WINTER 2010
Historic Board Vote Moves Campaign to $200 Million
PERFORMING ARTS INITIATIVE LAUNCHED – PAGE 20
Pulteney Street Survey | Winter 2010 Catherine Williams EDITOR Peggy Kowalik ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05 ASSISTANT EDITOR Francesca Antonucci ’10, Molly DiStefano ’10, John Heavey ’09, Amber Jackson ’13, Mary LeClair, Cynthia L. McVey, Jessie Meyers ’09, Caitlyn Pryde Mills, Jen Nesbit, Elizabeth Ortolani ’11, Dave Pullano ’84, Jamie Rasmussen ’10, Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05, Andrew Wickenden ’09, Catherine Williams CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS Kevin Colton STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Justin Colton, Catherine Jo Fisher ’83, Lauren Long, Andrew Markham ’10, John Martin, Gregory Searles CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rebecca Frank, Mary LeClair, Betty Merkle, Jessie Meyers ’09, Kathy Killius Regan ’82, P’13, Jared Weeden ’91 CLASSNOTES EDITORS Mark D. Gearan PRESIDENT David H. Deming ’75 CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09 VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Catherine Williams DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Kathy Killius Regan ’82, P’13 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNAE RELATIONS Jared Weeden ’91 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS William Smith Alumnae Association Officers: Kate MacKinnon ’77, President; Susan Flanders Cushman ’98, Vice President; Susan Lloyd Yolen ’72, Past President; Lynne Friedlander Jenco ’80, Historian Hobart Alumni Association Officers: Robert H. Gilman ’70, President; Edward R. Cooper ’86, Vice President; Garry A. Mendez III ’96, Historian; Joseph C. Tully ’88, Past President VOLUME XXXVI, NUMBER TWO THE PULTENEY STREET SURVEY is published by the Office of Communications, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 639 S. Main Street, Geneva, New York 14456-3397, (315) 7813700. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Pulteney Street Survey, c/o Alumni House Records, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York 14456-3397. Opinions expressed in The Pulteney Street Survey are those of the individuals expressing them, not of Hobart and William Smith Colleges or any other individual or group. Hobart and William Smith Colleges value diversity and actively seek applications from underrepresented groups and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, disability, veteran's status, or sexual orientation.
STUDENTS IN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCE DAVID KENDRICK’S COURSE TITLED ‘GEOLOGY OF NEW YORK’ STAND AT THE BASE OF GIANT POTHOLES ON MOSS ISLAND IN LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. THE STRUCTURES WERE FORMED BY REPEATED CATASTROPHIC FLOODS ASSOCIATED WITH GLACIAL LAKE IROQUOIS, ONTARIO LAKE’S PREDECESSOR.
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Lakeviews
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Heard on Campus
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Langua ge & Literacy
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It’s Sticky
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Sense and Sensibility
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Campaign for the Colle ges
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Perfor ming Ar ts Initiative
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Athletics
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Classnotes
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Associations
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Prime Time
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The Last Word: Flannick
Worlds of Experience. Lives of Consequence.
Contents
On the cover: Jamar Green ’12 and Kimmy Tremlett ’10 perform a duet titled “Unfurl” during the 2009 Koshare dance concert. Photo by Kevin Colton
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Lakeviews
Student-Driven
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
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here have been moments of great pride in the ten years of my presidency, moments when hard work, passion and dedication have resulted in incredible experiences, opportunities and outcomes for our students. There were many such moments during a series of career exploration programs over winter break when students and faculty traveled to Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles to meet with alums, parents and friends of the Colleges who generously shared career advice in fields ranging from finance to film. In D.C., I was impressed by the thoughtful and perceptive questions students asked of politicians and policy makers at the Capitol building, the White House and the Democratic and Republican National Headquarters. In Los Angeles, during an on-set visit to the television show “Glee,” co-creator and executive producer Brad Falchuk ’93 graciously thanked Professor of English Elisabeth Lyon for her mentorship, telling students that he uses what he learned in her classes every day in his career, and that she instilled in him a belief that taking artistic risks is essential to success. In New York City, the engagement of our alums in the future of our students was evident when the leaders of global investment banks, ratings agencies, hedge funds and media giants took time to explain their career pathways. Having access to the advice of heads of finance like John Hogan ’88, Chief Risk Officer at J.P. Morgan Chase, is an extraordinary opportunity for our students and a testament to the continued engagement of our alums. In these and many other instances, I remain humbled by the commitment of our alums, parents and friends who not only give graciously of their time, but who also generously invest in future HWS students by making gifts to Campaign for the Colleges. Even in this challenging economic climate, Campaign for the Colleges moves forward from a place of strength. That place of strength was further validated by the Board of Trustees’ recent, historic vote to increase the goal of Campaign for the Colleges from $160 million to $200 million. This decision was driven by the needs of Hobart and William Smith students, many of whom struggle under the burden of financing an education, as well as the very clear necessity for updated academic and performance spaces for our students. As we move forward, our major Campaign objectives include growing our Endowment and Annual Fund as well as the construction of a new Performing Arts Center. Finally, I am pleased to introduce the inaugural issue of the redesigned Pulteney Street Survey, a redesign that was informed by an online survey of alums and one that was completed entirely in house. We have created a publication that is distinctly Hobart and William Smith, one reflecting the deep engagement of our community members in the future of the institution and of its students, an engagement that makes HWS one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation. Best,
Mark D. Gearan President
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Our Survey of the Survey by the Editorial and Design Team
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hat you hold in your hands is a completely re-visioned Hobart and William Smith magazine. Before we began the redesign process, we wanted to get some input from our readers. What matters most is what you think of the Pulteney Street Survey—this is your magazine, your connection to the Colleges, and we wanted to make sure we would maintain and enhance that connection. Throughout the summer and early fall, we teamed up with the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to survey members of the HWS community and find out what you like (and dislike) about the magazine. By October, we’d surveyed 28 percent of alumni and alumnae who have e-mail addresses on file with Alumni House. As it turns out, more than 60 percent of those surveyed suggested that they get most or all of their information about HWS from the magazine, which reaffirmed our commitment to making improvements. Not surprisingly, Classnotes came in at the top of the list of what alums want to read, with 96 percent saying they’re interested or very interested in the column. We also learned that more than 60 percent of readers are interested to learn more about student research, campus facilities and institutional history. By and large, readers want to learn more about the lives and careers of fellow alums as well as the academic achievements and interests of the current student body. Perhaps that’s why Parallels is so popular. Just behind stories about alums and current students, alums reported that their favorite thing about the magazine is the photography. When asked what they’d like to see changed about the magazine, several themes emerged, including “more reflections from students/professors,” “more about less-known alums” and “focus more on the history of HWS.”
... more than 60 percent of those surveyed suggested that they get most or all of their information about HWS from the magazine, which reaffirmed our commitment to making improvements. We walked away from the survey energized about the Pulteney Street Survey, especially after a meeting with members of the Hobart Alumni and William Smith Alumnae Councils, who offered us thoughtful suggestions about a redesign. Following that meeting, our in-house design and editorial team spent several weeks generating ideas, testing concepts and thinking about the face of Hobart and William Smith. The end result is the magazine you now hold in your hands. So what’s in store for you as you turn the pages of this issue? The redesigned
pages are clean and modern with more opportunities to display photographs. We’ve introduced new fonts along with sleeker, rounded lines and bright, current colors. You’ll also notice a new table of contents at the front of the book, large photos, many of them historic, with minitables of contents leading into each of the sections of the magazine, and a new column that gives Lakeviews historical context. The section previously known as Hill and Quad has moved to the front of the book and has had a complete facelift:
A Look Back ... 1941
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH ALUM NEWS HAS HAD MANY DIFFERENT FACES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.
1945 1
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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1966 1995
1968
1982
1997
1985
1998
new name (Wavelengths), new design, additional pages and more in-depth coverage. These new pages are intended to highlight campus life and celebrate the academic and professional achievements of students, faculty and alums. Classnotes also had a bit of work done, with larger ads, updated graphics and a profile of an alum on every spread. We refreshed Parallels, too, although we hope you’ll agree that we kept what you love most about the column. We also hope you’ll enjoy the new feature on the inside back cover, The Last Word, which gives an opportunity to explore the lives of HWS community members from a different perspective. We’ve paired this work in print with a
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new Pulteney Street Survey online edition that you can flip like a real magazine. You can visit that feature here: www/hws.edu/ alumni/PSSurvey/Winter10. And in this economy, the entire redesign was completed entirely in-house. We’re really excited about these changes and we hope you will be as well. We look forward to your comments, criticisms and suggestions, so don’t hesitate to e-mail us your thoughts at pss@hws.edu. ●
HWS | ca.1945 S.S. Hobart Victory The S.S. Hobart Victory was built for the U.S. Maritime Commission to serve as a cargo and transport ship, bringing supplies to Allied Forces around the world. Hobart alumnus Grady E. Jensen ’44 donated artifacts from the dismantled ship to HWS, and they’re currently on display in the Warren Hunting Smith Library.
WAVELENGTHS Top Daily Update Stories
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Heard on Campus
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Langua ge & Literacy
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It’s Sticky
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Sense and Sensibility
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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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TOP Daily Update Stories
www.hws.edu/dailyupdate
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KOSHARE UNVEILED
The Koshare Dance Collective’s 40th annual performance drew massive crowds to watch 19 energetic studentchoreographed numbers performed by more than 100 HWS students.
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HWS PROFESSOR RECEIVES FULBRIGHT AWARD
Assistant Professor of Biology Meghan Brown has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar Grant to conduct research in Lago Maggiore in Italy during the 2009-2010 academic year. Her work is on the spread and impact of spiny waterfleas, an invasive species in Italy and North America that causes economic and ecological damage.
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DAYS OF SERVICE
HWS students continued the tradition of community engagement in fall 2009 with three Days of Service. More than 140 students participated during each of the days, volunteering at sites throughout the Finger Lakes region.
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THE CREATOR’S GAME
HWS hosted “Lacrosse: The Creator’s Game,” a conference focused on the Native American roots of the sport. For more information about the conference, see page 29.
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HOBART ATHLETES RAISE MONEY FOR SOLDIERS
Hobart student-athletes expanded their support of the Wounded Warriors Project, a national non-profit providing support to severely injured soldiers. The Statesmen raffled off signed sports memorabilia and sold apparel to raise money for the charity.
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FAMILY WEEKEND
In addition to tours and mini-college courses, families attending the fall 2009 Family Weekend were treated to presentations of student work from the Summer Science Research Program as well as art openings and athletics events.
CORNEL WEST
West captivated HWS at the inaugural President’s Forum lecture of the 2009 academic year with an animated, associative and highly alliterative oration that combined topics as diverse as Jim Crow laws, William Butler Yeats, 9/11 and Hannah Montana.
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HWS TAPPED BY LUCE
The Colleges have been accepted as a new participant in the prestigious Luce Scholars Program which funds graduating seniors and recent alums on a year-long professional placement in one of 15 Asian countries.
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LAKE EFFECT
Sponsored by a grant from the Center for Teaching and Learning, students taking Assistant Professor of Geoscience Jeffrey Frame’s ‘Weather and Climate’ visited the National Weather Service in Buffalo to learn how weather advisories are issued.
WAVELENGTHS
“I
got in! And I couldn’t have done it without support from many fabulous HWS professors, staff members and alums during my application process. Now that it’s over, an enormous weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.” — REGINA TRIPLETT ’10 after
learning that she was offered admission at six medical schools
“Plunge, plunge, plunge, plunge!” — Heard on the Geneva lakefront as MORE THAN 140 STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS braved the frigid December waters for
HWS’ first “Penguin Plunge” organized by students to benefit ‘Embrace Your Sisters,’ a nonprofit organization that provides emergency funding for local women facing a diagnosis of breast cancer
“I think it was a turning point, the moment aŌer which acceptance of real diversity began. AŌer Woodstock, it began to be acceptable to have long hair and like rock and roll. That kind of acceptance has gained ground, to the point where we are now an incredibly diverse society—and it doesn’t maƩer anywhere near as much what religion or race or gender you are.” — Professor of Sociology and Class of 1964 Endowed Chair JAMES L. SPATES P’00, P’09 on attending Woodstock in 1969
Heard on Campus “We need to get our news from as many sources as possible; we can’t use the news like a drunk uses a lamppost – for support instead of illumination.” — Political consultant and CNN Commentator PAUL BEGALA during his President’s Forum lecture
“Five years ago we broke ground with a simple vision: to create an institute that would provide our region’s policy makers, residents and students with the tools that would allow us to protect Central New York’s priceless natural resources…. Five years later, that vision is a reality.” — SENATOR MICHAEL F. NOZZOLIO (R-NY) on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Finger Lakes Institute
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Language & Literacy
American Friction by Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
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ANDREW WICKENDEN ’09 AND PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH DAVID WEISS KICK BACK AND TALK WRITING.
“Um … I don’t know,” says Andrew Wickenden ’09. “Maybe my right, I think.” “Your right, huh,” says Professor of English David Weiss. “Is that because you’re a writer? Do you think if you were a lefter, your left side would be your best side?” The puns fly and they’re on to the next before anyone can react. It’s clear they are completely comfortable together, colleagues as much as student and teacher. “The thing about being a writer is that it’s better not to have too many other aptitudes or skills,” says Weiss. This time he’s not joking. “You have to be willing to do something fruitless for a long while, and you have to have an arrogance that what you’re doing is important.” For more than a year, Weiss mentored Wickenden as he wrote his first novel, American Friction, a coming of age story about the
birth of a writer. “The novel taught me what I can and shouldn’t do,” says Wickenden. “I have a better handle on plot movement and tension, and can focus more on character and theme.” “He has great powers of characterization and a really sophisticated sentence structure,” says Weiss. “There’s a steadiness about Andrew that is impressive – a sharp literary mind and a long distance runner’s temperament.” “This was the first mentoring experience I’ve had as a writer,” says Wickenden. “We’re still working together. I’m helping him renovate a house on the weekends, and while we work, we talk.” “There we are, plastering and painting and roofing and all the while talking about what we’re reading and writing,” says Weiss. “It’s a great working relationship.”● PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
“W
hat’s your best side?”
WAVELENGTHS
Associate Professor of English Melanie Conroy-Goldman “I am an evangelist for Norman Rush’s Mating. In addition to having an utterly convincing female narrative voice, it takes on enormous themes. In short, why can’t people live in accordance with their ideals? Here, the ideals are ones of equality, equality between nations, between sexes, between benefactors and recipients. It won a National Book Award, so I’m not the book’s only fan. Perhaps its biggest, though.”
Best First Screenplay
Professor of English Grant Holly “Charlie Kaufman’s Being John Malkovich. He’s done a lot of other writing, but I think that’s his first feature. I would love to have heard the pitch: ‘An out-of-work puppeteer gets a job on the 7½ floor of a building, discovers a little door in his office wall, goes through it and is sucked down a moist, dark tunnel and into John Malkovich, where he resides for about 15 minutes until he drops down on the side of the Jersey Turnpike.’ ‘I’ve heard enough. Let’s green light this puppy.’ Any time somebody tells me, ‘That’ll never work,’ I think of Charlie Kaufman.”
Best First Poetry Collection
Assistant Professor of English Lauren Alleyne “All time best? That’s rough! I can think of about five right off the top of my head. If there was a gun to my head I’d just blurt out any one of those five, so that’s what I’m going to do: The Rape Poems by Frances Driscoll. Difficult material, amazing poems and a first timer—it’s a necessary and life-changing read.”
Adventures in Reading
TEMPLE
Best First Novel
by Andrew Wickenden ’09
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he volcanic peaks of El Salvador, the Carpathians in Romania, the Patagonian stretches of Argentina: they sound like the settings of an adventure novel, but for Professor of Education Charlie Temple, the adventure is bringing stories and discussion to these places. For years, Temple has been traveling the globe with international groups like UNESCO and the Soros Foundation, bringing literacy programs, books, resources and a deep personal commitment to countries and regions with low, and high, literacy rates. In programs for countries with low literacy rates or children from minority groups that have traditionally taken a back seat in the classroom, Temple has worked on several projects with local authors and publishers to write books and reach out to under-funded schools with nearly a 100% dropout rate. “In a developing country, one of the major challenges in teaching literacy is what these kids are given to read,” Temple says. “If all you have to read is a textbook, how far are you going to get? People need to read about things they care about. If that doesn’t happen, kids can go to school for the few years most children are given and in the end have little to show for it.” In Liberia, Temple is working with publishers and government officials, like James E. Roberts ’66, Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, (see page 33 for more about Roberts) to help authors write books that feature what is good about the country—its traditions, its fascinating history and its lively people—but also acknowledge the problems 14 years of village-to-village civil war have brought on the people, so children will find reflections of their own experiences in their school books and have an opportunity to talk things through. Through programs like these, even in countries with high literacy rates, Temple and his collaborators are reorienting the system toward critical thinking, experiential learning and interpersonal communication and understanding. But with some governments wary of big changes, Temple says he frames it as “just going in to tell stories.” “Literacy is a way of recording thoughts and experiences that let you reflect on them and have a dialogue with them, which in turn makes you more reflective,” says Temple. “Learning how to read and discuss in a classroom is one of the best ways I know to become a good citizen: you learn to think critically, learn to love ideas, learn to talk and listen.” ●
Education:
HWS faculty encouraged me to study in India. That experience and what I learned in classes set me on my career path.
