WNEC Cov06_Final.05 - Western New England University

The
Summer 2005
A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF WESTERN NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
Getting into the
GAME
The Business of Sports

Alumni Association Benefits and Services
As an alumnus/a of Western New England
College, the following benefits and services
are available to you:
Alumni Association ID Card
The Alumni Association
ID Card provides access
to campus resources
including the Library and
Alumni Healthful Living
Center. For details, call 413-782-1327 or
800-962-6592, or email alumwnec@wnec.edu.
The Alumni Healthful
Living Center (AHLC)
Alumni are welcome to use
the world-class facilities of the
AHLC free of charge. Popular
amenities include the fitness
center, pool, and track. For
details, call 413-782-1518. Guest
passes for family and friends
may be purchased for $2 each
from the Office of Student
Administrative Services (SAS)
by calling 413-796-2080.
D’Amour and Law Libraries
Free access to our libraries is an outstanding
alumni resource. Alumni ID card is required.
For more information and hours, contact the
Library at 413-782-1535, or visit the D’Amour
website at http://libraries.wnec.edu or Law
Library at http://www.law.wnec.edu.library
for hours of operation.
Alumni Apparel
Show off your college spirit with alumni
apparel. Choose from quality hats, golfshirts,
and windbreakers. Shop online at
www.wnecstore.com or call 413-782-1327.
Alumni Website
Learn about upcoming events, read Alumni
Association news, locate classmates, or post
your résumé on the Alumni website at
www.wnec.edu/alumni.
Free Subscriptions to Print
and Electronic Publications
• The Communicator—biannual magazine
for alumni and friends of the College
• Alumni Outlook newsletter keeps you
informed of upcoming events, recent activities,
awards, nominations, and voting.
Published in January, April, and August.
• Alumni E-News—When you register in
the alumni online directory, you will receive
our monthly e-newsletter. Register at
www.wnec.edu/alumni.
Affinity Credit Card
The College offers enrollment in an alumni
affinity credit card. For every purchase you
make with the card, a percentage will be
donated to the College. For details, contact
the Office of Alumni Relations at 413-782-
1327 or visit www.wnec.edu/alumni.
Insurance Discounts
As a graduate of Western New England
College, you may qualify for special group
discounts on your auto, home, or renter’s
insurance. For details, call 413-782-1327
or visit www.wnec.edu/alumni.
The CareerCenter
The CareerCenter
assists alumni
with lifelong
career
planning,
WORKING FOR
YOUR SUCCESS
occupational exploration, and job search
strategies. The Center provides access to
online job postings and enables alumni to
post internship and job openings. For more
information, visit www.wnec.edu/careercenter
or call 413-782-1217.
Blue and Gold Gift and Book Store
There’s no better way to proudly display your
College connection than with a memento
from the campus bookstore. For store hours
or more information, call 413-782-1284 or
visit www.wnec.bkstr.com.
Course Auditing
Alumni may audit undergraduate courses
for $15 per credit hour if space is available
and graduate courses in the Schools of
Business and Engineering. Courses are
offered on a space-available basis to an
alumnus/a who has completed a degree
at Western New England College and who
also has the listed prerequisite(s) for the
course selected. Law School courses are
not auditable. For details, contact the
Office of Student Administrative Services
at 413-796-2080.
Transcript Requests
Academic transcripts can be ordered
through the Student Administrative
Services Office. Law transcripts are issued
free of charge by the Student Records Office
in the School of Law. Federal law requires
that we receive your written signature on
all transcript requests. Transcripts will not
be issued to alumni with outstanding
financial obligations to the College. For
security reasons, transcripts cannot be
faxed from the SAS office.
Send your requests to:
SAS Office or Student Records Office—
Transcript Request
Western New England College
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
Diploma Replacement
If your diploma is lost or damaged,
you can have it replaced by calling the
Student Administrative Services Office at
413-796-2080 or 800-325-1122 ext. 2080.
(Note: A replacement fee is required.)
For more information about these benefits and services,
contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 413-782-1327
or email alumwnec@wnec.edu.

Contents
12 COVER
Getting Into the Game
STORY
From scouting for the NFL
to corporate promotion for
the United States Tennis
Association, recent sport
management graduates are
making all the right moves.
ABOVE: Megan Skidmore ’99
at the 2004 U.S. Open Tennis
Championships
ON THE COVER: Chris Prescott ’01,
assistant scout with the
Jacksonville Jaguars
Campus and
Community
2 President’s Message
3 Letters to the Editor
7 View from the Cupola
22 Student Spotlight
24 Sports Update
26 Alumni News
29 Alumni Connections
30 Class Notes
37 From the Archives
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
MISSION STATEMENT
6
Summer 2005
4 4-for-4 Scholarship Program: An Affordable Way
to Help One Student for Four Years
The Office of Advancement honors scholarship donors and announces a new
giving opportunity—the 4-for-4 Scholarship Program, a very personal way for
alumni to connect our past to our present, one student at a time.
6 College Bids Farewell to Henry “Hank” Bazan,
the Father of Golden Bear Football
The Communicator celebrates the life and legacy of Professor Emeritus
Henry “Hank” Bazan who passed away this spring.
10 Learning to LEAD Through New Certificate Program
Tracking the LEAD program, an intensive certificate program that builds
key leadership skills.
11 New Hybrid Model Marks Next Evolution of MBA
The MBA at Western New England College continues to earn high marks.
18 Commencement 2005
Pomp, circumstance, and new events highlighted Commencement
Weekend 2005.
20 Bradford M. Cohen ’93: Living a Life of Risks
and Rewards
Alumnus Bradford Cohen bested a million applicants vying for slots on the
hit reality TV show The Apprentice and continues to hold the attention of
Donald Trump.
23 Law Enforcement Graduate Rescues Choking Child
Learn how the quick thinking of Officer Dararith Ung ’04 of the Lowell
Police Department helped save the life of a three-year-old boy.
18
The mission of the Alumni Association of Western New England College is to communicate with and bring
value to the alumni body and to support actively and financially the goals of the College as detailed in its
Mission Statement.
20

President’s Message
DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS:
Commencement is a time of both pride and reflection at Western New England
College. As our graduates embark on new ventures, it is exciting to envision all that
they will accomplish in the years ahead. Graduates of the College go into the world of
opportunity before them knowing how to make a life, as well as how to make a living,
and how to make a difference. I know that the measure of the success of each of our
graduates in creating value in his or her own life will be the extent to which graduates
help those around them—loved ones, friends, colleagues, rich and poor—to make
value in their lives. It is this that will bring luster to the reputation of each graduate.
Just as graduates demonstrate a commitment to serving others, Western New
England College recognizes the value of building strong relationships with its surrounding
community. Each year, we host numerous programs for professional organizations
such as the Howdy Institute for members of the hospitality industry and present
public lectures on topics of interest to area residents from tax reform to finances
at the Money Conference for Women.
Our relationships with industry and the region’s corporate and nonprofit leaders
offer benefits to our students and the organizations who enlist their assistance to
work on engineering projects, to serve as student
“I know that by your experience here at the College,
teachers, or to undertake internships. Such positive
in getting to know each other, by learning from each
experiences frequently lead to invitations to students
other and from our mutual accomplishments and even
for full-time employment.
errors, and by learning to live and to work together
Understanding the vital role such relationships
and to experience the beauty of our different colors,
play in our own success at the College led us to recog-
our different faces, our different accents, our different
races, and all those wondrous aspects that make being nize the contributions of our neighbors at the May 22
a human being so interesting—because of all that you Graduate and Off-Campus Programs Commencement
have experienced here—you will go into this world of ceremony. It was an honor to award President’s
opportunity knowing how to make a life, as well as Citations to 24 Springfield civic organizations and
how to make a living, and how to make a difference.” neighborhood councils in recognition of their commitment
to the quality of life in their communities.
—President Anthony S. Caprio,
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, May 21, 2005 The College has been an active participant in the
life and history of our community since 1919. Through
the years, the College has collaborated with many organizations and businesses to
broaden the educational experience of our students and to enrich the lives of our
greater community. We have always been closely linked with our Springfield community
and intend to maintain this vital and worthwhile partnership.
2 Communicator Summer 2005
Sincerely,
Anthony S. Caprio

Letters to the Editor
In recent months, the Western New
England College community lost
two great former professors, Henry
Bazan and Robert Bock. Both were
wonderful professors who gave
their heart and soul to the College.
I met Professor Bazan in my first
week at college when he hired me
as an audio visual aids assistant.
In addition to being a management
professor and football coach,
Professor Bazan was instrumental
in the creation of the College’s
audio visual aids department. A
plaque in his office had a saying
that has stayed with me since I first
saw it in the fall of 1970, “Drive
and determination lead to success.”
Since I was a government
major, I never took any of Professor
Bazan’s classes, but I learned from
him one of life’s most important
lessons. I learned that
almost anything would
be possible through hard
work. I also worked with
Professor Bazan when I
was editor-in-chief of The
Westerner and publicized
the football club, which he was
also instrumental in creating. I’m
not sure anyone could top Coach
Bazan’s enthusiasm for the College,
the Golden Bears, and his ability
to mentor the students.
Professor Bock ran for Kansas lieutenant
governor before becoming
a Western New England College
government professor. He too was
enthusiastic about the College and
was a wonderful mentor. He encouraged
his students to think about
the country and the world and was
always accessible. I remember
The Communicator welcomes Letters to the Editor. As space is limited, please
keep your correspondence brief. Send your letters to: Mary Mazzaferro, Director
of Copywriting Services, Western New England College, 1215 Wilbraham Road,
Springfield, MA 01119-2684 or email: mmazzafe@wnec.edu.
Professor Bock eating in the
College dining hall many
times and you could tell how
fond many students were of
him. After I graduated from
college, I wrote a book about
political machines that Dr.
Bock read and offered his insight
on before it was published.
I adored both professors who
inspired students over three
decades. They were warm, caring,
and among the best at Western
New England College and will
be greatly missed.
Noal Solomon ’74
Vice President, Real Estate
Staples
Mayfield Heights, OH
Share the gift of knowledge
with future generations
Your Western New England College degree has helped you
achieve the success you deserve. Consider sharing your
success with younger generations and leave a legacy by
making a planned gift to the College. Planned gifts can
include a bequest through your will or a life-income gift
such as a charitable gift annuity or a charitable trust, which
pay you income and provide tax savings while helping us
achieve our educational mission.
For more information about bequests, life-income gifts, or other
types of planned giving, please contact James Rich in the Advancement
Division at 413-782-1373 or write:
James Rich
Senior Director of Foundation Relations and Advancement
Operations
Western New England College
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
Email: develop@wnec.edu
Visit our website at www.wnec.edu/giving
Summer 2005
Communicator
3
The Communicator is
published for the alumni,
parents, and friends of
Western New England College.
PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
Anthony S. Caprio H’00
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT
Beverly Dwight
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ALUMNI RELATIONS
Kara Kapinos ’87/G’89
VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING
AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Barbara Campanella
EDITOR
Mary Mazzaferro
ALUMNI NEWS EDITOR
Manon Mirabelli
CLASS NOTES EDITOR
Jennifer Kasparian
SPORTS NEWS EDITOR
Ken Cerino
VIEW FROM THE CUPOLA EDITOR
David Stawasz
WRITERS
Patricia Gagnon
Mary Mazzaferro
Manon Mirabelli
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Deborah Chappell
DESIGNER
Janice MacKenzie,
MacKenzie Design
PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Paul Schnaittacher
PRINTER
Bassette Printers
EDITORIAL OFFICES:
The Communicator, Office of
Marketing and External Affairs,
Western New England College,
1215 Wilbraham Road,
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
Telephone: 413-782-1420
Fax: 413-796-2007
Address and email changes should
be sent to the Office of Alumni
Relations at alumwnec@wnec.edu.
Every effort has been made to
contact copyright holders of any
material reprinted in this magazine.
Any omissions will be corrected
in subsequent issues if notice is
given to the Office of Marketing
and External Affairs, Western New
England College.
Western New England College is committed to
the principle of equal opportunity in education and
employment. The College does not discriminate on
the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin,
age, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or
disability in admission to, access to, treatment in,
or employment in its programs and activities. The
following person has been designated to handle
inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:
Executive Director of the CareerCenter and Human
Resources, Western New England College, 1215
Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01119-2684.
Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination
policies may also be referred to the Regional
Director, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of
Education, J.W. McCormack P.O.C.H., Room 222,
Boston, MA 02109-4557.

FOUR YEARS CAN
CHANGE A LIFE
FOREVER BY MARY MAZZAFERRO
College Announces New 4-for-4
Scholarship Program
The College is pleased to
announce a new scholarship
opportunity—The 4-for-4
Scholarship Program— a
very personal way for alumni
to support our undergraduate
students throughout
their Western New England
College education.
The 4-for-4 Program donors
pledge to contribute $1,000
a year for four years. These
gifts provide a $1,000
scholarship each year to
sponsor an individual student
throughout his or her
four years at the College.
Donors can create an annual
scholarship in their own
name or to honor or
memorialize a loved one.
Alumni have responded
positively to this unique
opportunity. Says Matthew
Rizzi ’95, vice president of Matthew Rizzi ’95
the Financial and Banking
Group at Bessemer Trust in New York City,
“I have always enjoyed giving back to Western
New England College. Now I get the added
benefit of knowing that my gift will help a
specific student from start to finish. This is
a terrific program.”
This year more than 90 percent of our undergraduate
students will require financial aid. The
4-for-4 Scholarship Program will help to reduce
4 Communicator Summer 2005
loan debt for students. While Western New
England College is still one of the most affordable
among its peer institutions, the cost of
tuition for 2005-2006 is $21,600 ($22,574 for
engineering students).
The scholarship will be awarded to an incoming
freshman with demonstrated financial
need. Donors may choose to designate their
gift to a student from a specific school or to
any undergraduate student with the greatest
need. Donors will be invited to the annual
scholarship recognition event to meet other
scholarship donors and recipients.
To learn more about the 4-for-4 Scholarship
Program or other giving opportunities, contact
Jim Rich, senior director of foundation relations
and advancement operations, at 413-782-1373
or email: jrich@wnec.edu.
SCOTT BERG
Appointed Director
of Major Gifts
Scott Berg of Wilbraham, MA, has
joined the Division of Advancement
and Alumni Relations as the director
of major gifts.
Commenting on the appointment,
Beverly J. Dwight, vice president for
Advancement stated, “Scott knows
our community and carries an impressive
track record in developing major
gifts. These attributes, combined with
his ‘can do’ attitude, make him an
important addition to the College.”
Berg’s extensive experience in nonprofit
development includes many years of
service to the YMCAs of Greater Boston
and Greater Springfield from 1991-
2004, where he held posts as youth
director, camp director, senior program
director, and executive director. His
biggest accomplishment was the creation
and development of the Scantic
Valley YMCA located at Post Office Park
in Wilbraham, MA. His most recent
position with the YMCA was as the
director of the “Growing Together”
campaign, which raised $7 million.
Most recently he served as general
manager at Action Fire Restoration/
Instar Services Group in Chicopee, MA.
Berg holds a B.A. from Boston College,
an M.S. from Springfield College, and
a PMBA from the University of
Massachusetts Amherst.

