Winter 2007 - Becker College

www.alumni.becker.edu
Children’s
Author
Joy Jackson
McHugh ’55
NFL Official
Jim Daopoulos
’67 LJC
WINTER 2007 Volume 2, No. 5

Editor’s Note
The lingering warm weather here in
New England nicely characterizes the
flurry of activity at Becker College and
alumni play an important role. Instead of
winding down as students take their finals
and holiday break approaches, the Alumni
Affairs Office is busy making arrangements
for regional alumni receptions, putting
the finishing touches on a new website
just for you, planning Reunion 2007 and
more. With all of these developments, the
need to increase communication with and
among alumni is abundantly clear.
The energy in the Alumni Office is a
reflection of the Becker College campus.
Our cover story this issue brings you news
of a redesigned Becker website with a
special, interactive home for you.
The Becker College Alumni Online
Community brings a virtual campus right
to your home or office. We look forward
Save the Date...
Becker College
Nursing
Symposium
March 23, 2007
Nursing Schools: Keeping
Communities Healthy
• Nursing schools are taking the
initiative, with school-run community
health programs
• Executive briefing by Mass. Senator
Richard T. Moore
• Recognizing and Reporting
Workplace Violence, a workshop by
the Mass. Nurses Association
• Job Fair for nursing students
to communicating with and hearing from
more Becker graduates as alumni discover
and make use of this powerful tool.
President Ken Zirkle and our
Alumni staff have been traveling to meet
alumni in their own communities, and
we share a glimpse of those regional
alumni receptions in “Becker on the
Road.” At those receptions, we have met
many alumni face-to-face and made
positive connections. This personal
interaction nurtures new relationships.
Our travels have also taken us to New
York, to profile NFL official Jim
Daopoulos ’67 LJC and to Cheshire,
Conn. to chat with children’s author
Joy Jackson McHugh ’55.
As always, we are pleased when
alumni return to campus. We were able
to catch up with Alumni Achiever Lena
Roy ’94 when she stopped by for a visit.
In recent months, Becker was also proud to
play host to three athletic tournaments:
women’s tennis, men’s basketball and
first-varsity-season men’s ice hockey.
The pace of events keeps going, so be
sure to check this issue’s calendar of events,
as well as notices of the upcoming Spring
Phonathon and the Third Annual Becker
College Nursing Symposium. We want to
thank everyone who has come out to see
us, called, written or sent e-mails; please
continue. It has been wonderful, and we
look forward to meeting more alumni,
whether at an event or online.
Sandy Lashin-Curewitz
It’s important you know that
your contribution, big or small,
matters greatly.
Each gift to the Becker Fund, regardless of size, is crucial to
the College’s ability to leverage additional funding...like
government and corporate grants. Your gift demonstrates a
vote of confidence in a Becker education.
Your gift to the Becker Fund can be made in a way that is
convenient to you:
• cash, check or credit card
• stock or other appreciated assets
• a pledge that can be fulfilled throughout the year
Make your gift or pledge, or obtain additional information, by contacting
Mary Maloney at 508-373-9525, mary.maloney@becker.edu, or
visit www.becker.edu.

Becker Bridges
Becker Bridges magazine is published three times a
year for alumni, parents, faculty, staff, trustees and
friends of Becker College. Our goal is to produce a
lively, informative publication that stimulates pride and
interest in Becker.
President
Ken Zirkle
Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Gerald Tuori
Vice President of Development and
Alumni Relations
Dean Hickey ’83
Editorial Staff
Sandy Lashin-Curewitz
Director of Communications
Mary E. Maloney '97
Director of Alumni Affairs
Director of the Becker Fund
Kevin Woo '05
Associate Director of Alumni Affairs
Bettiann Michalik
Sports Information Director
Cheryl Zukowski '68
Alumni Office Secretary
Becker College online:
www.becker.edu
Design
Harvest Design
Becker College
61 Sever Street
Worcester, MA 01609
Homecoming 2006, Page 22
features
04 Alumni Online Community
Your Alumni Affairs Office is proud to
announce the launch of the Becker
College Alumni Online Community, a
website with a host of valuable tools.
Would you like to contact former
classmates? Would you like
to receive Becker news
that interests you? Would
you like to network with
successful Becker alumni?
How would free online
advertising for your
business sound?
08 Jim Daopoulos ’67 LJC
Do you remember the famous National
Football League (NFL) game clip where
Houston Oilers coach Jerry Glanville tells
a referee that NFL stands for “not for
long” when you make bad calls? That clip
has been played endlessly during NFL
telecasts and is considered vintage Jerry
Glanville. The incident took place in 1989
during a game between the Oilers and the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and a young
referee named Jim Daopoulos ’67 LJC
was officiating his first NFL game.
06 Joy Jackson
McHugh ’55
For some, being creative is
a challenge. For others, creativity flows
freely from within. Children’s author Joy
Jackson McHugh ’55 has a unique creativity
that has enveloped her life and made it truly
special. Her British father was a source of
inspiration for her many talents. Joy’s family
narrowly evaded tragedy when her Aunt
Beatrice became very sick, and they were
forced to miss their boat to the United
States—the Titanic.
10 Becker Alumna Makes a
Planned Gift
Barbara Van Loon Horstmann ’54 has
generously supported Becker College with
a charitable gift annuity. She has been
providing scholarship support to Becker
College students for years. This new gift
will fund the Barbara V.L. Horstmann
Endowed Scholarship to ensure that
Becker can continue to provide affordable
education to deserving college students.
Departments:
10 Gifts & Support
14 Class Notes
18 Campus News & Notes
20 Athletics on the Move
23 Ask The Expert

Becker Launches
Alumni Online
Community
04 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Y our Alumni Affairs Office is proud to announce the
launch of the Becker College Alumni Community, a
website with a host of valuable tools. Would you like to
contact former classmates? Would you like to receive
Becker news that interests you? Would you like to network
with successful Becker alumni? How would free online
advertising for your business sound? With the launch of a
revamped Becker College website, at www.becker.edu, a
simple click on the alumni tab will take you to a whole
new Becker.
The Becker College Alumni
Online Community is an exciting way
for Becker graduates to keep in touch
with each other; how active a
community member you become is
up to you. Michael Curry ’83
already knows the value of an
online community. He is a frequent
visitor to the online alumni
community of Norwich University
in Vermont, where he earned his
bachelor's degree. “I look forward
to joining the Becker College
Alumni Community and making
contacts with other Becker
grads online,” said Michael.
“My activities on the Norwich
site have resulted in rekindling
relationships with old friends
and keeping up with
developments at the
University.”
With the Alumni Community,
Becker College will be as close as
your notebook or personal computer.
Register on the new site and find
classmates in a secure directory;
network across the miles using
password-protected discussion
boards; promote your business to
fellow alumni with individual
Yellow Page listings; post your own
news and accomplishments;
subscribe to e-mail newsletters that
include only the news that interests
you; receive timely invitations to
events on campus and in your area;
conveniently register for events
online; purchase items securely
from the BC Store. Community
members have the option of creating
www.alumni.becker.edu

