The magazine published
by and for the
Rutgers Alumni Association
FALL 2009
Alumni Magazine
Frank Conway’s
Career Takes Off
For his work in turning around the government’s highly
controversial V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, Major Conway was
named 2009 Rutgers Distinguished Engineer.
ALSO INSIDE:
Loyal Sons & Daughters 2009 • Rutgers Oral History Archives •
Undergraduate Speed Networking • The Sweet Sound of Sean Jones
• “Knights of Rutgers” Update • Reunion 2009...and more!
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1766 is published by the Rutgers Alumni Association
Vol. 28, No.2
Rutgers Alumni Association
Editor: Randy Young RC ’68
Art Director: Cara Bufanio MGSA ’85
In This Issue
178 Years of Service to Rutgers Alumni
Founded in 1831, the Rutgers Alumni Association (RAA)
is a 501(c)3 service organization maintained by and for
the graduates of Rutgers College, the School of
Engineering, the former College of Agriculture, the
former School of Education, the Mason Gross School of
the Arts, School of Management and Labor Relations,
the Graduate School – New Brunswick, and other interested alumni from Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway
campus. Chartered in 2008 as the largest affinity organization of the new university-wide alumni association
(RUAA), the RAA's purpose is to create a vital, beneficial,
and continuing relationship between Rutgers and its
alumni around the globe. It partners with the university
on events such as Reunion Weekend and Homecoming.
The RAA also independently publishes 1766 to inform
members about issues that concern them, provides
funding to support deserving student organizations,
awards an annual scholarship to a deserving legacy
student, develops career seminars for graduates, and
offers opportunities for volunteer service in all aspects
of university life — from participation in governance
committees to mentoring undergraduates. As the
fourth-oldest organized alumni association in America,
the 178-year-old Rutgers Alumni Association is proudly
supported by a volunteer army fueled by nearly 200,000
alumni constituents. We welcome your participation.
COVER STORY
10 Major Frank Conway Sees His Career Soar
For his work in turning around the government’s highly controversial V-22 Osprey
tiltrotor aircraft, Major Conway was named 2009 Rutgers Distinguished Engineer.
FEATURES
4 Loyal Sons & Daughters of Rutgers Awards 2009
Eleven outstanding alumni are honored by the RAA for outstanding volunteer
service to Rutgers.
7 Illuminating History Through the Voices of Alumni
The Rutgers Oral History Archives has become a valuable international resource
on major events that have shaped our history.
13 Ready. Set. Network!
The tremendously popular Rutgers Speed Networking event is opening
doors left and right for students and alumni.
15 A Huge Musical Talent Takes Root in New Brunswick
The future couldn’t be brighter for jazz musician Sean Jones, who cut his teeth
at local New Brunswick clubs while studying at Mason Gross.
PRESIDENT:
Cara Bufanio MGSA ’85
PRESIDENT-ELECT:
17 Reunion Recap 2009
Ralph Zemel ENG ’69
Some fresh touches to the traditional flourishes of Rutgers Reunion Weekend
gave the event new excitement in 2009.
VICE PRESIDENTS:
Mel Silverstein RC ’59
Melissa Daniel DC ’00, GMLR ’01
Ken Johnson ENG ’66
20 Catching up with the “Knights of Rutgers”
A look back at the men who adorned the 1983 Knights of Rutgers calendar.
VICE PRESIDENT AND
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:
DEPARTMENTS
Tom Carpenter RC ’57
TREASURER:
Heather Taylor RC ’89
ALUMNI TRUSTEES
George Rears RC ’89
Barbara Pollison-Beck DC ’82
Greg Bender ENG ’68
John Futey RC ’69, CLAW ’72
John Hugelmeyer RC ’72
Frank Hundley RC ’86
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President’s Message
Outgoing Trustee Report
Sports Update
Calendar of Events
Except for official announcements, the Rutgers
Alumni Association disclaims all responsibility for
opinions expressed and statements made in articles
or advertisements published in this magazine.
We are no longer located in Winants Hall.
Please note of our new contact information:
Rutgers Alumni
Association
P.O. Box 11320
New Brunswick, NJ 08906
Phone: 732-932-7474
Fax: 732-377-2099
www.RutgersAlumni.org
President’s Message
BY CARA BUFANIO MGSA ’85
W
hen I look around at my fellow
officers, committee co-chairs and
alumni volunteers, I am truly awed
by their loyalty, hard work and dedication.
Just look at the accomplishments of this
year’s Loyal Sons and Daughters—another
group of exceptional volunteers who served
their classes, their university, and the Rutgers
community. This award stands as the highest
honor for volunteers because recipients can
only be nominated and chosen by other
Loyal Sons & Daughters. (see page 4). I am
proud to be one of them.
Then there are the members of our
Undergraduate Committee, who realized
that helping Rutgers students learn how to
network could give them a huge advantage
as they transition from college to the workplace. The first attempt at a networking event
was not successful. But thanks to their firm
belief in the idea, Gino Gentile and his
Undergraduate Committee teamed up with
Marty Siederer from the Livingston Alumni
Association, and Janet Jones from Rutgers
Career Services, to put together a speed networking event that has become a model for
other colleges and universities (see page 13).
While the RAA provides the structure and
resources for our volunteers, they exchange
ideas and take ownership for the planning
and execution of projects. In short, they are
given the freedom to make their own
decisions and see their ideas through to
successful completion.
A good example of how this works is the
magazine you’re now reading. 1766 truly is
an all-alumni magazine. The story ideas are
contributed by alumni, and the articles are
written by alumni volunteers, some of
whom are professional or aspiring writers.
Our Communications Committee and our
editor, Randy Young RC ’68, decide what
stories would be of most interest to our
readers, and which should be covered in our
print magazine and which should appear on
our web site. But the story ideas come from
people like you.
Most people hesitate to become a volunteer because they fear the time commitment. While some of our most active volunteers are retirees with ample free time, others are recent graduates with full-time jobs
and families. Obviously, their level of participation varies, but one thing they all share is
the desire to give back to Rutgers. The RAA
gives them the opportunity to do just that,
no matter how much (or how little) time
they have. Whether it’s simply collecting a
few coats for our community service annual
coat drive, sending in a
story idea for 1766, or
being an event planner
for Alumni Family Day,
we can find the appropriate volunteer activity
for you.
So, if you’d like to become involved in
RAA events and programs, I encourage you to
contact me at carabuf@alumni.rutgers.edu.
I’d be happy to discuss your interests and
place you with the appropriate committee or
area of interest. Like the rest of us Rutgers
volunteers, you’ll find the payback to be
extraordinary!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The spring issue of 1766 will be the
last one delivered to all former dues-paying members of
the RAA*. Beginning in the fall 2010, the magazine will
be sent to subscribers only. For your convenience, a
subscription envelope has been included in the center of
this magazine. Please complete your information, enclose
a check for $10, attach a stamp, and drop it in the mail.
If you prefer, you can subscribe online and pay by credit
card or PayPal at www.rutgersalumni.org.
*RAA Life Members will continue to receive a magazine as long as it continues to be published.
Outgoing Trustee Report
BY BOB FRISCH RC ’78
W
ow! It’s hard to believe that six
years have passed since completing my term as RAA President
and joining the Board of Trustees of Rutgers
University. One thing can be said with
certainty: it was never boring. As a brand
new trustee, I watched the Board wrestle
with attempts by then-Governor McGreevy
to merge the state schools – an effort which
fell apart almost as quickly as it started. Next,
Rutgers began the transformation of undergraduate education in New Brunswick, bringing together the colleges of Rutgers,
Douglass and Livingston into a combined
College of Arts and Science. The Rutgers
College Class of 2010 will be the last
‘Rutgers’ class to graduate.
Over the past six years, the Rutgers football faithful have finally had their patience
rewarded with winning football seasons, and
the appearance of the Scarlet Knights in four
Bowl games in four years (and victories in
the last three). Winning has had a price,
however, and for Scarlet Knight fans it was
the scarcity of football tickets. In efforts to
correct this, Rutgers Stadium is being transformed once again from a WPA project in
the 1930s to its remodeled 1990s version
to its latest incarnation, a 52,000-seat
showcase for Rutgers and New Jersey with
more bell and whistles than we could have
ever imagined.
While football gained unprecedented
popularity, the state still hasn’t given
Rutgers its due in terms of funding, and
higher education continues to suffer. Despite
the lack of attention from the legislature, the
university continues to grow as a top
research institution, boasting outstanding
faculty and leading-edge programs. I urge all
of you, as alumni and Rutgers supporters, to
continue to rally behind our alma mater and
let the New Jersey Assembly and Senate
know that we can’t provide top education
and services to our residents without the
appropriate funding.