Giving Challenges Inspire Support
Dean Zern’s
Young Alumni Challenge
Dean of First Year and Transfer Students
Ted Zern made his own challenge to young
alumni. In the Dean Zern’s Young Alumni
Challenge, he offered to donate up to $2000,
$10 for each of the first 200 young alumni
(Undergraduate Classes 1995-2003) who
made contributions to The Fund for Western
New England College.
This spring, annual giving
received a boost when two
longstanding supporters
of the College stepped up
to the plate and challenged
others to do the same.
Benefactors Honored at Scholarship
Recognition Reception
Brenda Malone ’05, recipient of the
Carl R. Hellstrom Endowed Scholarship,
the William and Iona Sleith Endowed
Scholarship, and the Women’s Opportunity
Scholarship, expressed her deep gratitude
to her benefactors and told the audience,
“I always wanted to be associated with
this institution.” As a single mother in the
National Guard, Malone “worked two to
three jobs to pay for college. If it were not
for the generosity of these individuals,
I would not be up here today.”
Do you have a challenge for
classmates, graduates who
share your major, athletic
teams, or to another class?
Contact Tom Michaud, assistant
director of The Annual Fund,
at 413-782-1631 or email
tmichaud@wnec.edu to inquire
about your own challenge.
On April 12, 2005, the College recognized its
scholarship donors with an annual reception at
Rivers Memorial Building. There are well over
100 named scholarships, most of them permanently
endowed, awarded each year to approximately
150 students. Both donors and scholarship
recipients appreciated the opportunity to
personally connect.
President Anthony S. Caprio told the audience,
“The gift of a scholarship, especially an endowed
scholarship, is one of the most meaningful ways
to help students into the future.”
Dr. Caprio took the opportunity at the Scholarship
Recognition ceremony to reflect on the generous
example of Raymond Meyers ’51/G’64/H’01, who
had passed away just days before. He said, “Ray’s
children established the Raymond and Shirley S.
Meyers Endowed Scholarship many years ago.
Kim A. Mac Leod ‘73
Alumnae Challenge
College Trustee Kim A. Mac Leod ’73
challenged our alumnae, whose educations
have helped them achieve success in their
careers, to assist the next generation of
students. In the Kim Mac Leod ‘73 Alumnae
Challenge, Ms. Mac Leod pledged to match
$1: $1 all gifts from women graduates, for
a maximum of $10,000!
School of Business Dean Stanley Kowalski Jr.
offered remarks on why he chose to create
a scholarship to honor his wife, Carol, for her
more than 25 years of service as an adjunct
faculty member and coordinator of more than
150 Campus Center Art Gallery exhibits.
Throughout the years, on birthdays and other
occasions, Ray asked that people contribute to
the fund. Every day he had our students in mind.”
Dr. Caprio concluded, “The giving of a scholarship
is a generous act that is symbolic of everything
we stand for.”
Summer 2005
Communicator
5

COLLEGE BIDS FAREWELL TO THE
FATHER OF GOLDEN BEAR FOOTBALL
HENRY “HANK” BAZAN 1935-2005
6 Communicator Summer 2005
BY MARY MAZZAFERRO
WHILE THE GOLDEN BEAR has come
to represent the prowess and pride of
varsity athletics at Western New England
College, for many alumni that icon will forever represent
the spirit of one man—Henry “Hank” Bazan.
Hank Bazan came to the Western New England
College campus in 1964. Over
the next three decades, he
touched the lives of many
students as a professor of
management and faculty
advisor to the Management
Association. His dedication
to students was recognized
in 1992 with the College’s
Teaching Excellence Award.
Beyond teaching, Hank
Bazan had many loves in his
life—his wife and children,
his church, his country, and
football. It was his passion
for the game that led him
to form a club team at the
College in 1970.
With his growing brood
of children cheering from
the sidelines, Hank served
Hank’s favorite motto:
“DRIVE AND DETERMINATION
LEAD TO SUCCESS”
was reflected in his many
accomplishments.
as the team’s head coach from 1970 until 1979. His squads
compiled a 38-34-3 record (52.7%), which included six
winning seasons. Hank was selected the National
Club Sports Association (NCSA) “Coach-of-the-Year”
in 1974 after his Golden Bears posted a 7-1 record. He
was inducted into the Downes Hall of Fame in 2000.
“Hank was an excellent administrator. He inspired
you to go out and try things you didn’t think you could.
And there was always a lesson to be had in the process.
This was especially true in putting the team together.
He was as much a part of the football team as we were.
Hank was committed to using the team as a way to bring
the entire College together,” recalled Gary Orr ’71, supervisor
of manufacturing control at Hamilton Sundstrand
and former offensive center and defensive tackle for the
Golden Bears.
One of Hank’s dreams was to bring wider College
support for the Golden Bear mascot. He championed
the funding and creation of the Golden Bear statue that
stands in the Leadership Garden. He also developed
miniature replicas of the statue that are given to special
friends and supporters of the School of Business.
“If there was one word I would associate with Hank
it was ‘spirit.’ His whole life on campus was dedicated
to bringing spirit to the College. It was felt here over the
36 years he spent on the campus and it will continue
to be for many years to come.
“His major contribution to the institution was his
work with students. He worked closely not only with
his football players, but also with his advisees. Over the
years, he had a significant impact on the curriculum and
the personal development of the students,” said Stanley
Kowalski Jr., dean of the School of Business.
Hank served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 30 years
and retired at the rank of Colonel. He also was an
admission representative for the United States Military
Academy. That interest led Hank to bring both
Army and Air Force ROTC programs to Western
New England College.
Along with his wife, Josephine G’79, all four
of Hank’s children: Mary Bazan Vollaro ’83, Anne
Bazan Jany ’85, Stanley Bazan ’87, and Nancy Bazan
Fenton ’92/L’95 are graduates of the College. His
legacy to teaching at Western New England College
lives on in his daughter, Mary Bazan Vollaro, associate
professor at the School of Engineering. ■
Alumni may honor Hank’s memory with a gift
to The Henry J. Bazan Endowed Scholarship.
For details, contact Jim Rich, senior director
of foundation relations and advancement
operations, at 413-782-1373 or email:
jrich@wnec.edu.

The View from the Cupola
BY DAVID STAWASZ
MassMutual Academic Achievers Conference
College Hosts First
Fulbright Scholar
The College proudly hosted nearly 400 students from Springfield high schools in February for the MassMutual
Academic Achievers Conference. The day-long “Picture Your Future” program featured workshops on subjects
from how to get into (and pay for) college to how to build personal wealth. Former Miss Massachusetts and
current 22 News Anchor Latoyia Foster (top right photo) inspired the crowd with her own “Recipe for Success.”
Western New England
College was selected to host
Fulbright Visiting Scholar
Yuhe Xia from Beijing,
China for the 2004-2005
academic year. An associate
professor in the School of
English and International
Studies, Xia is also the
director of the Australian
Studies Program at Beijing
Foreign Studies University. Professor Yuhe Xia
She lectured on the topic:
“China: The Cultural Revolution and the Current
Moment.” She is the College’s first Fulbright Scholar,
and one of approximately 800 outstanding foreign faculty
and professionals the Fulbright Scholar Program
brought to the United States to teach and conduct
research.
Arthur R. Gaudio, dean of the School of Law; Marjorie Hurst
L’85, a member of the Springfield Public Schools School
Committee; and Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA).
Brown V. Board of
Education 50 Years Later
The Western New England College School of Law
marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s
decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case
with several events in October 2004. Massachusetts
Congressman Richard Neal delivered the keynote
address at a program which explored the national
impact of the landmark desegregation case and how
it has influenced policy in Springfield schools to
this day.
Summer 2005
Communicator
7

The View from the Cupola
Communications
Conference Helps
Groups “Get Noticed”
More than 150 local professionals,
students, and
members of the media
converged on campus on
January 13, 2005, for the
College’s second annual
Communications
Conference, “Getting
Noticed in the 21st
Century.” Through a
partnership with the
Valley Press Club, Western New England College staff
and faculty, as well as professional guests, helped give
attendees the tools they need to distinguish themselves
in a crowded marketplace. During the conference’s
luncheon, veteran Springfield newscaster Durham
Caldwell received a lifetime achievement award recognizing
his distinguished 56-year career in journalism.
College TV Advertising
Wins Top Prize
The College’s latest television campaign took home the
gold in the 20th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards
competition. The two winning ads focused on how
students can “exceed their expectations” through a
Western New England College education, and highlighted
the Colleges new PACE accelerated undergraduate
programs and bachelor’s programs. The ads aired extensively
throughout Massachusetts, northern Connecticut,
Rhode Island, and southern New Hampshire in the fall
of 2004 and the spring of 2005.
8 Communicator Summer 2005
Campus
Edition
The Western New England College Office
of Diversity Programs hosted a lecture
by famed comedian and civil rights
activist Dick Gregory on February 1,
2005, at Rivers Memorial Building. In
the photo (left), Gregory posed with the
College’s Director of Diversity Programs
and Services Yvonne Bogle ’83/G’91. The
event helped kick off the College’s Black
History Month festivities. Gregory’s visit
was also sponsored by the Cooperating
Colleges of Greater Springfield, Unity
First News, and the Massachusetts
Commission Against Discrimination.
Extreme Extreme
Makever
Makever
Students returned to the campus last fall to see the fruits of two
years of work on the St. Germain Campus Center. College President
Dr. Anthony Caprio, College trustees, and dozens of students, staff,
and faculty helped rededicate the building in November. The $3.2
million project included an expanded bookstore, a new café, and
a new food court that transformed the ground floor into a “living
room” for the entire campus.
“The key element for us was
to create an environment where
students can be comfortable outside
of the classroom,” said Vice
President of Marketing and External
Affairs Barbara Campanella. “Their
lives on campus are so busy, they
need a place to relax and socialize.”

Skipping Florida
for Kentucky and
the Catskills
“Learning Beyond the Classroom” doesn’t stop just because
it’s Spring Break. Western New England College students took
part in two separate trips through the College’s Alternative
Spring Break program. A team of nine students traveled to
Morehead, KY, to help build affordable housing.
A team of seven students and faculty advisor Tom Wozniak,
assistant dean of residence life, traveled to Oneonta, NY, to
assist Catskill Rural AIDS Services in providing education and
support to people living with AIDS.
President’s Medallion
Awarded to Two
Distinguished Visitors
Dr. Anthony
Caprio honored
Maryse
Condé with
the President’s
Medallion,
which is
bestowed
upon individuals
who have
distinguished
themselves
in a particular
field or in service to an important cause. A novelist,
playwright, and educator, Condé spoke at the
College last October. Originally from Guadeloupe,
Condé has lived in Paris and spent a decade teaching
in West Africa. She is currently professor emeritus
at Columbia University. Her visit to the campus
was cosponsored by the French/Humanities Department
and the College’s Diversity Task Force.
Former Boston University hockey player and author
Travis Roy was also awarded the President’s Medallion
last fall. Roy is the author of Eleven Seconds, which
recounts his personal journey and mental triumph
over paralysis caused in the initial seconds of his first
college game. He is a motivational speaker and heads
the Travis Roy Foundation, which awards grants to
spinal cord injury survivors and supports SCI research
towards a cure.
Summer 2005
Communicator
9

Invest
in your
Future
Maurice Edwards
Electrical Engineering ’92
MBA ’96
Senior Project Manager
The Hartford Financial
Services Company
Only 15% of Business
Schools in the world are
accredited by AACSB
International. Western
New England College is
proud to be one of them.
When you choose an MBA program
from a business school accredited
by AACSB, you’ll be in very good
company. Our faculty and curriculum
meet the highest standards, ensuring
excellent preparation for a successful
business future.
Study in our new hybrid program
or combined JD/MBA program.
Learn about Information Sessions
or download an application at
www.wnec.edu/mba.
Exceed
413-782-1249
800-323-1122
ext. 1249
your
Expectations
Springfield, MA
www.wnec.edu
10 Communicator Summer 2005
Learn to LEAD Through
New Certificate Program
MOVING UP in an organization
requires certain
critical skills to meet
the demands of today’s
business environment.
The LEAD Program is an intensive
five and a half day certificate series
that provides the opportunity to acquire
key business knowledge to take a leadership
position in any organization.
Western New England College and
the Employers Association of the
NorthEast (EANE), two recognized
leaders in the field of business education,
have joined forces to present
this highly interactive series.
Participants will build an extensive
framework for enhancing competencies
in leadership, business communication,
change management, strategic
thinking, finance, and human resource
management.
Participating in the LEAD Certificate
series provides the opportunity to
identify leadership styles, empower
and inspire others, and improve business
results.
Today, change management has
become a key concept in the business
world. The LEAD Program teaches
strategies for identifying and removing
obstacles to change and for making
financial performance a key indicator
throughout your company.
The program is taught by School of
Business faculty members and leadership
training professionals including
Dr. John Coulter, associate professor
of accounting; David Kimball, senior
lecturer in management; Susan Miller,
director of training and development
at EANE; Michael Seabury, an experienced
training professional; and
Meredith Wise, a 20-year human
resource manager/director. Visit
www.wnec.edu/lead for more
information or call 413-782-1473
or 800-660-9632.
Are you seeking
a promotion?

