Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame Newsletter

Induction into the Academic Hall of Fame acknowledges the career

accomplishments, community or national service, personal

excellence, and dedication to lifelong learning demonstrated by

Garfield High School alumni. Nominations are made by members of

the community, high school faculty, family, and friends. The final

selection is voted upon by a committee of representatives from the

Garfield Board of Education, school administration, current and

retired high school faculty, and the community.

In addition to recognizing alumni for academic achievement and

career success, the Academic Hall of Fame underscores the

importance of setting significant educational and personal goals for

current students of Garfield High School.

Since the Academic Hall of Fame’s inception, 53 alumni have been

inducted, 2 alumni have been honored with service awards, and due

to the generosity of our members, 13 graduates have been awarded

more than $4000 in scholarships.

About the Academic Hall of Fame Garfield High School

500 Palisade Avenue

Garfield, NJ 07026

973-340-5010

www.gboe.org

The Academic Hall of Fame Committee invites you to nominate a

GHS graduate. A nomination form is enclosed or may be found at

www.gboe.org. Click on “High School”, “Academic Hall of

Fame”, “Nomination Form”.

You are also welcome to make a donation of any amount to

sustain our scholarship fund. Please make your check payable to

“Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame”, and mail to the

attention of Dora D’Amico, Principal (high school address at the

top of this page).

Inside this issue:

AHOF update 1

2014 Inductees 2-3

2013 Inductees 4-5

2012 Inductees 6-7

2011 Inductees 8

Academic HOF

Members

9-10

Scholarship

Information

11

2015 Inductees 12

2014 Inductees

Jennifer (Armstrong) Alfonso Class of 1993

BA, William Paterson University (Political Science/Elementary Education); MA, St. Peter’s

College (Administration, Supervision)

Principal, Theodore Roosevelt School #7, Garfield

Teacher of the Year (2006) - Woodrow Wilson School #5, Garfield

District Technology Integration Specialist (2008-2011)

Coached Recreation Department softball and basketball; participated in PBA Torch Run, raising

money for Special Olympics; Buddy Walk volunteer, raising awareness for Down Syndrome

Resides in Garfield, NJ

Joseph Cadicina, Esq.

Class of 1988, Class President

BA, Seton Hall University; JD, Thomas M. Cooley Law School (with distinction)

Managing member of a law firm concentrating on matrimonial and family law

Recognized by New Jersey Monthly Magazine as a Super Lawyer; AV Preeminent Rating

(highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards)

Served as president and vice president of the Garfield Board of Education

Resides in Franklin Lakes, NJ

Paul Griffo

Class of 1966

BS, MS, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Physics)

Associate Professor of physics at Bergen Community College

Former systems analyst, staff engineer at Honeywell International; designed the C-130 cockpit

instrument display

Volunteers with his wife at the Rutherford Senior Citizens Center; host couple for Pre Cana

(marriage preparation course) for over 20 years

Resides in Garfield, NJ

Heidi (Dawson) Kmetz

Class of 1991, President of National Honor Society, Class Treasurer

BA, Bucknell University (English, Political Science majors, Dance, minor)

Volunteered as dance instructor for underprivileged children at the Lewisburg YMCA, PA

English teacher at Montville High School since 2005

GHS English teacher for 7 years; member of National Honor Society Selection Committee

Inducted into GHS Athletic Hall of Fame (2001); committee member

Resides in Pequannock, NJ

2

2014 Inductees (cont’d)

Dr. Helena Pachon

Class of 1989, Salutatorian

BS (Biology, with honors), MS, PhD (Nutrition), Cornell University

MS (Public Health), Harvard University

Senior Nutrition Scientist at the Flour Fortification Initiative; Research Associate Professor at

Emory University

Authored over 50 scientific papers; speaker in over 20 countries

Mentored more than 40 international undergraduate and graduate students in nutrition and health

research

Resides in Decatur, GA (Dr. Pachon’s brother is pictured)

Anthony Shupenko

Class of 1975

BE, MMS, Stevens Institute of Technology

Associate Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology

President of Shupenko Engineering, Inc.; board certified structural engineer with professional

licenses as a building, plumbing, mechanical, and home inspector

Garfield YMCA Board President (1997-1998); board member since 1991

Three Saints Russian Orthodox Church President (1989-1991)

