CentralCentralthe magazine for alumni & friends of central connecticut state university

fall 2007

the magazine for alumni & friends of central connecticut state university

fall 2007

Homecoming Weekend October 12-13

Perfect Storm,Perfect PlanCCSU Co-Op ProgramHas the Answers

John W. Miller

Letter from the President of Central Connecticut State University

entral Connecticut State University is a leader among Connecticut universitiesin creating programs to promote both human and economic development.We have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial working relationship with the

state and its business community; a significant example is the University’s School ofEngineering and Technology, which is helping to fill the demand for qualified engi-neers statewide. Additionally, the Institute of Technology and BusinessDevelopment now hosts the Connecticut Small Business Development Center,which provides counseling in starting and establishing a small business, limitedliability company, partnership or corporation.

But these examples are only just the start. Offering more than 100 majors in 80fields of study, CCSU prepares students to fill vital roles in most every workplace inConnecticut. In the last academic year alone, CCSU awarded nearly 2,300 bachelor’s,master’s and doctoral degrees; with more than 80 percent of our alumni living andworking right here in the state, the tremendous impact CCSU has on Connecticut’seconomy is evident.

Each year, some 300 students participate in off-campus internships at area companies,schools, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. They acquire real-worldskills, gain career-starting work experience and learn about potential employers.Several hundred more participate in CCSU’s cooperative education program, gain-ing experience while earning income. CCSU co-op students annually earn about $4million, and some 65 percent are offered full-time jobs by their co-op employers.

CCSU is clearly stepping up to the plate in helping Connecticut’s economy and busi-nesses, which rely on our human and intellectual capital to meld knowledge, ideas,creativity and innovation. These ideals are at the very core of Central ConnecticutState University’s goal of being the premier developer of human potential for thestate of Connecticut.

I look forward to again celebrating your vital role in these and so many more of ourshared successes on Homecoming Weekend October 12-13. See you then!

Dr. Jack Miller

President

C

ConnCAP Celebrates 20 YearsCentral Connecticut State University’sCollegiate Awareness and PreparationProgram – ConnCAP – celebrated 20 yearsof assisting New Britain secondary schoolyouth at a July 11 anniversary party on thelawn of the Robert C. Vance AcademicCenter. ConnCAP works with New Britaineducational and youth service organiza-tions, workforce and career developmentgroups, businesses, parents and other civicorganizations to help New Britain middleand high school students with their collegepreparatory courses so that they may qualifyfor a postsecondary education.

CCSU Alumni Association

OfficersChristine I. Sullivan ’73, MS ’81, PresidentFrederick B. Agee III ’80, Vice PresidentAndrew J. Felder ’02, TreasurerFernando G. Rosa ’75, SecretaryWendell G. Davis Jr. ’89, Past President

DirectorsElaina Brachman 6th Yr ’97, Ed.D. ’05Keith T. Hall ’78, MS ’85Norman F. Hausmann ’54Kelley A. Hedley ’97John “Corky” S. Mazurek ’83, MSOM ’91P. Faith McMahon MS ’68Robert F. Mullins ’94Oleg V. Ouchakof ’74Justin J. Pagano ’64Ron Perry ’94Daniel M. Siracusa ’79Richard A. Sullivan ’75Ed Vescovi ’84Karie G. Walczewski ’06Richard A. Wiszniak ’73

Ex-officioJohn W. Miller

Central Focus Staff

Managing Editor: Dennis BudenAssistant Managing Editor: Dorothy FinnCynthia B. Cayer MS ’00Joseph Gordon Jr. MS ’96Catherine (Healy) Jost ’74

SportsBart Fisher ’69

PhotographyRobert J. Wessman ’70

Design and LayoutAnn (Volpe) Sack ’79

ContributorsStaff members of the offices of Development &Alumni Affairs, Marketing & Communicationsand Sports Information.

Central Focus is published by Central ConnecticutState University, New Britain, CT 06050 for alumniand friends.

Central Connecticut State University is an AA/EOinstitution and a campus of the Connecticut StateUniversity System.

CentralF a l l 2 0 0 7 • V o l u m e 4 I s s u e 3

c o n t e n t s

d e p a r t m e n t s

Feature Story: CCSU Co-Op ProgramSets Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13

In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Then and Now: A Look at Yesterday’sand Today’s Graduating Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Sports: NFL’s Ryan Credits Krein, CCSU; PiperTo Coach Women’s Hoop; Cloud “Reigns” . . . . . 10

F R O M U S T O Y O U CCSU’s campus is a busy place, with thousands ofstudents, instructors, administrators and visitors going about their daily pursuits.But no one is busier these days than the fine folks in the University’s CareerServices and Cooperative Education Office, which administers one of the largestand most successful co-op programs in the Northeast. We take a look at thisprogram in this edition, and visit with some alumni — and former co-op students —who are now successfully building their careers.

Mike Ryan ’85 has been a success by any measure — both personally and profes-sionally. The head trainer of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars tells us about howCCSU impacted his life in Sports.

Sports is a passion of Jessica Cabanillas ’97, MS ’07 — as is world travel and family.Learn about why this CCSU alumnus and employee is passionate about supportingthe University in our back cover donor profile.

Enjoy!

The Central Focus Editorial Staff

3

Mention the “Perfect Storm” to movie buffs and they’llconjure images of George Clooney waging war with MotherNature in the North Atlantic. But ask a human resourcesprofessional about the perfect storm, and Hollywoodblockbusters will be the last thing on their mind.

They’ll be thinking future labor shortage, as in what’sbeen popularized in business, industry and academiccircles as the “Perfect Labor Storm,” the dearth of talentprojected to impact American business and industry insome five to 10 years.

Pat Deloy ’68, MS ’80 knows all about the PerfectLabor Storm. As CCSU’s veteran director of the Career

Services and Cooperative Education Office,she and her staff are working to ensure twothings: 1) that the student – and alumni –talent pool from Central Connecticut StateUniversity is equipped and positioned totake advantage of career opportunities nowand in the future, and; 2) that Connecticutemployers understand how CCSU can betheir partner in human resource develop-ment, thereby heading off – at least in part –their own perfect labor storms.

