About Bill Keller

Bill Keller is the New Media Specialist at Muhlenberg College.

A Backstage Tour of Summer Music Theatre

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Bill Keller

Lisa Kowalski ’06 and her students take a backstage tour of the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre production of Hairspray. Lisa teaches theater at Democracy Prep Charter High School in Harlem, where she directed her students in their own production of Hairspray in May.

Backstage tour of Hairspray

“Being in Harlem and working with an all-minority cast, this show really pushed my actor/scholars to explore the history or segregation through the lens of drama,” Lisa says. “My students truly exceeded my expectations as they delved into the constructs of race, gender and identity to perform this culturally significant show in our community.

Here and Now

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

Hi! My name is Kristen Vargo and I’m a junior here at Muhlenberg College studying history and secondary education. I love attending Muhlenberg because of the beautiful campus, the small classes and the opportunity to receive an outstanding liberal arts education. Read more to see what life at ’Berg is like now.

Here in Ettinger I attend my favorite class, a seminar on World War I taught by Dr. Robert Croskey. The discussion is always interesting and helps me to view the past from a variety of perspectives.

Kristen Vargo

Here at the Trexler Library, I spend time studying and doing research. Recently, I spent many late nights here while writing a paper about colonial America.

Kristen Vargo

Here at the Life Sports Center, I come to work out at the end of the day. I coach a local softball team, so staying fit is very important to me.

Kristen Vargo

Now I need your help. The Muhlenberg Fund makes my amazing ’Berg experience possible by providing top-notch faculty, a quiet place to study and the chance to exercise in a comfortable, modern facility. Will you make a gift to The Muhlenberg Fund?

Make an online gift at muhlenberg.edu/makeagift, call 1-800-859-2243 or mail a check made payable to Muhlenberg College to 2400 Chew St., Allentown, PA 18104.

The Last Word (but only of a Chapter of Life).

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

by Albert Kippa, Professor Laureate of Comparative Literature, Emeritus

What can one say after a half century in the limelight attempting to profess life’s insights, share knowledge and skills, arouse curiosity, stimulate interest, as well as confess ignorance? Prudence urges silence. But it is time to turn the page, and a moment of introspection suggests acknowledgement of indebtedness and gratitude would be in order.

Fifty-four years ago I enrolled at the City College of New York and have been privileged to live and thrive in academic communities ever since. For the opportunity I am profoundly grateful to Divine Providence and the people who made a difference – my parents who not only gave me life but also guidance on how to live it; Oksana, my partner in life, love and laughter, who has been not only a devoted, indefatigable wife and mother, but also successfully pursued her own calling in education; our sons, both Muhlenberg graduates, both making a Dean’s list, one the academic Dean’s, the other the Dean of Students’ list; as well as my sister, brother, in-laws and other extended family members, and of course, my many teachers and professors, later colleagues and friends, and particularly the Muhlenberg community over the last 46 years. Among the latter, I wish to thank the members, past and present, of my department, of the many administrations, of the numerous campus programs and undertakings in which I participated, as well as my many students over the years who made my journey through professional life a truly fascinating hill and valley learning experience.

The experience did not lack memorable moments. I fondly recall presenting what I thought was an indisputable, convincing argument, to the dean, who after a short pause, simply retorted “Al, this is not heaven. This is Muhlenberg.” Noteworthy and laudable was the dedication and enthusiasm of students of German to successfully meet the challenge of staging selected scenes from Goethe’s FAUST, Part I, on the occasion of the sesquicentennial of the author’s death.

Unforgettable is the student whom I advised to consider the study of Russian to fulfill the College’s language requirement. “No,” the student replied unflinchingly, “I do not want to deal with the – eh – acrylic alphabet.” I cannot forget the admirable courage students displayed on a trip to the Soviet Union when a member of our group was detained for unspecified reasons at the Moscow airport prior to our departure for New York. For three hours they sat on the floor outside the departure gate and refused to budge until their colleague was released.

Nor will I forget the students who presented me with a copy of the then latest study of “Thank you for a year of learning and laughter in the Russian language!”

Language, literature and culture were my passion. I aspired to share it. Language is, of course, the material of literature and the carrier of culture. So allow me a few words about it.

Language aficionados have noted innumerable times that language, which grows out of life, its needs and experiences, is mankind’s most important invention. Moreover, they have been fascinated by the functions and magic of language, and have observed that language and knowledge are interdependent, indeed “indissolubly connected.”

Where would we be without language? It is after all our means of communication, our means of understanding ourselves and our fellow human beings. Paradoxical as it may seem, language can also be a barrier to those ends if we do not study our own and that of our neighbors around the world. While one may still argue about the validity of linguistic determinism, i.e. the extent to which language determines the way we think, it is fairly obvious that language affects our thinking and influences the way we perceive and remember. Moreover, our use of language conveys personal identity by revealing a great deal about ourselves, thus assuming a central integrating role across all spheres of our life.

