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legacy 

A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Florida Atlantic University 

FALL 2006 

MEMBERS OF THE FAU COMMUNITY 

TAKE PART IN A HUMANITARIAN 

EFFORT TO BRING RELIEF AND 

HOPE TO THE PEOPLE OF BELARUS 

BIKINGBELARUS

FA L L 2 0 0 6 

FLORIDA LETTERS 

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY 

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T & E D I T O R 

21st Century FAU Taking Shape 

Who could have imagined when FAU opened its doors in 1964 to a charter class of 867 students that 

scarcely more than four decades later the University would be serving nearly 26,000 students on seven 

campuses stretching from Dania Beach to Fort Pierce 

Your University is breaking new ground on a host of fronts, from its innovative medical education 

partnership with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to research advances that are bringing 

well-deserved recognition to FAU as an important center of scientific discovery. 

Major new facilities that have or will soon come on line include the second Scripps-FAU Joint-Use 

Building in Jupiter, the Marine Science Building at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort 

Pierce and the Paul C. Wimbish Wing of the S.E. Wimberly Library in Boca Raton. Construction of 

the new Boca Raton Community Hospital, a major regional teaching facility, is expected to get under 

way on FAU’s Boca Raton campus in 2008, with the grand opening anticipated in 2011. On the Davie 

campus, work will soon begin on the long-awaited Student Union, and design work has been completed 

to add a unifying street plaza to the FAU-BCC campus in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. 

As the FAU of the 21st century emerges we can all take tremendous pride in our alma mater, which 

is playing an ever-broadening role in the life of South Florida. 

Frank T. Brogan ’81 

P R E S I D E N T 

The Spirit of Philanthropy 

It can only take a moment to make a difference in someone’s life. Maybe it’s 

a smile exchanged with a passerby, a simple “thank you” or the extension of a 

helping hand. Or maybe it’s something more significant, like volunteering at a 

homeless shelter, getting involved in an event to raise money for charity or supporting 

higher education (FAU, of course!). Sometimes we get so caught up in the 

busy nature of our day-to-day lives that we forget how important these things 

can be, not only in the name of humanity, but in the spirit of philanthropy. 

In this issue of legacy,you will find many shining examples of how members 

of the FAU community are putting their time, energy and resources into projects 

that will benefit others in need, whether biking through Belarus, conducting 

groundbreaking heart research, healing with music, creating a scholarship or 

working to make the dreams of a child who is critically ill come true. As an alumnus, and one who has the 

privilege of sharing these wonderful stories through this magazine, I continue to take pride in the humanitarian 

efforts of the many members of the FAU family. 

Adam Taylor ’04 

E D I TO R

FALL 2006 

VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2 

E D I TO R 


legacy 

A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Florida Atlantic University 

S E N I O R E D I TO R 

Linda Holtz 

R E S E A RC H E D I TO R 

Jane Regan 

G R A P H I C D E S I G N & L AY O U T 

Jennifer Tyson 

P R I N T E R 

St. Ives 

E D I TO R I A L B OA R D 

Judy Anderson 

Pat Breman 

Gisele Galoustian ’81 

Terry Gearing ’73, ’77 

Randy Goin, Jr. ’00, ’02 

Aileen Izquierdo 

Lynn Laurenti ’66 

Elfriede Lynch ’76 

Cara Perry 

Gregg Sekscienski 

on our cover 

Robert Keller ’05 

in Belarus, 

pictured here 

with a child 

from a nearby 

orphanage 

6 

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 

Dr. Lawrence F. Davenport 

Executive Vice President, University Advancement 

Executive Director, FAU Foundation, Inc. 

2 

legacy is distributed free of charge to 

alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students and 

friends of Florida Atlantic University. 

The editorial staff invites you to send 

feedback, letters and editorial contributions 

relating to Florida Atlantic University or the content 

of the magazine. Submissions will be reviewed and 

may be modified according to editorial standards. 

The editorial staff is not responsible for loss 

of or damage to any material received. 

All correspondence 

should be sent to: 

legacy 

FAU Division of University Advancement 

777 Glades Road 

Boca Raton, FL 33431 

legacy@fau.edu 

or 561.297.2890 (fax) 

legacy is published twice a year 

by University Advancement and the 

Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Inc. 

Opinions expressed in this publication are those 

of the editors and contributors and do not necessarily 

reflect the official position of the University. 

A D D R E S S C H A N G E S 

should be submitted to: 

www.faualumni.org 

alumni.affairs@fau.edu 

561.297.2026 (fax) 

888.FAU.ALUM (toll-free) 

or FAU Office of Alumni Relations 


Boca Raton, FL 33431 

10 

12 

2 Imprints 

FAU’s own race car, a new academic 

college, saving seagrass and more. 

6 Biking in Belarus 

Bringing relief and hope to the people of Belarus. 

10 New Hope for the Broken Hearted 

Dr. Larry Lemanski and cardiac muscle research. 

12 Taking the LEAD 

Celebrating 40 years of educational leadership. 

14 Owl Notes 

Class notes, owls in print, 

in memoriam and more. 

21 Philanthropy 

Spotlight on Romeo Joseph, 

the G.O.L.D. program and more. 

25 Inspiring Students 

to Reach New Heights 

Cecelia and Bill James create a new 

FAU scholarship. 

legacy 1

FA L L 2 0 0 6 

FLORIDA IMPRINTS 


I M P R I N T S 

SAE STUDENTS 

ON TRACK WITH FORMULA RACE CAR 

PHOTOS BY BILL PLATE 

For a first-year effort, FAU’s chapter of the Society 

of Automotive Engineers (SAE) made an impressive 

start with its Formula race car at the 2006 

Formula SAE race, an annual four-day event held 

in May at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, 

Michigan. The 12-member team of FAU engineering 

students built the car on a shoestring budget 

and competed against 140 entries from universities 

throughout the U.S. and from several other 

countries. 

In a competition where more than half the cars 

are unable to complete all seven events, the FAU 

car finished in every category, including endurance/ 

economy, autocross, skid/pad, acceleration, presentation, 

cost and design. FAU placed 53rd in the 

overall competition and 41st in the 22-lap, 13.6 

mile endurance race and received the FSAE Certificate 

of Accomplishment. 

The concept behind the Formula SAE competition 

is that a fictional manufacturing company has 

contracted a student design team to develop a 

Formula-style race car. Each team designs, builds 

and tests a prototype based on a series of rules 

established by the SAE, including specific guidelines 

addressing on-track safety. The project promotes 

problem-solving and encompasses all aspects 

of a business, including research, design, 

manufacturing, testing, developing, marketing, 

management and fundraising. Formula SAE, one of 

the largest and most competitive engineering competitions, 

has gained the respect of the automotive 

industry as well as professional race teams. 

While in Michigan, the team also toured the Lake 

Orion Pontiac G-6 assembly plant and attended a 

reception with FAU alumni from the area and special 

guest Ed Peper, general manager of Chevrolet. 

With the experience of their first race now behind 

them, the students, led by team captain Jason 

Bivens, are currently at work on FAU’s entry for 

the Formula SAE race in 2007. 

42 legacy

FAU 

CHARLES E. SCHMIDT COLLEGE OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE 

FAU’s Newest College 

Paves theWay for 

Advancement in Medical Education 

FAU 

ATHLETES 

EARN 

NATIONAL 

RANKING 

IN TOP 24% 

The National Association of Collegiate 

Directors of Athletics, in conjunction with 

USA Today and the United States Sports 

Academy, recently recognized the success of 

FAU’s athletics program, ranking it 79th 

among 326 NCAA Division I universities. This 

places FAU in the top 24 percent nationally. 

A former member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, 

FAU moved into the Sun Belt Conference 

and the Atlantic Soccer Conference 

(men only) this fall. FAU was the only school 

in either conference to be listed in the nation’s 

top-100. Among Division I institutions in Florida, 

FAU was listed fourth (The University of 

Florida was ranked no. 5, Florida State no. 17 

and the University of Miami no. 42). FAU’s 

no. 79 ranking is reflective of FAU’s five conference 

championships in 2005-06. FAU was 

one of eight institutions that captured five or 

more conference titles in women’s sports – 

volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, 

swimming and softball. 

FAU has developed a ninth academic college – the Charles E. Schmidt 

College of Biomedical Science. The new entity will house the existing biomedical 

science faculty in two departments, the Department of Basic Biomedical 

Science and the Department of Clinical Science, which will support 

the medical education program of the University of Miami Miller School of 

Medicine (UMMSM) at FAU. “As FAU further strengthens its biomedical 

research focus and fully develops the new four-year UMMSM regional campus, 

the development of the new college provides us with the infrastructure 

needed to become a major academic health science center,” said Dr. 

Michael Friedland, vice president of medical programs and new dean of the 

Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science. This new college joins 

FAU’s eight other academic colleges: the Charles E. Schmidt College of 

Science; the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; the College of Architecture, 

Urban and Public Affairs; the College of Business; the College of Education; 

the College of Engineering and Computer Science; the Dorothy F. Schmidt 

College of Arts and Letters; and the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. 

BELOW: Charles E. Schmidt Biomedical Science Center, FAU Boca Raton Campus 

legacy 3

FA L L 2 0 0 6 

FLORIDA IMPRINTS 


I M P R I N T S 

Uncovering Lost Civilizations 

AT LEFT: Students conducting field work TOP: Manteno face artifact BOTTOM, LEFT: Student relaxing in hammock BOTTOM, RIGHT: View of nearby coastline 

Journeying through time, cultural anthropology students uncover 

lost civilizations through the FAU Ecuador Field Programs in 

Archaeology and Ethnology. For those interested in contemporary 

community studies, the ethnology curriculum of the program 

also has much to offer. 

This international field study summer program, one of the few of 

its kind granted national U.S. accreditation, is made available to 

students from FAU and around the world by the Dorothy F. Schmidt 

College of Arts and Letters’ Department of Anthropology. Coastal 

Ecuador’s southern province of Manabi, an area overlooked by many 

researchers, serves as the focal point for the FAU field study. Home 

base is a small fishing village ideally located to allow students and 

faculty to travel to nearby excavation sites in Salango, Rio Chico 

and El Pital. 

“Since 1997 we have been scientifically studying this area and 

have had great success,” says Dr. Michael Harris, associate professor 

and department chair. “FAU’s Ecuador Field School, one of the 

only such programs set in South America, sees an enrollment of 

approximately 15 to 25 students each summer. Half of the group 

is comprised of FAU students, while others come from such institutions 

as the University of Chicago, New York University, Wellesley 

College, The University of Texas and the University of California. 

There is also student representation from Great Britain, New Zealand, 

the Netherlands and South America.” 

