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Alumni Profiles:
Achieving his dream of scholarship Roy Brooks '72 (CLAS)
The perks of the job are part of the responsibility
Keith Lemnios '82 (BUS)
Alex's living legacy of lemonade Liz Flynn Scott '91 (CLAS)
Examining Religious Differences Gerald Krell ’57 (SFA)
Lithuanian Reunion
Curtain Call Theater
Other Items of Interest:
Reunions
In
Memoriam
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 ReunionsSave the Date June 2-3, 2006
Reunion Weekend — Classes of Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 2 & 3, 2006. The schedule will include tours of campus, keynote speakers, museum tours, a dinner Friday evening and a New England Clambake on Saturday afternoon. Check your mail in April for registration information or check our Web site, www.uconnalumni.com, for program updates.
Special Interest Reunions |
Edward Sammis ’37 (ENG) and Ruth (Nielsen) Sammis ’38 (SAH) have been married for 65 years and have three children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The couple lives in Sarasota, Fla.
Willis Wilbur ’39 (CANR) is enjoying his time since retiring in 1988 from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
Mary Louise Lloyd ’40 (SFS) was honored with a Project Identify and Recognize Award by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, which recognizes professionals in the field of home economics, family and consumer sciences, and dietetics for their service to the armed forces. She lives in Luneburg, Mass.
Charles Rohde ’42 (CLAS) and wife, Evelyn Field Rohde ’73 (CLAS), have been married for 60 years. They have three sons, Charles Rohde ’71 (CLAS), Thomas Rohde ’74 (CLAS), and James Rohde ’79 (CLAS).
Sidney Goldstein ’49 (CLAS), ’51 M.A., professor emeritus of sociology at GH Crooker University and a professor emeritus at Brown University, received the 2005 Laureate Award of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, recognizing his work in demography, focusing on migration and urbanization. He and his wife, Alice, live in Warwick, R.I.
Joseph Gionfriddo ’51 (BUS) received an achievement award from the Georgia State Golf Association for shooting his age in a round of golf (74).
John Burke ’55 (BUS) retired from Travelers. He lives with his wife, Janet, in Lanoka Harbor, N.J., near their four children and eight grandchildren.
Examining Religious Differences
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| Documentary filmmaker Gerald Krell ’57 (SFA), right, has followed up his award-winning film Jews & Christians: A Journey of Faith, with a two-hour public television documentary, Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, that was presented first in October by Connecticut Public Television and distributed nationally by American Public Television. The new documentary compares similarities and differences between Islam and the world’s two other major religions. Krell is now working on a film about the 100th anniversary of the National Press Club. All films are produced by Krell’s Auteur Productions, Ltd. The camera operator, center, is Krell’s son, Adam, who is an associate producer for the company. |
Ken Cucuel ’57 (CLAS) is the reigning over-70 champion in squash for both the U.S. and Canada. He competed in the World Master’s Games held in July 2005 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Ed Satell ’57 (BUS), the founder and CEO of Progressive Business Publications, was named the 2003 Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Greater Philadelphia Area Association of Fundraising Professionals.
James Lorello ’58 M.S. has authored Septegenarian Thoughts, a poem of 101 rhyming lines.
William Pardus ’58 (CLAS), ’60 M.A., a professor emeritus of music at Keene State College in N.H., conducted the Waterford (Conn.) Community Band in the Connecticut premiere of his composition “The Mills of New England (A Symphonic Portrait).”
John Phillips ’58 (CLAS) retired after 32 years with the U.S. Army. He lives in Florence, Ala., and teaches chemistry at the University of North Alabama.
Ron Topping ’58 (BUS) retired in December 2004 after 32 years with Hedwin Corp. as a regional sales manager. He lives with his wife, Donna, in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Patti (Bert) R. Ratia ’59 (CLAS) retired from the U.S. Defense Department. He and his wife, Barbara, own an Internet-based antiques and collectibles business in Tucson, Ariz.
Lithuanian Reunion
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| Four members of the Class of 1959 and their spouses had a memorable reunion in June at the home of Jonas Kronkaitis ’59 (BUS) in Lithuania, where he retired last year as commanding general of Lithuania’s armed forces (go to Traditions Fall/Winter 2002). All shared the experience of being displaced from their homes in Ukraine and Lithuania by the ravages of World War II and becoming citizens of the United States, eventually meeting as students at UConn. Standing (L-R): Gintas Zemaitaitis, Jonas Kronkaitis ’59 (BUS), and Dick Murphy. Seated (L-R): Dalia Nenortas Jakas ’59 (CLAS), Ruta Kronkaitis, Luda Ksensenko Murphy ’59 (CLAS), and Irena Deikis Zemaitaitis ’59 (CLAS). Ray Jakas took the photo. |
Charles Chamberlain ’60 (ED) retired in 1995 as a counselor at Dover High School in Dover, N.H. He lives in Bend, Ore., and is an artist concentrating on realism with acrylics.
Robert Blair ’61 (BUS) retired from IBM in 2002 and recently finished a book about his experiences with IBM’s Office Products Division, OPD and Me—Inside the Romance Division of IBM. He lives in Austin, Texas.
Elliot Kalner ’62 (CLAS) retired in 2002 after 30 years of teaching in the Greenwich, Conn., public schools. He is an adjunct professor of American history at Norwalk Community College. He and his wife, Cathy, live in Norwalk.
Douglas Lovig ’62 (CLAS) was twice named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He retired in 2003 after 40 years of teaching English at Central High School in Bridgeport, Conn. He and his wife, Virginia, live in Bethany, Conn.
Donnajeane (Bigos) Lavoie ’63 (NUR) retired to New Hampshire but remains involved with the local Visiting Nurses Association as a health educator for area child care centers and as a facilitator for a caregiver support group.
