endings perfect

PAUL CONFORTI ’92 HAS FOUND SWEET SUCCESS IN HIS HIGH-END DESSERTERIE

ENDINGSPERFECT

ARTIST AND TEACHER MICHAEL OATMAN ~ NANOTECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS ~ THE SQUARE STONE

Alumni Magazine~Summer 2006

THE EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER rises in the southwestern corner of the Rensselaer campus. EMPAC will anchor what isbecoming an arts corridor along Eighth Street, with the arts department now housed in the newly renovated West Hall.

Rensselaer (ISSN 0898-1442) is pub-lished in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by the Office of Communications,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy,NY 12180-3590. Periodicals postage ispaid at Troy, N.Y., and additional mailingoffices.

Postmaster: send address changes toRensselaer, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, NY12180-3590. Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute is an equal opportunity/affirma-tive action institution.

Opinions expressed in these pages do notnecessarily reflect the views of the editorsor the policies of the Institute. ©2006Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT FORSTRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONSAND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Steve Naru

MANAGING EDITOR

Tracey Leibach

ART DIRECTOR

Diane Piester

ALUMNI NEWS EDITOR

Meg Gallien

FEATURES EDITOR

Clorinda Valenti

WEB DESIGNER

Jeffrey Caron

CONTRIBUTORS

Theresa BourgeoisAmber ClevelandJodi Ackerman FrankJason GorssEllen JohnstonNancy KellyTiffany LohwaterJessica Otitigbe

PHOTOGRAPHERS &ILLUSTRATORS

Stanley BlanchardMichael FarrellGary GoldLonny KalfusTom KillipsLawrence Livermore

National LaboratoryMark McCartyKris Qua

ON THE COVER:“Temptation for Two” from Finalerestaurant. Photo by StephanieMitchell.

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“Tuesday: from a newspaper account of the large number of personal effects” by artist and professor Michael Oatman. See page 22.

www.rpi.edu/dept/NewsComm/Magazine

Please let us know your new address. Update it electronically on AlumServ, e-mail us at [email protected], or write to: Rensselaer Magazine, Office of Communications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180 or fax to (518) 276-3715.

Moving?

FEATURES

16 More Than Just Desserts Paul Conforti ’92, co-founder of specialty dessert restaurant chain Finale, brings high-end dessert dining to Boston with sweet dreams of going nationwide.

22 Drawing ConnectionsCollage artist and professor Michael Oatman collaborates with architecture students on genre-defying projects that move from the Greene Building—and beyond.

28 It’s the Little Things That MatterNanotechnology has been called the next industrial revolution. Rensselaer researchers are part of a pre-eminent group of scientists around the world behind the small-scale revolution.

DEPARTMENTS

4 President’s View

5 MailTom Phelan’s Touch

6 At RensselaerFrom the Archives 8Hawk Talk 9Making a Difference 12Focus On: Nag Patibandla 14

34 Staying Connected

35 Calendar

36 Class NotesIn Memoriam 55

56 One Last ThingThe Square Stone

2 RENSSELAER/SUMMER 2006

Musical CollaborationInspires Hope for Rebuilding

This April, just eight months afterHurricane Katrina ravaged NewOrleans, Yacub Addy, adjunct pro-fessor of Ghanaian drumming atRensselaer, and world-renownedjazz musician Wynton Marsalis traveled to the city for the world premiere of their musical collabora-tion, “Congo Square.”

The musicians played the piecewith the help of Odadaa!, Addy’sgroup of percussionists anddancers from Ghana, and the Lin-coln Center Jazz Orchestra, whichMarsalis directs. The performancewas held in the place for which thecomposition was named, NewOrleans’ Congo Square—a placemany consider the birthplace ofAmerican jazz.

“I knew about New Orleans andCongo Square long before I cameto the United States, and I’ve alwaysimagined the music that was playedthere,” said Addy—a native ofGhana—during an interview with the Albany Times Union earlier thisyear. “Without the Congo Squaremusic there is no jazz or blues.”

The 80-minute composition wasco-written by Addy and Marsalis inan attempt to fuse together tradition-al African music, rhythms, andchants with American jazz music.

“It’s been very interesting to bring our different grooves togeth-er,” Marsalis told the Times Union. “I think ‘Congo Square’ is differentthan anything that’s been heardbefore, [and] hope this music is astep toward bringing New Orleansback from the disaster of Katrina.”

SNAPSHOT

RENSSELAER/SUMMER 2006 3

PRESIDENT’S VIEW | SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON, PH.D.


Ideas about global leadershipand innovation took centerstage at the Colloquy the

evening before May Commence-ment on the Troy campus. In abroad-ranging dialogue the Com-mencement honorees—renownedarchitects Santiago Calatrava andPeter Bohlin ’58 along with retiredGeneral Wesley Clark—discussedthe challenges inherent in balanc-ing the local and the global, thepublic and the private, the drive forcompetitiveness and the need tomaintain environmental respon-sibility. All of these topics are espe-cially pertinent to Rensselaer’s roleas a national and, increasingly,global university.

In his book The World is Flat,

New York Times columnist ThomasFriedman calls our present era“Globalization 3.0”—a time

marked by “a newfound power forindividuals to collaborate and com-pete globally.” He believes “Indi-viduals must, and can, now ask,‘Where do I fit into the global com-petition and opportunities of theday, and how can I, on my own, col-laborate with others globally?’”

These are questions which Rens-selaer must answer as well.

Interestingly, The Rensselaer Plan,launched six years ago, was pre-scient in outlining the challengesthat the 21st century would bringto a technological research uni-versity. However, little did we knowat the time that those challengeswould be so immediate, and, insome cases, so dire. The dot.combust, the events of September 11,2001, economic downturn, soaringenergy prices, climate change, war,and terrorism have altered ourunderstanding of the world—andour relationship to it. The goodnews is that Rensselaer is changingto meet these ever-more-complexdemands of globalization, energysecurity, health and safety, andhomeland security, among manychallenges.

Two recent partnerships epito-mize Rensselaer’s emergence as aresearch and innovation leader.This spring brought the very excit-ing announcement of the $100million partnership between Rens-selaer, IBM, and New York state tocreate the world’s most powerful,university-based supercomputingcenter and a top 10 supercomput-ing center of any kind in the world.The Computational Center forNanotechnology Innovations(CCNI) will be a hub, bringingtogether university and industryresearchers and providing them

with leading-edge tools to solvecritical problems across discipli-nary boundaries. This collabora-tion will allow researchers to makea global impact in informationtechnology and in areas as diverseas energy, homeland security,biotechnology, medicine, and the

arts. You can read more about thiscenter on page 7.

A collaboration between Rens-selaer and the Cleveland ClinicLerner Research Institute will fur-ther research at the intersection ofthe life sciences, the physical sci-ences, and engineering. Researchwill be conducted in several areas,including nano-medicine, nano-bio materials, smart orthopaedicimplants, biomolecular imaging,and development of drug-deliverydevices. This partnership enhancesthe Institute’s growing strength inthe life sciences, while building ontraditional strengths in engineeringand the physical sciences, enablingmedical researchers to make majorbreakthroughs.

Meanwhile, Rensselaer contin-ues to reach out to regions of theworld where the impact of theincreasingly global economy hasbeen most dramatic. This spring Iled a delegation from Rensselaer toIndia, where I saw the power—and the potential—of the Institutein the global arena. We met withthe President of India, as well aswith prominent leaders in science-related government agencies, lead-ing universities and research insti-tutes, and companies. Through-out, we raised awareness and under-standing of Rensselaer education-al and research opportunities. Weexplored, and signed memoranda ofunderstanding for, future collabo-rative educational and researchefforts. We attended alumni eventsin Mumbai, New Delhi, and Ban-galore where we were inspired to seethe global reach—and the globalimpact—of Rensselaer alumni andalumnae as we did during our tripto China, Singapore, and Malaysialast year.

For Rensselaer, being a globaluniversity is not just a dream, it isa fact and a necessity in this morecomplex and interconnectedworld. In that spirit we continuethe transformation of Rensselaer,charting a course toward a betterfuture for all.

The Global University and the FutureWith recent partnerships, Rensselaer is taking its place as a research and innovation leader.

Thomas Friedman calls our present era “Globalization 3.0”—atime marked by “a profound power for individuals to collaborate andcompete globally.” He believes “Individuals must, and can, now ask,‘Where do I fit into the global competition and opportunities of theday, and how can I, on my own, collaborate with others globally?’”These are questions which Rensselaer must answer as well.

[ ]


I did not know the ReverendThomas Phelan, RPI chaplainfor more than 40 years, who

died on March 31 [Rensselaer,Spring 2006]; but I remember himfondly for an object lesson hetaught me and many fellow RPIstudents in 1969-1970. Those wereyears of intense feelings against theVietnam War. Father Phelanjoined us at several weekly silentantiwar vigils on Fifteenth Street,in front of the then-new StudentUnion. At first there was only ahandful of protesters, but as thewar continued the weekly protestsgrew to a much larger group.

In the spring of 1969, a largeantiwar rally was held at the RPIField House, and many studentsspontaneously started to hand intheir U.S. military draft cards as asymbol of protest. I saw Father Phelan move to collect the draftcards from the floor himself. Afterthe rally, I wondered what wouldbecome of the draft cards: Wouldthey somehow wind up at the draft board?

After returning home for thesummer, I received a plain whiteenvelope in the mail, addressed tome with no return address. Insidewas nothing but my draft card. Itmust have been from Father Phe-lan, protecting us idealistic but cal-low youths even from ourselves.

ALEX ECKMANN ’70Washington, D.C.

Road Trip!

I read with interest about thespecial trip made by “Jack”Newkirk ’41 on a motorcycle

in the summer of 1939 [“The RoadFrom Rensselaer”]. What are theodds of another similar trip occur-ring in the summer of 1939? Thisone was by automobile and it wasafter I graduated from RPI in 1939.In August, accompanied by mymother, we set out to take a tripfrom Connecticut to California andback.

The car was a 1939 Mercury V-8, the first of the Mercury Series.This trip spanned 30 days and we

traversed over 8,000 miles. At thattime there were only a handful ofmotels in the entire country, andwe took advantage of that luxuryin California. Gasoline mileage was21 mpg and we averaged 21 centsper gallon. A 30-day trip of 8,000miles cost (for two) the magnifi-cent sum of $80 for fuel, $80 forfood, and $80 for lodging, or a totalof $240. Most nights we stayed attourist homes on the outskirts ofcities along the way at a cost of 75cents or $1. In the motels the ratewas about $4 or $5 per night.

We went out on the northernroute through Chicago, Yellow-stone, Reno, and San Francisco.We returned via Las Vegas,Hoover Dam, and the GrandCanyon. While in San Francisco,we saw the Golden Gate Exposi-tion, and of course visited the NewYork World’s Fair in 1939 too.

This same trip taken todaycould cost upwards of $6,000.

LOU SHORNICK ’39Madison, Miss.

Science Can Explain Everything

I read recently with some dis-may your cover story on spir-itual faith in the Spring ’06

Alumni/ae Magazine. I think itunfortunate that you chose to fea-ture twice in that article a partic-ular quote by Kristen Clark ’09(both in the third paragraph of thearticle as well as in a legend to oneof the figures).

I am referring to the followingsentence: “Science can’t explaineverything.”

I firmly disagree. Science canand will eventually explain every-thing. The simple fact that sciencehas not yet explained everythingdoes not automatically prove theexistence of a creator or the weak-ness of the scientific method. Inchoosing to feature that particu-lar point of view in your piece onstudents and their religious obser-

vances, you provide tacit approvalto those who would elevate faithover science.

I expected a publication pro-duced by one of the nation’s lead-ing technological universities tohave a more forward thinkingpoint of view. What can I expectin the next issue, a cover story pro-moting intelligent design?

ROGER SLOBODA ’74IRA ALLEN EASTMAN PROFESSOR

OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

Hanover, N.H.

The Future of Energy: Wrong Solution Again?

The Rensselaer communitymust understand that theproblem of energy is a social

one, not a technical one. The cen-tral question is not “What kind ofenergy technologies do we need?”Rather, it is “What kind of worlddo we want to live in?” Theanswers will not be found throughresearch and development in theclassroom, laboratory, or engi-neering firm but through civicengagement in the town hall.

RPI is home to one of theworld’s leading departments forScience and Technology Studies.If the Institute hopes to contributeany significant and lasting solu-tions to the energy problem, itwould do well to engage those fac-ulty and students instead of join-ing the mad dash for the illusive—and ultimately unachievable—technological fix.

BRENT VOELKER ’91New Hartford, Conn.

We’d love to hear from you! To provide space for as many letters aspossible, we often must edit them forlength. Contact us at: RensselaerMagazine, Office of Communica-tions, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,Troy, NY 12180, [email protected], or call (518) 276-6531.

MAIL [email protected]

Tom Phelan’s Touch

A TEAM OF RESEARCHERS FROM RENSSELAER

has received $1.8 million in federal fund-ing to improve the energy efficiency ofgreen light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Aspart of the U.S. Department of Energy’s(DOE) Solid-State Lighting Program, theteam aims to close the “green gap” inLED technology by doubling or triplingthe power output of green LEDs in threeyears, an advance that ultimately couldlead to the replacement of incandescentand fluorescent lamps in general illumi-nation applications.

“Making lighting more efficient is oneof the biggest challenges we face,” saysChristian Wetzel, the Wellfleet CareerDevelopment Constellation Professor,Future Chips, and associate professor ofphysics at Rensselaer. “Substantialreductions in the nation’s dependence onprimary energy imports will be possibleonce highly efficient solid-state lightsources replace wasteful incandescentand fluorescent lighting.”

Wetzel will be leading a team of scien-tists and engineers attempting to helpmeet the aggressive performance targetslaid out in DOE’s solid-state lighting

accelerated roadmap, which calls for thedevelopment by 2025 of advanced solid-state lighting technologies that are muchmore energy efficient, longer lasting, andcost competitive than conventional light-ing technologies.The prime contender tomeet this goal, according to Wetzel, is awhite-light unit made from a combinationof high-performance red, blue, and greenLEDs. Researchers have made majorstrides in advancing the design of red andblue LEDs, but the technology behindgreen LEDs has lagged behind substan-tially, he says.

Wetzel notes that green light is anessential piece of the puzzle because itaddresses the peak of the human eye’ssensitivity, providing balance to the colorsof red and blue light. He plans to focus onaspects of the “piezoelectric effect”—aproperty of some materials that causesthem to produce an electrical field whenpressure is applied. By controlling thiseffect, he and his colleagues hope todevelop a process to make higher-intensi-ty green LEDs that convert electricityinto light more efficiently.

FUTURE CHIPS CONSTELLATION

Closing “Green Gap” in LED

ATRENSSELAER


SUPERCOMPUTING

Powerful Center To Advance theScience of Nanotechnology

IN MAY, RENSSELAER ANNOUNCED A

$100 million partnership with IBM andNew York state to create the world’smost powerful university-based super-computing center, and a top 10 super-computing center of any kind in theworld.

The Computational Center for Nan-otechnology Innovations (CCNI), basedon the Rensselaer campus and in theRensselaer Technology Park, is designedboth to help continue the impressiveadvances in shrinking device dimensionsseen by electronics manufacturers, andto extend this model to a wide array ofindustries that could benefit from nano-technology, according to the partners.

Cadence Design Systems, a leader inelectronic design automation (EDA)software, and AMD, a leader in advancedmicroprocessor technology and products,will collaborate with Rensselaer and IBMat the supercomputing center inadvanced simulation and modeling ofnanoelectronic devices and circuitry.

The CCNI will focus on reducing thetime and costs associated with designingand manufacturing nanoscale materials,devices, and systems.

“This new supercomputing centerdedicated to nanotechnology will have

global impact by finding innovative solu-tions to the challenges facing the con-tinued productivity growth of the semi-conductor industry and enabling keynanotechnology innovations in thefields of energy, biotechnology, arts, andmedicine,” said President Jackson.

The center will be an importantresource for companies of any size—from start-ups to established firms—toperform research that would be impossi-ble without both the computing powerand the expert researchers at CCNI.

The computing power also will bene-fit a wide array of faculty and studentresearch projects at Rensselaer, such asin biocomputation, which involves the

modeling and simulation of tissue, cell,and genetic behavior. These computingtools will offer powerful new methods tounderstand the complex behavior of liv-ing organisms.

The CCNI system will be made up ofmassively parallel Blue Gene supercom-puters, POWER-based Linux clusters,and AMD Opteron processor-basedclusters, providing more than 70 teraFLOPS of computing muscle.

The CCNI system will be capable of morethan 70 trillion calculations per second.It would take one person with a calcula-tor almost 60 million years to tabulate thenumber of calculations that the new sys-tem can handle in a single second.

[ ]JEANETTE SIMMONDS, A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE IN THE

department of Science and Technology Studies, hasbeen awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student scholarshipto Australia in the field of Cultural and IntellectualHistory. She will use the grant to travel to Australiato conduct research on biological nitrogen fixation(BNF)—an interdisciplinary field of agricultural science that aims to understand the relationshipbetween legumes and soil bacteria (RHIZOBIA).

Simmonds will focus on the work of Australian scientists based in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Canberra,and Adelaide. She will interview scientists, attendconferences, visit labs throughout the region, and conduct archival research. Her findings will comple-ment her dissertation that will focus on a 20th centurycomparative history of BNF research in Australia,Western Europe, the United States, and Mexico.

“A primary aim of BNF research is to improve soilfertility and agricultural productivity without the useof nitrogen fertilizers, which are costly, energy inten-sive to produce and transport, and have adverse healthand environmental effects,” says Simmonds. “Thisaward presents an opportunity to research Australia’sagricultural system that does not depend substantiallyon nitrogen fertilizers, to better understand localized,historically specific practices, and to study alternativemethods of sustainable agricultural development.”

“The Fulbright award is a tremendous honor andvalidation—for Jeanette, for the field of the historyof science, and for the department of Science andTechnology Studies, an interdisciplinary field thatexamines the historical, cultural, and politicaldimensions of science and technology,” says MikeFortun, associate professor and Simmonds’ adviser.“Jeanette’s scholarship makes a unique contributionto the history of plant sciences in general, and partic-ularly to the long tradition of Australian research onthe scientifically and economically important processof nitrogen fixation.”

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES

Doctoral Candidate Wins Fulbright Award

An electron micrograph of a legume root nodule produced throughthe infection of white clover by Rhizobium trifolii.

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ATRENSSELAER

PHI IOTA ALPHA—THE OLDEST LATINO

fraternity in existence—was formed atRensselaer on Dec. 28, 1931. With chap-ters throughout the United States and inPuerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala,and Belgium, the organization quicklybecame the strongest international frater-nity of its time.

During the 1960s, theeffects of World War IIand the Vietnam Wardrastically reduced theenrollment of LatinAmerican students intoAmerican universities.

The significant declineof potential memberstook a toll on Phi IotaAlpha, and by 1968 theRensselaer chapter was the Latino frater-nity’s last survivor.

In 1973 the last active secretary of PhiIota Alpha graduated from Rensselaer.When he left, he took with him the frater-nity’s official documents and Phi IotaAlpha closed its doors.

Ten years later, the Poly ran an articleabout the power and influence that PhiIota Alpha held during its peak years. Agroup of Latin students became interestedin the fraternity. After conducting furtherresearch, they decided to bring Phi IotaAlpha back to Rensselaer.

“I cannot tell you how disappointed we

were when my friends and I discoveredthat there was a Latino fraternity atRensselaer that closed its doors a decadebefore we arrived,” says William Feliciano’87. “I am Puerto Rican, and I grew up inthe South Bronx neighborhood of NewYork City. When I got to Rensselaer, I

befriended some Latinoclassmates and we stud-ied and socializedtogether. Given theinfluence of Greek life atRPI, we dreamed ofstarting a fraternity.”

In 1984 the stu-dents—now called the“Founding Fathers”—became the next genera-tion of Phi Iota Alpha.

They re-established the fraternity atRensselaer and worked to rebuild theorganization’s infrastructure and expandits reach to other universities. CurrentlyPhi Iota Alpha has chartered 31 chaptersacross the United States.

“Our struggle to establish this fraternityand spread it to other campuses wasrewarded by a closeness and formation ofbrotherly bonds that will last a lifetime,”recalls Feliciano, who says he is honored tobe a Founding Father.

Phi Iota Alpha will celebrate 75 yearsat Rensselaer in October. For details, visitwww.phiota.net.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Phi Iota Alpha Celebrates 75 Years of Brotherhood

LOOKING BEYOND GORGEOUS GRAPHICS AND SOPHISTICATED

storylines, experts in the game industry are placinggreater emphasis on developing games that involveplayers at the emotional level. A new book written byKatherine Isbister, associate professor of language, lit-erature, and communication, explains how conceptsfrom psychology and social science can be applied tocharacter design to create powerful social and emo-tional connections with players.

BETTER GAME CHARACTERS BY DESIGN (MorganKaufmann, June 2006) reveals that the key to good

character design is leverag-ing player psychology.Designers who understandwhat’s memorable, excit-ing, and useful to a personabout real-life socialinteractions, and can thenintegrate that knowledgeinto their designs, cancreate more realisticcharacters that playerscan identify with on anemotional level,according to Isbister.

“It’s not uncommonfor moviegoers to cry

or cheer in response to the experiences of anindividual they’re watching on screen. Why shouldn’twe develop game characters that are so lifelike theycan elicit these emotions from players?” says Isbister.“As we move from plot-driven action to more charac-ter-based stories, the ability to connect with playersthroughout the game-play—not just in cut scenes—will become essential.”

In the research-based book, Isbister explains how tocarefully consider and appropriately assign a charac-ter’s traits—its voice, face, body, interactions withplayers and non-characters—to achieve the most real-istic results. She also discusses how player factorssuch as gender and culture can influence characterperception.

The book provides game design professionals andother interactive media designers with a framework forunderstanding how social roles and perceptions functionin a variety of contexts, and for discussing the principlesof sophisticated character design and interaction.

BETTER GAME CHARACTERS BY DESIGN, which isaccompanied by a DVD featuring clips from populargames as examples of concepts and best practices,includes extensive illustrations, game references, andinterviews with game designers.

GAME STUDIES

Designing Better Game Characters


ATRENSSELAER

HAWK TALK

Engineers Welcome Hockey CoachSURROUNDED BY THE MEN’S ICE HOCKEY

team, with RPI hockey fans cheering and“Hail Dear Old Rensselaer” playing in thebackground, President Shirley Ann Jack-son welcomed the Institute’s 12th men’sice hockey coach—Seth Appert—tocampus at a gathering in the MuellerCenter April 21.

“Every day is a good day to be a Rensse-laer hockey fan, but today is a particularlygreat day for Rensselaer hockey,” Presi-dent Jackson said. “Seth Appert’s passionfor the sport and commitment to educa-tion make him a perfect fit for the Insti-tute and we enthusiastically welcome himinto the Rensselaer family.”

Appert, who succeeds Dan Fridgen, istaking over a program that returns 18players from the 2005-06 season, includ-ing two of the top three scorers and thestarting goaltender. In addition, KirkMacDonald, the team’s top scorer in2004-05 who was a medical red-shirt lastseason, also is expected to return.

“I am honored to lead the hockey pro-gram at such a prestigious institution asRensselaer,” said Appert. “I am confidentthat my goals for the hockey program areconsistent with Rensselaer’s institutional

vision that stresses the overall excellenceof the students and the athletes. I amlooking forward to the challenge of devel-oping and maintaining a hockey programthat both the institution and the commu-nity will be proud to call their own.”

Appert recently concluded his ninthseason as an assistant coach at the Uni-versity of Denver, where he was responsi-ble for recruiting, on-ice coaching, videobreakdown, and game analysis work. Healso played a big role in the developmentof Denver’s goaltenders. Three of hisgoaltenders have been draft picks of theNational Hockey League, includingone Hobey Baker Award finalist.Two of those netminders played inthe NHL this season.

Appert helped Denver signnationally ranked recruiting classeseach of the past seven years. ThePioneers have captured two NCAANational Championships, threeWCHA playoff championships, and twoWCHA regular-season titles in his yearsof coaching at Denver. A four-year letter-winner at Ferris State from 1992-96,Appert has signed a four-year contractwith Rensselaer.

RESEARCHERS FROM RENSSELAER AND THE UNIVERSITY

of Toronto have designed a nanoscale assembly ofmolecules that successfully counteracts and inhibitsanthrax toxin in animal and laboratory experiments.The novel approach used to neutralize anthrax toxincould be applied in designing potent therapeutics fora variety of pathogens and toxins, including influen-za and HIV, according to the researchers.

Anthrax toxin, secreted by the anthrax bacteri-um, is made of proteins and toxic enzymes that bindtogether to inflict damage on a host organism. Theinhibitor works by preventing the assembly of toxicenzyme components, thereby blocking the formationof fully assembled anthrax toxin and neutralizing itsactivity.

“Our eventual goal is to use the inhibitor as ahuman therapeutic for anthrax exposure, one thatcan stop the toxin from functioning inside thebody,” says Ravi Kane, the Merck Associate Profes-sor of Chemical and Biological Engineering atRensselaer and a principal investigator of the proj-ect. “Combining the inhibitor with antibiotic thera-py may increase the likelihood of survival for aninfected person.”

The 2001 intentional release of anthrax sporesvia postal mail in the United States led to increasedresearch on possible therapeutics and vaccines totreat toxins that could be used as biologicalweapons. The current treatment for anthrax expo-sure is antibiotics, but inhalation anthrax still has afatality rate of 75 percent even after antibiotics aregiven, according to the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention. Antibiotics slow the progression ofinfection by targeting the bacteria, but do notcounter the advanced destructive effects of anthrax

toxin in thebody.

Anthraxtoxin is a poly-valent proteincomplex inthat it displaysmultiplecopies of iden-

tical binding surfaces on the same structure. Theinhibitor designed by the Rensselaer-Toronto teamalso is polyvalent and recognizes these surface pat-terns on the anthrax toxin molecular structure,allowing it to bind at multiple sites and become fourorders of magnitude more potent than an inhibitorthat binds to a single site.

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

Anthrax Inhibitor MayCounteract Toxin

Seth Appert was named Rensselaer’s 12th men’s hockey coach in April.

The 2001 intentional release of anthraxspores via postal mail in the UnitedStates led to increased research onpossible therapeutics and vaccines totreat toxins that could be used as bio-logical weapons. [ ]


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EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Rensselaer Honors Geologist

Ebenezer Emmons was responsible for naming theAdirondacks (pictured) and the Taconic Mountains.

ATRENSSELAER

BREAKTHROUGHS

Research Roundup

Biomedical Research Collaboration

Rensselaer and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner ResearchInstitute are collaborating to further research at theintersection of medicine and engineering. The insti-tutions will undertake research in several areasincluding nano-medicine, nano-bio materials, smartorthopaedic implants, biomolecular imaging, bio-computation and bioinformatics, bio-MEMS, andthe development of drug delivery devices. Rensselaerand the Lerner Research Institute will also establisha visiting scientist program and a summer internshipprogram for undergraduate and graduate students.In addition, the collaborating organizations plan tohold joint research retreats, fund a joint seed grantprogram, offer joint seminars and workshops, andfacilitate joint proposals and briefings to the Nation-al Institutes of Health in areas of mutual interest.

Surfaces Switch From Sticky to Slippery

Rensselaer researchers have created an “opticallyswitchable” material that alters its surface charac-teristics from sticky to slippery when exposed toultraviolet (UV) light. The new material could have a wide variety of applications, from a protein filterfor biological mixtures to a tiny valve on a “lab-on-a-chip.” Georges Belfort, Rensselaer’s Russell SageProfessor of Chemical and Biological Engineering,made the new materials by attaching spiropyran mol-ecules to a widely used industrial polymer, poly(ethersulfone). Spiropyrans are a group of light-switchableorganic molecules that exist in a colorless, “closed”form under visible light, but switch to a reddish-purple, “open” form when exposed to UV light.

RNA Found in Clam Centrosomes

Rensselaer researchers, working with theMarine Biological Laboratory (MBL) andLouisiana State University (LSU) HealthSciences Center, have discovered the pres-ence of the genetic material RNA in the cen-trosome, the organizing structure inside eachcell that assures proper cell division. The find-ings present evidence that individual centro-somes within a cell may carry their own genet-ic material. “Our results show there are at leastfive specific forms of RNA in the clam cell cen-trosome which could be related to structure,encoding of proteins, or the regulation of organ-ism development,” says Robert Palazzo, profes-sor of biology and acting provost at Rensselaer.

A PLAQUE HONORING EBENEZER EMMONS,Class of 1826, a renowned geologist andthe Institute’s first professor of geology,was unveiled during a ceremony thattook place on campus in April.

During his lifetime, Emmons—whostudied the natural sciences under Rens-selaer co-founder and well-known geolo-gist Amos Eaton, and who graduated inRensselaer’s first class—made a numberof highly significant and influential con-tributions to the modern understandingof the geology of upstate New York.