Recent studies on the future of languages indicate that the status of English as a global language will eventually peak and suggest that the vision of English as the lingua franca of the world is no longer realistic. To be sure, English is well established and will continue to dominate scientific fields: 90% of their journals are printed in English today. But, population growth has been greater among speakers of languages other than English and is expected to stay the course, thus ultimately creating a “new linguistic order” in which monolingual speakers may find it difficult to fully participate.

The fact that you and I speak English is the luck of the draw or simply an accident of circumstance.

That does give us a linguistic advantage in today’s world. Just how well the world knows English is perhaps interestingly illustrated by a few examples of translation howlers encountered abroad. These verbal quirks often have a charm that lingers in my – and other’s – memory. We must, of course, remember that the rest of the world is far better at English than we are at German or Mandarin or Russian; it nevertheless seems hard not to smile/laugh when a hotel lobby sign alerts you to “Beware of your luggage” or to “Please leave your values at the front desk,” or a dry cleaner invites you to “Drop your trousers here for the best results,” or a launderette sign reads “Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.” I also enjoyed the hotel room notices that inform you “In your room you will find a minibar that is filled with alcoholics,” or in case of emergency “Evacuate yourself with the staircase.” Regrettably I never did get to ask the tailor “how’s business?” whose shop sign urged customers to “Order your summers suit now, because is big rush, and we will execute customers in strict rotation.” And how about a restaurant menu that informs you “Our wine list leaves you nothing to hope for”?

But, “hope springs eternal in the human breast…” Mr. Pope observed, and hope was and is a key concept in life and literature, “the real expression of all higher culture.” I speak here of course of literature as an art form, of works of aesthetic worth and general intellectual distinction, which are a significant reflection of life, an imaginative extension of its possibilities and offer vicarious access to the most intimate inner recesses of the human mind and soul. As such, they invite us on an expedition to compare, contrast, and expand our previous experience with life and with language. That is literature’s power – past and present. By passionately embracing its language, narrative and imagination, we broaden our horizons and thereby enrich and make us more humane human beings. In recognition of that, I tip my hat to the foresight and generosity of former Allentown banker and businessman John and his wife Fannie Saeger, who supported educational and cultural endeavors in the Lehigh Valley that included the endowed professorship in Comparative Literature at Muhlenberg. Due to inflation, the chair is now what the Germans call a “Titel ohne Mittel” (a title without means); the College could use more friends like the Saegers today.

To be born within days of the outbreak of World War Two would hardly seem auspicious. And it was not at the outset. Bombardments, ruins, fear, hunger, suffering, deaths and insecurity are one part of my earliest memories; but, caring and courageous parents are another. Moreover, I grew up bilingually, acquiring command of Russian and Ukrainian the natural way, and subsequently learned first German and then English the “hard” way – initially through formal instruction, then via total immersion. As such I understood the challenges Muhlenberg’s students were facing in their efforts to acquire second language skills. My challenge – met with varying degrees of success – was to convince them of the discipline and dedication needed to do well. The Muhlenberg Weekly headlined in my second year of teaching at Muhlenberg (“Mill Hill” in German) “Kipa animates language class, stresses responsible ‘freedom’.” At times some students subsequently would portray me as “authoritarian” or as a “slave driver,” although I only expected accountability from them.

During the 46 years of my tenure at Muhlenberg, I saw the College grow and prosper from local to semi-national prominence. Its strength was rooted in its students and faculty. The latter’s diversity in academic preparation and pedagogical methodology provided a variety of learning experiences for the former. The College in turn supported the faculty’s scholarly endeavors to foster its intellectual and interdisciplinary growth.

At the conclusion of these not particularly sophisticated, but rather sentimental reminiscences, I wish to repeat my sincere thank you, danke schön, дякую, спасибо, merci beaucoup, muchos gratias, gracie, tak sa myket… to the members of the Muhlenberg community for the privilege and opportunities accorded me during the past 46 years, and to extend my wishes for health, wealth and good cheer – as well as the time to enjoy all three! in the years ahead in the important work of advancing and transmitting knowledge and cultivating new generations of intellectually curious and passionately engaged independent young people striving toward a humane and safer world for us all.

Then and Now: Trexler Pavilion

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

Bernheim House

Before the Trexler Pavilion was built in 1999, before South and Robertson Halls joined Benfer Hall as student residences, Bernheim House stood on the yet-to-be-developed south end of campus. Named for former registrar Oscar Bernheim (and the administrator’s home for many years), the building served as special interest housing for theatre students. For a few years after Bernheim House was bulldozed, there were rumors of friendly ghostly activity, though those have died down over the years.

Trexler Hall

Currently, the Trexler Pavilion houses the department of theatre and dance, scene shop, costume shop, rehearsal halls, the box office, and two smaller Studio Theatres. It also houses the “Lavender Lounge,” a student lounge, green room and dressing rooms. The Dorothy Hess Baker Theatre is the jewel in the crown of the Trexler Pavilion, completed in 1999. An elegant but intimate Broadway-style proscenium theatre, the Baker seats 365 on two levels, orchestra and balcony. The Pavilion’s defining architectural feature is its sweeping curved glass facade, enclosing the front of the Baker Theatre and two levels of lobby space — known affectionately among students as “the fishbowl,” a favorite spot for student meetings and scene rehearsal. In this photograph, the Pavilion was part of the “Light It Up Blue” campaign for autism awareness.