Bruce Wiley ’63 (CLAS) is retired after separate careers in aerospace and small businesses. He has two grandchildren and lives in Union, Conn.
Joel Hirschhorn ’64 (CLAS) has been listed for 21 consecutive years in Best Lawyers of America. He is the founding partner of Hirschhorn & Bieber, P.A., located in Coral Gables, Fla., which concentrates in criminal and civil white-collar defense of corporations and business executives.
Mark Azzara ’66 M.A. is the director of student recruitment for Holy Apostles College in Cromwell, Conn. He lives in Danbury, Conn.
Joseph McAnneny ’66 (CLAS) is a principal at Economics Incorporated in Washington, D.C.
Alan Carbonneau ’67 (ED) retired from the Connecticut Department of Social Services in June 2003. He substitute teaches for Connecticut Region 15 middle schools. He and his wife, Beth, live in Middlebury.
Barbara (Bess) Gahry ’67 (CLAS) is a real estate agent with Prudential Palms Realty in Sarasota, Fla., where she lives with her husband, Dennis.
Darlene D. Pedersen ’67 (NUR) has published a clinical pocket guide, Psych Notes, which is aimed at helping nursing students during psychiatric clinical rotations. She is board certified in adult psychiatric mental health nursing and a board certified psychotherapist. She previously held editorial positions in medical and nursing publishing.
Beverly (Hunter) Tillman ’67 (CLAS) received a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in June 2005. She is the founder and president of LEAP of Faith Empowerment Institute and is a public speaker for professional women. She lives in Pasadena, Calif.
Chris Donovan ’69 (SFA) was nominated for an Emmy Award for producing the Independent Film Channel’s show Dinner for Five.
Jim Carini ’70 (BUS) works for Capital One Financial in Richmond, Va. He and his wife, Patti, and their children, Jay and Laura, live in Williamsburg, Va.
Joseph Anthony ’71 (CLAS) was inducted as a fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Frank Destadio ’71 (ENG) retired as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force after 30 years of military service. He is the vice president and director of business development for the communications division of Verizon Telecommunications. He and his wife, Sandi, have four daughters and live in Atlanta, Ga.
Richard Tavone ’71 (SSW), a certified teaching golf professional, formed a clinical golf program in Coventry, R.I. that instructs clients in all areas of the game.
David Landy ’72 (CLAS) was elected president of the N.Y. Metro Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. His company, David Landy Interiors Inc., specializes in medical, executive office, and high end residential interior design. He and his wife, Linda Fialkoff ’72 (SFS), and their daughter, Lauren, live in Mineola, N.Y.
Susan Hyde-Wick ’72 (ED) is the director of career development at Quinnipiac University. She lives in Woodbury, Conn.
James Ingalls ’72 (SFA) has been a freelance lighting designer for theatre, opera, dance and concerts for 25 years. Recent projects include: Romance by David Mamet at New York’s Atlantic Theatre and John Adams’ Dr. Atomic at the San Francisco Opera.
Eddie Torres ’72 (ED), ’73 M.A. retired in 1995 after 20 years as a bilingual teacher. He has been married for 48 years and is the editor and publisher of Good Earth Vegetarian News.
Achieving his dream of scholarship
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Roy Brooks ’72 (CLAS) arrived at UConn from New Haven with visions of becoming an academic scholar. He wondered whether his ambition was beyond reach, but three professors who he affectionately refers to as “the trinity” — George Cole and Wayne Shannon in political science and Joel Kupperman in philosophy — helped answer the question.
“They saw things in me that I didn’t,” says Brooks, who received the UConn Alumni Association’s 2005 Distinguished Alumni award. “They gave me direction, shaped my scholarship and taught me to commit myself completely to it.”
Brooks graduated magna cum laude and went on to Yale Law School, where he became a senior editor of the Yale Law Journal. Today he is the Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of San Diego and has written 23 books on civil rights, civil procedure, employment discrimination and critical theory.
Brooks’ work on jurisprudence, Structures of Judicial Decision Making, gained attention during recent Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Sitting judges often refer to the book and it is used as a text in the curriculum at various law schools.
Moreover, his opinion’s on race relations and civil rights have raised the level of discourse on these matters. For example, in Atonement and Forgiveness he reframes one of the most controversial issues of our time: reparations for African-Americans. “I use the issue of reparations for bringing about racial reconciliation,” says Brooks.
Key to his vision is the government’s clear signal that it understands the magnitude of the atrocities it committed against an innocent people. Indeed, some members of Congress cited the book as being influential in the passage of a recent resolution apologizing for failure to enact anti-lynching legislation. Almost 5,000 people — mostly African-Americans — were lynched between 1882 and 1968.
Brooks says he has no expectations about the impact of his writing. “My total interest is in getting it right, looking at all the relevant sources and doing it with balance and fairness,” he adds.
As Brook’s sphere of influence continues to expand, he has not forgotten those that set him on his scholarly path. For instance, inside the jacket of his book Integration or Separation? A Strategy for Racial Equality, which received the Gustavus Meyers Outstanding Book Award for civil rights and the Brandeis University Library Learned Research Journal Award, there is a dedication to the “trinity” of UConn professors who recognized his potential.
“I was so absolutely fortunate to meet that gifted and talented trio,” Brooks says. “They made me feel as if I had something to contribute to society. I’m eternally grateful to them.”
— Ron Meshberg
Jack Hutchison ’73 (ENG) marked his 20th year at Environmental Science Associates in San Francisco in July 2005. He is a senior transportation engineer with ESA and conducts analyses for environmental impact reports.
Regina Poltrack ’73 (CLAS) passed the Certified Information Systems Auditor exam. She is a senior internal auditor for KPMG in Montvale, N.J. She lives in Yorktown, N.Y., with husband, James, and sons, Adam and Brendan.
