The Alumni Magazine of American International College
Spring 2015 | Volume 8 | Issue 1
far from DOOMED Prof. marty langford’s movie about the movie that never happened
lucent EDITORIAL BOARD Joel Anderson Heather Cahill Heather Caisse Maureen Fitzgerald Timothy Grader Candy Lash
From the President A sense of family is one of AIC’s defining characteristics. Time and again, people tell us it is what they cherished most about their years here—the strong-as-steel relationships they forged and the sense of belonging they carry with them when they leave. Like most healthy families, we encompass no shortage of differences. But sincere debate is the foundation of progress, and intelligent people arguing passionately on behalf of their beliefs help us define our priorities and guide us to our goals. What new academic programs should we develop? How should we change a major’s curriculum to better meet the needs of students? Where should we allocate funds to most meaningfully improve the AIC experience? My favorite place to engage the members of the AIC family in these conversations is over a meal in the AIC dining commons. Eating together provides a chance to talk about issues important to us, yet it also gives us the much-needed opportunity to connect in ways that transcend the daily grind. That is why I am so pleased to share with you that construction is currently underway on a brand new, state-of-the-art dining commons designed to meet the needs of all members of the AIC family: full- and part-time students, commuters, graduate students, faculty, and staff. The new space will provide yet another venue for us to build bonds that will connect us for years to come. The AIC family is indeed strong. We continue to grow academically, as three new graduate programs are currently enrolling students. Athletically, things are going as well as ever. Our football, men’s cross-country, men’s indoor track, and men’s basketball teams were all league champions. Men’s rugby won their bowl game and women’s rugby was ranked in the top ten nationally all season, and women’s basketball made a deep run to the NE10 championship game. Well done, everyone! We are so proud of all your accomplishments. Stay hungry though—we will feast together soon enough.
Vince Maniaci, President
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Seth Dussault Candy Lash Abe Loomis Scott Whitney EDITOR Joel Anderson ART DIRECTOR Bill Cunningham ON THE COVER Professor Marty Langford
inside this issue Spring 2015 | Volume 8 | Issue 1
features 8 Born to Run Michael Biwott ’15 Loves Life’s Fast Track
12 AIC. Then. Now. Always. Alumni and Current Students Answer a Simple Question
16
departments
2
Campus Update The latest AIC news, on campus and off
22 Class Notes Check up on your fellow alumni and see what they’re up to
27 In Memoriam
Far From Doomed Prof. Marty Langford’s Movie about the Movie that Never Happened
20 Gratitude and a Gift Chris Brimberg ’88 and the Support that Changed Everything
What have you been up to? Join AIC’s Alumni Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and follow us on Twitter. Feel free to email us at alumni@aic.edu. Please send any comments or suggestions about this publication to editor@aic.edu. We’d love to hear from you!
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AIC students posing in front of their spring break handiwork.
Spring Service
Students Swap Sunglasses for Safety Goggles Eleven students at American International College (AIC) spent their spring break in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, helping to rebuild a community ravaged by a 2011 tornado that displaced eighty families. The students worked with Habitat for Humanity. The organization is constructing thirty-five new homes and rehabilitating forty-five others. Alternative Spring Break (ASB), a student activitybased organization at AIC, sources an array of human service organizations looking for opportunities to volunteer based on the skills and interests of its members. Habitat for Humanity was the first to respond. This is the third year ASB members have dedicated their spring break to serving others. Despite the students’ generous donation of time and talent, the trip still cost $500 per student. The ASB fundraising committee hosted two events on campus to offset costs and raise awareness in addition to individual students soliciting family and friends in support of their efforts. 2 | Lucent
AIC student Stefanie Ormeche ’14, DPT ’17 from Ludlow was part of the group that traveled to Tuscaloosa to lend a hand. Ormeche summed up her experience by saying, “This opportunity allowed me to learn, grow, and experience the work of a great organization that helped me engage with others and make a difference in the Tuscaloosa community. I am blessed to have been able to be a part of this amazing experience with not only my AIC family, but with the Tuscaloosa community.” Grace Belt ’16 and Rebecca Rousseau ’16 are coordinators for the ASB program at AIC. Belt, whose hometown is Seekonk, MA says, “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t volunteer. I give of my time to others because I love to see the smiles on people’s faces.” Both women hope to continue with careers in service to others when they graduate. Belt, a psychology major, wants to join the field of higher education, and Rousseau is pursuing a degree in physical therapy. n
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Lea DeLaria Puts on a Show
“Orange is the New Black” Actor Shares Her Journey Lea DeLaria is a dynamo. A colorful and multitalented dynamo. She’s an actress, jazz musician, and comedienne who has performed stand-up comedy for more than twenty-five years. A prominent figure in the world of LGBT comedy, DeLaria was the first openly gay comic to break into the world of late-night talk shows with an appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1993. DeLaria currently has a recurring role as prison inmate Carrie “Big Boo” Black in the popular Netflix original series Orange is the New Black, a role that was written and created for her. AIC students and staff were taken on a wild ride in the Griswold Theater on February 10, 2015 when DeLaria delivered her unique brand of humor, quick
wit, and message. Actually, DeLaria brought a host of messages…most not suitable for this G-rated publication. Suffice it to say, she takes no prisoners and everyone is fair game, from Kim Kardashian and Kanye West to Hollywood producers to politicians to everyday citizens. DeLaria recounts with raw humor, in both song and story, moments in her life when she was compelled to make a statement; sometimes actionable, often peppered with a few well-positioned one-syllable words. But her messages had an underlying theme: Be proud of who you are, stand up for who you are, and fight against injustices based on appearance, race, and sexual orientation. n
A rendering of the brand new AIC dining commons, coming this fall.
