and helped lead
The Sykeses understand the complexity of it in subsequent years. She worked at Pine Fifteen years after Tiernan graduated from
running a not-for-profit organization: Fran is Lake throughout her junior and senior years, Hartwick, Fran and Skip Sykes still deeply
the president of the Pascale Sykes Foundation coordinated school groups, and became certified appreciate the opportunities and experiences
in New Jersey; Skip, a retired head of school and to do challenge education. Tiernan recently she had here. As a Trustee, Fran has insight
an educational consultant, is the Foundation’s participated in President Drugovich’s Pine Lake into college priorities and needs. Through their
co-treasurer. Task Force. informed philanthropy, these alumni parents are
helping to ensure the College’s core strengths,
Fran is also a member of Hartwick’s Board “If your child had a good experience, contribute sustainability, and advancements well into the
of Trustees. Being appointed in 2005 was enough so that someone else’s child can do future. n
“an honor,” she recalls, and a role that aligns the same,” Fran advises. “If it was a J Term
with her approach to business. “Look after the experience, contribute for another student to
Alumni
Alumni EVENTS IN PRINT
Events and activities are sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Alumni Association Still Dews of Quietness, by
and your regional alumni network help you stay connected to Hartwick. To get involved with any E. Jane Seeman ’49, is
of your regional alumni networks, contact Director of Alumni Relations Duncan Macdonald a collection of
’78 at macdonaldd@hartwick.edu or 607-431-4032. meditations focusing
on prayer and Christian
Presidential Receptions Alumni Events living. Xlibris Corporation
Atlanta, GA | May 18 New York City | June 2 (2009).
Hosted by Gary Bush ’77 Hartwick Hudson Cruise
Poughkeepsie, NY | June 11 The Pebble Path, by
Lakewood, NY | June 9
Janet Hasak ’74, takes
Hosted by Betsy Tanner Wright ’79 Walkway Over the Hudson
an allegorical look at
Cazenovia, NY | June 30 Albany, NY | June 23 Hasak’s cancer journey
Hosted by Tom Gerhardt ’84 Tri-City ValleyCats in a poetic, fairytale-like
setting. Outskirts Press
(2010).
GOLD Events
New York City | June 9 Gurule and Corn’s Principles
Boston, MA | June 16 of Counter Terrorism Law,
co-authored by Geoffrey
Steven Corn ’83, examines
the military and law
enforcement responses to
international terrorism.
West Law School (2011).
Gift Guide
photo (300 dpi) of your product, along with your name,
class year, contact information, and website address
to: moritzj@hartwick.edu, or mail a sample to: Jen
Moritz, The Wick, PO Box 4020, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Samples will be returned upon request.
Connecting
6
Through
Hartwick 5
1 | Binghamton, NY, hosted by John Jones ’84 5 | New York, hosted by Trustee Ed Droesch ’82
2 | Rochester, NY, hosted by Andy ’74 and 6 | Albany, NY
Linda Ashworth 7 | Schenectady, NY
3 | Raleigh, NC, hosted by Trustee Rory ’83 and
Mary Savoy ’84 Read
4 | San Francisco, CA, hosted by Trustee Ron 7
Lynch ’87
Class years ending in 1 and 6 will celebrate five-year reunions this year.
class notes deadline | Submit your Class Note for the Stanvac Indonesia Oil Co. reunion. We enjoyed a cruise in the eastern
next Wick by June 15, 2011. Send your news to classnotes@hartwick.edu Caribbean in January.”
or the class correspondent listed under your class year. Bobbe Banks Salkowitz celebrated her 80th birthday in May “with the birth
of my seventh great-grandchild! Still working and loving it.”
1953
Celin Vaernewyck Schoen reports that Frederick died October 23 (see
1936 | 75th Reunion Page 45) after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Celin remains at home in
M. Hebbard MacArthur celebrated his 96th birthday in September “and Hobart and keeps active with newspapers and church work.
can’t believe my 75th reunion is coming up. I’m still raising navel oranges
in Riverside, CA, much easier than milking Holsteins in Davenport by 1956 | 55th Reunion
hand at 30 below. Kids can’t believe how we had to drain the car oil at night
to keep it warm behind the wood stove and pour it back in before heading 1957
off to school. Granddaughter Mariellen Ebie ’05 is enjoying her career in Don Michel, don36@maine.rr.com
optometry.”
Julia VanDenburgh writes: “At 95 years, maintaining my own home and 1958
living alone, drive (at night!). I’m restricted from a broken hip at 89 years.” Dick Hatzenbuhler, the hatz@verizon.net
Emily Bozanic Lilly is the community resources and affairs specialist with
1938 the city of Boca Raton, FL. In January, the local Rotary honored outstanding
Lucena Kibbe reports: “I am alive and doing quite well at age 93, as I say people and leaders who have made the community a better place to live.
often here.” Emily was honored with this very prestigious award at an Opal Awards
banquet. More than 350 community stakeholders were in attendance. Emily
1940 has been in her current position for the past 15 years. She retired from a 35-
Donald and Lodema (Clapper) Conner recently celebrated their 65th year teaching career before the Boca appointment.
wedding anniversary. Their son, James Conner ’80, lives in San Diego, CA.
George Winne celebrated his 95th birthday in December. 1959
Dalene Davis Cross, poppabob@verizon.net
1941 | 70th Reunion
1960
1944 Nancy Brackett writes: “It would really be nice to see some news from the
David Trachtenberg, davsel@att.net Class of 1960. It was great to see everyone at our 50th reunion, especially
Phyliss, whom I hadn’t seen since graduation. We are taking a Panama Canal
1946 | 65th Reunion cruise this spring and touring Williamsburg and Jamestown with three of
our grandchildren.”
1948
Doreathea Pistor Milne writes: “As time goes on, those college days seem to 1961 | 50th Reunion
be in a balloon, still on a string but losing altitude with time. Hartwick will Bob Burns had his 100th scientific career publication appear in the
always have a place in my heart. Save a space in your heart for our college!” November-December 2010 issue of Anatomical Sciences Foundation. He is
in his 43rd year of teaching anatomy and doing basic cancer research at the
1949 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Wilma Skellie Dodge announces the June 2010 birth of her great-grandson, Shirley Seaman-Tamulis has been retired for several years and widowed for
Parker Thomas McManus. seven. “I have been busy serving on several boards. Currently, I’m a member
and secretary of Lourdes Hospital board of directors, where for 20 years I
1950 have volunteered as hospital decorator and ‘flower lady’ for the Auxiliary’s
George Grice, geog@3rivers.net gift shop.”