Working as the chief geologist for thenorthern New York State Geological Dis-trict, Emmons was responsible for namingthe Adirondacks and the Taconic Moun-tains. He also organized and led the firstrecorded ascent of Mt. Marcy in 1837,naming the peak for New York State Gov-ernor William Learned Marcy. His exten-sive writings on the Adirondacks led toincreased public awareness of the region.

While working with the New YorkState Geological Survey, Emmons recog-nized that the rocks that formed theTaconic Mountains and that were foundin the easternmost part of New York and

western Massachusetts were fundamen-tally different and much older than therocks to their west. He named them the“Taconic sequence.”

On the Rensselaer campus, the agedrocks can still be seen today. The plaquehonoring Emmons is appropriatelyplaced atop them, on the thrust faultthat runs between the Russell Sage Din-ing Hall and the pedestrian footbridge.

“We now know that the rocks onwhich we stand began their geological lifeover 100 kilometers to the east—proba-bly somewhere around Springfield,Mass.—and were carried to their presentresting place along a major thrust fault,”said Frank Spear, chair of the earth andenvironmental sciences department, dur-ing the ceremony. “That thrust fault runsjust about through the end zone of [our]football field. It is by far the largest suchfault in the northeastern United States.Appropriately, it is called Emmons’ line.”

“Thanks to the untiring work of Ger-ald Friedman, [professor emeritus ofearth and environmental sciences],Ebenezer Emmons is [finally] gettingcredit for his contributions,” said Spear.


Architecture students inspire community members to help revitalize Troy’s alleys.

ARCHITECTURE

Improving Neighborhood Aesthetics

ON MAY 6, MORE THAN 100 PARTICI-pants from the community joinedarchitecture students in Rensselaer’sCommunity Planning course on a walk-ing tour of the Williams Street alley indowntown Troy. The tour was organ-ized by the students to inspire and promote a revitalization of Troy’s alleysas neighborhood resources.

The students organized the event—called “Up Your Alley”—to mark theculmination of two semesters spentresearching and developing proposals,in consultation with the community, tobetter utilize and care for the alleys inTroy and other cities. Their proposalsfor reuse of neglected buildings, re-pop-ulation of commercial spaces, innova-tive parking and trash enclosures, andpublic and private recreation spaceswere posted on the garage doors, build-ings, and fences along the alley route.

Using paint, a brush, and a numberassigned to them at the beginning ofthe tour, participating communitymembers helped fill in seven paint-by-number murals prepared by the

students at various locations along thefour-block alley route.

“This project has the potential tomake a real positive splash,” says Barbara Nelson ’80, an adjunct profes-sor of architecture who co-teaches theCommunity Planning class. “Our hope isthat neighborhoods in other towns willpick up on our idea and implement it in their own areas.”

Rensselaer’s Community Planningcourse allows students to interactdirectly with residents, professionalplanners, urban advocates, and com-munity leaders to explore neighbor-hood revitalization through variouscommunity-based initiatives.

A free guidebook of ideas for alleyrevitalization was distributed during abook-release party in mid-June. CalledAlley Improvement Project 2006, the bookfeatures ideas, plans, cost estimates, andsources of help and materials for park-ing, garage, low-maintenance landscap-ing, lighting, and safety and securityalley enhancement projects.

MINUTIA FILE

Tiny Brushes MakeGuinness Record Book

PULICKEL AJAYAN, THE HENRY BURLAGE PROFESSOR

of Materials Science and Engineering, has made hisway into the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.Working in collaboration with the University ofHawaii at Manoa, Ajayan has created “the smallestnanotube brushes with bristles more than a thousandtimes finer than a human hair.”

The brushes, which are composed of millions of carbon nanotubes, already have been tested in a variety of tasks that range from cleaning micro-scopic surfaces to serving as electrical contacts,and they eventually could be used in a host of elec-tronic, biomedical, and environmental applications,Ajayan says.

The researchers have used the brushes to removenanoparticles in microscopic grooves on various

substrates, and they have cleaned and coated theinside of a 300-micrometer-wide capillary tube.Because carbon nanotubes conduct electricity, thebrushes have been successfully used as electro-mechanical switches in micromotors and as electri-cal contacts. They also could be used to sweep awaytiny particles and dust that cause static electricity,particularly nanosize particles that are difficult toremove by other means, Ajayan says. Static electric-ity due to particulate attraction is a bane to the elec-tronics industry. From a biomedical perspective, thebrushes are small enough to be used to clean upunwanted deposits in arteries and other blood ves-sels, Ajayan adds.

This is not the first big recognition for the tinymaterials. NATURE magazine selected a scanningelectron micrograph of the brushes as one of its“favorite images from 2005.”

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Bolstering the First-Year Experience

LALLY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Healthcare Leadership Program

PROGRAM APOLLO, A NEW EXECUTIVE

education program launched by the LallySchool of Management and Technology,is arming leaders in the healthcare indus-try with the skills to create and executevisionary strategies in a complex market-place.

The three-day program uses simulatedscenarios set in a virtual hospital to testparticipants’ skills in identifying adminis-trative, financial, and technologicalopportunities for growth and develop-ment within the healthcare industry.

The course also features a series ofworkshops and labs, including: the use of models to simulate economic relation-ships in the hospital and market environ-ment, investment decision-making, orga-nizational budget planning, and role-playing, among others.

All participants work in teams madeup of healthcare executives and facultymembers from the Lally School, and areawarded three Continuing EducationUnits upon graduation.

“Program Apollo is a wonderful illus-tration of experiential learning at itsbest,” said David Gautschi, dean of the

Lally School. “The first of its kind tofocus on the business of healthcare, Pro-gram Apollo [allows] participants toexperience different scenarios that theymay encounter while managing a hospi-tal. It may be anything from deciding onthe types of training programs to offer tophysicians and nurses, to selecting newtechnologies, to identifying the health-care needs of patients.

“The program takes a realisticapproach to finding innovative solutionsto complex challenges in healthcaremanagement,” Gautschi said. “Changingtimes demand a new way to teach busi-ness leaders. Program Apollo is dedicatedto the idea that management, technology,innovation, and entrepreneurship arecritical to improving the quality of life.”

Program Apollo was developed underthe sponsorship of Medtronic, and ispowered by Strategy Laboratories®, a simulation platform created by JanusEnterprise International, LLC.The nextProgram Apollo session is planned forOct. 8-12. For additional information,visit http://lallyschool.rpi.edu/programs.

Lally School launches Program Apollo for healthcare industry executives.

ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE RENSSELAER PLAN IS TO

create an engaging student experience, one thatbegins with a commitment to students’ success fromtheir earliest contact with the Institute. Since itscreation in 2001, the Office of the First-Year Expe-rience (FYE) has transformed the student orienta-tion process to help students build a connection toRensselaer that begins freshman year and continuesthroughout undergraduate life.

Now, this award-winning program has gained itsfirst endowed program fund with the creation of thePatricia and Louis Bellardo ’67 Fund for the First-Year Experience, a gift to support the RENAISSANCE

AT RENSSELAER CAMPAIGN.“We are so happy to have these resources avail-

able to us, because they will provide that extra meas-ure of support for student programs—and the stu-dents deserve it,” says Lisa Trahan, dean of FYE.

FYE administers a comprehensive array ofprograms for students aswell as for parents andfamilies. These include theNavigating Rensselaer & Beyond orientation program, Family Weekend,community service days,the Information and Per-sonal Assistance Center,and the Community Advo-cate program, along with

other community action initiatives, programs, andpublications designed to help students and their fam-ilies “navigate” Rensselaer.

“We are committed to our students’ success,”says Trahan. “We involve their parents and families,and we are here to be their ‘safety net.’ We managean early warning counseling and advising system,working with staff in residence life, public safety,and other student support services so that we can beresponsive to their needs.”

Bellardo earned his bachelor’s degree in electricalengineering at Rensselaer. He is a director of manu-facturing technology for Cisco Systems, and assistsin facilitating the company’s corporate relationshipwith Rensselaer, including the Cisco Academy, aprovider of advanced hands-on learning in network-ing. He also is a member of the Rensselaer KeyExecutives and the Palmer C. Ricketts Society of thePatroons of Rensselaer.

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DIALOGUE | JAMES MCGOVERN ’66

The head of the world’s firstmedical school for osteopathy,James McGovern ’66 wants

his students to study healthy aging,not just illness, and to becomeinvolved community members aswell as medical professionals. He’sspearheading a new intergenera-tional Wellness Trail that integratesstudents from Kirksville College ofOsteopathic Medicine, part of A.T.Still University of Health Sciences,into the town of Kirksville, Mo.McGovern, co-author with his wife,Rene, of Your Healer Within: A UnifiedField Theory for Healthcare (FenestraBooks, 2003), talks about his philos-ophy of prevention for an aging pop-ulation, and how public health poli-cy may be failing our seniors.

Q. You’re careful to describeKirksville College of OsteopathicMedicine as a medical school. Areosteopaths medical doctors?

A. Osteopathy is a mainstreammedical profession, and a doctor of

osteopathy (D.O.) gets the sametraining as an M.D. The real differ-ence is that an M.D. focuses main-ly on the body. A D.O. is trained toconsider mind, body, and spirit. TheUnited States now has about 55,000D.O.s, certified in all 50 states.

Q. What inspired the WellnessTrail?

A. Kirksville College acquired 100acres next to a student dorm to builda 50-room senior assisted-living cen-ter. A trail with benches and chin-ning bars was there, because weencourage students to take studybreaks and attend to their bodies,too. Seeing that path, we asked:‘Shouldn’t seniors be able to at leastgo out for a walk?’ So we designed amile-long, cement-paved trail, acces-sible to wheelchairs and walkers.

Q. As a visible symbol of yourfocus on prevention, how does theWellness Trail introduce people toosteopathy and healthier living?

A. I think the “whole person con-cept” of health care is becomingbetter known. We’re teaching peo-ple to breathe, relax, take a walk.At our new assisted living center,two D.O.s have first-floor offices.Residents and townspeople areinvited to come in and simply say,‘I’m not feeling well.’

Q. You’ve been a physics professor,university vice president, and statedirector of health finance. What ledyou into medical education?

A. While I was vice president at CaseWestern Reserve University, an exec-utive recruiter contacted me. I did-n’t know anything about osteopathy.But I decided to go on the interview,and was very impressed with what Ilearned. The big appeal was osteopa-thy’s emphasis on patient-doctorinteraction. I feel it’s important for adoctor to have a personal relation-ship with a patient.

Q. How have your ideas aboutAmerican medicine changed?

A. At RPI, studying natural sci-ences like physics, chemistry, andbiology had an impact. In a sensethat gave me a big picture aboutlaws of nature, and an optimismthat some principles of nature couldbe found to help treat people. Later,as Illinois director of health finance,I saw a lot of unnecessary and veryhigh expenses for drugs. They wereoverused. I think it’s a scandal theway American medicine has sunkto spending billions of dollars onpills and surgery, operating far tooquickly and throwing all kinds ofchemicals into people.

Q. What are your primary con-cerns about health issues relatedto the aging population?

A. The federal government isassuming that the Medicare Pre-scription Drug Program is theanswer to elderly health needs. Oneof its problems is that it reverseswhat doctors have been learning.Now, if a medication isn’t workingwell, the dose is simply raised, or the

patient shifted to another drug.This is a risk for elderly people—physical defense mechanisms growless adaptable with age, so drugsbecome increasingly harmful withhigher doses or switches to otherdrugs. Many medications also havemajor side effects especially harmfulto older people. Instead of a focuson drugs, what we need are naturalapproaches like exercise, nutrition,humor, and meaning, which havepositive “byproducts” and betterresults as different, natural reme-dies are added. These habits arecumulatively positive, while drugsare cumulatively negative. If youuse exercise and nutrition, you gettwice the benefit.

Q. How are your degree pro-grams changing to meet thesenew needs?

A. We have recently completed athree-credit geriatrics course thatall our students are required to take.We know from medical, psycholog-ical, and sociological research thatthe systems of the body, mind, andspirit change with advancingdecades. Our students are taughtwhat to expect in each age group,and how to analyze and treat allthree systems accordingly. Our doc-tors learn that using logic to explainthe need for good nutrition will justdrive a patient into his or herdefense system. You have to reachtheir values and attitudes, under-stand their motivation, and helpthem develop healthier behaviorand a new structure.

Q. What role do you see forosteopathy in the coming years?

A. We have a medical revolutiongoing on, and osteopathy is part ofit. The body itself has the best phar-macy. It has endorphins and othernatural aids. We’re arrogant tothink we can come up with chemi-cals better than our own body’s.Sometimes our D.O.s can solve aheadache by touch. And sometimesall you need is good nutrition andexercise so the body can do its work.


Blazing a New Trail for an Aging Population

FOCUSON:

NAG PATIBANDLA KNOWS WHAT IT’Slike to live without electricity.

“There was electricity in theschools, but not at my grandpar-ents’ house for a long time. So itwas kind of tough growing up,”says Patibandla, who was raised byhis grandparents in a small villagein south central India. “I alwaysthought everyone should have elec-tricity, a thought that stayed in theback of my mind.”

It’s now 2006. As the newlyappointed director of Rensselaer’sCenter for Future Energy Systems,Patibandla is leading the universi-ty’s global commitment to discoverand develop cleaner, cheaper, andmore reliable alternative energysources.

The center, established in June2005 in partnership with CornellUniversity and Brookhaven Nation-al Laboratory, aims to meet theenergy challenges of the 21st centu-ry by focusing on innovation in andcommercialization of energy con-servation and renewable systems.Initial emphases will be on fuel cellsand the hydrogen economy, smartlighting, and emerging renewableenergy systems, such as solar andwind. New York state has pledgedto invest $10 million in the centerwith designation as a Center forAdvanced Technology.

Patibandla brings an extensivebackground in energy policy, man-agement, and research, havingworked in a variety of positions atthe New York State EnergyResearch and Development Author-ity (NYSERDA), General Electric,and as a researcher at Rensselaer.

He began his career in the mate-rials engineering field, earning hisbachelor’s degree in metallurgicalengineering at India’s NationalInstitute of Technology, and hismaster’s and doctoral degrees inrelated materials and ceramic engi-neering fields at Rutgers University.

For his doctoral work, Patiband-la studied the formation and devel-opment of protective coatings forapplications and components sub-jected to high temperatures, from

the blades in aircraft machines andpower generator turbines, toimproving the processes in makingchemicals and plastics. He built onthat research as a postdoctoral fel-low at GE’s Research and Develop-ment Center in Schenectady, N.Y.

While a research engineer atRensselaer in the early 1990s, Pati-bandla conducted research under aNYSERDA grant, which focused onreducing the amount of energy thatgoes into processing materials.Impressed with his work, the stateagency hired him to head its newmaterials advancement program tooversee similar projects.

“I thought working for NYSER-DA would be a good opportunity touse my background and to becomeinvolved in the energy field at the

same time,” he says. During his 12 years at NYSER-

DA, Patibandla managed multipleindustry and research programs,from overseeing the development ofnew products and material process-es to heading the state’s DistributedGeneration Combined Heat andPower Program. In 2003, he washonored as a “CHP Champion” bythe United States Combined Heatand Power Association.

Appointed as head of the Centerfor Future Energy Systems inMarch, Patibandla is enthusedabout his closer hands-on involve-ment in basic and applied research,particularly drawing on his years ofmaterials science experience.

He already is working withDayStar Technologies in Malta,

N.Y., to develop thinner and moreefficient photovoltaic materials forsolar panels. He also is workingwith IGC SuperPower in Schenec-tady, to improve the processing ofnew superconductor materials forwires and transformers so the elec-trical grid can handle new powersystems.

“The overarching goal of thecenter is to transform scientificknowledge into economically com-petitive, pragmatic applications forthe 21st century,” Patibandla says.“Promoting and implementingenergy efficiency and renewableenergy through education and train-ing paves the most viable path to amore secure energy future for thestate and the nation.”

Nag Patibandla: Focusing on Energy Solutions


JAMES NONDORF

has been appointedvice president forenrollment. An accomplishedentrepreneur, edu-cator, and college

administrator, he will be responsi-ble for undergraduate and gradu-ate admissions and will oversee theoffice of financial aid. Nondorfmost recently served as the direc-tor of student outreach and associ-ate director of admissions at YaleUniversity. Additionally, he hasserved as a fellow at Yale’s Berke-ley College, and as president of theCambridge Technology Group.Nondorf received his bachelor’s ineconomics from Yale Universityand a master’s in ethics from Val-paraiso University.

ANTOINETTE

MANIATTY ’87, pro-fessor of mechani-cal, aerospace, andnuclear engineer-ing, has beennamed a fellow of

the American Society of Mechani-cal Engineers (ASME). The highestelected grade of membership inASME, fellowship is conferred upona member with at least 10 years ofactive engineering practice and whohas made significant contributionsto the profession. Maniatty’sresearch is based in the broad fieldof computational solid mechanics.Maniatty received a B.S. in mechan-ical engineering from Rensselaer in1987, an M.S. from the Universityof Minnesota, and an M.S. andPh.D. from Cornell University, all inmechanical engineering. She joinedthe Rensselaer faculty in 1992.

JAMES HENDLER, a renowned com-puter scientist and World WideWeb researcher, has been appointedsenior constellation professor ofRensselaer’s Tetherless WorldResearch Constellation. Hendlerwill focus the work of the new Tetherless World Constellation onincreasing access to information at

any time and place without the needfor a “tether” to a specific comput-er or device. Researchers envisionan increasingly Web-accessibleworld in which personal digitalassistants (PDAs), cell phones, laptops, and other technologiesconverge to offer the user interac-tive information and communica-tion. Widely recognized as one ofthe inventors of the “SemanticWeb,” Hendler is currently directorof the Joint Institute for KnowledgeDiscovery and co-director of theMaryland Information and Net-work Dynamics Laboratory at theUniversity of Maryland. He willjoin Rensselaer Jan. 1, 2007.

ROBERT PALAZZO,director of theCenter for Bio-technology andInterdisciplinaryStudies and pro-fessor of biology,

has been named acting provost. Inthis position Palazzo will play aninstrumental role in working withthe campus community to advancethe Institute’s mission. Since join-ing the Rensselaer faculty in 2002Palazzo has been integral in elevat-ing the prestige of Rensselaer’sCenter for Biotechnology andInterdisciplinary Studies and inrecruiting world-class faculty tolead the research taking place inthe center. ROBERT LINHARDT, theAnn and John H. Broadbent Jr. ’59Senior Constellation Professor inBiocatalysis and Metabolic Engi-neering, will assume Palazzo’sduties at the Center for Biotechnol-ogy and Interdisciplinary Studieson an interim basis.

MURAT ARCAK,assistant professorof electrical, com-puter, and systemsengineering, hasreceived the 2006Donald P. Eckman

Award from the American Auto-matic Control Council. The awardrecognizes an outstanding young

engineer in the field of automaticcontrol. Arcak joined the Rensse-laer faculty in 2001 after receivinghis Ph.D. in electrical and comput-er engineering from the Universityof California, Santa Barbara.

DONALD AULENBACH, professor emer-itus of environmental engineering,has been elected to the New YorkWater Environment Association(NYWEA) Hall of Fame, in recog-nition of his exemplary commit-ment to improving the quality ofthe waters of New York state andproviding many years of leadershipto NYWEA. Aulenbach taughtenvironmental engineering at Rensselaer from 1960 to 1990, as well as at Lenox Institute ofWater Technology in Massachu-setts. He is a diplomate of theAmerican Academy of Environ-mental Engineers and a life mem-ber of the Water Environment Federation, the American WaterWorks Association, and the Ameri-can Chemical Society.

JONAS BRAASCH, assistant professorof architectural acoustics, wasawarded the Lothar Cremer Award during the annual GermanAcoustics Conference held inMarch. The award is the highestscientific honor given by the German Acoustical Society, and is designed to recognize young scientists who have demonstrated excellence in acoustics research.

JAMES LU, researchassociate professorof physics, appliedphysics, andastronomy, servedas the chair andorganizer of the

3D Packaging Workshop at theInternational Microelectronics andPackaging Society (IMAPS) Con-ference and Exhibition on DevicePackaging March 20-23 in Scotts-dale, Ariz. He received a plaquefrom the general chair of theIMAPS International Conferenceand Exhibition on Device Packag-

ing in recognition of his service tothe society.

PETROS DRINEAS,assistant profes-sor of computerscience, has beenawarded a FacultyEarly CareerDevelopment

Award (CAREER) from theNational Science Foundation(NSF). Drineas will use the project-ed five-year, $400,000 grant toinvestigate novel computationalalgorithms for analyzing complexdatasets with applications in healthand medicine, computer science,and social sciences. The CAREERAward is given to faculty membersat the beginning of their careersand is one of NSF’s most competi-tive and prestigious awards.

MICHAEL ABBOTT ’60,professor emeritusof chemical engi-neering, died onMay 31. Abbottwas an internation-ally recognized

expert in chemical thermodynam-ics, and he was the co-author offour textbooks, including the best-selling chemical engineering text ofall time, INTRODUCTION TO CHEMICALENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS,currently in its seventh edition. An adviser, professor, and mentor,Abbott was widely regarded as one of the Institute’s pre-eminentteachers. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards andrecognition, including the first Outstanding Teaching Award givenby the Rensselaer Alumni Associa-tion. In May, the Isermann Depart-ment of Chemical and BiologicalEngineering launched the annualMichael M. Abbott Lecture Seriesin his honor. Abbott earned hisbachelor’s degree and doctorate atRensselaer, where he was a mem-ber of Phi Mu Delta and made lifelong friends.


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PAUL CONFORTI ’92 wants to teach the world the value of a lus-

cious dessert. “I want to educate people on the difference

between a junky $4 piece of cake and a premium, $10 plated

dessert,” says Conforti, co-founder of Finale, a popular, upscale

Boston eatery specializing in desserts.

So far, Conforti is getting his lesson across. Finale, which

opened in 1998 in a location a block south of Boston Common,

has not only survived in the notoriously tough restaurant busi-

ness, but has thrived, adding branches in nearby Cambridge

and Brookline, with plans for further expansion afoot. Finale

has earned positive reviews from food critics, an armful of local

awards for the best desserts in the Boston area, and even nation-

al press coverage for its variety of gourmet cakes, pastries, tarts,

puddings, and sorbets, among other favorites, served in a casu-

al but upscale atmosphere.

While Finale serves some light fare, it bills itself as a “desser-

terie” or, as Conforti sometimes calls it, a “dessert restaurant.”

Finale tries to lure diners to skip the cheaper, generic goodies

of other cafés and to try something like its signature $10.95

Molten Chocolate Cake, a muffin-shaped concoction with a

warm, creamy interior that reviewers have called “achingly

rich,” “intense,” and “to die for.” Or two people can dig into

the two-person “Fantasia” plate, a combination of fruit tarts

and tortes, chocolates, miniature cakes, crème caramel, pud-

ding, and sorbet, for $16.95. Even Business Week has called

Finale’s food “creative.” BY PETER DIZIKES

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The idea for Finale was hatched as a yearlong project at Harvard Business School, where Conforti earned

his graduate degree. Now that he’s identified a largely vacant niche in the restaurant industry, Conforti

wants to make Finale a unique national chain.

The idea for Finale was hatched as a yearlongproject at Harvard Business School, whereConforti earned his graduate degree whilewhipping up the concept. Conforti found thatfew companies have tried to stake out the culi-nary turf Finale aims to capture. Now that he’sidentified a largely vacant niche in the restau-rant industry, Conforti wants to make Finale aunique national chain—the place where you’llfind a dessert that costs a little more but theexperience will make it worth the price.

Conforti’s mission is “to do for dessert whatStarbucks has done for coffee.” Confortiexplains, “Starbucks educated people aboutthe difference between a 50-cent cup of coffeeand a $3.50 latte.” Before the 1990s, millions ofpeople habitually bought the former and thendiscovered they were willing to pay more forcoffee specialties. So if Americans will behavethat way about coffee, Conforti reasons, whynot cake?

Rensselaer might not seem like astarting point for a future purveyorof fine desserts. But Conforti sayshis undergraduate studies helped

provide the platform for his career. “RPI is thebackbone, it’s the foundation of whatever suc-cess I will have had,” he says. As a major inmanagement, he adds, “I really liked that mycourses were coming at things from an analyt-ical perspective,” finding that his finance class-es, for instance, gave him tools he still uses.Conforti also was elected president of theRensselaer Union, a position he believeshelped him develop leadership skills.

After Rensselaer, Conforti started out in theinsurance industry, and he soon found himselfas a project manager for Travelers InsuranceCompany in Hartford, Conn., where, Confor-ti says, he had an epiphany one day as hewalked past restaurants on his way to the officeand realized the restaurant business might pro-vide the right challenge for him. He was pro-moted to a position managing a call center inAlbany, but kept being drawn to thoughts ofthe restaurant industry. While managing insur-ance operations was fine, it was not the idealline of work for his personality. “I am more of apeople person. I wanted that face-to-face con-tact you get in a retail or restaurant environ-ment,” Conforti says.

Conforti sees the hand of good fortune in hissuccess. “Any entrepreneur who tells you thereis no luck involved in being successful is nottelling the truth,” he says. The first example of

this luck was meeting a prospec-tive business partner at HarvardBusiness School with equal enthu-siasm for the idea of Finale—KimMoore, a classmate with whom hedeveloped a second-year project atHarvard called “Room forDessert.” Conforti and Moore analyzed theprospects for a chain of upscale dessert eateriesand found the idea had enough chance for suc-cess to turn it into reality after graduating withtheir MBAs.

While their Harvard credentials have helpedConforti and Moore gain attention and con-nections, upon graduation both took jobs inrestaurants to learn more about the businessand to show potential investors they were seri-ous about their plan. Conforti took a job as awaiter, while Moore got a job at The Cheese-cake Factory plating desserts. “We joked wewere the lowest-paid members of our graduat-ing class,” says Conforti. “I was making $2.63 perhour plus tips, while Kim used her MBA tonegotiate $9 an hour from the Cheesecake Fac-tory, instead of their usual $8 starting wage.”Conforti took the job as a waiter to learn howto carry a tray full of dishes, open a bottle ofwine, and speak the lingo of the industry. “Ifigured how can I, as a manager, ask my employ-ees to do something if I myself don’t know whatit entails?” Conforti adds.

Moore thinks this attitude is one of Con-forti’s best business traits. “Paul has an enor-mous work ethic, and he’s a great leader byexample,” she says. “We have a team culture.There’s no dictatorship at Finale.” A goodexample of the Conforti leadership style comesfrom a memo he gives all his managers, infor-mally dubbed “Paul’s Profile,” about what toexpect on the job, with items ranging from seri-ous to lighthearted. “You’re allowed to makemost any mistake once,” notes item 13. “If thesame thing happens twice, we’ll probably talkabout it.” Then item 14 reads: “I sweat. Notbecause I’m stressed, but because I’m hot (it’sa genetic thing). Don’t read too much into it.”Conforti tends to focus on Finale’s finance andoperations, while Moore generally works onthe marketing and branding of the company.

By 1998, the duo had raised enough capitalto open their first restaurant, figuring Boston’snearby theater district would provide their cus-tomers. Instead, in another fortuitous devel-opment, several new restaurants opened withina few blocks of Finale. “If people come by afterthe theater,” says Conforti, “you might have a

two-hour window ofactivity, after 10 p.m.With all these restau-rants around, we nowhave a bigger windowin the evenings.”Many of their cus-

tomers skip dessert at other restaurants andhead for Finale instead, where table servicebegins in the early evening. During daytimehours, customers can stop by its bakery count-er for baked goods they can carry out or eat ata table.

In October 2002, Conforti and Mooreopened the second branch of Finale, in theground floor of a building just off the center ofHarvard Square in neighboring Cambridge, anarea heavy with pedestrians willing to pay fora gourmet dessert (the average customer spendsabout $17). And this summer Finale openedits third branch in the Boston suburb of Brook-line. According to Conforti, the first twobranches have shown revenue growth everyyear, with the only period of decline coming inlate 2002 and early 2003, during the wider eco-nomic slump that hit Boston. And now Finale’sowners are hoping to accelerate their expan-sion plans. Conforti is looking at locations inthe Greater Boston market, as well as sites inProvidence—near his hometown of Cranston,R.I.—and Connecticut as possibilities.

All Finale venues follow the sameformula: airy dining spaces with arelaxed ambience. The Bostonand Cambridge branches have

light streaming in from plate-glass windows ontwo sides, illuminating yellow walls. Dark woodtables with black tops, brown and red seats,burgundy carpets, built-in wooden wine cabi-nets, and wait staff dressed in black all add aslightly more dress-up, formal feeling. Jazz,swing, and big band music plays in the back-ground.

