Alumni News & Notes
1941
Harvie Klaus passed away in February at the age of 98. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps after earning his bachelor’s degree and studied one year as a cadet at MIT. He served in England and France with the 9th Air Force from 1943-45. Harvie spent his career as a research chemist for Behr-Manning and W. & L.E. Gurley Company in Troy, N.Y.
1948
Rita Shapiro Schwartz of Hillsboro Beach, Fla., enjoyed her 90th-birthday celebration with family. She is in good health. Ruth Seelbach Elmore celebrated her 90th birthday with husband Jim and several guests at their son’s summer home in South Carolina. Ruth Doran lives with her brother in Baldwinsville, N.Y. She remains active in the Retired Teachers Association. Adrienne Iorio Caruso of Saratoga Springs is in excellent health, enjoys traveling with her family and “handles each day at a time.” Julie Genovesi Fassett lives in Cherry Valley, N.Y., and visits with her children and grandchildren often. Gari Deliganis Paticopoulos celebrated her 90th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great-grandson at Mazzone’s 677 Prime in Albany in May. Gari has served as class councilor since 1958. Joan Sittner Sherwood of Richland, Wash., celebrated the birth of a great-granddaughter. Joan finished her church-history research, bringing the last 20 years up to date. She is still driving around town. Jane O’Brien of Niskayuna, N.Y., is doing well and is closely connected with her family.
Eleanor Holbig Alland celebrated the birth of her great-granddaughter in April and will be traveling to California to visit her. Eleanor has served as class councilor since 1998. She recently spoke with Clara Sylvestri Beninati, who has relocated to Sandy, Utah, to be closer to family. Clara and Eleanor were roommates for four years at NYSCT. Ninety-two members of the Class of 1948 are listed as living; 153 are deceased, and 60 have unknown addresses.
Class notes councilors: Eleanor Holbig Alland, [email protected]; Gari Deliganis Paticopoulos, [email protected]
1949
The American School in Paris is honoring Jean Pulver Hague by naming its guidance office after her. She served as the administrator of the counseling center in the 1970s. Jean still maintains apartments in Atlanta and in Juno Beach, Fla., but looks forward to settling in Florida soon. She grew up in Saratoga Springs, where her father was a professional golfer at the McGregor Fairways – now the home of Joe Zanchelli and wife Joyce Zanchelli ’52. Bonnie Totten Adkins and husband Lee celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary in June. Elsa Moberg Cox survived a cancer scare last October following surgery and radiation treatments. She attends exercise classes four days a week and remains active with the Presbyterian Women’s Group. She attended a gathering in Chula Vista, Calif., with fellow group members. One of Elsa’s granddaughters graduated from Pepperdine Law School; another from Cal Poly. Elsa’s grandson is a junior at Arizona State University. Richard Foster of Sarasota, Fla., still plays piano for vesper services and veterans’ luncheons. He has two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Gloria Maistelman Herkowitz attended her grandson’s graduation at Columbia Law School in New York City. He is employed at a prestigious Manhattan law firm. Gloria celebrated her great-niece’s bat mitzvah in Washington, D.C., in May. Jack Kirby plays trumpet in the Sarasota Suncoast Concert Band. The band was invited to the American Concert Band Convention in Fort Lauderdale in May. Bob Kloepfel visits Russ Bailey once per week. Russ has difficulty walking due to leg troubles. “Freddy” Laemmerzahl Miller attended several classes in a national continuing education program sponsored by the Osher Center for Lifelong Learning. In the spring, she studied barns of Oklahoma and Iranian culture, and took a film course. She enjoys attending for the social and learning experiences. Anne Sulich Raser celebrated her 90th birthday in May, in Paso Robles, Calif., with several family members, including three sons and her latest great-grandson, Elliot James. Ursula Neuhaus Schiff was looking forward to a visit from her son and daughter-in-law from California. Ursula and Richard Foster live in the same assisted-living facility in Sarasota, Fla. They eat together and reminisce about NYSCT often. Jake Schuhle and Betsy Franks Schuhle will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary in September. Their first great-great-grandchild was born in June. Joe Zanchelli and Joyce celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in June. They attended their grandson’s wedding at the historic Decatur House in Washington, D.C., in May. Bob Kittredge and wife Diana’s 57-year-old son from San Francisco was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, which had spread to the liver. He has been on a six-month regimen of chemotherapy, and the next treatment steps are to be determined. Bob and Diana are still driving, and are happy with their decision to downsize and move into a continuing-care community in Fresno, Calif., two years ago. Three great-grandchildren were born or are expected this year. Two are in the U.S., and Ari, short for Aristotle, is in Australia. Bob and Diana met Ari and visited with their granddaughter, Lauren, and her Aussie husband at their annual weeklong family reunion near Yosemite National Park in July. Your class councilor would love to see you at what will probably be the last class reunion in 2019! Please stay healthy so you can attend our 70th-year celebration.
