Siena

SIENA NEWS • A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS • SUMMER 2009

READY, SET, GO!

819 students graduate at
Times Union Center
INSIDE:
Around the World | Reunion ‘09
 Message from
the Editors
from the president Thank you to everyone who sent in
e-mails about the last issue of Siena
News. There is nothing we love more
than feedback! One alumnus told us
that this was the first time he has ever
“I have done read the magazine cover to cover. We
were ecstatic—this was the goal when

what is mine
we decided to redesign Siena News last
fall. We will continue to improve the
magazine based on the response we
to do, may receive from all of you. As always, tell
us what you thought of this issue by

Christ teach e-mailing communications@siena.edu.

Want to stay in touch with Siena be-

you what is tween issues? Here’s how:
yours to do.” • Become a fan of Siena on
Facebook at
These are the words Saint
facebook.com/sienacollege.
Francis used to prepare the
friars for life after his death, • Follow us on Twitter at
which followed not long after
twitter.com/sienacollege.
he said them.
They are his instructions • Subscribe to the campus
for living life: Follow your calendar’s RSS feed at
heart. Seek truth. Serve each www.siena.edu/calendar.
other. Always be open to
learning. • Check out photos from alumni
events to student life at
When our seniors graduate, they are always saying that
they don’t want to leave Siena. As I told them at this year’s
flickr.com/sienacollege.
Commencement ceremony: This is just the beginning! • Get news updates via e-mail at
Siena’s liberal arts education will always serve as a www.siena.edu/pages/180.asp.
guide for our alumni. When they share their lives with
others, serve in the community advocate for the poor Enjoy the issue, and don’t forget
and marginalized, Siena’s Franciscan mission is alive and to nominate someone for the
thriving. Siena and its Francsican tradition are woven Ultimate Siena College Fan contest
through the very fabric of our alumni’s lives. (see page 35).
When a Siena alum looks back on his or her life,
Jim Eaton and Allison Maloney ’06
he or she is able to say “I have done what
is mine to do.”

Fraternally,

Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D.

.edu/n ews
ww w.siena
SIENA 2
 2009 - 2010 Board of Trustees
Ronald E. Bjorklund ’85
contents Bradley Bodmer, Esq. ’82
J. David Brown
Michael Bucci ’73
Robert F. Campbell ’66
Robert M. Curley
Robert T. Cushing ’77
Susan Law Dake
Virginia L. Darrow ’83
John J. Dawson, Esq. ’68
Scott C. Donnelly

4 Ready, Set, Go! Howard S. Foote ’74

Robert L. Guido ’68
Douglas T. Hickey ’77
Rev. Kenneth R. Himes ’71, O.F.M., Ph.D.
Edward J. Johnson ’63
Walter T. Kicinski ’62
Rev. Jerome J. Massimino, O.F.M.
Pamela McCarthy
Robert J. McCormick ’87
Rev. Dominic V. Monti, O.F.M., Ph.D.
James J. Morrell ’66
Very Rev. Kevin J. Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D.
John F. Murray ’79
John J. Nigro
Very Rev. John F. O’Connor, O.F.M.
Walter A. Osterman ’87
Joseph M. Pastore, Jr., Ph.D.
Kenneth M. Raymond, Jr.
Mark S. Rose ’65
Rev. Peter A. Schneible, O.F.M., Ph.D.
David M. Stack ’73
9 Around The World Christine L. Standish
Br. Daniel P. Sulmasy, O.F.M., M.D., Ph.D.
*Nimmi M. Trapasso ’98, M.D.
Dennis L. Winger ’69

*New Trustee

Siena News - Summer 2009

Published by Siena College
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY 12211-1462
E-mail: communications@siena.edu

• Publisher: Delcy Fox

• Editors: Jim Eaton, Allison Maloney ’06
• Contributing Editors: Mark Adam,
Jodi Ackerman Frank, Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75,
O.F.M., Ph.D., Michelle Pickering ’09,
Lynn Ryan and Jack Sise ’75
21 Reunion ‘09 • Director of Art and Design: Sergio Sericolo
• Alumni Class Notes Design: Jean Higgs
• Alumni Class Notes Editor: Janice Goca
and Victoria Abdulla ’07

departments • Photography: Athletics Office, Leah Antil’ 09,

Stanley Blanchard, Dave Boswell ’12, Lisa Hei-
merle, Paul Notar ’07, Sergio Sericolo, Syracuse
On Campus News | 11 Alumni Connection | 21 Athletic Communications
Faculty News | 16 Gift Planning | 26 • Printer: The Lane Press, Burlington,Vt.
Saints Corner | 18 Alumni Class Notes | 27

SIENA 3
 READY,
COVER STORY

SET, GO!
Siena College held its 69th commencement
ceremony on Sunday, May 17 at the Times Union
Center in Albany. Eight hundred and ninteen
graduates received bachelor’s degrees in business,
liberal arts and science. It was the first time
Siena’s Commencement has been celebrated in
downtown Albany.
Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. welcomed
the class using the words of Saint Francis, “I have
done what is mine to do. May Christ teach what
is yours.” If you share your life with others, serve
your communities and help the less fortunate, he
said, you will be able to look back on your life
and say, “I have done what was mine to do.”
Kelly Burke, class of 2009 president, reflected
on shared memories, beginning with the summer
before Siena, when she was assigned summer
reading of The Kite Runner for the freshman
Foundations course. Burke re-read the book
during her final week at Siena, and said that its
themes of love, respect and compassion are the
same marks of the four years spent at Siena. She
said that their time here had come full circle.
Burke also reminded the class that together
they had stormed the very court they were
Left: President’s Stage Party; The Honorable Victoria Graffeo, Bishop Howard Hubbard, Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., Robert Cushing ’77
and Dr. Robert Paeglow. Center: Kelly Burke ’09 delivers her senior address. Right: Triplets Travis, Erin and Scott Montgomery.

seated on for not one, but two men’s basketball

championships. Teaching Excellence
Two honorary degrees were conferred to
The Honorable Victoria Graffeo and Dr. Robert
Paeglow. Graffeo has served New York State in all
three branches of government and quoted Presi-
dent Abraham Lincoln, who once compared a tree
to the individual and its shadow to the person’s
reputation. “There is no easy way to build a solid
reputation, and there are no shortcuts,” Graffeo
Charles Trainor, Ph.D., Rachel Stern-Marr, Ph.D. and Joshua Diamond, Ph.D.
said, “You build it a little each day in how you
treat others.” The Jerome Walton Excellence in Teaching Award was given
Dr. Paeglow founded the Koinonia Primary to Charles Trainor, Ph.D., professor of English. Rachel Stern-
Care/Mental Health Practice, which provides care Marr, Ph.D., professor of biology and Joshua Diamond,
to the poor in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood. Ph.D., professor of physics received the Raymond Kennedy
He was the first in his family to graduate from Excellence in Scholarship Award and Fr. Matthew T. Conlin,
college and provided the class of 2009 with his O.F.M. Distinguished Service Award, respectively.
conclusions on life: “It is all about joy,” he said.
Sam Ogden, senior commencement speaker,

Javid Afzali ’09
was born in Afghanistan and
emmigrated to the United States when
he was five years old. His father passed
away when he was in high school, and
he dropped out of school to support
his family. Afzali earned his GED and
later completed an associate’s degree
to become a mechanic. He and his wife
saved money so that he could someday
earn a bachelor’s degree. Afzali has
received a significant scholarship to
attend Albany Law School this fall. The
32 year-old is married and has four
children ranging in age from 10 to 3.
impressively rhymed his entire speech and
focused on the fact that being a member of the
Siena community will always be the graduates’
link to one another.
Closing up the ceremony was Robert
Cushing ’77, chair of the board of trustees,
and Very Rev. Howard Hubbard, bishop
of the Albany diocese. Cushing had all the
graduates stand and repeat: “We did it!” Then,
he had everyone else—professors, families and
staff alike—stand and say, “Thank God they
did it!”
“Share your gifts and talents generously
with others and you will mark an indelible
path for the world,” said Bishop Howard
Hubbard, “Godspeed always.”
Ready,
Set, Commencement Poem An Excerpt
Go! By: Sam Ogden ’09, Commencement Speaker
Speeches. Speeches everywhere.
You hear them every day.
So, I will try to speak to you in
quite a different way.
Speeches, Speeches here and there,
you hear them all the time.
So I have tried to put Siena
College into rhyme.
Now, I’m no Dr. Seuss, I never
claimed to be.
But within the last few months this
little poem just came to me.
Siena came so suddenly, and
suddenly it’s gone.
But there are many memories made
from moving right along:
The times we didn’t study hard,
the times we did our best.
The time we went to take our finals,
but there weren’t any tests.
Most of us, our first few months,
just couldn’t get enough
Of friends and weekends of all kinds
the “all-important” stuff.
Some became the victors in the
field or on the court.
Others tried to make a mark
of a—male pageant sort.
Many wanted friendships that
they wouldn’t have to fake.
Some have found the other person
on the wedding cake.
What is it that we’re taking now
from everything we’ve read?
And how have we reacted to the
things inside our head?
We’ve been angry at the world,
I hope the same for all of you;
For it’s in seeing all its flaws
that we know what to do.
We’ve been happy that we won a
game or with the change of season.
To grab a blanket like the rest,
sunbathe for no good reason.
Many have been near that place where
sadness would control them,
But someone special from this place
would be there to console them.
Siena helped a lot of us
in life to find our way.
And those of us still searching
had a friend along the way.
I didn’t know four years ago
that by the very end
The guy across the room from you
could be your greatest friend.
No matter where you go from here
to do things great and small
Keep in mind from time to time
just where you got it all.
And if you ever find yourself
in need of company,
Fr. Bill is always waiting
in the yearbook on page 3.
Siena’s growing older,
just as each of you and I.
And it’s an honor… to be named
among its alumni.
Even when you find that you
yourself are growing old.
Do yourself a favor – stay in touch
with green and gold.
Farewell to all the homework,
and to the winter snow.
Farewell to all the things from here,
except what we now know.
At times I thought that one big
speech would change the world
forever.
But that’s a task that I and each
of you must do together.
I came to school so long ago
hoping not to change.
And looking back it’s hard to know
how I could be so strange.
I wanted more than anything
to make a difference here,
And there were opportunities
in every single year.
But it took me quite a while in fact
to look around and see,
That what the world had needed
was a certain change in me.
We went to school not long ago
hoping not to sway,
And looking back we wouldn’t
have it any other way.
So thank you all for coming here,
to watch us cross the stage;
To see us in our caps and gowns,
perhaps to act our age.
Thank you to the parents,
spending so much time and dime.
Thank you younger siblings,
we can’t wait to see you shine.
Thank you to the teachers,
for all that you have taught.
And thank you to the friars,
for acting as you ought.
Thank you to the staff
for keeping everything so smooth.
And thank you fellow classmates-
I will really miss you.
ete version,
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 Around the World
Around the Wil ’09oarersooln tod
Siena graduates Paul Notar ’07 and Leah Ant
regions:
become experts on two of the most important world
The Middle East and Russia.
Leah Antil was selected as one of 70 stu-
dents from among 30,000 applicants to study this
summer at the Astrakhan State University in Rus-
sia. Notar, who has been studying Arabic since last
May, has been accepted to Michigan State Univer-
sity, which has one of the top five Arabic programs
in the United States.
Antil, writing from Astrakhan, Russia, tells
Siena News about her experiences in Russia so far
this year.
Why Russia? Russia, to me, is like one of those art
nouveau modern paintings — the ones with about
six different squares and only three colors. You
stare at it, and you like it. You don’t know why
you like it, but there is an attraction.
Maybe that painting is not for everyone,
but it’s for me.
SIENA 8
Tell us about Astrakhan. So far, Astrakhan is
quite an exciting place. I studied abroad in
St. Petersburg, but Astrakhan is a more diverse area.
Although the language is primarily Russian, there
are several ethnicities living together peacefully:
Russian, Iranian and Tatar. Some parts of Astrakhan,
including the Kremlin and the River Volga, are so
beautiful my breath catches in my throat when I
see them. These images are juxtaposed with trash-
strewn streets, hot weather and dusty roads. It’s
quite the contrast.
What’s it like to be living in Russia, immersed in
a new language and culture? I have taken a strict
Russian-only pledge when I am speaking with
professors, my host family and American
 You also went to Syria this year. Tell us about
that. My time in Syria led me to take a personal
interest in Syrian politics and the plight of Kurds in
that country. My best friend, Kawa, a Syrian-Kurd
living in Damascus, is confronted with flagrant
racism that has hampered his attempts to find
suitable work and live peacefully among Syrian-
Arabs. Acts of racism have intensified because of
various uprisings occurring in northern Syrian-
Kurdish cities over the past few years as a rebuke
to government policies that curtail their rights (a
recently proclaimed law restricts their right to
own land).
classmates. I
What was the application process like for such
attend classes Monday through Friday for six hours
a competitive field of study? Easier than it would
in Russian grammar, conversation and phonetics, so
have been — thanks to Siena. When I learned that
it is getting easier. After my two-months-and-10-
I was one of four students invited to Princeton
day experience, I theoretically will have advanced
University to compete for one open master’s degree
an entire level in the Russian language.
spot, my former professors went into action. Vera
Where and what are you headed for next? After
Eccarius-Kelly, associate professor of political
this scholarship, I will be pursuing a master’s
science, and I had a long strategy session. I also
degree at the School of International Training
received a crash course in the academic world from
World Learning Institute in Brattleboro, Vt. I am
Jim Booker, professor of economics. I was not
entering a two-year intercultural service, leadership
ultimately admitted to Princeton, but I did get full
and management program. I will be taking two
funding from the University of Michigan.
academic semesters at the Institute and then,
hopefully, I will work in Minsk, the capital of What will you do with the master’s degree?
Belarus, for a year-long practicum. My master’s degree will prepare me for doctoral
programs, as well as for a variety of professional
Paul Notar writes from Ramallah, the fields that require an advanced understanding of
Palestinian city on the West Bank. the Middle East. I am
How did you get involved in Middle Eastern and seriously considering
language studies? I’ve slowly acquired my interest a career in teaching,
in the Middle East in an unorthodox way: through either at the secondary
traveling, asking a lot of questions and meeting or university levels. I
people who live in the Middle East. Most of the can’t imagine a more
students and scholars I’ve met when traveling rewarding career.
acquired their interest in the Middle East through
rigorous training in history and anthropology. I’ve
actually never taken a class on the Middle East.
But, I did begin learning Arabic with Fareed Munir,
associate professor of religious studies, and studied
abroad in Morocco during my Siena years.
What’s it like living in the West Bank? Ramallah
has become the de facto capital of a yet-to-be-
completed Palestinian state. I am spending my time
studying Arabic with a private tutor and learning
about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Everyone in
this city has an interest in creating a new country.
Palestinians, though living under constant threat
of military and economic suppression, are active in
this endeavor.