All You Can Eat
New Dining Commons on the Menu for Fall AIC has embarked on an $8 million renovation of its dining commons. The new, state-of-the-art facility will occupy the existing dining commons space. The renovation will include a building expansion, a wider variety of seating along with a more abundant variety of food options and services, including customized food preparation, an exhibition kitchen featuring handson cooking classes, a wood-fired oven and more…all presented in a contemporary, open setting. Construction is expected to be completed in time
for the beginning of the fall semester. In the interim, the existing dining commons is closed and transitional dining has been set up in the Schwartz Campus Center. The dining room benefitted from a cosmetic makeover in 2007, but the last complete renovation of our dining commons was in 1966, nearly fifty years ago. The new facility will be a place for students, faculty, and staff to come together as the AIC family in a much more comfortable and modern setting. n
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Alexander MacMillan ’15 had a breakout season for the Yellow Jackets.
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Ice Hockey Nets Two Hobey Baker Finalists Nominations Are the First in School History
This season the AIC hockey team boasted two Hobey Baker Award nominees, as senior center Alexander MacMillan ’15 and sophomore left wing Austin Orszulak ’17 were recognized among the nation’s best Division I hockey players. With twenty-two points at the time of the nomination, Calgary, Alberta native MacMillan was tied for the team lead in points and tied for sixth in Atlantic Hockey overall. “I’m pretty excited,” MacMillan said, “I’m proud to be recognized for this award and would like to thank my teammates and coaches for everything this year, and my parents for their help throughout the years.” Hailing from Springfield, Massachusetts, Orszulak was a revelation for the Yellow Jackets this season. After a rookie season spent mostly on the fourth line, the local star blossomed into one of the most dangerous sharpshooters in the country. He led the team with 15 goals at the time of his nomination, which also was tied for the national lead. “It’s an honor to be recognized for this award,” Orszulak said. “It’s special to share this with Alex as being the first two in school history to be up for such a prestigious award. I couldn’t have gotten to this point without the help of all the coaches and players I’ve played with throughout my hockey career.” The Hobey Baker Award is named after legendary Princeton hockey star Hobey Baker, who played at Princeton from 1910–1914 and led the school to a pair of national titles in his sophomore and senior years; he is widely considered the first star college hockey player, and he is the only American in the inaugural class of the Hockey Hall of Fame, selected in 1945. Baker was killed in a plane crash in December 1918 in France, where he had served in the United States Army during the First World War. n Spring 2015 | 5
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Honoring an All-time Great AIC Retires Mario Elie’s #41
AIC retired jersey number 41 in honor of threetime NBA champion and Athletic Hall of Fame member Mario Elie ’85 on Saturday, February 7. Elie led AIC to its first NCAA Division II Tournament Quarter-Final and eventually went on to a long, productive professional career. Elie broke into the NBA in 1991 and, over his tenure, played for several teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. He won two NBA
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Championships with the Rockets and his third NBA Championship with the Spurs in 1999. Elie retired from play after the 2001 season with a total of 6,265 points in his 732 career NBA games. Elie began coaching in 2003 with the Spurs and held similar positions with the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings before joining the New Jersey Nets in 2011. Elie was inducted into the AIC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. n
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He Ain’t Dead Yet
Nora Guthrie Continues Her Father’s Legacy For more than twenty years, Nora Guthrie, daughter of American folk musician and singer/ songwriter Woody Guthrie, has invited special artists to put music to her father’s previously unpublished songs. AIC recently welcomed Ms. Guthrie to present an exploration through the many artists and genres of music that she has worked with to bring Woody’s unpublished lyrics to life. The program included a screening of “Woody Guthrie: Legacy,” a sixteen-minute documentary short directed by John Paulson and created especially for the “This Land Is Your Land: The Life & Legacy of Woody Guthrie” exhibit that toured the United States from 1998–2001. Not available for view anywhere else, this documentary short features Billy Bragg, Wilco, Ani
DiFranco, U2, Bob Dylan, and many more special guests. Following the film screening was a special presentation of original lyrics by Woody Guthrie paired with the contemporary artists that Nora Guthrie invited into the Woody Guthrie Archives. Ms. Guthrie graduated from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1971. Following a career in modern dance, she co-founded the Woody Guthrie Archives. She also oversees the Woody Guthrie Foundation located in New York City. In addition to preserving her father’s personal materials and creative works, Ms. Guthrie develops and produces new projects which continue to expand Woody Guthrie’s cultural legacy. n
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Born
to
Run
Michael Biwott ’15 Loves Life’s Fast Track by Abe Loomis In the village of Kaptebego, tucked into the hills of western Kenya, everyone knew that Michael Biwott was fast. In the mornings he ran half a mile on red dirt roads to school. At lunchtime he ran home, then back to school. Other students ran too, but Biwott was faster. So fast that he became the favorite courier among his siblings when his parents needed supplies from the local market, two miles from their home. So fast that one of his high school teachers told him he should train to be a professional. So fast that when he saw a flyer advertising time trials and the possibility of studying in the United States, he thought he might have a shot.