In Memoriam

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

1934

Dr. Ralph G. Keeport died January 21, 2012. He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn (Barbour) Keeport, and is survived by his two children, seven grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren.

1935

Hubert H. Bury P’69 died on April 19, 2012. He is survived by sons, John, and Robert ’69. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Jane. He was also an uncle to Lewis Behringer ’69 and Rev. Janet B. Grill ’69.

1942

George W. Cressman died on March 12, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; children, Sally Bishko, Margaret, George, Nancy DeCorrevont, Peter, John and Mark.

Rev. Dr. Raymond L. Fetter died on April 26, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Theresa. • Bartine A. Shupp died on June 20, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Sare; and son, William.

1943

James M. Keiter died on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.

1944

Rev. Richard G. Hoffert died on July 19, 2012.

Dr. Eugene R. Kertis died on May 27, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; and sons, David, John and Paul.

Lionel P. Minard Jr. died on August 25, 2012.

1947

James D. (Jim) Wilder died on August 27, 2012. He is survived by Vona, his wife of 62 years, and their four children and their families.

1948

Dr. James R. Leiby died on February 12, 2012. He is survived by a son, Adlai; and a daughter, Ellen. He was predeceased by his wife, Jean.

Bernard Pignatari died on May 6, 2012. He is survived by his sister, Theresa Kushner. He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy.

1949

David L. Hilder died on May 25, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Laverne; son, David; and daughter, Maryellen Berger. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lucy Romig Hilder.

Dr. Robert E. Walck, Jr. died on June 29, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Flora, and two sons.

1950

Ferdinand Heller died on June 16, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; sons, Bob, David and John; and daughters, Patti Braun and Joan McAdoo.

Michael Mavrides died on August 1, 2012.

Irwin Salitsky died on August 26, 2012. He was predeceased by his wife Claire Salitsky. He is survived by daughters Ann Salitsky and Irene Make.

Richard S. Wieland died on May 14, 2012. He is survived by his brother, Robert. He was predeceased by his wife, Ann “Nancy.”

Peter A. Yurcuck died on May 10, 2012. He is survived by daughters, Susan Sebastian and Dorothy Allen. He was predeceased by his wife, Charlotte “Sara.”

1951

Harry J. Buchecker died on June 16, 2012. He is survived by nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Marion.

William A. Milller died on June 16, 2012. He is survived by his son, William D. Miller; and daughters Sandy Rutherford and Brenda Burian. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty.

1952

Dr. Richard C. Howell died on June 12, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; and sons, Daniel, David, Timothy and Philip.

Dr. David P. Jentsch P’83 died on May 1, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty); daughters, Lisa O’Brien, Karen Hurtado, and Deborah Jentsch ’83; and brothers, Theodore ’45 and Richard ’54. He was predeceased by his father, Werner ’19 and uncle, Hans ’33.

1953

Dr. Remo Bedotto, Jr. died on July 14, 2012.

Joseph W. Gower died on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. He was the loving husband of Doris (Williams) Gower.

Alexander C. Schaus died on June 30, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Leslie; children, Elizabeth Strong, Amy Tarantole, Margaret Knittle, JoHanna Archambault and Eric Schaus; and step-children, Elizabeth Truax and Marguerite Fenton. His former wife, Christine Montgomery also survives.

Edward J. Seitz died on May 5, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Irene; sons, Edward and Eric; and step-children, Noreen Mackay and Tim Caddenand. He was predeceased by his first wife, Therese.

1954

Leon F. Huebner P’91 died on April 7, 2012. He is survived by his wife, June P’91; and son, Erik ’91. He was predeceased by his daughter, Lisa.

1956

Rev. Jerry J. Hargrove died on June 24, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Calvina; daughter, Laura Hargrove; son, Jerry III; stepdaughters, Rev. Deborah Dussard, Joann Cheeks and Charlene Morgan; and stepsons, Lawrence Williamson and Charles Mans. He was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret.

1958

William C. Dissinger died on May 8, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughters, Kristin Dissinger and Jennifer Pratt.

1962

Caroline J. Fetterolf died on Friday, March 16, 2012.

1963

Margaret Deermount died on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

1964

Eleanor M. (Jasch) Jefferson died on May 2, 2012. She is survived by her daughters, Shannon Lahiff and Lindsay Jefferson. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas.

1966

William B. Miller died on July 2, 2012.

1967

Dr. Robert L. McGuire died August 19, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Linda McGuire; children, Dr. Heather McGuire (Todd Mays) of Billings, Mont., and Sean (Jennifer) McGuire of Casper; two grandchildren; and three siblings.

1971

Martha V. Hermann died on October 19, 2011.

