FALL 2019
A New Façade for St. Thomas Hall
Pre-Law Expands at Scranton
An Insider’s Guide to Retirement
A Shared Mission in the Hudson Valley
Celebrating Commencement 2019
Read about the graduates on page 11.
FALL 2019 • VOLUME 41, NUMBER 1
EDITOR
Laura Richards DESIGNERS
Vikki Lawhon Jason Thorne G’13
A Message
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
from the President
Tom Salitsky Peter Schmidt Stan M. Zygmunt ’84, G’95 ASSOCIATE WRITERS
Maura Sullivan Hill Joshua McAuliffe ASSISTANT CLASS NOTES EDITOR
Margery Gleason PHOTOGRAPHY
Terry Connors Tim Dougherty Chad Sebring ’93 PRESIDENT
Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. H’15
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, Parents & Friends, This fall, more than 1,000 students joined the Class of 2023. When I see the new faces, I can’t help but think of what the future holds for these students. Will they join the business club and be inspired to become an entrepreneur? Will they take a course in history that drives them to pursue a Ph.D.? Will they lead retreats or serve abroad? Will they meet their lifelong partner here? Whatever the case may be, we hope to inspire them, to energize them.
VICE PROVOST FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
St. Ignatius once said that the “energetic and industrious” make progress in
Gerald C. Zaboski ’87, G’95
virtue and “peace of soul.” A Scranton education, a Catholic and Jesuit education,
VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
Thomas MacKinnon DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
Lori J. Nidoh ’80, G’89 DIRECTOR OF PRINTING & MAILING SERVICES
Valarie J. Clark The Scranton Journal is published by The University of Scranton for its alumni and friends.
External Affairs & Enrollment Management Office The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510-4615 570.941.7900
encourages students to be contemplative in action, energetic and industrious. These are enduring characteristics that can last from the college years through retirement. Take, for example, Betsy Peck ’82 who began a consulting business after her “retirement” or James Murray ’90 who now lives and breathes the mission of the Secret Service, both of whom you can read about in the pages of this magazine. It is my hope that you continue the work it takes to be energized, whatever your passion or path. And I hope you are as inspired by your fellow alumni (and future alumni) as I am. Thank you for your support of the University and of each other. God bless you, and God bless The University of Scranton.
Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement
The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA 18510-4624 570.941.7660. Email: alumni@scranton.edu Website: scranton.edu/alumni If this issue is addressed to a graduate who no longer maintains a residence at your home, please tear off the mailing panel and mail it, with the corrected address, to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement. The University of Scranton is a Catholic, Jesuit educational institution serving men and women. © 2019 The University of Scranton
Sincerely, Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. President
contents 28
Features 25 Expanding Scranton’s Pre-Law Program New law school affiliations, a legal studies concentration,
a successful mock trial team, and more, mean better opportunities for Scranton students interested in the law.
28 Now What? How a Little Planning Goes
a Long Way Toward a Fulfilling Retirement Scranton professors and alumni offer their top tips for living your best
32 Alumni Bound by Mission
life in retirement. Plus, how to save for retirement.
in the Hudson Valley
Health care administrators and nurse alumni practice at a 10-hospital network in New York’s Hudson Valley, all with a shared mission that harks back to their Scranton days.
Online Journal There is more Scranton news than we can fit in this print edition! Look for icons throughout The Scranton Journal indicating that there is more related content, including photographs, videos or expanded articles, on our website. Visit scranton.edu/scrantonjournal to read the online version of the magazine, and visit scranton.edu/journalextras to access our web exclusives.
PHOTOS
STORY
VIDEO
HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS:
A Secret Service Q&A
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Hear more from James Murray ’90, newly-appointed director of the Secret Service, in this online extra.
Departments 4 On the Commons 14 Focus on Faculty
16
Get More Retirement Advice Betsy Peck ’82 thinks it’s OK to take a break after retirement. She explains why in this Q&A.
Alumni News
22 Athletics 34 Profiles 41 Class Notes Cover: Read about the update to St. Thomas Hall on page 6.
The Porches Projects Scranton’s Historic Hill Section was the site and subject of “The Porches Project,” a play created by Jennifer Rhoads and Hank Willenbrink, theatre program director. Read more and see more photos online.
On the Commons
The May announcement of the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities, which opened this fall.
Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities Opens In May, University President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., announced the establishment of the Gail and Francis Slattery Center for Humanities, which opened this fall in a grand Victorian home on the corner of Mulberry Street and Clay Avenue. The Center is named after the parents of benefactor and current University Trustee James M. Slattery ’86 and his wife, Betsy, of Peach Tree City, Georgia. “It struck Betsy and me that places like Scranton are special because they are Jesuit and as such, the humanities need to be lived and promoted and not merely viewed as a checkbox on a curriculum. Because in reality, as a working-class undergrad, my experience in these classes opened up ideas, worlds and possibilities to me that I had not before imagined,” said James Slattery.
GET SOCIAL Dr. Pavlick’s Reporting class attended Monday night’s Scranton City Council meeting to learn how to cover government meetings. Council member Pat Rogan acknowledged the group. University of Scranton, Department of Communication
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James Slattery, chief operating officer of North America for Melrose PLC, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting. He has been active with the University’s President’s Business Council (PBC) and served as chair of its annual award dinner in 2013. Betsy Slattery is an active community volunteer. Through the Center’s programs, elevated discourse on an array of topics and civic engagement will be encouraged by members of the University community, as well as by residents throughout the greater Scranton area. “The humanities ground our academic disciplines and pursuits of The University of Scranton while also asking us to engage on a global and historical level,” said Yamile Silva, Ph.D., chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, at the announcement. “Through the humanities, our students learn about the values of different cultures, about what goes into writing a play, about what history is made, about the pursuit of the truth.”
4/9/19
4/10/19 Happy #NationalSiblingsDay from some of our on campus (We have more than siblings. 70 sets this year!) RT if you’re a #universityofscranton sibling! #ScrantonFamily univofscranton
On the Commons
DBA Program is Recognized for Innovations and Best Practices The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) recognized the University’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program for “Innovations and Best Practices in Canada, Latin America and the United States.” Just 43 colleges from the two continents were included in the publication, which recognizes the “impactful ways” AACSB member schools are redefining business education. AACSB recognized Scranton for providing a non-traditional research DBA in accounting that “promotes diversity and practice relevance by providing a flexible path for experienced practitioners to gain the knowledge and credentials
required to succeed in tenure-track positions at AACSBaccredited institutions.” The University’s DBA program in accounting, launched in the fall of 2017, was developed specifically to provide experienced practitioners with a practical, flexible pathway to an academic career, while still providing for the development of the knowledge and skill set necessary to become a “scholarly academic,” that is one who is most qualified to serve in a tenure-track position at a school of business that possesses or is seeking formal accreditation by AACSB International.
Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence Executive Hub Opens The University officially opened the Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence Executive Hub on campus as part of an initiative led by the AllOne Foundation intended to significantly enhance the service delivery system for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families living in 13 counties in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania. “On behalf of The University of Scranton, I want to express our gratitude to AllOne Foundation for listening to our neighbors dealing with Autism — hearing their concerns and their frustrations — and for envisioning a sustainable, collaborative response to their needs,” said Scott R. Pilarz,S.J., University president, at the opening ceremony of the facility. This fall, the University began offering an 18-credit Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study for professionals working in psychology, education, child care, speech and language disorders, and counseling and human services. At the opening, University faculty discussed aspects of the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) in the center’s state-of-the-art assessment labs that will be taught as part of this post-graduate program, which will be housed in the University’s Department of Counseling and Human Services. Each lab is also equipped with recording devices to aide in education and training of the students and assessment purposes.
The Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence Executive Hub opens on campus.
4/14/19 Royals, thank you for making our Spring Street Sweep great! We hope that you had a blast! uofssg
4/25/19 Grateful to all of the students and staff who worked so hard to host Take Back the Night @univofscranton today. Together we believe. United we act! #tbtn2019 lscottrivera
4/30/19 It’s not every day that University of Scranton political science students get to write for The New York Times, but that’s exactly what they did on Monday. uofs_polisci
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On the Commons
Campus Update: St. Thomas Hall’s Façade The façade of St. Thomas Hall facing Linden Street will have a new, modern design, which incorporates locally quarried stone with a lit glass wall that spans the center of the four-story building and features the University seal. The new design keeps the iconic cross that rises above the left side of the building. Spanning the center of the façade is a glass wall etched with the University’s seal. The wall will be lit in evenings to highlight the image. Hemmler + Camayd designed the updated façade. A.J. Guzzi General Contractors, Inc., is the construction manager for the project, which began in July and is expected to be completed in six months.
A rendering of St. Thomas Hall’s new look.
New Dean Joins University New Law School 3-3 Programs The University has signed early admissions agreements with Boston College Law School and Penn State Law School that will allow Scranton students who meet program requirements to be eligible for admission after three years at Scranton. The new agreements took effect at the beginning of this academic year. Commonly referred to as a “3-3 program,” the agreements allow Scranton students to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University and a juris doctor degree from Boston College or Penn State in six, rather than seven, years. Read more about these agreements and the expanding Pre-Law Advisory Program at Scranton on page 25.
What sections do you like most? What would you like to see more (or less) of?
GET SOCIAL Seniors are jumping for joy, because there is only one week of classes left! #USGrad19 (Pictured: Thomas McGinley ’19) universityofscranton
THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
Watch your email for an invitation to take a short reader survey, which you should receive in September. If you don’t receive an invitation (or can’t wait to share your thoughts!) follow this link to access the survey: scranton.edu/2019JournalSurvey
5/3/19
5/4/19 Our last service event of the semester was a success! We planted vegetables for St. Francis Commons residents. Thanks @SVAMarywood and @LackawannaEDU Student Veterans for joining us in giving back to the local veteran community. #veteransforveterans UofS_SVC
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“Dr. Beldona has great respect for the tradition of excellence in the Kania School and brings an innovative vision for its future,” said Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., University president, in an announcement sent to the University community.
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Sam Beldona, Ph.D., began serving as dean of the Kania School of Management in July 2019. Previously, Dr. Beldona served as dean of the Barowsky School of Business at Dominican University of California. Dean Beldona has lectured, consulted, studied and taught Sam Beldona, Ph.D. in the Americas, Asia and Europe, and since 2003, he has served as a visiting professor of corporate strategy at Temple University Japan, in Tokyo.
5/8/19 Woke Wednesday: A look into the 11th annual Festival of Nations. Scranton.uco
On the Commons
Emmy Award-winning Alumna Visits Campus By Kelsey Wynn ’21, student correspondent
“The Jesuit education [at Scranton] gave me the power and strength to do the work I do.”
Nicole Young ’00, a 13-time Emmy Award-winner for her work as a producer on “60 Minutes,” spoke at the University’s Spring Community Breakfast. Young told the audience of Scranton area residents, faculty, staff and students that she wanted to become either a humanitarian or a journalist in order to have a platform to get the world talking about global issues.
At the breakfast, Young played a compilation of several of her shows from “60 Minutes,” including “Fighting Famine,” which focuses on a rare famine emergency in South Sudan. Young received a standing ovation at the end of her talk and said she was choked up about returning to Scranton after nearly 20 years.
Young said her experiences as a producer for “60 Minutes,” investigating starvation and poverty are overwhelming, yet strangely addicting.
“The Jesuit education [at Scranton] gave me the power and strength to do the work I do,” she said. Nicole Young ’00 visits campus for the Spring Community Breakfast.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania Gives Talk By Eric Eiden ’19, student correspondent
His Excellency Rolandas Kriščiūnas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States of America and to the United Mexican States, spoke at Scranton’s sixth annual Jay Nathan Lecture Series titled “Lithuania: Traditional and Modern Nation.” The lecture began with a short video on Lithuania, covering the history of the country and its geographical features. “Today we do believe and always believe that we love freedom and we love peace. Lithuania is not a threat to anyone and it will never be,” Ambassador Kriščiūnas said. “We would like to see our neighbors living in peace, cherishing freedom and building a future.”
His Excellency Rolandas Krišciunas See the video of this lecture, as well as other lectures and events on campus, on our YouTube channel.
The lecture featured a musical performance by soprano Kristina Malinauskaitė, a participant in the Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Opera Education Program and dell Arte Opera Ensemble; and a reading by poet Carol Lasata Gargan, Ph.D.
5/10/19 Yesterday, Dr. Caporale’s French theater students performed the play, “Théâtre sans Animaux” by Jean Michel Ribes. uofscranton_wlc_dep
5/13/19 Need a little pick-me-up going into finals? Breakfast makes everything better! Don’t miss CHEW’s annual Late Night Finals Breakfast served by faculty and staff! uofschew
5/26/19 ISP Belize began their experience with Hand-inHand Ministries today! So proud of both ISP groups leaving this weekend. Campus Ministries at The University of Scranton
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On the Commons
Jane Kopas Women’s Center Celebrates 25 Years On March 2, the University celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Jane Kopas Women’s Center at a luncheon held on campus. The Women’s Center at the University was established in 1994 to provide a campus forum for exploring women’s issues and to address concerns of gender equality and justice. In 2001, the Campus Women’s Center was renamed after theology and religious studies professor M. Jane Kopas, Ph.D., to recognize her numerous and diverse contributions to improving the status of women on campus and in the greater Scranton community. The Center continues to focus on advancing gender equity through education, awareness, and advocacy.
From left are, Anitra McShea, Ph.D., associate vice president for student life; Robert W. Davis Jr., Ed.D., vice president for student life; Maria R. Marinucci, director of the Cross Cultural Centers; Amy McKiernan ‘07, program speaker; Megan Barr ‘18, G’19, program speaker; Lauren S. Rivera, J.D., assistant vice president for student life and dean of students; Gerianne Barber, director of the Counselor Training Center and recipient of the Legacy Award; and Jean Wahl Harris, Ph. D., professor of political science and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, who served as the keynote speaker.
Magis Honors Program in STEM Approved After two years of pilot seminars, the University has begun a new Magis Honors Program in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), founded to help students with an interest in STEM research get started early in their college careers. The program consists of a series of seminar courses, ranging from a first-year Writing Science in Literature course to a history course on America’s environment, that students take throughout their four years. Through both individual and group projects, students will gain the intellectual and technical
skills to carry out original research and to communicate this research to others. “It’s so much fun,” said Janice Voltzow Ph.D., a biology professor and one of the founders of the program. “They are so excited about what they’re doing, and there’s an awful lot of sharing of that enthusiasm.” The program also has a community outreach component where the undergraduates volunteer with local students.
Student Attends IMA Student Leadership Experience Nhu Nguyen, a double-major in accounting and international business at Scranton, attended the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA’s) Student Leadership Experience in Orlando, Florida, in February. This highly selective program included only five students from the around the world. 6/9/19 Berlin Day 1: Berlin Wall, Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Jewish Museum. UofStheology
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THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
In addition to attending in the IMA’s Global Board of Directors Meeting, Nguyen participated in meetings for the Committee on Ethics and the Volunteer Leadership Committee. “I not only had an opportunity to learn more about the IMA, but I also got to experience how passionate and dedicated the members are to the accounting profession and student development,” said Nguyen.