Finally, the university merged last year
all the various alumni
associations
into
one — the Rutgers
University
Alumni
Association (RUAA)
— and invited the
existing associations
to join as charter
organizations. The
RAA became one of
the first to do so. And
while we look forward to being part of RUAA, the Rutgers
Alumni Association remains committed to its
members. More than ever, we look to our
volunteers to continue to make RAA the
premier organization within Rutgers’ alumni
program.
It’s been an honor to serve on the
Board of Trustees, and I thank you for
the opportunity.
FALL 2009
3
THE RAA HONORS
Above (l to r): RAA President Frank Hundley RC’86 addresses
the audience; RAA President-elect Cara Bufanio MGSA ’85 with
former Athletic Director Bob Mulcahy and Coach Greg Schiano;
Bill Scott RC ’86 with Walter Lieb RC ’51 and Cindi Hundley.
O
n April 4, 2009, Neilson Dining Hall was filled
to capacity with guests celebrating the
induction of 11 new Loyal Sons and Daughters
of Rutgers. This year’s awards ceremony and dinner
was unequivocally the best the Rutgers Alumni
Association has ever put together. Co-chairs Bob
Eichert RC ’78 and Debbie Fuchs RC ’80, and their
fellow committee members, are to be applauded for
their efforts—as well as the outstanding job done by
our mistress of ceremonies, the Honorable Superior
Court Judge Rochelle Gizinski RC ’80. Guest speaker
for the evening was Mary Baglivo RC ’79, CEO and
chair of the Americas at Saatchi & Saatchi.
Since it began in 1958, the Loyal Son and Daughter
Awards have recognized alumni who have distiguished
themselves through their outstanding service to
Rutgers. Recipients are nominated and chosen by prior
award honorees — making this award truly unique and
special. The RAA is pleased to announce the newest
Loyal Sons and Daughters of Rutgers:
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1766 MAGAZINE
2009 Loyal Sons and Daughters: Front row (l to r) Angelo V. Baglivo RC ’49; W. John Bauer RC ’59; Keri Ann DeMayo RC ’94, RBSG ’06; Heather
Morrison DC ’95, Martin E. Kravarick RC ’58, John H. Cook RC ’38. Back row (l to r) Bruce E. Marich RC ’63, GSNB ’65; Robert E. Mulcahy III;
Lawrence A. Rudnick RC ’69, NLAW ’72, James G. Russo RC ’88, RBSG ’97, Martin Siederer LC ’77. PHOTO BY STEVE GOODMAN.
Angelo Baglivo RC ’49: Andy is a Class of
1949 officer and a member of its reunion
planning and fundraising committees. His
efforts in 1999 helped raise more than a
million dollars, which supported scholarships and projects such as the World War II
Oral History Archives.
W. John Bauer RC ’59: A longtime passionate supporter of Rutgers, John created
the Scarlet Letter Silver Anniversary Update
which successfully located 70 percent of his
class. He is currently preparing the Golden
Anniversary edition for his class’ 50th
reunion. John is also an ardent supporter of
Rutgers Theater and its Glee Club.
“
For the first time in the
history of this event, it was
put together entirely by
volunteers. I am especially
proud of them—
as well as the outstanding
honorees who join me as fellow
Loyal Sons & Daughters
— Frank Hundley RC ’86
”
President, Rutgers Alumni Association
correspondent. He has consistently attended
reunion activities over the years, and participated in the World War II Oral History Archives.
Keri DeMayo RC ’94, RBSG ’06: Keri has
been a leader with boundless energy and
enthusiasm for the RAA ever since graduation. She served as full-time Executive Director
of RAA until she recently left to take a job in
the private sector.
Mason Gross Dean George Stauffer with John
Bauer RC ’59 and Bob Mortensen RC ’63.
John Cook RC ’38: John has been very
active with his class, taking on the duties of
reunion chair, class president and class
Martin Kravarik RC ’58: Marty served his
class as reunion chair or co-chair (positions
he's held since 1978) and treasurer from
1968 to 1988. An active participant in the
World War II Oral History Archives, Marty has
also been involved in the Air Force ROTC
program for over 30 years.
Loyal Daughters of Rutgers — Rochelle Gizinski
RC ’80 with Keri DeMayo RC ’94, RGSG ’06.
Bruce Marich RC ’63, GSNB ’65: Bruce
has been an energetic co-chair of the RAA’s
Community Service Committee, coordinating
the highly successful Rutgers in Your Back
Yard program and Queens Chorale participation in the committee’s nursing home visits.
Bruce also serves as liaison to his class.
Heather Morrison DC ’95: As vicepresident of the Rutgers Club of New York City,
Heather worked tirelessly to coordinate the
group’s activities with the RAA. She was the
creator and editor of City Knights, the RCNYC
newsletter, and has been the photographer
of the Old Guard dinner since 2005.
Robert Mulcahy III: As Rutgers Director of
Athletics from 1998 to 2008, Bob breathed
new life and spirit into what had been an
Continued on page 6
FALL 2009
5
Loyal Sons & Daughters
from page 5
ailing and under-budgeted program. His
overwhelming success as head of athletics
brought a new found pride and respect to the
entire university, and its alumni. The RAA
recognizes Bob for his many accomplishments, and for his love for Rutgers.
Lawrence Rudnick RC ’69, NLAW ’72:
Larry has been an active member of the RAA
for over 15 years, serving on and co-chairing
the Grants and Gifts Committee. He is a
valued member of his graduating class,
having worked on a number of class reunions.
James G. Russo, Jr. RC ’88, RBSG ’97: Jim
served his class since graduation, first as class
representative, then as vice president for the
past 15 years. He also served as co-chair of its
Reunion and Giving Committees since 2003,
and received the Class of 1931 Award in 2008.
Top: RAA President Frank Hundley congratulates
Bob Mulcahy on his award. Above (l to r):
Richard Kaplan, Joan Kaplan, Marty Siederer
LC '77, and his wife, Fran.
Martin Siederer LC ’77: Marty is president
of the Livingston Alumni Association (LAA).
It’s through Marty's leadership that the
LAA began participating in RAA reunions,
and his team spirit has been crucial to the
President Frank Hundley presents John Hugelmeyer
with the RAA’s Past-President pin. John is the
immediate past-president of the RAA.
success of the RAA's Speed Networking
event. Marty also serves as co-chair of the
RAA’s Undergraduate Committee.
The evening also included a special presentation to John Hugelmeyer RC ’72. John
was presented with the RAA’s Loyal Sons &
Daughters Past-President pin in appreciation for
his loyalty and commitment to Rutgers.
Rutgers Adds Six To its Hall of Distinguished Alumni
It’s become one of Rutgers’ most glittering affairs, an annual black
tie dinner in May to celebrate the newest inductees to the Hall of
Distinguished Alumni (HDA). This year was no different as alumni who have brought honor to
themselves and their school
through their stellar accomplishments in life were welcomed by
an audience of several hundred
guests at The Heldrich in downtown New Brunswick.
Getting the cerebration off
to a rousing start was mistress of
ceremonies Sheryl Lee Ralph
RC ’75, an accomplished
Broadway actress and 2002
HDA honoree, who introduced
each guest as part of a showstopping musical tribute. The
awards were presented by
University President Richard L.
McCormick and James Rhodes
CCAS ’94, chair of the Rutgers
University Alumni Association.
The 2009 Hall of
Distinguished Alumni includes
dentistry
pioneer
Walter
Top: Sheryl Lee Ralph introduces
Alexander, II ENG ’43; psyRalph Izzo. Above: Don Manalio,
chologist and author Dorothy
Kathy Ciser, and John Hendricks.
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1766 MAGAZINE
Left to right: Mir Imran ENG ’77, Walter Alexander II ENG ’43, Dorothy
Cantor GSAPP ’76, Ralph Izzo RBS ’02, and Natalie Morales RC ’94.
Cantor GSAPP ’76; renowned scientist and inventor of the
world’s first automatic implantable heart defibrillator Mir Imran
ENG ’77; chairman, president and CEO of PSE&G Ralph Izzo
RBS ’02; and co-anchor and national correspondent for The
Today Show on NBC Natalie Morales RC ’94.
Actress Kristin Davis MGSA ’87, who was not able to attend
the dinner, was inducted later in May during the Mason Gross
School of the Arts graduation ceremony, where she was the
commencement speaker.
“ I became one of the county assistant prosecutors in Middlesex County. ...In those days, we
had maybe a half a dozen detectives and four prosecutors. So, one week, you'd do trials,
another week, you'd handle the grand jury, another week, you'd handle the municipal court
work, and the last week was to get ready for those three weeks—and this was a part-time
job, which was a very full-time part-time job.”
— Edwin A. Kolodziej RC '48 NLAW '51,
on his career as a prosecutor in the 1950s
THE RUTGERS ORAL
HISTORY ARCHIVES:
“ Women weren't given the opportunity to do things, just as my commanding
officer didn't want me to go over to Paris with my two officers. I don't know
why she had to be so protective with me. If it wasn't safe for them, it wasn't
safe for me. ...But I think that we should all have an opportunity to do what
we want to do and you just try to take care of yourself.”