Anthropology
Associate Professor of Anthropology, Yale University Author of Tamil Oratory and the Dravidian Aesthetic: Democratic Practice in South India
www.hws.edu
PHOTO BY CATHERINE JO FISHER ’83
Dr. Bernard Bate ’84
Travel:
Anthropology may not pay well but we get to see the world. My family and I spent some six years in South Asia.
Research:
I explore the culture and history of oratory and democratic practice in India, Sri Lanka and the United States.
Teaching:
I love to teach, and the example set by teachers at HWS remains the standard by which I measure my success.
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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It’s Sticky
How a mistake in the lab transformed modern medicine
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he enormity of his discovery clicked when a young lab technician accidentally glued together the two prisms of a $700 Abbe refractometer. Rather than firing the technician for his costly error, Dr. Harry Coover ’41, P’66 began to run around the lab, gluing everything together. The fates had given him a second chance, and he wasn’t going to let it get away from him this time. Coover and his team had rediscovered DR. HARRY COOVER ’41, P’66 IS cyanoacrylates, HONORED WITH THE HOBART MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE a class of chemicals with powerful adhesive properties and a tensile strength measuring at a ton per square inch. You probably know the product
by Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05
as SuperGlue or Krazy Glue, but until that fateful realization in the lab, it was really just a pain in Coover’s neck. He had initially developed the compound during World War II while trying to create an optically clear plastic gunsight. The substance worked as a mold for the sites, but it stuck to everything, frustrating Coover, who eventually put the formula aside. Six years later, as Coover and a team of young scientists struggled to develop a heat-resistant polymer for jet canopies, they revisited the work he’d done with gunsights. Instead of leading his team down the path to jet canopies, the sticky re-discovery refocused them on refining this new super glue for commercial use. It would be impressive enough if the story ended there – with Coover responsible for the repair of hundreds of vases broken by clumsy children the world over – but within just a few years, his adhesive had grown into something bigger than anyone could have imagined. Coover quickly realized that the adhesive, initially marketed as Kodak 910 because the glue set before you could count to 10, may have medical relevance. In 1964, Kodak applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to use cyanoacrylate glue as a wound sealant and hemostat.
Though their initial application was denied, the glue nonetheless eventually found use on battlefields in Vietnam. “I was first made aware of using cyanoacrylates to manage trauma while I was serving as a Battalion Surgeon in Vietnam,” says Dr. Vincent R. DiGregorio ’64, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Winthrop University Hospital. Responding to this new need, Coover developed disposable cyanoacrylate sprays. “If somebody had an open wound that was bleeding, the biggest problem they had was to stop the bleeding so they could get the patient back to the hospital,” Coover said in an interview. “The medics used the spray, stopped the bleeding, and were able to get the wounded back to the base hospital.” Captain Chad A. Bevan III ’96, an Air Force flight surgeon currently serving in the Middle East, is happy to report that Coover’s discovery is still being used in combat situations, though not always as the label indicates. “I usually carry cyanoacrylate adhesives with me on combat missions, just in case,” he says. “Just a few weeks ago, I used the adhesive to repair an essential part of the pilot’s helmet just as we were entering Baghdad airspace. Thanks to Dr. Coover’s work, the mission continued successfully.”
How SuperGlue works In its liquid or gel form, SuperGlue is made up of monomers, very small molecules that are easily bonded to other small molecules. As soon as the monomers interact with hydrogen and oxygen molecules in the air (usually from water), they bond together into long chains of molecules (polymers) that are difficult to break.
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WAVELENGTHS
“I use tissue adhesives nearly every day in my practice.” – Hobart Alumni Association President Dr. Robert H. Gilman ’70, a plastic surgeon
Today, the adhesives are well accepted beyond the battlefield, useful for a variety of surgical and veterinary uses. A lower-strength version is even available in most drug stores, usually marketed as Liquid Bandage or Liquid Skin. In 1998, the FDA approved the glue for closing surgical incisions, and in 2001, it approved an antibacterial form of the glue, marketed as Dermabond. “Dermabond is clear, so it allows you to monitor the wound underneath as it heals,” says Dr. Darrick E. Antell ’73, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in New York City. “Wound monitoring is one of the biggest benefits of cyanoacrylates, in my opinion, because it allows you to look for signs of infection without waiting to remove a dressing.” “I use tissue adhesives nearly every day in my practice,” says Hobart Alumni Association President Dr. Robert H. Gilman ’70, a plastic surgeon. “I often use invisible sutures – sutures beneath the skin – to close a wound or surgical opening then use a final layer of skin glue on top to seal the surface together, eliminating the need for suture removal down the road.” Cyanoacrylates also save time during wound repair because they’re quicker to apply than sutures, and they provide a flexible, water-resistant coating that allows patients to get back to their normal lives quickly. When used as a suture-less wound closure, the substance requires no needles or numbing agents, which makes it especially useful when working with children. “I’ve been using cyanoacrylate adhesives for years. They’re a kid’s best friend,” says Dr. John A. Massimilian ’81, an emergency physician. “When you tell a child that there’ll be no needles, their eyes light up and they get a lot more cooperative.” Dr. Allyson Shirtz Howe ’94, who uses Dermabond in her sports medicine practice, remembers a particularly horrible personal situation when the adhesive came in handy. Howe’s daughter Lucy, three years old at the time, tripped and fell one afternoon, creating a wound on the undersurface of her chin. Lucy was in a hysterical state by the time Howe’s
husband, Dave, got her to Howe’s clinic. “I quickly realized that Lucy would need to be restrained for suturing, and I wasn’t prepared for that. My colleague Pam remembered Dermabond, and that treatment took about 10 seconds,” says Howe. “Now six years old, Lucy remembers the event fondly, and her scar is barely noticeable.” In January, the Hobart Alumni Association honored Coover for his contributions to medicine awarding him with the Hobart Medal of Excellence, the Alumni Association’s highest honor. “What I want to convey today is the utter awe I have at the way life comes full circle,” said Coover in his acceptance speech. “The very college community that excited me, pulled me in, and gave me a wonderful foundation on which I built the rest of my career, now honors me as a distinguished alumnus. My thanks go to Hobart College, who took this young farm boy from Newark, Delaware, and made him an educated man ready to take on the world.” For Coover’s fellow Hobart and William Smith alums, the fact that one of their own has revolutionized medicine isn’t surprising at all. “A Hobart and William Smith education sparks independent and creative thinking as well as a desire to give back to society,” says Dr. Edward J. Tapper ’64. “Great ideas flow from open, creative minds,” agrees DiGregorio. “The medical application of cyanoacrylate adhesives is a great example of thinking out of the box and realizing there has to be a better way.” ● To see video of Dr. Harry Coover in 1959 introducing America to Kodak 910 on CBS’ “I’ve Got A Secret,” visit www.hws.edu/alumni/pssurvey.
Surprising Uses for SuperGlue 1. A medical company has started preclinical trials using cyanoacrylates to surgically reduce lung volume as a treatment for emphysema patients. 2. Criminal investigators use cyanoacrylate vapor to reveal invisible latent fingerprints. The glue reacts with the proteins left behind when a person touches something producing a visible fingerprint. 3. Ballerinas who dance en pointe harden the inner sole and interior box of their shoes with cyanoacrylates to make them last longer. 4. Food stylists use cyanoacrylates to keep food in place during photography shoots.
Great Advancements in Medical History A partial list of inventions and practices by Hobart and William Smith alums Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell 1849 The first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., Blackwell was a pioneer in educating women in medicine and is credited with opening the first U.S. training school for nurses in 1873. Dr. Steven Phillips ’62 Phillips pioneered the techniques for emergency coronary bypass surgery for evolving heart attacks. His emergency intervention is the universal standard of care. He cofounded the Iowa Heart Center and invented the technology used to perform the less-invasive percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass. Dr. Joy Schildkraut Glaser ’62, P’89, P’97 Glaser was a member of the team that discovered that extra-hepatic biliary atresia (a disease of the liver ducts in infants) is not congenital and is in fact caused by Reovirus 3 in about 60 percent of cases. Dr. Edward J. Tapper ’64 Tapper was on the team that discovered the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract. He also developed new drug treatments for GI (peptic ulcer and inflammatory bowel disease), hepatitis B and C, cardiology and kidney transplant rejection. Dr. Stephen G. Gerzof ’64 Gerzof, a radiologist, challenged the prevailing surgical opinion and developed procedures to cure abdominal abscesses without surgery. Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer ’64, Sc.D.’94 Schaffer illuminated the molecular chain of events that facilitates herpes simplex virus replication and enables antiviral drugs to combat herpes virus infections. Colin Offenhartz ’65, P’09 Offenhartz developed EXU-DRY, a onepiece wound dressing that revolutionized care for severely burned patients. To learn more about the medical minds behind these innovations, visit www.hws.edu/alumni/ pssurvey.
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Sense and Sensibility
by Andrew Wickenden ’09
Senses: they’re how we manifest our perception of the physical world. They’re our link to Beethoven, Casablanca, a slice of pizza; to the Internet; to a warm day on Seneca Lake; to our memories, our feeling of “home.” They help migrating birds orient themselves, allow insects to attract mates, help us isolate atoms. The senses are the entry point to a world of the unknown, and at HWS, faculty and students are exploring just
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Fir0002/Flagstaffottos
what kind of sense they can make of the senses.
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
WAVELENGTHS
MARTYNA BORUTA ’10 AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY MARK DEUTSCHLANDER RELEASE A FEMALE MOURNING WARBLER WHILE WORKING AT THE BRADDOCK BAY BIRD OBSERVATORY.
Sight
F
Smell
H
ow do our noses pick up certain scents? How do animals distinguish what’s toxic from what smells like home, what’s pleasant from what stinks? What directs an embryo to create an olfactory organ? Assistant Professor of Biology Kristy Kenyon is getting at the core of these questions, exploring the trajectory of embryonic cells as they form the antennae of moths, with the aid of a three-year, $215,100 grant from the National Institutes of Health, funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development. With the help of student researchers, Kenyon, a developmental biologist, is examining the molecular and cellular processes that direct embryonic cells to create the specialized sensory cells located within the antennae of moths. These cells create the sensory system involved in detecting—i.e. smelling— pheromones, the chemical mediators of complex and vital behaviors such as species recognition and mating. “My hope is that this research effort will allow us to better understand the evolutionary connections among different moth species,” says Kenyon. “By working on insects, I hope we can gain a better view of how mammals, including humans, build sensory systems necessary for olfaction.” KENYON
or the past 15 years, Associate Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander has been studying the sensory biology of migratory animals—from salamanders and salmon to, most recently, songbirds. “Birds use a variety of sensory cues,” says Deutschlander, whose current work examines how birds use the Earth’s magnetic field in coordination with visual cues to orient themselves. Birds have an internal magnetic compass, which they rely on in combination with other cues, like stellar patterns and the position of the sun at dawn and dusk, to find their way. But because those other cues are defined in relation to geographic north, as opposed to magnetic north, “these two ways of orienting can create navigational error,” says Deutschlander. “So birds use sight to calibrate their magnetic compasses using celestial cues.” In a recent paper published in The Journal of Experimental Biology, and in a November appearance on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation: Science Friday,” Deutschlander explained that in addition to using the North Star, which migratory songbirds identify as a fixed nighttime reference while still in the nest, some birds “use the polarized light at sunrise and sunset to determine geographic north and recalibrate their magnetic compass.” Aligning their innate navigation equipment by solar cues at twilight allows birds to head north in the spring to feast and breed in the Boreal forests of Canada, or south in the autumn, taking flight to more temperate roosts during the cold, resource poor winters.
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Sound
“I
n Physics, our way of ‘seeing’ has long ago extended beyond the senses,” says Associate Professor of Physics Steve Penn. “We ‘see’ light well beyond the frequency range of our eyes; we ‘hear’ beyond the intensity limits of our ears. When physicists talk about ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing,’ it usually means using an augmented system to make the measurement.” One such system is a project that Penn and hundreds of other physicists have been working on for years: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). LIGO’s goal is to directly observe gravitational waves. In 1916, Einstein calculated that the acceleration of massive objects should produce tiny ripples in the fabric of space-time. LIGO is attempting to measure the waves from the most dense, highly accelerated masses in the universe: black hole and neutron star binaries. Using an L-shaped detector with 2.5 mile long arms, they measure the relative arm length to an accuracy 1,000 times smaller than a proton. “It’s the equivalent of measuring the Earth-Sun distance to the accuracy of one atom,” says Penn. “We ‘listen’ for gravity waves from these binary systems as they lose energy, spiral inward, collide and coalesce.” says Penn. “I use the word ‘listen’ because the gravity wave frequencies are well matched to the range of human hearing, so we route the detector output into a speaker and listen for the waves.” LIGO measures distances by reflecting laser light off mirrors at the end of each arm. Because the mirrors are at room temperature — hot compared to absolute zero — their thermal energy causes the mirror surface to vibrate with an amplitude about one million times greater than the detection limit. “It’s like measuring sea-level during a tsunami,” says Penn, who, with his students, works on lowering this ‘thermal noise.’ “We can’t eliminate thermal energy without cooling LIGO near absolute zero. Instead we develop mirror materials that vibrate with an extremely constant and uniform frequency. Then we can ignore this vibration, like the way people talking can ignore a very high pitched buzzer.” Currently, LIGO scientists are working on Advanced LIGO, which will improve the sensitivity by a factor of 10 and allow for direct and regular observation of black holes and neutron stars. It should be completed by 2015.
Taste
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ooking is as much a science as it is an art—every kitchen is a laboratory, and each dish is the result of a series of scientific experiments. In “The Curious Cook,” a bidisciplinary approach to science and writing, Professor of Chemistry Walter Bowyer and Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Cheryl Forbes are melding the art of cooking and the chemistry of food with the creativity and critical thinking that are hallmarks of the HWS Writing and Rhetoric program. Regular experiments and lab reports give “The Curious Cook” the foundations of a chemistry course. But with students measuring the proteins in a soufflé or examining through mayonnaise the properties of an emulsion,
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“it’s a great way to teach science to non-science majors,” Bowyer says. “It gives concrete results as opposed to something abstract. It’s one more way that understanding chemistry changes your perception of the world.” Balancing the lab work and the chemistry of the course is a portfolio of essays (and revisions) that is built over the duration of the semester—essays, Forbes says, “that focus on food but are driven by science.” Forbes also teaches “Food for Thought,” the capstone course for Writing and Rhetoric, which deals with the art of cooking and the craft of writing. In the course, students develop their palates through taste-testing and observation, all the while honing their writing chops. “We do a lot of testing—of olive oils, cheddar cheeses, salts, balsamic vinegars—comparing color, texture, viscosity, smell,” Forbes says. “It’s a good exercise to observe something you’re writing about in such detail. It’s using the senses in a very different way.” But in these courses, to think critically about the science and the food, and the writing that synthesizes the two, as Forbes says, “you do have to use all your senses.”
Touch
A
bsolute zero is the temperature at which the kinetic energy of an atom or a molecule equals zero. Naturally or artificially, this is not allowed. But, as Assistant Professor of Physics Pasad Kulatunga says, “If one can reduce the kinetic energy or the speed of atoms to very small values, it is equivalent to cooling the atoms to very low temperatures.” “In physics ‘slow’ and ‘cool’ are synonymous,” says Kulatunga, whose current project with students involves using a powerful laser to isolate a single neutral rubidium atom from about seven million in a dipole trap. In this process, atoms are slowed from about 300 meters per second (at room temperature) to about 10 centimeters per second in 1/1000 of a second, which puts their temperature at 100x10-6 degrees Kelvin. “Cooling close to absolute zero allows us to study the quantum mechanical effects that are otherwise not readily accessible,” Kulatunga says. “It also allows us to manipulate the internal quantum mechanical states, a fundamental requirement to build a working quantum computer, which allows super-fast computing. You can say bye-bye to RSA encryption, if one can be built.” But there are many technical difficulties to overcome, Kulatunga concedes. “In the dipole trap, these atoms heat up very quickly and you need to somehow cool them,” he says. “This gets more difficult as the trap size is reduced. The ultimate goal of my project is to study and overcome these bottlenecks when cold atoms are localized to a very small volume in space. We can cool without localizing, but, for example, in quantum computing, you need to cool and localize the atoms, too. Apart from that, well-localized and cold atoms are ideal candidates to study quantum mechanical phenomena that are not otherwise accessible.” ●
HWS | ca.1959 “The Merchant of Venice” This photo shows a 1959 Little Theatre production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” directed by Professor E.E. Griffith and featuring Leslie J. Stark ’59 (center) as Shylock. Exactly 50 years later, Stark reprised the role at The Vineyard Playhouse on Martha’s Vineyard.