1974

William M. Scholtz died on May 20, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Joan; mother, Maria; son, Robert; and daughter, Katherine. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kimberly.

1976

George Hutnick died on August 29, 2012.

1991

Jefferson Dean Slatoff died on September 10, 2012. He is survived by two children, Nicholas Dean Slatoff and Tyler Christian Slatoff; and their mother, Heather Slatoff.

1992

Krista S. Kelly died on June 5, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Brendan ’92; daughters, Gabrielle and Emma; father, Rev. James O’Connor P’92, P’98; and, sister, Katharine O’Connor Geren ’98. She was predeceased by her mother, Karen O’Connor, P’92, P’98.

1996

Lora E. (Michalak) Angelillo died on June 5, 2012.

Class Notes

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

1957

David A. Miller, II writes: “My first novel, Time Birds, has just been published. It’s spy/adventure science fiction, with non-stop action from CIA alumni, spies and astounding robotic ‘birds’. Time Birds is the first of a trilogy; the second is due later this year. Find Time Birds on Smashwords or Kindle. I’d love your comments and reviews!”

1964

Ed Bonekemper writes, “Serendipitously, three Muhlenberg alumni ended up on the same riverboat trip from Vienna to Amsterdam. We had a great time renewing acquaintances after almost 50 years. David Bernstein ’62, Nessa Rosen Bernstein ’64 and I are all looking forward to upcoming 50th reunions!”

1968

Lee Hadden writes, “After 37 years of teaching biology at Wingate University, I have retired from classroom teaching. My wife and I began teaching at Wingate in 1975 following graduate school at Wake Forest University. Transitioning from a two-year to a four-year college, beginning in 1976, and the development of a biology curriculum from scratch, rather than jumping into an existing program, proved challenging and rewarding. Over the years I have taught introductory courses for majors and non-majors, and microbiology, histology, plant biology, and electron microscopy. I served as chair of the division of science and mathematics for five years and chair of the biology department subsequently for 14 years. I just returned from a trip with my daughter, Christi, to three National Parks: Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Rocky Mountain NP, the first of an anticipated sequence of travel destinations. Hopefully I’ll visit the west coast to visit national parks and other destinations there in the near future.”

1969

Larry Wellikson ’69

Larry Wellikson, M.D. SFHM was recently recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives for 2012 as #17. Wellikson has been the CEO of the Society of Hospital medicine, the national medical professional society for our nation’s hospitalists. Wellikson lives with his wife Sharon, in Dana Point, Calif. and has 3 sons and 5 grandsons.

1974

Pastor Smith poses with his advisor, Dr. David Grafton.

Pastor (now The Rev. Dr.) Smith poses with his advisor, Dr. David Grafton.

Pastor Philip Smith of Emmanuel – Mt. Zion Lutheran Parish received his Doctor of Ministry degree from LTSP on May 18. Because of its size, the Class of 2012 gathered for the 148th Commencement at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale.

1978

Bob Shaffer ’78 and Jim Hay ’78 were inducted into the Carbon County Hall of Fame (Sports)

Karen Greber Shaffer writes, “Back at the end of May – my darling Bob and fellow classmate Jim Hay were both inducted into the Carbon County Hall of Fame (Sports). For both the guys the list of credits include their accomplishments not only in their respective Carbon County high schools (Lehighton and Palmerton) but also for their time at Muhlenberg on the football and basketball teams and their post collegiate coaching experience. As you know – Bob’s coaching career includes 12 seasons (I think!) at ’Berg before moving on to Southern Lehigh basketball for the last 24 seasons. Jim has coached basketball and track in several schools over his career.

1979

Jackie Bernstein ’79 and Stewart Abrams ’79 were married on August 24, 2012. Members of the Class of ’79 present were: Seated: Bernstein, Janine Reed; Standing: Daniel Hom, Abrams, Gary Russellberg, Steve Walker.

Stewart Abrams writes, “Just to complete the 37 year saga, on August 24, 2012, which was the 37th year anniversary of the day we met at the home of ’Berg alum Hans Peckmann ’55, Jackie Bernstein ’79 and I were married in Blue Bell, Pa. Talk about playing extreme ’hard to get.’”

1982

Jeff Finley writes “I retired from the Army on July 1 and have recently accepted a position with U.S. Army Cyber Command in Huntsville Alabama.” Finley expected to start on September 24.

Sharon Jones Smith ’81, Lenni Maguire ’81, Susan Shulman Johnson ’81, Chuck Rogers ’82, Denise Storz Pearson ’81, Carrie Moore ’82 and Rose Long ’81 in front of a poster advertising the Summer Music Theatre program that pictures David Masenheimer ’81. The group went to support their friend Neil Hever ’82 in Hairspray.

Carrie Moore, Sharon Jones Smith ’81, Lenni Maguire ’81, Susan Shulman Johnson ’81, Chuck Rogers, Denise Storz Pearson ’81 and Rose Long ’81 went to see Neil Hever ’82 in the SMT production of Hairspray.