“I see it more and more every day;employers are really seeing CCSU and this co-op pro-gram as a human resource development tool,” saysDeloy, in her 23rd year with the office. “This generationcoming up is much smaller than the baby boom genera-tion, and there is an anticipated shortage of talent.

“So the strategy is, get these people sooner, deter-mine if there is a fit – and you’ve got ‘em.”

CCSU’s commitment to experiential learning – i.e.,cooperative education – is working so well that Central’sprogram, whereby undergraduates work full-time forsix-month periods in their field of study, gaining valuablereal-world experience and entrée to full-time employment,has become renowned throughout the region. Central’sco-op program is the largest in Connecticut and one ofthe largest in the Northeast; over the last 10 years,CCSU has worked with more than 260 companies –including major Connecticut employers such as Aetna,

ING, the Barnes Group, Hamilton Sundstrand, NortheastUtilities, Pratt & Whitney and the State of Connecticutitself – placing in excess of 3,000 co-op students.

Even more remarkable than those numbers is the factthat approximately 65 percent of CCSU coop students areoffered full-time employment with their co-op employer.

“Our students really sell the program,” says Deloy.“One thing we try to get students and faculty to under-stand is that, yes, we help people get jobs, but our truerole is to be a career educator, to help people develop a selfawareness about how they are going to fit in the world.”

Pat Deloy

CCSU Alumni Al Salemme, left, and Jaime Wilkinson discuss businessat ING headquarters. Salemme calls ING’s relationship with Central’sco-op program “a win-win.”

S E T S S T A N D A R D

C C S U

On the Cover: Al Salemme ’97, foreground, is among dozensof former CCSU co-op students building careers in financialservices at ING in Hartford. They include (l-r) Jaime (Leonard)Wilkinson ‘00, Jason Albert and Luis Abarca ‘99.

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WHAT GOES AROUND ...

When Deloy says that the students sell the program,it is not just current students, but alumni as well. It isnot uncommon for CCSU alumni who were once co-opstudents themselves to now be in management positionslooking to hire – who else? – CCSU co-op students.

“It’s really become our strategy,” says Al Salemme ’97,director of operations for ING’s defined contributioncustomer service team in Hartford. Salemme himselfwas a co-op student with ING (then-Aetna FinancialServices) and was hired full-time. “We’ve found Centralto have a particularly good talent pool and we have avery successful hire rate.

“It really is a win-win for the school and for us interms of turning quality talent into full-time, long-termrelationships.”

Salemme estimates that ING has anywhere fromfive to 10 CCSU co-op students working at any giventime, typically in a financial services support role suchas operations analyst. He further estimates that morethan 80 percent of Central co-op students are offeredfull-time positions, and of ING’s approximately 600Hartford employees in defined contribution customerservice, many are Central graduates, including at least40 former co-op students.

“We’ll take students out of many different programsat Central. We’ve hired history majors, business majors,liberal arts students,” he says. “Central students are notafraid of going out and finding a job where you’ve got towork hard. It’s a good fit for us.”

A PROGRAM APART

Jackie Geraci ’97 echoes that sentiment. Yet anotherformer co-op student, Geraci is today a human resourcesspecialist with Rexel CLS in Hartford, the New Englanddivision of Rexel Inc., the largest electrical distributor inthe world.

“I work with a lot of schools, but what I like aboutCentral is that the students are very down to earth,” saysGeraci, who has at least one CCSU co-op student everysemester and counts a division president – and formerco-op student – among the company’s successful recruits.“A lot of them have to work through college; they under-stand what accountability means. They understand theconcept of having to build their own futures.

“I don’t have that same experience with other schools.”As for the impending perfect labor storm, Geraci

says nurturing relationships like the one she enjoys withCentral is critical to the company’s future. “Most of ourknowledgeable workers are getting close to retirement,and we see this as being a critical time to transfer thatknowledge. Our success rate with Central has beenunbelievable.”

Walter Zera ’84, manager, internal control forBarnes Group Inc. in Bristol, an international aerospaceand industrial component manufacturer and full-servicedistributor, agrees that “getting ahead of the curve”talent-wise is a prudent plan; that’s why his companyjust recently started recruiting at CCSU.

“We are expanding, growing. It’s a tough marketnow and recruiting talent this way is something we needto do,” he says. “We have an international presence,and both co-op students we have recruited so far speakforeign languages. And as for CCSU, well, we are justvery impressed with the program – they are on top of it.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

One of the keys to the success of the CCSU programis, in fact, the office’s ability to build and maintainsuccessful working relationships, both externally withregional employers and internally on campus withstudents and academic departments. Salemme, too,says his company’s experience working with the office“couldn’t be any better.”

“They are here like clockwork about two-thirds ofthe way through each semester, meeting with students,my managers, always trying to figure out what theyneed to do to prepare students for their co-op experience,”he says. “Their willingness to come in and understandour needs keeps me from having to do that. I considerthem an extension of my recruiting staff.”

Luis Abarca, left, and Jaime Wilkinson are two of many former co-opstudents now building careers at ING. Abarca is an operationssupervisor, Wilkinson an operations manager.

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Career Services and Cooperative Education Office staff memberscelebrate the office’s 30th anniversary (l-r): Joe Zeoli, Linda Sershen,Linda Vinci, Kim Dumouchel MS ‘05, Kathy Dubay (now retired),Pat Deloy ‘68, MS ‘80, Domingo Arias and Ken Poppe ‘78, MS ‘80.Also present at the 30-year celebration but missing from the photois Sally Cobrain.

On campus, the old days of simply scheduling acareer development workshop, only to have a handful ofstudents show up, are gone, says Deloy. The office nowtakes its mantra of self-awareness and career develop-ment straight to the classroom to reach instructors andstudents directly – early and often. Students interestedin the co-op program must enroll in a one-credit careerdevelopment seminar prior to their first co-op semester.That course prepares them for the working world; theoffice’s motto is “Don’t Wait Until You’re a Senior.”

“We decided that the best strategy was to workdirectly with faculty to tie our presentations into theirclasses; we do a lot of presentations to freshman yearexperience classes,” says Deloy. “Each of our staff hasdeveloped an expertise in their particular area, anunderstanding of the curriculum, and solid relationshipswith employers – they understand the job market.”