their own home page using simple, user-friendly technology.
Customize your page with a photo gallery, hobbies and
other interests. These individualized pages turn the online
directory into a “Virtual Yearbook.”
As if all those benefits weren’t reason enough to join
the Becker Alumni Online Community, there is an
important additional incentive. Register on the site by
April 1, 2007 and you will automatically be entered in a
drawing for two round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines.
Just log in with your user name and temporary password,
printed above your address on the back page of this issue.
You can have a hand in growing and shaping the
Becker Alumni Online Community. We hope that you will
recommend the site to classmates you already stay in touch
with. Would you like to take networking to the next level?
Alumni can help each other on the road to success by
joining the Mentor Network. Would you like to chat with
other alumni while maintaining the comfort of your
anonymity? That is possible with the Internal Mailbox’s
discreet messaging system, which keeps your name and
e-mail address secret. As we learn more about what you
want, we have the flexibility to add new features.
Becker College is growing with each new investment
in technology, new program, or additional faculty member.
One crucial investment in the future of the College is in
our relationship with alumni. Your relationship with the
College and with each other need not end at commencement.
Now is the perfect time, with so many online communities
redefining our concept of distance, to help each other
achieve a gratifying return on our investments. As the
Alumni Online Community grows, we look forward to
sharing in your news and successes and advancing the
legacy for future graduating classes.
To log in to the Becker College Alumni Online
Community:
■ Enter in your temporary User Name and
Password, printed on the back page of the
magazine, above your address.
■ If your login is successful, the Alumni Online
Community main menu page will appear. You are
now free to select from the full range of options
and features it provides.
■ After login, please change to a User name of your
choice and a secure, easy-to-remember Password.
If you need User Name and/or Password assistance,
please feel free to send an e-mail to
alumniadmin@becker.edu.
Register on www.alumni.becker.edu by
April 1, 2007 and you will automatically
be entered in a drawing for two
round-trip tickets on Southwest Airlines.
will host the
15 th Annual
Llew Evans Scholarship
Golf Tournament
Monday, June 25, 2007
8:30 a.m.
shotgun start
Spend the day on this
beautiful course and
enjoy a special buffet
plus exciting prizes
$150 per golfer, all inclusive
ALL proceeds benefit the
scholarship fund
Gabe Simon ’51
Golf Tournament Chair
To
request
a
detailed
brochure
call Cheryl Zukowski
at 508-373-9531
or visit www.becker.edu
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 05

For some, being creative is a challenge.
For others, creativity flows freely from
within. Occasionally, creative people
become artistic professionals, as painters,
sculptors or even architects. Most apply
creativity to their lives as managers,
educators, salespeople or homemakers.
Have you ever noticed the impeccably
dressed coworker or the house in the
neighborhood that is always tastefully
decorated? Those individuals are expressing
their sense of style and creativity.
Joy Jackson McHugh ’55 has a
unique creativity that has enveloped her
life and made it truly special. She was
born and raised in Middletown, Conn.
Her British father was a source of inspiration
for her many talents, given that he was a
gifted designer and manufacturer of lace
for clothing. Joy’s mother was also an
inspiration to her and encouraged her
many talents and generous spirit.
06 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Joy Jackson McHugh…
Children’s Author
The Jackson family maintained very
close ties with other family members in
England and traveled there often. Before
Joy’s birth, the family narrowly evaded
tragedy when her Aunt Beatrice became
very sick and they were forced to miss
their boat trip from Southampton to the
United States. That boat was the Titanic,
which capsized, killing 1,502 passengers.
In 1953, Joy, an only child, came to
Becker College as a freshman executive
secretarial student. She lived in Evans
Hall with Mrs. Davis, the housemother.
She remembers fondly the friendships
and the fun of attending school at that
time. “Mrs. Davis ran a tight ship,” she
recalls. “All skirts had to be below the
knees and all young men greeted us in the
parlor.” It was while a freshman at Becker
that she met a young engineering student
from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(WPI) named John McHugh, who has
remained her companion and husband for
the past 50 years.
Upon graduation, Joy worked for a
short time in the purchasing department
at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, as an executive
secretary to three quality analysts. Later,
she was promoted, working as executive
secretary for a buyer in the same company.
Joy and Jack soon married and motherhood
followed quickly. They raised two
sons, John Jr., now a doctor in Watertown,
Conn. and Randall, now an attorney in

West Hartford. Joy spent 34 years as a homemaker and mother and worked regularly at
the family’s manufacturing business in Waterbury, Conn.
When the boys left home for college, Joy returned to school to obtain her
bachelor’s degree in art and education from Southern Connecticut State College
now–Southern Connecticut State University. She became a teacher in the
Waterbury public school system. Early in her tenure, the superintendent
asked her to teach music in grades one through eight. Joy’s musical training
was limited to accordion lessons as a child. She could play the piano
and four other instruments, but had no formal training and no
experience teaching music. Her creativity and passion for children
were evident as she worked through the early challenges and grew
to thrive in her new role, producing plays and musical recitals with
the students.
In speaking about her classroom experiences, Joy tells of how she
loved to tell stories to her students. As a mother, and later as a grandmother,
she had often spun grand tales to illustrate a point to her children
and grandchildren. She brought these stories and more into her classroom
for other children to enjoy. Her stories always related a message; often about
kindness, sharing or giving, with the ultimate goal of making children feel
loved while learning about life. Her stories helped the children better
understand important issues and also paved the way for academic
achievement through creative learning.
When asked what motivated her to write a children’s
book, The Most Beautiful Tree in the Forest, Joy replied,
“My classroom experiences! I found children in the lower
grades sometimes wouldn’t share and were cruel to
classmates.” So she set out to write a book and convey
messages of loving, sharing and giving.
“Writing a children’s book is not terribly difficult, but it
takes time and commitment,” Joy explained. On numerous
nights she wrote into the wee hours of the morning, scrutinizing
every word many times over. “In writing a story, you have to
have creative thoughts, vivid imagination, personal experiences,
knowledge of a particular topic, skills to write well and
self-confidence,” says Joy.
Joy accomplished her goal in 1997 when The Most
Beautiful Tree in the Forest was published. Today she travels
extensively to promote the book, accompanied by her husband,
Jack. The business side of her creative endeavors has offered new
challenges, but she enjoys the opportunities to meet readers and
aspiring writers. She has addressed students at WPI and local
Rotary Clubs, and has had book signings at book stores in Florida
and Connecticut. Her favorite audience remains the children she
meets, as she visits local elementary schools to spread her message.
Joy continues to spin tales for her six grandchildren, Katie,
Jeffrey, Erin, Randall Jr., Julia and Jay. During my visit with her, she
played the piano and it was evident that she heard musical notes
much the way others hear individual letters in a word. She played
effortlessly while discussing her love of music, her children and her
book. When Joy is not writing, she spends her leisure time between
Connecticut and Naples, Fla. Additionally, she loves the stage, and
participates in community theatre at the Seven Angel Theatre in
Waterbury, Conn. and the Cheshire Community Theatre. She also donates
her time to community boards and benefits, and plays golf with her husband,
children and grandchildren. ■
Becker b r idges • WINTER 2007 07