MBA
PROGRAM
New Hybrid Format
Offers Best of All Worlds
IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, change
is good, but evolution is better. Indeed,
Change Management is the newest concept
embraced by leading edge business
executives. To prepare future leaders to
deal effectively with change, the MBA Program
at Western New England College continues to
evolve.
In a new hybrid format, the part-time program
offers courses that meet on campus, exclusively
online, or a combination of both—with classes
alternating one week on campus and one week
online to accommodate the schedules of busy
professionals. Students also appreciate the
11-week accelerated terms that enable them
to earn their MBA in just 18 months.
Introduced at the College in 1956, the MBA
program now focuses on developing leadership
skills in the context of a rapidly changing
business environment.
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business (AACSB) International accreditation
mandates continuous quality improvement
among programs at the School of Business.
To keep our MBA program in step with current
business practices, the School consulted with
high level alumni executives. In cooperation with
the Office of Alumni Relations, it held several
small focus groups and interviewed individuals
to find out what employers will expect of MBA
graduates of tomorrow.
One of the alumni consulted was Brian
Gragnolati G’82, president and CEO of
Suburban Hospital Healthcare System in
Bethesda, MD.
BY MARY MAZZAFERRO
Gragnolati brings a unique perspective to the
subject of MBA education. In addition to his
own experience in the Western New England
College MBA program, Gragnolati has worked
with MBA graduates from many institutions
beginning in his early career at Baystate Health
Systems to service as CEO of Wellspan Health in
York, PA, which offered an MBA apprenticeship
program, to his present post at the 231-bed
acute-care medical-surgical facility. He serves
an 18-member board of directors, deals with a
multitude of accreditation bodies, coordinates
alliances with institutions such as Johns Hopkins
and National Institutes of Health, and steers the
financial and development efforts of the nonprofit
hospital with a staff of over 1,700.
Mr. Gragnolati sees value in MBA graduates
who bring both strong academic preparation
and prior business experience to the table, particularly
financial backgrounds. Says Gragnolati,
“It’s hard to pick up a newspaper or magazine
and not read about the enormous financial pressures
facing healthcare administrators right now.
The economic equation drives everything we do.
“As far as specific skill sets, you must have
an understanding of financial matters—an
emphasis not just on accounting, but on being
financially well-versed in strategy. Healthcare
administrators need to know how to develop
and drive strategy. Change management is key.
Today, you need to focus on adaptive change.
Understanding how to transform an organization
is critical to creating a climate for change.
The world is driven by economics so a good
part of my job as CEO requires having a firm
grasp of economic principles.”
Dr. Harlan Spotts, assistant dean of graduate
studies and associate professor of marketing
at the School of Business, is confident the MBA
at Western New England College will provide
such preparation for future graduates. He also
believes our program offers key benefits over
other MBA programs offered in the region.
Says Spotts, “There’s a reason why we are the
only private college in the area accredited by
AACSB. Accreditation is hard earned. It demon-
Dr. Harlan Spotts, assistant dean of graduate
studies and associate professor of marketing.
strates that our program meets strict standards
in curriculum, faculty credentials and scholarship,
and continuous quality improvement—benchmarks
of quality valued in corporate America.”
Spotts also advises prospective students to look
closely at program costs and the quality of the
educational experience.
“Our courses cost the same, whether students
attend class on-campus or online. Others charge
more online. It’s also important to look carefully
at the classroom experience. We intentionally
cap our enrollment at 25 students, both online
and on-campus, to optimize interaction with
faculty. Can you imagine being in an online
chat room with 50 classmates?
“Graduate school is a major investment of time
and money. We want to give our students the
best value and education possible. Through the
new hybrid format, the MBA at Western New
England College offers the best of all worlds.” ■
The School of Business and Office of
Alumni Relations extend their appreciation
to the following alumni for their insight:
Charles E. “Chuck” Bashaw G’79
Donald S. Bozek ‘78/G’85
G. Peter Cullinan ’71/G’77
Brian A. Gragnolati G’82
Cameron J. Hutchison G’80
William C. Jolicoeur G’75
Clark E. “Skip” Matthews Jr. ’87/G’93
Russell M. Stratton ’88
For more information visit our website at
www.wnec.edu/ce or call 1-800-325-1122,
extention 1249.
Summer 2005
Communicator
11

12 Communicator Summer 2005
Getting into the
BY MARY MAZZAFERRO
GAME
Young alumni are making
all the right moves
in the sports industry.

At $213 billion a year, sports are BIG business in the U.S. According to the Sports Business
Journal, the U.S. sports industry is “more than twice the size of the U.S. auto industry and
seven times the size of the movie industry.”
The business is comprised of a myriad of sub-industries from major and minor league franchises
to sporting goods. Each offers unlimited career paths for those who desire to combine their
passion for sports with their acumen for business.
It’s not surprising that sport management is the largest major at the
Western New England College School of Business. What distinguishes our
program from others says Associate Professor of Management Sharianne
Walker is its focus on a business curriculum over physical fitness or therapy.
This is something Dr. Walker appreciates from her own experience working
in marketing and public relations for Commonwealth Sports Properties (the
holding company for the New England Patriots and Foxboro Raceway and
Stadium) and the Boston Celtics. Says Walker, “More than 200 schools offer
sport management programs, but they’re not all the same. At Western New
England College, it’s all business. Sport management majors take the same
business core as other majors at the School. And our program is one of just
a handful in the country accredited by AACSB International, the world’s
leading accreditation body for business schools.”
The true test of the program can be gauged by how its newest graduates are getting into
the game—and playing to win.
Summer 2005
Communicator 13

Chris Prescott ’01
NFL Scouting Assistant
Jacksonville Jaguars
Like every young boy who puts
on a football helmet, Chris
Prescott dreamed of making it
big in the NFL—first as a player,
later as a general manager. Just
a year after hanging up his
Golden Bear jersey, Prescott
found his dream job somewhere
in between as a scouting assistant
for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prescott made the cut the same
way most of our sport management
graduates do—through
practical experience, networking,
and persistence.
While every student at the
College is encouraged to perform
an internship, sport management
majors routinely take
on several to put their résumé
on the top of the pile in this
fiercely competitive industry.
Says Prescott, “The College does
a great job in finding internships
for students. I worked for the
Springfield Falcons; Madison
Square Garden; the Hartford
Wolf Pack; the New England Sea
Wolves, an arena football team;
and the Bridgeport Bluefish, a
minor league baseball team.”
14 Communicator Summer 2005
Prescott’s extensive internship
experience helped open the
door to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What’s it like to be a young NFL
scout? That’s what NFL Films
wanted to know. Last fall, the
production company dedicated
an entire episode to Prescott
as part of a series about the
behind-the-scenes look at the
NFL training camps. The film
captured Prescott in action
running NCAA players through
their paces.
Scouting out college players is
only part of Prescott’s job. In the
pre-season, he spends much of his
day “watching tape” for recruitment
or player elimination.
During the season, he travels
around the country to observe
prospects in action and attends
receptions at all-star games,
such as the Cactus Bowl and the
Senior Bowl, to “eyeball them
physically and see what they’ve
got between the ears.”
He says, “You’ve got to have a
demeanor. You can’t be timid in
this game. You’ve got to play
like somebody’s got his hand in
your back pocket trying to take
your money from you. Because,
Jaguar’s quarterback
Byron Leftwich with
alumnus Chris Prescott.
in reality, that’s what the player
coming up behind you is trying
to do.”
During spring training, the
coaching staff and scouts spend
hours reviewing tape to see who
measures up. “We start off with
88 guys in camp. The roster has
to get down to 53 for the season,”
says Prescott.
Even as an assistant scout,
Prescott is part of the decisionmaking
process. “We get together
in the staff room with Jack
Del Rio, our new head coach. We
go around the room and everyone
says their piece. It can get
pretty hot in the room, but what
I appreciate about our organization
is that you know everyone
has put work into their decision
so you respect their opinion.
“That’s exactly what they taught
us about teamwork in the Sport
Management program. We
learned how to work in groups,
delegate, and brainstorm. Dr.
Walker and Dr. [Daniel] Covell
emphasized the importance of
working together to get the
best possible finished product.
The decisions we make in the
staff room show up on the field
on Sunday.”
“The toughest part
about cutting someone
is that essentially
you’re saying,
‘your dream is over,’
because you don’t
know if they will get
picked up again.”
Known to players as “The
Sniper” or “The Turk,” Prescott
isn’t the most popular guy in the
locker room. One of his most
challenging responsibilities is
telling players they are being
cut from the squad.
“The toughest part about cutting
someone is that essentially
you’re saying, ‘your dream is
over,’ because you don’t know if
they will get picked up again.”
Prescott estimates, “I’ve probably
cut about 100 guys. When
they see me coming down the
hall, they know what I’m there
for. I say, ‘Come with me; Coach
wants to see you. I need your
playbook and your game plan.’
One of the hardest guys to cut
was Hugh Douglas, he was a real
high profile, big sign player who
just didn’t pan out. Another
tough time was cutting a guy
who was reading the Bible when
I walked up.”
Prescott works hard to retain his
objectivity, “There are a million
great people out there—but
they’re not all great football
players.”
The best part of his position says
Prescott is “having a job that
allows me to be around something
I’ve loved my whole life.
I’m extremely competitive. I love
to win and that all starts with
the decisions we make in the
scouting team. As they say, ‘you
can lose with talent, but you
can’t win without it.’”

Adrienne Petrino ’00
General Manager
Lady Footlocker
Stamford, CT
Adrienne Petrino is earning her
stripes at Lady Footlocker, literally.
With an eye on the prize—a
position as a buyer in the corporate
office, Petrino is learning all
she can about the buying patterns
of her customers. Currently,
she oversees the day-to-day
operations of three stores in
Connecticut.
“In this industry, you’ve got to
do the legwork before you can
understand the decision-making
process of your demographic,”
she says.
Megan Skidmore ’99
Sponsorship Sales and Service
United States Tennis Association
White Plains, NY
The captain of the Golden Bears
Softball team in her junior and
senior years and vice president
of the Sport Management
Association, today Megan
Skidmore is a part of the promotional
machine behind the
U.S. Open Tennis Championships,
the largest attended annual
sporting event in the world.
Skidmore used her internship
experiences with the Springfield
Falcons and Golf Digest to land
a public relations job at The
Sports Center at Chelsea Piers in
New York City. From there, she
moved to her present post at
the United States Tennis
Association (USTA).
“We service seven major corporate
partners such as JPMorgan
Chase, American Express, and
MassMutual, in their planning
and preparation to activate their
sponsorship at the U.S. Open.”
It’s the same practical focus
that makes Petrino one of the
biggest fans of the Sport
Management program. “The
practicum experience was a
great part of it. In 2000, my
practicum team started
Midnight Madness, which
drew the largest ever student
turnout of any school event.”
Midnight Madness is the kickoff
of the College’s winter
sports season.
Petrino’s internship experience
was intentionally varied, taking
her from Wall Street to Disney
World to the NHL. “Programs at
other schools are often part of
the education department. At
Skidmore has found her high
energy level, willingness to
adapt to new challenges, and
particularly “thick skin” to be
real advantages.
Each August, Skidmore and her
colleagues move from their
Western New England College,
you get a business degree so if
you choose to leave the industry,
you have that to fall back on.”
Petrino acknowledges that
sport management majors are
highly competitive individuals.
Westchester County headquarters
to the USTA National Tennis
Center in Flushing Meadows, NY,
for the duration of the U.S. Open.
For Skidmore, the proximity to
the sport’s biggest celebrities is
secondary to the challenge of
keeping the sponsors happy.
Summer 2005
“But it’s also like a family,” she
says. “We try to keep in touch
as much as possible. Since the
business is so competitive, we
all get excited when someone
breaks through.”
“It’s non-stop organized chaos
for 21 days straight, but it’s
fun. And the best part of the
job, for me, is interacting with
the sponsors.”
Communicator 15

John Marine ’03
Corporate Account Manager
New York Olympic Regional
Development Authority
Lake Placid, NY
John Marine is too young to
remember the 1980 Olympics
at Lake Placid, NY, but this year
he got a special history lesson
about those legendary games
as a participant in their silver
anniversary celebration.
John is a corporate account
manager for the New York
Olympic Regional Development
Authority (ORDA), which was
established after the 1980
Olympics by the State of New
York to support winter athletes
and serve as a destination to
train competitors. With a Ski
Jump Complex and Bobsled
Track, the facility is known as
“The Winter Sports Capital of
the World.” Says John, “We’ve
hosted countless World Cups,
World Championships, Goodwill
16 Communicator Summer 2005
Games, ESPN
Outdoor Games,
and own and
operate two ski
areas—Gore
Mountain and
Whiteface.”
John’s office is
located in the
Olympic Center,
the site of the
“Miracle on Ice” U.S. Gold
Medal hockey team’s 1980
upset over the Russian
favorites. As part of the 25th
anniversary celebration, in
February 2005,18 of the team’s
20 members, along with medalists
in other sports, returned to
Lake Placid. The ice arena was
renamed after the Miracle
team’s coach, Herb Brooks.
In college, John never imagined
he would one day work in winter
sports. In fact, John confessed
that he has only recently
learned to ski.
It was the opportunity to play
football and the warm welcome
he received from former Coach
Gerry Martin that brought John
to the College. While he was
pleased to be named captain
his senior year, it was sport
management that he came to
love most.
John got his first taste of event
planning as a member of a
select group of students from
Western New England College
and Springfield College, which
organized and ran the 2003
High School Invitational
Basketball Tournament.
An internship with the United
States Basketball League
Adirondack Wildcats taught
John, “about sales and cold
calling. And I learned how to
deal with rejection. That’s what
makes it so much sweeter
when you close the deal.”
Today, John oversees contracts
with major corporate sponsors
such as Verizon and Kodak.
“It’s great to be a part of the
industry and really see how
worldwide sports are influenced
by corporate development,”
says John.
“One thing that Dr. Covell
emphasized that I have always
carried with me, is this: Be
committed to your organization
and its programs. If you help
them reach their goals, there
will always be a spot for you.”

