East Stroudsburg University of pennsylvania
alumni herald
Fall/Winter 2018
Mary Gertrude SMITH BODDIE ESU’s first African-American graduate
THINK PINK Members of Theta Chi fraternity participated in the 17th Annual Pink Light Walk on Oct. 5, 2018, to increase awareness for breast cancer. East Stroudsburg University and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono hosted the event, working in collaboration with LVH–Pocono’s Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, and Prime Time Health of Monroe County’s Area Agency on Aging. Photo by Susie Forrester
CampusSnap
Warriors,
As we close the chapter on the celebration of East Stroudsburg University’s 125th anniversary, the theme that has resonated best with me is legacy. Time after time, throughout the year, I’ve listened to alumni and their families tell me how this University has impacted their lives and the lives of others. You’ll hear more about legacy in this issue of the Alumni Herald from the granddaughter of Mary Gertrude Boddie ’1904, ESU’s first African-American graduate, who has researched her ancestry to uncover decades of successful descendants who built careers on the foundation of Mary Gertrude’s achievements. There’s also a heartwarming story about the granddaughters of Mildred Burton ’53, who visited campus for the first time this fall to retrace their grandmother’s footsteps after her lost class ring was returned to them 65 years following her graduation from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, and you’ll learn more about graduate Beldina Opiyo ’02 M’04, who is putting her ESU education to work in her home country of Kenya, a loving legacy to honor family members she has lost due to HIV/AIDS. You’ll enjoy learning more about the ongoing celebration of ESU’s rich history, from events that took place on our campus, to those in our community that helped us shine a light on the need for student scholarship support. We’ll also congratulate recipients of our first-ever President’s Distinguished Medals and Alumni Award honorees, share an update that may surprise many of you regarding the next generation of our proud Warrior football legacy, and welcome new Foundation Board members. If you’re among those who were unable to come back to campus for Homecoming, we’ve got highlights to share! We’ll also report on Ryan McMunn’s visit to campus (son of ESU graduates Tony ’69 and Pat ’68 McMunn) as part of my Entrepreneurial Speaker Series to share news of his innovative venture, BRIC, as well as author Cristina Henríquez’s appearance, speaking with us about her novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, our One Book, One Campus selection for this academic year. I’m delighted to let you know about new technology and funding for academic programs such as an Anatomage Table for Athletic Training and a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services to create The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at ESU, and to update you on athletic initiatives, from impressive seasons - including a national finalist - to new staff members. As American novelist Dara Horn has said, “Every person has a legacy. You may not know what your impact is, and it may not be something that you can write on your tombstone, but every person has an impact on the world.” My hope is that this issue of the Alumni Herald inspires you to create your own legacy and to consider sharing yours with future generations of students here at ESU. Wishing you the very best,
Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. President 2 the alumni herald
inside
Cover Story
6
As the first AfricanAmerican to graduate from East Stroudsburg Normal School, Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie’s education reached far beyond her own life, positively affecting others, including her own children and stepchildren. Instilling a belief of spirituality, the conviction that people are responsible to and for each other, and the importance of higher education, Mary’s Gertrude’s principles have been passed on for generations. Learn more about Mary Gertrude and her life since graduating in 1904 through her granddaughter, Cynthia Boddie-Willis, and the family legacy that transcends well over a century.
Stay connected with your alma mater @WarriorAlumni ESUAA flickr.com/photos/esualumni University President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. Design and Production Office of University Advancement Office of University Relations Ideal Design Solutions Photography Meredithe Ettrich Susie Forrester Leon John, Jr. Nile Scott Bob Weidner
Contributors Nancy Boyer Brenda E. Friday, Ph.D. Tom Housenick (The Morning Call) Leon John, Jr. Frank Johnson ’74 Greg Knowlden M’04 Stacey Marshall Katie McDonald Erik Pedersen Margaret Peterson Rita Plotnicki Elizabeth Richardson Jessica Schultz ’16 Shelley A Speirs ’92 WHEC-TV, Rochester, N.Y. Tanya Trinkle Caryn Wilkie
Features 10 125th birthday celebration for the ages
Festivities wrap up with more than $175K for scholarships.
20 The ties – and ring
Departments
– that binds
Lost class ring returned to family members.
– Warriors 22 OofurallLegacy ages connect
Homecoming Weekend wrap up: Photos, awards and more.
30 Saying farewell his way Denny Douds steps aside as Warriors’ head football coach after 45 years
13 ESU Foundation 18 Campus News 22 Alumni News 30 Warrior Spirit 34 Class Notes 36 In Memoriam
East Stroudsburg University Alumni
Alumni Herald The Alumni Herald is the official publication for East Stroudsburg University Warriors of all ages. We work to keep ESU alumni connected with their alma mater and each other. The print magazine is published twice each year (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer). Between issues, visit www.alumniheraldonline.com to catch up on daily news coming from ESU. Alumni may update their mailing information by notifying the alumni office. Please address all correspondence to: ESU Office of Alumni Engagement Henry A. Ahnert, Jr. Alumni Center 200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is committed to equal opportunity for its students, employees and applicants. The university is committed to providing equal educational and employment rights to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran’s status. Each member of the university community has a right to study and work in an environment free from any form of racial, ethnic, and sexual discrimination including sexual harassment, sexual violence and sexual assault. (Further information, including contact information, can be found on the university’s website at esu.edu/titleix.) In accordance with federal and state laws, the university will not tolerate discrimination. This policy is placed in this document in accordance with state and federal laws including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 as well as all applicable federal and state executive orders.
570-422-7000 800-775-8975 Fax: 570-422-3301 esualumni@esu.edu esualumni.org 3
alumni board
Greetings Fellow Alumni,
I am using this opportunity to speak about ESU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. Hopefully, you had the opportunity to attend some of the activities held on campus throughout the past year. The 125th Celebration launch on Jan. 25, 2018, served as the kick-off for year-long celebrations, and continued with campus historical exhibits, the unveiling of the time capsule, “Service on the 6th” in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, East Stroudsburg Borough “Music on Mondays,” Campus Founder’s Day Celebration, Family Weekend and Homecoming events, and culminated with the 125th Anniversary Celebration dinner. If you visit the website at www.esu.edu/125, there are opportunities to reminisce and remember our storied past, including photo galleries, oral histories, shared memories, “ESU in the Community,” “Warriors on this Date” celebrating ESU’s athletic history, and much more. When I attend campus events, I marvel at how well all of the details are handled and I have been known to remark on numerous occasions: “This stuff just doesn’t happen!” It takes a number of dedicated, professional and knowledgeable people to create, plan, and implement these wonderful gatherings to celebrate where we were, where we are, and what the future holds for ESU. I am sure I will leave someone off of this comprehensive list, so I will apologize in advance. And, a disclaimer: some of the events listed may or may not be totally associated with those listed in my article, but I am bound and determined to acknowledge the people who are responsible for ESU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. Talented, committed, creative - and in alphabetical order:
Alumni Association Corner Sharon Laverdure M’86, retired ESASD teacher, principal and superintendent; Amy Leiser ’97 M’99, executive director of Monroe County Historical Association; June Pepe ’00, assistant director of veterans services; Elizabeth Richardson, assistant director of university relations; Brad Seid, professor, hospitality, recreation and tourism management; Courtney Tolino ’09 M’10, president, Pocono Cinema and Cultural Center; Kelly Weaber ’97, resident director; and Sonia Wolbert ’96, East Stroudsburg Borough Council. 125th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Committee: Margaret Ball, interim assistant dean, College of Arts and Sciences; Miguel Barbosa, chief of staff; Leon John, director of alumni engagement; Jessica Shultz ’16, alumni engagement coordinator. From ESU Advancement: Emily Brennan, special events manager; Lianna DeSantis ’08, director of corporate and foundation relations; Caryn Wilkie, director of donor relations; from ESU Foundation: Richard Santoro, executive director; Melissa Davis, senior director of finance and administration; Shelley Speirs ’92, director of major and planned gifts. Special Acknowledgment (for the Presidential Medal): Joni Oye-Benintende, department chair, art + design; Darlene Farris-LaBar, professor, art + design. As I mentioned before, I apologize if I have unintentionally omitted anyone. I am certain there are probably more people who could be on this list, and I tip my hat to them, even anonymously. We, as alumni, are totally indebted to everyone who has contributed to ESU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. As a member of the Alumni Association, I would like to thank each and every person who offer their efforts and expertise to our alma mater on a daily basis in so many positive ways. These individuals who work together as a coordinated team, sometimes behind the scenes, are major factors in the pride we feel toward East Stroudsburg Normal School, East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, East Stroudsburg State College and East Stroudsburg University. There is a direct relationship between their energies and the pride created at ESU. It is truly a place “Where Warriors Belong.” THANK YOU!
125th Anniversary Committee: Miguel Barbosa, chief of staff to President Welsh; Nurun Begum, associate professor, early childhood and elementary education; Marcy Cetnar, executive assistant to President Welsh; Paul Culbertson, assistant director of campus recreation and wellness; Rachael DeStefano M’18, former resident director; Ly’Esha Fleming ’13, resident director; Caryn Fogel ’12, former editorial project manager; Brenda Friday, director of university relations; Sarah Goodrich, coordinator for conference services; Peter Hawkes, retired dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Leon John, director of alumni engagement; Michele Keiper, policy specialist; Geryl Kinsel ’01, interim registrar; Cathy Klingler, Frank Johnson ’74 museum & planetarium curator; Greg Knowlden M’04, President, sports information director/editorial project manager; ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors 4 the alumni herald
ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors
2018-2019 Executive Members: Frank E. Johnson ’74 President David A. Super ’80 Vice President Ashley L. Puderbach Swartz ’09 M.Ed. ’10 Secretary general Members Jack P. Childs, III ’67 Glenn Clark ’74 Kelly E. Dries ’08 Keith Fisher ’91 Joseph B. Fite, III ’76 Avram “Seth” Friedman ’81 Glenn Gottshalk ’72 Ernest R. Gromlich ’60 William J. Horvath ’70 M.Ed. ’79 Dawn Ketterman-Benner ’70 Kathleen Kirkwood ’95 Deborah A. Kulick ’80 Demetrius Robert Lindsey ’12 R. Griggs Levy ’87 Johanna Mazlo ’91 Cara Miller ’01 Carol Miller ’81 Rhonda Miller ’16 Caitlin Ord ’07 M’08 Thomas Petro ’72 Ritchey J. Ricci ’65 M.Ed. ’72 Ronald D. Steckel ’71 Christine Rohr Thompson ’73 Lori Miller Weinstein ’77 Corey Wimmer ’03 Emeriti Eugenia S. Eden ’72 M.Ed. ’76 Bryan L. Hill ’71 Phyllis M. Kirschner ’63 Virginia M. Sten ‘71 John T. Lambert ’54 Frank Michael Pullo ‘73 M ‘76 Faye D. Soderberg ’58 John E. Woodling ’68 M.Ed. ’76 Sandra “Pinky” O’Neill-Seiler ’57
ESU Alumni Association Board Member Spotlight
T HOMA S A . PETRO ’ 7 2
Alumni Association Board member Thomas A. Petro ’72 is a retired United States Secret Service Special Agent who was assigned to the Philadelphia Field Office after being sworn in on June 29, 1975. Petro conducted multiple criminal investigations, and while assigned to the Counterfeit Squad, he received several commendations and awards for extensive undercover activities, which resulted in numerous arrests and the seizure of millions of dollars of counterfeit currency. In 1980, Petro was transferred to Washington, D.C., and began his permanent protection work during the Carter, Reagan, and Bush administrations, assigned to protection details with the president, vice president, and visiting foreign heads of state. His extensive experience and seniority brought him many overseas assignments as the lead advance agent for visits by the president and vice president in Europe, Asia, South and Central America, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Petro retired from the Secret Service in 1996 and became a special agent with the Social Security Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Office of Investigations. As a senior investigative agent, he was responsible for planning, conducting and coordinating complex and sensitive investigations related to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in agency programs and operations. Petro also served as the chairman of the Federal Law Enforcement Health/Fitness Task Force, was a member of the board of directors of the International Police Fitness Association, and received special achievement awards from state and federal law enforcement organizations, including the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He earned the distinction as a highly regarded consultant on police fitness while participating in presentations to over 500 law enforcement executives, including the directors of five federal agencies whom Petro eventually assisted with program development. Presently, Petro is a consultant in the areas of personal and corporate security, active shooter training, self-defense, and fitness. He and his wife Ann, a retired drug enforcement agent and now the president of Investigative Management, Inc., and their children, live in Bucks County, Pa. To read more about Tom Petro, please visit our website at www.esualumni.org. esualumni.org 5
Mary Gertrude class of 1904 Smith Boddie The Class of 1904 on the steps of Stroud Hall. Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie is seated mid-way, to the left.
In Knowledge, Spirituality, and Prosperity ESU’s first African-American graduate sets a family precedent In 1904, New York City opened its first subway, Cy Young pitched a perfect game and Mary Gertrude Smith graduated from East Stroudsburg Normal School, becoming the first African-American to do so. That third event didn’t garner anywhere near the attention of the first two, but Smith’s achievement and the life she went on to live was monumental to her descendants and her community in ways that reach beyond both. African-Americans were excluded from many civic groups, so Mary Gertrude went on to organize several organizations that benefitted African-Americans as well as the community at large in New Rochelle, N.Y. And she did it all while raising a large, blended family with children who went to college in remarkable numbers. She gave birth to 15 children; the 10 who made it to adulthood went on to higher education, as would her stepchildren. They would become the president of a seminary, a lawyer, an engineer, a doctor, police officer, teacher, nurse, athletic director, administrators and ministers, as well as civic leaders in their own communities. 6 the alumni herald
That emphasis on education was passed down to the next generation, who include two physicians, authors, artists, teachers, a minister, a social worker and a three-star general. One of the doctors, Cynthia Boddie-Willis of Montgomery County, Md., never met her grandmother, who died in 1941 at the age of 54, but says her legacy and that of her husband, the Rev. Jacob Benjamin Boddie, still looms large in their lives. “She expected her children to go out and make their way in the world and contribute to it,” Boddie-Willis says. “It did not seem to be a matter of education for its own sake but as preparation for making a contribution.” In 1999, East Stroudsburg University established a scholarship in her grandmother’s name, which is awarded at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in January. In 2018, scholarships of $3,080 each were awarded to three students of color who had demonstrated “through community service work or university involvement a commitment to Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity, and a respect for humanity.”
