Class Notes

NEWS OF 1955

From Helen Varady Keyser:

Our 260th Founder’s Day was a wonderful event, with a reception at the home of President and Mrs. Rokke, followed by a Moravian Lovefeast in Peter Hall (the former Women’s College chapel). The program was “Preserving Our Past: Oral Histories from the Moravian College for Women,” as told on video by numerous alumnae. We then enjoyed a lovely lunch and fellowship.

It was good to see and talk to Juliana Bobo Ott ’57 from South Carolina, where she is a lab technician at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia.

Joan Landrock Schlegel talked to Gladys Smith Winkelmann of Spirit Lake, Idaho, who says she and Howie go boating a lot on the lake. Joan also called Barbara (Bam) McCombs Justice, of Sarasota, Fla., who is recuperating from a badly broken ankle. We wish her well.

Rose Mandic Donchez and her husband, Francis, led the parade in Lehigh University’s freshman rally for the Class of 2006, and Francis presented the 50-year flag to the incoming class.

Barbara Cump Schmoyer, Joan Landrock Schlegel, Nancy Zaleski Frantz ’53, Anne Collins Frey, along with Rose and me, enjoy celebrating our birthdays by lunching together. Nancy and Barbara and their spouses observed 50th wedding anniversaries this year.

Nancy and I, with my husband, John, attended a chamber-music concert at Central Moravian Church during Musikfest. We heard a wonderful duo-piano concert by Arianna Goldina, a n artist-lecturer in music the College, and Remy Loumbrozo, her husband and musical partner. Anne Enright ’52 and Lynn Merriken Cognetti ’65 and her husband, Frank, were there, too.

I get to see Mary Pongracz ’52, who is busy as organist and choir director at Holy Infancy Church and as organist at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. John and I sang in St. Joseph’s choir for a Veterans Day observance.

We are sorry to learn of the passing of Margaret Czipoth Underwood’s husband, Eugene.Margaret is in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish her a good recovery from her surgery.

NEWS OF 1954

NEWS OF 1953
Reunion May 30-31

From E. Allen Schultz:

Jack Ridge, professor emeritus of physics at Moravian College, was given the Benigna Education Award at the Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony November 2. The award recognizes Moravian alumni for outstanding contributions to the field of education, including significant innovations to the teaching profession, and dedication to the community at large.

When Jack arrived at Moravian in September 1949 from Pottsville, he declared a triple major: physics, chemistry, and mathematics. While living in Colonial Hall, he kept his nose to the grindstone and graduated summa cum laude. After a brief stint (1953-54) as a scientist in the photo products department of E.I. Dupont & Co., he crossed the Lehigh River to become a graduate assistant in physics at Lehigh University, where he received a master’s degree in 1956. At the same time, he and his wife, Laura, were house parents at Moravian’s Clewell Hall. In 1954, Jack began his long career at Moravian as an instructor in mathematics and physics. In his spare time, he worked on his Ph.D. in physics at Lehigh, receiving it in 1965. At Moravian, he moved up the academic ladder until he became a full professor of physics. He served as chair of the Department of Physics and Earth Science from 1959 until 1995.

During his teaching career, Jack also received a National Science Foundation faculty fellowship, the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1967, and a National Science Foundation summer fellowship that allowed him to work at Homer Research Laboratories, Bethlehem Steel Corp., in 1976. He was the second Louise E. Juley Professor of Science (1993-95; Stuart Kulp was the first). In 1996, Jack was appointed professor emeritus of physics.

Jack and Laura are the parents of Pamela and John, who have given them four grandchildren. Jack is a continuing presence on campus, both as professor emeritus and in alumni activities.

Joseph L. Powlette ’60, Jack’s successor as chair of the Physics Department and holder of the Louise E. Juley chair, presented the Benigna Award to Jack. In his introduction, Joe said: “For more than 40 years, Jack has been my teacher, friend, and colleague. Year after year, I saw that when a student passed through Jack’s course, that student was not the same. They had matured academically . . . No student worked as hard as did Jack in the course. I believe that he always held the student’s development as his highest priority.”

Jack and a number of our fellow classmates have been planning for our 50th reunion, to be held Alumni Weekend, May 30-31. The committee includes Hugh Connell, Joe Farris, Gene Glasser, Charles Hasenecz, David Henkelmann, Gloria Badel Hilbert, Joan Wagner Koehler, Lou Michelin, Henrietta Gruber Mooney, Ed Novogratz, Ed Pastir, Polly Rayner, Connie Nonnemaker Strain, Phil Trimble, and your correspondent.

The reunion theme is “New Look, Old Friends,” and we hope for a good turnout. The many exciting changes that have occurred on campus, coupled with the fellowship of renewal, promises to make it a worthy event. See you then.

