42 minute read
Alumni Notes
Suzie Hunter ’14 and Alex Robertson ’20 prepare to host UHart’s Day of Giving Kickoff Party live this past March 10.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUZIE HUNTER AND ALEX ROBERTSON
ALUMNI NOTES
Dear Alumni Community, It is not surprising to me that the University of Hartford alumni I have met over the past year have so many incredible stories to tell. What is remarkable is that each of these stories, though unique, contains shared experiences and values that are reflected by our very special alumni community. From professional accomplishments to love stories and social justice to service work, our alumni strive for excellence, live with purpose, and are making the world a better place.
I never tire of hearing the ways the people and relationships established at the University of Hartford have played a pivotal role in the self-discovery, growth, and boundary-pushing experiences of our alumni. These sentiments ring true for graduates from the early 50s to our students completing their degrees this spring. Over the decades, our University has offered students more than just the opportunities for intellectual growth, but also a strong sense of community filled with Hawk pride.
These stories, past and present, have been the inspiration for the creative, innovative work you see reflected in our alumni engagement efforts. It is truly an honor to use the stories and experiences of our alumni to buoy our momentum during difficult times and to encourage our current students to fly high.
As you flip through H magazine, another collection of inspiring stories from our community, revel in the connection you have to everyone in our vast network, and I invite you to reach out to share your story.
Caitlin Trinh Senior Director of Alumni Engagement
—Tom Ford
FOLLOW THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION:
facebook.com/UHartfordAlumni instagram.com/UHartAlumni twitter.com/UHartfordAlumni
DEGREE KEY
A Associate Degree AD Artist Diploma C Sixth-Year Certificate D Doctorate GPD Graduate Professional Diploma M Master’s Degree
No letter designation before a year indicates a bachelor’s degree (or last year attended). P indicates the parent of a student or alumna/us. indicates photo.
Contribute a Note!
The University of Hartford alumni network is vast, with a diverse community of over 88,000 strong throughout the U.S. and around the globe. UHart alumni are making their marks everywhere—in the arts, in business, in STEM, in government, and more—and have incredible stories to tell. You were once students, and now you’re alumni for life. Keep those bonds strong and stay connected.
Class notes are posted throughout the year online. A selection of notes submitted during the 2020 calendar year are included in this issue.
MAIL: Class Notes Editor, Development and Alumni Affairs, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117
ONLINE: hartford.edu/submit-note
1956
John Massimino (HAS) recently judged Gallery 53’s Annual Fall Art Show in Meriden, Conn. He has traveled nationally and abroad as an artist, teacher, lecturer, and juror. He is well known in Connecticut and has been honored by many arts organizations, including Who’s Who in the East, USA. Massimino currently conducts critique classes and workshops in creative design, drawing, painting, and advanced studies of the past masters.
1965
Marilyn Kraj Sanford (A&S) moved to Palm Bay, Florida, a few of years ago with her husband. She maintains her tax practice and serves on the board of their Fairway Crossings HOA as treasurer. She also volunteers for the Military Officers Association of America.
1970
Marc Sommer (A&S) was inducted into the Animal Chiropractic Hall of Fame in October 2019. He completed his specialty training in 1994 and has been treating animals ever since. He co-authored the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association’s code of ethics and was a previous member of its board of directors.
1971
John Reber (A&S) retired after 22 years with the National Park Service. He worked in the physical sciences program in the Intermountain Regional Office in Colorado.
1972
Reverend Denise Tracy (A&S) was appointed lead chaplain of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. Tracy has had an extensive and fulfilling career as a member of the clergy and has also been a longtime supporter of the University of Hartford. [13]
Reverend Denise Tracy (A&S)
1973
Last Nov. 26—Thanksgiving Day— marked the 40th anniversary of Keith Brown (A&S) as the host of WWUH’s show Gay Spirit Radio, one of the oldest gay radio shows in the country. Each week since 1980, Brown has connected Hartford’s LBGTQ+ community through music, news, and interviews, in a show seen as the area’s “original queer social media” and “bulletin board.” “The motto of the Gay Spirit Radio show is ‘The truth about our lives for a change.’ That means that I continue to broadcast information about the LGBTQ+ minority, the sexual minorities in the U.S., to educate the populace,” says Brown. The show airs on WWUH (91.3 FM) each Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and on Facebook each Friday at noon.
Seeking 1974 Newspapers
Have you saved any old UHart student newspapers from the 1970s? UHart currently does not have the following editions of ACME Newsservice in its newspaper collection: Vol 1. No. 26, April 17, 1974; and Vol 1. No. 27, April 24, 1974. If anyone has these issues and is willing to donate them, please contact archives@hartford.edu.
1977
Dr. Barbara Bartlik (A&S) was rated a “Top Doctor” for 2020 by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. In 2019, she was selected among New York magazine’s Best Doctors and named a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Bartlik is currently in private practice in Manhattan.
1978
Mark Ricciardelli (M Barney), founder and manager of PlumBank Advisors, LLC, serves as co-chair of the Old Saybrook Cares Committee, a program launched this summer to help town residents struggling through the pandemic. The program offers grants to be used toward basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, utilities, child care, or transportation costs.
1980
Marquis Who’s Who has presented Patrick Vaccariello (Hartt) with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. Vaccariello is a recognized musical director and conductor who has worked both internationally and nationally, including Broadway productions such as Cabaret, Annie, Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, and West Side Story. He will serve as musical director of The Music Man starring Hugh Jackman, opening on Broadway in the spring of 2021.
1981
Annette Lemieux (HAS) is among notable women artists—including Carrie Mae Weems, Yoko Ono, Helen Frankenthaler, and the Guerrilla Girls—in New Britain Museum of Art’s Some Day is Now: Women, Art and Social Change—an extensive exhibit honoring the centennial of women’s suffrage. Lemieux’s work Spin subverts the imagery of the American flag with photos of Scout from the film To Kill a Mockingbird. [1]
Reverend Denise Tracy (A&S)
1982
Peter Baldwin (Hartt) was featured on Connecticut’s Fox 61 News following his recovery from COVID-19 last summer.
Known locally as the “singing carpenter,” and often the life of the party, he greeted his family and friends with a rendition of “The Impossible Dream” upon his discharge. [14]
Peter Baldwin (Hartt)
1984
Television pioneer Chuck Pagano (CETA, M’07 A&S) was featured in Legends Behind the Lens, a series of industry profiles by SportsVideo.org. The feature details his long and industry-defining career as an innovator at ESPN.
Dominic Talotta (Hartt) was honored as the 2020–21 Teacher of the Year by Plainville Community Schools in Connecticut. Talotta has been an educator for 36 years, mainly serving as the band director for Plainville High School. He is described as having the “perfect balance of attributes that make a teacher truly outstanding. He is a respected expert in his craft and a highly skilled musician and director.”