— S. Carol Levin UCNB '78 on serving in the
Women's Army Corps in Europe during WWII
Illuminating History
Through the Voices of Alumni
BY SHAUN ILLINGWORTH RC ’01 SCILS ’04
M
ost people think of history simply
as a chronology of events across
time. But history is also the
body of documented knowledge — books,
journals, census data, to name a few —
that illuminates those events. No wonder
historians, archivists and other scholars are
constantly on the hunt for resources that
shed new light on the events of the past.
Since 1994, the Rutgers Oral History
Archives (ROHA) has been adding to that
pool of data by recording the perspectives
of men and women who both helped to
shape, and were swept up in, the events
and movements of the 20th and 21st
Centuries. By the summer of 2009, ROHA
had conducted over 900 interviews, 500 of
which are available as full-text transcripts
at http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu. After
15 energetic years, the program shows
no signs of slowing down.
The Roots of ROHA
One of the benefits of the oral approach
to documenting history is the fact that it
gives a voice to people who are not
inclined to leave written recollections, such
as diaries or memoirs. Indeed, it’s this reticence on the part of so many to put pen
to paper that led to the creation of ROHA.
In the early 1990s, Tom Kindre, then
class historian for the Rutgers College Class
of 1942, tried to rally his classmates to
publish a book as a kind of “class autobiography.” Each alumnus was encouraged
to submit a piece on their life experiences
and their reactions to the major events
and movements of the 20th Century.
Kindre sent out guidelines, but notes,
“When I got back only 17 responses, I knew
we didn't have enough material for a book.
My next thought was, They may be afraid to
write, but they might not be afraid to talk.“
Influenced by the works of Studs Terkel,
Kindre began pursuing the idea of a fullblown oral history program. He and fellow
Class of '42 officers approached the
Continued on page 8
FALL 2009
7
Rutgers Oral History Archives
from page 7
Rutgers History Department and the Dean
of Rutgers College, and with their support
established and provided the initial funding
for the Rutgers Oral History Archives as an
affiliated center of the History Department.
Dr. G. Kurt Piehler became ROHA's first
director and began interviewing subjects in
the summer of 1994. In December 1998,
Dr. Piehler left Rutgers for the University of
Tennessee-Knoxville and Sandra Stewart
Holyoak took over as director. An Academic
Advisory Board chaired by Dr. John W.
Chambers II, Professor of History at Rutgers,
was also established to provide guidance
to the ROHA staff.
Constant Growth
The Oral History Archives may have
begun with the Class of 1942, but it quickly
expanded to all the classes of the 1930s
and 1940s. Alumni of NJC/Douglass, the
graduate schools and the University faculty
and staff also added their voices. In the early
2000s, the program broadened its scope
even more, reaching out to the classes of
the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. At the same
time, the program began interviewing New
Jersey residents without a Rutgers affiliation
“ Remember, Rutgers was a tiny, tiny little school
and if you didn't know everybody, you could
recognize a face at least. It was a totally different
school. Dean [of Men Fraser] Metzger, somehow
or another, knew everybody's grades and whether
or not anybody had done anything good or bad.
...You'd walk down College Avenue and, if he'd be
walking along, he'd stop you and say, ‘Hey, I hear
you got a good grade in economics,’ or, ‘How'd
you do on that math examination?’”
— Lewis M. Bloom RC '42
about their life experiences.
”This expansion not only makes us a
more diverse resource for scholars,“ says
Director Holyoak, ”but allows us to round
out the story of our state and its people.“
In 2006, ROHA announced its
”Semiquincentennial Campaign,“ which
aims to collect 1,500 new interviews with
Rutgers alumni, faculty and staff members
and New Jersey residents by 2016, the
250th anniversary of Rutgers University.
Associate Rutgers University Archivist Erika Gorder RC '91, SCI '04, accepts new interviews to
add to the Rutgers Oral History Archives' collection at Alexander Library from ROHA staff
members Matthew Lawrence RC '08, Elaine Blatt RC '07, and Jessica Ondusko RC '08.
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1766 MAGAZINE
Getting a Panoramic View
One important reason for the success
of the Rutgers Oral History Archives is the
way it conducts interviews. More specifically, it is committed to the “life-course”
method, which aims to capture a total
image of a person's life and experiences.
“It’s easy to see people in one-dimension
— as a soldier, a business executive, a
homemaker,” notes Dr. Chambers. “But by
taking a broader view, you can see that a
youngster who worked two jobs to put
himself through Rutgers, and then
became a young soldier who hit the
beachhead, and finally an entrepreneur
who started a successful business, are
one in the same. More importantly, you
understand how and why this happened.”
What exactly do ROHA interviewers
cover with their subjects when they sit
down with them for extensive interviews?
Well, they may delve into such topics as
family history, the immigration experience,
the Great Depression, military service, the
domestic impact of foreign conflicts, and
the evolution of their careers and community activities. “This is not just swapping
war stories,” emphasizes interviewee
Edwin Kolodziej RC '48 NLAW '51.
“They wanted to know about my parents
coming to America from Poland and about
growing up in Sayreville, New Jersey, and
they wanted me to put the events of my
life— the things my generation experienced
in one way or another — into context.”
“ I scored the last touchdown played on Neilson Field.
Somebody had blocked the punt, and here was this
football, lying around, and I grabbed it, took it over for
a touchdown, and that was the last one made there.
After that, we played all the games, across the river.”
— Col. Walter R. Bruyere III RC '39
“[By my senior year] I had already kind of been thinking about joining
[when] September 11th occurred in the beginning of the fall semester in
high school. [My teacher] Mr. Dietz turned the TV on to see what the deal
was and every channel had September 11th stuff on. He turned to us
and said something about Pearl Harbor and this being history. About five
minutes later, the second plane hit. So, we watched that happen live and
we were all very confused. I ended up joining the National Guard and I
signed the paperwork in January 2002.”
— Second Lieutenant Eric Nolan UCNB '08
on his motivation for joining the military
An Undergraduate Learning
Experience
The Rutgers Oral History Archives is also
leaving its mark as a powerful teaching
vehicle for undergraduates. Every semester,
a new crop of public history interns joins
the ROHA staff, and two additional undergraduate internships are made possible by
the Classes of 1948 and 1956. What’s
more, the Crandon Clark Scholar internship program encourages student recipients to conduct research by identifying
and interviewing Rutgers men and
women who served in the Korean War.
Interns are grounded in the methodology
of oral history — how to conduct an interview, how to preserve materials, and how
to produce transcripts. They also learn
from working closely with ROHA's patrons.
Further enhancing the learning experience is the seminar taught every semester
by Dr. Chambers to junior and senior
History majors, called “Oral History and the
American Experience in World War II.”
Among the course requirements are that
students participate in an oral history
interview.
“Dr. Chambers' seminar was easily one
of the best courses I have ever taken
at Rutgers,” recalls Damian Kulikowski,
who took the course this past spring.
Kulikowski, who is one of ROHA's two
public history interns this fall, added, “We
saw these oral histories come to life when
interviewees came and spoke to us about
their experiences. We were able to interact
and ask questions, making the class a
more intimate experience than any other
at Rutgers.”
A number of ROHA alumni, interns and
seminar students who have gone on to
successful careers as teachers, lawyers
and academics have reported that the
knowledge and skills they picked up working with the Archives was invaluable.
Serving as an International Resource
There is perhaps no better way to
gauge the success of ROHA than the
fact the scholarly community has enthusiastically integrated its offerings into
books, articles, museum pieces and
websites. To wit: the first two books of
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick
Atkinson's “Liberation Trilogy” on World
War II in Europe — An Army at Dawn
(2002) and The Day of Battle (2007) —
cited several ROHA oral histories. And
excerpts from ROHA interviews appear
in the Smithsonian Museum of American
History's “Price of Freedom” exhibit.
Television and documentary producers
have also tapped into Rutgers’ archival
treasure chest. The producers of The
History Channel's Shootout and Patton
360 series, for example, invited 95th
Infantry Division veteran Edwin Kolodziej
to appear on their programs after reading
his engaging interviews on the ROHA
website.
Nearly every day, the ROHA staff fields
information requests from around the
nation and the globe. “One day, I went
from helping a grad student at Georgia
State researching women war workers,”
recalls Holyoak, “to a British historian
investigating the fall of Heidelberg,
Germany in World War II, to a woman
researching her family genealogy.”
Despite its broad public appeal, one of
the most rewarding legacies of the Rutgers
Oral History Archives could well be its
ability to share memorable stories with a
much more intimate audience: sons,
daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren of alumni who may have never
heard them before. As Holyoak aptly puts
it, “To hear a family member say admiringly, ‘I had no idea dad or grandma did
that during the war,‘ really makes it all
worthwhile.”