Students learn how to observe their surroundings, record their findings 

and apply anthropological methodology and theory as they dig 

out and examine artifacts and ancient structures, and draw conclusions 

about the way past cultures lived and present societies function. 

“Our work has resulted in unearthing important habitation and 

ceremonial sites including the remains of a stone settlement and ancient 

shell processing building in El Pital,” says Valentina Martinez, 

Harris’ academic colleague at FAU and partner in marriage. “Our 

discoveries serve as significant proof of a once technologically 

complex and well-organized urban center where people made use of 

natural resources. One student discovered a subspecies of the 

Capuchin monkey. By venturing into this previously unexplored 

Amazon-like region, FAU has advanced as an institution committed 

to the study of complex human cultures.” 

4 legacy

Dr. Marguerite Koch-Rose and Her Commitment to a Dying Breed 

SAVING SEAGR ASS 

Home to an estimated 2.7 million acres of seagrass meadows, 

Florida’s coastal waters face a harsh reality — the flowering 

underwater vegetation is becoming stressed which is 

leading to frequent large-scale die-off events. These mass 

mortality events in coastal seagrass communities are a global 

phenomenon occurring in Florida Bay as well as the Mediterranean 

Sea. Leading the charge to understand the factors driving 

seagrasses to die-off is Dr. Marguerite Koch-Rose, associate 

professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at 

FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. She has dedicated 

much of her professional career to studying seagrass and 

other marine habitat-forming ecosystems such as mangrove 

swamps and salt marshes. Like an unrelenting detective in 

search of a case-breaking clue, Koch is racing against time 

to determine exactly what has been threatening the existence 

of the seagrass community in Florida Bay since the problem 

was first recognized in the early 1990s. 

While unsuited to grow on land, Florida seagrasses thrive in 

coastal bays, lagoons and around coral reefs increasing the biocomplexity 

of these ecosystems. Seagrass beds, with their 

biodiverse residents of marine species, are the aquatic version 

of tropical rainforests in terms of their productivity. In 

addition to high productivity, seagrasses stabilize bottom sediments, 

process unwanted nutrients and create a nursery 

ground for juvenile fish and shellfish. One acre of seagrass 

can be the habitat and feeding source for more than 40,000 

fish and 50 million small invertebrates. Without seagrass, 

Florida’s water clarity will be compromised, an important 

food supply for fish and marine mammals diminished and 

fish, crustaceans and shellfish will have no place to live, 

breed and reproduce. Loss of this habitat would have serious 

economical impacts on coastal fisheries and tourism. 

In an effort to pinpoint what is challenging the seagrass 

community, Koch and her colleagues have isolated and cultured 

seagrass plants in 500-liter tanks located at the Gumbo Limbo 

Environmental Complex in Boca Raton. These tanks allow Koch 

to conduct experiments on seagrass and its tolerance to multiple 

stressors including the interaction between salinity and 

high water temperatures. Her experiments at Gumbo Limbo 

and in the field indicate that the die-off conditions that so 

seriously threaten seagrass are linked to low oxygen levels. 

Koch earned her Ph.D. at the Rosenstiel School of Marine 

and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) at the University of Miami. 

At FAU, she teaches marine botany, coastal ecology and scientific 

communications. Her research has garnered much 

interest and support from the state of Florida and has earned 

FAU a reputation as a great place to study marine ecology. 

Without seagrass, 

Florida’s water clarity will be 

compromised, an important 

food supply for fish and marine 

mammals diminished and 

fish, crustaceans and shellfish 

will have no place to live, 

breed and reproduce. 

ABOVE: Dr. Koch-Rose conducting an 

experiment at Gumbo Limbo in Boca Raton 

legacy 5 

PHOTO BY WENDI SCHNEIDER

BIKING 

IN IN BELARUS 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

MEMBERS OF THE FAU COMMUNITY TAKE PART 

IN A HUMANITARIAN EFFORT TO BRING RELIEF 

AND HOPE TO THE PEOPLE OF BELARUS 

B Y L I N D A H O LT Z 

6 legacy 

Traveling halfway around the world, five members of the Florida 

Atlantic University community were part of a humanitarian effort 

that brought relief and hope to the people of Belarus. Ravaged by the 

after effects of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power station accident, Belarus is 

one of the poorest nations in Europe. Although once part of the former Soviet 

Union, Belarus remains an essentially communist system with little free enterprise. 

Isolated from Western cultures, Belarusians are initially wary of strangers, 

particularly those who are English speaking. It is not surprising that the FAU 

group, five of 100 bicycle riders that comprised the Bike2Belarus initiative, was 

met with suspicious stares as they began their 200-mile bike journey in the capital

>>>>> 

legacy 7

THE EXPERIENCE OF 

GOING THERE 

WAS SO MUCH MORE 

MOVING THAN IF I HAD 

HELPED IN ANY OTHER WAY. 

city of Minsk. But that all changed when 

the Belarusians learned of the group’s 

mission. By the end of the trek, when the 

cyclists reached Gomel, the city closest to 

the still irradiated area known as the 

“Exclusion Zone,” they were greeted 

with smiles, cheers and an outpouring of 

love. 

>> R O B K E L L E R ‘05 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Bike2Belarus is a directive of a non-profit organization 

based in Ireland called Students 10K. Founded six years ago 

by Joe McGrath, a professor at the Dublin Institute of Technology, 

and adopted by “United Students of Ireland,” Students 

10K is dedicated, year round, to raising money to buy 

medical supplies and equipment for the Belarusian victims 

of Chernobyl through events and walk-a-thons. A collegial 

friendship between McGrath and FAU Associate Professor 

of Marketing and International Business Mike Mullen developed 

when Mullen spent a semester in 2005 as a Fulbright 

Scholar at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Mullen 

was won over by McGrath’s passionate enthusiasm for the 

project, as were College of Business faculty member Barbara 

Conte and MBA alumnus Robert Keller ’05, both who 

were part of a summer study program organized by Mullen. 

As plans to culminate fundraising efforts with a June 2006 

bike trip to Belarus began to formulate, Mullen and Conte, 

upon returning to Florida, were determined to find students 

at FAU who might want to donate their time and money 

by participating in this worthy cause. 

As Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity advisor, Conte 

pledged to find students who would be willing to travel to 

Belarus and even helped to provide these students with the 

funds to make the trip a reality. The Boca Raton Senate of 

the FAU Student Government also contributed more than 

$6,000 for the trip. Before very long Conte had commitments 

from Geno Roefaro, a sophomore majoring in small 

business and entrepreneurship, Christina Rodrigues, a junior 

in both the College of Business and the Dorothy F. 

Schmidt College of Arts and Letters pursuing a double major 

in marketing/advertising and news broadcasting, and Shiva 

Maraj ’06, now an alumnus, who had a triple major in the 

College of Business in finance, real estate and marketing. 

Robert Keller, a field engineer in West Palm Beach with Rey- 

8 legacy

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

nolds, Smith and Hills, CS, Incorporated, also decided to 

join the group. 

Meeting their Irish counterparts, the FAU team, the only 

Americans represented, felt very much a part of the group. 

After all, they shared a common goal in their willingness to 

help in spite of dangerous conditions. “We were all taking a 

risk and it was scary to go to a place that we knew very little 

about,” says Rodrigues.“But this was something I had to do.” 

A vigorous daily schedule of riding, made more challenging 

by the fact that the bikes had no gears or hand breaks, 

took the group from Minsk to their destination of Gomel 

in four days. Friendships forged between the members of 

the FAU group and what they saw along the way was life 

altering. “Poverty set against a gloomy, grey landscape. It was 

pretty depressing,” says Roefaro. “At first people did not seem 

very friendly but we became ‘celebrity like’ when the word 

spread about why we were there. Before too long we were 

welcomed at every town by its mayor and a traditional bread 

cake.” What awaited the participants in Gomel was even 

more moving as they were introduced to the sad reality of 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

nuclear fallout. 

“Arriving in Gomel was heart-wrenching on the grand 

scale,” says Keller, remembering a tour of an orphanage and 

children’s hospital.“Disfigurement, blindness, birth defects 

and cancer are rampant and the child victims were not even 

born when the accident occurred.” 

Ultimately, the bike trip raised about a quarter of a million 

dollars for Belarus, which was matched by the Irish 

government. The money will be used to help build a hospice 

facility and a new orphanage for children. “What a 

human experience this has been,” says Mullen. “Americans 

once vilified by this country are now seen in a positive light, 

thanks to our FAU ambassadors.” 

For Maraj, the trip was eye opening. “I loved being able to 

make a difference. What I saw made me appreciate how lucky 

I am,” he says. “I remember seeing a child who was a double 

amputee. Instead of being upset he was positive and full of 

life.” 

“The experience of going there was so much more moving 

than if I had helped in any other way,” says Keller. “It 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

I M A G E S F R O M T O P L E F T ( C L O C KW I S E ) : Robert Keller ‘05 with a child from a Belarusian orphanage; (from left) Geno Roefaro, Christina 

Rodrigues, Shiva Maraj ’06; Belarusian girls presenting a gift of bread to the bikers; (from left) Dr. Mike Mullen, Robert Keller ’05, John Myer; 

A church in Gomel 

legacy 9

NEW HOPE FOR THE 

BROKEN HEARTED 

B Y G I S E L E G A L O U S T I A N ’ 81 

U N I Q U E S T U D Y O N R N A S H O W S P R O M I S E I N I N D U C I N G 

A N D R E S T O R I N G C A R D I A C M U S C L E F U N C T I O N 

For more than 25 years, Dr. Larry Lemanski, a prolific researcher 

and FAU’s vice president for research, has been studying ways to 

regenerate damaged cardiac tissue. His research has focused on 

understanding the mechanisms that regulate myocardial(heart muscle 

mass) cell differentiation and myofibrillogenesis (the process by which 

proteins in the heart are changed into heart muscle cells) in the developing 

heart. Lemanski’s goal is to use these findings to repair human 

heart myocardial deficiencies which are caused by either congenital heart 

defects or heart attacks. 

“When an individual has a heart attack with a significant 

region of the heart muscle damaged, recovery to pre-heart 

attack levels is rarely achieved,” says Lemanski. “Strategies 

to regenerate damaged cardiac tissue could be significant in 

the treatment of cardiovascular disease.” Adult heart muscle 

cells lack the ability to regenerate following injury because 

of terminal differentiation. The number of cells in a human 

heart is determined at birth and once damaged, the cells 

cannot repair themselves. 

Lemanski and his research colleagues have been looking 

10 legacy

(A) Normal axolotl (salamander) embryonic heart 

cultured in a solution and stained for a protein 

called tropomyosin. Tropomyosin is a component 

of heart muscle myofibrils. Substantial tropomyosin 

staining is evident here in the myofibrils (the 

functional contractile units in cardiac muscle). 