6/13/19 #TBT to graduation weekend! (Congrats to your mom, ellythecorgi!) #USGRAD19 University of Scranton
Who else met their forever friends at Orientation? #Royals2023 University of Scranton
On the Commons
Students Organize Inaugural Social and Digital Media Conference The University hosted high school students and regional business professionals for the inaugural University of Scranton Social and Digital Media Conference (USSDMC) held in the DeNaples Center on April 30.
This innovative conference successfully brought together more than 110 students and industry professionals to learn from leading experts in the social media industry about the importance of social media and how it can best be used to bolster both personal and professional brands. The conference featured five specialized panels, including advocacy, nonprofit and ethics, social media marketing, sports and entertainment, empowerment lunch and a college student panel. The conference was organized by 15 students in the Events Management course offered through the Department of Communication.
Student organizers and others at the inaugural social media conference on campus in April.
Celebrating 50 Years Since Apollo 11 Fifty years ago, Glynn S. Lunney H’71 served as a NASA flight director for the historic Apollo 11 mission that placed the first man on the moon. Lunney, a native of Old Forge, completed his pre-engineering studies at the University in 1955 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Detroit in 1958. “It amazes me to know that 50 years ago, a Scranton alumnus played a pivotal role in placing a man on the moon,” said Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., University president. “We are very proud of contributions our alumni have made, and will continue to make in the future, for mankind and for the greater glory of God.” During his distinguished career, Lunney served as a flight director for Apollo 5, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14, and as lead flight director for Apollo 1, 4, 7 and 10.
Glynn S. Lunney H’71 is pictured with Apollo 11 flight directors in the Mission Control Center, seated from left, Clifford E. Charlesworth and Gerald D. Griffin; standing, Eugene F. Kranz and Milton L. Windler; and Lunney, far right.
The University bestowed an honorary degree upon Lunney in 1971. 6/26/19 Last night wrapped up the #WomensEntrepreneurshipCenter four week #StartUp program. The women who completed the course learned all about topics such as financial planning, budgeting, and marketing.
Get Social with Scranton Check us out on your favorite social media platforms.
womensentrepreneurshipscranton
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On the Commons
A Cappella Group Celebrates Anniversary
SMART Program Grows
Men and Women for Octaves, an a cappella club on campus, celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year. As part of the festivities, alumni joined the current members of the club for a weekend reunion in May.
Twelve University of Scranton students mentored 34 high school students from Scranton High and West Scranton High School as part of The Meg Cullen-Brown SMART Program.
“Students tell me that one of the things they like best about belonging to an a cappella group is that it’s like being a member of a second family, made up of students from lots of different majors, different age groups and different ethnic backgrounds, all drawn together for the purpose of making music,” said club moderator and professor Michael Friedman, Ph.D. In addition to some jam sessions, current and former members of the group took to the stage over the weekend to perform a rendition of “Come on Eileen,” arranged by Jimmy Francis ’16.
“The program helps high school students connect with a college student to learn about various topics including: social media (use and abuse), bullying, communication, healthy relationships, role models and personal potential,” said Pat Vaccaro, director of Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice. One goal of the program is to help mentees establish strong relationships with college student mentors. Studies have shown that students have a better chance at academic success when making a connection with a mentor. “What I enjoyed most about the SMART program was the opportunity for vulnerability which led to authenticity and happiness of all who participated in the program,” said student mentor Mariano Angeloni ’22.
Men and Women for Octaves celebrate its 10-year anniversary in May. (Photo credit: Michele Richard)
The program was named to honor Meg Cullen-Brown, director of the Office of the Registrar and Academic Services at Scranton, who died unexpectedly in May 2016. The program was made possible by donations from her family and The Margaret Briggs Foundation.
Commencement Speaker Receives Multiple Honors This spring, Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ’93, G’93, H’19, the director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame, was awarded both the Arrupe Award and an honorary degree from Scranton. She was also the undergraduate Commencement speaker and was named to the University’s Board of Trustees.
University President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., who presented Dr. Cummings with the University’s Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministry Award at a ceremony in April.
In her address to the graduates at Commencement, Dr. Cummings said, “My prayer Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ’93, G’93, H’19 is that you, as Scranton graduates, will always delivers the undergraduate commencement speech. seek to do more. My prediction is that your Three days after the public release of the Pennsylvania most profound encounters with the human and the divine grand jury report detailing sexual abuse by Catholic priests in await you in the places that feel the least familiar. My promise is the Commonwealth, The New York Times published an opinion that our church, our nation, our world and our planet are going column about the findings by Dr. Cummings. to need every ounce of your passion, your talents, your creativity in the years to come. My plea is for you to take what you The “masterful opinion article captured so well what I and learned while studying in these mountains, and go forth deterso many other Catholics were feeling in that moment,” said mined to move metaphorical ones. The best is yet to come.” 10
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On the Commons Commencement 2019 Fast Facts Honorary Degree Recipients: David and Ann Hawk of Gertrude Hawk Chocolates and the Hawk Family Foundation; Rev. Matthew Ruhl, S.J., pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Belize; Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ’93, G’93, director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame and Rev. Brendan Lally, S.J. ’70, rector of the Jesuit Community and chaplain at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Welcome, New Members of the Board of Trustees The following members of the Board of Trustees began their tenure at the start of the academic year. Kathleen Sprows Cummings, Ph.D. ’93, G’93, H’19
• William W. and Anna Jean Cushwa Director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame • Associate professor of American studies and history at Notre Dame, and an affiliated faculty member in gender studies, Italian studies and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies • Previous recipient of the Frank J. O’Hara Alumni Award by the University
Ryan J. Maher, S.J.
• President of Scranton Prep • Previously the executive director of the Jesuit Center, a resource center he founded to help University faculty and staff understand and engage more fully in the University’s Catholic and Jesuit mission • Spent 11 years as an associate dean and professor at Georgetown University, including two years at Georgetown’s branch campus of its School of Foreign Service in the Persian Gulf Read more about these news items and get the most recent news at news.scranton.edu.
Graduate Numbers: Included more than 1,480 graduates with 41 doctoral degrees, more than 585 master’s degrees, more than 850 bachelor’s degrees and one associate degree. Fulbright Scholarship: Thomas Gerald McGinley ‘19 won a competitive Fulbright-Lappeeranta University of Technology Graduate Award to Finland.
John Mariotti, D.D.S. ’75, P’10
• Orthodontist, Quinn Mariotti & Abod • Past president, former chair of the Scranton District Dental Society and past president and board member of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists • During the past few years, he has been chosen to be a fellow of the International College of Dentists and to the Pierre Fauchard Academy
Steve Sandherr, Esq. ’80
• CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the nation’s largest commercial construction trade association. • Has also served as Labor and Small Business Counsel for the National Association of Home Builders and practiced law with the firm of Thompson, Mann and Hutson • An honorary trustee of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. and was elected to the National Academy of Construction
Rachele Mackin Browning ‘84
• Managing director in SEI’s Institutional Group, responsible for new business development in the U.S. for Endowments & Foundations, Healthcare and Corporate markets • Active in her community and currently serving on the board of Mindfulness through Movement, a Philadelphia organization committed to nurturing the wellness of children in underserved areas • Recently awarded the Frank J. O’Hara Alumni Award by the University
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On the Commons
ONE-ON-ONE
with Paul Fahey, Ph.D. ’64
Paul Fahey, Ph.D. ‘64, who has taught at the University for more than 50 years, is retiring. He was also dean of CAS for a time and chair of the department for seven years. If you pry, he might tell you that he was the editor of the literary magazine when he was a student. Mostly, though, he talks — modestly — about his career in teaching and research, which had implications for hearing tests and speech recognition that we rely on in today’s digital world.
What was it like to be a physics major in the early ’60s at Scranton? College opened up a whole world of academics and new friendships for me. For the first time, I was in an environment where really serious academics was the first priority. I was also super lucky to have the faculty members I did, among whom were Fr. J.J. Quinn for rhetoric, Fr. Ed Powers for mathematics, Fr. Eugene Gallagher for theology, Bernie McGurl for speech. In advanced work, I had some the ‘greats’: Joseph Harper, Eugene McGinnis and Andrew Plonsky for physics; Edward Bartley and Bernie Johns for math; Matt Fairbanks and Tom Garrett for philosophy. The best part of my undergraduate years, though, is that I met a Marywood student, Rosemarie Corallo. We married in September 1965. 12
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Professor of Physics & Engineering
You got your doctorate at the University of Virginia on a NASA fellowship. How did you get back to Scranton? In the spring of 1968, I got a call from Gene McGinnis asking if I was finishing up my doctorate and, if so, would I like a job at Scranton. I said “yes and yes.” How did you like teaching? My first year of teaching was the most difficult and stressful year of my professional life. My struggle, in the beginning, was with advanced physics courses. My first course was statistical physics at the graduate level. (Yes, we had a master’s degree in physics back in 1968.) I spent hours preparing for that course and was never happy with the results. Lucky for me, the students were so talented that they learned in spite of me. After the first year, I started to figure it out. How did you get to researching at AT&T Bell Laboratories (now Nokia Bell Labs), often called the “idea factory,” which had been “tasked with overcoming the dayto-day engineering challenges of building a national communications network” at the time? When I returned from a sabbatical at Cornell in 1976, the chair of the Department of Communications asked me to create a natural science course for his majors. The course had
What lies ahead in retirement? The University of Scranton has been my community for about 55 of my 77 years. I think that we have something special at the University, and I plan to continue my membership part time. I will also stay connected with the worlds of physics and biophysics. Those worlds give me so much pleasure. I will have more discretionary time now; so, we have more flexibility to do other things, especially travel and family activities.
On the Commons
materials on how neurons work, how the eye works, how the ear works and how speech is encoded on an air stream by the vocal tract. For the vocal tract, I used a book written by the head of the Acoustics Research Department at AT&T Bell Laboratories, James Flanagan. I asked Flanagan if he could give me a home so that I could learn more. He agreed, and I got a National Science Foundation fellowship and joined Bell Labs in 1982.
How has your research affected the wider world? At Bell Labs, I worked with Jont Allen (University of Illinois) on the biophysics of hearing (from the middle ear to the inner ear). Our strong collaboration continued for about 30 years. The practical aspect of this work is that there is instrumentation now for measuring infant hearing. You can insert a small probe into the ear canal and you can see if the middle ear is obstructed and, if it’s not, find out if the inner ear is a healthy nonlinear organ; nonlinear signals are generated by the inner ear. If the inner ear is linear, it is not working properly, and the child is going to need treatment. If it is nonlinear, the inner ear is mechanically good.
What will you miss the most? In transitioning to part-time teaching, I will be teaching fewer students. So, over time, when I walk the Commons or the halls, I will know fewer students by name and fewer will be giving me the extra-friendly hello. Seeing friendly faces in the morning has always given me a boost.
There are several companies that make hearing test devices, including one started by my colleague Jont Allen and his wife. I did a fair amount of work on understanding what the physics has to be. You get these signals out, and then you have to work backward and say, “What kind of physics produces this?” Trying to understand that is what I did and do.
Why was Bell Labs interested in this? At this time, they were trying to make speech recognizers, because if you can make a speech recognizer then you can send the information needed to re-create that speech with fewer symbols over the telephone line. Then you can fit more calls on the same telephone line. So, the idea was to recognize speech by starting the process with an electronic model of the inner ear. In fact, these models are actually used today if you post something on YouTube. Say you post a video and you have a song playing in the background; it’s going to be detected, and you’re going to have to pay royalties for the use. All this started with speech recognizers. With improvements in pattern recognition due to increased computing power, the recognizers are really good. Just ask Alexa or Siri.
Paul Fahey in 1964
“The University of Scranton has been my community for about 55 of my 77 years. I think that we have something special at the University ...”
— Paul Fahey, Ph.D.
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Focus on Faculty Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment with New Book By Professor Susan Poulson This article originally appeared in the spring 2019 issue of the Department of Latin American and Women’s Studies newsletter. Dr. Poulson’s book, titled Suffrage: The Epic Struggle for Women’s Right to Vote, was published by Praeger in August. Poulson is a professor of history.
The centennial celebration of the passage of the 19th Amendment is nearly upon us, and I am in the final stretch of writing a history of women’s suffrage. The fight for women’s suffrage was a long and colorful struggle, beginning with a small number of women and men who put forth the radical idea of treating women as political equals at the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. After the Civil War, an informal alliance between abolitionists and women’s rights reformers broke over the 14th Amendment, which inserted the word “male” into the U.S. Constitution for the first time. Several Western states permitted women to vote — Wyoming was the first in 1869 — but national suffrage did not come until women formed a mass movement, with growing militancy, that put increasing pressure on a reluctant political establishment. After Tennessee became the final state to ratify in a dramatic vote at the state’s capital, 20 million American women were able to go to the polls in the fall of 1920. This book has been several years in the making, with visits to more than a dozen archives across the nation to highlight several of the intriguing citizens who favored and opposed the suffrage movement. The struggle mirrors the changing views and norms for American women from the midnineteenth to the early twentiethcentury and provides background for the continuing evolution in gender roles today.
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Oscar Romero is a ‘Light for our Time’ Will Cohen, Ph.D., associate professor of theology/religious studies, recently presented his research on St. Oscar Romero at the Faculty Research Seminar Series. His talk was titled “Political Wokeness and Christian Witness in the Life and Legacy of St. Oscar Romero.” Cohen published an article in Theological Studies a couple years ago and plans to write an article on his new research. The Scranton Journal asked him a few questions about his work. You can find an extended version online.
What does being politically woke have to do with St. Oscar Romero? THE SCRANTON JOURNAL:
Because Romero as archbishop of San Salvador in the late 1970s spoke out strongly against economic injustice and repressive government policies, and because, prior to becoming archbishop, he had not been so outspoken, biographers have often suggested Romero underwent a “conversion” — from a more personal, devotional understanding of Christianity to a more social understanding. WILL COHEN:
The conversion narrative in Romero’s case has seemed to me to resonate with the idea of becoming “woke” in the sense we often hear it used today. In fact, the motif of waking up is itself actually pervasive throughout the Christian spiritual tradition. For example, in the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, sung liturgically every Lent in my own Eastern Orthodox tradition, a recurring refrain is “O my soul, why are you sleeping?” The emphasis is on an interior awakening to one’s own propensity to sin and the reality of God’s judgment. With Romero, becoming more woke also entailed exposing cultural lies, e.g. the lie spread by the Salvadoran government that the only enemy of Christianity was Marxist ideology. He believed that the oligarchs themselves, though purporting to be the guardians of Catholic culture and tradition, were actually warping the Christian message by their unwillingness to give up worldly advantages to bring about a more just society. TSJ: Why is this all so relevant now? WC: We live in a time characterized by distrust — especially of the narratives peddled by our political opponents. It is good to be suspicious of party lines, but we tend not to distrust our own party’s lines, only the other’s. Romero’s commitment to the Gospel above all else enabled him to be “woke” to whatever was not in alignment with it; this commitment gave him a remarkable freedom to engage political issues with wisdom and clarity and not allow the faith to be co-opted by politics. In this sense, he is a light for our time.