1991

Michael Nochimson was elected to the Verona, N.J. Town Council in a highly contested election.

1997

Courtenay Cooper Hall ’97 (second from right) helps ring the trading bell for the New York Stock Exchange]

Courtenay Cooper Hall was part of a team that got to ring the trading bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

1999

Heather Marko and Kevin Casey are happy to announce their marriage on April 29, 2011, in Long Branch, N.J. Alumni in attendance were Wes Miller ’00, Jamie Alvo Miller ’02, Jakob Koslin ’03, Elizabeth Seavy ’08 and Mike Pellegrino ’00.

Jared Schafer ’99

Jared Shafer has been honored as a 2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous ratings process, and no more than more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are named to the Rising Stars list.

2000

Sharon Saferstein Cestari recently graduated from Rowan University with her Master’s Degree in Education.

Cassidy Elizabeth Fendt

Elizabeth Fendt writes, “Cassidy Elizabeth Fendt was born July 12, 2012, at 4:28 AM. She weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Lorelei loves having a baby sister.”

The Grossman Family

Steven Grossman was recently named one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders” on the cover of Variety, which is the entertainment industry’s leading trade publication. He was also recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal and has been featured as a distinguished celebrity talent manager on Bravo, VH1, Style Network, and WE TV. He and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of their two year-old son, Grayden, and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their second child.

Lindsay Jana Spungin was born May 31, 2012 to proud parents Carolyn (Nurnberg) and Scott Spungin.

2001

Evan Lee and Bryn Elizabeth Walter

Tara (Peterson) Walter and Jeff Walter were married July 11, 2008, at Iron Lakes Country Club in Orefield, Pa., on the 18th hole. They welcomed baby boy, Evan Lee Walter, on May 22, 2010, (8lbs, 12 oz, 21.5 inches long). Evan was joined by baby girl, Bryn Elizabeth Walter, on March 27, 2012, (8lbs. 2 oz, 21 inches). The couple resides in Pennsburg, Pa. Tara is teaching middle school in Center Valley, Pa., and Jeff works in the commercial construction field.

2002

Pearl Jaclyn Olds

Melanie (Saxon) Olds and her husband, Josh, are thrilled to announce the arrival of Pearl Jaclyn Olds, born June 28, 2012, at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Pearl looks forward to attending Muhlenberg football games!

Nathan Pickowicz writes, “In recent years, my wife, Jessica, and I have had a son, Jack (12/3/10), and are in the process of starting or ’planting’ a new church in Gilmanton, N.H. I will have received my master’s degree in theology from Trinity Theological Seminary by the end of this summer.”

2003

H. Eric Hoffman

Liz (Alsdorf) Hoffman writes, “My husband, Herb, and I are happy to announce that H. Eric Hoffman, III was born on March 28th. Eric (aka Trey) weighed 8 lbs, 7 oz and measured 21 1/2 inches long.”

2004

Kate Dischino

AmeriCares Manager of Emergency Response Kate Dischino was honored for her Hurricane Sandy relief work at Glamour’s 2012 Women of the Year Awards in New York City on Monday, November 12. Dischino was honored as one of the female responders to Hurricane Sandy at the Carnegie Hall event. Dischino, a Stamford resident, has been coordinating the AmeriCares Sandy response, working nonstop to deliver aid to the hardest-hit communities on the East Coast.

Connor Sehn

Dan and Alicia (Malley) Sehn are excited to announce the birth of their son, Connor Daniel. Connor was born on June 10th, 2012, measured 19 inches long and weighed 6 lbs 5oz. Mom, Dad and Baby are all doing well!

2005

Jessica Krausz and Matthew Pawluk were married on March 31, 2012, at the Metropolitan in Glen Cove, N,Y. The couple resides in Smithtown, N.Y., where Jessica is a dentist and Matthew is a software engineer. The couple honeymooned in Jamaica.

Isabella Marie Pallone

Becky (Armstrong) Pallone and her husband Jonathan are proud to announce the birth of their second daughter. Isabella Marie was born on June 6, 2012 and weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz.

2006

In attendance at the wedding of Becca Erlich ’06 to Will Platnick were, from left to right: Meredith (Cole) Braverman ’05; Meredith (Feezer) Conway ’05; Becca Ehrlich ’06; Will Platnick; Becky Richie ’02; Rachel Barber ’07; Gabrielle Sanders ’06.

Becca Erlich recently married Will Platnick. Several alumni (and Phi Mu sisters) were in attendance.

Aiden Kovach

Robert and Lauren Kovach are proud to announce the birth of their baby boy Aiden James Kovach. He was born October 15, 2011 at Pennsylvania Hospital.

2007

Alumni present at the wedding of Carey Heller ’07 and Hope Axelrod were, from left to right: Michael Capawana ’08, Tanya Carpenter Capawana ’07, Keith Pedrani ’12, Aliya Heller ’11, Jeffrey Mueller ’07, Jonathan Cramer ’89 and Scott Kramer ’09

Carey Heller and Hope Axelrod were married on December 3, 2011 in Jacksonville, Fla. Carey is a licensed psychologist with The Psychological Group of Washington in Washington, D.C. Hope is a licensed clinical social worker at Georgetown University Hospital. The couple resides in Bethesda, Md.

