Nichols College Magazine - Summer 2011 by Nichols College

Volume 6, Issue 1 | Summer 2011

NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

IS THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK BRIGHTER?

2011 GRADS FIND WAYS TO SHINE

m e S S a g e

t o

t h e

c o m m u n i t y

NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume 6, Issue 1 | Summer 2011

To:

Nichols College Community

From:

John H. McClutchy Jr. ’72, Chairman of the Board

Subject:

New President of Nichols College

John H. McClutchy Jr.

I am pleased to announce the selection of Susan West Engelkemeyer, Ph.D., as the seventh president of Nichols College. An accomplished and energetic leader in business education, Dr. Engelkemeyer will lead the College into its third century of providing an exceptional outcomes-based education and will work with the Board to realize our shared vision of Nichols as a premier business college in New England. She will begin her post on August 1, 2011. Dr. Engelkemeyer is a proven leader whose ideals are closely aligned with the mission and vision of Nichols. As dean of the Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth since 2009, she successfully managed the first maintenance of the college’s accreditation with the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), facilitated a radical redesign of the MBA program to increase its distinction and competitiveness, and led the transformation of the undergraduate curriculum to design and implement more innovative, integrated and experiential degree programs. She has also recently been involved in designing and securing the funding for a $14 million state-of-the-art, sustainable classroom addition for the Charlton College of Business. Dr. Engelkemeyer’s service as dean of the School of Business at Ithaca College from 2005 to 2009 was equally productive. In addition to partnering on the successful completion of a $17 million LEED Platinum-certified building project, she attained record-breaking enrollments at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, increased direct/discretionary funding by 100 percent, and is credited with Ithaca earning its first listing in the Princeton Review’s “282 Best Business Schools.” She has a strong track record of successful curriculum design and innovation in higher education through her work at UMass, Ithaca, and at Babson College where she was an associate professor of management and director of the One Year MBA Program. She also brings effective collaborative leadership skills and a national reputation through her scholarly publications and presentations and her numerous professional associations. I want to thank each of our constituencies and the entire Nichols community for their active and interested participation in the process. Your input was appreciated and valued. I want to especially thank the President Search Committee for its thorough oversight and remarkable insight that led to the selection of Dr. Engelkemeyer. You have our sincere gratitude and utmost respect for performing your duties with swiftness and diligence. Nichols College is a special place with a defined niche of offering a transformative career-oriented educational experience in a nurturing environment. We have much to be proud of both in recent and past history and remain a vibrant, distinctive institution with a bright future. The Board of Trustees is confident that Dr. Engelkemeyer embraces the culture of Nichols and can foster change that is both progressive and rooted in the College’s esteemed traditions. We are looking forward to the next era in Nichols’ history under the helm of Dr. Engelkemeyer and offer her our congratulations, best wishes and support to achieve the aspirations we all have for Nichols College.

EDITOR Susan Veshi ON CAMPUS EDITOR Dorothy Millhofer VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Bill Pieczynski CONTRIBUTORS Brianne Callahan, Margaret Colom ’11, Julie Errico, Hillary Haynes, Christine Jankowski, Ron Powers ’08, Len Suprise DESIGN Patricia Korch PRINTING Kirkwood Printing / Wilmington, MA COVER PHOTO Tammy Woodard Photography Worcester, MA NICHOLS COLLEGE

PO Box 5000 123 Center Road Dudley, MA 01571-5000 508-213-1560 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., M–F www.nichols.edu Periodicals postage paid at Webster, MA, and additional mailing offices. NICHOLS COLLEGE MAGAZINE

(UPSP 390480) is published three times a year by Nichols College, Dudley, MA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Advancement Office NICHOLS COLLEGE

PO Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571-5000

Cover: 2011 graduate, Timothy Messier

CONTENTS

Volume 6, Issue 1 | Summer 2011

3 ON CAMPUS

2 | Nichols announces board elections 3 | Graduate students examine effective leadership 4 | Shelf-help for entrepreneurs 4 | Anderson Professorship offers edge to economics F E AT U R E S

5 | Commencement 2011 8 | 2011 grads find room in tight job market 11 | Finding passion in work and life: Anderson practices what he preaches to 2011 grads AT H L E T I C S

12 | Loney brings perspective and experience to coaching job 13 | SAAC spring clean-up day 13 | Spring roundup 13 | Footballers huddle for Vendetti’s 80th

ALUMNI

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NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

ON CAMPUS

Nichols announces board elections On May 6, 2011, Thomas J. Hall ’69 was elected vice chairman of the Board of Trustees where he has served since 2009. He is managing director of investments for Wells Fargo Advisors in Hartford. Prior to that, Hall was a managing director and market manager for Wachovia Securities. Hall resides in West Hartford, Conn., with his wife, Denise, who currently serves as the minority leader of the West Hartford Town Council. He holds Series 7, 8 and 63 securities licensure. In addition, the Nichols College Board of Trustees welcomed four new members over the past year: David G. Bedard ’86, Joseph T. Bartulis Jr., David G. Hale ’75 and Kent Tarrant ’57. Bedard is the CFO of The Hartford’s Wealth Management Group. He rejoined The Hartford in December 2010 after most recently serving as the senior managing director and CFO of New York Life Investment Management. Previously, at The Hartford, Bedard was the CFO of the Group Benefits Division, then senior vice president and CFO of the Wealth Management Group. He spent three years as a senior vice president in corporate financial services at Mass Mutual and 11 years with Coopers & Lybrand LLP. Bedard joined the College’s Board of Advisors in 2007 and was a guest speaker on the ethics panel of the 2008 START Youth Leadership Training Program on campus. He resides in Avon, Conn., with his wife, Ellen (Smith) ’87 and two sons.

Bartulis is an officer of the law firm, Fletcher Tilton PC, and heads its Labor and Employment Law Practice Area. His practice areas include business and corporate, charitable and exempt organizations, and education and higher education. Bartulis is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Baylor University. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group, the Worcester County and Massachusetts Bar Associations, the Massachusetts Council of School Attorneys and the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials. He and his wife, Carla, reside in Worcester, Mass.

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Hale is a retired senior vice president for Americas at Polaroid Corporation. In that role, he ran all operations for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central and South Americas which represented 72 percent of the revenue and 74 percent of the operating profit. He is currently a loan officer at Poli Mortgage Group. Hale was a member of the Board of Advisors and served as the President’s Society and Nichols Fund Chair in 200809. A four-year letter winner for men’s hockey and lacrosse from 1972-1975, Hale was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1988 and 2007. Hale lives with his wife, Martine, in Wayland, Mass. Tarrant retired in 1997 as president/CEO of Southworth Co. in West Springfield, where he began as a salesperson in 1958. The company, which manufac tures paper and date keeping products distributed through the office products industry, also owns Time/Design, a time management system marketed through training seminars. Tarrant, who has been a member of the Board of Advisors since 2007, is also a class agent and class scribe. He was actively involved in plans for his 50th reunion and is one of the architects of the Class of 1957 Scholarship. He and his wife, Kate, reside in Hampden, Mass., and he is the father of three daughters.

The new Nichols College website has launched! Check it out at www.nichols.edu.

ON CAMPUS

Graduate students examine effective leadership Graduate students dissected management effectiveness in Massachusetts-based companies by surveying nearly 200 employees across industry segments. The assignment, part of The Leadership Experience course, proved the students’ hypothesis about the role of leadership: there is a perception gap between managers and non-managers. Using a primary survey instrument which contained both open-ended and closed questions, each student interviewed one management and one nonmanagement employee from a Massachusetts company of his/her choice. Students then summarized their impressions and tallied the responses. All told, they examined the different perspectives of 102 managers and 86 non-managers. Of those interviewed, 47 percent were male and 53 percent were female; 80 percent had bachelor’s degrees; 95 percent were non-union; and 24 percent of the companies had 10,000+ employees.

The Leadership Experience: Grad students present findings of their research on perceptions of leadership according to managers and non-managers in the workplace to Professor Ray Guillette (standing, center) and Graduate and Professional Studies Director Rayanne Drouin (standing, far right).

Ray Guillette, course professor and presentation facilitator, was quick to point out the overall limitations of the study, including its tight timeframe and use of a snowball-sampling

When asked if the manager admitted mistakes and took responsibility for actions, 62 percent of managers said “always . . . ”

Students presented their findings, The State of Leadership in Massachusetts 2011, to Rayanne Drouin, director of Graduate & Professional Studies, on March 10. “I felt great pride as I watched them,” she says. “The research they conducted allowed them to interact with, and learn from, a number of fascinating and powerful leaders.”

technique where some of the students recruited subjects among their own acquaintances, tainting the working demographics of Massachusetts to a younger, well-educated generation. Still, the findings proved interesting to students. Andrew Frydryk, admissions counselor at Nichols College and one of

twelve students in the class, says, “I have really enjoyed this class because it’s relevant to my current work experience."

Key Findings Management and non-management employees agreed on these characteristics of successful leaders: effective communicator (most effective) problem solver good learner/good listener. Managers said they strongly model their company’s values and goals, but non-management employees were more neutral. Seventy-three percent of the managers rated their leadership ability as “effective,” compared to 40 percent of the non-managers. Both managers and nonmanagers felt that dedication and self-motivation were important attributes and that a manager’s primary motivator is quality. Managers felt their primary roles as leaders were that of

  

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facilitators; whereas, nonmanagers felt the primary roles of managers were directors. When asked if the manager admitted mistakes and took responsibility for actions, 62 percent of managers said “always,” and 31 percent of the non-managers said their leader did so “sometimes.” Sixty-seven percent of managers and 48 percent of nonmanagers said that leadership skills could be acquired and inherited. Finally, the majority of both managers and non-managers saw the biggest challenge facing leadership in their organization as the economy, followed by competition.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

ON CAMPUS

Shelf-help for entrepreneurs In his more than two decades of teaching at Nichols College, Richard Hilliard has planted the seeds of success for countless budding entrepreneurs. Now, the associate professor emeritus, who still teaches Entrepreneurial Management, is continuing to inspire and prepare students with the creation of the Entrepreneurial Resource Collection. Thanks to Hilliard’s generosity, this developing collection features books and other media and reference materials on entrepreneurship and is housed in a designated area on the top floor of the Library. The collection will serve as a resource for all Nichols students, alumni, and local communities. Monetary donations or contributions of books, videos, and other materials on entrepreneurship are welcomed. Says Hilliard: “I hope that many of my now-over 15,000 former students will consider donating to our effort to create a world-class Entrepreneurial Resource Collection at Nichols College.”