2019 Teacher of the Year
Focus on Faculty
Faculty Notes
Provocative Proposal by Professor Published
Duane Armitage, Ph.D. ’05, assistant professor of philosophy, was named Teacher of the Year by Scranton’s Class of 2019. Dr. Armitage’s research interests include continental philosophy, existentialism and philosophy of religion.
Alpha Sigma Nu Teacher of the Year Julie A. Nastasi, Sc.D., O.T.D., assistant professor of occupational therapy, was named the 2019 Alpha Sigma Nu Teacher of the Year. Dr. Nastasi, who specializes in low-vision rehabilitation, serves as director of low-vision therapy for the University’s Edward R. Leahy Jr. Center Clinic for the Uninsured.
KSOM Professor of the Year Vincent Rocco, a faculty specialist in operations and information management and manager of the Alperin Finance Center, was honored with the Kania School of Management (KSOM) “Professor of the Year” award by the University’s Business Club.
Professor Wins National Leadership Award Ashley L. Stampone, a faculty specialist in the Accounting Department, received the 2019 Faculty Leadership Award from the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). She serves as the moderator of the University’s IMA student chapter.
New Faculty Member Awarded NEH Grant Ana Ugarte, Ph.D., assistant professor of world languages and cultures, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant for her humanities project, among just 233 humanities projects from across the country to be awarded. The NEH Humanities Connections Planning Grant will help support “academic programs that integrate multiple disciplines.”
A provocative proposal by biochemistry professor Timothy Foley, Ph.D., based on an extensive review of existing research and results from his own lab, questions a broadly accepted theory that neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are caused by “oxidative stress” and, more specifically, by “free radical”-induced brain damage. In an article published in Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, in which he references 158 research studies, Dr. Foley puts forth a new hypothesis. Specifically, he postulates that over-activation of pathways likely designed to protect against oxidative stress may generate an overlooked “reductive stress” — the opposite of oxidative stress — especially in the extracellular spaces of synapses that mediate communication between neurons. Dr. Foley proposes that the increased reduction, or addition of electrons, to regulatory sulfur-containing groups on synaptic membrane proteins, can promote aberrant changes in synaptic activity. He has termed this view the “reductive reprogramming” hypothesis of neurodegeneration. “The reductive reprogramming hypothesis I put forth theorizes that irregular increases in compensatory antioxidant activities in neural tissues may, in principle, promote the aberrant reduction of oxidized protein sulfur on the cell surface of neurons,” said Dr. Foley. The paper, titled “Reductive Reprogramming: A Not-So-Radical Hypothesis of Neurodegeneration Linking Redox Perturbations to Neuroinflammation and Excitotoxicity,” was published online March 23 by Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology.
For more faculty news, including who was awarded Provost Faculty Enhancement Awards, visit scranton.edu/journalextras.
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Alumni News In Case You Missed it… Enjoy these photos from a few of our signature spring semester events.
Toast2Scranton In February, alumni and students gathered in the Byron Center to network and bond over their shared love of Scranton.
Shamrockin’ Eve In March, more than 1,000 recent graduates returned to campus for the 11th Annual Shamrockin’ Eve to celebrate one of Scranton’s favorite traditions with the Class of 2019 on the eve of the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The MAC Symposium Also in March, the Medical Alumni Council held the 2019 Medical Alumni Symposium, which featured presentations from Thomas Loughney, M.D. ’85, Maria Gubbiotti, M.D., Ph.D. ’11, Erin Tracy, M.D. ’88 and Geno Merli, M.D. ’71, as well as a panel discussion with April Troy, M.D. ’02, Jed Gonzalo, M.D. ’02, Clark Veet, M.D. ’10, Kelly McGuire, D.O. ’05 and Ralph Riviello, M.D. ’90.
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Alumni News
Alumni Day of Service In April, more than 300 alumni and friends of the University celebrated the annual Alumni Day of Service by performing service projects in Collegeville, the Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, West Chester, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.
5.06 In May, the University held 5.06, its fifth annual Day of Giving, which raised more than $450,000 for University scholarships and programs through a variety of events and challenges, including the 5.06K at the Quinn Athletics Campus, the Virtual 5.06K and the Athletics Team Challenge.
The Edward R. Leahy Jr. Center for the Uninsured Physical Therapy Clinic Fundraiser Also in May, Lexi McGivern ’17, DPT ’20, Colin Homola ’16, DPT ’20, Rebecca Oliveira, DPT ’20 and Matthew Aitken ’17, DPT ’20 helped raise more than $15,000 for The Edward R. Leahy Jr. Center Clinic for the Uninsured Physical Therapy Clinic by organizing an event that gathered more than 300 alumni, faculty members and friends of the University’s physical therapy program together in support of the clinic and its mission to provide free physical therapy to uninsured and underinsured members of the local community. FA L L 2019
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Alumni News
Members of the Class of 2014 gather for a photo during Reunion Weekend.
Together Again, Where it All Began
Alumnae enjoy the All-Class Family Picnic on the Dionne Green.
Royals with class years ending in “4” and “9” returned to campus June 7-9 for Reunion Weekend 2019, the annual chance for alumni celebrating their milestone years to gather “together again, where it all began.”
Members of the Class of 1969 gather for a photo after receiving their 50-Year Reunion medals during Reunion Weekend. To see more photos from the event, visit scranton.edu/alumniphotos or follow us on Instagram @ScrantonAlumni.
Save the Date for
Reunion Weekend 2020
All alumni are invited to return to campus June 12-14 for Reunion Weekend 2020, when Scranton grads with class years ending in “5” and “0” will celebrate their milestone years.
If you would like to join your class committee, please email alumni@scranton.edu for additional information. Registration will open in March 2020.
Visit scranton.edu/reunion for updates and information on Reunion 2020.
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Alumni News Tracy Farrell Bannon ’84, P’10, ’12, ’13, ’15 Waverly • Grants Specialist, St. Joseph’s Center
Honoring Excellence: Ambassador James D. Walsh ’69, H ’01 Sarasota, Florida • International Business Development Consultant (Honored in absentia)
THE 2019 FRANK J. O’HARA DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS
Rachele Mackin Browning ’84 Villanova • Managing Director, SEI
Each year during Reunion Weekend, The Alumni Society and the University present the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest recognition they jointly bestow, to select alumni who have achieved distinction in their professional or personal endeavors. Jason J. Sico, M.D. ’99 Guilford, Connecticut • Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine
On June 7, 2019, eight alumni were honored with the award, which is
Jacquelyn Rasieleski Dionne ’89 Westport, Connecticut • Registered Nurse
named in memory of Frank J. O’Hara, an administrator who served the University for more than 53 years.
Daniel P. O’Toole, Esq. ’89 Oradell, New Jersey • Partner, Block O’Toole & Murphy
Meigan B. Kelly ’94 Downingtown • CEO and Founder, Growing Catholics Thomas J. McGonigle, Esq. ’79 Fairfax, Virginia • Co-Founder, Executive Committee Member and Shareholder, Murphy & McGonigle (Honored in absentia) FA L L 2019
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Alumni News
University Establishes Arrupe Service and Social Justice Endowment for Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice grams such as FIRST (First-years Involved in Reflective Service Together) and SPARK, a weeklong summer camp program for at-risk community students. This endowment will ensure affordable service opportunities rooted in the Jesuit tradition will forever be available to Scranton students.
The University established The Arrupe Service and Social Justice Endowment, a permanent fund spearheaded by Mike ’99 and Susanna Puntel Short ’01, to support the Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ). While alumni, parents and friends of the University raised more than $100,000 for the fund during 5.06 Weekend, the ultimate goal is to raise more than $500,000. The fund will support the CSSJ by helping to defray the cost of domestic service trips and pro-
If you would like to support this endowment, please contact Pat Vaccaro, director of the CSSJ, at patricia.vaccaro@ scranton.edu.
Parents’ Executive Council Announces New Chairs The Parents’ Executive Council (PEC) recently named J.P. and Davida Sweeney P’08, P’13, P’20 as its chairs for this academic year. The PEC is a leadership group comprised of dedicated parents committed to advancing the mission of the University. PEC members stay informed on the state of the University by attending meetings with University leadership once per semester; they also act as some of the University’s best ambassadors, collaborating
with University leaders to identify networking and employment opportunities for current students. Contributing at an annual leadership level, PEC members invest in areas that are most meaningful to them. For more information on the PEC, contact PEC Director Lynn King Andres ’89, P’17 at lynn.andres@ scranton.edu.
The Legacy Members of the Class of 2019, Then and Now
Way back in 2015, a group of starry-eyed legacy students and their families gathered at the outset of their collegiate years ready to embrace all the University had to offer. Four 20
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years later, that same group gathered on the eve of undergraduate commencement fully prepared to “go forth and set the world on fire.”
The University honored Philadelphia-area basketball legend Speedy Morris with the 2019 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at its annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner at the Philadelphia Cricket Club on June 24. More than 200 guests attended the festivities, which raised more than $100,000 for Scranton Athletics. Quandel Construction Group served as the event’s title sponsor. During his 50-plus years in Catholic athletics, Morris, the winningest coach in Philadelphia Catholic League history, won over 1,000 games as a coach at the collegiate and high school levels. Morris began his career in 1960 by leading the CYO team at St. John the Baptist Church in Manayunk. Seven years later, he took over the boys’ varsity team at Roman Catholic High School, where he won a staggering 347 games in 14 seasons. After moving on to Penn Charter in 1982 and winning 41 more
From left, University director of Athletics Dave Martin presents Philadelphia-area basketball legend William “Speedy” Morris with the 2019 Peter A. Carlesimo Award while P.J. Carlesimo, son of Peter A. Carlesimo, looks on at the Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner.
games, Morris was asked to coach the women’s program at La Salle University in 1984.
Alumni News
Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner Honors Speedy Morris
After coaching the Explorers women’s team for two seasons and posting a 43-17 record, Morris took over the men’s program in 1986 and became the first Division I coach to lead both a men’s and women’s program at the same school. As the men’s coach, Morris led La Salle to 238 victories, four NCAA Tournament appearances, four NIT bids, and four conference championships in 15 seasons. His best campaign came in the 1989-90 season, when Morris led the Explorers to a 30-2 record and a 12th-place finish nationally in both major polls with a team that featured star players Lionel Simmons and Doug Overton. In 2001, Morris returned to the high school level, where he has coached the boys’ team at St. Joseph’s Prep to more than 300 victories over the past 18 seasons. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame in 2010 and received the Morgan Wootten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball from the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Since 2011, the Peter A. Carlesimo Award, named for the late University of Scranton head coach and director of Athletics, has been presented to someone who has made special contributions to athletics and Catholic education. The Golf Tournament & Award Dinner serves as a fundraising event that supports and enhances the student-athlete experience at Scranton. For more information on supporting student-athletes, visit scranton.edu/athleticsfund.
President’s Business Council 2019 HONOREES
JoAnne M. Kuehner H’01 Founder, Hope for Haiti
October 10, 2019
•
&
Carl J. Kuehner ’62, H’11 President, Real Estate Technology Corp.
The Pierre Hotel, New York City
PRESIDENT’S BUSINESS COUNCIL 18TH ANNUAL AWARD DINNER • scranton.edu/pbcdinner FA L L 2019
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Athletics Lady Royals Make It to NCAA Final Four The women’s basketball team enjoyed a historic season, posting a 29-3 record, winning its fourth straight Landmark Conference championship and advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Royals went 23-2 during the regular season and won their fourth straight Landmark Conference title with a triumph over Elizabethtown. Scranton used a late rally to edge Christopher Newport in the Sweet 16 round. The following night in the Long Center, the Lady Royals upset No. 4 Tufts in
the Elite 8 round, punching their ticket to the Final Four, where their season ended with a 69-56 defeat to top-ranked Thomas More, who would go on to win the national championship. The record-breaking season brought numerous individual accolades to Scranton, highlighted by junior Makenzie Mason, who was named the Jesuit National Player of the Year. Senior Bridgette Mann was a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American pick for the second year in a row.
Women’s Golf Places Sixth at Conference Championships
Swimming and Diving Teams Finish Third at Conference Championships
Enjoying its best season in its three-year history, women’s golf posted a 13-2 record in dual matches before finishing sixth at the Landmark Conference Championships in April. Freshman Emma Nemitz earned Second Team All-Landmark Conference honors after leading the Royals by tying for 12th at the Landmark Conference championships.
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams finished third at the Landmark Conference Championships in February.
Men’s Golf Posts Undefeated Regular Season
In women’s swimming and diving, sophomore Audrey Campo became just the fourth Scranton women’s swimmer and first since 2001 to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Lauren Byrne was named the Landmark Conference Swimmer of the Year. Coach Mark Yankovich was named the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year.
The men’s golf team posted a perfect 16-0 record in dual match competitions during the regular season before finishing in sixth place at the Landmark Conference Championships, which was held at the Dauphin Highlands Golf Course in Harrisburg in May. 22
The Lady Royals pose with their trophy after the NCAA Final Four game.
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Men’s diver Michael Diana led the Royals and was named the Landmark Conference Diver of the Year after winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions at the conference championships.
Athletics
Softball Wins First Landmark Conference Championship, Competes in NCAA Tournament
The softball team celebrates its championship.
This spring, the softball team won its first-ever Landmark Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
and final seed. The team reeled off three straight wins on the second day of the tournament, culminating in a 7-2 triumph over Susquehanna in the winner-take-all championship game.
of the regular season just to qualify for the playoffs at the fourth
In the NCAA Tournament, the Royals put up a strong effort against the two-time defending national champion Virginia Wesleyan but lost 7-2 before falling to Manhattanville the following day to end their season.
Bill Bessoir Inducted into MAC Hall of Fame
A 20-win Season for Men’s Basketball
Former men’s basketball standout Bill Bessoir ’85 became the eighth person from the University selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Hall of Fame. He and his father, legendary Royals’ coach Bob Bessoir, are the first father-son duo in the MAC Hall of Fame.
The men’s basketball team reached the 20-win plateau for the 25th time in program history and 10th under head coach Carl Danzig. The Royals finished the year with a 20-6 record and reached the Landmark Conference semifinals.
The Royals overcame the odds on multiple occasions to claim their first Landmark title, needing a win on the final day
A three-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-American and a three-time MAC All-Star, he led Scranton to three straight MAC championships and was named the NCAA championship Most Outstanding Player after leading the Royals to the national title in 1983. Bessoir, who totaled 1,630 career points, went on to play and coach professionally in Germany for 20-plus years and played for the New York Generals.
With a starting lineup including two juniors and three freshmen, Scranton won its first 12 games of the season and was ranked as high as 25th in the nation during the regular season. While traditionally known for their defense, the Royals proved an exciting offensive force this season, averaging 76.5 points per game, going for 80 or more points eight times and surpassing the 100-point plateau for the first time in more than a decade in a win over Manhattanville in December 2018.