SIENA 9
 From the Front Lines to the Front Lawn
Siena held its first-ever history reenactment, which spanned 230 years
of U.S. history, on the College’s front lawn on April 18, 2009. Re-enactors
representing the Revolutionary War and the Civil War joined current
members of Siena’s ROTC program, as well as members of the U.S.
National Guard for a day of demonstrations that celebrated bringing
history to life.
The idea for “A Day of Living History” was student-generated: The
History Club, led by Tara Heffernan ’09, organized the entire event from
conception to execution. The students were supported by the Center for
Revolutionary Era Studies, the History Department, Academic Affairs Ad-
missions and ROTC.
“We were proud to offer this program not only for Siena students but for
anyone interested from the Capital Region,” said Heffernan. “Each group
brought to life their respective eras and allowed spectators to see and hear
what camp life was like for our early Americans, as well as to see Above: Tara Heffernan ’09
the improvements that have been made for modern soldiers.” organized the first historical
Siena students and faculty also presented projects on topics including
reenactmwnt which was held on
literature of the Revolutionary Era and the effect soldiers and war have on
the front lawn.
communities. Sign up for information about next year’s event and other
Center for Revolutionary Era Studies programs at www.siena.edu/cres.

SIENA 10 SIEN10

Siena Fueled by Francis in GHI
Workforce Team Challenge
By Michelle Pickering ’09
Sixty-two determined Siena College employees and
friends ran or walked through Albany as part of the
GHI Workforce Team Challenge, the largest annual road
race between Utica and New York City. For the second
consecutive year, Siena was awarded a plaque for being the
third largest educational agency to participate. Overall,
7,186 people participated and 393 teams ran alongside
the Siena Saints, who were “fueled by Francis,” as was
proclaimed on the back of their team t-shirts. For Siena,
the event brought community members from numerous
departments together at the end of the academic year to
enjoy each other’s company.
Members of the Strategic Communications and
Integrated Marketing Office recruited this year’s team,
designed and ordered the team t-shirts and organized the
post-race celebration at the Recovery Room Sports Grill
in Albany. This year’s squad sported hi-vis gold t-shirts,
with the words “Siena” in green on the front. On the back
was a custom graphic of St. Francis, upon whose values
the college is based. The event was made possible thanks
to the generosity
of Troy’s
Landscape
Supply
Company and
Paul Stec ’79,
vice president
for finance and
administration.
Hope for a Cure
By Jennifer Raska ’10
“Someone has to be the
first to be cured, and it’s
going to be Hannah.” These
were the words spoken by
the father of then four-year-
old Hannah Sames of Clifton
Park, N.Y. In March 2008,
Hannah was diagnosed with
a genetic disorder called
giant axonal neuropathy
(GAN). The disease slowly
deteriorates and inhibits the
function of the nervous system and interferes with the
communicating signals sent from the brain to the body.
After Hannah’s diagnosis, her family was informed that
the disorder was fatal and treatment options did not exist.
GAN is so rare that it is only found in one out of every
200,000 individuals.
Unfortunately, hope can’t be put into treatment and
therapies for those diagnosed with this neurological
genetic disorder. Instead, parents are sent home to watch
their children deteriorate to the point of becoming a
quadriplegic, dependent on a feeding tube and ventilator.
Individuals with GAN often die in their teens or early
twenties.
Hannah Sames’ family and friends are determined
to change this. Hannah’s Hope Fund will need to raise
$500,000 a year over the next four years to pay for gene
therapy research and a clinical trial in hopes of saving the
precious lives being destroyed by GAN. Hannah’s family
is devoted to finding a cure because, as her mother has
stated, “There is really little else in life that matters when
your child is dying from a malicious genetic disorder,
especially when the disease could be treatable someday.”
This year’s co-chairpersons of Charity Week Jillian
Duarte ’11 and Jennifer Raska ’10 have chosen Hannah’s
Hope Fund to be the recipient of Siena’s Charity Week’s
fundraising efforts. Events will take place Nov. 2 -7. All
alumni, faculty, students and friends are encouraged to
visit charityweek09.weebly.com, as well as the direct
Website for Hannah’s Hope Fund,
www.hannahshopefund.org, for more information.
Honors Topics Span from Nerds and Geeks to Wrestling with Cosmetics
This year’s honors fellows have officially completed their theses. Here is a list of the fellows, along with their topics:

• Paul Acosta ’09, “Going Beyond Brand Community • Brett Tracy ’09, “A Comparative Analysis of Stigma
— Brand Cult” Manifestation: Obstetric Fistulas, Treacher Collins
• Catherine Cagino ’09, “Alzheimer’s Disease: Syndrome and HIV/AIDS”
Focusing Future Research” • Samantha Tymchyn ’09, “Rebuilding Our Victimized
• Renee Clavette ’09, “Graduation Rates and Academic Communities: Integrating Restorative Justice
Success of Student Athletes Versus All Students: A Principles and Practices into Community-Based
Case Study of One Athletic Conference” Alternative Sentencing Initiatives to Bring
• Ashley Davison ’09, “A Look at Employee Theft and About Change”
Internal Control: Impacts on Small Business • Kimberly Vassilatos ’09, “When Conflict Resolution
Considering the Implications of Evolving Is Not Enough: Incorporating Conflict Transformation,
Technologies” Human Security and Restorative Justice into
• Michelle Diehl ’09, “Brand Personality and Gen Y: Peacebuilding”
A Study of the Relevance of Aaker’s Five Point Brand • Larissa Walker ’09, “Sustainability, Democracy and
Personality Scale to a New Generation” Problems with the U.S. Farm Bill: A Critical Analysis
• Jennifer Dinnel ’09, “How Christians Should Use of Policy, Power and Paradigms”
Hermeneutics: Moving Away from Literalism in the • Alexander Walthers ’09, “Exploring Attitudes
Context of Homosexuality and Evolution” Towards Counterfeit Products”
• Kelly Donnelly ’09, “Gaining Power: The • Jason Weiss ’09, “Wrestling with Cosmetics:
Postcolonial Adolescent Struggle in the Bluest Eye Creator or Enhancer of Beauty?”
and Life of Pi” • Kari Weiterschan ’09, “Speak and Sold:
• Erin Guldenstern ’09, “Nerds and Geeks: The impact Trauma as a Contradiction
of the Portrayal of Mathematicians in Movies in Adolecent Literature”
and Television”
• Gary Gustin, Jr. ’09, “Ancient Greek Homoeroticism:
Diversity and Difference”
• April London ’09, “The Impact of Intrinsic and
Extrinsic Motivation on Job Choice in
Generation Y”
• Emily McHugh ’09, “Sharing a Confidence:
Full Immersion with the ‘Distorted’ Outlook”
• Roshni R. Naik ’09, “Attitudes of Albany
Medical College (AMC) Students Toward
the Willingness of Pursuing Geriatrics
as Career”
• Samuel J. Ogden ’09, “Beyond Church
and State: Thoughts on Religious
Participation in Democratic Dialogue”
• Shaina Reardon ’09, “Food For
Thought: 1960s Countercultures
Influence on Today’s Natural
Foods Movement”
• Elizabeth Rees ’09, “Humanitarian
Health Care: Exploring the Humanitarian
Missions of the International Committee of
the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders”
• Philip Sidoti ’09, “Credit Cards and College
Students: Status and Implications for
Marketing Strategy”

SIENA 12
Academic Celebration Showcases Student Projects
Siena Hosted 22nd Annual
Siena’s annual Academic Celebration Day in May showcased
200 student projects from all three schools. These projects
included independent studies, as well as class work. Many of
the student projects proved timely, including those from the
Globalization Issues Across the U.S. Border course taught
by Jean Stern, Ph.D., professor of political science. Students
studied the U.S. Border Patrol, the North American Free Trade
Agreement, illegal immigration, drug cartels and more. This class
also traveled to the U.S.-Mexican border in January to experience
the topics first-hand.
Students studying sociology research methods featured an
array of topics including service learning, Siena’s recycling
program, effects of cancer on loved ones and Facebook. The latter
study by Kristen Henry ’10 found that Facebook is the top form
of Internet communication for Siena students, followed by instant
messaging and then e-mail.
Text messaging was a popular topic for marketing and
management research methods students, with themes ranging
from texting on company time and the effects it has on GPA to
college students using texting to connect with peers. From the
School of Science, biology major Laura Connor ’09 investigated
RNA and its implications for future treatment of heart disease.
Chemistry major Lukasz Gauza ’10 compared conventional to
microwave heating in the production of biodiesel from vegetable
oil. Computer science major Daniel Rotondo ’11 developed an
application for Apple’s iPhone platform.
Service and activism also were themes that wove through Below: Jean Stern, Ph.D., professor of political science,
this year’s event. Allyson Sweeney ’09, Amy McCarthy ’09 with students who traveled to the U.S. – Mexican border in
January to study illegal immigration at this year’s Academic
and Elizabeth Murphy ’09 worked to raise awareness of Celebration. Above: Student projects this year included
organ donation and transplantation, while a group of students Facebook findings, text messaging, service and activism,
supervised by Shannon O’Neill, Ph.D., director of the Siena’s recycling program and effects of cancer on
Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women, initiated a loved ones.
sweatshop-free campaign.

SIENA 13
SIENA 13

Siena Welcomes New
Campus Chaplain
Fr. Gregory Jakubowicz,
O.F.M. has been selected to
become the Campus Chaplain.
He had been assigned by the
Province of the Holy Name to
work in campus ministry. He
succeeds Fr. Bill Beaudin, O.F.M.
who stepped down as Chaplain
to pursue his Ph.D. at Boston
College this fall.
Fr. Gregory has served for
the last two years as the Chief
Operating Officer at Washington
Theological Union. Prior to
that, he was Vocation Director
for the Holy Name Province
and Assistant Professor of
Business Law at St. Bonaventure
University where he taught
business law. From 1992-1997,
he was Lawyer-Editor at the
Michie Company, which is
now LexisNexis. He brings to
the position of Chaplain a rich
blend of business, collegiate
and pastoral experience. “I
am humbled and excited to
be joining the Siena family,
especially the Campus Ministry
team and the friary” said Fr.
Gregory. “I look forward to
continuing the work of Fr. Bill,
and collaborating with
the campus to enhance the
College’s Franciscan and
Catholic mission.”
SIENA 14
ON THE MOVE
Jones Promoted to Vice
President for Enrollment
Management
Edward J. “Ned” Jones has
been named Vice President for
Enrollment Management after a
national search. Jones joined
Siena in 1987 and has progressively
moved up within the Enrollment
Management office holding the
positions of Assistant Director
of Admissions, Director of
Admissions, Assistant Vice
President for Admissions,
Assistant Vice President for
Enrollment Management and,
most recently, Acting Director
of Enrollment Management.
“Under Ned’s leadership this
past year the College was able
to exceed our enrollment goals
despite the troubling economy,”
Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M.,
Ph.D., president said.
Jones has been a member of
The College Board and President
of the New York Counseling
Associations (NYCA) and the
Capital District Counseling
Association (CDCA). He was
also a Delegate for the National
Association for College Admission
Counseling (NACAC). In his
new role, Jones will be responsible
for leading the Admissions and
Financial Aid departments
at Siena.
Br. Linh Hoang Ordained
On May 16, Br. Linh Hoang, O.F.M.,
assistant professor of religious studies, was
ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood
at St. Francis Church in New York City. Four
days later, on May 20, Fr. Linh celebrated his
first Mass on campus. Linh moved to the United
States as a child from Saigon, Vietnam. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from
the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium,
master’s degrees in theology and divinity from
the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a
doctorate in theology from Fordham University
in the Bronx.
On the Holy Name Province Website, Linh
is quoted as saying
he joined the
Franciscans while a
graduate student at
Fordham because “I
was attracted to the
spirit of St. Francis
and the theologies of
the early Franciscan
scholars. I felt that
the contemporary
Franciscans were
seriously trying
to live out that
tradition.”
Siena College Administrator
Elected Chair of Board
Maryellen Gilroy,
Ed.D., vice president
for student affairs,
was recently elected
chair of the Board
of Directors for
the Association for
Student Affairs at
Catholic Colleges
and Universities.
She will begin her
three-year term at
the association’s
annual conference
in July. This year’s
conference is being held on Siena’s campus and
marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of
the Association and 800th anniversary of the
birth of the Franciscan order.
 Business Team Places Second in Innovative Challenge
A team of three Siena School of Business students placed second in Price Chopper’s
Ultimate Innovation Challenge, conducted by Golub/Price Chopper Supermarkets. Winners
were selected based on innovative ideas that focus on four supermarket-related industry
categories: retail operations, supply
chain/distribution management,
merchandising/marketing and human
resources. Will Allison ’09, Beena
Panicker ’09 and Stefan Putyera ’09
examined Price Chopper’s Website
and created a new site to meet the
consumer’s needs better.
Of the 30 entries, seven teams
were selected to pitch their ideas to
Price Chopper senior management.
Winning second place, Siena earned
a $5,000 cash prize. “The judges
were very impressed with our team
and implemented some of the ideas
to Website immediately,” said Paul
Thurston, assistant professor of
marketing and management. Thurston
mentored the students during the
fall semester as part of the Strategic
Management senior capstone course,
which allows students to apply what
they have learned in the classroom and
implement business strategies for real-
world scenarios.