Anderson Professorship offers edge to economics Nichols College has established the Keith T. Anderson Professorship in Economics and Finance, in honor of Anderson’s generous support to Nichols. The professorship gives a member of the economics faculty the opportunity to explore opportunities and activities to enhance teaching and learning. Professorships and grants provide faculty and students with opportunities that they wouldn’t ordinarily have, says Alan Reinhardt, PhD, provost and senior vice president. “Learning essentially opens up the world after college to our students. And faculty are the people who make learning happen.” When alumni, such as Anderson ’81 H ’07, reflect on their Nichols experience, they most frequently mention the professors who provided inspiration or encouragement or challenging assignments to help them grow as students.

Economics Professor and Chair Louise J. Nordstrom, who was named the first recipient, was honored by the distinction. “Keith was a student of mine many years ago, and now serves as an excellent role model for our current students,” she says. “As a student, Keith had a strong work ethic, outstanding leadership abilities, and, most importantly, the intelligence and motivation to undertake what are probably the two most demanding majors on campus, economics and finance. It is clear that these qualities have served him well in his successful business career.” During the next two years, with funding from this grant, Nordstrom hopes to stimulate economics and finance students with informative speakers, programs, and travel opportunities to enhance the educational experience. Economics Chair Louise Nordstrom

Join the Nichols College Online Community at

http://community.nichols.edu

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

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Commencement 2011

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A day for ceremony and celebration...

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NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

COMMENCEMENT 2011

Commencement on Saturday, May 7,

was a beautiful day on the

Hill as 408 beaming graduates, led by the stirring strains of

bagpipes and exuberant baton-waving, processed to the jumbo white tent on the softball field. Amid the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony, blessings were bestowed, memories were recounted, hoots were hollered, and the Class of 2011 kicked off their postOn behalf of her classmates, Class pragmatic advice from one President Alexandria Hallam thanked of Nichols’ most successful “everyone who / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE alumni. touched our lives 2011 COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT in waysCOLLEGE that are / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS immeasurable, COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 unfathomable in / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE repayment, and COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 unquestionable in our / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS level ofCOLLEGE appreciation.” college years with sage and

GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 In her valedictory 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE address, Krystin GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 Kerekes wove in a 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE little of Plato’s GE COMMENCEMENT philosophy when 2011 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 she asked her GE COMMENCEMENT fellow graduates to2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 not lose sight of the good or the truth: 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE GE COMMENCEMENT “Don’t forget about 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 who was there to GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE support you, and 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 the things in your GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE life that are truly 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 important, the GE COMMENCEMENT things that make 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS you, you!” COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 GE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011

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COMMENCEMENT 2011

Timeless Wisdom Keynote speaker, Keith

Anderson ’81 H ’07, chief investment officer for Soros

Fund Management LLC, and its principal entity, the Quantum Fund, was conscious about keeping his address brief so he borrowed the hourglass that his 11-year-old son, Nikolas, uses for “that ever painful 15 minutes of piano practice every day.”

“No COLLEGE matter what value you do or don’t get 2011 from my/ NICHOLS / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011said, / “you NICHOLS COLLEGE wisdom,” Anderson can be rest assured that atCOMMENCE / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS least it won’t last a long time.” COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE “I have a rule which I call, ‘The no jerk rule,’” he / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS later said. “… 2011 I’ve never understood why some peopleCOMMENCE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT / NICHOLS COLLEGE mistake a competitive attitude with a desire to2011 excel at/ NICHOLS / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE someone else’s expense. Throughout your business career,COMMENCE / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS you will meet many people. Some are more competent COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE than others and some work harder than others. But, the / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS good news is that I have/always found in the end that busi-COMMENCE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 NICHOLS COLLEGE ness COLLEGE is a meritocracy. The people who do a good / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COMMENCEMENT 2011job,/ NICHOLS Belgium Prime MinisCOMMENCEMENT 2011 2011smart / NICHOLS ter Yves Leterme, who / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT work hard and work and can do it COLLEGE in a positive andCOMMENCE received an honoraryCOMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS / NICHOLS COLLEGE cooperative way tend to excel. And, I hope that you will Doctor of Public2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE COMMENCEMENT strive to win that way as well.” Administration, urged / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS the graduates to2011 enter / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE COMMENCEMENT the world of work with / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS a solid sense of ethics, COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE citing “pure greed” as / NICHOLS COLLEGE the underpinning of COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE the global financial / NICHOLS COLLEGE crisis. He also told COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE graduates to follow their passions: “The / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS best job is not necesCOMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2011 / NICHOLS COLLEGE COMMENCE sarily the one which pays the most, but the one you like doing.”

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NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

2011 GRADS FIND ROOM IN TIGHT JOB MARKET By Dorothy Millhofer

Nichols seniors can find solace in the fact that the job outlook for college graduates has improved slightly when compared to 2010. Good news came from updated figures published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers: “Employers report that they plan to hire 19.3 percent more graduates in 2010-11 than they did in 2009-10, the first double-digit increase since 2007.” The U.S. Labor Department also released optimistic data: “Companies are advertising more jobs than at any time in the past two years” and “69,000 jobs in January and 194,000 jobs in February were added in professional and business services.” Nichols own economist, Associate Professor Hans Despain, says the good news for Nichols students and the job market is that medium-sized firms are planning to hire. “This is a very good, macroeconomic indicator that the job market will be turning around,” states Despain. “Most of these jobs are in business-related fields, especially in management, sales and marketing. If medium-sized firms do this hiring, the job market should begin to expand within the next 12-18 months for small, medium and large-sized firms.” On April 15, the Associated Press reported that Massachusetts unemployment rates dropped to “8 percent in March

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as 3,200 jobs were added during the month,” and that financial service and consulting firms are seeing strong job growth for new graduates. In addition, AP stated that the job situation will improve for recent MBA graduates. Despite the promising outlook, “Our seniors still have to hustle to land a job,” says Heather Maietta, director of career services at Nichols College. “Recruiters are looking for the complete package, including campus leadership, internships, and academic achievement." Fierce competition for business majors Competition is particularly fierce among undergraduate business majors. The U.S. Department of Education asserts that of the 1.6 million bachelor’s degrees awarded last year, roughly 348,000 or 22 percent, were conferred in the fields of business, the largest of any academic major. In December 2010, CNBC Online published a study showing that business concentrations with the top employment prospects were economics (22 percent), marketing (20 percent), information technology (18 percent), accounting (17 percent) and finance (15 percent). Secrets for success In his keynote address at Commencement 2011, Keith Anderson ’81 H ’07 quoted one of his favorite sayings,

“Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness.” After four years on the Hill, Nichols seniors say they feel “very prepared” to meet the competition head on, thanks, in part, to the Professional Development Seminar’s focus on practice interviews and the development of resumes and portfolios. They have also been offered increased opportunities. The Office of Career Services has ramped up its efforts with recruiting sessions, job clubs, and the annual Nichols Career Fair, which drew 31 percent more employers in 2011 compared to 2010.

NETWORK WITH ALUMNI When Daniel Cafasso started his job search for a management training position, it helped that Nichols alumus, Justin Dolan ’09, worked as a manager at Ocean State Job Lot, a New England retailer with 102 stores. “I called Justin up and asked to meet with him to discuss the company in terms of on-the-job training and growth,” says Cafasso, “and basically, I really liked what I heard.” Cafasso landed a job as assistant manager at its Waterbury, Conn., store.

Seniors who have already secured jobs strategically planned to get what they want and share their secrets for success in this tight job market – they got out there, put in long hours at internships (some multiple), made contacts in their area of career choice and stayed focused on the goal of realizing a return on their educational investment. Some students told us that staying in school longer will help them meet their long-term career objectives. We salute these seniors as they embark on their road to success!

MAKE CONTACT WITH RECRUITERS Finance major Mary Kate Frodema talked to a recruiter from First Investors at the 2010 Nichols College Career Fair and landed one of the five internships available from a pool of 500 applicants. During her MayAugust 2010 internship, she had an opportunity to learn about First Investors’ products, and by late August, she knew she had a full-time job as a financial service representative in its Agawam, Mass., office. GET IN THE DOOR WITH INTERNSHIPS

DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP SKILLS Accounting major Michael Schell signed up for an off-campus interview with Charles J. Webb, a manager from Alexander, Aronson and Finning. “He asked me lots of questions and eventually, we talked about my leadership role as captain of the Nichols College soccer team,” says Schell. He secured a position as staff accountant with the firm by mid January.

Kevin Quinn secured two backto-back internships – first with Graham Shepherd P.C. from January-April 2010 and then with Alexander, Aronson and Finning & Co. PC, from June-August, where he was offered a full-time job as a staff accountant a full year before graduation.

