Sam '82 and Linda-Lee Troiani '83 Niedbala ... - Asoundstrategy

Fall 2006
Thirty-five years after arriving
at East Stroudsburg State College,
the bonds of friendship are as
strong as ever for this group of
alumni. A self-described group of
“middle class kids” from Scranton,
the suburbs of Philly, and the
state of Connecticut, arrived as
individuals in the fall of 970 and
97 but graduated years later as a
cohesive family.
Frank Johnson ’74 recalls, “We
had a lot in common … none of
us had any money or a car and we
didn’t go home on the weekends!”
What they did have was each other,
and the third floor of Shawnee
Hall was their home. In the early
’70s most of them participated in
athletics like football, soccer, cross
country, basketball, wrestling,
baseball or track and field. None of
them pledged a fraternity but they
formed their own bonds of steel that
have remained as strong today as
when they were forged.
They supported each other
in the hard times and celebrated with each
other during the good times. Today they
are professionals with their own lives, wives,
careers and children; yet they still find
time for each other. Over the years they
have vacationed in Florida and New York,
held special events and joined each other at
Homecoming.
It used to be they celebrated with one
another at their weddings and the birth of their
children; now they still make time to party, but
it is at their children’s weddings!
This group of alumni possesses a
special relationship that transcends the
term “classmate.” In recalling the years of
friendship, Frank notes, “We were lucky to find
each other, grow up together and appreciate the
bond of friendship that will last forever. We
are grateful to the university for providing us
with the skills to be successful, both in and out of the
classroom, and for the quirk-of-fate that brought us
together.”
Frank’s family, in addition to his wife, Sarah,
and children, includes: Robert Smith ’73 and Diane
Smith, Loren Brink ’74, Roger Dontonville ’74 and
Anne Dontonville, Lee Fahnestock ’74 and Mollie
Fahnestock, Dean Gardner ’74 and Mary (Pakenas)
Gatherings and Events
Shawnee ‘Siblings’ - Forever a ‘Family’
Celebrating the wedding of a child is a great reason to get together in Towson, Maryland! From left, Jim
Shearouse ’74, Cherie Shearouse, Frank Johnson ’74, Sarah Johnson, Dave Hair ’76, Moira (Portius)
Hair ’77, George Vance ’74, Maryann (Van Dyke) Vance ’75, George Shultz ’74, Cindy (Masenheimer)
Shultz ’74, Dean Gardner ’74, Mary (Pakenas) Gardner ’74, Robert Smith ’73 and Diane Smith.
In the backyard with some of the “Shawnee Boys circa 1971” (L-R) Frank Newby ’75,
John Helgesen ’74, Frank Johnson ’74 and his son Reese, George Vance ’74, Frank
Hollaran ’75, and Dave Hair ’76.
Gardner ’74, John Helgesen ’74 and Irene Helgesen,
Al Keglovits ’74 and Linda (Keenan) Keglovits ’74,
Denny Mohn ’74 and Cathy (Mukai) Mohn ’74, Jim
Shearouse ’74 and Cherie Shearouse, George Shultz
’74 and Cindy (Masenheimer) Shultz ’74, Scott
Willoth ’74 and Denise Willoth, George Vance ’74 and
Maryann (Van Dyke) Vance ’75, Frank Hollaran ’75
and Margaret Hollaran, Frank Newby ’75 and Doreen
Newby, Dave Hair ’76 and Moira (Portius) Hair ’77.
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