Meghan Halloran ’02
Service Representative
Baptist East Milestone
Wellness Center
Louisville, KY
Meghan Halloran employs the public speaking skills she
developed during classroom presentations in her job as
a service representative at a major Louisville fitness center
voted the best facility in a regional reader’s survey.
Halloran, who will be married this month, relocated to
Louisville to be near her fiancé whom she met when
working in minor league baseball.
“I loved working in baseball. I made so many contacts. It
totally changed my perspective on life,” says Halloran of
her experience in the sales department of the Norwich
Navigators, an AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
Cocurricular experience in associations, and internships
for the New Jersey Cardinals and the Springfield Falcons
helped her break into the minor leagues. Strong mentors,
including Dr. Sharianne Walker and Women’s Soccer Coach
Ron Dias, helped her gain the confidence to excel. Dias is
among Halloran’s wedding guests.
Today Halloran is pleased to enjoy a more predictable
schedule in the fitness industry. She says, “There are so
many more aspects of this business than people realize.
You can always go back to learn how to be a trainer.
Western New England College gave me the accounting
and general business courses to be successful in the
sports industry or any business.” ■
(L to R) Assistant Professor Sharianne Walker, Craig Burden ’03, Jason Fiddler ’05,
Mike O’Connor ’03, Jody Lemoi ’02/G’04, and Ross Evans ’03.
Sport Management Graduates
Share Strategies for Success
On Saturday, February 12, 2005, five recent graduates
shared their game plans for success at a panel session
for prospective students and their families.
“To be successful you have to be
committed, flexible, and possess
a positive attitude. Experience
from internships is very important
and it helps to find a
mentor who will take you
along for the ride.”
Craig Burden ’03
Stadium Operations Manager
Bowie Baysox Professional
Baseball Club
“You have to wear a lot of hats
and be good at many different
things in sports marketing. It’s
never an eight-hour day.”
Ross Evans ’03
Consumer Relations Associate
New Balance
“You need to dare to be different.
The College offers great
clubs and classes to set you
apart. Mediocrity doesn’t cut
it in the business world.”
Jason Fiddler ’05
Golf Operations
Willowbend Golf
The Ranch Golf Club
Summer 2005
“I travel 30 weekends a year.
I’m willing to work hard
because my passion drives me
to do it. If you’re an athlete,
reinforce what you learn on
the field. Perseverance and
determination transfer to the
business world.”
Jody Lemoi ’02/G’04
Championships
Eastern College Athletic
Conference
“It’s so important to network.
But you also need to be able
to work under pressure. A lot of
the tapes we produce for “Fast
Break” are finished 10 seconds
before we go on air.”
Mike O’Connor ’03
Production Assistant
ESPN
Communicator 17

“You are now about to enter a new world of opportunity, and I know you are ready to
Commencement
Weekend 2005
Baccalaureate
Commencement celebrations began on
Friday, May 20, 2005, with the Baccalaureate.
Students and their families attended individual
School Honors ceremonies, as well as a
College Assembly and reception.
(L to R) Craig Sandison, secretary: Brianna S.
Putnam, vice president; Dr. Anthony S. Caprio,
College president; Julie L. Hogan, president;
and Chelsea A. Bergeron, treasurer, present
a check for $2,500 to the College to fund the
construction of a water wall in the Campus
Center as a gift from the Class of 2005.
Patrick C. Belmonte ’05
took to the podium to the
cheers of fellow graduates.
In his address, Belmonte
spoke of the genuine concern
exhibited by College
faculty. “Having a friend
who cared about each and
every one of us is what
made the learning experience
here so meaningful.”
18 Communicator Summer 2005
Commencement is a time-honored rite of passage for young
men and women, and commencement ceremonies are steeped
in the traditions of higher education. The variety of events that
took place this year honoring student achievement is another
example of the excellence and dedication that has come to
distinguish Western New England College as an institution
committed to exceeding expectations.
Undergraduate Ceremony
Attorney Bradford M. Cohen ’93, who
became nationally known in the fall of
2004 when he was a contestant on The
Apprentice, delivered Commencement
remarks to more than 580 graduating
seniors at the undergraduate ceremonies
on Saturday, May 21, 2005, at the
Alumni Healthful Living Center.
“Risks are inevitable,” Cohen said.
“Weigh the risks and rewards. It’s okay
to be afraid of taking risks, but don’t
let it paralyze you.”

take it on.” —College President Anthony S. Caprio
Celebration
of
BY MANON L. MIRABELLI
Achievement
Ben Swan Jr. received a President’s Citation from
Dr. Anthony S. Caprio on behalf of the McKnight
Neighborhood Council.
School of Law Ceremony
One hundred sixty Western New England College School of Law students were
awarded juris doctor degrees on the morning of Saturday, May 21, 2005, at
Symphony Hall in downtown Springfield. Honorable Nancy Gertner, United States
District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts, was the keynote speaker
and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Speaker Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Court
Judge for the District of Massachusetts
Local Community
Organizations Honored
This year, the College honored
24 Springfield Civic Organizations
and Neighborhood Councils for
their commitment to the quality
of life in their communities. Each
group was recognized for actively
working in collaboration with
the College.
“You are critical players, critical
messengers,” Gertner said. “You
are the ideological and moral
repositories of the law. This is
not a business. It is a profession
and must remain so.”
Graduate and Off-Campus
Programs Ceremony
Internationally acclaimed author Suzanne
Strempek Shea and her husband, Pulitzer Prizenominated
local newspaper columnist Tom Shea,
received honorary doctor of humane letters
degrees at the Graduate and Off-Campus
Programs ceremonies held on Sunday, May 22,
2005, at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
“From two people who were educated later
in life, we salute you on your accomplishment
today,” Strempek Shea said.
Said Tom Shea, “We stand here today as a
three-dimensional example of what can happen
when you let life happen.”
Speakers columnist Tom Shea and his wife,
author Suzanne Strempek Shea
Summer 2005
Communicator
19

BRADFORD M. COHEN ’93 IS A
self-described natural leader. “I’ve
always been the type of person who
enjoys being in the front of the crowd.”
And he has no regrets about any
decision he has ever made or a course of
action he has taken. “Each decision I’ve
made has molded me into who I am today.
I make the move and learn from it. Living
a life of regrets is wasted emotion.”
In fact, he doesn’t even regret waiving
his immunity from elimination that he
earned on the hit NBC television program
The Apprentice, a move that prompted
those two words billionaire entrepreneur
Donald Trump has made infamous—
“You’re fired.”
The Apprentice contestants are
assigned special projects by Trump, with
the most successful contestant winning a
top post with one of Trump’s companies
for one year. Based on performance, one
contestant per week is fired by Trump
throughout the season.
Beginning in 2004, each week’s winning
project leader is exempt from being fired.
Cohen was among them. “I never needed
to be offered a carrot to lead. If given the
opportunity to lead, I will take it. No one
gets exemptions in real life. I still feel that
way. People should be judged on their
merits not freebies,” Cohen asserted.
20 Communicator Summer Spring 2005
Living a Life of
Bradford M. Cohen ’93:
Risks and Rewards
Brad met up with
Assistant Vice President
of Alumni Relations
Kara Kapinos ’87/G’89
at a local appearance.
BY MANON L. MIRABELLI
“Living a life
of regrets
is wasted
emotion.”
WHILE HE HAS NO REGRETS,
Cohen did concede that, in
hindsight, he would not have
forfeited his immunity because he feels
he could have won the top spot. Not only
is he an attorney, but he is also a successful
real estate investor and owns several
properties in Florida. He is also a partner
in the Semolina Bread Company of
Longmeadow, MA.
Cohen may have lasted on the program
for just two episodes, but those two appearances
were enough to earn him a loyal fan
base and additional television appearances
and offers. He has been interviewed on
numerous television programs, including
Today and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno;
is a legal commentator for Fox News and
Court TV; and was offered a spot on The
Surreal Life, which he rejected. “I’m
through with reality TV,” he said.

Cohen noted that intensity makes for
better and more dramatic reality television,
and that Trump himself mentioned
he overplayed the firing scene. “He told me
later he thought it (giving up the exemption)
was a gutsy move.”
A criminal defense attorney in the Fort
Lauderdale, FL, firm he founded, Bradford
M. Cohen and Associates, today Cohen
also answers legal questions on one Florida
radio program and provides commentary
on The Apprentice on another. “A lot of
opportunities came out of my appearance
on The Apprentice, he said.
COHEN, WHO EARNED a Bachelor
of Science in marketing from
Western New England College,
honed his marketing skills as a student in
Professor William McCarty’s “Sales and
Salesmanship” class. The principles in marketing
he learned in that course, he said,
were the ones he employed in the ice cream
project Trump assigned to The Apprentice
contestants.
“Professor McCarty taught me how to
sell and motivate, and get excited about
ideas,” Cohen noted. “I learned in that class
that you have to personalize yourself to
win over others. People don’t buy products;
they ‘buy’ the people selling the products.”
McCarty was not the only member of
the College faculty who left an indelible
impression on Cohen. Professor Alfred
Ingham, assistant dean of the School of
Arts and Sciences and assistant professor
“You don’t hit
the ball out of the
park unless you
take a swing.”
of criminal justice, was also instrumental
in shaping Cohen’s future while he was an
undergraduate student.
“His course in “Investigations” was one
of the reasons why I wanted to become an
attorney,” Cohen said.
Cohen, who was active on campus in
student political organizations and the
karate and lacrosse teams, came back to
the College for the May 21, 2005, undergraduate
Commencement and shared his
Apprentice experiences with the graduates.
He focused his speech on the rewards of
taking risks.
Bradford M. Cohen '93 takes time out while
robing for Commencement 2005 to speak with
graduating senior Bryan Plamondon ’05 and
offer valuable advice on gaining admission into
law school.
While his run on The Apprentice
may have been short-lived, Cohen said
he remains in touch with Trump and
recently appeared at a speaking engagement
with him. For Brad Cohen, being
“fired” by Donald Trump was one of the
best career moves he could ever make.
“Being on The Apprentice was an opportunity
of a lifetime.” ■
18-Year Trophy
Mystery Solved
In what is best described as a
“stunning development,” an 18-year
Western New England College
mystery has been solved.
Two highly coveted class reunion
trophies have been returned to the
office of President Anthony S. Caprio
after missing for the past 18 years.
In 1986 at the 25th reunion of the
Class of 1961, a dispute arose over
which division—Day or Evening—
had the highest number of living
members in attendance. Disagreeing
with the judges, members of the
Class ’61 responded by taking physical
possession of the two trophies.
According to Class of ’61 testimony,
the trophies have been “under good
custodial care and have brought years
of enjoyment to a small group of
classmates.”
At a recent unofficial reunion gathering,
1961 classmates voted to return
the trophies to the Western New
England College campus for continued
use and safekeeping.
Brought to you by,
Class of 1961
Day Division
First Western New England College
Engineering Graduates
Summer 2005
Communicator
21

Student Spotlight BY PATRICIA GAGNON
“While in high school, I had heard
about schools that had sport management
programs and I knew that it was
what I wanted to study. I also had an
interest in business and I thought ‘what
could be better, sports plus business?’ ”
says new graduate Tricia Troiano, a twosport
varsity athlete and outstanding
sport management major at Western
New England College.
Tricia, a native of Long Island,
NY, remembers seeing Western New
England College for the first time.
“I absolutely loved it. I returned as a
recruit for softball, stayed overnight, and sat in on a few classes. One
of the classes was a sport management class. The class was exciting
and after sitting in on a lecture I was set on coming to Western New
England College.”
Tricia appreciated the business focus of the program. “It effectively
integrates necessary business skills with the wide variety of
knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the sports world. The
program here provides opportunities to explore many aspects and
job options, such as athletic administration, sport marketing, facility
management, and contest management. It is important that students
obtain the entire scope of the industry because it is so broad.”
“The faculty is fantastic here. I have always been able to contact my
professors, and I consistently see them around campus. Dr. Sharianne
Walker, associate professor of sport management, and Dr. Daniel Covell,
assistant professor of sport management, have been two key figures in
my progression and success at this college,” says Tricia.
Tricia’s success is evident not only in her high academic standing
(3.60 GPA), but also in her many leadership and volunteer activities
at the College. She has been a member of the women’s softball and
tennis teams for four years, event coordinator for the annual Girls
and Women in Sports Day for the past three years, president of the
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, resident advisor, student representative
for the Athletic Advisory Committee, and board member
for the Sport Management Association. She has volunteered for
sport organizations such as the Basketball Hall of Fame and the
Springfield Spirit (National Women’s Basketball League).
Tricia graduated in May. She will be attending a sport management
graduate program this fall. She will remain connected to
Western New England College as the assistant women's tennis coach.
“I will never forget how great it felt to be a part of the College’s softball
team when we won the NCAA DIII Regional Championships,”
she recalls. “I have always dreamed of a career in the sports world.
This dream is derived from who I am and my passion for sports. My
dream job is to be an athletic administrator at a Division III institution.
Studying sport management here at Western New England
College has been an extremely fulfilling experience.” ■
22 Communicator Summer 2005
Tricia Troiano
“ I have always
been an athlete,
and sports
were a driving
interest in my
life since I can
remember.
”

BY PATRICIA GAGNON
Law Enforcement Graduate
Rescues Choking Child
IN MAY 2004, OFFICER
Dararith Ung of the Lowell
Police Department received
his Bachelor of Science in Law
Enforcement from Western
New England College. Seven
months later, this 12-year police
force veteran would be using all of his
education and training to save the life
of a three-year-old child.
On a Saturday night in December
of last year, Officer Ung, responding to
a dispatcher’s call, arrived at a residence
to find a frantic mother outside on the
driveway carrying the limp body of her
three-year-old son. The boy had choked
on something and now he wasn’t breathing.
“I was the first officer who arrived,”
recalled Officer Ung. “I quickly took over
and immediately started to perform a
mouth sweep. I could not see or find
any object in his mouth.”
“I radioed to update the child’s condition
with the dispatcher who in turn
informed the EMT who was on his way,”
Ung said.
Ung then picked up the boy and tried
to dislodge whatever was obstructing his
windpipe with five Heimlich maneuvers in
rapid succession with no success. He rested
the boy on the ground and tried several
back blows, again with no success. “A second
officer (Robert Alvarez) arrived and
he assisted me,” said Ung. They rolled the
boy onto his back and started chest compressions.
After about one minute of CPR,
the boy’s eyes rolled open and he began to
Lowell Police Officers Dararith Ung ’04 and Robert Alvarez
wheeze, breathing very shallow.
When paramedics arrived about a
minute later, they were able to dislodge a
large “fireball” type candy from the boy’s
throat using a small pair of tongs. He was
taken to the hospital where his condition
was stabilized.
Sgt. James Trudel of the Lowell Police
Department praised the work of Ung and
Alvarez whose quick actions and CPR
training were critical in saving the child’s
life. “Those officers did an exemplary job
in their duties,” he said.
Dararith Ung was born and raised
in Cambodia. He moved to the United
States in 1982. He credits his education
at Western New England College with
enhancing his work as a patrolman. He
will never forget that night in December
nor the gift he received from seeing the
boy well with his family a few weeks later.
“The child, Andrew, and his parents came
to the police station to personally thank
us with a Christmas card and other gifts,”
he said. ■
The Communicator would also like to recognize
Officer Philias Verrette Jr., of the Salem, MA,
Police Department, who was recently awarded
the Medal of Valor, the highest award presented
to a Salem police officer for bravery in the line
of duty. Patrolman Verrette was honored for
saving the life of a Mass Electric worker who
was in the path of a moving vehicle.
Summer 2005
Communicator
23
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOWELL SUN

