Edition - Penn State Hazleton - Penn State University

http://www.hn.psu.edu/
page 7
A high-energy guy with an impressive background, David
Fortini ’84 9 introduced me to the downtown Grove area in
LA. Starting at IBM, he built his career in computer security
and other mobile and internet technologies. His career has
provided him many experiences around the world. David
is now at the L.A. headquarters of Alcatel-Lucent where he
manages business development across four units. David
went on to receive his master’s degree in IST from George
Mason and his MBA from Washington University.
I met Steven Myer ’88 10 between his trips across the globe
where I learned of his career pursuits which began in higher
education working as a director of admissions at Westwood
College in California. This led to positions in finance at
Mobile, Exxon and Galileo International before landing in
the travel industry. He now serves as district sales manager
at Thai Airways International where he oversees commercial
accounts and manages about 20 people.
Jennae Taylor ’84 11 and I met at her offices at Defense
Technologies Inc. in Tampa where she works as an
accounting manager. She told me that she loves her work
and living in Florida with her three children after moving
from Virginia Beach some years ago. Jennae proudly
informed me that her oldest daughter was a freshman at
Florida State Tampa (no doubt only a result of no Penn State
campus in the area).
Larry Houser ’58 12 introduced me to the Cuban cuisine for
which the Tampa area is known when we met in February.
Larry enjoyed a career in financial management and
strategic planning. He is the proud father of Penn Staters
Michael ’87 and David ’81. Larry remembered classmates Ed
Pensock ’59, Steve Butcher ’58, and Joe Boyle ’58.
Clarence Astleford ’50 13 invited me into his home for a visit
where I learned that he and his wife, Gladsie, were about to
celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Clarence spent
his career in the dairy business after earning his degree in
agriculture from Penn State, while Gladsie made their home
and raised their sons, Paul and Michael. I also learned that
Clarence was among the first to land at Normandy in 1944
and became a highly decorated WWII veteran who earned
the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
I met David Woitko ’63 14 at his office at the Orlando
Convention Center where he serves at the assistant facilities
maintenance manager. Dave has an electrical engineering
degree which, he said, set him apart from other applicants
when he applied for his job. Dave oversees the entire
maintenance staff at the convention center and loves his
job. Dave and his wife, Lynette ’68, also a campus alum,
moved to Florida some years ago after Dave sold his auto
repair shop in Hazleton.
Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Gary Lawler and I met Alan
Leininger ’73 15 at his offices at Clear Channel Worldwide
headquarters in Miramar, FL. Alan is the production
manager there and his work focuses on post-production
editing and enhancement of commercials, media scheduling
and promotion. Alan began his career in communications
at local Hazleton radio station WAZL and also was the
editor of the Hazleton Collegian. Among the classmates he
remembered were Dr. Tom Caccese ‘70 (Penn State Hazleton
athletic director) and John Kostic ’70.
Harold Klemow 16 and I enjoyed lunch together in Boca Raton
near his commercial real estate offices. The Klemow name
is well known in the greater Hazleton area for his family’s
furniture store, Klemow’s, which was located just down
the road from the campus for many years. Harold told me
that he sold the business in 1984 and moved to Boca to
start a commercial real estate business with his son. Harold
remembered close friends Marty Cohn ’45, Sam Rabinowitz
’55 and Dominic Landro ’54.