Joyce Hitzelberger Driscoll writes: “In October, my six daughters ran the
LLS Marathon in San Francisco as Team Nancy, for my second-eldest 1962
daughter, who died of lymphoma of the brain in 2009. Over 20,000 Sharon Dorff Conway, asadsac@aol.com
participated in the Nike- and Tiffany-sponsored event. My daughter Tamara Dinah McClure, Dinamo32@aol.com
from Oregon was top money-raiser three times! She also was the keynote Emily Walter Mikulewicz writes: “The nurses of 1962, always a tight group,
speaker at the dinner. My son, Daniel, also joined them in San Francisco.” historically getting together en masse yearly, and in many small groups
Zelpha Card Hoyer writes: “My partner, Alan Champlin, and I are in more often, are using electronic communication more and more to share
Florida January through April.” experiences and support each other in the challenges of life at three score and
10. What a good start Hartwick gave us. There are no better friends.”
1951 | 60th Reunion
Marie Sullivan Blackman writes: “No news. Still standing. We gave up 1964
sailing in 1998. We spend the winter in the Florida Keys.” Christina Gummere Laurie was elected one of five national vice presidents
Charles and Alice (Riley ’52) Keator report: “We moved to a senior of the National League of American Pen Women Inc. She was elected by a
residence facility almost three years ago. Lots to do here! Trips by car this large majority over her opponent at the national biennial convention in Little
year will include New Jersey for family get-togethers and Houston for our Rock. Christina received her master of divinity degree in gerontology and
1975
Bill Child sang with the Jefferson Community Chorus during the annual
holiday concert. He writes: “Trying to find positives in these crazy times.
Got our bobsled run groomed and had strings of lights up after the big
blizzard. Had a few nights of tubing fun with the family and neighborhood
kids. Snow for us was no hassle at all.”
1977
Tobey Scott reports that he has started a new consulting enterprise in
Portland, ME. He writes: “I started my old company (Gilchrist Scott
Limited) in 1988 in NYC and moved it to Portland in 1990, but after
23(!) years, I found that I needed a bit of renewal. So, I sold GilchristScott,
Pine Lake mini-reunion: Ted Albers ’79, Steve Boese ’79, George
a Microsoft Partner that sells and implements Dynamics GP accounting
Monaco ’78, John Cagnetta ’79, Paul Bolz ’79, and Giff Jamison
gathered in August. software systems, to my employees last summer. I have started RTScott,
Inc. to pursue new consulting ventures. Our current project is creating a
new non-profit organization that will offer ‘hosted’ information technology
resources to non-profit social service providers at a fraction of the costs
Debbie Platz Hooper writes: “Both kids are married and working; no that they currently incur. My wife, Amy Woodhouse, and I are still devoted
grandkids yet, but lots of grand dogs, cats, and chickens! See us at joebay. Sugarloaf Mountain skiers, and our daughter, Elisabeth, is in Portland, OR
com.” (just to confuse the mailman), finishing her undergrad pre-med degree.”
Bill Loweth retired from Dominion Millstone Power Station, but went back Rod Theobald writes: “I still teach English, coach, and am the assistant
to the electric boat company at General Dynamics in Groton as a principal director of college counseling at The Gunnery, a boarding school in
engineer. “I’m having a great time before I really retire!” Connecticut. My wife, Karoline, also teaches English; our oldest daughter,
Dick and Marcia (Kingston ’75) Nelson report that their sons Jon and Ryan, Maisie, is a sophomore in college; and our other daughter, Lindsay, is a
both Holy Cross graduates, are officers in the U.S. Navy. Jon is stationed in freshman at The Gunnery.”
California and Ryan is stationed in Florida. Dick continues with Sharp and Roberta Mones Warfield will be part of the string education faculty at
Marcia loves her new job as a certified professional teller at Fairfield County The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, this summer. She will be
Bank. presenting various pedagogical practices to string teachers from the United
John Ellis Olszowka was honored in November for 25 years of service with States. Roberta continues to teach instrumental strings at Fox Lane Middle
Ulster County at the Golden Hill Healthcare Center. School in Bedford, NY. “Life is fun and I enjoy every moment! I can be
reached at fiddledd@hvc.rr.com.”
1974
Mike Brown, mike.g.brown@comcast.net 1978
Michael Beson writes: “Having retired from Shenendehowa Central School Althea Lyons is an adjunct faculty member at Suffolk University Graduate
after 36 years, I have returned to sports; refereed boys’ soccer in the fall, and School.
am back coaching high school basketball. My niece, Clare Nelson ’14, is a Rita Hemmerich Rowand is the global relations specialist at George
freshman at Hartwick. She is on the swim team, so more trips to Oneonta Washington University, where she hosts incoming international delegations
the next few years.” and dignitaries. She also is co-chair of the regional DC/VA alumni chapter.
Dean and Judy (Sharp) Cowen, along with their daughter Megan, visited
Kenya and Tanzania this past October. Their two-week safari took them 1979
to many of the game parks visited by Dean and Judy in 1974, when they Lisa Merrill-Burzak recently attained her CFRE (certified fundraising
were part of a Hartwick study-abroad program. Dean stayed in Tanzania executive) and is vice president of development for New Hampshire Catholic
an additional week and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Anyone from that study- Charities.
abroad group who would be interested in getting together at Hartwick in Ted Albers and Charlotte (Freihofer ’81) Albers write: “We moved to
2014 for a 40-year get-together can contact Dean at dc8271@gmail.com. Shelburne, VT (just south of Burlington), about five years ago after 16
James Ross writes: “Son Daniel was married in November. He is pursuing years in Arlington, VA. Our daughter, Clare, is graduating from University
Connect.
bECOME A FAN. Like us. follow us. Explore our | your story.