Sports Update
24 Communicator Summer 2005
BY KEN CERINO
THE COLLEGE’S MEN’S SOCCER
team added another chapter
to its distinguished history by
compiling a 16-6-1 record this past
fall that was a school record for
wins, breaking the old mark of 15
set in 1975.
Coach Erin Sullivan also directed
his squad to the regular season
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
(GNAC) title with perfect 9-0
mark, winning every match by a
shutout. The Golden Bears went
on to win their first GNAC
Tournament title with victories
over Rivier (4-1), Norwich (3-0),
and Johnson & Wales (1-0).
By winning the GNAC crown,
Western New England College
earned an automatic bid to its first
NCAA Division III Championship,
but lost 1-0 to host Roger Williams
University in a first round match.
The Golden Bears outscored
their opponents by a 60-15 margin
during the season and compiled a
school record of 14 shutouts that
was 12th nationally among
Division III teams. When the final
polls came out, the Golden Bears
were voted seventh in the National
Soccer Coaches Association of
America (NSCAA)/Adidas
Division III New England Poll.
Apre-season trip to Europe in
August played a key role in the
team’s success, according to the
players and coaches.
Not only did the Golden Bears
get an opportunity to play six
matches against older, more experienced
club teams in The Netherlands,
Italy, and Switzerland, team
members served as goodwill
ambassadors for the College and
U.S. collegiate soccer.
“We enjoyed competing against
top-level European clubs, and I
believe the experiences we had in
terms of cultural exchange, global
education, and team building were
invaluable for our student-athletes,”
said Sullivan who was voted the
GNAC Coach-of-the-Year. “One of
my foremost goals since I joined
the program was to take our first
recruiting class on an overseas trip.
We are fortunate to have had the
unparalleled support of our athletic
administration, soccer alumni, and
friends and family to help make this
dream a reality.”
Men’s Soccer Team
“ When Athletics Director Mike Theulen hired Erin, it
was one of the best things that ever happened to
the Men’s Soccer program“ —BILL DOWNES G’83

A pre-season trip to Europe in August including Ogilnate, Italy, pictured here, played a key role in the
team’s success, according to the players and coaches. Competing against top-level European clubs provided
invaluable cultural exchange, global education, and team building experiences for our student-athletes.
The team concept suited the Golden Bears
well as 10 players scored 10 or more points led
by sophomore forward Evan Heymann
(Ipswich, MA) who had 17 points (6 goals, 5
assists) coming off the bench. Senior goalie Jay
Martyn (Poughkeepsie, NY) had a 0.50 goalsagainst-average
along with nine shutouts.
When awards came out, Western New
England College players were at the top of
the list.
Sophomore defender Tim Larocca (East
Longmeadow, MA) and senior midfielder
Scott Thornton (Bedford, NH) became the
first players in school history to make the
NSCAA Division III New England All-Star
Team. Larocca earned a spot on the third
team while Thornton was a fourth squad
selection. Senior defender John Schmalberger
(Berlin, CT) was named the GNAC Player of
the Year and MVP of the GNAC Tournament.
Schmalberger, Larocca, and Thornton (the
only three-year captain in school history)
earned spots on the All-GNAC First Team
with Martyn and sophomore forward Kofi
Oteng (Worcester, MA). Junior forward Mike
Schnepp (Feeding Hills, MA), junior back
Scott Meikle (New Milford, CT), and sophomore
back Mike Zawislak (Newark, DE)
made the All-GNAC Second Team.
Most of the credit, though, goes to
Sullivan who has a 54-42-11 record (55.6%)
in five seasons as coach. A 1996 graduate
of Williams College, Sullivan was the starting
goalkeeper on the Ephs’ squad that
won the NCAA Division III Championship
his senior year.
“When Athletics Director Mike Theulen
hired Erin, it was one of the best things
that ever happened to the Men’s Soccer
program,” said Western New England
College coach emeritus Bill Downes who
won 182 games in two decades as the
men’s soccer coach from 1970-89.
“Erin’s knowledge and approach to the
game is exceptional,” Downes noted. “His ability
to communicate with everyone connected
to the program is excellent. Erin also has
brought together former players and made
them feel part of the resurgence and that has
excited the alumni. Erin is, quite frankly, the
best Men’s Soccer coach we’ve ever had.”
Men’s Soccer, which was among the
original sports at the College, will cerebrate
its 40th anniversary season next fall.
It also will mark the 30th anniversary of
the 1975 team (captained by Dave Boino
’76 and Mark Staropoli ’76) that posted a
15-4-2 record while placing fourth at the
National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA) Tournament.
What does Downes remember best about
that team?
“We had a well-conditioned squad with
great chemistry along with some talented
Enjoys Record-breaking Season
players who made others around them play
better,” he recalled fondly.
The 1975 Western New England College
Men’s Soccer team was inducted in the
Downes Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. ■
Summer 2005 Communicator
Communicator
25

Alumni News BY MANON L. MIRABELLI
Association Salutes
Exceptional Volunteers
THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,
and each spring, the Association honors those volunteers
who have made significant contributions of their time
and efforts to advancing the College, as well as the Association.
Six individuals were recognized
on Sunday, April 10, 2005, for
their extraordinary dedication
and exceptional service to the
Western New England College
Alumni Association.
Alumni Association President
Daniel P. McLaughlin ’96 said
he was extremely grateful to
honor alumni who “come after a full day of work to join us for
meetings late into the evening.” To the many student leaders in
attendance he said, “You are our future. I hope the energy you
displayed as student leaders on campus will be used to continue
your lifelong relationship as leaders of the Association.”
College President Anthony Caprio stated, “There is no one individual
who moves this ship ahead. The great thing about this
enterprise is that by working together, we have made it the
great college that it is and the greater college it will become.”
Western New England College Alumni Association
Apparel offers an ideal way to show your support
for your alma mater. Our high quality baseball
caps, shirts, and windbreakers make perfect gifts
for friends, classmates, or recent graduates.
Wear your college name with pride and help
support the efforts of alumni and students today.
Proceeds of apparel sales benefit the College’s
Alumni Association and Student Activities.
View our complete apparel line at
www.wnecstore.com, or call 800-962-6592 for details.
26 Communicator
Spring 2005
Alumni Association President Dan McLaughlin ’96, Nicholas Fagioli
’71, Mathew Nelson ’93, Leslee Larrivee ’99, Donald Trudeau ’70,
Nicholas Hudgik ’85/G’90, College President Anthony S. Caprio, and
William Dupuis ’79
2005 Star Volunteers
The Alfred A. LaRiviere Award
for Outstanding Service to the
Association Board of Directors
Mathew Nelson ’93
The Raymond Meyers Award
for Outstanding Service to the
Volunteer Management
Committee
Leslee Larrivee ’99
Award for Outstanding Service
to the Advancement Committee
William Dupuis ’79
Liza Nascembini ’03
Award for Outstanding Service
to the Alumni Outreach
Committee
Donald Trudeau ’70
Award for Special Projects
Nicholas Fagioli ’71
Award for Outstanding Service
to the Alumni Association
Nicholas Hudgik ’85/G’90

Alumni Day 2005
Speakers Share Career Insights
Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan ’78 with students from
Assistant Professor Peter Fairman’s Public Administration class.
Alumni Day has become a Western New England
College event to which both alumni and students
look forward. It provides alumni with the opportunity
to share practical career insights with
students, and it allows students to see firsthand
what their education can do for them.
AS THE MAYOR OF
the “Immigrant
City,” Michael
Sullivan ’78 oversees
the governmental operations
and budgets of Lawrence, MA,
an urban city with a population
of about 70,000 rooted in
a long history of industry and
manufacturing.
His responsibilities to the City
of Lawrence, however, do not
prevent Sullivan from returning
to his alma mater on
Alumni Day.
On April 6, 2005, Sullivan
was one of 18 alumni who
headed for class, not to sit
behind a student’s desk, but
to stand at the head of the
classroom. Sullivan was the
alumni guest speaker in the
Public Administration class of
Dr. Peter Fairman, assistant
professor of political science.
Sullivan, who explained the
duties of a mayor, said he
was impressed by the students’
perception of the
things that are most important
to residents. “The students
caught on immediately.
The bottom line is education
and safety.”
For freshman Jeff Lee, a
political science major from
Oregon, Sullivan’s presentation
was a lesson in the career
possibilities that await him.
“He talked about the City
of Lawrence and how it has
changed since he became
mayor,” Lee said. “I learned
things about being a mayor
that I did not realize can
have such an impact on the
quality of life for the residents
of a town or city. It
made me think that some
day I can make the kinds
of changes that will make a
difference in people’s lives.”
J. Kenneth Gilbert ’73
Many Thanks to
Our Alumni Day
Speakers
Fran Appleby ’79
Donald Bozek ’78/G’85
Daniel Bruno ’97
Renee Comeau ’03
Eric Copeland ’96
J. Kenneth Gilbert ’73
Kevin Hamel G’95
AnnMarie Harding ’79
Amy-Margaret Johnson ’96
Kim Kenney-Rockwal ’90/G’00
Edwin Lindsay ’78
Natalie Pisarcik ’99
Mary Principe ’81
Andrew Sargent ’89
William Simonet ’88
Mayor Michael Sullivan ’78
Liz Tousignant ’96
Pamela White G’03
AnnMarie Harding ’79
Spring 2005
Communicator
27

Alumni News BY MANON L. MIRABELLI
Young professionals from greater Springfield
and northern Connecticut gathered at
Theodore’s in downtown Springfield to compare
notes on life after college at a Young
Alumni Reception held on March 31, 2005.
The group included 26 graduates from the
Classes of 1999 to 2004. Abby Szawerda ‘01,
assistant director of alumni outreach, welcomed
guests to the gathering. The College
staff was well represented with a number of
employees who are also young alumni including
Shaun McGrady ‘03, Ryan Watson ‘01, and
Tom Michaud ‘03.
Our new assistant
director of the Annual
Fund is graduate
Thomas Michaud ’03.
28 Communicator Spring 2005
Marc Newman ‘88, vice president of the
Alumni Association, expressed his appreciation
for the great turnout for the new program.
Sporting one of the new polo shirts with the
Association insignia, Marc announced that
such shirts and other apparel are available
for sale through the College’s website at
www.wnecstore.com.
Three former classmates of the Class of 2004,
Daniela Riccardi, Cari Peterson, and Stephanie
Marek, used the Young Alumni Reception as
an incentive to reunite. “We haven’t seen each
other since graduation,” said Peterson, who is
Young Alumni:
The Future of Our
Association
Members of the Class of 2004: Daniela Riccardi,
Cari Peterson, and Stephanie Marek reunite at
the Young Alumni Reception.
employed in the Life Services Division of
MassMutual Financial Group. Commented
Daniela, a financial risk underwriter for
Genworth Financial, “It’s just like old times. It’s
also great to catch-up with other people and
find out who’s working in the area and what
they’re doing. We’re all in the same boat.”
Stephanie, who is an assistant media buyer for
Market Masters-Legal in Northampton, MA
added, “We’re all so busy it’s nice to have an
opportunity to share experiences and talk with
other new grads.”
Michaud Named Assistant Director of the Annual Fund
“I am delighted to welcome Tom to our staff. As an alumnus, Tom understands and appreciates the
benefits of a Western New England College education firsthand. He is a talented and dedicated professional
who intends to make a difference in the area of annual giving. I encourage alumni to work
with Tom. His efforts will bring an exciting new look to The Fund for Western New England College,”
commented Kara Kapinos ’87/G’89, assistant vice president for Alumni Relations.
In his new post Tom stays connected to alumni and friends of the College by campaigning for annual
gifts. He works with the Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Marketing and External Affairs to
develop marketing materials to increase participation in The Fund for Western New England College.
Tom received a B.A. in Economics in 2003 and is currently pursuing his MBA at the College. As an undergraduate
student, he was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and a standout athlete. He was captain and
MVP of the 2003 Men’s Tennis Team and received the 2003 Men’s Cross Country Team’s Most Valuable
Runner Award and was named MVP at the 2002 Great Northeastern Athletic Conference.
Tom also currently serves as the assistant Men’s Tennis coach at the College and is helping the
Athletics Department with community service efforts.

Alumni Connections
Kara Kapinos ’87/G’89
Assistant Vice President for
Alumni Relations
“Having something
in common with
someone with whom
you are doing business
is always of
some benefit. In our
region, we are very
fortunate to have
many fellow Western
New England College
alums with whom we
interact almost on a
daily basis.”
–Frank Fitzgerald '68/L'73
Local Business Owner Discovers
the Value of Alumni Networking
IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
today, one can never underestimate
the value of networking.
Making the right connection
can close a pivotal deal
or lead to an important career
opportunity.
Here in western Massachusetts,
it’s hard to do a business
deal without connecting to a
fellow graduate. Such was the
case in a recent story shared by
Scott Channell, president and
owner of National Vinyl
Products, Inc., of Chicopee, MA.
After six years working as
vice president and assistant
general manager, Scott decided
to buy the company when the
owner retired. As with any
business transaction, the purchase
required the participation
of lawyers and bankers. At
every turn of the process, Scott
had the good fortune of dealing
with a graduate of Western
New England College.
“When I went to the office
of the seller’s attorney, Frank
Fitzgerald it was very evident
from the photos and memorabilia
on his wall that he was a
graduate and actively involved
with the College. It was great
working with him. The previ-
ous owner had been grooming
me to take over the company
so it was a very cordial process.
“At Banknorth, my loan officer
was Assunta “Sue” Albano
and I immediately recognized
her supervisor, Frank Crinella,
from the class behind me. It’s a
great benefit to deal with fellow
alumni. Understanding
that they share the same mind-
set gives you an added comfort
level. You know you will be
treated well because of that
connection.”
Commented Attorney
Fitzgerald, a trustee of the
College, “The special affinity
created by our mutual association
with Western New
England College graduates
raises the level of respect and
facilitates the transaction. We
(L to R) Assunta "Sue" Albano '97, assistant vice president commercial loans, Banknorth; Scott
Channell '86, president and owner of National Vinyl Products, Inc.; Frank Crinella '87, senior
vice president commercial loans, Banknorth; and Attorney Frank Fitzgerald '68/L'73.
are also more mindful of our
fellow alums when providing
references for other businesses,
or referring matters to other
attorneys.”
Alumni Association events
are a great place to meet and
network. Visit our website at
www.wnec.edu/alumni for
details on upcoming gatherings.
■
Spring 2005
Communicator 29