Alumni present at the wedding of Todd Kauffman ’05 and Casey (Gaspartich) Kauffman ’07

Todd Kauffman ’05 and Casey (Gaspartich) Kauffman are happy to announce their marriage on August 10, 2012, in Lakewood, N.J. They currently reside in Midland Park, N.J. Alumni in attendance were bridesmaids Lisa White, Megan DiPaolo and Lauren Krisa, and groomsmen Mike Piontek ’05, and Ben Mannix ’05. Other alumni include Kieran Southwick ’04, Emily Feldhamer ’05, Katie Gottlieb ’06, Kristen DeMarco ’06, Lindsay Galvan, Rory Rosenwald, Janna Burke ’06, Stephani Smith, Mike Saratovsky ’04, Adam Hurlburt ’06, Jon Gray ’05, Jessica Kriss ’03, Alan VanGrack ’05, Jackie Seaman ’05, Sarah Harris ’05, Samantha Jonson and Jared Goldstein.

Megan Wilhem ’07 and Samantha Ginsburg ’10 are Youth Development Volunteers with the U.S. Peace Corps in Morocco.

Benjamin Shaw directed “SOS, A Journey Out of the Forgotten Borough… Staten Island…” at the Laurie Beechman Theatre this October. He recently assistant directed END OF THE RAINBOW on Broadway, currently running at the Belasco Theatre, starring Tracy Bennett. Over the past year and a half, he has assisted and directed at theatres in Minneapolis, Seattle, Florida and NYC. For the past three years, he has worked as the Executive Assistant to the President at Disney Theatrical. In the future, he will be directing Theatreworks USA’s BUNNICULA.

Ryan Stauffer and Kristen Rastelli are happy to announce their marriage, which took place on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at Christ Lutheran Church in Hellertown, Pa. They were married by fellow ’Berg alumnus the Reverend Philip C. Spohn ’86.

Present at the wedding of Steven Toto ’07 and Kaitlyn Rossetti ’07 were: Front Row (from left to right): Michael DiVita ’07, Hilary (Marinchak) Fowler ’07, Danielle (LaRose) Koren ’07, Kristin Zieser ’07, Diana Skowronski ’07, Rossetti, Toto, Kate Olson ’07, Holly Kolesnik ’07, Amanda (Brown) Linick ’07, Brandon Manekin ’07. Back row (from left to right): Michael Gawel ’08, Gregory Rossetti ’05, Julia Lamborn ’07, Patrick Moyle ’07, Lauren (Whitehead) Moyle ’07, Christian Messler ’07, Woody Hoagland ’07, Meghan (Courtney) Hoagland ’07 and Terry Levine ’00.

Steven Toto and Kaitlyn (Rossetti) Toto were happily married on April 16, 2011, in Florham Park, N.J. Both are residents of Hackettstown, N.J and work for Mars Chocolate North America.

Megan Wilhelm and Samantha Ginsburg ’10 are currently serving as Youth Development Volunteers with U.S. Peace Corps in Morocco. Megan is living and working in Tiznit, while Sam is in Zagora.

2008

Alumni present at the wedding of Alex ’08 and Amanda ’08 Corgan

Alex and Amanda Corgan were married on November 11, 2011, and had 40 ’Berg alumni in attendance as well as 8 faculty/staff members. They were married in Egner Memorial Chapel, and the reception was at Hotel Bethlehem.

Members of the Class of 2008 in attendance were (left to right): Kelly Shetron, Joe Gilston, Kaitlyn Johnson, Jacy Good, Barbie Macholz, Matt Grimaldi, Ben Kanigel, Stu Chanin, Janis (Coughlin) Chanin, Kristel Dow, Liz Tursi, Kirill Meleshevich, Johanna (Hurdes) Cella, Scott Cella, and Zach Robkin.

Janis Coughlin and Stu Chanin were married on June 9, 2012 in Bridgewater, N.J. The couple honeymooned in the Cayman Islands and currently lives in Boston, Mass. Many ’Berg friends from the Class of 2008 joined in the celebration.

Alumni in attendance at the wedding of Cailen Poles ’08 to Craig Marone ’09 were: William Behrns ’11, Dave Emerson ’10, Caitlin Dombkowski ’11, Michelle Toher ’12, Cailen (Poles) Marone ’08, Craig Marone ’09, Hannah Poles ’10, Ashley Kaplan ’07, Alexis Kaczmarczik ’08, Amy Coughlin ’08, Ashlee Adams ’10, Sara Bombaski ’10, Erin (Poles) Reilly ’05

Cailen (Poles) Marone and Craig Marone ’09 were married in November 5, 2011. Several alumni were in attendance.