The Boddie family has contributed to the scholarship and the university in other ways. In 1986, they donated funds to erect a flagpole and a plaque at its base in Mary Gertrude’s honor with several family members attending the dedication. Boddie-Willis gave the ESU winter commencement address in 2015 in which she spoke of her grandmother’s life and legacy.
The Boddie family at their home in New Rochelle, N.Y., circa 1920.
Mary Gertrude Smith was born in Virginia in 1886, the middle child of 11 in the family of William H. Smith and Mary E. (Fisher) Smith. It was only 21 years after the Civil War ended and African-Americans in the South lived under Jim Crow laws that kept them out of white schools, restaurants and other public places and severely limited their opportunities. Justice for people of color was equally elusive. Between 1877 and 1950, there were 4,075 racial terror lynchings in the South, according to a 2015 report by the Equal Justice Initiative. African-Americans faced prejudice and threats of violence in the North as well. In March 1894, a black man who escaped from jail was caught and lynched by a mob near Stroudsburg, according to The New York Times. African-Americans routinely encountered discrimination in schools, housing, transportation, the courts and places of employment. It was during this time that the Smiths moved to East Bangor, Pennsylvania where the slate industry was growing. The patriarch, William Smith, became a slate holeman, which was a position requiring considerable skill. Mary Gertrude and her brothers and sisters attended the local public schools and their parents encouraged each child to discover, nurture and make good use of his or her talents. In 1901, she graduated second in her otherwise all-white class at East Bangor school. At age 15, she was accepted by what was then known as East Stroudsburg Normal School to train to be a teacher. When she graduated with a teaching degree in June 1904, The Morning Call newspaper of Allentown made note of it under the headline: “First Colored Girl to Graduate from the Normal School.” The newspaper took a complimentary but patronizing tone that was typical of the time with regard to African-Americans. “Since her entrance into the school, she has displayed herself capable of doing as much mental work in the same space of time as her white classmates. Members of the faculty and board of trustees have spoken in the highest terms of Miss Smith, both for her industry as a student and her conduct about the school,” the story said. “She is a daughter of William H. Smith, and there were none happier to receive their diploma than she.” Commencement and Class Day Exercises from East Stroudsburg Normal School in 1904.
Gertrude M. Smith is listed on the back, although she later began going by the name Mary Gertrude Smith.
Cynthia Boddie-Willis reflects on photos of her grandmother, Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie. Photo by Meredithe Ettrich
Pictures in the home of Cynthia Boddie-Willis include her grandmother Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie with her husband Rev. Jacob Benjamin Boddie. Photo by Meredithe Ettrich
Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie, at center, returned to State Teachers College at East Stroudsburg on May 27, 1934, for her 30th class reunion.
The pressure to succeed as the first African-American must have been great and the ingrained prejudice of the era was present even at her graduation. The commencement address that year was entitled “The Negro Problem.” Mary Gertrude’s skill with children would serve her well when she met a dynamic Baptist preacher, Jacob Benjamin Boddie, a widower about 14 years her senior who brought to the marriage two children from his first wife. The pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Scranton, Boddie was described as a giant of a man, both physically – at 6-foot-7 inches – and as a powerful speaker and leader. They married a year after Mary Gertrude graduated from college and at age 19, she took over raising her husband’s children as her own and gave birth to the first of 15 children. In 1907, her husband was called to take the position of pastor of the Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle, N.Y., and the family moved to that suburb of New York City. There, while J.B. Boddie built a new church and grew the congregation, Mary Gertrude tended to the children and founded and led civic groups in her community. She and other African-American women established the Colored Women’s Club as a benevolent organization in New Rochelle, according to Boddie family records. In 1926, she helped create the first Boy Scout troop for African-Americans in the city, recruiting the scoutmaster for Siwanoy Council Troop 16. Four years later, she would lead a Girl Scout troop for girls of color. In 1929, she was the catalyst behind the creation of Boy Scout Troop 16’s fife, drum and bugle corps, which later became the Charles W. Dickerson Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, named for a member who was killed in World War II. Boddie-Willis says her grandmother was intent on creating opportunities for all. She served on the speakers committee for the New Rochelle Community Chest, which would become part of the United Way, and on the board of directors for the Westchester Scholarship Fund. 8 the alumni herald
Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie on left.
“As an African-American woman, it seems she looked to see what was happening around her in the larger community and strove to make those opportunities happen for everyone, including AfricanAmericans,” Boddie-Willis said. She served in several leadership positions with the church her husband pastored and in the New York Colored Baptist State Convention’s Women’s Auxiliary. Later, she was on an advisory committee of the Westchester Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and became a religious advisor to the New York Training School for Girls in Hudson, N.Y. All the while, her children were graduating from such colleges as Syracuse University, Colgate Rochester Divinity School and Ithaca College during the Great Depression. The Boddie family often hosted leaders of the African-American community who came to New Rochelle. Boddie-Willis’ father, Daniel Webster Boddie, told her how he and his siblings used to be annoyed when they had to give up their beds for visitors, including Vernon Johns, a minister and civil rights leader who was pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., before The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. succeeded him. “I don’t know if they appreciated at the time who this man ended up being,” Boddie-Willis said. “He was very instrumental in getting the civil rights movement going. It didn’t just start with King.” Boddie-Willis learned a lot about her grandparents from triennial family reunions where the Boddie family shares its own covenant. Paraphrasing the covenant, Boddie-Willis said Mary Gertrude “aspired to advance her immediate family in knowledge, spirituality and prosperity. She encouraged family members to walk circumspectly in the world, to be just in their feelings, faithful in their engagements and exemplary in their deportments and to watch over each other in love. “She sought the same for the African-American community in New Rochelle and for the human family worldwide.” With the sensibility of a teacher, Mary Gertrude didn’t play favorites, treating all the children fairly and with a demeanor that quietly commanded respect.
someone had to be first to break the color barrier
Cynthia Boddie-Willis gave the ESU winter commencement address in 2015 in which she spoke of her grandmother’s life and legacy. Photo by Susie Forrester
“She had expectations of her children but she would make it a point to determine what their strengths were and build on those strengths,” Boddie-Willis said. “She also determined what challenges they had in order to do all that she could to help them address those challenges in a positive way. “Everyone had his or her own contribution to make and everyone’s contribution was needed. This bit about helping each other was taken very seriously so you had younger folks being cared for by the older children.” That meant children as young as three years old would be given small jobs like bringing in the milk bottles that the milkman delivered in the morning. Boddie-Willis says her grandparents instilled a belief in spirituality, the conviction that people are responsible to and for each other, and confidence in the importance of higher education. Those principles were passed down to the next generation in unspoken ways. “I do remember the expectation was always there,” she said. “There wasn’t any lecture but it was sort of in the air, like an understanding that there is a step after high school.” Her cousins got the same message and, like Boddie-Willis, have blazed their own successful paths. “I have a cousin who anchors CBS news in Portland,” she says. “I have a cousin who does production design for feature films and television and has been nominated for the Art Directors Guild’s Excellence in Production Design Award. I have another cousin who is a retired three-star Air Force general. So, yeah, we’ve tried.”
Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie was the catalyst behind the creation of Boy Scout Troop 16’s fife, drum and bugle corps, which later became the Charles W. Dickerson Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, named for a member who was killed in World War II. The corps still performs today. Courtesy of Charles W. Dickerson Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps
Today, Mary Gertrude Smith Boddie would surely be heartened to see where the path she blazed has led ESU. From the lone African-American graduate in 1904, East Stroudsburg University has grown to have a student body of undergraduates that is about 20 percent AfricanAmerican. That includes its fall 2018 undergraduate population of 1,140 African-Americans, the largest ever.
Cynthia Boddie-Willis reads historic ESU documents. Photo by Meredithe Ettrich
In total, 38.3 percent of ESU’s undergraduates identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or two or more races. ESU has embraced diversity in the belief that all students benefit from learning alongside others from different walks of life, ethnicities and backgrounds.
The Class of 1904 song lyrics.
Still, someone had to be first to break the color barrier and BoddieWillis is proud that person was her grandmother. Mary Gertrude’s legacy continues to reverberate, rippling through the lives of her descendants, their communities and the organizations she started. Boddie-Willis recalls when her father died in 2015, an older gentleman came to his funeral, “walked right by the casket and sat down next to me. He had this big folder of materials.” “As it turned out he was a member of the drum and bugle corps that my grandmother had started. He wanted to let me know that it was still going on and that it was intergenerational. He said ‘Do you know who your grandmother was?’ ”, Boddie-Willis recalls laughing. And her answer? “Yes, I’m aware, thank you.” – By Margie Peterson
In October 1986 at ESU, a flagpole and plaque at its base was dedicated in Mary Gertrude’s honor with several family members attending. Photo by Bob Weidner
125 th Anniversary Robert M. Moses, Kevin Hughes, president of the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation, and William B. Cramer, Esq., were awarded the inaugural President’s Distinguished Medals at ESU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration.
Founder’s Day brings the
party to center of campus
Anniversary Celebration raises $175K for student scholarships Community comes out to recognize ESU, honor three Presidential Medal winners For East Stroudsburg University, providing a quality education to students for 125 years is a significant milestone - one that’s been celebrated across campus throughout 2018. Recognizing ESU’s continuing growth and achievements, the festivities over the past 12 months culminated with the 125th Anniversary Celebration held Oct. 25, 2018, at Terraview at Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Honorary Chairs for the event were Pat ’67 and Joan M. ’64 Ross with Pat Ross presenting the unique awards designed by Darlene Farris-LaBar, professor of art + design. They were produced using a metal 3D printer from ExONE, the metal printing facility in Pittsburgh, similar to the printer recently acquired by ESU.
The President’s Distinguished Medal is the highest honor the university can award to an individual or organization and is presented at the discretion of the president. Honorees are selected based on their commitment and work that has exemplified the values of ESU.
recreation and tourism management, and art + design, to name just a few,” said Welsh. “We now offer our students so many different and strong programs - 57 undergraduate, 21 masters, and one doctoral program in the fields of health sciences, business and management, arts and sciences, and still – in keeping with our roots – education.”
President Welsh, echoing the theme of the celebration, “A Proud Past, A Bold Future,” said just as it was 125 years ago, ESU continues to pride Hosted by ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and the ESU itself in putting students first. Foundation, the celebration raised $175,365 for student scholarships “I stand here today as ESU’s 13th president and our student body, more and provided a magnificent backdrop to honor Robert M. Moses, than 6,400 strong, is now one of the most diverse within Pennsylvania’s William B. Cramer, Esq., and the R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes State System of Higher Education with core strengths in many areas, Foundation with inaugural President’s Distinguished Medals. including the health sciences, business management, hospitality,
10 the alumni herald
Pat Ross ’67 presented the President’s Distinguished Medals to three honorees. Ross and his wife, Joan M. Ross ’64 served as honorary chairs for the event.
Founder’s Day brings the
party to center of campus
East Stroudsburg University celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the institution on Sept. 12, 2018 in front of the Warren E. ’57 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center. Students, faculty and staff enjoyed a performance from the Warrior Marching Band and the Musical Theatre Organization sang songs from each era of the school’s history. Students also sent post cards featuring old yearbook photos to their family and friends and gave suggestions of items to be placed in a time capsule. President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., spoke of ESU’s storied history and Amy Leiser ’97 M’99, executive director of Monroe County Historical Society, talked about the impact ESU has had on the community for the last 125 years. Kitchen Chemistry of Stroudsburg provided a cake that was a replica of Stroud Hall, as it was when it was the first building on campus. She noted this year has been a time to pause and look back, to know where ESU came from as an institution, and to look ahead to what’s next. “Academically, we are rich with opportunities for students to learn while providing ‘gamechanging’ entrepreneurs with the support of ESU’s business accelerator program and the warrior launchpad. We have a Bloomberg Lab, arguably the most sophisticated 3D or additive manufacturing lab in the Commonwealth, about 20 professional development schools that partner with us in training teacher candidates, and health science programs that are high-tech, and high-touch,” said Welsh.
ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and the Warrior cut the Founder’s Day cake, a replica of the original Stroud Hall.
“The growth of our campus, the diversity of our students and the various offerings of all of our academic programs have shown how far we have come in 125 years.” Learn more about ESU’s 125th Anniversary festivities and the Presidential Distinguished Medal honorees at www.esu.edu/125.
Post cards featuring old yearbook photos are signed by students. Guests enjoy memorabilia displays at ESU’s 125th Anniversary Celebration.
Photos by Susie Forrester
esualumni.org 11
East Stroudsburg University and the ESU Foundation thank you for your support of the 125th Anniversary Celebration JULIA LEVEL
STROUD LEVEL
WARRIOR PRIDE LEVEL
RED AND BLACK LEVEL Concannon Miller & Co., P.C. Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C. Diocese of Scranton Direct Mail Service & Press, Inc.