Siena Summer Hours Designed to Conserve Energy

Siena College has moved to a summer schedule in an effort to save on
energy. The College’s regular business hours during the summer months
had been 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Monday – Friday. The new schedule is
8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. on Monday - Thursday and 8 a.m. - noon on Friday.
This will allow the College to shut down the cooling systems for most
campus buildings at the end of the business day on Thursday until
Monday morning, when employees return to work.
“We expect that this change will contribute significantly to our energy
savings program, and we will communicate the results at the end of the
summer,” said Paul Stec ’79, vice president for administration, in an e-mail
to campus. Siena already closes between Christmas Eve and New Year’s
Day as part of its energy conservation program.

SIENA 15
 Sabbatical Projects Range from Philosophy
Thomas J. Kopp, Ph. D., Lisa Nevarez,Ph.D.,
and Food to Teaching English in the Ukraine associate professor of associate professor of
finance Using Forecasts English Contemporary
The following faculty members were on sabbatical to Trigger Portfolio Latin American Theatre
during part of all of the 2008 – 2009 academic Rebalancing: Can
year. Their sabbaticals were used to engage in Forecasts Reduce the Donald J. Raux, Ph.D.,
intensive study so they can become more effective Gaps Between Expected assistant professor of
teachers and scholars at Siena College. Returns and Actual accounting Teaching an
Returns Effective Accounting
Class in the 21st Century:
Raymond Boisvert, Ph.D., Leonard M. Cutler, Ph.D., Carolyn Malloy-Madrid, Using Active Learning
professor of philosophy professor of political Ph.D., professor of Techniques
Philosophy and Food – science Legal Issues modern languages and
study in France and Counter-Terrorism classics Latin American Rachel Sterne-Marr,
Policy Post the Bush Playwrights Ph.D., professor of
James Booker, Ph.D., Administration biology Regulation of
professor of economics Duane A. Matcha, Ph.D., Cell Signaling:
Economically Sustainable Vera Eccarius-Kelly, professor of sociology Mechanism of GRK2
Resource Use and Ph.D., associate professor Fulbright Scholarship Activation
Management of political science Study in Vilnius,
Militant Kurds: A Dual Lithuania: National Lydia C. Tarnavsky, Ph.D.,
Eric A. Breimer, Ph.D., Strategy for Freedom Health Systems professor of modern
assistant professor languages and classics
of computer science Susan Hurley, Ph.D., Chingyen A. Mayer, Teaching English in the
Paperless Labs: professor of mathematics Ph.D., associate professor Ukraine
Integrating Video Golden Matrices of English In the Land of
Podcasts and Electronic Hibiscus: Three Women Scott K. Taylor, Ph.D,
Documents for Emelie A. Kenney, Ph.D., of China associate professor of
Computer-based Lab associate professor of history Addiction in
Activities mathematics The Krakow Jennifer McErlean, Ph.D., Early Modern Europe
School of Mathematics professor of philosophy
Pamela Clements, Ph.D., and Its Role in the Michael Walzer’s Allan T. Weatherwax,
professor of English Clandestine University Environmental professor of physics,
Creative Writing Philosophy associate dean of science
The Firefly Satellite
Donna McIntosh, Mission: Understanding
professor of social work Earth’s Most Powerful
BSW/MSW State and Natural Particle
National Curricular Accelerator
Issues
Robert Yoder, associate
Daniel F. Moriarty, Ph.D., professor of computer
assistant professor science Journal of
of chemistry and Computing Sciences in
biochemistry Kinetic Colleges
Stability of Protein Using
Left to Right: Raymond Boisvert, Ph.D., professor of philosophy
2D Electrophoresis on
and Daniel F. Moriarty, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry
and biochemistry Common Laboratory
Systems

SIENA 16
 Two Students Awarded Faculty
Memorial Scholarships
By Michelle Pickering ’10

Bianca Pier ’10 and Kelli Huggins ’10 received Faculty Memorial
Scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year in the amount of $5,625. Both
Pier and Huggins are on the President’s List and hold a 3.98 GPA and 3.97

Professor Hosts GPA respectively. “These students represent the best at Siena College and
we are proud to acknowledge them,” said Jim Matthews, chair of the faculty
committee.
Golf Show on Time Pier, a biology major, is the president of Phi-Sigma Gamma Sigma, a national
biology honor society for students who demonstrate excellence in the study

Warner Cable of biology. She also is a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national scholastic
honor society for students who hold a 3.8 GPA by the end of their junior year.
In addition, Pier is a member of the Ambassadors Club and Read for the Stars, a
Doug Lonnstrom, professor program that promotes literacy in an economically challenged area of Albany.
of quantitative business analysis Huggins is a history and American studies major involved in the Siena
and founder of the Siena Research College-Wide Honors Program, History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, a national
Institute, is the history honor society for students who demonstrate excellence in the study of
host of Tee Time, history. She was one of 15 students in the nation selected as a Gilder Lehrman
a golf show on Scholar. As a scholar, she will travel to New York City this summer to
Time Warner participate in a five-week program that combines historical research, seminars
Cable, channel 3. with eminent historians and behind-the-scenes tours of historical archives.
The show includes The scholarships were awarded in memory of Fr. Sennen San Fratello,
segments on the O.F.M., a former professor in the English Department at
history of golf, Siena who was an active community
highlights local volunteer in the Albany Veterans
golf courses and Medical Center and AIDS hospice.
provides tips on
improving your
game. Guests of his show have
included Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75,
O.F.M., Ph.D, president of Siena
College, Fr. Ken Paulli ’82,
O.F.M., Ed.D., chief of staff, Dave
Wronowski, women’s golf coach
and highlights from the Saints
Alive Golf Tournament . The show
airs in the Albany market and
can be found “on demand,”
channel 1009. Bianca Pier ’10
Lonnstrom is the author of
two local golf history books and
a member of the Golf Writers
Association of America. He has
made numerous appearances on
radio and television shows
as an expert on golf and has
been featured in the Albany
Times Union.

Kelli Huggins ’10

SIENA 17
Men’s Lacrosse
Enjoys Historic
Season
By Mark Adam

The Saints made history in 2009

with their first-ever Metro Atlantic
Athletic Conference (MAAC)
championship and earned one of
16 berths into this year’s NCAA
Tournament. The success of Siena’s
lacrosse program began five years
ago when Brian Brecht was hired
as the lacrosse team’s first full-time
head coach. The campus’ brand new
$2.9 million turf field, the addition
of scholarships and alumni support
also have contributed to the team’s
turnaround.
Brecht, a three-time MAAC Coach
of the Year, has guided the Saints to
three consecutive 10-win seasons.
“There was certainly a lot of excitement
when I arrived on campus about the
potential this program has,”
Brecht said.
Brecht’s first recruiting class
arrived in fall 2006. Nearly four
years later, 16 of his student-athletes
earned championship rings and their
diplomas. Brecht’s first season in 2006
saw the team win four games before a
turnaround 10-6 season in 2007 that
included Siena’s first appearance in the
MAAC’s postseason tournament.
“Going 10-6 and getting into the
postseason was a valuable experience
for our team,” said Chris Viviano ’09.
“We were disappointed that we lost,
but we also knew the core of the team
was young and we had the ability to
 do some special things.”
With high hopes after
the program’s first winning
season in 24 years, the
Saints responded in 2008
with wins over Harvard
University (6-5) and Loyola
College (5-4). (Loyola is
ranked 17th nationally.)
Unfortunately, the Saints
stumbled in league
play with a 4-4 record
and missed the MAAC
Tournament.
“We were a better
team in 2008 than in
2007,” said Brecht. “After the
2008 campaign, we had to decide
whether we would allow that to
repeat itself in 2009 or learn from it
and get better.”
The 2009 campaign kicked
off on Feb. 20, when Viviano and
his classmates took the field at
Johns Hopkins, ranked fourth in the
country, in a nationally televised
game on ESPNU. The Saints
took a 3-2 lead into the second
quarter but lost 11-3. This
year’s schedule included three
nationally ranked opponents that
left the Saints with a 2-5 record
after seven games. From there
they rattled off eight straight wins
and finished a perfect 8-0 in the
MAAC this year.
The Saints continued their
dominance through the MAAC
Tournament, dispatching
Providence 7-1 in the semifinals
with some stingy defense.
They caused 24 turnovers and
pitched a shutout for the first 44
minutes. The Saints followed this
up with a convincing 9-5 win
over Manhattan in the MAAC
Championship – a landmark
moment for Siena lacrosse. The
Saints led 5-0 until Manhattan
scored thei first goal with 35
seconds remaining in the first
half. Junior goalie Brent Herbst
earned Most Outstanding Player
behind his 3.06 Goals Against
Average and 22 saves in the
tournament.
Siena was rewarded with a
trip to the Carrier Dome to face
the defending (and eventual)
national champion, Syracuse
Orange. Siena stayed with
Syracuse into the fourth quarter,
behind a stellar play by Herbst.
The All-America Honorable
Mention made five saves in
the first quarter and provided
highlight reel stops throughout.
Syracuse led 6-2, entering the
fourth quarter before they pulled
away for an 11-4 win.
The team returned to campus
as MAAC champions, yet Brecht
believes this program has just
scratched the surface. “We’ve
gotten better every year and I
think we’ll continue to improve,”
he says. The 2010 campaign
can’t come soon enough.

A Perfect Season
By Mark Adam
Thirty years ago, the Siena
men’s lacrosse team completed
the program’s only undefeated
season. The 1979 Siena Indians
team was honored during
halftime at this year’s Senior Day
win over Mount St. Mary for their
perfect 12-0 season. In 1979,
the Indians played at the Division
I level and defeated regional
teams such as Albany, Union, Marist and Colgate.
The 1979 Saints team has the program’s top three all-time scorers: Tony Asterino ’81 (304 points), Tom Baldwin ’81
(238) and Steve O’Shea ’79 (199). The 12 wins stand as the team’s record – matched only by the 2009 Saints.
Asterino and Brent Herbst ’10 are the only two Siena lacrosse players to earn All-America honors. The 1979
team’s head coach, Russ Ferris, has the most wins in program history, with 111.

No Quit in Finneran
Sophomore defenseman Brendan Finneran has already won his toughest game — off the field.
The game had much higher stakes than any other he had played. He battled bone cancer and
survived the treatments, including a five-hour surgery that removed one-third of the bone in his
right leg and replaced it with a titanium rod.
Just two and a half years after the surgery, Finneran made his comeback to lacrosse this season.
He practiced regularly with the team this past year and was in uniform for the season opener – a
nationally televised game with Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Shortly thereafter,
Finneran sustained a stress fracture, which ended his season. But it’s not the first time he’s dealt
with adversity, and he plans on making another return to the field next season.
SIENA 19
 Old friends, fun and lots of memories ...
reunion weekend was a blast!
A record breaking 900 plus alumni, family and friends attended the reunion
kickoff event, family picnic, class dinners and other events on June 5-6.
Highlights included: Annual Fund Highlights:
• Joe Varkey ‘64 traveled the farthest • A check for the Annual Fund in the amount
to attend as he came from India. of $1,750,852 was presented to Fr. Kevin
Mullen ‘75, O.F.M., Ph.D. by Ginny
• The Class of ‘89 was the largest class Darrow ‘83, national chair of the
to attend Reunion, with 120, alumni Annual Fund.
returning to campus for the weekend.
• The Class of ’44 had the highest participation
• The Class of ’89 reunited two student (50%) in Annual Fund support.
bands (Raisin’ Cain and The
Throwbacks) from“back in the day” • The classes of ‘59, ‘69, ‘84 and ‘89
to play at the family picnic. established scholarships to celebrate
Reunion milestone years.

Planning committees
are underway for
Reunion 2010.

Reunion classes ending

in 0’s and 5’s will
celebrate June 4 - 5, 2010.
Don’t miss out on your chance
to participate! Contact
Margot Anderson ’82,
518-782-6868
or manderson@sienaedu
to get involved.