Adrienne Robb-Fund ’73 (ED) is the assistant superintendent of elementary education for the Commack, N.Y., public schools. She says Stan Shaw of the Neag School of Education inspired her philosophy that all children can learn. She and her husband, Jay, live in Massapequa, N.Y., with their children, Lisa and Andrew.
Steven Roach ’73 (BUS) is the president of BH Management Services Inc., in Dallas, Texas. He and his wife, Margie, live in Carrollton, Texas, with their daughter, Kylie, 10.
Charles Biernbaum ’74 Ph.D. has retired after 31 years as a professor of biology at the College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C. He was primarily involved in undergraduate and graduate marine biology programs and received the college’s distinguished teaching and advising awards.
Thomas Hogan ’74 J.D. and his wife recently completed 20 months service with the U.S. Peace Corps in Ukraine, where they taught English, U.S. history, American literature and culture.
Frank Kane ’74 (CLAS) was elected chairman of the American Board of Family Medicine. His UConn roommate, William Kohlhepp ’74 (CLAS), was elected chairman of the American Academy of Physician’s Assistants Board certifying body.
Andrey Nikiforov ’74 (CLAS) is the president of a scientific consulting firm specializing in toxicology regulatory services. He lives in Charlottesville, Va., with his wife, Michelle, and daughter, Kaitlin.
Philip Rubin ’74 (CLAS), ’76 Ph.D. was elected chairman of the Discovery Museum and Planetarium board of trustees. He is CEO, vice president and a senior scientist at Haskins Laboratories in New Haven, Conn. He lives in Fairfield, Conn.
Michael Levin ’75 M.B.A. retired as a software consultant. He is planning to live in Dalian, China, for six months, teaching at Dong Bei University of Finance and Economics.
Pamela Sherwill ’75 (ED) was awarded the Eliot Prize by the Medical Library Association for co-authoring an article on furthering medical librarianship.
Dawn Tiedeman ’75 (NUR) received the Lane Adams Quality of Life Award from the American Cancer Society. She is an advanced practice nurse in oncology for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
Kevin Bohacs ’76 (CLAS) was elected a National Fellow of the Explorers Club in recognition of his distinguished contributions to scientific knowledge through field research. He and his wife, Susan, live in Houston, Texas.
Jennifer Dorn ’77 (CLAS) was nominated by President Bush to be the United States alternate executive director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. She previously served as the administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.
Sherry Hanson ’77 (CLAS) is a contributing writer for the travel guide Fodor’s Maine Coast, 1st Edition. She lives in Brunswick, Maine, and writes for magazines, Web sites, newspapers and other publications.
Robert Kravchuk ’77 (CLAS) is an associate professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He is the chair of the university finance committee and also serves on the finance committee of Monroe County.
Gary Martinaitis ’78 (ENG) is the associate deputy director of market information for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He lives in Ellicott City, Md., with his wife, Cindy, and children, Kaitlyn and Michael.
Lawrence Palmieri ’78 (CLAS) retired at age 48 after 25 years with Wrigley Sales Company. He now spends his time with a local animal shelter, A.R.F.
Jaime Parent ’78 (CLAS) is the vice president of information systems & CIO for Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore, Md. A retired U. S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, he lives in Maryland with his wife, Tracy, and three teenage children.
Jeffrey Mikutis ’79 (CLAS) retired after 21 years of service as an Air Force colonel. He was chief of orthopaedic surgery at Wright-Patterson Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. He is currently a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at the Children’s Medical Center of Dayton and is married with two children.
Thérèse Mulvey ’79 (CLAS) is the vice president of market intelligence for Advo, a home-delivered print advertising company, based in Windsor, Conn.
Denise Pelletier ’79 (SFA) is an assistant professor of art at Connecticut College.
Harriet Sanford ’79 M.P.A. is the president/CEO of the National Education Association Foundation in Washington, D.C. Susie (Bisulca) Beam ’80 (SFS) is a financial advisor’s assistant at American Express. She and her husband, Tim, have two children, Tyler, 10, and Kaitlin, 7. The family lives in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Susie (Bisulca) Beam ’80 (SFS) is a financial advisor’s assistant at American Express. She and her husband, Tim, have two children, Tyler, 10, and Kaitlin, 7. The family lives in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Carol (Fleit) Cipriani ’80 (CLAS) is the senior vice president of BDC New England, a business and financial services company.
Keith N. Costa ’80 (CLAS) has joined Pullman & Comley, LLC, one of Connecticut’s leading law firms, where he will practice in the bankruptcy section of the litigation department in the firm’s new White Plains, N.Y., office. He has extensive experience as a Chapter 11 Trustee. Previously he was a partner at Cohn Birnbaum & Shea in New York and also served 11 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was assistant U.S. Trustee for the Southern District of New York and a senior trial attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Steven Safier ’80 M.A., ’83 Ph.D. is the senior vice president and chief administrative officer of the SUBWAY Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust.
Mike Cassidy ’81 (BUS) is the senior vice president for market relations for Colemont Insurance Brokers in Hartford, Conn. He lives in West Hartford with his wife, Rita, and their three children.
Jody Dillon Sherman ’81 M.B.A. is the public relations coordinator at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College. She lives in Oldsmar, Fla., with her husband and two children.
John Gilchrist ’81 (CLAS), a certified financial planner, was elected president of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors of Southwest Connecticut.
Gary Hendrickson ’81 (CLAS) is the senior vice president of Valspar Corporation in Minneapolis, Minn.
The perks of the job are part of the responsibility
 Photo by Peter Morenus |
For Keith Lemnios ’82 (BUS), president of the Omar Coffee Company in Newington, Conn., drinking cup after cup of Hawaiian Kona and Kenyan AA is not just a “perk” of the job; it is a major responsibility.