Class notes councilor: Joe Zanchelli, [email protected]
1950
Irwin and Elise DeSeve Baumel married Feb. 22 and moved from Whittier, Calif., to a retirement home in nearby Brea. The couple have no current travel plans. Please contact your class councilor for their mailing address. Lila Lee Silva Harrington’s sons are all gainfully employed. Jacob is working at Best Buy and studying at Scottsdale Community College, and Andy is working in the food industry and taking college courses in Ames, Iowa. Her daughter Leslie is on a two-week tour of Israel with several Bible study-group friends. Lila is excited for her upcoming family reunion in Chautauqua, N.Y., at which nearly 80 are expected. She and Dave are the remaining two from their generation. Lila no longer drives but hopes to travel to Vermont and the coast of Maine with a stop in Lee, N.H., to visit her niece, Trudi. Lila is active in her Prestwick Chase community: She serves on the executive board for the in-house newspaper, The Chase; heads weekly bingo; collects charity donations; tells jokes at the Saturday morning women’s breakfast; and attends aerobics three times a week. In addition, Lila is involved in the Grace Fellowship Church in Saratoga Springs and joined a small Bible study group that meets once per week. Ben Jackson and Gloria Jackson of Silver Spring, Md. attend senior exercise classes and tai chi several times per week. Gloria was recognized for 50 years of membership with the League of Women Voters. Ben has been taking painting classes for several years. One of his paintings recently won first prize in the Montgomery Village Art Show. Ben keeps in touch with roommate Dave Jack, Joe Zanchelli ’49, and Eli Ballin ’52. Edythe Kelleher Colton has lived in New Bern, N.C., since 1988. She plays dominoes, bridge and golf, and does volunteer work. She planned to participate in the Senior Golf Games in Birmingham, Ala., with three golfing friends in June. Please contact your class councilor for Edythe’s phone number. Malcolm “Mickey” Slakter of Hawaii celebrated his birthday while dealing with several health issues; “I am amazed that I am still alive.” His wife, Nancy, was recognized for 25 years of volunteer service at the Honolulu Museum of Art. This summer, they enjoyed visits from New York friends and their son, Larry, of North Carolina. Malcolm and Nancy’s traveling days are over, so they keep in touch with family through FaceTime, texts, email, and phone calls. Malcolm’s advice for fellow classmates enduring challenging health issues is: “As you travel on through life, let this always be your goal, keep your eyes upon the donut, and not upon the hole.” Harold “Sparky” Vaughn followed UAlbany’s men’s lacrosse season through the NCAA tournament. Three of Sparky’s sons played college lacrosse, and a grandson was captain of the Yale team. Two of his 15 great-grandchildren live in Washington, D.C. Sparky continues to devote time to addressing the issue of human trafficking in Southeast Asia through Rotary. He plans to spend a month in Florence, Italy, this fall. Most of his sons and daughters plan to visit while he is there. Dave Silva is one of Sparky’s last living high-school friends. As a member of the Washington, D.C., COSMOS Club, Sparky takes advantage of the Chamber Music Series and many other cultural, literary, international, political, and foreign-language events. Audrey Hartman White feels lucky to live in a time with inexpensive air fares, affordable phone rates, Skype, Facebook, and email. She frequently visits family members and is enjoying her second great-granddaughter.
