Parade of Classes
1940s
Jim Anagnost ’48 was honored at the New York Giants versus New England Patriots football game at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 15, 2015. Anagnost served his country in World War II, including at the Battle of the Bulge, and was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war for 10 days. He was recommended for the Silver Star and awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and Heroic Achievement and received a second Bronze Star for Combat.
1950s
Kenneth A. Lowe ’52 wrote in to share that his son Steve Lowe, like him, has been inducted into the New York State Hall of Fame for wrestling officials and coaches.
Jack Proud, G’52, celebrated his 90th birthday on April 17, 2016. Happy birthday, Jack!
Charles “Chick” Hungerford ’54 wrote an article titled “A Tribute to a Lifetime of Teaching and Service” about his career as a member of SHAPE America Eastern District for 44 years and the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for 54 years. The article was included in SHAPE’s spring 2016 newsletter.
Robert Orozco ’55 was presented with a special award from the mayor of Laguna Niguel, Calif., for his many contributions to the city, state, and nationally as a YMCA staff member for 60 years. At age 85, Orozco leads 11 physical fitness classes a week at the YMCA in Laguna Niguel. Keep going strong, Bob!
Kenneth Sherman ’59 wrote us to say he and his wife, Marianna, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on July 23, 2015. While at Springfield College, Sherman worked part-time at Smith & Wesson in Springfield making handcuffs, a distinction that earned him a spot on the television show What’s My Line? He noted that he won a $50 prize—big money back in 1956!
1960s
Daniel R. Smith ’60 emailed us to say he was invited by the family of the late Col. Fred Cherry to give a tribute at the funeral service of his long-time close friend on Feb. 24, 2016, in Suffolk, Va. Cherry was a highly accomplished Air Force fighter pilot during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was shot down in 1965 in North Vietnam, was captured, and spent more than seven years as a prisoner of war. That is quite an honor, Dan.
Gary Avedikian ’62 was a recipient of the 2015 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Honor Award on Jan. 15, 2016. It is the highest honor bestowed to an NSCAA member.
Henry A. Kozloski ’62 was awarded the Kuehn Community Preservation Award at the Massachusetts Statehouse in October 2015. Kozloski also serves as chair of the Agawam (Mass.) Conservation Commission and the Agawam Community Preservation Act Committee.
Paul Rosenbaum ’64 retired in 2010 as chairman and chief executive officer of the board of Rentrak Corporation, the leading information management company in the entertainment field. Since then he has become chief executive officer of a chemical company called SWR (Saving World Resources), which has grown in the last five years as a cleaner, degreaser, and oil separator to the marine and oil industries.
Jim Madore ’66 and Albert “Toby” Gowin ’66 resumed their heated tennis rivalry last year in Naples, Fla., from the skills class taught by Vern Cox ’44, former alumni director, and coach of lacrosse, cross country, and track teams at Springfield College.
Joseph A. Conforti ’67, PhD, was recognized as a distinguished alumni by the B.M.C. Durfee High School Alumni Association in 2015. Conforti was a distinguished professor of American and New England studies at the University of Southern Maine in Portland before retiring in 2011.
Paul Pickowicz ’67 received a 2016 Humboldt Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Bonn, Germany. He is a specialist in the social and cultural history of 20th century China and inaugural holder of the University of California, San Diego, Endowed Chair in Modern Chinese History.
Emily Watson ’67 visited her college roommate, Carol Thieme ’67, last summer in Boulder, Colo. They hiked around Mount Evans and throughout Rocky Mountain National Park. Last fall, Watson coached her 47th year of field hockey at North Salem (N.Y.) Middle School. They are looking forward to attending the 50th reunion in 2017.
Tom Hill ’68, head boys’ soccer coach at The Bromfield School in Harvard, Mass., reached 600 career wins and was named Massachusetts Division IV Coach of the Year by the Central Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association last season.