East Stroudsburg University Alumni Association Enterprise Holdings Foundation KW Commercial, The Daniel Perich Group Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono
Monroe County Bar Association Odd Lot Outlet, Inc. - The Schuchman Family St. Luke’s University Health Network Stroudsmoor Country Inn
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Albanese Greenhouse Blue Ridge Cable Technologies Dr. Jeffrey Weber Drs. Sara E. Gil-Ramos & William J. Bajor East Stroudsburg University Foundation ESU Graduate and Extended Studies ESU Student Activity Association
Joe Bosack & Co. JR Flooring LAW Sound and Lighting The Martz Group Monroe County Historical Association Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance The Older Adult Learning Center
PA CareerLink Monroe County Santosha on the Ridge Savoy Contract Furniture Sherman Theater Stafursky Paving Company, Inc. William H. Clark Funeral Home
esu foundation
East Stroudsburg University Foundation
three new members
2018-2019 Board of Directors Robert Willever ’75, Chairman President, Willever Wealth Management Dr. Frank M. Pullo ’73 M’76 Vice Chairman Retired Faculty, East Stroudsburg University
Wendy Jankoski ’82
Robert Moses
Earlier this year, East Stroudsburg University Foundation Board Chair Robert Willever ’75 announced the appointments of three new members to its Board of Directors: ESU alumna Wendy Jankoski ’82, ESU retired director of residence life Robert Moses, and ESU student liaison Danielle Turner, class of 2020. Jankoski serves as president and chief investment officer of Wealth Architects, LLC. Located in Englewood, Fla., Wealth Architects is an independent, fee-only, registered investment advisor to high net worth individuals, small retirement plans, and foundations. Prior to her career at Wealth Architects, Jankoski was managing director of Monitor Capital Advisors in New York, and vice president of J.M. Davidson & Co. in Wayne, Pa. Jankoski has also been employed by Shearson Lehman Hutton and Arthur Young & Co. Jankoski received her MBA from Villanova University in 1986 and has completed tax and business law course work at Villanova Law School after graduating from ESU with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication. Jankoski established the ESU Suncoast Alumni Chapter Annual Scholarship. She is a member of the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club and a member of the board of benefactors for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc./ America’s Vet Dogs. Formerly, Jankoski was the treasurer on the board of trustees of the Englewood Art Center, director of the Englewood Rotary Club, member of the grant review committee of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, founding member and vice president of South Shore Bay House Owners, Inc., board of trustees’ vice president of the Suncoast Humane Society, and board member of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County.
Danielle Turner
During his 42-year tenure at ESU, Robert M. “Bob” Moses was involved with multiple aspects of the university and the community-at-large. At ESU, Moses was instrumental in expanding the housing inventory of the Residence Life Department. The expansion included the University Ridge Apartments, and three suitestyle residence halls: Hawthorn, Hemlock and Sycamore Suites. Recently, Bob established the Kathy Moses ’80 M’96 Elementary Education Memorial Endowed Scholarship for students in the elementary education program. He also supports and has established several other scholarships that contribute to the well-being of ESU’s students. Moses has received many community service awards from the American Cancer Society such as the “President’s Award,” “Volunteer of the Year Award,” and the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” He also received the “Humanitarian of the Year Award” from the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce, the “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award” for faculty-staff from ESU, and the “ESU Presidential Medal.” Moses is currently a member of several boards, including the Sterling Strauser Gallery Committee at ESU, of which he is a former chairperson, and was recently appointed to the ESU Foundation Board of Directors. He is the fundraising lead for various organizations such as the United Way, American Cancer Society, and Planned Parenthood of Northeast Pennsylvania. Turner is a junior majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. She is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and is a desk worker for Sycamore Suites. Turner has been a member of Warrior Elite since her freshman year and is now president of the student organization which assists the ESU Foundation in its mission.
Chris Yeager ’74 M’81, Secretary Retired Principal and School Superintendent Robert A. Shebelsky, Treasurer Chairman, Deputy Real Estate Holdings LLC. William B. Cramer, Esq. Attorney, Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C. MaryEllen Dickey ’80 Senior Vice President of Advancement Diakon Senior Living Services Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries Raymond Hamlin ’86, Esq. Attorney, Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley Wendy Jankoski ’82 President, Wealth Architects, LLC Harry F. Lee, Esq., Council of Trustees Liaison Attorney, Lee Law Offices
Douglas Leonzi ’94 Vice President, Investment Counselor BB&T Investment Services, Inc. Robert Moses Retired Director of Residence Life and Housing, East Stroudsburg University Geoffrey Roche M’15 Vice President of Strategic Initiative, Lebanon Valley College Dr. Elizabeth Leigh Smith, Faculty Liaison Associate Professor of English, East Stroudsburg University Adam S. Stauffer ’00 M’02 Assistant Vice President of Development and College Relations, Lafayette College David Super ’80, ESU Alumni Association Liaison Deputy Commander Defense Contract Management Agency Danielle Turner, ESU Student Liaison Class of 2020
Members Emeriti William B. Cramer, Esq. Legal Counsel and Emerita Attorney, Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C. Past chair, served 1987-2001 John T. Lambert ’54 Retired Superintendent East Stroudsburg School District Served 1989-2000 Rosemary Driebe Olofsson Executive Vice President Pocono Pro Foods Past chair, served 1987-1999 esualumni.org 13
esu foundation
The 1893 Society The 1893 Society recognizes alumni and friends who have included the ESU Foundation in their estate plans. All planned gifts to the ESU Foundation qualify for recognition in the 1893 Society.
Joseph G. Ashcroft* M’77 and Mary B. Whalen ‘78 Neil N. ‘96 and Gladys Baksh James R. ‘05 and Kathryn Barchiesi James L. Borger ‘59 Richard N. ‘60 and Jean M. ‘89 Brewer Susan C. Brink ‘72 M’87 Robert P. Brunet Jone J. Bush Jack P. ‘67 and Anne L. Childs Gertrude Q. ‘70 and Bruce A. Denlinger Gypsy Denzine Jean M. DeSchriver ‘74 Stephen M. Domovich ‘49 Eugenia S. Eden ‘72 M’76 William C. Eves ‘71 Bob H. ‘55 and Louise L. ‘56 Fabel Sue C. Falvello ‘60 Bernice W. Franchino ‘43 James P. ‘52 and Barbara A. Frawley Donna R. Gray ‘63 Donald L. ‘56 and Marge E. ‘59 Griffith George D. ‘58 and Harriet D. ‘56 Hall Noretta S. Herman ‘59 Angela J. Herrlinger ‘92 M’98 Sandra J. Hoeffner Geoffrey W. and Gretchen ‘02 Jackson Andrew E. Johnson Richard and Nancy M. Johnson Stephen and Gail Kalman Robert A. ‘71 and Sandra Kelley Martha S. Kellow Edward C. Kimes and Faith H. Waters Constance R. Krick ‘60
Hamilton H.T. and Jean C. Lee Judith A. ‘76 M’86 and James H. Leiding Kenneth E. Maclary Randy S. ‘78 and Valerie A. ‘79 Maugle Ann E. ‘82 and Kenton R., Jr. McGinnis Ronald J. Meyers Maury J. Molin ‘76 Frank M. Montano ‘69 Clarence J. and Elizabeth Murphy Patricia S. Neidorf* Sandra O’Neil-Seiler ‘57 Patricia A. Ori ‘61 Trudy M. Piatt Frank M. ‘73 M’76 and Nancy Pullo Sara M. Rand ‘61 Deborah A. Raykovitz ‘75 Michael J. Romano ‘74 M’83 Ernest E. and Sandra L. Rydell Larry M. ‘58 M’64 and Barbara Rymon Robert M. ‘65 and Elizabeth Ann Sabol Arthur R. ‘62 and Fannie A. ‘62 Schisler Glenn E. Schultz Walter George ‘74 and Cynthia M. ‘74 Schultz Scott F. Simonds ‘90 and Patricia Fonzi Barry E. ‘62 and Norma Slemmer Grace Smith Patricia J. Snyder Joan Sommer Ray J. Starner ‘69 Kathryn A. Waltz ‘70 Diana E. Weaver ‘57 Evelyn W. Werkheiser* ‘44 Carol A. Wolf ‘68 Richard A. ‘60 and Sandra L. ‘60 Zimmer *Deceased
NEW SCHOLARSHIPS 2017-2018
Nana Akwaaba II Memorial Annual Scholarship Alumni Association Fun Raiser Annual Scholarship APSCURF Endowed Scholarship Jean and Walter Ball Musical Design/Technical Theatre/Stage Management Annual Scholarship Robert and Carolyn Buzzard Chemistry Annual Scholarship James A. Cantafio ‘76 Football Annual Scholarship Chase News Director Annual Scholarship Richard R. Cherry Men’s Soccer Annual Scholarship Blaise M. Delfino ‘14 M’17 Annual Scholarship Drago Family Men’s Soccer Annual Scholarship Drago Family Psychology Annual Scholarship ESU Health Studies Annual Scholarship ESU Theatre Annual Scholarship Gaynor Family Football Annual Scholarship Bob Hillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship Sandra K. Hogue ‘82 Men’s Basketball Annual Scholarship Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Annual Scholarship John/Marshall Annual Scholarship Kessel Family Field Hockey Annual Scholarship Brielle Susan Kessel ‘14 Field Hockey Endowed Scholarship Jason Kobrynich ‘96 Wrestling Annual Scholarship Jill and Scott McLaren Liztech Annual Scholarship Dr. Irene Mitchel Nursing Endowed Scholarship Maury Molin ‘76 Men’s Track Annual Scholarship Kathy Moses ‘80 M’96 Elementary Education Memorial Endowed Scholarship Potts Family Men’s Basketball Annual Scholarship William G. Regan ‘78 Wrestling Annual Scholarship Peggy Rowland ‘86 Phi Sigma Sigma-Gamma Omega Endowed Scholarship Roger Straub ‘94 Football Annual Scholarship Vivature Athletic Annual Scholarship Scott Vrablic ‘02 Football Annual Scholarship Josh ‘08 and Jullianna Wentz Men’s Basketball Annual Scholarship Ryan J. Yanoshak M’05 Annual Scholarship Ryan J. Yanoshak M’05 Endowed Scholarship Michelle M. Yurko ‘02 Athletic Annual Scholarship
President’s Gala 2018
Donors, 1893 Society members thanked for their generosity
“Creating a Masterpiece” was the theme for the 2018 President’s Gala, which celebrated East Stroudsburg University’s President’s Circle donors and 1893 Society members on Sept. 14, 2018, in Kemp Library. Hosted by ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and the ESU Foundation, the gala acknowledges individuals, businesses, and organizations who have given $1,500 or more over the last fiscal year. Members of the 1893 Society, those who include the ESU Foundation in their estate plans, also attended. ESU Foundation Executive Director Rich Santoro thanked the guests for their generosity, which was responsible for the $2.8 million in support of ESU and its students during the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Thirty-five new scholarships were created, and ESU saw great success in the Baseball-Softball Turf Field enhancement project, as well as the Wildlife DNA Lab project. President Welsh also spoke, focusing on ESU’s students, who come from varied walks of life and backgrounds with the dreams of pursuing an education that will lead them to a gratifying and successful life. “Everything we do is truly about our students,” said Welsh. President Welsh then told guests that each person, in his or her own way, is helping to create the whole student, a masterpiece. “Your support for scholarships, academic and athletic programs, facilities, and more are an important part of the equation,” Welsh said. “Without your support, so much would be missing from our students’ experience at ESU. And that beautiful student we are preparing for the world, might not be who they could have been without your help.”
Patricia and David Crotty enjoy the Annual President’s Gala held in Kemp Library.
President Welsh expressed her pride in the philanthropic strides ESU and the ESU Foundation have made this past fiscal year. Financial support was given to annual and endowed scholarships, academic and athletic programs, and the Warrior Fund, which supports the most immediate needs of ESU and makes the student experience memorable by encouraging learning, enhancing programs, and enriching collegiate life. Photos by Susie Forrester
To learn more about becoming a member of the President’s Circle or the 1893 Society, visit the ESU Foundation at www.esufoundation.org or call 570-422-3333.
President’s Circle Members
Individuals, businesses and organizations who have given $1,500 and above.