SIENA 20
SIENA 20
 Distinguished Award Winners
During Reunion 2009, six alumni were honored for extraordinary career
achievement, contributions to the college and dedication to others.
Douglas Colbeth ’77
The Professor Joseph A.
Buff Award for outstanding
career accomplishment and
achievements
As the CEO at Spyglass
Inc., a leading provider
of Internet software
technologies, Doug
Colbeth has received
entrepreneurial awards
including the KPMG Peat
Marwick Entrepreneur
of the Year and Ernst &
Young Entrepreneur of
the Year, co-sponsored by
USA Today and NASDAQ
respectively. Colbeth
served as president and
CEO of Kinaxis,™ a
company that provides
software and other
services for forecasting,
planning, and performance
optimization. He also was
director of North Central
College’s Entrepreneurship
Institute in Naperville, Ill.
Colbeth and his wife
Margaret are pioneer
philanthropists of juvenile
brain disease; they founded
the Colbeth Clinic in 2000
at the University of Illinois
Medical Center.
David Crandell ’79
The Professor Egon Plager Award
for accomplishments in advancing
the welfare of other people
SIENA 22
Dave Crandall created
the Donna M. Crandell
Foundation in honor of his
wife to support patients
and families affected by
cystic fibrosis, an inherited
chronic disease that affects
the lungs and digestive
system. The Foundation
has raised more than
$1 million with the support
of friends and family.
Funds are used to purchase
gift baskets for a family
room at Albany Medical
Center. The Foundation
helps with utility,
mortgages, insurance
premiums, transportation
and other expenses that
families incur during
difficult times.
Virginia L. Darrow ’83
The Reverend Benjamin Kuhn,
O.F.M., Award for specific
contributions to improve the
Siena Community
Early in her career, Ginny
Darrow served as CEO
of Rooftop Mortgages,
a wholly owned subsidy
of Bear Stearns. She later
became a member of
Siena’s Board of Trustees
and head of servicing for
Apollo Management’s
European Principal
Finance Fund. Since 2006,
she has served on the
finance, development and
investment committees for
the Board of Trustees and
is the national chair of the
College’s Annual Fund.
In May 2007, she was the
guest speaker at the Honor
an Awesome Woman
Brunch, sponsored by
Siena’s Sr. Thea Bowman
Center for Women.
Donna Wilson ’01
The Franciscan Spirit Award for
demonstrating a commitment
to advancing the welfare of
other people
Donna Wilson spearheaded
a restructuring of a
rehabilitation center for
youth in Uganda, where
she adopted her son,
Derrick and daughter,
Nessa. She has worked
in Nicaragua to provide
youth with food, clothing
and medical care. Donna
also has served in Northern
India at a women’s
outreach home, working
with impoverished families
to provide them with
counseling and support.
Francis Martin ’59
The Reverend Benjamin Kuhn,
O.F.M., Award for special
contributions to the Siena
College community
“Frank’s motto is ‘Have
phone, will raise money,’
and we at Siena are
thankful for his years and
years of involvement with
the College,” said
David Smith ’79, vice
president for development
and external affairs.
Martin, who was 2nd
Lieutenant in the U.S.
Army Finance Corps for
two years in the 1960s,
retired from IBM in 2002.
Recently, he served on the
Class of 1959 Reunion
Weekend and Class Gift
Committee. He is active
in the Saratoga Alumni
Club and serves on the
Alumni Association’s
Board of Directors. He
also has served as an
alumni representative on
the Presidential Search
Committee and as a
member of the Annual
Fund Phone-a-thon
Committee.
 $1,500,000 -
Amount donated to Siena College

$1,000,000 –
Fundraising goal for the Spirit of ’79

30
fund and the 50th reunion

$750,000 –
Total giving this year

Years and
counting!
THE CLASS OF ’79 BY THE NUMBERS
“As a class, giving has become contagious. We had a great experience at Siena
and value what that has meant for our careers. We have a lot of pride in the $600,000 –
College and want to see future generations of Siena students have similar Endowed scholarship value donated
opportunities,” said John Murray ’79, CEO Rose and Kiernan Insurance.
$25,000 –
Raised to fund the James M. Walsh ’79
Scholarship Fund, in memory their
classmate Jim who died in 1979

30 –
Classmates in the Presidents Circle
(minimum $1,000 gift) this year

7-
Class of ’79 endowed scholarships

4–
Classmates inducted into the
St. Francis Society, which supports
Siena through charitable bequests,
life-income gifts and trusts
SIENA 23
 9th Annual Siena
Day at the Races
Experience the Saratoga
Race Course in Style
Friday, August 14, 2009
Included in your pre-ordered ticket is:
- Clubhouse admission
- Lunch buffet
- Post Parade program

Ticket prices:
Individual……………………………..…. $125
Complimentary to President’s Circle donors,
fiscal year 2008-2009 For more information please contact Diane Benson at
Corporate Sponsor table (8)…........ $1400 518-782-6514 or benson@siena.edu
Corporate Sponsor table (10)…...... $1750
The At the Rail Pavilion opens at 11 a.m. and will be air
conditioned. Collared shirts are required. No tee shirts,
shorts or jeans.

SIENA 24
Making A Difference
Your gift to Siena has a positive impact on
students, families and the community, providing
access to our excellent liberal arts education,
building facilities and improving programs.
Whether you touch one life or thousands,
Siena is strengthened by your generosity.

At this year’s Scholarship Appreciation Dinner,

Kim Kamilow Luker ’82 and Katie Luker ’06
announced a newly endowed scholarship and
surprised their mother/grandmother, Arlene Pole
Kamilow, by naming it in her honor. The nearly
300 donors, guests and scholarship recipients in
attendance were treated to a presentation by
Kim and Katie that provided glimpses of their
lives at Siena at two different time periods.
Other speakers – students and donors alike
– shared their thoughts on what receiving or
donating scholarships means to them.
Left to Right: Arlene Pole Kamilow, Katie Luker ’06, Fr. Kenneth P. Paulli ’82, O.F.M., Ed.D.
and Kim Kamilow Luker ’82.
Student speakers included:

• Javid Afzali ’09, Political Science –

The Louis Lombardi Scholarship; The
Maureen O’Sullivan Cushing Scholarship On the Air and on Your Computer
• Marissa Zumbo ’09, Biology – The Dr. Louis J.
and Alice Gazeley De Russo Scholarship

Donor speakers included:

• R. Andrew LeBlanc, ’92 – Sarazen recipient

and Sarazen donor as well as the donor of the
Ronald and Suzanne LeBlanc Scholarship

• Michael Hickey, ’83 –

The Michael Hickey ’83 Scholarship

Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. ’75

noted: “I have the opportunity to witness
the impact of a Siena education on our
students. We do not know how long
these difficult times will last, but we are
determined to do all in our power to
provide access and opportunity for our
current and future students. Now more
than ever, we see how scholarships change
lives.”
For information on endowed scholarships,
please contact Ruth F. Richards, director of
stewardship and donor relations, 518-783-2432
or rrichards@siena.edu. See highlights of the
dinner at www.youtube.com by searching
“Siena scholarship dinner.”
Standing left to right: Fr. Kevin Mullen ‘79, O.F.M.; Ph.D.; Joseph A.
Reilly; Anne and Robert Higgins; John F. Kelly, director of WVCR; Ralph
Blasting, dean of the school of liberal arts and Dow Smith, associate
professor of creative arts. Kneeling in the front left to right: Vancardi
Foster ‘09 and Darrin Kibbey, general manager of WVCR.
Siena dedicated its Internet radio station, Siena Talk 216 on April
7, 2009, which was made possible through the generous gift of
Anne and Robert Higgins. Siena Talk 216 builds the capacity of the
Joseph A. and Carol M. Reilly Broadcast Center, which comprises
WVCR 88.3 The Saint and SCTV, Siena’s television station. The
Reilly Broadcast Center provides hands-on experience for students
preparing for careers in broadcast news and journalism.
Were you involved in the radio station? WVCR would love
to hear from you. E-mail dkibbey@siena.edu to keep in touch.
 Giving Back to Those
Who Sacrificed So Much
Siena College is offering a special gift annuity to help donors to recognize the
sacrifice that their parents made for them. The gift annuity allows the donor to make
a gift to the College and, in return, the College will pay the donor’s parents a guaranteed
fixed income for the rest of their lives. Upon the last parent’s death, the balance of the
gift goes to Siena to be used as designated by the donor.

The example below illustrates how this works:

Robert ’75 purchases a $20,000 gift annuity, which pays a guaranteed fixed income to
his parents, Joseph and Marilyn, for the rest of their lives. Based upon his parents’ age of
80, the annual payment that they will receive from the College is $1,200 (6%). For Joseph
and Marilyn, retirement income is supplemented by $1,200, $900 of which is tax-free.
Upon their death, the College receives the balance of the gift. In addition to knowing that
he has providing a gift to both his parents and Siena College, Robert receives an income
tax deduction of $8,800 in the year he purchases the gift annuity.

This is a great way to recognize the sacrifice of parents with a single gift. If you would
like to discuss a gift annuity,please contact Jack Sise ’75, Esq., director of gift planning,
518-783-2432 or jsise@siena.edu.