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NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

NICHOLS GRADS FIND ROOM

RISE ABOVE THE COMPETITION

ADVANCE YOUR EDUCATION

With a double major in human resource management and sport management, Kara Buckley completed an internship in New York City that made all the difference in setting her apart from other candidates. “In the fall semester I interned at Madison Square Garden, where I did a lot of recruiting and where the atmosphere was fast paced with a high volume,” she says. She landed a job as recruitment coordinator at Shawmut Design and Construction in Boston. “They were really impressed at Shawmut with the work I did and thought I would be a perfect fit.”

Psychology major Rebecca Smith is heading to the University of New Haven for her master’s in industrial/organizational psychology. She has a long-term goal of earning a doctorate and teaching, and it’s noteworthy that all three Smith siblings are Bison! Rebecca’s sister, Sarah Smith ’08, majored in human resource management and works at International Paper, and her brother, Daniel Smith ’12, is a psychology major heading off for a fall semester abroad.

PUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO WORK As a general business major, Wachira Sittikong took incremental, critical steps to hone his talents and skills. After coming to Nichols to learn business fundamentals, his entrepreneurial spirit and love of the food service industry came to the forefront. He’s taking over the management of two of his family’s Thai restaurants with an eye for further expansion on the East Coast. “My father really didn’t expect me to go into the family business,” he chuckles, “and neither did I.”

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USE ONLINE TOOLS Samir Goncalves used LinkedIn and his wits to secure a position as a knowledge advisor with Ernst & Young in Boston. After finding an entry level position of interest on the LinkedIn portal, the international business major paid for a premium subscription to get the hiring manager’s name and then contacted her directly. After hours of interviewing at the firm’s office in the John Hancock Tower, Goncalves was asked to do a writing assignment on the spot. “It was intense!” he says. “Nichols won't get you the job, but it offers all the preparation you need to win the job you want.”

Finding passion in work and life

Anderson practices what he preaches to 2011 grads By Julie Errico

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Keith Anderson ’81 H ’07 is passionate about investing, his other passion is architecture. As the chief investment officer for Soros Fund Management, LLC, and its principal entity, the Quantum Fund, in a sense Anderson is an “architect” as he helps to shape and build the careers of investment professionals. As a generous supporter of Nichols, he is helping to shape the experiences of Nichols students and the quality of the facilities at Nichols as well. At this year’s graduation exercises, Anderson brought his unique perspective and experience to Nichols in his firstever keynote commencement speech. “Because of my fond memories of my time at Nichols, I am happy to give back to Nichols on a different level by speaking at commencement,” he says. Anderson discussed his business career and the lessons he has learned from those experiences. “I sat where they sat 30 years ago, so I hope they gained some value from my experiences.” His hope was to encourage graduating students to consider that it is important to not only be successful in their careers but to have a work/life balance and to give back to the community. “Perhaps they’ve learned something, and I was able to offer them some value while at the same stressing how important it is to be a good corporate and world citizen,” he says. Anderson himself has carried this path throughout his work and community involvement. Through his role as vice chairman of the non-profit organization, Family Dynamics in New York City, he is helping to build strong families. The organization’s mission is to prevent abuse and keep families together through counseling, workshops and other opportunities. “Parenting is challenging enough without having to deal with poverty and unemployment like these families do. If I can do something to make a difference, then it is even better,” Anderson adds. In addition, in May, Anderson was honored by the Ronald McDonald House New York as the Financial Services Honoree who embodies the “spirit and mission” of the organization. While Anderson is modest about his community involvement, he also recognizes its value. “I have been fortunate in life, and when you have the means to assist, you want to do things that are beneficial to the community,” he says. Anderson has also been instrumental in helping to build and support Nichols in a number of ways. In 2003, he established a student scholarship to invest in

the next generation of business leaders and honor an outstanding professor’s 36-year career: The Keith Corkum Endowed Scholarship in Economics. Eleven Nichols students have been recipients to date. This year, in honor of Anderson’s generous support, Nichols established the Keith T. Anderson Professorship in Economics and Finance in recognition of the highest quality of teaching at the College. Anderson credits Nichols and his relationships with his professors as helping to build the foundation for his professional experience. “The benefit of a small school like Nichols is the access to the faculty. I found it far and away the most important aspect of my time there. As I return 30 years later, I notice that many of my former professors are still teaching at Nichols. In this world where so many things are constantly changing, I find it refreshing.” While he is helping to build student experiences through scholarships and endowments, Anderson also recognizes the need to invest in the building of new structures on campus. He has committed $1 million to the new student center because, he says, “The need is there. I want to see Nichols survive and prosper. I realize that while professors matter, the physical plant matters as well. If you want a school to prosper, it has to be an attractive place. It’s an important part of attracting and retaining quality students.” Through his professional experience and community involvement, Anderson recognizes that it’s all about achieving balance. “My passion is investing. I didn’t enter [the profession] to make money. I still to this day am interested in how economies work and how markets operate. I am passionate about investing in those markets and attempting to do well. That’s my business. However, throughout my life I’ve learned that it’s also important to invest as a person. My goal is to be a good family member, father and husband and to raise children who have a good balance and the best opportunity that they can have.”

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AT H L E T I C S

Loney brings perspective and experience to coaching job In January, Kevin Loney took his place as the 13th head coach in the 79-year history of the Bison football program. Loney joined Nichols for his first head coaching opportunity after spending the last two seasons as the defensive line coach at Division II Upper Iowa University. He previously spent two seasons as an intern and graduate assistant at the University of Notre Dame, where he assisted with the running backs and offensive line. During his tenure, the Fighting Irish won their first bowl game in 13 seasons. Prior to Notre Dame, Loney was the defensive and recruiting coordinator at Bethany College (W. Va.), leading their Bison to one of the most dramatic turnarounds in school history and the most wins in five seasons in 2006. A 1999 graduate of Dickinson College, Loney was a letter-winner with the Red Devils football and outdoor track and field teams.

byproduct of attitude, and mindset is so important. I want our guys getting to the point where they don’t hope to win, they expect to win. For the long term, I want our program to achieve respect and relevance. I want to get to the level that teams fear us, and that we are the big game on everyone’s schedule. You’ve worked for many diﬀerent schools and coaches, is there a certain coach’s style that you try to emulate?

Working for six or seven coaches in 10 years, you take the good and the bad with each experience and style you’ve seen. But ultimately, you are your own person. One example of a style that I’d like to emulate is that of Coach [Charlie] Weis at Notre Dame. He pays excellent attention to detail, studying personnel, and overall, he demands his team to do everything in a first-class manner. Another example was working for Coach Rich Cavanaugh at Southern Connecticut State. He continuously challenges his players to be the best. At Bethany, Coach Tim Weaver’s style of interacting with players was very effective. He was serious when being serious, but guys could come to him with anything. I want my guys to know I mean business, but I am there for them no matter the situation.

What type of interaction have you had with the campus, former players, alumni, etc., so far?

. . . I want to get our players to have an attitude that “we can’t be beat” and “we play for each other.”

What attracted you to the coaching vacancy at Nichols?

A. Growing up in the area [Middletown, Conn.], I’ve always heard positive things about Nichols. Every person I’ve talked to that’s gone through the College had something good to say about it. Combine that with becoming a head coach for the first time, and being closer to my family, it was a no brainer.

Describe some of your favorite memories of your coaching career to this point.

What challenges did you need to address on day one of the new job?

A. Right away I had to address recruiting – things like where we are and what we need. In the time that Coach [Bill] Carven [’94] left and I began, it sort of put us in “limbo” with recruiting. So far, we’ve done a great job making up for it though. We recently had a recruiting day that was well attended, and I’m excited to keep the process going. Getting a late start, you need to make sure you don’t miss the things you don’t know that you don’t know.

Could you describe your short- and long-term goals for the program?

For the short term, I want to get our players to have an attitude that “we can’t be beat” and “we play for each other.” Winning is a

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Everyone I’ve met has been extremely helpful. The list would be too long to mention, and it certainly isn’t just those in athletics. Positive interaction has come from professors, administration, and others all across campus. I’m truly blessed to have everyone so forthcoming in order to help. The guys that have been the most help are my assistant coaches and my two captains, Mike Rubalcaba and Chris Kerrigan. Mike and Chris did a phenomenal job keeping these guys together during the transition. I’ve been around numerous great captains in my career, and without a doubt, these guys stand right up with them. They aren’t only great guys for the football program, but they are taking advantage of everything Nichols College has to offer.

Some specific memories that I’ve had were beating Michigan for the program’s 300th win and beating UCLA at the Rose Bowl while at Notre Dame. Others include beating Springfield College for the first time in 42 years while working at Norwich. But ultimately, for me, the best memories are from being around players. In my coaching career, I’ve been around some great kids, who’ve shown excellent character. For example, in one of my seasons at Notre Dame, we had a top 10 recruiting class in the country, but unfortunately went 3-9, the worst record in school history. The following year, only one kid in the recruiting class de-committed. That group of players just led the school to a bowl victory against Miami. Looking back on it now, I’m so proud of those players for their passion and commitment.

What NFL and college football teams do you root for?

I’m a long suffering Buffalo Bills fan, and a lifetime Notre Dame fan.

AT H L E T I C S

SAAC Spring Clean-Up Day

Spring Roundup Women’s Tennis (21-2, 11-0 TCCC/1st)

On April 9, over 75 studentathletes from seven varsity teams partnered with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) to give parts of the Nichols College campus some spring cleaning. Inside the Athletic Center, teams cleaned up Chalmers Field House, the upper weight and cardio rooms, and renovated the pool area. Members of the men’s lacrosse team performed one of the day’s toughest tasks in the pool. They removed lots of old equipment and debris from the area and moved lockers and chairs around to make it a more usable space. Outside, teams cleaned up around the main entrance to the Athletic Center, picked up and organized around the softball field, tennis courts and Vendetti Field. One group removed the old scoreboard at the baseball field. The women’s tennis team extended the group’s efforts to the upper part of campus by cleaning around the Shamie and Kuppenheimer residence halls. “It was a great way to give back to our campus community,” said Dave Sokolnicki ’97 MBA ’99, SAAC advisor and head men’s basketball coach. “Our student-athletes take a lot of pride in Nichols College. Taking care of our campus is one more way to show our Bison Pride. The kids really enjoyed our SAAC Spring Cleanup Day, and it’s our goal to make it an annual event.”

