The Water Issue

OSALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THEW STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEWE YORK AT OSWEGGO n VOL. 45, NO.O 1 n SPRING 2019

The Water Issue

ON OUR CAMPUS This aerial shot by photographer and computer science alumnus Demetri Andritsakis ’89 of Liverpool, N.Y., captures the splendor of the sunset over Glimmerglass Lagoon. To the far left is the Village student housing and then from left are student residence halls Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. Submit your own campus photo to: [email protected] OSWEGO Alumni Magazine Spring 2019: Vol. 45, No. 1 Publisher Online Coordinator Elizabeth Locke Oberst Matt Cummins Editor Photographer Margaret D. Spillett Jim Russell ’83 Associate Editor In Memoriam Eileen Moran Lisa Potter Designer Jennifer Broderick Contributing Writers George Colon ’71 Office of Marketing and Communications Oswego State Sports Information Office 6 Contributing Photographers Demetri Andritsakis ’89 (inside front cover) 4 President’s Column Neil Armstrong, trialsanderrors (32) Tom Caravaglia (13) Matthew Champlin, Getty Images (16) Robert Clark ’78 (28) 5 CAMPUS CURRENTS Clemson Athletics (15) Sheila Cooley ’03 M’11 (22-23) 5 New Scholarship Celebrates Couple’s Ariana Dzibela ’19 (18) Tyler Edic ’13 (27) Love Sally Familia ’19 (56) Kyle Hurley ’21 (57) 6 Alumnus Helps Shape NBC Partnerships iStock (11, 22, 25, 28, 34) Brandon Jackson (44) 7 Endowment Outperforms National Average Jim Kearns (26-27) Le Moyne College (back cover) 9 Rankings Round-Up Nicole Lightfoot ’18 (37, 55) Darren McGee (10) Robert Mescavage (46) 11 Modernized Criminal Justice Major Debuts Dakota Miller (49) Michael A. Naddeo (11) 13 State of the Arts Nancy Parisi, 43North (25) Jeff Rea ’71 (19) 15 Men’s Basketball Wins SUNYAC Rocco Saya (cover) Kristen Steinhardt (51) Onne van der Wal (36) Gary Walts, Syracuse.com (29) Interns Tyler Doan ’19 Melissa Lee ’19 Sally Familia ’19 Jacklyn Okunola ’19

Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall, Oswego, N.Y. 13126 Phone: 315-312-2258 The Water Issue Email: [email protected] Website: alumni.oswego.edu Inspired by the college’s Fresh Water f facebook.com/oswegoalumni for All Grand Challenges Project, this issue features stories of alumni I @oswegoalumni whose lives or livelihoods involve t @oswegoalumni water—from a water-based chemical OSWEGO is published two times a year by the Oswego Alumni Association manufacturer to a watercolor artist Inc., King Alumni Hall, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, to a fishing boat captain. Photo by N.Y. 13126. It is distributed free of charge to alumni, friends, faculty, staff and Rocco Saya. families of current students, with support from The Fund for Oswego. Printed April 2019. OSWEGO Alumni Magazine is printed on recycled paper with inks that are non-toxic, contain no heavy metals, and are composed of bio-derived renew- able resources ranging from 25-40% (as a percentage of total ink weight).

2 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 20 45

16 FEATURES 33 CLASS NOTES 16 The Value of Water 38 Homecoming and Return to Oz Highlights Last fall, the college embarked on a cross-campus initiative infusing fresh water and ecology in its curriculum, 44 Weddings projects, discussions and creative works through its Fresh Water for All Grand Challenges Project. 46 Alumni Association Executive Director Announces Plans to Retire 20 Water Unites Us Steve ’84 and Cheryl Cope Surprenant ’86 founded an 48 Local Lakers Gatherings international charity committed to installing deep water 52 Alumni Bookshelf wells to provide fresh water for thousands of villagers in developing countries. 54 In Memoriam 22 Water Sustains Us 56 Last Word by George Colon ’71 Students traveled to Puerto Rico to build and install water purifiers to provide fresh water to residents who 57 Oswego Object—Oswego Lighthouse are still recovering from hurricanes. Back Faculty Hall of Fame—Jerry Exline 26 Water Drives Commerce Cover As head of the Port of Oswego, William Scriber ’80 seeks to create commerce in the region and stimulate economic development. 28 Guardian of the Water Angler, fishing guide and water activistFran Verdoliva ’74 has spent his life enjoying and protecting waters within the Lake Ontario watershed. Have news to share? Send us your news! We want to hear about your new job, promotion, marriage, babies, visits with Oswego alumni or even just a change in your address. Submissions received between Jan. 1-June 30 will run in our fall issue, and between July 1-Dec. 31 in our spring issue. To submit your class note, email [email protected], call ONLINE EXCLUSIVES 315-312-2258 or complete the class note form online at magazine.oswego.edu alumni.oswego.edu. You can also mail submissions to the OSWEGO Alumni Magazine, King Alumni Hall, Oswego, N.Y. See exclusive content, including additional 13126. photos, multi-media stories and extended Please note: Class notes included in the magazine come from a versions of some of the stories in this issue. variety of sources, such as alumni submissions, news releases, social media posts and news media reports.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 3 From the President STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT OSWEGO Deborah F. Stanley, President Fresh Water for All … it’s a straight-forward, yet power- Scott R. Furlong, Provost and Vice President for ful declaration. Access to fresh water is a fundamental Academic Affairs Nicholas Lyons, Vice President for Administration need of all people. At SUNY Oswego—with one of the and Finance largest fresh water sources on the planet in our back- Mary Gibbons Canale ’81, Vice President for yard—it can be easy to overlook its significance or even Development and Alumni Relations Jerri Howland, Vice President for Student Affairs take it for granted. But we do not. Last fall, we embarked and Enrollment Management on a two-year, campus-wide Grand Challenges Project exploring the concept of Fresh Water for All. OSWEGO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Students and faculty from all disciplines and depart- Dana Segall Murphy ’99, President Amy Vanderlyke Dygert ’01, First Vice President ments have joined forces to take on the multifaceted Kathleen Smits Evans ’84, Second Vice President sustainability issue of fresh water. Grounded in shared Lisa Marceau Schnorr ’87, Past President goals, integrative skills and technologies, and a multidisciplinary approach to prob- Elizabeth Locke Oberst, Executive Director lem solving, the Grand Challenges Project reinforces the fact that today’s solutions Edgar Ames ’68 Marc Beck ’93 need to include many stakeholders across a spectrum of informed scholarship, Paul Brennan ’93 creative activity and opinion. Harry Bronson ’82 Kevin Bryans ’89 In this issue, you can learn more about some of the projects underway on campus Austin Byrd ’10 Michael Byrne ’79* that are helping us to develop deeper perspectives and find solutions to the far- Mike Caldwell ’70 M’88 reaching challenge of Fresh Water for All (page 16). You will also learn about a dedi- Mary Gibbons Canale ’81** Keith Chamberlain ’87* cated group of students who spent part of their winter break building and installing Raelynn Cooter ’77 water filters in Puerto Rican communities devastated by two hurricanes in 2018 to Dresden Engle ’88 Jerry Esposito ’70 ensure the residents have access to fresh water (page 22). Thaina Gonzalez ’92 Phillip Grome ’89 In fact, the entire issue pays tribute to water and the many ways it intersects our Lisa Sferrazza Hutchison ’77 Jennifer Warner Janes ’91 lives, from Brian Schultz ’09 who founded a clean-tech, water-based chemical La-Dana Renee Jenkins ’94 manufacturing company (page 25), to watercolor artist Carol Zieres ’82 (page 31), Don Levine ’78* Rufaro Matombo ’12 to Steve ’84 and Cheryl Cope Surprenant ’86 who founded a nonprofit to install Molly Matott ’15 deep water wells in villages in India, Pakistan and Uganda (page 20), to fishing boat Steve Messina ’91* Cathleen Richards ’09 captain and guide Capt. Andy Bliss ’04 (page 30). Mark Salmon ’93 Dan Scaia ’68 In this issue, we also bid farewell to the face of alumni relations at this college for 35 Jeffrey Sorensen ’92 years, Betsy Oberst, who will retire from her role this summer. Under her leadership, Yvonne Spicer ’84 M’85 Deborah F. Stanley** the college was able to strengthen and grow our alumni relations, communications Rick Yacobush ’77 and stewardship programs. She has left her mark by founding such programs as the Thomas Yates ’89 Benita Zahn ’76 annual Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony, New York City Career Connections and my * At large ** Ex officio personal favorite event, the annual Scholars Brunch (page 46). But more significantly, she has added to this college community through her relationships with so many of OSWEGO COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS our 86,000 alumni and her colleagues across campus. It is fitting that Betsy’s last is- Mary Gibbons Canale ’81, President sue as publisher of the Oswego Alumni Association’s magazine be focused on water, Michael Durney ’83, Chair as her impact ripples onward, as a wave without end. Rose Cardamone Crane ’81, Vice Chair Nicholas Lyons, Treasurer As the Oswego Alumni Association begins its next chapter under the direction of Doreen Mochrie ’85, Secretary our current Alumni Relations Director Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09, I invite you to recon- Mark Baum ’81 nect and visit your lakeside campus with the knowledge that your alma mater is Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77 Bill Burns ’83 doing its part to help protect this cherished resource so future generations of Lakers Joseph F. Coughlin ’82 can enjoy it, too. Dianora De Marco ’14 M’15 Steve Doran ’82 Bob Garrett ’83 Jack James ’62 Matt Jenal ’78 Jeff Knauss ’07 Gordon Lenz ’58 Peter McCarthy ’82 Robert Moritz ’85 Deborah F. Stanley Colleen Murphy ’77 Suzanne Castrigno Sack ’84 Jennifer Shropshire ’86 William Spinelli ’84 Deborah F. Stanley Mark Tryniski ’85 Joe Yacura ’74

4 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Campus Currents

New Scholarship Celebrates Couple’s Love

It was 1958 “Since 1962 there have been so many So they when Eleanor changes in the world which affect the eloped on Finding Kaminski Puc- needs of children in school,” Ellie said. Sept. 8, ciariello ’62 “What is true today and was true in 1962 1959, or of Glen Cove, is that if a teacher can instill a love of one year Love N.Y., met Nick learning in a child, that child will flourish. after meeting each Pucciariello ’62 Education is a very important profession. other in that registration line. from Brooklyn, A teacher can have an effect on a child “We always felt we had a three-year hon- N.Y., while they that will chart the course of the child’s eymoon while being students,” Ellie said. were waiting in life.” line to register Finding Love For entertainment, the couple took part for their first in activities at the college and socialized SUNY Oswego Ellie and Nick with student friends. On New Year’s Day classes. started dating 1961, the student couple, who were in in October of their junior year of college, made local “We engaged in conversation easily and their first year as headlines and were the recipients of many I remember feeling delighted that we students. While gifts from local merchants because their had several classes together,” Ellie said. listening to the daughter, Nikki, was the New Year Baby “We didn’t date at first but we spent time romantic strains of Oswego County. The couple went on to together between classes doing crossword of “Rhapsody in have a son, Charles; they also have three and number puzzles and playing cribbage. Blue” in the college library, they realized grandchildren. We established a friendship that became they were soul mates. the base of a 52-year marriage.” Success in As freshmen, Nick shared an apartment Education Six decades after that initial meeting, and with four other students; Ellie lived in D The Pucciariel- because of all of the assistance and oppor- Dorm and Kingsford Hall. It was May—the los graduated tunity the couple had, Ellie said, they have conclusion of that first year—when they in May 1962. established a scholarship at Oswego for planned their future. students in the School of Education. Nick started his They calculated that with Nick’s GI Bill (he teaching career “Our training to become teachers at SUNY was a Navy veteran), plus the money they as a math Oswego cost less than $1,000 for both of earned during the summer, they could live teacher at Ellie’s alma mater, Glen Cove us,” Ellie said. So in honor of their time in together better and cheaper than by living High School; Ellie was part of Glen Cove’s Oswego, the Nick and Ellie Pucciariello ’62 separately, Ellie said. new team-teaching approach for sixth- Scholarship was established, which each grade students. year benefits a full-time student in the “We were confident that we would achieve School of Education pursuing a career in academic success better as a couple than For many years Nick taught math, and teaching. as individuals,” Ellie said. Ellie taught English, social studies and science. They also taught the SAT Prep course, the GED classes and classes in the evening in a high school diploma program. Nick earned a master’s degree in education from Adelphi University with a grant from the National Science Foundation, and Ellie earned a master’s in social work from Adelphi University with a federal grant. In 2011, Nick died following a courageous battle with cancer. But his memories live on through family and friends, and through their shared legacy that supports future educators in the college where they met and paved the way to their futures. Laker Legacies Gather for Reception Members of the Moretti family of Elmira, N.Y., including Daniel ’20 (left), Benjamin Do you want to create your own legacy ’17 (second from left) and Polly Atkins Moretti ’85 (second from right), partici- at SUNY Oswego? Learn how you can pated in the Alumni Legacy Reception, held in conjunction with Family and Friends establish a permanently endowed fund Weekend. They were among two dozen families who attended the annual reception to honor your education or a loved one. in King Alumni Hall. They mingled, learned about opportunities and looked at old Call 315-312-3003 or email yearbooks and memorabilia. [email protected] to learn more.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 5 Alumnus Helps Shape NBC Partnerships, Opportunities for Oswego Students

part of the Alumni-In-Residence Winiarski began his career as a sales as- program over the past few years. sistant at Katz Communications in New Winiarski most recently visited York City. Later, he was vice president and in fall 2018, bringing with him senior vice president for sales at Turner members of NBC’s recruitment Broadcasting System and TBS/TNT/truTV. team so that students could learn His Oswego connection doesn’t stop at more about entry-level positions creating a pipeline for employment and in- for graduating seniors, as well as a ternships. He has also created a perpetual chance to become NBCUniversal scholarship to help encourage new talent interns through NBCU’s award- from the Department of Communication winning internship program. The Studies in the School of Communication, program offers career path options Media and the Arts—Winiarski’s home in everything from media rela- school. tions to film production to human resources to sales. In addition to connecting students with opportunities and “a little less pavement Following classroom visits, more pounding,” Winiarski said returning to than 100 students joined the NBCU From left are NBC’s Nicole Goolsby, Matt campus has other perks, too—a chance to team, which also included senior director Romano ’05, Keith Devine, Tom Winiarski ’91 make a stop by the Oswego Sub Shop, to and Ryan Hourigan. of emerging platforms for NBCU’s SYFY check out his own campus haunts and to and USA Networks Matt Romano ’05, in visit new facilities. It was the much-awaited campus visit that Sheldon Hall Ballroom to hear more. draws hundreds of eager students: The Winiarski, who did an internship in the Winiarski has continued to cultivate his chance to connect with professionals from now-gone Poucher Hall radio lab, loves connection to SUNY Oswego after his media giant NBCUniversal. to check out the Marano Campus Center, mentor and boss at NBCU provided a simi- which did not exist during his time on “I just want to help them get some lar call to action at her alma mater, Penn campus. He also loves to engage in the real-world exposure while they’re still in State. After Winiarski attended a Penn sense of community that Oswego creates school,” said Tom Winiarski ‘91. “It’s very State event, he thought SUNY Oswego both during his visits, and back at NBCU hard if you’re not yet plugged into the students could benefit from the same ap- offices. business world; it’s daunting to come out proach and hearing from Oswego alumni, of school. To have some real-world touch of which there are currently 35 employed One alum co-worker, Winiarski said, has points is really helpful.” at NBCU. been known to whisper “Go Lakers” when passing by him in the hallways of NBCU. Winiarski, who serves as executive vice “I came out of school and didn’t know president for ad sales planning and where in the media business I wanted to “You really carry Oswego with you,” he monetization at NBCUniversal Media, has be,” he said. “I kind of felt along and found laughed. returned to SUNY Oswego regularly as my way.”

Laker for LIFE Did you know that as an alum of SUNY Oswego, you have access for life to the following services? • Career Services Resources, including job opportunities, professional self-assessment tools, resume assistance, practice job interviews and more • Exclusive Discounts on Financial Services, including auto, home and life insurance • Free access to Lee Hall Pool and Gym and an Oswego.edu email account • Volunteer and Engagement Opportunities, such as Local Lakers events, reunions, the Alumni-In-Residence program, the Alumni Sharing Knowledge mentoring program, Har- borfest housing discounts and more through the Oswego Alumni Association Learn more at alumni.oswego.edu.

6 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Campus Currents

Annual Media Summit Addresses Social Media as a Change Agent

• Dr. Latoya Lee, assistant professor of sociology at SUNY Oswego; and • Jeff Knauss ’07, co-founder of Digital Hyve in Syracuse, N.Y., and a member of the Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors. The panelists noted that while social media fuels important conversation, action needs to take place in order to see real change. Dr. Lee noted how many social media users become “slacktivists,” meaning they simply advocate for change on social media but do not take action in the real world. Digital activism must be accompanied by voting and other legislative responses in order to create change. Taking to social media, however, is an important first step, From left are Asa Stackel ’12, Gina Iliev, Lou Borrelli ’77, President Deborah F. Stanley, Brandi Boatner, Iliev said. Dr. Latoya Lee and Jeff Knauss ’07. Founded in 2005 by Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77 and renamed by Borrelli and Al Roker The 14th Annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Stackel ’12, a news anchor at News Chan- ’76 through a generous gift in 2007 in Media Summit focused on “Viral Voices: nel 13 in Albany, N.Y., and featured: Advocacy in the Digital Age,” specifically honor of their mentor, the annual day-long the role social media sites have played in • Brandi Boatner, social and influencer event welcomes media professionals to launching movements, such as #Black- communications lead for global markets campus to discuss timely issues in today’s LivesMatter and #MeToo, and creating for IBM Corporate Communications in society, as well as connect with current change within society. New York City; students and offer advice on how to be active media consumers. Held on Oct. 17 in Tyler Hall’s Waterman • Gina Iliev, health equity coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central and Theatre, the panel was moderated by Asa The 15th Annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Western New York; Media Summit will be held on Oct. 23.

SUNY Oswego’s Endowment Continues to Outperform National Average

Oswego College Foundation’s endowment Oswego College Foundation, Inc. investment returns have exceeded the One, Three, Five and Ten Year Endowment Net Rates of Return vs. NACUBO Data national average for 12 years straight, and Effective Fiscal Year 2018 for 15 of the past 16 years, according to the 10.00% 9.7% 9.0% latest data released Jan. 31 by the National 9.00% 8.6% 8.2% 8.2% Association of College and University 7.9% 8.00% 7.3% Business Officers (NACUBO). 7.5% 7.4% 6.8% 7.0% 7.00% 6.2% % 6.1% SUNY Oswego’s returns during 2018 6.00% 6.0 5.8% 6.0% were 9 percent, nearly a full percentage 5.00% point higher than the national average of 4.00% 8.2 percent. The short-term endowment investment results allow spending rates to 3.00% be maintained at 5 percent and still cover 2.00% the current 2 to 2.5 percent inflation rates. 1.00% 0.00% That translates to consistent funding for 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year the college’s more than 475 privately Oswego NACUBO Average $25-50 Million Peer Group Over $1 Billion Aspirational Group funded scholarship recipients and the nearly 600 endowed and unendowed funds managed by the Oswego Col- SUNY Oswego’s endowment performed than the 5.8 percent NACUBO average lege Foundation, and more money being even better when looked at over the past and even the 6-percent returns of aspira- returned to campus to support academic 10 years. The college’s 10-year rate of re- tional peers (colleges with endowments pursuits and operational expenses. turn stands at 7.9 percent, which is better of more than $1 billion).

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 7 Noteworthy News RSVP Earns Excellus Community Health Award RSVP of Oswego County, a division of SUNY Os- wego’s Office of Business and Community Relations, recently earned an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Award. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program was one of seven winners among 30 community nonprofits applying for the 2019 honor. Each award recipient received up to $4,000 allocated by the company to help fund health and wellness programs in the company’s five-county Central New York region. RSVP offers Osteo Bone Builders classes two to three times a week at several sites in Oswego County. The educational exercise program helps participants Student’s Freshwater rebuild bone density and improve balance through Jim Reed (left) and Samantha weight training and exercise. Mussel Research Earns Cleveland International Recognition Biology major Manna Job ’19 (above) recently earned Top Presenter recogni- WTOP Promo Wins tion in the Ecology and Evolutionary National Award Biology category for college participants at the Sigma Xi International Conference A promotional video for SUNY for “Effects of Atrazine on Freshwater Oswego’s student-run TV station Mussels (Elliptio complanata),” research WTOP produced by broadcasting conducted with biological sciences faculty graduate Griffin Bruce ’18—using member Poongodi Geetha-Loganathan. archival footage, original music The sign displays another honor at the and clips of students in action (like conference—the SUNY Oswego chapter covering a Laker hockey game, earned a Sigma Xi Chapter Program of pictured)—recently earned a fourth- Excellence Award. place award in a large national competition, presented at College Broadcasters Inc.’s National Student Electronic Media Convention in Seattle. Visit magazine.oswego.edu to view the video.