1973
THOMAS H. THEMISTOS (MBA) was
recently elected to United Bank’s
Board of Directors. He is a member of
the Massachusetts Society of CPAs,
works as a life and health insurance
agent, and has earned the Personal
Financial Specialist designation from
the American Institute of CPAs. He
lives in Longmeadow, MA.
1974
BARBARA G. (VAN WART) TRANT
(government) is the coordinator of
the Westfield, MA, Volunteers in
Public Schools Program, which she
helped form 10 years ago. She oversees
300 volunteers in 13 schools.
Barbara is married and has three
children.
1977
RONALD J. KLINKOWSKI (accounting/G’80
MBA) retired from
Danaker Tool Group, which is located
in Simsbury, CT, in January 2004
after 40 years of service. Ronald and
his wife, Nancy, celebrated their 41 st
wedding anniversary in September
of 2004, and plan to travel during
their retirement. They live in
Agawam, MA.
DEBRA (CLEMENS) SCHUSS (sociology)
is the new director of programming
and marketing at Congregation
Beth Am in North San Diego County,
CA. She also works part-time as the
special events and outreach coordinator
at the North Coast Repertory
Theatre.
BARBARA S. (SMITH) UBERTALLI
(management/G’80 MBA) is a volunteer
secretary for the Council
30 Communicator Spring 2005
on Aging. She is a retired bank
officer for BankBoston and lives in
Holyoke, MA.
1978
DONNA M. GUERTIN (accounting/
G’95 MBA) was recently promoted
to associate vice president of
finance for Bay Path College. She
served as the comptroller for Bay
Path since 2000.
DARSHAN SINGH BAJWA (MBA) is
a loan executive for the 2004 United
Way Community Campaign. He is
also a trustee for his undergraduate
institution, Panjab University in
India.
ROBERT J. UNDERHILL (MBA
accounting) was recently elected to
the Board of Directors at Greenfield
Co-operative Bank in Greenfield,
MA. He is the executive vice president
and COO of the Channing Bete
Company, Inc. He lives in South
Deerfield, MA.
JOSEPH M. VITA (management) was
elected secretary of the New Milford,
CT, Board of Education in December
2004. Joe is in his second year of
service on the Board. He is a district
staff coordinator for the State of
Connecticut D.E.P Boating Safety
Education Division in Old Lyme, CT.
1979
DAVID R. TAYLOR (management)
was recently named vice president
of sales for J. Polep Distribution
Services, located in Chicopee, MA.
Formerly, Dave was a sales manager
for five years, and a district
sales manager of western Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and New
York for four years.
Class Notes
Connections
www.wnec.edu/alumni
1980
DENNIS M. LIND (mechanical engineering)
is director of design and
engineering for Walt Disney World
CO. He lives in Orlando, FL.
1982
RALPH D. ARCHETTI (accounting)
is a Major in the United States
Army and recently participated in
a computer simulated command
post exercise with personnel stationed
in the U.S. and South
Korea. Ralph is an attack operations
officer with 16 years of military
service assigned to the 32 nd
Army Air and Missile Defense
Command, Fort Bliss, TX.
1983
25 years
STEPHEN R. GELLING (MBA) has
recently joined Greater Springfield
Habitat for Humanity as their third
executive director. For 19 years
Stephen was assistant vice president
at MassMutual for the corporate
services division, and then
spent the last four years as the
director of major accounts at the
Court Square Delta Group. He
resides in Longmeadow, MA.
THOMAS M. MAZZAFERRO (MBA)
has joined RVI group as senior vice
president and chief financial officer.
He was previously employed as
executive vice president and chief
financial officer at American
Skandia. He is also a certified management
accountant.
JOAN B. WALKER (MBA accounting)
was hired as the accountant
for the town of Charlton, MA. She
was the former town accountant
for Grafton. Prior to that she
served as the chief procurement
officer and accountant for the
town of Warren, MA.
1984
CRAIG J. COFFEY (quantitative methods)
was recently promoted to COO
of Healthcare Resource Solution,
Inc. He was the former vice president
of operations. He lives in
Wilbraham, MA.
GERALD D. COIA (general business/G’90
MBA) was recently
named president of Eastern Federal
Bank in Norwich, CT.
HAROLD T. EPPS
HAROLD T. EPPS (MBA) has been
named president of Poly Hi Solidur
Americas. He was previously vice
president/general manager for the
Industrial Polymers Division of Poly
Hi Solidur.
NATHAN R. LYNCH (marketing) of
Walpole, MA, is expanding his law
practice to include New Hampshire,
Vermont, and Massachusetts. He
formed Nathan R. Lynch, PLLC in
2003. His areas of practice include
wills, trusts, business law, family law,
criminal law, personal injury, and
real estate.

1985
STEFANO MAGGIPINTO (accounting)
has joined W.F. Young, Inc. as a
controller. He is a CPA and will be
involved with all facets of the company’s
financial planning, information,
technology, and human
resource functions. Most recently,
Stefano held the position of senior
financial analyst at Northeast
Utilities in Berlin, CT. He lives with
his family in Westfield, MA.
FRANK A. MIGNANO (mechanical
engineering) and his wife, Diane,
moved to Houston, TX, 12 years ago,
and they “still are not used to the
heat.” They have two children
Nicole, 11, and Frank, 9. Frank is a
sales engineer/account manager
with SKF Reliability Systems.
DAVID M. MOL (accounting) was
recently named executive director
of Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice
Services. Prior to this, David served
as the agency’s chief financial officer.
WILLIAM J. SULLIVAN (finance/G’90
MBA) was recently named vice
president of Commercial Loan
Officers for Peoples Bank. He will
be working out of their headquarters
in Holyoke, MA. He has more
than 17 years of banking experience,
beginning at Fleet Bank
where he served as client manager
in the Middle Market Lending and
Commercial Small Business
Services in Springfield, MA.
1986
SCOTT M. CHANNELL (management)
is the owner of National Vinyl
Products, Inc. in Springfield, MA,
a business he started six years ago.
It now employs 65 people, and has
reached sales of $7 million. He lives
in Hatfield, MA.
JOHN K. CROTTY (MBA) has joined
Radius Management Services as
executive director of Radius Health
Care Center in Millbury, MA. He is
also a current member of the United
States Air Force Reserves as a
Health Services Administrator.
1987
20 yearsWhere Are
ELIZABETH C. WARD (integrated liberal
studies) has left ABC 40 News
as an anchorwoman and joined the
Springfield School Department as
communications specialist. In her
new position, Beth will develop a
comprehensive communications
plan for the school district.
1988
SUSAN J. FEYRE (business) is the
new assistant principle for Palmer
High School in Palmer, MA. She will
serve as the disciplinarian for
grades 8 through 10, and assist in
teacher evaluations. Prior to this
appointment, Susan was the business
and information technology
teacher for the Chicopee, MA
School System.
1989
BETSY (WESTCOTT) SCHWERS (business)
currently resides in Arizona
and has recently been named by
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
to the Arizona Early Education
Fund Advisory Board. Betsy has
two children, Samantha, four, and
Devin, two.
RODNEY SMITH (sociology/G’03
MSCJA) has been hired as director
of government affairs for the Tasker
Products Department of Defense
Initiative in Danbury, CT. Rodney
served in the United States Army
for nine years, during which time he
was named Soldier of the Year two
consecutive years and received the
Meritorious Service Medal for
Outstanding Achievement in 1996.
Rodney is also well recognized for
winning a bronze medal in wrestling
at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
1991
JOSEPH T. BAPTISTA JR. (accounting)
was recently named to Mechanics
Co/Operative Bank’s Board of
Directors. Joseph is the vice president
and chief lending officer for
the bank, and lives in Taunton, MA.
They Now?
Guy Asadorian Jr. ’86
East Greenwich, RI
Spring 2005
Title: Principal/Owner,
Tameracq Partners, Inc.
Major: Finance
Minor: Economics
Why did you choose
Western New England
College? It had the right
combination of size, athletics,
and curriculum (business).
What was your first impression of the College?
This is a place I want to be for the next four years.
Favorite professor and why: Claire Bronson. I was a
finance major and she was a finance professor with whom
I had some classes and she was also my advisor. I could
always count on good advice from her; she challenged me.
Most important life lesson learned, and by whom:
I always find great inspiration in stories of perseverance. Those
who have experienced failure but never gave up and went
on to achieve great things are those who I admire most and
those are the lessons that have the greatest influence on me.
Most memorable college experience: Playing Baseball,
spring training in Florida, running the “loop” in pre-season to
get in shape, 6:00 a.m. practices, the games, the bus rides, the
competition. I’d love to be able to do it again.
In which dorms did you live: Franklin Hall freshman year
and Gateway the other three years.
Favorite College event: Homecoming
The one course you would take over, and why: I actually
have two. The first was Accounting, because in my professional
life (first as a stockbroker, and now as an owner of
an investment banking firm), I am constantly analyzing financial
statements and balance sheets. The second was a statistics
courses taught by Professor Marilyn Pelosi. It was incredibly
challenging and interesting.
Communicator 31

Class Notes
JOSEPH T. BAPTISTA JR.
JAMES W. CONNOR (law enforcement)
was recently promoted to sergeant
in the Massachusetts State
Police. James is a 19-year veteran of
the state police, and is assigned to
the disabled persons protection unit.
JOHN A. KASPARIAN (computer
science) a captain in the United
States Marine Corps, was recently
deployed to Iraq as Adjutant for the
3rd Battalion 25th Marines. His unit
is stationed at Haditha Dam until
October. John is also a regular contributor
to The Reminder newspaper
in East Longmeadow. His weekly
messages about the troops can be
viewed at the website www.thereminder.com.
JOHN A. KASPARIAN
ANGIE LIEBEL (MBA marketing)
was recently promoted to assistant
vice president for residential lending
at PeoplesBank. She has over
20 years of real estate and mortgage
experience. Angie lives in
Longmeadow, MA.
1992
MICHAEL P. COLUCCIO (MBA)
is the CEO and owner of Global
Employment Services, which is
located in New York State. He lives
in Glenmont, NY.
32 Communicator Spring 2005
KEVIN P. RYAN (MBA acquisition and
contracts) recently graduated from
the BAE Systems North America
Leadership Development Program
in Nashua, NH. Kevin is a contract
administrator with BAE Systems in
Nashua, NH.
MICHELLE (WINTERSON) URBANSKI
(finance) is a purchasing/sales representative
for Lucent Polymers, whom
she works for out of her home. She
currently lives in Blandford, MA,
with her husband, Mike, and their
three children: Elise, Cara, and Leah.
1993
MICHAEL J. BARCOMB (MBA) is a
Major in the United States Army
Reserves assigned to the 5 th Joint
Task Force in Devins, MA. He will be
deployed to Afghanistan in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Michael in an intelligence officer
with 17 years of military service. In
his civilian career, he is a senior software
development manager with
IBM in Westford, MA.
MARIAN E. POE-HEINEMAN (MBA)
was recently appointed to vice
president and commercial loan
officer for PeoplesBank. She will
be working at their headquarters in
Holyoke, MA. She joins PeoplesBank
with more than 17 years experience
at Fleet Bank.
MICHAEL J. ROY (accounting) was
recently named assistant principal
at South Hadley High School. Prior
to this posting, he was the school’s
director of athletics and physical
education.
1994
GREGORY J. BIEKSHA (mechanical
engineering) does not let his multiple
sclerosis stop him from keeping
busy. He is a stay-at-home father
to his seven and nine-year-old boys,
and jokes that he is under orders
by their teachers not to teach them
advanced calculus or differential
equations until they learn to add
and subtract integers. He and his
family reside in Ellington, MA.
CLAUDE W. LEBLOND (mechanical
engineering/G’95 MBA) is cofounder
of Cognos Systems, in Irvine, CA.
ERIC P. MCNICOL (mechanical engineering)
is currently working for
BOSE Corporation in Framingham,
MA. He lives in Spencer, MA.
JONATHAN L. MILLER (biology) is
a physician assistant who serves as
the director of Health Services for
Springfield Technical Community
College. He is also a 16-year veteran
with the Monson, MA, volunteer fire
department, where he holds the rank
of captain. He lives in Monson, MA.
DONALD C. POULIN (MBA) was
recently named vice president of
the employee benefit division for
Banknorth Insurance Company.
Donald has 17 years experience
working in the insurance industry.
JAMES R. WALKER JR. (MBA) was
recently hired as the director of
operations for Laurin Publishing
Co., publisher of leading scientific
journals and books worldwide.
James is a United States Navy
veteran and former executive
for Channing Bete Company in
South Deerfield, MA. He lives
in Hinsdale, MA.
1995
JOSEPH G. DELVECCHIO (mechanical
engineer) is a mechanical engineer
at Thorton-Tomasetti Group
in Trumbull, CT. He lives in
Orange, CT.
1996
10 years
ROBERT M. BANSPACH (criminal
justice) recently accepted the position
of investigative analyst with the
Special Investigative Unit of The
Hartford Life Insurance Company
in Windsor, CT. He lives in Feeding
Hills, MA.
MARK J. KRYNICKI (law enforcement/G’98
MSCJA) was recently
sworn in as chief of police for the
town of Southwick, MA. Mark is a
24-year veteran of the Wilbraham
Police Department.
GARY S. WEINER (MBA) was recently
named the corporate director of
information services at Saint
Vincent’s Medical Center in
Bridgeport, CT. He lives in West
Hartford, CT.
LAURIE A. PADYKULA
1998
DAVID J. “LOU” FERLAND (MSCJA)
was recently promoted to captain
in the Portsmouth, NH police force.
He has been with the force for 21
years, and has become internationally
known for his work in the field
of K-9 units.
KEVIN J. HARRINGTON (MSCJA) is
completing his 14 th year as a police
officer with the Harvard University
Police Department. He lives in
Whitman, MA.
LAURIE A. PADYKULA (accounting)
has joined the Orlando, FL accounting
firm of Geller, Ragans, James,
Oppenheimer & Creel as Tax
Supervisor. She transferred there
from Massachusetts where she practiced
public accounting for more
than six years. She is currently
pursuing her master’s degree in
accounting.
SANDRA L. SHEPARD (MBA healthcare
administration) has been
appointed to lead the operation of
Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center
in Lenox, MA.
1999
KATHI L. DONAHUE (MBA) has
been appointed vice president of
commercial lending at Chicopee
Savings Bank. She previously held
the position of relationship manager/vice
president of corporate banking
with Sovereign Bank.
2000
STEVEN A. AMBRICO (MBA finance)
is a major in the United States Air
Force has reported for active duty
with the 53rd Weapons Evaluation