After winning the program’s first The Commonwealth Coast Conference championship in October, the women’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA Championships this spring. In the Bison’s first-ever NCAA appearance, Nichols faced nationally ranked Wheaton College in the first round on May 13. The Bison’s career doubles victories leader Maria Balabanova and TCCC Player and Rookie of the Year Anna Dyakiv secured Nichols’ lone point during doubles play in a 5-1 loss to the Lyons. Nichols finished the year setting eight records, including wins in a season with 21. Women’s Lacrosse (4-12, 3-8 TCCC/T-8th)

The women’s lacrosse team returned to the TCCC Tournament after one of its best offensive seasons to date. Nichols set program records – goals in a season (168) and highest scoring average with 10.5 goals per game – while tying the program record for wins in a season. Led by Krista-Jean Forand, who broke her own record for points in a season with 66, Nichols finished in a three-way tie for eighth place in the league standings and secured their first berth in the conference tournament since 2007 by winning a threeway coin flip. First-year defender Julie Monroe was named AllTCCC Honorable Mention. Men’s Lacrosse (4-10, 2-8 TCCC/T-8th)

The men’s lacrosse team also returned to the TCCC Tournament this season after a five-year hiatus. Nichols won its senior day game against Curry to earn a postseason berth. Senior attacker Ryan Pacific finished his career with 144 points, standing fourth on the Bison’s all-time list. With 78 career assists, he ranks third all-time at Nichols.

Men’s Tennis (16-5, 11-0 TCCC/1st) The men’s tennis team played an outstanding season, finishing the TCCC regular season undefeated at 11-0 and earning the top seed in the tournament. The Bison placed six players on the All-TCCC Teams, including career doubles victories leader Steve Carella. After a tough spring training trip in Orlando, Nichols returned to New England where the Bison won 13 consecutive matches before falling in the TCCC Championship to Roger Williams.

Nichols returned to the TCCC Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, this year as the third seed. The Bison returned from the Gene Cusic Classic with a 4-6 record, but posted a 17-7 TCCC mark once returning to New England. Nichols used noticeable speed on the basepaths to confound its opponents, led by TCCC Second Team selection Allasyn Lieneck. Chelsea Correia, an All-TCCC Honorable Mention honoree, led the team with six home runs.

Baseball

Golf

(12-22, 7-15 TCCC/9th)

The golf team played five matches this spring, and had its best finish at the Western New England Invitational on April 14. The Bison finished third as a team and saw all five golfers finish in the top 20 on the individual leaderboard on the day, led by Joey Gallagher. Josh Paulhus finished third at the Johnson & Wales Spring Wildcat Invitational, April 17-18, with a tournament-best five birdies in a tourney-low score of 73 (+2) in the second round.

The baseball team just missed out on the TCCC Tournament this season. A successful spring training trip at the Gene Cusic Classic gave way to some early losses back in New England when the Bison opened their conference schedule against some of the TCCC’s toughest teams, including 2011 College World Series participant Western New England. Nichols regrouped late in the season, winning four of its last five home games. Senior second baseman Josh Clark was named to the newly formed All-Worcester Area Baseba ll Team.

Softball (22-17, 17-7 TCCC/3rd)

Footballers huddle for Vendetti’s 80th Over 50 former players and friends gathered on Sunday, May 8, for an 80th birthday bash for former head football coach Mike Vendetti ’81. Emcee Bill Fraser ’78 conducted a lively interview with Coach which spurred discussion on topics like how Coach met his wife, Joan, what kind of football player Coach actually was, and who his Nichols College heroes were. Following the interview, Dave Rodgers ’65 told some stories about his time with Coach, and Paul Cutler ’84 presented Coach with the game ball from his 100th win, signed by the 1984 team. He was also given a scrapbook of old photos and game program covers, and a football signed by everyone in attendance. Coach Vendetti’s time as Nichols football coach produced a 103-83-5 record and five conference championships. See more photos in Class Notes, page 22.

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A View from the Hill Margaret Colom ’11

As I began the first round of cleaning out my dorm room and packing up before Senior Week, all of my memories came flooding back and I began thinking of what Nichols College means to me. From my first night on campus, I knew my life would change. Walking through the hallway, I met Justin Berrett through a friend. I remember thinking, “Who is that?” Almost four years later, I am proud to say he is my best friend, boyfriend and one of the most

1940s Class Scribe: Stanley Finn 70 Franklin St. Northampton, MA 01060-2039 413-586-0886

1950s Class Scribe: Robert Risk 309 Conestoga Rd. Wayne, PA 19087-4009 610-688-8242

impressive people I have met at Nichols. We are both currently applying for jobs in New York City where we plan on pursuing our passions and dreams, and beginning our life together. The Hill brought about a love story of a boy from Minneapolis and a city girl from New York. Over the past four years, I have grown personally and academically, thanks to my two favorite professors: Len Harmon and Larry Downs, two of the main marketing professors that I have had the pleasure of taking many courses with. Professor Downs, although at first greatly intimated me (we both still laugh about this), helped me grow into who I am by passing on his strong passion for marketing and allowing me to use his sometimes tough personality as motivation to grow. His passion for marketing concepts, principles and his career experiences have created the drive in me to one day be as successful as he has become in his profession. I was sad to hear

he will officially retire at the end of the 2012 academic year. Professor Harmon has contributed to my love for marketing in more ways than I can describe. He lives and breathes marketing, whether through reading articles or starting discussions in class about different outlets of marketing. He loves hearing our opinions and adding to our “natural knowledge” of marketing in our everyday lives. He has given me a voice and the confidence to use my knowledge. The personable nature of both professors and the willingness to be part of the careers and lives of their students has impacted many others on campus. I do not believe either one of them will ever truly understand how important they are to Nichols and the marketing program overall. Thanks to Professor Harmon, I also landed a marketing internship in Alumni Relations with Director Brianne Callahan. This experience has, without a

Bob Zangler reports that his wife, Jackie, passed away on Jan. 15, 2011, after many years suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

fishing, art, and spending time with his wife of 53 years and their four grandchildren.

Class Scribe: Tom Bartsch 303 Archers Mead Williamsburg, VA 23185-6582 Tbar23185@aol.com

Robert Skenderian reports that he is enjoying semi-retired living in Naples, FL. He is still in the interior design business, running his company in its 83rd year. He is also enjoying golf,

Class Scribe: Arthur Fries 917 Jordan Ct. Nipomo, CA 93444-6625 friesart@hotmail.com

Class Scribe: Kent Tarrant 45 Valley View Dr. P.O. Box 496 Hampden, MA 01036-0496 413-566-5130 kent100@charter.net

doubt, allowed me to grow professionally through writing the Bison Blog and features on fellow students for the online community. Brianne has helped me improve my communication skills, and in a way, has become a mentor to me. She treated me as a professional, with regard to deadlines and responsibilities. I feel lucky to have had this internship. The most memorable experience was the opportunity to partake in the alumni reception in Hartford, which allowed me to network with many alumni and trustees. I enjoyed the camaraderie among all the former students and had my first taste of becoming an official Nichols College alumna. Alumni Relations has made me realize that I can still be a part of the Nichols community after graduation. I look forward to crossing that bridge. I have a strong sense of pride, ambition and the feeling that I can take on anything. Thank you to everyone who contributed to my years at Nichols.

From the Class Scribe… Scholarship was the subject at a Publick House luncheon when Dave Fleming, Art Rizy and myself (Don Claprood and George Butler sent their regrets) met with Nichols VP Bill Pieczynski, Director of Alumni Relations Brianne Callahan, Margaret Colom ’11 and Associate Dean for Student Success and Retention Bill Boﬃ. Boffi disclosed the large number of students who can’t return after their freshman or sophomore years due to financial issues. This is an important factor as the selection process for this year’s Class of ’57 Scholarship award gets Continued on page 17

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ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

An Afternoon with a Nichols Legend by Brianne Callahan, Director of Alumni Relations

hen I arrived to meet Herb Durfee, the director of public safety at Nichols College for 23 years, at his home in Lehigh Acres, Fla., I was prepared with a notebook and tape recorder because several alumni informed that he liked to tell stories. As I walked to the front door, I noticed there was no car in the driveway and thought that I had the wrong address. I pulled the screen door open and was ready to knock when a booming voice came from within, “Do you have your Nichols College ID?” I was startled, but was not about to mess with the man behind this voice. As I reached down to retrieve it, I heard laughter. The door opened, I looked up and there he was…the man, the myth, the Nichols legend…Herb Durfee wearing his public safety uniform from head to toe. I laughed. This was the beginning of my afternoon with the man who so many Nichols alumni fondly and vividly remember. Recalling his Nichols days, Herb told me he was offered the job of public safety director on the spot after he took charge breaking up a fight in Budleigh Hall. He also mentioned the help

he got from the football players keeping students in line. “The football players were the big boys on campus. I said to Mike Vendetti, ‘Do your guys want to work for me? I will pay them and if I ever have trouble, the guys can be my back up.’” He has some stories that he “dares not repeat,” from finding beer in toilets to Peeping Toms in the girls’ locker room. Herb still laughs at the antics, saying, “Some of the stuff, you wouldn’t believe!”

