Class Columns are written twice a year by alumni who have volunteered to be correspondents for their class. If your class year has a correspondent and you’d like to share news with them, just look for their contact information at the end of their column.
1942
Class Column: Greetings from the class of ’42 represented by Berne Rolston.
Berne Rolston RC’42: br@rolston.net
1943
Class Column: My health is excellent, I walk a mile daily, and danced for several hours at my May 18th 100th birthday. Sadly, I’ve been unable to reach any of the other Class of 1943 alumni said to be still alive.
William Suter AG’43: billsuter1319@icloud.com
1953
Class Column: Four classmates recently passed away: Paul R. Lewan RC’53 in Greenwood Village, CO (12/26/2021); Jesse G. Knipshild Jr. RC’53 in Sebastian, FL (01/12/2022); Sheldon A. London RC’53 in Senoia, GA (01/18/2022); and Conrad J. Demboski RC’53 in Somerset, NJ (01/29/2022). If you have any memories to share, I’d gladly include them in the next column. Also, I’d love to hear about upbeat milestones—those of your children and grandchildren as well. This would offset, in part, sad news I report whenever the Death Angel visits. (See contact information below.)
As I write this column in May 2022, I am looking back four years to our 65th Class Reunion. Eight of us were there: Nick Bertha RC’53; Owen Cassidy RC’53; Howard Cooper RC’53, with wife Caroline; the late Joe Gilbert RC’53,with daughter Eileen; Bob Koch AG’53; Bud Meeker Ag’53; and Bob Stites RC’53. (I was the eighth.)
Unless something unforeseen happens, I plan to attend our 70th in May 2023. This time, however, I would not take my old English “wheel” with me—the same bike I rode on campus during the late 1950s as a graduate student. I stopped riding it last year after a nasty fall.
If you plan to attend our 70th, please let me know. A phone call from you would be a delight. I’m reminded of the old adage, “Make new friends, but keep the old; the new are silver, the old are gold.”
William (Bill) Sansalone AG’53, GSNB’61: 6835 Old Stage Road, Rockville, MD 20852; (301) 881-0063; ws31@verizon.net
1955
Class Column: We lost several classmates over the past few months and have only recently learned that some others left us earlier, without our knowledge. Included are Bruce Halpern RC’55, Ed Schwartz RC’55, Angelo Iannucci RC’55, Guy Powell RC’55, Richard Kroner RC’55, Allen Ross RC’55, and Karl Reinhardt RC’55. If any classmate knows of others who should be mentioned please let me know. My distribution list is down to about 60 names, but there are possibly another 100 plus who whose health and welfare are simply “unknown.” Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Martin Steinweiss AG’55 reported he can no longer run his sailboat or play tennis, but is still handy around his office whenever needed. After missing our 65th Reunion he is hoping we can make it at 70.
Bruce Pyle AG’55 from the Ag School crew had a very successful career culminating as Chief, Bureau of Fisheries in the New Jersey Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and is still active full at full throttle.
Erik Nicolaysen RC’55 is busy scheduling a trip from Paris up the Rhone River to Switzerland, returning by train and boat via the Seine back to Paris. He reported that, “From a woman’s point of view all the children eventually leave home except for the husband.” Sounds like he has found a way to get around that.
Brian O’Hearn ED’55 one of our two football captains, is still in Saratoga Springs, NY. Unfortunately he lost his lovely wife, Lynn in April. He stays busy with the many amenities offered in his community.
Bob Messina RC’55 has had to give up his volunteer services at his local hospital due to continuing problems in the area from Covid. He is still able to get in a few rounds of golf each week and enjoy visits from his children and grandchildren.
Marshall Lavin RC’55 spent his working years repossessing cars and dealing in real estate. He isn’t revealing where he made the most money.
Bob Bruschi ENG’55 spent his early post-graduate days as an Air Force Navigator, retiring as a Lt/Col., then became a private pilot, and formed Bruschi Engineering Sales. He and his wife traveled the cruise ship life with trips to Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They now are enjoying the comfort and pleasures of senior living.
Walter Staab RC’55 finished a brilliant career in New York City in the ad agency business, and finds time to return occasionally to the New Brunswick campus to take in sports activities and fine dining. No, it’s not in the campus Commons!
August Fisher RC’55 now resides in Naples, FL in a senior residence facility where his wife still cooks, but makes time for dancing and outdoor activities including feeding the birds and squirrels, but not the snakes.