Finale’s own research shows a significantcluster of patrons around age 30, with morewomen than men visiting, and a high level ofeducation; many customers have graduatedegrees. But there is no stereotypical Finalecustomer. Visits to its branches reveal businessexecutives discussing plans alongside studentsand senior citizens—a variety Conforti findsreassuring. The point of Finale, after all, is notto make fine food exclusively for the wealthybut to bring the joys of upscale desserts to themasses.


Paul Conforti’s goal is notto become as pervasive asa Starbucks on every cor-ner, but to emulate thecompany’s success at per-suading customers to optfor higher quality—and toprovide that choice.

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“It’s true that it can cost $15 per person atFinale,” says Conforti. “But it’s $15. It’s not$50 or $100. Maybe instead of going to Apple-bee’s for dinner, you eat in, but then come toFinale for dessert.” And, he adds, breaking intoa smile, “for $15, we can make you feel like amillion bucks.”

Visits to Finale, primarily the Cambridgebranch, make it clear Conforti has a point. TheMolten Chocolate Cake earns its “to die for”rave, and even the pre-made treats at the bak-ery counter are excellent. The Ultimate Choco-late Cake, which seems to reveal a hint ofcherry, and the Dark Chocolate Decadencecake, a creation akin to a truffle, are danger-ously addictive and cost $6 for a solid piece threeinches in diameter.

Conforti and his colleagues have also beenbolstered by a large helping of positive media.Since 1998 Finale has been covered orreviewed in the Boston Globe, the BostonPhoenix, Time, USA Today, U.S.News & WorldReport, Bon Appetit, and Business Week. Thecompany also earned an endorsement carry-ing more weight than just about any other inNew England when Patriots quarterback TomBrady, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, citedFinale as one of his favorite places to eat in theBoston area, deeming it “cool” in an interviewfor American Airlines’ in-flight magazine.

Finale managed to gain some more yardagefrom the Brady connection with the quarter-back’s Visa commercials featuring Finaledesserts. Meanwhile, several Boston Red Soxplayers have patronized the place—outfielderManny Ramirez has stopped by to pick updesserts for his family on his way home after ballgames. A variety of other celebrities have beenspotted in Finale as well, including actors JohnLithgow, Charles Durning, and Dana Delaney.Even in Boston, which has some entrenched,prominent eateries, Finale may be on its way tobecoming a local institution.

If Finale is flourishing now, though, Confortiand Moore still face the same types of ques-tions as any business looking to expand. Isthere a nationwide market for upscale

“desserteries”? Or has Finale set its sights a bithigh by looking to the example of Starbucks?The coffee chain giant, after all, has more than11,000 stores in 36 countries. Conforti’s goal isnot to become as pervasive as a Starbucks onevery corner, but to emulate the company’s suc-cess at persuading customers to opt for higherquality—and to provide that choice.

In fact, in the restaurantindustry, Finale is following afamiliar pattern. A nationwidechain often starts out as a pop-ular local eatery, establishes astrong reputation over manyyears, then expands locally andregionally. If a company has agood idea and good timing, itmight succeed nationally. Starbucks opened inSeattle in 1971 and remained a local operationuntil 1987, when it still had a grand total of just17 outlets. One of Starbucks’ competitors,Peet’s Coffee & Tea, opened as one cafe inBerkeley, Calif., in 1966, and is now a publiclytraded company with more than 120 outletsand customers intensely loyal to the brand.

Conforti thinks Finale can settle somewherein between these two business models. “Are wegoing to have 11,000 locations?” he asks.“Probably not. We’ve been doing this eightyears and we have three branches. But can weopen a few hundred of these? I think so.”

Conforti and Moore envision Finale hav-

ing outlets in the 75biggest metropolitanareas in the country.Indeed, adds Conforti,“That’s why I’m inter-ested in trying Provi-dence. It is just about the75th biggest market inthe country. And it’s

close. We can supply Providence from here. Ifwe opened our next location in Omaha, hun-dreds of miles from the next-largest city, itmight be a lot harder.”

But could it be that Boston—a relativelyaffluent city with a host of upscale restaurantsand a lot of “foot traffic”—is especially well-suited for a place like Finale? Conforti doubtsit, asserting the concept should work all over.“Everybody loves dessert,” he says. “Even thosewho say they don’t like it can be tempted to givea sensational dessert a try.”

Which means a Finale could be opening ina city near you in the future. Prepare to go backto school in dessert appreciation.

Finale Double Chocolate CookiesExecutive Pastry Chef Nicole Coady

You’ll never make brownies again after you indulge in Double Chocolate Cookiesfrom Finale. Some helpful tips in maximizing cookie enjoyment: Use the bestchocolate you can find. It will seem like a lot of chocolate, but that is no mistake.The cookies cannot be stored for a long period of time. As this is a delicate recipe,they are best when consumed within 24 hours of baking. Avoid over baking. Theywill taste dry and powdery, when they are supposed to be moist and chewy.

Melt chocolate and butter together in a double boiler until blended. In a separatebowl, whip eggs, sugar, and vanilla until thick and light. In another bowl, sift all dry ingredients together. Slowly add chocolate mixture to egg mixture on low speed. Fold in flour mixture slowly. The cookie batter will be liquid. Allow to sit for threehours at room temperature.

Scoop heaping tablespoons onto cookie sheet that has been lightly sprayed with a non-stick spray, at least 3 inches apart. Bake on a doubled cookie sheet (one sheetinside of another) at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until the center of thecookie is firm to the touch (cake-like firmness). Finale Double Chocolate Cookiesshould be baked as close to serving time as possible. Yields 3 to 4 dozen cookies.

6 eggs2 1/2 cups granulated sugar1 tablespoon vanilla6 ounces bittersweet chocolate17 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

1 cup unsalted butter1 cup all purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon salt

There is no stereotypicalFinale customer. Businessexecutives dine alongsidestudents and senior citi-zens. The point of Finale,after all, is not to make finefood exclusively for thewealthy but to bring thejoys of upscale desserts tothe masses.


Collage artist and professorMichael Oatman collaborateswith architecture students on

genre-defying projects thatmove from the Greene Buildingto the art gallery—and beyond.

CONNECDRAWING

WHEN MICHAEL OATMAN was in fourth grade he swiped a power cord from his school’s wood shop. During recess he plugged itinto an outlet, dug a trench, and buried it. In the fall he dug a 30-foot-long culvert wired with electricity so that when winter camehe could have a working laboratory. He filled the tiny space with thermometers and test tubes, and used a Super8 film projectorto show movies of ants carrying food and birds building nests using the snow as his screen. “At the time I thought I was playing sci-entist,” Oatman says. “Now I realize that was my first installation as a multimedia artist.” | Today as a clinical assistant professorof architecture at Rensselaer, Oatman is still immersed in the worlds of science, art, and design. As an artist, he infuses his workwith elements of science and architecture. As an educator, he tries to empower Rensselaer’s young architects to incorporate artis-tic introspection and reflection into their designs. BY AMBER CLEVELAND

TIONS


A visitor need only look around his studio in downtown Troy to seethat Oatman—a renowned collage and installation artist whose workhas been exhibited at museums and galleries around the globe—drawsinspiration from nearly everything he encounters. The space is filledwith a wide range of obscure objects that seemingly have no businessresiding side by side. Upon further inspection it becomes apparent thatthe artist has meticulously organized the chaos of the space.

Rows of bookshelves line the walls, home to hundreds of dated man-uals, reference materials, encyclopedias, and children’s books from whichOatman culls thousands of images for his collages. Clipped images yet tobe used sit in labeled folders and filing cabinets strewn about the studio.Some files are plainly named for the contents inside—Diving Equipment,Tools, Food (Packaged), Beverages, Birds, Medium-sized Mammals. Oth-ers have more enigmatic names, like the file titled Keeping an Eye (Ear)on The Sky, which holds astronomy-related images.

Oatman compares his work collecting images to “a dowser looking forwater—only I dowse images and objects. Very often I’ll be looking forsomething in particular and then instead of finding what I had in mind,I’ll find something completely different, and it becomes apparent that it’swhat I really wanted—and didn’t even know existed. When I work itseems I find what I need, not always what I want.”

Using only pictures from books published between the 1940s and the1970s because of their similar image qualities, Oatman’s collages oftenleave viewers confused as to the genre of his work. “I can hear them ask-ing ‘what is it exactly…is it a print…is it a computer-generated image?’ ”

In fact, Oatman understands the initial confusion. “I differ from a lotof collage artists who take things and tear them and rough them up anduse collage in a painterly way, focusing on where there is a jarring differ-ence,” he says. “My things are not painterly—they are as precise as scientificillustrations. In my mind I focus on where there’s a shocking sameness. Iwant you to look at this and be confronted by the image. If it’s importantto you that it’s a collage, that’s going to come later.”

Oatman’s Falling Anvil Studios, named for the collection of 40 anvilshe’s amassed over the years, swells with objects and curios that manytimes make their way into his collages. Inspiration usually comes from hispersonal experiences and observations. “I read a lot, and I listen a lot,too. I write stuff down and sometimes it sits for years before I do any-thing with it,” Oatman says.

An artwork centered on the giant image of a hand is beginning to takeshape in the far corner of the loft. A collection of images—prehistorictools, rocks, fossils, and gemstones—scatter from the hand onto theblank black background of a collage not yet fully contrived.

“ ‘Appleseed,’ ” Oatman says, pointing to the work in progress. “It’s afour-panel collage, almost like a series of film stills. I’m recreating John-ny Appleseed’s hand spreading seed, but in this case he’s casting artifactsas we move backward toward geologic time.”

Oatman describes the piece as “an image that is looking at the con-fusion of science and religious belief, and the ways many of us go backand forth between those things but embrace them all at once. I like theidea of being a political cartoonist of the time using a different, more

ambiguous media,” he says. “If I can create an image that is powerfullycontradictory, then hopefully people will look at the time that they arein, in another way.”

“When you look at any piece of Michael Oatman’s work, you quick-ly recognize that he is an artist of extraordinary talent, but that’s just forstarters,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy. “Therange of his imagination dazzles. He is a relentless seeker after what isnew, and ‘new’ to Michael means a wrenching transformation of anyexpectations you might have based on whatever you know of his previ-ous work. He is a dogged realist in his detail, but a surrealist in his con-ceptions; and the fusion has given us a body of work that is bountifullydiverse and original.”

Discovering the artist in the architectNamed the “best local artist of 2005” by Metroland, a Capital Regionnewsweekly, and praised by the Albany Times Union for producing “someof the most ambitious, challenging work on the art scene,” Oatman hasalso gained acclaim for his dedication to his students in the classroom,where he challenges young architects to reflect on who they are as stu-dents, architects, and individuals, and to incorporate aspects of them-selves into design.

“It’s interesting being the artist in the architecture department. It tookme a long time to realize I didn’t have to tiptoe around with my inter-ests,” says Oatman. “Yes, I have a different skill set than my colleagues,but it’s a necessary skill set.”

Oatman sees his role as encouraging students to figure out what inter-ests and motivates them. “That’s going to make them more successful inthesis, and it’s going to make them more interesting as people. Increasinglymy role has become about guiding young people toward being able to say‘I have an interest, and my interest is this,’ ” he says.

“What I love about teaching undergrads is that I can re-educate them,in a way, to stop worrying about a right or a wrong answer, the popularculture, the common voice. My job is to get them to look at things fromas many different ways as possible, on the way to looking at them per-sonally—and I don’t think you figure out what personal is for a while, youhave to be guided through different modes of seeing.”

Architecture Dean Alan Balfour praises Oatman’s unique contribu-tion to the Greene Building. “Michael is a wonderful civilizing presencein the school. He nurtures and encourages each student’s creativity, oftenin surprising ways, and draws them into the world of art beyond archi-tecture,” Balfour says. “His role reminds me of artists such as Edward Mill-man, Don Mochon, and the internationally admired George Rickey, whowere members of the architecture faculty in the ’50s and ’60s. They arethe names still mentioned when alumni reminisce.”

Oatman teaches the fundamentals of drawing and space, providingstudents with crucial skills for their architecture careers. But he takeshis teaching role a step further to offer students opportunities to work onhis projects. Recently he involved students from his Extreme Drawingclass—a class he developed that challenges students to use unconven-tional methods to create collaborative works at extreme scales, inspiredby the phenomenon of extreme sports—in a proposal he’s working on for

“My things are not painterly—they are as precise as scientific illustrations. In mymind I focus on where there’s a shocking sameness. I want you to look at this andbe confronted by the image. If it’s important to you that it’s a collage, that’s goingto come later.”—Michael Oatman


“Anaximander,” 2002, collage on paper with 40 framed micro-collages, 55 x 75 inches overall


“You move past Michael’s collages of gun-toting songbirds, or snowflakes made outof jet fighters, or an 18-foot-long greenhouse made of 2,500 glass plate negatives ofcriminal mug shots, or a mock biographical video installation in which he recountshow he turned into a criminal, and you realize that Michael Oatman is easily bored,not easily satisfied by life or work.”—William Kennedy

“Blanket,” 2002, collage and spray paint on paper (incorporates over 200 images), 100" x 100"


the MASS MoCA museum in North Adams, Mass. Together the professor and students are developing a series of ideas and

designs for a permanent installation on the roof of the museum using onlyphotovoltaic cells. Ideas proposed include laying the cells out in the shapeof land masses on a globe, and the students are excited about the oppor-tunity to work on an installation of this size and visibility.

“Could I have done this project without my class? Yes. But this is anopportunity my students wouldn’t ordinarily get—this is something for theirportfolio, and something that will elicit their individual creativity,” Oat-man says.

This spring in a studio course called RxBox: Open Source Architecturefor a World in Transition, co-taught with Associate Professor Ted Krueger,15 students converted a retired 8'x8'x20' cargo shipping container intoa mobile medical facility that could be used to bring accessible health-care to developing nations. Based on an idea called “Doc-in-a-Box,”created by global health advocate Laurie Garrett, the transformed con-tainer was wired for electricity and fully lit. The repurposed container fea-tured a water filtration system, a corrugated tin roofing system equippedwith louvers for protection during inclement weather, a newly tiled floor,and conventional doors and windows.

From Rome to RensselaerFor the past three years, Oatman has been collaborating with a smallgroup of architecture students to create some of his most acclaimedwork. During a 2003 trip to Italy to accompany architecture studentswho were studying in the school’s Semester in Rome program, Oatmanbegan to share his work with several students, allowing them to helpwith small tasks on upcoming art projects.

By the time the group returned to Troy, Erin Cusker ’06, MatthewFickett ’06, and Stephanie Cramer ’06 were playing more integral rolesin the creation of Oatman’s projects. Before long the group membersbecame regulars in his studio, spending the summer working intenselyon a large-scale installation project called “Conservatory.”

An 18-foot-long greenhouse created from approximately 2,500 glassplate negatives of criminal mug shots from the turn of the 20th centu-ry, the construction of “Conservatory” required many months’ worth oflabor.

“My installations are sort of novels by a non-writer,” says Oatman.“They are stories that I want to write, but I realize that I’m not a goodwriter. So I use art to create a scene where you can go to the place phys-ically where I report that things happen, but it’s up to you to put the storyin its order, and there is no specific order.”

While Oatman sketched out ideas for the installation, the studentsbegan the daunting task of scanning and digitally cataloging nearly 18,000glass negatives. Soon Oatman started to share his designs for “Conser-vatory” with them, enlisting their architectural skills to help assemblethe edifice. The students designed and fabricated the greenhouse’s steelstructure and the panels that covered the walls and ceiling of the space.While valuing their architectural knowledge, Oatman also welcomedtheir input into the work.

“We tell Michael when things won’t work,” says Fickett, who wasresponsible for drafting the greenhouse’s renderings. “He wanted to usemirrored Plexiglas for the whole greenhouse in ‘Conservatory,’ and wetold him [we didn’t think that was the best design]. When the final proj-ect got done, it was a good thing we didn’t use the mirrors.”

The group grew in number when the demands of the projects exceed-ed what Oatman and his three students were able to do. Over the lasttwo years, the expanding team has worked to create a range of pieces—from an installation and documentary centered around a coin-operat-

ed binocular viewer and the question “If you could use this device tosee anything, in the past, present or future, a person, living or dead, ahistorical event, or something that has yet to occur, what would youmost desire to see?,” to a full-scale attic and basement installation called“Iceberg,” to a Metropolitan Transit Authority poster commemorating100 years of motorized buses in New York City.

The name Falling Anvil Studios has extended beyond the physicalspace in Troy where Oatman and his students create these works of art,to become the group’s name, more evidence of the integral role they’veplayed in shaping his work. “The students have been involved in allaspects of the design process, from the conceptualization, to the makingof the stuff,” he says. “I started out with the intent of letting these stu-dents help me so they could gain some experience, but I ended up real-ly enjoying the kinship I had with them. My projects were differentbecause they’d worked on them.”

Although working with an artist might seem like a stretch for youngarchitects, the students easily draw a strong connection between thetwo disciplines. “The opportunity to design and construct buildingstakes years of education and experience, but artwork can be equallysatisfying—and in some cases equally challenging,” says Cusker. “Somuch of our class work is theoretical or hypothetical and we designthings that never get built. Working with Michael I’ve had the oppor-tunity to design and build pieces to full scale. It has been a phenome-nal learning experience for me.”

Cramer appreciates the freedom to design that comes with workingwith Oatman. “Principals in architecture design studios will primarilyuse us for our skill. They are mostly interested in what we are good at.Michael is actually interested in the way we think.”

With the original team members finishing their college careers, Oat-man has begun recruiting a handful of students to work with him as thenext generation of Falling Anvil Studios. But that doesn’t mean the grad-uating seniors have seen the last of their professor and collaborator. Oat-man has already dubbed them Floating Anvil Studios, and he plans tokeep them involved in upcoming projects.

Sitting in the Greene Building’s Drawing Lab one warm spring daybefore Commencement, the students talk about what’s next. Some aremoving to Philadelphia, some to Boston, one to Germany. All are jug-gling multiple job prospects.

When asked if they’ll continue to work with Oatman as members ofFloating Anvil, Fickett answers for the group. “Michael will have branchoffices in every major city,” he says. “We’ll all be on call.”


TO HELP PROMOTE THE TECHNOLOGY behind its “nano-enhanced”downhill skis, a major equipment manufacturer is urging consumers toimagine the size of the nanoscale: “Think very, very small. Now thinkeven smaller.”

“Think even smaller” also could serve as the motto of the bur-geoning research field of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology involves manipulating matter at the scale of ananometer, one billionth of a meter, or about 80,000 times smaller thanthe width of a human hair. But considering how the term has recent-

ly burst into the popular lexicon—from stain-proof “nano pants” to the State of the UnionAddress—researchers also are finding encour-agement to think very, very big.

Some researchers claim that nanotechnolo-gy-derived products have reached the trillion-dollars threshold, while others frame the field asthe next industrial revolution, with the potentialfor staggering advances in pharmaceuticals,semiconductors, optics, and environmentalremediation, to name a few. Businesses are heav-

ily investing in nanotechnology, with new companies sprouting uptoday like Internet and biotechnology companies did in the 1980sand 1990s. The U.S. government is also making nanotechnology apriority. But whatever might become of the buzz surrounding thismillennial field, one thing is clear: Rensselaer researchers are keyplayers among an international group of scientists working with atom-ic precision to make new materials and devices.

“Historically, Rensselaer has been known as a powerhouse in mate-rials science and technology,” says Omkaram Nalamasu, vice presidentfor research. “What we are doing with nanotechnology is building onthis historic strength and heritage.”

In September 2001, the National Science Foundation (NSF)selected Rensselaer as one of the six original sites nationwide for anew Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC). A partof the National Nanotechnology Initiative, the center is devotedto realizing the full potential of nanotechnology by creating newmaterials, architectures, devices, and systems from nanoscale build-ing blocks. The five other original NSECs are located at Harvard,Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, and Rice—each with a distinc-tive research focus.

Nanotechnology has been called the next industrial revolution, with potential for advances in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, optics, environmental remediation, and more. Rensselaer researchers

are part of a pre-eminent group of scientists around the world behind this small-scale revolution.

THINGSLITTLE

In September 2001, the National Science Foundation selected Rensselaer as one of the six original sites nationwide for a new

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. A part of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, the center is devoted to realizing the

full potential of nanotechnology by creating new materials, architectures, devices, and systems from nanoscale building blocks.

Early forays into the nano worldsometimes produced unexpect-

ed results. In 2000, an experi-ment to grow carbon nanotubesunder high-temperature condi-tions resulted in the growth of a

completely different form of car-bon. The Rensselaer research

team used rapid chemical vapordeposition, creating a forest of

pure carbon trees (left).

IT’S THE

THAT MATTER BY JASON GORSS

In recent years, scientists have created a vari-ety of nanoscale building blocks from atoms andmolecules, but they have only just begun toassemble them into more complex structures.Much of the research at Rensselaer is distin-guished by a focus on “directed assembly”—combining these building blocks in a controlledway to create materials with desired propertiesfor a wide variety of applications, from artificialgecko feet to ultra-sensitive devices for detect-ing airborne toxins.

“Directed assembly of nanoscale buildingblocks into useful structures is the fundamen-tal gateway to the eventual success of nan-otechnology,” says Richard W. Siegel, the RobertW. Hunt Professor of Materials Science andEngineering and director of both the Rensse-laer Nanotechnology Center and NSEC. “At

Rensselaer, we actually make all of our ownnanoscale building blocks, from nanoparticlesto nanotubes to hybrid structures comprised ofboth. That gives us a tremendous advantage interms of controlling the nature of these struc-tures and how they relate to one another.”

A Comprehensive VisionCarbon nanotubes are perhaps the most entic-ing class of nano-materials. These super-tinycylinders, which bear an uncanny resemblanceto rolled-up sheets of chicken wire, have beenhailed as some of the lightest, strongest materi-als ever made.

“Nanotubes are a very versatile material withabsolutely fascinating physical properties, allthe way from ballistic conduction to really inter-esting mechanical behavior,” says PulickelAjayan, the Henry Burlage Professor of Mate-rials Science and Engineering and a world-renowned expert in fabricating nanotubematerials. “I don’t think we have ever comeacross a material with such a wide range of pos-sibilities.”

Rensselaer researchers are exploiting thisbroad portfolio of properties across a variety offields, beginning with the fundamental buildingblocks of matter and working up to devices andsystems with a multiplicity of applications.

“One of Rensselaer’s unique contributions tonanotechnology is the ability to place the nano-tubes where we want, with the control we want,and with the properties we would like to have,”Nalamasu says. “I think it is a very comprehen-sive vision.”

The vision is fast becoming a reality, as Rens-selaer scientists and their collaborators contin-ue to report significant advances in the field.

In a 2005 paper published in Science,researchers from Rensselaer, the University ofHawaii at Manoa, and the University of Flori-da showed that films of vertically aligned carbonnanotubes can act like a layer of “super-com-pressible” mattress springs, flexing and rebound-ing in response to a force. But unlike a mattress,which can sag and lose its springiness, thesenanotube foams maintain their resilience evenafter thousands of compression cycles, openingthe door to foam-like materials for just aboutany application where strength and flexibilityare needed, from disposable coffee cups to theexterior of the space shuttle.

The foams are just the latest in a long line ofnanotube-based materials that have been pro-duced through collaborations with Ajayan’slab, including tiny brushes with bristles madefrom carbon nanotubes. The brushes, whichwere described in Nature Materials, alreadyhave been tested in a variety of tasks that rangefrom cleaning microscopic surfaces to servingas electrical contacts, and they eventuallycould be used in a whole host of electronic, bio-medical, and environmental applications,Ajayan says.

Carbon nanotubes can carry large amountsof electrical current without losing heat, mak-ing them ideal materials for nanoscale wires.Along with colleagues in Germany, Mexico, theU.K., and Belgium, Rensselaer researchers havereported a way to weld these tiny tubes togeth-

er end-to-end, overcoming amajor obstacle to realizing nano-tube-based electronic devices.By passing a high currentthrough a thin film with nan-otubes dispersed across its sur-face, they generated visibleflashes of light—similar to thefamiliar arc from a welder’storch. Further investigationrevealed that the flashes occurat junctions where overlappingcarbon nanotubes are weldedtogether. Current methods tomake nanowires require bom-barding the surface with elec-trons or other charged particles,which may not be easily scala-ble. The team, which is led byGanapathiraman Ramanath,associate professor of materials


Rensselaer researchers were part of a team

that showed that films of vertically aligned

carbon nanotubes can act like a layer of

“super-compressible” mattress springs, flex-

ing and rebounding in response to a force.

But unlike a mattress, which can sag and lose

its springiness, these nanotube foams main-

tain their resilience even after thousands of

compression cycles, opening the door to

foam-like materials for just about any appli-

cation where strength and flexibility are

needed, from disposable coffee cups to the

exterior of the space shuttle.


science and engineering, suggests that their newtechnique could provide a viable tool for pro-ducing nanowires cost-effectively.

In collaboration with researchers fromBanaras Hindu University in India, Rensselaerscientists have devised a simple method to pro-duce carbon nanotube filters that can efficientlyremove micro- to nano-scale contaminantsfrom water and heavy hydrocarbons from petro-leum. Made entirely of carbon nanotubes, thefilters are easily manufactured using a newmethod for controlling the cylindrical geome-try of the structure. While activated carbon haslong been the standard for removing organiccontaminants from drinking water, the newresearch suggests that carbon nanotubes havesignificant potential as better materials for waterpurification.

Researchers also are branching out into newprojects that are just starting to yield results.For example, with a $1.15 million grant fromthe NSF, a team led by Toh-Ming Lu, the R.P.Baker Distinguished Professor of Physics atRensselaer, is exploring the potential ofnanomechanical systems by making and test-ing springs, rods, and beams on the nanoscale.

The past decade has seen an explosion ofinterest in electronic devices at the molecularlevel, but less attention has been paid tonanoscale mechanical systems, according toLu. Yet these devices may have as important animpact as nanoelectronics, representing apotential multibillion-dollar high-technologyindustry that will save energy and improve thequality of lives, he says. Lu envisions a widerange of applications for these devices, includ-ing much more efficient light emitters and solarcells, extremely sensitive chemical and biolog-ical sensors, and super-high-density three-dimensional magnetic memory.

Some fundamental issues, however, have kept

researchers from real-izing the full potentialof nanotubes. “Thereis a lot of hype in thisfield, and it has beendifficult to live up to,”says Nikhil Koratkar,associate professor ofmechanical, aero-space, and nuclear

engineering. “Researchers have not been ableto get the 10- to 20-fold increases in strengthand stiffness that have been touted over tradi-tional composites and materials.”

One of the biggest engineering challengescomes when nanotubes are combined withother materials to make composites, accord-ing to Koratkar. The interface between thematerials is not as strong as one might expectbecause it is difficult to disperse nanotubes inan orderly way. Single-walled nanotubes areparticularly hard to disperse, since they tendto form clusters—like ropes where only thenanotubes on the outside layer come in con-tact with the other material. Ajayan andKoratkar are partnering with researchers acrossthe campus—and around the world—toaddress some of these challenges.

Though much of the research has focusedon improving the strength and stiffness ofnanomaterials, Koratkar and his colleagueshave directed their attention to another impor-tant property: damping, or the ability of a mate-rial to dissipate energy. They have found thatdispersing nanotubes throughout traditionalmaterials creates new composites with vastlyimproved damping capabilities. And in a recentpaper published in the journal Nano Letters,the researchers have also shown for the firsttime that these damping properties areenhanced as the temperature increases. Tra-ditional damping polymers perform poorly atelevated temperatures, so the new nanocom-posites could fill an important gap for any kindof structure that is exposed to vibration, fromhigh-performance parts for spacecraft andautomobile engines, to golf clubs that don’tsting and stereo speakers that don’t buzz.

In 2004, Koratkar received an NSF FacultyEarly Career Development Award to fund thedevelopment of these new materials, and dur-

ing the next phase of the grant he plans tomove into “hybrid” systems. These structureswill combine the high stiffness of carbon fibercomposites with the damping properties ofnanotubes, leading to a class of materials thattruly offers “the best of both worlds.”

Meanwhile, Linda Schadler, professor ofmaterials science and engineering, is leading agroup that is working to improve the opticaland mechanical behavior of polymers for pack-aging materials by filling them with nanopar-ticles. And as part of a joint research projectwith the University of Florida, Schadler andher colleagues are developing a new genera-tion of synthetic lubricant coatings for aircraftand spacecraft. The coatings, which are madeof thin layers of carbon nanotubes, polymers,and ceramics, will be sensitive to changes inthe environment that a spacecraft experiences,with the potential to reduce the rate of wearby 1,000 times or more.