In addition to overseeing business and marketing strategies for a company that roasts 3.7 million pounds of coffee annually, Lemnios tests or “cups” samples of premium coffee imported by international brokers. “If I like the quality, I buy it,” he says.“I’m the biggest critic of my own product.”
Lemnios, a former vice president of consulting services at EF Hutton in New York, began working at Omar in 1990, when the company was a small Hartford-based roaster with local clients. Today Omar supplies premium and specialty roasted coffees to restaurants, convenience stores, coffee shops and office buildings throughout New England, the mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C. The company has also diversified, running an office coffee service and operating several premium retail outlets, including the new ZuZu Coffee and Wine Bar in downtown Hartford.
The beverage industry is competitive, and Lemnios attributes Omar’s success to the fact that it behaves as a small company and a large company at the same time.
As a “boutique” roaster, Omar offers micro-batches as small as 1 pound, specialty coffees such as Organic and Fair Trade, and attentive customer service. “We analyze every single roast,” he adds, noting that the company also has the buying power, market hedging strategies, and enormous roasting capacity of a big player in the industry.
In addition to originating such coffees as the Insurance City Roast (a blend that honors the company’s history in Hartford), Omar pays tribute to UConn in a way that directly benefits current students: Sales of Omar’s Husky Breakfast Blend, Champanilla Vanilla, and other Husky Coffees generate support for the University’s General Scholarship Fund.
A fan of UConn athletics as well as academics, Lemnios has also established an Omar Athletic Scholarship. Says Lemnios, “UConn provided me a tremendous education and background to develop skills in the financial and business worlds. It’s a good feeling to contribute back to my alma mater.”
— Leslie Virostek
Peter Cavaliere ’83 (BUS) won an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Live Event Turnaround for his work as an associate director of NBC Sports at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, last summer. He lives in Secaucus, N.J.
Mark Dripchak ’83 (CANR) is the assistant country director for CARE International in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ted Macierowski ’83 (BUS), ’98 M.B.A. and his wife, Jen, announce the birth of a daughter, Leanna Claire, on July 11, 2005. The family lives in Windsor, Conn.
Dawn (Whalen) Martin ’83 (NUR) received a masters in health care administration from the University of New Haven. She is the nurse manager in St. Vincent’s Medical Center Emergency Department in Bridgeport, Conn.
Julie (Dwyer) Bookbinder ’84 M.A., ’90 Ph.D. is a speech-language pathologist and consultant for the Darien, Conn., public schools. She and her husband, Michael, live in New Canaan with their two daughters, Sarah, 17, and Allison, 14.
Eric Johnson ’84 (CLAS) and his wife, Suzanne, announce the birth of a daughter, Hannah Katherine, on June 24, 2005. He is a conservation officer for Connecticut. The family lives in Eastford, Conn.
Robert Sticca ’84 Ph.D., professor of surgery at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Services, was named the chair of the department of surgery.
Megan Friar ’85 (ED), ’87 M.M. and Ron Drotos ’86 (SFA), announce the birth of a son, Daniel Friar Drotos, on March 12, 2005. He joins older brother John, 2. Megan and Ron are both musicians and live in New York City.
Thaddeus Kolwickz ’85 (CLAS) was appointed commander of Detachment 1, the Alaska Air National Guard’s newest unit.
Michael Narracci ’85 (CLAS) won the 2004 New England Chapter Emmy Award in the Sports—Play by Play Coverage category for coverage of Red Sox Baseball. He is director of Red Sox Baseball for the New England Sports Network.
Bonnie Potocki ’85 (CANR) is a project manager for GZA Geo- Environmental, Inc., an environmental and geotechnical consulting firm in Vernon, Conn.
Nick Zaharias ’85 (CLAS) is the director of development at Tilton School in New Hampshire. His wife, Patricia (Ellis) Zaharias ’84 (CLAS) is an administrator in the admissions office at Tilton. They have a son, Stephen.
Mark Boxer ’87 M.B.A was named president and CEO of consumer-driven health plans, enterprise services, and Medicare for WellPoint, Inc. of Indianapolis. He has held a variety of senior management positions at the company, most recently as executive vice president and chief strategy officer. A member of the UConn School of Business board of advisors and member of the school’s Hall of Fame, he is on the editorial advisory board of Insurance and Technology Magazine and on the World Wide Electronic Data Interchange. He lives in Glastonbury, Conn. with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth.
Maryann deSteph ’86 (BGS) and her husband, Hank Klein ’73 (CLAS), have relocated to Apollo Beach, Fla. She is working for RE/MAX Universal Realty and he is working for the Dept. of Homeland Security.
Richard Dooley ’86 M.B.A. was elected national president of the Society of American Magicians. Known as the “Amazing Doolini,” he is also an assistant vice president in the Life Services Division at Mass Mutual Financial Group in Enfield, Conn. He lives in Tolland, Conn.
Mark Lamb ’86 is the director of investor relations for HouseValues, Inc. in Kirkland, Wash.
Richard Martin ’86 (BUS) is the chief financial officer for General Fiber Communications Inc., of Conshohocken, Pa.
Catherine O’Donnell ’86 (NUR) is the clinical leader in the cardiothoracic operating room at The Regional Heart & Vascular Center at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn.
Terry Wethered ’86 (ED) received a M.P.H. from the University of New Hampshire in 1995 and was elected to the National Honor Society, Sigma Beta Delta.
Robert Cusano ’87 (BUS) is the account vice president at UBS Financial Services, Inc, in Hartford, Conn. He lives in Bolton, with wife, Maria, and children, Anthony, 13, Joey, 12, and Alexia, 3.
Peter Spicer ’87 (CLAS) married Nancy Ellen Freebairn in April 2005. He is a vice president and new product manager at Chubb Personal Insurance. The couple lives and works in Whitehouse Station, N.J.
