Dispatches - Fall 2024

Bob Burns ’61 had an article published recently in Smokejumper magazine about his friend, John A. Rolf ’59. Likely Hartwick’s first and only smokejumper, John died just before his senior year while serving his third summer as a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper. He was a biology major; member and president of Beta Beta Beta; senior class vice president; member of the Circle K club; a freshman dorm counselor; and member of the student senate, Film Club, and TKE fraternity.

Ken Dobert ’61 has been raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, in honor of his wife,
Maureen Dobert ’63, who has dementia. In 2023, Ken raised $27,140 and was one of the top 100 fundraisers in the U.S. (#60).

Bruce W. Dearstyne ’66 has just published a new book, Progressive New York: Change and Reform in the Empire State, 1900-1920 — A Reader (Albany: SUNY Press, 2024).

Edward Evans ’66 just turned 83. He retired from teaching high school science after 33 years. A published author (Spaceship Earth – Earth Science, Houghton Mifflin: 1980), he continues writing science papers which explain complicated science topics in simple language; he just finished a work explaining what causes gravity. Edward is currently head volunteer uncovering local 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camps and WWII German POW camps, and he lectures and writes about the same.

After 15 years as a NYS Assemblymember and eight as a Nassau County (N.Y.) Comptroller, Frederick Parola ’68 is in his 54th year practicing law. He also grieves to note the passing of Professor Al Duncker, who passed in 2023 and was, “a terrific teacher.”

Dr. Terry L. Wade ’71 was a chemistry lab tech at Hartwick, where he made reagents and mentored students in their labs. After Hartwick, he worked full time and attended graduate school at the University of Rhode Island, where he received his masters (1974) and Ph.D. (1978). He later became an assistant professor at Old Dominion University (1978-1984), before moving to Texas A&M University’s Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, where he held many positions. His research focused on the sources, fate, and effects of environmental contaminants. He co-authored his first scientific paper in 1972 and, during his 52-year career, has had more than 240 cited publications. He expects to retire at the end of this year and noted that seeing classmate Rick Holinger’s ’71 Class Note in the previous issue of The Wick led him to submit his own.

The Rev. John Pearson ’71 has retired (“again”), this time after eight years as a part-time visitation pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh, N.C. He retired initially in 2014 after serving three calls: Holy Nativity, Endicott, N.Y., as assistant to the Bishop; Upstate N.Y. Synod ELCA in Syracuse; and St. John’s, Boyertown, Pa. John and his wife Kathy relocated to Raleigh in 2014, just a mile from their granddaughters.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas, named Thom Meredith ’73 a semi-finalist in the Builders category for its 2025 Class.

Ralph Walker ’73 and his wife, Jamie Hewitt, are extremely grateful to be enjoying an active retirement. Their favorite travel activity has been cycling. They have ridden in Italy, Slovenia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Austria, Spain, Portugal, France, Canada, and numerous states around the U.S. Their other favorite strenuous exercise is chasing after their five-year-old grandson, along with prioritizing visits with their three children in Connecticut and Maryland. The couple live in Winter Garden, Fla. and West Dover, Vt.

Chris McLoughlin ’75 was recently named to the Advisory Board of Mitesco, Inc., a Florida-based investment company. He has spent his career in software and systems development and is an owner of Accucom Consulting, Inc., which specializes in network infrastructure, and software in the public safety sector.

John Wichser ’75 retired in 2018 after 40+ years in construction/facilities management, the majority of which were spent in higher education student housing, dining/food service, auxiliary services and capital projects. His career path took him to the University of Arkansas (obtaining an M.Ed. in Adult Education); UMass-Dartmouth; Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.; U-Maryland Baltimore County in Catonsville, Md.; and Hood College in Frederick, Md. He finished his career as chief of operations at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Md. Following his Hartwick graduation, he spent six years at ENSCO in Springfield, Va., working with five Hartwick alumni in the Rail Measurements and Testing Division. Following his retirement, he spent three years RVing and camp-hosting in the Mid-Atlantic area, where he spent the pandemic. He has now settled in
Williamsport, Md., with Marie, his wife of 40 years, enjoying time with their grandchildren, volunteering at the local food bank and staying active in various church activities and ministries. Their four children are scattered between Upstate New York, Northwest Ark., Atlanta, Ga., and Boonsboro, Md.