Deloy supervises a staff of seven. Associate DirectorKen Poppe ’78, MS ’80 is the cooperative education coor-dinator for computer science, management informationsystems, networking technology and math majors. Thereare five assistant directors: Domingo Arias handles finance,management, marketing and business majors; SallyCobrain works with liberal arts majors; Kim DumouchelMS ’05 works with education majors; Joe Zeoli handlesengineering, industrial technology and science majors;and Linda Sershen is responsible for on-campus recruit-ing and resume referrals. Deloy herself works withaccounting majors and is the career advisor for alumni.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GO HOME

Speaking of alumni, the office enjoys a dynamic andmulti-faceted relationship with former students. Alumniare a critical part of the office’s outreach efforts andmission, not only through maintaining relationships withalumni in positions to hire co-op students, but in terms ofdirect career services. In fact, says Deloy, one of the mostrewarding parts of her job is assisting CCSU alumni.

“It happens more times than I can count; people goout and work for five, 10 years and discover they are inthe wrong field, or simply don’t know how to find anotherjob,” Deloy says. “These alumni need to know we arehere to help.”

Maureen Strong ’02 typifies the kind of alumnisuccess story that makes Deloy beam. A non-traditionalstudent in a classic sense, Maureen married and raiseda family in East Hampton before deciding to go back toschool to study accounting when her two boys were inhigh school.

While at CCSU she gained co-op experience withthe State of Connecticut Auditors of Public Accounts,and eventually landed a job with the Middlesex TransitDistrict.

Five years after graduating, Strong decided sheneeded a career change, and the first call she made wasto Deloy.

“I had met Pat at an open house when I was a fresh-man, and she said to me if I ever needed anything, togive her a call,” says Strong. “That stuck with me. I feelthat when I was there, even as a non-traditional student,they were very supportive, and really worked to findopportunities that would be personally satisfying for me.”

Career Services and Cooperative Education Office Assistant DirectorLinda Sershen, right, assists a student with his resume.

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Y O U R A L U M N I R E S O U R C E

Strong made an appointment with Deloy.They discussed career options and reviewedher resume. Strong attended the SpringCareer Fair, where she met employersand learned about various opportunities.Ultimately, she landed a job as a staffaccountant for Keeney Manufacturing inNewington, where she started in June.

“I’m learning a lot, and am excited aboutthe job because it’s a big change for me,” saysStrong. “I would recommend taking advantageof Career Services to any alumni. I can’t saythey were anything less than great.”

In its 150-year-plus history, Central Connecticut State Universityhas grown from a small, single-structure “State Normal School” to ahighly regarded, rapidly growing and diverse regional university withties across the globe.

During its first 50 years, the State Normal School was a two- andthree-year teacher-training institution. It added BS and MS degreesupon becoming the Teachers College of Connecticut in 1933. Central’scurrent-day growth truly took off in 1959, when upon becoming CentralConnecticut State College studies in liberal arts and non-teachingprofessions were added to the academic mix. University status wasgranted in 1983, and in 2002, CCSU became the first insitution in theConnecticut State University system to offer a doctoral program.

The impact of the dynamic institution of higher learning that istoday’s CCSU is considerable. In the one-year period between July 1,2006 and June 30, 2007, Central awarded nearly 2,300 undergraduateand graduate degrees in fields ranging from business to education toengineering (see chart).

hose served by CCSU’s Career Services andCooperative Education Office are a broad and

diverse group including current students, recentgraduates, longtime alumni and employers acrossthe region. But many alumni don’t realize that theycan always come back to their alma mater forcareer development assistance.

“We’d like our alumni to consider us a resource,”says Director Pat Deloy. “In fact, I’ve found in my 23years in this field that most people don’t really findtheir professional niche until they are in their early30s; we can help them find that niche.”

Among the career services available to alumni are:

Resume writing

Career counseling, job search strategy developmentand career change counseling

Interviewing techniques

Career fairs (spring and fall)

Scheduled on-campus recruiting by area employers

Regularly updated job postings in Central Connections,the eRecruiting system from Experience, an onlinetool to help manage an individual’s career develop-ment process

Resume referral service

The Career Services and Cooperative EducationOffice is located in Willard Hall, room 100. For moreinformation, contact Pat Deloy at (860) 832-1638.

T

CCSU Degrees Awarded by SchoolJuly 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007

State Normal School graduating class, circa 1881.

Then and Now

Arts andSciencesTotal 874

BusinessTotal 470

EducationTotal 707

TechnologyTotal 217

0 250 500 750

Bachelor’s Post-BaccalaureateMaster’s Post-Master’s

DoctoralSource: Office of Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.

710164

43040

26246

32458

17

170

146

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A P P E N I N G SH

CCSU Alumni Association Scholarship awardees, andmembers of the CCSU graduating class of ’07, greetedAlumni Day guests on April 28: (l-r) Kelly E. Dennis,Bizu N. Irving, Olutayo A. Sogunro.

The Department of Educational Leadership and the CCSUAlumni Association honored the above distinguishededucational leaders at a networking reception in April:(l-r) Brian J. Benigni MS ’98; Robert G. Hale Jr. ’76, MS ’81,6th Yr ’84; Jill L. Hale 6th Yr ’97; and Dr. Carol Carter-Lowery.

Celebrating their 70th reunion at Alumni Day festivities aremembers of the class of 1937: (l-r) Jeannette H. Ceppa,Doris (Andrews) Abbatello, Margaret (Bradshaw) Curtin,Josephine (Bertino) Tansey, Ruby (Gorman) Holt, and Helen(Schrieber) Steinberg. Also participating but missing fromthe photo is Adelma (Hodgkins) Tomkiel.

(l-r) Lucas Papageorge Jr. ’05, Raymond Bryk ’65, Tricia Marinko ’94,Howard Flaster ’70 and John Sarra ’74 at Fairfield networkinghappy hour in June.

(l-r) Randy Cartier ’86 presents check for proceedsof the 6th annual CCSU baseball alumni golf outingto CCSU baseball head coach Charlie Hickey onJuly 13.(l-r) Stephen Rowe ’02 and Russell

Hayden ’81 at Fairfield networking happyhour in June.