Bob Christian RC’55, a former teammate on the Freshman basketball team, is at the Villages in Florida. He lost his wife last year, but looks forward to visits from other family members, his weekly rounds of golf, and his indoor sports of reading, TV, and computer games.
Bill Caracci RC’55 reminds us that he and former Ambassador Bill Hughes were our class banner carriers for the Reunion parades for several years. He is looking forward to a resumption of the alumni campus activities soon.
Gordon MacDonald CC’55, our Class VP, is living in Naples, Florida, but returns to Hershey, Pennsylvania in the summer. He and his wife attended graduations recently for grandchildren, one at Lafayette College, another from law school. He and our Class President, Jack Witemeyer CC’55, are already discussing plans for a 70th reunion in 2025. Gordon also stays in touch with classmates, Ernie Barrett CC’55 and Larry Suydam CC’55.
Malcolm Busch RC’55 must be becoming the world’s oldest active lawyer. He’s still practicing in New Brunswick. What was it Erik Nicolaysen said about children leaving home? Malcolm has lived there all his life except for Law school and a stint in the Army.
Martin Geisbrecht RC’55, our resident Economics professor and musician in Kentucky, decided to reopen his swimming pool for the summer just before the latest storm hit. Too bad, but he is an old man and needs more to do.
Ron Mastrolia RC’55 himself sent a note. Normally, Ron’s activities are reported here by Danny White RC’55, so it was nice to hear from the real Mastrolia who is alive and well as, “a 90-year old ex-Rutgers athlete living in Florida and enjoying the sunshine and good life.”
Bob Tarcza RC’55 recently sold the family home on the beach in North Carolina and returned with his wife to Fairfax Station, VA. Bob and his retired Army Colonel son will be visiting the UK in July for a museum travel tour commemorating US Army/Air Force activities in England and over Europe during WWII, a great father-son trip.
Bob McBride RC’55: 6409 Buckskin Lane, Roseville, CA 95747; 916-773-3603; mojomom@surewest.net
1958
Class Column: Pierre RC’58 and Janet Fournier will take the Rocky Mountaineer trip with Jean Austin to British Columbia in June. Pierre and Janet will attend the national conference of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI in Huntsville, Alabama in October. Pierre is still playing tennis at age 86.
Dave Pooley ED’58: “Much to my surprise and delight my dear wife agreed to spend a week at our Cancun time share. Our daughter and husband joined us. We had a wonderful week. Since my bride is now wheelchair bound travel with Delta it was a joy. We went to the head of the line. Maybe a cruise next.”
Alan Maitlin RC’58: “I have the record. My grandson Jack just accepted to RU, class of 2026. Sports administration/journalism. He was captain of Columbia High school baseball team the last 2 years. National Honor Society. love to be a manager of the RU baseball team and write sports articles for Targum. His father David, my youngest, was president of DU in his senior year, class of 1992. He practices law with me. Spends most of his time with Columbia baseball. His other son Sam is a super baseball player on the freshman team. He was also on the freshman basketball team. He would love to go to RU and be a freshman when his brother is a senior. This is three generations of Rutgers undergrads. Can you beat that for our alma mater.”
Fred Cook RC’58: “Sorry to see that the class columns in the RU Alumni magazine were discontinued. At age 84 I am doing OK, but what took 15 minutes to do in the yard now takes much longer. My reflexes are not as good as they used to be so I’m no longer driving. Carol is only 80 so she does the driving! My daughter lives in Pleasanton, California. Great place, but real estate is off the charts. Colleen bought a modest house on a small lot 8 years ago for $500,000; now assessed at $1.7 million. Looking forward to another season of RU football. RU basketball team has been great since Pikiell became coach!”
John Murphy RC’58: “Recovering from Covid. Tested positive Monday, April 11, but feeling OK now. Still isolating. Returned from winter in Hilton Head in late March.”