Find the Founder! In the Fall 2018 issue, the Sheldon statue can be found on the pineapple shirt of Zhushun “Tim” Cai M’18 on page 19. Grand prize winner of a College Store gift certificate and a Sheldon Hall print isHenry N. Seymour ’87. Winning Sheldon Hall prints are Barbara Elasik University Police Issue Body Fulle ’69, Janet Kerfien ’73 M’01, Betty Meyer Fuller Cameras to Patrol Officers ’80, Steve Goldberg ’94 M’98 and Katie Husband Hamlin ’11. A tiny replica of the Sheldon statue, University Police patrol officers at SUNY pictured here, is hidden somewhere in this issue. Oswego—such as Officer Eric Martin Find the Founder and send us a letter or email (above)—will now wear cameras at the with the location and page number, your name, center of their chests to document traffic class year and address. We will draw one entry at random from all the correct stops and other encounters as a deter- answers and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to the College Store rent to potential conflicts at the point of and a print of Sheldon Hall. The next five entries drawn will receive Sheldon Hall contact or in court. Videotaped encounters prints. Send your entry by June 1, 2019, to Find the Founder, King Alumni Hall, 300 will be uploaded to a server daily. The Washington Blvd., Oswego, N.Y., 13126, or email to [email protected]. devices record law enforcement officers’ encounters with citizens, for their mutual benefit.

8 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Campus Currents

Orientation Express Buses Garner Praise SUNY Oswego earned Rankings a State University-wide award for providing Round-Up express shuttle service for incoming students Best School for Veterans The Military from the New York City Times, an independent source for all metro area to attend news related to the military, included New Student Orienta- SUNY Oswego on its 2019 Best for tion sessions. Vets Colleges list. SUNY Cobleskill The SUNY Council of and Buffalo State were the only other Chief Student Affairs SUNY four-year schools included on Officers and the -Of the list, which considers the following fice of University Life factors in its rankings: university culture, sion of Student Affairs and the offices of announced the award for Oswego in the academic outcomes/quality, student Admissions, New Student Orientation and category of “enrollment management, support, academic policies, and cost and Auxiliary Services, which assisted in keep- financial aid, orientation, parents, first-year, financial aid. ing the cost low. other-year and related.” Guide to Green Colleges The Princeton Emmanuel Cruz ’09, regional admissions The college has invested in full-time admis- Review education services company counselor in New York City, rode the bus to sions counselors in metro New York and on again has ranked SUNY Oswego among provide additional support and information Long Island, as well as part-time recruiters the nation’s most environmentally to the new students and their guests. in the Lower Hudson Valley and New Jer- responsible colleges. The company sey. For years, SUNY Oswego has provided The mission of New Student Orientation at recognized Oswego in the ninth edition bus service for weekend Admitted Student SUNY Oswego is to provide programs and of its publication, The Princeton Review’s Days on campus. services that ensure a successful transition Guide to 399 Green Colleges. to the academic, cultural and co-curricular The express bus service—providing New Online MBA Ranked 28th Nationally environment at the college. York City-area students and their guests SUNY Oswego’s online master of busi- with a choice of two dates for orienta- For more information, visit oswego.edu/ ness administration program ranked tion—combined the efforts of the Divi- orientation. 28th—the highest of any public college in New York state—by business-school site Poets and Quants. Oswego was the SUNY Grant to Support Veterans at Oswego, only SUNY school on the list and one of Partner Colleges four in the Empire State in the ranking that compiled admissions standards, the The SUNY Impact Founda- MBA experience and career outcomes. tion has awarded a grant of U.S. News previously ranked Oswego’s $70,400 from the U.S. Am- online MBA highest in New York state bassador Carl Spielvogel and 33rd nationally among online MBA Fund for Veterans to fund programs. an academic support proposal submitted jointly by Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Student SUNY Oswego, Jefferson Awards The Fulbright Program recently Community College (JCC), named SUNY Oswego to its 2018-19 SUNY Canton and SUNY list of top producers of successful Potsdam to strengthen applicants for Fulbright U.S. student transfer pathways and awards. SUNY Oswego has a school foster academic success record of three current Fulbright U.S. for student veterans. Scholars—Michael Kaefer ’17, Chris- topher Byrne ’18 and Michelle Tomei The grant will span four semesters and include the following: ’14—who applied directly through • A dedicated tutor to work specifically with the • SUNY Oswego will host prospec- advisor Lyn Blanchfield and the college’s student veteran population on each campus tive JCC student veterans once per Fulbright committee, which is part of the to increase their comfort of use of academic semester Institute for Global Engagement. Two support services and assist in their academic recent Oswego alumnae—Kimberlyn adjustment • Each college will create materials Bailey ’16 and Katie Sullivan ’15—ap- specifically for student veterans to plied independently and earned the • JCC will provide space for SUNY Oswego’s assist in the transition from military prestigious scholarships, which seek to veteran and military services coordinator to life to an educational institution and increase mutual understanding between hold office hours to meet with prospective JCC from JCC to SUNY Oswego the people of the United States and of student veterans and discuss transfer options other countries.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 9 Snapshots: Research and Creative Works Faculty and Staff Recognitions

Lizette Alvarado, associate director of the Office of International Education and Programs, is one of 14 leaders from across the state named to the second-ever class of fellows at SUNY’s Hispanic Leadership Institute by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The group is charged with developing and supporting the next generation of executive-level Hispanic/LatinX leaders across the SUNY system.

College President Deborah F. Stanley Faculty members Murat Yasar (left), in history, and Arvind (right) was ap- Diddi, in communication studies, were named Open SUNY On- pointed co-chair line Teaching Ambassadors for their commitment to developing of the Central or redeveloping courses available to distance learners, includ- New York Regional ing those attending other schools around the State University Economic Develop- system. ment Council, which is one of 10 regional David Parisian CAS ’04, a cur- councils across the riculum and instruction faculty state, each tasked member, earned the 2018 Hu- with developing long-term strategic plans for economic growth manitarian Heart Award from the for their region. Through eight rounds of the REDC initiative, HeartMath Institution, recogniz- the Central New York Region—made up of Cayuga, Cortland, ing his contributions to the field Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties—has secured $703.6 of psychological/physiological million in state funding to support more than 708 projects. She research. is pictured here with (from left) Brian Stratton ’79, Kristi Eck and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul.

New Faculty Publications

Common Sense as a Paradigm of Thought: An Analysis of Social Interaction, professor and sociology chair Tim Delaney

Columbine, 20 Years Later and Beyond: Lessons from Tragedy, criminal justice professor Jaclyn Schildkraut

10 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Campus Currents

College Chooses Book of Flint Clean Water Crusader for its Summer Read

The crusading pediatrician who four years ago helped bring the fight for clean water justice in Flint to the national spotlight will speak at SUNY Oswego this fall about the Oswego Reading Initiative book for this summer, her award-winning What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance and Hope in American City. Mona Hanna-Attisha—an immigrant, physician, scientist and now an activist—will appear on campus Sept. 25 to talk about her research and advocacy in the water crisis, an environmental disaster that has Modernized Criminal moved a nation. Justice Major Debuts SUNY Oswego chose Hanna-Attisha’s book over at least two dozen other can- SUNY Oswego has begun transitioning didates for the annual freshman sum- its public justice major to criminal justice, mer read. The college is in the midst a move that modernizes the program, of a two-year cross-campus Grand boosts its rigor in alignment with na- Challenges Project titled: Fresh Water for tional standards and makes its name more All (see related story on page 16). recognizable to graduate schools and employers. For more information and to see a list of past selections, visit oswego.edu/ori. New students in fall 2018 had the option to enter SUNY Oswego as criminal justice majors, while existing majors could switch to criminal justice or opt to finish their college years in public justice. Those new to the discipline in the spring semester will declare a criminal justice major. The SUNY system and the state Educa- tion Department approved the sweeping updates in curriculum. The college also has applied to rename the department as criminal justice. Dr. Roger Guy, chair of the department, said criminal justice is far from just a name change. Students have to take an additional nine credit hours’ worth of courses, some of them new and all of them subject to revisions and updates following a lengthy review of the nearly four-decades- old public justice curriculum. Elective courses reflect the broad range of fields that rely on today’s criminal justice graduates: forensic anthropology, criminal- istics chemistry, family systems, counseling, ethics and the law, program planning and evaluation, community policing and organized crime law enforcement, to name a few. For more information on the criminal justice program or on minors in criminal justice, forensic science and interdisciplinary pre-law, visit oswego.edu/criminal- justice or call 315-312-4121. Sources: SUNY Oswego Sustainability Office, oceancrusaders.org and banthebottle.net. Illustration by Aaron Scott ’19.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 11 Milestone Celebrations

Penfield Library Celebrates 50 years Graduate Studies Turns 70 Since 1968, Penfield has been a communal experience for SUNY Oswego celebrated 70 years of graduate education with students—some might say the “living room” of campus. Over a week of activities Nov. 12 to 16. Kristen Eichhorn (standing), the decades, as it has transformed from a “book warehouse” to dean of graduate studies, said the college’s continuing respon- technology hub, it remains an academic core of the institution. siveness to the needs of students and to economic trends is Penfield Library was named for Lida S. Penfield (1873-1956), a key to its ongoing success. Initially offering master’s degree alumna of the Class of 1919 and chair of the English Department. programs in elementary education and industrial arts education An authority on local history, she wrote Stories of Old Oswego, (now called technology education), the Division of Graduate and she helped inaugurate the Torchlight Ceremony in 1936. The Studies now administers more than 50 degree and certificate Penfield building became the library for SUNY Oswego in 1968, programs. The week-long celebration culminated with the when tens of thousands of books were moved by students—by Graduate Studies Showcase, which included networking, music hand, brigade style—from Rich Hall. and awards recognizing outstanding graduate students and faculty members.

Watch a video about the evolution of graduate studies at magazine.oswego.edu.

Seen on Social Twitter @OswegoAlumni

Veterans Day Dedication Honors 100th Anniversary of WWI Armistice A ceremony on campus on Veterans Day included a plaque dedication in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice that ended World War I and those who served and @sunyoswego continue to serve. President Deborah F. Stanley and several Oswego graduates—Imani Cruz ’18, Justin Brantley ’15 M’16, Christo- The ceremony was led by college President Deborah F. Stanley pher Collins-McNeil ’16, Justin Dobrow ’17, Kalie Hudson (left) who, along with Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow (right) and ’16 and Ashley Freeze ’14—joined alumnus @AlRoker Oswego Town Supervisor Richard Kaulfuss ’74, unveiled the on the Broadway set of Waitress: The Musical, where he new plaque along Washington Boulevard between Sheldon Hall performed. and the Park Hall lot. Veterans and others from the campus and community attended. facebook.com/oswegoalumni @OswegoAlumni

12 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Campus Currents

State of the Arts

Dance The legacy of pioneering choreographer Paul Taylor lives on in the Taylor 2 Dance Company, a troupe of six rising young dancers brought to Tyler Hall’s Water- man Theatre in February by Artswego. The troupe offered two master classes on campus—one of them open to local dance classes and both open to SUNY Oswego students enrolled in classes of the college’s new minor in dance—and provided the community a free behind-the-scenes look at how the troupe stages its performances.

Music Theatre SUNY Oswego music faculty member Paul Leary’s composition, “Larger Than Us,” pre- miered in March at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) in Syracuse, N.Y. Fine Arts The Society of New Music performance SUNY Oswego’s Tyler Art Gallery hosted paired Leary’s original compositional tribute this spring’s Art Faculty Exhibition with to space missions with Charles Fussell’s The a concurrent display, A Tribute to Richard Astronaut’s Tale, a staged chamber opera Zakin. Zakin, the late emeritus professor of modeled after Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale. art who dedicated himself to sharing his Leary’s composition meshes music and sci- journey with Alzheimer’s disease follow- ence, computer programming and artistic Playwright Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor, ing his diagnosis in 2015, was noted for his skills. The composition featured electronic based on classic stories by Anton Chekhov, scholarship and artwork in ceramics during instruments that Leary built and a seven- featured a series of 10 short plays with music piece chamber ensemble that performed that transported audiences to 19th-century a 40-year career at SUNY Oswego and Russia for an up-close view at absurd, surpris- beyond. live on stage. ing tales as this year’s Blackfriars student honors production. The cast featured Tim Brenner A memorial scholarship has been estab- The society and the MOST presented the concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary ’19 (seated) as The Writer and, standing from lished in Richard’s memory by his wife, left, Adam Sommer ’19, Megan Campbell ’21, Emerita Professor of Art Helen Zakin. Learn of America’s Apollo 8 manned mission to Shana Weiss ’20 and Evan Ribaudo ’19. Each more at 315-312-3003 or email develop@ lunar orbit, which served as a precursor to performer played a variety of characters. oswego.edu. the mission that gave the world the first man on the moon.

Web Design Five SUNY Oswego students, under the mentorship of graphic design faculty member Rebecca Mushtare ’03 won the national AIR-U (University Accessibility Internet Rally) competition for accessibility in web design for the team’s work on the VoteOswego.com website. As mentor and instructor Mushtare leans on the desk, clockwise from front left are students Kimberly Grunden ’19, Mariana Diaz ’16 M’19, Heng-Hao Pu M’19, Nick Long ’19 and Nicole Lightfoot ’18. Knowbility, an Austin-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the independence in technology of children and adults with disabilities, sponsored the event to encourage students to work toward a more inclusive digital web for all. The team won $5,000, plus a trip to attend the South by Southwest Conference 2019 in Austin, Texas.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 13 Men’s Ice Hockey Coach Wins SUNYAC Coach of the Year

OSWEGO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER

Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 Join us as we recognize the contributions of the following alumni-athletes, who will be inducted into the Class of The men’s ice hockey coaches of the Anthony Passero ’20 and Max Novick 2019 Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame State University of New York Athletic ’21 were on the first team, Tyler Currie during Homecoming 2019: Conference (SUNYAC) have selected ’20 made the second and Michael Gary Bartemus ’76 Oswego State’s Ed Gosek ’83 M’01 as Gillespie ’20 garnered third-team men’s diving the league’s Coach of the Year for the recognition. Devin Campbell ’19 nabbed 2018-19 season. It is the third time in the league’s Defensive Player of the Susan McWilliams Friedrich ’04 M’07 Ed’s 16-year career that he has earned Year honor for the second-consecutive women’s cross country and the honor (2004-05, 2009-10). season, joining former Laker Stephen track and field This season, Ed guided the Lakers back Johnson ’17 as the only players to earn Erin Hanlon ’05 to the NCAA Championship for the the award since its inception. women’s volleyball eighth time in the last 10 seasons, earn- Over the course of his head-coaching Mark Howard ’84 ing a bye into the quarterfinal round, career, Ed has accumulated one of the wrestling where they lost 3 to 2 to Hobart on most impressive win-loss records at any Tom McFall ’90 March 16. level. The Oswego alumnus has won men’s ice hockey His tutelage has also aided four Lakers 325 of the games he has coached, with- to All-Conference accolades, as out having 100 losses yet in his career. Registration will open this summer. For more information, visit alumni.oswego.edu/halloffame.

History of Hockey Display Unveiled Athletics Earns National Community Service Award After several years of planning, organizing and The Oswego State athletic department earned executing, an annex on its 12th National Association of Division III the concourse of the Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) award Marano Campus Center in the past 10 years at the NCAA Convention. Convocation Arena pays Track and field alumnaTara Hansen ’18 (left) homage to the 50-plus and current track and field athleteNatalie years of Laker hockey Horton ’19 tradition, from its incep- (holding trophy) tion through the 2017-18 joined Direc- season. tor of Athletics Sue Viscomi Director of Athletics (right) to accept Susan Viscomi, men’s ice the trophy at hockey coach Ed Gosek the NADIIIAA ’83 M’01 and women’s reception. The ice hockey coach Diane Dillon shared remarks during a community opening of the national award display in fall 2018. was for first The display, funded by the Herb Hammond Fund and friends of ice hockey, includes place in the a Laker hockey timeline, a touchscreen display to view history items and a center “Array of Projects” category, the department’s trophy case for the eight most prominent pieces of hardware collected by Laker seventh first place award over that span of time. hockey teams, including the men’s 2007 NCAA National Championship trophy.

14 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Men’s Basketball Team Wins SUNYAC; Randazzo Repeats Advances to NCAA Sweet 16 Round as NEWHL Scholar Athlete, Joins Teammates in Conference Honors Oswego State women’s ice hockey captain Kate Randazzo ’20 of Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, was selected as the 2019 Northeast Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL) Scholar Athlete of the Year. This marks the second-straight year After winning the SUNYAC regular season championship against Geneseo, the Oswego State she has claimed the award after earn- men’s basketball team added another trophy to the case. The Lakers outlasted No. 3 Brock- ing the inaugural honor in 2018. port in the 2019 SUNYAC Championship title game. Kate and teammate Philomena Teggart It is the fourth postseason conference crown the Lakers have won in the last eight seasons. ’21 of Pickering, Ontario, Canada, were With the victory, Oswego secured the SUNYAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Champion- also second team All-NEWHL. ship, which was its sixth all-time appearance, coming all in the last nine years. Sara Cruise ’22 of Fairhaven, Mass., In the first round of NCAA action, the team defeated Salem State University at Laker Hall, was named to NEWHL’s All-Rookie advancing to the second round. In a thrilling overtime win over Baldwin Wallace University, Team, for her 14 points and team-lead- the Lakers secured a spot in the Sweet 16 for the second time in four seasons. ing shooting percentage. The team traveled to Illinois to face No. 22 Marietta College on March 8, and ended their run with a 61-to-78 loss. The loss closed the chapter on a historic season with a match of the furthest postseason push in the program’s history (2015-16 – Sweet 16).

From Tiger to Wildcat: Alum, Clemson Football Grad Assistant Lands New Role at ACU After four years as a graduate assistant coach for the titans of col- legiate football, Mike Briglin ’02 (right) is trading Clemson orange to take on a new role, this time as safeties coach for Abilene Christian University (ACU) in Texas, home of the Wildcats. Mike joins the ACU staff after four seasons at Clemson as a graduate assistant coach. During his four-year tenure at Clemson, the statistics are epic: Clemson recorded a 55-4 record, tied for the most wins in a four-year span in major college football history, and collected four ACC titles and two national championships. It was the seed of an idea that carried Mike—who served in the According to Mike, the idea of pursuing a career in sports started Army as an engineer stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and in when he worked at a residential boys’ home in Central New York Somalia, Bosnia and Haiti—through a move to Hawaii in 2004 to following his graduation from SUNY Oswego with a degree in sociol- work for the Department of Defense’s family advocacy program. ogy. The children in the home had come from very difficult family There, he began coaching at the high school level. situations. At Clemson, he earned a master’s degree in youth development “All the kids wanted to do something fun,” said Mike, a 1991 gradu- leadership and a second master’s in athletic leadership. His ate of Oswego High School who was a running back and linebacker, goals, he said, are to become a defensive coordinator and a head as well as an Oswego State rugby player and a member of the U.S. coach someday. Army rugby team while he served in the military, from 1991 to 1996. Mike’s impact on youth—from the children living in the residen- “I told those boys that if they did what was asked of them, like tial home through to the college players he’s coaching—reminds chores, I’d take them outside to play football in the rain,” he said. him that he is exactly where he’s meant to be. Mike taught the residential home boys the basics: how to catch, “All of us have a different mission in life,” he said. “Whatever throw and tackle. One day, one of the boys told him he ought to be a your calling is, that’s your calling. And whatever you’re going to Super Bowl coach. do, don’t let anyone get in your way.”

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 15 The Value of Water

16 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Water—it’s the resource that courses through every vein of our daily lives. It keeps our communities healthy, our cities running and our economies growing. Water is the element that ties together everything that makes us thrive: From the produce aisle to the fishing pier, from our kitchen sink to the fire hydrant on our street corner, water is essential for everything we do. But humans have a complicated relationship with water. We value it, but often offer it less respect than it deserves. We depend on it, but we are challenged by barriers to availability and cleanliness. And these challenges are increasing—both locally and globally—every day.

A Backyard Full of Water It’s no secret that the SUNY Oswego community loves its lake. “It’s a dynamic sight outside just about every window on campus,” said Leigh Wilson, director of the college’s interdisciplinary programs and activities center, and director of the Creative Writing program. “The endless horizon it presents to us each Aligned with the college’s strategic plan, the goal of the Grand day is a metaphor that constantly beckons us toward greater Challenges Project is to encourage our campus to “…work learning and attainment.” toward finding solutions for the grand challenges of our time” in a 21st-century way. Leigh isn’t surprised that as a community, we have come to care deeply about water issues in general, and our neighboring The initiative empowers the campus community to develop Great Lake in particular. So when students, faculty, staff and deeper perspectives and find solutions to the far-reaching chal- administrators voted for a topic for the college’s first Grand lenge, said college President Deborah F. Stanley. Challenge—a project for which Leigh serves as chair—the topics “It is a precious, iconic asset of our community,” President that clinched the most votes were fresh water and ecology. Stanley said of the choice to make water the focus of the Grand The result: Fresh Water for All was chosen as the campus com- Challenge initiative. “Water potability and access can be a mat- munity’s Fall 2018-Spring 2020 Grand Challenges project. ter of life and death across the globe.” (continued on next page)

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 17 Awash in Opportunities Now two semesters into the initiative, Fresh Water for All has yielded multidisciplinary involvement—and fascinating results. Around campus, classroom walls and public spaces serve as tangible reminders of the project. Curricula across the college reflect water themes. The best student papers and research addressing Fresh Water for All are being compiled. Relevant performances and speakers have been brought to campus. Civic and volunteer opportunities have been established. In February, Penfield Library hosted a weekend Grand Chal- lenges event—a Makeathon competition for the best Fresh Water-related project. Based on the concept of a hackathon, a team-based event of intensive creative problem solving, the Makeathon’s winning project proposed an app for smart phones. The app uses sound recognition technology to record individual water usage over the course of a day and then aggregates usage to include a family, or even whole neighborhoods, so that friendly competitions for least water usage can arise.