Class notes councilor: Harold “Sparky” Vaughn, [email protected]
1952
Dorothy Barber may not be able to attend the Class of 1952 reunion due to some health problems. Maureen Davis Mullin expects to attend. Harriet Juengling Portz and husband Craig have 13 great-grandchildren. They spend the winter in Fort Myers, Fla. Marcia Walsh Colligan is in great health. She has lived in New Hampshire since 1962. She worked at Dartmouth College for 28 years and retired in 2000 as director of Business Affairs. Her husband passed away in 1979. Marcia founded a chamber-music organization, which has presented more than 800 concerts. She has six children; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, including two sets of identical-twin girls. Irene Ten Eyck Silver of Palos Verdes, Calif., has five children, 14 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She continues to study Spanish, her college major, and has volunteered as a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels for many years. Jean Faville Smith and husband Smitty celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June. They live in Cocoa Beach, Fla., where Smitty worked for the Apollo program. Al Stephenson is still adjusting to retired life and hopes to see many classmates at the reunion. Evelyn Knapp Stewart was selected for the Bulldog Pride Hall of Fame in honor of school and community work. Her accomplishments include leading booster-club banquets for varsity sports and volunteering 40 years of service to the South Glens Falls marathon dance. She handled the food breaks for up to 450 students for 25 years; now, there are 800 student participants, and they recently raised $823,614 for locals needing assistance. Jean Greenshields Burns had lunch with Anne Morgan and caught up with Ann Adams Wilbur, who resides in an assisted-living facility in Dunedin, Fla. Jean also visited with Marilyn Smith Mackey on the day of Marilyn’s husband’s funeral. Tom Holman continues to enjoy life in Long Island and St. Maarten, and expects to attend our reunion. Vickie Eade Eddy’s son Christopher retired as a one-star general after 30 years in the Air Force Reserves. Family members enjoyed a tour of the Pentagon. Christopher’s wife retired from the FBI at the end of May following 25 years of service. Vickie still winters in Yuma, Ariz., and spends summers in Olean, N.Y., where two of her children and three grandchildren also reside. Kitty Kloser Irons still enjoys her usual activities, but no longer serves as theater-van coordinator and quilt-guild hospitality chair. Her older granddaughter returned from Africa and is a para educator. Kitty’s other granddaughter transferred from St. Michael’s to Green Mountain College this fall. Nancy Frey Pettinelli is still trying to sell her house before moving to Missouri. Her oldest grandsons attend Stevenson College, and her oldest granddaughter will attend Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla., where she plans to major in animation art. All grandchildren are active in sports. Dave Manley and his wife spend half a year at their condo in Shelter Cove, Hilton Head, S.C., near their daughter, Kathleen. “Considering my antiquity, I accept the challenge of 25 minutes each morning water-walking at the local high school at Geneseo.” Bert Jablon celebrated his 90th birthday with wife Myra, their sons and several in-laws on a surprise Mexican cruise. John Bowker and Alice traveled from Montreal down the St. Lawrence River and Seaway, around Nova Scotia and down the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Joyce Leavitt Zanchelli and husband Joe Zanchelli ’49 celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in June. They traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend their grandson’s wedding in May. Joyce enjoys an active life with many volunteer activities, thanks to good health.