1985
Alejandro Tkaczevski (Hartt) and Victoria Gobetz (HAS) are happily married and living the country life in Greenfield, N.H. The two married in 2017 after meeting at UHart. Alejandro teaches piano privately and writes music. [6]
Alejandro Tkaczevski (Hartt) and Victoria Gobetz (HAS)
1987
Nigel Corner (Barney) is among four new deputy lieutenants for North Yorkshire, England, recently appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant Johanna Ropner, with Her Majesty the Queen’s agreement. Corner is also the managing director of his family’s business that is involved in the manufacturing, retail, and servicing sectors in North East England.
1988
The Boston Globe named Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and former UHart baseball All-American Jeff Bagwell (Barney) in “The Best Cape League Players Who Made It to the Majors, Position-By-Position.” The Cape Cod League is considered to be the best amateur league in the country. Bagwell played for Chatham in 1987–88.
Monica Corton (Hartt), known in the entertainment industry as a music activist and music internet theorist, is founder and CEO of Go to Eleven Entertainment/Go to Eleven Entertainment Music Royalty Fund—a women-led full-service music company focused on servicing female songwriters, artists, and producers through its publishing, artist services, and production divisions. Corton is also president of Monica Corton Consulting, which works in publishing, copyright, licensing, royalties, and business strategies. In a recent interview on celebrityaccess.com, Corton talks about the music industry and the pandemic, technology and the future of music, and more.
David C. Robinson (M’88 Barney, P’23) of West Hartford, Conn., has been elected to chair of the board of directors at the MetroHartford Alliance. Robinson is the executive vice president and general counsel at The Hartford—a role he assumed in June 2015—where he oversees the law department, government affairs, and compliance.
1989
Jolie Rocke (Hartt) has been accepted onto the 2020–22 Texas Touring Roster by the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA). She progressed through a rigorous review by the TCA, an organization that provides grants to help bring in talent so that all Texans can enjoy performances and presentations in their own community. Rocke serves as chair of the Alumni of Color Task Force for UHart’s Alumni Board of Directors.
1990
Lisa Fasulo (A&S) was featured in Zip06. com’s “Busy Times” for her efforts to keep the community safe and healthy during the COVID-19 crisis. Fasulo is director of health for the town of Essex, Conn.
Boston Architectural College (BAC) named Sydney Leo (M Barney) vice president of finance and administration. She brings 30 years of experience serving commercial and nonprofit organizations, and historically black colleges and universities. Prior to BAC, Leo was the national education advisory leader at BDO USA, LLP.
BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
UHart’s alumni website highlights alumni who are impacting the world in meaningful and interesting ways. Have a story to tell? Access spotlights at hartford.edu/alumni-spotlights.
1991
Todd Zavorskas (A&S) is founder of Zombie Leader, an organization spreading good deeds for national and local charities “one bite at a time.” A selfproclaimed “geek,” and an avid collector and Comic Con vendor, Zavorskas has worked with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for the past 25 years, helping them raise nearly $212,000 through events. In 2016, he was a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Connecticut-Westchester- Hudson Valley Chapter Man of the Year. [10]
Todd Zavorskas (A&S)
1993
Datuk Seri Kassim Saripuddin (M Barney) is the new Malaysian Aviation Commission executive chairman. He is regarded as a “consummate professional civil servant who has served the government for nearly four decades, most recently as secretary-general in the Federal Territories Ministry.” Saripuddin was also previously an adviser to the Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo, and education and training attaché for the Malaysian High Commission in London.
1994
Jones Soda Co. appointed Joseph Jankowski (Barney, M’98 Barney) of Loveland, Ohio, as head of U.S. sales. He brings 18 years of experience in direct store delivery and alternate delivery methods. Most recently, he served as the vice president of retail sales for Zenabis Global’s USA division.
1995
Joe Bouchard (Hartt), see recently released album, p. 40.
David Cordani (Barney), CEO of Cigna Corporation, was named number seven in the Hartford Business Journal’s 2020 Power 25 Healthcare list, which identifies leaders who are significantly impacting the industry and public health. Cordani oversees 4,700 employees in the Bloomfield, Conn.-based company and is recognized as a national leader in healthcare reform, having met face to face with President Barack Obama to discuss public health insurance exchanges.
Amazon Prime has acquired the rights to the award-winning musical movie Wholly Broken, created by and starring Tom Humbert (Hartt). Wholly Broken is the story of an alcoholic minister and his journey through life. The film won the Best Feature Film USA 2017 Award at the International Film Festival Manhattan. Watch the film on Amazon Prime Video.
Daniel Solomon (A&S) was named vice president and chief Olympia officer of American Media, Inc. (AMI), a leading publisher of celebrity and active lifestyle media. Solomon has vast experience from the fitness industry as a producer, commentator, editor, writer, and publisher, and most recently was co-executive producer of the motion picture Bigger. At AMI, he will oversee the Olympia brand, which includes the Mr. Olympia Contest and Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend.
1996
Salem Medical Center has added Michael McIntosh (A&S, M’98 A&S) as its new infection preventionist where he will be responsible for ensuring compliance with state, federal, and Joint Commission standards relating to infection control and quality core measures. Dr. McIntosh will assist with staff training on infection prevention and core measures.
1997
Arlene Arnold (Hartt, M’99 Hartt) was recently profiled on the UConn Today website. A love of music led her to pursue both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Hartt School, followed by degrees from UConn and Texas A&M University to pursue her other interests in ornithology and conservation. She has been employed by the U.S. Navy since 2008 and is currently in Naples, Italy as the conservation and planning coordinator for the Europe, Africa, Central region, helping to ensure the Navy helps protect natural and cultural resources on host nations’ lands. [8]
Arlene Arnold (Hartt, M’99 Hartt)
The West Hartford (Conn.) Town Council voted to appoint nine residents to the West Hartford Commission on the Arts. Among them are a pair of UHart alumni: local singer, performer, songwriter, and educator LaTanya Farrell (ENHP); and singer and songwriter Javier Colon ’00 (Hartt), winner of season one of NBC’s The Voice.
SAVE THE DATE
Hawktober 2021
October 15–17, 2021 Reconnect with friends, new and old, at UHart’s largest reunion of the year! Once a Hawk, always a Hawk! More info coming soon. Stay tuned.
1998
Lynn Valentine (A’97 Hillyer, A&S) was featured in theday.com’s “Where Are They Now?” The former UHart women’s golf standout, and the 2008 Connecticut Women’s Open champion, is now the LPGA teaching professional at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., where she has worked the past 22 years.
Sean Tabb (ENHP) and his brother, Colin, were featured in journalinquirer. com, detailing the brothers’ four-decade basketball journey throughout New England as players and coaches. Sean was a member of the UHart men’s basketball team from 1995–98 and is currently the head coach at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.
UPDATE YOUR INFO
at hartford.edu/alumni-update to stay connected with the UHart network.