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Biwott at home with his father and mother.
“When my teacher and everyone else told me I should start training, I said, ‘No, it’s better for me to focus on my education,’” Biwott says. “But when this opportunity came, I said, ‘OK. I will run.’” Five years later, Biwott is an accounting major, a captain of the cross country team, a member of the Northeast-10 All Academic Team, and on pace to graduate in May—a year ahead of schedule—as the most-decorated athlete in American International College’s history.
“Michael is a phenomenon,” track and cross country coach Leo Mayo says. “He just goes. There are very few times he has lost here in three years. When he runs you can see why.” Biwott is a nine-time All-American, but it took a few victories to shake his early jitters. “My first race here was my best,” he says of his firstplace finish at the 2012 New England Cross Country Championships. “Before we started I was really nervous. But Coach was sure. He just kept asking, ‘Do you know the course? Do you know the course?’ We started and then I took off. I just ran by myself. At first I could hear cheering for the group behind me. Then I couldn’t hear it anymore.” Biwott’s path to AIC began in 2010, when Linah Kilimo, a parliamentary representative for Kenya’s Marakwet District, realized that Kenyan runners were winning races—and scholarships—at U.S. colleges. With help from the legendary Kenyan Olympic runner Peter Rono, she set up time trials in Marakwet. Biwott ran the trials, earned competitive scores, and began to apply to U.S. colleges. Several showed interest, but nothing worked out. Then a Kenyan coach shared Biwott’s times with AIC’s Coach Mayo, who reviewed his grades and SAT scores and told the Kenyan coach that Biwott should apply. Biwott was skeptical. He had applied to other schools in the U.S., but something had always gone wrong. Critical paperwork had gone astray, or coaches had simply failed to reply to his emails. This time, everything fell into place. In August of 2012, Biwott flew from Nairobi to London and then from London to Boston, where Mayo picked him up 10 | Lucent
and drove him to Springfield. Their first stop: an offcampus apartment where other Kenyan students had gathered to welcome Biwott with a traditional Kenyan meal of ugali, a cornmeal dish served with meat and vegetables. Soon Biwott was immersed in campus life, adjusting to a rigorous schedule of studies, work, and daily practices with the cross country team. In Kenya, he had begun to focus on a career as a professional runner. In Springfield, life was different. “Back home,” he says, “I was just training. I would wake up early in the morning and go for a run. After that, breakfast, then running again. But here you go from morning run to class. Then work-study. After that you have an evening run. Back home it was just the running, but over here it is combined with classwork.” Coach Mayo says that scholar-athletes thrive at AIC: “When students work as hard as Mike does in practice, it carries right over to the classroom. They get support from their professors and the administration, and they’ve seen the results of hard work in winning a race and in achieving academic success—and they go hand in hand.” In addition to his classes and training, Biwott has worked in the dining commons and in the college’s print shop, where he is still employed. He hopes to
stay in the U.S. after graduation and plans to apply to business school. For his coach and teammates, the thought of Biwott’s approaching graduation is bittersweet. “Mike leads with action,” Conor Cashin ’15 says. “He pushes himself to be better every day. I’ve never met anyone who works as hard as he does.” “I’m going to miss him,” Mayo says. “Mike has made me a better coach. I’ve seen where he’s come from and how hard he’s worked. It’s humbling.” Biwott says he will miss AIC. But he’ll leave with fond memories, new opportunities, and an impressive array of trophies. And running will likely be a part of his life for a long time to come. “I want to continue to run,” he says. “I don’t want to leave it. I am the first person in my family to go to university. Running is what allowed me to come here. Running is what made my life.” n
Did you Know? Every semester the athletic department inducts high-performing student‑athletes into the AIC 3.0 Club. It’s a way to encourage our Yellow Jackets to stay as focused on their studies as they do on their sports. Last fall, there were over two hundred AIC student-athletes who qualified (including Michael Biwott).
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aic. then. now. always. A few months ago, we sent a letter to AIC alumni that asked one simple question:
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Who unlocked your potential? The response was overwhelming. In handwritten notes, emails, and Facebook comments, you lovingly acknowledged all the people who helped you discover your passion, hone your intellect, and improve your ability to pursue your dreams. More often than not, these people were AIC faculty, staff, coaches, and classmates. As your responses came rolling in, we thought we’d broaden our inquiry to include current AIC students. We wanted to see—because this is a college and curiosity is contagious here—how answers would differ across the decades. The results surprised us. Because despite changes over the years in technology and culture and fashion and campus architecture, AIC students still single out their professors and coaches as the big difference-makers in their lives. What follows is a sample of the responses we received. Whether your response appears here or not, whether you graduated fifty years ago or five, we hope you see yourself reflected in the spirit that’s lived on this section of State Street for well over one hundred years.