Shaun Illingworth is the Assistant Director of
the Rutgers Oral History Archives. He has
worked for the program since 1998.
Sample the Rutgers Oral History Archives
by viewing more memorable quotes from
contributors on the RAA web site at
www.rutgersalumni.org.
The Rutgers Oral History Archives
wants to hear your story!
If you’re a Rutgers alumnus, faculty or staff, or
just a New Jersey resident, ROHA is anxious to
talk to you. The ROHA staff can travel to your
home, or to another convenient location, if you
live in New Jersey or within a reasonable driving
distance of New Brunswick, NJ. You can also
make an appointment to visit the ROHA office
on the College Avenue Campus for a session.
Take the first step by contacting the ROHA
office, at (732) 932-8190, or via email at
holyoak@history.rutgers.edu, to obtain a
pre-interview survey. This survey focuses on
background information (where you were born,
what you studied in school, any military units
served in, etc.) that will allow ROHA to prepare
more precise questions. After ROHA receives
your pre-interview survey, a staff member will
contact you to set up a convenient interview date.
FALL 2009
9
COVER
STORY
Major Frank Conway
Sees His Career oar
S
BY BRIAN TOBIN RC ’96
F
Major Frank Conway ENG ’89 was named Rutgers Distinguished Engineer
for 2009 by the Rutgers Engineering Society.
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1766 MAGAZINE
rank Conway ENG ’89 has mastered many
skills in life, but none better than knowing when
to shift gears. After four semesters of electrical
engineering at Rutgers, he realized this field wasn’t for him,
and switched to industrial engineering, earning a five-year
bachelor’s degree. After starting his career with The Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey as an internal management consultant — and thoroughly enjoying the studies
he conducted on subjects as varied as the efficiency of the
PA’s police department, a possible light rail system, and
Kennedy Airport’s arrival and departure schedules—he soon
realized his heart wasn’t entirely in that, either. What he really wanted to do was fly professionally, and began researching which of the Armed Services branches could provide the
shortest route to that dream.
To say his career has soared since then is no exaggeration
— literally or figuratively. He is today Major Frank Conway,
United States Marine Corps, and as an experimental test
pilot has helped bring respectability to one of the military’s
biggest public relations headaches, the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor
aircraft, which for years was pilloried in the press and the
halls of Congress. The Osprey is now, however, a highly
effective member of the Marine Corps’ inventory, and in
Left: Kitty Hawk, NC - 100th Anniversary of Flight Airshow.
(l to r) LtCol McCollum, MSgt Haak, SSgt Schneider, Maj Conway.
recognition of Conway’s achievements on
this project and others throughout his
proud career, he was recently named the
Rutgers Distinguished Engineer for 2009
by the Rutgers Engineering Society.
“I was really honored and humbled to
be recognized for doing something I love
so much,” says Conway, who became one
of the youngest recipients of the Rutgers
Distinguished Engineer award, which has
been bestowed since 1960.
Conway is not shy about sharing these
achievements with his alma mater. “I owe
Rutgers a debt of gratitude, and a great
deal more,” he says, looking back fondly
on his five years on the banks. “I’m sure
that if I hadn’t attended Rutgers, I would
have led a very different life. It probably
would have been safer, but much less
rewarding.”
Rutgers Does Not Disappoint
The decision of where to attend college
left Conway at the proverbial fork in the
road. He grew up in Lindenwold, NJ, in
Camden County, with his parents Frank
and Marian, and his older sister Erin, and
attended Overbrook Regional High School
in Pine Hill. When it came time to pick a
school, he was torn between Rutgers and
Drexel University in nearby Philadelphia.
Go to Drexel, he reasoned, and he would
have been a commuter, never fully experiencing college life. Go to Rutgers and
he’d be able to carve out an identity for
himself and live away from home.
Long discussions with his uncle and
other family members helped seal the
deal. So did a visit to the Rutgers campus
in New Brunswick his senior year of high
school. “When we pulled up in front of
Kirkpatrick Church and I saw a classic
example of what a university should look
like, I knew that Rutgers was where I
wanted to be,” he smiles.
That impression proved well founded.
Even today, Conway reels off the names
of Rutgers haunts as if he were giving a
tour of the old neighborhood. “Davidson
Dining Hall, Stuff Yer Face, Thomas
“
I owe Rutgers a dept
of gratitude...
I’m sure that if I hadn’t
attended Rutgers, I would
have led a very different
life. It probably would
have been safer, but much
less rewarding.
”
Sweets, and the Wooden Nickel were all
great places,” he allows, “and, of course, I
can’t forget the grease trucks.” Ditto for
memorable events like the Rutgers-Penn
State A-10 Championship basketball
game at the RAC in 1989, and the great
times he had as a brother at Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity.
“My closest friends to this day are the
guys I met during my freshman year in
college,” he says, underscoring his point
with mirthful stories about what those
friends were doing then and now.
Frank with his dad, Frank J. Conway, at the
Rutgers vs Michigan State game in 2004.
Putting His Skills to the Test
Following his graduation from Rutgers
and a stint with The Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey, he took a radical
career turn (and 70 percent pay cut) by
joining the U.S. Marines at 27 years of
age. He was designated a naval aviator in
1995, given assignments in Okinawa and
Pensacola, and then selected to attend
the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Things
really got interesting after that with his
assignment to the Rotary Wing Test
Squadron 21 as a developmental test
pilot for the V-22 Osprey.
“It’s important to understand the role of
a test pilot,” insists Conway. “The test pilot
is both a pilot and an engineer. It’s his or
her job to translate what’s happening in
the air to the on-ground engineer. This
information is then used to make
changes for future flights and aircraft
Continued on page 12
FALL 2009
11
Frank Conway from page 11
development. So, you need to be a
skilled pilot and have tremendous observational skills.”
Those requirements were more than
put to the test with the V-22 Osprey.
Twenty-five years in development, the
Osprey was the world’s first production
tiltrotor aircraft with both vertical takeoff
and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and
landing (STOL) capabilities. It was
designed and manufactured by Bell
Helicopter, in cooperation with Boeing
Rotocraft Systems, and its primary users
were the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force.
During its long and controversial development, the Osprey drew considerable fire
on grounds it was unsafe, overpriced and
inadequate for the job at hand.
Into this fray stepped Major Conway in
2001 as a developmental test pilot, having
earned a master’s degree from Auburn
University in 1998. In this key role, he led
a team of 60 engineers, maintainers and
flight crews in high-risk testing of the
V-22’s icing protection system, a critical
phase in the aircraft’s development.
“As a member of the training, icing and
crew systems integrated product teams, I
analyzed and developed new displays
and aircraft control laws alongside BellBoeing engineers,” he recalls. As part of
that task, he flew more than 250 hours of
test flights that expanded the V-22’s flight
envelope; worked with NAVAIR engineers
to issue initial flight clearances; and was
Frank with his Rutgers buddies Kevin Ruscitti
(CoE 1989) and Brian Lowery (CoE 1988).
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Maj. Conway answers questions at the 100th
Anniversary of Flight Airshow - the first public
demonstration of an Osprey since Paris in 1995.
the lead author for a number of sections
of the aircraft’s flight manual.
“The icing test flights were easily the
most rewarding flying I’ve ever done,”
Major Conway reveals. Not long after
completion of these trials, he was named
Operational Test Director, then Operations
Officer, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Test
and Evaluation Squadron 22, overseeing
operational and integrated testing of
the V-22. This work produced the data
and analysis required by Congress to
authorize the aircraft for war deployment,
including combat duty in Iraq.
Since then, the Osprey V-22 has
become a veritable workhorse in Iraq,
used for routine cargo and troop movements as well as for riskier “aero-scout”
missions. General David Petraeus, the
former top U.S. military commander in Iraq,
hopped aboard an Osprey on Christmas
Day 2007 to visit troops around the
country, while then-presidential candidate
Obama flew in the Osprey during his
high-profile tour of Iraq in 2008. The only
problem of any significance that’s cropped
up has been obtaining spare parts to
maintain the aircraft.
Thanks to the tireless work and determination of Major Conway and hundreds
of other experienced professionals, the
V-22 has indeed managed to beat its
one-time bad rap. It has become a safe,
dependable and effective addition to the
Marine Corps’ airborne fleet, as evidenced
by the fact it has met its stringent performance objectives.
What will Rutgers’ high-flying ace do for
Taking a break during a motorcycle tour through
the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.
an encore after this huge career success?
Conway doesn’t have a clue. But one
thing is certain based on his sterling track
record as a test pilot and leader over the
years: the sky is the limit.
U N D E R G R A D U AT E C O M M I T T E E S P O T L I G H T
Ready. Set. Network!