ERICA SCHULTZ ’99
Growing up in Teaneck, N.J., Erica Schultz ’99 toyed with the idea of going into theoretical cosmology, physical therapy, and several other diverse fields. “But I wrote and drew and knew I wanted to do something creative when I grew up,” she recalls, and always enjoyed visual storytelling, whether through television, comic books, or movies.
The University of Hartford was an important stop on her journey. “Creating is all about drawing from past experiences, and UHart was a very formative time of my life,” Schultz says. “So while I wasn’t a creative writing major (she studied English literature with a minor in secondary education), the observations and reality of living on campus gave me material to draw on later in life.”
Schultz is perhaps best known for writing the 2018 Daredevil Annual published by Marvel, as well as multiple issues for Dynamite Entertainment, a top publisher in the field. She has also inked and colored for Batman and the First X-Men, and won the Best Comic Book award at the 2012 Burbank International Film Festival.
When she first began working in the comic book world, her friends and relatives said the notion sounded just about right for the inimitable Schultz, who always leaned toward outsized thinking and broad-stroke creativity.
Today, in addition to her graphic novel work, she is also on the faculty of the Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, N.J., and works as a writer for hire through her own company, Fenix Works.
“As an editor and teacher, it is my job to help someone with a million-dollar idea distill that idea down to its base components,” Schultz explains. “Once we see what the idea is made of, then we can work to find a successful execution. Ideas are plentiful; executions are much more difficult.”
That’s how Erica Schultz approaches all of her own work as well—taking grand ideas and using her imagination and skills to sharply focus them into concise visual stories.
1999
Nicole Hughey (M Barney) was recently named vice president of diversity & inclusion at SiriusXM + Pandora. She will be responsible for creating and augmenting the company’s policies and practices as it relates to diversity and inclusion, to “cultivate an organization with individuals of diverse backgrounds of all levels, and where all of our people are included and have the opportunity to grow and succeed.” Previously, she held similar positions with Mass General Brigham and Travelers Companies.
2000
Javier Colon (Hartt), see LaTanya Farrell ’97
Sandra Doreleijers (A&S) was a guest on the podcast Beautiful Game. A former standout and academic All-American on the Hartford women’s soccer team, she is PSV Eindhoven’s general manager and head of women’s football. Doreleijers has transformed PSV from a mid-table team into a powerhouse. [11]
Sandra Doreleijers (A&S)
2002
Lauren Kennedy (HAS), a design and communications lead for the Boston Public Library’s Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, was co-curator for the Center’s startingly relevant new online exhibition, Bending Lines: Maps and Data from Distortion to Deception. The exhibit challenges viewers to look deeper into the persuasive techniques used in cartography and educates on the reasons that people use maps for persuasion. [9]
Lauren Kennedy (HAS)
In 2019, Matt Margolis (CETA) launched an editorial cartoon with illustrator John Cox. In June 2020, they published their first, a Dr. Seuss parody about the coronavirus pandemic called “Oh, the Places You Can’t Go.” Now in syndication with Townhall Media, their cartoons can be viewed at MargolisAndCox.com.
2004
Janytra Carlisle Brooks (A&S) has been promoted to chief human resources officer at Brookline Bancorp, Inc. She will oversee the development and execution of the human resources operations that supports the company and their subsidiaries. Brooks brings over 15 years of human resources experience to the position, having worked in multiple industries including health care, technology, and gaming.
Debbie Chou (Hartt), see recently released album, p. 40.
Worcestermag.com profiled actor and stuntman Jim Ford (Hartt) of West Boylston, Mass. The article focused on his role as a member of the stunt ensemble that performed in the movie The Irishman. The team’s work was nominated for a SAG Award. It was Ford’s first nomination after 200 credits as an actor and stuntman. See recently published book, p. 40.
Nanette Pink (ENHP) was a recipient of the 2020 UConn Health Nightingale Nursing Award. Pink is an assistant nurse manager in the orthopedics/ surgery Unit at UConn Health.
University of Hartford Alumni Book Club
Are you a book lover who would like to participate in a book club with other alumni? Do you have ideas or recommendations for books or genres? We want to hear from you! To share your thoughts or learn more, e-mail the alumni engagement team at alumni@hartford.edu.
2006
Milmaglyn Morales (ENHP) was recently appointed to the National Association of the Deaf’s Board of Directors as a Region I representative. Morales, a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is a certified K–12 educator, a deaf interpreter for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and a preschool teacher at the American School for the Deaf. She serves as law chair on the Connecticut Association of the Deaf board, and chair of the Interpreters Qualifications Subcomittee of the CAD Legislative Committee.
Svigals + Partners, a full-service architectural firm located in New Haven, Conn., announced the elevation of Brian Stancavage (CETA, M’11 CETA) to the position of associate. His portfolio boasts design contributions to six K–12 schools and the recently completed Yale Child Study Center. [4]
Brian Stancavage (CETA, M’11 CETA)
An Unlikely Pair of Hawks Soar Together
In each issue, H looks at bonds and friendships formed at UHart that continue strong today.
Charles Cornelius ’77 (A&S) and Marvin Kelly ’79 (Barney) were rivals during their UHart days, constantly competing for leadership positions and playing time in sports. Fast forward many years to when Kelly went on a job interview at an insurance company in Pennsylvania; Cornelius worked there and was part of the interview process. They soon became good friends and helped each other pave successful careers as the first Black men in every position along the way. They remain friends to this day.
However, the pair really did not hit it off at first. Kelly considered himself to be a high-profile type of first-year student who played basketball and football. He first met Cornelius when walking across campus with his roommate. Cornelius invited them to join the Black Student Union, and from that point on, the two would have a competitive friendship during their years at UHart.
Kelly recalls being a new student in the gym and being called to play the juniors and seniors in basketball. He recalls a fight that broke out on the basketball court that would lead to a brotherly sort of relationship with Cornelius—the two constantly gave one another a hard time but considered themselves bonded. Except for sports, they didn’t hang in the same circle.
In the ensuing years, Kelly has been the first person of color in every position he’s been in. When he landed a job as the first black underwriter for an insurance company in Pittsburgh, the last person he expected to see was his old friend from UHart. After interviewing with various people, Kelly reached his final interview of the day—and it was with Cornelius.
Once left alone in the interview, the two bonded over their pasts and the strides they have taken to get to where they are today. The pair soon
However, there was no letting basketball go completely. They would go to a nearby club together and play. This time though, they were on the same team.
realized that they were minorities in their respective positions, and they valued discussing their unique perspectives in a professional setting.
Both would agree that their basketball skills have been trumped by their career achievements.
Cornelius went on to become president and CEO of INROADS, the nation’s largest nonprofit source of paid internships for diverse, high-performing undergraduate students. He also was president and CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group, a 100-yearold, African American-owned-andoperatedprovider of life insurance, annuities, group reinsurance, and asset management. His career also included executive roles in insurance with the Chubb Group and Allstate.
Kelly has been the executive director of Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association since 1992. In this role, he is the chief administrator for an insurance insolvency mechanism that has primary responsibility for processing claims of insolvent insurance companies for all member companies in the state of Texas.