Resides in Garfield, NJ

Anthony Myles Wolosz

Class of 1982

BS (Accounting), Seton Hall University; MBA (Business Administration, Finance, Information

Systems), New York University

Certified Public Accountant, NJ

Controller at East River Medical Imaging, New York City

Lead auditor at PSE&G (1991-1997)

Founding member of the Midland Park Public Education Foundation; volunteers as basketball

coach, Midland Park

Resides in Midland Park, NJ

3

2013 Inductees

Susan (Trusewich) Burns

Class of 1974, Valedictorian

BA, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Magna Cum Laude

VP of Accounting at Radian Asset Assurance, Inc. in New York City

Assisted in the development of restructuring a strategic ten year plan for the Clifton school district

Acted as a consulting member for additions to two Clifton schools to revamp their mathematics

curriculum

Obtained grant to enhance a science curriculum in a Clifton school

Planned, developed, and received approval for an after school child care program for two school

districts

Resides in Clifton, NJ

James F. Cali

Class of 1963, Class VP

BS, United States Military Academy, West Point; MBA, Mount St. Mary’s College, MD

Served in military from 1967-1971; Vietnam veteran

Employed as an executive at several large corporations: Westinghouse, ITT, Sony, and IBM

Owned two businesses and authored three books

Conducted seminars for business executives and acted as a consultant after retirement

Volunteered as Director of the West Point Society of NY, as an AARP tax consultant, and as an

announcer for the LPGA

Retired; resides in Brigantine, NJ

Florence (Serafin) Gut

Class of 1951

BA, Paterson State College, Supervisory/Administrative Certificate, Rider College/Jersey City

State College

Served as Business Department Supervisor for 12 years; Taught for a total of 44 years in the

Garfield school district; Teacher of the Year, 1996

Implemented Cooperative Education Curriculum at GHS; wrote a grant to obtain word processors

Elected VP and then President of the Cooperative Business Education Association of NJ

Employed as a State School Coordinator for Passaic County for two years

Resides in Wayne, NJ

4

2013 Inductees (cont’d)

Nancy (Steffens) Kutsup

Class of 1973

BA, William Paterson University (Summa Cum Laude); MA, St. Peter’s College

Started her career in the business world and after 13 years pursued a career as an art educator

VP at GHS; Teacher of the Year, 1997

As Student Activities Account Treasurer, presented faculty with guidelines for managing student

accounts

Facilitated the implementation of Student/Parent and Community Engagement Fair for GHS

Served as liaison of the Bergen County Teen Arts Festival

Organized mural painting projects throughout the high school and grounds

Resides in Garfield, NJ

Andrew Oddo

Class of 1991

BA, Lehigh University (with honors); JD, Rutgers University School of Law (with honors)

Worked in a large firm environment representing approximately 45 public schools throughout NJ

in all areas of the law

Operated his own law office since 2008 concentrating on the representation of public entities in NJ

Worked as an adjunct professor of NJ Education Law at Seton Hall University since 2001

Elected to Oradell Board of Education

Served as the pro bono counsel to the Garfield Ambulance Corps

Coached youth sports for the Oradell Recreation Department

Resides in Oradell, NJ

Michael Rogers

Class of 2000, Student of the Year

BA, Montclair State University

Employed as a Social Studies teacher at Clifton High School; Named as Teacher of the Month

Recognized by Yale University as one of their Educators of the Year

Served as the youngest member of the board and is Recording Secretary for St. John’s Lutheran

Church Council

Resides in Garfield, NJ

5

2012 Inductees Gregory Czura

Class of 1963

BA Rutgers College; JD Seton Hall School of Law

At the age of 27, appointed judge, Ringwood Municipal Court

President, Passaic County Trial Lawyers at age 28

Specializes in litigation for the broadcast/wireless industries, and established the NJ state law

regarding construction/location of wireless communication facilities

Actively involved in the Tinicum Township Planning Commission, Zoning Board, and Airport

Hazard Zoning Commission

Semi-retired, attorney at law.