(B) Mutant axolotl embryonic heart cultured in a 

solution and stained for tropomyosin. There is very 

little staining for tropomyosin as compared to a 

normal heart showing a lack of muscle organization 

in mutant hearts. 

(C) Mutant embryonic heart cultured in a solution 

containing normal Myofibril Inducing RNA (MIR). 

Tropomyosin is abundant in these hearts which 

shows organization of myofibrils due to MIR treatment. 

MIR was able to rescue the mutant hearts 

causing the formation of myofibrils and the initiation 

of beating. 

PHOTO BY WENDI SCHNEIDER 

FAU and Scripps Florida 

Creating Good Chemistry 

FAU and Scripps Florida have entered into joint research 

and education agreements to support and promote activities 

in the areas of biomedical science and related fields. 

There are several research collaborations underway between 

FAU and Scripps Florida that cover the areas of cancer, 

diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including a joint collaboration 

with Dr. Larry Lemanski and Scripps Florida’s 

Dr. Claes Wahlestedt,professor,department of biochemistry 

and director of neuroscience discovery. Drs. Lemanski and 

Wahlestedt will be working jointly to examine heart cell 

differentiation and regulation of synthesis of contractile 

proteins within cardiac muscle cells to help identify the 

biological factors that induce this differentiation, with 

the ultimate goal of developing therapies to reduce and 

restore the function of cardiac muscle damaged due to 

heart attacks or congenital heart defects. 

at the cellular, molecular and genetic signals that affect heart 

cell differentiation and regulation of the synthesis of contractile 

proteins within cardiac muscle cells that allow the 

cells to contract. Identifying the biological factors that induce 

this differentiation would be a major step forward in 

the development of therapies. 

Observing cardiac mutant Mexican axolotls (salamanders), 

Lemanski and his colleagues identified a major protein 

that was deficient in the salamander hearts. This deficiency 

prevented the organization of myofibrils (contractile 

machinery) in the salamander heart and its ability to beat. 

Based on these findings, they were able to show that this 

mutant defect could be rescued by treatment with specific 

and unique RNA (ribonucleic acid) derived from the anterior 

endoderm (gut) of normal animal model embryos. 

Lemanski termed this patent-pending discovery as 

“myofibrillogenesis inducing RNA” or MIR. Additional 

studies have shown that humans have a similar, most likely 

identical, mechanism as the salamanders, for the formation 

of functional contracting heart muscle cells. 

“Taken into the clinical setting, a human version of this 

MIR may allow patients who have suffered from heart 

attacks to have the areas scarred by the attacks replaced with 

new cardiac muscle,”says Lemanski.“This treatment would 

therefore enable these patients to return to pre-heart attack 

activity levels. In addition, children who are born with congenital 

heart defects could perhaps have their hearts repaired 

without a series of invasive surgical operations by re-growing 

cardiac muscle in the diseased areas.” 

Lemanski’s research has received major funding from the 

National Institutes of Health as well as from the American 

Heart Association, Florida Affiliate. 

legacy 11

taking the LEAD 

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 0 Y E A R S O F E XC E L L E N C E 

I N E D U C AT I O N A L L E A D E R S H I P 

D R . M A RY G R AY — T H E CO N S U M M AT E E D U C ATO R 

In her 23-year tenure at FAU, Dr. Mary Gray has 

touched and bettered the lives of thousands. Her 

dedication has helped to define FAU as a premier 

institution in the area of educational leadership. 

By the time Gray was recruited in 1979 by FAU’s College 

of Education, she had garnered a wealth of experience 

in the classroom and earned her doctorate in educational 

leadership from Louisiana State University. The first 

woman to serve on the FAU faculty of what was then 

called the department of Administration and Supervision, 

Gray traveled long distances throughout FAU’s broad 

service areas, often 150 miles in a single evening on unlit, 

two-lane roads, in order to provide teachers and school 

administrators access to post-graduate education. “Driving 

from Boca Raton to Fort Pierce or beyond meant 

nothing to me, as long as I was connecting with my graduate 

students,” says Gray. “As an educator myself, I felt a 

deep commitment to making sure the region was abundantly 

stocked with well trained, highly qualified principals 

and school administrators. FAU’s Educational Leadership 

Program did just that.” 

FAU President Frank T. Brogan ’81 has been a close 

friend of Gray since he was a master’s degree student. 

40 

years 

S E RV I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y 

He subsequently formed a close working relationship with 

her while he served as superintendent for the Martin 

County School District. “With her professional acumen 

and nurturing personality, Mary Gray is the consummate 

educator – arguably, one of the finest people one could 

ever know,” says Brogan. “She had a profound impact on 

my life and provided me with the foundation for success. 

A magnet to so many of us in the program who gained 

inspiration from her encouragement, Mary was sensitive 

to the personal complexities that each of her students 

faced. She allowed us to dream and helped us to meet 

our goals. There is no question that Mary Gray, a humble 

woman who has the gift of making people feel good 

about themselves, is a great representative of FAU’s past, 

present and future.” 

Recognized with the FAU College of Education Meritorious 

Teacher Award and the Ernest O. Melby Distinguished 

Service Award, Gray retired from FAU three years ago. She is 

now a consultant for school systems throughout Florida, working 

with new and veteran at-risk teachers by facilitating 

training sessions in teaching effectiveness, personal development 

and performance measurement. She and her husband, 

Robert Gray, have five children, all of whom are FAU alumni. 

The department of Educational Leadership was 

established in FAU’s College of Education in 

1966. Providing unparalleled learning opportunities 

at the graduate level, the department is home to 

a devoted and highly respected faculty with collective experience 

in more than than 40 countries. Nearly 4,000 FAU 

alumni have earned degrees in educational leadership, 

with one third of all FAU doctoral recipients coming from 

the department. Dedicated to seeing educational leaders 

develop as professionals, the department serves the community 

by collaborating with school districts, colleges and 

community agencies. 

Innovative research conducted by faculty and students 

in this department covers a broad range of topics, offering 

programs in three separate tracks. There is a program 

specifically for K-12 principals and superintendents and 

another for higher education administrators. The third 

track develops leaders in the growing field of adult and 

community education and is targeted to professionals who 

coordinate programs in such areas as lifelong learning, organizational 

education, continuing professional education, 

adult basic education and college teaching. 

In 2005, the doctoral program in educational leadership 

officially became a Ph.D. program and the department 

continues to thrive under the leadership of its chair, 

Dr. Tony Townsend. For more information about the 

program and its 40th anniversary celebration, contact 

Dr. Townsend at 561.297.6771 or townsend@fau.edu. 

12 legacy

TOP: 40TH ANNIVERSARY PLANNING COMMITTEE 

(seated, from left) Dr. Mary Gray, FAU President Frank T. 

Brogan ’81, Dr. Lucy Guglielmino; (back row, from left) Dr. 

Larry Decker, Dr. Don McKenzie, Dr. Tony Townsend, College 

of Education Dean Gregory F. Aloia 

BELOW: EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP STUDENTS 

WORKING ON A TECHNOLOGY PROJECT 

(from left) Dr. Lucy Guglielmino, Pauline Mclean ’02, Greg 

Gilbert, Janet Lucas, Terry Liddell, Keara Sodano 

legacy 13

FA L L 2 0 0 6 

FLORIDA OWL ATLANTIC NOTES UNIVERSITY 

O W L N O T E S 

14 legacy 

CLASS NOTES 

1960s 

Carl Hussey ’66 of West Palm Beach, FL, received the 

2006 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 

(IEEE) Outstanding Service award for long-standing 

service to IEEE’s Region 3. Hussey works as a registered 

professional engineer for the Palm Beach County 

Engineering and Public Works Department. Bruce Silk 

’67 of Boca Raton, FL, retired from his position as fire 

chief of the Boca Raton Fire Rescue Service 

Department after nearly 33 years of service. Peggy 

Vanarman ’68, ’77 of Lake Worth, FL, was elected 

president of the Board of Directors for Forest Hill 

Community High School Environmental and Technology 

Academy. Last April she received the Conservation Co- 

Heart Award from Grassy Waters Nature Preserve. 

Joern Curtiss ’69 of Hollywood, FL, is a master kayak 

builder. The former lifeguard, surfer, sailboat racer and 

artist launched his own kayak company, WoodTech, 

about 10 years ago. He holds a master’s degree in fine 

arts from the University of Miami and has worked as a 

landscape architect. An ordained Zen priest, Curtiss 

leads a weekly Zen meditation group and volunteers as 

a hospital chaplain. 

1970s 

G. Norman Bennett ’70 of Hahira, GA, has been appointed 

by the governor of Georgia to the State Personnel 

Board. In 2005 Bennett retired from the position of 

senior human resources director at Packaging Corporation 

of America. He served on the Lowndes County Board of 

Commissioners for 20 years. David Keltz ’72, of Baltimore, 

MD, is an expert on Edgar Allan Poe. A working 

actor, Keltz developed a one-man-show in which he 

portrays the author. He has performed his show at the 

Poe House and Museum in Baltimore and at a variety 

of college campuses. Myles G. Cohen ’76 of Columbia, 

SC, was promoted to division vice president and general 

manager of Sonoco’s Global Recovered Paper in April 

2006. Prior to joining Sonoco in 2003, Cohen was chief 

marketing officer of Fleet Capital. His career in marketing 

and sales began at Duracell, where he worked for 20 

years. Sue Ice ’76 of Chiefland, FL, has been named 

principal of Cedar Key School. A former assistant principal 

of Chiefland High School, Ice returns to Cedar Key 

School, where she had taught for 18 years and was an 

administrative assistant for 16 years. Stanley Green ’77 

of Broken Arrow, OK, recently retired. He and Sharon, 

his wife of 41 years, are enjoying “golf-course living.” He 

is the former manager of technical publications for Siemens 

Energy & Automation, Inc., and is an avid FAU 

football fan. William J. Oakley ’77 of Pinellas Park, FL, 

has been named pastor of the First United Methodist 

Church in Brooksville, FL. In addition to his FAU degree, 

he earned a master’s degree in divinity from Duke University 

and a doctorate in divinity from High Point University. 

Valerie Shea ’77 of Fort Lauderdale, FL, was 

given the 2006 Outstanding Past Voluntary Bar President 

Award from the Florida Council of Bar Association 

Presidents, in recognition of her contributions to the 

legal profession. 

1980s 

Susanne Capodanno ’80 of Jupiter, FL, has been appointed 

chair of the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation, 

an organization that provides financial assistance 

to college students who are interested in Florida banking. 

Capodanno is senior vice president of U.S. Trust 

Company, N.A. Kirk Die ’80 of Westchester, PA, has joined 

Freddie Mac as senior vice president and general auditor. 