Millennium Circle Marcia G. Welsh and David R. Bousquet ($50,000+) Louis Terracio Braveheart Rory J. ‘84 and Enterprises, LLC ESSA Bank & Trust Diane E. Yanchek Charitable Foundation Elliot H. and Founders Circle Victoria E. Brown Hoeffner Foundation ($5,000 - $9,999) Joanne Z. Bruno and Robert M. Moses Richard Sentital David A. ‘70 and Pennsylvania State Bonnie E. ‘72 Childs Thomas C. Capezio ‘71 Employees Credit Union Blaise M. Delfino ‘14 M’17 Barry J. ‘74 and Douglas Roscoe Janet R. ‘75 Cohen Fader Plugs, LLC Susan Z. ‘85 and Horace S. ‘63 and Robert A. Shebelsky James G. ‘95 and Sonya K. ‘63 Cole Funmilayo Franklin The R. Dale and Frances Patricia M. and M. Hughes Foundation Alan S. ‘72 and Joan F. Frick David W. Crotty Joseph T. ‘82 and Julia Circle Cynthia Defidelto Diane Gaynor ($10,000 - $49,999) Gypsy Denzine Glen Brook Golf Club William B. and Patricia A. Desmond ‘70 Richard B. ‘69 and Barbara Cramer Wendy H. Koch MaryEllen ‘80 and Stephen M. Domovich ‘49 Kevin J. Dickey Shala E. Davis and Jan S. Dutt ‘67 and John F. Kochmansky Direct Mail Service Candace E. Somlock Dutt & Press Inc. Frederick L. ‘63 and Ertle Subaru Elizabeth A. ‘62 Dockside Properties, LLC ESSA Bank & Trust Masenheimer Dennis C. and Fulton Financial Allison Matula Judith G. Douds Corporation J. Douglas ‘67 M’69 Anthony L. ‘76 and Hughes Foundation, Inc. and Marilyn McNamee Ellen S. Drago Bryan E. and James C. Rutherford, David R. ‘74 and Colette L. Hughes Jr. Memorial Fund Christina D. Dunning Gary A. ‘77 and Adam S. ‘00 M’02 Easton Coach Company Debra G. ‘81 Kessel and Erin Stauffer Enterprise Holdings Douglas C. and Robert T. Sweeney ‘62 Foundation Sharon G. Lane The Ann and ESU APSCURF Charles A. ‘69 and Joseph Farda Foundation David B. ‘81 and Patricia ‘68 McMunn The Kirby Foundation Shirley Fenner Ryan A. and Alexandra The William T. First Energy Wilcox McMunn Morris Foundation Foundation Lehigh Valley VanFleet Medical Robert P. Fleischman Hospital - Pocono Vigon International, Inc. Alfredo ‘03 and Mattioli Foundation Jennifer Garcia Jeffrey A. and Jessica Miccio Audrey Weber Deborah L. Gebhardt ‘69 Irene Mitchel Robert H. ‘75 and Patricia Graham Mount Airy Julieann Willever Thomas J. Grayuski ‘84 Casino Resort WSBG/WVPO Donald L. ‘56 and Mount Airy Foundation Randy Yanoshak Marge E. ‘59 Griffith Mountain Valley Ernest R. Gromlich ‘60 President’s Circle Orthopedics, P.C. ($1,500 - $4,999) George D. ‘58 and Niedbala Family Harriet D. ‘56 Hall Foundation Adams Outdoor Advertising Hampton Inn & Suites R. Sam ‘82 and All Sports Enterprises, Inc. Stroudsburg Bartonsville Linda ‘83 Niedbala ARAMARK Services, Inc. Harrison G. and Estate of David Rodney W. ‘65 and Dolores M. Hartman Laurence Perrine Eileen R. Applegate Phillip A. ‘85 and Richard K. and Rick and Susan Armitage Cathy Headland Donna J. ‘96 Salch Mary Sue ‘60 M’69 and Edward V. Henning Sanofi Pasteur Louis A. Balducci Patricia G. ‘62 and Arthur R. ‘62 and Thomas A. ‘62 and William C. Hibschman Fannie A. ‘62 Schisler Rebecca A. ‘72 Barrow Holiday Inn Express Stephen M. and Kenneth A. ‘62 M’65 and and Suites Sharon D. Somers Donna W. Benner Wendy Jankoski ‘82 The Haverford Donald R. and and Paul Lapinski Trust Company Dolores B. Bortz
K and W Investors Lois E. ‘78 and Richard J. Rawson Eileen P. ‘79 and James G. Kaiser Glenn F. ‘69 and Sue Ann Reibman Robert A. ‘58 and Anne E. Kearn Robert M. Richey ‘73 Robert and Stacey Kelly Geoffrey M’15 and Rebecca S. Roche Kathleen F. ‘95 and Thomas D. Kirkwood Walter P. ‘77 and Nancy G. Rogers Henry C. Kunkel ‘73 Kevin P. ‘83 and KW Commercial, The Candace A. ‘81 Ruddy Daniel Perich Group William A. ‘57 and Judith A. ‘76 M’86 and Marilyn M. Ruddy James H. Leiding SAJE Enterprises, LLC Douglas S. ‘94 and Melissa A. Leonzi Rich and Katee Santoro Francine S. ‘65 and Paul and Judy Schuchman Robert H. Lewis Gregory E. ‘80 M’93 and William J. ‘63 and Lauretta A. ‘81 Shoemaker Sandra F. ‘64 Lewis Neal H. and Mark E. and Joyce L. Simpson Wendy A. Lichty Ski Shawnee, Inc. Marcus S. ‘95 and Yvonne Edwin R. ‘56 and T. ‘94 Lingenfelter Patricia K. ‘55 Smith Jacob T. Llewellyn ‘72 Howard L. Soloway Anthony D. ‘82 and St. Luke’s University Christine Mahon Health Network Martz Group Kyle C. and Katie Stem Mary-Carol Mason ‘62 George C. ‘66 and Michael V. ‘88 and Ida Stockman Mary McCann Stony Acres William R. McFadden ‘81 Robert G. Sutton and Ann E. ‘82 and Linda DeRenzis-Sutton Kenton R. McGinnis John R. ‘69 M’73 and MegaPhase LLC Pamela J. ‘70 Thatcher Clavertis D. and The Auxiliary of the Charlene Miller Pocono Medical Center Maury J. Molin ‘76 The Camelot Schools of Pennsylvania Monroe County Bar Association The Older Adult Learning Center - TOALC Monroe County Bar Foundation Jack Thompson Robert W. ‘66 M’67 and Doreen M. and Claudia ‘65 Naismith John C. Tobin* Bryan M. O’Neill ‘04 William G. Tobin Jerry and Hedy Orodenker Robert J. ‘65 and Patty J. Tonkin Trevin J. Panaia ‘97 and Kari L. Yodice-Panaia ‘95 Mark S. Turner and Gina J. Bertucci Steven and Ann Paolini Vivature, Inc. Pinnacle Parking, LLC Brent I. Voynar ‘95 Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau William D. and Ellen Walker Renee A. ‘89 and Kathryn A. Waltz ‘70 John M. Pope Diana E. Weaver ‘57 Mary Frances Nancy L. Weaver ‘74 M’78 Postupack M’93 Karl M. and Ann H. Weiler William Pote III Amy ‘85 and Deborah E. Prince Robert J. Welch Frank M. ‘73 M’76 Jeffrey I. Wilson ‘86 M’92 and Nancy Pullo Wenjie Yan G. James Purdy ‘68 *Deceased
esu foundation
Every gift matters, every year. “
Your support
As a first-generation student, your financial generosity has allowed me to continue to follow my biggest dream, which is graduating from college. I hope one day I will be able to help other students achieve their goal just as you have helped me.
fills the needs
”
Daniela Arango Zapata Class of 2018
of ESU students Each year, East Stroudsburg University alumni generously support the Warrior Fund, providing operating assistance for the greatest needs of the university and its students. These gifts fund academic and athletic initiatives, student-faculty research opportunities, technology upgrades, scholarship, and so much more. ESU students are motivated by professors, coaches, and administrators to think, lead, and inspire. These academic and life experiences would not be possible without your financial support. Imagine the ways your gift can transform a student’s life, and the influence our students can have when they go out into the world as educators, business leaders, researchers and health care workers. Your annual gift will make a measurable difference to those who learn and teach here, allowing our students and their mentors to achieve great things. Now more than ever, the continued support of alumni affirms your confidence in the university and its students. Your investment in the Warrior Fund is a statement of belief in your alma mater and its students, students who will remember your generosity and give back to the Warriors of tomorrow.
There’s still time to make your gift to the Warrior Fund. Your online gift can be made at www.esufoundation.org/givenow; via check, made payable to ESU Foundation, or in the postage-paid envelope inserted in your magazine. You may also call the ESU Foundation at 570-422-3333 for personal assistance.
Foundation launches
SIM LAB campaign
A campaign to create a College of Health Sciences Community Health Education & Simulation Center to advance healthcare professionals’ abilities to perform complex medical procedures and lifesaving techniques is now underway through the East Stroudsburg University Foundation. The center will offer simulation training for nursing, athletic training, and other health science students, regional healthcare professionals, and community members. Space in the DeNike Center for Human Services has been earmarked for the project.
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In addition to the 1,150 sq. ft. space that will need to be configured, equipment will also need to be acquired. Once the simulation lab is functional, the lab will be regarded as an attractive feature to complement studying at ESU. The ESU Foundation has a goal of $500,000 to be raised over two years to complete the project. For additional information or to discuss your gift to this campaign, please contact the ESU Foundation at rsantoro@esufoundation.org or by calling 570-422-3333.
570-422-3333 | sspeirs@esufoundation.org | esufoundationlegacy.org
campus news
New funding will create PA Tick Research Lab at ESU
On Oct. 23, 2018, State Representative Rosemary Brown presented a check for $500,000 that she established in the 2018-19 State Budget (on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services) to East Stroudsburg University and its Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory for the development of The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at ESU. The Tick Research Lab will provide free tick testing to all Pennsylvania residents. Tests include Lyme disease along with three additional tests based on the species of tick submitted. Results of the tests will be provided to residents and will include important information about risk and exposure to tick-borne diseases. Funding will also support the development of a data analytic website that will provide infection rates across the Commonwealth, areas with high tick density, and demographics associated with the tick bite. From left, ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., Nicole Chinnici, director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at ESU, and State Representative Rosemary Brown, following a check presentation to help establish The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at ESU. Photo by Bob Weidner
This data will establish a baseline for the prevalence of ticks and tickborne diseases in Pennsylvania. Since 2011, the Commonwealth has been the nation’s leader in annual confirmed cases of Lyme disease.
Anatomage Table brings virtual 3D human dissection to ESU East Stroudsburg University students now have access to an Anatomage Table, the most technically advanced virtual dissection table for anatomy education. The table is used by professors in the College of Health Sciences, particularly for anatomy and physiology courses and clinical classes. The table presents anatomy as a fully interactive, life-sized touch screen experience. The Anatomage Table is a segmented real human 3D anatomy system that allows students to visualize anatomy without fresh cadavers. “We do not have the proper facility for cadaver dissections at ESU,” explained Gerard D. Rozea, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of athletic training. The table allows students to dissect the human body over and over again, closely examining different layers of the body. “We now have the ability to dissect in 3D, and then reconstruct the body. The level of exploration and learning is limitless.”
“We are extremely proud to continue the ESU tradition of putting students first and to be adding another cutting-edge technology to our educational toolbox. The Anatomage Table brings increased student participation and state-of-the-art learning technology to all ESU students taking health science and other science courses,” said Denise Seigart, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences. Students and professors utilize the new Anatomage Table as part of the College for Health Science curriculum. Photo by Susie Forrester
Use of the Anatomage Table in classrooms has proven to improve test scores and student retention. Students are also exposed to different anatomical variations and a large number of pathological variations. The accurate details and rich content draw students’ interest and attention leading to more effective education outcomes. It also helps prepare students for the real world with hands-on experience. “This is an amazing tool. It will really help students understand the anatomy of their patients and relate to clinical skills and experiences they have as they will virtually rotate the patient’s body around and can zoom in to see the structures clearly. The table will allow students to interact with different types of bodies – male, female, young, old – as opposed to working with cadavers that are typically aged. For students studying athletic training, that can make a huge difference,” Dr. Rozea said. 18 the alumni herald
To learn more about the Anatomage Table technology, watch a YouTube video provided by the company, https://youtu.be/F9MQURbmhfs.
Entrepreneur speaker series welcomes Ryan McMunn
Ryan McMunn at the Oct. 17, 2018, President’s Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series. Photo by Susie Forrester
Ryan McMunn, CEO and Founder of BRIC Language Learning and CEO of Tricam Industries, was the featured speaker at East Stroudsburg University’s President’s Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series on Oct. 17, 2018, in Beers Lecture Hall. BRIC, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, is an interactive online language learning program that accelerates fluency in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portugese, and other languages. McMunn encouraged ESU students, faculty, staff, and community members to abandon the fear of failure, to learn the culture and subculture, to guard against making preconceived judgements, to be creative with employee incentives, and to network as frequently as possible. He told several stories about his entrepreneurial experiences, including the mistakes he’s made, the failures he’s endured, the hope he was given, and the successes he’s had. McMunn came up with the idea for BRIC when he was living in China while working for Tricam Industries, founded by his father, Charles A. “Tony” McMunn ’69, but had trouble learning the language, even after numerous attempts with multiple language systems. That changed when McMunn met Kassey Wong, who asked what McMunn wanted to learn (casual conversation) and what he needed to learn (business conversation). Wong developed a system that clicked with McMunn, and the two teamed up to start BRIC.
ESU hosts Monroe County businesses for annual Economic Outlook Summit
McMunn was the fourth guest in the President’s Distinguished Entrepreneur Speaker Series, preceded by Philly Pretzel Factory CEO and cofounder Dan DiZio ’95, CryoConcepts CEO Dr. Sam Niedbala ’82, and Vigon International owner and president Steve Somers. Photo by Susie Forrester
In collaboration with East Stroudsburg University, business representatives of Monroe County met at ESU’s Mattioli Recreation Center for the Sixth Annual Economic Outlook Summit on Sept. 7, 2018. The theme for this year’s summit was “Monroe County: Where are we going? How will we get there?” The program included a Strategic Doing exercise with Ed Morrison, J.D., that allowed participants to address those questions, and an address by Randal Pinkett, Ph.D., about creating an entrepreneurial Monroe County. Pictured, from left, Patrice Dume of Middle The Economic Outlook Summit provided updates on the Monroe 2030 Action Team Work Plan Smithfield Township, takes a photograph with and the Sixth Annual Monroe County Economic Scorecard which compares Monroe County to Pinkett, co-founder, chair and CEO of BCT Partners its neighboring counties. located in Newark, N.J.
Author Cristina Henríquez Visits Campus as part of One Book Program
Author Cristina Henríquez speaks to students as part of the One Book, One Campus program. Photo by Susie Forrester
Cristina Henríquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans, spoke to East Stroudsburg University students, faculty, and staff as part of the One Book, One Campus program on Nov. 7, 2018, in Abeloff Auditorium. Henríquez spoke about the characters in her novel and the creative process she underwent to write it. Earlier in the day, Henríquez was interviewed on ESU’s radio station, 90.3 WESS FM. The Book of Unknown Americans is a stunning novel of hopes and dreams, guilt and love – a book that offers a resonant, new definition of what it means to be American. Henríquez seamlessly interweaves the story of star-crossed lovers with the testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Latin America. Each year, the One Book, One Campus selection committee chooses a book that will engage students, faculty, and staff in deeply considering the implications of the work relevant to a theme of current social issues. The purpose is to promote reading and to unify ESU’s campus through shared classroom content, group discussions, club activities, and sidewalk conversations.