GEOFFREY M. SEBER
Group at Tyndall Air Force Base in
Panama City, FL. The group conducts
the Air-to-Air and Air-to-
Ground Weapons System
Evaluation Program.
GEOFFREY M. SEBER (management)
was selected by the Council for
Advancement and Support of
Education (CASE) as its 2004 Rising
Star Award recipient. Geoffrey currently
serves as the director of the
student/alumni legacy at Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY.
PAUL R. WITHUN (law enforcement)
recently completed a 20-year career
with the United States Army. In
January 2005, he was appointed
to the position of deputy chief
of operations and investigations
of the Carlisle Barracks Police in
Pennsylvania. He lives in Chambersburg,
PA.
2001
TIMOTHY CONNELL (MSCJA) is the
president of Threat Assessment
Consultants, LLC in New Hampshire.
He is an adjunct professor of criminal
justice at Hesser College, a
deputy sheriff in Hillsborough
County Sheriff ’s Office, and a past
recipient of the United States
Congressional Law Enforcement
Award.
TERESA M. PETIT DE MANGE (MBA)
was recently named an account
executive in the commercial lines
department of Field Eddy &
Bulkley, Inc.
CHERYL S. SCULLY (MBA) was promoted
to director of operations at
Healthcare Resource Solution, Inc.
She was formerly the manager of
operations. She lives in West
Springfield, MA.
JEFFREY E. SEYLER (MBA) was
recently named CEO of the
American Lung Association
of Massachusetts. Jeffrey has 13
years of experience as a manager
with nonprofit organizations. He
lives in Springfield, MA.
LAURA E. STURGIS (human
resource management/G’02 MBA
human resource management) has
been appointed by Aspen Square
Management as a district manager
for their New Hampshire properties,
and will also be working with
tax compliance for properties in
Texas, New Mexico, and Georgia.
She lives in Westfield, MA.
Previously, she managed Aspen
Square Properties in Indiana.
2002
MICHAEL B. DARCY (law enforcement)
was recently promoted to
lieutenant for the Connecticut State
Police. He will be stationed in
Meriden, CT, where he will serve as
the commanding officer of the narcotics
unit.
MELANIE A. GURA (communication)
recently became the director of
education at the Sylvan Learning
Center in Wallingford, CT. She lives
in Meriden, CT.
DAVID K. JOYCE (communications)
has graduated from Air Force Basic
Training as an Airman 1st Class. He
attended training at Lackland Air
Force Base in San Antonio, TX.
2003
BRYAN M. CARILLI (criminal justice)
recently joined the New Britain, CT,
Police Department.
KATHRYN E. GOLA (international
business) was promoted to manager
of the Chicopee branch of Woronoco
Savings Bank. Kathryn joined the
bank earlier this year as the assistant
branch manager in Westfield.
PHILIAS J. “PHIL” VERRETTE JR.
(MSCJA) was recently awarded
the medal of valor, the highest
award presented to a Salem police
officer for bravery in the line of duty.
Patrolman Verrette earned the
medal after saving the life of a Mass
Electric worker who was in the path
of a moving vehicle. He is a 12-year
veteran of the Salem Police
Department.
Where Are
They Now?
Kevin J. Roy ’00
South Windsor, CT
Title: Paralegal
Employer: Chubb
Specialty Insurance
In October of 2003, Kevin
was diagnosed with testicular
cancer. “It was a time
of disbelief, confusion,
frustration, but also
acceptance.” Luckily, the
cancer was caught early,
and Kevin now has a clean
bill of health. Through his
illness, Kevin became
involved with the Dana
Farber Cancer Institute
and became a member of
the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge team. On April 18, 2005,
Kevin ran the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon. “It was quite an
accomplishment for me, given the fact that I had never run
more than one mile in my life and the fact that I had undergone
an intense abdominal surgery.”
Hometown: East Hartford, CT
Major: Criminal Justice
Fondest memory of college: Meeting an incredible
group of friends.
Most memorable professor: Al Ingham
Kevin and his girlfriend, Melissa
Miller, at the Boston Marathon
Last College event attended: The Tennis Team Alumni
and Family Picnic last spring.
If I could go back to my days at Western New
England College I would ... “be more active with school
activities and be a peer advisor.”
Best life lesson learned at the College: “Not only was
college a great educational experience, but it was also a
time when I learned a great deal about myself and life in
general. I learned how to be a strong, independent person
and how to achieve goals that I set for myself.”
Spring 2005
Communicator 33

Class Notes
2004
DONALD G. BOULETTE (MSCJA) is
a staff sergeant in the United States
Marine Corps Reserve and recently
served at Camp Fallujah in Iraq
after receiving training at Camp
Pendleton in California. He is
employed as a police officer in
Billerica, MA.
CHRISTINA M. DEMAMBRO (law
enforcement) has been appointed
to serve as the family services detective
with the Lexington, MA Police
Department. Prior to her posting
with the Lexington Police Department,
Christina was an active service
Marine, worked as a mental
health specialist at McLean
Hospital, and was a reserve police
officer for the town of Woburn, MA.
CHERYL A. MALLOY (liberal studies)
recently received the promotion
to lieutenant colonel in the
Connecticut State Police Department,
deeming her the second
woman in the department’s history
to reach that rank. She has been a
trooper on the force for 16 years.
ALICIA N. MORISSETTE (English literature)
has joined the Morrisville,
VT, newspaper, News & Citizen as
a reporter.
KATELYN M. MULLANE (MSCJA)
has joined the Norwood, MA, police
department. Katelyn is the first
female officer appointed in that
community in 20 years.
NEW ARRIVALS
Alexandra Margaret, October 13,
2004, to TRISHA (ALEXANDERSON)
’92 and Chris Tapia
Mason John, October 26, 2004, to
Tammy and JOHN KRAWCZYNSKI ’93
Benjamin Patrick, October 22, 2004,
to ERIN (DOUGLAS) ’94 and Daniel
Harrington
Elizabeth Walas, July 17, 2004, to
Sarah and KEVIN LEWELLING ’95
Nathan Edward, October 3, 2004, to
FAITH K. (ANDERSON) ’97 and
Ronald Bigda
Madison Alexis, August 25, 2004, to
JULIE (GENTILE) ’99 and CHRISTO-
PHER HINKLEY ’99
34 Communicator Spring 2005
WEDDINGS
Dale Ivan and KAREN DUNLOP ’78
DAVID J. BOYLE JR. ’89 and Tanya
Risner, May 22, 2004.
KAREN DUNLOP ’78 and Dale W. Ivan,
September 11, 2004, Arlington, MA
WILLIAM E. EDINGER G’88 and
DENISE M. MARCIL G’93, July 18,
2004, West Springfield, MA
JENNIFER M. HEALY ’91/G’97 and
John J. Healy, Springfield, MA
MELANIE OTERO ’94 and Mark
Kornacki, May 3, 2003, Springfield,
MA
AMY-MARGARET JOHNSON ’95 and
Brian Castellano, October 10, 2004,
Sturbridge, MA
JEFFREY A. BROUILLARD ’96 and
Maureen A. Sullivan, Holyoke, MA
STEVEN CASAGRANDE ’99 and
Emmy Murray, July 31, 2004, South
Weymouth, MA
Elizabeth with dad, KEVIN
LEWELLING ’95
(L to R) Ted Anastasi ’89, Rich & Sherri Kulazewski ’89, Joe Camp ’89 &
Ann Brock, John & Shana Macca ’89, Tonya (Risner) Boyle (bride) &
David J. Boyle Jr. ’89 (groom), John ’89 & Joli Pippett, and Joe & Pam
Fedorko ’89.
MARK A. GERMAIN ’99 and Alicia M.
Kulik, September 11, 2004,
Chicopee, MA
DONALD DENAULT G’00 and Jennifer
Nolan, October 23, 2004, Springfield,
MA
JAMES MARGITAN ’00 and Megan
Hatch, August 29, 2004, Jefferson, ME
CRAIG M. NAKASHIAN ’00 and Zoe
Old, May 8, 2004, Bristol, England
JOSEPH A. WOYTOWICZ ’01 and
Kathleen M. McMahon, Springfield,
MA
KYLE B. SNURKOWSKI ’01 and JAMIE
DEMARIA ’02, October 16, 2004,
Norwich, CT
ANGELINA DENARDO ’02 and
Roberto Daniele, August 15, 2004,
Springfield, MA
DAVID R. GAGNE G’02 and Krissy J.
Wodecki, December 3, 2004, South
Hadley, MA
KRISTIN M. GATES ’02 and Sharon
M. Mulak, October 15, 2004, West
Springfield, MA
AARON J. PLATT ’02 and Amy E.
Langevin, July 2, 2004, Springfield, MA
KELLY ROKOSZ ’02/G’03 and ADAM
W. MOREAU ’03, September 17, 2004,
Springfield, MA
DAVID A. WHITE ’04 and Julie Harris,
May 29, 2004, Rochester, NY
Stay Connected!
SEND A CLASS NOTE
Tell us about your job, family volunteer activities, or achievements,
and we’ll share the news in Class Notes. Send us a Class Note
through the Web. Simply complete the form at
www.wnec.edu/alumni or send us a letter or
email. Be sure to include: name and graduation
year, address, daytime/evening phone numbers,
occupation, employer, and email address.
Send your class note to:
Office of Alumni Relations
Western New England College
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
Fax: 413-796-2163
Email: alumwnec@wnec.edu

Class Notes
IN MEMORIAM
MARTIN BEREZIN ’36 (accounting),
91, passed away on February 5, 2005,
at home in Holyoke, MA. He was
born in Belarus before immigrating
to the U.S. in 1922. He served in the
U.S. Coast Guard during World War
II. Martin co-founded Interstate
Plumbing in 1952. He is survived by
his wife of 52 years, Shirlee; daughters,
Jane and Ilene; son Mark; seven
grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
WALTER J. KROLL ’52 (accounting),
85, died September 3, 2004, in East
Longmeadow, MA. He started his
accounting career with Scovill and
Wellington and worked for them for
14 years. He then became comptroller
of Finance at Van Norman of
Springfield for 20 years, and worked
at the Ala-Vel Company for 14 years
before retiring in 1986. Walter was
a member of one of the first classes
to graduate from Western New
England College. He served in the
military during WWII, attaining the
rank of staff sergeant while in the
Philippines and Japan. He is survived
by his wife, Barbara; and children
Kathryn, Walter, Deborah, and
Stephen. He also leaves a brother,
Casimir, and several grandchildren.
FRANCIS A. CECKOWSKI ’55 (management),
78, passed away in December
2004, at his home in Florida. He previously
lived in Westfield and
Easthampton, MA, and Syracuse,
NY, where he worked with Stanley
Home Products until his retirement
in 1986. He served in WWII aboard
the U.S.S. Aaron Ward in the Pacific
from 1943-46, where he received a
Bronze Star. He is survived by his
wife, Staisa; two sons; a daughter;
a sister; and five grandchildren.
ROBERT G. BUTLER ’60 (management),
74, passed away on October
28, 2004, at the UMass Medical
Center in Worcester. He was the
president of the first graduating
class at Western New England
College. He served in the U.S. Air
Force during the Korean War as a
flight engineer. He was a certified
insurance consultant and ran a successful
horticultural insurance program
through Lloyds of London. He
is survived by his wife, Martha; his
identical twin brother, David; a
daughter; two stepchildren; a sister;
and many nieces and nephews.
KOZMOS LACHOWSKI ’61 (accounting),
88, passed away on December
27, 2004, at the Wilbraham Nursing
Home. He served in the U.S. Army
from 1941-1945 as Chief Radiologic
Technologist with the 2nd Evacuation
Hospital in the European
Theater, where he received a Bronze
Star. After the war, Kozmos spent 30
years with the former Savage Arms
where he was lead accountant and
supervisor. He retired in 1977. He
leaves behind his wife of 49 years,
Helen; his son, Joseph; and grandchildren:
Steven, Susan, and Caitlin.
His brother, Frank, also survives him.
JOHN J. DZURA ’64 (mechanical
engineering), 88, passed away
recently in Sturbridge, MA, after an
illness. He was a licensed and registered
professional engineer and
worked for the American Optical
Company in Southbridge, MA, for
18 years. He also spent time as a
troubleshooter at Pratt & Whitney
Aircraft for 15 years. John served for
four years in the Navy during WWII.
He was involved in all major invasions
in the Pacific, and survived the
sinking of his ship in Okinawa. He
leaves a daughter, two sisters, and
two grandchildren.
JAMES R. MATTHEW ’64 (mechanical
engineering) passed away on
October 11, 2004, after a long battle
with pancreatic cancer. He was a former
president of Valve Systems in
Houston. He is survived by his wife,
Sara-Jane Martein; daughter, Donna
Marie Hennis; sons, James Michael,
Thomas Michael, and Craig Steven;
stepson, Christopher Plunkett; the
mother of his children, Frances Ann
Matthew; eight grandsons; and two
step granddaughters. His siblings
also survive him.
ALBERT J. BONAVITA ’68 (accounting),
57, passed away on February
2, 2005. Albert ran his own check
cashing business, and was an avid
traveler and golfer with his wife. He
was also a communicant at Our
Lady of Mount Carmel Church in
Springfield. He is survived by his
wife, his mother, a daughter, two
brothers, two sisters, and several
nieces and nephews.
WAYNE D. CHURCH ’70 (mechanical
engineering), 61, died December 6,
2004, at Western Massachusetts
Hospital. While at Western Massachusetts
Hospital he was a catalyst
for the Multiple Sclerosis unit and
began many programs to benefit the
residents including computer access.
He worked at the former Tucker
Associates in East Longmeadow
until 1982. He leaves a daughter, his
parents, two brothers, a sister, and
many nieces and nephews.
THOMAS J. MCFARLIN G’71 (MBA),
73, passed away on December 18,
2004, at Baystate Medical Center.
Thomas was a professor of Business
Management at Westfield State
College until his retirement in 2001.
He served in the U.S. Coast Guard
during the Korean War. He was an
active parishioner of Holy Cross
Church in Springfield. He is survived
by his wife, Jean, of 40 years;
his son, Robert; three daughters,
Kathleen, Susan, and Carol, 13
grandchildren; his brother, David;
and his sister, Mary.
HARRY J. TINKER ’72 (industrial engineering),
66, of Westfield, MA,
passed away on September 21, 2004.
Anative or Northampton, MA, he
worked at International Paper for 42
years as a finish manager. He was an
avid candlepin bowler and was a
member of the Western New
England Pro Tour and Senior Pro
Tour. His wife of 39 years, Ruth; and
his children, James and Mary, survive
him. He also leaves three grandchildren
and a cousin.
WILLIAM P. BRADY ’74 (management),
59, passed away on January
19, 2005, after a long battle with lung
cancer. William served in the
National Guard and Air National
Guard from 1962-1968. After his
graduation from Western New
England College, William worked as
a computer programmer for Ampad.
William started his own business in
1987, Secure-It Inc, which helped to
revolutionize the computer security
industry. He is survived by a daughter,
a son, his mother, two brothers, a
sister, and six nieces and nephews.
ROBERT JOSEPH HYMEL ’74 (MBA
general), 55, died on September
11, 2001, during the attack on the
RAYMOND MEYERS ’51/G’64/H’01 (accounting/MBA), 87, of 780 Converse St., Longmeadow, MA, passed away at home on April 11,
2005. A member of the first class to graduate from the newly named Western New England College, Ray spent five decades in service
to the Alumni Association and helped to establish the Class of 1951 Endowed Scholarship and his children
established the Raymond & Shirley Meyers Endowed Scholarship Fund. While his education was interrupted
to serve his country in the Army during WWII, Ray completed his degree and went on to form Meyers
Brothers and Kalicka CPA. He later taught accounting courses in the College’s Evening Division.
Friends since 1939, Ray Meyers (left) and Alfred LaRiviere ’51/H’95/H’01 (right) spent countless hours
together serving the Western New England College Alumni Association and raising funds for the College.
Recalls Mr. LaRiviere, “Ray was always so involved with the Association, he loved the College and did all he
could to speak highly of it. Whenever there was a need, he was there. It was truly an avocation for him.”
Ray was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Sawl) Meyers, in 2003; and his two sons, Allan in 2000, and Gary in
2003. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela Skerker, of South Glastonbury, CT; his son, Tony (Janet) Goldman, of New York City; his
daughters-in-law Anne Meyers and Priscilla Meyers both of Brookline, MA; his seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Spring 2005
Communicator 35