In this new job the former MBNA executive supervises 

the internal audit department of Freddie Mac, the 

stockholder-owned company established by Congress to 

support homeownership. He reports directly to Freddie 

Mac’s chair and CEO. Lisa Bright ’81 of Delray Beach, 

FL, joined the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment 

Agency as its executive director. Bright, who was 

previously with the Delray Beach Redevelopment Agency, 

has a background that includes experience in retail real 

estate and downtown redevelopment. She launched the 

Milagro Center, a multicultural center in Delray Beach 

designed to provide assistance to communities undergoing 

change. Susan “Sue” Skemp ’81 of Washington, 

DC, has been selected to serve as the executive vice 

president of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 

newly formed Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation. 

Delores Calloway ’82 of Riviera Beach, FL, has been 

named executive director of instructional services for 

the Martin County School District. She will oversee curriculum, 

testing, adult education and Title I services. In 

more than 30 years with the district, she has held teacher 

Healing with Music 

and principal positions and in 2003 headed the school 

improvement initiative. John Joseph Horrigan Jr. ’83 of 

Boynton Beach, FL, married Eliana Raquel Ordonez Velazquez 

on January 21, 2006. He is the credit manager 

at Seta Corporation, Boca Raton. Steve Belgard ’84 of 

Denver, CO, is the director of programming/publicity for 

Starz Entertainment Group, a movie service provider that 

airs more than 1,000 movies per month on pay television 

channels. Some of the original documentaries on which 

he has worked recently include:“Midnight Movies,” 

“The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing,” “Bullets 

Over Hollywood,” “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall 

of the Slasher Movie” and “Buy the Ticket, Take the 

Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film.” Glen J. Romm ’84 

of Alpharetta, GA, has been named market executive for 

the Private Bank of Bank of America, overseeing teams 

in Atlanta, Macon and Savannah, Georgia. He has 20 

years of experience in the field. Fred Fromm ’85 of 

Boca Raton, FL, has been named chairman, president 

and CEO of nexVortex, a telecommunications service 

provider with a focus on small- and medium-sized businesses. 

An industry veteran with more than 33 years of 

experience at the senior level, Fromm will lead the com- 

A classical flutist and student in FAU’s master’s 

degree program in music, Kristin Hurley 

’03 serves as coordinator for the Doctors Andrew 

and Bradford Ress Healing by Music Program.Thanks 

to a grant from the Ress family, the 

program places Hurley and fellow FAU music 

students in medical settings around Palm Beach, 

Broward and Miami-Dade Counties to perform 

chamber concerts, creating a calming atmosphere 

that is conducive to healing. The group has performed 

at Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital at 

Delray Medical Center, the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center 

and Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton. However, it was only six years ago that Hurley 

was courageously battling to regain her own health – from injuries sustained as a result 

of a car accident on Interstate 95. 

Severely brain-injured from the impact of the crash, her back fractured in four places, 

Hurley was brought to Delray Medical Center for emergency treatment. Assessing her 

condition upon admission, doctors doubted that she would ever regain consciousness. 

They told Hurley’s mother that if she did beat the odds, she might never be able to 

resume her former life. 

“Miraculously, I am here today, fully functioning – proof that there can be life after 

a closed-head trauma,” says Hurley, who, in addition to her graduate studies and work 

with the Healing by Music program, is instructing burgeoning young flutists in the 

public schools through an FAU teaching assistantship supported by the Pew Public 

Education Fund. 

“Sometimes things happen in life that put you on the right track. I think my accident 

has drawn me to the profession of teaching and, I hope, eventually to an advanced 

degree and career in music therapy,” she says. “I believe that I was always 

meant to help others, but now, because of my own personal struggle, I am better 

equipped to touch people’s lives. I feel destined to give back to the community and 

the best way I can do that is through music. People wonder why, after my hospitalizations, 

I choose to spend time around people who are sick. I tell them that I do it 

because I care and because I believe it is my purpose in life.”

pany as it responds to new demands for Business Grade 

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Karen Elizabeth Albury 

’87 of Indian Harbour Beach, FL, married Jonathan 

Edward Tsairis on June 3, 2006. She is a guidance 

counselor at Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne. Karen 

Neger Byer ’87 of Charlotte, NC, recently celebrated 20 

years of marriage to Peter Byer ’86. Karen teaches and 

Peter owns an environmental remediation company. They 

have three children. Hamid Faquire ’87 of West Palm 

Beach, FL, has been the athletic director at Palm Beach 

Community College since 1985 and plans to retire at 

the end of this school year. Born in Uganda and educated 

at the secondary school level in Ireland where he played 

competitive tennis, Faquire came to Florida in the early 

1970s to play tennis and study at Florida State University. 

He ultimately earned a master’s degree at FAU. 

Kathy S. Aguirre ’88 of Boca Raton, FL, is the director 

of economic development and government affairs for the 

Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. She started 

with the chamber in 1989 and is currently in charge 

of the communications and public relations efforts designed 

to market Delray Beach not only as a tourist destination 

but also as a location for corporate business. 

Aguirre founded the Gold Coast Chapter of the American 

Association of Boomers, a non-profit membership 

association open to anyone born between1943 and 1964. 

Cynthia Harte ’88 of Stuart, FL, was elected marketing 

vice president of The Barn theatre, the oldest community 

theatre in Stuart, Florida. She has previously served 

on the theatre’s board. Gregory A. Beck ’89 of Chesterfield, 

MO, has been named senior vice president and CFO 

at Clayco, a full-service real estate development, design 

and construction company. Beck has more than 20 years 

experience in financial management. Brian Dowling ’89 

of Royal Palm Beach, FL, has been the head animal 

keeper at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, FL, for the 

past 10 years. In this position, he works with a wide variety 

of exotic animals including lions, rhinos, elephants, 

giraffes, hoof stock and primates. Dowling is also a veteran 

of the Persian Gulf War. Joseph Durso ’89 of San 

Francisco, CA, was been promoted to the position of 

senior vice president/director of retail banking for Tamalpais 

Bank. With 15 years of experience in executive 

banking, Durso will be in charge of business and retail 

customers, and serve on the bank’s loan committee. David 

Hayman ’89 of Boca Raton, FL, is a senior project engineer 

with the firm of Golder Associates, Inc., with 16 years 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 

FAU ALUMNI CELEBRITY SIGHTING 

OUTSTANDING 

OWL 

Margarita Perera Pinkos 

OCCUPATION 

Deputy Director/Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Education, Office of English Language 

Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient 

Students (OELA) 

FAU DEGREE 

Bachelor of Science in Biology, 1975; Master of Administration and Supervision, 1987; Specialist in 

Educational Leadership 1999; Doctorate in Educational Leadership, 2002 

BACKGROUND 

Margarita Pinkos was appointed to her current position in May 2006 by President George W. Bush. In 

this role, she is writing policy and interpreting the No Child Left Behind Act as it applies to limited 

English proficient (LEP) students. She is also helping to coordinate a partnership between the Department 

of Education and the 27 states that explore valid academic assessment strategies for LEP populations. In 

addition, she is charged with focusing on world language acquisition and addressing the challenge of saturating 

school systems in the U.S. with opportunities for foreign language study. Bringing practical experience 

to the U.S. Department of Education, her career as an educator and school administrator began in 

Florida at Northboro Elementary School, where she taught students in the English to Speakers of Other 

Languages (ESOL) program. Pinkos then served as assistant principal at the South Area Alternative 

School in Lake Worth, and in 1994, became the principal at Gove Elementary School in Belle Glade. In 

2002, as director of multicultural education for the Palm Beach County School District, Pinkos was responsible 

for implementing ESOL and foreign language programs.Pinkos was responsible for the district’s 

migrant education program and oversaw curricula for Holocaust, Hispanic/Latino and women’s studies. 

What do you remember most about your experience at FAU 

My memories of FAU span close to 30 years – four degrees earned over the course of four decades. When 

I began attending FAU in 1973, I had only been living in the United States for two years. A Cuban refugee, 

I was overwhelmed by my limited knowledge of English, but FAU welcomed me into its academic community 

and supported me as I learned the language. My entire family assumed that I would become a doctor, 

so naturally I majored in biology. All that changed when I took a job teaching an ESOL class. By remembering 

my own experiences as a second language learner, I was able to relate to my students and help them 

transition. That classroom experience confirmed that my heart was in teaching, not medicine. From then 

on, the College of Education became my base and foundation. 

Who were you most inspired by at FAU 

Two names that I immediately think of are Dr.Vasil “Bill” Kerensky, professor emeritus, who taught community 

education, educational leadership and management and chaired my doctoral dissertation and Dr. Mary 

Gray, who taught personnel development and instructional leadership. These professors, now retired from 

FAU, were wonderful mentors and contributed to the complete and thorough education I received. 

How did FAU impact your career 

From my days as a classroom teacher I developed a strong understanding of how children learn. FAU supported 

this ability, helped me advance as an educator and opened the door, through networking opportunities, 

to professional growth. Thanks to my alma mater I am engaged in important and relevant work 

of a global nature – work that helps children at risk overcome the odds and achieve. 

FAU Trustee Armand Grossman ’67, ’70, ’77 (right) meets 

comedian Scott “Carrot Top” Thompson ’89 backstage after a 

performance in Las Vegas. Thompson earned a BBA in marketing 

from FAU. 

OUTSTANDING OWLS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE FAU NATIONAL ALUMNI 

ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO FAU AND THE COMMUNITY. 

legacy 15

FA L L 2 0 0 6 



of experience as an environmental and civil engineer. 

1990s 

Lynda Brennan ’90 of North Palm Beach, FL, has been 

a therapist at Recovery Resources Enterprise, Inc., since 

1996. She is certified as a tobacco addiction specialist. 

Brian Polk ’90 of DeLeon Springs, FL, is the park manager 

of the DeLeon Springs State Park, which was once 

the site of the Spring Garden Plantation. Polk plans to 

take the 54-acre park in a new direction by improving 

the facilities and protecting its natural and cultural resources. 

He has worked at parks throughout Florida and 

began his career at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida 

Keys. Jordan I. Siegel ’91, ’99 of Fort Lauderdale, FL, 

has been named Nabi Biopharmaceuticals’ chief financial 

officer. Siegel, a certified public accountant, was a 

former vice president of finance for Ivax Corporation. Amy 

Heydon ’92 of Phoenix, AZ, married Alex Abariotes on 

May 28, 2006. She is director of OPEN Technology, 

where she manages a team that delivers and supports 

new American Express products. Lisa Howard ’92 of 

Royal Palm Beach, FL, has been married to Clifford Harrell 

since 2003. They have two children. She has worked 

as a victim advocate for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s 

Office. Blake MacDiarmid ’92 of Delray Beach, FL, 

is a political consultant. He has been involved with at 

least four-dozen campaigns, including a number of local 

elections. In 1997, he was diagnosed with leukemia and 

was put on a drug trial with one of the first targeted 

DNA drugs. After a short break, he began working again. 