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campus news “They had clearly been doing a lot of work to find us, so I think we were both surprised and grateful more than anything,” said Lisa Schwebke, who has an interest in genealogy. Mildred Burton’s Class of 1953 yearbook entry.
Sisters Lisa and Lindsey Schwebke hold their grandmother’s 1953 class ring after treasure hunter Kevin Catalfamo returned it to them in New York City. Photos courtesy of WHEC-TV
What would you do if you found a college class ring more than 60 years old, buried under a tree in a county park? You might imagine who the owner was, and how it got there. You might place an ad to see if anyone would claim it. Or you might sell it for the value of the gold — you could pocket $100 or so. Or, if you are amateur treasure hunter Kevin Catalfamo, you launch a passionate quest to find out who lost that Class of 1953 East Stroudsburg Teachers College ring and return it. It was a cold day in February 2017 when Catalfamo was out doing some metal detecting, looking for historical artifacts in a park near Rochester, N.Y. He got a strong signal at the base of a fruit tree. Digging down eight inches, he found the ring with a red stone and “M.M.B.” engraved inside. “I saw the color, the writing, the initials, and it just hit home,” he said. “Man, it would be great to get this back to the owner.” He had no idea where East Stroudsburg was, but soon found that is was in Pennsylvania, 250 miles away, and that the teachers college had become East Stroudsburg University. He found the 1953 “Stroud” yearbook in an online archive and looked for seniors with initials matching the ring. The yearbook didn’t include middle initials, though, so it was impossible to pin down. He called Josten’s, the ring company, but they only keep records for 10 years. Next was a call to the ESU Alumni Office, where he reached Jessica Schultz, coordinator of alumni engagement. “One of our functions is to connect alumni with the University and with each other,” said Leon John, director of alumni engagement. “We typically have alumni contacting us to track down a classmate or ask about a family member.” Catalfamo’s request was something different. “Jessica could not match the initials with anyone in our database,” John said, noting that records from 50 years ago or more have not all been digitized. But Schultz followed up with the registrar’s office, and was able to identify the probable ring owner as Mildred Burton, Class of 1953, of Philadelphia. An inquiry to her last known address went unanswered, though, and so the mystery continued. 20 the alumni herald
Who was Mildred Burton? She majored in Secondary Education, so she could have been a teacher. She was in the math club, the French club and the nature club. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. That was all the yearbook revealed. But Catalfamo didn’t give up. He sought help from WHECTV in Rochester, which started investigating. Thinking the woman must have come to Rochester to teach, reporter Berkeley Brean contacted all the area school districts, asking them to search their records for a teacher named Mildred Burton. Those inquiries went nowhere, but news of the search reached Lisa Nielsen, a school district clerk whose work helping adoptees find their birth parents taught her how to search records. And she was able to find Mildred Burton. “Kevin didn’t know where to look next for more information on her and her family,” she said. “That is when the genealogical work came into play to find her married name and her descendants.” Mildred married a Navy man from Rochester named William Dennis a year after she graduated. She died at age 30, just three years after having a daughter, Patricia. Nielsen continued to search. She found that Patricia had married and also died young — but was survived by daughters Lisa and Lindsay Schwebke, who Nielsen was able to locate living in Manhattan. And so Brean and Catalfamo made a trip to the city at the end of May, meeting up with Mildred Burton’s granddaughters to give them her long-lost class ring.
The sisters visited ESU in November to learn more about the grandmother they never knew: Mildred Burton Dennis ’53. “We’re getting to know her more than our mother did,” Lindsay said wistfully after a campus tour. “It’s really special to retrace her steps,” Lisa said. “Even though a lot has changed since she left in 1953, it’s a little piece of understanding we didn’t have before.” After a walk through ESU history with university archivist Liz Scott, a meeting with President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and lunch at the President’s residence with Dr. Welsh and ESU staff, the Schwebkes were given two special gifts. One was a copy of the 1953 yearbook, where they found more photographs of their grandmother as a student. “We had three photos of her before, and now we have 10,” Lisa said, noting that she is wearing her class ring in many of them. They also received a copy of the university’s centennial history book, featuring photos and information about what campus life was like for their grandmother at a time when not many women were pursuing a college degree. “Everyone at ESU has been so warm and welcoming, helping us know a grandmother we didn’t know much about,” Lisa said. The Schwebkes hope someday to meet someone who knew Millie, perhaps a classmate. For now, they are happy to have become part of ESU’s 125th anniversary celebration, and to have toured the campus where their grandmother once walked. – By Kim de Bourbon
TROIANI-SWEENEY LECTURE FOCUSES ON DEMENTIA Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Ph.D., was the keynote speaker for the TroianiSweeney Lecture Series, “Past, Present, and New Horizons in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research” on Oct. 18, 2018, in the Niedbala Auditorium. Dr. Edelmayer is the director of scientific engagement, which leads efforts to accelerate the scientific agenda of the Alzheimer’s Association. Approximately 125 people attended the lecture and a reception which was held afterward. Now in its fifth year, the Troiani-Sweeney Lecture Series at ESU was developed by graduates Linda Troiani ’83 and Sam Niedbala ’82 to honor Linda’s sister, Yvonne Troiani Sweeney ’78, who has posterior cortical atrophy.
PA SENATOR IS 2018 LEGISLATIVE FELLOW ESU named Pennsylvania Senator Judith L. Schwank as its legislative fellow for 2018. The Legislative Fellow Program brings state legislators to ESU to participate in campus activities and meet with students, faculty, and staff.
ESU WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS Maria Cutsinger has joined ESU as the new director of student conduct and Title IX investigations. Cutsinger brings with her more than 11 years of experience. Originally from the Scranton area, she was also a former police officer and is a graduate of Shippensburg University. Curtis Dugar has joined ESU as the new director of residential and dining services. He comes to ESU with over 15 years of experience in residential life and housing, most recently serving as the associate director of residential life at Virginia Tech.
DRAGO, LARE RECEIVE PATH RECEIVES AWARD DISTINGUISHED CLEAR The Innovator & Entrepreneur of the Year Award was given to the PROFESSOR Clear Path Team and the Science of Success on Sept. 4, 2018. Michelle Jones-Wilson, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, Olivia Carducci, Ph.D., AWARDS associate professor of mathematics, and Bonnie Green, Ph.D., professor
Anthony L. Drago ‘76, Ed.D. , and Douglas A. Lare, Ed.D., were presented with ESU’s annual Distinguished Professor Awards on Sept. 4, 2018.
The Distinguished Professor Award – the highest honor for ESU faculty to receive – is presented based on outstanding contributions to the academic life of the University and its reputation. The award of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon an individual by ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., in recognition of exceptional achievements in teaching, research/scholarship/ creative activities, and service. Drago has been a member of the psychology department at ESU since 1987, became a tenured professor in 1992, and has served as department chair since 1996. Drago teaches 12 different undergraduate classes within the discipline of psychology. Lare joined ESU’s professional and secondary education department in 1998. He has taught courses at all levels, from undergraduate teacher prep to doctoral leadership, and he helped launch the first doctoral program at ESU in 2016.
ESU WELCOMES NEW BAND DIRECTOR Brian Hodge, an assistant professor of theatre at ESU, has also become ESU’s new band director. Previously, Hodge was assistant band director at the University of Arizona, as well as interim director of instrumental music at Rhodes College, a small liberal arts school in Memphis, and director of bands at Sullivan North High School in Kingsport, Tenn.
MUNFORD IS ESyoU HONOREE OF THE YEAR President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., presented the “ESyoU” Honoree of the Year award to Shawn Munford M’04, Ph.D., associate professor of exercise science. Munford was one of eight candidates who was nominated by faculty, staff and students to be recognized throughout the 2017-2018 academic year for demonstrating student-centered service.
of psychology, applied for and were awarded a $4 + million, five-year grant to help approximately 120 transfer students complete their undergraduate education at ESU in the fields of biochemistry, physics, computer science and mathematics.
Best known by its name, Clear Path, the grant-funded program also provides students with peer mentoring, advanced coursework tutoring, targeted advising and the infusion of high impact practices, including success seminars, with the help of instructor John Darsinos.
Keynote speaker selected for MLK 2019 Debra Y. Fraser-Howze, former senior vice president of government and external affairs at OraSure Technologies, Inc., will be the keynote speaker for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast. The 22nd annual celebration honoring Dr. King is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2019, at 8 a.m. in the Mattioli Recreation Center on ESU’s campus. The theme of this year’s breakfast is “The time is always right to do what is right.” Fraser-Howze joined OraSure Technologies, a leader in the development, manufacturing and distribution of oral fluid diagnostic and collection devices and other technologies designed to detect or diagnose critical medical conditions, in January 2008. Fraser-Howze has played a critical role in launching the Company’s OraQuick In-Home HIV Test and the OraQuick Rapid HCV Test. Both innovations are the first and only such tests to be approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fraser-Howze has also been instrumental in securing $30 million in government funding for the clinical development of the Company’s OraQuick Rapid Ebola Test and the OraQuick Rapid Zika Test. Tickets to the celebration can be purchased at www.esufoundation.org/mlk2019.
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alumni news
Ken Baker ’65 enjoys the afternoon at the Warriors Homecoming football game.
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Photos by Susie Forrester
Members of Kappa Alpha Psi and Theta Chi at the All-Alumni Tailgate during Homecoming Weekend 2018.
Warriors of all generations came out for Homecoming Weekend 2018, held Oct. 5-7. The weekend began on Friday with a campus bus tour, the annual Remembrance Day program, the Annual Alumni Awards and AllAlumni Reunion Banquet, and the traditional warrior bonfire. The Class of 1968 celebrated its 50th Anniversary Reunion and the Class of 1958 gathered for its 60th. The banquet opened with a Warrior Torch Run as ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and Dr. Frank Pullo ’73 M’76 lit a torch which was passed to alumni and current students throughout Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, finally ending at the rugby field. The torch was used to light the bonfire. On Saturday, the Class of 1968 enjoyed a mimosa reception with President Welsh at her home on campus followed by a tailgate class party.
The Class of 1968 sponsors the International Student Travel Scholarship, for which $13,900 has been raised so far. Other tailgates were held throughout the afternoon, including the Class of 1958 and the Annual All-Alumni Tailgate. The men’s and women’s soccer teams hosted Gannon, and football took on Kutztown. Later Saturday night, the Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the Dr. Patricia Graham Legacy Step & Stroll Competition. Homecoming Weekend concluded on Sunday with an All-Alumni Champagne Brunch and planetarium show at the Warren E. ’57 and Sandra Hoeffner Science and Technology Center and tours of the Schisler Wildlife Museum. See more photos from Homecoming www.flickr.com/photos/esualumni
Jean Miller Leshko ’58 and Bob Kern ’58 look over a slide presentation for their class reunion.
Judith Briane Armstrong ’68 and Marilyn Barber Hiller ’68 reconnect looking at past photos at alumni check-in.
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alumni news
Upcoming Events Jan. 25, 2019 ESU ALUMNI WRESTLING EVENT Koehler Fieldhouse Time and details TBD
Feb. 11, 2019 ESU ALUMNI SCRANTON/ WILKES BARRE EVENT WBS Penguins vs. Cleveland Monsters Wilkes Barre, Pa. Game time 7:05 p.m. Pre-event tour TBD
Feb. 26, 2019 ESU PALM COAST GOLF AND DINNER EVENT Cypress Knoll Golf & Country Club
awa r d s banquet
Outstanding alumni of ESU recognized Alumni and friends of East Stroudsburg University who have achieved recognition in their field or have gone above and beyond in their support of the university were honored by the ESU Alumni Association Board of Directors on Oct. 5, 2018. The Annual Alumni Awards and Class of 1968 Reunion Banquet was held at Terraview at Stroudsmoor, in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Palm Coast, Fla. 5 p.m.
Donald Scheuer ’66 of Fort Washington, Pa., received the Excellence in Education Award. This award is given to graduates who have demonstrated superior teaching ability and extraordinary commitment to students at the elementary, secondary, or college level. Scheuer spent more than 44 years teaching at the Haverford School as a mathematics specialist responsible for curriculum development and teacher training. He is the recipient of over 40 awards for his work in the classroom.
David Childs ’70 of Stroudsburg, Pa., received the Helen G. Brown Honor Award. This award is given to graduates whose accomplishments honor the university. Childs has been a teacher in the Health and Physical Education Department at Warren Hills Regional High School, Washington, N.J., and developed the state recognized Wilderness Experience Program at Wilderness Hills.
March 1, 2019 ESU ALUMNI FLORIDA EVENT Golf Outing and Luncheon Myakka Pines Golf Club, Englewood, Fla. 8 a.m. golf, 1 p.m. lunch
Check www.esualumni.org and www.esu.edu frequently as events are added throughout the year.
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John Howard ’68 of Baltimore, Md., received the Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is given to graduates whose achievements in their field have distinguished them on a national or international level. Howard was an associate judge for over 10 years, Baltimore City Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit.
Carl Weigner ’58 of Branchburg, N.J., received the Jim Barniak Award. This award is given to graduates who have made athletic achievements post-graduation. Weigner has been a teacher, coach, and athletic director throughout the state of New Jersey since 1958 and is the current president of the Skyland Athletic Conference.