Paul Twomey ’68 was inducted into the Biddeford (Maine) High School Hall of Honor on Feb. 4, 2016.
Jim Watson ’69 retired from West Liberty University after 44 years of employment, including the past 26 years as athletic director. Watson was inducted into the university’s hall of fame and was selected to receive both the 2010 NCAA Division II Southeast Region Athletic Director of the Year Award and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s Mike McLaughlin Award.
1970s
Jerry Gist, G’70, has been re-elected to his third term as mayor of Jackson, Tenn.
Bob Surette ’70 and his family recently were invited to attend the induction of his protégé and former high school soccer captain Peter Vermes into the United States Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction was broadcast live on ESPN in front of Sporting Kansas City’s soccer stadium.
While volunteering for Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda, Phyllis Lerner ’71 ran into a former volunteer for ASYV working in a feed and farm agricultural shop. The mission of ASVY is to enable orphaned and vulnerable youth to realize their maximum potential by providing them with a safe and secure living environment, health care, education, and necessary life skills. While at a management retreat, Lerner crafted the organization’s mission statement into four themes by suggesting a concept familiar to all Springfield College graduates: spirit, mind, and body.
Linda Arslanian ’71 has received the Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association in recognition for her service and leadership to the profession and the association. She is the executive director of Rehabilitation Services at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Craig Stone ’71 retired in June 2016 after 44 years as a physical education teacher in the Lynnfield (Mass.) public school system. His colleagues presented him with a bouquet of flowers at a school committee meeting that was sent by the Springfield College Office of Alumni Relations. Sheri Allard Weeks ’95, a health and wellness teacher and colleague of Stone’s, told us that “Craig embodied the Springfield College love and dedication to movement and sport in everything that he did for the community of Lynnfield.” Enjoy retirement, Craig!
Lee Edgerton, whose wife, Judith Matatall Edgerton, G’72, passed away in 1999, emailed us to say that in April he was in Williamsburg, Va., and saw a bus with “Springfield” on the front. As it passed in front of him he was excited to see it was a Springfield College athletics bus going to a track and field event at the College of William & Mary!
Forrest “Skip” Milne ’72, head men’s and women’s swim coach at Gordon College, let us know via email he was honored by the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association with the Charles E. Silvia Award as women’s coach of the year.
Thomas Bowler, G’73, wrote in to say that he gave a presentation in February titled, “Foul Ball in the Field of Dreams,” at the annual Sport and Recreation Law Association conference in New Orleans.
Jeff Forman ’75, G’76, presented at the International Fascial Research Congress last September. The abstract, titled “Effects of Massage Combined with Eccentric Resistance on Ankle Flexibility and Balance in Adults Aged 50-65 years,” was published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Forman has kept busy after retiring in June 2014 following 36 years as a professor of physical education at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif.
Bill Edelman ’76 wrote in to share that he will retire as long-time athletic director of Vernon Township (N.J.) High School on Dec. 31, 2016. Edelman is the past president of Directors of Athletics Association of New Jersey and was the 2012-13 New Jersey State Athletic Director of the Year.
Dr. Mark Gulow ’77 has formed his own consulting group, Gulow Medical PLLC. Gulow has been the emergency department director at Cadillac Mercy Hospital and worked for Emergency Physicians Medical Group in Ann Arbor as senior associate.
Danny Cole ’78 sent an email letting us know that he and three of his Springfield College friends—Mark Banker ’78, Hank Hughes ’79, and Mark Haver ’78—met up for last year’s Nebraska vs. Michigan State football game.
Lorraine Kennedy ’79 sent us a note that she just completed a master’s degree in nursing education from Molloy College in Rockville Centre, N.Y. She is now a certified registered nurse in the main operating room at the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
David Rhodes ‘79 has been hired as vice president and retirement plan specialist at NBT Financial Services in New York.
1980s
Since graduation, Gary Blanchette ’80 has been working for Junior Achievement in a variety of leadership positions around the country. Currently, he works for Junior Achievement USA as the senior vice president of development. Junior Achievement inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy.