FEATURE Campaign Update
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Perfor ming Ar ts Initiative
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Seneca Wall Dedication
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Bequest Creates Chair
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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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In recognition of the need for increased access and academic space, the Board of Trustees votes to increase Campaign for the Colleges to $200 million, making it the most ambitious fundraising effort in HWS history.
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New Campaign Objective: $200M
CAMPAIGN
Campaign Goal Targets Three Strategic Areas by Jen Nesbit
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t their fall meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to increase the goal of Campaign for the Colleges from $160 million to $200 million making it the largest and most comprehensive effort of its kind in the Colleges’ history. Campaign for the Colleges was publicly launched just three years ago to fuel the objectives of the Colleges’ strategic plan – HWS 2010, and the achievements have been noticeable and transformative for campus. “When we shaped Campaign for the Colleges, we hoped our vision for the future of Hobart and William Smith would be shared by all members of the Colleges’ community,” explains David H. Deming ’75, chair of the Board of Trustees. “That has certainly been the case. The momentum behind this fundraising initiative has been tremendous and everyone here at the Colleges from faculty to students to staff has benefited from this generosity.” But with Campaign objectives unrealized and with students and families facing financial aid concerns in the face of the economic recession, the Campaign Steering Committee recommended to the Board that celebrating the original goal would be premature. “It was clear to the Campaign Steering Committee that we needed to recalibrate,” says Trustee Chair Emeritus L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D.’02, Tri-Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee with Thomas P. Poole ’61, P’91, L.H.D. ’06 and Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09. “I appreciate the Board’s decision to increase the goal,” says President Mark D. Gearan. “I believe it signals their confidence in the Hobart and William Smith family and our ability to enjoy even
greater success in these economic times.” Deming explains that those outcomes have taken on greater importance in light of the recession. “Our students needs have escalated with the economic climate and it’s critical that we provide them and their families with access to a Hobart and William Smith education,” he says. “We cannot back down in the face of a challenging economy; we must move forward with purpose and confidence.” Remaining Campaign aspirations include securing endowed funds to strengthen the Colleges’ financial base as well as increased financial aid and programmatic support to meet the expenses of delivering the kind of personalized instruction that distinguishes HWS. The Annual Fund is a critical priority because of the essential resources these gifts provide in the yearly operations of the Colleges. The hallmark of a strong institution is a robust Annual Fund and the Colleges have unfinished business in this area relative to the high levels of pride exhibited by our constituency. Finally, the continuation of Campaign for the Colleges addresses several ongoing facilities needs, including remaining components of the athletics project and planned revitalization and renovation of historic structures like Coxe Hall. The Colleges’ single-largest capital project – the creation of academic and performance space for theatre, dance and music – now takes center stage. “The comprehensive nature of Campaign for the Colleges, with objectives for endowment, the Annual Fund and capital building projects, means that gifts of all sizes make an important
difference and every member of the HWS community has a vital part to play,” says Bob O’Connor, vice president for institutional advancement. The total Campaign dollars raised to date is from a record number of donors, with unprecedented levels of giving from the Colleges’ alumni, alumnae, parents and friends. There have been more than 19,700 individual gifts to the campaign so far. Twenty-six donors have made gifts of $1 million or more, and another 25 have given at least $500,000. The vast majority of gifts to the Campaign are under $50,000, with the Annual Fund as the most popular avenue for participation in the Campaign. Campaign for the Colleges has already strengthened resources for students and faculty with the creation of new endowed scholarships and professorships. Increased support of the Annual Fund during the Campaign has also helped the Colleges navigate the challenges wrought by the changed economy. And the campus has been visibly enhanced with the addition and renovation of a number of facilities for teaching and learning. “We are very grateful to alumni and alumnae, parents and friends,” says Gearan. “Their extraordinary generosity has enabled us to make a real difference in the lives of students and in the life of HWS. This is a more vibrant and student-engaged institution as a result of Campaign for the Colleges.” “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am thankful for the support of our community and so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a result of that support,” says Deming. “I invite everyone to consider a gift to the Colleges. Our aspirations are ambitious and the results will be transformative. This is our moment.” ●
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The Annual Fund
by Jen Nesbit
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etsy McNamara ’87 has made a gift to the Annual Fund every year for nearly a quarter of a century. When asked why, she shares, “The professors and classes, my friends, the beautiful locale—my four years at the Colleges were a wonderful time for me. It is important that the Colleges offer this experience to students today and in the future. Making my gift annually, even though it’s not a huge amount, is one way that I can help.” As a core objective of Campaign for the Colleges, the Annual Fund provides essential support for the day-to-day operations of the institution and in doing so determines the consistent quality of the HWS educational program. As the Colleges strive to maintain fiscal stability in the wake of the economic recession, the flexibility and nimbleness that come with a strong Annual Fund make it an institutional imperative. “The significant role of these unrestricted gifts in the Colleges’ ability to respond to the emergent and increased financial aid needs of our students has become all the more critical in the last year,” says Trustee and TriChair of the Campaign Steering Committee Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09. “Even as market indicators display a modest degree
of improvement in the nation’s economy, as we anticipated, the Colleges’ ability to harness that momentum lags behind, making gifts to the Annual Fund more important than ever.” McNamara’s steadfast support and that of her fellow alumnae, alumni, parents and friends is an integral part of Campaign for the Colleges’ success to date. Collectively, Annual Fund donors have given more than $18 million during the course of the Campaign. The Colleges would need $60 million in endowed funds to generate the same level of budget-relieving resources provided each year by Annual Fund gifts. For many, the Annual Fund is the surest way to secure a place in the history of Hobart and William Smith as a contributor to Campaign for the Colleges. Gifts large and small play a key role in the success of the Annual Fund. For example, last year, gifts of $250 and under accounted for nearly $500,000 of the $2.7 million Annual Fund total. Katherine D. Elliott ’66, L.H.D. ’08, Trustee and National Annual Fund Chair, explains that the percentage of alumni and alumnae who give annually sends a message of endorsement to the
As a core objective of Campaign for the Colleges, the Annual Fund provides essential support for the day-to-day operations of the institution and in doing so determines the consistent quality of the HWS educational program. world. “It boosts the Colleges’ national rankings, competitiveness for grants, and attractiveness for prospective students, all of which in turn enhances the value of a Hobart and William Smith degree,” she says. “It is the reputation of the HWS education that influences the opinion of potential employers and graduate schools and gives our graduates an added advantage.” As Campaign for the Colleges continues to be successful in adding or enhancing new facilities and programs, the corresponding growth of the Annual Fund is critical. Says Elliott: “This campaign is about assuring that our efforts now will have an impact for generations to come.” ●
PHOTOS BY KEVIN COLTON
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CAMPAIGN
How It Works
The Endowment by Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05
M
ichael Doane ’11 shadows Dr. Mark Mapstone ’89, learning about research projects and administrating cognitive tests. David Lenihan ’72, P’12 meets one-on-one with students to talk careers in international business. Professor Jim Spates P’00, P’09 travels abroad to walk in 19th century poet John Ruskin’s shoes. Each of these opportunities is funded by named gifts that are part of the Colleges’ overall Endowment. Though it is often talked about as a large lump sum, the Endowment is actually made up of more than 560 separate funds that have been established throughout the history of Hobart and William Smith. Invested collectively, the funds are a stable source of income that supports Hobart and William Smith in perpetuity. Individually, a fund can serve any number of purposes including underwriting scholarships or internships for deserving students, rewarding exceptional faculty with professorships, ensuring the future of distinctive programs such as global
education and summer research, providing for technology or augmenting tuition to help meet the expenses of delivering personalized instruction. As a whole, the Endowment currently provides nine percent of the annual operating budget. These funds are the foundation for Hobart and William Smith’s distinctive teaching and learning programs and make a lasting influence on the character of the Colleges. Over the past 30 years, the Colleges’ Endowment has grown nearly twentyfold and, despite taking a hit during the recent recession, is currently a $140.8 million testament to the strength and vitality of Hobart and William Smith. One of the remaining goals of Campaign for the Colleges is to increase the Endowment to an even healthier level, which will strengthen the Colleges’ financial base and ensure their standing among the top liberal arts institutions in the nation. ●
A donor consults with a member of the Hobart and William Smith staff to craft an endowed gift that suits his or her unique interests and needs. Many named opportunities have minimum permanent or annual funding requirements to ensure that the income will be adequate to achieve the donor’s intent for generations to come. The gift is pooled with the rest of the Colleges’ Endowment, which is invested by the Board of Trustees. This allows HWS to attain the maximum return on donors’ gifts. The Board of Trustees determines the appropriate amount of interest and appreciation from the Endowment that should be used to support the Colleges each fiscal year – historically five percent. The principal of every individual gift is left intact, ensuring a balance between the need for current-use dollars and the long-term integrity of the Endowment. The donor receives annual reports on the outcomes realized by the fund, including notes from individual students or faculty members who have benefited.
Newly Awarded Endowed Scholarships
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ndowed scholarships allow the Colleges to attract and retain top students who are committed to building a diverse and challenging academic community. During the 2009-2010 academic year, several endowed scholarships were awarded for the first time to deserving and talented students, including:
Kevin FitzGerald ’13
Elizabeth Covino ’11
Richard Hazard ’13
Courtney Waugh ’12
First Recipient, Jack Houston GSA Endowed Scholarship established by the Geneva Kiwanis Club
First Recipient, Dr. Harold C. ’56 and Mrs. Donna C. ’57 Britt Endowed Scholarship in Physics
First Recipient, Broadhurst Endowed Scholarship established by Elmore Broadhurst ’36
First Recipient, Margiloff Foundation Endowed Scholarship established by Trustee William A. Margiloff ’92
Hometown: Geneva, NY Major: Political Science Minor: American Studies It’s a great honor and privilege to study at HWS on an academic scholarship. It’s been a life-long dream for me to attend Hobart, and the scholarship made my dream a reality. To all the alums who endow scholarships for students like me, thanks a million!
Hometown: Boxford, MA Majors: Physics, Psychology Thank you for being generous enough to invest in the education of students like me. Scholarships not only decrease debt but it’s also encouraging to know that someone you’ve never even met has faith in you and your abilities.
Hometown: Poland, NY Major: Economics Minor: Environmental Studies, International Relations It’s a great honor to be the first recipient of the Broadhurst Scholarship. Without this support, I wouldn’t be able to afford higher education, and my goals for the workplace would be unreachable.
Hometown: Anson, ME Major: Psychology Minor: Cognition, Logic and Language; Education At HWS, I have gained a true appreciation for the chance to get a great education—not everyone has that opportunity. A scholarship like the one I’ve received can really change a life. Without it, I would not be able to afford this experience.
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The Performing Arts Initiative by Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05
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magine a place of music, dance and theatre, where students, faculty and staff congregate in imaginative expression, artistry and teamwork. A building of soaring glass walls, sweeping outdoor spaces, dedicated studios and flexible theatres that doesn’t just serve the curriculum but pushes its inhabitants to rethink, revision and redefine the boundaries of their imaginations. Envision a place where students can imagine themselves born in another country, another
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ARCHITECT’S RENDERING OF PROPOSED PERFORMING ARTS FACILITY AS SEEN FROM PULTENEY STREET LOOKING EAST.
era, another body, a space that compels them to think about the world – and their place in it – in original and inspired ways. Now picture that place at the heart of the Hobart and William Smith campus, a welcoming center of exploration and light, a cultural and creative anchor on Pulteney Street. This is the vision that inspires the HWS community as it embarks on the final capital project of Campaign for the Colleges, The Performing Arts Initiative. “As HWS builds on the momentum of
the Campaign, we must focus on a facility tailored toward the needs of our current and prospective students,” says Trustee Chair Emeritus and Tri-Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee L. Thomas Melly ‘52, L.H.D. ‘02. “A Performing Arts Center is imperative if we want to continue to bring in talented students.” In the first of many steps toward making this vision a reality, Hobart and William Smith have retained the services of The Gund Partnership, a highly-regarded Massachusetts-based
architecture and planning firm. Together, the Colleges and Gund have designed a unique Performing Arts Center that will promote and encourage synergy among the creative and performing arts on campus. In the proposed building, a soaring, open lobby will link to five large, flexible performance and rehearsal spaces with adaptable seating and removable floor panels so that students and faculty can change the arrangements at will. The facility will also include much-needed sound-dampened rehearsal spaces, recital halls and studio theatres as well as offices for faculty. It will be fully wired with modern technology, providing facilities for students interested in lighting, sound or stage management. Williams Hall, currently home to the music department, will also be renovated to house additional classroom space as well as prop and costume storage. Even if they never take to one of the five new stages, build a set or help stage lighting, the very presence of the active and energized arts community housed in this new facility will have a transformative influence on every student who sets foot on campus. “We have worked on many ambitious buildings, but HWS is particularly pioneering as an interdisciplinary educational model,” explains Laura Sanden Cabo, design principal with The Gund Partnership. “What we’ve planned is without a doubt one of the most forward-thinking arts spaces we have worked on; it will have the vitality of a mini-Lincoln Center.” It should come as no surprise, then, that the chair of fundraising efforts for the HWS Performing Arts Center is Reynold Levy ’66, president of Lincoln Center, the largest performing arts center in the world. “This project is critical to Hobart and William Smith’s future,” says Levy. “Participation in the arts, whether onstage or in the audience, compels us to be inventive in our lives and critical in our thinking. It challenges us to see both difference and interconnectedness; it is at the heart of the liberal arts.” At the intersection of literature, human behavior, history and science, the performing arts push students to broaden their world view and to learn important life skills like discipline, commitment, self-confidence and teamwork. As former Artistic Director of The Pearl Theatre Company Shepard Sobel ‘68 says, “The performing arts are not a supplemental activity; they are a fundamental function of a liberal arts education.”
RENDERINGS COURTESY OF THE GUND PARTNERSHIP
CAMPAIGN
ARCHITECT’S RENDERING OF THE LOBBY AREA OF THE PROPOSED PERFORMING ARTS INITIATIVE.
“Two of the most valuable benefits of a liberal arts education are the ability to examine the world from multiple perspectives and the ability to solve problems creatively,” says Professor of Dance Cynthia Williams. “With their emphases on different voices, personal expression, and commitment to excellence, the arts are perfectly situated to stimulate this kind of vision.” Provost and Dean of Faculty Teresa Amott says that the act of translating imagination into expression is, at a deep level, essential for human endeavor. “We need to develop the creative capacity of all of our students so we can help them relate to the experiences of others,” she says. “Because the Colleges are committed to diversity, it is important for our students to make the leap from who they were raised to be, to the experiences of another. If they can do this, they can become truly global citizens.” “As a performer, you have to pull out parts of yourself that aren’t typically accessible,” says Ellen Fridovich David ’71, a recent recipient of the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role. “It allows you to explore what it’s like to be a different person with different emotions. Performing makes you more empathetic, and it can be equally transformative for an audience. By allowing them to empathize with the character on stage, theatre helps audiences see the humanity in someone who is different.” Participation in the performing arts helps students transfer knowledge into action and in doing so gives them the tools to navigate an increasingly complex world in which the most
common characteristic is consistent change. “Our students enter a global economy that demands imagination and insight in every sphere,” says Amott. “The jobs of the future will lie in innovation and creativity. Future leaders will require vision, imagination, discipline, and the skills of collaboration. Anyone who has ever invented a product or a process, built a company or an organization, has had to will into being something he or she first imagined. And these skills and attributes are taught and fostered by participation in the performing arts.” That ability to will into being something imagined is critical across all disciplines. “As a manager, I seek people who have an interest in the arts because my experience has shown me that people devoted to the arts bring a completely different perspective to the corporate world,” says Katherine MacKinnon ‘77, president of the William Smith Alumnae Association and a vice president in human resources, compensation and benefits with J.P. Morgan Chase. “I believe that dedication to a performing art is all about discipline. It takes years to learn, and it’s not always easy to find the time or the energy to do the work. It teaches you commitment, follow-through and the importance of continuing to develop yourself as a person. There’s something to be said for not giving up when things are difficult and doing something for your own self-satisfaction.” In addition, the performing arts help students develop confidence in their voice and abilities. “Everyone who walks into the theatre has something to give,” says Sobel. “Preparing for a performance is a communal experience. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Every contribution matters, even those jobs that seem menial. It’s confidence-building.” Despite the importance of performing arts, though, none of the current performing arts spaces on the Hobart and William Smith campus were designed specifically for the arts. Dancers perform in a gym on a stage that they must set up and take down themselves. Musicians practice in a converted gymnasium. Theatre is housed in a space that limits production to a single set. “Our current performing space is woefully inadequate. Modern teaching space is virtually non-existent,” says Amott. In addition to doing a disservice to current students, the present facilities make it challenging for the Colleges to attract top prospective students and faculty. “We compete with other schools in our academics and student opportunities,” says Vice President for Enrollment Management Bob Murphy. “But our performing arts facilities not only fall short of our competitors, they fall short of many of the high schools from which our students graduated. If we are to compete for the kind of students we want to enroll, this should be addressed.” “This is, without question, our most conspicuous weakness,” says Assistant Vice President for the Performing Arts Initiative Mara O’Laughlin ‘66. “Our current facilities dictate opportunities and impair an audience’s ability to enjoy a performance.” In response to this weakness, the new Performing Arts Center will bring the arts together under one roof, cultivating educational opportunities and fostering programs that cross disciplines in innovative ways.