David Zitzkat ’87 (ENG) and his wife, Liese, adopted Tyler David Camilo Zitzkat on March 17, 2005. Tyler was born on Nov. 29, 2004, in Bogota, Colombia.
Jeanne Consiglio-Hoin ’88 (CLAS) was appointed to the board of education in Orange, Conn. She is an account executive for Midwest Employers Casualty Company and a realtor with Dunlap-Hibbs Real Estate.
Barbara Evans ’88 (CLAS) is vice president of development and corporate sponsorship for the New York City chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She and her husband, Andrew Otis, live in Manhattan and New Paltz, N.Y.
Janet Nolen ’88 (SAH) is the clinic director of the Manual Orthopedic Physical Therapy of MA, Inc. in Hopkinton, Mass. She is a licensed massage therapist and certified strength and conditioning coach.
Stephen Walsh ’88 (CLAS) is the creative supervisor at Unit 7 advertising in New York City. He lives in Katonah, N.Y., with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters, Alice, 5, and Margaret, 3.
Lisa Marcinkowski ’89 (CLAS) is director of education at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Conn. She earned an M.A. in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in 1999.
Laura Rush ’89 (CLAS), after a 15-year career as a finance and biotech journalist, will be attending medical school at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Medicine in Pomona, Calif. She plans to focus on neurosurgery and neurology.
Curtain Call Theater
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| The Curtain Call Theater 2005
summer production of Bye Bye Birdie included a baker’s dozen of
current UConn students and alumni, led by Lou Ursone, executive director of Stamford’s longest running
community theatre.
Bottom: L-R: Lourdine Pierre ’07 (NUR), Sarah Smegal ’06 (CLAS), Tom DeSalvo ’04 (BUS), Catherine Yudain ’09 (SFA), Teddy Yudain ’06 (SFA). Middle: Michael Blancaflor ’99 (SFA), Yiram Aldouby ’93-’96 (SFA), Michael Cooney ’84 (SFA), Norma Stella ’73 (SFA), Melissa Valendra ’08 (SFA). Top: Gail Yudain ’90 (CLAS), Lou Ursone ’81 (CLAS), Not pictured - Jeff Karwosky ’95 (CLAS) |
Michael Marzano ’90 (BUS) and Jennifer Thibodeau Marzano ’92 (CLAS) announce the birth of a son, Alexander London, named after the city where they both studied abroad while at UConn.
Dieter Stanko ’90 (CLAS), an assistant metro editor at the Connecticut Post in Bridgeport, Conn., was awarded a first-place award for editorial writing from the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Wendyleigh (McCorrison) Bodick ’91 (CLAS) is president of Solutions Family Therapy and Consulting, Inc., a private practice and consulting company in Cornelius, N.C. She and her husband, Michael, live in Mooresville, N.C., with their two daughters, Maiya and Catherine.
Brian Giusani, Jr. ’91 (CLAS) married Ariella Scherer in November 2004. The couple lives in Wilmington, N.C.
Michael Gulino ’91 (ED) received a master of science/fire science degree from the University of New Haven in May 2005. He is a firefighter and investigator for the Town of Farmington, Conn, where he lives with his wife, Kim, and their children, Kailie, Noah, and Ethan.
Eric Kaplan ’91 M.B.A. is the chief sales officer for HealthNet of Northeast, with responsibility for all sales, account management and membership in the Connecticut, New Jersey and New York region. He previously was a vice president of sales and client management for Trustmark Insurance Company. He lives in Glastonbury, Conn.
Bryan McGarry ’91 (CLAS) and his wife, Kellye, announce the birth of a son, Jack Martin, on Aug. 22, 2005. The family lives in Atlanta, Ga.
Paula (Carlos) Thornton ’91 (CLAS) and her husband, Kelley Thornton ’89 (CLAS), announce the birth of a daughter, Lily Marie, on July 17, 2004. She joins a sister, Grace, and brother, Sean, both 5. The family lives in Chicago, Ill.
Alex’s living legacy of lemonade
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When her daughter, Alex, was struggling to beat cancer, Liz Flynn Scott ’91 (CLAS) devoted most of her time and energy to Alex’s care. Today, Liz’s focus is on her late daughter’s legacy — Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national organization that has raised $44 million for childhood cancer treatment and research.
It all began one day in 2000 when 4-year-old Alex decided to sell lemonade to raise money for her hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Alex’s single lemonade stand inspired hundreds of others and evolved into a foundation and a children’s book, Alex and The Amazing Lemonade Stand, written by Liz, the foundation’s development director, and her husband, Jay ‘91(CLAS), the executive director. The book is available online and at bookstores, with a companion kit for setting up a lemonade-stand.
An upbeat theme song for Alex’s Lemonade Stands was also composed and recorded by songwriter Kenny Gamble, who helped to create the 1970s Philadelphia Sound with songs like the O’Jays’ “Love Train.” And this spring the owners of a racehorse named Afleet Alex, pledged to donate money every time the horse raced. Afleet Alex won two legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness in Baltimore and the Belmont Stakes in New York City, drawing even more national attention to the cause. One of the foundation’s national sponsors is Country Time Lemonade.
Thanks to Alex’s desire to help other children, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has discovered a unique way of making grants. The Scotts knew that many children with cancer are on waiting lists for clinical drug trials. In 2003, the foundation provided funding for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Alex’s second hospital, to hire a nurse practitioner to expedite clinical trials for neuroblastoma patients.
In just six months, the hospital more than quadrupled the number of children in trials. The foundation has funded nine more full-time research positions at several children’s hospitals, thus helping large numbers of children receive faster treatment and advancing the science leading to better medicines.