He has been in remission for three years. Kathryn 

Schmidt ’92 of West Palm Beach, FL, is the president 

and chief executive officer of Workforce Alliance, Inc. A 

nonprofit organization with three career centers around 

the county, the Workforce Alliance brings together employers 

and potential employees. Michael Broker ’93 of 

West Palm Beach, FL, is a geographical information 

systems project manager for the South Florida Water 

Management District. Gathering important information 

about water resources through advanced computer systems, 

Broker is directly involved in protecting endangered 

wetlands. He is part of a team at the Water Management 

District that responds to weather emergencies 

by producing computerized maps. Carla Civita ’94 of 

Smyrna, GA, is president of Imagym, a children’s play 

and exercise center. Targeting the fitness needs of kids 

as young as six months, Imagym offers classes in cardio 

training, yoga and self-defense. A runner who has been 

involved in sports her whole life, Civita began her fitness 

career by teaching classes to adults and children. Christie 

Cradock ’94 of Severn, MD, works as an advisor for the 

University of Maryland. She is married and has one 

daughter. Deborah “Debbie” Hurley ’95 of Ocala, FL, 

has been the children’s librarian at Freedom Public Library 

in Ocala since April 2006. She also worked at the 

Marion County Library headquarters and in the Palm 

Beach County Library System’s circulation department. 

Erik J. Kneubuehl ’95 of the Bronx, NY, has been 

appointed dean of students for the State University of 

New York Maritime College in New York City. Erik and his 

wife Alexis Hyman Kneubuehl ’00 reside on campus in 

faculty housing. Tammy L. Knight ’95 of Dania Beach, 

FL, is an attorney practicing in the areas of corporate, 

securities and franchise law. Kenneth Patrick Rourke ’95 

of Jupiter, FL, married Antoinette Connors on May 27, 

2006. He is employed at Rooney’s Irish Pub in Jupiter. 

Jennifer Coffey ’96 of Boca Raton, FL, is a labor and 

employment litigator. She has been in practice since 

2001. Some of the claims she defends deal with the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, age discrimination, the 

Family and Medical Leave Act and the Florida Civil Rights 

Act. Michele Lee Vickers ’96 of Huntsville, AL, married 

Capt. George Troncoso on April 22, 2006. She is a 

teacher. Dorothy Melise Bunker ’97 of West Palm Beach, 

FL, joined Palm Beach Atlantic University as a professor 

in 1989 and was recently named dean of its School 

of Education and Behavioral Studies. In 1997 Palm 

Beach Atlantic University recognized her with the Charles 

and Hazel Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching. Prior 

to her work at the college level, Bunker taught elementary 

school for 16 years. Christine Goodwin ’97, ’00 

and Robert Forde ’74, ’79 of South Palm Beach, FL, 

were married on December 17, 2005. She is a psychotherapist 

with Jeff Industries. He is senior vice president 

of City Furniture. Stephen Edwards ’98 of Deerfield 

Beach, FL, is a project manager for Garcia Stromberg 

Architects, an international architecture and interior design 

firm with offices in Boca Raton and Stuart. Brandi 

Kellem ’98 of Alloway, NJ, married Jay Rosenholtz on 

May 5, 2006. She is employed by the Liberty Mutual 

Group. Shannon Ludlow ’98 of Boca Raton, FL, is director 

of human resources at Delray Beach Medical Center. 

She previously worked at West Boca Medical Center. 

John Gravante ’99 of Stuart, FL, graduated from the 

University of Miami School of Law in 2002. Karolin 

Miller ’99, ’04 of Delray Beach, FL, is a national credit 

manager for Office Depot in Delray Beach. As a member 

of the FAU National Alumni Association Board, Miller 

is part of a team that is reviewing the design and construction 

plans for the Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni 

Center, which will be built on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. 

Jami Vass ’99 of Lake Worth, FL, is the division director 

– Boca Raton, at the American Heart Association 

Florida/Puerto Rico Affiliate. She is in charge of plan- 

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ning fundraising activities for the organization,including 

Giving Kids 

the World 

After seven years with CNN trailing 

hurricanes, covering the civil war in Kosovo 

and producing live television for news 

shows such as Next@CNN and AC 360, 

Christian Cascone ’98 changed the 

course of his life by accepting a job as 

director of communications for Give 

Kids The World (GKTW). 

A non-profit resort for children from 

ages 3 to 18 with life-threatening diseases, 

GKTW is a family-friendly village on 70 

acres in Kissimmee, Florida. Cascone and 

GKTW staff work closely with over 250 wish-granting organizations worldwide to 

provide eligible children and their families with free week-long accommodations at 

the village as well as meals and access to Central Florida’s famous theme parks and 

attractions. Since its opening, GKTW has welcomed more than 75,000 guests. Expansion 

is underway as the village grows from 96 villas to 240. 

“As director of communications, I am honored to represent this completely unique 

organization and help it gain public awareness,” says Cascone. “The atmosphere at the 

village is filled with the sense of hope and renewal. It is a very uplifting place to work.” 

GKTW was founded in 1986 by hotelier and philanthropist Henri Landwirth, a 

Belgium-born child survivor of the Holocaust. His strong will enabled him to endure 

the horrors of war and imprisonment, but only a miracle could explain his successful 

escape from the Nazi soldiers who were ready to execute him. For Landwirth, GKTW 

is a symbol of humanity. His giving spirit and dedication to GKTW allows the organization 

to make miracles happen every day. 

“Our goal at GKTW is to be better than the best five-star resort,” says Cascone. 

“With each visit we have one shot to make this a dream-come-true vacation. Our 

organization is powered by unlimited imagination. No idea is too ‘out there’ for us to 

consider if it results in the happiness of a child.” 

Christian Cascone ’98 on theToday show 

the annual Heart Ball and HeartWalk. 

2000s 

Allyson Lerman ’00 of Boynton Beach, FL, a real estate 

specialist with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 

Inc., was the winner of the Florida East Listing Presentation 

contest. She took the top honor from a field of 

approximately 4,763 Coldwell Banker associates. Ruben 

Lopez ’00 of Lantana, FL, married Sara Leigh Pugh on 

April 9, 2006. He is a firefighter with Boynton Beach 

Fire Rescue. Jennifer Mata ’00 of Palm Beach Gardens, 

FL, married Phil Booker on January 21, 2006. She is a 

marketing director. Kathy Megrath ’00 of Jupiter, FL, is 

a pediatric nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West 

Palm Beach. She is also an adjunct professor at Palm 

Beach Community College. She volunteers for Easter 

Seals and is on its board of directors. Samantha Patricia 

Bense ’01 of Delray Beach, FL, married Michael 

Craig Marcus on June 3, 2006. She is a marine biology 

teacher at Park Vista Community High School in Boynton 

Beach. Megan Kathleen Carney ’01 of Palm Springs, 

FL, married Michael Anthony Snowman on January 15, 

2006. She is a music teacher at Palm Springs Elementary 

School. Stacey Harrison ’01 of Owings Mills, MD, 

works as a financial aid counselor at the University of 

Maryland School of Law and Graduate School in Baltimore. 

Lynne Fraino ’02 of Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, 

is marketing manager for Kelly’s Freeport Ltd. True 

Value, a chain of home goods and hardware stores in 

the Bahamas. In addition, she is a journalist forThe Freeport 

News and The Punch and does freelance work in 

public relations and special events. She also volunteers 

for the Grand Bahama Children’s Home. Karen Gorde 

’02 of Plantation, FL, has joined McGladrey & Pullen, 

LLP, as a senior audit associate. The firm provides audit 

services to more than 150 clubs and resorts in Florida. 

Sean McLaren ’02 of Boca Raton, FL, was promoted to 

the position of retail district manager for Verizon Wireless 

in South Florida. McLaren will oversee operations for 

24 retail stores and kiosks. Ana Rivera ’02 of Pembroke 

Pines, FL, has been a human resources generalist at 

Memorial Hospital Miramar/Memorial Hospital Pembroke 

for the past six years. Timothy Aaron Smith ’02 of Wellington, 

FL, married Alicia Aileen Sprague on April 29, 

2006. Karin T. Swanson ’02 of Royal Palm Beach, FL, 

is shareholder and managing partner of Ronald B. Swanson, 

D.O., Inc., with her husband, Ronald Swanson, an 

emergency medicine physician.Prior to this, she served 

as director of human resources with an international 

media organization. Tamala Vaughn ’02 of Tallahassee, 

FL, was recently named assistant coach for FAU women’s 

basketball.A former FAU player, Vaughn ranks fifth 

among FAU career scorers. Vaughn played professional 

basketball in Europe from 2002 to 2004 and coached 

high school basketball in Broward County. Kathleen 

Marie Eggermann Beck ’03 and Jeremiah Neil Beck ’03 

of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, were married on March 

11, 2006. She is a registered nurse in the intensive 

care unit at Jupiter Medical Center. He is selfemployed 

at Kitchen Creek Company. Marcela Sabbato 

Carneiro ’03 of Delray Beach, FL, is engaged to Ryan 

Richard Millet. She is a social worker in Palm Beach 

County’s Human Services Division. Travis James Held 

’03 of Jupiter, FL, married Jaime Lynn Eilen on 

January 28, 2006. He is a firefighter/paramedic for 

the city of Palm Beach Gardens. Marcie Margret 

Mercer ’03 of Berkley, MI, married Michael 

Lawrence Ferraro on December 17, 2005. With a master’s 

degree from FAU in biomedical science, Mercer is 

working toward a doctorate at Wayne State University 

in Michigan. Robert O’Neill ’03 of Jupiter, FL, 

has been promoted to the rank of major at the Jupiter 

Police Department. O’Neill is the third major in the department’s 

history and will be in charge of the department’s 

patrol bureau. O’Neill began his 23-year law enforcement 

career as a cadet and worked his way up the 

ranks to sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Alexis P. Goncalves 

’04 of Wilton, CT, was elected to be one of 24 

fellows of the American Society for Quality (ASQ). The 

ASQ, with a membership of 93,000 individuals and organizations, 

is a nonprofit association of professionals 

dedicated to improving workplaces and communities. 

Goncalves is global director of quality intelligence for 

Citigroup, Global Consumer Bank, and has been working 

in the field of quality management for almost 20 

years. Raynell Hagberg ’04 of Stuart, FL, is the cross 

country and track coach for Jensen Beach High School. 