Ariana Dzibela ’19, fine arts major with a history minor, created this poster for her Art 207 Digital Media Static class. Students selected from two water-related themes of “Embrace the Flow” or “Our History: It’s in the Water.”

Or globally—SUNY Oswego students helped install purifiers in Puerto Rican communities whose water supplies were impacted by two hurricanes a little over a year ago (see related story on page 22). These are just a sampling of some of the water-focused projects The prize-winning Human Computer Interaction graduate stu- by campus members. dents (from left)—Bharati Mahajan M’20, Khushboo Panchal “From social justice issues to global sustainability and access, M’19 and Joe Gray M’20 —brought interdisciplinary collabora- from the science of pollution to artistic interpretations of fresh tion from different undergraduate backgrounds: graphic design, water issues to media coverage of fresh water power politics, science and technology, and film. Oswego students, faculty and staff from all disciplines have The event was just one of the many opportunities funded been given a unique opportunity to tackle the impact that Fresh through mini-grants from the Office of the Provost for Grand Water for All has across every aspect of our global community,” Challenges projects that could use a little seed money (see oth- President Stanley said. (continued on next page) ers on next page). The breadth of ways people are applying the theme speaks to the creativity and ingenuity of the SUNY Oswego community in HALF A CENTURY OF STUDY adapting their skills and knowledge in new ways, Leigh said. SUNY Oswego established the Lake Ontario Environmental “Our campus is one of the most creative and solution-minded Laboratory (now called the Environmental Research Cen- campuses in the country,” Leigh said. “All of our disciplines and ter) in the 1960s, and since then, has brought in millions of offices work together to do great good; what we do here can dollars to conduct research on the lake in partnership with change the world.” such groups as the Great Lakes Research Consortium, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sea And changing the world can happen locally—students in Profes- Grant program, the state Department of Environmental sor Keli DiRisio’s Motion Graphics course skillfully blended re- Conservation and the federal Environmental Protection search and infographics to create professional videos addressing Agency. This research was the focus of an OSWEGO Alum- Fresh Water for All. ni Magazine cover story in summer 2016. Read more about this groundbreaking work online at magazine.oswego.edu.

18 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Bountiful Hydration While the community continues to focus on the Grand Chal- lenges Project: Fresh Water for All, students have been using the initiative to share a love for the lake that serves as a foundation for their research, and their creative and civic endeavors. A new student group called Shining Waters has taken hold on campus, with a focus on the ecological preservation of Lake Ontario.

Art faculty member Amy Bartell ’86, (left) coordinator of community art exhibitions, listened as Professor Leigh Wilson, director of the college’s Interdisciplinary Programs and Activities Center and chair of the Grand Challenges Project: Fresh Water for All, introduced the campus- wide initiative that kicked off with an art exhibition, We Are Lake Ontario, at the downtown branch of Tyler Art Gallery in summer 2018.

I think scarcity always increases value, and we are so fortunate in the United States to have an abundance of fresh water, but it’s also one reason“ we neglect the resource. Members of the new student service group, Shining Waters, —Leigh Wilson participate regularly in clean-ups along the lake shore.

A student Grand Challenges video project, created by Derrick And the flood of ideas—and love—has stretched into the city of Benton ’18 and Tanner Shore ’20, captures today’s students Oswego, including a We Are Lake Ontario art exhibition that ran in sharing their perspectives on the lake—and some ways to treat summer 2018 in SUNY Oswego’s” downtown art gallery. it better. The initiative will continue into the next school year. The challenge A student interviewed by the video team, Zitouni Layachi ’19, remains to capture the value of water: beautiful, fascinating and said the lake has been both a source of natural beauty and a treasured; urgently needed and endangered. place of friendship during his time on campus. Sonya Kedarnath ’19—like many of the alumni who came before her—was first “I think scarcity always increases value, and we are so fortunate drawn to attending SUNY Oswego because of the lake. in the United States to have an abundance of fresh water, but it’s also one reason we neglect the resource,” Leigh said. “Our supply “No other schools had this lake, so, of course, I had to come,” is dwindling for various reasons and in various places—from the said Sonya, who counts her first time venturing to flat rocks— groundwater in our western states to the infrastructure of our ag- and swimming in a lake for the first time in her life—as one of ing cities—and in the end, as has happened in many places around the most fun experiences of her time in Oswego. the world, we will pay attention to this resource we must have and must protect and must begin to value and respect, or else there Watch the student video in our online exclusive content. will be hell to pay.” l —Eileen Moran

GRAND CHALLENGE MINI-GRANTS Here’s a sampling of some campus projects representing a range of disciplines, which received mini-grants this academic year: • Environmental Art: Construction and • Political Science/Gender and Women’s destruction of the Amitayus mandala in a Studies: Interdisciplinary study of fresh ceremony by Tibetan Monks water activism in Oswego, Onondaga and Jefferson counties • Hydrogeology: Analysis of lake-bottom sediment to understand geologic records of • Community Eco-Group/College Arts pro- lake conditions grams: Creation of a fresh water chapbook and multimedia public exhibition • English/Creative Writing: Publication • Poetry: Support for public reading of nation- of written works across the curriculum ally renowned eco-poet, Rebecca Dunham, focused on Fresh Water for All known for poetry about Flint, Mich., and Deepwater Horizon • Technology/Geology: Use of student-built splitting station to investigate data to • 3D Art: Projection mapping and virtual real- maintain or restore aquatic ecosystems ity to create an immersive 3D experience

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 19 Water unites us Steve Surprenant ’84 lives life simply, guided by the maxim: Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. “I’m not an expert in water,” he said. “I’m not an expert in engineering. I’m not an expert in culture. My wife and I were simply trying to help people. Our idea was to meet the needs of desperately thirsty people in developing countries by drilling deep water wells into bedrock.” From that worthy desire sprung Fresh Water Friends, the feder- ally recognized, public charity registered in March 2017. Steve ’84 and Cheryl Cope Surprenant ’86 His wife, Cheryl Cope Surprenant ’86, and a group of 40 friends Fresh Water Friends, Founders from Orchard Park, N.Y., initially raised $5,000 to pay for two Public charity that has installed more than 90 deep water deep bedrock wells in India. Today, there are over a dozen Fresh wells, providing fresh water daily to more than 90,000 Water Friends teams and donors in 16 states, Canada and people in developing countries England. www.freshwaterfriends.org [email protected] In just two years, the group has raised over $280,000 to install more than 90 deep water wells that provide fresh water daily to more than 90,000 people in villages in India, Pakistan and ‘Jeeva Jala‘ means ‘Living Water‘ Uganda. It was on an exploratory trip to India in 2002 when he first During a campus visit through the Oswego Alumni Association’s witnessed grinding poverty. Girls and women fetching water Alumni-In-Residence program, Steve, a geology major, learned for their families often had to trek 10 to 15 miles a day carrying of the tragic death of Assistant Professor of Geology Brian water containers that can weigh up to 40 pounds. Hough, and decided to fundraise and install a bedrock well in his In addition to the arduous task of finding and carrying the honor (see related story on page 21). water, the girls faced other dangers on the road—sometimes Before founding Fresh Water Friends, Steve worked as an envi- suffering physical or sexual abuse in order to access the water ronmental geologist supervising drilling rig operations for soil source. “Life is brutally hard for these women and girls,” he said. and bedrock investigations in Florida and New York. Eventu- “They’re powerless. They can’t get an education. They have no ally, he discovered that his heart was in helping people, so he real choices.” changed careers to pursue a life of service. Sometimes the water source itself poses life-threatening dangers. Collecting water from infected or polluted water in streams, ponds and ditches can easily lead to diseases or death, especially for children under 5 years of age, Steve noted.

20 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 “Our solution was to drill water wells, “Villagers will leave work to watch, to help where entire villages can gain access to and to await the arrival of water to their fresh water,” he said. “A well provides a village,” he said. Looking at photos of vil- sense of community that didn’t exist be- lagers gathered around the water flowing fore. We can see an immediate increase in from a Fresh Water Friends well, Steve health, hygiene and schooling—especially commented: “Every girl you see here has Friendships That for girls. Access to clean water allows for been delivered from massive struggles in Won’t Run Dry medical care, daycare and literacy training her life, and that makes me really, really where the well is installed.” happy. From his office in his home, Steve coordi- “And I love this photo,” he said. “This nates the construction of the wells with picture shows Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, a team of people in the villages through Muslims, all gathered together, all smiling. email and social media applications. They come together to celebrate water. Water unites us. It humanizes us. And in “I talk to them via video text in real time,” the end, people are people. We all love our he said. Although Fresh Water Friends families. We all want to see our loved ones works with professional geologists, drillers, provided for. Let’s give them fresh water.” electricians, plumbers and masons in the l —Margaret Spillett field, Steve said the villagers enthusiastically volunteer to help in any way they can. Retired U.S. Marine Captain and Recon Platoon Commander Kurt Blomback ’83 (above), a zoology major, has been close friends with Steve Surprenant ’84 since they met in Riggs Hall in 1980. Little did they know, their diverse career paths would eventually reunite around water wells. After retiring from the military, Kurt went on to found the Montana-based company, Apocalypse Well Pumps. His business enables homeowners to easily add a hand-operated emer- gency well pump to their existing water well in case they lose electric- ity. Secure wells that have a back-up Well Dedicated in Honor of Late Geology Professor pump are critically needed to supply water for rural families in various Brian Hough, an assistant professor he said. He connected with Brian’s wife, crisis scenarios, where prolonged loss in the Department of Atmospheric Jackie Schnurr, and asked if Fresh Water of power is expected. and Geological Sciences, was killed on Friends could build a well in honor of Brian. After learning of Steve’s mission to Oct. 6, 2018, when a stretch limou- She agreed and helped fundraise for the well bring water to those in need, Kurt sine crashed at the junction of New through a Facebook post. decided to donate 5 percent from ev- York state routes 30 and 30A north Within weeks, the money was raised, and by ery sale of his pumps to Fresh Water of Schoharie, N.Y. The driver and all 17 early January, the well was built in a small Friends. passengers were killed, as were Brian village in the state of Karnataka, India. A and his father-in-law, James Schnurr, Another SUNY Oswego friend, David plaque on the well reads: “This Life-Giving who were standing in the parking lot of Daignault ’87, currently heads up Bedrock Well is a Gift in Honor of: Dr. Brian the Apple Barrel Country Store. a Syracuse group of Fresh Water Hough, SUNY Oswego-Geology Dept., Friends donors. They have raised A few weeks after the accident, geology Fresh Water Friends.” funds to install four wells in India so major Steve Surprenant ’84 visited The well now provides fresh water to ap- far, with more to come. campus to speak to students through proximately 1,200 villagers, including the 55 the Oswego Alumni Association’s boys who live at the school where the public Alumni-In-Residence program. He well is located. knew of the accident but didn’t realize there was a SUNY Oswego connection “I hope that this well and the life water it until he came to campus. provides to so many will bring comfort to Brian’s family and friends,” Steve said. “His “I was overcome with the tragedy of the memory will live on through these villagers situation and wanted to do something,” for years to come.”

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 21 Old San Juan community and national historical site Water sustains us Students Travel to Puerto Rico to Provide Fresh Water Following Hurricanes

Turning on a faucet to brush her teeth, taking a shower or simply sipping a glass of water has taken on new meaning for sociology major Mahalia Tiburcio ’21. Since participating in a SUNY Oswego Alternative Winter Break service trip to Puerto Rico, Mahalia is keenly aware how fortunate she is to have access to something as basic as water. “The thought of not having water never came to mind before this trip, but now I think about how many issues not having water can create,” she said. “Now, I try my best to not waste water and to cherish it knowing that there are people just like me who don’t have one of their fundamental needs—water.” SUNY Oswego students and staff gathered with students and staff from the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust after the group She was among a group of 11 students and three staff members tested water in the Naranjito community. who traveled to Puerto Rico in January to assemble and install water filters to provide fresh water to people whose communi- “The trip really put my life into perspective,” said Kayla Brun ’19, ties were devastated by hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017. a music major with a double minor in journalism and psychology. “Being from New York City where the water quality is, for the In collaboration with the staff of Puerto Rico Science, Technol- most part, really good, I can turn on my tap to drink water with ogy and Research Trust and the Proyecto Agua Limpia project, no fear. I have never worried about water running out. There are the SUNY Oswego team installed 170 Kohler water filters in the families in Puerto Rico who have to go four days with the water municipality of Naranjito—a community that does not receive off and one day on because water runs out.” government utility water service. Each filter provides a small family with water that is safe for drinking and cooking and free The trip is part of the college’s Grand Challenges Project: Fresh from water-borne diseases. Water for All (see story on page 16). It builds on several fundrais- ing campaigns and service trips to Puerto Rico, including those Students arrived for their seven-day trip and traveled to a church in partnership with the state’s NY Stands with Puerto Rico in the mountain community of Naranjito, where they learned Recovering and Rebuilding Initiative. about the Science Trust and how to put the filters together. They had many opportunities to interact with the community mem- Student participants could enroll in a one-credit course as part bers and hear their personal accounts of how the hurricanes had of the service learning trip to connect the experience to a faculty affected their lives. member with subject matter expertise and to enable students to research, analyze and reflect on their service project.

22 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 5 Ways Water Benefits the Body —by Cathy Lam Davius ’15 Did you know that water is defined as an essential nutrient? Water is vital to us because our bodies are made up of about 60 percent water. Let’s take a closer look at the 5 ways water benefits our bodies. It:

Clears Out Waste: Water is used to flush out waste such as urea, sodium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus from cells. 1 At least two cups of water leave as urine per day to efficiently carry out waste.

Aids Nutrient Absorption: Water is used to carry nutrients like carbohydrates and proteins across our intestinal cells for 2 absorption. About 80 percent of the water ingested is ab- sorbed through the small intestines. Adequate water is also Imani Simpson ’19, a creative writing major from Port St. necessary to move food through the intestinal tract. Lucie, Fla., helped assemble water filters for the Naranjito community during a service learning trip to Puerto Rico Keeps Us Cool: In hot temperatures, our body increases ex- over winter break. cretion of water as sweat. Evaporation of sweat from the skin 3 removes excess heat from the body, keeping us cool. “Service learning enhances a student’s education,” said Sheila Cooley ’03 M’11, associate director Acts as a Lubricant: Water makes up our saliva, of Experiential Courses and Engaged Learning acts as a cushion around our joints and spinal cord, (EXCEL). “It helps students broaden themselves 4 and is inside our eyes. and creates a deeper understanding of empathy and respect for others. Service learning also helps Boosts Our Brain Function: Our brain is made up of about 75 students develop personal and professional skills in 5 percent water. Mild dehydration, as little as a 2 percent loss critical thinking, problem solving, communication, in body weight, can interfere with mood, concentration and collaboration, organizational and interpersonal skills, short-term memory. civic engagement, leadership, responsibility, work ethic, global awareness and much more.” Last fall, students involved in African, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA) groups and students of the Puerto Rico Alternative Break Group worked with Sheila and SUNY Oswego’s Coordinator of Student Involvement Magdalena “Maggie” Rivera Staying Hydrated: ’92 M’06 CAS’07 to fundraise for the service learn- On average, we lose a total of about 2 liters (8 cups) in sweat, feces, ing trip by selling water tumblers, raffling a TV and urine and vapor from our lungs. Thus, we need to replenish with 8 SUNY Oswego T-shirt, and hosting a 50/50 raffle. cups per day. The best beverage to keep us hydrated is water! Other They raised $4,700 in sales and donations. healthy choices also include milk and soy milk. The U.S. Institute Sally Familia ’19 and Mikayla Rebuquiao ’20, who of Medicine of the National Academies’ Dietary Reference Intake are involved in ALANA organizations, helped put Committee also concluded that caffeinated beverages, like coffee together the proposal for the fresh water project in and tea, do not negatively impact hydration and can be used to meet Puerto Rico, which was awarded a $350 mini Grand our fluid needs. Evidently, water plays essential roles in our bodies. Challenges grant by the college. SUNY Central So, drink up everyone! Administration covered the cost of the airline tickets and insurance. “It’s very important for our student leaders to be Cathy Lam Davius ‘15 is a registered dietitian involved in these projects at the beginning and and holds a Bachelor of Science in Wellness assist in the project’s development and growth,” Management from SUNY Oswego and a Maggie said. “Then the students become the drivers Master of Science in Nutrition from the Uni- of the project and gain the skills that enhance their versity at Buffalo. She lives with her husband, classroom experience and hopefully assist them in Dr. Christopher Davius ’15, PT, DPT, in Grand achieving their professional and career goals.” Prairie, Texas, where they look forward to years l —Margaret Spillett of helping their community achieve excellent health status.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 23 Brian Schwartz ’03 M’08 has collected more than 150 full sets of fire gear for firefighters in Iringa, Tanzania.

Since that initial visit, the technology education undergraduate, who also has a master’s in graphic design from SUNY Oswego, saves us has collected more than $450,000 in out-of-service gear from Water the United States—mostly Vermont—for firefighters in Iringa When Brian Schwartz ’03 M’08 brought a group of his students and the surrounding region. Brian will return to Iringa in July to from northern Vermont to Africa to help at an orphanage and a deliver both the gear—150 full sets of fire gear and 35 air packs school, the educator decided to stop by a fire department, too. —and to provide training in fire suppression, search and rescue, A volunteer firefighter in Waterbury, Vt., Brian wanted to check and survival for the firefighters. out what fire operations are like in Iringa, Tanzania. He found a According to Brian, the inner city has hydrants and running crew of only 27 firefighters supporting a city of 200,000 people; water but the outer city and villages do not; wells and pumps the firefighters share only four sets of fire gear and one pair of provide water access in rural areas. fire boots. The department owned no fire gloves or hoods to protect themselves from heat and flames. “Training these firefighters in tactics and practices is paramount to their success,” said Brian, who said he was drawn to both “When I met with the firefighting and teaching out of a “sense of duty to help others.” firefighters in Tanzania I immediately started Brian has “gone up and down Vermont” to collect the gear, to empathize and relate which would otherwise be sent to the dump, he said. At a cer- to their struggles,” said tain age, gear is required to be taken out of commission in the Brian, who planned the U.S., but can still retain useful life. Vermont departments were 2018 student trip as part happy to pitch in their gear. of his role as a Science, “Many of the departments in Vermont are small and rural and Technology, Engineering, don’t have much money, but what we lack in funds we dominate Art and Mathematics in effort,” Brian said. (STEAM) teacher at the Green Mountain And his students have stepped up, too, with an outpouring of Technology and Career support from student groups like Skills USA, Future Business Center in Hyde Park, Vt., Leaders of America, sports teams and the National Honor Soci- a position he’s held for ety. Each have held fundraisers and collection efforts to benefit 10 years. “Imagine being the firefighters, Brian said. a teacher and standing “If I can instill a sense of duty, perseverance and effort for back when a child needs change in a few students through this endeavor, then I feel that’s Brian Schwartz ’03 M’08 met with a fire your guidance, imagine a huge win,” he said. official in Iringa, Tanzania. being a doctor and not having the medicine to Brian continues to fundraise to get the funds needed to ship heal. Iringa’s ability to fight fire will be changed from a depart- the equipment and gear to Iringa. You can reach out to him at ment that works toward prevention to a department that also gofundme.com/fire-gear-for-africa and [email protected]. can rescue victims, fight fire and save lives.” l —Eileen Moran

24 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Although classically educated as a teacher and scientist, today Brian finds himself wearing the many hats of an emerging “Water is something we use entrepreneur and has had to learn about all aspects of business—legal work, ac- every day. It’s something that counting, financials, sales, marketing, we take for granted—just being product development, supply chain and human resources, to name a few. He has there at our fingertips all of the successfully raised close to $3 million time. The less we can use and in federal and state funding as well as venture capital. the more we can keep it in its He also participated in the National natural cycle on the planet, Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps the better it will be program, which seeks to assist scientists in bringing their ideas into the market- for all of us.” place. He shares some of the lessons he has learned, like where to find funding to develop a prototype versus funding to bring the prototype to market, with other emerging entrepreneurs through a variety of programs in the Buffalo area. As a Rochester, N.Y.-area native who now lives along Lake Erie, Brian said he is committed to this area and in preserving its precious fresh water resources. From watching the water spouts and Water storms move across Lake Ontario from manufactures a solid business his 9th floor room in Funnelle Hall with his meteorology major roommate, Ted Letcher ’09, to taking a polar plunge in the Water is the most plentiful natural resource “That’s how we make our chemicals,” Brian icy lake’s waters with his college friends, to on the planet—with nearly two-thirds of the said. “Or you can think of it as a very fancy soaking in the grandeur of sunsets along Earth covered in water. The physical proper- espresso machine.” the shoreline, to learning about how water ties of H2O are rather unique, as it is one is used in distilling whiskey, Brian cher- of only a handful of common liquids that One of the most promising aspects of his business is that the only residue of the ishes the role water played in his college expands when it freezes. Most solids sink in experience. liquid. Water floats. hydrothermal process is water. “It goes in as water and comes out as “Water is something we use every day,” Most people know about water’s basic he said. “It’s something that we take for forms: liquid, ice, steam/vapor. But few water,” said Brian, who earned a bachelor’s in chemistry and in adolescent education granted—just being there at our fingertips know about a fourth form called supercriti- all of the time. The less we can use and cal, which occurs when water is heated and at SUNY Oswego and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University at Buffalo. the more we can keep it in its natural cycle pressurized. When that happens, it gets a on the planet, the better it will be for all of density similar to gas, but has a consistency Brian acknowledged that many people us. Through my company, I’m trying to do and flowability like a liquid, and it becomes can think of historic bad actors within the my small part to curb our impact on the more nonpolar like an oil. chemical manufacturing business or many natural world. We can take the water that Chemist Brian Schultz ’09, founder and other kinds of businesses that did a poor we generate, recycle it and put it back in CEO of Dimien in Buffalo, N.Y., is using wa- job of controlling their waste stream, but the system again. That makes it a very enter in this supercritical state to manufacture he is dedicated to using clean tech to cre- vironmentally friendly way to do chemical chemicals in an environmentally friendly ate energy-efficient materials that are less production.” l —Margaret Spillett way, and he is selling those chemicals to expensive or higher operating than other companies that make clean tech products materials currently available. such as more energy-efficient windows and “I’m motivated by being able to take sci- higher functioning batteries. ence and convert it into usable products He explained his company’s manufacturing for the betterment of society,” he said. “My process like this: If you put salt in a glass of company is focusing on producing chemi- water, the salt dissolves and becomes ions. cals that have an impact on clean tech and Like table salt. If you heat up that glass of on saving energy. I have three kids. I am water and put it under high pressure—a worried if we don’t slow down the pace process called hydrothermal manufactur- with which we use the natural resources of ing—the metal ions emerge as a solid the planet, my kids or my kids’ kids could material. suffer from the consequences of that.”