Kelly Kemmerer, ’07 M’11 of East Stroudsburg, Pa., received the Young Alumni Achievement Award. This award is given to graduates who demonstrate exceptional ability and have made significant strides in their chosen profession. Kemmerer is the executive director of Monroe County Habitat for Humanity and was the 2014 recipient of the Community Fundraiser Award.
Celebrating Parkettes 50th anniversary are co-founders Bill ’70 and Donna ’64 Strauss, center, with former Parkettes gymnasts Jennifer Beltz Donelson, left, and Joanne Gaffney, right.
One of the most instrumental people in starting Parkettes was Carroll Parks, principal of Trexler Junior High School in the Allentown School District, where Donna was a teacher. Parkettes was named after him. “He was one of the really early people who understood female sports. Donna needed more gym time, and he made the basketball coach share,” Bill Strauss said. “We practiced in a backyard, a barn, the second floor of Symphony Hall, at Swain Country Day School, and then Mack Trucks took us on as their fundraiser project.” It took several years to land at their current location in Allentown, and as Parkettes continued to form, Donna realized she needed help with spotting the gymnasts. That’s where Bill was of great assistance. “Working together was extremely important, and it wouldn’t have worked any other way. We wouldn’t have had a relationship or raised three children,” said Donna Strauss. “We didn’t know what the outcome was going to be.” Fifty years later, the outcome is clear.
55 years of marriage + 50 years of Parkettes = a lifetime of passion
Over 150 gymnasts have received full scholarships to universities including Arizona, UCLA, Temple, and Stanford. Daughters Tricia and Christy work at Parkettes, and son Michael has a traveling gymnastics program in Arizona. Grandchildren Logan, Carsen, Brandi, Rowin, Aiden, and Izabella are now involved in gymnastics. And then, of course, there are the Olympic gymnasts that Parkettes has produced.
“The Olympics were satisfying, but for me, it was more the not-so-talented kids, and when they did something well, the look of accomplishment on their face,” said Bill Strauss. “When I was teaching, I would request the lower- track kids. I feel like it’s my duty in life to make sure all the Approximately 350 people dined, danced and reminisced on June 23, 2018, at the DeSales University kids feel happy and secure. I was a little guy, so Conference Center in Center Valley, Pa., for the 50th anniversary celebration of Parkettes, the I know what it’s like.” renowned gymnastics program co-founded by Donna ’64 and Bill Strauss ’70 in Allentown. Parkettes provides gymnastics training to over “Kids came back from all over the country,” Bill Strauss ’70 said. “The whole night was electric.” 1,200 gymnasts ranging in age from 1 to 70. Former Parkettes who attended the reunion included 1988 Seoul Olympics team member Hope “I treasure that they still have that motivation and Spivey and 2000 Sydney Olympics team member Kristen Maloney. desire,” Donna Strauss said. “A lot of them are Donna Strauss recalled the opening ceremonies in Seoul as an event she will always remember. home-schooled. They excel both scholastically “You get to talk to people from different countries and other sports, and then you walk through and gymnastically. They are people who want to a long tunnel and walk around the track. There must have been 60,000 or 70,000 people in the succeed at whatever they do, but they have an stadium, and when the U.S. entered, the shouting, screaming and cheering was so loud,” she said. immediate family of friends from gymnastics.” Married 55 years and living in Wescosville, Pa., Donna’s passion has always been gymnastics while When the Strausses are not in the gym, Donna enjoys biking and hiking, while Bill likes to golf, Bill’s is teaching. “I went into the service, but I always wanted to be a teacher, so I met with Dr. Koehler (ESU’s fish, and hike. president from 1956 to 1968 and for whom Koehler Fieldhouse is named) and he matriculated me, “Never did I think it would become all this,” Donna Strauss said. and I ended up making the dean’s list,” Bill Strauss said. “East Stroudsburg had a big impact on us. They had a men’s and women’s gymnastics team. Donna – By Katie McDonald did the flying rings, and I would go to the gym to help out.” esualumni.org 25
alumni news
With tools from ESU,
alumna creates non-profit to assist Kenyan families When Beldina Opiyo ’02 M’04 returned to her village in Kenya in 2008 after a decade in the United States, she was heartbroken by the devastation caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. By that time, she had already lost 10 family members to the disease. “I was shocked, I was overwhelmed and was just so worried about the many orphans I saw sitting at home and not able to go to school or even get something to eat in my village,” recalled Opiyo. But she brought with her tools for dealing with such public health crises, tools she had learned while earning her bachelor’s degree in community health and master’s degree in public health at East Stroudsburg University. She chose public health to improve the lives of those in her village. “I took advantage of everything I could find that would be helpful to me,” Opiyo said. “The support I got from everybody at ESU was great. I had that passion of wanting to come back to my country and use that knowledge and experience I got at ESU to help my community.” While still a student, Opiyo became a volunteer board member for AIDSNET, a non-profit group in Bethlehem, Pa., that works with HIV/AIDS patients, and she later worked as its program manager. She also served in other public health positions and was an adjunct instructor at ESU. But she never lost sight of the desperate needs in her village of Amilo. In 2005, while still in the U.S., she founded the Alice Visionary Foundation Project (AVFP). Since then, the non-profit group has partnered with other non-governmental organizations and worked with thousands of Kenyans on needs ranging from education to nutrition to medical care. AVFP started a lunch program at schools in Amilo and the nearby city of Kisumu that increased children’s attendance by 50 percent. “For them, that is the only meal they will have in a day,” Opiyo said. She’s working to get the communities to contribute food to make the lunch program sustainable for the long term. The teachers appreciate it because full stomachs lead to the kids being able to better concentrate on their lessons. The group has also started girls’ clubs and boys’ clubs that encourage children to further their education and teach them leadership and life skills. Opiyo and her staff also instruct on how to discipline children in positive ways. 26 the alumni herald
“It’s very interesting because most of our public schools practice corporal punishment where they’re caning kids,” Opiyo said. “So we find with this training the whole school changes its attitude. The kids are telling us that the teachers are friendlier. Instead of caning a child because they’re late, they’re able to ask why they’re late, and what’s happening at home.” For some orphans whose parents have died of AIDS, AVFP has taken care of the children and paid for their education. One little girl named Millicent lost both her parents to AIDS within two weeks. “We were like family to her,” Opiyo says. “AVFP paid for Millicent to go to a two-year college to study nutrition and now she has a job.” The Alice Visionary Foundation Project is named for Opiyo’s late mother, Alice, who raised eight children, including two orphans, and inspired them all to pitch in on chores regardless of whether the tasks were considered traditionally male or female. She recalls her mother, a lay pastor, telling Opiyo’s brothers, “‘When you grow up I don’t want to hear that you are eating in a restaurant because you can’t cook.’ She kept telling me if you do not want people to step on you, you need to get a good education,” Opiyo said. “So that really inspired me.” It was Opiyo’s brother Paul who convinced her to apply to ESU. Paul and his wife Regina graduated from ESU in 1996 and currently work in Harrisburg. Beldina was accepted at ESU in the fall of 1998. “It was such a privilege,” she says. Opiyo met AVFP co-founder and board president Sandy Rader and two other board members through the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain in Delaware Water Gap, where she was a member. The church continues to support their efforts. In July, Elaine Rodriguez, ESU instructor of public health and undergraduate internship coordinator, took four students to Kenya to work with Opiyo and AVFP on a month-long needs-assessment project. Last April, while on a trip to the U.S., Opiyo was a guest speaker for Rodriguez’s class on global public health. Rodriguez said Opiyo’s commitment to her mission was contagious and she energized students to get involved. “She has been an inspiration for many of my students,” she said. – By Margie Peterson Beldina Opiyo ’02 M’04, founder of the Alice Visionary Foundation Project, at work in Kenya.
Theatre alumnus earns full tuition scholarship
Jamil Joseph ’16 plays Claudio in Measure for Measure for the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s apprentice program in summer 2016. Photo by Nile Scott/Nile Scott Studios
to highly selective M.F.A. program
“Perfect timing” was how East Stroudsburg University Theatre Department alumnus Jamil Joseph ’16 described an email from Stephanie Daventry French, M.F.A., professor of theatre and his undergraduate advisor. Earning an advanced degree in acting had always been a goal of Joseph’s, and the email inspired the Brooklyn native to audition in March for one of six full scholarships available for Catholic University’s highly selective M.F.A. program. After the audition, Joseph “had a chance to sit in on a Shakespeare class and was able to participate by reciting a Shakespearean sonnet that I had done as an undergraduate. Getting to observe how intense the classes are at that level was awesome.”
I trained him through all levels of acting and saw him grow as a performer. He always stepped up to the challenge and learned the discipline required for an artist to succeed.”
Joseph played Gregory in the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet last summer, a production that ran for three weeks on Boston Common.
Joseph’s ESU acting career began when he played one of the young students marooned on an island in Lord of the Flies. He then played one of the Wickersham brothers in Seussical and had one of four roles in the modern comedy Spike Heels.
“Playing before thousands of people who were paying attention and reacting to the play was so amazing,” he said. “It’s a blessing to have been out there and to have experienced that feeling.”
Other major roles included Orpheus in Eurydice, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Jackie Robinson in Jackie and Me. Joseph also worked as a shop assistant for the theatre department.
During his first year at Catholic University, Joseph will be concentrating on his classes in movement, voice, performance and dramatic structure. “First-year students are not allowed to audition for productions so that we can concentrate on the basics,” he said. “We can work backstage, however, and I have lots of technical experience from ESU to draw from. In my third year, I’m looking forward to exploring the many opportunities in Washington, D.C., when students in the program audition for roles in regional theatre companies.
At the 2016 Region II Kennedy Center American Joseph learned in late April that he had been College Theatre Festival, he became the first awarded one of the scholarships. ESU theatre department student to advance to “Thanks to Professor French, and to Professor the final round of the Irene Ryan competition (Susan) O’Hearn and Dr. (Margaret) Ball, the for actors. theatre department chair, who wrote letters of For the past two summers, Joseph performed recommendation for me, I have this wonderful with the Boston-based Commonwealth opportunity.” Shakespeare Company, first as a member of the French explained that Catholic University only apprentice program and last summer as part of “ESU has given me all the tools I need to help me take my career to the next level. I’m admits new M.F.A. students every three years, the main company. and the auditions are nationally-competitive. In his apprentice summer which included excited and anxious to start a new chapter of my life, and I’m looking forward to growing as “I knew that this would be an opportunity extensive study of Shakespeare, Joseph found a student and as an actor.” for Jamil because of what I saw him do as an that “the text work that French did in preparing undergraduate,” French said. “Jamil came to the cast for the April 2015 production of A – By Rita Plotnicki ESU as a freshman theatre major, though he Midsummer Night’s Dream was especially had no previous experience in high school. important in my work that year.” esualumni.org 27
alumni news Alumni and friends at Gouveia Vineyards are, from left, Dottie Krein, Carl Krein ‘63, Tony Casciano ‘82, Dana Gibson ‘94 , and Jeff Gibson.
wa r r i conn Wine tasting brings Connecticut alumni together in first area event Alumni and friends attended a wine tasting event at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford, Conn., on Sept. 23, 2018. Tony Casciano ’82 is the current organizer of alumni events in the Connecticut area. For more information, contact Casciano at tcasciano@cox.net
Lehigh Valley alumni lend a hand at open house during Musikfest Alumni volunteers and staff from the Office of Graduate & Extended Studies hosted an Open House on Aug. 9, 2018, at the ESU Lehigh Valley Center in Bethlehem, Pa. Coinciding with Musikfest, the purpose of the event was to share information with passers-by and provide information about what the Office of Graduate and Extended Studies offers at ESU. Alumni chapter leader Rhonda Miller ’16 attended with other volunteers and helped with the distribution of ESU goodies.
Annual ‘Fun-Raiser’ golf outing benefits annual scholarship Among those at the ESU Alumni Summer ‘Fun-Raiser’ were George Vance ’74, David Hair ’76 M’84, George Schultz ’74 and Frank Johnson ’74.
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More than 45 alumni and friends of ESU participated in the ESU Alumni Summer “Fun-Raiser” Golf Outing on Aug. 10, 2018. The event was held at Shadowbrook Golf Resort in Tunkhannock, Pa., and was organized by Paul Scheuch ’71. This event raised $2,100 for the Alumni Fun Raiser Golf Tournament Annual Scholarship.
ors ecting
ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., center, with Legacy family members, from left, Brad Treadway ’05 M ’06, Carolyn Treadway, Diane Haney ’76 and Albert Haney ’76.
Legacy luncheon honors generations who attend ESU On Sept. 22, 2018, more than 90 alumni and family members attended the annual Legacy Lunch and Pinning Ceremony. The event is part of Family Weekend and welcomes families who make the choice to continue a family tradition by attending ESU. President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., greeted alumni and their families and Morgan Koerber ’18 shared her thoughts on being a Legacy family.
Philadelphia Chapter connects for Happy Hour in King of Prussia The Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse in King of Prussia, Pa., hosted alumni and friends of the Philadelphia Chapter for Happy Hour on June 14, 2018. The majority of alumni attending were graduates from the last 10 years. Scott Higgins ’07 helped to plan the event in conjunction with a core group of friends who he has kept in touch with since graduation. The group plans to continue having events that would attract alumni from recent graduation years.
Among those attending the Philadelphia Chapter Happy Hour were, from left, Chrysta Hamilton ’14, Rebecca Robinson, and Stephanie Robinson ’14. Among those attending the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Chapter event in June were, from left, Corey Hair Wimmer ’03, Jason Engerman ’08 and Sarah Engerman.