Baseball Returns to Conference Playoffs
Connor Harding
Making its second straight trip to the Landmark Conference playoffs, baseball overcame the loss of 14 seniors from the 2018 conference runner-up team to make a run to the postseason tournament. The Royals earned the fourth and final seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs with a 9-9 mark in conference play. In the postseason, Scranton had its season end with a pair of heartbreaking, one-run losses as the Royals fell to eventual champion Susquehanna in the first round before getting edged out by Catholic in 10 innings in an elimination game. Leading the way for Scranton this spring was sophomore Connor Harding, who was named the Landmark Conference Player of the Year. FA L L 2019
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Women’s Lacrosse Achieves National Recognition Becca Russo
The women’s lacrosse team enjoyed a record-breaking season, posting a 16-3 overall record and finishing as the Landmark Conference runner-up. The Royals set a program record for wins in a season and were ranked as high as 18th in the nation, their highest national ranking ever. After posting a 15-2 record during the regular season and claiming the second seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs, Scranton fell to Catholic in the championship game. Scranton boasted six All-Region performers on the season and had five First Team All-Landmark Conference selections and one Second Team All-Conference honoree. Becca Russo was named an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Second Team All-American, the first studentathlete in Scranton history to earn All-American honors in more than one sport, having also earned Second Team honors in women’s soccer this past fall.
Wrestling’s Season Highlighted by D’Agostini’s Run to Championships Going 11-8 in dual match competitions, the wrestling team placed 11th at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in February. Senior Dan D’Agostini set a program record for wins (39-5) while becoming the first Scranton wrestler since 2007 to qualify for the NCAA Championships. He recorded his record-breaking win at the national championships after finishing as the Mideast Region runner-up. D’Agostini and junior Keegan Connelly both earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American honors.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis Finish as Landmark Conference Runners-Up
Track & Field’s Second Season
Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams finished the spring as the Landmark Conference runners-up. After a 1-2 start to conference play, the men’s team won five straight matches in April to enter the postseason as the second seed but ended up falling at top-seeded Goucher in the title match. The women’s tennis team entered conference play with a 4-5 record but closed the regular season by winning six of its final seven matches to claim the second seed in the Landmark Conference playoffs. They fell at top-seeded Moravian in the championship match.
In its second season of competition, the men’s track & field team finished sixth at the Landmark Conference indoor championships in February before tying for fifth at the outdoor championships in May. Sophomore Matt Kinback highlighted the season for the Royals by winning a conference championship in the 800-meter run during the outdoor season. The women’s track & field team — also in its second season — placed fifth at the Landmark Conference indoor championships in February and finished sixth at the outdoor championships in May.
Men’s Lacrosse Reaches Landmark Conference Semifinals
Michael Elefonte
The men’s lacrosse team qualified for the Landmark Conference playoffs for the ninth consecutive season after earning the second seed and a home semifinal game after winning five of its six conference games during the regular season. The Royals, who finished the season with a 10-8 overall record, went 5-1 in Landmark Conference action to earn the No. 2 seed in the conference playoffs but were defeated by Susquehanna in the semifinal round. See more photos and read more about the teams at scranton.edu/journalextras.
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Dan D’Agostini
New law school affiliations, a legal studies concentration, a successful mock trial team, and more, mean better opportunities for Scranton students interested in the law.
Expanding Scranton’s Pre-Law Program
Over the past five years, graduating seniors have had a great track record of getting into law school with an acceptance rate ranging from 96 to 100 percent, evidence of the success of Scranton’s expanding pre-law program. The University has also increased the number of entering students interested in pre-law by more than 50 percent since 2016. “We are doing more,” said Pre-Law Advisory Program advisor and philosophy professor Matthew Meyer, Ph.D. A re-energized alumni group is creating a supportive network for Scranton students, and faculty and administrators are working to expand programming. Together, they are navigating the complicated world of law, from law school admissions to a profession in flux post-recession. Over the past five years, the team, led by Meyer, who took on his role as advisor in 2014, has secured several law school affiliation agreements, launched mock trial, created a new legal studies concentration, started an LSAT preparation course for credit and revived the Council of Alumni Lawyers. The University has secured agreements with Villanova University School of Law, Duquesne University School of Law, Boston College Law School and Penn State Law, which allow students to obtain their undergraduate degree and J.D. in just six, rather than seven, years. The affiliations began with Villanova in May 2017, which
gives Scranton students who meet the program requirements the option of automatic admission to the law school with a minimum scholarship of $25,000 per year while at Villanova. The successive programs are similar, but having multiple affiliations gives students a variety of options.
Pre-Law Culture “We want to create a culture around pre-law,” said Dr. Meyer, who personally advises dozens of pre-law students each year. “This isn’t just about the individual students going to law school. It’s about them knowing and connecting with one another and identifying as pre-law.” An out-of-the-classroom resource that has “excited and energized” students in recent years, according to Meyer, is the mock trial team, founded in 2015. This past February, the team, which is open to anyone not just those in pre-law, competed in the opening round of the American Mock Trial Association’s national tournament. Sid Prejean, Esq. ’72 and Jason Shrive, Esq. ’06, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice & Criminology, are the team’s faculty advisors. “The mock trial team is an important part of the pre-law program at The University of Scranton,” said Shrive, “as it provides our students with an opportunity to experience a courtroom setting, after performing case analysis and preparation of a theme and theory of a mock civil or criminal case.” FA L L 2019
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Alexis Mergus ’19, a three-year mock trial team member, said, “I cherish the friendships I’ve made with my team and have watched them thrive and encourage each other to be the best they can be. They are a group of extremely driven individuals, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.” This positive “pre-law culture” was also embraced by Marlene Geerinck ’19, former president of the Pre-Law Society, one of the oldest groups on campus. As president, Geerinck organized events to help students navigate the law school application process throughout their undergraduate years and introduced them to the profession through a popular alumni panel. She devoted herself to helping other students network, aiming to keep it from feeling overwhelming or burdensome.
“The success of the program here is the community. … It’s based more on cooperative success than competitiveness.”
— Matthew Coughlin ’19
Geerinck just began law school at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She admits she always felt supported at Scranton, which is why networking came so naturally to her. “It’s kind of like a subconscious thing that you’re doing, at least for me,” she said. “I made connections from studying with people and going to D.C. to meet alumni. I have great connections, but I wasn’t really aware I was making them.”
Courses and Resources By expanding the programming at Scranton, faculty teaching pre-law courses are helping to ensure that students are not only developing the skills necessary for success in law school but advancing students’ understanding of the law and developing their commitment to justice and the common good. A year ago, the University began offering the concentration for students preparing for law school, as well as those interested in studying law at the undergraduate level. The interdisciplinary concentration, which allows students to take courses ranging from business law to the U.S. Constitution, is intended to further develop and formalize the curriculum
What’s New in Pre-Law at Scranton?
• Four 3-3 agreements, allowing students
to get their bachelor’s and law degrees in six, rather than seven, years
• A legal studies concentration • A revived Council of Alumni Lawyers group • A for-credit LSAT course • A Mock Trial Team associated with the Pre-Law Advisory Program, which is non-curricular. “The legal studies concentration encourages faculty from multiple disciplines to develop new courses pertaining to law and will also allow for more pre-law related programming beyond the classroom,” said Meyer. One such faculty member is Joel Kemp, Ph.D., a Harvard Law School graduate and assistant professor of theology and religious studies, who developed the course “Separating Church and State? Bible Law & America” as part of the concentration. “Understanding the flexibility of a law degree nationally is helping the way we develop the legal studies concentration,” said Kemp. “I think we do a great service in helping students decide — if you are going down this road, here is what you need to do to succeed, and here are your options.” This past year, Kemp, a former practicing attorney, served as faculty advisor for the Pre-Law Society. “My experience in law gives me a great deal to talk to the students about,” said Kemp, “helping with strategies for applying to law school, getting ready for the LSAT and, through the society, understanding how to do well in law school.” Since Geerinck has been president of the society, she has seen the attendance at pre-law events grow, with students expressing their enthusiasm for one particular event: the alumni
Previous page, collage, clockwise from top: 2019 mock trial team; Matthew Meyer, Ph.D., Pre-Law Advisory Program advisor and philosophy professor speaking at the end-of-the-year Pre-Law Banquet; mock trial team members alongside Jason Shrive, Esq. ‘06 (left) and Sid Prejean, Esq. ‘72 (second from right); and recent pre-law graduates Matthew Coughlin ‘19 and Marlene Geerinck ‘19. 26
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panel that is held by the society each spring.
Beyond Law School An alumna who has participated in that panel is Mara Smith, Esq. ’13, associate general counsel at Brighton Health Plan Solutions, who earned her law degree at Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University. In addition to the panel, she has attended many of the student-run, pre-law events.
Matthew Coughlin ’19: Relying on Cooperative Success Matthew Coughlin ’19 just started his 1L year at Boston College. He said the growth of pre-law at Scranton during his four years was unmistakable. He is only sorry
“The students are eager to engage alumni and always ask
he missed the opportunity to be part of the 3-3 program.
insightful, thought-provoking questions about my experience
“The success of the program here is the commu-
in law school and beyond,” said Smith. “I think an alumni network is invaluable to current pre-law students.” When she was a stu-
nity. And that’s only grown since we’ve been here,” said Coughlin.
dent, Smith was offered
A double major in political science and philosophy,
her first law firm job by
member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Pro-
University Trustee Kevin
gram and president of Student Government, Coughlin
O’Brien, Esq. ’80.
took to the notion that pre-law culture was essential to a
“I worked for Kevin at his law firm for six years and learned most
fruitful Scranton experience and promising future in law. “When students apply to law schools, it’s not, ‘Oh I
of what has allowed me
got in and you didn’t;’ it’s encouraging each other, help-
to succeed in this pro-
ing each other, texting each other, talking throughout the
fession (from both a lo-
process, because we want to collectively see each other
gistics and a social perspective) from his willingness to support
succeed,” he said. “That’s where you get the community
Joel Kemp, Ph.D.
me as a pre-law student at Scranton,” she said. Smith has been working alongside Meyer and Shrive to connect even more alumni lawyers with students and reviving the Council of Alumni Lawyers to improve the opportunities for Scranton students in pre-law.
aspect of Scranton blending with the pre-law group. It’s based on more cooperative success than competitiveness.” That’s why Coughlin is so enthusiastic about the fu-
The practical skills that Scranton can provide its students
ture at Scranton, including the hiring of The Honorable
due to the growing program, as well as its strength in the lib-
Thomas Vanaskie, former U.S. Circuit Judge of the U.S.
eral arts, are a winning formula for producing lawyers, noted
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who will begin
Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, who has been instrumental in securing the law school agreements over the past year. “The world needs Scranton alumni in the legal field,” said
teaching this academic year. “It’s going to be an insane resource for students on an experiential level,” said Coughlin.
Gingerich. “The ethical and spiritual preparation that all Scranton students experience will provide a vital context for those who wish to use law and policy to create a safer and more just world around us.”
To hear more from Mara Smith, Esq. ’13, and previous pre-law advisors Frank X. J. Homer, Ph.D. ’64 and Loreen Wolfer, Ph.D., and to see more photos from the Pre-Law Banquet, visit scranton.edu/journalextras.
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Now What?
How a Little Planning Goes a Long Way Toward a Fulfilling Retirement
Rob
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that they are ready (for retirement), because they are going to play golf or sleep in every day. They say, ‘I’m just going to relax,’” Norcross said. “And that typically works for about one to three months — then they are wandering around trying to keep busy and secure meaning in life.” That’s why it is best to go into retirement with a plan — even a loose one. “Even though the amount of structure and participation needed differs hugely for people, I’ve yet to find someone sustained by full-time leisure activity,” Norcross said. “Hence, why we hear about the second act. It’s a desire for integrity. People want to contribute; they want to better the world.” Bet
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“Like all of life, retirement is not a one-size-fits all scenario,” said Betsy Peck ’82. “People have different ideas of what retirement is, and the reality is, it means something unique to everyone. The old days of a party, a gold watch, and then rocking on the front porch are not even close to reality in today’s environment.” Peck would know. She retired from a 30-year career in finance in 2018, finishing that chapter as the chief operating officer at JLL, a Fortune 500 commercial real estate company. But for Peck, retirement meant a career shift, as opposed to stopping work altogether. She’s started a consulting business, Peck Advisory Services, with an emphasis on serving on the board of directors of public and private companies and consulting with leadership of future public companies. Her work also includes increasing the number of women in board rooms and leadership positions in corporate America.
That was the position Peck was in when she retired from her first career. She knew that she wanted to focus on advising and empowering business leaders, but she also gave herself some time to figure out exactly what that looked like. “Have a plan and let that plan include some time after your official retirement date to enjoy yourself,” Peck said. “I’ve also developed a strong network of colleagues and friends who are advocates for me, and I continuously engage with them regarding networking, business opportunities and socializing.”
Prepare Clinical psychologist and Scranton psychology professor John Norcross, Ph.D. specializes in helping people navigate change, so he has seen hundreds of clients through the transition to retirement. “I can’t tell you how many times people have pledged to me
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Whenever you retire, it’s best to do so with a plan in place to help you navigate the social, emotional and financial upheaval of the transition. The keys to a fulfilling retirement are in solid financial and emotional preparation, learning new skills (while using proven ones) and supporting your community.
.
Most working Americans expect to retire at or around age 66, according to a 2018 Gallup poll. Some people work longer so that they can have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, while others, like Peck, take a relatively “early” retirement and use their talents in a second act phase of their career. Joh
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Learn New Skills William L. Kovacs ’69 spent his career as a lawyer in Washington, D.C., working on Capitol Hill, in private practice and at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. When he retired in 2017 at age 70, he finally had time to write the book that had been in the back of his mind throughout his 45-year career in D.C. FA L L 2019
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Kovacs authored the book, Reform the Kakistocracy: Rule by the Least Able or Least Principled Citizens, published in May 2019, to share his views on reforming the federal government. He also blogs and runs a Twitter account dedicated to his ideas and research about reinstating more checks and balances in the Book by William L. Kovacs ’69 U.S. government. While his ideas are gleaned from years in Washington and on The Hill, writing a book and diving into social media is an entirely new challenge for this lawyer.
al managing director of its technology licensing business and head of their venture investment fund. Now he uses his years of business expertise to help the Camden Conference on Foreign Affairs, plus he co-founded Maine’s Midcoast Leadership Academy, a regional leadership development program. He also manages the budget for the town of Owls Head, where he resides. The Camden Conference is an annual event focused on U.S. foreign policy, which attracts global, expert speakers for an audience of 1,200 well-informed attendees, along with high school and college students to Camden and four live-streaming sites for a weekend in February. Throughout the rest of the year, the organization puts on more than 50 cultural events all over Maine. As president, Hirsch focused on fundraising and recruiting speakers for programming.
“Starting the blog, tweeting, I’m just learning a whole new language,” admitted Kovacs. “When you retire, think about, ‘Oh, this is what I would find fun or interesting or encouraging.’ Whatever that is, if you have the passion to do it, you’ll make a contribution.”