Ron Giaconia RC’58: “On Tuesday, March 23, Alan Goldberg ED passed away in his sleep. Alan was a very unique individual! He was the very first person I met as I walked into Hegeman Hall as a Freshman in 1954. He greeted me with, “How the hell are you, I’m Alan Goldberg!” His language was slightly more colorful than that! We became fraternity brothers and we became close friends since that first meeting. I would like our classmates to know this story!! When Alan sold his business in 1986, he called me in my capacity of Chair of the Scarlet R, the Athletic Development arm of the University at the time. I will never forget his words to me: ‘Ron, I just sold my business and I want to make a $100,000 contribution to Rutgers for the football program. I wish to establish a memorial to our former Class President, and my teammate, Bob Lusardi. See what you can do to make this happen.’ After conversations with the Rutgers University Foundation and Don Taylor, we established the 1958 Robert Lusardi Memorial Football Scholarship Fund. The initial contribution was $100,000 from Alan Goldberg! The Trustees of the fund were Alan Goldberg, Don Taylor, and Ron Giaconia. That’s the history of the Bob Lusardi Scholarship Fund which has helped several football players since then. One irony since then was that last year there was a Lusardi on the football team, but no relation to either Bob or his brother Leroy.”
Don Cook RC’58 “was sick for two days at Christmas. Tested negative for virus, but I think I had it. Anyway back to 100 percent physically, but not doing too well mentally. Unexpectedly lost an associate, who has been with my company for 40 years and headed our IT—a real bummer! I will try to get back to class president work in a couple of weeks, but right now have to focus on holding my business together. I did get a chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center on the east coast. It was pretty crowded and hot but certainly worthwhile—it reminded me of some of the great things we did in this country. Saw a Yankee spring training game in Tampa and a regular season Red Sox game also in Tampa. When I get back, I’m hoping to become a more active president and put together some interim activities before our regular reunion.”
Bob Max RC’58 “spent a month in January in the hospital with Covid. OK now but there goes my racquetball!”
Bob Max RC’58: bbmax96@comcast.net
1959
Class Column: Sadly, all the news is bad.
Ernest Albrecht RC’59 died February 3, 2022 at home in East Brunswick, NJ. Ernie, 84, earned his MA in theatre from Northwestern and taught English composition at Middlesex County College for 57 years, retiring in 2004. Over 25 years he wrote more than 3,000 theatre reviews for the New Brunswick Home News Tribune and for 15 years was producing director of outdoor musical theaters in Edison and Beach Haven, NJ. He was the founder, editor and publisher of Spectacle, a journal of the circus arts and authored four books about circus history. He is survived by his wife Pearl, two sons and four grandchildren.
Robert Gasser RC’59 died of a cerebral hemorrhage May 11, 2022, just over three months after his wife Marilyn T. Gasser SCILS’82. Bob, 84, received his law degree from Columbia and was in private practice in Toms River, NJ, for 42 years when he was offered a job as public relations representative in the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office. In that position he learned about and developed a passion for the work of drug courts. When he and Marilyn retired to Grantham, NH, in 2006, he championed the concept throughout the state. Bob and Marilyn are survived by a daughter and son. The Rev. Al Niese RC’59 wrote a touching tribute to Bob, which was read at the memorial service.
Jerome Gertner RC’59 of Lakewood, NJ, died December 28, 2021 after a prolonged non-COVID hospitalization. He was 88. Jerry joined the freshman class in 1951 but after a year dropped out to join the Air Force, where he served as an air traffic controller in Alaska and played point guard on the base basketball team. He returned to Rutgers at the end of his enlistment and went on to earn his law degree from the University of Virginia. Starting in the law office of his uncle, he became a municipal court judge, served as president of the Lakewood Board of Education, commander of the NJ state Jewish War Veterans, president of the American Judges Association and was named Lakewood Citizen of the Year in 2002. He is survived by his wife Lois, four sons and five grandchildren.
The foregoing obituaries are greatly edited due to publication guidelines. I’ll be happy to share complete versions. Just e-mail me. And stay in touch.
Alan Schreihofer RC’59: 3776 Ashford Lake Ct NE, Brookhaven GA 30319; 770-458-7766; aschreihofer@bellsouth.net
1962
Class Column: Our 60th Reunion is set for October 20-22, with a noon Homecoming football game on Saturday the 22nd preceded by many other class-related offerings. Many events are in the works with the schedule to be announced by the Rutgers University Alumni Association. Make it a point to attend, as in our 80s, we need to use our time wisely.
To keep our class involved, we will need a new class president and perhaps other officers. Class president Barry Pavelec RC’62 is retiring from his decades of great, creative leadership and service to the class. Barry created and nurtured our outstanding website and is the motivator keeping us focused on new projects while maintaining our links to the Rutgers administration. Case in point: President Holloway recently designated public service as a new, major initiative of his leadership. That will enrich the Rutgers College Class of 1962 Public Service Award and Scholarships that we started decades ago.