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 25 Port of Oswego projects completed or underway:

Port Points of Interest • Marina filling station and dock slips opened summer 2018 • Oldest port on the Great Lakes; first port of call and deep-water port on Great Lakes • 15-site RV park by Fort Ontario to open spring 2019 • 120 vessels carry more than 1 million tons annually • $3.4 million to upgrade and build embedded • Open 24 hours a day, 365 days truck and rail lines to the expansion site at the former Fitzgibbons Boiler Company property, finished in 2016

drives commerce WaterAs the newly appointed executive director ports by 325 percent and aluminum imports “We’re an intermodal warehousing and of the Port of Oswego Authority, William by 36 percent from the previous year. He transportation center—which is entirely Scriber ’80 wakes up every morning with also administered a $3.57 million state grant different from just a port,” he said. “We a “never-ending list of tasks” he wants to to upgrade and build an embedded road and have a major rail spur and connections to accomplish. The mission of the port—to rail from the main port facility to the expan- the main CSX [railroad] line nationwide. create commerce in the region and stimu- sion site at the former Fitzgibbons Boiler We receive and export a lot on rail. Plus, late the economic development—pushes Company property near Fort Ontario—ser- last month we had an average of 40 trucks him toward progress as fast as he can vices many people don’t consider when they a day in this port—loading, offloading or make it happen. think of a shipping port. transloading goods.” “Back in 1957 when the state created the Port of Oswego, it was designed to be an economic engine that drove Oswego,” he said. “When they were opening the seaway, this was the only water access for international trade and cross-border trade in all of Upstate New York. The state did something right in creating an agency whose primary focus was economic development and giving them the tools needed to do it. Through the water, the port historically built the city, as we were designated the first port of entry in 1799 by U.S. Congress.” With one year as interim director in 2017- 18 under his belt, Bill led the port to a record year in exports, increasing grain ex- As executive director of the Port of Oswego Authority, William Scriber ‘80 oversees the multi-million dollar, year-round operations of the intermodal transportation center.

26 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 • $6.5 million in federal and state aid to repair dock damage from high waters in 2018 • $20 million state Department of Transportation grant—doubling on-site storage capabilities for grain, potash (fertilizer) and aluminum • Application submitted for U.S. Department of Transportation’s Marine Highway designation

Bill’s desire to revitalize Oswego traces back to his ancestors, who arrived in Oswego in the late 1700s “when the only mode of transportation was to sail,” he said. Each generation has done its part to create smoother sailing for the next, including serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Bill himself served as a sergeant in U.S. Army Special Operations Command during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and graduated from the Army’s logistics school. As a newly minted political science graduate, Bill became the youngest person elected town supervisor in New York state when he won the position in his hometown of Parish. He has also worked at a logistics company in Syracuse, served as Oswego County Com- missioner of Elections and then joined the Port of Oswego staff in January 2010. When Bill enrolled in SUNY Oswego in 1976, he was the first in his Water Connects Us family to attend college, and he is proud that his daughter, Christina ’16, followed in his footsteps. She currently works at the college. As director of the New York State Canal Corporation, Brian Stratton ’79 oversees 524 miles of the state’s A former College Council member appointed to a seven-year term canal system, including the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, by former New York State Governor David Patterson in 2011, Bill Champlain and Oswego canals. More than 200 towns maintains his connections to the college today by hosting student and communities reside along the Erie Canal, which science interns to analyze grain shipments that come through the celebrated its bicentennial in 2017. He returned to U.S. Department of Agriculture labs at the port, and he is hoping to campus last fall to participate in an Erie Canal Bicenten- attract an MBA student intern to assist the port in financial reports nial discussion of New York’s Downtown Revitalization needed to apply for state and federal grants. Initiative (DRI) program and how it is transforming DRI “We’re very fortunate to have the college in Oswego,” he said. “The communities—Oswego, Rome, Geneva and Watkins port provides a great range of learning opportunities for Oswego Glen—along the New York State Canal System. He also State students—experiences that I would have loved to have had spoke in classes through the Oswego Alumni Associa- when I was a student there. By partnering, we can help each other tion’s Alumni-In-Residence program. Watch a video of and the broader community.” l —Margaret Spillett his presentation at magazine.oswego.edu.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 27 Guardian of the

WaterAs a kid, Fran Verdoliva ’74 had a paper route in the city of Oswego that took him past a shop that sold fishing tackle. “Fly fishing really intrigued me,” said Fran, who used some of his delivery pay toward rods and lures. It was the gear that first drew him into the sport. But for Fran, it was the time spent on the creeks, river and ponds surrounding his westside home that set the foundation for a lifetime commitment to the environment, fishing, history, commerce and the waterways surrounding Lake Ontario— and the pursuit of the elusive fish of his childhood. A History of Healthy Fish Fran’s childhood—often navigated on a bicycle with a Gladding South Bend fishing rod held tight to the handlebars—was in a city that carried some of the environmental problems of the times. The lake and the river suffered from industrial contami- nants, sewer lines made direct entry to the waters and local mills were causing pollution. The result: “By the 1950s, there were no salmon or trout in the river and lake around Oswego,” Fran said. An avid history buff who had read local accounts of fish as far back as the 1700s, Fran was particularly drawn to a story of fish found on his grandparents’ land—the present-day Rice Creek Field Station/ Fallbrook of SUNY Oswego. Rice Creek was named for Asa Rice, a 1700s settler. By Rice’s written accounts, there were Atlantic salmon at the juncture of Rice Creek with Lake Ontario. “These areas had healthy brook trout and salmon,” Fran said. “That history, of bountiful salmon and trout and beautiful water, that always raised my interest.” Little did Fran know then, he’d go on to play key roles in bountiful and beautiful waters and healthy fish, including several projects within the Lake Ontario watershed, for the decades to come. Water Activism Not only was Fran an angler, he was a nationally ranked compet- itive runner—and subsequent inductee into the Oswego State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003—who decided to go to college in his hometown. At SUNY Oswego, his passion for fishing and environmentalism only grew: a mentor, met through a college fly-tying course, was Dr. Robert Rock, dean of students. Fran’s introduction to water activism was Dr. Rock standing on a bridge in Altmar (eastern Oswego County) holding a protest sign about a power company’s environmental impact.

A view of Rice Creek

28 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 “He introduced me to even more of the “The fishery blossomed, record fish were Brook Trout at Rice Creek environmental aspects of it all,” he said. caught,” Fran said. It’s easy to see why in the Lake Ontario “He inspired me.” And Fran, who capitalized on all of that for watershed—and in Fran’s career—the Years later, Fran would bring his own the next 15 years of running a guide ser- Salmon River gets a lot of the attention. brand of water activism to the state level. vice, set his sights on projects that would But for Fran, a smaller project remains But first, he fished. In addition to his men- change the very culture of fishing in the among his happiest accomplishments. tors, he had campus friends who loved to watershed—as an active citizen advocate Fran was part of the 2011-2012 team go fishing, and they took to the road and for legislation that banned the snagging that removed the defunct mill dam on headed for the Catskills, the “heart of fly of salmon by anglers in Lake Ontario Rice Creek, reconnecting the disjointed fishing,” Fran said. tributaries in 1995 and as a DEC employee sections that had changed the creek’s appointed by the governor, creating the Following college, Fran taught for a few ecosystem for decades. For Fran, it was first-ever fly fishing only area in New York years in Oswego before he decided to earn more than resetting the environment to its state in 1989—about a quarter of a mile on a master’s degree in outdoor recreation natural plan; it was a tribute to his grand- the Salmon River in Oswego County. education at Syracuse University. He parents’ land, a way of making things right. traveled, including to the northwest, As a fishing guide, Fran was often called “It was also a good case study for what where salmon are considered a protected upon to counsel with the state Depart- happens when you reconnect parts of a resource. Meanwhile, in New York, where ment of Environmental Conservation on stream back together,” Fran said of the native species had already been “lost,” natural resource matters. When he left teamwork of the U.S. Wildlife Service, the hatcheries were beginning to fill the void. his guide business, he became a specialist DEC and the college to restore Rice Creek. with the DEC, performing comprehensive The largest fish hatchery in the state “It’s also a much prettier site today.” habitat analysis of the Salmon River, ulti- opened in 1981, in the eastern Oswego mately leading to work that has included Not only was the creek restored, but County hamlet of Altmar—the same place so much, including the hatchery at Altmar. schoolchildren from the Holland Patent that a poster-wielding Oswego professor Central School District took on a special had denounced pollution. The hatchery’s project to reintroduce native brook trout goal: raising trout and salmon for Lake See more about the hatchery in that Asa Rice—and Fran’s grandparents— Ontario. This eventually led to natural our online version at magazine. might have seen from its banks, and a reproduction in the river and the reintro- oswego.edu. hopeful young Fran might have sought in duction of native Atlantic salmon. his fishing excursions to the creek. Gone Fishin’ Fran lives in Mexico, N.Y., where he and his wife, Noreen, raised their daughters, Sarah and Rachel. He plans to retire from his role at the DEC later this year. Always vigilant, he feels good about the current state of the watershed of Lake Ontario: “The tributaries are healthier, the water quality is better; we are meeting the needs to sustain healthy communities.” In 2018, Fran was inducted into the Catskill Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. Since his time rid- ing his bike around Oswego, he has added Alaska, Italy, Bahamas and the Kharlovka River of Russia to his fishing resume, to name just a few. Fran said he’ll remain active as a citizen who is passionate about the water, and he’ll continue volunteering for youth, veterans and women’s programs (see online content). Plus, he said, he’ll go fishing. “It gives me great joy regardless of whether I catch fish or not,” Fran said. l —Eileen Moran Fran Verdoliva ’74 was inducted into the Catskill Fly Fishing Hall of Fame in 2018. For more than 50 years he has fished all over the world.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 29 Water guides us Some people discover their passion early in life and don’t ever let go of their dreams. Such was the case for fishing boat Cap- tain Andy Bliss ’04. “I loved to fish from the first time I held a fishing rod. I spent every dollar I had in the local tackle shop,” said the native of Nyack, N.Y. “It was my one true passion.” Although he knew he wanted to become a fishing guide, he knew he also wanted to earn a college degree and build a better future. He chose SUNY Oswego because “it was the closest campus to Lake Ontario I could find,” he said. He recalls racing down to the water between his technology education classes to get his line wet, and he still laughs when he remembers his math professor asked him to excuse himself to His success as a guide is evident in the numerous photos of wash the fish smell off of his hands. happy clients proudly displaying two- to three-foot long fish as well as the clients who return year after year for his guide It came as no surprise when he launched his fishing guide service and friendship. service, Chasin’ Tail Adventures, in 2002 while he was still in college. Certified by the U.S. Coast Guard as a captain and by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Today, his full-time business from October through April has licensed guide, he also writes a fishing blog, Hotline to Oswego him up well before sunrise to meet with one to three anglers and County Fishing, for the Oswego County Tourism Office, where he take them in his drift boat for a day of fishing on the Oswego or also serves on the county’s Tourism Advisory Council. Salmon rivers—waters that never freeze fully. He once joined his friend, the late Oswego-based fishing guide Then from May to September, he works with friend and business Kevin Davis, on a fishing excursion on the Oswego River with partner, Capt. Tom Burke, on the boat, Cold Steel. Together, they the I Love New York International Marketing Director Markly also compete in fishing tournaments and create many legend- Wilson and a few travel writers from Germany who were explor- ary fishing tales—like the time they landed a fish with only three ing the best fishing areas in the world. Their successful fishing minutes left in the two-day tourney, which gave them the win. trip helped bring international attention to Lake Ontario and the That would be the first of many wins during the 13 years since fisheries of its tributaries. they began competing. But at the end of the day, Andy said what drives him is “putting He teaches his clients how to fish for steelhead, salmon and smiles on faces and creating wonderful memories that last a brown trout using a technique called float fishing—or suspend- l —Margaret Spillett ing the bait under fixed float a few feet off the bottom and drift- lifetime.” ing the same speed as the current.

30 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 The world in Watercolor U.S. Army Officer Lake Ontario in their Cayuga Hall room and Using watercolor really is an art and Carol Zieres ’82 painting the sunsets. a science. You have to find the right was stationed “That was one of the fondest memories at an outpatient mix of water so the“ color spreads and of Oswego life was watching the sun go clinic for the Allied blends nicely without over-saturating the down on Lake Ontario,” Carol said. “Stu- Forces Central canvas. And because it moves and dries dents would gather with friends along the Europe in Holland quickly, you have to work fast. shoreline each night and watch the sun set. when she received —Carol Zieres ’82 This is what inspired me to begin taking art her first set of classes.” Aquarelle watercolor paints from In addition to her original major of biol- nervous boarding that jet from Syracuse a Dutch friend on ogy, Carol picked up a second major in to Miami, then on to Air Jamaica to her 24th birthday. art, although she was never able to take a embark upon a three-week adventure in painting course during her time at Oswego. a foreign country,” she” recalled. “It was a “I started painting landscapes of castles, She did find some time to participate in spectacular experience I’ll never forget!” mountains, windmills and stone arched the Oswego Outdoor Club, including an bridges,” Carol said. “Everywhere I traveled In her junior year, she was one of the first overnight stay on Mount Marcy in the in Europe, whether on leave or on tempo- women admitted into SUNY Oswego’s Adirondacks, and in the Oswego Horticul- rary duty, I took my camera and my paint Army Reserve Officer Training Corps ture Club that took her to New York City’s set and canvas with me. It became my program, which was an extension pro- Botanical Gardens. part-time hobby (in what little spare time I gram of Syracuse University ROTC. could find), where I could just relax, losing Another highlight was being one of 20 “I worked hard all my life as a military myself in my artwork, to escape the rigors students selected to participate in an ex- officer,” she said. “Now that I’ve finally of military life for a while.” tended marine biology course at Discovery settled down in retirement, my artwork is Bay, Jamaica, in the West Indies. Thirty-five years later, now retired from a still my hobby and I consider my talent a military career that spanned three decades “I had never flown on an airplane before, gift to be shared with my family, friends and included 14 duty station moves, Carol so this 20-year-old country girl was a bit and the community.” continues to paint colorful landscapes in l —Margaret Spillett her current home of Safety Harbor, Fla., using the same brand of watercolor paints. “I have used watercolor to paint water scenes and sunsets here in Florida,” she said. “Of course, there is a big tourist market for water scenes where I now live, rather than windmills and castles. I have painted a whole series of watercolor landscape paintings from my hometown, and have converted most of them into postcards, which I sell wholesale to the Chamber of Commerce and other gift shops in town.” Today, she shares her passion for art in a variety of forums, including as secretary and vice president of The Exhibiting Soci- ety of Artists, voting member of the Safety Harbor Public Art Committee for the city council and watercolor and mixed media instructor at the Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center. She can trace her interest in painting landscapes—particularly sunsets over the water—to watching her art major roommate, Marion Bresnihan ’82, sitting by the window that overlooked the west shore of Quebec City. To view more of Carol’s watercolor paintings, please visit arttesa.org/carol-lynne-zieres.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 31 REUNION 2019 JUNE 6 - 9

IT’S GOING TO BE Out of this World!

CLASSES The following exceptional alumni will be recognized CELEBRATING with Oswego Alumni MILESTONE Association Awards REUNIONS: during Reunion Weekend: 1944 1949 1954 1959 • Stephen Butler ’85 1964 1969 1974 1979 – Lifetime Award of Merit 1983 1984 1985 1994 • David DeVillers ’89 2003 2004 2005 – Distinguished Alumnus Award We’re over the moon • Craig Fisher ’65 about the biggest alumni – Lifetime Award of Merit party of the year! • Christy Harrison Huynh ’98 ALL class years, Greeks – Community Service Award and groups are welcome! • Diane Larsen-Freeman ’67 – Lifetime Award of Merit

GROUPS HOLDING SPECIAL MINI REUNIONS: Alpha Kappa Phi, Alpha Sigma Chi, Arethusa Eta, Beta Tau Epsilon (80th Anniversary), Cayuga Hall RA Alumni, Delta Kappa Kappa, Industrial Arts Alumni, Intercollegiate Athletics Alumni, Library Student Employee Alumni, Omega Delta Phi, Oneida Hall Alumni, Phi Lambda Phi (60th Anniversary), Phi Omicron Xi, Psi Phi Gamma, Riggs Hall Alumni, ’80s Scales Hall Alumni, Sigma Gamma, Theta Chi Rho, WOCR/WNYO/WRVO (50th Anniversary), Wrestling and Zeta Chi Zeta (50th Anniversary)

32 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

From The Archive Hidden in the “photo vaults” of King Alumni Hall was this gem of students sunbathing on the flat rocks. Unfortunately, not much is known about when it was taken or who is in it. Do you know more about this photo? Or do you have a favorite photo from your college days that you’d like featured in an alumni communication? Send the photo and a description, along with your name and class year, to [email protected]; or King Alumni Hall, Oswego, N.Y. 13126.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 33 To submit your class note, email alumni@ Jerry “Jeep” Passer ’59 is retired and Knights of Pythias, plays saxophone as a oswego.edu, call 315-312-2258 or com- living in Fuquay Varina, N.C., with his wife, volunteer at various senior citizen resi- plete the class note form online at alumni. Carol. The Delta Kappa Kappa brother has dential and rehabilitation facilities, plays oswego.edu. You can also mail submis- four children and enjoys tennis, fishing, tennis a few times a week and golfs. He sions to the OSWEGO Alumni Magazine, golf and hunting; he fondly remembers and his wife, Judith, have two children and King Alumni Hall, Oswego, N.Y. 13126. Oswego adventures, including inter-fra- four grandchildren. ternity sports, Greek games, Nunzi’s and Mary Lee Gustafson ’64 of New Lenox, Ill., Buckland’s. is retired; she travels and stays involved 1950s Frank C. Schmidt ’59 of New Buffalo, with peace, social justice, church and Del- Mich., plans to return to SUNY Oswego for ta Kappa Gamma sorority activities. After Reunion, June 6 – 9 the first time in 60 years for Reunion 2019, graduation, she taught 1st grade in Wil- 1954 – 65th | 1959 – 60th June 6-9. liamson, N.Y., for two years, then moved to Illinois, where she was with the New Lenox Stan Levenson ’54 of San Diego, Calif., has district for more than 27 years in the first more than 5,000 followers on Twitter, and 1960s and fourth grades and the library. She has is an educational fundraiser and author. two children and three grandchildren and The U.S. Navy veteran and Sigma Tau Reunion, June 6 – 9 has been married to husband, Tom, for 1964 – 55th | 1969 – 50th brother has two children and one grand- more than 52 years. child, and is an avid tennis player. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees. Robert Simon ’61 of Peconic, N.Y., restores Thomas H. Mullen ’64 of Albany, N.Y., antique cars and trucks. He retired in 1995 retired following 42 years of state govern- Stanley Dolega ’59 is retired and living from a 34-year teaching career at Jericho ment employment. He has visited 58 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He (N.Y.) High School. countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the has three children, six grandchildren and Americas. He has been married to his two great-grandchildren. He and his wife Howard Edelstein ’64 of Bardonia, N.Y., is a retired educator who enjoys substitute wife, Marie, for 36 years; they have one celebrated 30 years of marriage with a trip daughter, Kerrie. to Europe in 2018. teaching and traveling, including trips to Asia and Europe. He is the past chancellor Karol “Kay” Klee Olson ’65 of East commander for the New City/Orangetown Quogue, N.Y., is a retired reading consultant who winters in Venice, Florida, with her husband of 52 years, Hal. Her daughter, Audrey, is a speech therapist Notice anything different and her son, Drew, is an elementary school on your taxes this year? principal. Joan Cherewatti Harrell ’66 of Plainfield, If you answered yes, it might be because there was an increase Ind., retired after 47 years working for in the standard deduction; some itemized deductions have been Indianapolis Public Schools. She continues either restricted or eliminated altogether. to work as a teacher evaluation consultant. Even if you no longer itemize, several strategies might allow you to receive a tax benefit. Make gifts to charity using the charitable IRA rollover. If you are older than 70½, you can make a direct transfer of up to $100,000 from your traditional IRA or Roth IRA to a charity. Such a transfer is not taxable and counts toward satisfying your required minimum distribution. You could also consider making: • Gifts to charity of appreciated property such as publicly traded securities • A gift to charity from all or a portion of what’s left in your retirement plan • Larger gifts to charity