BY JOYCE ESSIG LC ’05
L
ooking to connect with other
professionals in a fun setting,
and help students get a head
start on their careers in the process?
The RAA’s Undergraduate Committee
has an opportunity for you. It’s called
Rutgers Speed Networking, and the payback is quite attractive. Held in conjunction
with the Livingston Alumni Association
and Rutgers Career Services, the annual
event enables both students and alumni
to interact with dozens of working professionals. During the course of a very busy
evening, participants learn more about
what these professionals do, while gaining valuable insights and advice that can
help them in their own careers.
More than 150 students and 75 alumni participated in the Speed Networking Event held last year.
Speed networking is very similar to the
wildly popular speed dating. It consists of
brief, three-minute conversations that
students have with alumni and employers
in fields as diverse as law, education,
entertainment, communications, engineering and business. Once the time is
up, the students move on to the next professional, then the next, ultimately giving
them the chance to cover the waterfront
when it comes to career choices, advice
and tools for communicating with professionals. Following the one-hour speed
networking session, there is a break-out
component where students can hone in
on contacts or business fields they are
most interested in pursuing.
“The event is designed to teach
students the art of networking, which is
a critical job search skill set,” says Janet
Jones, senior associate director of Rutgers
Career Services.
Top: Janet Jones from Rutgers Career Services
and Gino Gentile RC ’80. Above (l to r): Members
of Livingston Alumni Association Board of
Directors– Michael Middleton, president Marty
Siederer, first vice president Jason Goldstein,
and board secretary Eric Schwarz
The Concept Takes Off
In April 2006, CareerBuilder.com contacted Rutgers about hosting the first-ever
speed networking event. “The first event
didn’t go very well,” recalls Undergraduate
Committee co-chair Gino Gentile RC ’80.
“We liked the idea, though, and wanted to
see how we could make it better.”
“
The event is
designed to teach
students the art
of networking, which
is a critical job
search skill set.
— Janet Jones
”
Sr. Associate Director, Rutgers Career Services
So began a spirited marketing campaign
led by the Undergraduate Committee
that involved the Targum; handing out
flyers across campus; and enlisting
students like Gentile’s daughter Alyssa to
act as speed networking ambassadors to
find out what people thought of the
Continued on page 14
FALL 2009
13
Speed Networking from page 13
concept. The campaign worked like a
charm. Speed networking soon took hold
on campus, and Rutgers became a pioneer
in planning and staging these highly
rewarding events. Before long, schools
like University of Hartford and NJIT were
reaching out to Rutgers for information on
how to do speed networking.
Rutgers Speed Networking
Wednesday, December 2nd
Busch Campus Center – 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Registration and light dinner for alumni begins at 6:00 p.m.
Register online at www.rutgersalumni.org
or call 732-932-7474
Over the past few years, the event has
blossomed at Rutgers with the introduction of resume critique clinics and career
workshops. And in December 2008, the
RAA, together with Rutgers Career Services
and the Livingston Alumni Association,
organized the most successful speed
networking event to date with more than
150 students and 75 alumni professionals.
For the first time, the committee seeded
the audience with employers, but did not
tell anybody. That way, students could speak
freely – in effect, do impromptu job interviews — without the stress and nervousness that can come with a formal sit-down.
Students did have the chance at the end to
submit their resumes to employers.
High Payback
What does the Rutgers community
think of speed networking? Surveys show
that 90 percent of the feedback is positive.
For students, the event teaches them how
to connect and develop relationships, and
forces them to interact with strangers.
What professional alumni take away from
the event is the chance to network and
share with others, and help students
prepare for their careers.
Anecdotally, the events are known to
have a high return, with participants being
invited to job interviews and, in some
cases, hired. In other cases, students have
changed careers paths as a result of insights
gained at speed networking.
This year’s Rutgers Speed Networking
event will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 2
at the Busch Campus Center from 7:30
to 9:30 p.m. Alumni and employer volunteers can arrive early to enjoy a light
dinner and program warm up between 6
and 7 p.m. The event is open to Rutgers
students and alumni. Door prizes and
other giveaways make it an even more
festive occasion.
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Alumni volunteers are urgently needed
to help accommodate the growing
numbers of participating students. To sign
up or to learn more about the event, visit
http://www.rutgersalumni.org/
Several tips for getting
the most out of a
speed networking event:
• Go in with an open mind. You
might meet somebody in a field
you have no interest in, yet find
out in the course of conversation
they can really help you.
• Relax and have fun. This event
helps participants master the
informal banter that takes place
during an interview. It also gives
students the chance to talk out
loud and think things through.
A Huge Musical Talent
Takes Root in New Brunswick
By R.P. DUNLEAVY RC ’05, SCILS ‘05
T
he road that took Sean Jones
MGSA ’04 from elementary
school music teacher in Ohio to
big-time jazz recording artist on national
tour made its most important stop in New
Brunswick. With Rutgers providing an
expansive arena for learning, the surrounding city nightlife offered Jones an
exciting venue to test and hone his budding musical talents.
At local restaurants and clubs such as
Nova Terra, Northstar Café, Old Bay and
Delta’s, as well as inside the walls of
Mason Gross School of the Arts, a musical
career took root and began to draw the
same extraordinary praise that it does today.
Five years following his graduation,
Sean Jones is an acclaimed trumpeter
and one of jazz’s youngest and brightest
stars. He recently released his fifth and
most complex album and accepted a job
as Artistic Director of the Cleveland Jazz
Sean with Mason Gross professor Ralph Bowen
at the Blue Note for ‘Rutgers in New York’.
Orchestra. What does all this mean to
Jones at the tender age of 31? Simply
that he’s living out a dream that began in
the fifth grade, continued with his under-
“
Sean is a shining
example of the success
of our jazz program...
and his continued
commitment to Rutgers and
Mason Gross is impressive
and heart-warming.
— George B. Stauffer
”
Dean, Mason Gross School of the Arts
graduate studies at Youngstown State
University, and really began to blossom as
soon as he landed a Ralph Bunche
Fellowship allowing him to further his
education under the tutelage of the jazzsavvy minds at Rutgers..
“The attention to detail that I learned
from Professor Bill Fielder was something
very new to me at that time,” recalls
Jones, who refers to his Mason Gross
experience as a “turning point” in his
career. “He was extremely meticulous
and helped me to create a certain polished approach to my playing. I also
learned how to become a better writer —
something I really hadn’t delved into —
with the help of Professors Stanley Cowell
and Ralph Bowen. The connections they
had to the New York scene really helped
spur my career.”
While perfecting his skills in the classroom by day, Jones began applying them
four nights a week at gigs in New
Brunswick. His cohorts were other talented
musicians living in the same Cook Campus
dormitory. The group included Lee Hogans,
who later joined the pop band Prince,
and Melvin Jones, who became Director
of Bands at Morehouse College.
”There’s plenty of work available to
musicians in New Brunswick,” Jones
explains. “And when I wasn’t doing that,
we just hung out and practiced together
for hours. We took the same classes,
even ate together, and developed a
camaraderie that’s very rare.”
The Start of a Sweet Sound
Listen to Jones play the trumpet, and
the sounds that fill the air tell the story of
his multifaceted background. A fluid style
celebrating classical training and the
soulfulness of gospel music are mixed
with the rhythmic feel of jazz to create
Jones’ trademark sound. “A talent to
watch and listen for, trumpeter Sean
Jones can play with the intensity of a
demon or the beauty of an angel, as
witnessed in his soulful recordings,” raves
review editor Mark F. Turner of the Web
site Allaboutjazz.com.
Raised in Warren, Ohio as part of a
strict church-going family, Jones’ introduction to music came as a choir singer. But
after hearing a family tale about his greatgreat grandfather being a wartime bugler,
Continued on page 16
FALL 2009
15
Sean Jones from page 15
Jones switched to the trumpet. It fit his
childhood desire to stand out from the
crowd which, in this instance, was young
boys eager to beat on drums.
From these roots, Jones developed a
humility which he wears today like a well
tailored suit. He believes he was given a
gift and is merely doing what he was
“meant to do” as part of a bigger purpose.
“
Because of the
freedom and support
I had at Rutgers, I was
really able to hone
my skills and be the best
musician I possibly could...
and my career has
definitely benefited.
— Sean Jones
”
being named a professor at Duquesne
University. He has made the most of the
gilded network he formed with legends in
New York and Philadelphia. Living equidistant between the two jazz hubs
opened twice the number of doors.
Charles Fambrough, for example, met
Jones at Northstar and was the first artist
to ask him to contribute to an album.
Professor Fielder introduced Jones to
Wynton Marsalis, who later tapped him for
the premium position at Lincoln Center.