This year’s Presidential Public Service Award recipient was announced in May. He is Dr. Rigoberto Gonzalez, Distinguished Professor in the Department of English on our Newark campus. With a resume of almost 50 pages including hundreds of entries, Dr. Gonzalez is a remarkably active scholar. His achievements include writings, poetry, a wide array of formal presentations, collaboration with many other scholars including those specializing in Latino, Chicana, gay, and other literatures. He has been a teacher, mentor, judge, panelist, essayist, book, and poetry reviewer. Clearly, his voice is one of an outstanding leader sought by many seeking knowledge. It is our class’s honor to recognize Dr. Gonzalez and to be happy that his is a voice within the Rutgers universe of fine minds. Learn more on our website, www.rutgers62.org.
PLEASE: Volunteer to run for class president or another office as some will be open, including my news role.
Geof Gould RC’62, GSE’66, GSE’74: ggould@binghamton.edu
1965
Class Column: Roger Bales RC’65 email is poona43@aol.com. He and Sharon live both in Shelter Island, NY and Honey Brook, PA. Bob Mudie RC’65 says all is well in Texas and continues cycling, trying for 80-100 miles a week and is still involved with the development of the Northeast Texas Trail. Jeff Teitel RC’65 has moved from East Dover, Vermont to Plantation Bay in Ormond Beach, FL. Dennis Brodkin RC’65, NLAW’81 got his second Pfizer booster shot (4th shot in all) and hoping to be able to start traveling again with trips scheduled for LA, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and his annual summer family get together. Both granddaughters are of driving age and have started their college searches. Joseph Zerman UCNB’65 reported that both his kids and wife are also Rutgers alumni and recalls a few years back bowling with John Bradley RC’65. Mike Goodkind ENG’65 finally got back to Paris after Covid delays. Saw friends and family, ate in some old and new restaurants and has already booked flights for his next visit in December. Michael Wiener RC’65 is doing stretching exercises every morning and is still the only foreigner in his Thai village. Rich Steffan RC’65, GSNB’69 is still loving retirement! Two grandsons graduating—one from the University of Florida, the other from Seton Hall. Four more grandkids are finishing their first year of college. Les Goodman RC’65, RBS’70 avoided Covid 19 so far with the help of four shots of Moderna and getting ready to take the family sailing in the South Pacific. John Corcoran RC’65 says of Covid, “I’ve been able to avoid it (so far) by spending all daylight hours hiding under my desk.” Jon Rodiek AG’65 faces possible surgery for two frozen shoulders but says he might “suck it up until you no longer feel the irritation.” Nicer. Dave Kuch RC’65 has been busy fixing bikes, something he’s been doing professionally since ’71—first in Colorado, then Seattle, and now Portland. Also doing lot of volunteering. Jim Hackett RC’65 reminisced about his football days at RU throwing his patented look out block. As when the defensive lineman runs by you and you turn around and shout to the quarterback, “Look out!” Don Green RC’65 has delved more into writing poetry. A highlight was being asked to read a poem publically, sponsored by the Mercer County Library. Doug Stratton ENG’65 pretty healthy and enjoying Hillsdale, NJ after spending a dozen years in Arizona. Ed Belding RC’65 playing softball, writing and painting. Wrapping up work on his third Wetherill Mystery—Thirteen Stripes…and on second South Brunswick History Calendar (2023) for the local Historical Society. Tom Clark RC’65 starting to get back to travelling. Postponed trips from 2 years ago. June/July cruise from Venice to Greece & Turkey and back, and then in September down the Rhone from Paris to Nice. Ed Doherty AG’65 continues to follow Rutgers football, and is hopeful that Coach Schiano will soon field a competitive team against Big 10 competition. He spent four enjoyable years in the USAF as a Supply Officer then worked for IBM for almost 30 years in sales and marketing. He has three grown children and four grandchildren.
Chuck Hennings RC’65: c2hennings@yahoo.com
1966
Class column: It’ll be 60 years in September that we arrived on campus–College Avenue or The Heights–to become the Class of 1966 and, in many cases, make lifelong friendships. So many of us are in retirement and look back on those days and years as part of our history. Our homes are likely stacked with memorabilia—clothes, books, photos, whatever—that might be shared with the family or even the public. Renewing friendships in person or online has grown in value. Travel is appreciated even more post-Covid. And if you’ve been blessed. there are the grandchildren.