Jim Daopoulos…not for long
D o you remember the famous National
Football League (NFL) game clip
where Houston Oilers coach Jerry
Glanville tells a referee that NFL stands
for “not for long” when you make bad
calls? That clip has been played endlessly
during NFL telecasts and is considered
vintage Jerry Glanville. The incident took
place in 1989 during a game between the
Oilers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and a young referee named Jim
Daopoulos ’67 LJC was officiating his
first NFL game.
“Jerry was tough,” Jim recalls. “It was
my first game and my fellow officials told
me to kind of lay low for a while. Of
course I made my first call and it was
questionable, so Jerry welcomed me to the
league in his own special way. The icing
on the cake was that during the play I was
run over by a lineman and had to get
seven stitches on my chin.”
Since then, Jim has officiated hundreds
of NFL games and performed on the
biggest stage in the sport, Superbowl
XXXIII in 1999. Today he serves as a
supervisor of officials for the NFL,
responsible for recruiting, training and
evaluating the one
hundred-plus
referees who call
games every
Sunday.
His story begins in the greater
Worcester area, where he grew up the
son of Greek immigrant parents in
Marlborough, Mass. His family owned a
busy restaurant in Worcester, and young
Jim grew up working along with his
aunts, uncles and cousins. When not at
the restaurant, he attended Marlborough
High School and was a leader on the
school’s basketball team.
Jerry Lapriore ’67 LJC, a friend and
rival player from nearby Northborough,
had been recruited to attend Leicester
Junior College to play for legendary
coach, Paige Rowden. With the help of
Coach Rowden, Jim enrolled at Leicester
Junior in the fall of 1965. He was elected
class president his freshman year and
played in Leicester’s 1966 Region III
Championship that featured Tony Koski
’66, Tommie George ’67, Bob Lindgren
’66, Ken Burns ’67 and Lapriore, among
others.
Upon graduating in 1967, Jim
decided he was going to play for the
University of Kentucky, which was, at
that time, the best basketball program in
the country. He enrolled at Kentucky
thinking he would join the Wildcats as a
walk-on. Scrimmaging with some of the
varsity players, Jim soon realized that his
goal was out of reach.
He remained at Kentucky, and
earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
recreation administration. As part of his
coursework, he enrolled in a sports
officiating class, and found he truly
enjoyed it. With the help of his professor,
who moonlighted as a supervisor of
officials in central Kentucky, Jim began
officiating basketball, baseball and
football games.
In 1969, Jim was officiating high
school football games, when Tommy Bell, a
respected NFL referee, attended an official’s
meeting. After meeting Bell, Jim set a new
goal: to become an NFL official. He soon
began officiating in the Ohio Valley
Conference, where he spent seven years.
He was then accepted by the Southeastern
Conference (SEC), where he served as
an official for ten years. In 1989, Jim
accomplished his goal and was accepted
into the NFL as an official.
Now living in New York City, Jim
travels extensively, representing the NFL.
He hasn’t owned a car in seven years and
enjoys the energy of big city life. During
the season, he travels every weekend to
help prepare officials for Sunday games and
to represent the NFL office on site. Each
year he recruits 60 top officials from
colleges and the Arena League and brings
them to Europe, where they are evaluated
for a position as an NFL referee. One of
his favorite chores is the Pro Bowl, which
requires him to spend two weeks in Hawaii
every February. Additionally, he helps
coordinate the American Bowl, which will
feature the New England Patriots versus
the Seattle Seahawks in Beijing, China on
August 8, 2007.
“I’m living my dream,” admits Jim.
“Being around this game, played at its
highest level, is a thrill every day. I especially
enjoy the challenge to be the best. Game
officials are all former athletes. We are as
competitive as the teams and we work hard
to be the best at what we do.” ■
“ I’m living my

“Being around this game, played at its highest level,
is a thrill every day... I especially enjoy the
challenge to be the best.”
dream.” Jim Daopoulos ’67 LJC
Hall of Fame
Banquet
It may be difficult to relate to the feelings
of camaraderie and emotions that stir
when athletes recall their glory days. The
teamwork and competition seem to
influence, if not define, the rest of their
endeavors. This is just an effort to express
the energy that touched the nearly 160
people who attended the Becker College
Athletic Hall of Fame induction on
October 15, 2006 at the Beechwood
Hotel in Worcester, Mass.
Hall of Famers assemble to accept accolades and
awards: Knute “Ted” Haglund ’64 LJC, Milton
Price, Jr. ’64 LJC, Edward Pomainville, III ’88,
Tammy Smith Newsom ’92 (back row, l-r), former
coach Virginia “Ginger” Daly, Jodie Ladderbush
Walsh ’85, and Jody Farnsworth Wood ’95 (front
row, l-r).
Susan, Kristin and Peter Rowden (l-r) attended
the banquet to witness the unveiling of the
monument to honor their father, the late Coach
Paige Rowden.
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 09

Gifts and Support
Becker Alumna Makes a Planned Gift to Support the
Becker Mission
Barbara Horstmann ’54, formerly Barbara Van Loon, has
generously supported Becker College with a charitable gift
annuity. She has been providing scholarship support to Becker
College students for years.
This new gift will fund the
Barbara V.L. Horstmann
Endowed Scholarship to
ensure that Becker can
continue to provide
affordable education to
deserving college students.
“Today, a college education
is so important, but the
price of tuition has made
this goal unattainable for
many. Pete and I have so
much to be thankful for,
and I want to support
Becker, as my education
helped me tremendously in
Barbara Horstmann
Enjoy the Benefits of A Becker College Gift Annuity
Provides fixed income that cannot be outlived • Provides partial tax-free payments
Produces a charitable income tax decuction • Enables Becker College to fulfill its mission
Single Life Payout Rates Age 65 70 75 80 85 90
Payout 6.0% 6.5% 7.1% 8.0% 9.5% 11.3%
For more information about charitable gift annuities, contact: Dean Hickey ’83, Vice President of Development
Becker College, 61 Sever Street, Worcester, MA 01609 • 508-373-9520 • dean.hickey@becker.edu
10 Becker b r idges • WINTER 2007
life,” commented Barbara.
Barbara graduated from
Becker College in 1954 with a degree in medical secretarial
science. Originally from Syracuse, N.Y., she became a member
of Kappa Omicron Kappa sorority and was active in other
extracurricular activities, including the glee club, the Beckerlogue
staff, and sorority basketball. She fondly recalls great friends,
excellent professors and many good times. After leaving Becker,
“Today, a college
education is so
important...I want to
support Becker, as my
education helped me
tremendously in life.”
Barbara married her high school sweetheart, Peter Horstmann,
also from Syracuse.
Currently Barbara and Peter live in Sterling, Mass. and
enjoy a very active life, which includes tennis, golf, gardening
and flying in Pete’s plane. Additionally, Barbara is a huge Red
Sox fan and an avid reader. They have raised three children:
Margaret, Patricia, and Heidi, and they have six grandchildren.
Barbara enjoys receiving news from Becker and attending
events on campus. She is a member of the Becker-Crafts
Society, and she enjoys visiting with current students. “I enjoy
being on campus. You can see young people growing into
responsible citizens and making their way in the world. I find
that very exciting.” ■

Becker Alumni Association
Increases Alumni Board
Message from the Director!!
Since accepting the position of director of Alumni Affairs
and the Becker College Annual Fund six months ago,
I have tried to focus on a number of new areas. You have
warmly welcomed me into your homes in my travels
throughout the United States. I have been very impressed by
your enthusiasm for our college and its students and would
like to build on your enthusiasm.
Becker alumni from across the decades proudly identify
with their alma mater. To maintain your support for the
College and its students, we have expanded the Alumni Board
to include alumni from the 1940s up to the present time,
including two student representatives, thus making sure that
all decades are well represented.
Watch for new alumni programs in the next Becker
Bridges! — Mary E. Maloney ’97
Alumni Board 2007
Sharon Etre ’93
Jessica Damian Kennedy ’96
Irene Belanger Perry ’49
Suzanne King ’93
Shateenah Barnes ’07, student
Tom Cooley ’97
Dorothy Forsted ’52 Sharon Latschar Foust ’62
Ina Swinden Lemon ’59
Beth Potvin ’81 Barbara Depew Roberge ’51
Ann Brown ’87
Sean Curran ’03
Stephanie Giuca ’08, student
Andy Mazur ‘72 LJC
Gabe Simon ’51
Dave Callahan ’97
Ruth Bucinskas Dowgielewicz ’65
Betty Hogan Hamlin ’49
Carolyn Milewski ’82
Melissa Van Swol ’05
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 11

Becker
on the
Road
With new efforts to enhance communication
with Becker graduates, we
have taken the Alumni Affairs Office on
the road. President Ken Zirkle and the
alumni staff recently attended a number
of regional receptions, from Boston to
Los Angeles. At lively gathering places
and in gracious homes, we're reaching
out to alumni, parents and friends across
the country to meet and update them on
Becker’s many recent advancements.
There is plenty of good news to
share. There are new class offerings to
talk about, including video game design
and video game programming; equine
studies; and an accelerated bachelor's
degree leading to teacher licensure, to
help teacher's aides become “highly
qualified,” according to new government
standards. The roster of sports teams has
grown to include football, men's ice
hockey and men's lacrosse. The College
is also preparing to build a new residence
hall and wellness center on the Leicester
campus. Naturally, this kind of growth
has resulted in more applications to
Becker and increasing numbers of
accepted students.
The College will maintain a regular
regional reception schedule to include
New York, Boston, California, Florida,
Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.,
Hartford, Providence, Arizona and
Worcester, and we would like to continue
to add more cities.
If you would like to host an event in
your area or would like information
regarding an event, please contact Kevin
Woo in the Alumni Affairs Office at
kevin.woo@becker.edu or
508-373-9527. ■
12 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Worcester - Our Worcester
alumni reception was held at
the historic Worcester Club,
right around the corner from
the Becker campus. President
Ken Zirkle is pictured here
greeting Christine Brown ’93.
A few current students also
accepted the invitation to meet
alumni at the Worcester Club.
Receptions &
Recent Events
Boston - Boston-area alumni at Smith & Wollensky.