Bill Marvin ’77 and his wife retired a few years ago and moved from Long Island to Delray Beach, Fla. They have a 29-year-old son who lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bill is in touch with Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity brothers Mike Herz ’77 and Kurt Gillis ’77. Bill says Kurt and his wife are in Conn., while Mike and his family still live in Israel. In retirement, Bill plays lots of golf and enjoys life as much as possible. He and his wife often have family visiting, especially when it’s cold up north. Bill’s email is [email protected] and he enjoys getting “blasts from the past.”

Terry Bruno ’79 retired in February. She was with Excellus for the last 11 years. The former nursing major spent the majority of her career as a clinical nurse specialist with MVP Health Care. She was also an assistant professor at Nazareth College for six years.

In March, Joanne Dittes Yepsen ’80 returned to campus and participated in a panel discussion entitled, “Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Leaders,” hosted by the Hartwick Institute of Public Service. The former two-term mayor of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., spoke about what inspired her to run for office and offered practical career tips.

Malcolm Davidson ’81 said, “It was great to get together with classmates Rob Pavelka ’81 and Steve Bedzis ’81 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Had a wonderful time discussing and reliving memories of our time together at Hartwick.”

Jason Moses ’83, who has had a lengthy career in the government/intelligence and military sectors, was a guest speaker in Professor Laurel Elder’s careers class last spring.

In February, Cathy Kelly Buono ’86 was named the next chief administrative and financial officer (CAFO) for the City of Springfield, Mass. She is the first female to serve in this position. A lifelong Springfield resident, Cathy previously served as director of administration and finance for the city’s Office of Community Development. Steven Kratoville ’86 recently visited New Zealand and Australia, which brings his total to 39 countries visited in seven years.

Yarmouth (Maine) High School women’s lacrosse coach Dorothy Holt ’89 was named Forecaster newspaper’s Northern edition girls’ team Spring Coach of the Year. Holt is the longest-tenured coach in program history and was previously named Spring Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2019. The Forecaster is a weekly newspaper, a publication of the Portland Press Herald.

Lauren Tullock-Cleworth ’89 was named Adirondack Swimming’s Coach of the Year at the Gold Championship in March. She has been coaching age group swimmers on the Schenectady-Saratoga Swim Club since 1990. An especially rewarding experience for her comes when her former swimmers decide to attend Hartwick College and swim for Coach Dale Rothenberger. Lauren credits him with reigniting her love of the sport and its ability to help one’s physical and mental health. While she never really enjoyed swimming the 200-yard Butterfly herself, Lauren does take pride in preparing her 11- to 12-year-olds to tackle this event.

James Bartel ’90 was named CEO for Vantage MedTech, a leading provider of comprehensive design and manufacturing services for medical technology innovations. He graduated from Hartwick with a B.A. in economics and management.

Dr. Eric Muth ’91 was named vice president for research and creative activity for Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Major League Soccer (MLS) club Sporting Kansas City appointed Mike Burns ’93 as the club’s new sporting director. There he will oversee Sporting’s player recruitment and roster building strategy, and the continued development of the club’s professional player pathway. A former U.S. National Team member, Mike previously served as general manager of the New England Revolution of MLS, and as a consultant for the league. He is a member of Hartwick’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

PolarisAR, a developer of advanced mixed-reality surgical guidance technology, appointed Aravind (Andy) Menon ’93 to its board of directors. He currently serves as senior associate general counsel for Nasdaq. Andy is based in Jersey City, N.J.

Jennifer Morris ’96 was recently named partner at Ward & Morris, a Washington, D.C.-based law firm. She lives in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chris Coughlin ’96 has been named principal of Scarsdale (NY) Middle School. He had previously served as interim principal.

A senior watch officer with the U.S. Department of State, Bill Paton ’97 was a guest speaker in Professor Laurel Elder’s Careers class last spring. Bill is a career foreign service professional.

Kevin Patrick O’Leary ’99 was elected president of the New York State Society of Certified
Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) board of directors. He has served as past president; president-elect; vice president; secretary; and treasurer for the NYSSCPA’s Northeast Chapter. He also served as a past director (while a chapter representative) on the Society’s Board. Kevin is also the managing partner at MMB & Co. LLP, in Albany, N.Y.