While Herb may have been reluctant to tell stories, others were not. John McClutchy ’72 recalls a time in 1970 when, under Herb’s watchful eye, Christ-

mas almost didn’t come for him, his wife, Janet, and their newborn, Kelly: “It was close to midnight on December 23, and we had just finished decorating our freshly cut tree with strings of popcorn and berries picked from the bushes outside of our apartment at Durkee’s farm house, directly across from Forestry Hall. There was a knock at the door and I opened it to see the familiar and, usually, comforting smile of Herbie, the ubiquitous head of security. Herbie commented on the beauty of the tree, saying, ‘It looks so fresh, it could still be growing.’ As he was leaving, he mentioned fresh footprints that he found in the snow by the pine-tree grove behind Forestry Hall. With the snow still coming down pretty hard, he said the footprints would be ‘just memories in a little while.’ When classes resumed after the first of the year, there was a notice posted throughout the campus seeking information about a pine tree that was cut from the grove behind Forestry Hall. That was the last I ever heard about that night until my graduation in 1972. Herbie came by to wish me well and to ask me keep in touch. ‘Oh, and stick with those fresh-cut Christmas trees,’ he said. ‘The fake ones, well, they just won’t create the same memories.’” John Maffeo ’75 was also quick to share a memory of Herb and pinball machines in the foyer of the Bison’s Den.

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“On his rounds around campus, Herbie would always stop by to make sure that the bar was closed on time,” he recalls. “He would come into the bar and walk up behind you and whisper in your ear, ‘Got a quarter?’ That was Herbie’s way of getting a few games of pinball in. Herbie was the ‘Pinball Wizard’ of Nichols College back then. He was tough to beat. For the record, once in a while Herbie did have a couple of quarters in his pocket and actually put them in the machine.” With a lifetime of memories at Nichols, Herb retired in 1984 and moved to Florida with his wife, Vivian. They enjoyed traveling up until her death in 2010. He plans to return to Nichols in the fall to celebrate homecoming. In my nearly three hours visiting with him, I pressed him again on the students and pranks he most remembers. He just laughed and said, “I won’t mention any names. I am taking their stories to the grave.” I departed his home, but not without receiving a big hug. I didn’t have the pleasure to know him while he worked at Nichols, but I can tell you that what you hear is true, Herb Durfee is one of a kind. A special thank you to Herb’s daughter, Karen Simioni, and granddaughter, Laura Bonnette, for making my visit possible.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

Saturday, October 1 9–10 a.m.

Pancakes with the President

Our President will be serving pancakes while meeting with alumni and friends to kick off homecoming. We will recognize reunion classes and volunteers in attendance. Breakfast fare will be provided in the Daniels Auditorium. Pre-registration is required. 10 a.m.

Reunion Class Photos

Join your classmates for a modern day class photo. Please be prompt as photos will be taken from older reunions to more recent graduates. If weather permits, pictures will be taken on the patio outside of Daniels Auditorium. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Registration

Register and enter a raffle to win some great prizes including a Kindle. You must be present at halftime to win. 10 a.m. - Noon

Memories on the Hill

Take a step back in time by viewing a sampling from the Nichols College archives on display in the Library.

here is something special about coming back to Nichols College in the fall – our campus changes from beautiful to spectacular. Join us for Homecoming 2011. See some familiar faces, meet some new ones, and marvel at the many changes the campus has seen. Homecoming offers something for everyone, so make a date to spend time at your alma mater.

Student-guided walking tour of campus (leaving from the Library)

Noon–3 p.m.

Bison under the Big Top

Come on down to the big top tent for some fun activities: face painting, balloon animals, temporary tattoos, and big game fun. Pick up your Nichols gear. A Sodexo concession stand will offer an assortment of lunches, snacks, and beverages. Noon–5 p.m.

Tailgating

Open flames and glass bottles are not permitted.

Register online to see who else has signed up to attend. Deadline is September 23, 2011. All payments are non-refundable after that date. If you have questions, contact Alumni Relations toll free at 866-622-4766 or alumnioffice@nichols.edu.

Please note: Due to increased enrollments, campus is at capacity with student parking. The only parking available on campus will be in Lot M for tailgating. Offsite parking is available and located at Shepherd Hill Regional High School and Universal Tag. Complimentary shuttles will be provided between these locations and campus.

Schedule of Events

Noon

Student-guided walking tour of campus (leaving from the Athletic Center)

1 p.m.

Football vs. Plymouth State University

Friday, September 30 4:30–5:30 p.m.

President’s Reception for Golden Bison

The Golden Bison, alumni who already have celebrated or will be celebrating their 50th Reunion this year, are invited to join the President for an afternoon reception. Pre-registration is required. 6–8 p.m.

Alumni Awards Ceremony & Hall of Fame Induction

All are invited to recognize alumni achievement on and off the playing field as well as all Golden Bison in attendance. Hors d’oeuvres and beer/wine will be provided before the event. Pre-registration is required. $15 per person 2011 Awardees: Alumni Achievement Award: Lloyd Roth ’56 Young Alumnus Achievement Award: Dave Balducci ’00 Ken Thompson Service Award: Ray Faucher ’56 Honorary Alumna Award: Patricia Hertzfeld Hall of Fame Inductees: John Cygielnik ’66 Robert N. Reynolds ’76 F. Patrick Clarke ’77 Kristine P. O’Coin ’03 Michael A. Carven ’06

10:30 a.m.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

Classes celebrating a reunion will be asked to join their classmates during our Reunion Halftime Show. 3:30–5 p.m.

The Bison Bash

Join us for a barbeque in the Chalmers Field House. Make a memory with our photo booth. All cars will be asked to leave the tailgating area at the conclusion of this reception. Pre-registration is required.

Hotel Information Homecoming attendees are encouraged to stay at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center. Be sure to mention Nichols College when you call to make a reservation for a special discount. For other hotels, contact Alumni Relations toll free at 866-622-4766. Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center 14 Mechanic Street Southbridge, MA 508-765-8000 www.southbridgehotel.com To book a reservation online, click on group reservation, and on the registration form, enter the attendee code: NICHOLSHC2011.

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ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

Catching up with Howard Raphaelson ’53 Howar d Raphaelson’s affinity to Nichols College goes back to 1939, when his father bought a small cottage on Kildeer Island in Webster. “Nichols was just different than other schools,” Raphaelson says. “Our professors had so much experience in their fields, and it really served as an advantage. The practical knowledge gained through them is what really made Nichols stick out to me,” he adds. One specific teacher he recalls was Professor Leo O’Neil, who not only taught production control, but invented the course, writing the book as he taught. Raphaelson took what he learned in the course and incorporated it into a major paper he wrote while attending Harvard Business School. In 1960, following Harvard, Raphaelson joined Rogers Corporation, where he spent 38 years in their finance department. Serving a multitude of different roles, he spent most of his time supervising accounting, analysis and data processing, and was involved in acquisitions and divestitures. During his time at Rogers, the company

experienced incredible growth. “Over time, sales went from $7 million to $200 million as we expanded into Arizona, New York City, Chicago, Mexico, Brazil, Belgium, and more,” he recalls. Despite retiring in 1998, he’s been quite active. “I started doing all the things I never had time for, and quickly found out I was really busy,” he says. Some of his many community involvements include holding public office in Mansfield, Conn., where he lives with his wife, Alice (they have three daughters, Janet, Karen and Sheri), and serving on numerous boards, including the Midstate Trail Committee of the AMC, Webster Lake Association, a Willimantic train museum, and the Historical Committee of the Last Green Valley Heritage Corridor, to name a few. Currently, he is working with the American Aging Association on a study that is determining the effects of eating wild blueberries and other high anti-oxidant foods. Though he is the only member of the group without, or not working on a doctorate, he serves as vice president. Raphaelson also donates his time to a bakery in Worcester, Mass. Sometimes he even takes leftovers from the bakery and distributes them to senior centers and other establishments on his way home. When asked how he manages such an incredibly busy schedule at his age, a smiling Raphaelson tells us, “Age is discretionary.” ~ Ron Powers ’08

Continued from page 14

underway. Plans were made to meet the recipient on Oct. 6 at a Publick House luncheon. All class members are welcome to attend. It looks like our scholarship fund will top $70,000 by year-end with $100,000 targeted as our next plateau.

An update from Charlie Howe… The Buzz (Bardsley) has returned from California and Acapulco. He says that his 40-yearold son got married last June and is now a father. According to Buzz, the baby will be called Charles of Narberth (PA). Here are two thoughts that he passed along to me about the advantages of living over 70: "Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off" and "All of your secrets are safe with

your friends, because they can't remember them either." Harvey Gluck sent me a list of some of his memories while on the Hill, too numerous to list. Here are a few: Howard Rubin had a dry cleaning service (now he is the Glove Doctor); Doug G. streaked across campus (fortunately or unfortunately he was seen by Miss Leslie, his typing teacher); Young Chung Lee had a perfect 4.0 for two years. (Let the truth be known, Harvey, aside from going to class and working in the dining room, I don't think that he ever left his room…study, study, study); and Larry Kimball had the second highest average for two years. There were 25 memories in all, so I had to edit a bit. If you would like me to share them, send me an email. I got a note from Howard

Rubin who says: "Some of us love to work. So time is limited. I’m currently working on a project for Marker and Rossignol Ski Companies. I have moved production from China to Miami.” He says the USA product is 100 percent better and is cheaper than China. I told him that he could be the poster child (so to speak) for companies who want to bring production back to America. Thank you, and if you need one of the Glove Doctor’s products, remember the man who is bringing jobs back to the USA. Sandy Tuttle writes from Florida that the winter was much nicer than last year. He forgot to tell us that his family celebrated the birth of their first great-grandchild last July. He will be headed north to Philadelphia for his mother’s