2007
Shanta Lee Gander (Barney) received the Arthur Williams Award for Meritorious Service to the Arts at the 2020 Vermont Art Awards. Gander is the director of publicity and outreach at Mount Island—a magazine dedicated to rural LGBTQ+ and POC voices. She is also a member of the Vermont Humanities Council Speakers Bureau and has served on the Brattleboro Select Board and as president of the Arts Council of Windham County.
2008
Patrick Dunn (Hartt) of Port Jervis, N.Y. joined the national touring production of Les Miserables. He is playing the lead, Jean Valjean, in the musical.
2009
A senior specialist for corporate social responsibility and internal engagement at Konica Minolta, Allison Kern (A&S) was named to the 2020 Difference Makers list by ENX Magazine. The annual list honors “individuals from throughout the imaging technology universe who have left an indelible impression by serving their clients, companies, and business partners while bringing calm to calamity and resolution to disarray.”
2010
Matt Cooke (A&S) was recently named vice president, head of communications for US Functions at Santander US. In this new role, Cooke is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that help build the Santander brand to current and potential employees, enhance employee engagement, and drive understanding of the overall business, reputation, and culture transformation. Cooke has been with Santander for four years, previously holding communications roles at Prudential Financial and The Hartford.
UHart to Hartford
Abe Hefter from the School of Communication catches up with alumni to talk about their experiences at UHart and how it led them to where they are now. Hear their stories at hartford.edu/alumnipodcast.
2011
Derek Bryant (A&S) of San Jose, Calif., was the keynote speaker at a Black History Celebration held in February 2020 at Peace United Methodist Church in Milpitas, Calif. He is the recreation coordinator for the City of Santa Clara.
Jonas Hampton (CETA) was featured in The Mercury (Exton, Penn.) following his eighth-place finish (among 175 runners) at the 2020 Olympic marathon trials in Los Angeles. It was a vast improvement for the former UHart student-athlete, who finished 48th at the 2016 Trials.
Corey Paine’s (HAS) artwork was featured as part of a Community Spotlight in the Hartford Courant. The article highlights The Borden, a multi-use facility in Wethersfield, Conn., where Paine has a mural in its sports simulation room.
Alex Perry (A’08 Hillyer, ENHP) and Jasmaine Seaberry (A’09 Hillyer, A&S, M’12 A&S) were featured in a Q&A that that was published in The Atlantic. The article, titled “What are RAs Social Lives Like?” talked about their time together on campus as resident assistants and the friendship they developed. [2]
Alex Perry (A’08 Hillyer, ENHP) and Jasmaine Seaberry (A’09 Hillyer, A&S, M’12 A&S)
2012
Nancy Meyer (University Studies) was named president of the Miami Herald. In this role, she will lead the business side of the Herald and el Nuevo Herold, including advertising, finance, and operations. Meyer brings almost two decades of experience in local news to the position. She is an active member of her community, serving as a member of The Alliance of Greater Fort Lauderdale Board of Directors, Broward Business Council on Homelessness, Broward Workshop, Nova Southeastern University Ambassador’s Board, Orlando Economic Development Commission’s Governors’ Council, and Central Florida–Project Opioid.
2013
After graduating, Davi Paulo (Hartt) was in search of a new experience and decided to move to Beijing, China, and create the drag persona Miss Lola du Jour. Paulo quickly rose to become one of the top drag performers in the city—Miss Lola not only entertains, but also teaches, enlightens, and spreads awareness to help build up and enrich the surrounding community. [3]
Davi Paulo (Hartt)
2014
Kalena Bovell (M Hartt, GPD’15 Hartt) received the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Performing Arts at Chapman University. Bovell has made a name for herself as an accomplished conductor—she is currently the assistant conductor for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony. [5]
Kalena Bovell (Hartt)
Lauren Curley (Hartt) received the Private/Professional Dance Educator of the Year Award from the Utah Dance Education Organization. The award is given to individuals who show outstanding leadership, research, scholarship, and service in their sector. Curley is a faculty mentor at a creative arts academy and teaches master classes at studios and university programs throughout the country.
Sara Mellas (Hartt), see recently published book, p. 40.
Abdulaziz AlOthman (CETA), a 2020 Anchor Award recipient, has been appointed as the founding curator of the World Economic Forum’s Kuwait Hub as part of the Global Shapers Community—a networking group of young professionals looking to create a positive change in the world.
2015
Former UHart women’s volleyball player Kathryn Gawrych (Barney, M’16 Barney) has opened her own business, Real Life Ninja Academy, in Freeport, N.Y. The franchise is modeled after the popular NBC sports entertainment show. Gawrych and her new business were featured in libn.com.
2016
Repertory Dance Theatre, the nation’s premiere modern dance company,
welcomed Kareem Lewis (Hartt) to its troupe for its 55th season. The Boston native began his formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy. After graduating from there, he continued his training at the Brookline Ballet School before attending UHart.
2018
Brittany Ferrante (ENHP), an assistant golf pro at Village Club Sands Point in New York, completed a 200-hole marathon and raised over $52,000 for Babes Against Cancer—part of the American Cancer Society—which funds breast and prostate cancer research. Ferrante completed the 200-hole marathon in 12 hours and was able to surpass the club’s previous amount of donations from its annual golf tournament that supports breast cancer research—canceled this past year due to COVID-19—by over $20,000.
Kristina J. Martineau (ENHP) has been appointed the superintendent of schools by the Westbrook (Conn.) Board of Education. Martineau has served Region 4 Public Schools in Chester, Deep River, and Essex since 2008—serving as an associate principal from 2008–10, interim principal from 2010–11, principal from 2011–2015, and assistant superintendent since 2015.
2019
Nina Vázquez (A&S), a graduate student at the University of Connecticut’s El Instituto of Latinx, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies, was awarded a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for 2020 to conduct research in Puerto Rico. The research focuses on how Puerto Ricans racially identified prior to U.S. occupation and the passing of the Jones Act in 1920. [12]
Nina Vázquez (A&S)
2020
Jackson Olson (Barney), an outstanding performer on the field and in the classroom for the UHart baseball team, was featured in the New Milford Spectrum ahead of the June MLB player draft. He was the team’s starting shortstop and compiled a 3.82 GPA in the Barney School of Business. [7]
Jackson Olson (Barney)
We Remember...