Other teams are working to exploit anotherinteresting property of nanotubes called “fieldemission.” When a voltage is applied to certainmaterials, electrons are pulled out from the sur-face, making these materials useful in electron-ic displays. “Nanotubes are very good fieldemitters because they have a low threshold foremission and they produce high currents,” saysSwastik Kar, a post-doctoral researcher in mate-rials science and engineering. Kar and a team ofresearchers from Rensselaer, Northeastern, andNew Mexico State have developed a newprocess to make flexible, conducting “nanoskins” based on field emission for a variety ofapplications, from electronic paper to sensorsfor detecting chemical and biological agents.The materials can be bent, flexed, and rolled uplike a scroll, all while maintaining their abilityto conduct electricity, which makes them idealmaterials for flexible electronics, according tothe researchers. Nanotube arrays normally areheld together by weak forces that don’t alwaysmaintain their shape when transferred, but theteam has developed a new procedure that allowsthem to transfer arrays of nanotubes into a softpolymer matrix without disturbing the shape,size, or alignment of the nanotubes.

Ajayan, working with researchers at the Uni-versity of Akron, is using a similar process tomimic the agile gecko, with its uncanny ability

Tiny brushes with bristles made from carbon nanotubes already have been

tested in a variety of tasks that range from cleaning microscopic surfaces to

serving as electrical contacts, and they eventually could be used in a whole

host of electronic, biomedical, and environmental applications, Ajayan says.

The brushes are part of a long line of nanotube-based materials that have

been produced through collaborations with Ajayan’s lab.

to run up walls and across ceilings. Last year, theteam reported a process for creating artificialgecko feet with 200 times the sticking power ofthe real thing, using nanotubes to imitate thou-sands of microscopic hairs on a gecko’s footpad.

Defining New InterfacesRensselaer’s traditional interdisciplinaryapproach to research also gives the Instituteanother advantage. “We have tremendousstrength in terms of the depth of our scientificknowledge in the various areas of physics,chemistry, materials, and biology,” Siegel says,“but also a tremendous level of interaction thattakes place among the group—and that’s actu-ally quite remarkable.”

An example is the interface of medicine andthe physical sciences, which is becoming a keyfocus of many research efforts at Rensselaer. “Asan engineering school, we are trying to define

new interfaces, and one of the interfaces isnanomedicine,” Nalamasu says. “The nanotoolbox is a unique medium to be able to under-stand this particular interface.”

Shekhar Garde, associate professor of chem-ical and biological engineering, and PawelKeblinski, associate professor of materials sci-ence and engineering, discovered that heat mayactually move better across interfaces betweenliquids than it does between solids, which couldhave immediate practical application for can-cer therapy. “Scientists are developing cancertreatments based on nanoparticles that attachto specific tissues, which are then heated to killthe cancerous cells,” Keblinski says. “It is vitalto understand how heat flows in these systems,because too much heat applied in the wrongspot can kill healthy cells.”

To create artificial bones and other bioma-terials, scientists need specially designed scaf-folds that can direct how cells grow into bodytissues. Siegel and his colleagues are conduct-ing a study that could provide much-neededinsight into this process at the intersection ofbiotechnology and nanotechnology. They areexamining the behavior of mesenchymal stemcells (MSCs), which are derived from bonemarrow, on a number of ceramic materials thatcould be used as scaffolds. They have foundthat the size and chemistry of the nanoparti-cles that make up the ceramic materials has animpact on the way MSCs stick to the surfaces,and that one protein is primarily responsiblefor this impact: vitronectin, one of the majoradhesive proteins found in human blood. Thisfundamental knowledge will help tissue-engi-

neering researchers design the next generationof biomaterials for orthopedic applications,according to Siegel.

Macroscale EffectsRensselaer researchers are collaborating withindustry to bring this technology to the mar-ketplace. “We are not only developing the fun-damental science and engineering conceptsrelated to nanotechnology, but in real time weare exploring the utility of these materials tosolve important problems in different disci-plines,” Nalamasu says. The Center for Inte-grated Electronics, for example, is contributingto the science and technology of interconnects,semiconductor devices, architectures, andpackaging, by accelerating the production ofthe next generation of micro- and nanoelec-tronic devices. The research focuses on dis-covering solutions to help the semiconductorindustry transcend the roadblocks that willcome from shrinking device dimensions below100 nanometers.

And nanotechnology researchers of all fieldsreceived a major boon with the establishment of the Computational Center for Nanotechnol-ogy Innovations (CCNI)—a partnershipbetween Rensselaer, IBM, and New York stateto create the world’s most powerful university-based supercomputing center (see page 7). The$100 million project will provide a platform forresearchers to perform a broad range of compu-tational simulations, from the interactionsbetween atoms and molecules up to the behav-ior of the complete device. These simulationswill employ new computational tools that are

becoming increasingly central toscientists’ efforts to manipulatematter at the atomic level. In muchthe same way as cars and planes aredesigned with computer modelsbefore they are built, the tools willallow researchers to build simula-tions of new nanotechnology-basedproducts.

“The computational and intel-lectual resources at CCNI will bemade available to companies fromNew York state and across theglobe,” Nalamasu says. “The goal ofthis center is to define a new engi-neering design paradigm that willprovide chip manufacturers theability to predict device perform-ance through integrated nanoscalesimulation and fabrication.”

A team of researchers have developed a new

process to make flexible, conducting “nano

skins” based on field emission for a variety of

applications, from electronic paper to sen-

sors for detecting chemical and biological

agents. The materials can be bent, flexed,

and rolled up like a scroll, all while maintain-

ing their ability to conduct electricity, which

makes them ideal materials for flexible elec-

tronics, according to the researchers.


Rensselaer researchers have discovered a simple

method for rapidly creating different shapes of

carbon nanotube structures. The new method is

based on a commonly used chemical vapor depo-

sition method, resulting in foamlike structures

that are stable and elastic. The foams could be

used in a variety of applications, including new

microchips and wherever strength and flexibility

are needed, from repairing bone joints to rein-

forcing carbon-fiber-based aerospace products.

RAA VISA® CREDIT CARD AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

The new RAA Visa Card, issued by U.S. Bank, provides competitive rateswhile at the same time supporting the programs of the RAA. Apply online atwww.alumni.rpi.edu.

ALUMNI CHAPTERS PLAN A BUSY SUMMER

Each year, alumni chapters all over thecountry host a variety of events that rangefrom picnics to sporting events to winetastings to tours. These get-togethers are awonderful opportunity for alumni who livein the same area to network and to social-ize, and some events even welcome incom-ing freshmen in the area to the Rensselaerfamily. For a complete list of all the greatsummer alumni events being planned, visit@RPInet at https://arpinet.rpi.edu/events.

SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT OFFERS FAST-TRACK MBAS FOR ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE ALUMNI

Beginning in fall 2006, the Lally Schoolof Management and Technology will offer School of Engineering and School of Science alumni fast-track admission tothe school’s MBA program. The standardGMAT requirement will be waived. Formore information, visit the alumni homepage at www.alumni.rpi.edu.

RAA WORLDWIDE TRAVEL PROGRAM: 2006 TOURS

Visit some of themost exciting andbeautiful destina-tions on Earth withpeople who shareyour interests—fel-low Rensselaeralumni. Contact theAlumni Office [email protected] or(518) 276-6205 formore information on the following trips:Romance of the Blue Danube (Sept. 6-19); China & the Yangtze River (Oct. 15);From the Outback to the Glaciers (Oct.17); Splendors of South America: Chile,Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil (Nov. 6);Budapest & Prague (Nov. 9-17).


STAYINGCONNECTED

THE WEEKEND OF OCT. 13-15 WILL BE A BUSY

one on the Troy campus. Family Weekend,Alumni MusicFest, Phi Iota Alpha’s 75thanniversary, and more are combining to createone festive weekend.

FallFest features eventsthat are open to everyone,including an InternationalFestival on Saturday after-noon that features traditionalfood, clothing, photos, andmore, from countries aroundthe world. There also will be a buffet dinner prior to themen’s hockey game vs.Boston University.

The Alumni MusicFestwill bring together formermembers of campus music groups such as theRensselyrics, the Pep Band, Orchestra, etc.Music alumni may enjoy a dinner and concerton Friday night, and campus tours and a lun-cheon on Saturday. Also on Saturday, musicalumni will perform at the RPI vs. Boston University hockey game. (Rensselaer magazineis collecting stories from music alumni; pleasesee page 40.)

Phi Iota Alpha, the nation’s oldest Latinofraternity, will hold a cocktail reception on

Friday night; Saturday will feature a gala cele-bration of the fraternity’s 75th anniversary. A golf outing and closing ceremonies will roundout the weekend on Sunday.

Current students and their parents will cele-brate academic achieve-ment at Honors Convoca-tion, and on Saturday,events will include theLegacy Reception for thosestudents who have familymembers who have attend-ed Rensselaer.

Other events takingplace over the weekendinclude the Entrepreneur of the Year Celebration,RAA Board of Trustees

meetings, the Athletics Hall of Fame banquet,concerts, dancing, tours, and more.

“We hope that alumni will mark their calen-dars and plan to join us for what is shaping upto be an action-packed weekend on the Rens-selaer campus,” says Jeff Schanz, director ofalumni relations.

It’s an exciting time to be on campus. For more information on FallFest activities,contact Peter Pedone at (518) 276-6061 or [email protected].

Come Back to Campus for FallFest

A music alumni reunion, Homecoming, Family Weekend, and more will combine to create FallFest Oct. 13-15.

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A U G U S T

20 Navigating Rensselaer & Beyond.First-year students begin a nearly

weeklong orientation program designed to in-troduce them to Rensselaer, to the area, andto each other. The program includes adven-ture-based experiences, historical and cultur-al activities, and community service opportu-nities designed to help with the transition toRensselaer. Additional activities include awelcome barbecue, Freshman Convocation,and offerings from clubs and departmentsacross campus. www.rpi.edu/fye/nrb2006

22 Legacy Move-in Day Reception.Rensselaer “legacies” (those with a

relative who went to Rensselaer) will havethe opportunity to meet other first-year lega-cy students and their families as they begintheir Rensselaer experience. Heffner AlumniHouse. For information, contact LindsayShea at [email protected] or (518) 276-8719.

27 Class of 2010 Convocation. Rensse-laer’s newest class is officially wel-

comed into the community at this campusevent. ’86 Field.

S E P T E M B E R

25 Nanotechnology 2006 Conference.Students and alumni are welcome

to attend a conference exploring the op-portunities in commercialization of nano-science, nanotechnology, and related sci-ence and engineering fields. Sponsored bythe Rensselaer Nanotechnology Center,Office of Alumni Relations, Bawa Biotech-nology Consulting, and Foley Lardner.www.alumni.rpi.edu/nanotech2006.html.

O C T O B E R

13FallFest. The weekend of Oct. 13-16will be a busy one on the Troy cam-

pus. Homecoming, Family Weekend, theRAA Board meeting, the Legacy Recep-tion, a gathering of music alumni, and the75th anniversary of the founding of PhiIota Alpha fraternity will all be rolled intoone. For more information, contact PeterPedone at [email protected] or (518) 276-6061.

13 Alumni MusicFest. Former mem-bers of RPI’s music groups are in-

vited to get together on campus duringFallFest weekend. Scheduled activities in-clude receptions and buffet dinners, cam-pus tours, and a chance to perform at theRPI vs. BU hockey game. Contact HowardHenze ’69 at [email protected] orPeter Pedone at [email protected] to besure you’re on the mailing list.

1375th Anniversary of Phi Iota AlphaFraternity. As part of FallFest

weekend, Phi Iota Alpha will celebrate 75 years at Rensselaer. For details, con-tact Hansel Baez ’06 at [email protected] or Victor Marrero at [email protected], or visit www.phiota.net.

14 Legacy Reception. Join with otherRensselaer legacy students and

their families for a special afternoon.Heffner Alumni House. For information,contact Lindsay Shea at [email protected] or (518) 276-8719.

15 RAA Worldwide Travel Program Visits China. Last year’s program

was a huge success, with 50 Rensselaeralums and family members participating inwhat all agreed was “the trip of a lifetime.”This year’s trip will visit Beijing, Xi’an,Hangzhou, Shanghai, the Yangtze River,Guilin, and Hong Kong. Contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] or (518) 276-6205. www.alumni.rpi.edu/ap/travel.html.

20Men’s Hockey at the University ofDenver. Join other RPI fans in the

area for pre- and post-game events, andmeet Seth Appert, the new men’s hockeycoach. Contact Peter Pedone at [email protected] or (518) 276-6061 to be sure youare on the mailing list to get more detailswhen they are available.

N O V E M B E R

6RAA Worldwide Travel Program VisitsSouth America: Chile, Argentina,

Uruguay, and Brazil. Visit Buenos Aires,Colonia del Sacramento, Iguaçu Falls, andRio, among other sites on this tour of thebest of South America. Contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] or (518) 276-6205. www.alumni.rpi.edu/ap/travel.html.

9RAA Worldwide Travel Program VisitsBudapest & Prague. Spend three nights

in Budapest (Hungary) at a deluxe five-starhotel; then travel by first-class rail to Pragueto spend four nights at the InterContinentalPrague Hotel. Contact Alumni Relations at [email protected] or (518) 276-6205.www.alumni.rpi.edu/ap/travel.html.

EVENTSCALENDAR



39 I have been in touch with most of the“Survivors” who have e-mail, and try-ing to get in touch with some of the

rest if they will cooperate. Will probably get outanother mailing for the next issue.

Henry Mitchell (BME) writes to me regularly.He makes his home in the winter at BradentonTropical Palms, a mobile home park, and expects togo back to his Lake George home in summer atDunham’s Bay. Met his son, Phil ’79, at theReunion, and he makes paper pulp from trees inGlens Falls, N.Y. He is still able to drive at night.

Rob Jenny (BAE) has had two cataract opera-tions, is still able to get around, and lives in a top-floor apartment overlooking Lake Washington inSeattle. Has had his share of illness, and holdingup well considering that he is 89, a year older thanI am. He has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in the area to look in on him, andtells me that he has a workbench where he enjoysexperimenting, making metal parts and boat andairplane models. He misses his patent work, whichhe did for many years in the Seattle area. One grand-son, married, lives in Boston and has two great-grand-sons there. He exercises on a treadmill, which is some-thing all seniors should do, that is, exercise. I do mineby walking in the mall or in large grocery stores.

Charles Gurley Estey (BME), ’39 and ’41, doesa lot of driving day and night, sails a 25-foot sloopon a lake near Amsterdam. He swims in the sum-mer and shovels snow in the winter, and is a vol-unteer for the local Senior Wheelchair Van for eighthours every Thursday. Has two daughters in theSan Francisco Bay area and one son lives near him. Last year he joined with two men of the Classof ’38 (Jack Muddiman and Braham Norwick)and helped celebrate the 75th anniversary of theRPI Players.

Bob Cox, (BEE) ’39 and (MEE) ’40, lives inKansas City, living in a villa where outside main-tenance is provided. Keeping up with five childrenand six grandchildren keeps him occupied. Duringthe summer he drives to Michigan where he does alot of sailing and walking. They used to go southfor the winter, but not for the last couple of years,as the winters have not been as severe. He partici-pated in the “Collins net” on the ham radio bands,but when he moved to the villa, they allowed nooutside antennas, which cut out that activity thatalready had been reduced from 20 participants toabout three.

Doug Andrews (BAE), already 90 years old, hasthe usual problems of age. He had a hip replace-ment and where he lives in the Windham Falls

Estates retirement home he does not need a car.Although in good shape, Doug uses a walker at times to help steady his walking, until he gets a little stronger.

Dick Trepp (BCH) has stopped taking newclients for clock repair, as he stays as busy as hewants to be with the people who depend on him tokeep their time accurate. His wife, Wilma, is recov-ering nicely from her hip problem. I talk to Dickonce in a while on the telephone and get e-mailsfrom him at least once a week. At times he sendsme several jokes in a day. I visited him after the2004 (65th) Reunion, on my way down to seefriends and relatives in the Connecticut and NewYork area, before flying back to Mississippi.

Bob Hedstrom (BIE) writes via e-mail that heswims a lot, no longer water skis, but likes to jet ski.Goes to cardiac rehab and is on a treadmill for 35minutes twice a week. Drives locally at night, livesin the house he built in 1951. Fantastic, as I havelived in six different places since 1953. Bob has fivesons and many grandchildren (granddaughters andone grandson). He does a lot of volunteer work,such as preparing income tax at Baptist Village, isa member of OHS, which is the Pipe Organ His-torical Society, and SAG, which is Swedish Amer-ican Genealogists. He has many other hobbies,which will be reported in later columns. Bobreceived additional education at Wallace College(local), Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., andBYU in Utah. When I first contacted Bob almostfour years ago, he was with his family business inAlabama, where they produced toys, baby carriages,cribs, and other products. The Hedstrom name isvery familiar to those who have used baby prod-ucts. During WWII they produced ailerons for theCorsair, and hundreds of parts used in helicopters.He would like to hear from other industrial engi-neers. He can be reached at [email protected].

A short note on the difference between 1939and 2006. In 1939, after graduation, I drove to Cal-ifornia and back with my mother, as we had neverbefore that been west of Chicago. We drove in a’39 Mercury, were gone 30 days, and traveled 8,000miles. Staying at “tourist homes,” which was thenorm before motels, just on the outskirts of citieswe passed through, as there were no Interstates.Went the northern route going out, seeing Rush-more Memorial (still under construction), Yellow-stone National Park, San Francisco, and from LosAngeles we came back on the southern route, vis-iting the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. Thistrip originated in Connecticut where I grew up. Thecost was $240 for food, gasoline, and lodging for

Class Notes

Commencement 2006: At Rensselaer’s 200th Com


mencement exercises May 20, approximately 1,300 students were awarded their degrees, including 928 bachelor’s, 286 master’s, and 98 doctorates.

GA

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two. That figured 1 cent a mile for gasoline, as theaverage was 21 mpg and .21 per gallon. 1 cent a milefor food and 1 cent a mile for lodging. Today it couldcost upwards of $6,000 to take the same trip.

I invite you to look at my new photography Website. It covers the details of my 80 years of photog-raphy and at the same time a link takes you to RPIand other places. Since going digital in 2000, I havedone a lot of photography, and even included thealbino squirrel caught digitally in June 2004 at my65th Reunion. The short bio tells you a bit aboutwhat I did after graduation, except that it coversphotography mostly, especially the personal page.The link to my site is http://loushornick.com/.

Send news to: Lou Shornick ’39, 108 RoyalGarden Terrace, Madison, MS 39110-7637; h:(601) 853-0265; [email protected]

41 Stephanie Schnatz, daughter of FredSchnatz, who died in October 2003, waslooking forward to talking with class-

mates of her dad at Reunion ’06. She wrote: “I wouldlove to record their stories about my Dad’s years atRPI. He loved RPI and I can remember attendingreunions as a child with him. My cousin’s son wasaccepted early admittance to RPI for the fall so I amglad we are keeping this a tradition in the family.The whole family is thrilled that Andy will be attend-ing RPI. His parents are hoping Dad will be lookingover Andy’s shoulder with a little help. RPI is tough!

“I would appreciate any news about former class-mates or football players who may be attending thereunion. Dad was captain and quarterback of theteam.” Stephanie can be reached at [email protected].

Marjorie Hopkins sent the following news abouther parents: “Art Johnson and his wife, Betty, arein residence at the Van Rensselaer Manor in Troy,N.Y. They just celebrated their 59th weddinganniversary on April 5. Dad always has great memories of his days at RPI and about being a PKA brother. He can be contacted by calling me at(518) 462-0399.

“Following the mention of their old friends, Kittyand Bob Havens, in the Fall issue, I contacted theHavenses and we shared updated photos. Thereprobably aren’t too many ’41s left to attend theReunion, but they are still chugging along.”

Send news to: Class Notes, Office of Communi-cations, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY12180; phone: (518) 276-8574; [email protected]

42 65th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 I’msure all you young World War II typesremember the story of a sailor, just

arriving on shore, who asked a shipmate for a nick-el to call a friend. The mate replied, “Here’s a dime;call all your friends.”

I had an idea. Suppose I offer each one of youwho writes in about his latest activities $2 as a one-time incentive, and you’ll get your postage back andbe able to write to “all your friends” with the remain-ing money. I’m serious, and can afford youravalanche of writings to come, since I am neitherrich nor broke. Actually, you’d be surprised howone person’s writing triggers an interest in someone

in our class or surrounding classes.Oh, the last time I noted Ben Stein’s impend-

ing move. It is a fete accomplished (I can’t spell inFrench). His new address is: The Shelburne BaySenior Living Center, 185 Pine Haven Shore Road,Apt. 223, Shelburne, VT 05482. New phone is (802)846-9243.

Mail coming into our house is swamping us.Almost none of it personal, generally. Any of youever get a letter from a politician asking for money? Ha!

Last Reunion, Helen and I had a nice talk withDor (D’Orville) Doty and his wife while at the artexhibit upstairs in the Student Union and I wrote tothem about Reunion next year. That letter cameback, I found a better address, and this time Dorreceived my letter and sent back a nice letter in return.

Dor said he was finally closing his tent on tech-nical committee work for ASME, AWS, andNBB&PVI. The last one, the National Board ofBoiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, had just rec-ognized him for an unprecedented 26 years of ser-vice on the National Board Advisory Committee.The executive director said Dor’s knowledge of thewelding industry is unmatched.

Dor writes: “From now on, it is full-time play.We have a daughter and a son. Both are married.Our daughter has a Ph.D. in sociology fromColumbia and works for the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services in Washington, D.C.Our son has a B.Mech.E. from RPI, Class of ’72,and a M.Civil.E. from U. of Michigan. He is exec-utive VP for Vectron, a large public utility in Indi-ana. Both of our children are married and we havethree granddaughters. One is married, one is aboutto be married, and one is 15 years old.”

Dor retired in 1985 as senior metallurgical andproduct consultant for U.S. Steel Corp., then formedDoty and Associates. He and his wife, Yvonne, livein Pittsburgh. They hope to join us at our nextReunion in 2007.

In 10 little months, I want to see all you “sick,lame, and lazy” survivors in Troy. Even if you’vepassed away, send your ghost, and we’ll skip the reg-istration fee. Since I must live to be 120 years oldto clean up my basement, I’ll be there. Be well.

Send news to: Ed Koenig, P.E. ’42, 33 StoneFence Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924-1713; h: (908)766-1117

43 You probably caught the “In Memori-am” item in the last magazine aboutFrank Knudsen’s death last fall. Frank

served as class correspondent after Paul Witbeckpassed away in 2001 and then passed the duties alongto me some months back when his Parkinson’s afflic-tion made it too tough for him to continue. He’s beena tough act to follow.

Frank went into the Navy after graduation andthen into a family business. His interest in educationled him to an M.A. from Columbia in that field in1967 and he spent the next 18 years teaching histo-ry and social studies in Lakeland High School in ShrubOak, N.Y. His expertise in the field was highly regard-ed by both students and colleagues. Outside of edu-

cation, Frank was a passionate fan of baseball at alllevels. A faithful follower of Major League seasons,he also coached Little League teams for many years.He embraced the National Hockey League with equalpassion. He was a great help to me in getting set upto keep tabs on the whereabouts of the Class of 1943.

Speaking of whereabouts, the news is getting pret-ty spotty. How about loosening up and sharing someof your doings with your fellow classmates? As for me,I should be out on the golf course and trekking myarchery range by the time you read this. One thingabout these “lifetime sports”; you don’t outgrow themand as your memory fades, you don’t realize how badyou’ve gotten, so they are still a lot of fun.

Send news to: Dick Sage ’43, 82 Hunter Lane,Queensbury, NY 12804; [email protected]

44 In the past I have complained about nothearing from you gentlemen and thushaving to use my ample supply of you-

know-what to fill out a column. I hate to see a nameand a year and nothing else for ’44 in the magazine.For once since I have been doing this job, I have acase of writer’s block.

Got a nice note from Walt Dankhoff and anaccompanying transcript of an interview he had in November 2000 at a time he was selected as oneof our Space Pioneers. After reading this transcript I can say unequivocally that it was an honor long overdue. With all those Roman candles he has played with over the years, it’s a wonder one of themdidn’t blow up and relieve him of some part of his anatomy.

Walt was one of the original ROTC class to begraduated and commissioned in December ’43. Sincehe asked for sea duty, he was assigned to a Jeep car-rier with the 7th fleet. The ship got kamikazed in theSulu Sea while escorting old “I Shall Return” backto the Philippines. In the resulting mess the Navylost track of Walt and he was reported MIA. Butsince RPI guys watch our for each other, WesDeCarteret knew he was on the New Mexico andhe was found much to the relief of his family back in Troy.

After getting his master’s at RPI he went to workfor GE studying and designing ramjet propulsion sys-tems. Part of the job was using liberated V-2s as fly-ing test beds and working with liberated Germanengineers including the well-known Wernher vonBraun. Walt was at the front door of rockets and ram-jets in the U.S. in the post-war era. While GE sort ofblew their advantage Walt stuck with it and what acareer it gave him. Incidentally when one of theseunguided V-2s got off course they had the distinc-tion of bombing a cemetery in Juarez, Mexico.

From GE he moved on to Marquardt where heworked on a boron hydride-fueled ramjet for theBomarc missile. From boron hydride he moved onto liquid air cycle propulsion for the Aero Spaceplaneproject. That program represented our first realthoughts of traveling in outer space. They still haven’tgiven up on the propulsion system today althoughthe whole thing is just too heavy to do the job.

When NACA became NASA Walt went to workfor NASA Lewis where he became project manageron the M-1, a million-and-a-half-pound hydrogen-


CLASSNOTES


oxygen engine development for the Apollo mission.The program got canceled as so many of them didbut we could sure use something like that today. Hisyears with NASA until he retired in 1985 includework on Viking Mars Lander, Space Shuttle mainengine, all of the various investigative boards whenthere was a problem (they were called failure reviewboards), shuttle external tank, and solid rocket boost-ers. Basically the whole shuttle propulsion systemexcept the attitude control rockets. To keep busyafter he decided to retire, he has consulted withThiokol, Aerojet, and the ANSER Corp. His latestposition is executive secretary of the Space PropulsionSynergy Team, a group that makes recommenda-tions and suggestions for encouraging and coordi-nating the management of space propulsion in thiscountry. Incidentally while he was doing all this heremarried and has a son who should be 19 this year.

Walt is living at 43 Turkey Hill Road, Merrimack,NH 03054; e-mail [email protected]; telephone(603) 424-7381.

Recently Bob Barnes and I were talking aboutthe fact that RPI was always known for turning outhands-on engineers and how that affected our owncareers such as they were. Reading this interviewwith Walt Dankhoff just reinforces that observation.

Have a great summer and keep takin’ them pills.Send news to: Walter “Mac” MacCarthy ’44,

5927 LaCumbre Drive, McKinney, TX 75070-6334

45 When the Navy sent “Orders” to theNROTC students at RPI and otherssigned up for the V-12 program, they

shaped the careers of many of us. They kept us ontrack toward a degree, but at the same time pre-sented a whole new set of opportunities. As youcan see below it made a dedicated Seabee out ofDavid Cunning. Thanks to Dick Reich ’47, whosent along the following news about David.

David P. Cunning, captain, Civil EngineerCorps, United States Navy, died Jan. 30 after a longbattle with prostate cancer, in his home in La Mesa,Calif. He wanted to be remembered as a “Seabee,”a loving father and husband, and a man who con-tributed to not only the U.S. Navy but to the larg-er San Diego community.

Captain Cunning was recognized with the Mer-itorious Service Medal by the President of the Unit-ed States for “outstandingly meritorious service asPublic Works Officer, Naval Air Station, NorthIsland 1967 to 1971.” David was also decoratedwith the Legion of Merit, with Combat ‘V’ in recog-nition of his “extraordinary meritorious conductin the performance as Director of Construction,Qui Nhon, Vietnam 1966 to 1967.”

David headed the successful Master Plan for theNaval Air Station, North Island. It had been underdevelopment for over 10 years and was completedby David. He was committed to the community ofSan Diego beyond his role in the U.S. Navy. Whilestill a captain, Civil Engineer Corps, he was madea member of the National Association of Superin-tendents of the U.S. Naval Shore Establishments—the first time that a Public Works Officer of anyNavy activity in the San Diego area has ever beenso honored.

CLASSNOTES

On the Bookshelf: RECENT BOOKS BY ALUMNI AUTHORS

The Wynants Kill: a small stream, but mightyRobert J. Lilly ’39 • aGatherin’, 2005

The Wynants Kill is a minortributary of the Hudson Riverin Rensselaer County, N.Y.,but the history of its 300years of industrial develop-ment is rich in both narrativesand themes, and its contribu-tion to the growth of both Troy and Albany is important.

The author has researched property records, pub-lished histories, newspaper accounts, and locallore to understand the complexities of the story.In this book he weaves together the fortunes of the mills that were built along its banks withthe development of cooperation among the millowners, by a close examination of the papers ofthe Wynants Kill (Improvement) Association.

Robert Lilly ’39 is a retired engineer with the New York State Office of General Servicesand a resident of Glass Lake in the Wynants Killwatershed.