“Sean Jones is a shining example of the
success of our jazz program,” beams
George B. Stauffer, dean of Mason Gross
School of the Arts. “He has ascended
through the jazz world to become a
featured performer of ‘Jazz at Lincoln
Center.’ It doesn’t get better than that.
Sean was an outstanding player during his
years at Mason Gross and his continued
commitment to Rutgers and Mason Gross
is impressive and heart-warming.”
Growth as a Musician
His grand gift was on local display in April
when he reunited with members of his
alma mater’s faculty jazz ensemble as
part of a “Rutgers in New York” event.
“For me, the definition of luck is varied,”
Jones declares. “Some people believe you
get a break and that’s it. I believe luck is
where preparation and opportunity meet.
I tried to seek out opportunities and I tried
to be prepared when they came.”
Indeed, since graduating from Rutgers,
Jones has jumped nimbly from opportunity to opportunity, joining the Mack Avenue
recording label, becoming first trumpet
in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and
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The release of his latest work, “The
Search Within,” prompts Jones to reflect
on his evolution as a musician— and on
the tremendous strides he has made
since jazz publications attached the label
“rising star” to his name.
“This album is a focus on my composition,” he offers, while pinpointing his
milestone 30th birthday as a reason for
wanting to expand his horizons. “I’ve tried
concepts on my other albums, but this
particular record is my vision through
composition totally.”
By experimenting with a new focus,
Jones uncovered things previously
unknown about his talent. “It’s a journey
through a third of my life,” he elaborates.
“I was looking to challenge myself and
dive more into my composition to really
create a sound that is the Sean Jones
style of playing.”
That style is beautiful music to the ear
of Stanley Cowell, who came to Mason
Gross in 2000 and serves as jazz chairman.
Cowell, who coincidentally taught Jones
after playing with him in a festival just
months before the budding artist arrived
at Rutgers, helped to impart an advanced
knowledge of composition, which is richly
demonstrated in “The Search Within.”
“During my tenure at Rutgers, no other
student has come through who is on
Sean’s level,” lauds Cowell. “You can see
it in his command of the instrument, his
command of the jazz repertoire, and his
excellence in virtually everthing he’s tackled since his days at Rutgers.”
Packing up those lessons and memories
and bringing them home to the Midwest
is the latest phase of a well-thought-out
master plan. As the next step, Jones is
audaciously leaving the epicenter of the
jazz world and voluntarily giving up a job
that many of his peers would sell their
beloved instruments to have. Why take
such a risk? The desire to enrich his native
community through his leadership of the
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra is just too great.
“New York is a place you go to hone
your skills, but it was never a goal of
mine to stay there,” he says, his exuberance building as he speaks. “I think the
next big step for me is being in control
of an organization that I can help build.
I want to build up the quality of jazz music
in Cleveland and find a way to create
some of the same opportunities for kids
that I had.”
Without those opportunities, there
might have been no full scholarship to
Rutgers for Sean Jones. There might have
been no living stipend to survive in New
Brunswick. And most importantly, there
might have been no jumpstart to a career
that is becoming more celebrated with
each passing achievement.
“Because of the freedom and support
that I had at Rutgers, I was really able to
hone my skills and be the best musician
I possibly could,” he explains. ”That
fellowship allowed me to concentrate on
studying, and my career has definitely
benefited.”
His fans couldn’t be happier.
E
ven a tradition-bound event like Reunion Weekend can be re-energized with
exciting new features and activities. That was certainly proven this past May
when nearly 1,800 alumni who returned to the banks for Rutgers Reunion
2009 celebrated the first-ever Reunion Block Party on Voorhees Mall, complete with
music, games for all ages, a giant barbecue under tents, and plenty of laughter and
story-swapping among classmates who hadn’t seen each other in years. Prior to that,
celebrants marched under their scarlet class banners—stretching back to 1939—as
part of the traditional alumni parade, which this year took a different route, ending up
at the foot of Willie the Silent.
The spotlight shifted later in the
day to alumni association
meetings, tours of the campus,
and the capstone to the gala
weekend, class dinners. By the
time it ended with Sunday’s
Reunion Breakfast at Brower
Commons, it was hard to find
an alumnus who didn’t agree:
Reunion Weekend 2009 was a
fantastic success, and a great
reason to look forward to
Rutgers Reunion 2010!
Reunion Award Winners
REUNION PARADE SPIRT AWARDS
First Place: Class of 1959
Second Place: Class of 1969
Third Pace: Rutgers Alumni Band
OUTGOING ALUMNI TRUSTEE AWARD
Bob Frisch RC ’78
2008 ALUMNI TRUSTEE AWARD
Bob Eichert ‘78
SCARLET AWARD
Cassie Kingsbury RC ’11
CLASS OF 1931 AWARD
Ellen Yu RC ’99
WALTER H. SEWARD CLASS OF 1917
REUNION SPIRIT AWARD
Athena Angelus
FALL 2009
17
When the Class of ’59 Came Marching In
BY MEL SILVERSTEIN RC ’59, CLASS PRESIDENT
We were delighted by the fact nearly
100 of our classmates returned to the
banks to celebrate our 50th reunion. The
gala weekend began early Friday morning
for 16 of our group who played in the
Robert Marguccio Reunion Golf Tourna-
ment, winning the team low gross and
several individual prizes.
That evening, the Old Guard Dinner —
the crown jewel of the weekend —
brought out an additional 50 spouses and
significant others. We’re told that the 150
‘59ers who attended were the largest
group for this event in years. We got the
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1766 MAGAZINE
evening off to a rousing start by strutting
into the dinner singing “When ‘59 Comes
Marching In,” to the tune of “When the
Saints Go Marching In,” led by our irrepressible class conductor, Dick DeVany.
Adding to the evening’s memories and
laughs was a PowerPoint show created by
Alumni Relations featuring photos from
1959 and the 1959 Rutgers yearbook.
Saturday turned out to be a perfect day
for a parade, and our class turned out in
the colorful uniforms we had chosen—
blue blazer, tan slacks, red tie and tan
Gatsby cap embroidered with the block R
and 1959 — to lead the marchers down
College Avenue and past the reviewing
stand at the foot of Willie the Silent.
Needless to say, our class was the unanimous choice for the parade spirit award
after serenading the judges with several
choruses of Vive les Rutgers Sons.
Our class dinner held at the Neilson
Dining Hall on Saturday evening was
another truly memorable event. Douglas
Greenberg RC ’69, Executive Dean of
the School of Arts and Sciences, was our
guest speaker, and I recounted as class
president the significant events that took
place at RU from our freshman year in
1955 through our graduation. We proudly
announced at the dinner our classes’
$402,000 reunion gift to the University,
which will fund an endowed scholarship
to be awarded to a junior on the New
Brunswick campus. The gift also bestows
$10,000 on the English Department
Writer’s House and another $10,000 on
the Energy Institute at SEBS at Cook.
By the time it was all over, the verdict
was unanimous: it was a great reunion
weekend and a great stage-setter for our
55th in 2014.
For the Class of ’69,
40 Years of Catching Up
BY JIM CUVIELLO RC ’69
And a good time was had by all! These
few simple words summarize our wonderful 40th Reunion this past May.
Dozens of alumni from the Class Of
1969 converged on the banks for a
weekend of celebration. This gave us an
opportunity to rekindle the common
bond of our days at Rutgers, renew
friendships, relate our life stories, and
share fond memories.
The weekend began Friday evening
with many classmates and their guests
enjoying gourmet food, fine wine, and
Broadway tunes at the Student Center.
The fellowship continued the next day at
the continental breakfast on the hill at Old
Queens. Our departed classmates were
remembered at the Memorial Chapel
Service and with a reading of their names
prior to our dinner.
After the service, we closed ranks by
our class banner for the parade. Grand
Marshall, SAS Executive Dean and classmate Doug Greenberg joined us in our
march to Willie the Silent and the luncheon.
The RAA meeting followed and then
many classmates attended tours or simply
regrouped to enjoy each other’s company.
Winants Hall was the site of our class
dinner, at which Class Vice President
Bruce Hubbard proposed the toast and
Fr. Phil Mahalic gave the invocation.
Elections of class officers were held. Each
classmate received a CD produced by
John Baker that contained news reports,
popular music, and Rutgers songs from
IN MEMORIAM
Steven Ostro ENG ’69
our college era. Retiring Class Correspondent Bob Masiello was thanked for his
15 years of service in that position. Doug
Greenberg briefed us on the current
goings-on at Rutgers, and displays of
memorabilia were available for all to see.
There was also an update on our 40th
Reunion Campaign. Almost $400,000
has been raised to date.
Thanks to Reunion Committee members:
Chairman George Berlet, John Baker,
Mike Barr, Bruce Hubbard, Bob Masiello,
Paul Reagan and Ralph Zemel. Also
thanks to our 40th Reunion Campaign
Committee: Co-Chairmen Bruce Hubbard
and Ralph Zemel, Dick Askin, John
Baker, David Clough, Doug Greenberg,
Tad Kallini, Bob Masiello and Tom McKay.