(l-r) 6th annual CCSU baseball alumni golfouting participants Bill Detrick ’50 andRay Rondini ’56.

A P P E N I N G SHCCSU Alumni Association Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction

Dr. Kristine M. Larsen ’84, recipientof the 2007 Distinguished AlumniService Award, was a brilliant stu-dent at Central, graduating magnacum laude with a BA in Physics,and earned her master’s and Ph.D.in physics at the University ofConnecticut. A member of the CCSUfaculty since 1989, she is professor ofphysics and astronomy and director

of the CCSU Honors Program. Dr. Larsen has been therecipient of numerous awards and has been profiled innational journals.

Darren Sweeney ’98, the 2007 YoungAlumni Service Award winner,earned a BA in communications atCCSU. A highly-rated TV meteor-ologist with WFSB Channel 3 inHartford, Sweeney teaches popularnews and broadcasting courses atCCSU. He earned a master’s degreein broadcast journalism at SyracuseUniversity’s Newhouse School of

Communications and completed his meteorologicalstudies at Mississippi State.

Dr. Dino Iorli ’57, MS ‘61, the 2007Kaiser Alumni Service Awardrecipient, has had a long associationwith CCSU. He earned his BS ineducation at then-Teachers Collegeof Connecticut and his master’s intechnical education. A member ofCentral’s unbeaten 1954 footballteam, he excelled in track as well.He went on to a stellar teaching and

coaching career at Plainville High School and counts twostate championships among his achievements. Heis currently an educational consultant.

Jacqueline Adams Cheney ’93, an out-standing track and cross countryathlete and scholar, established highjump and pentathlon records duringher senior season at CCSU. She wasthe first women’s track and fieldcoach at the University of Hartford,coached at Boston College and, ashead women’s track and cross country

coach at UConn earned multiple New England champi-onships. Cheney continues to work in education withgifted and talented programs.

Kevin Hightower ’84 is one of only twoplayers in CCSU basketball historyto serve as captain for three seasons.Hightower’s 1,477 career pointsplaces him in Central’s all-time top10 and in his senior season he washonored with the Frederick M.Gladstone Award as Central’s topmale student athlete. Hightowerhas held executive-level positions

with three Fortune 500 companies and is currently inmanagement with MassMutual Financial Services.

Ron Pringle ’57 played basketball andfootball while at Central and was ahigh school teacher and coach for anumber of years before returning toCCSU as assistant coach in men’sbasketball and soccer. He went onto a long tenure as CCSU’s headwomen’s softball coach, during whichtime his duties included the actualbuilding of a softball field. Pringle’s

former student-athletes speak eloquently and emotionallyof his mentoring and claim his guidance as the key totheir successes.

Joseph “Jake” Salafia ’56, competedin football and track at CCSU andwent on to a legendary teaching andcoaching career in basketball andcross country at Cromwell HighSchool. Among his basketballaccomplishments were a careerrecord of 445-188, five straight ClassS state championships (seven total)and 24 straight appearances in the

state tournament. Salafia has earned a ConnecticutSportswriters Alliance Gold Key Award and is a memberof the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.

Michael Walton ’76 is widely regardedas the greatest center in CCSU foot-ball history. Named all-conferenceand all-New England multiple times,Walton was chosen as a first-team All-America by Kodak and the AmericanFootball Coaches Association in hissenior season, when he was honoredas CCSU’s top male student athletewith the Frederick M. Gladstone

Award. An insurance industry executive for more than25 years, he is a noted authority in the field of health-care professional liability insurance.

E ight distinguished alumni were feted in early Mayas honorees at the 2007 CCSU Alumni AssociationAwards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.

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2007 Alumni AssociationAthletic Hall of Fame Inductees

The CCSU community is poised to benefit from new energyand leadership on both the academic and administrativefronts with the naming of two new vice presidents as well astwo new deans.

Christopher J. Galligan has been named vicepresident for institutional advancement.Galligan, who had been acting dean ofthe School of Business since March, 2005,holds a corporate finance certificate andmaster of science degree in management(executive program) from RensselaerPolytechnic Institute; a master of educationdegree in administration and supervision

from the University of Hartford; and a bachelor of sciencedegree with a specialization in management, as well as anMBA, from Nichols College.

Dr. Carl R. Lovitt is provost and vice presidentfor academic affairs. Dr. Lovitt came fromPenn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College,where he was chief academic officer anda professor of English. He was formerlyfounding director of the Roy and MarniePearce Center for Professional Communi-cation at Clemson University. A widelypublished scholar, Dr. Lovitt earned a

Ph.D. in comparative literature at the University of Wisconsin,Madison, his license (master’s equivalent) at the Universitéde Paris II, and a bachelor’s degree at Washington University,St. Louis.

Dr. Mitchell Sakofs is the new dean of theSchool of Education. Dr. Sakofs joined CCSUas associate dean of the School of Educationin 2003 and has been acting dean sinceAugust, 2004. He was formerly a facultymember at Eastern Connecticut StateUniversity, where he served four years asdirector of educational experience and asstate certification officer. He earned his Ph.D.from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Dr. Siamack Shojai has been appointed deanof the School of Business. Dr. Shojai wasformerly with Georgian Court Universityin New Jersey, where he served as deanof the School of Business. He previouslywas dean of the School of Business andEconomics at Plattsburgh State Universityin New York. Dr. Shojai holds a Ph.D. ineconomics from Fordham University.

Dr. Justus S. “J.B.” Beach ’43, innovative, chal-lenging and motivational professor of education,emeritus at CCSU for almost 30 years, died August10, 2007 at age 86. After completing his undergrad-uate degree at Teachers College of Connecticut(now CCSU), “J.B.” earned a master’s in educationand doctorate in education administration fromColumbia University. A U.S. Navy officer in WorldWar II, he was an elementary school teacher andprincipal before joining the CCSU faculty in 1960 asprofessor of education. He served several terms aschair of the education department, retiring in 1989.

Dr. William M. Ellis, associate professor ofaccounting, emeritus, died December 18, 2006. Hejoined the CCSU faculty in 1975 and retired in 1992.The veteran educator, who served in the U.S. Navyduring World War II, was also a practicing certi-fied public accountant and attorney. He was alongtime member of the Connecticut Society ofCertified Public Accountants.

