Class Notes

NEWS OF 1963

NEWS OF 1962 - Reunion May 31 – June 1

NEWS OF 1961

From Sam Maczko:

It doesn’t seem possible, but it’s true: our 40th class reunion has come and gone.

It seems the most frequently listed occupation in our class survey is “retired.” Things have certainly changed over the last 40 years on campus, both physically and philosophically. Jeff Gannon (who traveled the farthest, from Woodlands, Texas) stayed in a co-ed dorm, and alcohol was served at college functions. You could have been expelled for such things in our undergraduate days.

More than 20 members of the class of ’61 looked pretty sharp in Saturday’s parade in T-shirts provided by John Bregman. They included: Rita Bartolet, Joseph Castellano, Art Chap, John Decesare, Suzanne Astbury Decker, Barry Gaal, Jeff Gannon, Gene Jani, Jim Kritis, Robert Lipkin, Sam Maczko, Jim McCrudden, Anita Filler Noonan, Robert Orbin, Harold Oswald, Joan Mesko Paul, Norma Guritzky Platt, Thomas Schmoyer, Kenneth Sepe, Nancy Warren VanDyke, and James Worman.

I would like to hear from all our classmates. I’ll be more than happy to include any information you send me in future issues.

NEWS OF 1960

NEWS OF 1959

From Kathy Werst Detwiler:

News of grandchildren abounds in our class. Barbara Banker Mahlau and her husband, Gene, welcomed their first on June 1. Because Dylan lives near his grandparents, he sees them regularly, when they aren’t wintering in Boca Raton, Fla.

Mary Lesin Mackenzie Ayala writes of the arrival of her third, a second to daughter Michele earlier this year. Now working part-time, Mary still visits son Scott in Hawaii for his birthday every year.

Our son also is in Honolulu. Wayne and I visited in November 2000 and returned in early summer, with our two grandchildren, for his wedding.

Thanks for your notes. Let’s keep this column alive with news.

From Sam Maczko ’61:

Monk Morelli ’59 is working on a scholarship to honor the memory of Gus Rampone ’59, one of Moravian's most enthusiastic and faithful alumni, who died in February. To raise money, a golf tournament was held June 29. Donations can be made to the annual fund in Gus’s name.

NEWS OF 1958

From the Alumni House:

Frank Danyi, an attorney in Bethlehem, was appointed to a four-year term on the board of trustees of St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network.

NEWS OF 1957 - Reunion May 31 – June 1

From Pearl Stein:

It’s difficult even to think of reunion activities without remembering the enthusiasm and joy that Gus Rampone ’59 brought to all the Moravian celebrations that he chaired and supported. We will miss him. 

Get out your calendars and save May 31 and June 1, 2002, for our 45th Moravian College reunion. (Can you believe it?) Let me know what kind of celebration you’d like. If you want to be a member of the planning committee, contact the Alumni Office or e-mail me.

NEWS OF 1956

From Pauline Ritter Benner:

I’ve been challenged by some classmates to bring you up to date on those who were able to attend our 45th (yes, 45th) reunion. The weather was most cooperative, and the conversations and catching up were top-notch.

Renee Johnson Dragotta has retired from 40 years of teaching math and computer programming at Phillipsburg High School and recently had a hip replacement. She and Vince live in Bethlehem.

Meridian West Fulton also is retired. She and Don also are in Bethlehem.

Beverly Bell, recovered from her auto accident last fall, is back playing golf in a ladies’ league and busy with her two dogs: Snowball, 4, and Cindy, just a puppy at 41/2 months. Though retired from Bethlehem Steel, she keeps busy babysitting. Since junior high school, she has “sat” for more than 50 families—one of which included triplets.

Gail Dangler Miller lives in Gilbertsville and has retired from Owen J. Roberts School District. When she chooses to substitute, it’s at a nearby private school, when she isn’t off on a trip as a tour escort for a nearby bus company. She recovered nicely from a broken wrist in late winter, and she is happy to be near her children and grandchildren.

Millie Siftar Kimock joined us on Saturday for the parade and lunch. She and Joe have five grandchildren, two of them nearby. Millie retired from teaching kindergarten and now leads a senior-citizen group. She walks to keep active, is an “experienced yardsaler,” and enjoys entertaining the family when it returns to the area.

After living in Seattle, where she taught four years, Joan Boyer Rathbone returned to Lexington, Ky., where she taught nutrition for two years before she retired. In 1993, she went to Europe with the Cincinnati International Chorale. She and David, married for two years, both enjoy singing with the Lexington Singers and have gone to Germany and Paris with this musical organization.