Support Your Community While retirement is a great time to explore new interests and passions, it is also an opportunity to use your skills to help others. Not only can it benefit your community, but it can give additional meaning to your retirement life, according to Carole Slotterback, Ph.D., Scranton psychology professor and gerontology expert. “If you are plugged into your community, then you know where the needs are that you can help to fill,” said Slotterback. “Think about, ‘What am I most interested in giving back to my community, now that I have time to do this?’” This type of attitude toward retirement aligns with the Jesuit tradition of men and women for others — and is how Robert Hirsch, Ph.D. ’69 has approached his retirement on the coast of Maine. “You have to ask yourself, ‘What is it that I’m really good at?’ If you have a sense of your strengths and weaknesses, you can make better decisions about what you’re going to take on,” he said. The best advice he received going into retirement was “to be open to what comes along.” Hirsch retired in 2004 after a 30-year career at DuPont, the Delaware-based multinational company, where he was glob30
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Travel and an active social life are also part of Hirsch’s 15 years and counting of retirement. He has been to 51 countries, between work and leisure travel, and has a weekly dinner with a group that calls themselves the R.O.M.E.O.s (Really Old Men Eating Out). Whatever path you take, Peck offers a reminder that your former career was what you did, not who you are. “Prepare for the question, ‘So, what do you do for a living?’ Shortly after retiring, I introduced myself at a networking event and realized I wasn’t well-prepared (to explain my new path); it was awkward, and I fumbled through it,” Peck said. “I realized I needed to update my narrative about who I am as a person and my career; it took me some time to get it right. My role as COO was my job and what I did for a living, but it was not what defined me.” Read a Q&A with Betsy Peck at scranton.edu/journalextras.
5StartSTEPS Saving Retirement
YOU CAN TAKE TODAY
TO
FOR
Even if your retirement is decades away, you can take steps now to set yourself up for financial security. In fact, you have to start early if you plan to stop working in your later years. According to a March 2019 study conducted by the National Institute on Retirement Security,
Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D
Start thinking about retirement when you start working — but don’t obsess. “Moderate saving can do wonders,” said Dr. Ghosh. “Some people, when they are just beginning to work, think they don’t have to worry about retirement, they’ll get to it. Others think they have to save a lot every month to get ready for retirement, because they are worried about not having social security or a safety net.” Ghosh said a middle ground is a better approach: Make saving a regular part of your life and monthly budget.
three quarters of Americans worry about how to finance their retirement. Millennials, in particular, are concerned about how to save for retirement and more willing than previous generations to start saving early. Here are five tips to prepare for success in retirement, according to economics professor Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D.: Be realistic. Be wary of schemes that promise doubling your investment or 50 percent returns. Ghosh warns that if sounds too good to be true, it probably is. “Don’t expect miracles. If everything goes all right, the long-term return you could expect would not be more than 5 to 10 percent,” he said. “When the money you are saving grows, that gives you that cushion, that comfort that you are looking for in your retirement years.”
Supplement your employer’s retirement plan with your own savings plan. Ghosh recommends saving 5 to 10 percent of your salary in a retirement account. “A percentage is better than a fixed amount to save every month, because then you will save more as your salary goes up,” he noted. Also make sure to keep some money in a savings account, to access in case of unexpected expenses or emergencies.
Build an asset portfolio. “You don’t want to put the money you are saving under your mattress,” Ghosh joked. “So how do you make sure that your hard-earned savings grows?” Invest in stocks, bonds and CDs (certificate of deposit, a federally insured savings account where you deposit money to earn a fixed interest rate over a period of time).
Ask the experts. How do you know which investments to make? Ghosh suggests getting guidance from a Certified Financial Planner. It isn’t expensive, since there are no out-of-pocket fees or expenses — they make a commission based on a small percentage of the money you invest.
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Alumni Bound by Mission in the Hudson Valley
Health care administrators and nurse alumni practice at a 10-hospital network in New York’s Hudson Valley, all with a shared mission that harks back to their Scranton days.
Pictured, from left, are, Marie Yezzo ‘01, Jack Burtis ‘15, G’18 and Elissa Chessari ‘02.
Marie Yezzo ’01 calls it “the Scranton domino effect.” As the vice president for professional support services at WMCHealth, a health care network in the Hudson Valley in New York that serves more than 3.5 million patients, she started hosting graduate students in Scranton’s Master of Health Administration program for their residency training five years ago. And she witnessed one Scranton graduate after another impress the hospital staff and go on to earn a full-time job in departments across the health system. A few have moved on to other hospitals, but five of those Royals remain: Jack Burtis ’15, G’18, Brittany Drake-Koo G’11, Sahar Malek ’10, G’12, Robert Patella G’17 and Connor Shanahan ’15, G’16, all working alongside Yezzo and Elissa Ches32
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sari ’02, who is the vice president of operations for Westchester Medical Center, the network’s flagship hospital. These are just seven of the Scranton alumni at WMCHealth using their Jesuit education to make an impact in health care.
The Mission For Chessari, the mission of WMCHealth resonates with her values and harks back to her years at Scranton. “Our mission statement at Westchester Medical Center is to provide the highest quality of care, regardless of ability to pay, and that is what initially drew me (here),” she said. “I suspect that this mission is what attracts and retains so many other Scranton alums.”
Yezzo credits the strong network among Scranton health care administration alumni for bringing each of these graduates to WMCHealth. A biology major with a minor in business while she was an undergraduate at Scranton, Yezzo sees similarities in how both she and her colleagues from Scranton’s MHA program approach their day-to-day work. “We didn’t all go to school (at Scranton) at the same time or even cross paths until we started working at Westchester Medical Center. I’m not sure if it was coincidence or divine intervention,” she said. “We use our Scranton educations to treat others, both co-workers and patients, as we would want to be treated. Seeing our impact is the best part. Some of us have been with the organization for more than 10 years. We have been part of major construction projects, programmatic development and various initiatives from design to completion.”
Essential Indirect Care Although, as administrators, the alumni are not providing direct patient care, each is impacting the lives of patients. “While most on my team are not involved in direct patient care, we support the bedside care providers,” Chessari said. “We work hard to find enhancements to operational efficiency and improvements in processes and business initiatives, which translates into better patient care and better outcomes.” Patella works as a financial analyst at Bon Secours Charity Health System, a group of three hospitals that are part of WMCHealth. “I am helping the organization to reduce labor expenses, manage valuable resources and improve departmental performance,” said Patella, a 2017 MHA graduate. “At Scranton, I learned a lot about time management, personal brand management and managing conflict within a team, which I use in my day-to-day work.” Burtis helps make decisions that lead to better patient outcomes in his role as a revenue integrity analyst. He earned his MHA from Scranton in 2018, after completing his undergraduate degree in 2015. “I work alongside our revenue cycle team to improve processes and develop tools to help ensure accurate billing for services provided by our network’s physician group,” he said. “I love the challenge and the novelty of my work. No two days are the same in health care. There are always new challenges that really require you to think and problem-solve
on your own.” Similarly, Shanahan relishes the fast-paced environment in his job as the manager of the outpatient department clinics and AIDS care center. “Health care is a growing industry, and the connections I made at Scranton allowed me to not only understand the potential opportunity in the field, but also allowed me to capitalize on starting a career in such a fast-paced industry at a great place like Westchester Medical Center,” he said. “Working with the many groups and departments within Westchester Medical Center on a daily basis can be challenging, because everyone has different desires and needs. But remembering that we are all working toward the same goal — providing the best possible patient experience — helps us work together to get the job done.” The WMCHealth network also employs numerous Scranton graduates from the nursing programs, in addition to these health administration alumni. And their colleagues say the Scranton graduates stand out in their contributions to the health system.
“We use our Scranton educations to treat others, both co-workers and patients, as we would want to be treated.”
— Marie Yezzo ’01
“There is a learning curve for anyone who joins a network of the size and complexity of the WMCHealth,” said Anthony Costello, the senior vice president of professional and support services and the supervisor of many of the Scranton MHA alumni. “We’ve often found degree holders from The University of Scranton well prepared to handle the ever-evolving dynamics of a regional health care provider.”
The Network As Yezzo pointed out, these Scranton alumni are ready to tackle the challenges in the health care field not only because of their rigorous Jesuit education in health administration but also because of the strength and support of the Scranton network. The Health Administration Alumni Council is a major part of that network. To continue reading Alumni Bound by Mission in the Hudson Valley, turn to page 40. FA L L 2019
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PROFILE: James Murray ’90
Selfless Service The new director of the Secret Service, of whom much is expected, reflects on the demands of his job and his rise to the top of the government agency.
You have to be ready for the things you don’t expect. It’s a mantra that James Murray ’90 has repeated to himself during his 29-year career in law enforcement, including when he was named the 26th director of the Secret Service in May. “I never intended or expected to be the director of the Secret Service,” said Murray, who is now in charge of 142 domestic field offices, 19 international field offices and 7,300 employees. “Even though I was stunned when I got the word, I was obviously proud and humbled and honored. Murray mentions “expectations” frequently, reflecting on what he expected in his life and how that changed over the years. He seeks to live up to a standard set by his parents, colleagues, friends and teachers. His mother, who waited tables to put the kids through Catholic school, and his father, a state trooper, inspired him, he said, as did many friends and professors at Scranton. “I realize that every time that I don’t comport myself in the way that I should, I’m not only letting myself down, I’m also letting the people I model myself after down,” he said. “And many of those people were at Scranton. That includes all the people I lived with at 1215 Linden.” 34
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James Murray being sworn in as the 26th director of the Secret Service in May 2019.
According to Dave Peracchio ’90, Murray’s former roommate on Linden, the new director is “of the highest character with the utmost integrity. … He’s someone you’d trust with your life.”
A Cadet As an ROTC cadet at Scranton, Murray, a Point Pleasant, New Jersey, native, often woke at dawn to train and dedicated most of his time to the program, but he insists that he was “far and away not the best cadet.” He relied on his mentors, he said, both his sergeants and his history and criminal justice professors to help him through. But it wasn’t only the ROTC program that persuaded him to come to Scranton. On his first visit, as a high school senior, he said he simply felt welcome. “Whether it was students in school or people in town, everybody said hello and looked you in the eye and smiled,” he remembered. “I had the sense that when you were introduced to folks and they said ‘Hi, how are you?’ and ‘Nice to meet you,’ they meant it. That was really why I chose Scranton in the end.” He was also inspired by the “inclusiveness of the Jesuits,” who disavowed Greek life. He learned to be even more ap-
PROFILE: James Murray ’90
preciative of the Jesuit tradition as the years went on. “(That tradition) made me realize that you can’t get through life contributing only the bare minimum,” he said. “If you’re going to be of service to others then you have to give up yourself. And that’s certainly helped me as I’ve pursued this career with the Secret Service.” Fully expecting to go into the Army on active duty upon graduation, Murray had a clear path ahead of him. However, during his senior year, the Gramm-Rudman Act took effect, reducing government spending on defense programs. During intersession that year, University cadets gathered in what was then Jefferson Hall, later Leahy Hall, to learn that their futures might not be what they had imagined. It was on this cold day in January that Murray was assigned to the reserves, leaving his next few years fairly wide open. As he walked out of Jefferson Hall, he immediately encountered a fellow cadet who was headed up the Commons where the U.S. Department of Transportation was conducting job interviews. He decided he would tag along, even though he had dressed casually that day, in jeans, a leather jacket and work boots. After a few interviews, he got his first job. “I can’t say I’ve always been lucky in life, but I felt lucky that day,” he said.
An Unexpected Path Murray went on to spend several years as a special agent investigator with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 1995, he began his career with the Secret Service in the New York Field Office, where, over the next six years, he would be involved in criminal and financial investigations as well as protective operations. During the latter part of his time at the New York Field Office, he served as the agency’s representative to the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Just prior to 9/11, the JTTF was focused on Y2K, a computer programming issue threatening to leave the country susceptible to terrorism. It was one of the biggest threats 20 years ago, but the world has changed, said Murray, with domestic terrorism threats ever-increasing. “It’s almost quaint and comical to look back and think that that was something that we thought was daunting,” he said, “when two years later the world would change for us.” On 9/11, Murray was in the White House, having begun his new detail in the Presidential Protective Division (PPD) at the end of 2000.
“Candidly, none of us expected that day. It was jarring, to say the least,” he said. “Everything we do here in the Secret Service is predicated on ‘What are we going to do if it’s a bad day?’ Prime amongst our imperatives is readiness. You have to be ready for the things you don’t expect.” He worked, without going home to his wife, for more than 30 days straight.
Answering a Calling After the shock of 9/11 subsided and he and his wife welcomed their first of two sets of twins into their new home in Washington D.C., he realized that life in the PPD would likely not allow for much of a work-life balance. Once, when he returned home late one night, he noticed a calendar on which his wife had written the number 240. She had been logging the nights he was away that year when she was alone with the toddlers, having given up her law career to take care of the children. “None of us, whether we’re agents or officers, could endure the rigors or the sacrifice in this job without the full and active support of our loved ones,” said Murray. He was answering that calling on the PPD, where he was in charge of planning the protection for President George W. Bush’s trips to Moscow for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of VE Day in Red Square and, in early 2006, a covert trip to Afghanistan, the first visit to Afghanistan by any U.S. president. In Kabul, President Bush was greeted by protesters, no doubt an added pressure on Murray and the rest of the PPD. Murray, having worked for several presidents over the years, planning for campaigns and inaugurations for both Republicans and Democrats, said that one of his jobs is to remain nonpartisan. “The Secret Service, and everybody here at the Secret Service, is willfully and deliberately agnostic when it comes to politics. We’re apolitical,” he said. Ask Murray to speak about himself or his views and he often speaks as a representative of the entire government agency. He has taken on his role as director, swiftly and with pride; he seems to have become what people have expected of him, with a little help from the Jesuits. “The Secret Service is a very selfless endeavor,” he said. “I think you have to be somebody who is mindful of being of service to others in order to do this job. There is a corollary to the Jesuit tradition.” To read a Q&A with James Murray, visit scranton.edu/journalextras.
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PROFILE: Jerry Fives ’89
A Team Mentality A former basketball player applies the lessons he learned on the court to his Dunkin’ businesses and attributes his success to his entrepreneurial parents and his Jesuit education.
From a very young age, Jerry Fives was driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. Still, never for a moment did he think he’d eventually find his niche in the coffee and doughnuts business, let alone the coffee and doughnuts business. “Very few people have a linear path in life. I’m no exception,” he said. For nearly 30 years, Fives ’89, and his wife, Sophia, have been highly successful franchisees for Dunkin’ Donuts, or just Dunkin’, as it was recently rebranded. All told, they own or coown nine Dunkin’ shops throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. “It’s a passion. It’s our life,” said Fives, 53. “There’s not a day that goes by without someone coming up to me and saying, ‘Here’s what happened at my Dunkin’ today.’ Fortunately, people have a love for this brand, and it’s great to be a part of that. And even though it’s a national brand, people know the franchises are locally owned and that it’s up to us franchisees to take the risk of running the business.” 36
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A Scranton-area native, Fives was a star basketball player at the former Sacred Heart High School in Carbondale before enrolling at what was then Keystone Junior College. After a successful academic year there, he transferred to the University in 1985. One day, while shooting baskets in gym class, the 6-foot-6inch Fives caught the attention of legendary former Royals basketball coach Bob Bessoir. The coach pulled Fives into his office and, in characteristically blunt fashion, declared, “You’re playing on the team.” A power forward, Fives proved himself a tough defender and rebounder for the Royals and an integral part of the team that finished runner-up in the 1988 NCAA Division III National Championship. “Bessoir was a good mentor in my career. He taught me a lot of confidence that I took with me later in life,” Fives said. “Bessoir tried to build his team with good players and the right people. A team is only as good as the culture of its people; the coach sets the culture, and this carries through in business.”