www.facebook.com/hartwickcollege www.twitter.com/hartwickcollege www.hartwickexperience.com
1980
Sara Allison Phelps and David Phelps ’79 write: “We still live in Merrimack,
NH! Our daughter, Katherine, graduated from the University of New
Hampshire last May with a B.A. in psychology and a minor in family
studies and music. She lives in Dover and works as a case manager at the
Dover Children’s Home. Kallie sings professionally, as well, at St. John’s
Episcopal Cathedral in Portsmouth. Our son, Benjamin, is a junior at UNH
and is studying economics. Last summer, he was an intern at ImprovBston,
studying comedy and improvisation. He is a writer and actor in Sketched Out,
a comedy group on campus. Dave is a project manager at BAE Systems and
I am a licensed nursing assistant. We would love to hear from our Hartwick
friends!” Meg Conway Clifford ’82, Mo Ganey ’82, and Andrea Connolly Peabbles
’82 celebrated their 50th birthdays in Old Forge, NY, in September 2010.
1981 | 30th Reunion Meg lives in New Hartford, NY; she and her husband, Jim, have three
Larry Tetro, ldtet2004@yahoo.com sons (23, 21, and 15). Mo lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband
John McCluskey writes: “After what seems like a 30-year blur, I’m looking and two children. She works for herself and designs cards. Andrea is
forward to coming home to Hartwick for our 30th reunion, reconnecting outside of Portland, ME, with her husband, two teenagers, and pets. She
with some memorable people, and having a good laugh about some great is a freelance book editor and occasionally gets to see Carolyn Lindsay
times in Oneonta during part of the ’80s. Thirty years foward, while never and Jere Ross ’82, also in “Vacationland.” They all greatly miss their dear
quite the soccer player I had hoped, I’ve been blessed to have worked with friend Melissa Reed Chudy ’82, who died of breast cancer in 2006.
some of the top players, club teams, and national associations while working
in international soccer for great companies like ISL, Puma, Reebok, Pony,
and now my own firm that promotes international soccer exhibitions around reconnected, new friends were made, and new memories were made during
the USA and brokers matches and player transfers worldwide. Still, even at the exceptionally beautiful fall weekend! I was surprised at just how quickly
age 51 and after four knee surgeries, I can still keep up with the ‘young guns’ the years melted away. We were all young again for that short time in the
and hold my own playing pick-up footie when I can. This year, though, I will hills of Oneonta! We spent some time with President Drugovich downtown,
finally give in and will join a 40+ league! After living abroad and traveling toured the area, paid tribute to our dear friend Linda French, and just sat and
to 60-plus countries and all over the USA (NYC, Boston, LA, SF), Europe, chatted. Thank you, friends, for a special and memorable reunion!
and South America, too, I’m back where I started, the most exciting city Ron and Sue (Welch) Hampton celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary
in America—Hartford, a.k.a. Stepfordville, CT (Farmington actually). this past fall. Sue has been appointed to the board of directors of Pages for
Halfway between New York and Boston; give a shout, as I’m either way at Peace. She writes: “Check out this amazing project at pagesforpeace.org.”
any given time for both business and pleasure. See you all at the reunion; I’ll Lori Ann Sych writes: “Had a great time at Reunion. Thanks to everyone
be the short, fat, bald guy!” who worked hard to make the weekend so nice. Special thanks to Beth and
the other AOII sisters for the lovely memories.”
1982
Paul Graunas Fortuna has decided to pursue a master’s degree in nursing 1986 | 25th Reunion
and is enrolled at the MGH Institute of Health Professions Advanced Rob DiCarlo, rdicarlo@brockport.edu
Practice Nursing program. He writes: “I’m very excited to be back in school; Laura Litynski is director of marketing and HR for Intelligent Systems
things have really changed in the past 29 years!” Research Inc. in Thousand Oaks, CA. Laura writes: “I have been busy
raising four children. I also served 10 years in the military as an Army/
1983 Air Force reserve officer (captain), enlisting initially in the 25th Army
Woody Thompson, woody.thompson@octagon.com Band, then seeking a commission as a medical service corps officer. After
running a small college campus on the civilian side in Florida, I eventually
1984 became a civil affairs officer in special operations and was deployed 10
Philip DeFronzo writes: “The mortgage business is going great! We months of 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq, serving as the U.S. Army/Embassy/
just won an award for one of the fastest-growing mortgage lenders in Ministry of Higher Education and Education officer in charge of education
New England. My oldest daughter, Maeve, has Andrew Kuhlberg as her reconstruction efforts and regional operations officer for the country of
orthodontist. Her braces look great!” Iraq under Centcom during that time. While there, I also had the unique
opportunity to perform with the Iraqi National Symphony. After returning
1985 from the war in 2004, I transferred to the Air Force and became a public
Rhonda Foote, rhondasfooteworks@yahoo.com affairs officer for Air Combat Command/Tyndall Air Force Base and Special
While I did not receive any individual notes, here is a review of our 25th Operations. I am pursuing my doctorate in organizational psychology
reunion from last fall: Homecoming & Reunion 2010 was a special one (dissertation phase). My daughter Brea (14) lives with me in California;
for the Class of 1985, as we celebrated our 25th reunion. Old friends my son Trey (23) is pursuing a commission as an officer in the Army
1992 1995
Rory Shaffer, rorysw@gmail.com Louis Crocco, lbcrocco@aol.com
Happy spring, everyone! The Class of 1992 has some news to report Ian Ritcey and Tiffany Sanders Ritcey welcomed their third son, Weston
this time from New York to Virginia. To send in an update, e-mail me at Munroe, February 19, 2010. He joins brothers Liam (5) and Chase (4).
rorysw@gmail.com, or you can find me on Facebook. Hope life is treating “We moved into a bigger home in Huntington, NY, to handle the chaos that
you well and I hope to hear from you soon! three boys will bring!”
Laura Borg Koumas writes: “After eight years of commuting into Mark Stratton writes: “My wife and I welcomed Quinn Juliet Stratton to the
Manhattan, I recently got a great job closer to home at the Hilton Long world September 10. I am the principal of Glens Falls High School and I
Island. I have added three more hours back into my day and now have more earned my doctorate this past year.”
time with my sons, Evan (5) and Thomas (7).”