Ray Cosenza ’80, G’81, was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame on April 24, 2016. Cosenza is the director of athletics and varsity baseball coach at Fitchburg (Mass.) High School.
Luke Contos ’80 offered to host James Pasquin ’16 in his home while Pasquin completed his strength and conditioning internship at the University of Michigan. Pasquin made the connection to Contos through the Springfield College Office of Alumni Relations. “This a true testament to the how much Springfield College people care for one another, and the dedication to the Humanics philosophy of leadership in service to others,” Pasquin says.
Harriet Wallis, G’81, was honored with Ski Utah’s top award, Journalist of the Year, for outstanding and consistent ski stories and photos about skiing in Utah. A freelance ski writer, editor, and photographer, Wallis had 64 stories and 71 photos published this ski season. It’s the second time Wallis has earned the award.
LCDR Stephen J. Popielarz ’82, G’84, MSC, USN, has retired from U.S. Naval service with more than 28 total years. Ceremonies were held at NAS Patuxent River, Md., on March 9, 2016. Although originally billeted to PMA-202, Popielarz was recalled for special assignment and returned to Washington, D.C. The highlight of this assignment was his selection to serve as the lead briefer to the Director of the National Security Council to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. As a White House briefer, Popielarz was tasked to detail specific issues pertinent to national security interests worldwide. For his outstanding performance, Popielarz was presented the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He will transition to Federal service in the national security and foreign policy arena.
Ellen Berger ’83 was the recipient of the 2016 Massachusetts Bar Association’s Access to Justice Prosecutor Award. She is a prosecutor in the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office in Springfield, Mass.
Marianna (Marra) Newman ’85 shared with us information about her new DVD, Every Moment I Will Hold You, which features more than 480 original photographs set to beautiful music, and can be used in a therapeutic setting for people suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other diseases. Newman is the founder director of Journeyscape Design and has worked as a recreation therapist for 31 years.
Lynn Hefele ’85, G’87, presented her new book, Bugs, Flowers and Berries, at the SHAPE National Convention and the SHAPE Eastern District Convention. The book is available at lepe.com, amazon.com, and in e-book format at lulu.com.
David ’89 and Joy (Breed) Grout ’89 found a fun and healthy way to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary by running the Disney Marathon. The couple both own their own business and have two children in college.
Eula Davis, G’89, founder and owner of Dozier Enterprises Publishing, has published seven manuals, including ones geared toward college students, volunteers, and mentors; a book titled, The Inner Circle of Small Town America; and four CDs on topics ranging from the power of prayer to self-care.
1990s
Becki Dodge Belmore ’93 recently received the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification in the area of early and middle childhood physical education. She teaches K-5 physical education in Maine School Administrative District 51 (Cumberland and Yarmouth) where she also is the head field hockey coach for Greely High School.
Kerry (Gale) Walsh ’94, G’95, recently co-authored the book STARS Social Skills Training and Readiness Skills, a multidisciplinary approach for children with special needs. Walsh specializes in treating children with special needs such as torticollis, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, sensory integration disorders, developmental delay, and neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Rosalyn Dischiavo ’94 published a book titled, The Deep Yes: The Lost Art of True Receiving. The book is available on amazon.com.
Anne Gunning, G’94, presented a workshop titled, “Gender Inclusion in Physical Education and Athletics” at the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo in Minneapolis.
Our alumni get to do some pretty cool things—like Cliff Dooman ’95, Jenn Durgin Judge ’05, and Mike Judge ’05, who in April attended the White House to see President Obama present the Commander in Chief’s Trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team.
Rita Oleksak, G’96, received the Florence Steiner Award for Exemplary Supervisor in Foreign Language Education from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages during the annual convention in San Diego.