“The new Performing Arts Center is designed for tomorrow’s arts,” says Amott. “It is integrative, collaborative, inspirational, and it is designed to take our teaching, learning and performing to the very highest levels of excellence.” “The best arts programs allow music, theatre and dance to work together,” says songwriter and musician John Trivers ‘69. “A music student could score for a theatrical piece to be performed by the theatre department or the theatrical arts students may help create sets for an elaborate dance work.” The Performing Arts Center is designed with an eye toward enhancing this kind of connected campus culture. The building, which is currently slated to be situated on Medbery Parking Lot, will also create a new Arts Quad and define a dramatic entryway, serving as a cultural crossroads. “The placement will open up a whole new area of the campus for student activity,” says Trustee and Tri-Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee Maureen Collins Zupan ’72, P’09. “It’s meant to be a space for everyone.” Adding to that will be large windows, allowing passersby to see what’s going on inside. “At night, it will seem to glow from within, drawing interest and people inside” says Cabo. “There’ll be lots of seating nooks throughout the building to further encourage students to hang out or interact with faculty. The building will also lend itself to showcasing the works of the visual arts on campus, making a strong statement about the creative process at HWS.” “I believe that all students will be inspired by the energy that the Performing Arts Center will generate,” says MacKinnon. “They’ll be
inspired by the hard work and skills of their peers, and they’ll be inspired by the unavoidable beauty of the building and what’s happening inside.” “Our ability to move into the future with certainty is dependent on this facility, “ says Melly. “We must and we will complete this project. I have such a sense of optimism and clarity about the rest of this Campaign, and I’m eager to see what we accomplish.” Before they close the books on Campaign for the Colleges, Hobart and William Smith hope to raise $28 million to complete construction on the Performing Arts Center. “I was thrilled when the student dance collective – Koshare – presented the first gift to the Performing Arts since we went public with the project,” says Zupan. “We want to help provide a space conducive to all of the performing arts,” says Koshare Co-President Caitlyn Schrader ‘10, who presented Zupan with a check for $1,000—the amount collected during the 2009 Koshare show, an annual, standing-room only event. “We’re very passionate and excited about this. We want to share the arts with HWS and the community and continue traditions, like Koshare, in the future.” “Their gift is remarkable because they won’t experience this new facility in their time here,” says Zupan. “They could have done anything with that money but they’re as enthusiastic about this project as we are. They’re making a gift to a future generation of students.” ● If you would like to discuss any aspect of Campaign for the Colleges, contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bob O’Connor at oconnor@hws.edu or (315) 781-3700.
PHOTOS BY KEVIN COLTON
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OUTCOMES
Giving Thanks and Looking Ahead
O
n a chilly October afternoon, the HWS community gathered at the Scandling Campus Center to dedicate the Seneca Society Donor Wall in recognition of that group’s inaugural members. Established in 2006, the Seneca Society honors those individuals whose philanthropy has remarkably altered the course of Hobart and William Smith history. The wall, which surrounds a new courtyard on the southwest side of the Scandling Campus Center, is etched with the names of Seneca Society members and serves as a permanent reminder of their generosity. “Some of the names on this wall are familiar to all of us because they grace the spaces we use every day,” said President Mark D. Gearan at the dedication. “These structures directly support our faculty and students as places of inspiration, research, creativity, community, contemplation and learning. Others honored on this wall chose to support our endowment through the establishment of professorships and scholarships, enhancing the work of our faculty and providing access to qualified and deserving students.” Seher Syed ’10 reflected on the impact the generosity of alumni, alumnae, families and friends of HWS has had on her, particularly that of Honorary Trustee Charles H. Salisbury Jr. ’63, P’94, L.H.D. ’08, the sponsor of the Salisbury Summer International Internship Fund, which supported Syed’s work at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. “Each of you is here this afternoon because you’ve made positive change by giving something back – to me, to my fellow students, to Hobart and William Smith. You’ve made my HWS education possible, and I am inspired by your generosity,” she said. The monetary gifts, as Professor of Sociology Jack Harris reminded the crowd, are the, “foundation of our success. They mold our identity and take us to the next level of
Seneca Society Donor Wall Dedication and Emerson Society Dinner institutional maturity and security,” he said. “Members of the Seneca Society have affirmed, supported and sustained what we do here – the education of young women and men for lives of consequence. Their support reveals confidence and optimism in our work and in our future. They direct our focus, enrich our academic courses and programs, and engage us in activity that is public and reaches out to change our local and global communities.” At the close of the dedication, Chair of the Board of Trustees David Deming ’75 issued a challenge to the Classes of 2010, pledging to match, dollar-for-dollar, everything the senior classes raise for the Annual Fund as long as 50 percent of the classes participate. Following the dedication, Deming welcomed guests to the Vandervort Room for the annual Emerson Society dinner. Members of the Emerson Society are individuals whose annual giving to the Colleges totals $2,000 or more per year. Katherine D. Elliott ’66, L.H.D. ’08, Trustee and National Chair of the Annual Fund, kicked off the event by paying tribute to William M. Emerson P’64,GP’88, the man for whom the society is named. “In the most appropriate way, the naming of the Emerson Society links the name of this important figure with the names of his direct successors, those people whose annual support of Hobart and William Smith is, indeed, transformational, in the best Emerson tradition.” Following the dinner and performances by HWS a capella groups, six members of the Colleges community—Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning and Assessment Susan Pliner, Assistant Professor of Biology Meghan Brown, Hobart Head Soccer Coach Shawn Griffin, Darragh Clarke ’10, Casey Franklin ’10 and Student Trustee Dan DeNose ’10 — spoke about the transformative effects of the HWS experience. ●
by Caitlyn Pryde Mills
TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THESE EVENTS, PLEASE VISIT WWW.HWS.EDU/EMERSON.
“Members of the Seneca Society have affirmed, supported and sustained what we do here – the education of young women and men for lives of consequence. Their support reveals confidence and optimism in our work and in our future.” – Professor of Sociology Jack Harris
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Bequest Creates Chair in American History and Government by Jen Nesbit
“I
hope this finds everyone working hard.”
Decades of correspondence from Hobart alumnus George E. Paulsen ’49 to Alumni House invariably ended with this entreaty. Paulsen, who died in June 2009, led his life according to this mantra with devotion to his work and fidelity to his interests, which included Hobart and William Smith in a significant and meaningful way. Following his graduation from high school, Paulsen enlisted in the U.S. Navy Air Corps and fought in WWII. Discharged in 1946, he fortuitously returned home to live again with the aunt who raised him after his parents’ death and who was now living on Hobart Street in Ridgefield Park, N.J. Wellacquainted with the younger brother of fellow veteran Herbert Welker ’41 who enrolled at Hobart four years earlier and with the new namesake address, Paulsen included Hobart among the half-dozen small schools he wrote for admission. Hobart was the first to accept. After earning Dean’s list recognition and his degree in history from Hobart, Paulsen worked for a short period at an aeronautics firm before enrolling in the masters program at Rutgers and then earning his Ph.D. at Ohio State University. Paulsen was a professor of history at Arizona State University from 1959 until his retirement in 1991. A prolific reader, researcher and writer throughout his lifetime, Paulsen’s book A Living Wage for the Forgotten Man: The Quest for Fair Labor Standards details the history of the minimum wage and reflects his interests in U.S. diplomatic history and international investment in the American southwest. Paulsen was a significant donor in each of the Colleges’ last three comprehensive campaigns. His giving to the Colleges directly reflected his personal ethos and professional experiences, and began modestly with gifts to the Annual Fund in the first several years after his graduation. However, around the occasion of his 40th Reunion, his level of support increased in earnest. Moved to add his name to the list of donors to the Herbert J. Welker ’41 Memorial Scholarship, Paulsen also began to make significant gifts, about $15,000 annually, to
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GEORGE E. PAULSEN ’49
fund scholarships for students with an interest in the natural sciences. He later created the George E. Paulsen ’49 Endowed Scholarship, a permanent source of funds that has benefited more than a dozen students to date.
With a lifelong commitment to both learning and teaching, Paulsen made arrangements to create the George E. Paulsen ’49 Chair in American History and Government through his estate. As extraordinarily generous as these outright gifts were, Paulsen’s largest gift to the Colleges was not made until after his death. With a lifelong commitment to both learning and teaching, Paulsen made arrangements to create the George E. Paulsen ’49 Chair in American History and Government through his estate. This endowed professorship, a priority of Campaign for the Colleges, is the eighth in the history of Hobart and William Smith and will honor the research, scholarship and teaching of a distinguished member of the HWS faculty. Paulsen was directly involved in the strategy for his own investments, and the
value of his estate exceeded his own expectations eventually totalling a gift bequest of more than $3 million. Paulsen is one of more than 450 known alumni, parents and friends who have remembered HWS in their estate plans. Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement Sarah Gaffin ’78 says that bequests are a way for people of any age to make a commitment to the Colleges. “Including Hobart and William Smith in a will is a way to make a more significant gift to the Colleges than might be possible during one’s lifetime.” After notifying the Colleges about their intentions, donors become members of the Wheeler Society, which honors those who have planned future gifts to the Colleges. Bequests take many forms and can be large or small. Some donors provide a specific dollar amount in their bequest while others designate a percentage of their estate, as Paulsen did, to be given to the Colleges at the time of their passing. ● The Planned Giving Office can provide examples of bequest language as well as other estate planning materials. To learn more contact Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement Sarah Gaffin ’78 at gaffin@hws.edu or 315-781-3714 or visit www.hws.edu/alumni/planning.aspx.
HWS | ca.1942 Hobart Basketball Co-Captains Herb Fitch ’42 and Burt Knapp ’43 watch closely as Chuck Keene ’44 tries to get possession off the tip as the Statesmen face off against the University of Rochester on their home court in Williams Gym. Williams was converted to classrooms and office space in the mid-60s and is currently home to the Department of Music and IT Services. As part of the Performing Arts Initiative, it will again be renovated to include theatre classrooms and storage.
ATHLETICS Student-Athletes
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What Was I Thinking?
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Athletic Updates
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Lacrosse: The Creator’s Game 29 Fall Team Wrap Ups
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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Athletics There’s more than just a hyphen linking
Student-Athletes
“W
hen I first arrived at HWS, I a group setting, prepare for and attack used to be rather dismissive of the task at hand, and use their energy student-athletes and was quite effectively to achieve their utmost potential put-out when I felt their sports interfered in all arenas – athletic, academic, personal with my teaching,” says Associate Professor and professional. The average grade point of Political Science Kevin Dunn. “But three average of the approximately 230 William years ago, I became the faculty adviser for Smith student-athletes is 3.4, while nearly the William Smith soccer team and it has one third of Hobart student-athletes receive been a transformative experience.” the Statesman Scholar Award each year for Dunn along with Associate Professor of maintaining a GPA higher than 3.0. Chemistry Christine de Denus and others, “It would be easy for me to cite the are part of the Faculty Athletic Fellow double major, honors student goalie who program, where faculty members are paired is the heart of the team,” Dunn says up with one or more of reflecting on the Part of the Faculty Athletic the 22 varsity teams on powerful role athletics campus. The program can play in students’ Fellow program, where was started in 2006 by lives. “But all of these faculty members are paired a committee of faculty student-athletes up with one or more of the and coaches. With more take their academic 22 varsity teams on campus. than 80 percent of HWS responsibilities and students participating in interests very seriously. intercollegiate varsity sports or intramurals, I have gained a whole new level of respect club sports or outdoor programs, getting for what they accomplish.” involved in athletics gives faculty members For Hobart Athletics Director Mike a whole new perspective on their students. Hanna ’68, P’99, HON ’04, the balance “I usually attend six to eight practices per between athletics and academics is an season and make sure I am there for all the interconnected synergy. “I remember home games,” says de Denus, the faculty back when I played football and lacrosse adviser for the William Smith basketball for Hobart, I always did much better team. “These interactions allow me to get to academically when we were in-season,” know the players on an individual basis and he says. “If I had a good day in class, I witness their hard work and dedication in would be motivated to go out and work the athletic arena.” hard at practice, and then would have Through athletics, HWS students learn the momentum to get back to the library to operate effectively and efficiently in and take on my work. There is a strong
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interlocking relationship between athletics and academics here at HWS.” Take Brian Monaco ’10. On the gridiron, Monaco is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound tackle. One of two captains for this year’s football team, he is a three-year starter and the leader of a nearly impenetrable offensive line. Off the field, he’s a two-time first-team Academic All-American, a Dean’s List student, a Druid, and a member of the Chimera and Orange Key honor societies. Earlier this season, the National Football Foundation named him one of the 154 semifinalists for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes exceptional academic accomplishment, outstanding football ability, and strong leadership and citizenship. “Brian brings the same high level of dedication, motivation and leadership to the classroom that he brings to the football field,” said Professor of Biology James Ryan. “He is a natural leader, intellectually curious, and a true scholarathlete.” Kristy Kenyon, an assistant professor of biology, has found Brian’s teamwork skills to be elemental in his intellectual pursuits. “Brian’s academic success demonstrates his commitment and investment in the learning process,” she says. “His actions often inspire those around him to rise to his level of engagement and enthusiasm. Brian is to be commended for his achievements on the field and in the classroom.”
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
by John Heavey ’09
ATHLETICS
When discussing her academic and athletic interests, Kirsten Cooper ’10 says that she considers herself a student and scholar before she sees herself as a varsity rower for William Smith. Part of her success off the water, she says, can be attributed to her coach, Sandra Chu. “Coach Chu asks all of the members of the
team to send her mid-term grade reports in order to have a strong idea of how her rowers are doing in each class,” says Cooper. “If any of us are having trouble, Coach Chu takes the initiative to make sure we spend extra time meeting with the professor or working with other students who have had success in the class.”
The academic success of the Hobart and William Smith student-athletes is rooted in the very fabric of the institution. From the Center for Teaching and Learning to the Dean’s Office, the Salisbury Center for Career Services, Counseling Center and beyond, student-athletes are some of the most engaged and active members of the
What was I thinking?
“President Gearan was presenting me with a certificate for the milestone 400th win, and right before the Gatorade hit, I glimpsed ‘...for 30 years of service...’ and I thought ‘THIRTY YEARS?!’ That horrified me, and I couldn’t sense the impending Gatorade.” — The only soccer coach William Smith has ever known, Aliceann Wilber P’13, built the Herons from the ground up into one of the most successful and widely respected programs in the nation. In this photo, she is being congratulated by Associate Professor of Political Science Kevin Dunn, President Mark D. Gearan and William Smith Lacrosse Head Coach Pat Genovese P’01, P’03, P’05, P’08.
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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY CHRISTINE DE DENUS – FACULTY ADVISER FOR THE WILLIAM SMITH BASKETBALL TEAM
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
follow rules, be creative and work as a team,” says de Denus. “The development of these skills is not solely for athletic glory, but for the achievement of life skills and lessons that will aid the Heron or Statesman in every class they take and whatever career they pursue.” ●
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Athletics Updates
BRIAN MONACO ’10
\\ The Heron Hall of Honor Class of 2010 The William Smith College Athletics Department and the Heron Society recently announced the Heron Hall of Honor Class of 2010. Inductees include two sport AllAmerican Leah Cornwell ’02, four-year standout Kelly Martin ’84, three-time AllAmerican Pam DuMond Tarnowski ’96, basketball standout Amy Vandervort ’89 and four-time NCAA-qualifying swimmer Kelly VanGorden ’02. The 1992 William Smith field hockey team will be the second squad to be named a Heron Team of Distinction, joining the 1988 soccer team. The 1992 field hockey team posted program records for wins in a season (22) and winning percentage (.957). The Herons’ run to the program’s first national championship (the school’s second) included a then record 17 consecutive wins.
\\ Scatton P’02, P’06 Inducted into Hall of Fame William Smith College Field Hockey Head Coach Sally Scatton P’02, P’06 was inducted in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Hall of Fame Class of 2009 in January. In 21 seasons with the Herons, Scatton has never had a losing season, compiling an exceptional 338-963 record (.777). “This is an impressive recognition of Sally’s commitment and the positive influence she has had on the field hockey community,” William Smith Athletics Director Deb Steward says.
