The Gilded Age: Alumnus Recalls ‘Best Four Years’ of his Life
1980s
Joseph Ambrose ’80 of Amityville, N.Y., is a retired IT worker and currently spending time in a local FedEx ship center. At FedEx, Joseph is keeping the center’s computers up-to-date and learning how to safely pack and ship things for the community on the south shore of Long Island. During his time at Oswego, he was fortunate to be a paper grader for the late Professor Weslowski of the Computer Science Department. Mary “Monica” Bartoszek ‘80 of Ballston Lake, N.Y., had a long career in journalism, but has been working in the academic department of communication at the University of Albany since 2012.
John Fogerty’s song “Centerfield” might well have been describing “Rapid” Roger Hancock ’74 and his desire to play ball, except for Roger it was left field. After convincing then Laker Coach Walter J. “Doc” Nitardy to play him in his senior year, Roger took advantage of the opportunity to show his exceptional skill in bunting and stealing bases. He could ruin the focus of an opposing pitcher with his large leads off the base. By the end of the season, he led the team in on-base percentage, walks, stolen bases, runs scored and sacrifice bunts. Roger’s memory of his time on the Laker Baseball team is one of many he shared in an online account of his four years at SUNY Oswego, written while he was home during the pandemic. (Read his full account at magazine.oswego.edu.)
He also pays tribute to the many friends he met and experiences he had, including attending his first rock concert, deepening his love of R&B music, enduring Oswego winters, enjoying the variety of meal options in the dining halls, attending classes and discovering his passion for the brand new computer science major. “I was really taken with my C.S. classes, and (the college) announced that they were having the first CS degree program … I was all in!” said Roger, who went on to have a 45-year career as a software developer and engineer. He remains in contact with many of his Oswego pals and tries to come back to campus for the quinquennial Return to Oz, reunion of alumni of color. “Like many college graduates will agree … these were the BEST four years of my life,” he said. “I started to come ‘of age’ during those years and made lifelong friends.” Above (front row, far right): Roger Hancock ’74 with the Laker Men’s Baseball team; at left (second from left) at Return to Oz V in October 2018.
Learn more about Roger’s Oswego experience at magazine.oswego.edu.
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Joan Cear ’80 New York, N.Y., is the founder and principal of Grayfin Partner, LLC, a strategic communications consulting firm in New York City. She was previously senior vice president of communications at Kellen Company, a full-service public relations, public affairs, digital and integrated marketing agency, as well as a global leader in association management. James DiIorio ’80 of Sylvan Beach, N.Y., is a retired artist who worked at MadisonOneida BOCES in Verona, N.Y. To keep himself occupied, he has started doing artwork and sign making for Sylvan Synes, by Maynard Pynes. At Oswego, he was a part of the wrestling team for all four years. Lynn Kiyasu Hartwell ’80 of Mahopac, N.Y., is a senior manager in commercialization at PepsiCo in Purchase, N.Y. She enjoys mentoring new hires and building internal talent, while seeking the continued growth of PEP portfolio beverages. One of her current hobbies is repurposing and recycling in creative artistry. Stuart Allen ’81 of Salida, Colo., works at Lockheed Martin Corporation Foundation. Susan Baier ’81 is the director of finance at Omega Tool Measuring Machines in Fairport, N.Y. Previously, she served as vice president of finance at Lumetrics Inc. She earned a master’s degree in accounting from George Washington University. Charles Giacomo ’81 of Harrison, N.Y., retired as a firefighter from the Harrison Fire Department. Charles retired as a commander from the U.S. Navy Reserve, having served during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has accumulated 306 carrier landings on five different aircraft carriers, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, all with Combat designating “V” device.