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My parents. Melvin L. McLaurin ’94
Bill Jenkins ’44 Paul H. Rigali ’46
Dr. C. Rice Gadaire Frances M. (Ferri) Dolan ’42
Dr. Manfred Hallerstadt & Dr. Paul Thissell Robert J. Potvin ’62
Annette O’Leary Richard P. Haller ’57 Dr. Milton Birnbaum Bettie S. (Linsky) Hallen ’76
Professor Thomas O’Neil Jeffrey F. Vuocolo ’85 & Tammy L. (Thompson) Vuocolo ’86
’60’s Math Professors Bowie and Kennedy Richard T. Rusiecki ’67 Dr. Cobb, Admiral Hines, Dr. Gadaire Dr. James E. Nadeau ’55 Professor Calcasola Raymond G. Gaylord, MA ’72, MS ’10, MBA ’13
Met with my freshman roommate this summer to reflect again on our fond memories! Still a great connection! Tina WaltsGilmore ’69
Dr. Barbara Smith Sandra L. (Begansky) Buschmann ’74 Professors Charles Gadaire, Leo Parente, and Milt Birnbaum James W. Breglio ’58 I came to AIC on the invitation of Henry Butova. Arthur S. Perrone ’53
Prof. James Coleman Douglas B. Wood ’66 Dr. Arthur Bertrand Joseph A. Occhiuti ’63, ’67 William G. Vassar ’50 Barbara E. (Benhard) Vassar ’51 Dr. Palmer Mary Ann C. Julian ’70 Prof. Harold E. Bowie Edward J. Lecuyer Jr. PhD ’63 The Girls of Pouch 4th Floor ’76-’80 Mary E. (Collins) Lambert ’80
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Dr. Melvin Williams, English Department Marie A. Plasse PhD ’77
Dr. Dorothy Spoerl was Psych. faculty when I was there—class of ’51. She allowed me to use her classes as participants in my research project for my Ph.D. in 1956. Dr. Bernard J. Fine ’51 My mom and Dad who encouraged and believed in me, also, Esther Hansen who believed in my potential. Elaine H. (Harriss) Severino ’63
Ah yes, 1959. Eisenhower was in office, Alaska became the 49th state, Gigi won the Academy Award for best picture, the AIC baseball squad posted a 13–6 record, geometrically patterned skirts and shorts, were, apparently, all the rage, and AIC was set to embark upon a building expansion program that would include new academic buildings, a student center, and an athletic clubhouse, shaping the campus for decades to come.
John DeBonville Michael Schulze ’16
April Kearse Fanjul Elysee ’18 Bruce Johnson Abigail Cavallo ’17 Pamela Murphy Kerby Grandoit ’17 My Mom Bianca Gallati ’18
Jon Scully and Janelle Holmboe Bryce Neff ’15 Bruce Johnson Grace Belt ’16
Grandmother Nikyra Nichols ’18 Terrence O’Neill Nyishyari Marrero ’17
President Vince Maniaci Craig Weste ’18 Matt Culbrin Andrea Dillon ’17 Sandra Alvarez Jasmine James ’17 Khira Waters Nyishyari Marrero ’17
President Vince Maniaci Kelly Reilly ’16
Coach Kristofer Kulzer Ibrahim Keita ’17
Jeremy Lajoie Liz Docherty ’18
Coach Kristofer Kulzer Nyles Hightower ’17
Jorrdin Miller Hope Miller ’16
Bryony Parker Tyiese Wilson ’18
Jorrdin Miller Ashley Martins ’16
Elaine Guan Monique Owens ’17
Coach Leo Mayo Julie Kerber ’17
Coach Leo Mayo Kadiejah Stewart ’18
Joshua Macy Justin Leaphart ’17
Angelina Janssens Amanda Morel ’18 Linda Janssens Angelina Janssens ’18
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The worlds of politics and pop-culture continue to revolve around us, student fashion never ceases to amaze, the Yellow Jackets keep winning, and everywhere you look new construction has just been completed or is underway or is planned for the future. And through it all, bright, motivated AIC students are nurtured toward adulthood by the AIC faculty and staff who have always, and will always, be there.
Jillian Gallegar Sylkia Paine ’18 Nyi & Khira Jasmine James ’17
Professor Payne Temicka Gary ’18 Jennifer Fannon and Craig Webster Michelle MacDavid ’18
Jasmine James Nyishyari Marrero ’17 Dean Dawn Sherman Anna Mbengam ’16 John Debonville Caitlin Sobolewski ’17
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The storyline is a familiar one: a pitched battle between heroes and villains, between a team of underdogs and the juggernaut bent on silencing them. And the movie isn’t bad either. More than twenty years ago, producer Roger Corman set out to make a live-action superhero movie with a tight script, a determined cast and crew, and a paltry budget. The resulting film owes itself to a director and cast bent on landing their big break—and never saw the light of day. In his documentary Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four, AIC professor and filmmaker Marty Langford tells the story of the squelched release of a cult legend.
far from DOOMED
Prof. marty langford’s movie about the movie that never happened By Scott Whitney
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The Kid Stays in the Picture Langford’s story starts well before the upcoming debut of his film at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, where he’ll be sharing his finished documentary with the world for the first time. It begins nearly thirty years ago behind the lens of an unwieldy camcorder. Growing up in western Massachusetts in the late 1970s, Langford shared his mother’s love of horror and sci-fi films—an interest that would fuel his future career. “Scanners, American Werewolf in London, The Howling: they all made me fall in love with the idea of creating movies,” he said. He was soon breathing life into his own scripts with the help of a few neighborhood friends. However, a young Langford discovered that working with a volunteer crew has its limitations. “You can get friends and family to crew for you, but you can really only do it once before they realize that it’s a lot of standing around.” He turned to screenwriting as a more solitary craft and has since penned fifteen scripts, two of which have become feature films. The subject of Langford’s most recent work came as a natural extension of his love for comic books and superheroes. “I was always obsessed with liveaction superhero movies,” he said. “As a kid, I’d get my action figures out and shoot stop-action films.” So when Langford uncovered the mystery of Corman’s unreleased work, The Fantastic Four, the seed for his latest project was sown.