Class notes councilor: Joyce Zanchelli, [email protected]
1953
Howie Fenenbock still plays bridge and poker. He attended his nephew’s wedding in Virginia. Your councilor, Rose Mary (Rosie) Keller Hughes, recently spoke with Caroline Gazulis “Guzzy” Johnson of Florida. Caroline sounds as if she hasn’t aged and says others comment that she still looks the same. Her son and twin daughters are doing well. She enjoys playing bridge and golfing. Jordine Skoff Von Wantoch of California says the NYSCT professor who influenced her the most was Dr. Mary Grenander. “I knew that she had served in the Navy. When I considered joining the Navy after teaching for two years, I asked her for advice. Her enthusiastic response and encouragement were the reason I chose a Navy career.” Jordine served for 30 years and retired as a captain. Betty Coykendall Hart and Rosie Keller Hughes were great friends in high school. Betty is one of the longest-serving teachers in New York State. She retired from classroom teaching in Spring 2013 but returned to work in the math lab full time the following fall. Betty’s husband of more than 40 years passed away. This year, she swam across Irondequoit Bay and back again. Betty says, “My life journey has been extremely fulfilling.” Madelon Avallone Knoerzer welcomed a great-grandchild in June. She enjoys participating in her church theater group and building doll houses. Herbert Egert and wife Louise Hann Egert ’55 are “making it day-by-day.” They were married in between semesters of their senior year. After graduating, both were hired by the same Long Island school where Herb taught math, and retired in 1986. They have been married 65 years and have three children and five grandchildren. They’ve taken family trips to Disney World and Yellowstone National Park. Other travels include England, Italy, Israel, South Africa, and Egypt. Alice Cohen Kronman of Towson, Md., was a ’49 Milne graduate. She taught two-and-a-half years in Spring Valley, N.Y. In 1954, she married Richard Kronman, an Albany College of Pharmacy graduate. They bought a pharmacy in Pine Bush, N.Y., where they lived and raised a family. Alice taught business education at Pine Bush High School 1970-1985, and later moved to Silver Spring, Md., to be closer to family. She has three daughters and one son, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Alice enjoys reading, watching and following sports, visiting museums, and spending time with her family. Yvonne Kloosterman Farmer lives near Lake Placid, N.Y. “I am still up here, living in the woods in a nice, small house.” She stays fit by cross-country skiing and kayaking, although “reading and sitting become more and more desirable.” Yvonne remembers Dr. Clausen, Dr. Benton and Dr. Scotland, who served as mentors. Hank Koszewski and Rosie Keller Hughes enjoyed lunch in Victor, N.Y., in June. Hank still has the same enthusiasm for life and devotion to his beautiful adopted home, Hawaii. He has returned to New York State each year to visit his sister, who just recently passed away. Rosie relocated for the 14th time in her life and now resides in the village of Fairport, N.Y. She enjoys being close to all the places she needs or wants to visit. Rosie recently visited friends in Florida and Vermont. She wishes the Class of ’53 a blessed and happy holiday season: “May you be surrounded by those you love; may you have wonderful moments; and may you amass beautiful, long-lasting memories.” Visit the Class of ’53 Facebook page to stay in contact with fellow Red Devils.
Class notes councilor: Rose Mary Keller Hughes, [email protected]
1954
Raymond Murphy, veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is doing well. He would like to recognize fellow veteran Alfred Cannon ’53, U.S. Navy, now deceased. Doris Henderson is dealing with back problems. She still facilitates a poetry-writing workshop in Danbury, Conn. Her older grandson graduated from Michigan State. Her younger grandson graduated from high school and will be attending Carnegie Mellon University this fall. His sister graduated from Northeastern University. Another granddaughter, a SUNY Oneonta graduate, just completed her master’s degree requirements online and will be teaching English in the fall, just like her grandmother did in 1954. John Parsons and wife Kimie live with their oldest son in Maryland. They visited their youngest son in North Andover, Mass., in April. They occasionally visit with their middle son in Falls Church, Va., and play bridge weekly at the Lusby, Md., senior center. Beverly Neumetzger moved to a new senior residence in Boca Raton, Fla. Please contact your class councilor for Beverly’s mailing address.
John Granito and wife and Dolores White Granito ’53 still commute from Pine Island, Fla. to Penn Yan, N.Y., where they spend their summers and enjoy being on the water. They are in good health and recently cruised the Elbe River. Gerald MoussoI has been connecting with UAlbany grads and attending his grandkids’ commencement ceremonies. Corinne Moxham attended her grandsons’ graduation from the Notre Dame Academy in New Jersey. One will attend Emory University, and the other will attend Catholic University in D.C. this fall. Corinne and husband Rodger will be celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary on the Viking Ocean Cruise Line in late November. Art Stone and wife Nancy are doing well and enjoying retirement. Last January, they traveled to Carmel, Mexico, where they enjoyed music and loved the food. Art continues to write fiction. Arline Lacy Wood spent part of the summer at Babcock Lake in Grafton, N.Y. Her husband, George, passed away in April. Jim Thompson spent summer at Tupper Lake, N.Y. Carol’s Alzheimer’s is steadily progressing, but she maintains her mellow personality. They recently celebrated the arrival of their first great-grandchild. Howard Ahders and wife Joan celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July. They met in Oswego, N.Y., in 1950. They live in Preswick Glen, a senior community in New Hartford, N.Y., where Howard does beautiful wood turnings. Beverly Brousseau’s husband suffered a back injury; they have stayed close to home this year. Richard “Dick” Bailey of Northern California is doing well. He says, “Keep smiling!” Joan Hartman stays close to home due to blood clots, but still enjoys attending New York Philharmonic concerts and doing volunteer work. She’s a member of both the Staten Island and New York City RSVP advisory boards. Pat Byrne Manning spent time in Emerald Isle, N.C.; New Hampshire; and New Haven, Conn. She also enjoyed The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Her grandson Alex finished 8th grade and recently starred as Scar in The Lion King. Pat is volunteering at the nursery school, reviewing science books for School Library Journal, and planning her annual trip to Italy.