\\ Monaco ’10 Makes History For more than 50 years, the College Sports Information Directors of America has been selecting Academic All-America Teams, but there has never been a two-time first team Academic All-American from Hobart or William Smith until this fall when senior offensive lineman Brian Monaco earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Football first team honors for the second consecutive season. The first Hobart football player to be named a first team Academic All-American (2008), Monaco earned the Gordon L. Richardson ’33 Memorial Prize, given to a Hobart pre-med student in his junior year with strong academic credentials and concern for humankind. He’s also a three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection. A biology major with a stunning 3.9 GPA, Monaco is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and earned the 2007 Druid Award for Character. Monaco is a biology teaching fellow and a member of the Health Professions Club. He
PHOTO BY KEVIN COLTON
HWS student body. “The academic success of our studentathletes begins by recruiting those who can succeed at HWS as well as have the character and ability to be a Heron or Statesman,” says Director of William Smith Athletics Deb Steward. “Once studentathletes matriculate, their coaches are in constant communication about their progress in class, and we help guide them to appropriate resources on campus as needed.” “Student-athletes have to develop time management skills, dedicate themselves to a greater good, set goals, have discipline,
has volunteered at Sisters of Charity Hospital Surgery Center and with the Geneva Boxing Club. He also served as a member of Hobart’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. One of two captains for this year’s squad, Monaco is a three-year starter and a threetime All-Liberty League selection. This season, Monaco helped the Statesmen lead the Liberty League in third down conversion (44.9%), rank second in sacks allowed (16) and fourth down conversion (56%), and third in rushing (159.0 yds/g).
\\ Soccer Makes Goals In their final regular-season match of the 2009 season, the 14th-ranked William Smith College soccer team defeated RIT 1-0. With the win, Head Coach Aliceann Wilber P’13 recorded her 400th career victory, becoming just the second Division III women’s soccer coach to reach that milestone. Wilber’s 2009 squad captured its third straight Liberty League Championship. The Statesmen were able to match this honor, capturing its first Liberty League Championship with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Union. The team finished the season at 15-4-2 and played on into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
\\ Flanagan ’10 Runs in the NCAA On November 21, Hobart senior Ben Flanagan became just the fourth Statesman to compete in the Division III Men’s Cross Country National Championship. He completed the 8-kilometer layout at the Highland Park Golf Course in 26 minutes, 57.3 seconds. For the past four years, Flanagan has been the top runner at Hobart. He was the first Statesman to cross the finish line in every race he ran and notched six firstplace finishes, including three this season. Flanagan also recorded six second-place finishes over his career.
ATHLETICS
Lacrosse: The Creator’s Game
Panel Discussion
The Game Kicking off “Lacrosse: The Creator’s Game,” an exploration of the Native American roots of modern lacrosse, the Hobart Lacrosse team took on The Iroquois Nationals Team in an exhibition game on McCooey Field. The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team represents the only indigenous confederacy in the world participating at an international level in sports.
The Sacred Sport Ganondagan Spirit Dancers During halftime of the exhibition game, the Ganondagan Spirit Dancers treated the crowd to a unique performance. This urban Native American youth/adult dance group teaches younger generations about culture and tradition.
Filmmaker Jordan Kligerman hosted a screening of his film, Sacred Sport, which explores the history of lacrosse in the context of the traditions and current practices of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois. Afterward, renowned Onondaga Turtle Clan artist Alf Jacques discussed how he makes traditional wooden lacrosse sticks.
The conference wrapped up with a discussion led by William Smith Head Lacrosse Coach Pat Genovese P’01, P’03, P’05, P’08; Sandy Jemison, girls’ lacrosse coach and former member of the all-Iroquois women’s team; and Tia Smith, Haudenosaunee International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Association Delegate. The women shared their personal journeys and the struggles they encountered in their pursuit of organized lacrosse.
Fall Team Wrap Ups HOBART: Cross Country 9/5/09- SUNYIT Invitational, 1 of 8 9/12/09- Brockport Invitational, 4 of 5 9/19/09- Hobart Invitational- 1 of 7 9/26/09- Houghton Invitational- 6 of 12 10/3/09- Geneseo Invitational- 13 of 24 10/10/09- Liberty League Championships- 6 of 6 10/17/09- COCC Championships-3 of 14 10/24/09- Saratoga Invitational-8 of 13 10/31/09- Nazareth & SUNY ESF-n/a 11/7/2009- ECAC Championships-22 of 43 11/14/09- NCAA Regional Championships-28 of 38 11/21/09- NCAA Championships-132 of 276 Football (6-3) 9/12- Dickinson, L 3-26 9/19- Carnegie Mellon, W 26-14 9/26- Susquehanna, L 10-20 10/3- St. Lawrence, W 33-10 10/10- Union, L 21-31 10/24- Merchant Marine, W 28-0 10/31- WPI, W 41-20 11/7- Rensselaer, W 10-0 11/14- Rochester, W 34-20 Golf 9/5- Pitt-Bradford Tournament, 4 of 13 9/12-13- St. Lawrence Invitational, 13 of 13 9/21- Oswego Invitational, 6 of 11 9/26-27- Liberty League Championships, 5 of 7 10/5- Franklin Marshall Invitational, 12 of 19 10/11-12- Nazareth Invitational, 5 of 6 Rowing 10/3- HWS Challenge on the Canal, V8 1st, 2v8 2nd, N8 1st 10/11- Head of the Genesee, V8 2nd, 2V8 4th 10/17-18- Head of the Charles, Collegiate 8 8th, Club 8 12th 10/25- Head of the Fish, v8 1st, 2v8 1st, n8 2nd Soccer (15-4-2) 9/5- RIT, W 3-0 (Doug May Classic) 9/6- Nazareth, W 4-1 (Doug May Classic) 9/9- Utica, W 2-0
9/12- Brockport, W 2-0 9/15- St. John Fisher, W 2-0 9/20- Rochester, T 0-0(2OT) 9/25- Vassar, W 1-0 (2OT) 9/26- Rensselaer, L 1-3 9/29- Medialle, W 1-0 (OT) 10/3- Fredonia, T 2-2 (2OT) 10/9- St. Lawrence, W 4-3 10/10- Clarkson, W 3-2 (2 OT) 10/14- Ithaca, W 3-0 10/17- Oneonta, L1-2 10/24- Skidmore, L 0-1 10/25- Union, W 2-1 10/31- Hamilton, W 2-1 11/3- Hamilton, W 1-0 (Liberty League Tournament) 11/7- Union, W 2-1 (2OT) (Liberty League Tournament) 11/14- St. Joseph’s (NY), W 2-1 (NCAA Tournament) 11/15- Swarthmore, L 1-2 (2OT) (NCAA Tournament)
WILLIAM SMITH: Cross Country 9/5- SUNYIT Invitational, 1st of 9 9/12- Brockport Invitational, 5th of 5 9/19- Hobart Invitational, 1st of 5 9/26- Houghton Invitational, 7th of 8 10/3- Geneseo Invitational, 16th of 23 10/10- Liberty League Championships, 6th of 6 10/17- CCOC Championships, 3rd of 10 10/24- Saratoga Invitational, 11th of 14 10/31- Nazareth & SUNY ESF, n/a 11/7- ECAC Championships 20th of 39 11/14- NCAA Regional Championships, 31st of 33 Field Hockey (9-8) 9/1- Elmira, W 6-0 9/5- Nazareth, W 2-1 9/8- Oswego, W 8-1 9/12- Oneonta, W 4-0 9/16- Ithaca, W 6-2 9/20- Wheaton, W 2-0 (William Smith Classic) 9/25- HAMILTON, L 3-4 (OT) 9/26- St. Lawrence, L 3-4 9/30- Rochester, L1-2
10/3- Messiah, L1-6 10/9- Rensselaer, W 1-0 10/10- Vassar, W 4-0 10/13- Cortland, L 1-2 10/17- Lebanon Valley, L 1-3 10/24- Skidmore, L 1-2 10/25- Union, L 1-3 10/31- Geneseo, W 3-1 Golf 9/5- Ithaca, L 412-370 9/12-13,- St. Lawrence, 8th of 8 9/19-20- Empire 8 Invitational, 4th of 5 9/26-27- William Smith Invitational, 2nd of 5 10/3-4- Martin/Wallace Invitational, 5th of 9 10/11-12- Nazareth Invitational, 3rd of 5 10/17- Ann Batchelder Invitational, 7 of 7 Rowing 10/3- HWS Challenge on the Canal; v8 2nd, 2V8 2nd, N8 2nd 10/11- Head of the Genesee; v8 10th of 26, 2v8 22nd of 26 10/17- Head of the Charles; Collegiate 8 10th 10/25- Head of the Fish; v8 7th, 2v8 8th , n8 7th Soccer (14-3-3) 9/1- Nazareth, W 1-0 9/5- Lynchburg, L 1-2 (JHU Tournament) 9/6- Washington (mo.), L 1-2 (JHU Tournament) 9/12- Johns Hopkins, W 1-0 (Heron Cup) 9/13- Centenary (NJ), W 5-0 (Heron Cup) 9/17- Rochester, W 1-0 9/25- Vassar, W 1-0 9/26- Rensselaer, W 2-0 9/30- Ithaca, W 1-0 (2ot) 10/3- Hamilton, W 1-0 (2ot) 10/9- St. Lawrence, T 1-1 (2ot) 10/10- Clarkson, W 6-0 10/17- Oneonta, L 1-0 10/24- Skidmore, T 0-0 (2 OT) 10/25- Union, W 1-0 10/31- RIT, W 1-0 11/4- Union, W 2-0 (Liberty League Tournament) 11/7- Hamilton, W 2-0 (Liberty League Tournament) 11/14- Simmons, W 2-0 (NCAA Tournament) 11/15- Ithaca, T 0-0 (2OT), IC 5-4 on PKs (NCAA) HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Classnotes
Photos Rev. Dr. Samuel G. Warr ’37, a proud Hobart alumnus, shows off his Hobart Lacrosse gear.
Eric Hanson ’00 and Dr. Aroline Seibert Hanson were married in Chatham, Mass.
During a recent cruise around the Mediterranean, a Hobart cap brought Seymour “Syd” Billing ’48 and Bob Dimmitt ’76 together in Italy.
William Smith alumnae Helen Wasielewski ’99, Deslie Alexander ’00, Denise DeLaRosa ’00, Chanelle Rogers ’00, Paterina Felix Parker ’01, Nancy Molina ’01, Kim Moore ’00 and Ednesha Saulsbury ’00 gathered for the wedding of Deawell Adair ’00 and Cynthia Ajello Adair ’99 (center) on July 18, 2008.
Adam Guttenplan ’03, Brooke Parish ’84 and Teddy Desloge ’10 placed first in their division aboard Parish’s 45’ ketch “Mermaid” in the Sail Nantucket Regatta this past August.
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Nancy Nowak Rutherford ’71, Greg Hughan ’72, P’99, P’07, Odie Odierna ’71 and Lynn Gross Hughan’71, P’99, P’07 commemorate Odie’s 60th birthday.
Russell Postell ’82, Max Van Arsdale, Mathew Postell, Guy Van Arsdale ’83 and Mya Van Arsdale meet at Penn State during a summer lacrosse camp.
Keith Castaldo ’04 and Elissa Salk Castaldo ’03 pose with friends and fellow HWS grads during their wedding reception. They are (back row, l to r) Nick Moon ’04, Kyle Hannes ’04, Paige Ryan ’05, Rob Drake ’04, Mark Musacchio ’00, Jon Shank ’03, Stephanie Skorman Cicero ’03, Katie Smyth ’03, Kevin Conlon ’02, Mike Cicero ’01, Erika Keating ’02, Eric Dori ’02, Rebecca Allen Lynch ’02, Laura Scott ’02, (front row, l to r) Keith Castaldo ’04, Elissa Salk Castaldo ’03, Carl “Chip” Gates ’02, Sarah McCaw Smith ’03, Maureen Sullivan ’03.
Becky Simmons Cooke ’02, Spencer Niebuhr ’00, Meghan Shaner ’03, Nicole Roche ’03, Pete Cooke ’02, Jennifer Britt Gould ’03, Christian Gould ’02, Hunter MacDonnell ’02, Jonathan Gould ’98, Jeff O’Neil ’03, Regina Huelgas ’03, Vanessa Pagnani ’03, Truman Brizee ’03 and Caitlin McGrath Brizee ’03 celebrate the union of Jennifer and Christian.
Classnotes
Reunion is for Everyone! June 4-6 | 2010 www.hws.edu/reunion
Lisa Thorpe-Nichols ’96 celebrates her nuptials to Jomo Nichols. HWS alumni in attendance included maid of honor Loren Cadena ’96, Akim Bell ’96, Christine DerAnanian Bell ’97, Xiomara Hall ’96, Sean Hutchinson ’95 and Brandon Anderson-Hutchinson ’96.
Bert McCooey III ’04 and Kerry Hurley McCooey ’02 married in September 2009 with many HWS alums in attendance, including (front row, l to r): Craig O’Neill ’89, Matt McCooey ’09, Bert, Kerry, Bryan McCooey ’08, (second row, l to r) Dee McCooey Lentz ’92, Bert McCooey Jr. ’76, P’04, P’09, Lauren Whyte ’02, Jackie Hall Robinson ’02, Becky Simmons Cooke ’02, Marie Swiech-LaFlamme Klappholz ’02, Margo Orr Glidden ’03, Clare McLean Hedley ’03, Jane O’Donnell ’05, Matthew Mead ’13 (third row, l to r) Sean McCooey ’78, P’08, P’12, Dan McCooey ’90, Patrick McCooey ’82, Peter Cooke ’02, Sarah Barnett Seppa ’02, Josie Hewitt Marston ’02, Terry Hurley P’02, Lauren Rodbart ’03, Brendan McCooey ’12, Chris Verlin ’06, Chris Burke ’03, John Tammaro ’05, Alex Bluman ’03, Graham Boardman ’04 and Dan Suozzi ’05.
Tara Edlund Scott ’04 and Andrew Scott ’03 were married at St. John’s Chapel and celebrated at Geneva on the Lake. HWS alums at the reception included (l to r) Vijai Ramdeen ’03, Dan Roy ’03, Heather Pierce Roy ’00 (holding Lily Roy), Laura Keating ’04, Nate Walker ’03 (holding Geneva Walker), Colleen Boland ’03, Andrew Scott ’03, Tara Edlund Scott ’04, Stacy Clark ’04, Holly Clark ’07, John Crawford ’03, Bethany Mayack Tuzzolino ’04 and Sarah Haskell ’04. Bill Weeks ’64, Margaret Weeks, Sarah Neuscheler and Roger Neuscheler ’64 reconnect on Roger’s sailboat “EVENSONG” on Lake Pueblo in Pueblo, Colorado last summer. The couples have been friends for more than 40 years.
Carmen Genao ’04 and Juan Maria (center) celebrate their wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with HWS grads ( l to r) Tara Ware ’08, Nicole Budniewski ’04, Oscar Veras ’04, Ekaterina Papaioannou ’00 Martha Genao ’02, Aryanna Corniel ’01, Quentin Robbins ’02, Stephanie Ramirez ’03, Rosio Ramos ’02 and Yoselin Genao ’00.
Peter Edelman ’76 shows off the T-shirt his daughter brought home from her term abroad.
Ann Sauer ’76, Diane Halley ’75, Gordon Fields, Carol Brotman White ’76, Bruce T. Amsbary ’74, Shelley Wolf Harris ’76 and Priscilla Smith ’75 party following the wedding of White and Fields at the Rockwood Manor in Maryland. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Obituaries
Obituaries The Colleges appreciate notification of the death of any member of the Hobart and William Smith community. In order to include notice in the Pulteney St. Survey, we must receive notification that is printed and verifiable. If possible, please send a printed obituary or legal notification (as from an estate) of the death. Personal testimonials and remembrances, in written form, are also welcome. Their use in the Survey, though, is subject to length restrictions. Deadlines for obituary submission are the same as for Classnotes.