Charles Colfax reports that life is treating him well in central Virginia. “I am 1996 | 15th Reunion
in my sixth year as a firefighter/medic for Henrico County. My wife, Annie, Amy Krasker Cottle, amycottle@comcast.net
and I welcomed a baby girl into our world. Caroline Ella joined big brother
Brendan June 21, 2010. We bought a new house to accommodate our 1997
growing family. Mechanicsville, VA, will be home for the next 20 years, until Amy Maletzke Moore, maletzke@hotmail.com
I can retire from the fire department or both kids are out of high school.”
Mary Beth Tyksinski McGarrahan and her husband live in Saratoga Springs 1998
with their sons, Sam and Jack. “We’ve gotten in a few days of skiing so far Jamie Sommerville O’Riordan, jamieoriordan@yahoo.com
and hope to go some more before the snow melts. Our youngest has taken “I started a new position at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services back in
up snowboarding this year and promises to be pretty good! Watch out early December. So far, I really like the job and am thrilled with all the great
for an orange helmet with flames if you’re at Gore! I’m still managing the resources and opportunities Deloitte offers. In others news, Eoin and I are
non-profit event venue Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga, and have expecting a baby boy in late June. It should be quite interesting to see how
a couple of good concerts and shows lined up for this spring. Check out our two dogs handle the little one! It’s great to get news from you, so please
universalpreservationhall.org for show listings and events. If you want to continue to post updates to The Wall. Alternatively, you can send updates to
drop me a line, e-mail me at bpmcgarrahan@yahoo.com, or you can find me my attention at jamieoriordan@yahoo.com.”
on Facebook.” Douglas McLane received his master’s in education from the University of
Richard McCoy was elected to the board of directors for the National Pennsylvania this past July. Douglas and his wife, Lisa, expect their first baby
Association of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems. The in April.
association represents states’ Vital Records offices and promotes national Ekaterini Vlamis writes: “I became an aunt at the end of September! My
standards for health statistics reporting. nephew, Leo, is beautiful, and my brother and his wife are showing off their
Greta Rothermel Ruppert writes: “I am married to Matt Ruppert ’90. We wonderful parenting skills with much joy. In work-related news, I am offering
live in Paxton, MA, with our children, Alexander, Timothy, and Jacob. I am a two fantastic pre-conference workshops in April in Becket, MA, as part
physical therapist assistant at a skilled nursing facility three days a week and of the Association for Experiential Education’s NE Regional Conference.
enjoy it. On my free days, I am either helping out the kids in the classroom Workshop details can be found at edgwoodcs.com on the events page.
or enjoying my free time. Matt teaches German in Rutland, MA, to seventh Teachers, counselors, and others who work with youth populations are
especially encouraged to come!”
2000
Kristen Hall, hartwick2000@hotmail.com
Caraly Benak writes: “Had a great time in Oneonta for our 10-year reunion
Michelle Schesny ’03 and Anthony Nadler were married October 23, with all of the Phi Sigs who went. I was happy to see that Oneonta hasn’t
2010, in Ossining, NY. Sharing the joyous occasion with the bride are changed much and that we were still able to enjoy the beautiful campus in the
Daria Schesny Larsen ’01, Syrah Porter Nicaisse ’03, Jessica Soules fall, cold cheese pizza, getting derailed, and partying at 6 Myrtle Ave. Special
Bloom ’03, and Kathryn O’Connell Cleary ’03. thanks to Taryn Chase, who kept our time capsule closed so we could all
open it together, while reminiscing and enjoying quite a few laughs while
doing it! My cheeks hurt for the entire ride home after all of the laughs we
that took three months. We lived on the dusty sub-floor for a few weeks, shared together. Looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!”
and I ate more takeout burritos than I want to think about.” Andrew was Mara Areman Cerina writes: “Still living, snowboarding, and enjoying my
scheduled to take some major exams for his Chinese medicine school in new career in banking in southern Vermont with my husband, Joey; our
December. beautiful daughter, Alivia Jane; and our dog, Delila.”
Adam and Carol (Mattice ’98) Pierce are enjoying life with their jobs and Alice Iacovelli writes: “I loved seeing the girls, however briefly, for Alumni
children. Makenzie (6) loves first grade and is practicing her hula-hooping Weekend.”
for her school’s K-3 talent show. Andrew (2) is acting much older than he Kristin Hall is still in Bangor, working for Eastern Maine Medical Center.
really is, trying to keep up with his older sister! Adam’s brother Aaron Pierce With the crazy winter, she was looking forward to spring and summer and
’98 and his wife, Marla, visited for Christmas (from Louisiana), which was the opportunity to explore Acadia National Park. She writes: “I hope that
great fun. many of you will join the Hartwick Class of 2000 Facebook group, or if you
Jeff Poltrino and his wife, Marilyn, are happy to announce that their are already in it, please invite people from our class who aren’t in the group
daughter, Nora Kate Poltrino, was born November 11, 2010. Everyone is yet!”
doing well. Big brother Luke is enjoying his little sister. He turns 2 in May Trish Willard Hopper writes: “Flip and I welcomed our baby girl, Ashlin,
and keeps them very busy. March 2, 2010. It’s been a great year!”
Dan Shapley married Samantha Uecker August 21 in a ceremony at Courtney Jurbala writes: “This spring, I will celebrate 10 years of living in
Montgomery Place, a historic site overlooking the Hudson River. Alumni Colorado. I am as happy as ever and absolutely love my life out here and my
in attendance included Dave and Kate (Nelson ’00) Cordaro, Pete Hazelton job. I am expecting my second child in July.”