We all had a magnificent reunion and
look forward to our 45th .
Steven Ostro ENG ’69, a senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena, California, died of pneumonia after
a lengthy battle with cancer. Dr. Ostro created
the field of asteroid radar astronomy that has
allowed scientists to not only measure the
orbits of near-earth asteroids with exquisite
precision, but provide images of astounding
resolution and beauty. On the heels of a
personal invitation from famed astronomer
Dr. Carl Sagan, he became an assistant professor of astronomy at Cornell in 1979 before
moving to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory six
years later and beginning the lifelong work
that would eventually brand him as the leader
in the highly specialized field of asteroid radar
astronomy. In addition to his leading-edge
asteroid research, Dr. Ostro was part of the
Cassini-Huygens RADAR team that observed
the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. His
seminal work on the surface properties of the
Galilean satellites led to the development of
new models to explain how electromagnetic
radiation interacts with ice. Dr. Ostro is
survived by his wife of 40 years, Jeannie, a
1971 graduate of Douglass College whom he
met while attending Rutgers, and their three
children, Marguerite, Brian and Julianna.
FALL 2009
19
How do the men who posed for the
1983 Knights of Rutgers black-and-white
calendar feel today about their erstwhile
modeling experience?
Catching Up
with the
Knights of Rutgers
BY MARC RESNICK RC ’83, GSM ’89
I
still remember the night that
Lee Gruhin RC ’84 and I
thought of the idea. While studying at the Owl’s Roost, we read that the
University of Arizona had put out a men’s
calendar, and thought this would be a
great way for us to get some first-hand
business experience. So we talked calendar strategy at night and spent the next
30 days working almost around the clock
to bring our idea to life. As Lee put it,
“We were possessed and needed to take
advantage of a good idea quickly.”
The result was the Knights of Rutgers
calendar, which came out in December
1983. We learned some valuable marketing lessons along the way. First, never
launch a calendar in December, when
Jose Tages PH ’85 with his wife and four children.
most retailers are returning unsold calendars. Indeed, our sales collapsed after the
start of the new year, and I’m sure we
produced far too many (5,000) copies.
We also learned that the black and white
photography we used for the Knights
20
1766 MAGAZINE
“
It’s led to some
awkward moments over
the years... My wife
loves to bring the calendar
out during parties
at our house...
— Scott Perry RC ’84
Mr. March
”
of Rutgers calendar was much less
marketable than a color format. That realization led us to color photos – along
with a slightly more risqué style – for
The Women of Rutgers poster/calendar
project, which we launched in early 1984.
In the last issue of 1766 I reported on
the 25th anniversary of The Women of
Rutgers calendar, catching up with some
of the beautiful coeds who posed back
then for my camera. Why deny the
Knights of Rutgers the same recognition,
we asked ourselves, even if the silver
anniversary of their calendar passed without any fanfare? So, in that spirit, I set out
to track down and interview as many of
the original male models as I possibly
could. With the help of a Facebook 25th
anniversary fan page and the Rutgers
Alumni directory, I found 10 of the 12
(see our side bar article for updated
profiles on eight of the group). I was frustrated— though not surprised — that not
everyone wanted to participate. What
emerged from my conversations with
those who did, however, is an interesting
retrospective on campus life, and how it
leaves an indelible imprint on all of us in
ways that are sometimes serious, sometimes quite amusing.
Jose Tages PH ’85 and Luis Moro LC
’89 fondly recall their calendar caper (it
may be no coincidence that both grew up
in the same neighborhood and are still
friends). “My college roommate to this day
calls me Mr. January,” laughs Jose, who
now owns a pharmacy in Union City. Nor
does Luis, who is an award-winning filmmaker, have any regrets. “It actually had a
positive impact on my life at Rutgers,” he
told me. “Thanks to the calendar, everyone at Rutgers instantly knew who I was.”
Don Oettinger RC ’83 and Mark
Fabyanski LC ’84 also smile at their
one-time stints as male calendar models.
“It was actually fun,” remembers Don,
who nowadays runs his own scrap metal
trading business. “A number of people
recognized me from the calendar, which I
wasn’t expecting. I'm a pretty reserved
Luis Moro LC ’89 and his wife, Barbara MillerMoro, are award-winning filmmakers.
What are the Knights
of Rutgers doing nowadays?
guy, but I’m still glad I did it.” I personally
remember Mark (“Fabs,” as we called him)
because we were both brothers at Lambda
Chi Alpha, and I coaxed him into having his
pictures taken on the side of our fraternity
house. Catching up with Fabs after many
years, he told me “The pictures were pretty
goofy —can you believe the wrist bands! —
but it was a fun experience. My wife and I
sometimes joke about my being 'Mr.
September' and the fact that her birthday,
just coincidentally, is in September.”
Todd Hixson RC ’84 remembers his
calendar experience with wry amusement.
He was involved in a variety of acting and
modeling projects at the time, and the same
week the Knights of Rutgers calendar
came out — featuring him as ‘Mr. August’—
he was in a play that was reviewed in The
Targum while also appearing in the paper’s
fashion issue. “My friends started calling
me ‘Mr. Media,’” he recalls. “It got to be a
little ridiculous, at least by the standards of
on-campus public relations, and I was
embarrassed.”
Scott Perry RC ’84, a brother at Delta
Upsilon, also has mixed emotions about his
male modeling venture. “It's led to some
awkward moments over the last ten years,"
he confesses. “My wife loves to bring the
calendar out during parties at our house
with friends, and they have a lot of fun with
the fact I was 'Mr. March' back in 1983.”
I caught up with other 'Knights' who
posed some 26 years ago, and were just
as happy not to resurrect the experience,
nor to be quoted in this article. I respect
their wishes, even if I don't entirely agree
with them. As I see it, the Knights of
Rutgers calendar is an undeniable — and
not insignificant — part of their college legacy.
It certainly is part of mine.
Search "The Knights of Rutgers" or "The Women
of Rutgers" on Facebook to view never-before
published photos and videos.
Jose Tages (Mr. January)
Married to his Rutgers college sweetheart, Jose has four
children and owns a pharmacy in Union City, the town
where he grew up.
Dino Mastropietro (Mr. February)
Married with two children, Dino is a partner in his own
law firm, Lozner & Mastropietro, located in Brooklyn,
where he attended law school.
Scott Perry (Mr. March)
Married with three children, Scott worked for Coca Cola
for 14 years before starting his own vending machine
business 10 years ago.
Don Oettinger (Mr. April)
After graduating from Rutgers, Don lived in Israel,
where he met his wife. They now reside in south Jersey
and have three sons. Don runs a scrap metal trading
business.
Patrick Hughes (Mr. July)
Married with four children (two boys and two girls),
Patrick earned MBA and JD degrees from St. John’s
University. Today he’s president of Guggenheim
Advisors, an investment management firm in midtown
Manhattan.
Todd Hixson (Mr. August)
After receiving his MBA from Yale University, Todd pursued healthcare finance. He is now Associate Executive
Director at a community hospital in New York City, and
is married with two girls.
Mark Fabyanski (Mr. September)
Married with two boys, Mark is a managing partner with
New View Home Exteriors. He relaxes by playing drums
in the band Group Therapy.
Luis Moro (Mr. October)
Luis is an award winning filmmaker, stand-up comedian
and international activist in the field of Cuban-U.S.
policies. He's the producer and co-writer of his next
film (with Oscar-winner Sir Ben Kingsley) and made
history with the first and only U.S. film shot in Cuba in
50 years (see www.MoroFilms.com Luis is married
and has five children.
Marc Resnick (Co-creator) www.marcresnickphotography.com
Marc and his wife have three sons, including identical twins born in February 2009.
He is an online consultant (previously at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, now J&J) as
well as a photographer and is developing a number of feature film projects.
Lee Gruhin (Co-creator)
Married with identical twin boys, Lee received his MBA at Boston College. He is
currently director/global lead, Financial Planning & Analysis, with Pfizer’s real estate
organization.
FALL 2009
21
SPORTS
UPDATE
BY JOHN WOODING RC ’78
‘Changing of the Guard’ For
Rutgers Football
N
ever has college football enjoyed
as much popularity as it does
today, and one of the major
appeals of the game is “change.” Every year,
there are new stars to root for as seasoned
veterans move on to graduation and life
after college, with younger student-athletes
ready to step in and establish themselves.
This rite of passage is no different for the
Rutgers football team in the 2009 season.
The Scarlet Knights, who closed out
2008 with seven straight wins and their
third consecutive bowl championship, saw
the NFL draft a record five players from that
True freshman Tom Savage takes over at
quarterback for the Scarlet Knights.
team, including record setting quarterback
Mike Teel and first round pick, wide receiver
Kenny Britt.