Many of our memories are recounted in the Daily Targum, which is available online at Rutgers library web sites. Class Historian Hal Shill RC’66, who promoted this project, met via Zoom with Erika Gorder, the library archivist, to discuss needed improvements to the searching software. We’ll advise of her progress.
Michael Perlin RC’66 is among those sharing his past with the outside world. He has donated 400 books (mental disability law, criminal law, forensic psychiatry, international relations law) to the library at the New York Law School, where he taught for three decades. He also has given 300 journals on various aspects of law to the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice.
Class President Ted Hardies RC’66 is among our long-delayed travelers. Ted and his wife Diane Hardies DC’68 are off to Belgium this summer to visit Ted’s family.
We have lost two classmates this year. Jeffrey Walters AG’66 died Feb. 16 near Greenville, S.C. His animal science degree from RU led to a doctorate in animal genetics from Ohio State and then a 30-year career teaching animal breeding and genetics at Utah State. John Russell Parke RC’66 died Jan. 19 in Cornelius, N.C. He worked for the state of New Jersey for years. On campus, he was a member of the Glee Club.
Larry Benjamin RC’66: 122 Almond Road, Freehold, NJ 07728; 732-625-9797; llbenj@optimum.net
1967
Class Column: No news of the class of 1967 since the last column, but I would like to recommend to my classmates the biography of Dr. Mason Gross written by his son Thomas W. Gross—Free Spirit, A Biography of Mason Welch Gross, Rutgers University Press, 2021. I was fortunate to get to know Dr. Gross as a teacher and as an ardent supporter of the Rutgers Crew. After graduation, when I was coaching lightweight crew and in the midst of explosive campus unrest in 1970, he showed himself to be the right person in the right place at the right time and kept the situation from descending into total chaos. The book gives an engaging and intimate portrait of the man who guided our university through rough seas.
And please mark your calendars for our 55th reunion in October. I hope everyone has taken the time to answer the survey about how to designate our class gift.
Michael Moran RC’67: revmoran@gmail.com
1968
Class Column: First, I want to thank all the members of our class who made a gift to the Class of 1968 Endowed Scholarship on Rutgers Giving Day. This is one of the most important things we have done as a class and your support is greatly appreciated.
Since my last column, I’ve learned of the deaths of two more of our classmates, Samuel Kearton RC’68 in December of last year and Robert Fishco this past February. Samuel, who died on December 14th, was born in Romford, England and came to the United States with his family when he was just one year old. The family settled in Trenton, home to many English immigrants, and he graduated from Steinert High School. According to our class yearbook, the Scarlet Letter, Samuel was a romance language major and a member of the bowling club. After graduation from Rutgers, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. When his military service was finished, Samuel earned an M.B.A. at New York University. He then began a work career that included being a longtime financial executive at AT&T as well as working for the state of New Jersey and having his own private accounting practice. Samuel was predeceased by his wife, Sandra Kearton and is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth.
Robert Fishco RC’68 was born in Jersey City, but lived in South Orange when he attended Rutgers. According to the Scarlet Letter, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu. A Biology major at Rutgers, Robert attended medical school at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating in 1974. After a family practice residency in Pennsylvania, he was a family practice physician in Manatee County, Florida for over 40 years. Robert had a lengthy list of hobbies including gardening, golf, collecting cars and reading. He is survived by his wife, Bridget, four children and four grandchildren.
On behalf of all members of the Class of 1968, I want to extend our condolences to Samuel’s and Robert’s families, may they rest in peace.
Lastly, a reminder that we have a Class of 1968 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/367708048230020. Remember you do not have to join Facebook to read the page. I’m also continuing my class email group—I will be happy to add anyone who would like to join, just email me at the address below.
John Zinn RC’68: jzinn84@comcast.net
1971
Class Column: I haven’t received any news this time. I am finally on the verge of retiring. After seeing patients for 46 years, we are moving to Whidbey Island, WA. The address below reflects the new location as of July 2022.