Trenton Lutes ’00 of Westfield, N.Y., gave a presentation at Hazeltine Public Library about his sci-fi series, The Terra-Healers. A painter, photographer, gardener, and author, he is working on the third book of his series.

Erika Dube ’01 recently became deputy director of the Biddeford (Maine) Recreation Department.

Law firm McGlinchey Stafford recently elected Jeff Barringer ’02 as a member (partner) to its executive Policy Committee. Jeff is the office managing member of the firm’s Albany, N.Y. office.

Jennifer Arrow Garretson ’02 was named director of the Keene (N.H.) Pops Choir.

Alicia Simmons ’02 delivered a lecture titled “Applied Social Science: Polling and the 2024 Election” at Washington and Lee University earlier this year. She was a sociology major at Hartwick.

Amanda Tucker ’04 has been appointed to the board of directors for the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA). She is currently chief risk and compliance officer at Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group in Charlottesville, Va.

Amanda Tucker ’04 has been appointed to the board of directors for the Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA). She is currently chief risk and compliance officer at Atlantic

Ian Kimball ’08, naval flight officer in the U.S. Navy, was a guest speaker in Professor Laurel Elder’s careers class last spring. At Hartwick, he was an economics and political science double major.

Nick Forst ’09 came to campus in March and attended a careers class and Career Lunch, organized by Professor Laurel Elder. During these events, he met with students and discussed attending law school and working in the legal profession.

The City of Danbury, Conn., has named Kara Foro Prunty ’09 director of health & human services. She was previously the acting assistant director of Finance, Office of Budget & Grants.

Seth Lucas ’10, a member of the Hartwick College Alumni Association Board of Trustees, was recently promoted to vice president for child development at the YMCA of Greater Boston.

Justin Miller ’11 of Scholastic Sports Sales in Manlius, N.Y., was named to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) board of directors. He was promoted to president of Scholastic Sports Sales in 2021 after an eight-year stint as vice president of operations.

Nicholas Clair ’12 was recently named assistant principal at Rye (N.Y.) Middle School.

Tom Holmgren ’13 was a guest speaker in Professor Laurel Elder’s careers class and lunch last spring. During these events, he met with students and discussed attending law school and working in the legal profession.

In August, Chase O’Neill ’16 had his latest comedy musical, “Here There Be Dragons,” performed at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Matthew Chetcuti ’17, Trevor Murray ’16, The Bride: Natasha Pelletier’16, Kerry-Lynn Krauss (Cullen) ’16, Nora Mendez ’16, Jennifer Morris ’96 Trenton Lutes ’00 Brianna McKenzie ’16

Brian Edmister, III ’17 was inducted into the Allegany County (N.Y.) Athletic Association’s Sports Hall of Fame in March. Brian swam for four years at Hartwick and was captain twice. He was an all-time top-10 qualifier in the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. He also earned Academic All-American status twice.

Mikaelan Cucciarre-Stuligross ’17 recently achieved certification as a certified cryptocurrency expert (C.C.E) after 24 months of training with Blockchain Technology.

In July, Jenny McInerney ’17 celebrated her marriage to Carter McKay Epp with a Declaration of Vows at Pine Lake Environmental Campus. They were surrounded by an intimate gathering of close friends and family, including Hartwick alumni. Pictured, from left: Scott DeGuilo ’92 (Jenny’s godfather); Lea DeGuilo ’94 (her godmother); Dan McInerney ’92, P’17; Pam McInerney ’92, P’17; Jenny McInerney ’17; Carter McKay Epp; Margaret Elisofon ’17; and Ryn Kohlmeier ’17. The couple are planning a full ceremony for all friends and family in June 2026.

Anna Bissonette ’21, content administrator for Winky Lux, returned to campus in March and joined students to discuss her journey since graduation. At a lunchtime Q&A, she met with an array of students, faculty and staff, and discussed her current position in social media marketing, her Hartwick tenure, attending graduate school, and more.

Sarah Esty ’24 joined the faculty of the Riley School in Rockport, Maine, as a Lower School assistant, EdTech, and arts/ceramics teacher.