1940s
Miriam Miller Ratner A’42 (Barney) Atlanta, Ga., 12.25.2020
Thea Korder Climo A’44 (Barney) Santa Barbara, Calif., 7.7.2020
Stephanie Derlycia Johnson A’44 (Hillyer) Canton, Conn., 8.13.2020
Lucy Tarascio Rossi A’47 (Barney) Wethersfield, Conn., 12.31.2020
Lois Reeve Wadsworth A’47, P’94 (HCW) Farmington, Conn., 5.10.2020
Dr. Millard S. Thomson ’48, M’49 (Hartt) Plymouth, N.H., 6.11.2020
George J. Naczkowski A’49 (Hillyer) Fort Pierce, Fla., 6.21.2020
1950s
Kathryn B. Diamond A’50 (Barney) West Hartford, Conn., 6.18.2020
Elaine S. Epstein A’50 (Barney) Delray Beach, Fla., 2.17.2020
Rosemary Satriano Malatesta A’50 (HCW) Glastonbury, Conn., 11.7.2020
Cynthia Pitt Bernstein ’51 (Hartt) Haworth, N.J., 4.27.2020
Mitchell J. Bollus ’51 (CETA) Millbury, Mass., 4.23.2020
Edward L. Lapinski A’49, ’51 (Barney) Meriden, Conn., 4.24.2020
Anne Y. O’Connor A’51 (Hillyer) Broussard, La., 4.8.2020
Gustav W. Erickson A’51, ’52 (Barney) Avon, Conn., 12.24.2020
Vincent J. Tarascio A’51 (Barney) Chapel Hill, N.C., 6.3.2020
William J. Hoppe ’52 (Hillyer) Palmyra, Va., 9.23.2020
Bernard Dansky A’52, ’53 (Hillyer) Toms River, N.J., 12.30.2020
Muriel W. Scoler M’54 (ENHP) Henrico, Va., 7.22.2020
Joseph F. Tousignant C’54 (Hillyer) Agawam, Mass., 6.9.2020
Silvio J. Coiro C’55 (Ward) West Hartford, Conn., 10.27.2020
Seth M. English A’56 (A&S) Wethersfield, Conn., 11.23.2020
William J. Gannon M’56 (ENHP) Mystic, Conn., 5.3.2020
Horst Heineman ’56 (Barney) Newington, Conn., 2.12.2020
Martin L. Cyr C’57, C’59 (Ward) Shelton, Conn., 11.11.2020
Judith Bailey Dobrow A’57 (HCW) Bloomfield, Conn., 4.22.2020
Norma F. Fasano A’57 (Barney) Glastonbury, Conn., 7.27.2020
Sebastian Gianni ’57 (CETA) West Hartford, Conn., 1.22.2020
Donald L. Langenauer A’57 (Hillyer) Berlin, Conn., 8.29.2020
Richard L. DeBaise ’58 (Hartt) Huntington, Conn., 4.21.2020
John M. Farr A’54, ’58 (Barney) West Hartford, Conn., 4.1.2020
Salvatore W. Lentine Dipl ’58 (Hartt) Niantic, Conn., 1.2.2020
Dorothy E. Paul M’58 (ENHP) East Hartford, Conn., 3.19.2020
Betsey Colgan Pitt M’58 (ENHP) Glastonbury, Conn., 7.12.2020
Matilda J. Giuliano M’59 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 2.4.2020
Jack W. Kallinich ’59, M’62 (ENHP) Clinton, Conn., 6.5.2020
1960s
Edward R. Demino M’60 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 12.17.2020
Frederick R. Maher M’60 (ENHP) Marlborough, Conn., 7.23.2020
Felix J. Tolisano ’60 (Barney) Somers, Conn., 9.12.2020
John C. Tseka ’60 (CETA) Granby, Conn., 7.14.2020
Arthur H. Anderson M’61 (ENHP) Sherborn, Mass., 7.18.2020
Vivian D. Kania M’61 (ENHP) Middletown, Conn., 8.18.2020
John B. Mastrianni C’60, ’61 (HAS) Plainville, Conn., 2.16.2020
Robert J. Valliere C’61 (Ward) Plainville, Conn., 9.1.2020
Donald Bidwell Sr. A’62 (Barney) Meriden, Conn., 1.23.2020
John F. Ferguson M’62 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 5.22.2020
Robert E. Fortier ’62 (Barney) Sun City Center, Fla., 12.2.2020
Ronald L. Girard ’62 (Barney) Southwick, Mass., 9.25.2020
Thomas Johnson Jr. M’62 (ENHP) Saint Augustine, Fla., 11.5.2020
Alfred P. Knie Jr. M’62 (ENHP) Glastonbury, Conn., 9.19.2020
Edward R. Mascolo Jr. ’62 (Barney) West Hartford, Conn., 9.2.2020
Paul Michaelson ’62 (Barney) Shelton, Conn., 1.31.2020
Roland H. Chinatti M’63 (ENHP) Falls Village, Conn., 11.10.2020
Frank P. Corrado ’63 (Barney) Newington, Conn., 9.20.2020
Ruth Novarr Hershman A’63 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 5.18.2020
Stephen P. Matava ’63 (Barney) Leesburg, Fla., 4.4.2020
Charline G. Whalen M’63 (ENHP) Canton Center, Conn., 7.22.2020
Bennett N. Zinkerman C’63 (Ward) Newington, Conn., 11.17.2020
Ruth A. Abramson M’64 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 3.21.2020
John Gagne C’64 (Ward) Rocky Hill, Conn., 6.23.2020
Francis A. Manning M’64, C’80 (ENHP) Southington, Conn., 10.8.2020
James L. Morgan ’64 (Barney) North Haven, Conn., 11.9.2020
Donald A. Wilson M’64 (ENHP) Cromwell, Conn., 12.17.2020
Joe T. Wright C’64 (Ward) Dayton, Ohio, 12.29.2020
William P. Culshaw ’65 (CETA) Bloomfield, Conn., 10.5.2020
Arthur A. Curry ’65 (Barney) Unionville, Conn., 3.29.2020
Andrew J. Donofrio ’65 (CETA) Newington, Conn., 2.19.2020
Joan Burke Drury M’65 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 11.12.2020
Robert W. Lunny II ’65 (A&S) New York, N.Y., 3.19.2020
Judith L. Nappier A’65 (HCW) Pembroke Pines, Fla., 6.22.2020
Robert E. Olsen ’65, M’69, P’88 (CETA) Windsor Locks, Conn., 3.17.2020
Anna A. Pestritto A’65, ’85 (Barney) Tampa, Fla., 4.11.2020
John V. Prytko ’65 (Hartt) Manchester, Conn., 4.1.2020
Barbara J. Roche M’65 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 12.26.2020
Anita Arenstein Shear M’65 (ENHP) Newington, Conn., 9.6.2020
Georgia H. Day Silliman M’65 (Barney) West Hartford, Conn., 9.25.2020
Gloria Alfieri M’66 (ENHP) Kensington, Conn., 8.7.2020
Gerald M. Allardyce ’66 (CETA) Avoca, Pa., 4.30.2020
Carolyn M. Andrews M’66 (ENHP) Norwich, Conn., 1.6.2020
Lawrence D. Riley ’66 (A&S) Provincetown, Mass., 11.4.2020
Thomas B. Luby M’67 (ENHP) Rocky Hill, Conn., 5.6.2020