First event in Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton area draws more than 50 alumni The ESU Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Alumni Chapter kicked off its first event on June 28, 2018, at Backyard Ale House in Scranton, Pa. More than 50 alumni attended, including chapter leader and alumna Corey Wimmer ’03. Alumni from various decades gathered on the backyard patio. The Office of Alumni Engagement offered giveaways that included ESU gear and a pair of RailRiders tickets for a game in August against the Norfolk Tides. esualumni.org 29
warrior spirit
Denny Douds called a timeout with four seconds left in ESU’s final home game of the 2018 season, on October 27 vs. Ohio Dominican – one of thousands he called in his legendary, 45-year career as head coach of the Warriors. It was also his last. Douds pulled a whistle out of his pocket for his players to huddle up around him for a simple message. “I told them, ‘Hey, I’m hanging up my whistle, I love you guys and I’m out of here,’” Douds recalled. “And I walked across the field, and smiled the whole way home.” Douds handed the reins to interim head coach and former Warriors standout quarterback Jimmy Terwilliger ’07, who was named associate head coach last February. Douds spent the last 53 years – the first eight as an assistant coach – at ESU. He had originally told his wife of 54 years, Judy, that he expected to stay a year after they arrived in the Poconos in 1966. He stepped aside as head coach as the NCAA’s active leader in career wins (264) and games coached (471), ranking 16th and seventh in college football history, respectively. He set the PSAC record for wins a decade ago, in 2008, and the NCAA Division II record for games coached in 2011. Douds guided the Warriors to nine PSAC championships and four NCAA Playoff appearances, including the Northeast Region title and national semifinal in 2005 – a team quarterbacked by Terwilliger, who won the Harlon Hill Award as the most outstanding player in DII football. Other NCAA trips came in 1991, 2004 and 2009. Prior to the expansion of the national field, the Warriors won three outright State championships (1975, 1978 and 1982). Douds will remain at ESU in his position as assistant professor of sport management, and will take on increased fundraising responsibilities with the athletic department. Of all of the numbers, accolades and letterwinners coached (948) that Douds compiled in his career, perhaps this is the most impressive – only three coaches in college football history led his team into more games than Denny Douds led the Warriors. Special thanks to Tom Housenick of the Morning Call.
Longtime East Stroudsburg University track & field coach Chris Merli retired in July after 21 years with the program. Merli had served as head coach of the women’s track & field team for the past 12 seasons, while maintaining his role as assistant coach for the men’s track & field and the men’s and women’s cross country programs during that time period. He will remain at ESU as a volunteer assistant for the next two seasons.
“About five years ago I told my assistant coach that when it reaches the point where our recruits were born in the year 2000, it might be time to go,” Merli said. “I also have a lot of family members that I’m looking forward to spending more time with. It’s been a great ride at ESU. I still enjoy working with the kids. It keeps me young, and I look forward to continuing as a volunteer for the next two years until the Class of 2020 graduates. I made a promise to them and I plan to follow through on that.”
Merli, primarily responsible for coaching the sprints, hurdles and jumps, has guided countless PSAC and NCAA Division II standouts during his tenure at ESU. In the past 11 years alone, his student-athletes have combined for 59 PSAC titles and 28 DII championship appearances. Of those 28 NCAA selections, 12 went on to earn All-America accolades, including junior Aspen Gaita earning first team All-America status in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon in 2017-18.
Joe Koch (left) and Chris Merli (right) Photo by Bob Shank
Under Merli and men’s track & field head coach Joe Koch, ESU track & field achieved remarkable success over the past 21 seasons. The Warriors had 137 PSAC champions, 119 DII championship selections and 53 DII All-America performances during that span. The men’s and women’s teams, meanwhile, have totaled 51 top-five finishes at the PSAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships. “We rewrote almost all of our records in the sprints and hurdles during Merli’s time at ESU,” Koch said. “He made a huge impact as a coach, and from a personal standpoint it would be impossible to find a better person to work with. We’ve been side-by-side for all of these years, and there’s no one else I would have rather coached alongside. He will certainly be missed.”
athletic updates ESU field hockey, women’s soccer return to NCAA DII Tournament
Women’s soccer, meanwhile, used a lateseason surge to return to the national stage for a fifth year in a row. After entering the PSAC tournament as the No. 7 seed, ESU upset nationally-ranked Kutztown and Millersville to earn the chance to compete for a fifth-straight conference championship.
The Warriors’ field hockey and women’s soccer programs continued their long run of national While the Warriors were edged 2-1 in overtime success to highlight the fall 2018 season for ESU athletics. by top-seeded Bloomsburg in the PSAC title Field hockey finished as the NCAA Division II runner-up, reaching the final for the second time in game, they received an at-large bid to the DII tournament and won their first game four seasons, after winning the program’s only national title in 2015. before dropping another one-goal contest to The Warriors won 3-0 vs. Pace in the national semifinals before falling to Shippensburg, 1-0 in Bloomsburg in the second round. overtime, in the championship game on December 1 in Pittsburgh. ESU is now 80-24-10 in the past five seasons Six ESU players earned All-PSAC accolades as a testament to the team’s depth under 35th-year under 12th-year head coach Rob Berkowitz. head coach Sandy Miller. Seniors Bailey Quinn and Ashley Ceschini were named to the first team, Senior Alex Pickett, junior Hannah Saggese and seniors Paige Harrold and Kelli Shapiro made the second team, and junior Emily Spangler and sophomore Haley Skove each earned second freshman Celeste Veenstra were listed on the third team. team All-PSAC accolades, while junior Syd Hicks landed on the third team.
Volleyball posts best season since 2006 A memorable season for ESU volleyball concluded with the program’s first PSAC tournament appearance in 10 years. The Warriors went 20-11, including seven victories against teams which qualified for the DII tournament last fall, before their season ended with a defeat to defending national-semifinalist Gannon in the conference quarterfinals.
ESU’s field hockey team was the NCAA Division II runner-up this fall. Photo by Jason Cohn
ESU’s 20 victories were the second-most since 1997, behind only a 21-14 campaign back in 2006. The Warriors have posted back-to-back winning seasons in their first two years under head coach Kevin Rodgers. esualumni.org 31
warrior spirit ESU Junior Sarah Smith earned first team All-PSAC status.
Athletics NEW FACES Wolfe hired as associate AD for compliance
Katrin Wolfe, who has led the athletic compliance efforts at fellow PSAC member Pitt-Johnstown for over seven years, was hired in late August as ESU’s associate athletic director for compliance. She comes to the Warriors after serving as UPJ’s director of wellness programming & athletic compliance, and she was additionally the senior woman administrator for the Mountain Cats. Wolfe will oversee the NCAA eligibility of approximately 500 student-athletes, process NCAA waivers, complete all NCAA reports, process transfer requests, and conduct all business in the broad spectrum of NCAA compliance. Junior Sarah Smith was one of just 10 players in the 16-team league to earn first team All-PSAC status after ranking second in the conference in kills per set (3.96). Fellow junior Jasmine Williams was a third-team honoree after setting a new singleseason program record with 130 blocks.
Football, men’s soccer, cross country All-PSAC Athletes Senior offensive tackle Michael Fleming (1st team), redshirt senior running back Jaymar Anderson (1st team) and redshirt senior free safety Billy Inge III (2nd team) represented ESU football on this year’s All-PSAC East list. Fleming becomes the conference’s first four-time All-PSAC offensive lineman in 11 years. Anderson, who ran for 239 yards and tied a PSAC record with six rushing touchdowns in a September win over Seton Hill, leaves ESU with the program record in career rushing yards per game (102.2).
Wolfe was a four-year member of the women’s golf team during her time as an undergraduate at Penn State. She is a six-time USGA Women’s Amateur and Mid-Am Championship qualifier, including every year from 2015-17. She graduated from Penn State in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. She added a master’s degree in exercise physiology from West Virginia in 2008, and another master’s degree in higher education management from Pittsburgh in 2013.
Nieves selected to lead ESU wrestling program Anibal Nieves, who earned All-America accolades at ESU in 1989 and later competed internationally for Puerto Rico in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, was announced in May as the head coach of the Warriors’ wrestling program. Nieves, a Division I national qualifier at 134 pounds in 1988 and 1989 who placed sixth nationally during his senior season, brings over 15 years of head coaching experience to ESU. Most recently, he has served as head women’s and assistant men’s coach at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass. for the past six seasons.
Men’s soccer, which advanced to the PSAC semifinals after winning the conference championship a year ago, had four All-PSAC honorees. Senior Eddy Enowbi repeated on the first team after leading the Warriors with 21 points (8 goals, 5 assists). He was joined by graduate student Nico Gericke and senior Jo Panuccio, while graduate student Jordon Ellison received second team accolades.
Prior to his position at Springfield Tech, Nieves was the head men’s coach at Division III Western New England for five years. He previously led American International’s Division II men’s program from 1994-2003 and was honored as the DII East Regional Coach of the Year in 2000.
Sophomore Casey Ellis was a repeat second team All-PSAC runner for men’s cross country after placing 26th out of 127 runners at this year’s conference meet on Nov. 3.
Quanette Jester Ford ‘01, a Division II All-American and PSAC champion in the triple jump as an undergrad at ESU, was named head coach of the Warriors’ women’s track and field program in August.
Warriors recognized for academic achievements Several ESU student-athletes were honored this fall for their accomplishments both on the field and in the classroom. Women’s soccer twin seniors Carly and Nicole Abbott, who both hold identical 4.0 GPA’s through 106 credits, became the first PSAC Champion Scholar co-recipients in conference history. Nicole Abbott and men’s soccer junior Irvin Zuzic also received CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades. They are the 104th and 105th ESU student-athletes honored since the program’s inception; both soccer programs have had at least one honoree in each of the past four seasons.
Ford Hired as ESU Women’s Track & Field Head Coach
Ford was inducted into the ESU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. She placed seventh nationally in the triple jump as a senior in 2001, and she was crowned PSAC champion in the event during her debut season in 1998. She returns to ESU following a two-year stint as the head track & field and cross country coach at Lincoln (Pa.). Ford was previously an assistant coach for the Lions for three years, and during that time period she was honored as the USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2013. Across her five years at Lincoln, Ford coached six CIAA conference champions, four NCAA DII qualifiers, nine All-CIAA track & field members and five All-CIAA cross country performers. Ford graduated from ESU in 2001 with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and criminal justice. She added a master’s degree in sport management from Wilmington University in 2017.
“The coaches screamed at me the whole match,” said Kessel, “Then they told me what a good job I did. But that’s their job, to fight for their kids. “At a Lehigh-Oklahoma State match, [coach] John Smith yelled at me during the whole TV break. Then he put his arm around me. If it affects you, that’s what they want. If you show no emotion, they respect you. So, I would focus on the two guys wrestling and tune out all the coaches. If you can do that, that’s the key.” Kessel officiated his last NCAA championship match in 2016 at Madison Square Garden where future Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox of Missouri defeated Penn State’s Morgan McIntosh. Kessel’s last college match was the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Tournament in 2017. “I miss college, but I wanted to retire while I was still getting invited to officiate Division I tournaments and still getting to call a final,” Kessel said. When Gary Kessel ’77 was a wrestler, his goals were to be a high school state champ, a national champ in college, and a member of the Olympic team, but he never imagined he would become a Hall of Famer for officiating.
Now, Kessel officiates at the high school level in New Jersey.
Kessel was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on June 2, 2018, in Stillwater, Okla., as a meritorious official, recognized for outstanding service as a referee.
“The thing I like about wrestling is that it is work, and I think I appreciate the hard work it takes. It’s a blue-collar sport,” said Kessel. “The big thing I like is that there are no excuses. It’s just you and the other guy on the mat, and you have respect for the other wrestler because you know what it takes. Wrestling is a strange fraternity. I didn’t have a Thanksgiving meal for nine years.”
“It’s funny because I never quite met the wrestling goals I wanted. Fortunately, I was a good official, so to be with those people was a humbling experience, the people who reached those goals,” Kessel said.
Kessel also runs his businesses, GAK Construction and K&W Investors, the latter which was co-founded by Kessel and his ESU coach, the late Clyde Witman.
The Hall of Fame weekend began on May 31 with a social where Kessel and his family mingled with fellow inductees and their families. The following day, the inductees went to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame where their busts were revealed, along with each inductee’s donated items. For Kessel, it was his NCAA jacket from his first national tournament, a flip disc, an ID magnet, and pictures, among other things. The final day began with a breakfast where two people spoke about each inductee.
“I had an incredible coach, Clyde Witman. He became like a father figure to me. He brought me to coaching, he helped me with life, money, houses,” said Kessel. “And I stayed here. I never left.”
“My wife Debra, who I never heard speak in public, she was the best one there, and she killed it,” Kessel said. “And Angelo Borzio. I coached him, and he worked for me, and then I offered him a partnership in my business, and we’ve been partners for 10 years.”
Kessel owns several properties in East Stroudsburg and rents rooms to over 400 ESU students. It was the people Kessel met at ESU, and the people Kessel continues to meet, all the people who had a family-like impact on him, that made him want to stay in East Stroudsburg after after graduating in 1977. “They make you feel like you belong,” Kessel said. “This is my home.” – By Katie McDonald
That evening, a video of each inductee’s acceptance speech made prior to the induction ceremony was shown, and each inductee had 90 seconds to say a few words to the audience. “The video was pretty much everything I wanted to say, but I said what wrestling gave to me was enough for me. I got more from wrestling than I gave. It was very humbling, and it was my honor to serve the sport because I got a lot from it,” said Kessel. Accompanying Kessel that weekend, along with wife Debra Kessel ’81 and Angelo Borzio ’95, who is also a former head wrestling coach at ESU, were Kessel’s twins, daughter Brielle Kessel ’14 and son Greg, his father Albert and his wife MaryLou, brother Doug, father-in-law Sam Coursen, and former teammates Greg Shoemaker ‘79 and Jim Vargo ‘80. “When you fall in love with a sport, you find a way to stay in it. You don’t think about the Hall of Fame, but when it happens, it’s incredible, and to be able to share it with my family, that’s what it’s all about,” Kessel said. It was the early 1990s when Kessel officiated his first Division I dual meet, Syracuse versus Rutgers.