In addition to receiving tax benefits, you will support current and Dick “Och” Ochampaugh ’66 (above) of future generations of SUNY Oswego students by providing them DeWitt, N.Y., and New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with hands-on learning opportunities, additional scholarships, was inducted into the 2018 National Se- professional development programs and so many other experi- nior Softball Hall of Fame. He plays in over ences that make a SUNY Oswego education exceptional. 200 games a year in both New York and To learn more, call 315-312-3003 or Florida. He retired from teaching in several email [email protected]. schools in Central New York, including East Syracuse-Minoa and Phoenix. He also taught at SUNY Oswego and LeMoyne

34 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

“I had always been a reader, but here I Throughout her life, she has swum in the Water: Front learned to interpret literature and ap- lake every day she can or has sat along preciate poetry,” she said. “In my junior “her beach” often to think and read. and Centered year, I read The Autobiography of Malcolm “I swim alone, X and Martin Luther King’s Letter from parallel to the a Birmingham Jail. Those woke me up shore,” she to racism and instilled in me a lifelong said. “I love commitment to oppose it and to work the feeling of for equal rights.” freedom of She got married a week after graduating being alone in and began teaching at a middle school a huge body in Washington, D.C., where all of the of water. I take students and all but five teachers were my problems African American. to the lake. The enormity “Needless to say, this was a defining of the lake year in my life,” she said. “I saw up close soothes me the effects of systemic racism in our and puts in country.” perspective, A year later, she returned to CNY, and in my one small For the majority of her life, Betsy 1971, she began her job as a tutor-coun- life.” McTiernan ’69 has maintained a strong selor at SUNY Oswego’s Equal Opportu- Today, she remains active protecting the personal connection to Lake Ontario. nity Program, which eventually became lake as the co-founder of Shining Waters, a Her early memories of vacationing along the current Office of Learning Services. its shores at Sandy Island State Park service group dedicated to cleaning up the made the decision to attend college at “It was a perfect job for me as it allowed shoreline and removing plastic waste from SUNY Oswego a simple one. me to help integrate the college while Lake Ontario. Through the college’s Grand working with others to develop innova- Challenges Project: Fresh Water for All, she “When I saw the location of Oswego tive methods for teaching, tutoring and collaborates with campus partners on a and realized I could spend four years liv- advising,” she said. During her 31 years variety of projects, including the We Are ing in a lakefront dorm, I was sold,” said at SUNY Oswego, she would go on to Lake Ontario art exhibition that ran in sum- Betsy, a Central New York native who develop the first tutoring program, the mer 2018 in SUNY Oswego’s downtown majored in English and 7-12 education. Writing Center and the first writing art gallery. Little did she know then that the lake course for international students. would figure prominently throughout “I am guided by the motto: think global; act her life. A few years after she retired in 2002, local,” she said. “I’m working with smart, she moved from Oswego, only to return creative people to develop innovative solu- She described her time at Oswego as an in 2015 to a house that is a seven-min- tions on a local level, to the global problem intellectual and political awakening in ute walk away from her beloved lake. of waste and environmental degradation.” her life.

College and has coached baseball at all and high school social studies teacher, an Chuck Hubbard ’74 of Indian Land, S.C., levels. While on the senior circuit, he’s elementary reading teacher and a 5th- and is an area sales manager for Cloeren In- won nine world championships and two 6th-grade classroom teacher. corporated and an active volunteer for the national championships; he has been American Red Cross. named to many all-tournament teams and James Knack ’74 of Harwood, Md., is is a two-time All-American. 1970s retired from the federal government and Diana Sherman Heffer ’69 of Warrenton, Reunion, June 6 – 9 enjoys traveling, including a trip to Peru in Va., retired from Fairfax (Va.) County 1974 – 45th | 1979 – 40th fall 2018. Schools after 30 years as a school psy- Peter Mannella ’74 of Rensselaer, N.Y., chologist. She has a son, a daughter and Francis Brennan ’73 of West Roxbury, retired from the New York Association for three grandsons. Mass., retired from a career spanning 17 years with the Bank of Boston and 24 Pupil Transportation, where he served as Joyce Wheeler Thompson-Hovey ’69 of years as a systems analyst for the Mas- executive director for over 14 years. He Pavilion, N.Y., and Naples, Fla., is president sachusetts Department of Unemployment was concurrently the executive director of the Genesee Valley (N.Y.) Civil War Assistance. He plans to travel and sleep in of the Cyr Foundation for Excellence in Roundtable and has presented exten- on weekdays. School Transportation. Prior to that, he sively on a variety of topics related to the was vice president of Carr Public Affairs in American Civil War. She is also president Rick Barnard ’74 of Grafton, Mass., retired Albany for almost 10 years, and previously of a genealogy group. She retired in 2011 after a 36-year career as a tool designer at served as director of job training for New after a 40-year career as a junior high Raytheon Co. York State Economic Development.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 35 The Shape of Watercraft

“Sailing on the coastal waters there was fantastic,” he said. He took a six-month leave from one position while there, and he and his wife moved aboard a 46-foot boat he’d built at Beneteau. “We sailed about 1,500 miles of the waters inside the Great Barrier Reef, and consider this one of our best life experiences.” Returning to America, Jim managed a factory building classic mahogany run- abouts at Hacker Boat Co. in Ticondero- ga, N.Y., and then took a position leading the boat-building team at Hodgdon Yachts, a custom yacht builder in Maine. The major project at Hodgdon was the record-breaking Comanche, which also has won the Sydney to Hobart, Fastnet and Transpac races.

As a child, Jim Logan ’78 was sur- his career at Miller Brewing Co. in Fulton, “For me the greatest pride has come rounded by water and boats. As an N.Y., as well as his own custom cabinetry through successfully leading a team to adult, he’s traveled the world as a luxury firm. Later, he expanded to include his build what the company or customer boatbuilder. love of boats as he landed boat manufac- needs,” Jim said. “Building custom yachts turing roles that have taken him around for discriminating owners is the ultimate Over his career, Jim has been part of the eastern seaboard of the U.S.—and as in boat building craftsmanship.” building sailboats from 21 feet to 100 far as Australia. feet and powerboats from 17 feet to 70 feet, and refits (renovations) on several “In those years following college, my vessels, including a 155-foot sailboat. wife, Pat, and I had owned three different sailboats and sailed on the lakes in Cen- Jim was also part of the team that built tral New York and on Lake Ontario,” Jim Comanche—a 100-foot carbon fiber said. “I had gained some skills in working Super-Maxi race boat that broke the on fiberglass boats.” He also earned monohull sailing record for the fastest a U.S. Coast Guard 50 Ton Masters time crossing the Atlantic Ocean. License. “Like most forms of manufacturing, The skills he honed helped him secure a the process to build a beautiful boat position with Beneteau, a sailboat manu- often requires some hard work and isn’t facturer in South Carolina. Over the next always pretty or fun, but there is nothing 20-plus years, he gained more knowl- compared to the pleasure of being a part edge and experience in the field, taking Comanche broke the monohull of creating a beautiful ‘floating dream’ on roles of increased responsibility, and sailing record for the fastest for the eventual owner,” Jim said. “I feel Atlantic Ocean crossing in 2016. eventually managed departments, divi- that there is a real advantage in deciding sions and entire plants. what you really enjoy doing, and turning Jim retired in 2016. These days, Jim that passion into your career field.” “While building sailboats in South Caro- and his wife are living on solid ground, lina, I learned that most of the employ- splitting their time between their home Jim’s passion for vessels began when ees had never been out on the water in near Charleston, S.C., and traveling the he was a child growing up in a historic one of the boats,” Jim said. “We set up country in a motorhome visiting national fishing village on the southern coast of a program to offer employee outings parks. The couple visited 25 states in Massachusetts, Westport Point. When on the company raceboat. Taking team 2018. his family later moved to Long Island, members out for a sail allowed them to he spent countless hours on the water, So what’s next for them? see the importance of their contribution and at age 16 bought a 24-foot, inboard- to the finished vessel.” A boat. powered cruiser. Jim next turned his navigational compass “We don’t currently have a boat,” Jim After earning his degree in technology to Australia, where he took a job with a said. “Getting back out on the water and education from SUNY Oswego, he began large powerboat builder. cruising is in our future plans.”

36 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

Fran Verdoliva ’74 of Mexico, N.Y., was Southampton (N.Y.) School District as a inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame Wall of Distinction honoree for his contri- at Catskill (N.Y.) museum. He is the state butions to education. Doc spent 33 years AIR Department of Environmental Conserva- teaching what was originally known as quotes tion’s special assistant on the Salmon shop, but later became industrial arts and River. While at Oswego State, Fran was technology. an All-American in cross country and IT’S NOT THAT THEY Ruth Baltus ’77 of Potsdam, N.Y., professor track. He was inducted into the Oswego of chemical and biomolecular engineer- ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR; State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. (See “ ing at Clarkson University, was selected related story on page 28.) IT’S ABOUT HOW to receive the American Chemical Society Sanford “Sandy” Miller ’75 of Ormond Award for Encouraging Women into Ca- YOU HAVE IDEAS Beach, Fla., is the CEO of Carey Interna- reers in the Chemical Sciences, sponsored THAT WILL MAKE A COMPANY tional. Previously, he ran Budget Rental Car by the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Founda- from 1997 to 2003 and was a founding tion. This award is given to recognize VERY SUCCESSFUL. partner of Basin Street Partners, an invest- significant accomplishments by individu- ment management firm. als who have stimulated or fostered the ” interest of women in chemistry, promoting Sally Dugan Pane ’75 of Boulder, Colo., their professional developments as chem- taught French and Italian at the University ists or chemical engineers. She has been of Colorado for more than 20 years. She at Clarkson since 1983. At the time of her has translated several novels in the Wine- appointment, she was one of only four maker Detective Series of Le French Book, female engineering faculty members and which appear on Euro TV under the name the second in her department. Blood of the Vine. Joe Busa ’77 of Albany, N.Y., is quality Larry “Doc” Lechmanski ’76 of Shelter assurance regression manager for General Island, N.Y., was named in 2018 by the Dynamics in Menands, N.Y.

— Alan Isacson ’70, founder of global marketing and public relations firm, ABI, sharing advice to job seekers through the Oswego Alumni Association’s Alumni-In- Meet Sally. Residence (AIR) program Sally is a senior creative writing major, a writing tutor and the president of the Latino Richard DeVita ’77 of North Potomac, Student Union. One highlight of her time at Md., retired in July 2018 following a SUNY Oswego occurred last fall during the 40-year career at IBM as a software Return to Oz V reunion when she had the developer. opportunity to meet and network with Cathy Vanderbilt Oxley ’77 of Fredericks- alumni of color. It is one of many programs burg, Va., retired from her position as an that benefit students and alumni and that elementary school library media special- are supported by The Fund for Oswego. ist and moved south to be closer to her children. As a recipient of a Marano Scholarship, she Linda Shumaker ’77 of Binghamton, N.Y., also attests to the impact that donors is a professional engineer and president/ have on students’ lives. managing principal of Shumaker Consult- ing Engineering. She was named Engineer “My dream is to start a scholarship here of the Year in 2018 by the American Coun- someday, too, because I have seen firsthand cil of Engineering Companies of New York. how a scholarship can change a life.” Earl Grand ’78 of New York City is retired Every day, your support makes stories from the Federal Aviation Administration and is working as a substitute theatre like Sally’s possible. usher with the Shubert Organization. He Show your support today by making a gift also volunteers at the National September online at alumni.oswego.edu/givenow or 11 Memorial & Museum. by calling 315-312-3003. Philip J. Roche ’78 of Painted Post, N.Y., is a county and family court judge in Steuben County, N.Y.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 37 RETURN TO OZ V

Alumni who represented six decades gathered for a group photo in Hewitt Hall Ballroom during the Oct. 13 dinner at Return to Oz V—an event held every five years celebrating SUNY Oswego’s alumni of color.

More than 130 attendees participated in Return to Oz V, a quinquennial event for SUNY Oswego alumni of color that coincided with Home- coming Weekend 2018, Oct. 12-14. A highlight of the weekend was the dinner on Saturday night in Hewitt Hall Ballroom (pictured above). The event included remarks by Dr. Rodmon King, who introduced himself and the role that he plays as the first chief diversity and inclusion officer at the college. During the ceremony, alumni recognized Return to Oz co-founder and recently retired college administrator,Howard Gordon ’74 M’78, who received a statue of college founder, Edward Austin Sheldon, and the gratitude of the many alumni he influenced during his 42 years of service. In addition to activities related to Return to Oz V, Homecoming Weekend brought back alumni for the annual Athletic Hall of Fame Induc- tion Ceremony and Dinner in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom. The weekend festivities also included the Scholars Brunch, which brought together 75 student scholarship recipients and the donors who established their awards, for impactful conversations.

Students mingled with alumni during a Return to Oz V reception on Oct. 12. Howard Gordon ’74 M’78 received congratulatory wishes on his retirement after 42 years of service to SUNY Oswego from attendees at Return to Oz V, an event he helped establish at the college.

38 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

SAVE THE DATE! Come home to Oz this fall for… Homecoming 2019 Oct. 4–5

Weekend festivities include: • Communication Studies Alumni Reunion: Department of Communica- tion Studies’ triennial reunion with Student scholarship recipients snapped a selfie with Oswego Alumni Association Board dinner, networking and updates on new Member Dr. Yvonne Spicer ’84 M’85 (center) during the Scholars Brunch in Sheldon Hall majors and new facilities to house the Ballroom during Homecoming 2018. department • Cameron Jones ’09 to be recognized by the Oswego Alumni Association with a Graduate Of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award during the Communication Stud- ies Dinner on Oct. 5 • Athletic Hall of Fame Induction: Celebrate with the five alumni-athletes who will be inducted as members of the Class of 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame • Scholars Brunch: The invitation-only event that brings together student scholarship recipients with the donors who support them • PLUS: Athletic Games and More! For registration and other information, visit alumni.oswego.edu/homecoming.

2018 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees included front, from left Sheri A. Smith ’91, basketball and Lak softball; Barbara Verdoliva Carroll ‘93, soccer; Gregory Arthur Wilson ’68; basketball; back, er prid from left Jack James ’62 (emcee), Paul Newman ’83, wrestling; George Gelsomin ’78, golf; e! Joe Carrabs ’04, ice hockey. Inductee Mark H. Serron ’81, lacrosse, was unable to attend.

Check out the complete Return to Oz V and Home- coming Photo Galleries at magazine.oswego.edu.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 39 Marie Johnson ’81 of Stamford, Conn., is executive director for SPRYE (Staying Put in Rye and Environs). She recently served as social services manager at River House Adult Day Care Center in Cos Cob, Conn. Previously, she was executive director of Senior Services of Stamford. Marie earned a master’s degree in counseling and therapeutic recreation from Southern Connecti- cut State University. Michael Williams ’81 is an investment adviser representative for Generations Bank. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Detroit.

This group of SUNY Oswego alumni enjoyed a 13-day “Mediterranean Odyssey” cruise in October Lynn Wildman Makris ’83 is communica- 2018 on the Viking Sky from Barcelona to Venice. Pictured here from front left are Linda Herman tions director at Marstudio.com, a design Gebhardt ‘72, Pam Swingle Molinari ‘72, Marilyn McIntyre Guinn ‘72, Carol Stacy Ramsden ‘72, and marketing firm in Rockville, Md. Janet DeRogatis Gill ‘73, Ro Boyle Passarelli ‘72; and from back left are Cliff Gebhardt ‘72, Frank Molinari ‘70, Barry Guinn ‘72, Ron Ramsden ‘71, Dave Gill ‘73, Rod Passarelli. Tim Hannon ’84 of Leesburg, Va., is public sector solutions vice president for Tech Linda Carlin ’79 of Greenwich, Conn., is Rosanne Kozlowski O’Reilly ’79 of Ridge, Data and its government solutions subsid- assistant superintendent of finance for the N.Y., is an accountant for the WP Geoghan iary in Chantilly, Va. Elmsford Union School District in Greens- Agency Inc. in Bayport, N.Y. burgh, N.Y. Peter Rogers ’84 of Fishers, N.Y., is club- Alan Robbins ’79 of Smithtown, N.Y., house manager for Locust Hill Country Howard B. Cohen ’79 of East Amherst, started Enterprise Coffee company in Club in Pittsford, N.Y. He is married to N.Y., is managing partner for the Gross 2010 after selling his company, Galaxie Mary Cargnoni Rogers ’87. Shuman law office and an adjunct profes- Coffee, in 2005. sor for the University of Buffalo School of Sheryl Parrino Altman ’85 of Southboro, Law. Mass., is performing in a Beatles tribute 1980s show at New York City’s Triad theatre in Patricia “PJ” Jacob Delia ’79 of Tappan, May 2019. She is also corporate counsel N.Y., sings and manages a blues band. She Reunion, June 6 – 9 for the Breville Group. played and sang in a film by Abel Fer- 1983, 1984, 1985 – 35th rara that was shown at the Cannes Film Don Barr ’85 of South Bend, Ind., is Bill Scriber ’80 of West Monroe, N.Y., Festival in 2017. She returns to campus general sales manager for WNDU-TV of is the executive director of the Port of frequently to visit her son, Jake ’19, and to South Bend. Oswego Authority. (See related story on see friends who are in the area. page 26.) Deborah Long Gedney ’79 of Hawthorne, N.J., is president of Komar Intimates in Jersey City, N.J. Jim Hawxhurst ’79 of Waterford, Conn., retired following a 30-year career in the nuclear power industry. Previously, he worked for the federal government as a meteorologist for eight years, and obtained a master’s degree in meteorology from the University of Maryland. He also holds an MBA from Clarkson University. In retirement, he volunteers for the Water- ford school STEM program to support meteorological monitoring. Virginia Camelo Madore ’79 of Troy, N.Y., retired in 2012 from Troy city schools. She has provided costumes for Troy High School musical productions for nearly 25 years. As senior students from Carmel (N.Y.) High School celebrated college acceptance day by wear- Bill Newsome ’79 of Raleigh, N.C., is ing shirts from the colleges they planned to attend after graduation, these three proud alumnae a quality assurance specialist at Duke and co-workers in the Social Studies Department wore theirs, too: Aislinn Breslin ’13, Heidi Gardineer Carr ’80 and Susan Tornatore ’96. Heidi has taught for 38 years, Susan for 22 years, University. and Aislinn has taught for five years and also coaches in Carmel. The three alumnae collaborate as part of the freshman global history team.