Hartford -Dean Hickey ’83, Gregory Reid and Carol
Guerrieri Reid ’56 (l-r) converse at Max Downtown in
Hartford, Conn.
Providence - Marcia Swornsbourne Tenney ’56 and
Beth Potvin ’81 (l-r) at Hemenway’s in Providence, R.I.
Attention Becker
Snowbirds!
While keeping warm this winter, don't
forget to update your address with the
Alumni Affairs Office so that you will
continue to receive invitations and your
copy of Becker Bridges. Contact Cheryl
Zukowski at 508-373-9531 or
cheryl.zukowski@becker.edu to provide
us with your seasonal address.
Phoenix - Mary Maloney ’97 met Colleen McMahon ’86 in
Phoenix, Ariz.
Tucson - Dudley Woodard, Adam Pietruskiewicz ’40, Paula
Pietruskiewicz, Dean Hickey ’83, Karen Conant Woodward ’82 and
Mary Maloney ’97 (l-r) share a table in Tucson, Ariz.
Worcester - Anita Mercadante Goulding ’42 and Mary Boulia
Legacy ’36 at the Golden Luncheon in the Fuller Dining Hall on the
Worcester campus.
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 13

36
Henry Brinkman worked for
General Electric and Honeywell
Corp. before retiring to Phoenix, Ariz.
with his second wife, Mary. Between
them, they have 12 children and enjoy
spending time with their grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.
41
Earl R.
Kittredge
was recruited
by the Federal
Land Bank
of
Springfield,
Mass., for
their
accounting
department,
Earl and Frances Kittredge
in June 1941.
He was a
section head when he left in 1948, to
become an auditor for the Farm Credit
Administration (FCA) in Washington, D.C.
In 1955 he took a position in the
Washington office where, for 15 years,
he reviewed credit extended to many
large agricultural cooperatives (Ocean
Spray, Land O’Lakes, Sunkist Growers,
etc.), and he worked with the management
of 13 banks for cooperatives in the Farm
Credit System. He went to Argentina
twice, as a consultant to the U.S.
Department of State, to help Argentine
farmers set up their own national bank.
Earl retired in 1976 as assistant director
of the Technical Services Division of the
FCA. He served in the U.S. Army, during
World War II from 1942-1946, and from
14 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Class Notes
1950 to 1951 during the Korean War.
He married Frances E. Dary ’45 in 1947
in Springfield, Mass. Earl was a member
of the board of directors of their
condominium in Florida, serving as
treasurer and/or president for nearly six
years. He is currently chairman of the
Residents’ Council at their retirement
home. Says Earl, “I owe a lot to Becker
for the fine education I received, as
it served me well in my various
assignments.”
44
Ernest McIntosh joined the
U.S. Navy after graduating
from Becker. When he returned from
duty, Worumbo Mill, in his hometown,
sent him to the Lowell Textile Institute.
He later became superintendent of the
mill. He and his wife, Norma Webber
’44, were married for over 60 years
when she passed away in July 2005.
They were living at The Oars, a Lutheran
retirement village in Pennsylvania.
45
Frances Dary Kittredge
married Earl Kittredge ’41 on
July 13, 1947. She worked in the
secretarial and accounting fields at the
Federal Land Bank, Mass. Mutual Life
Insurance and Breck Shampoo in
Springfield, Mass., and for the Internal
Revenue Service and U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture in Washington, D.C., retiring
August 31, 1979. Following retirement,
she worked in dental and urology offices
in Virginia, and A.C. Nielsen in Sarasota,
Fla. Her volunteer work includes the
Genealogy Society of Sarasota, Inc. at
the Sarasota County Archives; the West
Valley Genealogical Society at their
library in Youngtown, Ariz.; the First
Presbyterian Church of Sun City, Ariz.;
and the Welcoming Committee of the
Sierra Winds Retirement Development in
Peoria, Ariz. Her other interest is the
genealogy of the Dary, LeFebvre,
Faulkner, Murdock and collateral families.
She has written two issues of life
experiences. “Most of my work
successes would not have been possible
without the education I received at
Becker,” she said.
REUNION – June 8-10, 2007
Zibia W. Hosley has been in
47 public accounting for over 50
years. He is now semi-retired due to
heart trouble and Parkinson’s disease.
He has three children: Judith Mullen, a
CPA and attorney in Maryland; James, an
auditor in California; and Jack, a CPA in
Maryland. His wife, Esther, passed away
on January 13, 2006, shortly after their
61st anniversary. He is living alone and
would enjoy hearing from some of his
classmates.
54
Mary Scott Taylor has
retired after 30 years with the
Head Start Program and five years as a
certified nursing assistant, but is still
active in Southern Maine’s Hospice
Program. She and her husband, Wilfred
(WPI ’54), are building future homes in
Maine for some of their six children.
They also have six grandchildren.
56
LJC Hank Cusick is president
of the Worcester Senior Center
and an officer in the Worcester,
Mass. chapter of the Knights of
Columbus. He spent 30 years in education
and teaching before his retirement.
56
Marcia Swornsbourne
Tenney enjoyed a wonderful
evening in Rhode Island, meeting new
friends from Becker at an alumni reception
on October 9. She is still reflecting
on her 50th reunion last June. Nancy
Battles Gray ’56 and her husband spent
a weekend with the Tenneys, when she
was in Rhode Island for a Daughters of
the American Revolution meeting (she is
the state regent in Vermont). Peter and
Barbara VanLoon Horstman ’54 joined
them for lunch last month. “Many thanks
again to all at Becker who helped make
our reunion so pleasant,” said Marcia.
58
LJC Jim Hallinan is a selfemployed
licensed vocational
nurse. He retired after 35 years
as a secondary math teacher and is
volunteering at a medical clinic on the
San Diego, Calif.-Mexico border. He has
fond memories of Leicester Junior College
and Coach Paige Rowden.