Hobart Ralph E. W. Graefe ’34 died on Nov. 9, 2009, in North Bergen, N.J. An intramural manager and member of German Club, Ralph graduated with his B.A. in history before earning his M.A. from Columbia University in 1935 and pursuing a career as a budget examiner. He supported the Annual Fund as an alumnus and is survived by his nephew. Robert “Skee” Riegel ’36 died on Feb. 22, 2009, in West Chester, Pa. A member of Kappa Alpha and the football team, Skee attended Hobart College for one year. During World War II, he became a flight instructor and guided Air Force pilots during their first 10 hours in the air. At age 23, Skee began playing golf with his wife Edith and, eight years later, he won the U. S. Amateur Championships at Pebble Beach Golf Links. He was undefeated in Walker Cup play at both St. Andrews, Scotland, and Winged Foot, N.Y.; won a Philadelphia Open and received two titles; and was inducted into the Philadelphia Section PGA Hall of Fame in addition to many other honors. He was predeceased by his wife in 1995. John M. Cuddeback ’41 died on Aug. 30, 2009, in Canandaigua, N.Y. John attended Hobart for one year and was member of Sigma Phi. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and, upon returning to the States, John applied his study of fashion design to his work for renowned designer Edith Head in California. In 1950, he returned to Canandaigua and opened a sewing factory, supplying garments to department stores in the U.S. and Canada. Later, in 1976, he opened the first antique center in the area and taught antique
classes at Finger Lakes Community College. John remained dedicated to his alma mater, serving as Class Agent and giving back to the Annual Fund. He is survived by his daughter, Ann, his son, Richard, and four grandchildren. Donald B. Doolittle ’41 died on Nov. 10, 2009, in Easton, Del. After attending Hobart College for two years, Donald earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan. Donald was instrumental in developing the “tailhook,” which arrests airplanes on the flight deck of carriers, during World War II. He joined All-American Engineering Company and was ultimately named president. After retiring, he invented a “lighter than air” airship. Donald was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey Marcus, and is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Wesley and William; stepson, Dave Hahn; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nephew, Jonathan Pulver ’01. William M. Irwin ’41 died on Nov. 18, 2009, in New Paltz, N.Y. William attended Hobart for one year and played football for the Statesmen. He worked for a moving company before joining the U.S. Army, and later attended Cornell University. William worked as an electrician for Central Hudson for several years and served as police commissioner in the Village of New Paltz. He is predeceased by his first wife, Vera; and survived by wife, Daisy; brother-in-law Robert; and several nieces and nephews. Arthur P. Kraemer ’45 died on Oct. 19, 2009, in Westmont, N.J. Arthur enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor, serving as a signalman on the USS Santa Fe. Following active duty he was selected for officer training through the Navy V-12 program at Hobart College for one year. He earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. Arthur returned to the business world with RCA in Camden, N.Y., and later enjoyed a second career working with Holman Leasing and ARI Automotive Rental, Inc. He is survived by his wife, Doris; son, Gary; and two granddaughters. Peter T. Lauer ’47 died on June 28, 2009, in Hamilton, Ontario. Peter was an economics major and was involved in the Herald. After graduating from Hobart, he became a Canadian citizen. Peter was a social worker with Children’s Aid and Big Brothers for many years. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara; daughters, Elizabeth and Martha; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson. George R. Heaton ’49 died on July 26, 2009, in Coatesville, Pa. George majored in economics and participated
on the golf team and the intramural basketball team. He went on to graduate from Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He also attended Wharton Graduate School and completed his courses at Columbia and Drexel. As an alumnus, he served as president of the Hobart and William Smith Club of Philadelphia. George was a retired bank executive who worked at Central Penn Bank of Philadelphia, Neshaminy Valley Bank, Union Bank and Trust, and Erie Small Business Investment Company. He volunteered in his community, serving as director of the American Cancer Society of Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dora; sons George Jr., David and Jeffrey; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters. Clifford “Cliff” C. Perkins ’49 died on Nov. 1, 2009, in Sedona, Ariz. While attending Hobart through the GI Bill, Cliff majored in political science and was a member of both the Herald staff and the International Relations Club. He went on to earn a masters in English at Columbia University. He taught English and was Dean of Students at Verde Valley School in Sedona. Cliff was married to Marguerite Hymes, who served on the HWS English faculty from 1946-49. They had three children. The Rev. Canon Robert K. Bernhard ’50 died on Sept. 3, 2005, in Kerrville, Texas. The Colleges recently learned of the death of Robert. A double major in English and philosophy, he was active in St. John’s Guild, Canterbury Club, Outing Club, Little Theatre and WEOS and was named to Dean’s List. After Hobart, Robert went on to receive his M.Div. in theology from General Theological Seminary in 1953 and became an Episcopal priest. He served as chaplain at St. Joseph Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., for 14 years specializing in critical care areas and chemical dependency, and later several parishes around the country. In 1998, he came out of retirement to serve for a year as Archdeacon for the Episcopal Bishop of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. He then served part-time Vicar of Grace Church in Madison, and was made honorary canon of Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls. He served his country in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Robert and his wife, Bertha, had two children, Stephen and Joan. Ralph Darian Jr. ’50 died on Aug. 10, 2009, in Niskayuna, N.Y. During World War II, Ralph was stationed in the Italian Theatre in the 5th Army Second Corp infantry division and worked as a Morse Code operator. He earned his B.A. in history and was a member of Hobart Student Association and Spanish Club. He worked as a corporate officer for Levonian Brothers Meat
Packing in Troy, N.Y., and served as the company’s president for seven years. A United Way volunteer, Ralph was involved in his community and enjoyed flying planes in his free time. He is remembered by his wife, Toni; brother, Leo; and cousins, Nevart Akulian Macer ’43 and Esther Yesayian Howell ’53. Dr. Thomas L. Evans ’50, P’74, GP’07 died on Aug. 7, 2009, in Princeton, N.J. Vice president of Science Club and member of the football and lacrosse teams and Kappa Alpha, Thomas spent three years at Hobart College before earning his M.D. from Temple University’s School of Medicine. He spent three years on active duty in England as the pediatrician and general physician in the U. S. Air Force before moving with his wife and children to Princeton, N.J., where he lived for 47 years. There, he joined Dr. S. Robert Lewis in pediatric practice. He also served on the staff of Princeton Hospital for nearly 30 years. In 1975, he became the medical director at the Lawrenceville School, where he specialized in adolescent medicine. Many of his summer vacations were spent working on Native American reservations in North Dakota and Arizona. Thomas remained close to his alma mater, volunteering for Career Services and donating to the Annual Fund. He was predeceased by his wife, Winifred Bentley Evans ’51. He is survived by three of his siblings, Robert ’51, David and Charles. He is also survived by his second wife, Mary; children, Mark ’74, Thomas, Janine and Brenda; 12 grandchildren including Thomas ’07; and several nieces and nephews including Gregory L. Evans ’85. Clifford C. LaPlante ’50 died on Oct. 14, 2009, in Arlington, Va. A member of Kappa Sigma and Ski Club, Cliff majored in economics and history. He served the U. S. Air Force as a procurement officer of research and development and major weapons system, and while on active duty attended Harvard Business School. He later became involved with legislative affairs at the Air Force Systems Command Office, and the Investigations Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force, Cliff worked as a registered lobbyist for the Boeing Company and General Electric’s Aircraft Engine Company. With his wife, Cecilia, Cliff co-chaired “Children Come First,” a non-profit foundation. He remained dedicated to his alma mater as a Leadership Gifts volunteer from 1996-2000 and contributed to the Daniel E. Maher ’35 Scholarship and the Hobart Class of ’50 Endowed Scholarship. Cliff is survived by his wife; daughter, Cecilia; sons, Fernando and Alonso; and 10 grandchildren.
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Obituaries Albert K. Doggett ’51 died on Nov. 1, 2009, in Stanton, N.J. Before attending Hobart College, Albert served in the U.S. Army. A member of Kappa Alpha and the tennis team, he earned his B.A. in economics. Albert established a 58year career as owner and president of Doggett Corporation, during which time he contributed to the development of Miracle-Gro fertilizer. An avid outdoorsman, he supported wildlife conservation efforts and was a longtime trustee of the Upper Raritan Watershed Association. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Plum; children, Cynthia, Shelby and Scott; and 10 grandchildren. Thomas J. Dwyer ’51 died on Nov. 27, 2009, in Morristown, N.J. Tom graduated from Hobart with a B.A. in economics. He participated in Phi Phi Delta, Canterbury Club and Newman Club and worked at Saga. He later attended Montclair State University and Seton Hall University. Tom served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and later became an antique and estate jewelry dealer and was the owner of the Antique Buying Center in Morristown and Morristown Antique Center. For several years he was a history and sociology teacher at Harrison High School. Tom is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; son, Dr. Sean Dwyer; brother, Dr. John Dwyer ’52; two step daughters; and five grandchildren. George A. Skidmore Sr. ’51 died on Aug. 13, 2009, in Setauket, N.Y. A member of Phi Kappa Tau, the Herald staff, Canterbury Club and St. John’s Guild, George earned his B.A. in psychology before receiving an M.A. in education from SUNY New Paltz. He served in the National Guard and 11th Airborne and worked as a middle school teacher for many years. George is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children, Carolyn, Suzanne, George and Jonathan; and four grandchildren. Kent H. Greenough ’54 died on Nov. 20, 2009, in Berlin, Vt. Kent attended Hobart for one year and later attended Norwich University and the University of Vermont in Burlington. For many years, he worked as an airline manager for Northeast Airlines, Executive Airlines and Air New England. He is survived by his son, Bradley; daughter, Robin; and two grandsons. David R. Weisman ’54 died on Oct. 9, 2009, in Englewood, N.J. David graduated with a B.A. in political science and economics and went on to earn a law degree from Cornell University. While at Hobart, he was a member of ROTC and participated in Echo, Herald and WEOS, as well as on the debate and tennis teams. He retired as a manufacturing executive, last serving as president of Elan Chemical Company of Newark. He is survived by his wife, Judith; children,
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Michael, Julie, Vita and Bonnie; and eight grandchildren. He also is survived by a cousin, Frederic N. Gaines ’61. James D. Long ’56 died on July 20, 2008, in Eighty Four, Pa. James majored in American history and was active on campus as Statesmen President and a member of Kappa Sigma, Newman Club and Schola Cantorum. James worked as a corporate aircraft trainer for J.D. Long Associates and a sales representative for Page Airways. He is survived by his first wife, Letty Lucent Long ’54; son, David; and wife, Nancy Wilk. He was predeceased by his brother, William ’55, and James Lannon ’50, an in-law. Curtis J. Davis Jr. ’57 of Medford, N.Y. died on Oct. 31, 2009. Curtis attended Hobart for one year before serving in the Korean War. After the war he joined the family business, Davis Brothers Engineering Corporation. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughter, Lauren; and two grandchildren. Dewey F. Antinelli ’59 died on Aug. 11, 2009, in Geneva, N.Y. Dewey served the U.S. Army in the Korean War before attending Hobart College for two years. He was a member of the football team. Dewey owned and operated Bowling Green Lanes in Syracuse for many years. He was predeceased by his son, Peter, and is survived by his wife, Rita; sons, David, Paul and Eric; and six grandchildren. Robert “Bob” J. Hack III ’59 died on July 11, 2009, in Leawood, Kan. Bob thoroughly enjoyed his college career and participated in many clubs and organizations, including serving as president of Intramural Board and secretary-treasurer of Pi Gamma Mu. Bob earned his B.A. in American studies and gave back to his alma mater as a Reunion and Admissions volunteer. After pursuing various career paths, he chose to work as a real estate consultant in Kansas. He married his college sweetheart, Nancy Cameron Hack ’60, and with her raised three children, Robert, Cameron and Catherine. He is remembered by his wife and children, as well as his children’s families, including four grandchildren. William R. Peabody Jr. ’63 died on July 1, 2008, in Jalisco, Mexico. William majored in European history and took part in Phi Kappa Tau, Canterbury Club, Schola Cantorum, Little Theatre and Motet Choir. He supported his alma mater through the Annual Fund. William attended the Nashotah House Seminary in Nashotah, Wis., and made a career as a business executive. He was predeceased by his father, William R. Peabody Sr. ’49, and is survived by his partner, Bob Moore.
Dr. Rodney W. Cranston ’64 died on Nov. 5, 2009, in Allendale, N.J. Rodney graduated with a B.S. in chemistry and went on to earn a M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. While at Hobart, he played the organ and participated in St. John’s Guild, Canterbury Club and Little Theatre. An orthopedic surgeon, he practiced at Valley Hospital and operated a private practice. He was an organist for All Saints Church in Glen Rock and St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ridgewood. He is survived by his wife, Ann; son, John; and cousin, Ruth Bonesteel Shores ’60. John E. Cryst ’66 died on July 20, 2009, in Buffalo, N.Y. John earned his B.A. in Spanish and played on the Hobart basketball team. John worked as a manufacturing supervisor for General Motors. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Krape ’69; sons, Geoffrey and Brian; and grandsons, Jackson and Caleb. Dr. Alan G. Zacharia ’66 died on Aug. 29, 2009. While at Hobart, Alan participated with the ski and swim teams, WEOS and Schola Cantorum. He earned his B.S. in chemistry from Hobart College at 16 years of age before graduating from Wayne University School of Medicine in 1970 and interning at Kaiser San Francisco. While in medical school, Alan completed an elective in clinical diagnosis at Westminster Hospital in London, England, and served in the U. S. Air Force in Taiwan as a partially-trained surgeon, during which time he decided to become an orthopedic surgeon. By 1978, Alan was practicing in the Daly City area in California and, in partnership with Drs. Kamal Shamash and Jon Siebel, built Physician’s Medical Center. He worked with the California Medical Association and served as president of Northern California Orthopedic Medical Group. He also drafted physician-friendly hospital and medical staff bylaws and treated his patients and colleagues as members of his extended family. Alan is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sherry, and their two children, Daniel and Heather. William “Bill” S. Myott ’68 died on Sept. 10, 2009, in Bemus Point, N.Y. A member of ROTC, Bill served in the U.S. Air Force after earning his B.A. in mathematics. After his discharge in 1972, he obtained his masters degree in accounting from SUNY Binghamton, worked as a professor of accounting at the State University at Fredonia and became a certified public accountant. Bill was a partner in his firm, Moore and Myott LLP, and a member of many professional organizations, and he remained dedicated to his community.
He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, and children, Betsy and Mark. Stewart Goldberg ’73 died on Feb. 24, 2009, in West Hartford, Conn. Stewart received his B.A. in history and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He worked in sales for Nassau Furniture Store. In addition, he supported his alma mater by giving back to the Brick Fund and the Annual Fund. Stewart is survived by his parents, Louis and Marilyn, and siblings, David and Sharon. Donald R. Legere Jr. ’78 died on Aug. 7, 2009, in Swampscott, Mass. A double major in political science and American studies, Donald served as station manager of WEOS, student government representative, and dorm monitor. An active member of his community, he coached soccer and baseball, volunteered at many school events, and served as president of the PTA for several years. Donald worked as a computer analyst for I.R.A., an international ship registry in Virginia. He is remembered by his wife, Heidi, and their three children, Donald III, William and Christopher. He was predeceased by his father, Donald Sr. William A. Ross ’85 died on Oct. 10, 2009, in Sunnyside, N.Y. William earned a B.A. in economics at Hobart and went on to earn a MBA from the University of Southern California. While at Hobart, he participated in Hobart Student Association, served as treasurer of the Film Society and a representative on the Finance Council, worked at Saga, and studied abroad in Paris, France. He was a committed alumnus who volunteered as a class correspondent, Reunion social chair and career counselor. He worked in magazine sales for several years at Glamour magazine. Jon S. Gordon ’90 died on May 23, 2009, in New York, N.Y. He majored in anthropology and sociology while at Hobart. Jon is survived by his wife of 10 years, Danielle, as well as his daughter, Gabrielle, and his father, Bruce. He was predeceased by his mother, Miriam. Preston J. Hirten ’11 of Westport, Conn., died on Aug. 18, 2009. Preston spent a year at Hobart College, where he played soccer and was named to Dean’s List. A junior at the University of Mary Washington, Preston was the starting center mid-fielder, an honors student, and a political science major who loved reading and music. He is survived by his parents, Marc and Lisa, and sisters, Justine and Ella.