Eugene J. Riel Jr., who spent nearly a quarter ofa century as a member of the CCSU faculty, diedMarch 12, 2006. He retired in 1992 as assistantprofessor of mathematics, emeritus. Prior to joiningCCSU, the Webster, Mass., native taught at BaconAcademy in Colchester. He was treasurer of theAssociated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut.

Dr. Robert Rinas ’65, MS ’66, associate professorof technology and vocational-technical education,emeritus, died April 20, 2007, at the age of 80. Rinasearned his undergraduate and master’s degreesat Central and his Ph.D. in education from theUniversity of Connecticut. The World War II U.S.Army veteran was a member of the Central facultyfor 38 years, retiring in 1992.

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New Appointments inAdministration, Academics

Campus Obituaries

Memorial gifts may be made to theCCSU Foundation, P.O. Box 612, New Britain, CT 06050.

P O R T SS

Ryan Credits Success To Krein, CCSUike Ryan has accomplished a great deal in the two decades sinceleaving CCSU. The head athletic trainer of the NFL’s Jacksonville

Jaguars has been a recipient of the NFL Trainers Association’s mostprestigious award; he’s been elected chairman or president of severalkey committees at the pinnacle of his profession; and he has earned aSuper Bowl ring.

As if that’s not enough, Ryan has competed in marathons andtriathlons all over the world; he even has finished the exhausting EmpireState Building Run-Up four times. And just for good measure, he hasalso run with the bulls in Pamplona.

But the indefatigable Ryan wants to accomplish even more –much more.

Ryan credits much of his success to Carl Krein and the training pro-gram he founded at CCSU. “Carl is a legend in this field, a Hall of Famer.He is always professional, but always personable and approachable aswell. Going to Central gave me the opportunity to work in the athletictraining room from day one, which I would not have had at a lot of theso-called ‘big-time’ schools. It gave me a very real competitive edge.”

Ryan says Kathy Pirog, Krein’s successor, has earned a nationalreputation in her own right and that he never hesitates to hire or recom-mend interns from CCSU. “You know they’re going to work hard andwork well,” he says.

As for his own future, Ryan would like to add to the Super Bowl ringhe has already won as an assistant with the New York Giants. “I’d loveto win one as the head trainer for Jacksonville,” he says. He’d also liketo serve as a trainer for the U.S. Olympic team one day, just as Krein did.A distance running standout at CCSU, Ryan continues to follow thefortunes of the Blue Devils and has frequent contact with at least twoformer Central stars; Dave Campo ’73 is the Jaguars assistant headcoach, and PGA executive Donna Fiedorowicz ’80 lives just down thestreet from Ryan and his family.

M

It didn’t take CCSUwomen’s golf coachPaula (Morris) Cloud longto make an impressionupon her NortheastConference colleagues.Cloud guided the BlueDevils to a second placefinish at the NECChampionship in Hershey,Penn., and was namedconference Coach of the

Year following her first season.A four-year member of the University’s club team

and a member and frequent champion at SimsburyFarms, Cloud frequently competes in Southern NewEngland Women’s Golf Association events and theConnecticut State Women’s Amateur tournament.

Paula’s son, Kevin, a golf professional in Virginia,and his wife recently blessed Paula and her husband,David, with their first grandchild, Brady. Paula andDavid have two other sons and reside in Simsbury.

Hard at work recruiting,hiring a staff and planningfor a fast-paced future,which begins with the startof practice in mid-October,Beryl Piper brings a stellarresume and a deep,emotional commitment toher new job, head coachof women’s basketball ather alma mater.

Before taking thereigns of the CCSU program, Piper built New BritainHigh School into a perennial power, winning threestate championships, including the last two in a rowwhile compiling a 289-151 record.

“This was the perfect time for me to make thistransition. Central Connecticut gave me a chanceto be a player and now is giving me a chance as acoach,” said Piper. “I feel I worked hard to becomesuccessful as a player. As a coach, I will use the samework ethic to make the University and communityproud of the women’s basketball program.”

Cloud ‘Reigns’

Piper to Coach Women’s Hoop

Paula (Morris) Cloud ‘74

Beryl Piper ‘87

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Mike Ryan ‘85

Some 35 years after graduating together as physical education majorsin 1972, (l-r) Ann (Humphrey) Malafronte, unified sports director at CIAC,Barbara Startup, athletic director at Glastonbury High School, Tina (Mazurski)Yenkner, adapted physical education teacher for Glastonbury schools, andRita (Hickey) Ford, sports program director for Special Olympics, EasternRegion in Connecticut, all came together on April 28, 2007 to coordinatean Elementary Unified Sports Day in Glastonbury for 164 area specialathletes and partners.

Dr. Marcia (Zawilinski) Gizaretired from the Berks County

Intermediate Unit in Reading, PA, whereshe was responsible for the curriculum,staff development, Head Start andchild care for 18 school districts, as wellas administrator of Reading First underNo Child Left Behind for Pennsylvania.Marcia and husband, Don, reside inPalm Harbor, FL.

Retired middle school principalMarilyn (Veneziano) Feldman MS ’82

and her husband, Gerald, sold theirhome on Cape Cod, put their belongingsin storage and traveled as full-timeRVers for three years, settling inMelbourne, FL in 2004.

Merry (Sheldon) Lewis MS ’70 isthe reading room librarian at

her church and, having served as statepresident, is active in the KappaGamma Society International.

Educator Eve (Nussbaum)Soumerai MS ’73, who was evacu-

ated from Germany as a refugee fromNazi oppression, was the subject of aprofile in Hartford magazine. She spokeof using her experience with intoleranceand hate to create Tributes, a historyand drama educational program forchildren of all ages and backroundsthat has been used in Connecticutschools for the past 36 years. It drama-tizes the importance of tolerance andthe consequences of indifference andpromotes development of, what sherefers to as, a moral compass.

Carol (Clini) Aloi is principal ofFlood Middle School in Stratford.