What Lies Beneath “For twenty years, there have been conspiracy theorists talking about what happened to The Fantastic Four,” said Langford. And conspiracy may not be too strong a word. In the early 1990s, a German
production company faced losing the film rights to The Fantastic Four. In a legal maneuver designed to retain their film option for a fully funded production down the road, the company green lit Corman’s project— with no intention of giving the film an audience. This crucial fact remained unknown to the cast or crew until well after the film’s completion. Langford soon discovered that others were instrumental in the film’s demise; Marvel Studios and Twentieth Century Fox both had reason to want The Fantastic Four to fade into oblivion. “They did their best to try to bury it. And they succeeded.” Faced with a Hollywood tale of conspiracy and intrigue, Langford was eager to uncover the full story. As luck would have it, a friend and fellow comic enthusiast, Mark Sikes, served as Corman’s casting assistant on the film and had a first-hand account. The two agreed to partner in reaching out to the film’s key players and document their discoveries. Given the film’s infamy, Langford anticipated difficulty in landing interviews; however, the entire cast and much of the crew were eager to tell their story. “They had put their hopes and dreams into a project that they thought was going to change their careers— and when the movie wasn’t released, people assumed that it was horrible, and it ultimately hurt them,” said Langford. Regarding the quality of The Fantastic Four, Langford is sanguine. “It’s fun to laugh at the effects and guffaw at the clunkiness, but you can’t dismiss the film as trite or illegitimate,” he said. “Nobody that I interviewed is ashamed of it, nor should they be. It has heart and charm. The problem was the budget.” With a rough story line for their own film in view, Langford and Sikes pulled together a shoestring budget and traveled to Los Angeles to shoot principal photography. Nearly two years later, Langford’s finished exposé, Doomed, is ready to take on the world. “The challenge of this movie is that it’s so nichey and geeky,” he said. “But it’s such a universal story of the little guy battling with the corporation to be recognized that I think we can capture a mainstream audience.”
The Theory of Everything
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As a professor in AIC’s communications department, Marty Langford helps his students bring film theory deep into the world of practice. “It’s my hope
Langford with legendary film director Roger Corman.
that students leave my class believing that movies are more than just passive entertainment,” he said. “A film like Do the Right Thing or Philadelphia helps the viewer understand the perspectives of the filmmakers and the worlds that they come from.” For a generation raised on film and television as
principal forms of contemporary storytelling, learning to “read” film is invaluable. On the campus of American International College, Marty Langford—professor, filmmaker, and superhero fanboy—leads that charge. Watch the trailer and learn more about the movie at DoomedTheMovie.com. n
Cutting Room to the Classroom Langford loves bringing his real-world experience back to AIC students. This past semester, he guided his Advanced Video Production class as they made a thirty-second commercial to enter in Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl” contest—a national competition open to anyone with a video camera and a good idea. From concept to final cut, Langford’s students navigated through every aspect of production, including filming in front of a green screen and doing the final sound mix and color correction. The final result, though it didn’t end up winning the contest, provided meaningful
experience for the students, Langford says. “It’s my intent, with every class I teach, to bring in the practical, the real world stuff. There’s nothing better than getting the cameras in the hands of the students. The kids wrote it, storyboarded it, shot it and directed it. I really marvel at them.” Spring 2015 | 19
Gratitude and a Gift
Chris Brimberg ’88 and the support that changed everything 20 | Lucent
When Chris Brimberg enrolled at AIC
in the early 1980s, he encountered the standard college challenges: adjusting to life away from home, managing a schedule without parental oversight, deciding on a major, and keeping up with a demanding academic workload. But unlike most of his freshmen peers, Brimberg fought additional battles. He had dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and though it wouldn’t be diagnosed until many years later, he also had Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulty with social interaction and nonverbal communication. For all intents and purposes, the deck seemed
He is fiercely, profoundly grateful for the skills he learned in his time here and the countless hours his tutors, especially Saltus, spent with him. He remains so moved, in fact, that a generous endowment was created in his honor to the Curtis Blake Center to fund services for students with autism or autism spectrum disorders. The message he hopes this gift helps get across is simple. “If you spend the time, and give us the tools, we can do amazing things,” he says. And he is a perfect case in point. While at AIC, Brimberg made the Dean’s List several times and eventually graduated magna cum laude. In pursuit of his degree in history, in fact, he exhausted the available upper-level course offerings, so he worked with the faculty to design what amounted
Give them the tools, and give them the patience. stacked against young Brimberg. After all, how could the trifecta of dyslexia, ADHD, and autism not pose a serious threat to his academic development? Well, because Brimberg had not arrived in Springfield by accident. He chose AIC for its reputation as one of the top colleges in the country for helping students diagnosed with learning disabilities. AIC’s Curtis Blake Center (funded with a generous gift from Curtis Blake, co-founder of the Friendly’s restaurant and ice cream empire), had been pioneering research into learning disabilities in children for years. In 1977, Dr. Paul Quinlan, the director of the Center, suggested applying their cutting-edge pedagogy to college students. He enlisted Mary Saltus to help launch the new endeavor, and she went on to run what became known as AIC Supportive Learning Services (SLS) for nearly four decades. For Brimberg—and literally thousands of other AIC students over the years—SLS made all the difference.