SIENA 26
 class notes
Janice Goca, assistant director of alumni relations and Victoria Abdulla ’07, development assistant
Please submit all of your Class Notes information to your Class Coordinator, or if there is no coordinator
listed for your class, please send all information to alumni@siena.edu for posting in the magazine.
Update us!
Want to stay connected and
well-informed about the
goings-on at Siena? Make sure
to update the Alumni Relations
Office with your contact
information! If you haven’t
already, send your address,
phone number, and e-mail to
alumni@siena.edu today!
1959
Frank Martin
ftmartin@nycap.rr.com
David M. Fahey recently retired
after 46 years as a history professor,
the last 40 of them spent at Miami
University in Ohio. He taught Brit-
ish and World History. He authored
or edited a half dozen books, most
on temperance and drink in Britain
or the United States. He has several
other books under contract for his
retirement years. His wife, Mary
Fuller, is an associate professor of
English at Miami University, and
the director of the Ohio Writing
Project. Their daughter, Juliana
(Jay) Fuller, recently graduated
summa cum laude at the University
of North Carolina at Asheville and
soon will begin graduate work in
sociology at Ohio State.
At our 50th class Reunion week-
end, Francis (Fran) Martin was
awarded the Reverend Benjamin
Kuhn, O.F.M., Distinguished Alum-
ni Award for specific contributions
to improve the Siena community.
Our class Reunion was held on
Friday, June 5, 2009, and was at-
tended by 48 of our classmates and
their guests at a wonderful dinner in
Siena’s newest house at 33 Fiddlers
Lane. We succeeded in raising over
$25,000 to establish a scholar-
ship from our class. Several of our
classmates attended the Saturday
morning President’s Circle Cham-
pagne Brunch and Distinguished
Alumni Awards Ceremony. Later
ALUMNI
in the afternoon, we attended the
Alumni Memorial Mass, after which
a hard core group went to dinner at
the Century House to conclude the
weekend on a high note.
We also discovered that our class
has two “Santa Claus” representa-
tives who bring cheer and happiness
to many children. Keep up the good
work, Dick Kane and Ron Lather.
1962
Ken Deitcher
dukaytravel@att.net
1965
Jack Mulvey, Jr.
jkmulvey@netscape.com
1967
Rick Spataro
rspataro001@twcny.rr.com
61 State Street
Malone, NY 12953
518 -483-3566
1968
Bill McGoldrick
bmcgoldrick@wash-mcg.com
1971
After 37 years, 33,000+ classes,
over 950 women’s varsity softball
and basketball games coached, and
not one sick day, Rich Pepe ’71
retired from teaching English and
coaching at Schalmont High School
in Rotterdam, N.Y. this June. In
September he will join the staff at
Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery
BOCES near Johnstown N.Y.,
where he will put all of his experi-
ence to good use as an instructor
in their “Careers in Education”
program. In an interesting role
reversal, his new boss will be Jay
DeTraglia ’93 who was his Siena
student teacher years ago, proving
that networking is not just for
business majors.
1972
Jack Callahan
Jackcallahan33@gmail.com
1973
Brian Valentine
202-586 -9741
bgvalentine@verizon.net
Greetings to all Siena’s commu-
nity—faculty, students, alumni,
family, and friends! And greetings
to my fellow Siena College 1973
classmates—I hope everyone is
having a wonderful summer. Did
anyone have a memorable vacation?
Please let me know!
Among all the wonderful achieve-
ments of the Class of 1973, I am
pleased to announce the retirement
of one of our Siena 1973 classmates
from the FBI:
After almost 29 years with the
FBI, former Bayonne, N.J. resident,
Special Agent Peter D. Yachmetz
(B.S. Finance) retired on
October 31, 2008. Upon gradua-
tion from Siena, Peter was recruited
by the Chase Manhattan Corpora-
tion and accepted a position with
the Corporate Internal Audit Staff.
Over the next three years, Peter rose
to the position of senior auditor
and was responsible for the periodic
audit of the departments within
Chase Manhattan Corporation for
accounting procedures and compli-
ance with banking regulations. Peter
was appointed by the Director of
the FBI as a special agent of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) on January 21, 1980. Peter
held numerous special agent and
supervisory positions with the FBI
throughout his distinguished law
enforcement career. Peter’s special
expertise in counter-terrorism,
hostage negotiation, and surveillance
led him on numerous domestic and
international assignments, including
the U.S. Embassies of Kuwait, the
Bahamas, and the U.K.. Peter’s ex-
pertise helped to free a U.S. kidnap-
ping hostage in Bogotá, Colombia.
Since 2002, Peter’s final assignment
with the FBI was lead criminal
investigator for the Kennedy Space
Center, as member of a resident FBI
agency in Tampa, Florida. Peter’s
extraordinary and distinguished law
NEWSMAKER
Rich Pepe ’71
Joins the staff at Hamilton-
Fulton-Montgomery
BOCES
enforcement career was recognized
CLASS NOTES
at a reception held in his honor on
October 31, 2008, at the DubsDread
Country Club in Orlando and was
attended by family members, friends
and colleagues from the Tampa
Division of the FBI, FBI Headquar-
ters, United States Attorneys Office
Middle District of Florida, National
Aeronautics & Space Administra-
tion (NASA), United States Secret
Service, U.S. Department of State,
The Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, County Sheriff offices
and local police departments. Peter
is married to Patricia A. Yachmetz
(Prusek), also formerly of Bayonne.
They have two sons.
So what are your plans now,
Peter? Have any good retirement
advice for the rest of us?
1975
Janet Gutowski Hall
janet.hall@wku.edu
Lynn Rondeau’s March 2009
brush with kidney cancer was the
impetus for a few ’75ers to meet in
Albany in June, and to tag along
with the class of ’74 as they cel-
ebrated their 35th reunion (ours is
next year, but more about that later).
I joined Lynn (who’s doing fine),
Julianne Martorana/Grennen,
Marcia Cappuccilli and Peggy
Naughton Marshall (OK, she’s
actually class of ’76) for an outdoor
dinner on Saturday night, where we
reminisced—without censors—in
SIENA 27
front of Jule’s daughter Katie (’10).
Later, we went to the ’74 dinner,
where we found President Kevin
Mullen entertaining the gang. By
the way, please keep Fr. Kevin
in your prayers, as he has a hip
replacement scheduled for July.
This might be the beginning of his
Six Jillion Dollar Man makeover—
allowing for inflation. I’ll keep you
posted.
Thanks to Ellen Beberwyk/
Morgan’s proud sister, I have much
to share about Ellen. After graduat-
ing with a B.S. in chemistry, Ellen
received an M.S. in engineering
management/statistics from RPI.
She started her career working in
data analysis/management in the
pharmaceutical industry. In 1995 she
became a co-founder of Synteract, a
full service contract research organi-
zation in Carlsbad, Calif. As CEO
and President, Ellen established
the company’s business strategy,
which focuses on clinical trials, data
management, statistics and medical
writing, as well as FDA submissions
for the medical device, biotechnolo-
gy and pharmaceutical industries. In
addition to multiple awards in her
field, Ellen received the 2008 Athena
Pinnacle Award, which recognizes
organizations that, through the de-
velopment and promotion of skilled
and talented women, have had a
significant impact in the technology,
life science and healthcare sectors
in the San Diego area. She was a
finalist for the Ernst and Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Award in
2006, and semi-finalist again in 2008.
Ellen lives in San Clemente, Calif.
with her husband, Jim Mossler, and
daughter, Kara. Her son Brian is a
graduate student at UC Davis. Read
more about Ellen’s company at
http://www.synteract.com/about/
About.aspx.
Thanks to Facebook, I discovered
that Greg Bell is married with two
children—a 16-year-old daughter
and a 14-year-old son. He has of-
ficially qualified for sainthood as a
special-ed teacher in Albany for the
past 30 years. He is also the owner
of Guthrie/Bell Productions, a
concert promotion company special-
izing in jam bands and roots rock
concerts at nightclubs, theatres and
arenas. He’s looking forward to our
Reunion next year, and is already on
the committee. Since he was also at
the ’74 reunion, I got to hug him in
person.
Speaking of Facebook, you can
find me under janet.hall@wku.edu
if you’d like to say hello or send an
update. Please be advised that the
lag time for the Alumni News is a
long one, so make sure you check
SIENA 28
two issues before you give up on
seeing your stuff in print. Mean-
while, enjoy your fall and keep in
touch. It won’t be long before we
are all together again on another
spring day at our 35th Reunion.
1977
Linda Fitzsimmons
lfitzsimmons@hvc.rr.com
1979
Sue Reilly/Hayes
CLIFTON522@aol.com
522 Chili-Riga Town Line Road
Churchville, NY 14428
585-889-2072
Well, it’s hard to believe that
our much-anticipated 30-year
Reunion has come and gone, but
many wonderful memories remain.
I think I have enough updates on
classmates to fill up two or three
columns, but I’d like to start with
a few heartfelt thank yous … to
Dave Smith, who arranged for the
stunning on-campus locale for our
gathering (the mansion and gardens,
dubbed 33 Fiddlers, also houses
Dave’s office … a beautiful place to
come to work every day although
he insists he DOES NOT use the
steam room and sunken tub in his
“executive washroom”!) … to Mag-
gie Simone (wife of Ralph Simone)
who volunteered to compile all our
favorite Siena-era tunes (Maggie
told me she already had most of the
requested music on her iPod. One
of her brothers played percussion
with rocker Todd Rundgren, and
she’s been a huge fan of ’70s music
ever since) … to Michele Williams/
Brennan, who combined photos
from classmates with yearbook
and Alumni Office pictures to put
together a stunning PowerPoint
presentation that entertained us
all evening, punctuated with a few
groans and laughs at hairstyles and
wardrobe items!
As we enjoyed each other’s
company at the Reunion, prom-
ises were made to do a better job
of staying in touch. One group
of classmates has perfected that
art. Terri Dupre/Sleasman, Jane
Barnes/Casale, Mollie Austin/Bell,
and Karen Beha/Wentworth, all
of whom live in the Capital District
area, have gone out for a Sunday
night girls’ dinner every month or
two for the past 30 years! They said
it sometimes takes them an entire
two months to coordinate family
calendars and pick a free night. In
addition, once or twice a year, they
do a road trip to Ipswich,
Massachusetts for an overnight with
their close friend and 1S Hennepin
NEWSMAKERS
Lee “Long Ball” Borko ’79, Dan O’Connell ’80, Len Shustack ’79
and J.D. Strong ’79
Alumni Weekend Golf Tournament winners
wingmate Diane Tower/Fitzgerald.
Terri and Diane carry the reunit-
ing even further … both spent a
semester abroad in Denmark while
at Siena. Every year since graduation
they have gotten together in Chi-
cago or northern New Jersey with
the other two U.S. friends who they
stayed with while in Denmark!
Distance didn’t seem to stop
’79ers from getting to Alumni
Weekend. Greg Garvin came from
Houston, Texas where he relocated
a year or two ago. He reports that
he loves the heat and is very happy
with his new community. Wilma
Kahler/Wells traveled from another
sunny locale, Phoenix, Ariz. She’s
taking a deep breath, preparing for
the adventure of having THREE
kids in college next year. I enjoyed
talking to Wilma about how musical
her family is … all her kids play (and
actually practiced over the years!)
instruments, and Wilma herself has
been known to accompany them
on her clarinet at holiday con-
certs at church. Ed Frieberg came
from New Orleans where he’s the
pediatric critical care chief at Tulane
University and Medical Center.
When I Googled Ed post-reunion
to get his title, I learned that he was
named one of the top doctors in his
specialty in New Orleans, and in
Louisiana by regional publications.
Congrats and keep up the good
work, Ed!
Len Shustack wasted no time
finding me during the Reunion
cocktail hour to report that his golf
foursome (Len, Lee Borko, J.D.
Strong, and Dan O’Connell ’80)
succeeded in dethroning the 13-year
reigning champions at the Alumni
Weekend Golf Tournament at Briar
Creek. The group did their ritual
breakfast at the Wolf Road Diner,
followed by a pre-tourney toast of
bloody marys that Dan whipped
up from his car trunk bar. Len
comments, “I think that might have
been the difference, because once we
got started we were loose and hot,
birdying two of our first three holes
… and we just kept playing like
that.” They finished the scramble
format 13 under par and won by one
stroke! Len also played in the Saints
Alive Mid-Hudson golf tourney, a
fundraiser for Siena athletics, back in
May. He was joined there by ’79ers
John Stubenrauch, J.D. Strong,
and Brian Zwilling.
Congratulations to our classmate
Dave Crandall, who was honored at
Fr. Kevin Mullen’s President’s Cir-
cle/Distinguished Alumni Awards
brunch on Saturday. He received the
Dr. Egon Plager Award for Humani-
tarian Effort, for all the work he has
done over the past 20+ years with
the creation and sustaining of the
Donna Murray/Crandall Founda-
tion (Donna Murray/Crandall is a
deceased member of our class of ’79)
to help those with Cystic Fibrosis
(see story in another section of this
magazine). Dave, we’re inspired
by how you turned your personal
tragedy into an opportunity to assist
many others in a meaningful way.
Oops, just noticed that I’m way
over the word limit for my column
and I still have loads of tales left to
tell. To be continued … and please,
please don’t stop sending me scoops.
Summer vacations, kids’ accomplish-
ments, get-togethers with other
alumni … keep ’em coming.
1980
Diane DeSilva
Diane0429@gmail.com
Greetings, Class of ’80!
I am now local (Clifton Park),
and willing to keep everyone
aware of just how much we have
all accomplished! I became a
grandmother to Ella Lynn Grant
on March 8, 2009. Joyce Miller
and Paul McLean worked together
as student assistants at the Siena
library more than 30 years ago.
They’re again working together
at a college library: this time, at
Adirondack Community College
in Queensbury, N.Y.! Joyce is a
professor of library science and
has been ACC’s reference and
instruction librarian since 1995. Paul
joined the administration in 2008, as
the coordinator of distance learning.
Their offices are next door to each
other. Paul has been known to
regale Joyce with classic jokes that
Father Mackin used to tell. Please
send me your news at diane0429@
gmail.com and I will be sure to
update everyone in future issues!
1982
Bob Young
RYoung60@aol.com
As Class Coordinator, I have a
long way to go to live up to the flow
of information that Elvira (Class
of ’83) supplies with each update. I
had considered creating a fictitious
update to generate some response,
but decided to keep to a few simple
facts, and ask all reading this to send
me an update for the next issue.
A few items I can offer to get
the ball rolling: my oldest son,
Robert, graduated from NYU this
year as a recording engineer and
musician, and my second oldest,
Jeffrey, graduated from high school
this June and will be entering the
freshman class at Siena in the fall.
Last weekend, I attended one of the
state of Connecticut’s high school
lacrosse championship games for
Fairfield Prep where Brendan, sec-
ond oldest of Mike and Bettianne
Baldwin, scored two goals in their
fourth state championship in as
many years. He will be attending
Holy Cross in the fall.
I hope that this brief update gets
some e-mails generated for the next
issue, and I look forward to hearing
from many!
1983
Elvira Altimari-Jaeger
60 Wyatt Rd
Garden City, NY 11530
eaj6@optonline.net
Hi all. A major congrats goes out
to Ginny Darrow. Ginny received
the Reverend Benjamin Kuhn,
O.F.M. Award at Reunion on June
6, 2009. The award is for “specific
contributions to improve the Siena
Community.” Thank you from all
your classmates, Ginny, for sharing
your time and treasure with our be-
loved alma mater. A special thank
you to all of you who sent con-
gratulations e-mails to Ginny. All
of the e-mails were put together in a
scrap book and presented to Ginny
at the President’s Brunch. She loved
the book and was touched by your
thoughtfulness.
I heard a shout-out Stan
Pingelski, and wife Sheila
Coughlin ’85, who were disap-
pointed that they couldn’t make
our 25th reunion last year. Their
eldest daughter was graduating from
high school that weekend. Stan has
been working at Campbell Soup
Company as the director of IT Sales
Systems for 24 years. His tenure
included multiple stops in a variety
of field sales roles before moving to
corporate headquarters, and spend-
ing the last 10 years in Camden, N.J.
Sheila and Stan will be married 24
years this fall and have three chil-
dren: Lauren, 18, will be a sopho-
more at St. Bonaventure; Michael,
14; and Hannah, 13. They currently
live in Medford, N.J., after stops in
Binghamton, N.Y., Schenectady,
N.Y., and Crofton, Md. Stan said he
was nostalgic for his TeePee Row-
dies days as he watched Siena in the
NCAA Tourney this winter.
I have a special invitation to
anyone in our class who wants to be
kept in the loop. An idea has been
hatched by a classmate in “the Buff”
(you can all guess who). The idea
centers on our “50th” year with a
birthday bash to celebrate a half cen-
tury on earth, and a great excuse to
get together before our 30th reunion
in 2013. We are still in the very infant
stages of planning and would like
to have input. A committee is being
formed, so please send an e-mail if
you want to be in on the planning of
this “original” event.
Unfortunately I have some very
sad news to report. Our friend and
classmate Don Schneider passed
away in March. Don will be missed.
I know I will always remember his
sharp wit and his infectious laugh.
Shout-outs go to: Rob Karath,
Maureen Mc Cormick, Anthony
Vettoretti, and Virginia Smith.
Where are you and what have you
been up to?
1984
Lisa San Fratello/McCutcheon
305 The Parkway
Ithaca, NY 14853
mcclisa@yahoo.com
1985
Catherine and Ron Bjorklund
bjork90@comcast.net
14 Stevens Lane
Tabernacle, NJ 08088-9744
Ram Verma is a daddy! Edwin
Gayumba Johnson was born on
February 10, 2009 in Morrisville, Vt.
to Ram Gayumba Verma and Jenny
Marie Johnson. He was 8 pounds,
9 ounces and 21.5 inches long.
Congratulations Ram and Jenny!
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse
unknowingly played host to a mini
Siena reunion in May. Alumni gath-
ered to watch Siena men’s lacrosse
play Syracuse in the first round
of the NCAA tournament. It was
Siena’s first ever appearance. In
attendance were 1985 alumni Paul
and MaryBeth Sniffen/Finnerty,
Kevin and Deb Ramski/
Coman, Mark Stiner, Sean
Stack, Dom Sabatino, Pat Britt
along with Bill Morgan ’84 and
Matt Morgan ’08.
Save the Date! Next June 4–6,
2010 is our 25th Reunion week-
end. Mark your calendars now to
attend this fun event. For those of
you who attended the 20th, you
will remember the Class of 1985
knows how to throw a party! We
are starting to plan now, so if you
have any ideas, send them along
to bjork90@comcast.net or to
mfinnerty@siena.edu. Also, once
again, we would like to have a