Attorney C. Wayne Heasley is a formerdistrict court judge for MecklenburgCounty, NC and founder of C. WayneHeasley Lawyers in Charlotte, NCwhere he and his wife of 41 years,Sarah Hall Heasley, reside. Dr. Faye A.Hughes retired after 35-plus years inHartford schools, the last 13 teachingadvanced placement and honors socialscience, as well as college-level coursesfor the University of Hartford in U.S.history and western/world civilizations,at Weaver High School. Since retiringshe completed a doctorate of arts inhistory and is currently adjunct facultyin history and English at CCSU andNorwalk Community College.

“CJ” Charles Jones Jr. MS ’72,director of athletics at CCSU,

was honored with the 2007 ConnecticutInterscholastic Athletic Conference

(CIAC) Boys’ Basketball SpecialService Award at the 85th AnnualBoys’ Basketball TournamentDedication in March.

Joseph J. Wisniewski MS ’76retired and relocated to Aiken, SC

after 36 years of teaching mathematics,the last 25 in North Branford, as wellas coaching golf and cross country atNorth Branford and Lyman Hall(Wallingford) High Schools.

Margaret C. Beecher (MS),principal of West Hartford’s

Bugbee Elementary School, receivedan Outstanding School AdministratorAward from UConn’s Neag School ofEducation Alumni Society.

Edward J. Baird is businessdevelopment manager at Carter-

McLeod Paper and Packaging in WestSpringfield, MA. Dr. Stephen W. Hoag,veteran educator, is currently supervisorof marketing education and coordinatorof career and technical educationassessment for the State of ConnecticutDepartment of Education. FormerCromwell High School athletic director

Michael A. Pitruzzello MS ’78 is thenew athletic and activities director forMiddletown Public Schools, responsiblefor supervision of the high school andmiddle school athletic program, thephysical education department for K-12,and all student clubs and activitiessystem wide. Mike has taught andcoached for 34 years in the Cromwellschool system. He and his wife, Monica(Kasprzak) Pitruzello ’72, live in Cromwell.James E. Stofan (MS) was appointedassistant vice president for alumniaffairs and protocol at the Universityof California office of the president inOakland, CA.

Patrick K. Davin ’79 was namedvice president and general man-ager at Pass & Seymour/Legrand,a leading provider of electricalwiring devices and home systems,in Syracuse, NY.

Marriages

Kellyann Chester ’89 &Richard R. Ouellette Jr. 6/30/07

Sharon Grubb ’01 &Michael Vickers 6/9/07

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Mary J. Balyeat teaches 7th gradesocial studies at Carson Middle

School in Tucson, AZ. She is currentlylead site teacher working with theTeaching American History three-yeargrant. Peter A. Molinaro is vice presi-dent for federal and state governmentaffairs for Dow Chemical Company inWashington, D.C.

Charles Karno (MS) is the newtown planner for Winchester,

having served previously as director ofdevelopment for East Hartford, economicdevelopment director for Berlin, andeconomic development coordinator forGroton. Dr. Raymond R. McCarthy ’MS 02,technology education teacher atWilliams Middle School in Longmeadow,MA, delivered two presentations of hisresearch on women in technology edu-cation at the 69th Annual InternationalTechnology Education AssociationConvention in San Antonio, TX. Rayand his wife, Fran Ploof ’76, live inBrimfield, MA.

David R. Woike is general managerof Techalloy Welding Products in

Baltimore, MD.

U.S. Marines Col. Stephen R. Coteis a senior military analyst for

Northrop Grumman Corporation. Heand his wife, Lori (Matthews) ’78 live inVirginia Beach, VA. A 28-year careereducator, Patricia S. Peck is currentlyan elementary physical educationteacher for the school district of PalmBeach County in West Palm Beach, FL.Robert J. Virgalla is manager of salesand business development, TALON andCee Products, for Brewer Science Inc.

Janet (Schneider) Bacon is aforensic fraud examiner for the

State of Connecticut Department ofSocial Services. Kathryn A. Josefow isa physician assistant, occupationalmedicine at St. Luke’s Medical Centerin Meridian, ID.

Ronald C. Roy is partner/founderof Digit Play LLC, a company

specializing in mobile/wireless tech-nologies and camera-based gesturalsoftware in St. Louis, MO. Previouslyhe partnered for several years withrock icon David Bowie in UltraStar,blazing trails for online fan clubs,e-ticketing and e-commerce for musicclients such as the Rolling Stones and20 major league franchises in sportsincluding the New York Yankees. Heand his wife and four children live inChesterfield, MO.

Michael J. Foran MS ’90, 6th Yr ’92,a 20-year veteran of New Britain

schools, starting as a social studiesteacher at Slade Elementary School,was chosen as the new principal ofNew Britain High School. Michael R.Garvey, CPA, managing member ofGarvey & Associates LLC andProfessional Payrolls LLC located inMystic, was appointed to the board ofdirectors of SI Financial Group Inc. andto the boards of directors of SI Bancorp,MHC and Savings Institute Bank &Trust Company. Marc A. Palazzo is vicepresident for public affairs for FlintHills Resources, a wholly-owned sub-

sidiary of Koch Industries Inc. andleading producer of fuels and otherpetrochemical and commodity products,located in Wichita, KS. He leads thecompany’s public and government rela-tions, corporate communications, philan-thropy and community involvement.

Longtime Connecticut radio per-sonality Michael J. “Mike” Stacy

was re-elected to the National MultipleSclerosis Society, Greater ConnecticutChapter, board of trustees. Mike hasbeen with Lite 100.5 WRCH FM inFarmington for more than 15 years,serving as the station’s morning showhost and promotions director. He andhis wife, Carol (Weldon) ’87, and theirtwo sons live in Rocky Hill.

Elizabeth A. Crooks MS ’97 wasnamed associate principal of New

Britain High School. William H. Kirkbyis an administrator of the AchievementReinforcement Center for Santa AnaUnified School District in Santa Ana,CA. John J. Tedone was promoted tovice president-finance at KamanCorporation in Bloomfield. He servesas the company’s principal accountingofficer and oversees the corporateaccounting functions, including internaland external reporting forecasting,budgeting and compliance.

John F. Cridland is the co-founderand general manager of Island

Cleaners in George Town, Grand Cayman,where he lives with spouse, Corina(Zocco) ’93, and their three children.