Philip Primato ’04 of Delray Beach, FL,has been appointed 

sales associate for Florida-Synthetic Turf International 

(STI), a supplier of synthetic surfaces for 

sports venues, parks, playgrounds, cruise ships and 

other hospitality and recreational settings. Jonathan 

Stief ’04 of Tamarac, FL, is engaged to Danielle 

Roberta Lever. They are both students at the Shepard 

Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University. 

William Lloyd Vickers Jr. ’04 of Wellington, FL, married 

Amanda Michele Oxendine on January 7, 2006. 

Vickers is a deputy sheriff with the Palm Beach 

County Sheriff’s Office. Christina Marie Cariseo ’05 

of West Palm Beach, FL, married Gaetano Vincent 

Caldovino on January 7, 2006. She is a teacher at 

Grassy Waters Elementary School in West Palm 

Beach. Etienne Menard ’05 of Miami, FL, graduated 

from basic military training at Lackland Air Force 

Base in San Antonio, Texas. Lloyd V. Osman ’05 of Orlando, 

FL, is studying law at Florida A&M University 

College of Law in Orlando. Marjorie Rodriguez ’05 of 

Amherst, NY, married Darrell Lewis on April 22, 2006. 

Ruben Romero ’05 of Port St. Lucie, FL, is a “rookie” 

with the Jupiter Police Department. Amanda Lysbeth 

Snyder ’05 of Margate, FL, married Jake Maltby on May 

27, 2006. She is a teacher in Broward County and he is 

an ocean engineering student at FAU. Mari Jean Gross 

’06 of Jupiter, FL, married Davin Lau on April 1, 2006. 

She is a registered dietitian at the Jupiter Medical Center. 

Stacey Lyn Zanis ’06 of St. Augustine, FL, married 

Louis N. Papas, Jr., on May 28, 2006. 

IN MEMORIAM 

Arthur “Dutch” Hardie ’66 of Tequesta, FL, died May 29, 

2006, at the age of 76. He worked in advertising producing 

commercials for such shows as the Ed Sullivan 

Show and The Jackie Gleason Show. He moved to Florida 

in 1964 and remained an active part of his profession 

until early this year. Virginia Johnston ’67 of Pompano 

Beach, FL, died August 15, 2006, at the age of 88. She 


legacy 17

FA L L 2 0 0 6 



was a teacher in Broward County for 22 years, a volunteer 

with the Peace Corps and a professor of English at 

the Jilin College of Finance and Trade in Changchun, 

China. She volunteered for Lighthouse for the Blind as 

well as for Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic. She was 

honored by the FAU National Alumni Association for her 

numerous personal and professional achievements. John 

Franklin Thomas ’67 of Melbourne, FL, died April 9, 

2006, at the age of 67. He was a retired technician for 

Harris Corporation. Wanda Wenning Wegener ’67 of 

Delray Beach, FL, died July 9, 2006, at the age of 79. 

She taught biology and chemistry at Seacrest High 

School in Delray Beach. She also taught kindergarten at 

Lakeview Baptist Church, where she was a member. 

Mary Sue McDonald Balentine ’68 of St. Mary’s, GA, 

died June 28, 2006, at the age of 75. She taught in public 

schools in Louisville, KY, and West Palm Beach, FL. 

She and her husband, a Baptist pastor, lived in Kentucky, 

Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. 

Gene Wright Burns ’69 of Stuart, FL, died March 9, 2006, 

at the age of 85. She earned a bachelor’s degree from 

Michigan State University and a teaching certificate from 

FAU. She taught for 16 years. Daniel L. Hetrick ’69, ’73 

of Northumberland, England, died on July 24, 2006, at 

the age of 75. After serving in the U.S. Army during the 

Korean War, he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees 

at FAU and went on to earn a doctorate in microbiology 

in England. He worked at the Howard Hughes 

Medical Research Center at the University of Miami and 

ran his own medical research firm in Miami and Lantana, 

FL. Margaret Inez Trieste ’69 of Boynton Beach, 

FL, died March 10, 2006, at the age of 93. Born in North 

Carolina, she married Charles W. Trieste, an area engineer 

with the Army Engineering Corps, in 1938. During World 

War II she and her husband traveled to various military 

posts in Florida. She earned her degree from FAU at the 

age of 56, received state certification and taught elementary 

school for 20 years. She and her husband opened 

the Trieste Construction Corporation, which they operated 

for 43 years. William E. Wright ’69, ’70 of Fort Pierce, 

FL, died July 17, 2006, at the age of 75. A captain in 

the U.S. Air Force and later a liaison officer for the Air 

Force Academy, Wright was the director of exceptional 

student education for the St. Lucie County School System 

for 19 years. He was also an administrator at Indian River 

Community College and Brevard Community College. 

David Harrison Conway ’70 of Wilton Manors, FL, died 

May 24, 2006, at the age of 57. He served with the 

U.S. Army Reserves and was an avid racquetball player. 

Monford Johnson ’70 of Fort Lauderdale, FL, died March 

4, 2006, at the age of 70. A retired Broward public school 

counselor, he earned his undergraduate degree from Florida 

A & M University, master’s degrees in sociology and 

counseling from FAU and a doctorate in Christian counseling 

from Trinity College in Florida. Eddie T. Pearson 

’70 of Miami, FL, died April 28, 2006, at the age of 64. 

He worked with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools 

for almost 40 years. He chaired the board of directors of 

the YMCA and was a member of the University of Miami 

Board of Trustees. A high school and college athlete, he 

was a physical education teacher and then moved on to 

administrative roles. He was deputy superintendent of 

school operations in Miami Dade until he retired in 2002. 

Stephen Woodhead ’70, ’75, ’78 of Jupiter, FL, died 

December 9, 2005, at the age of 58. While a student at 

FAU majoring in psychology, he was active in student 

government. Ernest M. Ely ’71, ’76 of Sunrise, FL, died 

April 24, 2006, at the age of 88. When England was 

attacked by Germany during World War II, Ely joined the 

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). He remained in the 

RCAF until the U.S. entered the war, at which point he 

joined the U.S. military. Ely retired from the U.S. Air Force 

in 1957. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics 

and a master’s degree in educational leadership 

from FAU, and then taught high school, retiring at the 

age of 72. Helen B. Perrin ’71, ’75 of Gainesville, FL, 

died June 17, 2006, at the age of 74. She was a teacher 

for 36 years and during her career won many teaching 

awards. She was a member of the American Association 

of University Women and for two years served as the organization’s 

president. Alice Elaine Dunn ’72 of Lake 

Clark Shores, FL, died May 14, 2006, at the age of 82. 

She taught kindergarten for 12 years in Culver City, CA, 

and was with the Palm Beach County school district for 

22 years. Nancy-Sue Davis Weinstein ’72 of West Palm 

Beach, FL, died March 23, 2006, at the age of 69. An 

elementary, middle and high school teacher for 48 years 

in Dade, Palm Beach and Martin counties, she earned a 

Teachers of Excellence Award from the Palm Beach Post 

for her work at Palm Beach Gardens High School. She also 

tutored athletes at the University of Miami and taught 

English as a second language to adults. Charles Easton 

’74 of Indialantic, FL, died May 27, 2006, at the age of 

60. He was a teacher and served in the U.S. Air Force 

in Thailand and Vietnam. Henry S. Prominski ’74 of 

Gainesville, FL, died April 1, 2006, at the age of 77. 

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, the 

New Jersey native enlisted in the Naval Aviation Program. 

After four years of active duty, he was released and attended 

the University of Miami Law School, receiving his degree 

in 1959. He became a partner in the law firm of 

Miller & Tucker and then served two terms in the Florida 

House of Representatives. He earned a master’s degree 

in international law from McGill University in Montreal, 


FIND OUT 

HOW 

TO SHOW 

YOUR 

PRIDE! 

YOUR NAME HERE 

Call 1-888-FAU-ALUM and get your FAU Alumni Pride Card TODAY!

for these upcoming 

signature alumni events... 

FAU Alumni Sweethearts Dinner 

FEBRUARY 8, 2007, 6 PM 

Highland Beach Holiday Inn, Highland Beach, Florida 

FAU Hall of Fame and 

Distinguished Alumni Reception 

MAY 3, 2007, 6 PM 

Eleanor R. Baldwin House, FAU Boca Raton Campus 

To RSVP, call 1-888-FAU-ALUM 

or e-mail alumni.affairs@fau.edu. 

For an expanded alumni events calendar, 

visit www.faualumni.org. 

We look forward to 

welcoming you “home.”

FA L L 2 0 0 6 



Canada, and a master’s degree in public administration 

from FAU. He retired in 1980. Edward B. Houck, II ’75, 

’76 of Delray Beach, FL, died March 8, 2006, at the age 

of 58. A resident of Pompano Beach since 1955, he was 

a nationally ranked swimmer and avid surfer. A work 

accident during his summer break from college left him 

paralyzed at the age of 19. After rehabilitative treatment 

he earned a master’s degree in psychology and a second 

master’s degree in education at FAU. He also 

became licensed as a hypnotherapist. He served on 

the Governor’s Committee on Employment of the 

Handicapped and taught at the college level. As a therapist 

in private practice he helped many veterans and 

survivors with post traumatic stress syndrome. An avid 

musician, he played guitar and sang with local bands. 

Sheila Ann Weaver ’76, ’87 of Vero Beach, FL, died 

May 26, 2006, at the age of 69. She received her 

bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from FAU and 

was a teacher for many years. Raymond P. Tadeo ’77 of 

Chicopee, MA, died August 12, 2006, at the age of 

53. He was the owner of Racon, Inc., a financial support 

company. He was a member of the Basilica of St. 

Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr and a parish coach. 

Bonnie Gail Campbell ’80 of Boca Raton, FL, died 

June 12, 2006, at the age of 50. She worked for 

Merrill Lynch for many years. George Fahim Nimah 

’83 of Pompano Beach, FL, died April 27, 2006, at the 

age of 80 from lung cancer. Born in Turkey, he lived in 

Lebanon before immigrating to the U.S. He was a CPA 

and was honored as a Deacon Emeritus by his church. 

Nancy G. Watson ’83 of Wellington, FL, died March 20, 

2006, at the age of 56 from complications after a liver 

transplant. Joyce Haber-Channell ’86 of Boca Raton, FL, 

died on April 2, 2006, at the age of 52. She was a teacher 

at Sunrise Park Elementary School in Boca Raton. Misty 

Jean Fleagane-Kalivretenos ’87 of Celebration, FL, died 

June 17, 2006, at the age of 41. She was a social worker, 

working with children and adolescents with autism 

and other special needs. In addition, she was a certified 

naturopathic healer. She was a member of the Corpus 

Christi Catholic Church. John Franklin Lee ’87 of Orange, 

CA, died July 23, 2006, at the age of 42 due to injuries 

sustained in the crash of a private plane he was piloting. 