Attending Kessel’s Hall of Fame induction, from left: Joe Flanagan, Brielle Kessel ’14, Greg Kessel, Doug Kessel, Debra Kessel ’81, Gary Kessel ’77, Sam Coursen, MaryLou Kessel, Albert Kessel.
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Births Theresa Pace Sladek ’08 welcomed Evianna Faith Sladek on June 30, 2018.
Brian Keet ‘02 and his wife Lindsay welcomed Tanner Jay Keet, born August 24, 2018. Mike Ratcliffe ’04 and Mary Lynn Schneider Ratcliffe ’05 welcomed Maddox William Ratcliffe on August 17, 2018. They reside in Morrisville, Pa.
Jennifer Dimon Lengel ’11 welcomed twins Madelyn and Olivia Lengel, born May 18, 2018.
Danielle DiDonato Gould M’08 and her husband Jason welcomed daughter Emilia Ann Gould on June 29, 2018. The family resides in Long Valley, N.J.
Brian Tanhauser ’11 welcomed Abigail Rae Tanhauser on August 22, 2018. They reside in Northampton Pa.
Weddings Kaitlin Musial ’13 married Sean Byrne at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at Christ the King Parish on Sept. 1, 2018, in Archbald, Pa. The couple resides in Harrisburg, Pa.
Leah Connolly ’12 married Tom Fail ’11 at ESU’s Stony Acres on October 7, 2017. Among the bridal party were ESU alumnae Licia Olivetti ‘12 and Jennifer Suwak ‘12. Groomsmen included ESU alumni Brian Florence ‘12. The couple resides in Arlington, Va.
William Wood ’15 married Nicole Faria on Sept. 30, 2017, at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark, N.J. The couple resides in Clark, N.J.
send us your class notes
fax 570-422-3301 phone 570-422-7000 email esualumni@esu.edu online esualumni.org/classnotes NOTE: We publish alumni accomplishments and news of marriages and births, but not engagements or pregnancies. Please note the editorial staff makes every effort to publish the information submitted as it was received.
’83 ’84 ’85 ’86 ’92 ’96
The East Stroudsburg Elks Lodge 319 selected longtime educator and community leader Douglas C. Arnold M’83 as the recipient of the 2018 A. Mitchell Palmer Award which recognizes individuals in Monroe County for their significant contributions in the field of law, public safety, or community service. John Davis ’83 was welcomed into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. Davis is the head athletic trainer at Montclair State University. NewSquare Capital announced that Miguel L. Biamon ’84 will be their new senior fixed income portfolio manager. Boston Market announced the addition of Eric Wyatt ’85 as chief operating officer, bringing more than 20 years of restaurant operations experience. Dr. Mike Perko ’86 M’89 received the 2018 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, an honor bestowed on only 17 recipients representing all of North Carolina’s public universities. Perko is a professor in the department of public health education at UNC Greensboro. Jeff Mundt ’92 was hired in the newly created role of vice president of research & development and innovation at Butterball. Mundt brings more than 25 years of experience in food innovation, brand and product launches, and pipeline development. Mundt most recently worked for The Hershey Company. Erik Nason ’96 has been selected by Florida Hospital to serve as the athletic trainer to coordinate care for the 5,000 student athletes at Volusia County Schools. Nason is also the president of the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida. Nason spent 17 years as an athletic trainer at the Kennedy Space Center, and since 1999, he has been providing sports medicine care to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association participants.
1990s
Jennifer Trubin ’10 married Philip Vidal ’09 on Aug. 18, 2018, at Architects Golf Club in Lopatcong, N.J., and now reside in Redwood City, Calif.
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Dr. Yvonne Cipressi ’82 is the newest physical therapist at Aging in Place Specialists, LLC. in Delaware. Dr. Cipressi earned her master’s degree in health education at Arcadia University and has worked with individuals suffering from back pain, Parkinson’s disease, and other ailments. Aging in Place Specialists is an outpatient physical therapy practice which specializes in geriatric care.
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Douglas Povilaitis ’99 has been hired as one of two new assistant superintendents for the East Penn School District. Povilaitis served as principal of Oak Park Elementary School in Lansdale for seven years. His first job was at Emmaus High School where he was a health and physical education teacher. He then became assistant principal at North Penn High School. Jaime Torchiana M’01 has joined the SHIFT consulting team as principal consultant for the Philadelphia market of the Baltimore-based consulting, executive membership, and venture capital company. Torchiana will play a key role in expanding SHIFT’s footprint in the Mid-Atlantic area. Keith Hassel ’07 was awarded Fairfield County Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 recipient. The award is given to young professionals who are notable leaders and are actively contributing to the betterment of their community.
Wide receiver Tim Wilson ’17 was the only Philadelphia Eagles minicamp rookie to receive an invite to the Eagles’ training camp this past summer. Steve Harris ’18, who helped the Warriors to their first NCAA Division II Atlantic Region men’s basketball championship in program history last March, has signed a professional basketball contract with the Den Helder Suns in the Dutch Basketball League, the country’s top division.
did you know?
The cakes for the Founder’s Day celebration weighed more than 200 pounds. The recipes used more than 200 eggs, 28 pounds of butter, 76 pounds of sugar, five pounds of cocoa, two pounds of vanilla extract, nine quarts of buttermilk and 10 quarts of milk; along with 38 pounds of fondant. It took 50 labor hours to make! The College Shop on Normal Street had many owners. Hen Walther moved from New Jersey and opened it in 1925. Fred Anthony took over after World War II and he sold to Martin Buck in 1963. The building was razed in 1972 to make room for the Moore Biology Building.*
Domineque Scott ’08 has joined the team of Pathways to Success, Inc., as its program administrator at Milford High School in Milford, Del. Pathways prepares youths, adults, and families for successful lives. Scott is also executive director of United Through Sport USA, recruiting college students for abroad internships at United Through Sport locations in South Africa, Thailand, Argentina, and St. Lucia. Kyle R. Evans ’12 has been promoted to supervisor with Boyer & Ritter CPAs and Consultants in Camp Hill, Pa. Evans is an accountant who works with businesses and non-profits, and supports the firm’s business services, internal audit, and government services groups.
Lobynn Cha ’17 opened Little Miss Korea, a made-toorder eatery at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market in Allentown, Pa. Cha serves authentic Korean cuisine, drinks, and snacks with a modern twist.
Hey Warriors…
2010s
’12
Circonus, Inc., a leading provider of analytics and monitoring solutions, appointed Jason Bobb ’97 to the position of vice president of sales. Bobb, a sales veteran with over 20 years of leadership within the technology industry, has joined Circonus from Canonical Ltd., where he was the senior vice president of worldwide sales.
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Eric Schwartz ’98 received the National Athletic Trainer Association’s Athletic Trainer Service Award, having served as president, president-elect, and secretary. Schwartz is also a member of the public relations, governmental relations, and annual golf outing committees.
The Presidential Medals awarded at the 125th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 25, 2018, were produced utilizing a metal 3D Printer from ExONE, the metal printing facility in Pittsburgh, Pa., similar to the printer recently acquired at ESU. The texturized medal has a bronze finish and a garnet stone embedded within, similar to the university’s mace. The medal was designed by Darlene Farris-LaBar, professor of art + design at ESU. Did You Know features historical information of interest about the ESU campus, its students, alumni, and more. Can you add to the story? Have something to say or share? Email esualumni@esu.edu. *Source: Pride and Promise, A Centennial History of East Stroudsburg University
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memoriam KEVIN J. KNECHT June 5, 2018
WILLIAM R. BERGEN October 21, 2018
Kevin J. Knecht, a social work major from Pocono Pines, passed away on June 5, 2018. Knecht transferred to ESU in spring 2018 after graduating from NCC in December 2017. He had great relationships with the faculty within his department. Kevin is the son of Kirk A. Knecht of Pocono Pines, and Linda A. (Pepia) Knecht of Lancaster. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Daniel Knecht of Pocono Lake, and sister, Katherine Knecht of Mount Pocono.
William R. Bergen, 61, of East Stroudsburg, was a Hall of Fame defensive end and 1980 graduate of ESU. Bergen also held a leadership role with the Warrior Football Club and was a longtime member of the Hall of Fame committee. His Hall of Fame induction recognized a career that included three All-PSAC East honors, twice on the first team, and three PSAC championships while playing on teams that had a four-year record of 35-3-1 from 1975 through 1978. He was the husband of Lori K. (Mohler) Bergen with whom he shared 34 years of marriage. Born on April 13, 1957 in Rockville Centre, N.Y., he was a son of Mazie (Galloway) Horan of Beth Page, New York, and the late Thomas Bergen. In addition to his wife and mother, surviving are: three children, Max Bergen and wife, Sarah, of San Francisco, California, Sam Bergen of Morristown, New Jersey, and Hanna Bergen ‘17 of East Stroudsburg; eight siblings: Mary Bonner and husband, Neil; Eleanor Giaccio and husband, John; Daniel Bergen and wife, Theresa; Thomas Bergen and wife, Valerie; Joseph Bergen and wife, Bonnie; James Bergen and wife, Candice; Theresa Pontillo; and Kenneth Bergen and wife, Robin
DOROTHY ANN RARICK September 5, 2018 Dorothy Ann Rarick, interim custodial supervisor, was a member of the ESU family for 10 years and was a well-respected, outgoing member of the facilities staff who spent most of her time in Koehler Fieldhouse. She was the loving wife of George F. Rarick Sr.; they shared 39 years together. Born Feb. 27, 1960, in East Stroudsburg, she was a daughter of the late John and Julia (Andrews) Lance. In addition to her husband, George and mother Julia, those left to cherish her memory include daughters Rochelle Cole and husband Shaun of Saylorsburg, and Renee Rarick and her companion, Cory Kern, of East Stroudsburg; daughter in-law, Sheila Rarick; sister-in-law, Joeann Lance; four loving stepchildren; three brothers: Donald and Pauline Lance of Stroudsburg, Edward and Brenda Lance of Stroudsburg, and John Lance of East Stroudsburg; sister, Gloria Bentzoni and husband Robert of Brodheadsville; grandchildren: Felicity, Reghan, Isaiah, Amelia, Cory Jr. and Chrishauna; and many nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren. 36 the alumni herald
Jacob Shedlock November 23, 2018 Freshman Jacob Shedlock, 18, was a psychology major from Laurel Run, Pa. He was the son of Joseph and Kim Shedlock. Surviving with Jacob’s parents are his sister, Willow; grandmother, Barbara Shedlock; grandparents, Edward and Patricia Sisko; girlfriend, Bailey Cunningham; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Born in Kingston, Pa., Jacob was a graduate of Coughlin High School. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joseph Shedlock II, and his uncle, Timothy Sisko.
Memorial Gifts
may be made through the ESU Foundation at esufoundation.org/givenow.
For personal assistance, please call 570-422-3333.
ALUMNI A. Elaine Benbrook ’88 Heather L. Borthwick ’73 Richard Bowman ’65 Leonard W. Burkhart ’78 James J. Callahan, Jr. ’73 Maria C. Capolupo ’73 Rosemary T. Cavanaugh ’49 Brian D. Clifford ’61 Anthony Covino ’43 Bryan K. Cristiano ’12 Winnie H. Dalgewicz ’67 Carole L. Davis ’84 Ellis L. Diviney ’54 Ronald J. Drago ’67 Linda S. Drake ’71 Celestina D. Due ’77 Lisa A. Durnin ’86 Gerald F. Freeman ’60 Gayle B. Freyman ’58 Lucille L. Gower ’68 Patricia A. Heilman ’78 Brian A. Holland ’04 Robert A. Hutnik ’58 Horace A. Johnson, Esq. ’52 Jean L. Karalunas ’72 Dionne M. Kleback ’00 Thomas J. Knaak ’95 Charles M. Lehman ‘54 Candace C. McGreevy ’95 Edward A. McInroy ’49 Francis X. McManus ’58 Robert A. Mellman ’51 Eric M. Neuschwander ’84 Thomas J. Opeka ’61 Joseph H. Parsons ’65 Fred A. Patton ’63 Edward A. Paulik ’57 Judith A. Perry ’77 Stephen M. Redington ’84 Joseph A. Robbins ’75
Shirley A. Ruland ’72 Charles P. Schaadt ’78 Stanley R. Searfoss ’58 Christopher M. Senkow ’09 William A. Slezosky ’64 Philip W. Spencer ’54 Richard C. Stabingas ’69 Matthew D. Stanton ’92 John J. Stempien ’62 Marian D. Sutter, Ph.D. ’71 Jeffrey A. Swope ’76 Bradley N. Trigiani ’76 Thomas B. Trudgeon, Sr. ’59 Linda L. Walck ’74 Carol L. Warner ’74 Michael T. Williams ’85 Kelly J. York ’01 Ramon R. Zeller ’61 Betty J. Zerr ’52 Faculty & Staff Barabara L. Anderson Dr. Peter Bedrosian Dr. John H. Condit Leonard DePaolo, Jr. Dr. Robert L. Dorough Dr. Florence R. Halstead Bernard John O’Kane Felipe P. Romero Dr. Kenneth Sisson John C. Tobin Linda L. Vandermark James R. Williams friends Robert H. Nothstein Ricco Rios Wayne V. Smith Edmund A. Strickland, Jr. Bernice Tannenbaum
In Memoriam includes deceased alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to November 30, 2018.
Circa
53 Years a Warrior Thank you for the memories COACH DOUDS
200 Prospect Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999
Founder’s Day, Sept. 12, 2018
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