In October, Liz received the first UConn Alumni Association Award for Humanitarian Work. The former psychology major says that her liberal arts education helped to shape her “somewhat idealistic” world view, but it was Alex and the thousands of people who wanted to support Alex’s legacy that taught her “how to live my life.”
“I’ve learned a lot about people, about how good people are and how, when people get together on something, they can really make a difference,” she says.
For more information: alexslemonade.org
— Leslie Virostek
Keith Kesner ’92 (ENG) was awarded the 2005 Young Member Award for Professional Achievement from the American Concrete Institute, which recognizes contributions in the areas of nondestructive testing and rehabilitation of concrete structures.
Tracy King ’92 (BUS) was selected as the first full-time commissioner of the Skyline Conference, a NCAA Division III conference of New York Metropolitan area schools. He lives in Monroe Township, N.J.
Adam Sean Lawlor ’92 (BUS) and his wife, Kindley, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Annabella Kai Lawlor, born Aug. 12, 2005. He is a founding partner at Legato Capital Management. The family lives in San Fransisco.
Amy Marella-Carpenter ’92 (ED) and Les Carpenter announce the birth of a son, Eli Carpenter, on Oct. 19, 2004. The family lives in Chevy Chase, Md.
Daniel Glezer ’92 (CLAS) and Laura Chamberland Glezer ’92 (CLAS) announce the birth of a daughter, Christine Elizabeth, born April 23, 2005. She joins brother, Benjamin, and sister, Jessica. Daniel is an international human resources manager for Tupperware. The family lives in Orlando, Fla.
Jennifer (Kaufman) Gresham ’92 (CLAS) and her husband, Robert, announce the birth of a daughter, Amanda Malyn, on Feb. 10, 2005. They married in September 2002 and live in Parker, Colo.
Joe Healey ’92 (CLAS) and his wife, Beth, announce the birth of a son, Quinn Joseph, on June 27, 2005. The family lives in Louisville, Colo.
Carrie (Mosher) McDaniel ’92 (CLAS) and her husband, Greg, announce the birth of a son, Ethan Conner, on July 28, 2005. The family lives in Orange, Conn.
Jennifer Parmelee ’92 (CLAS) and Christopher Childs were married in October 2004. She works in marketing at Random House, Inc. The couple lives in New York City.
Leif Wathne ’92 (ENG) was appointed director of highways by the American Concrete Pavement Association in its Washington D.C. office. He previously was a consultant to the Federal Highway Administration. He lives in Falls Church, Va., with his wife, Melissa, and sons, Lars, 4, and Finn, 3.
John Adams ’93 (ENG) is an associate with Anchor Engineering Services, Inc. in Glastonbury, Conn. He lives in Colchester, Conn.
Ying-Ying Lee ’93 (CLAS) received the 2004 Chairman’s Award from the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., which recognizes teams and individuals whose contributions to the company have achieved significant results. She lives in New Britain, Conn.
Beth (Taylor) Mack ’93 (ED) and husband, James, announce the birth of a son, Ryan Thomas Mack, on March 30, 2005. The family lives in Bergen County, N.J.
Daniel Molnar ’93 (BUS) received a J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law and a M.B.A. from Quinnipiac University Graduate School of Business in May 2005.
Jennifer Palancia Shipp ’93 (CLAS) married James Shipp in June 2005. She is the associate university counsel at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The couple lives in Greensboro.
Jon Pedersen Sr. ’93 (BUS), the assistant controller for Warner Music Group, received an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Milford, Conn., with their two sons, Jon Jr., and Michael.
Greg Rossano ’93 (ENG) is one of the co-inventors and patent holders for a method for the calibrating and programming of a robot application and a method for fine tuning a robot program.
Jennifer (Perry) Zmijewski ’93 (ENG) announces the birth of her daughter, Ella Morgan, on March 11, 2005.
Steven Bernaski ’94 (CLAS) is vice president at US Bank - Indirect Lending where he manages a sales and marketing team of 12 for the southeast region of the U.S.
Bani Mallick ’94 (CLAS), ’02 M.S., professor of statistics at Texas A&M University, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association for his contribution to the statistics profession.
Cindy (Panek) Nick ’94 (ED), ’95 M.A. and Joel Nick ’89 (CLAS), ’92 M.A. announce the birth of a daughter, Alexandra Catherine, on Feb. 22, 2005. He is the social studies department chair and she teaches mathematics at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, Conn. The family lives in Cromwell, Conn.
Jason Sicotte ’94 (ENG) and Donna (Krekoska) Sicotte ’95 (SFA) announce the birth of a daughter, Megan Rose, on March 19, 2005. Megan joins her sister, Kayla Marie, 2.
Jennifer (Franchere) Tortora ’94 (BUS) and her husband, Mike, announce the birth of a daughter, Amy Jill, on Jan. 30, 2005.
Andrew Carney ’95 (CLAS) is the director of brokerage services for The Alliance Group LLC, in Stamford, Conn. He is an active offshore sailboat racer and lives in Stamford.
Elizabeth Case DeSantis ’95 (ED) was honored as Teacher of the Year by the city of Stamford public schools. A first-grade teacher, she is the youngest recipient in the history of this prestigious award.
David DeArmas ’95 (SFS) and his wife, Lauren, announce the birth of a daughter, Brianna Nicole DeArmas, born on April 30, 2005.
Jody Dobuzinsky ’95 (CLAS) is the assistant manager for business at SBC. She married Manuel Morales in September 2005.
Kristen (Frattarola) Ingarra ’95 (SFS) and her husband, Frank, announce the birth of a daughter, Courtney Marie, on March 23, 2005. Kristen is a kindergarten teacher at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Conn. The family lives in Stamford, Conn.