Michael J. Vignone ’67 (A&S) Newington, Conn., 11.30.2020
Richard W. Brough ’68 (A&S) Cheshire, Conn., 10.17.2020
Richard R. Crockett M’68 (ENHP) Windsor, Conn., 1.20.2020
Russell A. Degrafft M’68 (ENHP) Old Lyme, Conn., 4.7.2020
John A. Hargreaves M’68 (Barney) Sarasota, Fla., 6.8.2020
Zenobia R. Mendez A’68 (Hillyer) Newington, Conn., 6.16.2020
John J. Muirhead Jr. ’68 (Barney) Glastonbury, Conn., 12.16.2020
Earle E. Young M’68 (ENHP) Barkhamsted, Conn., 5.4.2020
Louis J. Zenga ’68 (Barney) Wilton, Conn., 11.30.2020
Anthony P. Cirone M’69 (HAS) Windsor, Conn., 6.4.2020
Nicholas C. Kazanas M’69 (Barney) Ooltewah, Tenn., 7.20.2020
Dana Meyerson Levine ’69 (ENHP) Garnerville, N.Y., 4.14.2020
Terrence M. McBride ’69 (Barney) Berlin, Conn., 6.17.2020
Joan T. Merrow M’69 (ENHP) Vernon Rockville, Conn., 8.15.2020
Lois A. Slowik ’69 (HAS) Kensington, Conn., 11.16.2020
1970s
Claudia D. Booker ’70, M’72 (A&S) Washington, D.C., 2.19.2020
Raymond L. Cox ’70 (A&S) Bridgeport, Conn., 11.23.2020
Ann J. Pienkowski M’70 (ENHP) Vernon, Conn., 9.13.2020
Margery L. Collins M’71 (A&S) Statesboro, Ga., 12.16.2020
Julia S. DeMaio A’66, ’71 (A&S) Avon, Conn., 3.13.2020
Morris Feldman ’71 (Barney) Sun City Center, Fla., 5.24.2020
Fay K. Kaplan M’71 (ENHP) Sarasota, Fla., 1.30.2020
Edgar J. Roberge M’71 (Barney) Old Saybrook, Conn., 6.12.2020
Ann Weinstein Seigel ’71 (ENHP) Sarasota, Fla., 6.23.2020
Louise C. Evans M’72 (ENHP) East Windsor Hill, Conn., 12.9.2020
Ann Gordon ’72, M’77 (ENHP) Old Lyme, Conn., 8.26.2020
Norman D. Hyer Jr. ’72 (Barney) Mystic, Conn., 7.20.2020
Craig D. James ’72 (A&S) West End, N.C., 7.8.2020
Norma G. Lefebvre M’72 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 7.15.2020
Adam Leshem ’72 (CETA) Bloomfield, Conn., 2.20.2020
Sarah Wood Manns M’72, C’80 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 5.7.2020
Susan S. Olsen ’72, M’93 (A&S) Somers, Conn., 6.22.2020
Ralph C. Patterson ’72 (Hartt) South Windsor, Conn., 12.6.2020
A. James Schneider M’72 (ENHP) Columbus, Ohio, 4.21.2020
Pamela E. Schoetzau ’72 (A&S) Enfield, N.H., 10.1.2020
Katharine Metcalf Sheldon A’72 (HCW) Providence, R.I., 1.31.2020
Robert J. Wallace ’72 (Barney) Andover, Conn., 12.5.2020
Robert L. Drummond ’73 (Barney) Buffalo, N.Y., 10.15.2020
Regina C. Graham M’73 (ENHP) Bloomfield, Conn., 5.2.2020
Constance Q. Holth M’73 (A&S) Old Lyme, Conn., 8.22.2020
June K. Miley M’73 (ENHP) Hilton Head Island, S.C., 6.14.2020
Frank E. Polgroszek M’73 (Barney) Farmington, Conn., 6.20.2020
Peter D. Ramsdell M’73 (A&S) Cavendish, Vt., 8.2.2020
Thomas P. Reilly M’73 (Barney) Farmington, Conn., 5.16.2020
Frank J. Civale Jr. M’74 (ENHP) Meriden, Conn., 4.29.2020
James E. Gross M’74 (Barney) Fayetteville, N.C., 5.25.2020
Salvatore R. Italia C’74 (ENHP) Wilton Manors, Fla., 5.5.2020
Robert P. Knauff M’74 (Barney) Old Lyme, Conn., 7.2.2020
Shirley Zarchen Rosenthal ’74 (ENHP) Fayetteville, N.Y., 6.7.2020
Mildred Leister Wertz ’74, M’78 (A&S) Westerly, R.I., 9.3.2020
Robert W. Westgate M’74 (Barney) Newington, Conn., 12.7.2020
Susan J. Derby ’75 (A&S) Windsor Locks, Conn., 11.23.2020
Michael E. Grabon M’75, M’78 (Barney) Enfield, Conn., 12.3.2020
Daniel L. Stosick Sr. ’75 (CETA) Granville, Mass., 11.23.2020
Katharine W. Ellis ’77 (A&S) Marblehead, Mass., 12.12.2020
Gordon D. Gross M’76 (ENHP) Fernandina Beach, Fla., 2.17.2020
Judith L. Kline M ’76 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 8.24.2020
Maria J. Oltheten ’76 (A&S) Vernon Rockville, Conn., 1.21.2020
Charles F. Balin Jr. ’77 (Hartt) West Springfield, Mass., 6.13.2020
Bruce C. Bley M’77 (Barney) Roswell, Ga., 6.16.2020
Michael P. Cascia M’77 (ENHP) Enfield, Conn., 6.28.2020
Cynthia D. Hasler ’77 (ENHP) Gilmanton, N.H., 12.17.2020
Jan Burnham McLachlan ’77 (ENHP) Somerville, N.J., 5.25.2020
R. Lee Scott M’77 (Barney) Bluffton, S.C., 5.3.2020
Joseph S. Terzo ’77, M’82 (A&S) Hartford, Conn., 2.17.2020
David A. Andrukiewicz ’78, M’80 (A&S) Summerfield, Fla., 10.25.2020
Norma Gardine Glenn M’78 (Barney) Palm Coast, Fla., 5.19.2020
Bruce G. Gold A’78, ’81 (Barney) Marblehead, Mass., 5.3.2020
Ann O’Connell Long ’78 (A&S) Simsbury, Conn., 4.19.2020
Gail A. Winship McCue M’78 (Barney) East Granby, Conn., 6.10.2020
Ralph W. Sandmeyer Jr. ’78 (Barney) Cornwall, Conn., 5.13.2020
Sandra A. Williams A’78 (HCW) East Hartford, Conn., 5.2.2020
Clarence Gravely C’79 (ENHP) Hartford, Conn., 7.24.2020
Nancy Marchand Kingsley ’79 (HAS) Vineyard Haven, Mass., 8.4.2020
Russell Lundeberg M’79 (Barney) North Chesterfield, Va., 4.16.2020
Patricia E. Roach ’79 (A&S) Winsted, Conn., 12.8.2020
Robert T. Skau ’79, M’87 (Barney) Wethersfield, Conn., 6.1.2020
1980s
Richard H. Bobowski ’80 (A&S) Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 11.2.2020
Carolyn R. Cistulli M’80 (ENHP) Brewster, Mass., 9.21.2020
Francis A. Cuoco ’80 (Barney) Naples, Fla., 12.23.2020
Rita A. Dewyea ’80, M’87 (Barney) Enfield, Conn., 11.8.2020
Edward Dobosz A’80 (Ward) Newington, Conn., 10.28.2020
Brian A. Gureckis A’78, ’80 (A&S) West Springfield, Mass., 7.23.2020
Gary Hutchinson M’80 (Barney) Dennis, Mass., 8.9.2020
John J. Testagrossa M’80 (Barney) Salem, Conn., 3.30.2020