Erik M. Jones MS ’97 is a vocationalrehabilitation counselor for the

State of Connecticut Board of Educationand Services for the Blind in Windsor.Amy E. McCluskey is a senior graphicdesigner for ESPN in Bristol. Byron B.Smith is a detective for the Palm BeachCounty Sheriff’s Office in West PalmBeach, FL.

Aneta & Glenn D. Piasecki ’92, MS ’97: a son, Adam JohnJohanna & Anthony A. Cane ’93: a son, Joseph AntoninoKerri (Bousquet) ’97 & Mark J. Lopa ’96: twins, Samuel and AmeliaLori (Petrini) ’96 & Christopher Maslowski ’96: a daughter, Caitlyn IrenaMary & Robert A. Donston ’01: a son, Shane PatrickChristine (Distasio) ’02 & Jeffrey Wiesner Jr.: a daughter, Gabriella Makenzie

New Arrivals (Births/Adoptions)

Nicholas C. Misenti ’80 Esq., CPAjoined the law firm of Clayman,Tapper & Baram LLC in Bloom-field, and specializes in trusts andestates, business planning, taxplanning and related litigation.Attorney Misenti is also a tenuredprofessor of accounting and busi-ness law at Capital CommunityCollege in Hartford, an adjunctlecturer in business law at theUniversity of Connecticut, and afellow in the 2007 Yale facultyfellowships program. He is theauthor of Safe Harbors: An AssetProtection Guide for SmallBusiness Owners.

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Kimberly C. Forster began a newposition as outpatient sales

representative at Gaylord Hospitalin Wallingford where she has beenemployed since 1998, most recentlyas a public relations specialist.Alfred F. Struna is employed by HachetteFilipacchi Media U.S. as creativeservices director for Flying magazine.

Monica (Pirog) Kreuzer, a biologyteacher at Watertown High

School for 10 years, was honored withthe Connecticut Outstanding BiologyTeacher Award for 2007 by theConnecticut Association of BiologyTeachers. Luciana Rabay MBA ’99 andGareth L. Butcher MBA ’99 are marriedand have a 3-year old son, Lucas,and have been living in Brazil sinceNovember 2003. They manage theirown company, Brazilliant, which offersconsulting in international business,international export expertise, andcounseling and assistance for studentsseeking work/study, student athletescholarships, and other types of inter-national student experiences.

Christine M. Wojdyla is a commu-nications professional in investor

relations for Entrepreneur Partners inPhiladelphia, PA.

Camilla Urbano is a relocationcoordinator for Calcagni

Associates Real Estate in Cheshire.

Allison (Rolls) Delaney is a mathe-matics teacher and coach for

Montville Public Schools.

John R. Stewart received a mastersdegree in elementary education

at the University of Bridgeport. Atty.Mindy S. Tompkins is an associate inthe law firm of Reid & Riege P.C. inHartford, specializing in the area ofhealth care. Christopher J. Tremblay isa federal agent with the U.S. BorderPatrol, Tucson Sector Special ResponseTeam, in Tucson, AZ.

Christine (Distasio) Wiesner is anoutside sales representative for

Ganz USA in New York.

Jennifer S. King (MS) is a foreignaffairs officer for the Bureau

of Democracy, Human Rights andLabor (DRL), U.S. State Department.Previously she was an Arabic translatorfor the United States Navy.

Emily A. Doran is an executivein sales and marketing for the

Monaco Government Tourist Office inNew York City. Kelly J. McDermott is agrants writer for the City of Bridgeport.Officer Alex B. Rodriguez recently joinedthe Middletown police force.

Jessica L. Aliff (MS) teaches firstgrade for Bristol Public Schools.

Jennifer L. Brochu is assistant vice

president and credit officer atConnecticut River Community Bank inWethersfield. Michelle T. Pratt is healthand wellness director for theWallingford Family YMCA.

Lauren A. Jensen is sales coordi-nator at Barker Specialty

Company in Cheshire.

1931Mary Chanda Zetarski 5/8/07

1932Esther Epstein Rosenbaum 4/6/07

1934Alice M. Ledger 5/8/07

1937Alphonse E. Anthony 4/15/07Claribel Durfee Rendos 4/13/05

1941Carolyn Hines Holt 6/13/06Elizabeth Slack Ikehara 2/24/07Dorothy Welch Korn 2/12/07

1942Evelyn A. Cooke 3/29/07

1943Justus S. “J.B.” Beach 8/10/07

1950Louis J. Bibisi 5/25/07James MacFarlane 5/6/07

1953Joseph W. Tarrant 1/5/07

1956Jean Frangione Hiltpold 4/28/07

1957Mary Jane Costa O’Hara 8/23/04

1958Warren O. Johnson 6/8/07

1959Veronica Thomas Taylor 5/2/07Regina Walter Woods 4/22/07

1961Elizabeth Schulze Lowrey 6/22/07

1964Elaine Conrad Burkarth 6/14/07Anthony Mazuroski 8/14/04

1965Mary Jane Cromwell 3/18/07Robert Rinas 4/20/07

1967George P. Spring Jr. 6/14/07Evelyn Zettervall McCurry 6/29/07

1968James W. Bates 6/11/07Lillian Sargis Pera 5/1/07

1969George A. Breault 3/22/07Jean Norris Linton 5/9/07

1970Bradford A. Ames 4/1/07Regina Haddad Nero 6/11/07

1974Raymond P. Greene Jr. 3/13/07

1975Thomas N. Procko 5/14/07Katherine Williams Rudolph 7/7/07Cheryl Cook Wotring 6/5/07

1976Christine Marselli Larosa 6/15/07

1978Judith Ransom Frauenglass 4/15/07Eileen M. Loehfelm 7/6/07

1980Eileen M. Tateo-Beebe 5/27/07Susan Whitney Westerman 4/16/07

1981Bruce W. Bartlett 6/17/03

1982Robert L. Caron 6/22/07Sue-Ellen Murphy Lyons 6/8/07

1983Jane E. Jones 6/25/07

1984Robert P. Vaughan 5/13/07

1989Anne “Nancy” Crane Cianci 6/1/07

1992Marshall A. Kendrick 4/22/07

1996Teresa C. Chin 3/25/07

In Memoriam

Memorial gifts may be made to the CCSU Foundation, P.O. Box 612, New Britain, CT 06050.13

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David L. Kinder ’78 is CFO andsenior vice president for S.H.Smith and Company Inc., anindependently owned excess andsurplus insurance brokerage inWest Hartford, and the proudfather of new CCSU graduateRenee M. Kinder, who earned aBS degree in management, witha concentration in humanresources, in May ’07.