’00, Alison Paradis Palmucci, Lynn Hodgens Schaffer, Sean Randol, Julia Shelley Polinsky Lynch writes: “After getting the travel bug out of my
Suarez Hayes ’72, Mike Tomasso, and Jonathan Wood. system with trips to India and Nepal, then teaching J Term in Jamaica in
Meghan Katcher Shivel and her husband, Kevin, enjoyed their first 2010, Chad Lynch ’99 and I finished our master’s degrees. I received my
Christmas as parents. “As expected, Claire loved wrapping paper and bows! master’s in nursing and Chad received his MBA with a concentration in
We can’t believe how quickly she is changing and growing. She’s starting to environmental management. We welcomed our first child, Jack Andrew
take steps on her own! We are still living outside of Raleigh and really love it Lynch, on January 28!”
here, but I wish we lived closer to our Hartwick friends and were able to have Maura Mancini writes: “Chris Mancini and I are still living in Connecticut.
some play dates. We are hoping that we can get together soon with James Our biggest news is that on May 17, 2010, we welcomed our daughter,
and Alicia (Koscielniak) Hackney, so Claire can finally meet her best friend, Lake Alexandra, into the world. We’re having so much fun watching her
Charley!” grow and reach all of her little milestones.”
Eric Shoen took a job as an executive director with CCS fundraising last Bethel Huller Willingham writes: “There has been a lot going on while
August and has been working since then as a charity fundraising consultant many things have stayed the same. We were so excited to see so many
in New York City. He continues to run road races and stays very involved faces we haven’t seen in a while at our 10-year reunion. It was great seeing
with church. “I had dinner with Jennifer Smith a few months ago, and everyone! There are far too many people to list, but it was really great
it was great to catch up with her. I’m in my last term on the Hartwick reconnecting with Brian and Missy Carvin ’99, Jen Ambrose, Brigitte
College Alumni Board, but will still be actively involved as a volunteer. I’ve Fielder, Melissa Williams, Tricia Brady Montes, and Scott Desmarais. We
volunteered to help raise money for repairs and renovations to Anderson were blessed to be able to celebrate our daughter Sophie’s second birthday
and hope that we are wildly successful. I did the Polar Plunge, and I always while there. Thanks to everyone who came and had a cupcake and talked. We
enjoy that. Finally, I’m looking forward to singing with the Hartwick still live in Maryland (with Victor still working in Alexandria, VA) and
College Choir in Prague this summer.” have been able to see some alumni who also are down here. We went to the
Maryland Renaissance Festival in the fall and spent time with Dave Olsher can shake a stick at. I received my MFA in visual arts from the Art Institute
’01, Megan Raphoon, Marc Novakouski, and Kate Ahearn Loveric, while of Boston at Lesley University in 2009, and have exhibited sporadically. I
having a ton of fun. We met with Scott Desmarais’ fiancée while they were work as programs coordinator at Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith,
visiting the DC area. We are very excited about seeing them again when they and I also teach photography occasionally as an adjunct at a college called—
get married this spring.” Hartwick. Yeah. Full circle, baby.”
Jessica Hyde continues the mostly futile hunt for her first home in
2001 | 10th Reunion Watertown, NY, while trying to remember why she even wants to settle
Jessica Hyde, jessicahyde@yahoo.com down there.
Thanks to all for the updates and I hope to see everyone this fall for our big Bob Inkhamfong and Alexandra Harrington were married October 9,
10-year reunion! 2009, at the Hall of Springs, Saratoga Springs, NY. They honeymooned in
Shawn August writes: “It’s only a few months till the wedding and we still France.
have so much to do. I have another 30 pounds to lose, for a total of 100 Christopher McDougal writes: “I was a bond trader at Lehman Brothers
pounds, and have about four months to do it. I’m looking forward to nearly until we, er, uh, collapsed. I spent the following two years traveling
a month vacation and a long honeymoon in Italy. After that, it’s more house around the world and cross country, catching up with friends and doing
hunting! Newman finally recovered from a herniated disc and is running some volunteer work. In an effort to begin the process of re-joining the
around like a crazy puppy! Maybe I should get him a brother?” professional world without actually working, I applied to graduate schools.
Greg Balcavage writes: “In February, my wife, Julie, and I celebrated our twin I am now in the middle of my first semester at the Columbia University
daughters, Olivia and Anna’s, first birthday. July 2011 will mark our seven- School of International and Public Affairs, where I’m working toward a
year wedding anniversary. We live in the Albany area, where I teach fourth master’s in international affairs. I’m concentrating on international energy
grade, and Julie is a resident at Albany Medical Center. Olivia and Anna are management and policy, with the hope of achieving gainful employment
busy attending day care, doing arts and crafts.” within the field of energy in a role dealing with finance and policy. Along the
Jennifer Strekas Coombs and her husband, Josh, introduced their new way, I’ve caught up with alumni, including Devin Poole, who was a great host
daughter, Cadence, to Kim Treacy Kaplowitz and Sarah MacDonald to my friends and me in Sydney, Australia; Chris Cutler at a bar in Portland,
on a whirlwind trip to CT/NY during Christmas break. She is excited OR, serendipitously; and Nick Zachos, who, through days of back-breaking
to announce that she is officially a nationally board-certified teacher in manual labor in Beacon, NY, reminded me that I’m better suited for an office
secondary English education! job than working with my hands. I live in Morningside Heights, near school,
Beth Deisenroth Flannigan is a corporate sales manager at the Woodcliff and can be reached at cpmcdougal@gmail.com.”
Hotel & Spa in Rochester, NY. She and her husband, Jeff, are expecting their Dave Olsher writes: “I’m still employed by The Sanguine Gryphon, a fiber-
first baby in April. arts company that sells hand-dyed yarn and unique patterns to the knitting
Kevin Gray reports: “I am living in Cherry Valley, NY, about one hour north and crocheting community. I am a dyer and also the company’s official
of Oneonta, with my wonderful fiancée, Sarah, and more animals than you liaison with the mills that supply our raw materials. Just recently, I was
thinking to myself, ‘You know, if you had asked me where I’d be 10 years Megan Davis Kennedy and her husband, Patrick, welcomed their son, Braden
after college, standing over a propane stove in the middle of a snowstorm James Kennedy, born October 30, 2010. They are thrilled and are enjoying
while deliberately pouring boiling water over my own hands would not have being first-time parents.
been on the list. Despite that, I’m really enjoying the flexibility and creativity Emily Reynolds Stringer lives in San Antonio, TX, with her husband,
this job offers me, and I’m excited to see where this path will take me. I am a Matt, and their beautiful daughter, Lilah Jean. Matt is a member of the U.S.
stage manager for the Maryland Renaissance Festival, as well as the de facto Air Force and is a first-year urology intern. They were expecting a baby
stage manager of the local sideshow troupe The Cheeky Monkey Sideshow.” boy in March. Emily is still writing, after the publication of her first co-
Noreen Verbeck Pieper writes: “My husband and I recently bought a new authored book, Beyond Burning Bras, and has started a blog at samplinmama.
house on Long Island, and are expecting our first child this spring.” wordpress.com to expand her public voice.