2000s
Amos McLeod III ’01 is now the senior credit analyst officer at PeoplesBank, where he will be responsible for understanding and managing the credit risk and loan quality of the bank’s commercial real estate and loan portfolios. McLeod also serves as treasurer of Friends of Huntington Public Library and volunteers for the United Way of Pioneer Valley.
Natalie (Goodale) Fields ’02 recently married Patrick Fields at Silver Bay (N.Y.) YMCA in Silver Bay, NY. In attendance at the wedding were Daniel Scheys, Daniel Spedding ’01, Kerri Clarkin ’06, Nathan Luscombe ’04, Nasithy Kry ’02, Amy (Major) Ricker, Beth (Domanoski) Kiingati ’03, Natalie (Goodale) Fields ’02, Jennifer (Salvato) Vargas ’02, Katie (Gilbert) Merrell ’02, G’03, Heather Jolly ’02, Kim (Beekman) Kleinpeter ’02, G’03, Crystal Gatcomb ’03, G’07, Kristin Carabine ’02, Jennifer Phaneuf ’03, Kelly (Brunelle) Reed ’02, Rebecca (Kreppel) Sierputowski ’02, G’03, and friends.
Gregory R. Antonelli ’04 wrote in to say that his wife had recently given birth to triplets: Katherine, Kylie, and Joseph Robert Antonelli. We hope you all get some sleep!
Matt Calendrillo ’04, G’05, was proud to share the news that he has hired three Springfield College alumni to work at his physical therapy, orthotic bracing, and prosthetic company called Live Every Day in Connecticut. Katie Lauder ‘08, Mary Monahan ‘14, and Olivia Pare ‘14 began as physical therapists this year. Calendrillo says the hiring of alumni “Truly speaks to our philosophy and being so closely tied with the values of SC!”
Todd DeLaney ’05 was named the new executive director of Seabrook on Feb. 5, 2016. Seabrook is a continuing care retirement community in Tinton Falls, N.J.
Josh Urrutia ’05 was promoted to director of events for the nonprofit Riverfront Recapture in Hartford, Conn.
Bridget Deline ’07 was one of the honorees at the Richland County (S.C.) Distinguished Women’s Awards Luncheon. In September 2015, Deline attended the African American Faith Leaders Briefing hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement, where she heard from representatives of the White House, and the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Small Business Administration. Deline also has developed a faith-based nonprofit organization, Family Empowerment Program, designed to meet the needs of single parents living in low-income housing in Columbia, S.C.
Michelle Michaud ’07, G’08, was awarded a certificate of added qualifications in emergency medicine by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Only 1,000 certified physician assistants in the country have earned this credential. Way to go, Michelle!
Kerri (Fleming) Vautour ’07 celebrated her 30th birthday by running 30 road races in one year. In doing so, she raised more than $3,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital, where her son is a patient.
Nick Carboni ’08 was awarded Best Sports Feature at the 2016 Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editors awards. Carboni is a sports reporter at WBIR in Knoxville, Tenn.
Joe Harasymiak ’08 was promoted to head football coach at the University of Maine. Previously, Harasymiak was the team’s defensive coordinator.
Brittany (Balzano) ’08 and Ryan Fredrickson ’09 posted on Facebook that their daughter, Avery Rene Frederickson, was born on Nov. 18, 2015, at 6 lbs., 8 oz. Congrats to the parents!
Sean Kelly ’93, chief of police for the Weare (N.H.) Police Department, wrote in to let us know that Brandon Montplaisir ’08 has been promoted to sergeant in the department.
Ohio Wesleyan University’s men’s and women’s soccer programs have a lot of “Pride.” Nicole (Hanewich) Ross ’08, a former Springfield College soccer player, was recently named head women’s soccer coach. At the helm of the men’s soccer team is long-time coach, and Springfield College alumnus Jay Martin ’71, the winningest coach in men’s soccer history with 657 wins. Ross alerted us to what she describes as a “unique Springfield coaching circle here in Columbus, Ohio.” Ross says she talks daily with Martin about Springfield College and about “how we both use what we learned there every single day,” even though they graduated decades apart.