PROFILE: Jerry Fives ’89
“A team is only as good as the culture of its people; the coach sets the culture, and this carries through in business.”
Off the Court Meanwhile, Fives was just as focused off the hardwood. A business administration major, he commuted to campus so he could work at his family’s plumbing and heating supply business in Carbondale. “I was delivering boilers in the morning and playing basketball at night,” he said with a laugh. “All the while, the idea of owning my own business someday fascinated me. And I got that entrepreneurial spirit from my parents.”
— Jerry Fives ’89
One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is their business mantra: Quality. Service. Cleanliness. “Sophia and I are blessed to have some great people working with us,” Fives said. “And, just like in sports, you need good players to make a good team. The same applies to running a business. I always try to credit my employees since they’re the ones who drive the business. We try to get the best possible people, train them the Dunkin’ way and don’t micromanage them. “I try to handle all of our major complaints personally,” he added. “I take it personally when things go wrong and would like a second chance to make it right.”
Eventually, he would get his opportunity in 1991, when he and his wife, then newlyweds, decided to take over her Jerry Fives Greek immigrant parents’ Dickson City Mister Donut restaurant. Allied Lyons had acquired both Mister Donut and Dunkin’ Donuts in the previous year, and all of its quick-service restaurants eventually became part of Dunkin’ Brands, which is now an independent entity.
Besides leading his network of restaurants, Fives is actively involved in other facets of the Dunkin’ universe. He has been a franchise leader for more than 20 years, a member of Dunkin’ Brands’ national marketing committee and co-chair of his District Advisory Council and Regional Ad Committee. During his tenure, Fives and his team have been influential in helping Dunkin’ test new menu items, equipment and operational systems, all of which benefit the brand.
“Sophia and I got married in September, and that October we went to franchise school together,” he said. “It was stressful and very challenging in the beginning. Sophia managed the restaurant while I would work all day at my family’s business, then I’d work at the doughnut shop at night when needed.”
Meanwhile, he continues to maintain strong ties to the University, via his involvement on the committee for the annual Carlesimo Golf Tournament & Award Dinner, which has raised significant funds for the athletic program in recent years.
Through perseverance, they eventually found success and grew their network to what it is today. Dunkin’ consistently recognizes Fives as one of the most respected operators in the system. In 2010, the couple was named Dunkin’ Brands’ Franchisee of the Year, and in 2015, Regional Operator of the Year. Today, the couple owns a successful network of restaurants in and around the Scranton area.
The Team Fives has a couple hundred dedicated employees who are constantly adapting to the chain’s ever-evolving business model, which now encompasses so much more than coffee and doughnuts.
“The Carlesimo family members are great advocates for the University, and we are lucky to have PJ Carlesimo’s support,” he said. “One thing I love about the University is how committed it is to giving back to the community,” Fives said. “You make lifelong connections through the alumni network there, and I’m honored to be a part of that.” Fives and his wife have done their best to instill that sense of giving back in their three sons, JJ, James and Lukas. In the meantime, Fives’ passion for the Dunkin’ brand, and the Scranton business community as a whole, continues unabated. “Staying in the Scranton area has been a good decision. Northeastern Pennsylvania is a great place to raise a family and run a business,” he said. “This is home for us.” FA L L 2019
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PROFILE: Christy Marshall Silva ’96
Matters of the Heart An alumna finds inspiration in the midst of tragedy.
Christy Marshall Silva ’96 had never heard of Sudden Cardiac Arrest when it unexpectedly claimed the life of her 7-year-old son Aidan in 2010. “I always knew he was one in a million,” she said of Aidan. “I just didn’t realize he was actually one in 7,000 kids that die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest every year.” Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a condition where the heart’s electrical system suddenly malfunctions and disrupts its normal rhythm, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Shocked that her seemingly healthy son, who had just gotten a clean bill of health from his physician six weeks earlier, 38
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could pass so quickly without warning, Silva began obsessively researching SCA. “I couldn’t wrap my mind around how he could be here one minute and not the next,” she said.
Finding Her Way Silva learned everything she could about SCA. She learned that the American Heart Association cites SCA as the number one killer of high school athletes on school grounds. She learned that many of the conditions that cause SCA can be detected by an electrocardiogram (EKG), a painless, non-invasive test, and that
PROFILE: Christy Marshall Silva ’96
one in 300 children are found to have a potentially life-threatening heart condition. She learned that many of those conditions can be easily treated with medication. “As a mother who tried everything to keep her kids safe, I couldn’t understand why we weren’t doing (EKGs) in every pediatric well visit,” she said. She also learned about how automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the only machines that can re-start a heart, need to be used in conjunction with CPR in order to treat SCA. Lastly, she learned that Pennsylvania did not require AEDs in its schools and that the chances of surviving SCA decrease 7 to 10 percent for every minute that goes by before CPR and defibrillation begins. “It’s imperative that AEDs are within a two-minute brisk walk of anyplace kids are physically active,” she said. Throughout her life, Silva, a native of Rhinebeck, New York, had always sought to help others, especially children; this interest led her to babysitting, then lifeguarding, and, later, to performing volunteer work with children with disabilities. When she began pondering a career as a teacher, she found herself attracted to Jesuit universities because of their emphasis on service and education. When she first visited Scranton, she felt so welcomed by the student body that she knew it was the right place for her. “I was very attracted to the positive energy I felt,” she said. While majoring in secondary education English, she became involved with Campus Ministries, where she led multiple service trips. She also met her future husband, Steven Silva ’95. After graduation, she volunteered with the Border Rights Coalition in El Paso, Texas, at an orphanage, and, ultimately, with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) at the Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness. After the end of her JVC term of service, she began teaching at Our Mother of Sorrows in West Philadelphia. She and Steven soon married and brought Aidan into the world. After Aidan was born, she started a tutoring company and earned a master’s degree in literacy from West Chester University in order to become a reading specialist. Today, she works as a reading specialist at Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center in Downingtown, where she resides with Devin, Quentin and Fiona, Aidan’s younger siblings.
Aidan’s Law During his life, Aidan left a lasting impression on the people around him. “He was very kind, very sweet,” she said of Aidan. “He would tend to the youngest child in the room. “Emotionally, he was very in tune with
70% OF THE CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST CAN BE IDENTIFIED WITH A SIMPLE, NON-INVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (EKG OR ECG) EXAM anybody that might feel they were apart from the group. He was a great kid.” After Aidan’s passing, Silva became determined to spare others from the heartache that SCA had inflicted upon her. She formed Aidan’s Heart Foundation to combat SCA and held its first annual 5K for Aidan J fundraiser shortly after. Since 2011, it has screened more than 1,800 hearts, discovering potentially life-threatening conditions in 25 youths. The foundation has also placed 82 AEDs in schools and youth-centered organizations. Through its Heart Heroes program, it has trained more than 5,000 students in CPR and AED operation. Perhaps most impressively, the foundation was instrumental in passing PA Act 35 (Aidan’s Law) to help ensure that all schools in Pennsylvania are equipped with updated AEDs. For her efforts, Silva was recognized as a 2018 L’Oreal Woman of Worth, an honor she shared with nine other extraordinary women. The group recently gathered together in New York City. “It was just wonderful … being around women who have that kind of grit, that conviction that I’ve had since the day that Aidan died,” she said. “It was tremendously empowering.” When asked what Aidan would think of all the great work that has been done in his memory, Silva shared a tender image that has flashed through her mind at each 5K for Aidan. “I picture him with his arms out wide, his head up, smiling at the sun and just spinning in joy,” she said. “I know that Aidan is working through me. I feel very strongly (that) I could not do this on my own. “I know he’s very proud.” For more information, visit aidansheart.org. FA L L 2019
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Alumni Bound by Mission in the Hudson Valley continued from page 33
Active since 2014, the Health Administration Alumni Council has built a thriving mentorship program between alumni and current students while celebrating the professional achievements of its alumni, both informally and with the annual Daniel J. West Award for early career success. Alumni engage in a LinkedIn group and meet annually at the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress on Health Care Leadership in Chicago. The council is also involved in planning the Annual Healthcare Symposium on campus in Scranton. Jonathan Forte ’07, G’09, the vice president of the Health Administration Alumni Council, emphasized how much the alumni council wants to support current students. “Every job that I’ve ever received is a result of some connection that I’ve made as a result of networking or mentorship, and all of that
started for me as a student at The University of Scranton — relying on the professional network of my professors and guest speakers and people who felt it important enough to come in and speak and spend their time with current students,” said Forte, who will start a new job in September as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Choptank Community Health System on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Forte said it’s important to share the knowledge these practitioners gain from being in the real world with students, both in Scranton’s undergraduate and graduate programs. “We want students to have a sense of what being a hospital administrator looks like in today’s health care environment and of applying our Ignatian values learned on campus in health care management,” he said. “This is our opportunity to pay it forward and give back.”
See more photos and video at scranton.edu/journalextras.
Scranton alumni at the 2018 Pennsylvania/New Jersey American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress on Health Care Leadership in Chicago.
Save the Date for the ANNUAL HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM on campus on March 31, 2020. Look for the inaugural Health Administration Alumni Council newsletter in your email inboxes this fall. Join the conversation on LinkedIn in The University of Scranton Health Administration Alumni Council group.
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Class notes included in this edition were submitted prior to July 8, 2019. To submit your own news or see additional class notes, visit scranton.edu/classnotes.
Milestones
ClassNotes
Names in Gold indicate alumnus/alumna is celebrating his/her reunion year.
Joseph C. O’Laughlin, D.O. ’71, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, was honored by the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians for 40 years of service to the citizens of Michigan. O’Laughlin served as chief of gastroenterology at Regional Medical Center, co-founded the Tri-County Center for Endoscopy and Surgery in Clinton Township, Michigan, and served as clinical associate professor of Medicine at Michigan State University. O’Laughlin performed more than 60,000 diagnostic and interventional gastrointestinal endoscopies during his career. Colonel (RET) Richard H. Breen Jr. ’77, Alexandria, Virginia, was recently inducted into the Cardinal O’Hara High School Hall of Fame. Breen’s career in the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense was recognized during a ceremony at the Springfield school campus. Brian J. Benedetti ’78, Wilkes-Barre, was elected chairman of the board of trustees at the Everhart Museum in Scranton. Karen Kraynak Creamer ’80, Swedesboro, New Jersey, was promoted to vice-president, BU Operations Management at Syneos Health Clinical. Syneos Health, with headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a global, fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization that helps customers improve and accelerate the delivery of therapies that impact health worldwide. Melinda Ghilardi ’80, Dunmore, of Munley Law, will serve a three-year term as the unit county governor on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors. Ghilardi’s term began in May 2019.
Bill Canny ’77, H’07, executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, far left, hosts students for a networking event in Washington D.C. The Center for Career Development and Political Science Department sponsored the D.C. networking trip April, which was made possible through alumni funding for the Ignatian Global Citizenship Program. Carl Thorsen ’90, founding partner of Thorsen French Advocacy, a boutique government relations firm, also hosted the group while they were in the city.
Eugene M. Sibick, CAPT (Ret), D.D.S. ’80, Williamsville, New York, recently retired after a distinguished 34-year career with the U.S. Navy. Dr. Sibick has received numerous awards and decorations throughout his career, including the 1988 “Outstanding Dental Officer” for the Northeast Region, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Expert Rifle and Pistol Medals, for which he was affectionately known as “Dead Eye Doc.” Sibick serves as an adjunct professor in the biology department at Medaille College and continues to serve the 8th District Dental Society as the chairman of the Peer Review Committee. Mary Andrews Brown ’81, Maplewood, New Jersey, was one of this year’s four inductees into the DTC Advertising Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is designed to honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the advancement of direct-to-consumer marketing. Robert English ’81, Eatontown, New Jersey, was elected to his fourth three-year term on the Eatontown, New Jersey Board of Education. In addition, English was also chosen to be the board president for the fifth consecutive year.
Jack Garvey ’20 studied abroad at Trinity College Dublin. During his last week in Ireland, his family visited for a trip around Ireland. Pictured are Jack’s father Larry Garvey ’78, brother Daniel ’19 and sister Marie ’21 atop Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holiest mountain, in County Mayo.
Harry A. Lennon ’83, Round Top, New York, has been elected to his fifth term on the Greene County, New York, Legislature, where he serves as the minority leader.
Susan J. Soloway ’83, Annandale, New Jersey, was sworn in as Hunterdon County New Jersey’s fourth female freeholder in 305 years. Soloway, an accountant by trade, was a two-term mayor, formerly served on the Township Land Use Board and is active as a volunteer in the Franklin Township community. Linda Albrechta Garbade ’84, Conklin, New York, was honored by the Catholic Schools of Broome County with the 2019 Richard Bucci Excellence in Teaching award. Anthony P. Trozzolillo ’84, Scranton, was selected for inclusion on 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. Trozzolillo was selected in the category of Personal Injury, General: Defense. Suzanne Flanagan ’87, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was awarded the role of senior account executive with Cutting Edge Technologies, a New Jersey-based IT consulting firm. Flanagan, the mother of a brain cancer survivor, is the founder of the Luke Forward Pediatric Brain Cancer Fund and a member of the Bernard’s Parents with Exceptional Children group, which raises funds to help children with special needs. Timothy Fox ’89, Fleetwood, earned his Ph.D. in leadership from Alvernia University. Michelle Lindsey Karedes ’89, Endicott, New York, was promoted to senior director of Strategic Facility Planning at United Health Services. During her 20 years at the region’s largest health system, she has held a range of positions in management including most recently the system director of Oncology Services. FA L L 2019
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Class Notes
Milestones continued Patricia Savage, Ph.D. G’89, Hollidaysburg, was named one of Pennsylvania Business Central’s 2019 Top Pennsylvania Women in Business CEOs. Savage is president/CEO of Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries. Cathy J. Toner ’89, Downingtown, was promoted to assistant dean, Talent & Staff Development, Community & External Outreach at the Villanova School of Business at Villanova University.
Paul L. D’Andrea, M.D., USAF ’90, Hampton, Virginia, was promoted to colonel in the United States Air Force while deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, June 1.
Sean McFarland ’90, Frederick, Maryland, recently completed a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology at the University of Maryland. Carl Thorsen ’90, Bethesda, Maryland, was named for the sixth consecutive year as one of Washington’s 25 “top lobbyists” (corporate) by The Hill. Thorsen is a founding partner of Thorsen French Advocacy, a boutique government relations firm.
Patricia Miller McEnery ’91, Line Lexington, and Cheryl Ruddock Leatherbarrow ’91, Pipersville, best friends since their University of Scranton days, both completed their doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership and Administration at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.