Resides in Upper Black Eddy, PA

Meghan O’Toole DeCarlo

Class of 1999

BA Rutgers University - Douglass College; MA Rutgers University; MA St. Peter’s College

Social Studies teacher at Garfield High School; Teacher of the Year 2008

Introduced and piloted the American Studies curriculum at GHS which was recognized by CAPA

(Collaborative Assessment and Planning for Achievement) for this innovative idea

Served as NJ Folk Festival Coordinator and Manager

Participated as a counselor for the Teen Institute of the Garden State which encourages high

school students to live a substance free lifestyle

Resides in Saddle Brook, NJ

Edward Harhaj

Class of 1988

BA, MS Bucknell University; PhD Penn State

Assistant professor (2003-2010), Associate professor (May 2010-Dec 2011) at University of

Miami

Associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

(Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Dept. of Oncology)

Published by Nature.com, Science Magazine, New England Journal of Medicine, and the National

Institutes of Health

Resides in Westminster, Maryland

Christina Labocki

Class of 2001, Salutatorian

BS Nyack College (Magna Cum Laude)

Third grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson School #5, Garfield

Delivered humanitarian aid to orphans in Paraguay and built homes in Mexico

Worked with the needy in Newark, NJ and the homeless in New York City

Volunteered at Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry and aided flood victims in Garfield

Resides in Garfield

6

2012 Inductees (cont’d)

Colonel Raymond Maladowitz

Class of 1946

BA United States Military Academy– West Point; MA Middlebury College, VT

Military tours in Korea (1950-51), Europe, Vietnam

Deputy commander at the JFK special warfare center where he was responsible for all special

forces training

Professor of Russian at West Point (1960-63)

Established his own business consulting firm in Charleston, SC

Passed away in 1991

Tara Lin Varner

Class of 1993, Salutatorian

BA William Paterson University; MA New York University

Second grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson School #5, Garfield; Teacher of the Year 2009

William Paterson distinguished scholar and participant in the Humanities Honors Program

Member of several international honor societies

Shared her classroom techniques for professional development purposes throughout the district

Resides in Kinnelon, NJ

In addition to six inductees in 2012, the Academic Hall of Fame was proud

to present Special Service Awards to

Mrs. Christine Pepe Griffo, Class of 1928

and

Mr. Mark Pedone, Class of 1944

for their contributions and service to the children of Garfield

and the greater Garfield community.

7

Happy

Birthday!

Charles Rigoglioso

Class of 1945

BA Syracuse University

Area of Study: Mechanical Engineering

Contributed to the development of the Apache and Blackhawk helicopters; retired as a senior

project manager for military aircraft, automatic flight control devices

Resides in Garfield, NJ

James Saganiec

Class of 1966

BA University of North Carolina; MA from William Paterson University

Area of study: History; Social Sciences

Field of work: Adjunct professor at Sussex Community College

Retired educator from Garfield High School (39 years)

Resides in Vernon, NJ

2011 Inductees

William Kraus

Class of 1958

BS Penn State; MS from Rutgers University

Area of study: Ceramic Technology

Engineered the design and startup of a waste water treatment facility for pigment

production which saved millions of gallons of water yearly

Retired as Group President of ATOFINA Chemicals

Resides in Newtown, PA

Charles Rabolli, Jr., Esq.

Class of 1980

BS Rutgers University; JD from Rutgers University

Area of Study: Electrical Engineering; Law

Partner at Carlet, Garrison, Klein & Zaretsky, specializing in real estate, personal