40 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

John Kennington ’85 of Chester, N.J., is vice president for sales at Arla Foods. Michael Neaton ’85 is the resource officer Artistic Expression for the Potsdam (N.Y.) Central School District. As a trained artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SUNY Oswego and a Terri Lehtonen Morgan ’86 is principal at Master of Fine Arts from the Rochester St. Kateri School in Irondequoit, N.Y. She Institute of Technology, Michele also previously served as an administrative feels a personal connection to art, par- intern and kindergarten teacher at St. Law- ticularly painting, in expressing her own rence School in Greece, N.Y. Prior to that, ideas and thoughts. she taught preschool and kindergarten at Seton Catholic School in Brighton, N.Y. In her mixed media series, Look at What I Am Saying, she portrays: “The mouth, Corinna Johnson ’89 of Johnson City, at once vulnerable or passionate, joy- N.Y., is a program coordinator for Broome ous or savage, impregnated with words, County (N.Y.) Catholic Schools. She is it bursts with micro expressions and yet active in community outreach and local remains still at any given moment.” economic development as a member and officer of several area organizations. Drawing and painting since she was a toddler, Michele said she often uses Maria Marcellino-Snyder ’89 of Cicero, multiple media within one piece, often N.Y., is a partner at DiMarco, Abiusi & employing watercolors when she wants Pascarella, CPAs. She has been involved as Creating art can be a cathartic ex- “to feel a fluidity of movement on the an instructor with the U.S. Small Business perience, and for some, it provides a paper or when I want the illusion of Administration at Onondaga Community powerful mode of communication. light or a glow.” College and is a former instructor with As executive director of Hope Center New York State Society of Certified Public “Watercolor also has the ability to for the Arts in Orange County, Califor- Accountants’ Foundation for Accounting surprise,” she said. “It is a quick-drying nia, Michele Vavonese ’92 helps con- Education. She and her husband, Rick, medium, so you must be deliberate in nect adults with intellectual disabilities have two daughters. your marks or be willing to honor the with the performing and visual arts to direction the paint may take you. This transform their lives. is a good ability to have, as it’s often 1990s “The arts are intrinsically therapeutic, within mistakes that we find new ap- opening the mind to communicating proaches and looks to our work.” Reunion, June 6 – 9 on different and sometimes primal 1994 – 25th Her work has been exhibited in galler- levels that humans have been using ies across California and in New York, since the dawn of our time,” she said. Mike Boedicker ’90 is a librarian for the including at the Schweinfurth Memorial “Tapping into this can be incredibly Richmond Memorial Library in Batavia, Art Center in Auburn, N.Y., Munson important to intellectually disabled N.Y. He attended the University at Buffalo Williams Proctor Art Institute in Utica, adults who often have challenges with for his Master of Library Science. After N.Y., and the Everson Museum of Art in processing information, in social inter- earning the degree, he worked as audio- Syracuse, N.Y. visual librarian and then assistant director actions and with communicating their at the Danville Public Library in Illinois. inner thoughts and feelings. Painting The Long Beach, Calif., resident also is an empowered and beautiful way to serves on the California Arts Council Michael Costello ’90 of Londonderry, overcome these challenges.” and reviews artists’ grant applications. N.H., is a talent management consultant for LMBT Associates. Jeffrey Guido ’90 of Cortland, N.Y., is a teacher at Cortland High School. Ron Klein ’90 is an area retail leader for Keybank, overseeing branches in Oneida, Otsego, Madison and parts of Onondaga County. Amy Jacobson ’91 of Millstone Township, N.J., was a featured expert in a docu- mentary produced by actor Jeff Bridges, Living in the Future’s Past, a look at humans and their past as a key to finding a better future. Amy began graduate school and professional life as a primatologist, but switched to evolutionary anthropology while earning a Ph.D. at Rutgers University.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 41 Cris Bengis ’92 of Frisco, Texas, is senior Jim Davies ’93 of Atlanta, Ga., authored Maria Connell ’94 of Trumansburg, N.Y., vice president of commercial sales for an article in The Conversation about the is a reading specialist for the Ithaca (N.Y.) Scooter’s Coffee. Previously, he led major science of belief (and disbelief) in Santa City School District. She has been awarded food service accounts during his 12-year Claus. He is a professor in the Institute of two Fulbrights (Japan and Ghana) and tenure at PepsiCo. Cognitive Science at Carleton University. a fellowship (Mexico) and is married to Matthew Donovan ’97, who is a senior Amy Canale Dumas ’92 M’10 of Oswego of New Woodstock, N.Y., is Tim Hunt ’93 software engineer at URSA Space Systems. was featured in a WCNY (Syracuse, N.Y.) the general manager of the Syracuse, N.Y., video production for her therapy dog branch of Five Star Equipment. Previously, Johnny Garcia Sr. ’94 of Cheektowaga, work. She is a member of the PAWS of he was the town of Cazenovia highway N.Y., has been a staff member of the CNY Inc. board of directors. superintendent since 2007. Tim is the University at Buffalo for 24 years, currently secretary and chairman of the Legislative serving as events manager. Thaina Gonzalez ’92 of Bronx, N.Y., is Committee for the NYS Highway Associa- director of executive office and board Yvonne Scott-Younis ’94 of Liverpool, N.Y., tion Executive Committee and treasurer of relations for Sponsors for Educational is the marketing manager for Mohawk the Madison County Highway Association. Opportunity in New York City. She has Global Logistics. She previously was direc- been active with SUNY Oswego as a Christopher S. Smoulcey ’93 is the tor of development at the Frank H. Hiscock founding Return to Oz volunteer, a New sergeant of the Village of Goshen (N.Y.) Legal Aid Society and a senior product York City regional volunteer and an alumni Police Department. He has been with the marketing manager in the medical device admissions volunteer. She is a member of village police department since 2006, field for Smiths Medical, ConMed and the Oswego Alumni Association board of and since 2015, he has been assigned as a Gorbel Medical. She holds an MBA from directors. school resource officer at the high school. Syracuse University’s Whitman School of He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Management. Don Hilton ’92 took office Jan. 1 as Os- previously worked for the Town of Lloyd wego County sheriff. Roderick “Rick” Coe ’95 of Waterloo, Police Department. N.Y., is the 2018 recipient of the “Service Ed Bushaw M’93 of Gulf Shores, Ala., Rick Chandler ’94 of Annandale, Va., is the Above Self” Award from the Waterloo joined the staff of the South Baldwin deputy undersecretary for the Department Rotary Club. He developed a bereavement (Ala.) Chamber as director of talent of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. aftercare program and started the Seneca development and recruitment. He and his County Bereavement Support Group. wife have three children.

PAN AM FLIGHT 103: 30 YEARS LATER We Remember

Lynne (left), Colleen (right)

Two SUNY Oswego students studying abroad—Colleen 30th Anniversary Exhibition on Campus Brunner ’90 and Lynne Hartunian ’89—were among the 270 The Oswego Alumni Association has also created a temporary people who died in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over exhibition in honor of the 30th Anniversary in a display case Lockerbie, Scotland, on Dec. 21, 1988. The bombing was one of in the Marano Campus Center, which will be on view through the first major terrorist attacks on Americans and the largest Reunion Weekend. It contains images and short biographies of terrorist attack in American history until 9/11. Lynne and Colleen as well as materials from past anniversaries and events, including the dedication of the memorial sculpture Special Remembrance Ceremony During Reunion Weekend in Penfield Library. In honor of the 30th Anniversary of that tragedy, please join us for a Remembrance Ceremony for Lynne and Colleen during Online exclusive content: Family and friends share their Reunion 2019 at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 9, followed by Mass at memories of the women in a multimedia slideshow at the Hall Newman Center at 10:30 a.m. magazine.oswego.edu.

42 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

Timothy Collier ’97 of Bedford, N.Y., is Greg Walker M’98 executive vice president of leasing for received the 2018 AIR RAMCO Properties. Distinguished quotes Alumni Achieve- Jolene Lanphear Steele ’97 of Seneca ment Award from Falls, N.Y., is senior vice president of the Williamsport Make the most out of every branch operations and sales for Finger Area School District Lakes Federal Credit Union. She serves on experience —GOOD OR BAD— Education Founda- “ the board of the Seneca Falls Rotary and tion. Greg began his is board treasurer of the Seneca County because there is no losing. career in educational Cornell Cooperative Extension. There is only winning administration in 1998 at Rome (N.Y.) City Keith Washo ’97 of San Jose, Calif., is an School District as the school’s first African and learning. Become a lifelong author and founder and CEO of Purebuds American principal. In 2000, he became learner, soak up all you can Earphones. a principal at Fowler High School in Syra- cuse, N.Y. During his time there, Walker and you will MAKE AN IMPACT Michael Cassidy ’98 of Purchase, N.Y., was highlighted by the Commissioner of is co-founder of August Spark. He is the and succeed in all that you do. Education in New York for the school’s ac- former CEO and chairman of ad tech com- ademic performance through a statewide ” pany Undertone. He is married to Jennifer video, New York Learns, Closing the Gap. He Zeno Cassidy ’09. and his wife, Adina Walker M’98, reside in Independence, Ohio. Together, they have three children, Nyla, Joshua and Caleb. 2000s Reunion, June 6 – 9 2003, 2004, 2005 – 15th

Robert Score ’00 of Port Orange, Fla., is — Jennifer Warner Janes ’91, Oswego a media producer for Embry-Riddle Aero- Alumni Association Board Member, at nautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. 2018 Fall CNY Career Connections at SUNY Oswego’s Syracuse Campus Joseph McManus ’02 of Oswego is vice president of computer operations Giovanna Colosi ’98 M’04 of Cicero, N.Y., at Pathfinder Bank. Previously, he was a Dominick Ianno ’95 of Walpole, Mass., earned her second master’s degree in computer operations manager, joining heads the state government relations Library and Information Science and ac- the bank in 2008. He was named one of team for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insur- cepted a job with Syracuse University as an Oswego County’s “40 under 40” in 2013 ance Company. Previously, he was director assistant librarian for the School of Educa- and graduated from Leadership Oswego of public affairs at Pfizer Inc. He also tion. She and her husband, Doug Jankows- County. He serves as the board president worked as vice president at Gray Media, ki, are also the proud parents of baby, Jack, for Friends of the Oswego Library, is a dea- a public affairs firm in Boston, and as the (above) who was born Oct. 5, 2018. con at the Oswego Alliance Church and executive director of the Massachusetts volunteers as a network administrator for Cheryl Webster Crounse ’98 of Lynn, Oswego Community Christian School. Republican Party. He is a graduate of New Mass., is vice president of institutional England Law School in Boston. advancement and executive director of the Thomas Kuchcicki ’95 of Farmingville, Salem State University Foundation Inc. N.Y., is director and co-head of Global Research Technology for Bank of America in New York City. There’s Still Time Jeremy Aldridge ’96 of North Hollywood, Don’t miss out on participating in Calif., was the director of The Boys Next The Fund for Oswego this year! Door, a comedy-drama centering on a JUNE 2019 caring social worker who supervises four 1 Please make a gift before our fiscal disabled men living together in an apart- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 year ends June 30. ment while learning to face their daily challenges together. Shannon Penrod ’84 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Help create opportunities for our of Santa Clarita, Calif., interviewed Jeremy 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 current and future students. You can make your gift online at alumni. for her show on Autism-Live.com. 23 24 25 2 6 27 28 29 oswego.edu/give, or mail to 215 Craig Jauvtis ’96 of Monroe, N.Y., works in 30 technical operations for CNBC in Engle- Sheldon Hall, Oswego, N.Y. 13126. wood Cliffs, N.J.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 43 Weddings

Jessica Skeldon ’09 and Max Gottfried ’08 M’09 were married on Aug. 11, 2018, in Utica, N.Y. Their marriage was offici- ated by Donald Wisniewski M’10 CAS’10 Amanda Hewes ’17 and Luke Evans ’16 were married on Sept. 22, 2018, at St. Jerome’s in Roch- and photographed by Cara Livermore ’09. ester, N.Y. From front left are: Jim Evans ’83, Kathy Smits Evans ’84, Luke Evans ’16, Amanda Other alumni in attendance were Shawn Hewes ’17, Samantha Smith Brennan ’13 and Andrew Brennan ’13 M’16. From second row left are: Ashley ’09, Dan Dellecese ’08, Tara Miller Janean Pembleton Hewes ’86; Bailey Forrett ’20; Omar Van Reenen ’19; Emily Stasko ’18; Ed Evans Dellecese ’09, Brian Denman ’09, Mike ’85; Michelle Massaro Bandla (hidden) ’93; Julie Pretzat (partially hidden), dean of the School of Eno ’08, Michelle Broeker Eno ’13, Jenna Communication, Media and the Arts; Juanita Diaz ’16; Sarah Mann Baker; Carin Stoianovich Sat- Jameson Lambe ’10, Arlee Logan ’09, Matt tler ’84 and Mike Sattler ’83. From back row left are: Debbie Grzymkowski Bailey ’84; Doug Bailey Pelkey ’09, Kristen Smith Pelkey ’08, Dan ’83; Jeff Craner ’84; Brian Maher; TJ Bandla, audio instructor; Jim Smits ’02; and Mitchel Britton Semeraro ’09 M’12, Brynn Gillen Semeraro ‘19. Another Laker in attendance but not pictured was Ann Evans Scheibel ’85. ’08 and Ryan Talma ’12.

Michael Kelly ’08 and Christine Schwen were married Sept. 15, 2018, at Indiana University in Alaine Vescovo ’14 and Max Weinstein ’14 Bloomington, Ind. From top left are: Jamie Lyn Brown Celeste ’07, Craig Celeste ’07, Meg Ryan were married Oct. 6, 2018, in Bayville, N.Y. King ’07, Jason Comack ’07, Emily Gollop Comack, Jillian Paff, Ryan Monahan ’07, Christine From left are: Matt Wagenhauser ’15, Katie Schwen, Michael Kelly ’08, Kristen Henry, Michael Maurer, Sean Michel ’07 and Kerry McLernon Bott ’14 M’15, Alaine Vescovo ’14, Max Michel. From bottom left are: Dan King ’07, Andrew Miner ’08, Helen O’Connell Ingersoll ’65, Weinstein ’14, Grace Ferrarone ’14 and Brian Gary Ingersoll ’66, Patrick Gariepy ’07, Collin Edmonds ’06 and Melissa Edmonds. Wisely.

Jeff Storch ’06 and Julia Burton were married on Oct. 28, 2018, in San Diego, Anthony Felice ’00 and Cathy Visconti were married on Calif. From top left are: Matt Mueller ’05, Travis Smith ’05 M’06 and Dan Mc- Sept. 22, 2018, in Auburn, N.Y. From left are: Theresa Vis- Cabe ’05. From middle left are: Joseph Storch ’02 and Stephanie Bernat Smith conti ’82, Jocelyn Sluzar, Chelsey Bozeat, Cathy Visconti, ’08. From bottom left are: Dr. Norm Weiner (professor emeritus), Jeff Storch Anthony Felice ’00, Clint Seyer, Richard Walrad and Lance ’06, Julia Burton Storch and Robin Braunstein ’76. Seyer. In front are Carissa Ingerson and Brayden Badman. Photo credit: Brandon Jackson of Chief Geek Photography.

44 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Kelsey Clark ’13 and Mike Altavilla ’12 were married on Sept. 15, 2018, at Oak Mountain in Specu- lator, N.Y. In attendance were Meghan Wheeler Harrison ’07; Scott Harrison, assistant director of Campus Recreation; Katie Scheib ’12; Chris Mac- Rae ’13; Kelly Corwin ’13; Matthew Raczynski ’13; Mike Quagliano ’13; Kate Schilling Quagliano ’11; Debbie Smart Clark ’78; Arlene Donald ’78; Kathy Winkler M’85 and Kathy Stafford Cooley ’77.

Erica Saturno ’11 and Scott Dowdall ’11 were married on June 22, 2018, in Syracuse, N.Y. From back left are: Taylor Catlin ’17, James Saturno, Justin Earl ’12, Pete Talbot ’12, John Troyer ’11, Christy Haltof ’11, Bojan Topalovic ’18, Danielle Saturno ’15, Angela Wagner Cwika ’03 ’06, Katy Bellomo ’11 and Josh McAdam ’09. From front left are: Jeni Nagel Byrd ’11, Sarah Garzetta ’11, Erica Saturnal Dowdall ’11 and Scott Dowdall ’11.

Lynn Georgi ’12 and Ricky Dunn ’12 were married on Sept. 29, 2018, in Rochester, N.Y. Guests included Ryan Healy ’12, Robert Cardillo ’12, Leanne Van Dyke Strader ’11 M’15, Jeff Evans ’12, Mickie Sanna ’12 and Dani Calkins ’12.

Mikala Thompson ’16 and Brendan Peek ’17 were married Aug. 22, 2018, in Lake Placid, N.Y. From back left are: Elsa Nieder ’17, Sam Gilroy ’17, Luke Snyder ’18, Erik Frenzel ’02, Adam Frenzel ’05 and Scott Andrews ’98. From front left are: Judy Patchen Oertel, Samantha Boyle ’17, Mikala Thompson Peek ’16, Brendan Peek ’17, Jesslynn Smith ’17 and Lindsay Rice ’03.

Christa Nussbaum ’12 and Nathan Donnelly ’10 M’12 were married on May 19, 2018, in Sayville, N.Y. From back left are: Cody Miller, Rebecca Wes- ley ’13, Abigail Goldberg ’13, Christa Nussbaum ’12, Nathan Donnelly ’10 M’12, Kiera Collins Furey ’13, Denise Davis ’13, Cheryl Ballard ’10 and Chris- topher Boone ’11. From front left are: Tamara Sims ’14, Daniel Bernstein ’13, Patrick Wilson ’11 M’13 and Michael Lamm ’12.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 45 Oberst to Retire After 35 Years of Service Associate Vice President of Alumni Rela- tions and Stewardship Betsy Oberst has announced her plans to retire this summer after 35 years of service to SUNY Oswego and its more than 86,000 alumni. In this role, she served as executive director of the Oswego Alumni Association “We (OAA) and publisher of the OSWEGO have been so Alumni Magazine. She oversaw alumni fortunate on relations, alumni and development com- this campus to munications, and donor relations and But her connections to campus began in have a leader stewardship programs at the college. 1973 when she frequently traveled from like President “Betsy has done a tremendous job leading her alma mater, St. Lawrence University in Stanley who the alumni operations at the college for Canton, N.Y., to Oswego to visit her now has always more than two decades, and through her husband of 40 years, Dr. Jerry Oberst ’77, understood that personal outreach and the development who is entering his 41st year in the SUNY alumni are a really of award-winning programs, she has Oswego admissions office. important part of strengthened our alumni ties to SUNY the fabric of our “I think those early experiences help me Oswego,” said Mary Gibbons Canale ’81, college commu- relate to Oswego alumni,” she said. “I ex- vice president for development and alumni nity,” Betsy said. perienced the tree-stump stools at Nunzi’s relations. “She has always and went to Buckland’s when I was dating supported alumni “She has helped build an alumni office that Jerry. This has really been a shared journey and development is the envy of our SUNY peers, and she is with him. Throughout my career, he would operations, and leaving the OAA in a much stronger place accompany me to alumni events and could she thought it than when she started,” Mary said. “We speak about the campus and the students was important are so grateful for her dedication, commit- he was recruiting.” enough to make it its ment and many years of service to all of It was a journey that she never intended to own division. I really our alumni.” take. After graduating with a bachelor’s in appreciated that.” Some of the alumni who know her best English, she earned a master’s in adver- Among the programs worked with her through their roles on the tising from Syracuse University and her and initiatives Betsy Oswego Alumni Association Board of Di- teaching certification at SUNY Oswego, said she is most rectors, including current board President fully intending to become a high school proud of developing Dana Segall Murphy ’99. English teacher. are the following: “Betsy has amazing knowledge of our Initially, she took the job because she liked • Welcoming Torchlight school’s history and an infinite number the idea of working at a college, and being Ceremony to welcome students on their of connections to our alumni and their able to work part time gave her the flex- first night on campus, mirroring the Oswego stories and families,” Dana said. ibility to spend more time with her three Commencement Eve Torchlight held on “It takes a truly special person to em- young children. When she accepted the students’ last night on campus brace Oswego the way Betsy has. I don’t interim role as alumni relations director in think you can find many people who can 1995, she knew she was hooked on a new • New York City Career Connections to do what Betsy has done for Oswego and career path. bring students and alumni together for its 86,000+ alumni. She will be greatly professional networking “The mission of the Oswego Alumni Asso- missed but has left an amazing impact on ciation has always been to engage alumni,” • Golden Alumni Society and Induction Oswego in so many ways.” she said. “That never changes. We’ve Ceremony to recognize all 50-year plus Betsy first joined engaged them in different ways over the graduates of the college the Oswego years. I enjoyed being able to launch new • Peace: Free and Easy Alumni As- initiatives and programs, and not just Memorial between Seneca and Tyler sociation in manage existing programs.” halls dedicated by classmates in October 1984 as Many of the Oswego Alumni Association’s memory of four alumni a part-time as- signature programs began during her sistant director of She was recognized in 2016 with a SUNY tenure—programs, she said, that wouldn’t alumni relations Chancellor’s Award for Professional Excel- have been able to be launched without who worked with lence, the highest honor bestowed by the stalwart support of College President students involved SUNY. Deborah F. Stanley, who became interim in the Under- president in the same year Betsy became As she reflected on her years with the col- graduate Alumni alumni director. lege, she said she is so grateful for a career Association (now called Future Alumni path that she never knew existed, yet fit Network). her so well.

