ALUMNI NEWS

What You’re Saying

BARBARA KOTLEY ’58 posted an update. May 31 Barbara Kotler ’58, published a novel “What Killed Dr. K?” What Killed Doctor K.? reflects an insider’s candid observations of the medical world from the 60’s through the 90’s. This novel, based on real events, shows unflinchingly these years of major changes in the practice of medicine and the consequences for both patients and the medical professionals who serve them. Barbara Kotler is part of The Writers Colony of The Delray Center Of The Arts in Florida. She established “Writers On The Go” involving writers in community programs.

AMIEE BLASKO A’11 posted an update. March 3 Got this beauty a couple days ago! #bestofweddings2020 #theknot #amieeblaskophoto

TRACY JOHNSON ’04 June 5 at 4:30 PM · Bryn Mawr, PA Congratulations to our Harcum College 2020 Graduates! We had a great time celebrating with you on the Zoom meeting Thursday night. Welcome again to the Harcum College Alumni Family we look forward to seeing you as you get more involved in the Alumni Association!

@D.L.WIDGER ’77 on Instagram #TB College graduation with my proud Mother @harcumcollege MISS DREW'S DOGGY DAYCARE added 4 new photos to the album SUMMER 2019 Today is Miss Kristin’s first day at Harcum, and I could not be more excited and proud of her! Harcum’s getting a good one, and I’ll accept the fact that I have to share her because she’s getting all the awesome Animal Center Management knowledge and wisdom. We’ll see you later, Miss Kristin! #HarcumProud #HarcumFamily #WeLoveMissKristin

HARCUM ECE ALUMNI CLUB May 28 at 2:36 PM Bryn Mawr, PA Well, this wasn’t how we wanted to say goodbye to Professor Pamela Davenport Singleton...we were planning to have a party to celebrate her retirement today! But this will have to do. Thank you, Pam, for all of your hard work and dedication to the Early Childhood Department! You sure brought us lots n lots of laughs! You will surely be missed!!! #earlychildhoodeducation

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Alumni News

graduates stepped up to help during the pandemic. These are just a few of their stories.

As a graduate from the Fashion Design program, Amy Copeland ’86 put her talents to use making face masks for several area hospitals, donating over 500, including child sizes for Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. In light of the shutdown and job loss, she also launched her own business, Raina Luella, a sustainable line of clothing, accessories, and home decor made entirely from recycled clothing, including designer face masks and a bridal collection.

Sandra Maher ’81 worked as a Medical Technologist for Idexx Laboratories. During the pandemic she was classified as essential and continued to travel to work “outside” the home, which she admits was scary. “My lab continued to receive specimens from veterinary clinics and worked diligently to keep our animal friends Deborah Widger’s (left) handmade cards for shut-ins. Amy Copeland (right) sews face masks for local hospitals.

Alumni in Service

AROUND THE WORLD, Harcum

by Amy Shumoski healthy, as well as trying to keep ourselves healthy through PPE and social distancing within our labs.” Idexx’s human clinical diagnostic company Opti also supplemented human Covid19 testing kits to the state of Maine, increasing their testing capabilities.

Like millions of Americans, Josh Manger ’20 found himself furloughed during the pandemic. But instead of feeling disheartened, he connected with Federation Friends, a newly formed organization that matched homebound elderly with volunteers who could assist them with various activities. Having spent time working with vulnerable populations as an OTA graduate, this match-up was a perfect fit for him. His first volunteer assignment was with a 93-year-old who had missed a family get-together on Zoom and wanted to be there for the next one. “We set up a Zoom account and Doordash (a food delivery service) on his laptop. It took over an hour, and we had some good conversation in between. I think I was helpful,” Manger said. “I was glad to be a part of this initiative that brought comfort to others.”

Tonisha McDonald ’14 was employed as a teacher’s assistant, but with her schools closed, she had to find another way to engage with her students. Using her artistic skills, McDonald created a line of personalized backpacks and life-size photos for virtual or distanced birthday and graduation events.

Karen Reb Rudel ’88 owns Sight Seeker’s Delight, a top rated walking tour company in Paris. With international travel restricted and tourist attractions closed, she had to find a way to keep her business alive. She transitioned her tours to an online virtual experience and brought France right to your front door. She and her ten-year-old son Azi even virtually visited a middle school French class of a local Bryn Mawr school and engaged in conversation with the students and answered questions.

Tonisha McDonald is creating personalized backpacks for students who are social distancing.

Michelle Schofield ’14 and her sons have volunteered with Delaware County’s Meals On Wheels program, delivering meals to Upper Darby township homebound seniors and disabled neighbors since January. “We enjoy what we do and are proud to be of service to our community.”

Pamela Behr-Smart ’78 was on lock down in Maryland, but that didn’t stop her from gathering fabric donations for some friends who made hundreds of masks, caps, and isolation gowns for local hospitals and food banks. As a college-level instructor, she’s also transitioning her courses to be taught online this Fall if the need arises. Throughout the crisis, she continued to teach CPR courses through the American Heart Association for many of the first line healthcare providers who needed to continue to be recertified.

When nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals across the country closed to visitors Deborah Widger ’77 decided that while quarantined in Queens, the epicenter of the pandemic in New York City, she would do something to help. She reached out to card makers on Etsy and asked for donations of “thinking of you” cards. She collected and endorsed over 2,000 cards and mailed them to more than a dozen facilities in New York and Pennsylvania. She also sent meals about every ten days to fire departments and police precincts in New York City. After collecting skin care products and other necessities, she sent them to a Brooklyn women’s shelter.

In Memoriam

SUZANNE FLEISCHER ROBERTS Class of 1941

VERONICA MARGARET WISTAR Class of 1976

MARTHA (HEARD) VAN ETTEN Class of 1977

MARY RENZ ANDERSON Class of 1972

ALEXANDRA “SANDY” PASTORE PROCOPIO Class of 1984

CYNTHIA BLIZZARD Class of 2015

REMEMBERING A PHILADELPHIA ICON Suzanne F. Roberts, Class of 1941, died Monday, April 20, at her Center City home at age 98. For decades, she influenced Philadelphia’s civic, broadcast, and performing arts worlds. Her death followed several months of declining health.

After Harcum, she moved to New York and studied the Stanislavski Method of acting. She last took to the stage in 2001, at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a close friend, called her a remarkable woman who was always upbeat. She was widely respected because she used her influence and privilege to create projects for the public good.