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97th birthday in May before heading back to Ohio for the summer. I heard from Bob Gould, who, with wife, Jean, recently bought a house in the Four Seasons at Mapleton, in Columbus, NJ, an over-55 community. They still are residents of the Sunshine State and split their time between the two. Jean has a new grandson and is pushing to get back to N.J. to babysit. Bob has been volunteering at the Southeastern Guide Dog Association in Palmetto, working with puppies 6-8 weeks old. "It's a blast. The organization is well run and provides guide dogs to folks who are not sighted and wounded military veterans,” he says. He also notes that he hates leaving them for the summer. For those of you who like two wheels under you, Bob spends a

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lot of time riding his BMW motorcycle. Elliot "Chick" Putnam writes that life is good at Hilton Head, SC, where he and Chris spend eight months before returning to Massachusetts for the summer. He had a complete hip re-

October- April 17468 Cornflower Ln. Punta Gorda, FL 33955 941-575-8150 From the Class Scribe… George Withington writes that he is looking forward to the

We’d like to hear from you! Please send your news directly to your class scribe. If you do not have a class scribe, news may be forwarded to classnotes@nichols.edu. Digital images are preferred, but please do not crop them! The higher the resolution the better – 300 dpi (dots per inch). placement in December and was planning a knee replacement in April (chased too many loose balls). From all of us, good luck, and have a fast recovery. The links await. He would enjoy any classmates who are in the area to give him a call, visit and even have a beer (or two). Kate and I visited with John Girvin at Nichols’ Naples reception in March. He reminded us of how positively perfect the weather has been this spring, but don't tell anybody. Most of the snowbirds will be going back north as the car carriers are arriving daily. He says that he will miss them and await their return, but in the meantime he won't have to wait for seats at restaurants. He also told me that Ken Beyer ’60 has returned safely from one of his many long trips, and will probably be going again this fall. John is a Philly boy who really likes Florida.

1960s Class Scribe: Charlie Howe May-September 212-22nd St. Surf City, NJ 08008-4926 charleskatehowe@gmail.com

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

Digital images may be sent directly to: classnotes@nichols.edu. Prints may be sent to: Nichols College Alumni Relations P.O. Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571

50th reunion, and that Nichols has come a long way since 1962. John Turro told me his T-Hall roommate, John Miles, passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with JT and the Miles family. On a happier note, JT is thrilled with the UConn basketball team. “Sure made a hard winter in Connecticut doable,” he says. Bart Henkle writes that he really enjoys the Class of ’62 section in the Nichols magazine. He lives just outside of Tucson, AZ, but plans to go east to buy a home on Tellico Lake near Knoxville, where he hopes to spend six months a year. Bart keeps busy volunteering with the sheriff's auxiliary (better not to speed in Green Valley, AZ), as a guide at the Titan Missile Museum, and as a high school referee for volleyball, basketball and football. He is looking forward to the 50th. Ken Ingraham, who studies American history and is interested in irony and fate, writes that he was looking through the Ledgers of 1959-1962, and was reminded of a trip to California with classmate, John Frantzis. On the way, they visited an old friend who was in summer school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. While walking one day, they could not believe

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their eyes. Coming down the street on a motorcycle was Lenny Lookner ’60, followed by some other motorcycle buddies. "I thought that it was a scene out of Brando’s cycle movies," he said. (Lenny had played football and lacrosse before transferring from Nichols.) A few days later, while visiting a friend from NC State who was working in Long Beach for the summer, Ken and John took in a bull fight in Tijuana and, arriving back across the border, stopped for gas in Huntington Beach. He heard a voice call out – it was Kenny Carlson ’60, a forester at Nichols, who had noticed the Nichols sticker on the car window. Small world. Kenny, who was the goalie on the 1960 lacrosse team, told them he was a Marine pilot stationed in San Diego. While flying jets, he began having nose bleeds at high altitudes, and was grateful that the Marines let him continue as a helicopter pilot. Rene Langevin, who is looking forward to our “ouch, it hurts” 50th reunion, says that it doesn’t seem that long ago when we were taping up for practice. “A lot of LAX players will remember my son, Matt, and daughter, Jenn, playing in the sand next to the lacrosse field during games. Well, Matt is 40, so I guess that I'm getting to be an old fart,” he says. Not so, Rene, you have just slowed down a bit. Kate and I saw Dick Makin and his wife, Pam, and Hugo Pagliccia at the Nichols reception in Naples, FL. Dick and Pam

took a trip north over the holidays and were treated to a lot of snow, while the rest us stayed in SW Florida and enjoyed a fantastic December. Pete Judd just returned from two months in Hope Town, Elbow Cay, and Abacos, where he and his wife have become active in the Hope Town Sailing Club and purchased a one-third interest in a Marshall 18 ft. catboat to occupy his time “when he is too old and feeble to sail his 41-footer.” Pete writes that he is waiting to undergo some minor surgery before going back to the frustrations of golf, and hopes to join Paul “PZ” Zimmerman in New Hampshire for a member/guest tournament in July. My roommate, Pete Whitney, writes that he is slowing down a bit to enjoy his family. His son, Ty, is a division president of a commercial insurance agency in Boca, while daughter, Elizabeth, also in commercial insurance and mother of a 3-month-old son, lives and works in West Palm Beach. Grandson, Tripp, has developed into a really good lacrosse player, he says, while granddaughter, Kallee, excels in just about everything she touches. Bev is retired. His heart surgery of two years ago has worked out fantastic and he has much more energy. William LaFond says that he enjoys all the class notes from the early ’60s. He was sorry to hear about Steve Cook. He agreed that he was one hell of a lacrosse player, and very good on the hockey rink. Bill "the

The home of John McClutchy ’72 (center) and his wife, Janet, provides the perfect setting for the Naples alumni reception on February 17.

ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

Nichols alumni gather at the Hartford Club on March 29, for a reception hosted by Tom Hall ’69 (far right).

Snooper" is looking forward to returning for our 50th. Kate and I are in South Jersey Shore, (not to be confused with the TV version of the Jersey Shore). We've had a nice winter and spring, which even produced a first for us: our orange tree provided 27 very sweet oranges and will likely produce more than double next year. We also continued to run the local Heart of Sailing Program, and both of us look forward to spending the summer/fall at the beach visiting children, grandchildren and friends. Kate remains active as president and trustee of our local church, while I remain active with the Surf City Fire/EMS. Remember Homecoming 2012. I'll keep you posted on the details. Also, thanks to all who contributed to the Nichols Fund and other fundraisers at the College. Have a great summer, Charlie.

Class Scribe: Bruce I. Haslun 16 Gilder Point Ct. Simpsonville, SC 29681 hashardt@att.net From the Class Scribe… On April 4, I received the sad news that John F. Miles ’60, passed away at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. While on campus, John was known for his defensive prowess on the football and lacrosse fields. However, he was revered for his knowledge of the art of management. It was, after all, Big

John who put PODCS, the very definition of management, to such excellent and practical use. It was, you will remember, he who Planned, Organized, Directed, Controlled and Staffed the biggest panty raid ever experienced by Becker Junior College, and the largest ever launched by

and his wife went dancing every Fri. and Sat. night for many years, but now he’s content to play Super Mario and trout fish. He was in accounting for a bank after Nichols and then into other accounting jobs. He is still working nights at Bradley International Airport for West Side Valet Park-

Class of ’63 mates, Bruce Haslun (left) and Jack Lubbers, on the occasion of Lubbers’ 70th birthday.

Nichols College. For his tour de force as a management exemplary, he won the admiration of an entire student body of young business and forestry scholars. He also won a six-month suspension from the Colonel. I last saw John three summers ago. He was still chuckling over the exploit. Ross Chambers says he is still working for, and enjoying his time with two non-profits, one advocating clean water and the other, I believe he said, a drug company. He was soon to head up to Las Vegas for a few days for one of the companies. It sounds as though life is good in Seattle. I got a call from Dana Jewett who still lives in the Holyoke area in a house built by one of his ancestors. At almost 71 years old, he says he’s in pretty good shape, although he did have a kidney transplant in 2007. He

ing. Dana says he hopes to get back for the 50th reunion. He’d like to see how the Nichols soccer team looks. On April 16, Carol and I mo-

tored down to Charleston, SC, to attend a wonderful birthday celebration for Jack Lubbers at the Harbor Club. He was feted by many old friends from many times and aspects of his life. We toasted his 70th year with many a glass. As you can see from the picture, neither Jack nor your correspondent has changed a bit since leaving Nichols. Well, actually I don’t recall our having gray hair at graduation. But otherwise, as natty two gentlemen as ever we were. I took it upon myself to give Jack a birthday present I hope y’all will approve of. It was an official NCAA basketball on which I had inscribed, “Happy 70th, Jack. May this be the only thing you ever have to dribble. Bruce Haslun and the Nichols Class of ’63.” John’s thank you note said to watch out for him on the court! When I called John Turro to pass along the news of John Miles’ death, he told me that Carol, Hugo Paglicia’s wife, had a heart bypass and is recovering well. John’s wife, Adele, was diagnosed with a lesion, which was declared benign. So, good news on both parts and our prayers are with you, ladies. We opened our swimming pool the second week of April but have to admit no one has been in yet. Spring is here with temperatures consistently in the 70s and 80s. Welcome mat is

www.nichols.edu/giveonline

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NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

always out, plenty of mint for the juleps. Please note my new email address. Please use my new email address. Y’all keep in touch, y’all hear?!