Georgia Thomas C’80, M’93 (ENHP) Talladega, Ala., 10.11.2020
Janet Breen Curr A’81 (HCW) Cheshire, Conn., 8.3.2020
Dr. David M. McConnell C’81 (ENHP) Kennebunk, Maine, 6.7.2020
Joyce A. Stengel ’81 (A&S) South Glastonbury, Conn., 3.20.2020
Santo S. Buccheri ’82 (A&S) Hartford, Conn., 6.27.2020
Laura B. Schwartz ’82 (Barney) South Glastonbury, Conn., 9.2.2020
Dennis H. Walker A’80, ’82 (CETA) Windsor, Conn., 5.11.2020
Dr. Marsha R. Cohen M’83 (ENHP) West Hartford, Conn., 5.1.2020
Paul E. Gionfriddo M’83 (Barney) East Haven, Conn., 9.24.2020
Susan J. Glazier M’83 (Barney) Clayville, R.I., 5.8.2020
Christine H. Larkin ’83 (Barney) Glastonbury, Conn., 10.26.2020
Erik L. Stenson ’83 (Hartt) Florence, Mass., 11.15.2020
Thomas J. Szala M’83 (Barney) Bloomfield, Conn., 11.2.2020
James P. Wark ’83 (A&S) Richmond, Va., 2.7.2020
Francis M. Lewis ’85 (Barney) Palm Coast, Fla., 9.25.2020
Lisa A. Marsh A’82, ’85 (Barney) Simsbury, Conn., 9.8.2020
Carol Campi M’86, M’86 (Barney) Wyckoff, N.J., 1.13.2020
Mary-Jane McCarthy Dance ’86 (Barney) Granby, Conn., 5.1.2020
Debra Dresner M’87 (Barney) West Hartford, Conn., 7.13.2020
Bruce C. Ellefsen M’88 (Barney) Berlin, Conn., 6.8.2020
Lola W. Guglietta ’88 (HAS) South Glastonbury, Conn., 7.10.2020
Mary M. Hastings M’88 (ENHP) Atlanta, Ga., 6.9.2020
Jeffrey T. Shovak A’88, ’88 (Ward) Windsor Locks, Conn., 1.15.2020
Anthony M. Pavia III A’87, ’89 (Barney) Stamford, Conn., 11.30.2020
1990s
John B. Peterson M’91 (Barney) Suffield, Conn., 12.8.2020
Ronald E. Belek ’92 (CETA) Coventry, Conn., 10.25.2020
Priscilla A. Soucy A’92 (HCW) East Hartford, Conn., 12.26.2020
Tracy Gugliotti Hughes A’95 (Hillyer) San Diego, Calif., 1.13.2020
Gary M. Harrigan M’96 (CETA) Bristol, Conn., 12.14.2020
Kieasha Martin Goods ’96, M’01 (Barney) Bloomfield, Conn., 5.20.2020
Lori J. Bono M’97 (ENHP) Glastonbury, Conn., 9.22.2020
2000s
Deborah Archambeault M’00 (ENHP) Bristol, Conn., 9.7.2020
Kristine R. Quick Gilmour ’00 (CETA) Bel Air, Md., 1.30.2020
Scott L. Kaplan ’00 (A&S) Centennial, Colo., 5.2.2020
Eric M. Jones ’04 (A&S) Montville, Conn., 8.26.2020
Jose S. Correia ’06, P’03 (CETA) Hamden, Conn., 7.9.2020
Christopher F. Davis ’06 (HAS) East Longmeadow, Mass., 11.24.2020
2010s
Sara J. Cohen ’11 (Hartt) Waccabuc, N.Y., 8.11.2020
Daniel A. Arsenault ’12 (A&S) Hartford, Conn., 12.24.2020
Eva C. Chambers ’14 (US) Port Orange, Fla., 11.19.2020
Shawn E. Kelly ’15 (Barney) Glastonbury, Conn., 5.23.2020
Terrell M. Campbell A’93, ’20 (A&S) Hartford, Conn., 1.5.2020
DANIEL ARSENAULT (1989–2020)
Daniel A. Arsenault ’12
Alumni Board member, and chair of its governance committee, Daniel A. Arsenault ’12 died peacefully on Dec. 24, 2020, following an accident.
Arsenault graduated magna cum laude from UHart’s College of Arts and Sciences with a dual bachelor’s degree (psychology, rhetoric and professional writing). During his undergraduate days, he was president and secretary of Theta Chi fraternity, president and VP of communications for the Interfraternity Council, a student assistant in the Office of the President, and a manager for Student Centers Administration.
Arsenault’s passion for advocacy quickly opened doors for him in Connecticut State Government, where he served as the assistant to the chief of staff in the Office of the Governor. This energy carried forward with him as he assumed the role of public information officer and the legislative programs manager for the Connecticut Department of Housing. It was during this time that Arsenault was lauded for his accomplishments in helping further initiatives to provide affordable housing options for citizens throughout the State of Connecticut. Most recently, his desire to help drive change forayed him into the parallel world of lobbying, where he was appointed as a senior director at O’Neill and Associates.
Arsenault was a Board of Director member for Hands on Hartford—a social service nonprofit that serves Hartford’s economically challenged residents with food, housing, and health. He was also an advisory board member for UHart’s Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service.
Holding a passion for embracing the beauty of nature and enjoying the company of those he held most dear, Arsenault loved to travel and play golf. His smile could brighten a room, regardless of the room he was in. But the time that Arsenault loved and cherished the most was spent with his family and friends, all of whom will greatly miss him.
As a member of the Alumni Board, he once shared these words: “I am thankful for all the experiences I had, the people I met, the friends and brothers I made for life, and the opportunities that the University of Hartford afforded me. Because of my time as a student and the networking opportunities I took advantage of, I choose to remain an active part of campus life after graduation. I often call on fellow alumni as well as former professors and faculty for advice and find myself continuing to learn every day.”
Dan Arsenault’s legacy will live on through the volunteer work of each and every member of UHart’s Alumni Board.
