Milne Alumni June Newsletter
June 15, 2016

by Judy Koblintz Madnick, '61

Florida Governor Rick Scott shared his anger over the [Orlando] attack, saying "...this is a time of great tragedy, and in every tragedy, there is a flood of sadness, confusion and despair. But this is an attack on our people. An attack on Orlando. An attack on Florida. An attack on America. An attack on all of us."

My deepest sympathy goes out to the victims, the wounded, and their families.

In this issue:

* New Hall of Fame Member
* Good News and Memories:
      Class of '66 50-year Reunion
      Noah Rhynhart Graduated
      Press Release regarding Bill McDonough, '46
      Remembering Muhammed Ali
* Sad News

NEW HALL OF FAME MEMBER

Our second Milne School Hall of Fame honoree from the 1970s is Dr. Jonathan Milton Soffer, 59, from the Milne Class of 1974. He has been recommended by Mary Welch, '71, who recently read the article in the Milne Alumni April Newsletter announcing Jon's award of a $260K grant for the National Endowment for the Humanities for his project to digitize the NYC historical records, 1973-1998. This grant is just the latest in Jon's work at NYU, where he is Professor of History and Department Chair, Technology, Culture and Society, in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Jon is the author of many articles that include insightful politics, remarkable inventors, and the urban history of New York City and its people. He also edited and authored two books. For more information on Jon and his published work please check his webpage at: http://engineering.nyu.edu/people/jonathan-m-soffer

Jonathan Soffer's awards, distinctions, affiliations, research interests, and grants include:

* Visiting Fellow, Wolfson College Oxford, August 2016
* Fellow, New York Academy of History, elected 2012
* Gilder Lehrman Foundation Fellow, 2011-12
* Board Member, Urban History Association, 2012
* American Historical Association, Organization of American Historians, Urban History Association
* Twentieth-century American political and urban history, $1500 Schoff Fund
* Columbia University Seminars, for the publication of Ed Koch and the Rebuilding of New York, 2009

Jonathan Soffer is the son of Milne graduate Miriam STEINHARDT Soffer, '43, and the late Albany attorney Sanford Soffer; he is also the nephew of Frank STEINHARDT, '38. Jon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College, Columbia University, in 1978; he received his Juris Doctor degree at Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver in 1982; and he earned his Ph.D. degree in History at Columbia University in 1992. He has been a faculty member at NYU since 2008. He has previously been a professor at CUNY; SUNY at Purchase; Bosphorus University in Instanbul, Turkey; Bilkent University, in Ankara, Turkey; and the Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY. Jon is married and lives with Pamela Allen Brown in Brooklyn, NY.

Jonathan Soffer's book appearances and media interviews include:

* Panel on Ed Koch, St. Johns University, October 15, 2013
* NPR, The Takeaway, with John Hockenberry, February 18, 2013
* Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, invited to panel with Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed at screening of Koch, February 10, 2013
* 92 2 Y Tribeca February 7, 2012
* Business Talk with Jim Campbell, WYBC Yale College Radio, December 12, 2010
* Gotham Center for New York City History, December 7, 2010
* Columbia University, Oral History Research Office and Friends of Butler Library, November 11, 2010
* New York City Tenement Museum, October 26, 2010, televised on CNN Book TV
* 92nd Street Y, October 18, 2010
* WNYC Radio, The Brian Lehrer Show, October 15, 2010
* NYU, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, October 14, 2010
* NY 1 Television, October 14, 2010
* Unnameable Books, Brooklyn NY October 8, 2010
* Upper West Side Barnes & Noble, October 7, 2010
* Radio interview KOWS-FM Sebastopol, CA, October 7, 2010
* Panel on Post War New York City, Brooklyn Book Fair, September 11, 2010

Jon had an interesting history at Milne during the six years he was there. He was an outstanding panel member of the local NBC television station's program, Little Red Schoolhouse/Answers Please, that pitted different regional schools against each other. Jon led the team to win against all other school panel challengers, and he was noted in the Milne newspaper, Crimson and White, where he also wrote articles and served as news editor, for the presentation of his knowledge and quick responses to the questions by the show's host. We were very proud of him then, and it is not surprising that he went on to prove his abilities in a way that, as a new Milne Hall of Fame member, he shows he is one of Milne's best graduates.