Kim Treacy writes: “I have been married for almost seven years and we have
been blessed with our daughter, Payton, and have another on the way, due in 2005
August. I work for a third party claims administrator, Gallagher Bassett, as Edwin Siegfried, edwin.siegfried@gmail.com
an account manager. Life is hectic but great here in Connecticut. I’m looking Brett Amedro is finishing his third year in University of Michigan Dental
forward to catching up with the girls for our 10-year reunion in October!” School. His wife, Laura Nestor Amedro, is in the nurse practitioner program
at Michigan State.
2002 Jodie Wasacz graduated with her Ph.D. in chemical education from the
Meredith Robbins, meredithrbbns@yahoo.com University of Northern Colorado last May.
Erin Davis Dougherty won a Metrolina Theatre Award for Excellence in
Costume Design for her work on Comedy of Errors this past summer in 2006 | 5th Reunion
Charlotte, NC. Erin and Colin are expecting their first child in June. Brian Knox, brian.j.knox@gmail.com
Florence Alila, fakoth@hotmail.com
2003 Brianne Konze-Thompson and her husband, Kyle Thompson, are the
Erin Rowe, drowe214@hotmail.com parents of identical twin boys, Nicholas and Liam. Everyone is doing great!
Tanya Quarty is a family nurse practitioner with Bassett Healthcare. Due to the double birth, Brianne is taking time off of work to be a stay-at-
home mom.
2004 Caleb Root graduated from New England Law, Boston, in May 2010. He
Bry Anderson, bryanna.anderson@uconn.edu passed the bar examinations in both New York and Massachusetts and has
Sara Gorsky Lokossou and her husband, Christian, welcomed their first been licensed and admitted into the Massachusetts Bar.
child, a baby boy, December 21, 2010. Jessica Valluzzi writes: “I live in Los Angeles, pursuing a doctorate in clinical
In 2010, Stephanie Moreau passed the board exam for behavior analysts. psychology at Pepperdine University. I can’t believe it’s been five years since
She is now a board certified behavior analyst for adolescents with autism. Hartwick graduation!”
2007 Oneonta, when Youchaou came to speak at the church about his school.
Sara Caldwell, caldwells@hartwick.edu Oudou also works in Bamako as an interpreter/translator, and translates
Sally Fries is back in the U.S. after working for two years in Seoul, South documents for various well-known organizations, including Save the
Korea, as an English language teacher at a private academy. Children. I joined Oudou in early June 2009. Since then, we have been
Alison Garcia writes: “In September, I finished physician assistant school. living in an area called Sabalibougou, where we have many close friends
Since then, I’ve been working as a physician assistant in the department of and relatives. Soon after marrying, I began working for AISB (American
neurosurgery at Harlem Hospital Center in New York, NY. The hospital is International School of Bamako) as a kindergarten aide. After one year
one of the city’s few level-one trauma centers, so we see everything! Things with AISB, I got a job as a kindergarten teacher with another local school,
are great!” Bamako International Academy. In September 2010, we found out that
Aliria Munoz works on the medical-oncology unit in Phoenix. She is we were pregnant and I am back in New York to have the baby. Oudou is
finishing her master’s in nursing education, enjoying her new house, and coming as soon as he can secure a Visa. I am due the end of May. I recently
loving the Arizona winter! got together with Desrie Bryan ’10 and Kate Reilly to celebrate my 24th
Amanda Newberg graduated from Columbia University Teacher’s College birthday in Saratoga, NY. Soon we plan to visit Oneonta and catch up with
in May 2009 with a master’s degree; she teaches middle school and high professors and friends. Oudou and I plan to return to Bamako with the baby
school art in Rye, NY. and start building a house of our own.”
Sheileen Nicholson and Owen Landrey ’05 were married this past fall. They
live in Glens Falls, NY, where Owen completed his master’s degree. Sheileen 2009
is pursuing museum education in Ecuador this year. John Meade writes: “I recently was hired by AIG’s Subsidiary Chartis
Luis Pastrán writes: “New year, new start! In January, I took a better job Insurance as an underwriting analyst. William Hopkins ’83, who works at
opportunity with Pricewaterhouse Coopers Nicaragua. This new job has Chartis, was extremely helpful throughout the process, as was Hartwick’s
put to the test many of the skills and concepts I acquired at Hartwick. Being VP of Institutional Advancement Jim Broschart. Jim connected me with Mr.
a consultant in auditing for PwC is constantly giving me the opportunity Hopkins after meeting at a Hartwick lacrosse alumni event on Long Island.
to learn the inner-management strategies of many local transnational Let’s keep the Hartwick alumni connection strong!”
businesses. I’d be glad to share and hear from other alumni; feel free to
contact me at lpastran@hotmail.com. Best wishes to the Class of 2007!” 2010
Alicia Root writes: “I am serving with Americorps, coordinating a literacy Wyatt Uhlein, wuhlein@cpexre.com
program in a low-income school in greater Boston, MA. In October, Ian
Averia-Tapper ’90 and I got engaged! No wedding plans have been made at
this time.”
Katie McIntosh Root is an elementary music teacher in Newton Public
School District in Newton, MA. She is working toward her master of music
education degree at Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.
Ashleigh Diefendorf Soule writes: “In May 2010, I graduated with my
MPH from Boston University School of Public Health. During the summer,
I moved to Maine with my fiance, Adam. We were married August 27 in
Cooperstown, NY. This past fall, I started a new position at Maine Medical
Cancer Institute, working on a federal grant from the NCI. Life is good.”
Jason Stone earned his master’s in international relations in June 2010 from
the University of Chicago. He then spent 10 weeks in India, studying Hindi,
through the critical languages studies program.