to his own unique curriculum. “I enjoyed going to these classes. I enjoyed the interaction because my mind had something to do,” Brimberg says. Saltus, who retired from AIC last year, is thankful for Brimberg’s generosity. “Chris was an extremely interesting individual who had so much knowledge in so many areas,” she says. “He was bright and capable, and AIC was the place where he found success—what he was looking for in a learning experience, we were able to offer him.” While very grateful for the pedagogy and expertise SLS offered, Brimberg remains most moved by the patience and individual attention he received at AIC. Anyone with autism spectrum disorders can find success, he explains, provided resources are made available to them. “Give them the tools, and give them the patience,” he says. “It takes a while—but in the end, you’ll see something beautiful come out.” n Spring 2015 | 21
class notes
Judy McDonald, Bob Bissonnette, and Hedda Christiani, proud members of the 1958–59 freshmen class.
Drop us a line... 22 | Lucent
We love staying in touch with the AIC family, so let us know what’s new with you. Did you start a new job? Get married? Is your family growing? Did you recently reconnect with AIC friends? Tell us all about it! Whatever your news is, we’d love to share it with your fellow AIC alumni. Send updates and pictures to alumni@aic.edu, or give us a quick call at 413.205.3520.
| class notes |
1930s The Class of 1937 Scholarship was awarded to Andrea Boczon from Monson, MA. Andrea is currently a junior occupational therapy major at AIC who is a member of the track team. The Class of 1938 Scholarship was awarded to Brianna Bishop from Suffield, CT. Brianna is currently a senior physical therapy major at AIC who plays basketball. The Class of 1939 Scholarship was awarded to Tanisha Camacho from Indian Orchard, MA. Tanisha is currently a junior nursing major at AIC.
1940s The Class of 1940 Scholarship was awarded to Judith Azuike from Palmer, MA. Judith is currently a junior nursing major. The Class of 1949 Scholarship was awarded to Anthony Leadbeater of East Granby, CT. Anthony is currently a junior pursuing a nursing degree.
1950s Donald Cotnoir ’54, a Korean War veteran, presently lives in Sun City, Hilton Head, SC. He is very active with local students. Most recently he has worked with students to teach them the importance of avoiding high-risk behaviors and thinking long term.
After working with the students and completing his presentations he gives each student a personal home computer. As a result these students are able to complete homework and school projects at home in preparation for the world of work. Garry Brown ’55, Vince Ciancotti ’55, and Ted Shore ’55 are looking forward to welcoming their classmates back to campus for their 60th reunion at Homecoming 2015 (to be held October 24th). Arthur LaMirande ’59 New York, NY is into his 9th season as organist of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Elizabeth, NJ, where he plays for Mass in English and in Spanish. The parish of St. John’s dates from 1706, and was granted a Royal Charter by King George III in 1765. The current edifice was erected in 1860. The city of Elizabeth was the capital of New Jersey during the colonial period, and is named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I. He will also be playing at the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France in October 2015.
their 50th reunion. Beryl Barber of White Plains, NY, Peg Kisloski Kostiuk of Greenfield, MA and Brian Saunders of San Diego, CA plan to attend. Dr. Barry Lubetkin ’65 is the director and founder of The Institute for Behavior Therapy in New York City. Founded in 1971, it is the oldest private cognitive behavior therapy treatment center in the United States, serving over 25,000 patients since its inception. Dr. Lubetkin is past president of the American Board of Behavior Therapy, author of numerous self-help books and scientific articles and a guest on Oprah and many other TV shows. O. Melba Gonzalez ’69 has retired after being a part of the school system in Massachusetts and Florida for 44 years.
Dr. Barry Lubetkin ’65
1970s
The Class of 1964 Scholarship was awarded to Renita Baichoo from Newington, CT. Renita is currently a senior studying occupational therapy.
The Class of 1971 Scholarship was awarded to April Rogers from Brimfield, MA. April is currently a senior physical therapy major. It was also given to Marilia Silva from Springfield, MA. Silva is a senior studying nursing. The scholarship also went to Miguel Siercke of Hamburg, Germany. Miguel is a sophomore international business major and a member of the AIC golf team.
The Class of 1965 will be invited back to campus during Homecoming 2015 (October 24) to celebrate
The Class of 1972 Scholarship was awarded to Allissa Barnish from Granby, MA. Allissa is currently
1960s
Donald Cotnoir ’54
Spring 2015 | 23
| class notes | a junior nursing major. Gary Grodzicki ’74 is happily retired with his wife Sharon in The Villages, FL. He is participating in many sports including four softball teams (two of which tour Florida twice a month), golf, and pickle ball. Coach Joe Kocot ’82
Mario Elie ’85 and family unveil jersey banner.