Jim Ovady, who hadn’t been back to Moravian since 1961, served in the U.S. Navy, taught secondary-school social studies for 31 years, has been a self-employed carpenter, and retired in 1994. In 1998, he moved to Maine, where he enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, and traveling. (Since his three children and four grandchildren live in California, Rhode Island, and Ohio, we know where a good bit of his traveling takes him.) He still makes furniture; cherry is his favorite wood. Jim blends in with the Maine natives very well; the white beard and his quiet, unassuming way help.

Rudy Kresh and his wife were able to join us for the Friday night barbecue. His current avocation is travel agent, specializing in Scotland and Ireland. They also have visited many Civil War states, and Rudy enjoys genealogy. Their daughter Irene Kresh Rosati graduated from Moravian in 1979, and they look forward to Moravian grandchildren.

Jim Johnson and Edith are parents of four and grandparents of two. Jim retired after 13 years in the church ministry and 27 years on the staff of United Family Services in Charlotte, N.C. They live in Charlotte and are active in schools and agencies that serve the poor. In their spare time, they enjoy running and bike touring.

Tony Kochenash and his wife, Marie, joined us from Nebraska, where this former college professor of business and marketing does marketing/promotions and computer work for the family clothing store run by Marie. He and Marie have traveled to all 50 states and at least that many foreign countries. The Elks are grateful for his participation in their programs, especially youth activities. He’s still a Phillies fan.

Sam Lawrence retired from Bethlehem Steel and now lives in a condo in Bethlehem. He has two children, one who graduated from Moravian and one from Allentown College [now DeSales University]. He finds himself busy with seven grandchildren.

Tom Labert is another Bethlehem Steel retiree. He now works with Weichert Realtors. His wife, Nancy, retired from the Public Library in Bethlehem, and they are enjoying their grandchildren and having free time to travel.

Dick Stine, another retired teacher, has been married 48 years, has 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and owns homes in Nazareth, Lady Lakes, Fla., and Sea Isle City, N.J.

Can you believe Bill Stifnagle still makes the three-hour trip (each way!) from home in New Jersey to New York every day? He is vice president of International Marine Underwriters. When he retires in February, it sounds as though he’ll be busy with woodworking projects and model ships.

Jack Burke, who chaired our reunion planning committee, has a wife and three sons who are all Moravian grads. This is one family that has watched the college grow! Jack retired as an elementary-school principal and remains active in educational issues and politics. He also was a member of the alumni veterans committee for the service of remembrance for Moravian’s military veterans. Memorial Hall now has a plaque that honors all those who have served in the military since World War I.

Indeed, among our classmates were quite a few Korean War veterans. One was Champ Storch, who played football and served as vice president of United Student Government. We were very proud to have Champ as speaker for the dedication of the plaque. Champ earned master’s and doctoral degrees at Penn State and remained in education as a professor and administrator at Penn State, Slippery Rock University, and Cortland State University. He and Marge have two sons and two grandchildren.

Folks who couldn’t attend the weekend but sent a note or survey include Marietta Schwarts Banach, George Beidelman, Mim Johnson Bott, Lou Brady, Millie Bennett D’Antonio, Harold Frack, Jean Woodcock Haring, Bart Hartman, JoAnne Albright Hoodmaker, Tom Ortwein, Charlie Tucker, Dick and Lois Groman Crook, and Pete Haupert.

Mohammed Al-Nammari responded from his home in Amman, Jordan. He has been married for 35 years and worked in the petroleum-refining industry. Now a freelance consultant, he finds time to travel extensively, hike, swim, dance, and paint. Mohammed and his wife have three daughters; the oldest, Dana, graduated from Moravian in 1990. They also have of twin 24-year-old foster sons.

Dick and Mary Louise Kilpatrick Kohl were in Michigan in May, lending a hand to their daughter and her family. Dick serves a small church near their home at Lake Wynonah, and Mary often travels with him on visits to parishioners. Their son and his family are in Alabama, and daughter Mary Beth and her husband, Todd, are missionaries in Thailand.

We Benners continue to enjoy traveling and spent 16 days in Alaska in June, covering the land by train and motor coach and traveling the Inside Passage by ship. The 23 hours of daylight are truly amazing, and the helicopter trip to the glacier was awesome. We enjoy our grandchildren and are glad to have them close enough to baby-sit sometimes, as well as take them to plays and sports events. Occasionally we even “granddog-sit.”

Dick and I enjoyed helping plan the reunion and want to thank the committee for a job well done. All of us share the hope that in 2006 we’ll have an outstanding representation for the Class of ’56!

Bill Stifnagle '56, College counsel Jeff Zimskin, retired Moravian accounting professor John Gehman, and Tim Bilger of the Development Office enjoy a Homecoming lunch courtesy of Pott's Doggie Shop at the annual Rocco Calco Golf Tournament. Proceeds from the tournament support Moravian's Rocco Calvo Scholarship Fund.