AdrenalineJohn Benedict, M.D. ’78 • Sterling House, 2005

In this medical thriller/murdermystery, patients start dyingunexpectedly in the OR at Mercy Hospital, and anesthesi-ologist Doug Landry finds him-self the focus of the blame. As Landry struggles to clear hisname and unravel the secret of the mysterious deaths, it

becomes clear that someone will stop at nothingto keep him from exposing the truth. From theboardroom to the recovery room to the climax inthe operating room, Landry becomes trapped in agrisly race against time to prevent more deaths—including his own.

John Benedict ’78, M.D., is an anesthesiolo-gist in private practice in Harrisburg, Pa.ADRENALINE is his first novel.

The Best Practices EnterpriseJames Kerr ’87 • J. Ross Publishing, 2006

This guide to achieving sustain-able world-class performanceprovides guiding principles tosenior executives and bestpractices to managers that cantransform a firm into an organi-zation capable of dominating its industry. The author assertsthat there are seven best prac-

tices that are indispensable in this era of rapidchange, increasing customer demands, andintense global competition. These best practicesare supported by nearly 50 real examples andexcerpts from actual projects to demonstrate howmultiple organizations have institutionalized them.

James Kerr, M.S. ’87, is the managing partnerat Kerr Consulting Group, and an adjunct profes-sor at Rensselaer at Hartford.

Fundamentals of Industrial CatalyticProcessesRobert Farrauto ’68 and C.H. Bartholomew •Wiley and Sons, 2005

FUNDAMENTALS OF INDUSTRIAL

CATALYTIC PROCESSES, secondedition, is a combinationhandbook and textbook thatpresents an up-to-dateaccount of important catalyst,reactor, and process tech-nologies for important catalyt-ic processes practiced in a

wide range of industries, including the chemical,petroleum, electric utility, food, transportation,and emission-control industries. Integrating sci-ence fundamentals necessary to the design andpractice of these processes, the book addressesimportant basic principles of heterogeneous,homogenous, enzymatic, and polymer catalysis.

Robert Farrauto, Ph.D. ’68, is a research fel-low with Engelhard Corp. and an adjunct profes-sor of earth and environmental engineering atColumbia University.

Fluorinated Coatings and FinishesHandbookLaurence W. McKeen ’73 • William Andrew Publishing, 2006

The HANDBOOK OF FLUORINATED

COATINGS AND FINISHES: THE

DEFINITIVE USER’S GUIDE is botha reference and a tutorial forunderstanding fluoropolymercoatings. It discusses thebasics of fluorocoating formu-lations, including ingredientsand production processes.

Also covered are the coating and curing process-es, and defects and trouble-shooting solutions,testing performance, and sample commercialapplications. The book addresses questions fre-quently posed by end-user design engineers,coaters, and coatings suppliers.

Laurence McKeen ’73 began his career withDuPont in 1978 as a mass spectroscopist, butmoved into product development in the Teflon Finishes Group in 1980. His efforts have led todozens of commercial products.


In the President’s and many other commenda-tions, David has been described as: “professional,competent, resourceful, selfless, possessing broadvision, experienced, having managerial ability anddynamic personal leadership, and devoted to duty.”

After retiring from the Navy, David joined thefirm of M.L. Chilcote grading and land develop-ment, for over five years (retiring in 1988). As exec-utive vice president in charge of land developmentand acting liaison to city and county agencies, hemet with multiple civic leaders and helped to cre-ate and enhance local communities.

He was a scholar-athlete. David captained hishigh school ice hockey team, played varsity base-ball, and was a member of the 1939 New EnglandAmerican Legion Baseball Champions. He wasawarded the Elks Scholar Athlete Scholarship.David attended the University of New Hampshirewhere he was a leader on the ice hockey team andcatcher of the 1943 New England baseball cham-pionship team. The Navy sent him to Rensselaerto complete his engineering studies in the Navy V-12 program, receiving his B.S. in civil engineeringin 1944 and his M.S. from the University of Illinoisin 1954.

David loved golf! His golf partners over manyyears remember him as “a gentleman to the end.”David joins his parents and his siblings in heaven.He will also be able to reunite with his beloved firstwife, Lee, the mother of his four children, who alsopassed away of cancer in 1972. David is survivedby his wife, Patricia Gress Cunning, and his fourchildren.

An e-mail from George Meyer (BMet) said: “Justgot the Winter edition of Rensselaer. The campussure looks different (and better) than it did in ’41and ’47.

“I am off to Belgium again to participate inMemorial Day celebrations at the military ceme-teries, visit with the many friends that I have madeover the years and many visits, and to do a littlemore eating and drinking than normal. I am takingan old buddy and Navy vet with me, so it will beanother invasion, but from the West.

“A few months ago, people from Boulder, Colo.,

bought the house next door. Yep, you guessed it—Class of ’53, an ME. I have also run into other RPIgrads at the local MOAA meetings (Military Offi-cers Assoc. Am.). We do get around!

“I am wearing out a little, but going strong. I amstill into auto restoration, but I do think that I havejust finished my last one. I just can’t lift those V-8s any more!

“I still live in the village of Willow Street, justsouth of Lancaster, Pa.”

Send your news and/or story to me, at theaddress below. If you have questions, call (805)937-0628.

Send news to: Herb Asbury ’45, 4435 Foxen-wood Lane, Santa Maria, CA 93455-6718; h: (805)937-0628; [email protected]

46 Herb Englehardt dropped me a niceNew Year’s note saying he was planningon joining us at the Class Reunion.

Hopefully with his wife, Ann. His letter came as Iwas leaving for Florida to do some canoeing, whichI am sure Herb and Ann would have enjoyed. It is agreat time of year for canoeing as there are no bugsand the ’gators are dormant.

Ev Britz wrote about a visit he and his wife, Billie,had with Mary and Don Rex in the Catskills. He says“the four of us celebrated with lunch in Roscoe...allin reasonably good health.” A trout fisherman friendsays that “no one” except trout fishermen go toRoscoe. A second letter from Ev confirmed that bothhe and Billie fish but the Roscoe location just hap-pened to be a convenient midway point for meetingDon and Mary. Ev gave me a bit of his personal his-tory. From RPI he was assigned to a destroyer wherehe became torpedo officer before getting out in ’46.He was called back and became executive officer ona DD in the Korean War. In ’48, he met and mar-ried Billie while working for S. Morgan Smith, a man-ufacturer of hydro machinery. A couple years laterhe got seriously involved in real estate and that washis major activity until the mid-’90s. For the last 10years he has consulted for Intertek, a worldwide indus-trial testing service. Those of you in the Big Apple’sRAA chapter are familiar with Ev’s efforts on behalf

of RPI. These have been recognized by various alum-ni awards and a stint as president of the RAA.

Another note came from George Chalmers, nowliving in Bangor, Maine. George, an AE, had a careerin the architectural hardware business. He reportshe is in good health and was looking for company forthe drive to the reunion.

Jim Duke and Harry Apkarian responded to myplea for news. Jim to say that he was amused that ourclass had been omitted from the list of classes for thereunion but predicted we would have a reasonableturnout, maybe even have a few classmates hobblingthrough the parade. Harry told about his appoint-ment as Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Union College(Union knows where to find a good man) and hisparticipation in the RPI trustees meeting discussingthe exciting things happening on campus.

Send news to: Ed Miller ’46, Apt. 112, Bel-trone Living Center, 6 Winners Circle, Albany, NY12205; [email protected]

47 60th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 First,the bad news. Had several exchangeswith Audrey Kremzier. Her husband,

Emil Kremzier, died on Feb. 3. The primary causewas pneumonia. Emil was a Schenectady native,born Jan. 7, 1923. I first met Emil at the LewisPropulsion Tunnel in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1954; Iwas there on a test for Consolidated Vultee Air-craft Co., later known as Convair. Emil and I com-pared notes after he noticed my RPI class ring. Afew years later, he came to Convair to join the groupI was in—thermodynamics. He got his BAE inFebruary 1947. I came back to RPI in February 1947and finished the requirements for my BAE in June1947. Emil had been in NROTC at RPI and beencommissioned and served on the USS Bunker Hill.His studies at RPI were interrupted and he had tocome back to finish his BAE. Sometime later, hegot a pilot’s license and enjoyed recreational flying.In addition to Convair, Emil worked for Hughesand Ryan. After retiring, Emil and Audrey movedto Cottonwood, Ariz. They celebrated their 55thanniversary in September 2005. They had no chil-dren. Audrey was born in Ohio and they met whileEmil was at Lewis Lab. Audrey wrote about Emil’spassing; she may eventually move back to Ohio.Her address is: Audrey M. Kremzier, 5260 EastWhisper Ridge, Cornville, AZ 86325-4810.

On a lighter note, the visit to San Diego by Gloriaand George Powellmentioned in my previous reportcame to be in the last week of March. I had also talkedwith good friend Dr. C. Budd Cohenabout the Pow-ell visit and Budd and Bea were happy to join us fora mini-reunion. The Cohens arrived early on the30th and stayed in a hotel close to the restaurantwhere we would have dinner. Mary and I joined thePowells and the Cohens and it was a fun time. Afterdinner, we adjourned to the Reich residence fordessert and more talk. Budd brought along a few pic-tures featuring George in Church 3 dorm during theV-12 days. George is holding a slide rule—remem-ber those? We did not talk about a 60th reunion in’07—is anyone thinking about one? If so, where? Weare not getting any younger, that’s for sure! The vis-itors all went home the next day, the 31st.

CLASSNOTES

Send Us Your Musical Memories

All alumni who were mem-bers of campus music

organizations during their stu-dent years are invited to attend the Alumni MusicFest, whichwill take place during FallFest2006, Oct. 13-15. Activities willinclude campus tours, a recep-tion for Friends of Joel Dolven, a hockey game, and of course,rehearsals and performances.

RENSSELAER magazine invites those who planto participate in the weekend, as well as thosewho are unable to attend, to write about thespecial, noteworthy experiences you remember

from your student musical daysWe’d love to see photos, too.

Send your memories to:Meg GallienOffice of Strategic Communications and External RelationsRPI110 8th StreetTroy, NY 12180

For more information on the weekend’s festivities, contact Howard Henze ’69 at [email protected] or Peter Pedone [email protected].


Send news to: Dick Reich ’47, 1210 LoringStreet, San Diego, CA 92109-1826

49 Ed Flanagan and his wife, Cille, live inOrmond Beach, Fla., from October toMay (for the weather) and in Groton,

Conn., from June through September (for the off-spring). Ed has agreed to serve as Class of ’49 correspondent, but avers that no one could truly succeed the late Joe Clark. He asks that ’49 class-mates “help the old man out” by sending updatesto his summer address or his winter address (bothlisted at end of column).

Ed submitted the following column to get thingsstarted:

Ralph Bodie retired as works manager for Mid-way Co., Lodi, N.J., where he developed manufac-turing methods for experimental components forthe aerospace industry. His efforts to serve in WWIImake for a compelling story:

Having a partially paralyzed left arm since birth,he was rejected for enlistment after Pearl Harbor.He left home with $1.05 in his pocket and hitch-hiked from Lansingburgh to Los Angeles, where hearrived broke but grateful for random acts of kind-ness along the way. He was rebuffed by the mer-chant marine, washed dishes, learned the sheetmetal trade at night school, then worked at NorthAmerican Aviation on the B-25 auxiliary bomb bayfuel tanks. Homesick, Ralph hitchhiked back Eastand worked in Troy as a junior draftsman.

Still under 20, he was accepted for limited mili-tary service, attended Bombsight and AutopilotSchool, and served at Whitehorse Air Force Base inthe Yukon, a stopover for new aircraft being flownby women pilots to Russia. He went to Kearney,Neb., and flew with new B-17 and B-29 crews tocheck autopilot operation. There, he met his firstwife and mother of his three daughters, two of whomarrived while he studied for his management degreeand lived in Renwyck.

Losing two wives, Ralph met Doris while play-ing duplicate bridge; they married in 1996. Theyhave seven grandchildren and eight greats. Theylive in Westport, N.Y., and Ralph still enjoys fish-ing and bridge. He credits his Troy boyhood peerswho ignored his disability and treated him like any-one else, as did the Air Force. Says Ralph, “I wasvery happy about that.”

Following three years as a Naval flight officer,Richard Pfundstein earned his bachelor’s and mas-ter’s degrees at Rensselaer leading to an interestingcareer in geotechnical engineering and civil designfor transportation and tunnel projects in many states.He received an ISPE Professional ManagementAward in 1990.

Dick and Clem (now recovering well from a kneereplacement) have five children, 21 grandchildren,and six greats! One grandson graduated from RPI in2004. Oldest daughter Joanne’s two sons and daugh-ter are West Point graduates, two of them veteransof Iraq. Another daughter, Cathy Gray, is current-ly president of the National Society of ProfessionalEngineers.

Dick serves on the board of directors of Mark-lund Children’s Home for multiple-handicapped

children, and he continues to work part time for aWheaton, Ill., civil engineering firm, reviewing pro-jects for standards and code compliance. His fami-ly keeps his hobby of photography well-employed.

Dick Bumstead and his wife, Marylou, are mov-ing to a retirement community west of Media, Pa.,having sold their Wallingford home to their daugh-ter and family. Dick’s entire career with Piasec-ki/Vertol/Boeing associated him with various helicopter designs, including the CH-46 (SeaKnight) and CH-47 (Chinook), which are deployedin Iraq. He attends nearby meetings of the Ameri-can Helicopter Society and lunches with other Boeing retirees.

He speaks warmly of joining the RPI Glee Clubunder Joel Dolven, which led to his singing with theDelaware (Pa.) County Choral Society. Sailing, pho-tography, genealogy, four children, and nine grand-children keep him active. Although Dick some-times thought he should have majored in manage-ment, he credits his great background in aeronau-tical engineering at RPI with his long and success-ful career. He fondly remembers fraternity life, astreasurer and president of Chi Phi.

Burlington, Vt., has become the principal resi-dence of Donald Robinson and his wife, Mary Lou,who chose it over Melbourne, Fla., and the hurri-canes. They have five children and seven grand-children. Biking, swimming, and travel have beentheir main outdoor activities.

Don’s interesting career began with a B.Ch.E.and B.Mgt.E. at RPI. After a stint with EastmanKodak and four years in the Army during the Kore-an War, he obtained an M.D. at U. of Penn. After17 years in academic medicine, he became VP andhead of CNS Drug Development for Bristol-MyersSquibb and continues as an independent consul-tant to the pharmaceutical industry.

Don and his wife enjoy all of the arts—theaterand music especially. He recalls Dick Bumstead andagrees that Joel Dolven’s one-semester courseincreased his appreciation immensely. Dolven’s sonwas the school master of Hamden Hall when theRobinsons’ daughter Sara attended there in the ’80s.Don is in touch with Theta Chi brothers Tom Evansand Bill Thoen, of the Class of ’50, and NancyDeloye Fitzroy, who attended Pittsfield High Schoolalong with Don and Tom.

Send news to: Ed Flanagan ’49, 75 Crown KnollCourt, #97, Groton, CT 06340 (June throughSept.); 203 S. Orchard St., Apt. 5B, Ormond Beach,FL 32174 (Oct. through May); [email protected]

50 John Arcate (BEE) wanted to let hisfriends know that he and his wife, Mar-cia, have moved into a new house after

43 years. It’s in the same town, Sleepy Hollow, butthe new home has a great view overlooking the Hud-son River to the south and to the west. Remem-bering my offer to help look up old RPI friends, heasked about Bob Armstrong. (Unfortunately Bobis listed as deceased in the 2005 directory.) Johnbecame a VP at Verizon after 40 years before heretired in 1989. He then started a second career asowner and president of Complan Associates, a telcoconsulting company, and was active in Puerto Rico,and in Europe from Helsinki to Istanbul. He retiredagain in 1999.

Fred Edwards (BME) says that what he remem-bers most of his days at RPI was playing in the band.He writes that he loved the halftime band maneu-vers at the football and lacrosse games. Fred retiredfrom Grumman Aerospace after 41 years in struc-tural design and analysis. He also played a role inGrumman Corp. as director of mergers and acqui-sitions. His leisure time activities in Holland, Pa.,

CLASSNOTES

James Mitchell ’51 has received the 2006American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL)Award for Education. Mitchell is University

Distinguished ProfessorEmeritus and Emeritus ViaProfessor of Civil and Environmental Engineeringat Virginia Tech.

The OPAL Awards honoroutstanding civil engineeringleaders whose accomplish-ments have made signifi-

cant differences in design, construction, public works, education, and management.Mitchell received the award April 26 at a dinner in Washington, D.C.

Mitchell’s career in geotechnical engineer-ing spans more than 50 years. He served asone of the leading engineers who assisted

NASA with its moon landings and developed a basic understanding of how lunar soilsbehave. He has contributed influential workon the chemistry and treatment of hazardouswastes in groundwater and to the understand-ing of how soils behave during earthquakes.His writings on seismic strengthening of dams are considered a classic contribution to the profession.

Before joining the Virginia Tech faculty in1994, Mitchell spent 36 years at the Universi-ty of California at Berkeley, where he held anendowed chair. In his career, he has advised74 Ph.D. students and has written more than350 publications, including the geotechnicalreference, FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL BEHAVIOR.

Among his numerous awards and honors,Mitchell was elected to the National Academyof Sciences in 1998 and the National Acade-my of Engineering in 1976.

James Mitchell ’51 Receives NationalEngineering Award

include gardening, reading, and church activities.John (Jack) Maisch (BME), in his reunion

update, wrote that the last reunion he attended washis 50th. He regrets that he was unable to make the55th. He retired from Electric Boat (Div. of Gen-eral Dynamics) after 36 years. He still lives in Gro-ton, Conn., and stays active sailing a small boat (22-foot), kayaking, and skiing in the wintertime. Heserves as chair of the local zoning board.

John Conrad Hofelich (BS, Phys.) specialized indeveloping abrasive products at Norton Co., Coat-ed Abrasives Div. He retired after 35 years and nowlives in Spartanburg, S.C. He writes that he didn’thave many memories of RPI as he was married andlived off campus. He was kept busy working most-ly at the treasurer’s office at school. He does remem-ber going to one of the proms and dancing to themusic of Vaughn Monroe. Before he retired he livedin Sand Lake, N.Y., where he was active with theLittle League and Boy Scouts. Since his retirement,his wife, Katherine, says he takes care of the gar-dening outside while she takes care of the inside.He also tries to get in some golf.

In my store of long-lost treasures, I found a con-cert-size handmade ukulele in mint condition. Agenuine Kamaka Uke given to me by my old buddyFred Kamaka when he and I hung out together inNew York after the Korean War. He and his broth-er Sam took over their father’s firm, the famousKamaka Ukulele Co. Now Virginia wants me tostave off Alzheimer’s by learning to play the ukulele,with absolutely no musical background. Does any-one have any suggestions of how to start?

I’m sure your classmates wish to hear from all ofyou, and letters are few. I want to let people knowhow you all are doing—so please write.

Send news to: Herb Kee ’50, 354 Broome Street,New York, NY 10013; h: (212) 219-8461; [email protected]

51 George Wheeler, chairman of theReunion Committee, helped plan a Classof 1951 dinner buffet, Meet the Trans-

fer Scholarship Recipients, and demonstrations byour Teacher Endowment Award winners: Drs. PhilipCasabella ’54 and Deepak Vashishth. Dr. Casabel-la presented a power point program showing howteaching undergraduate physics classes has movedinto the new millennium, and Dr. Vashishth’s powerpoint program demonstrated how a new millenni-um bio-med subject is taught.

John Martin says that he had planned to attendthe 50th, but a hip replacement wouldn’t allow thatto happen; he hoped to make the 55th. John tookROTC to pay for gasoline for his LaSalle, went inthe Army in mid-July ’51 and eventually to Koreawith many other alumni. He came back home andmarried Beth Nestler and worked a year at TexacoLabs. He went to MIT for a master’s in ME, com-bustion and engines. Then John worked on all kindsof diesel engines, and ended up in Phoenix in ’78 atGarrett working on all kinds of aircraft diesel engines;he is now consulting on that subject. He and Bethhave a son and daughter. They have two grand-daughters who bring them great joy. He and Bethare both in good health.

Bill Harris e-mails with the sad news of the pass-ing of Bob Tiel on Jan. 6, 2006. Bob had retired in2000 after seven years with Dassault Systems, pre-ceded by a 33-year career with IBM, preceded byeight years in the USAF. The alumni of 1951 wishto express our condolences to Bob’s family.

Stan Goodman e-mails for the first time fromIsrael. His address is [email protected] and heinvites those that wish to contact him to please doso. He had just received the Fall 2005 issue of thealumni magazine and explains the delay as follows:The way the distribution works in the local case isthat a stack of magazines is shipped as surface freightto an alumnus in Jerusalem, who places each copyinto its own envelope, stamps and addresses it (inhandwriting—no computer printed labels for him)and mails them. Sometimes two issues show up in asingle envelope. The Winter issue probably arrivedby about May. Stan says that he is still functional inmost senses, enjoying a quiet retirement, travelingabroad (U.S. and Europe) at least once per year.

Robert Hall, who lives in Grass Valley, Calif.,wrote that they had snow in their front yard and senta picture to prove it. He says that that is very unusu-al. At least, Bob, you wrote, so please don’t hesitateto do it again.

Finally, Ruth and I and our golden retriever plusour diabetic cat traveled to our daughter’s in Michi-gan and had a great time. I even let my 15-year-oldgranddaughter, who has a driving permit, drive sev-eral times while there. Ruth obtained her blue pointHimalayan kitten while there, making it an inter-esting, but wonderful trip home. The new kitten andour dog get along famously, washing each other’sfaces and eating out of the same dish.

Send news to: Fred Comstock ’51, 168 Main StreetNorth, Bethlehem, CT 06751-1401; [email protected]

52 55th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 DearGreat Class of 1952…We are gettingcloser to our 55th Class Reunion, so

start to think about coming back to Troy a year fromnow. You will be impressed by what is going on.

Recently, Susan Singer, B.S. ’81, M.S. ’82, Ph.D.’85, a professor of biology at Carleton College inNorthfield, Minn., made my day!...“I was reading theRPI alumni magazine and realized that I always goto the Class of ’52 news and wanted to thank you forsharing news of your class. My dad, Jeremiah (Jerry)Rundell, was a member of your class, a mechanicalengineering major. He died in a plane crash in 1972returning from a business trip for General Electric. Iwas 12, the oldest of his four children. I am an RPIalum myself and looking forward to my 25th Reunionat RPI this summer. As I read your notes on the Classof ’52 this morning, I realized that following your classhas helped me imagine what my dad’s life might havecontinued to be like and not have a memory com-pletely frozen in time. Thanks for that small, butmeaningful gift.”

I wrote back to Susan saying basically…Your dad’sdeath was a tragedy leaving your mom and four youngchildren. But, he would be very proud looking downfrom above. I then asked for information about hermother and her three siblings…“My mom, Jean

Nielsen Rundell, RS ’52, is an incredible person whototally committed herself to her children. She stilllives in their family home in Scotia enjoying her eightgrandchildren. My sister, Carolyn ’83, is a materialsengineer in Rochester married to my classmate, PaulFleming ’81. My sister, Diane, RS ’86, is a nurse liv-ing in East Greenbush. My brother, J. Glen Rundell,is president of the Information Management Groupin Albany. As for me, my husband is Gary Singer(Mat.E.) ’79, ’83, ’86.” Wow…what an extendedRPI/RS family. Special congratulations to mother,Jean, for persevering and raising such a promisingfamily. Thanks, Susan, our class will appreciate your update.

Sad news. I am sorry to report that GrahamWilliams, our class president and “Man in Troy”over all these years, passed away, unexpectedly, onMay 5 (see page 55). Our condolences are extendedto Patty and their daughters.

My telephone is not ringing and I’m not gettingyour input…Is anyone out there? Cheers to all.

Send news to: C.J. Nager ’52, Three SunrisePoint Lane, River Hills Plantation, Lake Wylie, SC29710; [email protected]

53 I recently traveled through Hawaii andCalifornia wearing my RPI logo hat andjacket. I was amazed at how many peo-

ple approached me with some comment like “ter-rific school” or “do you know so and so.” It is a greatopener and you meet some of the nicest people. Greatpromotion for RPI.

Herb Beller sent a note correcting my spelling ofD.B. Steinman (nice to be back in school). CraigWoodworth requested the graduation speech andcommented, “concerning engineering research, lead-ership, and ideals—it is just as applicable today as itwas 53 years ago.” Craig retired 18 years ago fromNiagara Mohawk (now National Grid) after a 35-year career. He still works part time at the BuffaloCable Department with various titles such as employ-ee, contractor, part-timer, and Kelley Services (Kel-ley “Girl”). He trains cable splicers. Craig and hiswife, Ruth, were awarded the “1997 Persons of theYear” from the Kenmore Presbyterian Church. Theyboth volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. His railroadhobby has led them to train trips through Canada,New Zealand, and Hawaii. Next stop is Alaska. Craighas been a presenter at historical and church groups.He even made a major speech at the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Theyalso stay young as their nine grandchildren all live nearby. Craig keeps up with Lou Erwin fromJackson, Mich.

Hank Asch has developed a wonderful newcareer as a part-time feature writer for the LakelandLedger in Auburndale, Fla. His columns are called“First Person.” Some of his subjects have been intel-ligent design, look-alikes, time on a dude ranch,wanderlust, family ties, and a treat to work (volun-teer) in Yellowstone Park. You can download Lake-land Ledger and look for Hank Asch articles, whichare quite excellent.

After 20 years as a Maryland Democratic legis-lator (eight in the House and 12 as a senator), LenTeitelbaum has decided to retire. His career dis-

CLASSNOTES


played particular excellence in the economy, ethics,and the environment among his many accomplish-ments. A frenzy has developed in the Democraticparty to fill his seat. Len also has a successful busi-ness career as an entrepreneur distributing computerproducts. His son runs the business. Behind everysuccessful man is a great “Abigail Adams.” Len andMarilyn have been married more than 50 years andthey have two grandchildren. Len is living proof thatengineers make fine politicians. To begin their retire-ment they will celebrate with a trip they won toBudapest and Prague. Bon voyage!

Send news to: Arthur Goldstein ’53,940 SylvanLane, Mamaroneck, NY 10543; w: (914) 833-1039; h:(914) 777-0009; fax: (914) 833-1048; [email protected]

54 I received an annual greeting from LeeHarris Pomeroy Architects that pic-tures their proposal (one of six propos-

als in a limited international architectural competi-tion for a signature building in the heart of China’sTianjin Economic Development Area). The verti-cally twisted exterior steel façade design for this twin,100-story mixed-use tower looks back into the futureand takes its form from historic precedent. It’s liketwo twisted bodies dancing on the dance floor. Lee hasdone several architectural building designs in Chinain the past several years and will probably continuedoing so with this newest entry.

With the advent of computers, many people havebeen working on their family’s genealogies. Two ofour classmates have done so (and I’m certain thatthere are many others that I haven’t heard of). Augus-to “Gus” Gautier and his wife, Nydia, have tracedGus’s family tree back six generations of those bornin Puerto Rico. Edgar Noguera and his wife, Sibyl,who have lived for many years in Annapolis, Md.,lived, I believe they told me, next door to each otheras children in a small town outside Bogota, Colom-bia, S.A. But soon after Edgar graduated from RPIand returned home, he decided to return to the U.S.and make it his home as an architect. They have donean extensive genealogy on their family.

Who else out there has completed and/or is work-ing on one for their family? I have had the Geurtzefamily name history traced via research called ono-mastics (not a genealogy) that found my name derivedfrom the spelling of three origins of our name. Theearliest accounting of our spelling of our name was1657 when a Gerard, Matthias, and Wilhelm Geurtzedied. Apparently our name found its way fromSwitzerland, through Hamburg, Germany, and onto Amsterdam, Holland, where the bulk of my ances-tors came from. Have any of you classmates foundany famous or unusual characters in your familygenealogies? Send me your story and we can share itwith all our alumni.

The RPI 50 Year Club lunch held on Feb. 15,2006, at the Holiday Inn, Highland Beach (EastCoast), Fla., was well attended by 39 alumni whocame to hear Frank Devine ’43, former ambassadorto El Salvador, share several of his adventures fromhis days in that position. Attendees were S.C. Adams’55 and Jo Adams, Paul Alpert ’56 and David Fish-er, Harriet Archbald ’50 and Robert Archbald,Joseph Bauman ’48, Leon Brown ’42 and Elizabeth

Brown, Michael Cahill ’49 and Elsie Cahill, RobertCook ’48, Dr. Nancy DeLoye Fitzroy ’49, ElliottFine ’48, Stan Greenblath ’46 and Mary Green-blath, George Leeson ’49, Joseph Leggett ’40 andJane Leggett, Julius Levatich ’55 and FriedaStaudinger, Robert Longbine ’46, Norris MacFar-land ’50, Richard Madey ’43, Douglas Porto ’52and Ruth Porto, Jerome Reinert ’56, Louis Sansar-icq ’53 and Colette Sansaricq, Peter Scharfenberg’58and Marilyn Scharfenberg, Leo Sherry ’46, JeroldSkopp ’56, William R. Smith ’49 and DorothySmith, Eric Wieler ’54 and Edna Wieler.