For eight years running, Paul Nicolai ’75 has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America® in commercial litigation. More than four million confidential peer evaluations by tens of thousands of the country’s leading attorneys help formulate the lists for The Best Lawyers in America®. Now in its 20th edition, the reference work is considered a definitive, unbiased guide to legal excellence in North America. Suzanne Farias ’75 has been appointed to the Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees. Suzanne has extensive experience working in the region’s hospitality industry, currently as general manager of the Double Tree by Hilton and as general manager of its predecessor, Four Points by Sheraton. Among her many community and professional affiliations, she serves as chair of the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association, on the board of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, and on the supervisory board to the IC Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. After graduation, Joe Barbieri ’77 used his degree to go into
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the accounting profession and became a CPA. He has also written two e-books and is currently working on a third. The books Time to Roll and Angry Red Dragon are available on Amazon.com.
1980s Easthampton High School football Coach Joe Kocot ’82 retired this year after 17 seasons. Kocot started Easthampton football as a junior varsity program in 1998. By 2000, the Eagles were playing varsity ball in the Tri-County League. Kocot ended his career with a 7-4 season and a final 64-0 victory over Dean Tech in November. John Tobia ’82 spends much of his time giving back to his community. Along with the individuals with whom he works, he has received many awards for community service. He received the highest honor that Home Depot had in commitment to community (Marcus Award) as well as the Burt Flickinger Award for dedication to leadership and service for the Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY. He has also received the service award from Niagara County Family Violence Coalition. John credits these accomplishments to his education and life’s lessons that he learned at AIC. Former NBA player Mario Elie ’85, a three-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, had his jersey number
41 retired at AIC on February 7, 2015. Elie played 10 years in the NBA for five different teams — the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and Portland Trail Blazers, Houston, and San Antonio. He retired in 2001 after scoring 6,265 total points in 732 games. A shooting guard / small forward, Elie shot 36.5 percent from 3-point range for his career, including a careerhigh 42 percent for the 199697 Rockets. At AIC, Elie led the team to its first NCAA Division II quarterfinal. He was inducted into the AIC Hall of Fame in 2005. Richard Bedard ’86 MBA was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame on January 29, 2015. Bedard was inducted not only for his accomplishments at AIC but also on the field. After being named All-State at Springfield Technical High School, Bedard had a highly successful collegiate baseball career at Amherst College. After graduating from Amherst College, Bedard was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. Bedard became assistant baseball coach at AIC in 1973 and was named head baseball coach the following year. During his tenure as head coach the Yellow Jackets won 124 games, including the ECAC Division II-III championship in 1979. Antonios Liberopoulos ’87, ’94 MBA, Senior Vice President & Commercial
| class notes |
Banking Regional Executive, has been added as a member of the Greater Springfield (MA) Commercial Banking Team for United Bank. He will be directly responsible for the Bank’s commercial banking practice in the area. He brings 27 years of commercial banking experience, most recently holding the position of Senior Vice President & Regional Manager for People’s United Bank in Springfield. Liberopoulos is also very active in the Western Massachusetts community where he serves on the Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Marie Pratt ’89, principal of Blueberry Hill Elementary School, has been named a 2014 National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. The award will recognize Marie for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character and climate for the students, families and staff in their learning communities.
1990s The Class of 1990 will be invited back to campus during Homecoming 2015 (October 24) to celebrate their 25th reunion.
William (Bill) H. Derrenger ’90 MA has been appointed Dean of the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh School of Business. Bill has over 52 years of work experience in the USA, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Bangladesh. As the Country Director of International Development Enterprise (IDE), he founded an innovative agro-marketing firm named “Krishok Bondhu” in 1989. Immediately prior to joining ULAB, he was Professor and Associate Dean of Northern University’s Faculty of Business. Bill is a founding member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) and served for many years as a member of the Board of MIDAS, a USAIDfunded development finance institution. He is a Director of Agricultural Advisory Services which carries on active research into wealth creation strategies in rural Bangladesh. Leon A. Gaumond Jr. ’94, of Ware, MA was the unanimous choice of selectmen to serve as Sturbridge town administrator. Gaumond is currently the West Boylston administrator. Todd Dolin ’94 is entering his 7th year of service with the Miami Dade Corrections Department. As a member of the Special Operations Division of the Hospital Services Unit, he is responsible for the safe custody and control of
inmates while they are sick, injured, or in the hospital.
2000s Mike Kunigonis ’02, a veteran Division I baseball coach who has spent the last seven years on the staff at Virginia Tech, most recently as the Hokies’ Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, has been named head coach of the Northern Illinois University baseball program. While at AIC he was named All-Region, AllConference, and All-ECAC at first base as a senior in 2001. He received the Butova Sportsmanship Award for excellence on and off the field.
Richard Bedard ’86 MBA
Lucy Soto-Abbe ’05 MS, is a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board. Appointed in 2011 she holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology from AIC. She earlier earned an associate’s degree in paralegal studies and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Bay Path College in Longmeadow, MA. Michael Szawlowski ’09 of Leeds, MA was sworn in by Mayor David J. Narkewicz as new full-time patrol officer in Northampton, MA. New officers were required to complete 22 weeks of study at the police academy and undergo 16 weeks of field training with the department before being sworn in.