2008
Oudou and Melanie (Gulyas ’09) Sanogo were married July 12, 2009, in
Sabalibougou Bamako, Mali. Melanie writes: “Since his return to Mali in
2008, Oudou has been working at Ecole Privee Youchaou for Youchaou
Traore, whom we first met at the Universalists’ Church at 12 Ford Ave. in
“My Dad stayed involved with Hartwick all his “The College was so small then, with just one
life,” his daughter, Marcia Davis P ’02, says. building—Bresee—and he was so young.”
“He always said, ‘Look at how much Hartwick
has done for me; why wouldn’t I give back?’ His The farm boy grew up fast when he interrupted
life was very rewarding.” college to enlist in the Air Force, becoming a
Gordie Roberts during World War II, when he
B-24 pilot in the China-Burma-India Theater
interrupted his Hartwick studies to serve his
Over the years, Gordie accepted every possible in World War II. His bravery earned him the country in the Air Force.
volunteer opportunity, from 15 years on the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the
Board of Trustees to president of the Alumni rank of First Lieutenant, and an appreciation for
Association to member of the Citizen’s Board. life’s gifts.
He raised money enthusiastically and gave it
generously. “He saw a lot of people die around him,” Davis “He opened the phone book every day and
says. “He often told us, ‘I promised myself, and started calling people,” Davis says, “and he
“Gordie was so much a part of Hartwick that I God, that if I get through the war, I will dedicate wouldn’t go to bed until he had made at least
feel he is still around,” President Margaret L. myself to my community.’” one sale.”
Drugovich says. “It’s not that I saw him every
day; it’s that I knew he was there. I feel sadness He was a man of his word. Gordie returned to Such determination—combined with his
that I can’t take him a cup of coffee and a donut Hartwick determined to keep his other promise genuine interest in people—brought the results
and sit down at his kitchen table to talk things to himself: to enjoy each moment of every day. he sought. The Gordon B. Roberts Agency, Inc.
through. He delved right back into college, was elected now employs a staff of 20 and has annual sales
president of his senior class and of Alpha Sigma of more than $12 million.
“He will be missed in ways that will only become Phi, and graduated in 1947 with a degree in
tangible with time. You cannot fully appreciate Business. His career began with an offer from “Dad attributed his success in life to Hartwick
someone like Gordie in a moment of celebration Travelers Insurance to complete a summer College and the service,” Davis says. “He said
or of regret; his impact is just too great.” program and open their Oneonta office. The they made him the man he became.”
Gordon B. Roberts Agency, Inc. started in
Gordie entered Hartwick in 1941 at the age of October 1947 as a one-man operation run out The man he became was “confident yet humble,”
17. A self-described shy country boy, “he used of Roberts’ apartment. in the words of his daughter; “passionate and
to say, ‘I grew up with Hartwick,’” Davis says. proud,” through Drugovich’s eyes. Many well-
deserved honors included Trustee Emeritus,
Outstanding Citizen of the Year (2001),
the Alumni Association Meritorious Service
Award (1997), and the Presidential Medal for
Extraordinary and Exemplary Loyalty to the
College (2009). And the one his daughter says
meant the world to him—an Honorary Doctor
of Commercial Science from Hartwick in 1997.
1946 | Clement Hulick, 88, of Berne, NY, died January 23, 2011, 1953 | Robert Henderson, 80, of Manlius, NY, died October 29,
at St. Peters Hospice Inn, after a brief illness. He received his degree from 2010, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, following a long illness. He worked at
Hartwick following a three-year enlistment in the Army. He was stationed Precision Die Casting, Thermold Corp. and Carpenter Mfg. Robert truly
in Alaska and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He taught at Greenville lived by the motto “Serve others above self.” He was a member of the
Central School for 15 years, until he went to work for the NYS Thruway Manlius Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years and served as chief from
Authority, from which he retired in 1984. Clem was an ordained deacon 1970 to 1978. During his tenure, he instituted the first ambulance in
in the Trinity Episcopal Church in Rensselaerville and Christ Church Manlius, as well as EMT and paramedics programs. He was instrumental in
of Greenville for 48 years. He was a past commander of the American starting the Manlius Junior Firemen’s Explorer Post and the planning of the
Legion Post 291 in Greenville and a member of the Masons and the Manlius firehouse. Robert was a member of the Onondaga Fire Chiefs and
Hiawatha Dormansville Grange. Clem and his wife, Sarah, enjoyed 36 years NY State Fire Chiefs Association. He also served as chief of Mutton Hill
together until her death in 2003. He is survived by three children, eight Fire Department. Robert is survived by his wife of 57 years, Loretta; three
grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter. children; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Clem was predeceased by a son and grandson.
1956 | Robert Dorum, of Poughkeepsie, NY, died October 7, 2010.
1949 | Edna Seeman, 85, of New Philadelphia, OH, died November Bob received a master’s degree in history from Sienna College. He taught
13, 2010, following a period of declining health. Although legally blind, history for most of his career. He also taught sociology, French and opera.
Jane overcame her adversity and worked to obtain a degree in education His teaching posts were in Maine, Florida and Wappingers Falls, where he
from Hartwick and later continued her education at New York University, taught for 22 years. Bob retired in 1984. He also worked as a social worker
receiving a master’s of religious education. For a number of years, Jane in New York City and as a church organist. He was the organist at St. Paul’s
taught religious education throughout Lutheran Parishes in Flushing, NY; Episcopal Church from 1984 to 2000. He also was a patron of opera locally
Pittsfield, MA; and Cranford, NJ, before relocating to New Philadelphia in and in New York City. Bob is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
1960. Survivors include a brother, a niece and a nephew.
1957 | Samuel McCoubrey, of Sarasota, FL, died October 22, 2010.
