Massapequa High Schools Hall of Fame Inc. Chief Chat Beacon January 2006 E-Mail Newspaper for Friends of the Hall of Fame January 5, 2006 - For Immediate Release Hall of Fame Committee News The Hall of Fame Committee is a unique diverse organization that provides current and retired staff members, alumni and community leaders an opportunity to join together to support the students of Massapequa High School. Directors represent a true cross section of the school community. Hall of Fame Inc. is the only community service organization comprised of central office and school administrators, MFT officers, Board of Education officers, Town and Village officials, H.S Coaches, Teachers and Alumni. • Annual Organization Meeting On January 3, 2006 Directors of the Hall of Fame Inc. extended the term of office for President Mike Hanna, Vice President Linda Hoffman, Secretary Cindy Lewis, Treasurer Robert Storti, and Financial Secretary Herb Pluschau for 2006. • Cindy Lewis and Bill Molloy will continue to serve as Co- Chairpersons of the Hall Of Fame Selection Committee. Peter Pluschau, Linda Hanna, George Golden, Susan Woodbury Arlene Martin, Arnie Herman, Pam McCormack and Wilma Diehl will comprise the committee membership for 2006. • The Scholarship Selection Committee will be chaired by Vice President Linda Hoffman. Wilma Diehl, and Tom McKillop will serve as committee members. Highlights of 2005 • Conducted its 10th annual Golf Outing Induction Dinner. Inducted 7 alumni and 3 Community / Staff as members of the Hall of Fame ( visit www.massapequahalloffame.org for details) • Provided MHS with a $5,000 grant to use as part of the new message board project. Hall of Fame Member Alec Baldwin was the major donor. The Massapequa Community Fund matched the Hall of Fame grant to round out the $ 30,000 project. • The Director also approved a $2,500 grant to the Massapequa Board of Education for the purchase of computer software to enable a Alumni Directory page on the Districts website. ( see our web for a direct link) 2006 Candidates Elected for Induction on August 7, 2006 . Alumni Candidates David Bossert David Edelson Lynne Edelson Levine Steven Einhorn John Kirby Carol Hartzell Joseph Cereola Richard Genovese Jolyne Caruso Fitzgerald Community/ Staff Candidates James Kovacsik Donald Lang Godfrey Bellavigna Joseph Cereola , MHS 1977 For extraordinary achievement in the United States Navy. Captain Cereola served aboard USS PARGO, USS TREPANG, USS BREMERTON and commanded USS ALASKA (BLUE) and USS OHIO (GOLD). He conducted one strategic deterrent patrol on ALASKA and earned the Navigation “N”. While in command of OHIO he completed four strategic deterrent patrols, launched four C4 test missiles for a Follow-on Test and Evaluation and was awarded the Navigation “N” and two Ney awards. Ashore he served as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science at Boston University and was a member of the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. His awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He and his wife Kellie live in Oceanside California with their children Danielle, Russell, Jordin and Kyra. David Edelson, MD, FACP - BHS 1976 For extraordinary achievement as a Physician. Dr. Edelson is the founder, CEO & Medical Director of HealthBridge, a multi-specialty medical facility in Manhasset, NY specializing in preventative healthcare and weight management. He was Chief Resident at LI Jewish Hospital and is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a Board Certified in Internal Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Edelson is one of the first 300 physicians to be Board Certified in Bariatric Medicine, and is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in Obesity. He is also a Senior Medical Examiner for the FAA and a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, flying sick children for needed medical treatment. He is an experienced marathon runner, having run both the Boston and NYC Marathons. He also performs as a concert violinist, and has recently performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. David Bossert, MHS 1978 For extraordinary achievement in the field of motion picture animation. He is an award winning producer and Creative Director at Disney Animation Special Projects in Burbank , CA. Mr. Bossert has been with the Walt Disney Company for 22 years. His numerous screen credits include the Black Cauldron, Great Mouse Detective, Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, Who Framed Roger Rabbit , and Fantasia 2000. He was the associate producer for Destino, a film nominated for an academy award in 2004 and Artistic Coordinator for Lorenzo nominated in 2005 . Dave is a Trustee of CalArts where he joins distinguished colleagues Roy E. Disney, Jeffery Katzenberg , Peter Norton and Don Cheadle .His awards include California Institute of the Arts President’s Award for service to the Institute , Los Angeles County Proclamation for Community Service and numerous Film and DVD awards. He is a founding member and President of the CalArts Alumni Association , Vice President of the West Ranch Town Council and Chair of the Stevenson Ranch Civic Association . Dave, his wife Nancy and their two daughters Sydney and Marlee resided in Stevenson Ranch, CA Lynne Edelson Levine, BHS 1974 For extraordinary achievement as a professional musician. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, she is currently in her 28th season as a violist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Although the orchestra's official home is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, her tours with the orchestra have taken her across four continents. In addition to being a chamber music coach and a member of the audition panel for the orchestra's Summer Music Institute, she has also taught young string players throughout the country during her orchestra's annual state residency tours. As a founding member of the Manchester String Quartet, she performed locally and nationally for nine years and competed in international quartet competitions in Canada and Germany. She has performed with the American Camerata, the Theater Chamber Players, the American Chamber Players, and the Twentieth Century Consort. As a soloist, she has performed with the New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap. She lives in Potomac, Maryland with her psychiatrist husband (Dan), her dancer daughter (Rachel), and her six cats. Carol Hartzell, MHS 1966 For extraordinary achievement as a teacher of physical education. Carol began her career as an elementary physical education teacher at Unqua. She transferred to MHS in the 1987 MHS/BHS merger and was a prime contributor to the unique MHS PE classroom instructional program which focuses on personal health, nutrition and fitness. She originated the Coed "Friday Fitness" program and the "Marley Mile". A breast cancer survivor, she overcame personal adversity and selflessly fostered "C.A.R.E.", a student organization which promotes Cancer Awareness Research and Education. Through their efforts, the students have raised funds for research, patient support, and families in need. C.A.R.E. activities include Breast Cancer Awareness Walks, Relay For Life, Cancer Center For Kids Parties, Hike for Mike, a fundraiser to assist a student undergoing cancer treatment, nursing home and children's cancer hospital visitations. Miss Hartzell's greatest joy is to give her students the opportunity to reach out and help others. John Kirby, MHS 1977 For extraordinary achievement in the field of finance. Currently, John is a senior equity trader for Susquehanna International Group. He was a managing director of OTC Equities at Bear Stearns, served as a principal partner and senior managing director of equity trading for Montgomery Securities, and was a sales trader and market maker, Smith Barney Harris Upham. For exemplary community service, Mr. Kirby was awarded Townson University's “Spirit of the University Award". He continues to be a major supporter of the University and is a board member of the Towson Athletic Fund. John is a major supporter and a board member of the Massapequa Community Fund. He was recently elected vice president of the Massapequa Lacrosse Club. John also supports the Ronald McDonald House, his church and the Massapequa Mustangs. While living in California, he was instrumental in bringing Columbine High School students to Walnut Creek to speak to local high school students about their ordeal and how important it is for students to be more sensitive to classmates, to be more aware of their actions and the actions of others. He is an advocate for gun control. He resides in Massapequa with his wife Maura and their children Ryan and Ian. Stephen L. Einhorn, MHS 1960 For extra ordinary achievement in Corporate Administration He has served as President & Chief Operating Officer of New Line Home Entertainment since 1990. New Line which is a subsidiary of Time Warner that distributes theatrical films on video and select titles on DVD. Under Einhorn's leadership the company has increased its revenue from 40 Million to over 1 Billion Dollars in 2005 . With his ability to anticipate industry trends, Einhorn has positioned New Line as pioneering industry organization. Recognized as a Industry innovator for the development of New Line's infinifilm - a branded DVD label that has revolutionized home viewing. The process takes fans inside the production of movies such as The Lord of the Rings. He was inducted into the Video Hall of Fame in 2003, received the DVD Pioneer Award and a VIAAC Visionary Award in 2002. He and his wife Christina are active in various philanthropic activities. They and their 4 children Jodi, Daniel, Loren and Ashley reside in Palisades NY and in New York City. Jolyne Caruso FitzGerald, M.H.S.