Kenneth Common RC’71: 1294 Dunlap Drive, Freelan, WA, 98249; kdcruod@yahoo.com
1972
Class Column: It has been 50 years since we graduated from Rutgers on that June 1st day in 1972. We had former president Mason Gross as the guest speaker. Time has gone so fast it seems. Our 50th reunion is this October 20-22 on the Banks. Our class committee has sent several letters giving you some of the details of the activities and weekend. The various events for our class include guest speakers, seminars, tours, and special dinners. Saturday will be the Homecoming game vs. Indiana and tickets will be made available. If you have not been back in a while, you will be amazed with the changes around all the campuses and downtown New Brunswick. Another big part of our tradition with our class reunion is our class gift. For this special reunion, our class will be donating to scholarships and internships at Rutgers Honors College and for academic programs for student-athletes at the new Barbara and Gary Rodkin Academic Success center. You may have already received several emails and/or a call from our committee in request of support of these initiatives. Our committee members are headed by our longtime class president Richard Kent RC’72, who has called hundreds of our classmates. A special thanks to Richard and our other committee members who have worked on this and past reunions. We appreciate all donations large or small and will be happy to answer any questions you have. I know my years at Rutgers helped me grow up, mature, and learn about life. I also found the education that helped in my career. I hope you gained by going to Rutgers and you can give back to Rutgers through our gift campaign. Thank you and good health to all!
Dan Kramer RC’72: Dankramer50@gmail.com
1974
Class Column: No news from our classmates. Your correspondent spent two weeks touring Croatia and Slovenia in late April and early May. The Croatian Coast between Opatija and Dubrovnik is beautiful and not terribly expensive. I hope to get back to New Jersey for a football game.
Kudos to Rutgers athletics, especially baseball, lacrosse, and rowing.
Richard Stier AG’74: 627 Cherry Avenue, Sonoma, CA 95476; Rickstier4@aol.com
1978
Class Column: Time to think about coming back “on the Banks” next spring as our class will be celebrating our 45th Reunion! How did that happen? Seems like yesterday when we were attending classes, riding a campus bus, hanging out at a Student Center, attending basketball games at the barn and more! I know it’s still early but to ensure you’re up to date on all of the activities, events, Rutgers news, and updates, make sure you’re connected with the Rutgers University Alumni Association (RUAA) alumni.rutgers.edu and the Rutgers Alumni Association (RAA) rutgersalumni.org.
For those of us scattered across the country (or world for that matter), the RUAA oversees some 30 chartered regional and international alumni groups run by dedicated alumni volunteers. We have a very active group here in Arizona and you can find groups coast to coast as well as in Costa Rica, Germany, India, Indonesia, and London. In addition there’s also the RAA which is the nation’s fourth oldest functioning alumni group, with its founding traced back to Queens College. The RAA is a chartered organization of the RUAA and has a partnership with the Rutgers–New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences and seven other constituent schools including the legacy institutions of Rutgers College, the College of Agriculture, and the School of Education. So if you’re not already connected, get connected and stay informed, it’s simple and easy. And speaking of staying informed, we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to since leaving the Banks so please let us know and we’ll share your adventures with our classmates. Thanks!
Until next time…
Mike Blishak RC’78: mikealan@att.net
1979
Class Column: This class column spotlights Greg Sedlacek RC’79 and Larry Soria RC’79, who have started a podcast called The Know Nothing Party – “since we really know just about nothing or are not really sure what we know.”
The podcast was originally about Greg and Larry’s life in general and opinions of how things have changed over the years. Larry has been nudging Greg to also write about the late 70s, including the 1978-79 period when Greg was Targum editor-in-chief. During that year there were a lot of fraternity incidents. Greg and Larry both pledged Alpha Epsilon Pi as freshmen and experienced the good, bad, and ugly of being a fraternity brother and living in a fraternity house.
Future podcasts will also be about wives, music, books, media…whatever. Greg and Larry are also planning to talk about the 70s, especially their college years and the contrast to what they see out there today.
Greg and Larry are also trying to recruit people to join them on their podcasts. There are only a few episodes so far, but family and friends are already suggesting topics they can talk about and they welcome requests from classmates. Here is the podcast link, which includes their contact info: https://sites.libsyn.com/403682/site
Greg has had a variety of jobs since graduating, including writing for various periodicals. Larry is a CPA and is currently controller of Saddleback Realty II LLC. Larry also volunteered in the past to help plan Rutgers College Class of ’79 reunions.
Debra Ann Lynch, Ph.D., DC’79 was inducted into the Loyal Sons and Daughters of Rutgers in March 2022. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Associate Alumna of Douglass College since 2005. Currently she serves as first vice president of the newly created Alumni Relations Department and is in her second term on the Rutgers University Board of Trustees, where she chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Stephen E. Novak RC’79 has coauthored a book, The Babies Hospital of New York (Arcadia Publishing, 2022) about the first freestanding children’s hospital in New York City and the fourth oldest in the nation. Steve has been the head of Archives and Special Collections at Columbia University’s Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library since 1997.