46 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 By Executive Director Oswego Matters Betsy Oberst As I write this to all of you, our 86,000 There are too many “joys” of my work alumni, it is with a bittersweet feeling here to enumerate in this space. Suffice of anticipation, joy and a little sadness, it to say, when I answered a job ad in the as this will be my final column prior to local paper for an assistant alumni direc- my retirement in June. Shortly after I tor opening (yes, that is how we used became the executive director of the to find jobs!), I never dreamed it would Oswego Alumni Association in 1995, I be starting me down a path of a lifelong began this column as a way to commu- passion and calling that brought such nicate with you directly to engage and great joy and satisfaction … and so many through all of our numerous communi- inform you about how to stay connected laughs and good times. I hope I’ve been cations channels and Michelle Tackett with Oswego. able to make a small difference here. I Spinner ’98 will manage our donor rela- say all the time, “I have the greatest job tions efforts with our increasing number Though so much has changed since in the world!” of major donors. 1995 in the ways we receive information and interact with each other, the core Jerry ’77 and I plan to stay in Oswego As I ended that first column, I will end mission of the Oswego Alumni Associa- at least right now, as Jerry continues his this final one: “Whether you are a mem- tion remains unchanged—to inform and 40-plus years of working in the Admis- ber of a Golden Anniversary class, a re- interest a diverse constituency in the life sions Office to recruit new Lakers to join cent graduate or someplace in between, of the university to create a partnership our SUNY Oswego family. I’m not sure you are important to the Oswego Alumni that encourages involvement, enhances what my next chapter will hold. I look Association, and you help us continue to loyalty and serves the current and future forward to service on some boards, get- prove ‘Oswego Matters.’” needs of the institution and alumni. ting our new rescue pup, Jackson, certi- And I’ll see you when you make your way Together, we have done so much over my fied to be a therapy dog to visit nursing back to Oz, or online or on the road in my 35 years in the Alumni Office and my 24 homes (and SUNY Oswego!), spending increasing travels. Thank you from the years leading the alumni association, to more time with family, traveling and bottom of my heart for all the wonder- build this partnership and help our stu- participating in whatever other volunteer ful memories, the laughs and, most dents, fellow alumni and SUNY Oswego. or service opportunities may present importantly, the lifelong relationships and And that has included the countless themselves along the way. friendships you’ve shared with me. It has faculty and staff colleagues who have One of our other primary goals is been a privilege to be a small part of this enthusiastically partnered with us to always to be looking ahead, includ- special place. engage and connect our alumni. Most ing seamless succession planning. notably has been President Stanley’s With Laker pride, love and heartfelt Alumni Director Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09 unconditional support of me personally gratitude, will capably lead alumni engagement and of alumni engagement and com- forward. Margaret Spillett will continue munications as a vital component of our to keep you engaged and well-informed institution.

Betsy is frequently invited to weddings and family celebrations of alumni, and she has even been asked by families to deliver remarks at the funerals of alumni. “I never wanted another job because I loved what I did—mostly because of the people,” she said. “They made it joyful to come in every day. I got energy going to an alumni event. Hands down, what I loved the most about my job—and what I will miss most—are the people and the relationships.” “This job really felt like a gift, because you don’t go to school to become an alumni Betsy said she doesn’t have any set plans A Proper Oswego Send-Off director,” she said. “You grow up think- for retirement, except possibly training Do you have a favorite memory or story ing you’ll be an attorney or a doctor or a her newly adopted dog, Jackson, to be a of Betsy that you’d like to share? Would teacher. But I was fortunate to discover therapy dog, spending more time with her you like to send your best wishes? We this work. I had more fun and laughs than I children and grandchildren, and traveling invite you to send your memory, well thought you could have in a job. This work with and without Jerry, who remains in his wishes and photos to us at alumni@ has become a passion, a calling—and the role within the college admissions office. oswego.edu or mail them to King Alumni alumni have become an extension of my Hall, c/o OSWEGO Alumni Magazine, family.” Oswego, N.Y. 13126 by May 31, 2019.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 47 Local Lakers Gatherings

Women’s hockey alumnae reconnected during a reunion of Delta Kappa Kappa brothers gathered Dec. 5 for an annual holiday luncheon at teammates Feb. 8-9 in Oswego. the Skaneateles Country Club in Skaneateles, N.Y. EVENTS

May 3 Oswego College Foundation Board of Directors Meeting** May 5 Alumni Day at Rosamond Gifford Zoo* May 17 Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony* June 6-9 Reunion Weekend 2019* June 8 Oswego Alumni Association Board Oswego alumni cheered on the Buffalo Bills during a Local Lakers event on Nov. 4 at New Era Field of Directors Meeting* in Orchard Park, N.Y. June 28 Mu Beta Psi 25th Anniversary Reunion*

July 2019 Harborfest Housing* Scott Symons ’02 of Windsor, N.Y., a in health administration from Roberts 25-28 teacher in the Windsor Central School Wesleyan College. Aug. TBD SUNY Alumni Day at Saratoga Race District, was awarded the Empire State Arica Marfoglia ’03 of Rochester, N.Y., is Track* Excellence in Teaching Award. senior digital media manager for Dixon Fall TBD Long Island Alumni Reception* Robert C. Whitaker Jr. ’02 of Camillus, Schwabl, an advertising, marketing and Oct. 4 Green and Gold Day* N.Y., was selected for inclusion in the public relations agency in Victor, N.Y. upstate New York list published by Super Arica joined Dixon Schwabl in 2015. She Oct. 4 Oswego Alumni Association Board Lawyers in 2018. He is a partner at Han- previously worked at Gelia-Media Inc. as of Directors Meeting* cock Estabrook. an online media specialist/search engine Oct. 4 Oswego College Foundation Board of marketing specialist. Directors Meeting** Heather Perry Witter M’02 CAS’08 of Baldwinsville, N.Y., is director of Universal Lucia DiCaprio Watson ’03 of Surfside Oct. 4-5 Homecoming 2019* Pre-K and Literacy for the Fulton (N.Y.) Beach, S.C., was named the South Carolina Oct. 5 Scholars Brunch** City School District. She began her career Outstanding Health Science Teacher for Oct. 5 Communication Studies Alumni Reunion* with the district in 2002 as a fourth-grade 2018. She earned National Board Certi- teacher at Volney Elementary. In 2008, fication in Health Education in 2013, and Oct. 5 Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner* she transitioned to principal of Granby recently became a Pharmacy Technician Oct. 23 Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit** Elementary School. Certification Board’s Certified Pharmacy Technician. She holds dual teaching and Oct. 24-25 Technology Conference Tracy Underwood Caryl ’03 of Marcellus, administrator certifications, plus dental —80th Anniversary N.Y., is an office services coordinator at hygiene licenses, in South Carolina and Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. She New York states. * Alumni and Parent Relations, 315-312-2258 and husband, Joshua Caryl ’01, have two ** University Development, 315-312-3003 children. Lynn Kellman Rhone CAS ’04 is Dolgeville (N.Y.) Central Schools superintendent. Be- Laura Armstrong Kruspe ’03 of Roches- fore Dolgeville, Lynn served as a principal ter, N.Y., is vice president of contract and in the Romulus (N.Y.) Central School Dis- alumni.oswego.edu network management at iCircle Services in trict. She earned bachelor’s and master’s Webster, N.Y. She holds a master’s degree degrees from Nazareth College.

48 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

Jennifer Shepard ’04 of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, is a program leader and facilita- tor for Saudi Aramco, where she runs leadership courses for women, as well as corporate workshops in diversity and inclusion. She worked with the first 50 female driving instructors in the kingdom as part of their onboarding experience. Julie Dougall Slate ’04 of Rochester, N.Y., is assistant director of admissions for Monroe Community College. Christopher Kessler ‘05 of South Portland, Maine, was recently elected a member of the Maine House of Representatives for District 32. Katie Regan M’05 of Syracuse, N.Y., is director of educational technology at Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Katie primarily worked with 22 schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse as a Calling the Shots technology integration specialist for the Central New York Regional Information on the Weather Center. From rain to snow to sleet to hail— “Waterspouts are technically torna- what’s weather without water? Ac- does,” Ronelle said. “They’re typically cording to Ronelle Williams ’09, the weaker but should be taken just as weekday morning meteorologist at seriously as a tornado over land.” KSNW-TV in Wichita, Kansas, water Ronelle’s other favorite? Lake effect is the weather ingredient that puts the snow, of course. fun in forecasting. “Even though it can cause headaches “Without any water there wouldn’t be for travelers, it’s also a phenomenon any of the ‘fun’ or interesting weather,” that only happens in a handful of Ronelle said. “Our planet would be places around the world,” he said. pretty barren.” “Upstate New York and the Great Born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., Lakes are unique because of this. It Ronelle collected newspaper clippings definitely made me a good driver in of severe weather events around the the winter.” KaeLyn Rich ’05 (above) was joined by country as a child—later watching Since his latest job post doesn’t offer more than 150 friends and family Aug. 11, storm chaser VHS tapes to feed his the same weather as the Great Lakes 2018, at the Avenue Black Box Theater in fascination for the weather. Since region of his youth and college days, Rochester, N.Y., to celebrate the launch of graduating with a SUNY Oswego me- Ronelle—who loves checking out her book, Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, teorology degree, he’s been an on-air restaurants and diners wherever he Leadership and Starting a Revolution. KaeLyn meteorologist in Missouri and Kansas, is—also enjoys a nice spring or sum- is a staff writer for website autostraddle. and in 2016 was awarded a certified mer rain storm. com; the assistant advocacy director of broadcast meteorologist designa- the ACLU of New York; and a feminist tion by the American Meteorological “Ahead of the rain a gust front will organizer, nonprofit leader and sexuality Society. come through, creating a cool breeze,” educator. She was the former community he said. “And then the smell of the rain affairs coordinator for Planned Parent- Ronelle’s tools of the trade include hits you. It’s the next best thing to a hood of Central and Western New York. water vapor satellite imagery and rain lake or ocean breeze.” She lives in Rochester with her spouse and gauges—the latter often used by view- their new baby. ers to provide locally specific data on how much rain has fallen. But among McCall Vrydaghs ’05 of Dayton, Ohio, is his favorite watery weather phenom- the new chief meteorologist at WHIO-TV. ena isn’t the rain—it’s waterspouts, She’s been with the station for six years like those seen over the Great Lakes, and is an Emmy Award-winning certified and particularly Lake Ontario. broadcast meteorologist.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 49 Kelly Crahan Burdick ‘06 of Fulton, N.Y., Jessica Arno Smith ’08 of Clay, N.Y., is Mary McLaughlin ’12 of Harpursville, N.Y., is the archive librarian for the Watertown marketing manager at Appel Osborne. She is graphic design manager for Riger Mar- (N.Y.) Daily Times. She and her husband, joined the firm in 2011. keting Communications in Binghamton, Dustin Burdick ‘06, technology teacher at N.Y. Mary was previously an account/pro- John A. Tilert Jr. ‘08 moved to Taipei, Indian River (N.Y.) High School, have two duction coordinator and graphic designer. Taiwan, in 2012 to teach science at Taipei daughters. She interned with the agency during her Fuhsing Private School. After four years in senior year of college and was hired upon Ian Farrell ’06 of Clay, N.Y., is an account Taipei, he moved to Manila, Philippines, to graduation. representative on the healthcare team for work at the International School Manila as CXTec Company in Syracuse, N.Y. Previ- a grade 7 science teacher. In fall 2018, he Mark Taitt ’12 M’14 of Brooklyn, N.Y., is as- ously, he worked as an insurance agent returned to Taipei Fuhsing Private School sistant director of marketing and student and as a national account manager for a to take a position as a homeroom and sci- engagement at Fordham University. local distribution company. ence teacher. He holds a master’s degree Justin Bentley M’13 of Rochester, N.Y., is in teaching English to speakers of other Kelly McClain ’06 of Westvale, N.Y., is a a senior accountant at Tette & Ingersoll, languages from the City College of New sales manager for CenterState CEO. Previ- a division of Allied Financial Partners in York. ously, she worked at Syracuse Orthopedic Victor, N.Y. He earned his certified public Specialists. Brian Schultz ’09 is president and manag- accountant license in 2018. He joined ing member of Dimien, which creates Tette & Ingersoll in 2013. Danielle Richie ’06 of Durham, N.C., is a “clean tech” chemical products. He has a senior associate director of MBA admis- Tyler Edic ’13 of Savannah, Ga., is the Ph.D. in chemistry from the University at sions and student recruitment for the video production coordinator for Visit Buffalo, and has received several awards University of North Carolina at Chapel Savannah. He holds an MBA from Trident and grants through the National Science Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. University International. Foundation, Small Business Innovation Richard Shea ’07 is assistant principal for Research, Panasci Competition and NY- Jessica Myers ’13 of Cicero, N.Y., is SUNY Albany (N.Y.) High School. SERDA. (See related story on page 25.) Oswego’s School of Business secretary for the accounting, finance and law and the Meagan Smith ’07 of Nashville, Tenn., is marketing and management departments. the assistant director of the Office of Ac- Previously, she was the planning secretary tive Citizenship and Service at Vanderbilt 2010s for Auburn (N.Y.) Correctional Facility. University. Amanda M. McHenry ’10 of Baldwins- ville, N.Y., is supervising attorney of the Brian Tosti ’13 is the director of broad- Greg Doyle ’08 of Charlotte, N.C., is assis- family court program at Hiscock Legal Aid casting and media relations for the Texas tant men’s and women’s swimming coach Society. Previously, she served as assistant Stars of the American Hockey League. at Wingate University. Previously, he was supervising attorney. She joined the orga- Previously, he was the Greenville Swamp the head swimming coach and aquatics nization as a staff attorney in 2015. Rabbits’ director of media relations/broad- director at York College of Pennsylvania. caster, where he was named a finalist for In addition to his coaching duties, Greg of Alexandria, Va., joined Brian Croce ’11 the league’s 2018 Broadcaster of the Year serves as swim lesson program director for Pensions & Investments in June 2018 as award. In addition to serving as the voice Wingate aquatics. He earned a master’s a reporter in the newspaper’s Washing- of the organization, he also generated print degree in athletic administration from ton, D.C., office. Before joining P&I, Brian and audio content while serving as the Coker College in 2015. worked at Hanley Wood Media as a senior team’s liaison to the East Coast Hockey associate editor, where he wrote news and Craig Knowles ’08 of Plattsburgh, N.Y., is a League’s media department. feature stories for Builder and Multifamily corrections officer for the New York State Executive magazines. Department of Corrections and Commu- nity Supervision in Ray Brook, N.Y. Spend more time with us! • Cozy up with our newly designed and reconceived OSWEGO Alumni Magazine, featuring more of the info you asked for, like alumni news and features. • Take a deeper dive into stories and exclusive content in our magazine website: magazine.oswego.edu. • Click around in our mobile-friendly, redesigned Lake E-ffect monthly newsletter. • Browse our refreshed and restructured Alumni and Development website: alumni.oswego.edu. We want to hear from you! Share your successes and your Oswego story with us. Connect with us at [email protected] or via social media:

f facebook.com/oswegoalumni t @oswegoalumni I @oswegoalumni

50 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

as the play-by-play announcer for the AIR Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pa.) Knights in quotes the North American Hockey League. Caitlin Owens ’15 is a residence hall Sometimes you have to fail at the director at SUNY Oswego. thing you thought was for you, “ Delsey Attardi ’16 in order to succeed at the path of Garden City, N.J., is a talent agent at that is truly meant for you. So, Buchwald Talent have the courage to redirect if Agency. She was featured in Variety need be, be ready to seize the Magazine as a top Lakefront Housing moments and trust the process assistant in Holly- wood. Delsey joined as assistant to head Available toward your success. of the voiceover promo department. She’s for Harborfest taken part in major brand campaigns for ” clients at the Grammys, SXSW, Coachella The Oswego Alumni Association and the Outside Lands Music Festival. is pleased to offer a special alumni discount for waterfront housing for Nicholas Bagnato ’16 of Schenectady, alumni who wish to stay on campus N.Y., is a community habilitator for AIM during the community-wide Harbor- Services. fest celebration, July 25-28. Christopher Collins-McNeil ’16 of Ossin- Alumni will be able to stay in Water- ing, N.Y., was named to the 2018 New York bury Hall grouped by class year, with City 40 Under 40 Rising Stars list in City & a maximum of two adults per room. State New York magazine. He is an associ- Alumni may begin checking in at 2 ate at public affairs firm Mercury. — Quindell Williams ’11, Emmy Award- p.m. Thursday, July 25, and must winning photojournalist/news videog- Annabelle Flaherty ’16 is a multimedia check out by 11 a.m. Sunday, July 28. rapher at CNY Central in Syracuse, N.Y. journalist for the WBNG 12 News team in There is an early-bird alumni and member of the Graduates Of the Binghamton, N.Y. Previously, she worked discount of $70 per night for those Last Decade (GOLD) Leadership Council, as a writer at Spectrum News NY1 in New making reservations on or before 4 during his remarks to December gradu- York City. ates and their families at the Oswego p.m. Friday, July 12. Alumni reser- Alumni Association’s Commencement Shane Kenyon ’16 of Canandaigua, N.Y., vations made after that time will Eve Reception is an account specialist for Integrated be $75 per night until 4 p.m. July Systems. 24—after which all alumni will be charged the regular “walk-in rate” of Lauren Calabrese ’14 is a designer for Plan Victoria Love ’16 of Canton, Mass., is a approximately $86 per night. & Print Systems Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y. producer for Boston 25 News/COX Media Group. Alumni can also rent a refrigerator Ryan Dadey ’14 M’17 of Irmo, S.C., is a and mattresses for children 16 years management consultant for PwC Advisory Dylan Niewiemski ’16 M’17 of North Chili, and younger for an additional $15 in Columbia, S.C. N.Y., is a staff accountant in the audit if reservations are made by 4 p.m. department of Insero & Co. CPAs. Elizabeth Tiffany M’14 CAS’14 is a be- July 12; or $20 if made by 4 p.m. July havior intervention specialist in the Fulton Mackenzie Scott ’16 of Richmond Hill, 24. Linens for beds and towels will (N.Y.) City School District. Previously, she Ontario, Canada, launched bgon, a trading be supplied. The Centro bus will run was a school psychologist in the district. app for students to buy and sell items ex- a convenient shuttle service from She is pursuing a Certificate of Advanced clusively at their schools. It is being tested campus to the festival grounds. Studies in educational leadership through in 500 schools across Canada. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the Central New York Leadership Develop- Reid Adler ’17 M’18 is the associate this exciting Oswego tradition and ment Program. residence director at New Mexico State celebrate your Laker pride! Mackenzie Kjerstad ’15 of Baldwinsville, University. To make reservations, please visit N.Y., is a commercial portfolio manager Richard Balch ’17 of Ilion, N.Y., is a child alumni.oswego.edu/harborfest, for Pathfinder Bank. Previously, she was a protective investigator for the Department or you may contact Allison Craine commercial credit analyst. of Social Services in Mexico, N.Y. at [email protected] or Tim Mullhaupt ’15 of Old Forge, Pa., is the 315-312-2258 with questions. Emily Cole ’17 of Oswego is the deputy United States Hockey League’s Lincoln regional director of United States Sena- Stars’ director of communications and tor Charles Schumer’s Central New York broadcasting. Tim spent three seasons office.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 51 ALUMNI BOOKSHELF

Thomasina Lewis Larson ’71 Julia Rozines DeVillers ’89 ...From the Islands: From the Aeolian Ultra Squad Islands to Oswego, NY 1880-1920 Justice Studios, 2018. Thomasina A. Larson, 2018. This graphic novel shares the story of A group of tiny volcanic islands north four tween girls and their bizarro-cute of Sicily, Italy, was the source of a large extra-terrestrial sidekicks as they battle a number of immigrants who fled poverty, smug villain to save the universe. crop failures, high taxes and the draft. They set down roots, bringing traditions Jacquelyn D. Golden M’90 and becoming Americans on the edge of Lake Ontario in the booming little city of Supernatural Healing Exists: Oswego, N.Y. Did You Get the Memo? WestBow Press, 2017. David Chill ’77 The author offers her experience and Curse of the Afflicted testimony as tools to help readers decide about the power of supernatural healing. Cold Spirit Press, 2018. Chill, the author of 10 mystery nov- Jodi Weinstein Mullen ‘92 M’94 els, shares the journey of Ned Baker, a political pollster with a bright future who Raising Freakishly Well Behaved Kids: navigates a devastating diagnosis and 20 Principles for Becoming the Parent corruption that threatens his career. Your Child Needs Integrative Counseling Services, 2018. Patti Mollica ’77 This book focuses on what parents can How to Paint Fast, Loose do, and, more importantly, how they can and Bold: Simple Techniques be with their children in order to create for Expressive Painting an atmosphere where children choose pro-social behaviors. North Light Books, 2018. Every artist strives to achieve the kind of David Mertens Woodland ’95 painting that commands attention from and Jessica Hernandez across the room and delights the eye. This book offers surprisingly simple and God’s Ex Wife: A Novoir efficient strategies for achieving that kind Lit Match Press, 2018. of powerful composition, through timed A big Jewish girl and her only friend, a exercises and start-to-finish painting gay boy, are growing up in the 1990s in demonstrations. a cold New England town with nothing to do, no exposure to the world beyond, Tory Bilski ’79 no experience with people of color, and Wild Horses of the Summer Sun being bullied on a daily basis. They turn to their love for writing and performing as Pegasus Books, 2019. an escape and an antidote to their bore- This travel memoir captures the author’s dom, soon to realize how far their talents yearly trips, starting in 2004, to horse might actually take them. trek with a group of friends in a remote area of northern Iceland. Keith Washo ’97

Nancy Alexander ’83 Good Things Come from Hard Times An Unlikely Gift: Finding Inspiration KDW Productions, 2018. Caring for My Father with Dementia This work offers advice from conversations with executives about overcoming Aging Well Now, 2018. adversity and becoming a bigger, better To see all book covers, please The author, a physical therapist, shares and stronger person. visit magazine.oswego.edu. the story of her journey with her father, who lived with dementia for the last 18 years of his life. As his caregiver, she learned a lot about her father and even more about herself.