Class Scribe: Warren Bender 3604 Kingsley Dr. Myrtle Beach, SC 29588-7714 843-492-6727 wbender@sc.rr.com From the Class Scribe… Finally, warmer weather looks like it’s here for awhile. Not as bad as you Yankees had it this winter, but was still cold for the south. I spent a week in the Tampa area at my sister’s and then went over to the Titusville area where Bob Hood ’66 has a winter place, and then went down to a time share he landed in Key Largo for a week. There were lots of laughs and fantastic weather. Now I’m finally back to my seasonal part-time job at a campground, after going stir crazy this winter. I received a note from Peter Johnson ’67 with a newspaper article on Curt Stiles. Since October 2007, Curt has been the chairman of the board for the Adirondack Park Agency, in upstate New York, with his term ending in June of this year (I believe?) I actually wrote about Curt several years ago with a short bio on his years since leav-

ing the Hill. Another good Long Island guy and Nichols graduate that made a difference. [Editor’s note: If you would like a copy of the article featuring Curtis Stiles, please contact Alumni Relations at 866-622-4766 or alumnioffice@nichols.edu.] Peter was captain of the '66-'67 basketball team and played with some of the same fellows I played with, namely, Hank St. Cyr ’66, Bob Hood, Charlie Kaull ’65 and Jesse Rulli ’66. Wow, the memories come flooding back. Art Tozzi ’63 is getting ready to start a 6,000-mile motorcycle trip all across the country. So, keep your eyes and ears open, as you might see him at your front door looking for some "bed and breakfast." I'm also trying to locate Steve Smith '61 for him. He is supposed to be living here in Myrtle Beach? Hope ya'll have a great and safe summer. "And the Beat Goes On" Steven Thorn writes Alumni Relations to say he is still working as a safety director for CHSYuma in Yuma, CO. His wife, Letha, has a part-time administrative assistant job for a child wellness program. They may retire in Estes Park, CO, in a couple of years.

John Watson reports that he now has two new knees, after having his right one done last August, and his left done in January.

Michael Ash reports that retirement isn’t on his radar, and that he is having a ball teaching driving at the Hartford Job Core Academy. He adds that he goes to work to have fun.

Class Scribe: Robert Kuppenheimer 4627 Tremont Ln. Corona del Mar, CA 92625-3130 bob.kuppenheimer@nuveen.com

“Take a look at what Bella found!” writes Jim Jackson ’69 of his granddaughter’s head gear.

From the Class Scribe… Robert Keller writes that his daughter did a buy-out of his business along with a couple of other employees. “I’m committed to two more years but will finally be able to slow down then,” he says. “If you are ever in the N.Y./Long Island area please call, would love to get together with you.” A note from Glenn Hovell: “My life at Nichols was fantastic. I met my wife, Susan, at Endicott College, and we have been married for 41 years. I have two beautiful daughters and two beautiful grandchildren, both boys, ages 6 and 4. I have just retired (after 34 years) from the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP in Boston, where I was an integral part of their back office. I retired to take care of my wife.” Kendall Burrill writes to Alumni Relations: “Our youngest daughter graduated cum laude a year ago from Nichols. We enjoyed attending her field hockey games while she was there.” Jonathan Blake also writes to Alumni Relations: “Susan and I spent six weeks on Sundance in the Keys in June. My youngest daughter is getting married at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol, RI. Susan keeps the website trawlersrock.com.”

1980s Charles E. Patterson was promoted to senior vice president at the Worcester investment firm, Bartholomew & Company Inc. He joined the firm in 2002 and heads its Municipal Services Division.

Class Scribe: Michael Donehey 508-376-5469 (phone) 509 376-5043 (fax) mdonehey@live.com

Class Scribe: Rose (Cummings) Mamakos 3 Woodland Ave Kingston, MA 02364-1029 mamcraz@comcast.net From the Class Scribe… Steven Balkau lives in Norwich, CT, and for 20 years has been owner of Balkau Painting Co. He says he has two awesome kids, and his daughter, Nicole, was recently married. He enjoys life by fishing, going to concerts, and is active in his local church. Steve recently went on a missionary trip to Haiti. He helped restore the Baptist Camp at Deux Croix by helping put a metal roof on the two wings of the chapel, repairing walls that had been damaged, and building/restoring the latrines.

Class Scribe: John P. Donahue 10 Corsham Dr. Medford, NJ 08055-8434 609-257-8191 jdonahue5@csc.com

Class Scribe: Susan Zimonis 18930 Misty Lake Dr. Jupiter, FL 33458 561-707-8781 susanzimonis@bellsouth.net From the Class Scribe… Shaun Kenney returned to his previous job as master project scheduler at Oceaneering in Panama City, FL. According to Shaun, it was a great opportunity for him and he’s extremely happy to be back there! Congratulations Shaun!

Class Scribe: Diane (Bellerose) Golas 90 Lebanon St. Southbridge, MA 01550-1332 508-764-6077 spongedicat@aol.com

ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

From the Class Scribe… Marianna (Cardi) MacKenzie recently called to say hi and catch up. She is living in Palm Harbor, FL, with her husband, and 10year-old daughter, Olivia.

Joe LoPresti earned GAMA International’s 2011 Brian H. Early Frontline Excellence Award. The award recognizes managers who are role models for others and are seen as emerging leaders in their companies. Additionally, he was named 2010 Individual Distribution Sales Manager of the Year by MetLife, an award he also received from 2004-2008. He is currently an agency sales director for MetLife and Barnum Financial Group in Shelton, CT.

1990s

Class Scribe: Donna Small 4905 Bay Harvest Ct. Clemmons, NC 27012-8245 336-712-1053 (home) 336-692-5157 (cell) dsmall9242000@yahoo.com

Class Scribe: Danielle (Troiano) Sprague 20 Stagecoach Rd. Leominster, MA 01453 508-845-6604 thedwoman@yahoo.com

Class Scribe: Emily (Seiferman) Alves Millie.176@hotmail.com

2000s Class Scribe: Andrea Sacco andrea-sacco@comcast.net

Class Scribe: David Twiss 978-979-7658 (cell) david.twiss@comcast.net From the Class Scribe…

James Jolicoeur MBA was appointed superintendent of the Leominster public school district. He has taught evening courses at Quinsigamond Community College for the past 18 years, served as the business manager and the assistant superintendent of schools in the Sutton school district from 1998-2005 and has been the assistant superintendent in Marlborough for the past five and a half years. Jolicoeur was chairman of Auburn High School’s building committee, and said that he and his wife “might consider relocating if all goes well,” because their grandchildren live in New Hampshire.

To my fellow classmates, this year, we celebrate our 10th reunion. I hope to see all of you at homecoming. For those of you who haven't returned to the Hill, I think you'll be amazed by the improvements that the College has made. I also wanted to send my thoughts and prayers out to the Katori Family. Professor Katori was very instrumental during my first couple of years at Nichols, and I will always be grateful. He was a great professor, a great person, and exemplified what Nichols is all about. I’m also happy to announce that my family and I celebrated our daughter Lilliana's second birthday on April 19. James Perrella was named Connecticut Magazine’s Five Star Auto/Home Insurance Professional in its March 2011 issue. This elite group represents less

Catching up with Allison Safar ’05 Young alumna business owner Allison Safar ’05 encourages students to “find what your passion is.” “You’re going to be working long hours, so you might as well find something to do that you love,” she adds. For Safar, her passion is in the hair salon industry and has been for quite awhile. Her father moved from Marseilles, in southern France, to Boston, Mass., before the age of 20, and for the past three decades, has been heavily involved in and successfully operating two salons in Boston. Safar always envisioned herself following in her father’s footsteps and entering the family business, a journey that started when she was only 13. From then, she went on to attend hair school at night, and even going home every weekend to work as a hairdresser when she was attending Nichols. Today, she operates Safar Coiffure Miami, in Miami Beach, Fla. In addition, she runs her family’s Miami real estate company. She credits many of her classroom experiences at Nichols to helping her succeed in the real world, specifically recalling classes with Professors Ed Socha and Larry Downs. “Courses in subjects such as operations management, marketing, and HR, allowed me to develop my skills as a manager,” Safar says. She also credits classes such as Effective Speaking as being a great learning tool, developing skills that she uses to this day. Just recently she used those skills when she was featured in a television interview on the salon’s success. When asked what her classmates would be surprised to know about her now, she says, “They’d probably find it funny that for a girl that was into sports, studied hard, and had big curly hair, I now own a salon in South Beach!” Visit the salon’s website at: http://safarmiami.com/. ~ Ron Powers ’08

than 6 percent of auto/home insurance professionals in Connecticut. The evaluation process was based on categories such as overall satisfaction, professionalism, knowledge, and whether they would be highly recommended to a friend. Michael Farina is currently a financial analysis manager at CVS. Michael and his wife, Ruthanne, are expecting their second child in September. Steve Malcolm and his wife, Michelle, are expecting their

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second child, a girl. Their son, Jamie, is almost 3 years old. Steve was recently promoted to a field sales position and will be moving to Long Island. He will celebrate 10 years with Monster in June 2011. Aric Friend and his wife, Katie, welcomed a baby boy on Sept. 19, 2010. After six years with Fidelity, Aric has begun a new job with Citizens Bank as a financial consultant.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

ALUMNI / CLASS NOTES

Class Scribe: Erica Mello Emello84@hotmail.com Andrew MacKay has been appointed head football coach at Ashland High School. A 2002 Ashland High graduate, he has coached at the collegiate level since 2006, including at Norwich University, Assumption College, Mass. Maritime Academy, and most recently, Framingham State University.

Jackson, son of Dan and Stephanie (Jacques) Reindeau

Many happy returns: At his 80th birthday party on May 8, Coach Mike Vendetti takes turns posing with party-goers, Bill Carven ’94 (top left) and Marty Power ’78 (top right). Players from the glory dates of decades past are well represented (above) with, from left, Andy Higgins ’80, Mike Nelson ’80, Bill Fraser ’78, Tom LoRicco ’78, John Calcagni ’77, and Mike Villanova ’79. At left, Vendetti’s longtime assistants, Rene Langevin ’62 (left) and Ed Kunkel ’64, get some camera time.