photo presentation (not sure of
the format yet) so if you have any
ideas or pictures, send them to
bjork90@comcast.net. All photos
must be scanned and sent via
email or on a CD/DVD (to Ron
and Cathy). If you don’t know
how to scan your old photos, ask
your kids … they will do it for
you … seriously.
We only have 269 valid e-mail
addresses for our class. Updates
would be great! Updated contact
info can be sent to Marybeth
Finnerty’s attention at mfinner-
ty@siena.edu or 518-782-6818.
MB set up a Facebook group, so
anyone on Facebook can join the
“Siena Class of ’85 25th Reunion
Group” to participate, and keep
up to date as we plan. We are also
looking for committee members.
Anyone interested? Let us know!
1987
Gerry McAndrew
Geraldine.m.candrew@comcast.
net
Donna Neary/Wang has a
busy life! During the day, Donna
is an RN/investigator for the NYS
Department of Health. Donna
continues to be active in the
Army Reserves, and is Lieutenant
Colonel. She was selected to serve
as the Equal Opportunity Advi-
sor for the 98th Division (Army
Reserve—Rochester, N.Y.), com-
pleting the Reserve Components
Equal Opportunity Advisor’s
Course at the Defense Equal
Opportunity Management Insti-
tute in Florida; graduating on the
Commandant’s List in June 2008.
In her free time, Donna teaches
her son Stephen how to drive.
I also heard that Kevin Grace
recently received the Volunteer
of the Year Award from HOBY
(Hugh O’Brian Youth Leader-
ship). Kevin was complimented
for being a driving force of optimism,
commitment, and leadership. He
works to recruit and mentor vol-
unteers, and plans logistics at local
seminars. It is no surprise that Kevin
is described as a “friend and educator
to all of us when we least expect it but
need it the most,” and he has a unique
ability to lead by bringing out the best
in others. Congratulations, Kevin!
If you have not joined Facebook, think
about it. I joined about a year ago and
found that a number of classmates are
on there—it has been fun reconnect-
ing. Don’t be shy, keep those class
notes coming.
1988
Paula Cacossa
Pc888@comcast.net
Hi Class of 1988!
Phil Hoshue wrote, “It seems like
yesterday I was having chicken wings
at the Rathskellar or trying to get into
the “21 Club” by sneaking by Mrs. V
with a fake ID.” Phil married a Siena
Alumna in 1996—Julia Goldin ’91.
They have one daughter, Siena, 9. They
CLASS NOTES
live in Bradenton, Fla. where Phil has
a laboratory supply and equipment
company. Business is great and the
water is fine. If there are any Siena
alumni in the Tampa Bay area—give
Phil a shout at philius01@yahoo.com.
Karen Weaver/Novelli is a teacher
of physics, chemistry, biology and
ecology. She is now living in Croton-
on-Hudson in N.Y. with her two sons
Johnny, 16, and Michael, 15.
Rachel Sahut/Parent is happily
married and living in Boise, Idaho. She
works at Saint Alphonsus, a Trinity
Health hospital, as an IT project man-
ager. Her oldest daughter, Allison, is
entering her junior year at University
of Portland. Aaron, who just turned
18, reports to recruit training for the
USMC in early July. Nicholas will
enter 7th grade and Sean will be in 3rd
grade in the fall. They enjoy skiing,
biking, hiking, tennis and traveling.
She wrote, “It has been a blessing to
provide Catholic education for our
children, which I believe Siena nur-
tured in me. We very much enjoy our
spiritual life, and I am so grateful to the
Franciscans and Siena’s education. It
is because of Siena, and especially the
Franciscans, that I have such blessings
in my life—truly, the grace of God!”
MaryBeth Mc Cusker is living a
busy life in Southbury, Conn. She
received her M.B.A. from Fordham
University in 2000. She has been mar-
ried since 2001 with three kids (two
step daughters)—Natalie, Danielle
and Madison. Her oldest daughter is
going to University of Delaware in
September and youngest daughter is
just finishing first grade. She has been
working for IBM for the past 12 years
SIENA 29
after finishing her first career at Con
Edision in N.Y. MaryBeth is cur-
rently the IBM territory marketing
manager covering Boston.
Our two classmates who got
married after graduating, Gary
Tallman and Jennifer Hourihan/
Tallman are now living in
Woodridge, Va. with their three
daughters, Catherine, Marguerite
and Jane. Gary will be retiring from
the U.S. Army in July 2009, after 21
years of service. He has accepted a
position with the Department of the
Army, Office of Public Affairs in
the Pentagon.
These past few months, I was
able to see some old Siena friends.
My Siena roommate, Laura McFall,
recently visited me in Chicago while
she was attending a business confer-
ence. She is living in Rochester, N.Y.
with her husband and two children.
Then in April, Jackie O’Grady/
Sullivan, Regina Dudek and I got
together at Regina’s house in N.J.
We had a great time catching up
while our kids ran around playing.
Class of ’88—please update your
e-mail addresses on the Siena alumni
website. When I sent out my e-mail
notices—I got about 50 bounce-
backs. Thanks! Look forward to
hearing from you.
1989
Mike Carbonaro
sienanews.1989@yahoo.com
3140 10th Street
Bethlehem, PA 18020
610 -737-1147
On a not so quiet day in May, we
all woke up after a night of parties
and dinners with friends and family,
trying to remember what we needed
to do today. Oh yeah, graduation.
Some got dressed up, some were
hardly dressed under their cap and
gown. Thankfully, we did not know
which was which. We wrote on our
caps with messages of thanks to our
families and friends, we lined up
with our classmates, and took a long
walk through campus. Some of us
were under the watchful eye of the
college administrators because we
caused so much trouble during our
years. But in the end we all walked
down the aisle (the college aisle not
the church aisle—although that, for
some, will come soon enough) and
received our diplomas. Oh no, that
was 1989. Over 20 years ago. Here is
how this story should have started.
On a quiet weekend in June 2009,
119 alumni descended on Loudon-
ville, N.Y. with thoughts of partying
as if we were college seniors. Those
who were there saw “Raisin Cane”
and “The Throwbacks” put on a
great show at Red Square on Friday
SIENA 30
night, which was scheduled by our
Reunion leadership. The Reunion
schedule called for everyone to
meet at Dapps to relive the good ole
days, but most were at Red Square
enjoying the music and company.
Some did make it into Dapps, while
some only made it to the parking
lot—you all know who you are!
Saturday’s festivities included an-
other show by the bands on campus,
with entertainment and activities for
young and old. The bookstore had a
banner day with everyone stock-
ing up on the classic Siena items,
although some were still looking for
the Siena College Indian shirts. We
had to remind them it is the Saints
now. How soon old age sets in! The
day wrapped up with various din-
ners around campus for the different
classes. The combined dinner at
Serra Hall included a separate room
for our class due to the large number
in attendance. Everyone enjoyed the
company, and ate and drank until
they kicked us out at midnight. We
moved the party to Dapps again,
and this time most made it inside.
For those who did not stay very
long at Dapps, the Class of ’89
(along with ’88 and ’90) got smoked
in some drinking games by the Class
of ’99. For a quick laugh, and to see
what Saturday night deteriorated
into, go to YouTube and check out
“Dapp’s Beer Slide.” In all, it was a
great weekend for everyone. If you
missed it, plan on going in 2014 for
our 25th. Thanks to everyone for
making the 20th Reunion of the
Class of 1989 a resounding success.
A last minute note received from
Greg Stewart said that the bands
“Raisin Cane” and “The Throw-
backs” presented a check for $650
(proceeds from the evening at Red
Square) to the Alumni office to be
applied toward the class gift. Many
thanks to the bands.
A Facebook group now exists
for the Siena College Class of 1989
Alumni. Check it out! A good num-
ber of photos are now circulating
from the Reunion.
One last thought! Where in the
world was Joe Malyk?
A closing note from the Alumni
Office: The Class of ’89 raised
$34,347 in honor of their 20th -
$23,319 went to the Annual Fund,
and the balance was specifically
given by some members of the Class
of ’89 to the Fr. Kevin Tortorelli
Scholarship. This scholarship was
not new this year. However, many
members of the Class of ’89 are very
supportive of it, and in apprecia-
tion, we counted gifts made to this
scholarship this year as part of the
Class of ’89 Reunion Gift.
1990
Janet Shotter/Swierbut
jswierbut@yahoo.com
1991
Kevin Clarke
Siena91@optonline.net
Hey Class of 1991!
I heard from Tom Newman last
month. After 17 years of working in
the banking industry at JP Morgan
and RBS Greenwich Capital, he has
started a recruiting firm focused
on financial services. Newman
Resource Group recruits top quality
support personnel for a wide range
of financial services firms as well
as the financial divisions of a select
group of corporations outside the
banking sector. Their functional
expertise is in operations, account-
ing, trading and sales support,
credit, risk, client service and project
management. More information is
available at www.newmanresource.
com. Newman is the managing
partner and owner of Newman Re-
source Group. Tom held the title of
managing director as head of deriva-
tive operations at RBS Greenwich
Capital, where he worked from 2001
until founding Newman Resource
Group in 2008. Prior to joining
RBS, he was a vice president at JP
Morgan where he worked from 1991
to 2001, holding various positions in
operations management across the
fixed income securities and deriva-
tive businesses. Good luck in your
new endeavor, Tom!
Keep sending me your notes, or
just drop me a line to catch up—
nothing is too small to mention.
All the best!
1992
Mary Pat McLoughlin/Holler
jmpholler@optonline.net
1993
Susan Hannon
shannon@ryeneck.k12.ny.us
213 W 252nd Street
Riverdale, NY 10471
917-796 -2085
Hello Class of ’93! I finally have
some news to report! Let’s start
with Kevin Otis. He is living in
Charlotte, or “Siena of the South”
based on the number of alumni
who live down there. He works for
MetLife and has been underwriting
life insurance for 15 years! Still the
athlete, he spends most of his free
time running, biking or swimming.
By the time you read this, he will
have completed his 6th Ironman
competition! Hope you did well,
Kevin! Next up is Jonathan (JT)
Tellstone. The man surprised us all
by settling down last year, and now
he’s a proud papa. Abigail Anne
Tellstone was born on
February 21, 2009. During her first
month, she was up all night, leaving
JT and his wife, Michele, sleep
deprived! Right down the road in
Saratoga, Ann Malagisi had her
first baby a few weeks prior to JT.
So if you are interested in getting
pregnant, it looks like all you have
to do is drink Saratoga water! Next
up is an update on Stacey Cooper/
Porter. “Coop” married Major
Vince Porter (US Army) in July
1999 and has a daughter, Rylei (6
½—born in Hawaii) and a son,
Blake (3 ½— born at West Point).
After Siena, she worked in Port
Jervis, N.Y. and earned a master’s
from the College of New Rochelle.
She then lived in North Carolina,
South Korea, West Point and now
Georgia. After taking five years
off from teaching to stay home
with the kids, she is now back full
time, and is currently teaching
Spanish in Richmond Hill, Ga.
(near Savannah). She also shared
that Amy Prisco is now living in
Ecuador. Finally, Lori Bubb, my
former softball teammate, “popped
out” her first child, Lurae Jean on
June 2, 2009. I hear she is a “catch!”
Here’s hoping she follows in Mom’s
footsteps, and becomes a future
centerfielder for the Saints in 18
years! I still would love to share
news about the rest of you who I
haven’t heard from! Where are you
Mark Abdella? Lara Genovesi? Jay
De Traglia? Pat McGinley? Holly
Redman? Shoot me an e-mail, catch
me on Facebook, call, whatever!
Have a great end of the summer and
fun filled fall!
1994
Glenn Hofsess
gh@endcap.com
83 Kellogg Street
Brookfield, CT 06804
On May 31, I had the pleasure
of attending the wedding of Mike
Sgroi and Yuka Tomita at the
Carneros Inn in Napa, Calif. Mike
and Yuka are two of the nicest and
most genuine people I know, and
it was absolutely wonderful to be
able to share in their special day
at such a breathtaking location.
Congratulations! It is always great
to see old friends from Siena, and
I was able to catch up with fellow
alums, Kyle Howard and Steve
Quirk ’95 at the wedding. I heard
from Andrew Martin—he is now
the senior attorney for the NY State
Dept. of Education. He will be
doing criminal background checks
for teacher certification applicants,
ensuring that all of the state’s school
districts are in compliance with the
2001 Safe Schools Legislation, and
will be conducting administrative
hearings. Ryan Faley and his
wife Wendy Gayson/Faley ’96
had their third daughter, Keira
Elizabeth, on January 22, 2008.
Kerrianne Hefele/Cunningham
and Christopher Cunningham
are proud to announce their new
addition, Erin Marie, who was
born on April 22, 2008. Erin joins
big brother Sean, who is 7, and big
sister Kiera who is 5. Dan Devine
and his wife Cathy Saavedra/
Devine welcomed their third
child on March 24. His name is
Andrew Joseph Devine and he is
the youngest boy of the Devine
clan of three boys, which includes
Bryan, 9, and Kevin, 6. Their oldest
son already says he is going to
go to Siena when he gets older! I
hope everyone who attended our
15 year Reunion had a great time
reminiscing about old times and
seeing what everyone is up to. If
you have any good (or particularly
embarrassing) stories from Reunion,
please feel free to drop me a line.
Time moves so fast that it becomes
difficult to even realize it when
you are immersed in everyday life.
Listen to the infectious laughter of a
child, hug someone you love, spend
a little extra time on your hurried
trip to the office to smell the freshly
fallen rain, enjoy a good glass of
wine, or spend time appreciating
an older family member. Find the
beauty in everyday life because
before we all know it, days turn
to months, and months turn to
years. The hectic pace of schedules,
deadlines, and appointments
happens while living life—don’t let
it become life.
1995
Neil Wilcove
nwilcove@fmglaw.com
Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP
100 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30339
770-818-1430
1996
Brian Murray
murray21@hotmail.com
bmurray@betterbackschiropractic.
com
614-270-6003
Patty Hoban/Keenan and her
husband, Kevin, announced the
arrival of Erin Elizabeth Keenan
on August 28, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.
She weighed in at 8 pounds, 2
ounces, and measured 20 inches.
Congratulations, Patty! Karla
Rucci/Harding welcomed daughter
Katherine Shannon on March 1,
2008. She joined her brother Tyler
Patrick, 7, and sister Abaigeal
Victoria, 4. Dan Hornick will run
for the Town of Colonie Board
in November. Good luck to him,
and if you are still located in the
Colonie region, please toss him your
vote in the fall. Kerry McDonald/
Conley and husband, Steve, had
their second baby boy on June 19,
2008. His name is Michael Stephen,
and his big brother James is now
2. Laurie Miller/Donnis and
her husband, Greg Donnis, are
thrilled to announce the birth of
their son, Sawyer Gregory. Sawyer
was born on May 30, 2008, and
joins big sister, Ella, who is 2 and a
half. Tara O’Callaghan/Babcock,
and her husband, Steve Babcock,
welcomed twins, Leah Maighread
and Daniel Finn into their family on
November 26, 2008. They join big
sisters, Callaghan and Quinn. Tara
Klein/Verrier finally checked in to
let us know that she was married to
Sean Verrier in August 2002. Their
first daughter, Maggie Elizabeth,
was born in October 2005. Their
second daughter, Caroline Helen,
was born December 2007. They are
good kids, and keep them busy!
Tara is working full-time in private
practice as a pediatrician at West
Sayville Pediatrics in Long Island.
Wendy Gayson/Faley forwarded
an update to let us know that she
and Ryan Faley ’94 had their third
daughter, Keira Elizabeth, on
January 22, 2008. She was welcomed
with love by her sisters Sarah, 5,
and Grace, 4. Finally, Charlene
Wood/Bordonaro married
Joseph Bordonaro in October
2002, and now lives in Windsor,
Conn. She is currently a finance
manager at United Health Group
in Hartford. They welcomed their
second child, Alexandra Noelle, on
Christmas Eve 2008. She joins big
sister Alyssa Marie, who was born
on March 13, 2006. Kirk Linden and
Pam Nicolotti/Linden announced
the birth of their daughter, Nora
Simone Linden. She joined her big
brother on May 28, 2009. Kenny
Danielsen also checked in to let
us know that he is now the proud
father of Ava Rose Danielsen. She
was born on March 26, 2009, and is
the first child of Kenny and his wife,
Diedre.
1997
Selena Dutcher
selena.dutcher@regentcomm.com
bronx_bombers25@yahoo.com
518 -265 -2127
So it’s summer in New York
and I’m loving every minute of it!
Saratoga is in full swing, and the
whole area is buzzing! We are very
light on the updates this time. That’s
my update. Here are some that you
sent in …
Anne Marie Bowler couldn’t
sleep, and decided to e-mail me her
update at 2 a.m. She has been very
busy since leaving Siena—working
in a large law firm in New York
City, and clerking for former Chief
Judge Kaye. Three years ago she
opened a law practice in New York
City with a partner. Gabay-Rafiy
& Bowler LLP (www.gabaybowler.
com ) is thriving and Anne Marie
looks forward to helping her fellow
Siena alumni with any legal issues
they may have. Anne Marie is
also an adjunct professor in legal
writing at New York Law School!
Congratulations!
John Dudek, and wife, Averi
Vozzolo/Dudek ’98, welcomed
their daughter, Hailey Rebecca into
the world on August 8, 2008. She
weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces.
Congrats, John and Averi!
Our lives may not be as exciting
as “Jon & Kate plus 8” or Jennifer
Anniston’s, but we still want to
hear what’s going on! I want to
hear from you—babies, weddings,
job promotions—anything.
Stay connected, and keep others
connected with your updates.
To make a submission for the
newsletter, please contact me
by e-mail at selena.dutcher@
regentcomm.com or bronx_
bombers25@yahoo.com. You can
also look me up on Facebook. If you
want to touch base and chat
for a while, give me a call at
518-265-2127. I look forward to
hearing from you!
1998
Janine Trapp/Scotti, MBA
201-294-0395
sienasaints98@yahoo.com
Hello to the class of ’98! I hope
you are enjoying the beautiful
summer weather, and are able to get
out and enjoy it while it lasts.
I have some pretty exciting news to
report from Marisa Ricciardi. She
was recently promoted to senior
vice president at the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE Euronext)
and is now responsible for global
marketing and branding. Way to
go, Marisa! She also asked me to
let you know that they’re always
looking for great talent in the
financial marketing space, so if you
have experience in that arena, please
check out www.nyx.com and apply.
Averi Vozzolo/Dudek, and husband,
John Dudek ’97 welcomed their
daughter, Hailey Rebecca into
the world on August 8, 2008. She
weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces.
Congrats, Averi and John!
And remember, please don’t be shy
about sending me your updates —
we want to hear from you.
Until next time!
1999
Brendan Fitzgerald
nyfitzgerald@yahoo.com
fitzgeb@assembly.state.ny.us
518-258-9272
2000
Shaymus R. Schweitzer
103 Sherman Ave.
Troy, NY 12180
518-727-3392
SienaSaints2000@hotmail.com
Hello all! Hope you are enjoying
2009 … Unbelievably, that means
our 10-Year Reunion will be coming
up shortly. If you are interested
in helping to plan the festivities
CLASS NOTES
for next Reunion weekend, please
contact Margot Anderson ’82 at
manderson@siena.edu. A committee
is forming, and any help you could
offer would be very welcome.
And now with the news—
Jennifer Vidaic/Wilber married
Edward Wilber Jr. on
March 10, 2007 at the Crescent
Beach Club in Bayville, Long Island,
and honeymooned in New Zealand
and Australia for three weeks. Jenn
and Ed currently live in Wantagh,
and are expecting their first child in
September. Jenn works for Allergan
Inc. as a senior business develop-
ment manager and field sales trainer
selling Botox Cosmetics, Juvederm,
and Latisse.
Melissa Mastriani/Barna married
Peter Barna on October 28, 2006.
The happy couple just welcomed
their first baby on February 8,
2009. Missy and Pete had a little girl,
Giada Benedetta, and are so happy;
they can’t wait to have more!
Jaime Connolly/Rohrbach
married Billy Rohrbach ’01 on
September 5, 2004. Jaime and Billy
have lived in Sacramento, Calif.
for the past six years. Their son,
Riley James, was born on May 2,
2008. Jaime informed me that, “We
actually had Riley at Siena for the
2009 graduation ceremonies in May,
where Riley’s Godmother (Billy’s
sister: Rebecca Rohrbach ’09)
graduated.” After Siena, Jaime
earned her Ph.D. in molecular and
cellular pharmacology from Stony
Brook University. She currently
works for UC Davis/Shriners
SIENA 31
Hospitals for Children as a scien-
tist/postdoctoral scholar performing
stem cell research.
Lindsay Gennari married
Gary Thomas on June 23, 2007
in Saratoga Springs. The couple
had so much fun celebrating with
their friends from Siena! Lindsay
and Gary live in Guilderland, N.Y.
with their yellow lab. Lindsay is
currently practicing anesthesiol-
ogy at Albany Medical Center and
enjoys taking care of fellow Siena
alumni and even former professors
who live in the area. She is also
the very proud aunt of the newest
Siena Saints fans, Owen and Alessia
Lilly, children of her twin sister and
fellow alumna Lara Gennari/Lilly
and Michael Lilly ’99.
2001
Maura Mack
sienanotes01@gmail.com
Greetings Class of 2001! I don’t
have a lot of news to report this
time. You all must be in summer
mode, and hopefully you’ll update
me on your summer news for the
next issue.
On a personal note, my husband
Bill Hisgen ’02, and I welcomed a
baby girl, Maeve Marie, on
April 18, 2009. Also, classmate Lau-
ren Ball/Mahon and her husband,
Tim, welcomed a baby boy, Colin
Jeffrey, on May 5, 2009.
Please remember to make sure
the Alumni Office has accurate
contact details for you simply by
e-mailing: alumni@siena.edu. Our
10th Reunion isn’t that far off—
yikes! Thanks, and I hope to hear
from you soon.
2002
Christine Cinnamond
christine.cinnamond@gmail.com
646-942-0970
Class of 2002, mark your
calendars! Monday, September
14th, 2009 will be the 8th Annual
Fall Classic Golf Outing benefiting
the Brian M. Crouch Memorial
Scholarship at Siena College.
Co-sponsored by McGeary’s
Restaurant and The Riverfront
Barge along with the Office of
Alumni Relations, the event has
raised approximately $100,000.
To date, the scholarship has had
approximately six recipients, and
we can help more students get the
Siena experience. Spend time with
friends, play some golf, help future
Siena students, and honor a great
classmate—contact the Alumni
Office to attend!
Congratulations to Jen
Walker/Vella! Jen is co-author
of Urban Guru: Pittsburgh, a
SIENA 32
guidebook for young professionals
looking to move to Pittsburgh. The
book focuses on city life, including
the coolest neighborhoods to live in,
the hottest restaurants and nightlife
spots, and the best places to meet
people. Urban Guru: Pittsburgh
is available on amazon.com,
collegeprowler.com, and your local
Borders Bookstore.
Chrissy Cinnamond recently
moved to Knoxville, Tennessee and
is a brand research manager for
Scripps Networks Interactive’s DIY
network.
Congratulations to Julie
Schoenlank! Julie received her
master of arts degree in teaching
for physical education and sports
pedagogy from Manhattanville
College in May, and is teaching
physical education in Westchester
County, N.Y. Sports are still a
big part of Julie’s life. She’s been
Head Swim Coach of the Yonkers
Tsunami for the last six years.
The Siena swim team and water
polo alumna is still competing in
swimming, and medaled last year in
the United States Masters Swimming
National Championships in
Austin, Texas in the 1,000 free. Julie
competes every year at Nationals
around the country.
Congratulations to Rob Stout!
Real Estate New Jersey magazine
named Robert A. Stout Jr., Esq.
one of its “30 under 30” leaders
in the New Jersey commercial
real estate industry, a group that
was noted for their “astonishing”
accomplishments in a “down year.”
Rob was cited for his work on issues
related to sustainable development,
green building and brownfields
redevelopment. Rob also chairs the
American Bar Association Young
Lawyers Division Real Property,
Trust and Estate Committee,
and serves on the Executive
Committee of the New Jersey State
Bar Association Young Lawyers
Division. On the personal side, Rob
will wed Kellie E. Scott on
October 11, 2009 at the Culinary
Institute of America in Napa Valley,
Calif. Rob proposed to Kellie in a
vineyard on Sonoma Mountain last
year.
Congratulations to Courtney
Brown and Gregory Gelish!
They were married on November 1,
2008 at the Siena College
Chapel by ceremony officiate,
Father Kevin Mackin. The wedding
party included fellow class of 2002
alumni: Maria McKenna, Sudha
Francis, Joseph Spiak, Brian
Mullins, and Ryan Hoenigmann.
Close to 20 guests from Siena
celebrated at the reception at
Saratoga National Golf Course.
The couple resides in the financial
district of New York City.
2003
Gina Gizzi
sienasaints_2003@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 5133
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-421-4316
2004
Jolleen Wagner
jolleen_wagner@yahoo.com
Were you “seen” at the five-year
Reunion? I sure hope so! If not,
know that we missed you, and hope
to see you in five more! The word
on the street is that quite a few of us
were at the Dapp’s event, the picnic,
and even the Alumni Mass. To all
those who returned to the Green
and Gold, great job showing up and
being seen!
Jen Rymaruk earned her master’s
degree in health communication
from Emerson College in
collaboration with Tufts University
School of Medicine in 2006, and is
now working for Westat, a social
research company in Rockville,
Md. developing training materials
for studies conducted by the EPA,
National Cancer Institute and other
federal and state agencies.
Two lovely ladies of the Class
of ’04 have married. Jennifer
Peloquin/Banker and Brian Banker
were married on May 30, 2009
in Chicopee, Mass. See photo on
page 34. Alumni in attendance:
Kelly Quist ’03, Jolleen Wagner,
and Karen Patricia ’06. Karla
Schumaker /Ravida married Sam
Ravida on April 25, 2009. Congrats
Mr.& Mrs. Banker, and Mr. & Mrs.
Ravida!
Allison Capozza/Flannigan and
Captain Steve Flannigan, welcomed
Owen Edward Flannigan into
the world on March 18, 2009. He
weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. The
Flannigans are currently stationed
at Fort Lewis, Wash. Lynn Vogele/
Heffern, husband Paul Heffern, and
their daughter Kay welcomed Jack
into their family at the beginning
of April. Congrats on your new
arrivals Allie and Lynn!
M. Patrick McCormack recently
got engaged to Gia Coratti ’05 on
Valentine’s Day of 2009 in Boston,
Mass., where they both reside.
Eric J. Hungershafer shared
that he was recently promoted to
field director with Northwestern
Mutual, and is in his fifth year with
the company. Ryan Keleher is now
working at Costello, Cooney, and
Fearon PLLC in Syracuse as an
attorney. Great job, Eric and Ryan!
Everyday we each encounter and
experience reasons to celebrate!
Remember to send them to jolleen_
wagner@yahoo.com so that we can
celebrate with you through Class
News and Notes.
2005
Breanne Suhrland
bsuhrlan@att.net
Greetings, Class of 2005! I hope
this column finds you relaxed
and rejuvenated from the summer
months. We only have a couple of
exciting announcements to make in
this edition so here it goes. Karry
Culihan recently got a new job as
an assistant county attorney, in the
Albany County Attorney’s Office.
Congratulations, Karry!
Gia Coratti got engaged to
M. Patrick McCormack ’04. They
were engaged on Valentine’s Day in
Boston, where they both currently
reside. Best wishes to you both!
I’m excited to announce that
we are now forming a Reunion
committee for our five-year
Reunion. I can’t believe how fast
the time has gone! This committee
will assist in contacting/encouraging
classmates to attend the five-year
Reunion next year, June 4–5, 2010.
The committee will also help set
and achieve the goal for the Class of
2005 reunion gift to the College. If
you are interested in volunteering to
be part of the committee or have any
questions, please contact Margot
Anderson ’82 at manderson@siena.
edu. We would love to see all of you
at the Reunion next year, so mark
your calendars now! Your news
makes the column, so please feel free
to e-mail me with any and all types
of news, big or small. It would be
great to hear from everyone.
2006
Chris Elsesser
Christopher.elsesser@gmail.com
Ashley Boland
Ashleym.boland@gmail.com
Class of 2006 … “HOW ARE
YA?!” We hope that this edition
of Siena News finds you well and
happy, wherever you may be, during
these middle months of 2009. We
are very excited to bring you this
quarter’s 2006 “beat report,” as
it features a variety of news from
some of our friends that we have not
heard from since our wacky weather
day of commencement three years
ago! Without further delay, “Let’s
Start Spreadin’ the News!”
For the past two years, Chris
Siracusa has been working as a cli-
ent services associate for Smith Bar-
ney on Long Island. (He proudly
proclaims that one of the biggest
reasons for his hire was because he
interned with the company in Al-
bany.) In his position, Chris works
for two senior vice presidents of
wealth management, who basically
let him run their business while they
close all the deals. Additionally, the
recent state of the economy has re-
quired him to work like Superman.
Even though his work life has been
crazy and hectic, he has had plenty
of time to meet up with the boys of
TH 15 pretty much every weekend;
whether it has been just going to
dinner, happy hour or attending
some Mets games. Good luck Chris!
Please get back to us with another
update when you get back to nor-
mal “Clark Kent” status.
Hilary Brewer is currently teach-
ing 7th and 8th grade literacy in
North Philly for the School District
of Philadelphia. (The school is actu-
ally located only a few blocks from
the St. Francis House where Siena
community members frequently
volunteer.) Hilary notes that teach-
ing in North Philly is interesting
as 100% of the school’s population
come from families that are at a
socioeconomic disadvantage. Ad-
ditionally, nearly all of her students
are of Latino decent, which makes
her decision to minor in Spanish at
Siena seem genius. This past May,
Hilary received her M.S.E.D. in
literacy from the University of New
England. She hasn’t seen anybody
from Siena in the Philadelphia area
yet and would love to hear from
you if you live nearby. In the mean-
time, she’ll settle for frequent Siena
basketball updates on ESPN.
Kat Newsholme is currently
working as an assistant manager for
Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Scotia.
Since the office is a smaller branch,
she is the only manager on site
and is practically in charge of all
operations; which include train-
ing employees, handling accounts
receivables, scheduling, and most
importantly, making sure she has
the right cars in stock for her clients.
She is still in touch with many Siena
people and recently moved into an
apartment at Colonie East with her
best friend, Holly Walsh.
In May 2009 Nicole Funigiello
completed her master’s in coun-
seling and community psychol-
ogy from Sage Graduate School.
However, her best news is that she
recently became engaged to one
of our former freshman year RAs,
Paulie Califano ’05 (Ryan Hall, 3rd
floor). They are currently planning
a September 2010 wedding. Con-
gratulations, Nicole and Paulie!
Recently, we received an e-mail
from Michael Suarez and Sarah
Hren, who are now known as Mr.
and Mrs. Suarez! In the fall of 2008,
Michael became a CPA. He is now
working as a senior accountant for
O’Connor, Davies, Munns and
Dobbins, LLP. Michael and Sara
are also happy to announce that
they welcomed their second child,
Michael John, into the world on
January 5, 2009. Thank you for
saying hello Suarez family—we
hope to hear again from you soon!
Finally, we have two other
announcements to make in the
wedding/engagement category. Kim
Burns married Eric Orth on May 2,
2009. Bridget Tobin and Anthony
Kos have become engaged and will
be married on July 17, 2010. We
would like to wish congratulations
and best of luck to both couples.
Ashley and I hope that you are
enjoying your summer and more
importantly, have enjoyed reading
this quarter’s class gossip. The only
way to keep the entertainment and
fun coming is to add to it yourself
with your own personal update.
We ask that you contact us soon via
e-mail or Facebook and let us know
what you have been up to! After
you do that, tell your roommate(s)
to do the same. As always, we
appreciate your readership and look
forward to talking to you during the
color-changing days of fall!
2007
Sean Robbins
PO Box 11222
Loudonville, NY 12211
SeanRobbins@att.net
Michael Utzig
mutzig@siena.edu
Notes from Michael Utzig:
Hello everyone! I hope this warm
weather is treating everyone very
well! We have a lot of news so let’s
jump right into it. Ben Doody
married Joanne Pearson last year
at a beautiful ceremony. They are
stationed in Germany and loving
it. Joanne said “we travel almost
every weekend and it is like a never
ending honeymoon!” They sent
in a wonderful wedding picture
with many other Siena classmates.
Please see photo on page 34. Rachel
Flaherty married Rob Seymour ’04.
The wedding was on September 6,
2008. Father Dan Dwyer from
Siena, a friar and history profes-
sor, as well as Rob’s advisor when
he was at Siena, said the wedding
mass at Holy Trinity Church in
Webster, N.Y. The reception was
at Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford,
N.Y. Rachel went on to say “Over
220 people attended our wedding,
including dozens of Siena grads.
Our Siena friends and family made
the night truly special.” They sent
an amazing picture of the wedding.
See photo on page 34. Weddings and
engagements seem to be the topic
of our class. Maria Marino recently
got engaged over the holidays to
her high school sweetheart, Kevin
O’Connor. She went on to say “We
got engaged on a horse and buggy
in Central Park. I am very excited,
and we plan to get married in June
of 2010.” There is even more news
on the wedding front. Angela
Marciano got engaged to her long
time boyfriend Eric Williams ’05.
They are planning to get married
this coming October. Congrats!
Another special congratulations
goes out to two very special people.
Katie Holoduek and Jeremy
Muellecker got engaged last sum-
mer and plan to get married in the
summer of 2010. Amanda Brown
and Andrew Knipfing ’06 recently
got engaged over the winter months.
You guys are great together! I am
very happy for both of you!
Caitlin Phillips has some exciting
news to share. She just finished her
first year of graduate school at Les-
ley University in Cambridge, Mass.,
studying intercultural relations with
a focus on international education.
She went to Tepoztlan, Mexico in
January to study the language and
culture of Central Mexico, and was
recently asked to serve as the college
teaching intern for that course next
year. Some of her duties include
aiding the professor in planning and
preparing for next year’s course.
While she takes classes full time, she
is also assistant supervisor at a pre-
school/after-school program/sum-
mer camp in a suburb of Boston.
Notes from Sean Robbins:
Hope you have all been enjoying
the special joys of summer, even
in these economically challenging
times. While you are relaxing
during these lazy summer days,
don’t forget to drop us a line and
share some of your experiences,
ideas, news or events that you’d like
us to know about.
A while ago, I mentioned that I
produce and host a radio show on
WVCR 88.3 FM titled “The J-Pop
Exchange.” This program show-
cases the best in Japanese popular
music, and it does so in a unique
way. In addition to presenting great
music, it also contains informative
featurettes about anime and music
production as well as exclusive
interviews with J-Pop artists and
musicians. The show has been on
the air for about a year and has been
gaining recognition and credibil-
ity overseas and locally. This has
allowed me to get more and more
exclusive interviews with a range of
J-Pop artists and music profession-
als, including some who are very
highly respected and connected. For
example, Shinji Miyazaki, who is
the composer/arranger of the back-
ground music for the Pokémon se-
ries, agreed to an interview with me;
the interview aired in May. Since he
rarely agrees to do interviews, even
in Japan, this was an extraordinary
opportunity for the community-at-
large to gain insight into his creative
process and more. Also, I was re-
cently interviewed by the Japanese
publication The Hiragana Times for
a feature article pertaining to The
J-Pop Exchange radio show.
2008
Danielle Grasso
Patrick Preston
SienaCollege2008@gmail.com
2009
Tiffany Salonich
lovesrain87@aim.com
CLASS NOTES
Hello, my name is Tiffany
Salonich. You may remember I
was on the Promethean staff dur-
ing our years at Siena College. Send
any information and updates to my
e-mail above. Please save the date!
Class of 2009 100 Days Party will
take place on August 22, 2009 at
the Saratoga Race Track. Details to
follow!
In Memory of:
William Phillips ’42
John W. Auer ’43
William Graham Bode ’46, D.D.S.
John F. Davey ’46
Joseph P. Benson ’49
Robert H. Witthoft ’49
Joseph Charles Lisuzzo ’50
Richard P. Dalton, Jr. ’51
Robert J. Gaudette ’51
Walter F. Klee ’51
Merrill L. Laven ’51
Mario Ronsini ’51
Edward Pigan ’52
James G. Hourigan ’52
Ugo Vecchia ’53
James F. Cavanaugh ’55
Arnold C. Peer ’58
Daniel Mc Ardle ’59
Joseph Biviano ’61
Aniello Pepe ’62
Michael G. Sullivan ’62
John F. Faraci ’63
Eugene Thomas Ryan ’64
R. Lee Reickert ’70
Nicholas Colangelo ’74
Patrick C. Poolet ’79
Donald Schneider ’83
Fr. John Piccione, O.F.M. ’86
Paul J. Champagne ’86
Janet Johnson Lucier ’93
SIENA 33
 weddings
’04
quin/Banker
Jennifer Pelo re married
nk er we
and Brian Ba 2009.
on May 30,
Jennife
r
Edward Vidaic/Wilbe
Wilber r
Jr. on M ’00 married
arch 10
, 2007
.