Obituaries
William Smith Barbara Snyder Bagg ’31 died on Oct. 24, 2007, in Rochester, N.Y. The Colleges recently learned of the death of Barbara, who studied at the University of Rochester, Syracuse University, McGill University, Purdue University, and La Sorbonne in Paris, France, in addition to her four years at William Smith. She worked as a foreign language teacher for nearly 50 years in Livingston County. She is survived by her cousins, her “kids” – the Mothersell family – and many friends. She was predeceased by her husband, A. Harold Bagg. Elizabeth Spencer Pierce ’32 died on Oct. 8, 2009, in Canandaigua, N.Y. A history major, she received her B.A. from William Smith and went on to earn a B.S. from the School of Library Science at Syracuse University in 1938. After 40 years of service, Elizabeth retired as director of services of the Ontario County Department of Social Services. She also volunteered with Ontario County Historical Society, Sonnenberg Research Committee, and Ontario County Genealogical Society. She supported her alma mater through donations to the Annual Fund. Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband, Frederick, and her sister, Barbara, and is survived by her nephew, Alan Wright. Sarah Jenkins Salo ’36 died in Nov. 2008 in Sun Lorenzo, Calif. The Colleges recently learned of Sarah’s passing. She earned a B.A. in comparative literature at William Smith and went on to earn a masters and Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University. While at William Smith, Sarah participated in Schola Cantorum, Little Theatre, Herald, Chapel Choir, Ridge and International Relations Club and played basketball and field hockey. For several years, she served as secretary treasurer of Eryx Corporation, her family’s corporation. She volunteered extensively with Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts, San Lorenzo Library, Kaiser Hospital, and for the Republican Party. She was elected five times as member for county Republican Central Committee. She was married to Eric Salo and had two children, Marcia and Earl. Amelia “Amie” Faught Rumsey Van Itallie ’42 died on June 20, 2009, in Glenside, Pa. Before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s in zoology, Amie earned her B.A. in biology from William Smith while taking part in Little Theatre, Debate Team, Outing Club and Yearbook Club. As an alumna, she remained connected to her alma mater by volunteering at Admissions and contributing to the Field House Brick Fund. She married John E. Rumsey ’39 in 1944 and
had two children, Mary and Kathryn. She later married Philip Van Itallie. Amie enjoyed painting and working as an artist, and her works were featured in a number of exhibitions over the years. She is remembered by her two daughters and their families. Ruth Amidon Kuhl ’44 died on Nov. 4, 2009, in Wimberley, Texas. The valedictorian of her graduating class at Batavia High School, she was the first member of her family to receive a college degree, hers in Business Administration. Ruth was very involved in the HWS community both as an undergraduate and an alumna, participating in Little Theatre, yearbook, tennis team, and many musical groups; after graduation, she served as Class Agent and Reunion Gift Chair. She received an Alumnae Citation in 2004 for her devotion to William Smith. Ruth married Hobart alumnus Ivan Kuhl ’43 and dedicated herself to her family and her church. She is remembered by her husband of 66 years; daughters, Anita Zinnecker, Mary Kay Keeton, Martha, and Corien; sons, Peter, Paul, David, Walter, and John; as well as 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Janet Arthur Inglis ’45 died on Jan. 13, 2006, in Fairfax Station, Va. The Colleges recently learned of Janet’s death. A psychology major, Janet was involved in Athletic Association, Outing Club, Little Theatre, Schola Cantorum, Orchestra and Basketball and supported her alma mater’s Annual Fund after graduation. After receiving her B.A. from William Smith, she earned her masters in nursing from Western Reserve University in 1948 and worked as a nurse. Janet and her husband, Leo, had four children, Peter, Joy, Mark, and David. Priscilla Atkinson Keith ’45 died on Aug. 8, 2001, in Matthews, N.C. The Colleges recently learned of her passing. She and her husband, Rodney, worked together to create a facility for the care of people with disabilities. Priscilla was predeceased by her husband and is survived by her daughters, Cynthia and Susan. Barbara Kelly Stillerman ’45, P’72 died in September of 2001 in Lacey, Wash. After earning her bachelor’s degree from William Smith in 1945, she worked as a school social worker. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Bernard Stillerman, and is survived by her son, James ’72. Jeannette Bedner Wachtel ’45 died on March 12, 2009, in Shelburne, Vt. She worked as a rehabilitation counselor at the Bureau of Vocational Rehab in Philadelphia, Pa., and married her husband, Harry, in 1948.
Janet Abbey Engel ’46 died on Jan. 6, 2009, in Christiansburg, Va. She worked as a math teacher in Springville, N.Y., and did graduate work at the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State. She was an active member of the Concord Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star, Griffith Institute Faculty Association and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. She served her alma mater by contributing to the Annual Fund. Janet was predeceased by her parents, Elsie and Gregg ’22, and her husband, Robert. She is survived by her daughter, Charity Cheiky, as well as sisters, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.
to Europe via steamship, and married her first husband, Delbert Bullock ’54. With Delbert, Audrey settled in Central New York and had three daughters, Pam, Emily, and Kate ’82. In 1955, she graduated from Syracuse University with her M.Ed. and worked as a reading teacher in the Chittenango and Bridgeport schools for nearly 20 years. She later married William O’Brien. During retirement, Audrey remained active, traveling, playing sports, and reading. She was predeceased by three brothers, Lawrence ’51, Tyler, and Raymond, and is remembered by her three daughters, three grandchildren, sons-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
Mary Ann Lyon Sprague ’46 died on May 19, 2009, in Corning, N.Y. Mary Ann was a biology major who was active in yearbook club while at William Smith. Mary Ann worked as a chemist for Dupont and Corning Glass Works. She also supported the Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art as a docent, and researched, catalogued, and documented the many collections of the Benjamin Patterson Inn. An active supporter of the Market Street Restoration Agency, Mary Ann’s dedication to preserving historic Corning was fundamental in gaining recognition by the National Register of Historic Places. She is the author of “Camera on Corning,” a collection of Frank E. Hewitt’s photographs. Mary Ann was predeceased by her husband, Ted, and is survived by her children, Andy, Mary Ann and Nell, as well as many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Jane Dillingham Sterrett ’51 died on June 30, 2009, in Seaford, Del. Jane worked as a certified medical technologist, reading teachers’ aide, and violin teacher. She was a violinist who performed with the Salisbury and Dover Symphonies. Jane enjoyed gardening, nature and fishing. She volunteered with the church altar guild and choir. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, J. John David Sterrett; her children, Pamela and John Jr.; and five grandchildren.
Janet Jaeger McDonough ’48 died on Nov. 24, 2009, in Glen Mills, Pa. Janet earned a B.A. in history from William Smith and participated in the Athletic Association. As an alumna she served as a Reunion coordinator. She was an avid golfer, bridge player and an amateur artist. She volunteered with St. Francis Hospital Junior Board, Brandywine River Art Museum, Girl Scouts and Meals on Wheels. Janet is survived by her husband of 60 years, John A. ’50; four daughters, Phyllis, Carol, Laura and Amy; three sons, Michael, David and Mark; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and cousin Paul McDonough’49. Audrey Dennett O’Brien ’50, P’82 died on Aug. 29, 2009, in Brattleboro, Vt. Audrey spent two years at Vassar College before joining the war effort, working as a LINK trainer in Florida with the U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S. After the war, Audrey earned her B.A. in sociology at William Smith while playing field hockey and basketball. She also earned a pilot’s license and worked for a private airline. She pursued a career in social work at Newark State School, traveled
Jean Ballantyne Gibbs ’52, P’79, P’89 died on Sept. 30, 2009. An active member of the HWS community, Jean was involved in the Herald, Big Sister Committee, and the swim and field hockey teams, and earned her B.A. in psychology. She remained dedicated to her alma mater, serving as a Reunion Volunteer, Special Gifts Volunteer, Admissions Celebration Host, and President of the Westchester Alumnae Chapter. She is survived by her husband, Carl ’53, P’79, P’89; daughters, Susan, Cathryn ’89, and Cynthia ’79; son-in-law, Ward J. Doonan ’79; sisters, Barbara ’52 and Anne; brother-in-law, Walter Ferris ’52; and four grandchildren. Eleanor Lichtler Mazzoleni ’52 died on July 20, 2009, in Lexington, Ky. A member of Epsilon Pi Sigma and many performing arts groups on campus, Eleanor earned her B.A. in psychology, minored in chemistry, and graduated summa cum laude. She worked as a biochemistry researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and Shattuck Hospital in Boston before meeting her husband Alberto and moving to Kentucky to raise their family. Eleanor was musically gifted, playing the piano, violin and saxophone and singing with various groups. In addition, she was an avid volunteer with the Women’s Network, the W.S. Webb Archaeological Society and the Italian Heritage Society. She is survived by her husband, her sons, Andre and Bill; brothers, Lester and William; and three grandchildren.
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Obituaries Rosemary Francis Atkinson ’53 died on May 4, 2009, in McLean, Va. An English major, Rosemary took part in Little Theatre and the Herald and went on to receive her masters of librarianship from the University of Washington in 1963. She worked as a librarian for several years. Rosemary married John Atkinson in 1972 and continued to give her financial support to HWS as an alumna. Beverly Baader Brinckerhoff ’55, P’83, P’89 died on Aug. 31, 2009, in Crotonon-Hudson, N.Y. An English major, Beverly was class officer her first year and took part in the Pine yearbook, the Herald, Christian Cabinet, and Student Council. She met her husband, Todd ’55, while at William Smith, and they married in 1955. She was an avid golfer and was the first woman to hold full membership at the Duchess Golf and Country Club. She also served as president of the women’s division for both the Duchess Golf and Country Club and the Ocean Reef Club in Florida. An active volunteer, Beverly served as Foundation Board President of a Hudson Valley hospital and on the boards of Blodgett Memorial Library and Locust Grove Historical Site. She was also an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She is survived by her husband; three daughters, Mary (George), Barbara ’83 (David Teed ’81), and Margaret ’89; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. Sophronia “Sonia” Gamble Wuertzer ’59, P’88 died on Nov. 9, 2009, in Hamburg, N.Y. The daughter of a William Smith alumna, Sophronia Sims Gamble ’27, Sonia was a dedicated member of the HWS community both as an undergraduate and an alumna: a member of Canterbury Club and Christian Cabinet, a House President, Reunion Coordinator and Founder’s Day Speaker. Sonia received her B.A. in mathematics, worked as a substitute teacher and, in 1985, received an M.S. in secondary math education from Canisius College. She is survived by her husband, Richard; her daughter, Jodelle Wuertzer Magner ’88; her son, Russell; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, friends and family made donations to William Smith College. Valerie K. Haynes ’62 of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., died on Oct. 27, 2009. Valerie majored in mathematics at William Smith and went on to earn a master’s degree in reading and elementary education from SUNY New Paltz. She worked as an elementary teacher at the Todd Hill Road School in the Arlington School District and later in the Massachusetts School District. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church. She is survived by her brother, George, his wife, Naomi, and niece, Tiffany.
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Patricia Green Stericker ’63 died on July 9, 2009, in Springfield, Ill. Patricia was extremely active on campus, participating in Little Theatre, Schola Cantorum, Psychology Club, Spanish Club, Canterbury Club and International Relations Club and serving as Freshman Class treasurer and Houghton House treasurer, working at WEOS, playing field hockey, and swimming. After graduation the psychology major received a teacher’s certificate from Illinois Teachers’ College in Chicago and taught elementary school. She also earned her M.A. in Human Development Counseling from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 1992, worked as a licensed marriage and family counselor for 17 years, and belonged to a number of professional organizations, including the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. She enjoyed the arts and was a devout Christian. She is survived by her husband, Frederick; daughters, Anne and Amy; and two grandchildren. Winifred H. Outcalt ’64 died on July 30, 2009, in Torrance, Calif. While at William Smith, Winifred majored in math and was a member of the field hockey team, Athletic Association and Schola Cantorum. Winifred worked as a computer systems analyst for AT&T in White Plains, N.Y., and the Northrup Corporation in California. During retirement, she was a volunteer tutor in a local elementary school, participated in many walks for cancer, and traveled extensively. She is survived by her mother, Evelyn; sister, Peggy; brother, George; and nephew, Christopher. She was predeceased by her father, George. Priscilla A. Schaffer ’64, Sc.D. ’94 died on Nov. 18, 2009, in Tucson, Ariz. Schaffer is the only William Smith alumna to receive the Elizabeth Blackwell Award, which is given to women whose lives exemplify outstanding service to humankind. A professor of medicine (microbiology and molecular genetics), Schaffer was an internationally recognized expert on herpes viruses. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa as a double-major in biology and chemistry, where she was also a member of the volleyball team, Schola Cantorum and Little Theatre. Her junior year she was awarded the B.J. Johnston Prize. She received her doctorate with distinction in microbiology from Cornell University Medical College in 1969. After only two years as a postdoctoral researcher at Baylor College of Medicine, she was appointed assistant professor in the school’s Department of Virology and Epidemiology. A member of the William Smith Centennial Honorary Committee, Schaffer also served on the HWS Board of Trustees from 1986-1994 and received many HWS honors, includ-
ing the Alumna Achievement Award. Schaffer joined the Harvard Medical School community in 1976 as an associate professor in microbiology and molecular genetics and chief of the Laboratory of Tumor Virus Genetics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She was promoted to professor of microbiology and molecular genetics in 1981. In 1996, Schaffer left Harvard Medical School to serve as chair of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, making her the first woman to serve as chair of any department at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. She returned to Harvard in 2001, serving as professor of medicine and chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Virology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center until 2007, when she moved to Arizona, where she continued her research at the University of Arizona. As a researcher, Schaffer worked to elucidate the mechanisms by which herpes simplex virus (HSV) replicates and causes disease. In addition to publishing more than 160 peer-reviewed papers, she was a beloved educator and mentor who trained numerous doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows over the course of her career. She is survived by her mother, Marie; sisters, Phyllis and Judith; brothers, Albert and Stephen; and her friend and caregiver, Madelon Cook. Lydia Cheney McKiernan ’65 died on April 24, 2009, in Urbana, Ill. A member of the Herald, Echo and Pine, and Dance Club, Lydia earned her B.A. in European history and became a registered nurse in 1995, receiving her degree from Parkland College and working in psychiatric care. She and her husband, Brendan, raised four children: Luke, Deirdre, Colin, and Alex. She is survived by her children; her grandchildren, Connor, Lily, Grace, Eamon, and Quinn; and her siblings, David, Clarissa, and Susan. Faye Scott Rieger ’67 died on May 11, 2009, in Woodbridge, Ontario. Faye was a member of several performing arts groups on campus, including Modern Dance Club and Motet Choir, and she also served as president of William Smith Singers. She was a member of Student Council and a House President. After earning her B.A. in English, she received an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Waterloo. A poet, author, and editor, Faye is survived by her husband, Robert ’66; her children, Dana and Austin; four grandchildren; siblings, Marcia ’62 (Jim Beardsley ’61) and Valerie Marrin ’64; niece, Kathryn Beardsley Roach ’91; and in-law Carol Rieger Hobson ’61.
Judith Torrisi Wintermuth ’69 died on Dec. 1, 2009, in Chappaqua, N.Y. Judith majored in mathematics and went on to earn a master of arts in teaching and work as a math teacher and computer programmer. While at William Smith, she played field hockey and volleyball, served as treasurer and vice president of the Athletic Association and was a student guide. In her community, Judith was an active volunteer with the PTA, Junior League and Sports Boosters. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, George; and children, Patricia, Andrew and Erica. Sidney A. Kinzie ’84 died on Aug. 28, 2009, in Hudson, Mass. A political science major, Sidney was a member of Hai Timiai, was president of William Smith Congress, was president of William Smith Executive Board, and worked at Saga. As an alumna, she volunteered for Admissions and contributed to the Annual Fund. Sidney worked for organizations that place students in abroad programs and was a certified teacher of English as a Second Language. In addition, she was an active member of her community and a volunteer at local schools. She was predeceased by her mother, Phyllis ’56, and is survived by her former husband, Ned Banta ’85; children, Rebecca, Jacob, Daniel, and Sarah; siblings, Susan, John, and Meighan; and several nieces.
HWS | ca.1970 Cellar Pub Not much has changed since students studied, joked and snacked in the Cellar Pub in the '70s. These days, the cozy meeting place in the basement of Coxe Hall is still a favored spot among students, faculty and staff, especially because it offers Starbucks coffee and espresso. One thing that’s different in 2010? No smoking.
ASSOCIATIONS DFA Honorees
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Upcoming Events
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Club Event Photos
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Prime Time
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The Last Word: Flannick
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HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Associations February 12-13 Hobart Basketball Alumni Weekend Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y. February 23 Regional Gathering Atlanta, Ga. February 24 Regional Gathering South Carolina
Distinguished Faculty Honored During Reunion 2010
T
he Alumni and Alumnae Associations Distinguished Faculty Award (DFA) Committee recently announced that Professor Emeritus of Geoscience Donald L. Woodrow P’83 and the late Professor of Physical Education Joseph N. Abraham L.H.D. ’81 will be the next recipients of the DFA. The men will be honored at a special ceremony during Reunion 2010. ABRAHAM
Club Events
March 3 Regional Gathering Westchester, N.Y. March 7 Florida East Coast Brunch with special guest President Mark D. Gearan The Breakers Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Fla. March 10 Educational Gathering New York, N.Y. March 18 Regional Gathering Pittsburgh, Pa. March 27 Hobart Lacrosse Game and Gathering Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn.
WOODROW
www.hwsalumni.com
February 25 Regional Gathering North Carolina
Professor Joseph N. Abraham L.H.D. ’81 Joseph N. Abraham came to Geneva in 1945 as an instructor in physical education. He became director of the physical education department in 1955 and became a full professor in 1968. Abraham moved into the athletic director position in 1979, and his tenure was marked by great growth in the successful intercollegiate athletic program, including back-to-back NCAA Division III lacrosse championships in 1980 and 1981. Among his many honors, he was presented with an Alumni Association Citation in 1968 and was awarded the Statesmen Athletic Association Annual Award for outstanding contributions to Hobart Athletics.