Linda Van Zandt Morris RC’79: lvzm09@gmail.com
1982
Class Column: So, I hope everyone is enjoying inflation and high gas prices, not really but I will stop there, I guess those who asked for it, got it. Anyway, I digress. It was a “your four, your four” event I would like to talk about. Those of you who know me and my college roomies know what I am talking about. Tony Angelosante RC’82, Mike Dello Stritto RC’82, George Goldberg ENG’82, and I got together along with Ed Saxton RC’82 and Don Goebel RC’81, at Bareli’s by the Sea in Spring Lake, NJ for a great group dinner. While Mike and Tony are retired, the rest of us are still grinding it out there. We had a great dinner and did our usual trip down RU memory lane. Those old stories seem to become more dramatic as the years go by. I also had the great fortune to see my daughter get married in March down in St. Augustine, Florida. It was a wonderful occasion and I got to see my best bud Manny Katz ENG’82 and his wife Nancy Mandel RC’83 as they helped join in the celebration. Elliot Dorin RC’82, my RU Baseball teammate and my eyewear frame sales rep is still framing the east coast with Modo Eyewear when he’s not golfing up a storm, or is that the other way around. Either way he still manages to do both and still takes in the occasional double header at the stadium and sends me pics as proof of attendance. Hey, I know there are more stories out there besides mine. I would love to hear from you, so drop me a line.
All the best,
Norm
Norman Schleiffer RC’82: 168 Longwood Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726; 732-792-0215; schleiff@alumni.rutgers.edu
1985
Class Column: Greetings! I’ll take the opportunity in this edition to draw your attention to RU’s community service resources page: https://alumni.rutgers.edu/get-involved/volunteer/community-service. Maybe you’d like to become a docent at Zimmerli or Rutgers Gardens, or a weather observer, or a counselor. Chances are, there’s a volunteer opportunity with your name on it. Check it out!
Perhaps you have some news to share about yourself or a family member—a wedding, a graduation, a promotion, etc. Claim your bragging rights in this column!
Linda Tancs RC’85: lindatancs@gmail.com
1989
Class Column: We lost classmate Matthew J. Glenn RBS’89’91, RC’89 in December to heart failure. Matt was a devoted fan as well as a longstanding season ticket holder for Rutgers athletics, in addition to being a New York Rangers and Yankees fan. He grew up in West Caldwell, New Jersey, and graduated from James Caldwell High School, where he was an outstanding student and varsity baseball player, before enrolling at Rutgers for his bachelor’s degree as well as achieving an MBA in Marketing from the Rutgers Business School. His profession over the past 30 years was a sales executive with several public and private companies. Away from work, he spent time with his family, including his wife and his two teenage children, whom he coached in sports. His four older siblings considered him “the most fun Glenn” of his generation and he was generally regarded as “upbeat” and “shiny” due to his joy for living. Matt was also known for his humility and quick wittedness, as well as optimism and courage, making him an inspiration to his loved ones. Finally, Matt was compassionate and loving, as well as loyal to friends and family.
John Fagan RC’89: johndfagan@gmail.com
1990
Class Column: Rob Bardsley RC’90 was honored with the Anson Wager Duty to God award by the Garden State Council, BSA, at their recent Council Recognition dinner in April.
Rob Bardsley RC’90: robbardsley@alumni.rutgers.edu
1993
Class Column: THIRTY YEARS! Yes, it’s coming up…Flannel shirts have come back, so should you! Plans are being made for reunion—please see https://ralumni.com for more general information about reunions at Rutgers, and keep it on your radar for Spring 2023! If you have any interest in charitable giving to honor this monumental occasion, please visit https://support.rutgers.edu/. If you are interested in helping to organize reunion events or a class gift, please let me know!
Ronald Gellert RC’93: rgellert@gsbblaw.com
1996
Class Column: In May, I was fortunate to be one of the keynote speakers at the three School of Arts and Sciences graduations. It was life-changing and inspiring to be amongst so much promise and celebration. I highly recommend having these interactions with as many of your fellow alumni as possible.
We’ve just finished 26 years of life post-graduation. What have you been up to?
Brian Tobin, RC’96, GSN’17: briannealtobin@gmail.com