REUNION – June 8-10, 2007
Carolyn Stewart Carlson
62 and her husband, Gordon, have
two sons, Erik, and Brent, and two grandchildren,
Emelyn, and Ryan. She is an
avid bridge player and enjoys being a
member of the YMCA.
62
Sharon Latschar Foust
retired last year, after 30 years
of teaching in Northborough, Mass. She
and her husband, Michael, have re-settled
in Holden, Mass., after a year of being
on-the-move. She keeps in touch with
several Davis Hall roommates and hopes
to see all the Davis Hall ’62 girls at next
year’s 45th reunion.
66
LJC Jack Joyce has been in
education for 32 years, the last
28 years in high school guidance.
He lives and works in Webster,
Mass. During the summer, he and his
family spend a great deal of time at
Moody Beach in Maine, and they visit the
Caribbean island of St. Martin during
winter school vacations. Jack enjoys golf
and fitness workouts. He and his wife,
Brenda, have three children: Kelly,
Michael, and Kayla; and two grandchildren,
Dominic, and Hunter.
67
LJC Tommie George has
spent the past 30 years in the
printing business and is currently president
of D. Matthew Associates, Inc.
He and his tennis partner are
currently ranked as the number one
doubles team in New England in the 55
and over category. Tommie and his wife,
Linda, live in Northborough, Mass. and
have two grandchildren.
68
Rosemarie Vetter Engler,
Donna Matson Fuller,
Louise Madore Lonabocker,
Elizabeth Nershi and Linda Sontra
VanBuskirk met in Fairfield, Conn. on
October 7 for a mini-reunion. After years
of not being in contact with one another,
they met in October 2004 and have
remained in touch, despite living in
various parts of the country. They are
looking forward to meeting again in 2008
and would like to hear from Stobbs Hall
residents of 1966-68 and other 1968
graduates. Write to Rosemarie Vetter
Engler at 126 Canterbury Turn, Lancaster,
PA 17601.
71
Laura Markham O’Neil is
executive assistant to the
president of Binghamton University.
She and Rick, who owns a bowling center,
have been married for 33 years. She
would like to hear from Morey Hall
classmates at loneil@binghamton.edu
or 201 Manchester Road, Vestal, NY
13850.
REUNION – June 8-10, 2007
James Rotella and his wife,
72 Cindy, have three children:
Nick, 18, is a student at State University
of New York, Oswego; Dominic, 17, and
Vince, 15, are both in high school. James
is a project engineer for Lockheed Martin
Systems Integration in the Binghamton,
N.Y. area. He is part of the logistics
support team for the presidential helicopter
that Lockheed is building. He notes that
2007 will be his 35th class reunion and
hopes that interested classmates will
contact him at 607-751-3279 or at
james.rotella@lmco.com.
80
Jannine Farrell is a reading
specialist in Guilford, Conn.
and an adjunct professor at Sacred
Heart University. She participated in a
triathlon in 2005 and rode in her first
100-mile bike ride in 2006.
REUNION – June 8-10, 2007
Kristen Conger Daniels is
82 an occupational therapy
assistant at Elmhurst Extended Care,
and she earned a certificate in petassisted
therapy from the Community
College of Rhode Island. She and her
cat, Brutus, do pet therapy at a local
nursing home. She is a foster mom to
two children, and she is a docent
volunteer at Roger Williams Park Zoo.
She has been married for four years.
82
Gerald D. Luciani has joined
the medical staff of Wilson N.
Jones Medical Center. He earned his
medical degree at the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center in
Dallas, served his residency at Fort
Worth Hospitals Program, and is boardcertified
in obstetrics and gynecology.
He has been in practice since 1999. For
the past four years, he has been with
the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Darnell
Army Community Hospital where he
served as chief of Gynecology Services.
He was awarded the Army Achievement
Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious
Service.
83
Steve Belluci read an article
about the Rev. Samuel May
House in a recent copy of Becker
Bridges and decided to make a donation.
He donated to the College the dollhouse
replica of the May House that he won at
the Becker Bicentennial in 1984. The
dollhouse had been on display at his
mother’s home in Glastonbury, Conn.
Steve has been working for Federal
Express in Connecticut for more than
20 years. He remembers his time and
the professors at Becker fondly.
83
Joseph V. Mattera has been
promoted to the rank of captain
of the Glocester (R.I.) Police Department.
He is a 20-year veteran of the force and
is currently second in command. As
executive officer for the department, he
is responsible for daily operations.
84
Mark Guay has worked for
Bank of America for 11 years.
He and Sarah have been married for 15
years and have two sons, Brad, 12 and
Jack, 9. He enjoys sailing and golfing
with his family.
84
Lea Tonon Ok owns You’ve
Got It Maid housecleaning
services in Connecticut.
86
Colleen McMahon has
worked in a variety of
professions, including nursing, and U.S.
Army contract employment. She has
part-time employments to keep her
busy, in customer service and at a
sports stadium, in addition to her fulltime
position as an office manager for a
landscaping business. Colleen recently
relocated to Phoenix, Ariz., with her
10-year-old dog, after spending 11 years
in Yuma.
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 15

91
Linda C. Looft has been
promoted to assistant vice
president for government and community
relations at Worcester
Polytechnic Institute, in
Worcester, Mass., where
she has worked since
1996. She has been a
member of the Leicester
School Committee for 13
years and is a board
member of the Central
Massachusetts YWCA and the
Massachusetts Manufacturing Assistance
Center. Linda earned a bachelor’s degree
from Worcester State College and is
working towards a master’s degree at
Clark University, both in Worcester, Mass.
93
Brenda Ballard-DePinto
has two children, Nicolas, 7 and
Alanna, 2. She is a teacher in New
Britain, Conn.
93
Christine Brown is working
in the publication field for Clark
University, in Worcester, Mass., and she is
completing a degree in communications.
Christine has three children: Erica, 15,
Emily, 8, and Thomas, 7.
93
Suzanne King is a project
coordinator for McKesson
Corporation.
94
Michael W. Beardsley is an
account manager for Moore
Medical in New Britain, Conn.
96
Jessica Damian Kennedy is
a registered nurse at St.
Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass. and
is looking forward to a third Becker degree
in nursing. Her daughter, Phoebe, turned
four on October 17. She would like to
hear from Paula Bozicas, Kirsten Welch
and other Becker friends.
00
Nicole Veilleux Houle
married Shaun on April 22,
2006. She is a retail manager for Pier 1
in Sturbridge, Mass. He is a graduate of
the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde
Park, N.Y. and a chef at The Cove
Restaurant at Mohegan Sun Casino in
Uncasville, Conn.
01
Melanie Cahoon is
employed by the Newton School
for Children, and she owns her own
16 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Class Notes
home. She advises a youth group for
teenagers (11-20 years old) called the
International Order of the Rainbow for
Girls.
REUNION – June 8-10, 2007
02
Stacy Graf
and
Matthew
Tittle ’03
were married
in Groton,
Conn. on
September 16,
with family,
friends and
fellow Becker graduates in attendance.
Stacy’s sister, Katie Graf ’04, was the
maid of honor and Tim Robinson ’02
was one of the groomsmen. Stacy,
valedictorian of her class, graduated with
a degree in psychology and is now a
professor at Becker. Matthew earned a
degree in Internet communications and
was captain of the baseball team during
the 2002-03 seasons. He is now
assistant sports information director for
the Becker Athletic Department.
02
Wendy Morrison is a travel
agent with AAA of Southern
New England, and she spends a lot of
time vacationing.
03
Sean Curran is working in
student life at Rivier College in
Nashua, N.H., and he is in the last
stages of a master’s program in school
counseling.
05
Isabel Arroyo plans to go
back to school to further her
education in a field she will enjoy.
05
Sean Lisee will join the Town
of Groton (Conn.) Police
Department after graduating from the
Connecticut Police Academy. He and
Brittany Pauli ’06 are planning a
June 30, 2007 wedding.
05
Melissa VanSwol graduated
from Cohort 114 of the Center
for Accelerated and Professional Studies
and joined Liberty Mutual as a sales
representative. She is looking forward to
working with the Becker alumni board to
broaden future students’ satisfaction and
appreciation for their education.
06
Meghann Evangelous is
employed by Blackstone Tap in
Worcester, Mass.
Lena Roy ’94
was recognized
this past April with
an Appreciation Pin
for outstanding
leadership from the
Girl Scouts of
Montachusett
Council in Worcester, Mass. An Adult
Scout, Lena has been involved with the
Montachusett Council for 25 years. She
started as troop leader, for her daughter
Renee’s Brownie troop. She has assisted
a senior troop of high school-age Girl
Scouts, served on the board of directors
for two years and was a member of
several committees. In 2000, the
Montachusett Council named Lena their
Woman of Distinction.
Marrying one year out of high school,
Lena started out as a stay-at-home
mother. She always wanted to be a
nurse, but could not afford college. She
began taking nursing classes part-time in
1984. She speaks highly of her experience
at Becker. “The faculty were caring,
supportive family figures,” she said.
Lena has been working as a nurse
at Wachusett Extended Care since she
graduated. She has been married now for
32 years. Renee is 29 and following in
her mom’s footsteps as a nursing
student at Becker. Daughter Nicole is 27
and also a nurse. Lena and Renee have
volunteered over the past 12 years for
Serve New England, through the Holden
Senior Center. Recently Lena completed
three months of training to become a
hospice volunteer through UMass Home
Health, an endeavor she finds challenging,
but extremely rewarding.

