1920s

Ann Murray Scott ’29 recently celebrated her 100th birthday at SUNY Potsdam with family, friends and members of SUNY Potsdam’s School of Education. Scott’s great granddaughter, freshman Alexandria “Lexi” Reagan, is the fourth generation of Scott’s family to attend SUNY Potsdam for education. Together they chatted with SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller.

1940s

The New York State School Music Association has named SUNY Potsdam Professor and Dean Emeritus Robert Washburn ’49 its 2008 Distinguished Service Award winner. He has dedicated more than 50 years of service in leadership and teaching to SUNY Potsdam, his alma mater. Pictured at the award ceremony are (from left) Beverly (Darnell) Washburn ’63, SUNY Potsdam President John F. Schwaller, Washburn, Crane Dean Alan Solomon and NYSMMA President Susan Weber.

1950s

CLASS OF 1959
50TH REUNION IN 2009

Nan Armstrong Mancuso ’55 was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease nearly five years ago. Since July 2007, she has been a resident of a facility that specializes in caring for AD sufferers called “The Arbors.” Her husband, Chuck, reads items in Potsdam People to her, and many times this triggers thoughts about her days at Potsdam. You are invited to contact her at chasmanc@earthlink.net or The Arbors of Bedford, 70 Hawthorne Drive, Bedford, NH 03110.

1960s

CLASS OF 1964
45TH REUNION IN 2009

Marcia Heltzer Fenton ’61 returned to teach French in the private school classroom in West Orange, NJ, after an eight-year retirement from public secondary school. Fenton has been the recipient of several awards over the years, including the American Association of French Teachers Award, Governor’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Teaching, Foreign Language in New Jersey Award for outstanding contribution to teaching of foreign language, National Endowment for the Humanities grants for study, Geraldine Dodge Grant for study in Britanny and the District Teacher of the Year Award.

A roundtable was held in September 2008 in memory of Saul “Sandy” Feldstein ‘62.  The topic was where music business and music education merge. Wendy Feldstein, Sandy’s widow, and Bob Scheiwiller ’62 share a memory of walking the campus in 1962 with Sandy.

CLASS OF 1969
40TH REUNION IN 2009

Harry Brooks ’68; his wife, Susan; and John Simons ’67 met for lunch at the Brooks’ home in Broadalbin, NY, in July.

Do You Have a Ring Like This One?

1970s

Mary Swinden Zanetti ’73 achieved National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Mathematics in December 2006.  She currently is a Candidate Support Provider for teachers working toward National Board Certification. Zanetti published an article in National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics’ Mathematics Teacher in October 2008.

CLASS OF 1974
35TH REUNION IN 2009

William D. Lilley ’74 recently made a presentation titled “So You Want to Be a Geologist” to geology students on campus, which included career advice as well as a discussion of professional ethics and practices. He is principal investigator and president of Ecoinvestigation, Inc., headquartered in Pulaski, NY. He is pictured here with Dr. Rob Badger (r), chair of the Department of Geology.

Last year, a number of SUNY Potsdam theater alumni gathered at a special reunion in honor of Professor Emeritus Clayton Horan (pictured at center). Horan’s family and former students are working to raise funds in his honor to name the fitness center in a new retirement community being constructed in Canton, NY. The facility, part of the United Helpers organization, is slated for completion in the fall of 2009.

U.S. Army Reserve Brigadier General Walter B. Chahanovich ’77 (l) and Colonel Thomas Palmatier ’75 pose for a photo at the Change of Command ceremony and concert for The U.S. Army Field Band, which was held at the University of Maryland in September 2007. Chahanovich is an Army Reserve officer and recently took command of the 78th Division (Training Support) in Edison, NJ. He is also a contracts and ethics attorney for the Army and works on Fort George G. Meade in Maryland.

Donnalyn Eaton Shuster ’78 was published in the online edition of School Arts Magazine’s November 2008 edition. This magazine serves the needs of K-12 art educators internationally. The article “Everything Old Is New Again” can be accessed at www.schoolarts.com.

CLASS OF 1979
30TH REUNION IN 2009

Michael Benedict ’79 has finished his new CD, The Next Phase, and it is now available.