Kathryn Laity ’95 (CLAS), ’03 Ph.D received the 2005 Faculty Award for Scholarship/Creativity at the University of Houston-Downtown, where she is an assistant professor of English. She also received the 2005 Eureka Short Story Fellowship to work on her collection, Unikirja, which is Finnish for “dreambook.”
David Polochanin ’95 (CLAS) teaches language arts in Glastonbury, Conn. He also writes freelance essays and columns for the the Boston Globe and Hartford Courant. He lives with his wife, Claudine, and son, Ethan, in Marlborough, Conn.
Samantha Price ’95 (NUR) married David Wallace in June 2005. The couple lives in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Michael Renaud ’95 J.D. is a member of the firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. He practices in the intellectual property section of the firm’s office in Boston.
Robert Sawicki ’95 (BUS) is the associate vice president of leadership programs and employment development at the Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Michael Sollicito ’95 (CLAS) and his wife, Elsa, announce the birth of their son, Damian Joseph, on March 22, 2005. The family lives in Milford, Conn.
Peter Connolly ’96 (CLAS) is the athletic director and sociology teacher at Immaculate High School in Danbury, Conn.
Kelly (Thompson) Dolyak ’97 (CLAS) and her husband, Keith, announce the birth of a daughter, Kate Therese, on July 15, 2005. Kate joins her sister, Paige Whitney. The family lives in Stratford, Conn.
Matthew Espinosa ’96 (CLAS) and Marisa (Fappiano) Espinosa ’98 (SFS) announce the birth of a son, Lucas Matthew Espinosa, on April 21, 2005. The family lives in Guilford, Conn.
Daniel Farr ’96 (BUS) and Stacey (Todaro) Farr ’97 (BUS) announce the birth of a daughter, Katherine Louise. He is an assistant vice president with GE Commercial Finance Energy Financial Services and she is a clothing buyer for Loehmann’s. The family lives in Stamford, Conn.
Charlene McCabe ’96 (SFA) received a master’s degree in costume design from the University of California, Irvine in 1999. She is a costume designer for Buena Vista Picture Distribution and the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. She and her husband, Richard Ballering, live in Los Angeles, Calif.
Chad Pens ’96 (ED) and his wife, Maria, announce the birth of a daughter, Quinn Maria, on July 2, 2004. He is a doctor of physical therapy at Cornell University. The family lives in Syracuse, N.Y.
Thomas Stoughton ’96 M.S., ’99 Ph.D. is the vice president of Woodard & Curran in Portland, Maine.
Sandra (Feldmann) Wheeler ’96 (ED) and Matthew Wheeler ’96 (BUS) announce the birth of a daughter, Madison Olivia, on July 25, 2005. The family lives in the Boston area.
Ryan Alcantara ’97 M.A. and Suzanne (O’Connor) Alcantara ’97 M.A. announce the birth of a son, Vincent Ryan, on March 22, 2005. Ryan is an associate dean of students at California State University, Fullerton and is pursuing a doctorate in public administration at the University of Southern California. She is the associate director of career development at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California,
Gary Borla ’97 M.P.H. was awarded the Northeast Utilities Community Service Award for his long history of volunteerism. He is a senior asset manager in the Northeast Utilities Transmission Group and lives in Old Saybrook, Conn.
Kelly Bowler ’97 (CLAS), ’98 M.S. was named a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Fellowship is the highest professional recognition an actuary can achieve and represents the completion of a series of exams. She is an analyst with Hartford Investment Management.
Lisa (Ziemiecki) Burnham ’97 (CLAS) and Daniel Burnham ’98 (CLAS) announce the birth of a daughter, Meghan Sheridan, on Feb. 28, 2005. The family lives in Holly Springs, N.C.
Allison Gardiner Kovac ’97 (ED), ’98 M.A. and Edward Kovac announce the birth of a daughter, Eve Helen, on April 22, 2005. She joins sister, Gwendolyn Leigh, 2. Allison is a sixth-grade science teacher in the Weston, Conn., school system. The family lives in Easton, Conn.
Julie (Machol) Hughes ’97 (SFS) and her husband, Jason, announce the birth of a daughter, Hannah Lynn, born on May 7, 2005. Julie is a math teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington, Conn. The family lives in Farmington.
Neil Kulikauskas ’97 (ENG) is a senior project engineer with SEA Consultants Inc., an engineering/architectural firm in Rocky Hill, Conn.
Diane McVeigh ’97 (BUS) married Joseph Curci ’96 (CLAS) in July 2005.
Jennifer (Schilt) Perfetti ’97 (BUS) received an M.B.A. from Baruch College in New York City. She is a global resource program manager with IBM.
Angela (Talcik) Staron ’97 (CLAS), ’00 M.A. married Jayme Staron ’99 (BUS) in August 2005. She is an English teacher in Redding, Conn. He works for Gartner Inc., in Trumbull.
Travis Board ’98 (CLAS) and Susan (Kluk) Board ’99 (CANR), ’01 M.S. announce the birth of a daughter, Audrey, on May 26, 2005. He is a captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and flies the C-5 at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. The family lives in Deep River, Conn.
Alycia Sacco Duquette ’98 J.D., ’99 M.B.A. was elected as an officer of the Berkshire Life Insurance Company by the board of directors. She was promoted to the position of counsel.
Melinda Lopes ’98 (NUR) was awarded a Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing. She works at Yale-New Haven Hospital and lives in Middletown, Conn.
Loida Velilla Reyes ’98 M.S.W. is the project manager of the Health Journalism CD, an international digital health reporting resource. She works with the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau.
Michael Hwang ’99 (CLAS) graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and is now a resident in advanced education in the general dentistry program at the UConn School of Dental Medicine.
Tara McKee ’99 M.A., ’02 Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Hamilton College, was awarded the John R. Hatch Excellence in Teaching Award. The award recognizes a Hamilton faculty member who has demonstrated superior teaching, high quality scholarly research and a significant and positive impact on students.