What s New?...
News About YOU
Please send information about your
career, marriage, children, and
accomplishments so that we can
include you in the next
edition of Becker Bridges.
Email: Alumni@becker.edu
Mail: Becker Bridges, P.O. Box 15071
Worcester, MA 01615-0071
Phone: 508-373-9531
Fax: 508-831-7505
In Memoriam
Gertrude Newton Brown ’28
Marion Harding McGourty ’29
Eleanor Rogers Gaudette ’30
Astrid Skog Davidson ’32
Claire McInerny Lankau ’32
Marjorie Wilson Cushing ’37
E. Hope Stratton Macewen ’37
Olive Bullard Macora ’38
Russell Lemoine ’40
Anthony Daly ’42
Norma Webber McIntosh ’44
Carolyn Clay Clark ’45
Rosita Far Israelian ’48
Ruth Klebe Solomon ’48
Doris Bolander Addiss ’49
Paul S. Agerholm ’49
George H. Zakarian ’49
Margaret Bullis Klein ’54
Edward L. Pickard ’54
Joseph Lisman ’56 LJC
Frank J. Smeagle, Jr. ’56
Joan Demikat Pouliot ’57
Lee Hersey ’62 LJC
Thomas H. Weil ’65 LJC
Mary-Ellen Perry Haynes ’77
Barbara J. Hamel ’78
Jacqueline Sawyer Celli ’80
Elizabeth Reynolds Turner ’81
Unknown Class Year
Stella Franciose Giarusso
Robert W. Gibson
Ruth Jacobson Greenwood
Helmi L. Harju
Helen J. Howard
M. Minta Shaw Cowan Hunter
Ruth Bergstrom Ingalls
Nora Ryder Lavin
Kathleen C. McKenna
Helen M. Papazian
Arthur H. Prior
Edward J. Salem
Lorraine Martin Shepard
Albert J. Vuona, Sr.
Stephen A. Wyco
Save the Dates!
2007 April
February
15 New York City Dinner
reception hosted by Jim
Daopoulos ’67 LJC at
Rosie O’Grady’s,
149 West 46th Street
March
2 Princeton, Mass.
Wachusett Mountain-Becker
College Ski Night
Ski from 4-8 p.m., followed by
a reception. Tickets are $40;
buy one, get one free.
Call 508-373-9531
12 West Palm Beach, Fla.
Cocktail reception
at Morton’s Steakhouse,
777 S. Flagler Drive.
13 Naples, Fla. Dinner reception
hosted by Gil Boutin ’39,
at Quail West,
6289 Burnham Road.
15 Tampa, Fla. Reception
hosted by Debbie Akers ’77,
at the Palma Ceia
Country Club,
1601 S. MacDill Avenue.
We’ll be Calling You!
Becker Phonathon
February-March 2007
17 Philadelphia, Penn. Cocktail
reception, Twenty 21,
2005 Market Street.
19 Washington, D.C. Cocktail
reception at the Cosmos Club,
2121 Massachusetts Avenue,
NW.
June
8-10 Reunion 2007 Make your plans
now to return to Becker. Check
out the Reunion web page at
www.becker.edu for the latest
details!
25 Sterling, Mass. The 15th
Annual Llew Evans
Scholarship Golf
Tournament will be held at
the Sterling National Country
Club, Sterling, Mass.
Gabe Simon ’51 is the
tournament chair.
October
19 Worcester, Mass. The annual
Becker-Crafts Society
Reception will be held at the
Worcester Club, 1 Oak Street, to
recognize alumni and friends of
the college who have made gifts
of $1,000 or more.
Becker b r idges • WINTER 2007 17

Faculty/Staff Notes
Vladimir Pistalo,
Ph.D., associate
professor of liberal
arts, has released his
latest book in his
native country of
Serbia. Tesla, Youth is
a novel based on the
early life of Serb-
American inventor, physicist and
electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. The
2006 release is significant, as it is the
150th anniversary of Tesla’s birth. Dr.
Pistalo, who has written several books
and has been published in the Serbian
periodicals Vreme and Politika and in
American literary reviews, aims to be “an
ambassador of U.S. history and culture.”
Regarded as one of the most important
Serbian writers, Dr. Pistalo is likely to
receive nomination for a literary prize in
his country for Tesla,
Youth. He plans to follow
up this novel with another
book, about Tesla’s later
years. Dr. Pistalo joined
the faculty at Becker in
2002, the same year he
was sworn in as a U.S.
citizen. He earned his
doctorate and master’s degree
in American history from the University
of New Hampshire, Durham, and holds
a bachelor’s degree from the University
of Sarajevo, Bosnia.
New appointments
include former Harvard
professor and
veterinarian acupuncturist
Mohammad
Nezam-Mafi,
Ph.D. has joined the
Department of
Humanities and
Languages as an
associate professor of
English. Dr.
Nezam-Mafi
received his Ph.D. in English literature
from Boston University and holds two
18 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
master’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree
also from Boston University. Over the
past 19 years, he has served as a member
of the faculty at, and has achieved awards
and fellowships from, Brown, Harvard
and Boston Universities. Specializing in
travel literature, Dr. Nezam-Mafi’s stories
have been published in numerous literary
reviews.
Charlotte Newell,
D.V.M. has joined the
Department of
Veterinary Science as
an associate professor.
Schooled in animal
acupuncture and
herbal medicine, Dr.
Newell received her
doctorate in veterinary
medicine from Tufts University School of
Veterinary Medicine and has served as an
adjunct instructor at Becker since fall
2003. She has maintained her own
veterinary practice since 1989 and
previously worked at Tufts, Angell
Memorial Hospital and Norfolk County
Veterinary Service. Dr. Newell breeds
Arabian horses, descended from horses
brought to the United States by Homer
Davenport in the late 19th century. She
continues to participate in equestrian
competitions, showing her own horses or
as a judge or show veterinarian.
New additions to the
Nursing Department
Patricia Ottani, RN, Ph.D., CNM has
been appointed dean of nursing. Dr. Ottani
earned a doctoral degree in nursing from
the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Certified in nurse-midwifery, she earned a
master’s degree in midwifery and perinatal
nursing from the State University of New
York, Stony Brook. She has served as the
dean of nursing and health sciences at
Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. since
2003. During the past 16 years, she
taught at the University of Massachusetts,
Lowell; North Shore Community College
in Lynn, Mass. and Endicott College. Dr.
Ottani’s membership in several professional
associations includes the National League
for Nursing and the Transcultural Nursing
Society. She has been recognized by
numerous organizations, including the
International Childbirth Education
Association, for her research in
Cambodian communities. Her articles
have appeared in such publications as the
Journal of Professional Nursing, Nurse
Educator and the International Journal of
Childbirth Education.
Pamela Kurkul, APRN, BC, has been
appointed to the full-time faculty as an
instructor of nursing. Pamela holds a
master’s degree from the University of
Lowell, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing
from Salem State College, both in
Massachusetts. Kurkul has been a member
of the adjunct faculty at Becker over the
past year. She also serves as a family nurse
practitioner at Cheshire Medical Center in
Keene, N.H. and for Baystate Emergency
Medicine at the Heywood Hospital in
Gardner, Mass.
Charlene Diller, RN, MSN, RNC has
joined the Nursing
Department as a
clinical facilitator.
Diller received her
master of science in
nursing from Anna
Maria College and
her bachelor of
science in nursing
from Columbia Union College, Takoma
Park, Md. She brings 40 years of nursing
and supervisory experiences, at Fairlawn
Nursing Home and Hahnemann Hospital
in Worcester, Mass. and Washington
Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Md.
Diller has also served as an associate
professor of nursing at Atlantic Union
College, South Lancaster, Mass.
Staff Appointment
Tonya LaBrosse was appointed registrar,
making the move from that position at
Hesser College in Manchester, N.H.
Previously, she had served in administrative
and faculty roles at Franklin Pierce
College in Nashua and Salem, N.H.
Labrosse holds a master of education from
Rivier College, Nashua, N.H. and a
bachelor’s degree in mathematics from
State University of New York, Potsdam.