Class of 2008 Reunion

Allison Schnall writes, “Thanks to the power of Facebook, members of the class of 2008 put together a spontaneous ‘four year reunion.’ On October 12, 2012, about 50 alumni from ’08 gathered for drinks in NYC. Guests came from many states to reconnect with old friends.”

Alumni present at the wedding of Brianne Schurott ’08 and Kyle Farris ’08

Brianne Schurott and Kyle Farris were married at Aldie Mansion in Doylestown, Pa., on July 21, 2012. Mules in attendance included attendants Katie Mulford, Jill Aberbach, Caroline Pottash, Jared Mazzei and Mickey Norton, as well as Jillian (Duffy) Dilmore, Kelly Shetron, Taylor (Armstrong) Yagatich, Tim Martin, Luke Silverman, Tim Dwyre, James Corley, Chris Nerney, Michelle Yost, Allison (Colino) Gomes ’06, Jen Sherlock, Ryan Troy, Amanda Talbi, Leah Rovner ’09, Noel Brown ’09 and Mike Bruckner, VP of Public Relations. The newlyweds reside in Phoenixville, Pa.

2009

Sara Mazes was promoted to assistant manager at Hyatt and transferred to the Hyatt Resort and Spa in Maui, Hawaii. She is living and working in paradise and welcomes anyone who wants to plan a wedding or honeymoon there to contact her at smaze3@gmail.com. She is singing with the Maui Festival Chorus, learning to surf, and hiking in volcanoes on her free time.

Matt Rathbun ’09 and Dorothy Martin ’09

Dorothy Martin and Matt Rathbun are pleased to announce their engagement. The couple plans to be married February 23, 2013. Dorothy is a social worker at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J., and Matt is a sales manager for ADP in Parsippany, N,J.

Post your class notes online at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/alumni/form/class_notes.html

Top 100

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

Mike Donnelly became the first football coach in Muhlenberg history to reach the 100-win mark when the Mules defeated Franklin & Marshall, 21-0, on September 8. He finished the 2012 season with a career record of 106-64 and nine postseason berths in 16 years. Here, in chronological order, are 20 noteworthy wins from Donnelly’s first 100.

By Mike Falk, Sports Information Director

Donnelly Win #1 at Swarthmore 1 at Swarthmore (60-14), Oct. 11, 1997

Paraphrasing Lao-tzu, a journey of 100 wins begins with a single step. And this was the first for Donnelly after four losses to start his career. The Mules rolled up 474 rushing yards – 246 by 2011 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jason Brader – and set a school and Centennial Conference record with 33 first downs.

Donnelly Win #4 at Ursinus 4/5 at Ursinus (6-3), Oct. 11, 1997 vs. Grove City (34-31), Nov. 7, 1998

The games in back-to-back weeks ended in the same way: with Kenyamo McFarlane catching a touchdown pass in overtime on the final play of the game. The second win came against a Grove City team that included future NFL player R.J. Bowers. “The program turned the corner that day,” said Donnelly.

Donnelly Win #8 v. Dickinson 8/67 vs. Dickinson (30-13), Sept. 18, 1999 vs. McDaniel (43-0) Oct. 13, 2007

The Mules got two big monkeys off their backs in these two games. They had lost 11 straight to Dickinson, including a stretch of six consecutive shutout losses, before the 1999 win, which featured a school-record 471 yards passing from Michael McCabe. Although they were already established by 2007, they hadn’t beaten McDaniel since 1993 before winning in decisive fashion.

Donnelly's Win #36 at Moravian 37/96 at Moravian (8-0), Nov. 16, 2002 vs. Dickinson (12-0), Oct. 29, 2011

As featured in the Winter 2012 Muhlenberg Magazine, the Mud Bowl and the Snow Bowl were two for the ages.

Donnelly Win #38 v. Mass-Dartmouth 38 vs. Mass.-Dartmouth (56-6), Nov. 23, 2002

Muhlenberg’s first-ever NCAA Tournament game, against a Mass.- Dartmouth team that came in 11-0 and having allowed only 80 points all season, was no contest. The Mules gained 529 total yards, with 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Matt Bernardo rushing for 174 and scoring four touchdowns.

51 at Johns Hopkins (9-6), Oct. 23, 2004

The only one of the 100 wins that Donnelly was not around for at the end. He had to leave for medical reasons during the game, but the team’s great defense (the best in Division III that season) and three field goals by Jordon Grube brought him a win.

53 at Moravian (28-14), Nov. 13, 2004

On the final day of the regular season, Muhlenberg needed six things to happen in order to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year. Remarkably, they all did, including this win against a 7-2 Greyhound team. The bid came at the end of a season filled with injuries to key players.

56/58 at Ursinus (21-14), Oct. 15, 2005 vs. William Paterson (24-17), Sept. 9, 2006

Fake punts have always been a key part of Muhlenberg’s repertoire under Donnelly, and in a stretch of seven games they won twice on fourth-quarter touchdowns on fake punts. Ryan Sassaman threw both passes, a 74-yarder to Ryan Merrill with 3:54 left vs. Ursinus and a 51-yarder to Matt Johnson with 9:12 left vs. William Paterson.