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Kathleen Zelno ’99, G’04, Los Angeles, California, received the 2019 Program Assessment and Evaluation Corporate Excellence Award from Lockheed Martin Corp., Washington, D.C. Brian Shahum ’00, Portland, Oregon, joined the Brown & Brown NW (BBNW) team as an insurance broker in their Commercial Lines team. Shahum brings with him more than three years of experience in Portland’s commercial real estate market and over 12 years of domestic and international insurance claim knowledge.
Marilyn (Bogusch) Pryle ’91, G’97, Clarks Green, was named the 2019 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year by the state’s Department of Education. Each year, students, parents, teachers and community members submit nominations for the award in recognition of an educator’s achievements both in and out of the classroom. Pryle, an English teacher at Abington Heights High School, has written several books about teaching reading and writing. Visit marilynpryle.com for more information.
Eric D. Brophy ’92, Wall, New Jersey, was named executive director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority on September 10, 2018. Joanna Prokosch Zucker ’92, Scottsdale, Arizona, joined PCA Skin Care, a Colgate Palmolive subsidiary, as their chief executive officer. Christopher D. Pavuk ’94, Peckville, was selected for inclusion on the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List. Pavuk was selected in the category of workers’ compensation. Christopher J. Williams ’94, Roseville, California, graduated on May 30 from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a doctorate in Educational Leadership (DEL). His capstone (dissertation) concentrated on addressing chronic absenteeism within the context of the school district as an ecological system.
Three alumni graduated with doctorates from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and were inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU), the National Dental Honor Society. Their induction into OKU gives them the distinction of completing their doctorate in the top 12 percent of graduating dental students across the nation. Current dean of the School of Dental Medicine Bernard Costello, D.M.D., M.D., FACS ’91 stated those who are part of OKU are “the best of the best.” He was especially proud to see the successes of his fellow alumni from Scranton. From left: Dr. Bernard J. Costello, Maria Genello, D.M.D. ’15, Jessica Hatala, D.M.D. ’15 and Joseph Browning, D.M.D. ’15.
Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies in January 2019.
Sharon Holmes Hartranft, M.Ed. ’95, Chalfont, was appointed science department chair at Archbishop Wood High School where she teachers AP Environmental Science, Honors Forensic Science and Biology. Timothy M. Gallen ’96, Hatfield, was appointed to the finance committee for the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, effective September 2019. Daniel M. Stanislawczyk ’97, Lake Worth, Florida, was named president and CEO of Seagull Services, Inc. Kelly Thompson-Brazill ’99, Raleigh, North Carolina, was appointed director of the Adult
Jonathan A. Cote, Ed.D. ’02, Califon, New Jersey, earned his Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University in August 2018. Dr. Cote is the registrar and teaches physics at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. Jennifer Menichini ’02, Pittston Township, a lawyer with the firm Joyce, Carmody and Moran PC, became the chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in May. Rachel Trommelen Wellons ’02, New Orleans, Louisiana, has been elected to the position of chair-elect for the Vestibular Rehabilitation Special Interest Group of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. She will serve in this position during 2019-20 and then move into the chair position in July 2020. Wellons is an assistant professor of Clinical Physical Therapy at LSU Heath. Stephanie Longo ’03, Dunmore, has received a Gold Award in the History category from the Nonfiction Book Awards via the Nonfiction Authors Association for her 2018 publication Italians of Lackawanna County published by Arcadia Publishing. The Nonfiction Book Awards recognize literary excellence in more than 150 categories. The program honors books yearround, judging them based on a scoring system that evaluates the quality of the writing and production of the book. A book can receive a bronze, silver or gold award based on the final evaluation score. Colin J. O’Boyle ’04, Plymouth Meeting, a shareholder at Elliott Greenleaf PC in Blue Bell, became the chair-elect of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division at the conclusion of the association’s annual meeting in May 2019. Jonathan Miknis ’06, Dillsburg, graduated from Penn State University with a master’s degree in nursing with the adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner option in May 2019.
Class Notes Jonathan Poplawsky, Ph.D. ’07, Knoxville, Tennessee, a materials scientist at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, develops and links advanced characterization techniques that improve our ability to see and understand atomic-scale features of diverse materials for energy and information technologies. Poplawsky’s article, “Probing Materials to Improve Energy and Information Technologies,” was published by the U.S. Department of Energy Science News in its January 2019 edition. Adam Z. Rosinski, S.J. ’07, Raleigh, North Carolina, a Jesuit in the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday June 8, 2019, at the Fordham University Church in the Bronx, New York. Father Rosinski’s first assignment as an ordained priest is to serve as parochial vicar at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh. William T. Colona ’08, Teaneck, New Jersey, accepted a position at Fordham University as director of Government Relations, Federal, and Urban Affairs. Jacqueline DeFilippis ’08, Somerset, New Jersey, a school counselor at the Samuel E. Shull Middle School in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, was recognized as the 2018-19 Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year for the second time. Daisy Vélez, Psy.D. ’09, Norfolk, Virginia, earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from La Salle University. Vélez specialized in health psychology by completing her internship in medical/health psychology at University of Florida and residency in consultation and liaison
Mark Mensack ’84 proposing to Ellen Postupack Brylewski ’84 at Reunion Weekend juxtaposed against a photo of the couple during their student days at Scranton. They met at Scranton during Orientation and became fast friends. After college, they married other people but reconnected a few years ago.
psychology at Jackson Health System in Miami. She recently earned her license and is now a psychologist at the Hampton VA Medical Center in Virginia. Dana M. Poloni ’11, Nazareth, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2019. Christopher H. Nebzydoski ’12, Pleasant Mount, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2019. Alexander Zygmunt, M.D. ’12, Cincinnati, Ohio, was named to the 10-member Residents and Fellow Board of the Journal of Child Neurology. Zygmunt earned his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2016 and is currently a resident in child neurology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Elena Habersky ’13, Dallas, was awarded a fellowship grant through the American University in Cairo and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to conduct ethnographic research in Uganda during March 2019. Habersky’s project examines how African refugee populations, namely Congolese and Darfuri communities, assemble, become and escape in urban settings from Amman to Cairo to Kampala. Her research hopes to show how migration within the Global South changes the humanitarian governments and societies in which these refuges reside. During her month in Uganda, she was able to connect with Father Henry Mulindwa ’07, a local Diocesan priest and Scranton alumnus whom she met in January 2013 on the Christianity in Africa travel course. David M. Linhares ’13, Scranton, was recently promoted to client delivery director for Conifer Health Solutions based in Frisco, Texas. Linhare will have both client services management and revenue cycle performance responsibilities for one of the company’s largest clients, Tenet Healthcare. Tenet Healthcare currently operates 65 acute care hospitals nationwide. Nicholas J. Minissale ’13, Neptune, New Jersey, was awarded the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2019. April Francia ’15, Philadelphia, gained admission to the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Photo taken during the Commencement Weekend Legacy Reception of Thomas A. Langan, D.D.S. ’83, South Abington Township, and his five sons, all graduates of the University. Dr. Langan’s father, Eugene Langan Jr., was a 1958 graduate of The University of Scranton and his grandfather, the late Eugene Langan Sr., was a graduate of St. Thomas College’s Class of 1934. From left to right: Nathan ’19, Colin ’16, Brendan ’11, Thomas Sr. ’83, Kevin ’14, and Thomas Jr. ’09.
Stephen Gadomski ’15, Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded a 2019 Gates Cambridge Scholarship. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is awarded to the most academically outstanding and socially committed United States citizens. There are 34 scholars selected to be part of the 2019 class of Gates-Cambridge Scholars at the University of Cambridge.
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Class Notes
Marriages Allison Keller ’96 to Shawn Coleman Susan Chrusciel ’04 to Nikitas Marangos Sean Gibney ’09 to Jessica Moore G’13 Christina Guariglia ’10 to Ryan Auld ’10 Desiree Basilii ‘11 to Chris Fletcher ‘11 Adria DeSimone ’11 to Michael Lampman ’11
Morgan Mayenschein ’12 to Ryan Caviston ’15, G’17 Ariel Ruggiero ’12 to Timothy McKeever ’12 Molly Furlan ’13 to Patrick Cassidy ’13 Sarah Gibbons ’13 to James Olechna ’12 Meghan Giunta ’13 to Eric Buonpastore ’13
Emily Keim ’13 to Daniel Shaw ’13 Shannon O’Gorman ’15 to Jonathan Grueter ’14 Alexis Ribeiro ’15 to John Spadaro ’14 Kristen Kispert ’16 to Ralph Petagna ’16, G’17 Emily Williams ’16 to Frank Pallien ’16
Alexis Ribeiro’ 15 married John Spadaro ’14 on April 6, 2019, in Morristown, New Jersey, surrounded by some of their closest friends from Scranton including, from left, Mike Deliberti ’13, Ellen Walker ’15, Brie Thompson ’15, Matt Salvatore ’13, Alex Tomlinson ’13, Jared Miranda ’14, Elissia Gobencion ’15, Ross Danzig ’15, Jennifer Coco ’15, Taylor Ricciardi ’15, Jessica Lyman ’14, Kristen Frost ’15, Liam Connor ’14, Connor Mcleod ’15, Derek Klingman ’14, Mike Romano ’16, Justin Klingman ’15, Patrick Daley ’13, Tim Lohmann ’14, Brian Lattanzio ’14, Katie O’Hanlon ’15, Tim Cox ’13, Dana Ranney ’15, Ryan Smith ’16, Loren Mastroberti ’16, Tom O’Connor ’15, Bill McGuiness ’13, Matt Basara ’16, Steve Kilty ’14 and Ricard Loeffler ’15.
Emily Williams ’16 married Frank Pallien ’16 with many Royals in attendance, including, from bottom left: Kim Pavlick, Ph.D., communications professor at Scranton, Monica O’Malley ‘18 and Morgan O’Malley ‘13. Standing from left: Patrick O’Malley ‘16, Emily Granville ‘18, Nathan Williams ’19, Lauren Hart ‘14, Samantha Milazzo ‘16, Emily Williams Pallien ‘16, James Roche ‘16, Frank Pallien ‘16, Jordan Leonard ‘12, Brooke Leonard ‘14, Meghan Loven ‘13 and Robert Loven ‘09.
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Eric Buonpastore ’13 married Meghan Giunta ’13 on Aug. 4, 2018, in Long Island, New York, surrounded by many Scranton alumni, including, from left, Terence Murphy ’13, Edward Zdanowicz ’13, Michelle Trautmann ’11, Sue Cates Browne ’89, Sam Juliano ’13, Megan Gordon Tappin ’97, Eric Buonpastore ’13, Jack Hambrose ’13, Meghan Giunta ’13, Kim Townsend ’13, Jerry Mantone ’13, Kaitlin Giunta ’13, Sean O’Connor ’13, Lindsay Ward ’13, Evan Canavan ’13, Catherine Appell ’13, Melissa Molinari, Catherine Fischer ’13, Colleen Davey ’13 and Garret Wolan ’13.
Class Notes Christine Guariglia ‘10 married Ryan Auld ‘10 on March 9, 2019.
On June 30, 2018, many Scranton graduates joined Ralph Petagna ’16, G’17 and Kristen Kispert ’16 as they celebrated their wedding in South Jersey, including, Sarah Hayes ’16, Bridget Devlin ’16, Melissa Calascibetta ’16, Patricia Teta ’16, Nora McGoldrick ’16, Kristen Petagna ’16, Ann Petagna ’86, Ralph Petagna Jr. ’16, G’17, Danielle Jakubik ’16, Kasey Fitzgerald ’16, Alice Kispert ’82, Kimberly Kispert ’16, Katy Kosick ’16, Evan Siegel ’15, Megan Rohleder ’15, Matt Finor ’15, Josh Kasman ’16, Brendan Aker ’16, Brendan Williams ’16, Kayla Hatki ’17, Brian Lavado ’15, Eric Kispert ’87, Brianne Hooper ’16, Nick Hughes ’17, Peter Newman ’17, Scott Szemenyei ’15, Dave Kearney ’15, Morgan Bernholz ’15, Mike Volpe ’14, Joe Smith ’17, Shaun Bogart ’15, Dan Ortiz ’15, Ryan Tolbert ’15, Ryan Lumia ’15, Kristi Vito ’16, Courtney Barron ’16, Mark Schork ’17, Charlette Woelkers ’17, Lexi McGivern ’17, Doug Brown ’17, Caitlin O’Connor ’18, CJ Ventura ’16, Julia Joyce ’15, Briana Mondiello ’16, Rich Grippi ‘91, Paul Grippi ‘92, Janet Grippi ‘93, Kelly Simon ’16, Mariah Turner ’16, John Huller ’16, Jim Dembesky ’14, Liz Zajac ’16, Julia Dolan ’16, Katie DiPlacido ’16, Natalie Movsesian ’16, Matt Horn ’16, Taylor Ryan ’17, Jonathan Gonzalez ’16, Karl Kispert ’16, Jackie Bilik ’16, Nichole Formicola ’16, Sarah Farnworth ’16, Kathleen Liebsch ’17, Ed Westlake ’16, Devin Sullivan-Phillips ’16, Tara Hambrose ’18, Annie Ferrario ’16, Lauren Welkie ’17, Christine Molitoris ’16, Shane Schmauder ’17, Ralph Petagna Sr. ’86 and John McGivern ’86.
Sean Gibney ’09 married Jessica Moore G’13 on Oct. 6, 2018, in Montichiello, Italy. Many Scranton friends celebrated with them. Molly Furlan ‘13 married Patrick Cassidy ‘13 on Feb. 23, 2019, in Lansdale surrounded by family, friends and fellow Scranton alumni, including the Rev. Richard Malloy, S.J., Colleen Duffy Surace ‘03, Ryan Surace ‘03, Peggy Wang ‘12, Caitlin Flanigan ‘16, Christin Lavin ‘12, Allison Carbone ‘12, Marcus Tomaino ‘13, Michael Martin ‘12, Kimberly Hosgood Martin ‘12, Brianna McCullough ‘13, Nicholas Cassidy ‘17, Heather Glovach ‘17, Matt Amling ‘13, Patrick Jaraique ‘13, Mike Balcon’13, Tara Gerke ‘13, Tom Conte ‘13, Edward Dylewski ‘07, Gina-Lou Desplantes ‘13 and Will Reddington ‘13.
Susan Chrusciel ’04 married Nikitas Marangos on May 18, 2019, at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, New Jersey. Cynthia Vincenti ’02 served as maid of honor.
Emily Keim ‘13 married Daniel Shaw ‘13 at Mount Ida Farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia, on Nov. 3, 2018. FA L L 2019
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Class Notes Several Scranton alumni, faculty and staff gathered on Sept. 2, 2018, to celebrate the marriage of Ryan Caviston ‘15, G’17 and Morgan Mayenschein ‘12. Pictured, from left are: Gregory Stahl ’82, P’14, the Rev. Michael Bryant ’74, Evan Siegel ’15, DPT ’18, Megan Rohleder ’15, DPT ’18, Gregory Mooney ’13, Anastasia Zygmunt- Mooney ’13, G’15, Marion Munley-Cartwright ’83, Dr. Mary Ann Desando ’83, Merrill Mayenschein ’76, Morgan Mayenschein-Caviston ’12, Ryan Caviston ’15, G’17, Bridget Rice ’12, G’14, Kelsi Johnson ’12, Brian Riedmiller ’07, Chelsie Baakman ’12, G’14, Annmarie Tarabola ’12, Brian Drozdick ’94, Noelle Drozdick (staff), the Rev. John Sivalon (faculty) and Dr. Christopher Jones ’02.