injury, chancery, and commercial litigation; certified arbitrator

Resides in Mahwah, NJ

8

Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame Members

Class of 2005 Class of 2007 Dr. Gregory Baron ‘77 Mr. Kenneth Adamo ‘80

Mr. Thomas Duch, Esq. ‘74 Mr. Alfred Cheaure ‘57

Dr. Jason Garcia ‘92 Mr. Randall Koch ‘88

Dr. Janet Lynn Armstrong-Mrotek ‘91 Mrs. Joan (Gordon) Murko ‘53

Dr. Anna Stankiewicz ‘93 Mr. Thomas Rabolli ‘92

Dr. Joseph Turcillo ‘49 Dr. William Schneburger ‘62

Class of 2008 Class of 2009 Mr. Joseph Blondin ‘62 Dr. John Gall ‘51

Ms. Sally Handley’ 69 Mr. Carl Panzera ‘64

Mr. Jason Krom ‘98 Dr. Marc Picchierri ‘73

Ms. Margaret Paroby ‘64 Dr. Robert Rigolosi ‘53

Mr. Ray Roman ‘84 Dr. Louis Vita ‘77

Mrs. Jayne (Janish) Tanis ‘91 Mr. Kevin Wudecki ‘80

Class of 2010 Mrs. Gaetana (Astorino) Aliotta ‘73

Mr. Christopher Annibal ‘91

Mr. Michael W. Azzara ‘65

Dr. Anthony Infantolino ‘76

Dr. Edward Luka ‘50*

Mr. Samuel Raia ‘66

*posthumously

9

Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame Members

Class of 2011 Class of 2012 Mr. William Kraus ‘58 Mr. Gregory Czura, Esq. ‘63

Mr. Charles Rabolli, Jr.. ’80 Mrs. Meghan (O’Toole) DeCarlo ’99

Mr. Charles Rigoglioso ’45 Dr. Edward Harhaj ’88

Mr. James Saganiec, Sr. ’66 Ms. Christina Labocki ’01

Col. Raymond Maladowitz ’46*

Mrs. Tara (Lin) Varner ’93

Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Mrs. Susan (Trusewich) Burns ‘74 Mrs. Jennifer (Armstrong) Alfonso ‘93

Mr. James F. Cali ‘63 Mr. Joseph Cadicina, Esq. ‘88

Mrs. Florence (Serafin) Gut ‘51 Mr. Paul Griffo ‘66

Mrs. Nancy (Steffens) Kutsup ‘73 Mrs. Heidi (Dawson) Kmetz ‘91

Mr. Andrew Oddo ‘91 Dr. Helena Pachon ‘89

Mr. Michael Rogers ‘00 Mr. Anthony Shupenko, Jr. ‘75

Mr. Anthony Myles Wolosz ‘82

*posthumously

Boilermaker Pride!

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Scholarship Donation Information

The committee members of the Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame have established a scholarship that is

presented to a graduating senior every June. In view of this objective, we are soliciting donations from current

members and all others interested in contributing to this scholarship fund. A panel of two Academic Hall of Fame

members and two community members will select the recipient of the scholarship from all senior applicants.

The Academic Hall of Fame was established to provide outstanding role models for the students at Garfield High School

and to underscore the importance of setting significant educational goals. All members have been recognized for a high

level of achievement in a combination of academic endeavors, career excellence, and service to community, state, or

national initiatives.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the scholarship fund, please contact:

Mrs. Dora D’Amico, GHS Principal at (973)-340-5010 ext 2000.

Please consider a donation payable to the Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame. Complete and enclose this

bottom portion of the form along with your check to: Mrs. Dora D’Amico, Garfield High School, 500 Palisade Avenue,

Garfield, New Jersey 07026.

Please Print

Your Name: ______________________________________________________ Amount: ___________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

GHS Academic Hall of Fame Scholarship Recipients

Class of 2015: Daniela Coronado, Caleb Rodriguez

Class of 2014: Anna Kapolka, Kamil Weglinski

Class of 2013: Michelle Cabrera, Mark Espinosa

Class of 2012: Joseph Prado, Melody Soriano

Class of 2011: Malgorzata Nieradka, Emilija Stamboliski

Class of 2010: Johayra Diaz, David Sobiepan

Class of 2009: Keysi Castillo

The Garfield High School Academic Hall of Fame Committee would like to thank you for

your generous donations to our scholarship fund. The following students have been

awarded scholarships:

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The GHS Academic Hall of Fame is proud to announce

the 2015 Inductees:

Ernest Ackermann, Class of 1963

Russell D’Italia, Class of 1963

Gregory Formanek, Class of 1963

Alfred Fritsch, Class of 1966

Robert Kovacs, Class of 1963

Henry Mushinsky, Class of 1963

Richard Schwimmer, Class of 1963

Joel Trella, Class of 1964

They will be honored at the 2015 Induction Dinner at the Royal Manor

on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

For more information please contact Mrs. Anna Kovacs

at akovacs@gboe.org or call 973-340-5010.

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Induction Ceremony Scrapbook Just a sampling of photos from our ceremonies...for all photos go to http://www.gboe.org/GHS/ghs/academic_hof.html