Dan and Stephanie (Jacques) Riendeau had a baby boy on Dec. 4, 2010, named Jackson. They hope he attends Nichols someday. Dan, who is currently working on his Nichols MBA, is a product developer at Staples Inc., and will be traveling to China and other parts of the world. Stephanie is in the HR world as a generalist/recruiter and also helps students with their resumes and shows them how to network to get jobs out of college. She also meets with HR majors at Nichols to discuss trends in the industry. Angela Bennett is engaged to Gerrit Murphy. She currently works as a marketing and administrative assistant for Broad Reach Healthcare in North Chatham, MA. The wedding is planned for August 2011.

2010s Class Scribe: Katelyn Vella katelyn.vella@yahoo.com Kate O’Hara is at the Boston University School of Social Work pursuing a MSW degree.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

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NICHOLS REMEMBERS

Paul W. Finan ’40, of Old Lyme, Conn., died May 23, 2009. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. Finan retired as president of the Terryville Trust Co. He was also a communicant of The Church of the King, and a member of the Black Hall Country Club and the Lyme’s VFW. He was predeceased by his wife, Marcella. DeLoss Blackburn ’41, of Southport, Conn., and Vero Beach, Fla., died Jan. 19, 2011. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he went on to become an officer of People's Bank. Among his many community services, he served on the board of directors of the Wakeman Boys and Girls Club, Green Farms Academy, Burroughs Home, Bordman Beardsley Home, and the Fairfield Ethics Commission and Retirement Board. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Jacqueline; children, DeLoss Jr. and Jennifer; and two grandchildren. John A. "Jack" Watts IV ’43, of Wethersfield, Conn., died Jan. 20, 2011. A member of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and of Hartford CIVITAN, he was the founder and former chief executive officer of John Watts Associates Inc. in East Hartford. Survivors include his wife, Marion; children, John, Joseph, James, and Jeffery; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his sister, Phyllis. Charles G. Sander Jr. ’47, of Barrington, Ill, died Apr. 10, 2011. A World War II veteran, he spent his career working for Mars Inc. and William Wrigley Jr. Co. Survivors include his children, Charlotte, Debbie, and Sandra; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Edward M. Brennan ’49, of Woodbridge, and formerly Branford, Conn., died Apr., 11, 2011. A veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, he worked for Pratt & Whitney for 25 years. He was also a member of the Branford Land Trust. Survivors in-

clude children, Ann, Robert, Arlene, and Joan; and ten grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Claire. Francis P. "Fran" Fiola ’49, of Sturbridge, Mass., died Feb. 16, 2011. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War serving on the U.S.S. Fred T. Berry DD/DDE-858. For over 30 years, he was a salesman for Chauvin Paints and Sherwin Williams Paints. He was also a member of the Auburn-Webster Elks Club, and was very active in the Boy Scouts. Survivors include his son, Michael; and granddaughter. He was predeceased by his wife, Rosalie; and siblings, Joseph and Dorothy. Samuel D. Grandin ’52, of Meridan, Idaho, died Jan. 29, 2011. Following service in the U.S. Army Occupational Forces in Wiesbaden, Germany, he returned to Colorado where he worked as general manager of Buck Hill Ski area, published training articles in magazines, and operated ski shops in Colorado and Minnesota. He was also a multiple First Place People’s Choice winner at the Idaho State Fair, won numerous ribbons from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs, and has been recognized by the Photographic Society of America. He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth. He was predeceased by his brother, Douglas. Harry J. Pappas ’53, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., died Mar. 5, 2011. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Formerly a Nichols basketball coach, he also coached professional basketball in Germany and Greece, where he won the Greece National Championship. Pappas also was an athletic director and math teacher. Survivors include his children, Geoffrey and Gregory; and two grandsons. He was predeceased by brothers, Arthur, Achilles, Nicholas, George, Hercules, Ernest, and Constantine.

Anthony E. Infante ’54, of Oriente, Cuba, died Dec. 13, 2009. He was the retired president of Trade National Bank. Survivors include his wife, Rita; children, Anthony, Maria, Rita, and Antoinette; and six grandchildren. Stephen F. Jablonski ’56, of Webster, Mass., died Jan. 17, 2011. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he worked as a sales manager for both Ludlow Paper and Kanzaki Paper. He is survived by his brother, Robert. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen. Robert Baronowski ’57, of Wilton, Conn., died Dec. 18, 2010. He was a retired health inspector for Stratford and Trumbull. Survivors include two sons, Gregg, Jon and his wife, Michelle; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ermine; and a brother, Albert. John F. Miles ’60, of West Springfield, Mass., died Mar. 31, 2011. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force serving in the medical corps in Saudi Arabia, French Morocco, and Texas, he spent 34 years in the fine paper sales industry, most recently at RourkeEno Paper Co./IKON. He was also a member of the Ramapogue Historical Society and Mittineague Congregational Church. Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Gertrude; son, John; and sister, Katherine. Douglas S. Hall ’61, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Mar. 19, 2011. He is survived by his stepmother, Cecil. He was predeceased by his siblings, Priscilla and Richard. Armand J. Carrano, Jr. ’69, of Weddington, N.C., died Apr. 11, 2011. He was the senior managing director of The Finley Group of Charlotte. In addition, he was also part of the business management team for the championship NASCAR organization, Digard Racing, and charter member of The Club at Longview. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Dottie; son, Ara; two granddaughters; and sister, Valerie.

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John T. “Jack” Williams Jr. ’69, of Lake Worth, Fla., died Feb. 8, 2011. He dedicated his career to Alcoholics Anonymous, sponsoring many, and speaking at many meetings. He was also a counselor at the Shirley Frank Foundation of New Haven, Conn., and the Oakwood Center of Palm Beach. He is survived by his sister, Cheryl. Martin P. Flaherty ’73, of Arlington, Va., formerly of Dorchester, Mass., died Aug. 30, 2010. A veteran of the U.S. Army paratroopers, Flaherty was a retired strategic financial planner for the U.S. Department of Treasury for over 35 years. He is survived by a son, Christopher; two grandsons; and sisters, Mary T. Creavin and Barbara A. Lukeman. He was predeceased by brothers, Joseph P. and Patrick. Gary J. Gough ’79, of Hamden, Conn., died Feb. 25, 2011. He spent over 30 years in the pool and spa industry, and was a superintendant for the North Haven Fair Association. Survivors include his wife, Cathy; children, Nicholas, Zachary, and Kelly; two grandchildren; and siblings, Tina and Christopher. Mark F. Diefenderfer ’84, of Longmeadow, Mass., died Jan. 25, 2011. He was recently employed as a business entrepreneur and as a manager in the field of continuing education. He also served as an alumni associate of the Fischer Institute at Nichols College, which he was passionate about. In addition to his parents, Richard and Marilyn, survivors include his siblings, Gail and Glenn. Lewis V. Olson ’95, of Woodstock, Conn., died Apr. 7, 2011. Survivors include his parents, William and Norma; wife, Melanie; two children, Nathan and Emily; and four siblings, Carl, Robert, William, and Kori.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

Your Success Is Our Business

Brick by brick Student center fundraising builds

A crew lifts the steeple atop Alumni Hall before the remains of the building were razed to make way for the new student center. Fundraising support for the project continues to grow with new gifts from Tom Niles ’63, senior advisor of the Boston Residential Group LLC, and Charles Petrillo ’68, president of Petrillo Contracting Inc.

s the new Alumni Hall takes shape, so do efforts to secure the funding for this impressive addition to the Nichols College campus. Joining the generous alumni donors who have already contributed more than $4 million to the building project are Thomas Niles ’63 and Charles Petrillo ’68. Niles, a Nichols trustee, has committed $300,000 to the student center, a facility he feels will have a transformative effect on the College. “First impressions are lasting ones,” he maintains, “and this building will help market Nichols as well as serve as a central point for students.” Niles is especially excited about the potential of the finance lab/technology classroom that is planned for the main floor. “This is something you would expect to find at worldclass business schools.” While he hasn’t actually visited the Nichols campus since his son Paul’s graduation in 1992, Petrillo has kept up with the many physical changes and is happy to see Alumni Hall getting some attention. “I have a lot of memories of that building,” he says, “especially at Bazzie’s.” When he talks about his Nichols days, Petrillo echoes a sentiment familiar among alumni: “I enjoyed the friendships there and the all-around experience. The College was small and I got to know a lot of people.” He believes the new Alumni Hall, as a hub for student gatherings and activities, will only serve to heighten that feeling for new generations of students. He pledged $100,000 toward making that happen. Construction is underway for the student center, which is expected to open in the fall of 2012. The facility will offer the convenience of “one-stop shopping” for student services as well as serve as a venue for academic, social and cultural activities. To date, $4.6 million has been raised toward the projected cost of between $8-$10 million, thanks to the support of several donors, now including Tom Niles and Charlie Petrillo.

If you are interested in making a contribution toward the new student center, please contact Bill Pieczynski, vice president for advancement, at 866-622-4766 or william.pieczynski@nichols.edu.

NICHOLS COLLEGE M A G A Z I N E

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STAY CONNECTED Moments in Time Your alma mater and classmates want to keep in touch with you! Sign up for the alumni email newsletter Nichols & Sense by sending your email address to: alumnioffice@nichols.edu.

1956: Jazzie Bazzieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

1961: Forestry Club

Be a s l o h 6: N ic

1 98

1971: W atching the Game

alumnioffice@nichols.edu

P.O. Box 5000 Dudley, MA 01571-5000

NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID N READING MA PERMIT NO 121

Your Success Is Our Business

Two for Tee The golfing traditions for Nichols College alumni live on through two upcoming classics: 33rd Annual Alumni Association Golf Tournament Saturday, July 16, 2011 Dudley Hill Golf Club 1 p.m. Shotgun Start

4th Annual Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament Friday, September 16, 2011 Dudley Hill Golf Club Time TBD

For information call 866-622-4766.