I’m growing to be a HAWK
PROUD TO BE A HAWK
Getting married? Having a baby? Show your UHart pride by requesting a UHart pennant or onesie for your future Hawk at hartford.edu/uhart-gear. We’ll help you celebrate by sharing your news as a Class Note—online and in a future issue of H.
We Congratulate & Welcome...
WEDDINGS AND ENGAGEMENTS
Tiffany Miller ’04 (A&S) was engaged in August 2020 and is planning a wedding for October 2021. [1]
Tiffany Miller ’04 (A&S)
Max Cordova A’11 (Hillyer), ’13 (A&S) and Hana LaRock ’13 (ENHP) were married on Dec. 9, 2019, after eloping to The Mohicans, a tree-house resort in Glenmont, Ohio. Hana is a freelance writer, while Max is a teacher. The couple spent the past seven years abroad and traveling the world. [2]
Max Cordova A’11 (Hillyer), ’13 (A&S) and Hana LaRock ’13 (ENHP)
UHart Alumni Association Board member Nicole Pielli ’12 (A&S) and Thomas Pielli were married during a small ceremony that took place last June 20 in Clifton, N.J. They currently reside in Old Bridge, N.J. She is a lawyer at Griffin Alexander, PC. [3]
Nicole Pielli ’12 (A&S) and Thomas Pielli
After four postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alexandra Arroya ’13 (A&S) and Matthew Merkent ’14 (CETA), M’16 (CETA) were married. The couple met on a trip to India with Engineers Without Borders. [4]
Alexandra Arroya ’13 (A&S) and Matthew Merkent ’14 (CETA), M’16 (CETA)
Kathleen Cicchese ’14 (ENHP) and Ryan Baldassario were wed on Feb. 29, 2020, at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam, Conn., along with several UHart alumni in attendance. Kathleen is a teacher, while Ryan works at the UConn School of Business. [5]
Kathleen Cicchese ’14 (ENHP) and Ryan Baldassario
Kristina Karlson ’14 (HAS) and Jason Pelletier were engaged on October 25, 2019. They welcomed their new puppy, Dash, into their lives that same weekend. A September 2021 wedding is planned in Vermont. [6]
Kristina Karlson ’14 (HAS) and Jason Pelletier
Nick Prieston ’14 (Barney) and Brooke Tallinger ’14 (A&S) were married Sept. 21, 2019. Brooke played volleyball and was a Red Cap, while Nick played rugby. [7]
Nick Prieston ’14 (Barney) and Brooke Tallinger ’14 (A&S)
David Arena ’14 (CETA) and Becki Walter ’16 (Hartt) were married in a small ceremony in Glastonbury, Conn.—just 15 minutes away from where they met at UHart seven years ago. [8]
David Arena ’14 (CETA) and Becki Walter ’16 (Hartt)
Arynn Elizabeth Rosenstein ’17 (ENHP) and Michael Martin Kelly ’18 (A&S) were recently engaged. Arynn is a special education teacher with Newington Public Schools. Mike is a route sales representative with Frito Lay, South Windsor, Conn. A November 2021 wedding is planned. [9]
Arynn Elizabeth Rosenstein ’17 (ENHP) and Michael Martin Kelly ’18 (A&S)
Daniel Rombola ’18 (Barney), M’18 (Barney) has proposed to Brianna Pacileo ’18 (A&S) at Newport Vinyard in Newport, R.I. Daniel and Brianna first met their first year at UHart—they both lived in Hawk Hall and were a part of the Hawk Spirit residential living community. Daniel was a member of UHart’s men’s tennis team, and participated in a year of cross county and track, while Brianna was a member of the volleyball team. Brianna currently works as a solution senior consultant, cyber and strategic risk, at Deloitte, and Daniel is an investment analyst at Aetna. [11]
Daniel Rombola ’18 (Barney), M’18 (Barney)
Jason Hubeny ’18 (ENHP and current DPT student) recently proposed to Haley Milone ’19 (A&S) at Elizabeth Park in West Hartford. Jason and Haley first met each other their first year at UHart in 2015 through the Pep Band and have been together since January 2016. Haley currently works as a Quack Pack instructor at Educational Playcare, while Jason is scheduled to graduate this year from UHart’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. [10]
Jason Hubeny ’18 (ENHP and current DPT student) and Haley Milone ’19 (A&S)
Nomi Mica
Josh Feldman ’10 (Hartt) and his wife, Xani Pollakoff ’11 (ENHP), M’19 (ENHP), announced the birth of their daughter, Nomi Mica Feldman, on May 17, 2020. Josh is in the arts and tourism industry, while Xani is a teacher. [16]
Brienna Reitmayr ’02 ’05 (A&S) and Aaron Spencer welcomed their daughter, Audrey Faith, on Feb. 1, 2020. [12]
Audrey Faith
Harper Nicole
Caitlin Malinowski ’11 (A&S), M’15 (A&S) and her husband, Justin, welcomed a daughter, Harper Nicole, on Oct. 30, 2020. [18]
Jessica Fine Sowalsky ’05 (Hillyer), ’07 (A&S) and her husband, Adam, welcomed their second child, a baby girl, Shira Maya Sowalsky, on Oct. 30, 2020. To make this a memorable occasion, she shares her birthday with her 2-year-older brother, Ari. Jessica is a learning systems and courseware manager at the University of Maryland, and Adam is a principal investigator at the National Cancer Institute, NIH. The family lives outside of Washington, D.C., in Bethesda, Maryland, with their 13-year-old Chiweenie, Papi. [13]
Shira Maya Sowalsky
Megan (Close) Zavala ’05 (A&S) and her husband, Michael, announced the birth of their son, Elliott Geoffrey Zavala, on May 14, 2020. He joins big sister, Poppy. [14]
Elliott Geoffrey Zavala
Robert G. Griffith III ’07 (Hartt) and Laura Engel ’07 (A&S) shared the arrival of their baby boy, Miles Robert Griffith, born March 20, 2020. [15]
Miles Robert Griffith
Michael Goemans ’11 (ENHP), M’13 (ENHP) and his wife, Samantha, welcomed a son, Michael Franklin, on Nov. 14, 2020. [17]
Michael Franklin
Lauren ’12 (A&S) and Greg ’13 (A&S) Szuman welcomed their first child, Landon, on Aug. 13. His puppy sisters adore him and he’s already taken his first cross-country road trip with his parents! Even though he was born in San Diego, he can’t wait to grow up as a Texan. Maybe, someday, he will even become a UHart alumnus himself. [19]
Landon
Eric Tunkel ’13 (Hartt) and his wife announced the birth of their first baby together, Micah Paxton Hunter Tunkel, on Feb. 26, 2020. They have two other children, Matthew and Noah. [20]
Eric Tunkel ’13 (Hartt) and his wife announced, Micah Paxton Hunter Tunkel
Fnu Jyoti ’20 (CETA) and Parveen Kumar are parents to a son, Divit Dabas, born March 7, 2020. [21]
Divit Dabas
See more class notes and photos online at hartford.edu/class-notes