A successful real estate professional, Lee was co-owner 

of the Apartments, O.C. Inc. He was managing more than 

45 properties in Southern California at the time of his 

death. James Willoughby ’89 of Orlando, FL, died June 28, 

2006, at the age of 43 from cancer. His struggle with 

cystic fibrosis did not prevent Willoughby from earning 

a degree and succeeding in his career of computer programming. 

He was the recipient of a double lung transplant 

as well as a kidney transplant. He was a dedicated 

volunteer with such organizations as the Cystic Fibrosis 

Foundation and the Second Harvest Food Bank. He was 

the co-author of a yet-to-be-released web comic. Syliva P. 

Brennan ’90 of Port St. Lucie, FL, died June 19, 2006, 

at the age of 69. She taught at St. Helen Catholic School 

in Fort Lauderdale for 30 years and was a pre-school daycare 

provider in Port St. Lucie. Cynthia P. Harrelson ’90 

of Lutz, FL, died January 24, 2006, at the age of 49. 

She bred and showed toy poodles. Shannoya C. Corrodus 

Robinson ’96 of West Palm Beach, FL, died July 16, 

2006, at the age of 28. After earning degrees in education 

at Indian River Community College and FAU, she 

continued her studies at Florida State University College 

of Law. Sandra K. “Sandy” Berch ’97 of Hobe Sound, FL, 

died July 24, 2006, at the age of 55. She was a registered 

nurse for over 30 years, working at St. Mary’s Medical 

Center in West Palm Beach and Martin Memorial Medical 

Center in Stuart. She was also a professor at Indian River 

Community College for many years. She was a member of 

St. Christopher Catholic Church in Hobe Sound. James P. 

Douthett ’01, ’02, ’04 of Boca Raton, FL, died on July 

20 legacy 

27, 2006, at the age of 26. He earned both an undergraduate 

and master’s degree in geography at FAU. 

William Barnes ’04 of Oakland Park, FL, died on March 

22, 2006, at the age of 63. An avid ham radio operator, 

he was a familiar face at the department of electrical 

engineering in FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer 

Science. Juanita Joan “Nita” Marshall King ’04 of 

Lauderhill, FL, died March 2, 2006, at the age of 53 from 

a heart attack. She was an exceptional student educator 

for the Polk County School Board. In addition, she was an 

adult educator and librarian in Broward County. She had 

been a probate clerk for the Broward Clerk of Courts and 

the Broward County Water Department. She was a member 

of the Pentecostal Tabernacle Church, and a former 

youth sponsor, choir member and church secretary. Ramon 

Rickards ’05 of Miami, FL, died May 24, 2006, at the 

age of 26 in a motorcycle accident. A defensive end, he 

was an outgoing, enthusiastic member of FAU’s inaugural 

football team, who took a leadership role in the program’s 

early days.David Stephen Rodriguez ’05 of Hialeah, FL, 

died March 21, 2006, at the age of 26 from cancer. He 

was the assistant to the athletic director of Dade Christian 

School. He was presented with the Phil Willoughby Service 

Award from the school in 2005. He enjoyed competitive 

kick boxing and chess. 

faculty and staff 

John Emerson Bennett from Carrollton, GA, died on May 

9, 2006, at the age of 78. He was a teacher, guidance 

counselor and assistant principal for Palm Beach County 

and a professor of education at FAU’s College of Education. 

Rosemarie Chiucchi of Bartow, FL, died June 8, 

2006, at the age of 73 in an automobile accident. She 

was a secretary specialist for FAU. Catherine deVault of 

Boca Raton, FL, died May 14, 2006, at the age of 87. 

She was one of FAU’s first employees, serving as a purchasing 

agent for the bookstore until her retirement. 

Frances “Frankie” Jellinek Myers of North Palm Beach, 

FL, died July 14, 2006, at the age of 70 from cancer. 

A trained dancer who earned a doctor of education degree 

in dance from Columbia University, she joined the 

faculty in FAU’s College of Education in 1969 and in 

1979, became a professor in the theatre department. 

She retired in 2001 and was named professor emeritus. 

During her tenure at FAU, she also choreographed a number 

of theatre productions. Rita B. Levy of San Jose, CA, 

died March 12, 2006, at the age of 86. During her marriage 

to William Levy, an Air Force career officer, she lived 

in more than nine states and three European countries. 

Upon her husband’s death in 1970, she began what 

would be a 20-year career as a secretary in FAU’s department 

of chemistry. Her love of travel took her on 

vacations to South America, Mexico and the Far East. 

Don Marietta of Townson, MD, died March 30, 2006, at 

the age of 79. He was a professor emeritus in philosophy. 

Margaret Ann Schrodt Murray of Port St. Lucie, FL, 

died August 1, 2006, at the age of 66 from cancer. She 

was a professor of urban planning at FAU from 1992 to 

2003. She received her teaching degree from the former 

State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a 

master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas. 

She earned an MBA from Oklahoma University and 

a Ph.D. in urban planning from Virginia Polytechnic 

Institute and State University. 

friends 

Joseph G. Snyder of Tallahassee, FL, died April 9, 2006, 

at the age of 88. Snyder, a retired banker who began his 

career at First Bank & Trust Co. of Boca Raton and then 

became vice president for business development at Sun 

Bank, was an active volunteer. He gave many hours of 

We want to hear from you! 

Submit your class note online at 

www.faualumni.org 

or mail to the FAU Office of Alumni Relations, 

777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431. 

Due to space limitations, we are unable to 

publish every class note we receive. Please visit 

www.faualumni.org for a complete list of class notes. 

owls in 

print 

Marc Doyle ’05 had an article published in the 

AORN Journal. His article is titled “Promoting 

Standardized Nursing Language Using 

an Electronic Medical Record System.” 

Lana Thompson ’69, ’99 has written three articles 

for the Encyclopedia of Prostitution and 

Sex Work (Greenwood Press, 2006). The 

articles are titled: “Rites of Passage,” “The 

Speculum” and “Free Love.” She also wrote 

two articles for the Greenwood Encyclopedia 

of Folklore and Folklife (Greenwood Press, 

2005). These articles are on cultural relativity 

and the Seminoles. 

Christopher Van Vliet ’01 has written an essay 

titled “Globalization and its Impact on Strategic 

Security” for the Handbook of Globalization, 

Governance and Public Administration 

(CRC Press, 2006). 

ARE YOU AN “OWL IN PRINT” … 

or if you know of an FAU graduate who is, 

please send a message to 

legacy@fau.edu or 

legacy, FAU Division of 

University Advancement 

777 Glades Road, 

Boca Raton, FL 33431.

PHILANTHROPY 

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY 

P H I L A N T H R O P Y 

FA L L 2 0 0 6 

S T U D E N T S P OT L I G H T 

student spotlight 

Romeo Joseph, Arnold and Ruth Greenberg Scholar, 

Realizes His Dream ofBecominga Doctor 

Busy juggling a heavy class load as a 

biology major at the Charles E. Schmidt College of 

Science, Romeo Joseph is an FAU junior whose lifelong 

dream is to become a doctor. As this year’s recipient of the 

Arnold and Ruth Greenberg Scholarship, Romeo no longer 

has to support himself with three part-time jobs. His scholarship 

enables him to focus fully on academics, although 

he continues as a work-study student in FAU’s Office of 

Alumni Relations. 

Born in Miami, Romeo spent his early years in Haiti living 

with his father. When he returned to Miami at age 10, he 

reunited with his mother. It was a defining moment in Romeo’s 

childhood. “My mother and I were able to rebuild our relationship 

and I got the chance to benefit from her advice,” says 

Romeo. He credits his mother, a licensed practical nurse, for 

passing on to him a natural ability in the sciences and for inspiring 

him, by her example. The evenings he spent helping 

her study for her nursing exams provided him with a good introduction 

to some of the coursework he is mastering today. 

“Everything happens for a reason,” says Romeo. “Because 

I was reunited with my mother, I became interested in science 

and medicine. Now I’m on my way to becoming a doctor. 

As a surgeon I will be able to give people second chances 

by saving lives.” 

PHOTO BY TOM ERVIN 

At Florida Atlantic University, 

access to higher education is 

within every student’s reach. 

In the 2005-06 academic year, 

more than $1 million in scholarships 

was awarded through the 

FAU Foundation. In 2006-07, 

Romeo Joseph is just one of the 

more than 1,300 FAU students 

who is benefiting from financial 

assistance. Romeo hopes to one 

day practice surgery. He is 

looking forward to joining the 

ranks of FAU alumni and friends 

who generously give so that 

another generation of students 

can succeed. 

legacy 21

PHILANTHROPY 



FA L L 2 0 0 6 


G.O.L.D. 

GRADUATES 

OF THE 

LAST DECADE 

JORDAN STERNBERG, CLASS OF 2005 

PROFILE 

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, BBBENTLEY 

It was at FAU that Jordan Sternberg ’05 

became a leader. When he first arrived at the 

University, he was shy and apprehensive. 

But after acclimating to college life and joining 

the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Sternberg 

discovered his full potential. “I got involved 

in everything FAU had to offer,” he says. 

“Suddenly my grade point average went up. 

I became active in Student Government and 

even saw a dramatic improvement in my 

ability to compete in sports. I graduated with 

a degree in health administration and enough 

confidence and experience to guide me in my 

first professional position as a financial advisor 

at Morgan Stanley.” 

Today, Sternberg is vice president of operations 

for BBBentley, an import textile company 

in Delray Beach, Florida. Interfacing 

with buyers from major national department 

store chains, BBBentley out-sources manufacturing 

projects to textile factories in 

both the United States and abroad. Currently 

BBBentley is importing the iSoundCap, a 

new iPod accessory, for commercial distribution. 

One of Sternberg’s overseas partner 

sourcing companies, Goldsmen, is currently 

developing a contemporary line of distressedstyle 

T-shirts and jeans for BBBentley. What 

makes the product unique is that bamboo 

is used as the key production material. 

Sternberg says that when processed as a 

fiber, bamboo is breathable, cool, antibacterial, 

biodegradable, waterproof and 

hypoallergenic. In addition, it has a cashmere-like 

softness and naturally filters out 

harmful UV rays. Sternberg expects this 

innovative product to attract the interest of 

fashion-conscious and environmentally 

aware consumers. 

Sternberg stays connected to FAU through 

alumni activities and as president of Graduates 

Of the Last Decade (GOLD), a new FAU 

giving society for recent graduates.“I owe a 

lot to FAU. My experiences as a student gave 

me a good foundation for my career in the 

business world,” he says. “It’s time to repay 

FAU for all it has given me. I am not alone – 

there is a whole generation of alumni ready 

22 legacy

G.O.L.D. 