GOOD NEWS and MORE!

The Milne Class of 1966 will be holding its (gulp!) 50th Reunion the weekend of September 16-18. Events include tours of the SUNY Nanotech Center and the former Milne building, a river cruise, drinks, dinners, and breakfasts. An early-bird discount is available through June 30th. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/milne-class-of-66-gulp-50th-reunion-tickets-24931359367 for all information and tickets.

Noah Rhynhart, son of Roslyn Jefferson, '74, graduated from Syracuse University. Noah majored in Economics (B.A. from Syracuse University) with a double minor in Political Science and History. He played for four years on the Division 1 men's soccer team that won an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship, competed in the NCAA Final Four tournament, and was ranked as high as 4th in the country. He will be working at the New York Business Development Corporation in Albany, NY. Roslyn was also a Syracuse University graduate ('78).

Thank you to Ann GRAHAM Carter, '46, for providing the following Press Release regarding Bill McDonough, '46, who passed away earlier this year.

"January 12, 2016

"(Washington, DC)—Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) made the following statement after learning of the passing of Captain Bill McDonough. Captain McDonough’s distinguished career included service as a Navy Captain, Commander of the Portsmouth Shipyard, and President of the Seacoast Shipyard Association.

"'I was very saddened to learn of Captain McDonough’s death,' said Shaheen. 'Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who dedicated his life to serving his country. As Shipyard Commander, his strong leadership preserved the base’s legacy and prepared it for the future. His love for the Shipyard ran in his veins. For over 20 years, nobody fought harder to prevent the Shipyard’s closure. Bill’s efforts helped save thousands of jobs and preserved the Shipyard’s critical contribution to our nation’s national security. The Seacoast Region and our nation owes Captain McDonough a debt of gratitude for his service. Today, my thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.'"

Mary Welch, '71, came across the following article in the C&W regarding Muhammed Ali. It seemed timely this past week.

"Crimson and White, October 6, 1971
"The Greatest by Connie Carrino

"At the end of August, I clucked out of the blistering noon-day sun of Panama City for a cooling lemonade in the air-conditioned El Panama Hotel. As I sat down with friends, a tall, broad-shouldered man who carried himself with tremendous poise entered the room. Wearing an impeccably - tailored Brooks Brothers suit of soft grey, with inconspicuous shirt and tie, and black shoes shined to patent-leather brilliance, the big hulk of manhood quietly made his way to the counter lunch section. It was, of course, Muhammad Ali. Here was a man who knows what he represents, and you could not only see it, but you could feel it!

"Shortly, there were twenty or more reporters pushing in on the man, jabbering guys with cameras, flashing their automatic flashes in his eyes wherever he turned. At complete ease, as if it had happened hundreds of times before, Ali sat there at the counter, eating his raw steak and answering questions. Seriously, he softly answered them all. He was especially adroit when asked how, though his religion could prohibit fighting, he could continue in the ring. 'Wars sir,' he said in his soft, casual voice, 'are fought with guns, cannon, airplanes, bullets, steel and fire, killing hundreds of people each day. The intent of war is to kill. In boxing, we use only our hands covered with boxing gloves. And the intent is not to kill! If all wars were fought with boxing gloves, no one would be killed, and it would be a better world.'"

RIP, Muhammad Ali.

SAD NEWS

Please note that I rely upon the Albany Times Union and input from other alumni for this information, so if you become aware of someone who has passed away, please let me know. If a name is underlined, it represents a link to the obituary. Many obituaries are available free for a limited time only.

June HAUF Howe, a member of the Class of '50, passed away on April 11, 2016. She was the sister of the late Janice HAUF Richards, '45, and Winifred HAUF Smith, '47.

Sara R. Harris, mother of Anita Harris, 66, and Laura Harris-Hirsch, '68, passed away, May 15, 2016.

Curtis Cosgrave, '63, passed away on May 21, 2016. Curt was the brother of Steven Cosgrave, '61.

Anne Maistelman Milstein, mother of Stephen Milstein, '66, and Louis Milstein, '70, passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016.

Abe Lavine, father of Judy LAVINE Doling, '67, and Howard LAVINE, '70, and father-in-law of Richard Doling, '62, passed away on June 8, 2016.

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