The next day the 50 Year Club lunch shifted overto the West Coast where it was held at Michaels OnEast, Sarasota, Fla. Here, Carl Westerdahl, formeralumni relations director, hosted an “Antiques Road-show” for us where all of us were invited to bringRensselaer memorabilia that could be displayed inthe display case in the Rensselaer Union or Rensse-laer archives. Carl showed a slide show of RPI events,organization pictures, and other old-time memories.Carl invited Coach Ned Harkness up to join him totalk about that great 1954 NCAA hockey team whilehe showed several slides of the team members. Those

attending included Hank Asch ’53, C. Lloyd Bauer’55 and Janet Bauer, Frederick Beyerlein ’52, FredDoery ’54and Lynda Doery, William Frank ’51andHelen Marie Frank, Garrett Geurtze ’54 (me) andAnna Geurtze, John Hanrahan ’54, Howard Iser-mann ’42, Robert Lupi ’54, Rob McIntosh ’60,Randy Mitchelson ’93, Tom Rippere ’75, GerardTitterington ’51 and Vera Titterington, EdwardWinter ’40 and Mary Winter.

Bob Meyers sent news about yet another gath-ering in Florida:

“Sunday evening, Feb. 19, 2006, saw the thirdannual RPI-AEPi Winter Reunion, at the home ofLarry Hefter ’57 and his wife, Jackie, in Palm BeachGardens, Fla. The Class of ’54 was well represented,with Henry Rosenblattand his wife, Yola, Zev Rosenand his wife, Fran, and Bob Meyers and his wife,Pearl, all present. Also attending were Martin Rogers’56, Mel Hirsch ’57 and his wife, Dottie, JerrySchneider ’59 and his wife, Ruth, and Leah Silver-stein, widow of Phil Silverstein ’55. The eveningstarted off with a CD version of ‘Hail Dear Old Rens-selaer,’ and at dinner we all joined in the cheer ‘e tothe x.’ Dessert and coffee was followed by a spirited

CLASSNOTES


The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced the election of 76 new members inFebruary, including three Rensselaer alumni. Election to the NAE is among the highest profes-

sional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have madeoutstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, and to the pioneeringof new and developing fields of technology.

David Goodman ’60, professor of electrical and computer engineering atPolytechnic University in Brooklyn, N.Y., was cited for “contributions to the

theory and practice of wireless communications and digital signal processing.”He currently holds a temporary position as program director in the Computerand Network Systems Division of the National Science Foundation. Beforemoving to the NSF in February, he was director of the NSF Wireless InternetCenter for Advanced Technology. He has made fundamental contributions todigital signal processing, speech coding, and wireless information networks.

Sau-Hai (Harvey) Lam ’54 is the Edwin Wilsey ’04 Professor Emeritus ofMechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. The Acade-

my cited him “for contributions to aerospace engineering in the areas of plasmaflows, combustion, turbulence, and adaptive controls.” Lam, who received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1958, joined the Princeton faculty two years later.He led an active career as a teacher, researcher, and administrator for fourdecades, transferring to emeritus status in 1999. His current research interestsinclude fluid mechanics, plasmas, chemical kinetics, Lagrangian dynamics, non-linear control theory, and singular perturbation methodologies.

John Linehan, M.M.E. ’62, is a consulting professor of bioengineering atStanford University and the executive editor of bmesource.org, a new open-

source Web portal in biomedical engineering. He was recognized for “researchon the pulmonary mechanics and metabolism of critical bioactive agents andfor innovations in bioengineering education and professional development.”Linehan was vice president of the Whitaker Foundation from 1998-2005. Prior to joining the foundation, he was the Bagozzi professor of biomedical engi-neering and the founding chairman of the department of biomedical engineeringat Marquette University. He also was adjunct professor of physiology and

medicine (pulmonary and critical care) at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

NAE Elects Rensselaer Alumni


and on-key rendition of the alma mater, and a greattime was had by all. There are lots of other RPI alum-ni in our immediate area and we all enjoy gettingtogether and reliving those olden, golden days.”

Send news to: Garrett J. Geurtze ’54, P.O. Box737, Clifton Park, NY 12065; h: (518) 664-7977

55 Irrepressible Ted Baglin has dual citi-zenship, starting out in the RPI Classof ’51 and after U.S. Navy service grad-

uating with us in ’55. He writes that he enjoyed our50th Reunion, particularly since he managed to getsome of the student hosts to take him on a “pubcrawl” of downtown Troy. Ted now works winters ata Colorado ski resort, skiing there and in Europe,and is a scuba diver in the Caribbean and the Pacif-ic—“so I’m a lucky person.”

Matthew Fox earned an MBA, was a partner inCoopers & Lybrand, managed capital investmentsat American Home Products, and now heads hisown broker-dealer firm handling real estate and deal-ing in currencies, gold, and energy. Matt and Aman-da, an executive recruiter, are frequent travelers.Recent trips include Rome, Buenos Aires, Class 5whitewater rafting in the French Alps, and dog sled-ding in Canada. This sounds prayerful: the sleds haveno brakes, the dogs can go 25 mph downhill; onejust uses voice commands and hangs on.

Donald Kava changed careers in the mid-1960s,from chemical engineering to computer applica-tions. After working for Eastman Kodak and theDepartment of Defense he spent 29 years at theAtomic Energy Commission’s site at Rocky Flats,Colo., where triggers were produced for nuclearweapons. Until recent knee surgery Don has beenan avid mountain climber, leading trips for the Col-orado Mountain Club. For 18 years he has led Boul-der’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.He also baby-sits for his grandchildren, teachesseniors to use computers, and provides part-timecomputer assistance to a local business.

John Laffan worked on optical equipment formilitary use and as a consultant for the governmenton military intelligence, with positions at GE,Raytheon, Sanders, Quest Research, and MIT’s Lincoln Laboratories. After retirement he is now inTemple Terrace, Fla., and enjoys overseas travel aswell as camping and Elderhostel trips with his eightgrandchildren.

Larry Leonard may be our only classmate stillactively engaged in breeding. He and Carmen arerelocating from the Chicago area to Scottsville, Ky.,to escape cold winters and continue their avocationof raising collies. Carmen is one of the top colliebreeders in the country, with 30 current dogs andover 200 earning their AKC Championships dur-ing the past 33 years. Larry is her Chief KennelHelper. After RPI he served in the Navy, earned anMBA at Harvard, became a CPA and performedmanagement advisory services for 34 years at Deloitte& Touche. Retiring in 1995 as a partner, he got cabinfever and embarked on a 10-year “second career” at Northern Illinois Medical Center, where hedesigned and implemented a costing system and performed financial analysis and other decision support activities.

Richard Marshall earned an M.S.M.E. at RPIand spent 38 years at Pratt & Whitney, working asa section manager and specializing in combustionand jet engine development. Rick and Kathe, mar-ried five years, have 15 grandchildren and dividetheir time between Narragansett, R.I., and BonitaSprings, Fla. They enjoy golf, tennis, and travel.

Roger Mullins is retired from a career in munic-ipal engineering, most recently as public works direc-tor for East Hartford, Conn. He works out at a healthcenter and skis regularly, enjoying ski outings withsix of his grandchildren last winter. Other activitiesinclude weekly food pickups for a church foodkitchen and singing at senior centers and nursinghomes with his Rotary Club choral group.

Helmuth Schultze was a chemistry lab instruc-tor for many of us as he worked toward earning hisPh.D. in 1955. He remembers taking several fresh-men from chem lab to the hospital after their unsuc-cessful efforts to insert a glass tube through a rubbercork. “Dutch” went on to a career in market devel-opment and management in the chemical industry,working for Union Carbide and then serving as pres-ident of Michigan Chemical, group VP of AlliedChemical, and president of the Chlorine Institute.He later was vice chairman of Ethan Allen furni-ture and now manages one of several businesses hehas acquired.

Robert Stoyerworked 34 years forChicago Bridge & Iron,supervising design andengineering of cryo-genic facilities and highvacuum satellite testfacilities. After retire-ment he and Suzannehave spent 14 years asfull-time volunteers forHabitat for Humanityin Pensacola, Fla., he asconstruction managerand she as volunteercoordinator. They in-creased the outputfrom four homes peryear to 45, building 435homes in all, as well as building their ownhouse and houses foreach of their three children. Avid sailors, this sum-mer they are taking their 34-foot catamaran on acruise of more than 5,000 miles, traveling up theEast Coast, through the Erie Canal to the GreatLakes, and down the Mississippi and TennesseeRivers to Mobile, Ala.

Send news to: John Schmidt ’55, 11 HoneyLake Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540-7435; h: (609)737-1588; [email protected]

56 Nice to hear from alumni in responseto our request for input for the ClassNotes. Heard from Arnold Peckar

(BME). Arnold lives in Boulder, Colo., where hehas been for the last 30 years. Arnold has been retiredfrom IBM since 1991. The majority of his career with

IBM was on ground data processing for governmentsatellite systems. He was a member of the RPI Fly-ing Club while in school and has continued flyingever since. Arnold just spent seven years as a mem-ber of the board of directors of the Antique AirplaneAssociation of Colorado. He has two airplanes, a1946 Luscombe 8E and a 1947 Cessna 195. Both ofthese airplanes are based at the airport in Longmont,Colo. One of his major interests is flying to fly-insaround the country. Arnold was planning to attendthe 50th reunion in June but would probably fly com-mercial.

Donald Mow (Arch) lives in Beijing now. Donaldarrived at Beijing in 2002 mainly to retire, but foundhimself consulting with the government and otherAmerican design firms. China is advancing rapidly,but architectural design and construction methodsare lagging far behind, dead last among all fields.Now a former skiing friend in the U.S. is getting himinvolved in making certain structural componentsfor the States. So much for Donald’s retirement plans.Donald welcomes communications from his formerclassmates at [email protected].

Had a good response from John Noyes. Right outof school John went to work for Alcoa in Pittsburgh,Pa., and there were several other RPI grads whowent there the same year. He started in structural

design and after five years, was transferred toSuriname, S.A., to work on the construction of a hydroelectric project.That tour of duty lastedtwo years and was a greatexperience working in thejungles just north of theequator. John returned toPittsburgh in 1963 andcontinued in variouscapacities in the struc-tural design department.The primary function ofthat department was todesign aluminum manu-facturing facilities all overthe world. John had theopportunity to work onmany large projects andto travel to many loca-tions as required to sup-

port the design and construction. He retired in 1988and at that time the corporate engineering designfunction was dissolved and the engineering func-tion was transferred to the various business units.He worked a couple of years in Pittsburgh with aconsultant and then fully retired in 1991.

John moved to Florida at that time, as he decid-ed that he didn’t need to shovel the white stuff anymore, and he had previously acquired a summer cot-tage in the Adirondacks in NY. He and his wife havetwo children and five grandchildren who are in eitherNY or PA. They manage to visit them in the summer,as they do spend about four months in the northcountry. His family also enjoys visiting them in thesouth in the winter. Bet you can’t imagine why!

John and his wife and have been married 50 years.

CLASSNOTES

Class of '56 mini-reunion: Unable to attendtheir 50th Reunion on the Rensselaer cam-pus in June, four Alpha Chi Rho brothers gottogether in St. Petersburg, Fla., in January.Pictured on the front porch of Prof. Barry Tay-lor’s home are, left to right, Richard Ander-son, Barry Taylor, Howard Schneider, andJames Miller.

They weren’t able to attend our 50th Reunion inTroy in early June as they had a granddaughter inPA who graduated from high school on June 9, andthe family planned a big pig roast on Sat., June 10.

The Noyes will celebrate their 50th weddinganniversary in NY in early August. They hope thatVerne McGuffey, who was their best man, will beable to join them in South Glens Falls, N.Y., for thatoccasion. The real anniversary date is Oct. 12, sothe Noyes will have another big celebration in Flori-da about that time. Congratulations, and thanks for writing.

Nice to hear from Paul Pillsbury. Paul and hiswife of 44 years, Alice, are living in retirement inhistoric Bucks County, Pa., in order to be near totheir daughter and son-in-law. They provide dailychild care for their two grandchildren so that theiroffspring can be a two-career family. They were look-ing forward to attending the 50th Reunion of the classin June. It was Paul’s first visit to campus in 20 years.

Paul’s working years were spent in: Connecticut,Pennsylvania, and Florida, where he was with Pratt& Whitney Aircraft, Westinghouse CombustionTurbines, and Siemens Power Generation, fromwhich he retired in 2001. During his Westinghouseand Siemens years he specialized in designing com-bustors for synthetic fuels made from coal (and otheralternative fuels). Paul would be especially inter-ested in hearing news about Class of ’56 memberswho were in the subset that included mechanicalengineering and NROTC. If you want to reach Paul,e-mail me at [email protected] and I will sendyou Paul’s e-mail address.

Got a letter and photo from Howard Schneider.Realizing they wouldn’t be able to be together forthe 50th Reunion at RPI, some of the Alpha ChiRho Class of ’56 decided to hold their own reunionthis past January. Pictured on the front porch of Prof.Barry Taylor’s home in St. Petersburg, Fla., are, leftto right, Richard Anderson, Barry Taylor, HowardSchneider, and James Miller. They reported, and Iquote, that “lively technical discussions and highlyeducational programs were the order of the day.”Thanks, Howard!

Jim Nerrie sent the following: “Notes from thelong lost: Retired to Wolfeboro, N.H., after 30 yearsof federal service and eight years of private indus-try. After RPI, completed pilot training in Pensaco-la, spent two+ years in the Navy Hurricane Hunters,then four years at Texaco Research Center concur-rently with three years in anti-submarine reservesquadrons, 26 years as a Navy civilian engineer ana-lyzing explosive weapons and aircraft for non-obvi-ous accident causes, eventually arriving at the topof that minuscule food chain. Interesting life whichrequired close technical involvement with nearly allof the Navy conventional weapon systems and air-craft programs, a few of those ‘wedontalkaboutem’programs, and a short tour in the Secretary ofDefense Office in the Pentagon. Interrupted Navystuff for a four-year stint with an Air Force ICBMcontractor. Didn’t get rich but there was never adull moment. Would love to do it all over again.”Good to hear from you, Jim.

And through the RPI alumni Web site, wereceived news from Jay Mendell ’56, Ph. D. ’64, who

is a professor in the School of Public Administrationat Florida Atlantic University, where he teachesabout nonprofit management. He recently issued areport on how stigmatized nonprofits must reformtheir fundraising efforts. The report, “Black SheepFundraising: Rethinking Major Gifts for Your Stig-matized Nonprofit,” isavailable as a free down-load from the Internet athttp://black-sheep-library.com. According to Dr.Mendell, such charities asaddiction recovery andHIV treatment are noto-rious for their difficulty inraising donations. Thecommunity treats theirclients as undeserving, andprospective donors shyaway from being associat-ed with their causes. Inresponse, these blacksheep of the charitableworld may further antag-onize willing donors. In hisreport, Dr. Mendell diag-noses the problem andprescribes a cure.

Send news to: ArtCastro ’56, 6698 LynxCove, Littleton, CO80124; h: (303) 386-3295;[email protected]

57 50th Reunion: June 7-10 2007 NeilCampbell, the developer of our ’57 classWeb site, notes that “the Class of ’57 is

the only RPI class with its own Web domain that wasdeveloped in anticipation of our 50th Reunion…sodo give it a look… http://www.rpi57.org. The sitecontains ‘Then and Now’ pages comparing how hand-some we were in ’57 with how we look today—OK,that may not be such a great comparison but at least,we’ll recognize each other in June ’07; a ‘Classmates’section in which we tell what we’ve been doing forthe past 50 years…along with contact info. The sitecontains a video tour of RPI and a history section forboth RPI and Troy, both very interesting. The sitealso contains an ‘In Memoriam’ section showing year-book photos of those who are no longer with us. Asof June 1, 29 classmates had provided inputs for the‘Then and Now’ and 26 for the ‘Classmates’ pages ofthe Web site.”

Neil continues: “Details on how to submit inputvia e-mail or snail mail are provided on the ‘Thenand Now’ and ‘Classmates’ pages, so do submit yourinputs today! It would be great to have full partici-pation from our class.” Neil concludes with two impor-tant points. “The 50th Reunion is often the timewhen alumni give their biggest contribution to RPI.Confused on how to make a gift? There are lots ofways…some even defer the contribution untillater…all methods are explained on our ’57 Website. And lastly, we hope to launch a page on the Website highlighting classmates who did exceptionalthings during their personal or professional lives. If

you have an input or know someone who we shouldhighlight, please contact Buzz or myself at [email protected].”

Congratulations to Dr. Marty Weinstein whohas been selected to receive the RAA Fellows Awardfor 2006. That award “honors those alumni who,

by their achievements in a chosen profession orendeavor or by their ser-vice to the Institute, haveset an example for Rens-selaer men and women toemulate.” Marty is vicechairman and CEO ofSequa Corp., a $1.8 billiondiversified manufacturerof aerospace, automotive,metal coating, specialtychemicals, and industrialmachinery products. Afterhis RPI B.S. in metallurgy,Marty went on to MIT for his M.S. and Sc.D. inmetallurgy (’61). He is therecipient of NASA’s MeritAward for work on ther-moelectric power modules,and has 121 patents on dif-fusion coatings for jetengine and gas turbinematerials and components.

Congratulations, also,to Horace Pops, who hasbeen named a fellow of

ASM International. He was cited for “exceptionalcontributions to the metals industry through practi-cal research and alloy development for nonferrousmetal wire.” Horace is director of the Metals Labo-ratory, Essex Group.

At this writing it’s only about 10 months till wegather in Troy for our 50th. Your reunion committeeis hard at it. In addition to some excellent reunionorganizing discussions during our increasingly regu-lar conference calls, we are all having some fun rem-iniscing about our experiences 50+ years ago. Withthat as a prelude for a great time in June ’07, do someplanning now to be there!

Send news to: J.R. “Buzz” Campbell ’57, 5 Mili-tia Drive, Lexington, MA 02421; fax: (781) 863-9411; [email protected]

58 Robert Johnson, M.S. ’57, Ph.D. ’58,is retired after 38-plus years at GE. Howhe got his degrees without planning for

them may be of interest. After being put on the staffof the GE Research Laboratory without an advanceddegree, he felt he needed more education in the phys-ical sciences. He took various courses of interest at RPIin the evening while working days. After about fouryears his faculty adviser suggested he write an M.S.thesis on how he developed his hypersonic heliumwind tunnel (Mach 40+). For it he got 15 hours cred-it, an M.S. degree, and was nominated into the Soci-ety of Sigma Xi. With this he found he needed onlythree more courses, and with an agreement with GEand RPI, he was able to use some of his hypersonic


CLASSNOTES

Van C.S. Mow ’62 was awarded the2006 Davies Medal for EngineeringAchievement at a ceremony on campusApril 7. First presented in 1980, theDavies Medal is the highest award for analumnus given by the School of Engineer-ing. A world-renowned biomedical scien-tist and engineer, Mow is the StanleyDicker Professor and founding chair of theDepartment of Biomedical Engineering atColumbia University.

KR

ISQ

UA

research as a thesis topic. So he got a Ph.D. withoutstriving for it.

Send news to: John Canady ’58, 3293 MadisonAve., #S-106, Boulder, CO 80303-2033; h: (303)442-4544; [email protected] or [email protected]

59 No news is not always good news—sendsome. Send news to: Bob Styczynski’59, 10 Sunset Drive, Latham, NY

12110; tel: (518) 783-5683; fax: (518) 782-1219;[email protected]

60 David Kavanagh authored a guestessay recently for USA Today on themerits of a la carte cable subscriptions.

David worked for 40 years for RF Communications.He retired in 2001. He and his wife, Nancy, sing inthe Finger Lakes Chorale and he plays violin forthe Eastman School of Music’s New HorizonOrchestra. There’s a retirement job of note!

Royal Fuchs let us know that he establishedRoyal Technologies, LLC, in 2004, which special-izes in providing engineering and management ser-vices to government agencies, especially the Depart-ment of Defense. He is a member of the NationalAssociation of Government Contractors and theProject Management Institute.

Received a note from Rosalie Jungreis sayingthat her husband, Theodore Jungreis, died recent-ly. Theodore received a degree in mathematics, thefirst year Rensselaer offered the degree. He worked

for many years as a computer software consultantand started a company that created financial soft-ware programs.

Thanks for the news, folks—some happy, someinevitably sad. I’m here for all of it.

Send news to: Bill Blanchfield ’60, 2610 SunsetAvenue, Utica, NY 13502-6009

61 Robert “Barry” Burbank, after a shortsojourn in engineering after graduation,went into finance, aided by an MBA

from SUNY Binghamton. He became something ofa long-distance runner, and has participated in 20marathons including 10 NYC and five Boston. Healso plays tennis and took up rock climbing at theage of 51 (probably after skydiving and sharkwrestling), culminating with a climb of Yosemite’sfamous El Capitan (3,000 vertical feet). He contin-ues running and climbing to this day. Barry has alsodone some paintings, some of which were displayedin the Shelnutt Gallery in the Rensselaer Union (andavailable to be seen during our Reunion).

Lee Croke continues to work (helping all of youwho are on the Social Security payout system), andhandles financial matters for a small section of Medco,the pharmacy benefits management company. It doesa large mail order business these days and as we areall growing older, some of us may become customersof Lee.

Send news to: Brian McManus ’61, 2109 Hid-den Creek Road, Fort Worth, TX 76107-3510;[email protected]

62 45th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Whenwe were students at RPI, one of ourprofessors allowed us to bring notes to

our final exam. The catch was that the notes hadto be written on one 3x5-inch card. Fortunately, Idiscovered that if I turned the nib of my fountainpen upside down, I could draw extremely fine lines.So I wrote nearly every formula in the book, as wellas pertinent data, on that card. And because I wasnearsighted, I had no trouble focusing on the fineprint. Now, to the important people.

What are the odds that two former physics labpartners at RPI discover that they are working with-in a stone’s throw of one another halfway aroundthe world? Joe DiStefano, who is nominally retiredand living in Lausanne, e-mailed me again to saythat John Elias recently contacted him. John headsa section of a major new experiment at CERN, theinternational research facility based in Geneva, andvisits the site often. Joe made a dogleg left aroundLake Geneva and visited John, who gave him thegrand tour. The distance from Lausanne to Gene-va is only about 30 miles as the crow flies, but Joeis not a crow and Switzerland is not Kansas.

Twelve years after being immortalized in this col-umn for winning the 1993 Rensselaer Alumni Asso-ciation Fellows Award, Peter Hart sent me an e-mail message. Peter is now chairman and presidentof Ricoh Innovations, a 50-person research sub-sidiary of Tokyo-based Ricoh Corp. According toan advertorial on page 67 of the Jan. 28, 2006, issueof The Economist, two of their innovations are (1)Video Paper, which permits scanning content more

CLASSNOTES

John “Jack” Meagher ’65 and Harold “Hal”Levy ’68 have spent the last 20 years

establishing and enhancing New York’s Auto-mated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS),one of the most advanced in the world.

Levy (at right) is assistant chief of the Divi-sion of Criminal Justice Services’ (DCJS) Bio-metric Technology Bureau. Meagher is bureauchief and Levy’s boss. As both head towardretirement, they reflect on their contributionsto make the state a safer place to live.

SAFIS is the statewide fingerprint systemmaintained by DCJS that, among other things,provides automated fingerprint search capabil-

ities for arrest, applicant, and crime scene(latent) fingerprints. Prior to SAFIS, substantialdelays were a normal part of the fingerprintidentification process, especially for latents.“They had to be physically transported andthen manually processed, which requiredsearching through millions of fingers by handto try to find a matching one,” Meagher says.

Hired in 1986 to head the SAFIS procure-ment effort, Meagher oversaw the design andimplementation of SAFIS, which began opera-tion in 1989. The system quickly became anational and international model. Ten yearslater, in 1999, the federal government incorpo-rated its own system and thereby greatlyexpanded the ability of states to share,

search, and retrieve fingerprints from a cen-tralized national database.

“Jack's engineering and physics back-ground at RPI and subsequent experience withIBM, Grumman, and NASA—he was a truerocket scientist—gave him a unique perspec-tive to get this dynamic system up and run-ning,” said Levy, who joined the same divisiona year earlier as a senior systems analyst.

Meagher received a bachelor’s in physicsand an MBA at Rensselaer. He worked on thecontrol systems of the lunar module as part ofthe Apollo Program, as well as the Mars land-ing projects for the Viking Program.

Levy, who earned his bachelor’sand master’s degrees in manage-ment science, initially worked for Burroughs Corp. and later estab-lished two software companiesbefore his current position.

“Hal has been particularlyinvolved in helping local agenciesintegrate their record managementsystems with Live Scan technology,”Meagher says.

Live Scan—the electronic ver-sion of the manual “ink and roll”

method—digitally captures fingerprints. Theelectronic transfer of these prints, along withdata and photo images, takes only a matter ofseconds instead of the days required to sendhard-copy fingerprint cards through the mail.

“By using this technology during arrest pro-cessing, law enforcement can book a suspectand within minutes we can process the finger-prints and generate a state response,” Levysays. “We then forward the transaction to theFBI, which checks the prints against the feder-al databases. That helps connect the dots, soif suspects are wanted for murder in anotherstate, for example, even under a differentname, authorities can hold them and get themoff the street.”-–JAF

Co-Workers Leave Their Imprint on New York State Safety


quickly than fast-forwarding a video recording, and(2) a method of linking a recording of a live pre-sentation to the notes of an attendee.

But all work and no play would make Peter a lop-sided person. So in his free time, he bikes, ticklesthe ivories, and designs and builds hardwood fur-niture. He makes his home in Menlo Park in “Sili-con Valley.”

Send news to: Jay Winderman ’62, 1868 Bridge-port Ave., Claremont, CA 91711-2520; h: (909)624-9985; [email protected]

63 If you have not been back to Troy tovisit the campus, you have missed see-ing the impressive growth in our uni-

versity. In May I attended my great niece’s gradua-tion with the Class of 2006. Kate Sigetti gave heruncle an insider’s tour. I was amazed at the newconstruction and the renovation of the old. Mynephew, Christopher Titley, Class of 1993, and hiswife, Cheryl, are expecting their first child in August,yet another legacy engineer in the making.

Kenneth Manning sent me a note telling methat he is enjoying his tenure as CEO of SensientTechnologies. His board of directors recentlyextended his term for another five years. Ken was thedriving force in transforming the company from afood commodities firm to a tech-oriented specialtychemicals business. Along the way the companychanged its name from Universal Foods to Sensientto reflect its new direction. Ken is an active mem-ber of his church both in Milwaukee and at Rens-selaer. He has served as a trustee of the RensselaerNewman Foundation. Among his many honors, heis especially proud of his membership in the thou-sand-year-old Roman Catholic Order of the Knightsof Malta. He and Maureen have three sons and threedaughters.

In January, Wallace Wade was selected to receivethe Edward N. Cole Award for Automotive Engi-neering Innovation. The award was presented onApril 3 of this year. During his career at Ford MotorCo., Wally had over 25 patents and he is a leadingauthority on powertrain research and development.

Send news to: Jack Titley ’63, 151 Hamilton Ave.,Watertown, CT 06795-2402; h: (860) 274-3897;[email protected]

64 Send news to: John L. Shahdanian,Esq. ’64, 114 Essex Street, RochellePark, NJ 07662; fax: (201) 843-1884;

[email protected]

65 James Saunders reported that he hashappily retired from Technip USA,Houston, and is now enjoying life in

Mexico City. His new address is: Culiacán 23-2, Col.Hipódromo, 06100 México D.F., Mexico.

Mark von Wodtke, now a professor emeritus atCal Poly Pomona after teaching there for 35 years,seems to be as busy as ever in “retirement.” A fea-ture article in a recent issue of the Claremont (Calif.)Courier described his central role in the ACORNProject, an oak woodland regeneration project inthe Claremont Wilderness Park. Mark is also a co-founding principal of the Claremont Environmental

Design Group Inc.; and the founder of Energy Har-vester, a business that employs both his sons anddesigns and installs renewable energy systems. Heand his wife, Carla, also manage to do a good bit oftraveling—to time shares in Hawaii and Canada andto visit their daughter and her family in Italy.

Jim Wintner was the subject of an article in theJan. 18 issue of the Village Voice, in which he tookthe reporter on a tour of his digs at the South StreetSeaport. Jim is the founder, president, and CEO ofBenefitEvents.com, which offers online auction ser-vices for nonprofits.