Class Notes
IN MEMORIAM
Pentagon. Robert was a senior management
officer for the Defense
Intelligence Agency. A retired lieutenant
colonel in the U.S. Air Force,
Robert was a decorated Vietnam
combat pilot. During his 24-year
military career, he was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross, the
Purple Heart, and the Meritorious
Service Award. He is survived by his
wife, Pat; daughter, Natalie; mother,
Elsie; and a brother and sister.
DAVID A. PETURSSON ’74 (history),
55, died February 8, 2005 at Hartford
Hospital in CT. He was born in
Hartford, and had lived in Simsbury,
CT, for the past year. He was the
owner and operator of David A.
Petursson Co. of Suffield and worked
as a senior real estate appraiser for
30 years. He is survived by his wife,
Cheryl (Lynch) Petursson, his daughter,
MacCaille, and many friends.
RICHARD P. QUINTIN ’74 (MBA) died
May 5, 2004, at Blake Medical Center
after a battle with cancer. He lived in
Suffield, CT, until moving to Bradenton,
FL. He worked for Hamilton
Standard for 30 years. He is survived
by his wife, Jeanna; and his children,
Kevin, Kimberly, Keith, and Kirk.
ROBERT C. MOORE G ’75 (MBA),
80, and his wife Jean, passed away
in December after brief illnesses.
Robert served in the U.S. Army
during WWII. Robert and Jean
lived in East Longmeadow, MA,
from 1956 until they moved to
Sarasota, FL, in 1983. Robert was
employed as an electrical engineer
at Standard Electric Time Co. and
was a professor at Western New
England College. Robert and Jean
are survived by two sons, a daughter,
two grand children and two
great-grandchildren.
ROBERT N. PEDERSEN JR G’75 (MBA),
58, died on September 24, 2004. He
was in the U.S. Army and served in
Vietnam as a 1st Lieutenant for 18
months, where he earned the Bronze
Star for meritorious achievement.
He was the head purchasing agent
for the town of Wallingford, CT, for
the past 12 years and was a member
of the Connecticut Purchasing
Association. He headed up the Rt. 44
basketball program and coached the
little league program. His leaves his
wife, Ruth; his parents; two sons; and
a sister.
DEBORAH A. (DOWD) COSTELLO ’76
(government), 51, passed away on
36 Communicator Spring 2005
January 29, 2005, in West Springfield,
MA. She worked on various political
campaigns, was an active volunteer
with the Special Olympics, and was
employed by the Massachusetts
Department of Revenue, and the
United States Post Office. She is
survived by her husband Bryan; her
parents; along with several cousins,
aunts, and uncles.
ROBERT J. SANFORD ’77 (mechanical
engineering), 60, of Ft.
Lauderdale, FL, died October 2,
2003. He is survived by his wife
Betsy; his son, Warren; his daughters,
Mercedes, Melissa, and Katie;
and his brother, Brian. He also had
four grandchildren.
FRANK VINCENT LANGONE ’78/G’95
(marketing/MBA), 48, passed away
in January 2005. Frank was employed
with the Alamo Pharmaceuticals
Company, Parsippany, NJ, as the
associate director of sales. He is survived
by his wife, Karen of 28 years;
a brother; grandparents; father and
mother-in-law; sister-in-law, as well
as many cousins, nephews, nieces,
and friends.
RICHARD L. FIELDS G’79 (MBA), 74,
passed away on December 26, 2004
after a long illness. He worked at
Western Massachusetts Electric,
as a lineman, retiring as a consultant
after 42 years of service in 1993.
He loved to fly and served his country
in the U.S. Air Force during the
Korean War, including one year with
the Special Forces Airborne and the
Green Berets. For his service,
Richard was awarded the National
Defense Medal, United Service
Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
Distinguished Unit Citation with
three Battle Stars, and the 50-year
Korean War Service Medal. He
leaves children and grandchildren,
and his wife.
ROBERT T. NOLAN G ’79 (MBA), 55,
passed away on December 12, 2004.
He was employed with the New
England Power Exchange, and then
worked as a general manager for
Lucent Technologies for 24 years
before retiring in October. He served
in the U.S. National Guard from
1968 to 1974. He is survived by his
wife, Sheila; his daughters; brothers;
and several nieces and nephews.
JOAN M. DESTEPHANO G’80 (MBA)
died at home on January 28, 2005,
after a long battle with cancer. She
was a Customer Solutions Executive
for IBM Global Services. She worked
in Illinois, where she had lived since
1988. She is survived by her husband,
Tyler; her mother; a sister;
several brothers; and cousins,
nieces and nephews.
ALEXANDER J. ZASKEY G’80 (MBA),
57, passed away in July 2004. He was
the director of Client Services for
the Work Opportunity Center in
Agawam, MA. He was a U.S. Army
veteran of the Vietnam War, and
served as a drill sergeant at Fort
Polk. He leaves his wife, Regina of
21 years; three sons; his parents;
and two sisters.
IRVING M. “IRV” WALKER JR.
G’84/G’86 (MBA accounting/MS
accounting), 55, died on January 29,
2005. He was in the banking field
for 30 years. Most recently, he was
vice president of risk management
in the Auditing Department at
Westbank. Irv was a longtime
instructor for American Institute
of Banking (AIB), the Center for
Financial Training, and more recently,
Bay Path College, and received the
1999 Teacher of the Year Award from
AIB. He leaves his wife, Sherry, and
four stepchildren
STEPHEN C. SGUEGLIA ’85 (economics),
42, passed away recently at Baystate
Medical Center. He was a salesman
for the Wilco Sales and Service
Company. He is survived by his wife,
Elaine; daughter Christina; brothers
Anthony and David; sister Lisa; and
several nieces and nephews.
PATRICIA M. ZACK ’85 (accounting),
47, passed away on November 19,
2004, at the Holyoke Medical Center.
She is survived by her mother, a sister,
a fiancé, an uncle, and several
cousins.
EILEEN C. PERRY G’90 (MBA healthcare
administration), 55, passed
away on July 3, 2004. She was the
founder and co-owner of Perry’s
Last Stand in Wareham, MA. She
also taught medical records coding
for Northeastern University in
Boston. Her husband, Robert; son,
Jim; brother, Joseph; sister Marilyn;
and granddaughter, Abigail, survive
her.
TED A. GAGE ’92 (MBA), 42, of
Westfield, MA, died December 8,
2004, at Baystate Medical Center.
He was born in New York City and
was employed as an information
technology manager for United
Technologies in Newington, CT. He
was a communicant of St. Peter’s
St. Casimir’s Parish in Westfield
and was cochairman of the Parish
Council. Among others, Ted leaves
his wife, two children, his parents,
and a sister.
JOHN W. “JACK” SULLIVAN ’94 (law
enforcement), 48, died November 6,
2004, in Bridgewater, MA. He was
born and raised in Brockton. He
is survived by three daughters:
Kelly, Kristen, and Megan, all of
Shrewsbury, MA; and a sister and
three brothers. He also leaves nieces
and nephews.
MICHAEL A. JAROSZ ’02 (business),
49, of Ware, MA, passed away on
November 13, 2004. Upon completing
his degree at Western New
England College, Michael was
inducted into the Delta Mu Delta
Honor Society for his academic
achievements. He worked for many
years at Kanzaki Papers in Ware,
MA, and was recently a supervisor
at Quaboag Rubber in North
Brookfield, MA. His wife, Kathleen;
stepdaughter, Amie Fox; and stepson,
Oldden Fox, survive him.
DR. ROBERT BOCK, 79, a lifelong
resident of Springfield,
passed away on December 4,
2004. Popular with students,
Dr. Robert Bock was a professor
of political science at the
Western New England College
School of Arts and Sciences
from 1968-1990. He leaves
four sons: Billy, of Oswego, NY;
Timothy, of Honeoye Falls, NY;
David and Edward, both of
Minetto, NY; and four grandchildren,
Joel, Jennifer, Jacob,
and Thomas Robert. His wife,
Susan Myers, predeceased him.

From the Archives
The People Behind
Our Campus Landmarks
WHEN YOU HEAR NAMES
such as Sleith, LaRiviere,
Emerson, Churchill, Rivers,
D’Amour, and others, you are likely to think
of a location on campus where you studied,
participated in athletics, took classes, or
met with friends for lunch. The College’s
buildings and playing fields are more than
simply locations on campus. They honor
the generosity and history of alumni, faculty,
staff, and friends of Western New England
College. We are pleased to share with you
the history of how some of the names of
buildings have come to be.
Emerson Hall was built in 1959 as the
first academic building on campus. It was
originally called East Building because of
its location on the east side of campus. In
1970, the building was renamed Emerson
Hall to honor Robert R. Emerson ’23 who
served as the first chairman of the Board of
Trustees. Also in 1959, construction began
on the administration building, home to
the cupola, which has become an icon of
the College. In 1989 the building was officially
named for benefactor Joseph J.
Deliso Sr.
Churchill Library was completed in
1962. It was named to recognize the
College’s first president, John D. Churchill.
In 1988, the College reopened Churchill Hall
as the home of the School of
Business. Today it also houses
the Office of Information
Technology.
West Hall was constructed
in 1964, and the Board of
Trustees voted to rename it
Herman Hall in honor of
Beaumont A. Herman, the
second president of the
College.
As a former student and
trustee, D. Joseph St. Germain
funded several College projects,
all of which were centered
on student develop-
BY EVELYN SALZ, COLLEGE ARCHIVIST
ment. The St. Germain Campus
Center was completed in 1966. In
1982 St. Germain also provided
funding for its expansion.
The growing athletics program
resulted in the construction
of the Rivers Memorial Physical
Education Building in 1973,
which was also donated by St.
Germain and named in honor
of his mother, Adeline Rivers. St.
Germain then funded the acquisition
of land for Supernant Field,
named for his grandmother,
Harriet Supernant.
The need for a building to house engineering
and science classrooms, laboratories,
and faculty offices soon became apparent.
Sleith Hall, a major gift from College
benefactor, alumnus, and trustee William H.
Sleith ’44/H’80, was constructed in 1973.
The S. Prestley Blake Law Center opened
in 1978. Blake, cofounder of Friendly Ice
Cream Co. and local philanthropist, helped
the College relocate the School of Law onto
the main campus from rented facilities at
the former Our Lady of Lourdes School on
Tinkham Road.
D’Amour Library was constructed in
1983 with the main staircase built to form a
“Y” in recognition of Big Y Supermarkets,
the company founded by
brothers Gerald and Paul
D’Amour. In addition to
many other benefactors of
the College, the D’Amour
brothers attended classes at
Northeastern University—
Springfield Division, the
College’s predecessor.
In the early 1990s, the
College embarked on the
largest fundraising project
in its history. The $10 million
Alumni Healthful
Living Center includes a
field house, pool, wellness
areas, and meeting locations. The College
named the Center for its largest number of
supporters—its alumni. The building was
officially dedicated in 1993.
For decades, alumnus, trustee, local
banker, father, and friend Alfred A.
LaRiviere ’51/H’95/H’01 has dedicated his
time and financial resources to the College.
In appreciation for his many contributions
and commitment to his alma mater, the
College recognized his numerous gifts by
naming The LaRiviere Living and Learning
Center for him and his family. “LaRiv,” as
students fondly refer to the building, combines
residence facilities and computer oriented
classroom space.
In 2004, the George E. Trelease Memorial
Baseball Park was dedicated in memory of
the father of trustee Brian Trelease ’67/G’72,
former chairman of the D.J. St. Germain
Company, Inc. ■
Naming opportunities continue to arise
as the campus evolves. To learn about
opportunities to memorialize a new
building, classroom or field, please
contact Jim Rich, senior director of
foundations relations and advancement
operations, at 413-782-1373 or email:
jrich@wnec.edu.

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS For
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119-2684
the latest information,
visit www.wnec.edu/alumni
JULY 30
Pregame Event, Tiki Room, 1 Lansdowne Street,
Boston, MA, 4-6 p.m. All alumni are encouraged to attend.
Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins—SOLD OUT
Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 7:05 p.m.
AUGUST 13
Football Alumni Day, Golden Bear Stadium, 10:30 a.m.
SEPTEMBER 3
Pregame Event, Jillian’s, 145 Ipswich Street, Boston, MA,
4-6 p.m. All alumni are encouraged to attend.
Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles—SOLD OUT
Fenway Park, Boston, MA, 7:05 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 30–October 2
Homecoming Weekend 2005 This year’s Homecoming
Weekend festivities will be combined with Family and Friends
Weekend. Relive some of your happiest memories by coming
back to campus and reconnecting with your former classmates.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Springfield, MA
Permit No. 896