GRADUATES OF THE LAST DECADE 

19 9 6 - 2 0 0 6 H O N O R R O L L 

CLASS OF 1996 

Phyllis R. Bebko ’96, ’98 

James L. Berkman ’96 

Loretta L. Davis ’96 

Jianjie Fang ’96 

Keith M. ’96 and 

Jennifer A. ’97 Fries 

Blake M. ’96 and Lesley Hallock 

Mark E. Jette ’96 

Carmen M. Johnson ’96 

Daniel W. Pollock ’95 

and Laureen E. Galeoto ’96 

Bhooma A. ’96 and 

R. N. ’91 Sailappan 

John J. Sullivan ’96 

CLASS OF 19 97 

Marcus Ching ’97 

Max E. and Denise M. ’97 Clark 

Allison M. Cohen ’97 

Jorge C. ’97 and Jacqueline 

A. ’90 Diaz 

Scott B. Eccleston ’97 

Cheryl A. Lee ’97 

Dashamir M. Petrela ’97 

John and Uyen T. ’97 Pribbenow 

Frederick P. Rimmler ’97 

Eric L. ’97 and Tanya Schmidt 

Craig D. Spencer ’97 

Lorelei B. Stierlen ’97 

Lucretia L. Straghn ’97 

Jason F. Tatonetti ’97 

Randy and Julie ’97 Tice 

Carol A. Wenzel ’97 

Alice Wilkes ’97 

CLASS OF 1998 

Addie Adams ’98 

Romayne P. Berry ’98 

Jorge Cabrera, Jr. ’98 

and Yvonne Cabrera 

Timothy J. Fadgen ’98 

Nearchos J. Papanearchou 

’98, ’00, ’05 

Gordon B. Zellers III ’98 

CLASS OF 1999 

Kevin T. ’00 and 

Aimee L. ’00 Aycock 

Nancy R. ’99 Botero 

Joseph S. Coupland ’99 

Richard J. Hart, Jr. ’99, ’02 

Greg A. Oldakowski ’99 

Winky Pubien ’99 

Jane F. Schein ’99 

Stephen M. Spector ’99 

Richard J. Viens ’99 

Maria A. Wagner ’99 

CLASS OF 2000 

Oliver Agh ’00, ’03 

Bettee M. Collister ’00 

Randy A. Goin, Jr. ’00 

Steven T. Knowles ’00, ’03 

Heather F. Moody ’00 

Richard P. Palumbo ’00 

Catherine G. Stephens ’00 

CLASS OF 2000 ( C O N T I N U E D ) 

Jennifer L. Waldrop ’00, ’03 

Denise Yoezle ’00, ’02 

Kevin R. Youngblood ’00, ’03 

CLASS OF 2001 

Tiena B. Adams ’02 and 

Cornell T. Adams, Jr. ’01 

George L. Hanbury II ’01 

Erik C. Henning ’01, ’03 

Phillip A. Kilty ’01 

Kathryn Ross ’01 

Ronald S. Senykoff, Jr. ’01 

and Holly M. Senykoff ’96 

Lynn M. Waters Jr. '01, ’03 

Gregory P. Wynot, Sr. ’01 

and Amanda Carpenter-Wynot 

CLASS OF 2002 

Letha A. Benning ’02 

David E. Currey ’02 

Yvette Melendez ’02 

Robert C. Seneca, Jr. ’02 

CLASS OF 2003 

Jennifer R. ’03 and 

Paul R. ’95 Beatty 

Ursula Pamela Chavez ’03 

Joel M. ’03 and Heidi DiCicco 

Megan Eleanor E. Jacques ’03 

Daniel J. Keller ’03 

Peter J. Leech ’03 

Louise A. Lucas ’03 

Brian J. McHugh ’03 

Mary A. Mertz ’03 

David B. ’03 and 

Janice M. Moore ’93 Scheirich 

Richard H. Nicorvo ’03 

Pablo E. Paez ’03 

Heidi Tuby ’03 

Jennifer A. Steelman ’03 

Shanna E. Vinig ’03, ’05 

CLASS OF 2004 

Carter T. Bogush ’04 

Peter and Elizabeth A. ’04 Brooks 

Ashok Hegde ’04 

Zaeem A. Khan ’04 

Michael J. Langford ’04 

Mary S. Mosley ’04 

Paul C. Reuss ’04 

Dolores E. Schlesselman ’04, ’06 


Tara M. Warrington ’04 

CLASS OF 2005 

Ronald E. Benson III ’05 

Stacy Fontes ’05 

Alan R. ’05 and Shari L. Moldof 

Carlos E. McCluskey ’05 

Kaye K. Radler ’05 

Jordan P. Sternberg ’05 

Gail M. Vorsas ’05 

CLASS OF 2006 

Bryan A. Andre ’06 

Michael David D’Eugenio ’06 

Fermin F. Presno ’06 

As a member of the GOLD society, you will provide FAU 

with the necessary resources to enhance the educational 

experience for more than 26,000 students on seven 

campuses throughout South Florida. GOLD giving levels 

are as follows: 

1- 3 years since graduation – $100 

4-6 years since graduation – $250 

7-10 years since graduation – $500 

For more information about GOLD and how to get involved, call the 

Office of Annual Giving at 1-877-FAU-FUND or e-mail gifts@fau.edu. 

R E M E M BERING FAU 

WITH A CHARITABLE 

GIFT ANNUITY 

By making a gift of $10,000 or more, 

FAU can offer you (or you and another named 

beneficiary) a fixed annual income for life. 

Your ages, your financial needs and current 

interest rates determine the annuity rate FAU can offer. 

Here are some examples: 

YOUR AGE 

ANNUITY RATE 

60 5.7% 

65 5.9% 

70 6.5% 

75 7.1% 

80 8.0% 

YOUR AGES 

ANNUITY RATE 

70/68 5.8% 

76/73 6.3% 

Annuity rates are subject to change. 

Once your gift is made, the annuity rate remains fixed. 

The staff in the Office of Gift Planning is available to 

consult with you or your advisors about planned giving 

opportunities at FAU. For more information, please 

contact Jay Browning, director of gift planning, at 

561.297.2119 or jay.browning@fau.edu. 

FAU Office of Gift Planning 

777 Glades Road, ADM 383 

Boca Raton, FL 33431

PHILANTHROPY 



FA L L 2 0 0 6 

Engaging 

Corporate 

Partners to 

Promote 

Economic 

Growth 

TREASURE COAST CAMPUS CORPORATE PARTNERS COUNCIL 

(back row, from left) David Skiles of First Peoples Bank, John Church of James A. Cummings, Inc., Alan Reynolds of 

WilsonMiller; Thom Jones of Seacoast National Bank; Rene Arteaga of Indian River National Bank; Carlos Vergara of 

Family Lands Remembered; (front row, from left) Gerri McPherson ’89 of FAU; Leslie Wright of Harbor Federal Savings 

Bank; Nicole Flier of James A. Cummings, Inc.; Annie Boehning of FAU (Note: Not all council members are pictured) 

In an effort to continue to meet the educational and economic needs 

of the growing Treasure Coast region, FAU’s Treasure Coast Corporate 

Partners Program connects area companies with the University. The program 

honors member companies that, through executive-level involvement 

and financial commitment, enhance the University’s reputation as 

a world-class research and educational institution. 

Through this innovative initiative, the FAU community and the private sector are 

achieving success in educating the workforce and driving economic development. 

Corporate partners are actively engaged in the University community by sharing their 

professional expertise in the classroom, providing business focused projects and participating 

in job fairs. They are visible on the campus and have the ability to interact with 

students, particularly those students who may become future employees. Corporate partners 

also gain access to FAU’s expert faculty. 

Visionary level members ($5,000 unrestricted annual gift) are guaranteed a seat on 

the Corporate Partners Council. The council meets in the spring and fall of each year 

to provide input on fundraising activities and advice on program development to better 

meet the needs of the Treasure Coast region. 

Since its inception in 2005, the Corporate Partners Program has generated more 

than $50,000 in unrestricted gifts. These gifts are supporting scholarships, student 

recognition events, and community awareness and engagement. 

For more information about the Corporate Partners Program and/or how to become a corporate 

partner, contact Annie Boehning, director of development for the Treasure Coast region, at 

772.873.3340. 

CORPORATE 

PARTNER 

COMPANIES 

AXA Advisors: Klip Klueppelberg ’68 

Culpepper Terpening, Inc. 

Family Lands Remembered 

First Peoples Bank 

Harbor Federal Savings Bank 

Indian River National Bank 

James A. Cummings, Inc. 

LBFH 

Publix Super Markets Charities 

Riverside National Bank 

Seacoast National Bank 

Toyota of Stuart 

WilsonMiller 

24 legacy


THE JAMES FAMILY 

OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP 

Inspiring 

CECELIA & BILL JAMES 

Students 

to Reach New Heights 

The James Family Opportunity Scholarship was created by Cecelia and Bill James in 

honor of President Frank T. Brogan ’81. The couple, who have known Brogan since 

his days as Florida’s lieutenant governor, felt the scholarship would serve as a fitting tribute 

to a man who has made education a top priority in the state of Florida. Designed to 

assist students from varying financial situations and backgrounds, the scholarship is 

generally awarded to students with average grades. “The typical recipient of this scholarship 

is highly motivated and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of education,” says 

Cecelia. “Our agenda is to help someone everyday, because there was always someone 

around to help us along the way,” says Bill. 

Partners in marriage, parenting and C&C International Computers and Consultants, 

an advanced technology solutions company in Hollywood, Florida, Cecelia and Bill 

James are strongly committed to supporting higher education. Bill, one of three siblings, 

was raised by his mother in a Dallas public housing development, while Cecelia, the 

tenth of 11 children, grew up on a farm in Austin, Texas. “We both came from households 

where education was a priority,” says Bill, who majored in business. “My mother had a 

plan for my future and insisted that I earn my college degree.” For Cecelia, whose degree 

is in public relations, the same message was sounded. “My parents instilled in us an 

understanding that knowledge is power. They expected each of their children to graduate 

from college, and all but two of us earned degrees,” she says. “Echoing the strong 

values that our families passed on to us, we hope that the James Family Opportunity 

Scholarship will inspire students to reach beyond the limitations of their circumstances 

to pursue their dreams and remind them that the possibilities and opportunities are 

endless if you reach!” 

For more information about creating a scholarship at FAU, contact Karen Fisher, coordinator of Scholarship 

and Stewardship Programs, at 561.297.3010.

University Advancement 


Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991 

NON-PROFIT ORG 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

MIAMI, FL 

PERMIT NO. 182

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