Adria DeSimone ‘11, G’14 married Michael Lampman ‘11, D.P.T. ’14 on May 20, 2018, surrounded by many Scranton alumni, including Evan Garner ‘11, Michael Tornetta ‘11, Virginia Malloy ‘11, Steve Conlon ‘11, Leigh Ann Schaefer ‘11, Danielle Fahrion ‘11, Kyle Corrado ‘11, Kristen Ryfel ‘11, Kelly Calabrese ‘10, Carrie Colaianni ‘11, Lauren Kelly ‘10, Jeff Orloski ‘11, Brendan Langan ‘11, Erin Judge ‘08, Rena Loughlin ‘13, Chris D’Elia ‘11, Olivia Kozinski ‘11, Jeremy Dowiack ‘11, Taryn Gaffney ‘11, Keenan Dowd ‘11, Emily Boyce ‘11, Steve Bruestle ‘11, Dana O’Donnell ‘11 and Ted Abbot ‘11.
On June 28, 2018, Desiree Basilii ‘11 and Chris Fletcher ‘11 celebrated their marriage at The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, with, from left, Hanna Basilii ‘19, Kyle Corrado ‘11, Luke Malone ‘11, Megan KopeckiCox ‘11, Kara Kilgallen ‘11, Elise Hanson ‘11, Jennifer King-Reel ‘11, Tyler Cox ‘11, Amy Hanson ‘14, Matt Kaplan ‘08, ‘09, Casey Pavlick-Kaplan ‘11, Jaci Dygos ‘11, Michael Basilii ‘21, Sal LaMarca ‘19 and Tommy Dalessio ‘10.
James Olechna ’12 and Sarah Gibbons ’13 were married by Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., University president, on July 1, 2017, in Madonna della Strada Chapel. Pictured, from left: Colleen McCormick ‘13, Leslie Connelly ’13, G’14, Kristina Grande Hill ‘12, G’15, Timothy Lapowsky ‘13, Sydney Parker ’13, G ‘16, Rosie Casey Lapowsky ‘13, Christian Gabucci ‘13, Nicole Trubin ’13, G’14, Maura Regan ’13, G’14, Joseph Daniel ‘12, Adam Gault ‘12, Jared Hill, M.D. ‘12, G’14, David Hopp ‘12, Megan Heaslip ‘12, Michael Martin ‘12, Edward Kloniecke III, M.D. ‘11, G’13, Kathleen Tuohy ‘12, Kimberly Hosgood Martin ‘12, Kevin Gibbons ‘10, Brendan Reedy ‘12, Christina Arbucias ‘12, James Olechna ‘12, G’14, Brett Niehaus ‘12, Jillian O’Grady ’13, G’15, Sarah Gibbons Olechna ’13, G’14, Thomas Mackinnon, vice president for University Advancement, Edmund Scacchitti III ‘13, G’15, Hanna Joyce ‘13, Jessica Scisione ‘13, Scott Pilarz, S.J. H’15, University president, Emily Farrell ‘13, Laura Gibbons Browne ‘08, Justin Frick ‘11, G’14, Caila Zappala ‘13, Timothy Gibbons ‘05, Noelle Malone ‘13, Christina Cognetti ’12, G’13, Jon Galante ‘12, Harold Jones ‘87 and Joseph Wechsler ‘81. Present, but not pictured: Robert Olechna ‘08 and Mari Mele ‘86.
Shannon O’Gorman ‘15 married Jonathan Grueter ‘14 on March 23, 2019, at The Ashford Estate in Allentown, New Jersey. The newlyweds are pictured with Scranton alumni, friends and family, including Shannon’s mother, Jacqueline Christie O’Gorman ‘87, and Jonathan’s father, James Grueter ‘85.
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Class Notes Tim McKeever ‘12 married Ariel Ruggiero ‘12 on Aug. 24, 2018, in Drexel Hill surrounded by their family and friends, including many Scranton alumni.
Births & Adoptions A daughter, Genevieve Cerise, to Amy and Sean Buggy ’92, Philadelphia
1
2
3
4
A son, Lucius Enrico, to Greg and Jeanette Hand Archetto ’99, Warminster 1 A daughter, Cassidy Paige, to Russell and Christine Potts Miller ’02, Collegeville A son, Connor Matthew, to Matthew and Victoria Swift Mound ’02, Morris Plains, New Jersey 2 A son, Peter Jia, to Na Na and Jonathan Miknis ’06, Dillsburg 3
5
A daughter, Savannah Livingston, to Peter ’06 and Ashley Ferguson Buechner ’07, G’09, Sparta, New Jersey 4
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A daughter, Elliot Marilu, to Thomas and Stephanie Tantum Conserette ’08, G’18, Yardley 5 A daughter, Kassia, to Chris ’08 and Allison Martyn Samuels ’08, Centennial, Colorado 6 A son, Evan Joseph, to Joseph ’08 and Kaitlyn O’Connor Yourkavitch ’09, G12, Reading 7 A son, Aiden Alexander, to Pete and Taylor Ainley Daniele ’09, Dumont, New Jersey 8
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A son, Theodore Robert, to Joseph ’10 and Mallory O’Hara DeLullo ’10, Newport News, Virginia 9 A daughter, Lily Josephine, to Paul ’12, G’12 and Kristin Leccese Luongo ’12, G’13, Scranton 10 A son, Lucas John, to John ’13 and Kaitlin Delpriora Lyons ’12, Middletown, New Jersey 11
FA L L 2019
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Class Notes
“May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Eternal rest grant unto them, Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”
In Memoriam Irving Cader ’39, Clarks Summit Wyland W. Snyder ’42, Simi Valley, California Manuel Finkelstein, Ph.D. ’50, North Adams, Massachusetts Gerald P. Nolan, M.D. ’50, New Albany, Ohio Edwin Utan ’50, Scranton Eugene J. Harrison ’51, Archbald Dominick A. Cruciani Jr., M.D. ’54, Clarks Green Louis R. Pettinato ’54, Old Forge Lewis C. Druffner Jr., M.D. ’55, Avoca John Tully, D.D.S. ’55, Gettysburg Robert P. Holland ’56, Alpharetta, Georgia Harry J. Nageli Jr. ’56, G’65, Kingston Gregory J. Provell ’56, Toms River, New Jersey Charles E. Rome ’56, West Pittston Sylvester Chapa ’57, Scranton Basil M. Castner ’58, Sewickley Arthur J. DeNero ’58, Naples, Florida William Glennon ’58, Wall, New Jersey Joseph A. Lavelle, Ph.D. ’58, Coopersburg Joseph H. Tolan ’58, Dunmore Francis J. O’Malley ’59, Westport, Connecticut Joseph G. (Jerry) Coolican ’60, Whitesboro, New York Carmen Gigliotti ’60, Carbondale
Joseph M. Lombardo Sr., M.D. ’60, Pittston Joseph M. Mucciolo Sr. ’60, Spring Brook Township Anthony P. Emmi ’61, Scranton Donald T. Hall ’62, Scranton Bernard J. Walsh ’64, Downingtown Albert J. Treski ’65, Moosic John G. Voytko ’65, Spring Brook Township Martin L. Wimmer, D.D.S. ’65, Bridgewater, New Jersey Frank M. Radaszewski ’67, Wilkes-Barre Michael D. Riley, Ph.D. ’67, Lancaster James W. Summers ’67, Issaquah, Washington John A. Klebauskas ’68, Scranton Ronald J. Amorino ’69, Ridgewood, New Jersey Perry L. Billington ’69, ’78, G’84, Flemington, New Jersey Peter Loftus ’69, Waverly Alexander J. Marker III ’69, Spring Brook Township Hugh K. Murray ’69, Honesdale Louis Slonina ’69, Dupont Leonard A. Gallo ’70, Scranton Alex J. Poplawsky, Ph.D. ’70, Danville Chris J. Fedele ’71, Covington Township Frank G. Ryczak Sr. ’71, Scott Township Joseph A. Coleman Jr. ’72, Avoca Michael Leddy, D.M.D. ’72, St. Lawrence
James W. Powers ’72, Arlington, Texas James Daniels ’75, Carbondale Joseph M. Sparrow Jr. ’75, Carbondale Robert D. Boyle ’76, Madison, New Jersey Raymond K. Stives ’76, San Diego, California Timothy H. Gilroy ’78, Philadelphia Stanley J. Rzucidlo ’78, G’86, Jermyn Lenore Schimes ’78, G’81, Scranton Joseph Heitman III ’79, Spring Brook Township Kevin J. May ’79, Roaring Brook Township Christina Santangelo, M.D. ’79, Toms River, New Jersey Philip E. Lonergan ’81, Dallas Lori Lewis Esposito ’86, Binghamton, New York Michael T. Savitsky ’81, Glenburn Township Denise Christie Anhalt ’87, Newtown Linda Bogle Thorbahn ’87, Malvern Kimberly Rupp ’90, G’02, Whites Crossing Mark J. DeAntonio ’92, Carbondale Kevin McDonnell ’95, Laflin Sarah E. Fabricatore ’10, Dunmore
In Memoriam Friends & Family Gretel Bush, mother of Peter M. Bush ’79 Dianne Chapa, wife of Thaddeus Chapa ’62 Patricia Cox, mother of Jack Cox ’80 and grandmother of Tim Cox ’13 and Jacquelyn Guida ’14 Marie Farley, wife of Gerald Farley ’51 and sister of Ralph Imbalzano ’68, G’74
Jane Feeney, mother of Eugene Feeney ’84 Joseph Greco, father of John Greco, M.D. ’76 and Joseph Greco, M.D. ’83 Thomas Kelly, father of Stephen C. Kelly ’91 Nicole Orue and Georgia Orue, daughters of John Orue ’81 William Walsh, father of Scott Walsh ’86 and Tracey Walsh ’89
We Want to Hear from You!
Please send your class notes, photos, address changes and feedback. There are four easy ways to reach us: ONLINE: scranton.edu/BeEngaged E-MAIL: alumni@scranton.edu FAX: 570.941.4097 STANDARD MAIL: The Scranton Journal, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510 Class Notes Publication Policy: The University of Scranton accepts submissions of news of professional achievements or personal milestones for inclusion in the Class Notes section of The Scranton Journal. Submissions can be submitted electronically to alumni@scranton.edu or by mail to Marge Gleason, class notes editor, University of Scranton, 800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510. Digital photos should be 300dpi, JPG or TIFF format and at least 3x5 inches. The University of Scranton reserves complete editorial rights to all content submitted for Class Notes, and posts and publishes listings in as timely a fashion as possible, as space permits. Reasonable steps are taken to verify the accuracy of the information submitted, but the University cannot guarantee the accuracy of all submissions. Publication of achievements or milestones does not constitute endorsement by The University of Scranton. The University of Scranton is committed to providing a safe and nondiscriminatory employment and educational environment. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other status protected by law. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination and sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policies may be directed to Elizabeth M. Garcia, executive director, Office of Equity and Diversity, 570.941.6645.
48
THE SCRANTON JOURN A L
Discovering the New Frontier with Tom Tate ’56 An alumnus’ desire to be a part of something greater than himself leads him to the stars.
The Estate Society
T H E U NI V ERSI T Y O F S C R A N TO N
The winds of change were blowing all across America in 1956. On The Ed Sullivan Show, 60 million viewers watched Elvis Presley sing and dance his way from their living rooms into legend. In Montgomery, Alabama, Martin Luther King’s leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott helped usher in the Civil Rights Movement. And, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a young Tom Tate ’56 graduated from the University eager to become a part of something extraordinary. At Scranton, Tate had been a member of the ROTC and had played on the baseball team as the Tomcats/Royals starting catcher under legendary coach Peter Carlesimo. “The Jesuits taught me, and continue to teach current students, to look beyond what is in front of them,” he said. “My Jesuit education provided character building and selfdiscipline with rigorous leadership training from the military sciences.” After earning his bachelor’s in marketing, Second Lieutenant Tate reported to Fort Bliss in Texas for anti-aircraft artillery and guided missile training. After completing his term of military service, Tate began working on a classified project developing missile and surface radar at Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in New Jersey for the United States Air Force’s Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. Inspired by President Kennedy’s “Moonshot” speech, he drove to California to find work in the new frontier of the space industry and landed a job at the Space Division of Rockwell International. While at Rockwell, he met Arlene Johnson, a NASA employee in Edwards Air Force Base’s flight test program, and the couple married soon after. Tate rose to the position
of director of Space Operations Pioneering at Rockwell, where he helped develop ground-breaking technology for the Gemini Paraglider, Apollo, Apollo/Soyuz, and Space Shuttle programs. He also found the time to earn his J.D. In 1973, Tate began working as a technical consultant and counsel to the House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. He spent the next 15 years in Washington, D.C., procuring government funding for space exploration. Tate went on to serve as vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), a trade association representing 54 companies that manufacture aerospace and military flight equipment. The University bestowed the Frank J. O’Hara Award in Science and Technology upon him in 1991. Tate resigned from AIA in 2003 when Arlene fell ill; when she died in 2013, many friends from their NASA and Rockwell days comforted him through her passing. Tate’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder of where a Scranton degree can take you. Throughout his life, he demonstrated his love for the University in a number of ways, including securing notable speakers for Scranton’s commencements, bringing the Joseph M. McDade Congressional Papers Collection to the Weinberg Memorial Library, endowing The Tate Family Scholarship and choosing membership in The Estate Society. “I know that with philanthropy comes promise and possibilities,” he said. “I want the next generation of explorers to receive a Catholic and Jesuit education that takes them to discovering their great frontier. Together, our support can redirect their future in ways unimagined.”
For helpful planning tools, articles and spotlights on Estate Society members, please visit our website scranton.edu/plannedgiving. For personalized illustrations or options, contact Carol Maculloch, director of Planned Giving, at carol.maculloch@scranton.edu or 570.941.7799.
NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PPCO
800 Linden Street • Scranton, PA 18510
SAVE the DATE 2019-2020 18th Annual President’s Business Council Award Dinner
Oct 10
University Open House & Alumni Legacy Family Reception
Oct 20
University Open House & Alumni Legacy Family Reception
Nov 3
Regional Christmas Receptions Dates Coming Soon
Dec 2019
Shamrockin’ Eve
March 13
Day of Service
April 18
Scholarship Brunch
April 19
5.06 Day of Giving
May 6
Commencement Weekend
May 29-31
50-Year Class Procession at Commencement
May 31
Class of 2020 Legacy Family Reception and Photo
May 30
Reunion Weekend
June 12-14
PLAN TO JOIN US for these UPCOMING EVENTS
The University of Scranton • University Advancement • scranton.edu/advancement