Class notes councilor: Joan Paul, [email protected]
1955
Julie Abrams-Bernier shared the news that her mother, Pat Theobald Abrams, passed away in May following a brief illness. She was an English and Latin teacher and had four children. Ed Franco and wife Anne are enjoying their new home in Minneapolis, where they moved to be closer to family. The 2017 Class of 1955 scholarship awards were given to Karen Lowrie and Christina Mamone, both enrolled in UAlbany’s special education and literacy master’s program. Karen is a psychology and education graduate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has experience as a GED tutor, teacher for autistic children, and community-service professional in a program for those with developmental disabilities. Christina graduated summa cum laude in political science from UAlbany. She has a background in curriculum design and development from the urban education leaders internship program. Anthony DeNova died in Oneida, N.Y., last October. He taught mathematics and is survived by a step-daughter. After a career of teaching math, Will Bosch bought a small dairy farm in Rockland County (www.cedarvillefarmonline.com); he operates it with his son, David. They raise grass-fed steers, and produce organic garlic and hay for sale. Edna Standley Hyer finished second in her class in the Western New York Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure in Buffalo last spring.
Class notes councilor: John Orser, [email protected]
1957
Gayle Fishkin and husband Ed moved to Antelope, Calif., to be near their son and grandchildren, ages 13, 10 and 7. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2015 on an Alaskan cruise. Malcolm Rogers is recovering from recent health problems. Dick Feldman teaches fitness and adult tap-dancing lessons, and weeklong elder hostel programs in Savannah, Ga. Howard Bagley moved to Oregon. Jack Higham and wife Janet Higham ’58 have eight children, 22 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Since retiring from SED in 1990, Jack stays busy volunteering for the Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS). Blanche Frankel Moses still lives in the Capital District and enjoys antique and paper shows. Bill Bonesteel and wife Sue of California visit their daughters in the Boston area every year. Sue received her master’s in counseling from San Francisco State University. Bill retired from sales and marketing in 1986. Morton Hess and wife Ellie will be moving to Florida to be near family. Paul Bertan is a New York State pilot and chief engineer on four Erie Canal boats. Mary Lou Meiser Gorman visits her daughter in Minnesota and is a quilter. Marilyn Stilwell Dakin spends July in Osterville, Cape Cod, and winter in Florida. Gay Gatyas Carnes plays bridge. Rosemary Stauble Brown and husband Neil Brown ’54 live in Delmar. Rosemary completed her term as president of the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs. Betty VanVlack Poppo is still working and traveling. Bob Reuss lives in Tennessee and spends half the year in Venice, Fla. Carol Ann Kinghorn paints portraits of colleagues and family. Emil Polak retired and lives in his hometown, Sayville, N.Y. Bob Manthey and wife Martha retired and live in Daytona Beach, Fla. Mary Stowell Hilderbrand and husband Marc of Florida spend summers in New Hampshire. Robert Bowes recently moved back to the Albany area. Ann Poulin Diamond participates in a bridge group and enjoys visiting with her family. Ann Arvantides Bantuvanis stays very busy in Ithaca, N.Y. James Bailey and wife Ann live in Plattsburgh. Jim is historian for Essex County and Plattsburgh. Carole Rising Martin and husband Charlie live in Florida and spend summers in Maine. Doris Vradenberg Miller enjoys visiting her family in Spokane, Wash. Lew Carr moved from California to Pennsylvania. Joan Homan Macholl and husband John travel the world while teaching bridge on cruise ships. The Class of 1957 is making plans for a reunion luncheon, and we hope you will attend!
Class notes councilor: Sheila Lister Bamberger, [email protected]