Matthew Udal ’99 (BUS) married Betsy Froebel in April 2005. He is a financial planner with Udal & Associates, a practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., in Farmington, Conn.
In
Memoriam
ALUMNI
Elsie (Brainerd) Raven ’32
Janice Van Kavelaar ’46
Lois Joyce Schneider ’48
Marjorie Slater Lord ’49
Robert Capelle ’50
Joseph Kelly ’50
William Stanley Devino ’53
Philip Tinsley Jr. ’54
Harriet Buchbinder ’58
Sheila McCrudden ’63
Bert Swanson ’65
John Zelonis Jr. ’66
Kevin Keyes ’69
Elisabeth (Wells) Johnson ’70
Candace (Beno) Clark ’73, ’75
Maribeth Mather Skinner ’81
Robert Gaffney Jr. ’87
Allison (DeNicola) Amorosi ’00 (NUR) finished her first year of graduate school at UConn toward becoming a nurse practitioner. She lives in Bethel, Conn.
Remy Boyd ’00 (CLAS) earned an M.B.A. in legal studies from the University of Maryland in May 2005. She is a legal writer and case analyst employed in the general counsel’s office at a pharmaceutical company.
Lisa Dabkowski ’00 (BUS) received a M.S. in instructional technology from Southern Connecticut State University in May 2005.
Janet Frazao ’00 (SFS), ’05 M.S.W. is the director of social work at Park Place Health Care Center in Hartford, Conn.
Mary Ellen (San Juan) Miller ’00 (SAH) married Jeff Miller ’00 (SAH) in May 2005. She is a cytogenetics technologist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. He is a medical technician at Clinical Laboratory Partners in Newington, Conn. The couple lives in Manchester, Conn.
Kelly (Ulm) Nicholson ’00 (NUR), ’00 M.P.H. married Nicholas Nicholson ’00 (NUR), ’00 M.P.H. in June 2005.
Jacob Sellers ’00 (CLAS) received a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn. He is a corporate litigator with the firm of Leonard, Street, and Deinard of Minneapolis.
Michael Sobolewski ’00 (BUS), ’01 M.S. is a manager in the Hartford, Conn., office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Ivy Alexander ’01 Ph.D. co-authored 100 Questions & Answers About Menopause, published by Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
Kimberly Carlucci ’01 (BUS) and Jeffrey Boisvert ’01 (BUS) married in July 2005. The couple lives in Hamden, Conn.
Jarrid Clifton ’01 (CLAS) and Margaret (Noble) Clifton ’04 (CLAS), ’05 M.A. were married in August 2005. He is the director of education at Sylvan Learning Center in Vernon, Conn. She teaches English at RHAM High School in Hebron, Conn. They live in Vernon.
Michelle Huntingford Craig ’01 (CLAS) received a master’s degree in art history from the University of Wisconsin. She was accepted into the doctorate program at UCLA for fall 2005.
Scott Lafferty ’01 (CLAS) is a volunteer builder at a Habitat for Humanity development in Dorchester, Mass. He is a product manager at the law offices of James Sokolve in Newton Center, Mass.
Christopher Murphy ’01 J.D. is serving his second term as state senator representing the 16th Senatorial District. He is an attorney with the firm of Ruben, Johnson, and Morgan, P.C. in Hartford, Conn. He lives in Cheshire.
Alyssa Roy ’01 (SAH) married Kevin Kelley on June 18, 2005. She is a cytogenic technologist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass.
Rich Schneider ’01 (BUS) married Alison Berube in September 2005. He is a financial planning consultant with Fidelity Investments in Boston, Mass. The couple lives in Charlestown, Mass.
Janelle Francisco ’02 (ED) received an M.S in physical education from Central Connecticut State University in May 2005. While at CCSU, she was a graduate assistant athletic trainer for women’s basketball. She is currently an assistant athletic trainer at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y.
Joshua Hilbert ’02 (BUS) is a bonds trader and lives in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Rhiannon Lamonica ’02 (SFS) is a second-grade teacher at Griswold Elementary School in Berlin, Conn., and recently finished an elementary education certification program.
Tiffany Silver ’02 (CLAS) received the 2005 Herman J. Finn Legal Ethics Award from the Rutgers University School of Law at Camden, presented to a graduating student who demonstrates the greatest commitment to upholding the ethical standards of the legal profession.
Jean Wihbey ’02 Ph.D. is the dean of academic and student affairs at Northwestern Connecticut Community College.
Scott Wrenn ’02 (CLAS) received a Juris Doctor degree from the New England School of Law in May 2005. He lives in Auburn, Mass.
James Allan ’03 Ph.D. married Bobbi Jo Fuller ’01 M.A. in July 2005.
Deirdre (Glennon) Doyle ’03 (NUR) married William Doyle Jr. in April 2005. She works in the telemetry unit at Norwalk Hospital. The couple lives in Milford, Conn.
Dana Vass ’03 (SFS) received an M.S.W. from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2005. She is an L.S.W after passing her licensure exam in May 2005.
Amit Grover ’04 (BUS) is an account executive for Hot 93.7 in Hartford, Conn. He is also a producer and studio engineer for a local radio label, Harsh Reality Enterprises, working as “Killah Kane.”
Meredith Westfield ’04 (CLAS) was a volunteer builder for Habitat for Humanity in Dorchester, Mass. She is a customer service representative at the Law Offices of James Sokolove.
Corrie VanDyke ’04 (SSW) married Clara Langois in December 2004. He is a medical social worker at Hilton Head Regional Medical Center in South Carolina and recently passed the L.M.S.W. exam. The couple lives on Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Alumni News & Notes compiled by Brian Evans and
Tina Modzelewski