Professor Emeritus of Geoscience Donald L. Woodrow P’83 Donald L. Woodrow came to Hobart and William Smith as an assistant professor of geology and rose to full professor in 1975. His research includes major emphases on Devonian sedimentology and stratigraphy in North America and Europe and on Great Lakes sedimentology. He was co-founder of the Environmental Studies program, cofounder of the Department of Geoscience, and a co-designer of the Science-on-Seneca program, which allows local high school students to explore the living environment of Seneca Lake through hands-on research. He served the Colleges as associate dean of faculty, from 1991-1994, and is a past recipient of the faculty’s scholarship and teaching prizes. He retired in 2001. ●
March 27 Heron Hall of Honor Induction Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y. April 3 William Smith Lacrosse Game and Gathering Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. April 3 Hobart Lacrosse Game and Gathering University of Denver, Denver, Colo. April 8 Regional Gathering Cleveland, Ohio April 10 Chorale Reunion Concert St. Marks School, Boston, Mass. April 13 Hobart Lacrosse Game and Gathering Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y. For more information about these and other upcoming events, visit www. hwsalumni.com or call Alumni House toll-free at 877-497-4438.
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Alums wish each other a happy holiday season during the HWS Club of Boston holiday party with special guest Professor of Economics Pat McGuire (front left).
ASSOCIATIONS
Club Events
Connect with alums in your city by attending an HWS Club event! Visit www.hwsalumni.com for upcoming event information.
As the Hobart and William Smith Club of Boston gathers to welcome new alumni and alumnae, Sue Jordan ’06, Tim Martin ’04, P.J. Foster ’06, Greg Bany ’95 and Melissa Fitch ’06 reconnect.
Led by Trustee Suzanne Folds McCullagh P’11, members of the HWS Club of Chicago tour the Art Institute of Chicago’s Modern Wing. Gordie Bennett III ’97 and his family gather with Ruth Rainey ’86, Alumni Association Vice President Edward Cooper ’86, Robin Savits Cooper ’87, their children and alumnae director Kathy Killius Regan ’82 P’13 for an HWS tailgate during the Navy Lacrosse Fall Classic at Navy Marine Corps Stadium.
Members of the HWS Club of Portland toast the holiday season during a celebration at A FINE THING: Edward T. Pollack Fine Arts Gallery, hosted by Edward Pollack ’55, with special guest Professor of Sociology Pat McGuire.
Leigh Lattimore, Tim Lattimore ’98, Val Pusztaszeri Martin ’94 and Jamie Martin enjoy an HWS celebration hosted by Jim ’70 and Marie Gilbert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Professor of Political Science Iva Deutchman with Joe Sievert ’05 and Robert Drake ’04 during a gathering of the HWS Club of Buffalo where Deutchman and Associate Professor of Economics Jo Beth Mertens were the featured guest speakers.
Hugh Leoni ’01 and Laura Mallozzi ’07 enjoy a Day at the Races. The pair coordinated an HWS Club of NYC gathering during the 89th Annual Far Hills Races.
Lindsey Farrell ’08, Lauren Anderson ’07 and Brianna Burtman ’08 come together in the Red Sky Lounge for a Hobart and William Smith Club of New York City gathering. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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PRIME TIME
glee! by Melissa Sue Sorrells ’05
O
ver the past several months, a television program about a high school show choir in Ohio has taken the country by storm. Its songs shot to the top of the iTunes download charts. Its actors performed the National Anthem during the 2009 World Series. And its emotional storylines and musical numbers have inspired a nation of fans to post tributes on YouTube. Brad Falchuk ’93 is co-creator, writer and director of Glee, which airs on FOX. He has also been a writer, director and producer for the hit F/X drama Nip/Tuck since its debut in 2003. In December, based largely on the success of Glee, Falchuk inked a two-year deal with 20th Century Fox TV, which will allow him to keep working on the series while developing new projects for the studio. But despite his success in the television world, his career may have been dead in the water before it even began. “I didn’t get in,” he says of the introduction to acting class that jumpstarted his career. “It was overenrolled, but Professor Robert Gross told me that if someone didn’t show up to class, he would sign me in. I was so nervous, watching the door as students filed in, counting each one. It was endless—but in the end there was one kid missing.” Falchuk’s work with Gross eventually led him to write a screenplay that he produced as an independent study during his senior year; the finished film earned him a seat at the American Film Institute. Following his graduation from the AFI program, he wrote film scripts for several years before shifting his focus to television.
Brad Falchuk ’93 Both Nip/Tuck and Glee are full of surprises. How do you strike a balance between shock value and emotion? While there is a mandate to shock or surprise, doing either simply for the sake of the moment is usually very unsatisfying. The emotion of the scene always comes first. If you can’t find a way to make the shock emotional, you just don’t do it.
GLEE CO-CREATOR BRAD FALCHUK ‘93 (LEFT) WORKS WITH MATTHEW MORRISON (RIGHT), WHO PLAYS WILL SCHUESTER, ON A SCENE ON THE SHOW’S CHOIR ROOM SET.
Were you worried about working on a television musical? What works about Glee is that the music comes second. Our first responsibility is to create interesting characters and storylines. The music works because you care about the people who are singing. What is the secret of good TV? There is no secret. I think that people respond to characters they care about in high-stakes situations. That’s not really enough, though.
I think you also need to hit on something cultural and timely to really connect to TV audiences. What do you bring to a project that no one else brings? I tend to focus on emotion rather than intellect. I have friends who are very ‘smart’ writers. They can spin a crazy, complicated yarn with numerous interlocking twists and turns. I can’t do that. My focus is always on the emotional experiences in each scene. I also think I’m pretty good at expressing that to actors. Do you have ideas brewing for future shows? You always need to have ideas for upcoming shows. There’s no real “moment of arrival” when it comes to a Hollywood career. It’s more about trying to become relevant and then struggling to remain relevant.
How did your HWS education help you get where you are today? Once I had the balls to admit that I wanted to work in theatre, I wrote my first play in Professor Gross’ Writing for Theatre class. I’ve always considered Gross an inspiration and mentor. Robert Maney, a creative writing professor, was the first teacher who really encouraged me to become a writer. Also, Professor Elisabeth Lyon taught me everything I’ll ever need to know about film analysis. I use what I learned in her classes every day of my career. They all taught me that taking artistic risks was essential to success. What inspired you to cofound the not-for-profit Young Storytellers Foundation which teaches screenwriting to children? I’m dyslexic, and so I appreciate that everyone’s learning style is somewhat unique. The idea that schools
teach children in a uniform way disturbs me. I was also disturbed to learn that the grade schools in the LA Unified School District had basically eliminated all arts because of budget cuts. A city built on artistic expression thought that teaching children art was not a worthwhile endeavor! How does the program work? We bring writers in to mentor students through the process of writing their own screenplays. After six weeks, the screenplays are performed by famous actors in front of the children, their peers, their parents and teachers. Afterwards, the students feel so good about themselves that they suddenly start performing at a high level in every aspect of their lives. …I feel it’s every professional’s responsibility to pass on what they know. I was inspired by many generous people, and I want to return the favor.
Nightstand: What are you reading? Lesley Crawford ’01
Mark Dissin ’77
Tim DeLaney ’80
Supervising Post-Production Editor, Showtime Networks Inc.; Owner, Pluck Films
Vice President of Production, Food Network
Senior Vice President of Video Operations, Showtime Networks Inc.
I recently finished Mary Ann Shaffer’s The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The story is told as a series of letters between a London-based writer and the people of Guernsey, an island in the English Channel off the coast of France, who were held captive during World War II. It’s a funny glimpse into history and culture.
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The last book I read was The Good Soldiers by David Finkel. It’s a compelling account of a U.S. Army battalion taking part in the Baghdad surge of 2007. Finkel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with The Washington Post, spent eight months as an embed, and his objective, non-politicized writing is some of the best war reportage I’ve read.
I recently re-read The Catcher in the Rye because my kids are around that age. As a parent, it’s easy to forget where your kids are coming from, but this book was an instant reminder that there are a lot of different things going on in their heads at this time of their life. It reminded me of the realities of being a teenager.
THE LAST WORD: “FLANNICK”
And… CUT!
The story of how a fake movie executive helped kick-start my very real show-biz career by Dave Pullano ’84
H
e was the most famous development exec that never was...or almost was. In fact, I owe all of my success to him. And yet, I created Jay Flannick—partly out of desperation and partly out of boredom. Okay, maybe I should start from the beginning... In 1999, I was a comedy writer and new to Los Angeles—as in, a totally green outsider without a job. How the hell was I to know you needed a Harvard degree to write for a sitcom? Broke and desperate, yet still eager in an unjaded, wide-eyed type of way, I eventually found employment as the receptionist for Miramax Films. I couldn’t believe it—I would be answering the phone and transferring calls to the assistants of Industry movers and shakers. The front desk of a motion-picture studio receives a high volume of inquiries, many from random bizarre people who want access to those movers and shakers. There were German fans of Uma Thurman asking questions about her shoes, aspiring directors wanting to get homemade videos to Quentin Tarantino and delusional people with complaints about various Miramax films—some of which we didn’t even make. And then there was the never-ending barrage of people with scripts. Yup, it was my job to field every single one of them: Caller: Hi, how ya doin’ today? Me: [Silence—real calls to a studio never start with polite greetings.] Caller: Yeah, see, I have this script. Who should I talk to over there about that? Me: Sorry, we don’t accept unsolicited scripts. Caller: No, no, no...you don’t understand. This is a good one. Me: Yeah, that’s the problem. We’re not accepting good scripts anymore. Have you seen Velvet Goldmine? Or... Caller: Robin Williams, please. Me: Uh, he was in one of our movies, but it’s not like he works here.
Caller: Please, I know he’s there. Just get him for me. I’ll... Me: I’m sorry, I really have to get off the phone now. [Sniff.] I just found out my hamster died.
Dale Flitner was born (complete with flat midwestern twang). I liked the alliteration...Flannick and Flitner, Flitner and Flannick. Flitner could also be a scapegoat for Flannick:
And then there was this gem: Caller: I’ve got an idea for Harvey Weinstein. It’ll make a great movie. Me: You sure it’s not an unsolicited script? Caller: Huh? Me: Never mind, what’s the idea? Caller: A guy in a wheelchair takes on the mob. And wait, check this out, so here’s the twist— the head of the mob is also in a wheelchair. Me: Oh my God! Caller: What? Me: That sounds exactly like my idea. Yeah, sorry, I gotta go. I, uh, gotta tell Harvey something. Caller: Hey, wait! You can’t do that! Me: [Click.]
Caller: Mr. Flannick, why haven’t you returned my calls?! Me: Right, so sorry...it’s my assistant, Dale. He’s been having a rough go of it lately. You see, his pet hamster died.
Sometimes when I was bored, I’d pretend I was an automated answering service: Me [in an announcer voice]: Thank you for calling Miramax. To reach the receptionist, press 1. Inevitably, I’d hear the beep when they pressed 1, and then I’d answer again in my normal voice. This was a huge hit with the other low-level office workers. But I knew I was too acerbic for my own good, and there were many times my “attitude” would nearly get me in trouble. It was an editor from a Hollywood trade publication who just about did me in. He needed to speak with someone in publicity, but when I transferred him, he kept getting voice-mail. Frustrated, he demanded I personally find the woman he wanted. That’s when I personally demanded he stop bothering me, and I hung up. Not surprisingly, he called back to speak to my boss—something about making sure I was fired. It was do-or-die time, and I had to think quickly. Grasping at straws, I told him my boss’ name was Jay Flannick—a complete fabrication—and then I put the fuming man on hold. A minute later, I picked up and, in a pathetic, Monty Python–like British accent, said, “Hello, you’ve reached Jay Flannick, Miramax Films. How can I help you?” The man went off on me—and I mean Christian Bale–esque off. “Dreadfully sorry,” I said. “I will personally see to Mr. Pullano’s dismissal.” Believe it or not, the guy never caught on. Case closed. I was off the hook and had somehow saved my job. It got me thinking...What if there was an exec who’d look at any script and take all calls? One who could also back me up when I got a little mouthy? Flannick! This might actually work. The first step was assigning him his own voice-mailbox. I gave Flannick extension 4444. It was available and easy to remember. Later that day, I updated the inter-office extension list to include him. No one seemed to notice. The crazy calls continued to come in, but now I’d just put them through to Flannick’s voicemail. It was brilliant. An upcoming premiere? Flannick should get an invite. Laker tickets? Flannick will go. Who broke the copy machine? Flannick! Within a month, he was receiving scripts for his review, tickets to events and tons of standard-issue free swag. I decided it was time for a rising star like Flannick to get an assistant. And that’s when
You get the picture. Eventually, the executives at Miramax caught wind of my little charade, but amazingly, instead of being angry, they thought it was funny. But more telling, they saw an opportunity to shake off their own calls from people who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Sometimes, the suits would actually come out front to watch me in action. I’d answer calls in my normal voice, transfer them to Flitner, and then he (or rather, I) would transfer them to Flannick. All in all, I was doing pretty well, considering I’d only been in town for 10 months. Even though I was on the bottom rung of the company, I was on everyone’s radar...in a good way. While I delivered mail, ordered cell phones and fixed copy-machine jams, I was determined to make Flannick a major player. And it wouldn’t be hard, since Bob and Harvey spent most of their time in New York. As long as Flannick didn’t make some bad acquisition, they’d never know. He could recommend me for a job: “Dave did an uncredited punch-up on Good Will Hunting.” Or stand up for my getting a raise: “I’d be nothing without Dave.” And then, as is common in Hollywood, fate stepped in. A VP who liked my ruse approached me to ask about my career. I explained I was a comedy writer who’d been rejected by most major agencies in town. And she divulged the golden rule: Always get a referral. So, she made a phone call on my behalf, and in no time, I had an agent. My first interview was for head writer on a new MTV show—which was odd because I had no television experience. At the meeting, the Flannick story killed, and I started the job a week later, trading a shared cubicle for my own office, complete with parking space. The only sad part? It meant the end of Flannick. Most everyone is gone from those peak Miramax years, even Bob and Harvey. It was a pretty amazing place. We put out Shakespeare in Love AND Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror in the same year, and they both made good money. Many of the interns and assistants of that time now have high-powered jobs in the Industry. Our core group still gets together. As for me, I can’t complain. Thanks to my fake boss, I’ve worked steadily in television for the past 10 years. And along with my screenwriting partner— a former Miramax assistant— I finally sold my first feature script. Who bought it? The Weinstein Company—Bob and Harvey’s latest incarnation. You know, they should really consider hiring Flannick. I hear he gives great notes. ● This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Times Magazine, December 6, 2009. Dave Pullano ’84 is a screenwriter in LA and has written, produced and executive produced television shows for MTV, E!, VH1 and Fox. He is a contributing editor to the Los Angeles Times Magazine and is currently working on a feature documentary on the glory days of National Lampoon. HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
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Benjamin Ryan ’10 Hudson, Massachusetts
Mark Manis ’69, P’03 Scottsville, Virginia
• Environmental studies and economics double major • Attended the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
1. What was the most interesting thing to come out of the recent Copenhagen conference? The Copenhagen Accord was a very significant step forward because for the first time all major economies have made commitments to curb greenhouse gas pollution and report on their actions and emissions. The Accord establishes a strong transparency and verification regime and also provides for landmark funding with particular focus on vulnerable countries. 2. What do you think is the key to successful climate reform? All parties need to demonstrate their political will by achieving a legally binding agreement.
PARALLELS PARALLELS
• Senior Advisor for the Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA • Participated in the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
3. Define “responsible” in six words or less. Accountable for events caused by actions.
1. What was the most interesting thing to come out of the recent Copenhagen conference? Despite the past resistance of the United States to assist unrestricted developing countries with Climate Change, they have agreed to participate in raising the $100 billion to help support developing countries, marking a possible change in the tides of international climate policy. 2. What do you think is the key to successful climate reform? A multipronged approach focusing on reasonability and cooperation. 3. Define “responsible” in six words or less. Acting with concern for others. 4. What’s your favorite snack? Baby carrots.
4. What’s your favorite snack? Pretzels.
5. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? My golf swing.
5. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? Be handier with home repairs.
6. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? If you are going to be a bear, you might as well be a Grizzly.
6. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? When working in a bureaucracy it is to your advantage to be “huggable.”
7. What is the last, best book you’ve read? Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins. 8. Why do Honors? I learned about the complex economics problems in environmental issues, and they fascinated me. Professor Tom Drennen urged me to continue my research in that area.
7. What is the last, best book you’ve read? Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
S S
8. Why do Honors? It was an experience akin to graduate school, and it gave me the opportunity to work one-on-one, outside the traditional classroom setting, with my favorite professor, Tom Millington.