Three retire after more than 25 years
Left: Upon the retirement of Dr. Alexander Belisle (r), Raj V. Pathi (l), Vice President of Academic
Affairs, presented him with a scroll denoting Dr. Belisle’s status as professor emeritus. Right: JoAnn
Lyerla, President Zirke and Andy Baglio (l-r).
Campus News & Notes
With the end of the 2005-06 academic year came the retirement of three longtime
members of the Becker College faculty. Alexander Belisle, Ph.D. began teaching at
the former Becker Junior College in 1968. An authority in medieval literature and armor,
Dr. Belisle most recently taught English at Becker. He was an active member of the
Becker community, serving on numerous boards and committees and as a mentor to his
many students, and in his own community of Millbury, Mass. as editor of the Millbury
Sutton Chronicle (run by Belisle and his wife Andre) and a member of the Millbury
Federal Credit Union Board of Directors.
JoAnn Lyerla, Ph.D. has retired from her position as professor of biological science
after 30 years. Dr. Lyerla taught a variety of courses at Becker, from anatomy and
physiology of domestic animals, microbiology, immunology and genetics to introductory
courses in the biological sciences. She served on the administration, as director of the
Humanities and Sciences Division, but later returned to the classroom. Dr. Lyerla also
chaired the Faculty Evaluation Subcommittee through three accreditation studies.
Andrew Baglio began his Becker College career as an instructor in the former travel
and tourism program. He made the transition from the classroom to serve for many years
as registrar. Though he was based on the Leicester campus, Baglio was very visible on
both campuses. Active among administration and faculty, he was also known for his
accessibility to students, in the office or participating each year in such events as the
resident student holiday dinner. ■
How to Make a Planned Gift to Becker College
Choose the Planned Gift that is Right for You
Bequests
Include Becker in your will/trust or amend an existing will/trust to
designate Becker as a beneficiary.
• Leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to the
College.
• Retain unlimited access and control of your assets during your lifetime.
• Reduce estate taxes and possibly increase the inheritance of your heirs.
Life Income Gifts
• Choose from a Charitable Gift Annuity, Charitable Remainder Trust
or Charitable Lead Trust, depending on your estate planning goals.
• Receive an income tax deduction in your lifetime and possibly
increase the inheritance of your heirs.
Becker Adopts
Elm Park
Nearly 200 first-year Becker College
students, clad in Becker blue, made
quite a spectacle as they made their way to
Elm Park in Worcester, to kick off the fall
semester with some community service.
The project was part of Becker College
101, the first-year experience course for
freshmen and new students and part of a
larger plan for the College to “adopt” Elm
Park. Activities included painting bridges
and tables, raking, weeding and performing
general clean-up. Faculty members are
exploring
additional ways
to make the
students’
relationship with
Elm Park an
educational
experience.
“We are
happy to assist Becker College in this
public-private partnership,” said City
Manager Michael V. O’Brien. “This fits in
with our plans to help maintain City parks
by engaging the populations who use
them and benefit from them.”
When City officials asked local
colleges and universities to consider
adopting Worcester’s parks, the pairing of
Becker College and Elm Park was a natural
fit. “Adopting Elm Park is a perfect
opportunity to help maintain and beautify
one of the country’s first public parks and
introduce students to their community
and the value of volunteerism,” said
Becker President Ken Zirkle. ■
• Receive guaranteed cash payments in your lifetime.
• Reduce or eliminate capital gains taxes on appreciated property.
• Reduce or eliminate estate taxes.
Life Insurance
• Designate Becker as the beneficiary of your policy.
• The death benefits and the premiums are considered a gift to
Becker College.
Gifts of Retirement Accounts
• Designate Becker as the beneficiary of retirement accounts
to avoid income and/or estate taxes.
For more information contact: Dean Hickey ’83, Vice President of Development • 508-373-9520 • dean.hickey@becker.edu
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 19

Athletics on the Move
Allison Flynn ’09, Lindsay Lapen ’10, Colleen Murphy ’08 and Jennifer Nieman ’07 (far left, l-r)
bring the NAC women’s tennis title to Becker. The Lady Hawks are pictured here with two competitors
from Bay Path College (r).
Women’s tennis team poses on tournament day: Jeanette Granger ’10, Colleen Murphy ’08,
Mandy Kennedy ’08, Kristina Drabkowski ’08, Chelsey McRae ’09, Jennifer Nieman ’07, Lindsay
Lapen ’10, Allison Flynn ’09, Aleah Soraya Oriol ’09 and Manager Rose-Mary Benson ’08 is
down in front.
20 Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007
Becker Hosts
Tournaments and
Takes Tennis Title
The Becker College athletic department was
busy this fall, hosting three tournaments in one
season. In mid-October, the women’s tennis team
hosted the North Atlantic Conference (NAC)
Championship, on the Leicester campus. The
Lady Hawks, led by 2005 NAC Coach of the Year
Tom Cooley ’97, entered the tournament as the
favorite, having just captured the regular season
tennis title. Teams from Castleton State College,
Castleton, Vt.; Bay Path College, Longmeadow,
Mass.; and Johnson State College, Johnson, Vt.
would compete for the 2006 trophy.
On the first day of the two-day event, all
quarterfinal matches were completed to set up the
Sunday showdowns. The second day crowned six
singles and three doubles flight champions. Becker
College took home the hardware in flight one
(Allison Flynn ’09/Wilmington, Mass.), flight
two (Lindsay Lapen ’10/Lancaster, Mass.), flight
four (Colleen Murphy ’08/Lyme, Conn.), flight
six (Jennifer Nieman ’07/Townsend, Mass.), and
doubles first flight (Flynn/Lapen).
The dominance of the Lady Hawks led
Becker to its first NAC women’s tennis title,
upsetting the two-time defending NAC champion
Castleton State College, which led the tournament
at the end of day one. Bay Path also had a strong
finish on Sunday and took home the runner-up
prize, followed by Castleton State and Johnson
State.
Selected to the NAC All-Conference team
were Flynn, Lapen and Nieman. Lapen was named
NAC Rookie of the Year and Flynn captured the
NAC Player of the Year trophy as voted on by the
coaches at the tournament. ■

Worcester County Tip-Off Tournament
The next Hawks-hosted tournament took place on the hardwood courts, where the
men’s basketball team hosted the annual Worcester County Tip-Off. Participants
in the tournament included locals Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Worcester
State College and Nichols College of Dudley, Mass. Game one featured the Hawks
facing the 2005 defending champions WPI. The Engineers were too strong for
Becker throughout the entire game and handed the Hawks their first loss of the
season, 86-53. The Hawks were led by Chris Finnimore ’09 (Worcester, Mass.)
who had 12 points. Junior Emmanuel Masumbuko ’08 (Burlington, Vt.) added
eight rebounds. Nichols defeated Worcester State 91-65 in the second game.
In the consolation game, the Hawks were set to face off against the Worcester
State Lancers. Becker kept the game close, only down by eight points at halftime.
Worcester State started the second half with vicious defense and held the Hawks
scoreless for the first eight minutes while doubling their lead, and walked out of
Leicester with a 79-55 win. Shawn Fuller ’09 (New Haven, Conn.) poured in 16
points and Jake Russo ’09 (Sandwich, Mass.) had eight points, three rebounds and
a steal for Becker. The championship game featured WPI vs. Nichols in a rematch of
the 2005 game. Nichols got off to a hot start and took a seven point lead into the
locker room at halftime. WPI came out in the second half and shot 66% from the
field and ran away with their second title in as many years, defeating Nichols 83-64.
Jason Patterson ’10 breezes
past his opponent in the
face-off against Worcester
State College.
Dunkin’ Donuts Cup
The men’s ice hockey team started their
inaugural varsity season on the road in
New York as they traveled to Morrisville
State College. The team won their first
game as a National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Division III team,
2-1. They split the two games and headed
back to Massachusetts to host the Dunkin’
Donuts Cup at their home rink, at the
New England Sports Center in Marlborough.
The first game of the two-day
tournament was a match-up between
North Country Community College from
Saranac Lake, N.Y. vs. Western New
England College (WNEC) of Springfield,
Mass. The teams traded goals for the first
two periods and went into the third period
tied at three. North Country got the go
ahead goal with four minutes remaining
and advanced to the championship game.
In the nightcap, Becker hosted Johnson &
Wales University, from Providence, R.I.
Forwards Matt Oster ’10 (Stillwater,
Minn.) and Chris Reilly ’09 (Lexington,
Mass.) both had two goals and one assist
as the Hawks built a 5-1 lead halfway
through the game. The game was riddled
with 45 penalties. Becker could not hold
onto the lead and the Wildcats fought
back, scoring three goals in the
second period and three more in the third
and stunned the hometown crowd by
beating the Hawks 7-5.
The second day of the tournament
started with the consolation tilt between
Becker and WNEC. The Golden Bears hit
the ice skating and had a 2-0 lead on the
Hawks six minutes into the second period.
The Hawks scored next on an Andrew
Scampoli ’10 (Islip, N.Y.) goal at the
18:49 mark of the second period. Derek
Stabile ’10 (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) tied
the game on a power play goal with twelve
minutes left in the third period. WNEC
scored less than three minutes later and
added an empty net goal to make the score
4-2, finishing in third place. The championship
game featured the Saints of North
Country vs. Johnson & Wales. The
Wildcats shut out North Country 2-0 to
take the inaugural Dunkin’ Donuts Cup.
Becker b ridges • WINTER 2007 21