64 at Gettysburg (14-13), Sept. 22, 2007

Chris Swensen’s blocked field goal with 34.5 seconds left preserved the win at Gettysburg. Nobody knew it at the time, in the third week of the season, but the one-point win would be a catalyst for the first undefeated campaign in program history.

Donnelly's Win #70 at Ursinus 70 at Ursinus (31-7), Nov. 3, 2007

Muhlenberg came in 8-0, ranked 12th in Division III and needing a win to clinch its first outright Centennial Conference championship. Ursinus was 7-1 and ranked 10th in Division III in total defense, but the Mules put on a thoroughly dominant performance, outgaining the Bears 405-96.

Donnelly's Win #72 v. Salisbury 72 vs. Salisbury (31-21), Nov. 17, 2007

If the wins were ranked in importance, this might be at the top of the list. Against a nationally respected program in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Mules let a 21-7 lead slip away but scored 10 points off fumbles in the final 4:37 to earn the win.

86 vs. Gettysburg (33-27), Sept. 25, 2010 A dandy of a game on Homecoming Weekend saw the Mules fall behind 16-6 before scoring three straight touchdowns to go up 27-16 late in the fourth quarter. The Bullets closed the gap with a TD and almost stole the game in the last minute after recovering a bad snap on a punt inside the 10. But the defense forced a field goal, and Muhlenberg won in overtime on Isaiah Vaughn’s 25-yard touchdown catch.

87 at Johns Hopkins (30-27), Oct. 2, 2010 A matchup of the teams that had won outright CC championships the last two years lived up to its billing. Mark Accomando’s 38-yard interception return for a touchdown helped stake the Mules to a 30-13 lead, and they held on by intercepting a pass inside the 20 with about two minutes left.

Donnelly's Win #91 at Ursinus 91 vs. Ursinus (27-20), Nov. 6 2010 Clad in all-red uniforms, Muhlenberg completed an improbable run to the CC championship and NCAA Tournament a year after going 3-7. A fourth-down tackle by Kevin Ryan a yard short of the first down with 1:49 left sealed the victory.

Donnelly's Win #93 v. McDaniel 93 vs. McDaniel (34-26), Sept. 17, 2011 Another Homecoming classic: Trailing 26-7 and totally dominated for the first three quarters, the Mules scored 27 unanswered points in the final 13:03 for the stunning comeback win.

100 vs. Franklin & Marshall (21-0), Sept. 8, 2012 An appropriate opponent for the milestone win – one of Muhlenberg’s oldest rivals, coached by Donnelly’s former assistant, John Troxell. And an appropriate number in the opponent’s scoring column – 19 of the 100 wins came by shutout.

Class of 2016 at a Glance

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

The class was selected from a record-large applicant pool of 5,023 (up from 4,876 a year ago). Our acceptance rate was 46%.

The class continues our recent trend toward greater geographic diversity with California now ranking as our fifth largest feeder state (21 students in the incoming class), after N.J., Pa., N.Y. and Conn.

There are four international students this year (from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Thailand, and U.S. Virgin Islands). There are 20 different “first” languages reflected in the freshman class (with Spanish being the second largest language behind English).

The class numbers 582 (584 last year).

Mean SATs are 619/623/623 (vs. 612/620/625 last year). Mean ACT is 28, same as last year. Percent ranking in the top tenth is 44% (down from 51% a year ago, but only about a third of students are ranked anymore, so the variability of this metric is considerable).

Multicultural students make up just over 12% of this class – up from 10.9% last year.

Top majors indicated at the point of admission were:

theatre arts
biology
psychology
business
undecided
media & comm.
dance
tie – history
tie – neuroscience
English

83% of the class is receiving institutional grant/scholarship aid (up from 78% last year).

Move-In Day 2012

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

The Class of 2016, 582 members strong, moved onto campus on August 24, 2012, and was warmly greeted by members of the College community, from President Helm and senior staff, to orientation committee members and other involved students, to 26 reassuring alumni volunteers and an extremely encouraging faculty. To learn more about the newest members of the Muhlenberg family, see The Class of 2016 At A Glance.

Homecoming/Reunion

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Bill Keller

Reunion/Homecoming 2012 was held September 21-23, and a record 989 alumni and friends registered for the weekend. Of these, 745 were alumni: a 24% increase in alumni registration over last year. Not all people on campus registered, so it is likely that well over 1,000 people attended.

Mark your calendars now for Reunion/Homecoming 2013: Sept. 20-22, 2013. Are you in a “3” or “8” class year? Contact the Alumni Office about how you can help with your Reunion!

Muhlenberg Magazine

Alumni Magazine of Muhlenberg College

Author Archives: Bill Keller

About Bill Keller

A Backstage Tour of Summer Music Theatre

Here and Now

The Last Word (but only of a Chapter of Life).

Then and Now: Trexler Pavilion

In Memoriam

Class Notes

Top 100

Class of 2016 at a Glance

Move-In Day 2012

Homecoming/Reunion