From Polly:

At last, a response from a classmate, the first to offer some news since I’ve been designated as your class correspondent.

In her letter, sent from Potomac, Md., Connie Nonnemaker Strain said: “My time has been spent caring for my husband, Bill, who suffered a stroke many years ago. In the early years, we were able to travel and lead busy lives. Unfortunately, this past year he was diagnosed with chronic renal failure, and that was one fight we couldn’t win. On October 8, he passed away, just two weeks before our 48th wedding anniversary. His children, Kathy and Bill, and our four grandchildren were devoted to him, and we all miss him very much.” Our sympathy to Connie for her loss.

Can you believe our 50th reunion is coming up in 2003? Where has the time gone? I do hope we’ll have a grand representation for this one! The date: May 30-31.

To fill you in on some of the events planned: the Class of ’53 will be guests of the College for all events except the dinner on Saturday. The class will be inducted into the 50+ Club and the 50+ Breakfast. The weekend starts on Friday with Founder’s Day, which takes place on the Women’s College campus.

As chairman of our class reunion, I would appreciate input from all of you, from serving on the committee to jotting down some ideas for the theme. I’m aware you probably won’t travel great distances for a committee meeting. No problem, we’ll let you know the meeting dates in advance and put you on speakerphone for a conference call.

For those who have not returned to campus for many years: You’ll be amazed at what’s been happening at Moravian College. It has grown physically and academically—a far cry from a half-century ago!

NEWS OF 1952

NEWS OF 1951

From Carol Buechner McMullen:

On October 18, I traveled to Moravian College for the dedication of the recently completed academic complex. In the morning I visited Payne Art Gallery (you might not recognize the old gym), where there was an impressive display of botanical paintings and prints. At the dedication ceremony, I was joined by Betsey Tait Puth, who had attended a Board of Trustees meeting that morning. Betsey and I went on to lunch together, reminiscing about our days at Moravian as well as wishing our classmates were there to enjoy the event with us.

NEWS OF 1950

From the Alumni House:

Tony Jaso was inducted into the Carbon County Hall of Fame.

Martin Black has a new address and phone number in Arlington, Va. You may contact the Alumni Office if you would like to get in touch with him.

NEWS OF 1949

From the Alumni House:

Dr. Bernie Terzigni has been accepted into the Gillum Society of Master Fellows, which honors those recognized through their superiority in clinical practice, teaching, or medical research. Membership is awarded by the American College of Osteopathic Internists. Bernie is a professor and past chairman of the department of medicine at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Remember the TV series I Led Three Lives? Nicholas Castellucci ’58 could have been cast in the lead as Niko, gourmet cook; Nick, jazz pianist; and Professor Castellucci, scientist.

In his toque, Chef Niko is an expert in many cuisines, including classic Northern and Southern Italian, Greek, German, soul, and Arabic. He worked as an executive chef for PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, where he gave cooking demonstrations to promote sales at national conventions.

As manager of Sabatino’s restaurant in the Poconos, he designed its menus, taught its chefs, and performed tableside cooking. He taught gourmet cooking at the Community College of Allegheny County and has written cookbooks such as Seafood Creations, Sharks: Cooking and Preparation, and All Italian. Wild mushrooms are the subject of a forthcoming book.

An accomplished jazz pianist, Nick has been invited to sit in with Stan Kenton and, in 1960, accompanied Sarah Vaughan on tour when her pianist became ill.

But he’ll probably be remembered best as a chemist. After Moravian, Nick earned a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. He holds more than 100 patents in chemistry and has won numerous awards in the field. His research focuses on surfacechemistry, electrochemistry, electrically conductive polymers, and electro-deposition of applied coatings to satisfy the ever-changing requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency. One of his patents is a substance to control oil spills.

He has worked as chief engineer for PPG (1966-80), in research and development for U.S. Steel (1980-84), and as chief engineer for Northrop Grumann Corp. (1984-89), where he worked on the B-2 “stealth” bomber and the F-18 fighter. He received six awards for work on the bomber and developed the polymer that enabled it to avoid detection by enemy radar. In 1993, the EPA gave him an award for stratospheric ozone protection. However, though much of his career has been spent in defense work, he has refused to be involved with germ warfare.

Professor Castellucci, who lives in Lomita, Calif., returned to academic circles when he began teaching at El Camino College (1989-92). Since 1999, he has been a professor of chemistry at Harbor College in Los Angeles. He also has been technical director of Scientific Consultants in Pittsburgh (1984-96) and currently owns Castalco Scientific Consultants, which specializes in organic and polymer science and EPA affairs.

With writing, consulting, teaching, inventing, cooking, and jazz, Nick Castellucci is truly a Renaissance man.

—Kathleen Doyle Dowd ’68
and Robert Houser ’65