Send news to: Erik Pettersen ’65, 2821 Dur-mont Court, Annapolis, MD 21401-7825; w: (410)571-0789; [email protected]

66 Richard Aurelio is chairman of VarianSemiconductor Equipment Associates,and has just recently been appointed to

the board of directors of Fairchild Semiconductor inSouth Portland, Maine. Under Rich’s leadership,Varian is a designer and manufacturer of semicon-ductor processing equipment for virtually all of themajor semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.

Rocquin “Roc” Van Guilder was promoted tovice president of Hanson Professional Services Inc.,a national employee-owned consulting firm provid-ing architectural, engineering, and management ser-vices from its headquarters in Springfield, Ill.

Send news to: Walter Grube ’66, 149 OverlookRoad, Glastonbury, CT 06033-3651; [email protected]

67 40th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Sendnews to: Jack Lippert ’67, 18 S. MainStreet, Franklinville, NY 14737-1222;

[email protected]

68 Alan Falk sent an update on his movelast summer from California to NorthCarolina, which included driving cross-

country three times, with his Prius pulling a trailer andhauling all the gear for two dogs and weeks on theroad. He and Claudia bought their dream house inRaleigh, surrounded by wonderful neighbors, withsome old friends and relatives nearby.

Send news to: Linda Lebsack ’68, 1795 OneidaStreet, Denver, CO 80220-1754; [email protected]

69 Dave Carnevale has been named vicepresident of marketing for AmericanTechnology Corp., a manufacturer of

directed sound products and technologies. Previ-ously, he had been with Mitsubishi Electronics.

Dale Thuillez, a partner of the Albany New Yorklaw firm Thuillez Ford Gold Johnson & Butler, was appointed to the Albany Law School board of trustees.

For my fellow musicians, I need to hear from youabout the Alumni MusicFest coming in October.You know who you are and how much fun you hadwith the Glee Club or the Orchestra or Band. Asidefrom just getting together, we’ll also be talking abouta memorial for our dear friend, Joel Dolven. Let mehear from you!

Send news to: Howard Henze ’69, 7 Turnber-ry Place, Arden, NC 28704; h: (828) 687-2356; [email protected]

70 Bob Reith saw my APB in the lastalumni magazine and wrote to say thathe’s alive and well and living in north-

ern New Jersey. Following RPI, he taught for sevenmonths at Hackett Junior High in Albany whileawaiting appointment to Navy OCS in Newport.Upon commissioning he was detailed to the U.S.Naval Academy where he taught introductoryanthropology courses as well as world and Americannaval history recitation sections, working under therenowned naval historian E.B. Potter. Bob recallsbeing one of the few liberal arts (anthro-soc) majorsduring the waning ’60s.

CLASSNOTES


I n 1998 Rensselaer alumnus John Dresty’69 founded Clearwater Systems Corp.,

a company specializing in the development ofadvanced water-treatment equipment based in Essex, Conn.

The company’s Dolphin System™—a chem-ical-free water treatment technology for waterprocessed by cooling towers, chiller systems,heat exchangers, and steam boilers—wasrecently named one of the “top 100 productsof 2005” by BUILDINGS magazine.

A flow-through device that can be plumbedinto circulating or once-through water systems,the Dolphin System prevents mineral scale for-mation, controls biological activity, and inhibitscorrosion in heating, ventilating, and air-condi-tioning (HVAC) systems without using chemicaladditives which are difficult to administer,

monitor, and control.The system was

installed into Rensse-laer’s Center forBiotechnology andInterdisciplinary Stud-ies in 2004 to servethe building’s 3,000-ton cooling system and toprevent scale and corrosion for the steam-to-steam generator system.

Clearwater Systems Corp. has more than2,000 Dolphin System installations up andrunning throughout the United States and inCanada. Clients include commercial offices,industrial facilities, food processing plants,hospitals, schools and universities, hotels,casinos, and government structures, amongother installations.–AC

Company Founded by John Dresty ’69Honored by BUILDINGS Magazine

Following the end of his tour, Bob marriedMargie Mahlow and left the Navy to pursue a degreeat Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadel-phia. For nearly 25 years following he taught highschool subjects ranging from cabinet making to biblical studies to geography to computer scienceand networking. Along the way he received a cou-ple of yearbook appreciations and dedications fromsenior classes.

Bob left teaching in 2001 to prepare network-ing proposals for a local networking firm and is cur-rently a freelance writer. He also works extensive-ly in the local Orthodox Presbyterian Church as anelder and teacher, and edits the newsletter and pub-lications for the statehomeschooling organi-zation in New Jersey.Both his daughter andson were homeschooledand have graduatedwith music degrees,Evelyn from CovenantCollege with a B.A. andAndrew with a B.Mus.in piano performance.Margie is currently amedical writer and editor.

Now, on to morenews. Eric Geller andhis wife, Jean, live inLexington, Mass. He ispresident of Elite Videoin Woburn, Mass., andin his spare time golfsand plays softball.Whenasked to comment on the highlights of his life, hereflected on his wife and his two daughters who aregraduates of UMass and Skidmore. His most impor-tant memory of his time at Rensselaer is that “Ilearned how to think! (I think!)”

Bill Guerrieri lives in Saint Charles, Ill. His sonwent to Notre Dame and his daughter is in highschool. He captains a B-777 for United Airlinesusing his aerospace engineering degree well. He hasdiversified and is also president and CEO of WestSide Video. In his spare time he golfs and is also anavid remote control airplane hobbyist. His bestmemories of his time at RPI focus on his coachesGoodyear and Jontos and being a varsity athlete onboth the lacrosse and soccer teams.

George Harrison and his wife, Rose, live in Dills-burg, Pa., with their 17-year-old son who is a juniorin high school. George has spent the last 34 years asan actuary, 24 in the stressful world of mergers, reor-ganizations, and divestitures and the last 10 years inthe more stable public environment. He was recent-ly nominated for the presidency of the Central Penn-sylvania Actuarial Association. He continues tosing for his church choir and pursues his interest inthe American Civil War.

Jim Ingleson and his wife, Carolyn, live in Altamont, N.Y. They have two daughters, one who has received her master’s in social work, the other working on her master’s in secondary edu-cation. Jim is senior operations engineer with

NY Independent Systems.John Kolts and his wife, Anna Battenhouse, are

living in Austin, Texas, with their five dogs. John isa senior software engineer for Evolutionary Tech-nologies International. On one side, he remembershis experiences and contributions to the social trans-formations of the ’60s at RPI while on the flipside heremembers watching, with apartment mates JackKelly and Brian Lee, the RPI hockey team beatKen Dryden and mighty Cornell.

Jack Kelly and his wife, Marie Tymrak, live inPhoenix, certainly not the same weather as Troy. Heis a senior design engineer for Motorola. As he reflectson his life and career, he mentioned not only his four

U.S. and one Japanesepatents but also his PeaceCorps volunteer experi-ence in the Philippines.

Anyone seen BuddyWindell lately? Howabout Joel Barmish orMike Kramer? Pleasewrite me because I wouldlove to update the class onyour whereabouts or anyclassmate who you havethe inside information on.Until next time, hope youhave a great summer.

Send news to: RickHartt ’70, RensselaerUnion, RPI, Troy, NY12180-3590; h: (518)272-1430; w: (518) 276-6505; [email protected]

71 Anna Campas writes: “I recently tookownership of a one-bedroom flat on theGreek island of Hydra in the Aegean

Sea. Hydra is a unique island in that no cars, bikes,or mopeds are allowed. It is also very rocky and hasa fantastic amphitheater-like harbor with views ofthe Peloponnese. The subject of my RPI bachelorof architecture thesis was the use of energy conser-vation principles in the design of a tourist commu-nity on Hydra. The site chosen was a peninsula adja-cent to the harbor. Now 30+ years later the frontporch of my flat looks out at the harbor and penin-sula. I am currently a LEED (Leadership in Energyand Environmental Design) accredited profession-al and an appointed member of Governor Pataki’sGreen Building Workgroup. I have created and pre-sented a number of talks concerning the effect ofbuildings on the planet’s problems of global warm-ing and elevated carbon dioxide levels.” P.S. Anna’sflat can be rented! If you are interested please con-tact her at [email protected]. See her photo inthe online magazine.

From the Daily Astorian (Astoria, Ore.): JohnBenson had filed for election to the District 5 seaton the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners.John has performed extensive community servicework following his retirement from Tektronix. Johnsaid that his engineering background gives him skills(analyzing data, decision making, and planning) thatwould be useful on the board of commissioners.

I am sad to relay that we lost a good friend in thepassing of Daniel Goggins, who had a sudden heartattack on March 14. Our hearts go out to his fami-ly and we will cherish our wonderful memories ofDan. It gives us all resolve to stay better in touchwith our RPI friends.

Send news to: Bob Evans ’71, 50 GreenwoodAve., Needham, MA 02492; h: (781) 449-8021; w:(508) 660-8295; [email protected]

72 35th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Sendnews to: Bob Dvorak ’72, 2 Mill Lane,Saugerties, NY 12477-1128; bobdvorak

@hvc.rr.com or [email protected]

73 Larry McKeen and his wife, Linda, vis-ited Alpha Chi Rho fraternity brotherBill Panas ’74 and his wife, Helen

Nehrich Panas ’74, at the Panas’s home in West-borough, Mass. Larry has worked for DuPont for thepast 28 years, with 26 of those in the Teflon coat-ings group doing R&D and product development.He just published a book on the wonders of fluoro-coating. We hope it sticks, Larry. For more infor-mation, see On the Bookshelf, page 39. Larry andLinda’s daughter, Lindsey, attends RPI, Class of 2007,and is a major in biomedical engineering.

Other folks Larry has sought out from our Classof ’73 include Carol Jigliotti, Bob Mayer, MichaelHalat, Russ Hilliard, Gerry Palumbo, and ArnieSchneider. I hope some of you will send along yourupdates. What have you been up to?

In other news, Perot Systems promoted Jim Bal-lard to president of its subsidiary, Perot Systems Gov-ernment Services Inc. Jim has more than 32 yearsof experience in naval engineering and program man-agement, including serving in several key leadershippositions during his 24-year career in the U.S. Navy.Jim joined ADI Federal Systems, a subsidiary of ADITechnology Corp., in 1997. ADI was bought by Perotin 2002. Congratulations to Jim! He knows the insand outs of getting those government service con-tracts, I’m sure.

My new e-mail address is [email protected]. You may have noticed from my new e-mail address that I have a different job title. I amnow president and CEO of American Crystal Inc.,a subsidiary of Crystal Co. of Kyoto, Japan. Ameri-can Crystal is a group of six staffing companies inthe U.S. and Europe that recently acquired TACWorldwide Companies, my former employer. American Crystal has sales of over $1B and servesclients in the fields of information technology, engineering and manufacturing, and administra-tive/clerical staffing.

Send some news!Send news to: Gary DiCamillo ’73, American

Crystal Inc., 888 Washington Street, Dedham, MA02026; [email protected]

74 I’m sure you are wondering about thelatest update on Andee Rappazzo. Asyou know, Scott Moore said she had

been located but we cannot confirm that yet. If youhear from her, please let us know. We are hoping shehas just dropped out for a while but…?


CLASSNOTES

Holiday visit: Larry McKeen ’73 and hiswife, Linda, at right, visited AXP brother BillPanas ’74 and his wife, Helen (Nehrich) ’74,at their home in Westborough, Mass. It hadbeen 30 years since they last saw each other.For more, see the Class of ’73 column.


Claudia Seligman recently went in for hip replace-ment. She is doing great. About this time I imaginemost of us will be going in for a replacement of some-thing or another. I can’t help but marvel how far alongmedicine has come thanks to some of the biomedi-cal engineers in our class. If anyone of the readers ofthis column has been involved in engineering replace-ment joints, write to me and tell us all about it.

On the topic of replacements, Victor Lopianowas named a vice president of American Centrifuge,which handles uranium enrichment technology.

Send news to: James C. Wernicke, P.E. ’74,11 Kelly Lynn Drive, Sandia Park, NM 87047-9326;h: (505) 281-3181; [email protected]

75 Fred Applewrote that he saw our Win-ter class notes were sparse and sent thefollowing update. “My oldest daughter,

Liz, has been accepted into the art school as a fresh-man at Syracuse University starting this fall. Myfourth grader, Molly, has her sights on the U.S. Ten-nis Open one day. My wife, Jan, is thinking aboutopening an art boutique, along with her psychiatrypractice. As a home-grown Troy resident, it is funto watch the RPI campus grow every year I comehome to visit. I keep in touch with Scott (Boz)Green, who practices dentistry in Montana. As forme, my research in cardiovascular biomarkers goeswell, and I was a visiting professor at Harvard Med-ical School recently, lecturing on the role of cardiactroponin for risk outcomes analysis in patients withheart disease. Finally, so far the 50s aren’t so bad,and I’ve kept my handicap index at 4.6. I never stoptelling stories about school in the early ’70s. Regardsto all.”

Please keep the news and updates coming! Send news to: Loris Johnston Chen ’75, 4-28

Grunauer Place, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-3049;[email protected]

76 Robert Badger ([email protected])is now a partner at Clough, Harbour &Associates LLP in Albany, N.Y. (no

longer in East Amherst). He is still married to Mary,the sweet girl from HVCC that he met over 30 yearsago at Chi Phi. They have two kids, Mike, 20, asophomore at University of Buffalo, and Kelle, 15, afreshman at Shenendehowa. Robert reports that lifeis good and that he was looking forward to seeingeveryone at the reunion.

Send news to: Michael Mino ’76, 110 Merri-field Court, Greenville, SC 29615-3434; h: (864) 234-2526; w: (864) 297-7661 x26; fax: (864) 297-7047;[email protected]

77 30th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Sendnews to: Carl Pepperman ’77, 9302Woodchime Ct., Fort Wayne, IN 46804;

[email protected]

78 In January, Neil Rothman, Ph.D., start-ed a new job as the VP of research anddevelopment for Infinite Biomedical

Technologies in Baltimore, Md. He is developingneurologic diagnostic and monitoring systems forcritical care applications and hopes to have the

first product on the market in early 2007.Send news to: Karen Holodak Nicholson ’78,

478 Morris Street, Albany, NY 12208-3328;[email protected]

79 Don Tillman just hired Robin Gor-don Schaufler as a fellow GUI engi-neer at Riverbed Technology Inc.

When they shared a group of friends at BARH res-idence hall in 1975, neither ever would havedreamed they would end up in California, workingtogether. Don says, “Thanks go to RPI for the edu-cational foundation for our work, and to the Inter-net for the means of keeping in touch.”

Dan Siegel has been elected to the board ofdirectors of the American Academy of Dermatol-ogy. He is still a clinical professor of dermatologyat SUNY-Brooklyn and maintains a private med-ical practice in Smithtown, N.Y.

Mark Eagle writes that he is starting his thirdcareer. He has joined the Center for InternetResearch heading up their education innovationinitiative. Mark says he is determined to makechanges to the K-12 education system in Americaallowing us to compete in the global economy inthe future. His son Brett received the RensselaerMedal and is looking to join the Class of 2011.

Send news to: Paul Sicard ’79, 1424 KenilworthParkway, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-5737; h: (225)769-7781; w: (225) 381-3666; [email protected]

80 Jeffrey Longridge writes: “I have man-aged to celebrate 20 years in Alaskaenjoying the best of what our planet

has to offer. Tax accounting, financial planning,and fishing have kept me busy. My family and I vis-ited campus last year during my daughter’s tour ofEast Coast schools; she now has to decide betweenRPI, MIT, and CMU. She certainly has a difficultchoice to make! Whichever school she commits towill allow us more frequent visits to the area. RPIhas certainly grown and changed. We were veryimpressed with what we saw.”

Dale Reed, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, wasrecently certified as an ISA Certified AutomationProfessional (CAP). He is a senior application engi-neer with Rockwell Automation, where he isinvolved in the design, development, integration,testing, and start-up of industrial automation sys-tems for global food industry clients.

Chuck Van Etten, his wife, Debbie, and theirchildren, Jackie, Kyle, and Caitlin traveled in Ire-land with Chris Dufresne, his wife, Clare, and theirchildren, Stephanie and Alison. The Van Ettens

CLASSNOTES

Three Alumni Team Up To Build a Better Hospital

Ellis Hospital, located in Schenectady, N.Y., boasts a brand-new intensive care unit thanks tothe collaborative work of three Rensselaer alumni. ENVISION Architects Managing Principal

Ted Mallin ’73, Jersen Industries President John Jersen ’66, and Don McLaughlin Jr. ’75, EllisHospital Divisional Director of Support Services (shown left to right), have overseen the $17 mil-lion, 30,000-square-foot ICU project from start to finish. Although these alumni did not crosspaths at Rensselaer, they came together as a team in Schenectady, delivering the finished pro-ject on-budget and on-schedule.

McLaughlin acknowledges that the project’s success had a lot to do with the collegial andprofessional values that Rensselaer instilled in them. “There’s a certain level of trust andresponsibility that has developed,” he says. “With a project that requires a tremendous amountof attention to detail, our ability to problem solve and collaborate has been great.”

The new 36-bed two-story ICU, which opened in May, features more space, modern equipmentand technology, private rooms and enlarged family waiting areas, among other improvements and updates.

returned to Ireland to mark their last visit 20 yearsago when Chuck was Chris’s best man. The VanEttens were dragged from “billy to jack” during theirEaster holidays enduring hikes up the Burren, theCliffs of Moher, Bunratty, shopping in Galway, oys-ters and Guinness at Moran’s, pub crawls, and sail-ing in Kinvara. Best of the visit was the night when“King Chuck and Queen Debbie” hosted a party of50 at the medieval banquet in Dunguaire Castleand the day spent falconing at Ashford Castle. Seephoto in the online magazine.

Send news to: Kathy Pratt Harrington ’80, 179Wyman Rd., Groton, MA 01450-1401; [email protected]

81 Tim Green sent the following news:“On March 13, 2005, I became theproud grandfather of a beautiful baby

girl named Madison Victoria. Although I am far tooyoung to be a grandpa, I have found it to be a won-derful experience. On the professional front, I amcurrently working forEDS as a program man-ager and I received myPMP certification as wellas my J.D. from ConcordLaw School this pastyear. As I write this let-ter I am preparing totake the California bar. Iplan to take the patentbar later this year andleverage the excellentRensselaer engineeringeducation to practiceintellectual property law,with an occasional forayinto criminal law. I wishyou and my classmatesthe best in the comingyears.”

Sharon Fisher wrotefrom Kuna, Idaho: “Aftergetting laid off from Gartner, the world’s largest ITconsultancy, in March 2005, I started Gem StateCommunity Development and focused on my edu-cation, starting a graduate minor in GIS, and com-pleting the internship required for my master’s inpublic administration at Boise State University byworking for the Joint Finance-Appropriations Com-mittee in the Idaho State Legislature during the2006 legislative session. I just accepted a job as asenior writer for Computerworld, and will cover stor-age, working out of my farmhouse about 20 min-utes from downtown Boise. My daughter Maggiewill start first grade in September.”

Rick Roseberry ’81 organized a gathering ofthree alumni with Rensselaer’s softball team, whichtraveled to southwest Florida in March (see photo).Cheering on the team were Randy Mitchelson ’93,MBA ’98, who owns Vanderbuilt Mortgage Group,LLC in Naples; John Kilduff III ’94, who owns JFK& Associates, an engineering firm in Cape Coral,and Rick, a retired Coast Guard officer, who teach-es American history at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers.

Send news to: Marc Glasser ’81, 17 PuddingstoneLane, Millington, NJ 07946; [email protected]

82 25th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007William Blake was selected to receivethe 2006 AIAA Aerodynamics Award.

The award is presented for meritorious achieve-ment in the field of applied aerodynamics, recog-nizing notable contributions in the development,application, and evaluation of aerodynamic con-cepts and methods. The award was presented June6 at the AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference in SanFrancisco. The inscription read: “For exceptionalcontributions to applied aerodynamic predictionsthrough experimentation and empirical and engi-neering modeling.”

William is a senior aerospace engineer at the AirForce Research Laboratory located at Wright Pat-terson AFB, Ohio. He has 24 years experience work-ing on many programs including F-15 STOL/MTD,AGM-136, C-17, Advanced Theater Transport,

T-38 Formation Flight,and Automated Aeri-al Refueling.

Send news to: SueMarkowski Lubais ’82,1771 University Ave.,Palo Alto, CA 94301;[email protected] [email protected]

83 In March I returnedfrom vaca-

tion at Disney World,my first paid vacationin five years. Oneminute it’s 80 andsunny, the next it’spushing freezing. As Iwas driving betweenOrlando and Charlotte(11 hours), I couldn’t

help but think how my Rensselaer education helpedme appreciate a place like Disney World all themore. Think about the engineering skills needed todesign and build the rides (and the effort that goesinto making waiting on line almost tolerable), the ITskills needed to keep things from hotels to fireworkdisplays to animal preserves going, and the man-agement skills needed to keep 50,000 cast membersworking productively and make a profit at the sametime. Think about that when you’re making a 5Gturn on the crash test simulator.

Chuck Hawkins writes: “Although I graduat-ed early in December of ’82 and RPI sometimes callsme Class of ’82, I was most definitely a member ofthe Class of ’83, biomedical engineering, with anNROTC scholarship. Upon graduating I spent fiveyears in the Navy, spent two years studying theolo-gy, and then taught ESL for five years in Japan. Afterreturning to the States, I took up computers andam now the data architect for Jenzabar Inc.’s EXproduct—a total-package higher education soft-ware product used in 200+ colleges and universitiesacross the country. I’m a published author and speak

regularly at Microsoft SQL Server conferences. Iam the husband of Kathy (from upstate New York)and the father of three teenage girls. We live inStaunton, Va., in the beautiful Shenandoah Val-ley. In addition to my day job, my wife and I ownand manage vacation rentals at the Massanuttenresort. Google ‘Hawkins Haven.’ A four-seasonresort with skiing, two golf courses, and the EastCoast’s largest indoor water park, it’s a wonderful-ly convenient place for people wanting a break fromthe hustle and bustle of metropolitan and beltwaylife. We’ll give a 10 percent rental discount to RPIalumni who reference this Class Note.”

Steven Rouhana, Ph.D. ’83, was recently elect-ed a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE). One of only 32 electees from the auto indus-try around the country, he is a senior technical lead-er and group leader of Ford Motor Co.’s Biome-chanics and Occupant Protection group. Steven isinternationally recognized for pioneering researchin the area of human response to impact, particularlywith regard to abdominal injuries and air bag noise.He has written more than 50 technical papers inthe areas of basic biomechanical research, crash testdummy development, and seat belts. At Ford, he isleading the development of advanced belt systems,including four-point belts and the inflatable belt, inwhich a small, tubular-shaped inflatable bag candeploy inside a shoulder belt in the event of a crash.

We’re doing interesting things outside of workas well. By day, Robert Gierka manages tech pub-lications at NC State; by night, he serves as a petchaplain at their vet school. NPR did a piece onhim in March. See www.petchaplain.com.

That’s all I’ve heard from anyone. If you’ve beenhired, moved, had a child, had a grandchild (ack,we’re getting old), gotten married, taken an inter-esting trip, or just want people to know you’re stillalive, drop me a line. If you work at Wachovia, I’dbe interested to know how many we are around here.Look me up in the corporate directory.

Send news to: Jeffrey Freed ’83, 105F NorthbendDrive, Charlotte, NC 28262; h: (704) 503-0423; w:(704) 715-1512; [email protected]

84 Barry Wu received the Herbert S.Waxman Award for Outstanding Med-ical Educator from the American Col-

lege of Physicians on April 6, 2006, in Philadelphia.He is only the second recipient of this award thatwas initiated in April 2005. Barry is an associate clinical professor of medicine at Yale UniversitySchool of Medicine.

Sean Lydon sent the following news items:Michael Hurle just returned from an extensive

tour of Italy but has not shared pictures with any ofhis friends.

Chuck (sorry, Mom) Bucci and wife Shannonare busy raising their four children (two of each!) inthe home they just built in Rutland, Mass. Chuckplans to resume his pursuit of his master’s degree assoon as the dog gives back his homework. He keepsthe semiconductor fab running for Allegro Microsys-tems in nearby Worcester.

Louis Agro recently transferred from Manhat-tan to the Verizon office in Valhalla, N.Y., closer to

CLASSNOTES


Spring Training: Rick Roseberry ’81, RandyMitchelson ’93, and John Kilduff ’94 cheeredon Rensselaer’s softball team when it partici-pated in the 16th Annual Gene Cusic Colle-giate Classic Baseball and Softball Tourna-ment in March. In their 14 games in south-west Florida, the Red Hawks scored 120 runs, giving up only 39, and pitching six shut-outs.For more, see Class of ’81 coumn.

the home he shares with his wife, Camille, and theirtwo sons.

Chris Witt lives in Colorado Springs with wifeSabrina and their children, Tyler and Sophia. Hehas not lost his taste for outdoor adventure andrecently completed a 100-mile running race!

Gerry Pesavento recent-ly celebrated with his familyon a year sabbatical through-out the U.S. and Europe.During his travels Gerryorganized a get-together ofalums in Meredith, N.H.Everyone enjoyed the cook-outs, kayaking, and family-oriented outdoor fun. Here,in photo, Sean Lydon, Chris,and Gerry get ready to makebreakfast for everyone whomade the trip. Good thingthey all liked peanut butterand jelly!

Send news to: CarlosNieto ’84, 711 E. 11th St.,#5f, New York, NY 10009-4254; [email protected]

85 Jeffrey Post ([email protected])recently joined RBC Bearings Inc. asthe general manager of Heim Bearings

Co. located in Fairfield, Conn. Heim Bearings pro-duces ball bearing, self lubricating, and metal-to-metal rod end bearings for aerospace and commer-cial applications. Previously, he was the vice presidentof engineering for Kamatics Corp.

Send news to: Matthew Grebner ’85, 900 WestNorth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15233; (412) 231-8597;[email protected]

86 Peter (PJ) Bellomo (ChemE) sent thefollowing: “In light of our imminent 20thanniversary, I thought I would send a

hello and update. Over the years I morphed fromchemical engineering to high tech, and I most recent-ly held the position of chief operating officer at Com-merce5 Inc., an Internet start-up focused on out-sourced e-commerce. In December ’05 we sold ourbusiness to Digital River (DR), a publicly tradedcompany in Minnesota. While DR generously offeredto retain our management team, I have decided tomove on and pursue other opportunities. Classmatescan reach me at [email protected]. Regards toall from sunny Scottsdale.”

Jeffrey Keates-Driscoll writes: “After getting an M.S. and Ph.D. from Albany Medical College, I started a glamorous career as a public health scien-tist for New York state. My partner of nine years,John, and I split time between homes in New Yorkand the Australian Outback. And every now andthen it’s nice to spot other Lambda Chi alums onQantas flights.”

Me again—Jane (LeCount) LaGoy (MatlsE)—I was recently promoted to laboratory services man-ager, so now in addition to managing the metallog-raphy/microscopy/R&D lab, I supervise other labworkers and am the technical services interface for

all HIP customers and point of contact for technicalsupport to all of the Bodycote HIP (hot isostaticpressing) and heat treating plants in North Ameri-ca. I have also held the position of secretary of the Worcester chapter of ASM International for several years; in May we held our first ever

ASM Materials Camp forhigh school students to try tospark an interest in enter-ing the field of materials engineering.

Send news to: Jane LaGoy’86, 28 Nashua Road, Pep-perell, MA 01463-1404; [email protected]

87 20th Reunion:June 7-10, 2007Congratulations

to two of our classmates.Temi Bova has taken a newposition as executive direc-tor of U-Start, the businessincubator associated withUnion College in Schenec-tady, N.Y. U-Start was cre-ated in 1999 to help fledgling

high-tech companies by providing space, technicalassistance, and other resources. To date, two com-panies have graduated from U-Start to their ownoffice space. Temi looks forward to developing theprogram further to produce successful graduates andbusinesses that will contribute to the community.She was previously a marketing manager for Gen-eral Electric.

Thomas Lembckhas been promoted to vice pres-ident of information technology at ViroPharma Inc.,a pharmaceutical company in Exton, Pa. He was for-merly executive director of information technolo-gy, and joined the company in 2001.

James Kerr, M.S. ’87, has published his thirdbook, The Best Practices Enterprise: A Guide to Achiev-ing Sustainable World-Class Performance (see On theBookshelf, page 39.). He is a management consultantto Fortune 500 firms, and an adjunct professor atRensselaer at Hartford. He founded Kerr Consult-ing Group in 1992 and specializes in corporate trans-formation, strategy formulation, business processredesign, and Internet and technology managementand planning.