Lisa Vroman ’79 (l) and her co-star Brad Little (center) chat with SUNY Potsdam President John F. Schwaller after the summer 2008 Glimmerglass Opera production of Kiss Me, Kate. To view Vroman’s upcoming performances, visit www.lisavroman.com.

Keith Patterson ’79 received a Master of Divinity degree from Episcopal Divinity School on May 15, 2008. Patterson also was presented with the Massachusetts Bible Society Award for Excellence.

1980s

F. Raymond Agnew ’80 was the keynote speaker for the Dr. Millard Harmon Student Leader Conference at SUNY Potsdam in August. He is currently vice president for philanthropy and community relations for the Glens Falls Hospital and executive vice president of the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation. Previously he was vice president for college advancement at SUNY Potsdam. Ray’s topic was “To Promise, To Fail, To Live, To Rejoice: Leadership as a Life Journey.” Pictured are (l to r) Potsdam President John F. Schwaller; Vice President for Student Affairs Chris Strong Hon. ’02; Agnew; Dr. Millard Harmon of Delmar, benefactor for the program; and Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Ruth Policella.

Reneé Fleming ’81 was presented with the 2008 Opera News Award for Distinguished Achievement at the Grand Ballroom in The Plaza Hotel.

Earlier this year, Mark B. Hassenplug ’83 joined Ernst & Young as a principal and assumed the role of Global Pharmaceutical Sector Markets Leader. Hassenplug was recently quoted in The Wall Street Journal and numerous other major news organizations in Asia, Europe and the United States about trends in the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, Mark resides near Philadelphia, PA, and continues to travel internationally for his work at Ernst & Young.

James W. McCargar ’83 recently was named an associate vice president at Baldwin-Wallace College. In this position, he will help design and implement initiatives supporting the college’s Strategic Plan.

DK brothers David Vroman ’83 (left) and John Panaro ’80 (right) attended Ron Kurtz’s ’80 surprise birthday party for a milestone celebration this summer in Syracuse. They are part of the same DK family line and enjoyed reminiscing about some of their SUNY Potsdam memories.

CLASS OF 1984
25TH REUNION IN 2009

M. Nicholas Coppola ’87 retired in June 2008 as an Army lieutenant colonel in the Medical Service Corps after 26 years of service. Upon retirement, Coppola was presented the prestigious “2008 Army Medical Service Corps Mentor of the Year Award.” Coppola previously received this same award for the 2004-2005 academic year. He is one of only three faculty members in the 58-year history of the graduate school to receive the award twice. Coppola is now an associate professor and program director of Clinical Practice Management at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

Diana Zinnecker Nole ’87 created an endowment at SUNY Potsdam to establish The Diana Zinnecker Nole Internship Scholarship to encourage female students majoring in computer science, mathematics or the sciences who wish to pursue off-campus internship opportunities that will enrich their educational experience. Nole is currently president of the Digital Capture Solutions Division of Carestream Health, Inc., a Onex affiliate. She is a board officer and vice chair of the not-for-profit agency Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester. She is a member of the Potsdam College Foundation, Inc. Board of Trustees, serving on the Development Committee.

CLASS OF 1989
20TH REUNION IN 2009

Kim Peavey Hunter ’89 and husband, Frank, bought a 53-acre farm in Southwestern New Hampshire called Hillside Springs Farm in 2002, where they work with draft horses to provide organic vegetables to 60 local families through a Community Supported Agriculture program. In 2007, the farm received a $5,000 Small Business Development Grant from the National Association for the Self-Employed. Peavey and Hunter were subsequently chosen from 34 grant recipients nationwide to receive a $30,000 Award for Small Business Excellence and Community Contribution. The farm’s Web site is www.hillsidespringsfarm.com.

1990s

James S. Rizzo ’91 was made a partner at the law firm of Saunders Kahler, L.L.P., in January 2008. He has been an associate with the firm since June 2006 and was previously corporation counsel (2002-2006) and first assistant corporation counsel (1996-2002) for the city of Rome, NY.

The Oneida City Schools Music Department recently hosted their seventh annual Music Teacher’s Conference Day. This year, 65 music educators from the counties of Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Herkimer and Oswego were in attendance.