1951 | Frederick Schoen, 81, of Hobart, NY, died October 23, 2010, Survivors include his wife, Janet; four children; nine grandchildren and three
at Robinson Terrace, Stamford. While a Hartwick student, Fred was active great-grandchildren.
with the Science Congress Movement, an interest he continued in his
teaching career. He taught science at Mathews High School in Mathews, 1970 | Mark Hammer, 62, of West Sand Lake, NY, died January 10,
VA, before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served in the Medical Corps 2011, after a long illness. He was married for 32 years to Challen Stowers-
in Germany during the Korean War. He received a master’s degree in Hammer ’70. Mark earned two master’s degrees, one from The College of
education from Alfred University and worked toward a doctor of education St. Rose and the other from Russell Sage College. Mark, for many years,
degree from Pacific Union University. Fred taught at what is now Odessa- was employed as a computer programs analyst for Research Foundation of
Montour Central School. He later taught at schools in the Buffalo area SUNY at the Institute for Traffic Safety and the School of Public Health.
and at Lyndonville Central School, where he became director of guidance. Previously, he worked at the Infectious Disease Department of the Stratton
He then took a similar position at South Kortright Central School, and VA Medical Center. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include one son, one
the family moved to Hobart. He retired in 1985 and became certified as a daughter and one grandson.
licensed hypnotherapist, as well as a family counselor. He served for several
years on the Hobart Village Board and one term as mayor of the village. A 1970 | Diane Allen Wood, 62, of Arcade, NY, died October 21, 2010.
founder of Project Independence, Fred served on the boards of REACH Survivors include her beloved husband, Frank; two sons; one daughter; and
and the Delaware County Youth Bureau, and served a term on the Board five grandchildren.
of Education at SKCS after his retirement. He had been active in the Boy
Scouts from his youth, assisting with a troop in Oneonta while in college, 1973 | Harlon Conger, 60, of Syracuse, NY, died January 8, 2011,
and served as institutional representative and treasurer of Troop 39 in at University Hospital. He was an Eagle Scout (Order of the Arrow),
Former Staff | Ralph Clarkson, 90, of Rutland, VT, died January 12,
2011. He graduated from Syracuse University and received his master’s at
SUNY Albany. During World War II, he served as a navigator in the Army
Air Force. He began his career in education at Delaware Academy, teaching
art and serving as a guidance counselor. In 1959, he became the Dean of
Students at Hartwick and later Director of Admissions and Director of
Financial Aid, until he retired in 1985. Ralph was the first president of
the Delaware County Teachers Association; chairman of the Delaware
Professor Emerita | Norma Louise Hutman, 76, of
Oneonta, died February 26, 2011, during a fire at her home. She was
County Red Cross; past commander of the American Legion; captain of
predeceased by her parents.
the National Guard in Walton, NY; past president of the Oneonta Kiwanis
Club; and a member of the board of directors of the Oneonta Country Club.
A familiar face on the hill even after her retirement in 1996, Norma
Ralph He and his wife, Audra, retired to Fort Myers Beach, FL, where he
spent 47 years helping better the College and the community. She
became a volunteer at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island and
came to Hartwick in 1964 to teach Spanish, but spent the greater
taught art classes to other retirees for many years. Survivors include his wife,
part of her tenure as a professor of Comparative Literature and
four children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Spanish. She was the inspiration for the College’s Leslie G. Rude
Memorial Lecture Series and in 2009 established the Florence and
Friend | Janice “Denny” Lennox, 65, died November 24, 2010, at George Hutman Scholarship for International Study.
Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown after a courageous battle with
cancer. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University, where she met
“Dr. Hutman was a committed educator. She challenged everyone
and fell in love with her “hero,” Jim Lennox. While living in New Jersey
to think deeply,” President Margaret L. Drugovich said during a
and Connecticut, Denny taught at various elementary schools, while
memorial service March 5 in the Shineman Chapel House. “She
furthering her education. She received a master of arts in education from
understood the importance of venturing beyond what we know, and
the University of Connecticut and later taught at Eastern Connecticut State
into the space beyond certainty. For Norma Hutman, creative thought
University. Denny and Jim moved to Oneonta in 1976. After the birth of
was our purest expression of freedom. Dr. Hutman was irrepressible
their daughter, Courtney, she spent time caring for her home and family. She
and irreplaceable.”
later worked in Bresee’s Department Store. Denny continued her teaching
career at St. Mary’s School, then taught at Greater Plains Elementary
Norma was a frequent speaker in the College’s Faculty Lecture Series
School for more than 20 years, until her retirement in 2007. She taught
and was editor of Humanitask, the newsletter of the Humanities
pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, and was a reading/math intervention
division. In 2010, she authored children’s book, A Bunny Named
specialist during her tenure at Greater Plains. She loved her family above
Cup Cake: The Complete Cup Cake Stories. She also hosted the weekly
all else. Denny was an avid supporter of Jim and Courtney’s academic and
radio program Issues Oneonta. Active in the community, Norma
athletic endeavors. She loved her home and always decorated it impeccably
was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, the Upper Catskills
for each season. She treasured getting together with her “Greater Plains
Community Council of the Arts, and Huntington Memorial Library
Gang” for Broadway shows or to go to the spa in Hershey, PA. An animal
Association. She was a vice president of the Upper Susquehanna
lover, Denny was charitable to many conservation and wildlife societies. She
Historical Association and had served as a president and a board
also enjoyed gardening, reading and her daily walks with Jim. Denny will be
member of the Greater Oneonta Historical Society. She also served
most remembered for her radiant countenance. She was a very happy person
on the advisory board of Alzheimer’s Association.
who loved life. With sparkling eyes, she was always laughing, always gentle
and loving. Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young” could have been written for
“While Norma was a talented educator, she was actually much more
her. Denny touched many lives and the world is a better place for her having
than that—she was an artist. She was a creator,” Drugovich said
graced it with her presence. She is survived by husband Jim, a longtime
during the service. “As if we were her clay, she liked to poke us and
soccer coach and tenured faculty member at Hartwick, and daughter
prod us and sometimes, in a moment of impatience, crash into us in
Courtney.
ways that would change the shape of who we are.”
Friend | Kurt Neunzig died December 27, 2010. Those wishing to honor Norma may do so by making a contribution
to the Florence and George Hutman Scholarship for International
Study by calling Alicia Fish at 607-431-4021 or e-mailing fisha@
hartwick.edu.
This year’s January Term programs provided Hartwick students with experiences around the world. Here, they get a close-up
look at a lava flow during the Geology and Natural History of Hawaii course with Associate Professor of Geology and
Environmental Sciences David Griffing and Professor of Geology Eric Johnson. Read students’ J Term reflections on Page 16.