Corey Hetherman, G’09, has been promoted to defensive coordinator for the University of Maine football team. He previously served as the team’s defensive line coach.
Alicia Kane-Calvert, G’09, wrote us a note to say that she married Stephen Bonelli on Aug. 22, 2015, in Albany, N.Y. Springfield College alumni in attendance included Nathan Luscombe ’04 and his wife, Kate (McMahon) Luscombe, G’09, who served as a bridesmaid.
2010s
Patrick Blackford ’10, a deputy with the Onondaga County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office, was featured in a March 2016 ABC Channel 9 (Syracuse) video news report about his responses to heroin overdose emergencies in the region. His wife, Kristina, shared the video via the Springfield College Facebook page. Blackford played football for four years at the College.
Eric McMahon, G’10, and his wife, Meredith, welcomed their second child, Amelia Grace, on Oct. 20, 2015. The couple live in Frisco, Texas, where he coaches the Frisco Roughriders, a class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers baseball organization. Here’s more good news! Eric McMahon recently was named Texas League Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2015 by the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society, his third time winning in four seasons.
Karissa (Pastyrnak) Raynor ’10, G’12, wrote in to say that she and her husband, Robert Raynor ’09, celebrated their first wedding anniversary on June 6, 2016. The couple were married in the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Conn. Springfield College friends in attendance included Mike Adams ’09, Kate (Breuninger) Adams ’09, G’11, Sarah Izzo ’09, Jennifer Zguro ’09, Corinne DeJoseph ’11, Ashley Smith ’09, Sarah Garneau ’09, Tommy Caporale ’10, Brian Albanese ’09, Jameson Croall ’09, Jay Hurlock ’09, Pat Armstrong ’09, Sean Richey ’09, Kathy Radice ’99, Jill Raynor ’99, Erin Friedman ’99, G’06, Tim Klatka ’98 G’99, Jenna McDonald ’10, Bethany Detweiler ’10, Christina Taylor ’10, Kerry-Kate (McBride) Ceglarski ’10, and Greg Ceglarski ’08, and Springfield College Professor John Doyle, PhD.
Tyler Wingate ’10, G’14, head boys’ volleyball coach at Westfield (Mass.) High School, was named western Massachusetts boys’ volleyball Coach of the Year in 2015. Wingate, former member of the Springfield College volleyball team, led his Westfield team to the school’s first western Massachusetts championship in that sport.
Kyle Brown ’12 was named to the World Cup team in skeleton. Brown had one top 10 finish and four top 20 finishes while competing at the European Cup in 2014.
Stephen Siena ’12 and Kaitlyn Craig, G’13, were married on Oct. 25, 2015. Stephen is a physical education teacher and Kaitlyn is a public school social worker in the New Haven (Conn.) public school system. One of their first interactions was on “college day” at work when they were both wearing Springfield College shirts!
Allison Davis ’14, Stamford (Conn.) High School’s girls’ lacrosse coach, had the unique experience last season of coaching against her father, Tom Davis ’77. He is the girls’ lacrosse coach at Fairfield (Conn.) Warde High School and proved to be the victor in this match. Next time, Allison!
Ben Kissam ’14 sent an email to Michelle Moosbrugger ’00, PhD’06, to let her know he has published a book titled, Confined To a Cave: The 30-Day Mental ‘Jailbreak’ for Making Health a Lifelong Habit. He credits her with being “a mentor and advocate for my accomplishments since I was 18 and I am extremely grateful for all of the things you have done for my life.”
Jenna Weinstein, G’14, ran in the 2016 Boston Marathon as a charitable runner for Journey Forward, a nonprofit which works to better the lives of people that have incurred a spinal cord injury. Money Weinstein raised through donations will help the organization purchase new equipment, hire additional staff, and further stem cell research efforts for spinal cord injury treatments and corrective procedures.