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| class notes |
2010s Work Opportunity Center, Inc. announced that Mary Akers ’10 MBA has joined them in the newly created position of Assistant Executive Director. Mary will oversee all programmatic and business operations for the corporation. Leon A. Gaumond Jr. ’94
From left, Jeremy Casey ’12, MBA, Justin Roberts ’11, and Nico Santaniello, three members of the board of mentors working to get Suit Up Springfield off the ground.
Mark A. Del Negro ’10 has a new horror flick in the works, but he’s keeping the filming location a secret. The movie will be released in June on the heels of Del Negro’s debut feature-length film, Blood Reservoir. Blood Reservoir, released in October 2014, is a slasher throwback that chronicles a trip to the wooded site of many high-profile murders. Each camper has a motive for being there, most of which are questionable. The film was shown at about
3,000 theaters nationwide. Justin Roberts ’11, development officer at AIC, along with Jeremy Casey ’12 MBA, Vice President at First Niagra Bank, organized Suit Up Springfield, a non-profit which outfits and mentors young men entering the workforce. The non-profit will outfit young men for the work world and supplies them with resources so they can navigate job searches, manage interviews, and network for success.
Awards in Teaching Program in 2014–2015. Raffile received her Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in school administration from AIC. Kasey Carley ’14, whose clinical experience includes outpatient sports and orthopedic physical therapy as well as some in-patient acute care, was recently named as one of 22 Awesome Physical Therapists in Boston.
Kate Raffile ’13 CAGS has been awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant to conduct research in New Zealand. Raffile is one of approximately 43 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Distinguished
38th Annual
AIC Alumni
Bob Chipman
Memorial Golf Tournament
Friday, May 15, 2015 10:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Oak Ridge Golf Club · Feeding Hills, MA 01030
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For more info, contact Heather Caisse at 413.205.3004 or heather.caisse@aic.edu
| in memoriam |
1940s
Stephen P. Johnson Margaret (McCrea) Spencer Peter G. Ellis Esq. Ruth M. (Kuusela) Wiita Clifford G. Floyd Seymour W. Russell Alma (Harrison) Hart Anderson Kelley Herbert Clark Ball Howard Norton Baver Jerome H. Norton
1950s
Leo A. Casagrande Mark Feinberg Holden C. Harlow Jr. Walter D. Miller Gerald E. Finn Charles D. Hagan Jr. Louis A. Morace Jr. Joseph F. Connors John G. Pack Paul E. Gerhardt Thomas J. O’Neil Jr. Robert O. Robson Charles Edward Leahy Ralph L. Shindler
’40 ’40 ’41 ’41 ’43 ’43 ’48 ’48 ’49 ’49 ’49
’50 ’50 ’50 ’50 ’51 ’52 ’52, ’60 ’53 ’53 ’54, ’61 ’54, ’66 ’54 ’55 ’55
Thomas Frederick Roche Jr. ’55, ’65 Frederick R. Garrity ’56 Janice (Wood) Williams ’56 Elizabeth (Benjamin) McGregor ’58 Dorothy (Prokop) Sajdak ’58 Earl R. Gregory ’59 Herbert Kandel ’59
1960s
William C. Ashley Robert W. Myco Donald E. Norton Lewis E. Randall PhD Thomas J. Sault Peter J. Young George E. O’Brien Joseph C. Knapik John S. Byron Jr. William Clark Anthony E. Galica Walter H. McKertich Terry B. Rhicard Patricia A. McDonald Rose (Russo) O’Neill Jean (Healy) Hickey Betty Lou (Allen) Titcomb Mitchell R. Wilson Robert L. Carlson Bernard Lavoie
’60 ’60 ’60, ’80 ’60 ’60 ’60 ’61 ’62 ’64 ’64, ’67 ’64, ’70 ’64 ’64 ’65 ’65 ’66 ’66 ’66 ’68 ’68
Joseph H. O’Neil Dorothy C. Richardson David J. Bigda
’68 ’68, ’73 ’69
1970s
Lawrence R. McPhee Mary Ellen Harbeck Kenneth R. Keiper Irene B. Mozden Sheilah M. Carroll David Cocchi David J. Dorval Tobey A. Katz Robert F. Sullivan Robert V. Walsh Jr. Edward G. Miller
1980s
’70 ’71 ’72 ’72 ’73 ’76 ’76 ’76 ’76 ’77 ’79
Marilyn E. Bartz Arthur L. Van Sciver Cathleen M. Moriarty Joseph A. O’Shaughnessy Connie (Pina) Vestal Maureen L. (Myers) Wilczak
1990s
Naomi White-Inniss John Randall Cox
’80 ’80 ’82, ’94 ’82 ’82 ’87
’93 ’97
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three NEW GRADUATE
PROGRAMS! Announcing the all new msn
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER & the all new
MASTER’S IN LEADERSHIP & the all new
mba in resort & casino management aic.edu/leadership aic.edu/fnp aic.edu/rcm
May 3, 2015 aic.edu/run
Spring 2015 | 29
american international college 1000 State Street Springfield, Massachusetts 01109 www.aic.edu
Save the Date June 12, 2015 The Crumpin Fox Golf Club For more info, contact Heather Caisse at 413.205.3004 or heather.caisse@aic.edu
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