The event was initiated in 2002 by Marjorie Bergdorf Hawthorne ’91, who teaches in the Oneida District and is the director of music. She is assisted in this work by her departmental colleagues Nicholas Anderalli ’92, Heather Pike O’Connell ’93, David Hawthorne ’91, Stephanie Fuller Gwilt ’00, Kathryn Kolarz Dimmel ’02, Melinda Feldmann ’06, Jeff Welcher ’78, Tim Watson ’80, Carol Buza, and Roselle Lynch.

This year’s keynote speaker was Crane Music Education faculty member Dr. Peter McCoy. Glen Grigel, Crane’s instrument technician, presented a technical session on the saxophone.

On this occasion, 27 of the 65 teachers participating were Crane School of Music alums. Pictured are (l to r) Anderalli, Joe Perotta, Mary Gurniak Hallatt ’87, Dr. McCoy, Anne Keefe Caton ’76, Shari Lavine O’Connor ’80 & ’85, Dimmel, Feldmann, Joel Servant ’08, Becki Wing Watson ’80 & ’86, Matthew Donaleski ’01, Gretchen Schlicht ’06, Kathy Asher ’01, Michael Fenton ’99 & ’01, Anthony Dangler, Greg Jerome ’04, Watson, Al Ripley ’73, Maryann Clarke House ’86, Robin Carruthers ’93, Margaret Kelsey ’78, Jacqueline Chereshnoski Hobbs ’00, Charity Besaw Dreier ’02 & ’04, O’Connell, Hawthorne, Welcher and Gwilt.

CLASS OF 1994
15TH REUNION IN 2009

John Saint Amour ’94 started a group in Washington, D.C., called Arts United Washington that explores collaborative works among dance, theatre and music. It can be found at www.artsuniteddc.org.

Maura McNamara ’94 is on sabbatical from the Saratoga Springs City School District, where she has been for 12 years, to pursue a master’s degree in traditional Irish music performance at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland.

Jeff Doctor ’95 recently joined the lobbying firm EOP Group as vice president. The firm, based in Washington, D.C., focuses on issues related to energy, the environment, the treasury and Native Americans. He and his wife, Allyson, live in Marvin, NC, with their daughter, Chloe.

Scott Bacon ’97 with his wife, Andrea, moved to Germany in 2003, where Scott worked for and served as marketing/sales manager, shop manager and quality end control, for an emerging international French horn maker. In 2006, they moved back to the United States and founded Siegfried’s Call, www.siegfriedscall.com, a business that focuses on importing high-performance brass instruments manufactured by master craftsmen in Germany. In the spring of 2008, the couple was proud to sponsor the reception after a Canadian Brass Concert during the Potsdam Brass Quintet Reunion Weekend.

CLASS OF 1999
10TH REUNION IN 2009

Jason Emerson’s ’99 first book, The Madness of Mary Lincoln (Southern Illinois University Press, September 2007), was named 2007 Book of the Year by the Illinois State Historical Society. His second book, Lincoln the Inventor, was recently published by SIU Press. 

Tina M. Heckman ’99 is now the principal of the General Brown Junior-Senior High School in Dexter, NY. She has worked for the district for the past 13 years.

2000s

Jim Petercsak Hon. ’03, Crane distinguished teaching professor, presented two sessions at the  NYSSMA Conference in Rochester, NY, in December.

CLASS OF 2004
5TH REUNION IN 2009

Ryan Hunt ’04 recently redeployed for his second combat tour to Iraq, where he served as a military advisor to the Iraqi Army. In July, Hunt and his wife will be renewing their vows to celebrate their marriage and the successful completion of his second combat tour to Iraq.

Justin Hall ’06 started and developed the small animal care program at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. Students learn basic animal care skills along with anatomy and parasitology. 

Kaitlyn Beachner ’08 took a new job in the sales department with an international company that is one of America’s top payroll services, Paychex, in Rochester, NY.

Nantucket is a popular spot for SUNY Potsdam alumni to work during the summer. While vacationing there in August, the Vromans met up with a group of DK alumni working on the island for the summer. Pictured are (l to r) Mona Ouimet Vroman ’85, Tim Reinhardt ’08, David Vroman ’85, Tom Crawford ’05, Mike Hawkins ’08 and Andrew Mulvaney (Clarkson ’09).