“That's the thing I love about college
football. That happens,” head coach Greg
Schiano said during the 2009 pre-season.
“Now, it's an opportunity.”
Among those seizing that opportunity
for the Scarlet Knights in 2009 have been a
steady stream of younger players, such as
quarterback Tom Savage and wide receiver
Mohamed Sanu, a pair of true freshmen.
Savage became only the fifth quarterback in
Rutgers history to start as a true freshman
for the Scarlet Knights and became just the
second true freshman signal caller to win a
game for the Scarlet Knights when he engineered Rutgers’ 45-7 win over Howard on
Sept. 12. He joined Ryan Hart (2002/4 starts),
Ryan Cubit (2001/11 starts), Mike McMahon
(1997/5 starts) and Jacque LaPrairie (1981/1
start) as the only true freshmen to start at
quarterback in school history for Rutgers.
Sanu became the first true freshman to
start at wide receiver in his first game for
the Scarlet Knights, when he did so in the
season opener against Cincinnati. It was a
memorable debut for Sanu, who caught the
most passes ever by a true freshman wide
receiver, with 10 receptions for 101 yards.
Sanu is just the fourth true freshman to start
at wide receiver for Rutgers since Schiano
became head coach in 2001.
Redshirt freshman D.C. Jefferson made
a successful transition from quarterback to
tight end for the Scarlet Knights. After making the move to TE in preseason camp,
Jefferson broke through on the depth chart
Mohamed Sanu caught the most passes by a true
freshman in his first career start at Rutgers with
10 receptions for 101 yards vs. Cincinnati.
and was the starter for the Scarlet Knights
against Howard and Florida International
early in the season. He hauled in a 46-yard
pass from Tom Savage on the first football
thrown his way.
True freshman running back De’Antwan
Williams got his collegiate career off to a
good start with 89 rushing yards on 14 carries
vs. Howard. The Woodbridge, Va., native
averaged 6.4 yards per carry vs. the Bison.
Other freshmen who made impressions
in the early going and broke through on the
depth chart include red-shirt freshmen Scott
Vallone, a starter at defensive tackle, as well
as wide receivers Marcus Cooper and Tim
Wright, offensive tackle Devon Watkis,
safety Khaseem Greene, and true freshman
linebacker Steve Beauharnais.
2009-10 Men’s Basketball Schedule Announced
Sophomore guard Mike Rosario set the Rutgers
freshman all-time scoring mark with 517 points.
22
1766 MAGAZINE
The Rutgers men's basketball team plays 18 home games as part of a 200910 regular season schedule that features 15 opponents that earned postseason
berths in 2008-09. In addition to the always tough BIG EAST Conference slate, the
Scarlet Knights play five non-conference foes from New Jersey, as well as defending
national champion North Carolina in a nationally televised (ESPN2) contest from
Chapel Hill on Monday, Dec. 28.
The meeting with the Tar Heels will mark the second time in three seasons
under fourth-year head coach Fred Hill that RU has played a defending NCAA
champion on the road. The Scarlet Knights met Florida in Gainesville in 2007-08.
The Scarlet Knights begin the season by hosting Marist in a 2:00 p.m. tip-off on
Saturday, November 14. It marks the second consecutive year that Rutgers begins its
regular season by playing the Red Foxes at the RAC. Rutgers opens BIG EAST competition by hosting Cincinnati on Saturday, Jan. 2. For complete schedule and
television information, visit www.scarletknights.com
Rutgers Football Boasts
Brains and Brawn
By now, everyone’s familiar with the
prowess of Rutgers’ football team on the
field. Less well know is the fact it’s also
leaving its mark in the classroom. For the
second consecutive year, the Scarlet
Knights were ranked third in the nation in
the Academic Progress Rate (APR),
For the third
consecutive year, Rutgers
football has the best
APR mark of any state
university in the nation.
according to figures released by the
NCAA. The Scarlet Knights have a fouryear APR score of 980, which covers the
academic years 2004 through 2008.
Stated head coach Greg Schiano,
“Academic achievement and consistency
are priorities of our program. Our latest
APR score is a compliment to our student-athletes, coaches and academic
support staff.”
The top five Football Bowl Subdivision
(FBS) institutions in the APR are Stanford
(984), Air Force (983), Rutgers (980),
Duke (980) and Rice (979). For the third
consecutive year, Rutgers football has the
best APR mark of any state university in
the nation.
Rutgers was also the only institution in
the nation to have its football team
ranked in the top 10 percent of the APR
and win a bowl game in each of the last
two seasons. Rutgers defeated North
Carolina State in the PapaJohns.com
Bowl to close out the 2008 season, and
knocked off Ball State in the International
Bowl the previous season.
The APR provides a real-time look at a
team’s academic success each semester
or quarter by tracking the academic
progress of each student-athlete. The
APR includes in its calculations eligibility,
retention, and graduation and provides a
clear picture of the academic culture in
each sport. High-performing teams
receiving public recognition awards this
year posted APR scores ranging from
976 to a perfect 1,000.
Days before her induction into the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., C. Vivian
Stringer (above, with Athletic Director Tim Pernetti) was
recognized at halftime during Rutgers’ football season
opener on Sept. 7, 2009.
Remembering Les Unger RC ’52,
Long-Time Sports Promoter
He didn’t have the name recognition of
the many student-athletes he helped promote during his years at Rutgers, but as
one of the top behind-the-scenes promoters of the school’s athletic programs his
efforts impacted many lives.
Les Unger, who graduated from
Rutgers in 1952, was Sports Information
Director for his alma mater from 1955 to
1974. He passed away in April, at age 77,
in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Unger helped promote many great
student-athletes and teams during his
years at Rutgers. Among the most memorable was the 1961 undefeated Rutgers
football team, which finished 9-0 and
No. 15 in the country, and the 1966-67
men’s basketball team, which advanced to
the National Invitation Tournament’s (NIT)
Final Four, Rutgers’ first-ever appearance in
a national tournament. Among the many
great athletes he promoted were football
All-Americans Billy Austin and Alex Kroll,
basketball All-American Bob Lloyd and
baseball All-American Jeff Torborg.
In 1976, Unger was named Director of
Public Relations at the Meadowlands.
He worked there until 1990, helping
open Giants Stadium in 1976 and the
Meadowlands Arena (now known as the
Izod Center) in 1981. He also served as
Director of College Athletics at the
Meadowlands and assisted in bringing
numerous events to its facilities, including
the Garden State Bowl and a variety of
NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournaments.
After retiring from the Meadowlands,
Unger worked part-time with the United
States Golf Association (USGA) in its
communications department. One of his
primary responsibilities was serving as press
conference moderator at USGA championship events, including the U.S. Open.
“Les was a ‘Rutgers guy’ his entire life,”
noted Dick Lloyd, former Director of
Alumni Relations at Rutgers, who also
served as men’s basketball coach. “He
was a Rutgers grad and a long-time
employee who remained a loyal friend of
Rutgers, its athletics program, and its
student-athletes.”
FALL 2009
23
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
PAID
New Brunswick, NJ
Permit No. 863
Rutgers Alumni Association
PO Box 11320
New Brunswick, NJ 08906
RAA Calendar of Events
OCTOBER 2009
10/24
Rutgers Glee Club Alumni Concert
8:00 p.m., Nicholas Music Center — FREE
10/28
Rutgers Business Card Exchange
6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Rutgers Club — FREE
S A V E T H E D AT E !
Go Wild!
NOVEMBER 2009
11/10
RAA Board of Directors Meeting
6:00 p.m., Brower Commons Faculty Dining Room
Rutgers Charter Day — wear RED today!
DECEMBER 2009
12/2
Rutgers Speed Networking Night
Busch Campus Student Center
Registration 6:00-7:00 p.m., Event starts at 7 p.m.
JANUARY 2010
1/7
RAA Board of Directors Meeting
6:00 p.m., Brower Commons Faculty Dining Room
1/16
RAA Alumni Family Day
9:00 a.m. College Avenue Gym Annex
TO REGISTER, OR FOR DETAILS ON ANY
OF THESE EVENTS, CALL THE RAA AT
732-932-7474 OR VISIT
www.RutgersAlumni.org
at Alumni Family Day
January 16, 2010
Join other alumni and their families as they gather at
the College Avenue Gym for the RAA’s annual Family
Day event. Kids and adults alike will enjoy use of the
indoor swimming pool and rock-climbing wall. Other
activites may include a jungle-themed moonwalk
bounce and elephant slide, basketball/soccer clinics,
and various games — but the highlight of the day is
sure to be the traveling zoo show! A kid-friendly
luncheon will follow the morning activities, along with
a surprise special guest appearance! Final details
and registration information will be posted soon at
www.rutgersalumni.org.