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Friday, October 12, 2007CCSU Blue Devils Touchdown Club Golf Classic

Stanley Golf Course – 12:00 noon Shotgun StartCost: $110 per person includes greens fees,

lunch, shared golf cart and buffet dinner

Women’s Soccer – CCSU vs St. Francis (PA)3:00 pm – Arute Field

Saturday, October 13, 20072007 CCSU Homecoming 5K Fun Run

8:30 am registration – 9:30 am start – Stanley Quarter ParkPre-registration form online at

http://www.ccsu.edu/Alumni/PDF/2007_Homecoming_Fun_Run.pdf

Alumni Reunions – Marching Band, Residence Life Staff,School of Business, WFCS Radio

Contact the Alumni Office for details

Pregame Activities – 11:00 am – Kaiser Parking LotFamily activities – Giant slide, sand art,

photo key chains and more

Barbeque – $5.00 per personContact the Alumni Office for reservations

Football Game – CCSU vs Robert Morris1:00 pm – Arute Field

Halftime – Arute Field – Alumni TentComplimentary lemonade and giveaways

Postgame Party – Immediately following the gameStudent Center – Semesters (old Pub area)

New Britain Museum of American ArtComplimentary admission for alumni

The featured exhibition isContemporary Combustion: Chinese-American Artists

phone: (860) 832-1740e-mail: alumnidept@ccsu.eduwebsite: www.ccsu.edu/alumni

CCSU Alumni Day Tr ip to BostonSaturday, September 29, 2007

CCSU faculty-led tour ofJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Afternoon at Quincy MarketOptional walking tour of historic Boston

Graduate Studies Open HouseThursday, October 4, 2007

4:00 – 7:00 pmAlumni Hall, Student Center, CCSU campus

Grid i ron Update Lunchwith football head coach Jeff McInerney

Wednesday, October 24, 200712:00 noon

Angelico’s CaféNew Britain

New Haven-Area Networking Happy HourThursday, November 8, 2007

5:30 pmLocation TBA

Hoop Group Lunch Ser ieswith men’s basketball head coach Howie Dickenman

Tuesday, November 6Tuesday, December 4Tuesday, January 15Tuesday, February 12Tuesday, March – TBA

12:00 noonAngelico’s Café

New Britain

Basketbal l Game Hal f t ime Recept ionsSaturday, November 17 – Men vs New Hampshire – TBA

Saturday, December 1 – “Brenda Reilly Day”Women vs UW-Milwaukee – 12:00 noon

Men vs Lehigh – 2:00 pmSaturday, December 8 – Men vs Mount St. Mary’s – TBASunday, December 16 – Men vs Delaware – 1:00 pm

Kaiser Hall

omecoming Weekend

CCSU Alumni and FriendsFlorida Reunion

Sunday, February 24, 2008Fort Myers, FL

Information /ReservationsContact the Office of Alumni Affairs

phone: (860) 832-1740e-mail: alumnidept@ccsu.eduwebsite: www.ccsu.edu/alumni

Check our website and E-News, the alumni associationmonthly electronic newsletter, for the latest event updates.

To receive E-News contact the alumni office.

Upcoming Events

Save theDate!

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14

essica Cabanillas’ Peruvian heritage dictatesthat family means everything. So it’s no wonder thatupon accepting a position on the University’s staff,she adopted the CCSU family as her own, as well.

“Central has always been kind of a second hometo me,” says Jessica, an associate in the University’sOffice of Multicultural Affairs, which coordinates theUniversity’s efforts to promote, develop and support aculturally diverse community.

Jessica came to Central out of Lewis Mills HighSchool in Burlington partly because she wanted to stayclose to her parents, who emigrated from Peru in theirteens. With her father assigned at the time to a positionwith General Motors in Maryland, Jessica preferred toremain home with mom and commute to college.

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNEW BRITAIN, CTPERMIT NO. 939

Central Focus1615 Stanley StreetNew Britain, CT 06050-4010

R E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D

As a student, Jessica worked part-time in theHuman Resources Department and was offered a full-time position in the department upon graduation.

“It was great because I had the experience and wehad a great team,” says Jessica, who left CCSU afterabout three years to try her hand at corporate life, onlyto return in 2002. “Central is such a great place to work;it has so many wonderful things to offer that I had tocome back.”

Those great things include, says Jessica, her workto promote cultural diversity on campus and to assistcurrent students – those in her “extended” family – inany way she can.

“I always have my door open, so if the occasionalstudent happens by, I can offer help,” says Jessica, whosesister, Natalie (Cabanillas) Ford ’94, also works on cam-pus in the University’s Learning Center. “I like beingon campus with students who are just trying to realizetheir dreams, who may not know where to turn for help.”

Jessica’s dream as a supporter of the University’sendowed scholarship fund is to help other CCSU studentsbenefit from the kind of education she was privileged toenjoy. One of her defining experiences as an internationalbusiness student was a study abroad trip to Italy, whichshe says “opened my eyes to the rest of the world.”

“From that point on I promised myself that everyyear, I would visit someplace I’ve never been before.”

Jessica’s voyages have included trips to countriessuch as her family’s native Peru, Japan and Iceland.But domestic travel can also be special, she laughs –especially her annual excursions to Tampa, Fla., eachspring to see her beloved New York Yankees.

But there is more than enough room in Jessica’sheart for CCSU, too.

“I appreciate the quality of instruction I had atCentral,” she says. “So much of what I learned here canbe applied to everyday life. So when I contribute, it’s myhope that in some small way I’m making it a little easierfor someone else.”

J

Jessica Cabanillas ’97, MS ’07V o y a g e r , Y a n k e e s F a n , D o n o r