22
Homecoming Weekend
2006
Families Flock to Becker for Homecoming 2006
Homecoming at Becker College continues to be marked by rain, but the spirit of the
gathering cannot be dampened. Festivities began with a cookout Friday afternoon on
the Becker quad. The crowd moved to the gridiron to watch the Hawks take on Mount
Ida College from Newton, Mass. Under the guidance of Head Coach Mel Mills, the team
scored 21 points, but in the end Mount Ida took the win with 33.
Following the game, alumni and parents gathered for a reception at the President’s
home. Siblings who journeyed with their families to see their Becker students, were
welcomed to a sleepover in some of our historic residence halls.
The Leicester campus was crowded on Saturday, with cars parked on the grass and
families busily catching up as they made their way from breakfast to the day’s events and
games. Sussudio York ’10 had eight family members travel from Groton, Conn. for the
visit. Charles Heard ’10, a pre-veterinary student, hosted his mother, grandmother and
nephew. Carnival games were set up in the gymnasium and bingo players, treated to
cotton candy and snow cones, filled the student center.
After a light lunch, soccer fans settled in their folding chairs, under the shelter of
umbrellas, for an afternoon double header. The Becker men’s and women’s teams met the
men’s and women’s teams of Maine Maritime Academy, from Castine, on Alumni Field.
Soccer player Alex Petrie ’06 was supported by his family from Sutton, Mass. Just one of
many examples of a Becker family, Petrie’s mother, Stephanie Stilla-Petrie, works at the
College as associate director of counseling, and sister, Victoria, interned in the
communications office. The men won their game with a tight 1-0, while the women had
a tougher time, losing 0-4.
Students made sure parents visited the campus bookstore to be properly outfitted in
Becker blue before returning home. Families and alumni consistently report that they
enjoy and look forward to campus visits. Thanks to such enthusiasm, Homecoming is
growing into a treasured Becker tradition. ■
Despite the rain, students, family and friends enjoyed face painting, taking pictures for keepsake key
chains, playing bingo for fun and prizes and much more.
Family and friends gathered for a cookout at the home of President Ken Zirkle and his wife, Chris: Paul
and Paula Rich; Harold Brown'65 and Barbara Lechleiter Brown ’65; parents and grandparents
respectively, of Britney Lewis ’08 (bottom l, l-r); Kermit and Debbi Norris, parents of Andrew Norris ’10;
Maggie Switek, parent of Kevin Switek ’10, accompanied by Ken Froley; and Kathryn Donohue and
Jack Donohue, parents of Patricia Donohue ’10 (bottom r, l-r).

Ask the Expert: Health Clubs
By Lincoln MacDonald ’64 LJC
Fitness has become a multi-billion
dollar industry. Let’s face it, there are
more messages delivered to you every
day through magazines, the Internet,
television and radio about staying
healthy and living well than ever before.
Huge corporations are being forced to
change how they make their fast food
because their customers refuse to eat
what they have historically provided.
Recently in New York City, Mayor
Bloomberg supported a city-wide ban on
cooking with trans fat in any restaurant
in the city. Could you even imagine this
sort of activism a mere ten years ago?
Health clubs are an excellent option for
people who want to combine a healthy
lifestyle with fun and challenging activities.
Choosing a health club can be very difficult.
Here are some tips on making sure
the health club you join is a perfect
match for you and your family.
Where is the club located?
Convenience is the key. Statistically, the
average health club member will drive a
maximum of 15-20 minutes to get to
their club. The farther you ride, the less
you’ll use the club and the less positive
change you’ll see in your health.
Will you like the club…the day
AFTER you join?
Many clubs employ high pressure salespeople
whose number one priority is to
pile on the numbers. When checking
out clubs, make sure to look at the
people working out while you are there.
Do they look happy? Are happy staff
members visible in the club? Is the
salesperson the only identifiable employee
in the facility during your visit? If so,
you may get a great deal on your
membership but be very disappointed
the first day you walk into the club as a
member.
What do you want in a health
club?
There are thousands of health clubs in
America today, each one attempting to
reach a different audience. Try to find a
club that fits who YOU are. Make a
short list of “absolutes” that the club
must feature for you to consider joining.
Things like: clean locker rooms; friendly
staff at the desk the first time you walk
in; huge variety of classes in clean, bright
rooms. When you visit the club, make
sure these “absolutes” are present; if they
aren’t, keep looking.
Who are the members?
Everyone is more comfortable around
people with whom they have something
in common. When walking around the
club during your first visit, be brave and
approach existing members for some
feedback. They will be more than happy
to tell you about the club. More importantly,
you’ll gain valuable insight into
what the club’s members are like. Are
they friendly, approachable and pleasant?
If they are all of those things, then so is
the club!
What kind of staff does the
club have?
This is one of the most overlooked areas
when choosing a health club. Most people
start by shopping price. After a few
visits, they begin to notice their comfort
levels and attitudes about each club.
These impressions generally do not
come from how many treadmills the
club has or how big the pool is. People
get feelings and impressions from other
people. The staff at the club should be
setting the tone for the entire experience.
A great impression of the staff means
that the club is keeping them happy.
People-watching is priceless in any
purchasing situation.
What does the club cost?
Is there a contract?
With thousands of clubs come hundreds
of membership pricing packages. The
health club that is confident in its ability
to keep you satisfied will be the easiest one
to join. Generally, clubs with long-standing
reputations (some very successful clubs in
the area have been open for almost 30
years) very rarely feature long-term
contracts (anything over 12 months) in
order to get a lower price.
When it comes to monthly rates, health
club memberships are no different than
restaurants, cars, clothing, etc. If you are
very happy with the product, you can
easily justify the cost. The best clubs are
the ones that constantly remind you of
why you made the right choice!
Lincoln MacDonald ’64 LJC, is the
owner of Worcester Fitness and
Fitness Management Systems.

Reunion 2007
Alumni Weekend
June 8-10, 2007
Special Reunion Classes
celebrating Reunion 2007:
1957, 1962, 1967, 1972,
1982, 1987, 1992, 1997,
2002, 2006 and the
50-Year Association
For further information and to get
involved please call Cheryl Zukowski
at 508-373-9531 or
e-mail: cheryl.zukowski@becker.edu
Check the Becker website at
www.alumni.becker.edu for more
information on Reunion 2007.
P.O. Box 15071 • Worcester, MA 01615-0071
Change Service Requested
www.alumni.becker.edu
Non-profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT No. 150
ALTOONA, PA