18, 2008.
3 on April
ried M arc Iorio ‘0
rni ’05 mar
Jessica Fo

Rachel Flaherty ’07

married Rob Seymo
ur ’04 on September
6, 2008.

Gar y
Lindsay Gennari ’00 married
Thomas on June 23, 2007.

Joanne
Pearson
’07 ma
rried Be
n Dood
y ’07.

.
er 25, 2008 ram ovici
7 on Octob ’00 married Adi Ab
iel Ciampino, Jr. ’0 Christopher Freeman
married Dan ’02 on June 6, 2008.
lvatore ’06
Danielle Sa

SIENA 34
Are You the Ultimate
Siena College Fan?
We have heard that alumni and friends of the college
have painted their houses green and gold, collected every
bobblehead the College has produced or have a different
Siena outfit for every day of the month. Are these rumors true?
The members of our editorial staff want proof! If you think you
are the most fanatical Siena College fan, please send a photo
of your Siena College collection with you in it. We will publish
our favorite photos in the next issue of Siena News.
The ultimate fan will win a $50 gift card to the bookstore,
where you can add to your Siena College
collection. All entries should be e-mailed to
communications@siena.edu
by September 1.

SIENA 35
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville NY 12211-1462

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Cert no. SW-COC-002556

Cheer on the Saints

as a Lil’ Saint
By Michelle Pickering ’10

The Lil’ Saints, a fan club for children 13 and younger, is one
of the official spirit groups for Siena College Athletics. This
fun and exciting program gives members free admission to four
Siena men’s basketball games at the Times Union Center, all
Siena women’s basketball games and all other sporting events
on campus. Members can earn points for each game they attend
during the year and redeem their points to receive prizes that
range from pom-poms to signed basketballs. During the 2008-
09 academic year, Liam, age 5, led all Lil’ Saints this year by
attending 16 Siena sporting events.
Recruiting is underway for our next class of Lil’ Saints, and Bernie the
mascot is looking for some more friends to join him next year at Siena’s
athletic events. To sign up, visit http://sienasaints.cstv.com/lilsaints or
contact Katelyn Dooley at 518-783-2551. The $20 registration fee is good
for one year, and members will receive a Lil’ Saints badge and t-shirt to
wear to games.
Last year, as part of the program, Siena welcomed to campus actors Jasmine
Richards and Alyson Stoner, who played in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock Stars
movie. Stoner performed a dance routine during halftime at a woman’s basketball
home game and members of Lil’ Saints met the stars afterward. The Lil’ Saints
program, sponsored by MVP Health Care, is a great opportunity for kids to
show their spirit and have fun, too!