52 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Class Notes

Karl Dubash CAS ’17 of Rochester, N.Y., is assistant principal at Victor (N.Y.) Senior High School. Jon Chopan ’03 M’05 Veterans Crisis Hotline Marek M. Gonzalez ’17 M’18 of Camillus, N.Y., is a tax associate for Fust Charles University of Massachusetts Press, 2018. Chambers in DeWitt, N.Y. Marek previous- This short story collection is the winner ly interned with Fust Charles Chambers. of the 2017 Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction. It brings readers into the tumultu- Gregorio Jimenez ’17 of Syracuse, N.Y., is ous minds of 12 veterans as they search the executive director of the Near West- for survivors along a stretch of road in side Initiative. He grew up in the neighbor- the Iraqi desert, struggle with the moral hood, graduated from Fowler High School vagaries of training versus execution and and Onondaga Community College. He deal with the aftermath of being at war. has worked for the City of Syracuse and the Boys and Girls Club doing youth pro- Lou Paduano ’04 gramming. A Circle of Shadows: Greystone Book 5 Matt Paddock ’17 joined the WICZ-TV Fox Eleven Ten Publishing, 2018. 40 news team in Binghamton, N.Y., as a reporter in July 2018. Previously, he was a Kenny Roffo ’17 (above) of San Gabriel, The war has begun. The climactic finale videographer for WSTM in Syracuse, N.Y. of the Greystone saga’s first massive Calif., is a software engineer for NASA’s storyline will leave readers breathless Anna Paradiso ’17 of Atlanta, Ga., is a Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, and stunned, questioning the motives of paraprofessional for the Tapestry Public working with the InSight (Interior Explora- once-trusted characters. Charter School in Doraville, Ga., working tion using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy with children on the autism spectrum. and Heat Transport) Mars Lander. He KaeLyn Rich ’05 participated in the Oswego Alumni As- Courteney Reed ’17 of Syracuse, N.Y., is a sociation’s Alumni-In-Residence program Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, digital outreach specialist for Terakeet. on Oct. 23, 2018. Leadership and Starting a Revolution Quirk Brooks, 2018. Giovanna Saulle ’17 is sales and service coordinator and events manager for D.C. This activism handbook is for teen girls United in Arlington, Va. ready to fight for change, social justice and equality; with in-depth guides to Kodua Boateng ’18 is a system validation everything from picking a cause, planning AIR engineer for Intel Corporation in Hillsboro, a protest and raising money to running quotes Ore. dispute-free meetings, promoting Wyoma “Mia” Crandall ’18 of Wells, awareness on social media and being GO Maine, is a job developer and employ- an effective ally. ment specialist for Thatcher Brook Center “ WHERE YOUR HEART in Biddeford, Maine, and a figure skating Zachariah Schrecengost ’15 and Carolina Ilie, SUNY Oswego phys- LEADS YOU coach for North Atlantic Figure Skating in ics faculty member; illustrated by Julia Falmouth, Maine. D’Rozario ’16 AND LEARN ABOUT YOU Imani Cruz ’18 of New York City is the Electrodynamics: ALONG THE WAY. executive assistant to the senior vice Problems and Solutions president of talent and casting at MTV Networks/Viacom. She was featured on Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2018. ” the cover of the October issue of FAO, A continuation of an Institute of Physics Fashion at Oswego, the club she started. Publishing series, this latest text contin- Stephanie Herbert ’18 is a digital outreach ues work from the Oswego team’s 2016 specialist for Terakeet in Syracuse, N.Y. publication, Electromagnetism: Problems and Solutions. Jordan Mallore ’18 of Baldwinsville, N.Y., is a staff accountant at Cadaret Grant in Syracuse, N.Y. We celebrate and share the success of Oswego alumni authors, illustra- Nicholas Marinelli ’18 of Auburn, N.Y., is tors and recording artists, who may an associate for Dermody, Burke & Brown ask their publisher/distributor to — Bilikiz Adebayo ’15 M’16, financial CPAs in Syracuse, N.Y. send a copy of the work to the Os- analyst at L’Oréal and founder of Ade Fit Alan McReynolds ’18 of Cicero, N.Y., wego Alumni Office to be considered dance company and Caps and Crowns, a joined Hiscock Legal Aid Society as a law women’s empowerment event for this column and our website, assistant in the appeals program. where cover photos of all works in this column will be displayed.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 53 In Memoriam

Ethel Millis Vergow ’42 John Roeckell ’57 Leon Plochocki ’67 of Attleboro, Mass., Sept. 6, 2018. of Huntington Station, N.Y., Oct. 23, 2018. of Marcellus, N.Y., Feb. 26, 2018. Helen Eileene Farrell Kuno ’46 Shirley Robinson Tuttle ’57 Jeanne Haddock Fero ’68 of Madison, Wis., Oct. 28, 2018. of Versailles, Ky., May 2, 2018. of Chittenango, N.Y., Dec. 3, 2018. William Copeland ’48 Irwin Coombs ’58 Thomas Macko ’68 of Penfield, N.Y., July 27, 2018. of Pawling, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2017. of Liverpool, N.Y., Dec. 3, 2018. Anne Younglove Nichols ’48 Joseph Loretan ’58 Earl Dillon ’69 of Webster, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2018. of Mashpee, Mass., July 16, 2018. of Chippewa Bay, N.Y., July 12, 2018. Earle Spaar ’48 Richard Waldron ’58 Ronald Fulle ’69 of Endicott, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2018. of Whitesboro, N.Y., Oct. 7, 2017. of Pittsford, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2016. Richard Joseph ’50 Benjamin Foster ’59 John Goodney ’69 of Canandaigua, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2018. of Hampton Bays, N.Y., Aug. 7, 2018. of Oswego, Oct. 31, 2018. Richard Lagoe ’50 Roger Allen ’60 Maryann Herth Hockman-Montag ’69 of Sherburne, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2018. of Port Orange, Fla., Oct. 18, 2018. of Melbourne, Fla., Aug. 17, 2018. Joseph Merenda ’50 M’54 Robert Handy ’60 Nancy Beasley Murphy ’69 of Canandaigua, N.Y., Nov. 19, 2018. of Norwich, N.Y., Aug. 2, 2017. of Batavia, N.Y., April 17, 2018. Helen Mullen Murphy ’50 John Podstupka ’60 Elaine Orlando Scalzo ’69 of Oswego, June 15, 2017. of Roslyn Heights, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2018. of Webster, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2018. Margaret French Holmgren ’51 David Rossiter ’60 Bonnie McNulty Chambers ’70 of Slingerlands, N.Y., Aug. 9, 2018. of Castleton, N.Y., Nov. 27, 2018. of Palmyra, Pa., Oct. 10, 2018. Sonia Prokopchuk Robinson ’51 Jytte Christensen Terns ’61 Dennis Egglefield ’70 of Front Royal, Va., Aug. 6, 2018. of Goodyear, Ariz., June 25, 2018. of Elizabethtown, N.Y., Aug. 2, 2018. Robert Sturdevant ’51 Lester Crowell ’62 Enrico Frataccia ’71 of Callicoon, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2017. of Fayetteville, N.Y., July 21, 2018. of Valparaiso, Ind., Nov. 13, 2018. Robert Ullery ’51 M’53 Robert Greene ’62 Donald Horan ’72 of Latham, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2018. of Honeoye Falls, N.Y., Oct. 1, 2018. of Union Springs, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2017. Herbert Van Schaack ’51, Professor Catherine App Heagerty ’62 Mark Becker ’73 Emeritus of Psychology, of University Park, Fla., July 23, 2018. of Indian Land, S.C., Nov. 27, 2018. of Oswego, Sept. 18, 2018.* Harry Lennon ’63 James Dey ’73 Phyllis Gibson Bullard ’52 of Summerfield, Fla., Dec. 29, 2018. of New Milford, Conn., Dec. 8, 2017. of Minetto, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2018. Martha Babcock Abell ’64 Robert Drennan ’73 Henning Haggblom ’52 of Rome, Pa., Nov. 29, 2018. of Fishkill, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2017. of Somers, N.Y., Aug. 4, 2018. Patricia Davidson Geppert ’64 William Johnson ’73 Doris Spiegel ’52 of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., July 28, 2017. of Scotia, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2018. of Lake Oswego, Ore., Dec. 17, 2018. Irene Hrynyk Piczkur ’64 Nicholas Sereno ’73 Bernard Starr ’52 of Syracuse, N.Y., Oct. 17, 2018. of Oswego, Dec. 17, 2018. of Glen Head, N.Y., Feb. 6, 2018. Gary Williamson ’64 John Andrews ’74 Thomas James ’53 of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., Sept. 20, 2018. of Greenfield Center, N.Y., July 30, 2018. of DeRuyter, N.Y., Dec. 19, 2018. Thomas Gundlach ’65 Susan Bryant Conley ’74 Eileen Cowley May ’53 of Jaffrey, N.H., Aug. 21, 2018. of Kittery, Maine, Aug. 12, 2018. of Cresco, Pa., Nov. 22, 2018. Maria Clapps Hartranft ’65 Susan Foster ’75 Karen Enterline Kerr ’54 of North Babylon, N.Y., Dec. 22, 2016. of Seneca Falls, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2018. of High Point, N.C., Oct. 25, 2018. John Michels ’65 Paul Kirdahy ’76 Leonard Ricchi ’54 of Northport, N.Y., March 10, 2018. of Cumberland, Md., Nov. 5, 2018. of Patchogue, N.Y., Aug. 23, 2018.* Alan Hoffman ’67 Patricia Albaugh ’77 Arlene Levitt Pavey ’55 of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2018. of Binghamton, N.Y., Oct. 3, 2018. of Santa Ana, Calif., June 1, 2018. Kathleen Brattesani McSheehy ’67 Douglas Belt ’77 Sandra Mabie Caldeira ’57 of Anna, Texas, Nov. 23, 2017. of Stockholm, N.Y., July 8, 2018. of Bluffton, S.C., Sept. 23, 2018.

54 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 Kenneth Mancino ’77 David Stahl ’94 Brian Hough, Assistant Professor of of Cocoa Beach, Fla., July 29, 2018. of Cato, N.Y., Dec. 28, 2018. Geology, Oct. 6, 2018. Edward Vaughn ’77 Norman Bujanos ’96 of Newburgh, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2018. of Austin, Texas, Oct. 17, 2018. * Friends and family have established a fund in memory of this SUNY Oswego Marina Drancsak ’78 Carolyn Crast ’96 community member. Gifts can be made of Auburn, N.Y., July 2, 2018. of Adams, N.Y., Oct. 13, 2018. at alumni.oswego.edu/give or sent Wayne Barlow ’79 Adam Schrader ’00 to the Oswego College Foundation, of Kirkwood, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2018. of Ghent, N.Y., Nov. 14, 2018. 215 Sheldon Hall, SUNY, Oswego, N.Y. 13126. Please indicate the name of the Ronald LaMora ’79 Teresa Readling Savio ’01 person you wish to honor. of Philadelphia, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2018. of Lake Hopatcong, N.J., Aug. 6, 2018.

Thomas Flood ’80 Michael Niemann ’03 To read a longer form of Schenectady, N.Y., July 5, 2018. of Chester, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2017. obituary or to submit a John Tuller ’80 David Swiniuch ’03 remembrance, please visit of New Berlin, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2018. of Norman, Okla., July 20, 2018. magazine.oswego.edu. George Lowery ’81 Todd Kingsley ’04 of Ithaca, N.Y., Dec. 11, 2018. of Charleston, S.C., Aug. 9, 2018. Kevin Nerney ’81 Caitlin Mulcahey ’06 SUBMITTING AN OBITUARY of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Dec. 18, 2015. of Chittenango, N.Y., Aug. 2, 2019. We will share the news of a SUNY Suzanne Lennon Kraft ’82 Brody Magro ’17 Oswego community member’s of Barneveld, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2018. of Greece, N.Y., Sept. 30, 2018. death when we receive the information from a family member, friend Janene Richards M’86 Robert Armeson, Professor Emeritus of or another source in the form of a of Pulaski, N.Y., July 7, 2018. History, Sept. 30, 2018. previously published notice, typi- Nancy Taggart Turgeon ’92 Hugh Burritt, Professor Emeritus of Music cally from a newspaper or funeral of Raleigh, N.C., Nov. 1, 2018. and former Music Department chair, home. Please send such notices to Oct. 17, 2018.* the Office of Alumni Relations c/o Michael Petrus M’93 In Memoriam, SUNY Oswego, Os- of Clyde, N.Y., Dec. 29, 2018. Thomas Darvill, Professor Emeritus of wego, N.Y. 13126; or email alumni@ Psychology and former Psychology John Lucadamo M’94 oswego.edu. Department chair, Nov. 11, 2018. of Palm Bay, Fla., Oct. 4, 2018.

Supporting the College Across Generations

“We believe that the Oswego experience changes lives—it did for us, and has for many others in our family, including several nieces and nephews, and our son and daughter-in-law, Luke ’16 and Amanda Hewes Evans ’17.

“We are proud to be Lakers!” — Loyal Lakers Society members James ’83 and Kathleen Smits Evans ’84, 31 years of consecutive giving

The Loyal Lakers Society recognizes SUNY Oswego’s most consistent and committed donors. Membership is automatic and occurs after five consecutive years of giving at any level to The Fund for Oswego. Learn more at alumni.oswego.edu/loyallakers, or make your gift today alumni.oswego.edu/give or by calling 315-312-3003.

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 55 THE LAST Word Oswego, 1967-1971

Evenings, a sweet breeze relieves the summer heat across the campus of the State University of New York, College at Oswego that later in winter becomes a fierce cold wind. When spring returns and the snows subside, the sun slowly melts behind the distant line where the northern New York skies meet the waters of Lake Ontario. An orange-hued horizon gives way to night and fixtures of stars almost low enough to touch. In September 1967 Oswego’s quiet, bucolic set- ting welcomed this young man from the South Bronx’s urban sprawl. Its small-town feel felt conducive to study and to the quiet contem- plation I desired. I’d gone there fleeing figurative flames of poverty and social unrest that in turn lit literal flames in my South Bronx, by then burning in social decay. I’d hope to return and with waters of knowledge to help extinguish those flames. Many wonderful human beings nurtured those desires, planting and watering seeds of knowledge that germinated and bore fruit. Post-Oswego, I returned to my South Bronx roots, working in community social programs before finding my true calling as a teacher of English and a writer. Two World War II veterans stand out. Professor Wesley Sweetser, with a limp, the product of Japanese machine guns, taught me style in Freshman Composition. Praising my writing, he urged an economy of words, explaining, with Sheridan Baker, author of our textbook, the Complete Stylist, that “…Less is more. A diamond in the rough doesn’t shine.” With his emphasis on constant revision, and the need for strong, active verbs in lieu of pas- sive ones, Dr. Sweetser still teaches me through the decades. In Foundations of Education, Dr. Vincent Barone, a warm, charming human being, taught me the rudiments. Philosophy of education. The Greeks. The English philosopher John Locke and his Tabula Rasa, or blank slabs upon which the environment leaves its impressions and shapes us. He also introduced me to the Swiss psychologist Piaget, the other sides of a coin that as a teacher, I’ve tossed often. Piaget says human beings act on these stimuli and shape the world. Upon Dr. Barone, this World War II bombardier who decimated people Born in Puerto Rico, George Colon ’71 grew up in the South from a bomber plane, the horrors of war left a negative impression. Bronx, earned degrees in English and education, and taught Rather Dr. Barone, a humanitarian, shaped his positive environment English and Spanish in Bronx schools for 30 years. The text here is and spoke of social considerations. He taught us some teaching an excerpt from his book, A Bronx Teacher Saga: The Triumphs methodology and some psychology of education. and Tribulations of a Puerto Rican English Teacher (Outskirts Press, 2018). “Understand student problems,” he emphasized. “It’s not just instill- ing knowledge that’s your job but overcoming the obstacles to that task.” Yes, he, too, still teaches me. Returning home, I later started teaching at South Bronx High School amid then burnt out tenements near my old neighborhood. Exactly where I wanted to be, at the home of the Phoenix, the school mascot, teaching children to read and to write and to rise like that mythical bird that ascends from the fires into the sky. And with those Oswego waters, I fancy I helped put out those flames.

Thank you, Oswego. l —George Colon ’71

56 OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 OSWEGO OBJECT Oswego Lighthouse

Perhaps one of the most recognized objects in Oswego, the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse is a familiar sight to generations of SUNY Oswego students, alumni and college members. It was built in 1934 to replace an earlier light constructed in 1880. In 1967, the U.S. Coast Guard automated the lighthouse, ending the era of light keep- ers at the station. In 2018, using state funds and support from the City of Oswego, the exterior of the lighthouse was painted and some structural upgrades were made. It stands at the end of a 2,000-foot-long breakwater at the mouth of Oswego River, extending a half mile into Lake Ontario. It is accessible by boat or from land over the abutting breakwater. It is owned by the City of Oswego and is part of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more about its history and information about tours of the Lighthouse at hleewhitemarinemuseum.com.

Photo credit: Kyle Hurley ’21

OSWEGO l SPRING 2019 57 Nonprofit US Postage PAID Oswego Alumni Association KING ALUMNI HALL OSWEGO, N.Y. 13126 If OSWEGO is addressed to a son or daughter who has graduated and no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please clip the address label and return it with the correct address to the Oswego Alumni Association, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, N.Y. 13126, or email the updated address to [email protected]

Please recycle this magazine.

Faculty –HALL OF FAME–

Dr. Jerry Exline piano, music education and many other courses; he also served on countless committees and conducted for all of the instrumental and Oswego students were happily choral groups on campus. Along with Jim Soluri, he was the vision- persuaded to join the music of ary force and founder of the Oswego Opera Theatre. Jerry Exline. “It all was to meet the needs of the students,” Jerry said. “The stu- “He could walk into the dining dents taught me patience. They taught me to always look for what, room of the old Hewitt Union and seemingly, is not there.” literally recruit new students by approaching a table of frat boys And among his former students, the stories of Jerry are prolific. and cajoling them into playing or “Dr. Exline was the first piano teacher I had who showed me how to singing in one of the ensembles focus raw emotion and bring it into my playing of structured music or adding a music major or to make the audience feel something,” said Daniel Leopold ’93. minor,” said Dr. Julie Pretzat, “I will always be indebted to him for that.” dean of the School of Communi- cation, Media and the Arts. “His Bryan Rurey ’89 followed Dr. Exline from high school to college. As a enthusiasm for music and for his sophomore in high school, he became a private student, continuing students was always a defining on to SUNY Oswego. aspect of his time here.” “I was consistently challenged ... musically, technically and person- Jerry was an integral part of the SUNY Oswego campus from 1972 ally,” Rurey said. “Dr. Exline created a safe place to explore your until his retirement in 1997, serving as chair of the Music Depart- talent and creativity and then share the results of that journey with ment for the last eight years of his tenure on campus. Jerry went your classmates and very often the greater college community. I still on to teach both visual and performing arts at Le Moyne College in play every single day and hope that I can inspire someone the way Syracuse, N.Y., but he considers his time at SUNY Oswego the pin- he inspired me! Thank you, Dr. Exline!” nacle of his time as an educator. Most recently, Jerry remains active as a voice and piano teacher for “Oswego State is the centerpiece of my career,” Jerry said in an his private studio, Artist’s Pianos in Dewitt, N.Y. He’s also a mem- interview from his home in Cicero, N.Y. “So many things stand out ber of the board of directors for Civic Morning Musicals, served as from my time there. For me, Oswego was the alpha and the omega.” assistant director of the Le Moyne College Jazzuits and is a member of the Bearcat Jazz Band—just a few of the groups he’s been part of Jerry’s career as a performer began on Aug. 7, 1960, when he had over the years. For years, he was an accompanist for professional his debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, for which he played singers. “Rhapsody in Blue” on the piano—an instrument he began playing at just 3 years of age. He was just a freshman in high school in In- “He is a complete musician—one of those who can sit down and terlochen, Mich., when that performance shaped him as a musician, play anything by ear or by sight reading a score, no matter how dif- leading him to the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Roches- ficult the piece,” Dean Pretzat said. “It speaks volumes that he has ter, N.Y., from where he ultimately earned a Ph.D. remained so active in the music world.” On the SUNY Oswego campus, Jerry matched his distinguished credentials with an enthusiasm for education that led him to teach To read more stories of Jerry from former students, please visit magazine.oswego.edu.