Enjoy your summer, and keep the news coming!Send news to: Laura Ryder ’87, 75 Pinewoods

Avenue, Troy, NY 12180; h: (518) 270-5048;[email protected]

88 Send news to: Karen Glasgow Parn-ham ’88, 6 Beavers Rd., Califon, NJ07830; [email protected]

89 Robert Flansburg, who is president ofDreamscapes Unlimited, was recentlywritten about in the Business Review

(Albany, N.Y.). The article details his achievementsfrom undergraduate studies to his current expertisein special custom home designing. He currently livesin the Albany area with his wife, Tina, daughter,

Whitney, and three sons, Robbie and identical twinsSchuyler and Spencer.

Send news to: Joseph Hom ’89, 3 Granada Crescent #3-9, White Plains, NY 10603; [email protected]

90 I was happy to attend the Rensselaervs. Princeton hockey game with theDelaware Valley Alumni Chapter. A

great game it was; the team really played hard. I metthe Pep Band and got to know some of the new chap-ter members.

Sreenivas Alampalli, director of the Bridge Pro-gram and Evaluation Services Bureau of the NYSDepartment of Transportation, was awarded theASNT Fellow award for 2005. Sreenivas is also adirector at large on the board of directors of ASNT.

Patty Gray (BSME) was hired by Conceptus inDecember 2005 as vice president, R&D and Oper-ations. She will be responsible for the research anddevelopment and operations of the Essure system.

Send news to: Michelle Dvorak-Held ’90, 15David Road, Holland, PA 18966; [email protected]

91 Send news to: Richard Vehlow ’91,P.E., MBA, 100 McChesney Ave., Apt.H8, Troy, NY 12180; h: (518) 273-3451;

w: (518) 486-1510; [email protected]; [email protected] (for photos)

92 15th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Greet-ings, classmates! It has been a whilesince we’ve had a good chunk of news.

So let’s get right to it.Steve Schwalje ([email protected])

and his wife, Zoe, had a baby boy on Oct. 29. TaylorJesse weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces. The glow-ing parents have had a chance to get some sleep since the happy event now and would love to hear from you.

In the news, from the norwichbulletin.com, TonyMadeira was recently hired as an accountant in thecity of Norwich finance office. Tony lives in Volun-town, Conn., with his wife, Erin. He serves as atrustee for the Thames Valley Council for Commu-nity Action.

John McFarland ([email protected]) was recognized as one of the Architec-tural/Engineering/Construction industry’s rising starsin the 40 Under 40 Award by Building Design &Construction (bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6316252.html). John is the director of engineered systems atWorkingBuildings, a building commissioning firmin Atlanta, Ga.

Folks, that’s what we’ve got for now. I hope thingsare going your way. Peace.

Send news to: Gregg Nichols ’92, 3094 Rose-field Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, [email protected]

93 Thank you, again, to all of you faithfulreaders. I am always surprised to see howmany of you read this column. I am even

more surprised when the readers turn into writersand drop me an update! Thank you.

David Miller wrote in from Denver, Colo., over

CLASSNOTES

Sean Lydon ’84, Chris Witt ’84, and Gerry Pesavento ’84 (left toright) enjoyed a family get-together in Meredith, N.H., last July, organized byPesavento, who was traveling with hisfamily throughout the U.S. and Europe.For more, see the Class of ’84 column.


the winter. He had recently been promoted to asso-ciate professor of radiology at the University of Col-orado Health Sciences Center, and is the technicaldirector of the brain imaging research laboratory. Nokids to report on, but he and his partner adopted anawesome Cane Corso (Italian mastiff) pup that isgrowing at a monstrous rate and snores.

Keisuke Hoashi returns to New York and hasbecome one of the founding members of a brand-new music camp, the New York Summer Music Festival (NYSMF), which begins this summer inOneonta, N.Y. More information can be found atwww.nysmf.org. Keisuke teaches the “Hollywood inthe Catskills” program—kids learn the basics of writ-ing songs, lyrics, music, comedy, skits, and plays, andthen write their own original works for biweekly pro-ductions. He also teaches filmmaking and acting class-es. The main focus of the camp is pro-level perfor-mance. Keisuke is also the director of communica-tions. During the past year he has appeared in manyshows, including The King of Queens; Jake In Progress;How I Met Your Mother; Boston Legal; The Suite Lifeof Zack and Cody; and the PBS documentary Japan:Memoirs of a Secret Empire. You may have also seenhim in some commercials for Southwest Airlines;ING (“Shakespeare in the Park”); KFC; DIRECTV(“NFL Sunday Ticket”); and ESPN (“Gospel X-Games”).

Sandra (King) and her husband, Joel Holt, haveannounced the arrival of twins this past February.Needless to say, with their other daughters, Caro-line, 4, and Josephine, 2-1/2, their household hasbeen pretty exciting! Sandra is currently working asthe senior supplier quality assurance engineer at Aero-jet General Corp. in Camden, Ark. Aerojet is one ofthe leading manufacturers of solid rocket fuel in sup-port of the U.S. military. Joel is the chief plant engi-neer at Entegra/Union Power Partners in Calion,Ark. It is one of the two largest combined cycle powerplants in the country capable of producing an excessof 2,220 megawatts of power.

We also heard from Madelaine Perri Kasden, whois the mother of our classmate Neill Perri who passedaway in 1995 from a probable viral infection affect-ing the heart. Along with eight other bereaved moth-ers and a newspaper columnist, Madelaine has com-pleted a book, Beyond Tears: Living After Losing aChild. There is also a Web site available atwww.beyondtears.net. Thank you for sharing thisinformation with us, Madelaine.

Jennifer (Lang) Murphy and Mark (B.S.Env.E.)are still in the Virginia Beach area and announcedthe birth of their third child, Jill, who was born this pastJanuary. She was their smallest child weighing in at9 pounds, 5 ounces. Brothers Jack, 5, and Sean, 3,were 11 pounds, 8 ounces, and 10 pounds, 15, respec-tively. Mark is working for a construction consultingcompany out of Richmond, Va., and Jennifer is work-ing on raising three children.

Send news to: Kimberly (Makuch) Kotkoskie ’93, 273 Scotch Bush Rd., Burnt Hills, NY 12027; h: (518) 885-1059; [email protected]

94 Whazzzupp y’all!!! The summer is final-ly here! Once again there’s not muchto report, but here is what I have:

Jim Pennington was named deputy general man-ager of Lakeland (Fla.) Electric on March 6. Jim pre-viously served as assistant finance director for Lake-land Electric.

Asilia (Hill) Dinkins and her husband, Michael,welcomed their first child, Bilal Miguel Dinkins, onJan. 29, 2006. Bilal weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces,and was 20 inches long. Asilia resides in Marylandnear Washington, D.C., and works as a softwareconsultant for the Department of Treasury.

Michelle (Duquette) Lucas and Jim Lucas wel-comed the arrival of their second child, Emily NicoleLucas, on Nov. 18, 2005. Michelle is employed atJeffords Steel and Engineering as the fabricationoperations manager and Jim now works for StantecConsulting Inc.

Fernando Quintero, his wife, Maria, and theirdaughter Maritere recently moved to San Juan, Puer-to Rico, from the Washington, D.C., area as a resultof a promotion with Motorola. Fernando is now theregional business manager for Motorola’s Govern-ment & Enterprise business in Puerto Rico, the U.S.Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.

That’s all the news! Don’t forget to send in thenews. I hope to have more to report in the fall. Enjoythe summer!!! PEACE!

Send news to: Bill Wheeler ’94, 832 W. AgatiteAve., Unit 1N, Chicago, IL 60640; h: (773) 271-8205; w: (312) 886-1621; [email protected]

95 Keep the updates coming. AnthonyArtino Jr. is in New England workingon his Ph.D. in human cognition at the

University of Connecticut. Tony is still on activeduty as an aerospace physiologist in the U.S. Navy,in school for the Medical Service Corps. Tony andhis wife, Teri, have two kids, Isabella, 3, and Tre, 18months. They were also expecting another baby boyin May. Congratulations to Tony and Teri.

Sean Sullivan ([email protected]) writes: “I still live in Portland, Ore., and I work for a supplychain management company. I was recently diag-

nosed with avascularnecrosis in both of myhips. I will be undergoinghip surgery in Baltimoreto correct the problem.In July 2006, I will bespeaking at the O’ReillyOpen Source conferencein Portland.”

Robert Feller, MBA’95, has been included inthe latest edition of The

Best Lawyers in America, in the environmental lawcategory. Robert is senior counsel of the Albany lawfirm of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, and con-centrates his practice in environmental law, landuse, and municipal law.

Marcia Harris writes: “Just got my first novel pub-lished as an e-book! The hardcover will come outlater this year, but in the meantime, you can checkout my Web site at www.marciacolette.com or visitwww.double-dragon-ebooks.com/index.asp.”

Send news to: Michael Van Poots ’95, 257 Fran-

cis Lane, Breinigsville, PA 18031; h: (610) 737-3868;[email protected]; www.vanpoots.com

96 I hope you were able to attend Reunion;if not, I hope you plan to attend in 2011.Here are the updates…

Susan Galvin wrote in to say that she and herfamily are moving to Ohio this summer. Her hus-band, Steve Galvin, is being transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Susan expects to startpracticing medicine again part time once they getsettled. If anyone is in the Dayton, Ohio, area, theyencourage you to look them up.

Maura Newell founded a new full-service archi-tecture firm, 72 Architects, LLC, in Danbury, Conn.The firm specializes in commercial architecture,including new and renovated buildings, zoning andcode consulting, architectural visualization, anddesign feasibility studies. Prior to starting her firm,Maura was employed as senior architect, DCAArchitects/Planners LLC in Ridgefield, Conn.

Denise Penkalski Brown wrote in with this mes-sage: “On Feb. 26, 2006, I was married in Nashua,N.H., in a small ceremony with about 60 in atten-dance. Yes, he’s a geek like me; more details uponrequest! We’ll have a gathering/delayed recep-tion/housewarming/graduation from acupunctureschool in NH this summer. If you’d like to send usyour well wishes or would like to attend our gather-ing this summer, drop me an e-mail at [email protected].”

Now on to the birth announcements. First, con-gratulations to Sean and Meg Trask on the birth oftheir second child, Julia Ellen Trask, on Jan. 10. Shewas 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Big sister, Ava, is adjust-ing to her new role. According to Meg the two girlsare keeping her very busy.

Also celebrating a new arrival are Kevin and Jen(’97) Miller. Jason Anthony Miller was born on Feb.12. Jason was 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and 21.25 inches.The Millers are living in Parker, Colo., where Kevinis the vice president-business operations for the Col-orado region of Comcast. Jen is taking several monthsoff and will then return part time to the ArapahoeCounty Detention Center, working in their libraryand teaching math.

Congratulations to all of the new and repeat parents. Watch for post-Reunion updates in the next issue!

Send news to: Hank Carbone ’96, 701 CottageAvenue W, St. Paul, MN 55117; h: (651) 340-2451;[email protected]

97 10th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007 Hello,everyone! Can you believe we are lessthan one year away from our 10th

Reunion?! Time flies, and I’m sure we’re going toget the planning under way soon—let us know ifyou want to be involved in the planning process.

Angelina Errico presented her paper, “The Riskof Saving Lives: How Automotive Technology Has Impacted the Rescue Worker,” in April at the SAE World Congress 2006, and said it wentvery well.

In other news, Riyadh (Dee Dee) Muhammadwrote in that she has now completed medical school


CLASSNOTES

Robert Feller ’95


CLASSNOTES

and her residency training in pediatrics and fellow-ship training in public health. She is excited to bedone with the formal part of her education, and willbe starting at the CDC (Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention) this July.

Rafael Espinoza (Arch.) and wife Kari-elinMock, also an architect, started construction on anew home of his design, located near downtownDenver. Interested classmates can follow along asthe project progresses on their personal Web sitewww.rk-tects.com.

Chris Szydlo sent news: “My wife, Patty, and Ihave moved and had a baby. Tyler Christopher wasborn on March 2, 2006, and weighed in at 6 pounds,10 ounces. Mom and baby are doing great. Also, Ihave a new position with Disney as sales directorfor the Disney Institute. We will be expanding ourprograms across the globe to all 11 Disney themeparks around the world. Currently we are based inOrlando and recently expanded the programs toDisneyland in California. We offer professionaldevelopment programs that allow external compa-nies the ability to benchmark Disney’s best prac-tices around service and leadership.”

And finally, Neha (Shah) Biggs and her hus-band, Sean, had their first baby. Millan Shah Biggswas born March 30 at 7:13 a.m. He weighed in at 8pounds, 3 ounces, and measured 20 inches in length.Congratulations!

That’s it for now, hope everyone enjoys theirsummer!

Send news to: Kristen Fitzpatrick ’97, 57 Union

Street, Watertown, MA 02472; h: (617) 924-6647;[email protected]

98 Greetings! I hope everyone is enjoyingthe summer months. If you get achance, drop me a line. I’m sure we

would all like to know what you are up to these days!On to the news with lots of births to

announce...Doug and Elinor (Koblenz) Riggs arethe proud parents of a second son, Drew MichaelRiggs, who was born on April 24, 2005. Elinor is nowworking as a technology lead at Ortho-McNeil Phar-maceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson. Alsocelebrating a new child are Thomas Heffernan andhis wife, Cheryl. Their daughter Hannah was bornon April 14, 2005. Chris and Kristina (Wines)Grossman also have a new daughter. Kaitlyn Rileywas born April 2, 2005. Kristina writes that “Kaitlynis a very happy baby.”

Norah Anne McCauliffe was born Oct. 20 toShane and Allison (St. Pierre) McCauliffe. Alli-son says Norah is happy and healthy and “mom anddad are totally amazed by her!” Tim Buckley andhis wife, Rachel (Bass), are the proud parents of adaughter, Natalie Faith, who was born Dec. 18. Timis currently assigned to Submarine NR ONE, whichis undergoing scheduled maintenance at PortsmouthNaval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. He will be attend-ing Submarine Officers Advanced Course untilAugust, in preparation for returning to sea duty as adepartment head on a submarine.

Theda Kim (Chantrasuk) Moore and her hus-

band, Mark, announce the birth of their son, JasonSawang Moore, on July 20, 2005. She writes, “Hecouldn’t wait to be born considering he was born fourweeks premature at 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and 17 inch-es long. He is doing well and growing as he should.”

I got a short note from Annette Romei. Sherecently completed Six Sigma Black Belt trainingthrough Honeywell International and was also cre-dentialed as a Project Management Professionalthrough the Project Management Institute. She isnow working as a manager within Honeywell’s SixSigma organization, while her husband, Craig, hasaccepted a new position as a Software ValidationEngineer at Intel. He is testing both production andnext-generation microprocessors.

Tobey Clarkin’s mom sent me an update. Tobeyrecently left the Air Force as a captain after five yearsand tours in South Korea, Germany, Iraq, andKuwait. Last winter, he spent four months in theAndes, roaming from country to country and tak-ing in all the wildlife. He is now attending graduateschool at the University of Washington.

I also received news from Deanna Capobianco.She is engaged to Erik Glaser (Ohio State ’93) andis planning an August 2006 wedding. Deannareceived her MSE in mechanical engineering in 2004from the University of Michigan. She is currentlyworking for GE Healthcare in Lawrence, Mass. BothErik and Deanna are part-time MBA students atBabson College. They reside in Waltham, Mass.

Nadene Mills was recently promoted to techni-cal lead of the Custom Automation Technologygroup at Pfizer, making special order fabricationsand devices for pharmaceutical scientists.

Congratulations to Krishaun Gilmore andBethany Weiser who were both inducted into Rens-selaer’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Beth Gyurovits ([email protected])wrote: “What happened to the EMAC graduates?Well, a lot! It’s been a wild trip since graduation. Myfirst job as an Internet specialist was for Warner-Lambert (now Pfizer) in Morris Plains, N.J. It was agreat opportunity, until EDS hired me and relocat-ed me to Colorado to support the Maxtor accountas the global Web program manager in IT in 2000.What a great opportunity! I spent 4-1/2 years therebefore landing a job at Johns Manville, a BerkshireHathaway company in Denver, essentially doing thesame, but also branching into cyber intellectual prop-erty protection with the support of the legal depart-ment. So far, so good! Any other EMAC’ers doingtheir thing? I’d love to hear from you!”

Send news to: Mike Johnson ’98, 116 Catlin Ave.,Port Allegany, PA 16743; [email protected]

99 Sian Fennessey writes: “I just com-pleted my Ph.D. in polymer science andengineering at the University of Mas-

sachusetts Amherst and I am presently heading toMinneapolis, Minn. I have accepted a position atthe 3M Co. in their Corporate Research and Pro-cessing Laboratories in their Nonwoven division.Present e-mail is [email protected].”

Send news to: Erica Kulesza ’99, 221 West 22ndStreet, Apartment C2, New York, NY [email protected]

Keith Parent ’90 is CEOof Court Square Data

Group, the IT consultingcompany he founded in1995, based in Springfield,Mass. He hired Cori Rol-land, M.S. ’98, as directorof business development in2001, after meeting her atan economic developmentconference.

“The summit focused onstrategies to develop theWestern Massachusettseconomy, an issue in which both Cori and Ishare a keen interest,” says Parent. “Westarted discussing business, and her ideas fitwith where I wanted to take the company.”

The company has experienced steadygrowth and has been named twice to the Inc.500 and twice to the Inc. Inner City 100, andwas named the 2002 Small Business of theYear by the Greater Springfield Chamber ofCommerce.

Court Square made its mark on the indus-try through development of a quality manage-

ment process for IT servicedelivery known as Good Systems Practice, which isaimed at highly regulatedenvironments, includingsuch FDA-regulated indus-tries as pharmaceuticalsand biotech, and SEC-regu-lated areas like banking andfinancial services. The com-pany recently consolidatedits offerings for biotechnolo-gy and pharmaceutical firmsinto a comprehensive Life

Sciences Practice to address the needs ofsmall and mid-sized companies throughoutthe drug discovery, development, and com-mercialization lifecycle.

Parent, who earned his M.S. in computerscience from Rensselaer and B.S. from SienaCollege, was recently nominated as Ernst andYoung’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Both heand Rolland are active with the Western Mas-sachusetts Regional Technology Corp., Parentas board president and Rolland on the market-ing and technical steering committees.

IT Entrepreneur Finds Successful Nichein Biotechnology and Life Sciences

00 Send news to: Bridget Olson ’00, 1505Monroe Street NE, Washington, DC20017; [email protected]

01Hello, Class of 2001! If you made it toReunion ’06, what a time we had! If youdidn’t you want to set it on your calen-

dar for 2011. More reunion updates in the Fall issue. Pat Blount wrote in with a career update saying

that he’s “living in Baltimore and commuting anhour to an awesome new 100 percent commissionmortgage brokerage job in VA.” Steve Flanaganchecked in and is still in the Army Special ForcesQualification Course at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Congratulations to Todd Dombrowski whoearned his M.D. degree from the American Uni-versity of the Caribbean in April. Todd begins hisresidency in internal medicine at Albany MedicalCenter in July.

We also had some engagements and weddings!Chandra Benjamin wrote, “I’m engaged to Keith

Tschohl, who is a grad student in mechanical engi-neering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.He’s graduating with his master’s in May and thenwill be starting a new job at Hutchinson Technolo-gy in Hutchinson, Minn., in July. I’m looking for a jobin the Twin Cities area and will be moving out therein the next couple months to be with Keith. We willbe getting married in December.”

Erin Jatko married Eduardo Lucero in FortCollins, Colo., on May 28. The happy couple residesin Arvada, Colo., where they are both practicingarchitects.

Josh Hort married Kristin Denner ’02 on April29, 2006, in Nashua, N.H. RPI alumni in attendanceincluded Mike Trahan ’00, Chris Ryan, Dave Alt-man, Mike Comer ’05, Erica (Hamel) Vellone ’02,and Jennifer (Barton) Kugler ’02, among many oth-ers. The couple resides in Lowell, Mass. Congratu-lations to all!

We’ll have lots more updates and more Reunion’06 stories to share in the Fall issue. Have a greatsummer!

Send news to: Mike Cooke ’01, 113 1st Ave. NW,Lutz, FL 33549; [email protected]

02 5th Reunion: June 7-10, 2007Nicholas Lue took a job as media &exhibit specialist at the New York

State Museum in February. He wrote: “This job tiesin all of the skills I developed in the EMAC pro-gram at RPI including Web, video, audio, and inter-active design. On top of that, as of Dec. 2, 2005, Iam a new father. My wife, Sarah, gave birth to a girlnamed Isabella Grace. Her great-grandfather,Ronald Waite ’50, grandfather, Chris Waite ’73(on her mom’s side), and her father—me—all grad-uated from RPI. Isabella could be a fourth-genera-tion RPI student!”

Ray Lutzky has joined Marketing ManagementAnalytics (MMA) in Wilton, Conn., as a market-ing coordinator. He works directly with Justin Hais-lip ’02, Travis Lull ’05, and other alumni on mar-keting effectiveness and analytics consulting.

Send news to: Elizabeth Trawinski ’02, 427 S. Palo Alto Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401;

h: (850) 819-1949; [email protected]

03 While the class notes have not beenupdated for some time I assure you thathas not been for lack of events in the

lives of ’03 alumni. Starting in the Northeast, ourfriend John Blauvelt and Marisa DiDonato weremarried on May 13 at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapelon the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs,Conn. Tim Vanderpoel and Jared Goldstein weregroomsmen, and David vonEiff was also in atten-dance. John is a project manager at Computer Sciences Corp. in Norwich, Conn., and Marisa ispursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry at UConn. Not farfrom Storrs, Rebecca Senecal, who graduated witha master’s in technical communication and a cer-tificate in graphic design, is making her mark on thepublishing world. After RPI she moved back to herhometown area of central Massachusetts and spenttwo years in the publishing industry working onproduct design as well as educational book pro-duction. She recently began an exciting new job inNovember as the associate director of public rela-tions and marketing at Worcester State College.

Staying in New England, Laura Blake wasappointed assistant professor at Mitchell College,where she will be teaching in the college’s SmallBusiness Studies Program. She has been a market-ing communications consultant for such compa-nies as Canon USA and Sonalysts Consulting.

Moving a little farther west, I recently acciden-tally met with a father of an alum who came to usfrom San Francisco—truly one of those “smallworld” moments. The alum in question is Jamil Val-liani. I caught up with him over e-mail and he wrote:“Redmond is a pretty nice place…For my first 2.5years, I worked on Microsoft’s security team—wewere put in charge of making sure that none of ournew products had the security problems/worms thatplagued our customers in XP and 2003. We reallymade big changes in the way the company devel-ops software, which is super cool. You’ll notice thatsome of our newer major products have no vulner-abilities recorded against them which is a real tes-tament to what we accomplished. A few monthsago, I decided to take on another big challengewhere Microsoft needs to play catch-up: Search. Inparticular, I am the program manager for News &Blogs search. Basically I am helping design a searchengine that will identify, classify, and index any newsor blog entry on the Web in near real-time.”

Congratulations to Tom Buckton and his wife,Amy (Vincent—Russell Sage ’02), who had adaughter, Chloe Marie, on Nov. 12, 2005. She was7 pounds, 6 ounces, and 20 inches long.

Before I end this issue’s notes, I wanted to giveyou a quick update on myself and the one fellowclassmate I see frequently. I graduated from GE’sIMLP program in August and stayed on as a pro-ject manager for Corporate Finance Systems in Fair-field, Conn. I am living in downtown New Havenwhere I enjoy the restaurants, theaters (we havemore restaurants per square foot than any other cityin the U.S., I am convinced), and frequent walkson green. Working with me in Connecticut is MaryMattaroccia, who is also a project manager for legal

systems. Both Mary and I went up to Troy at theend of May to witness our sisters’ graduation. Maryand I both agree, there was nothing in the ’06 grad-uation to rival our glorious day in ’03 (including theB2 flyby). Nonetheless, it was good to see anothergreat class walk across the Harkness Field. Con-gratulations to all our new graduates!

Send news to: Soumeya Benghanem ’03, 13Shinnecock Hills Dr., Albany, NY 12205; [email protected]

04 As time goes by, it seems that I amhearing more and more success storiesabout our class, which means our years

at Rensselaer are being put to good use! Many of usare finding success in the private sector, and I haveheard reports from several people who, like myself,are soon to be securing graduate degrees.

Jim Keba recently accepted a position at Genen-tech, a biotechnology firm, at their main campus inthe city of South San Francisco, Calif. Jim is now anassociate engineer in their Late Stage PurificationDepartment.

Congratulations are in order for Scott Parsons,who is now married to Hayley Beers and has just pur-chased a new house in Pittsburgh, Pa. Scott is nowstudying for his Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University.

Melanie Sayer finished her master’s degree at the University of Connecticut in May, obtaining a degree in biomedical engineering. She is now working as a clinical specialist with Medtronic, oneof the world’s largest medical technology companies,on Long Island.

Scott Brinkerhoff recently joined an elite groupof networking professionals. On his first try, Scottpassed a difficult eight-hour exam to become a CiscoCertified Internet Expert. This group is so presti-gious that each person who passes the exam getstheir own unique and distinct number. Scott is nowa security team leader at Cisco’s facility at ResearchTriangle Park, just outside of Durham, N.C.

As for myself, it’s more Army training for me—amonth at Ft. Lewis just outside of Seattle this sum-mer, and three weeks at Ft. Benning in Georgia forairborne school. I look forward to the challenge, andI hope to hear from many more of you in the upcom-ing months.

Send news to: Tom Reale ’04, 464 County Rte.56, Ticonderoga, NY 12883; [email protected]

05 It is hard to believe that it’s been a yearsince we walked across the stage andfinally received our diplomas! I hope it

has been a great year for all.Gavin Gyle, after graduating in December, is

working in prime brokerage at Bank of America inManhattan. Jody Coonradt has been working thisyear as an assistant coordinator of student activitiesfor the RPI Union, but she will be leaving this sum-mer to go to Nova Southeastern University Collegeof Osteopathic Medicine.

Congratulations to Gavin on his new job and toJody on her acceptance to medical school!

Send news to: Shannon Hitchcock ’05, BarnardCollege, 3001 Broadway #2459, New York, NY10027; [email protected]


CLASSNOTES

I N M E M O R I A M

Robert T. Chatterton ’33, retiredhead electrical engineer, AmericanCan Co., who enjoyed farming in hisretirement; April 23. Allen I. Barry’38, former chemical engineer atPfizer, where he was instrumentalin the development of industrial scaleprocesses to produce penicillin, laterfounder of Barry and Associates Inc.,a manufacturers representative firm,and avid sailor; March 3. SchuylerW. Bacon ’39, retired chief engi-neer, Ingberg Mechanical Inc.; June16, 2004.

Howard E. Sheffer, M.S. ’40, re-tired professor, Union College, andconsultant and patent holder in wireenamels; Feb. 8. Warren M.Liepshutz ’41, retired A.V. supervi-sor, Hudson, N.Y., City Schools, headof Germantown Appliance Co., di-rector of G.T.C. Telephone Co., andactive in school and zoning boards;May 17, 2004. C. Van Zandt Mc-Quide ’41, former president, Sim-monds Precision Products; Jan. 12.Frank J. Sherry ’41, former plantmanager for BF Goodrich, Seiber-ling, and General tire/OMNOVA;March 14. Philip J. McDermott ’43,former automobile salesman, serviceofficer of the American Legion, andWWII Army veteran; April 5. DavidP. Cunning ’45, retired captain, U.S.Navy Civil Engineer Corps, highlydecorated “Seabee,” and former ex-ecutive vice president for land de-velopment in the San Diego area; Jan.30. Samuel G. Cohen ’46 (BAE), ’48(BEE), former owner, Sci-Tech Con-sultants, Pleasantville, N.Y.; Novem-ber 2000. Joseph K. Elliot ’47, re-tired executive vice president, Gal-breath-Ruffin Corp., and Korean WarNaval construction battalion execu-tive officer; June 17. Emil Kremzier’47, retired from Hughes AircraftCo., Missile Systems Group, formerlywith G.D. Convair and Teledyne RyanAeronautical, private pilot, and U.S.Navy veteran; Feb. 3. George J. Hof-fer ’48, retired division manager,AT&T, and U.S. Navy veteran; Dec.14, 2005. Leon I. Langer ’49, re-tired engineer, Building and Engi-neering Division, New York Tele-phone Co., and WWII Army AirCorps veteran; Dec. 10, 2005.

Juan Barcelo-Mora ’51, of Areci-bo, Puerto Rico; April 13, 2005.

Ralph F. Crandell ’51, retired patentattorney in Denver, Colo., since1962; June 7. Robert P. Tiel ’51,retired director, engineering, IBMCorp., and later, executive consul-tant, Dassault Systems; Jan. 6. Gra-ham G. Williams ’52, M.Arch. ’53,professor emeritus, Rensselaer,practicing architect, active in com-munity affairs, Class of ’52 presi-dent, avid sailor, and U.S. Air Forceveteran; May 5. Robert G. Ross ’53,retired president, Ross Valve Man-ufacturing Co., and Korean WarNavy veteran; April 20. Bruce K.Carroll ’56, former ranch owner inUkiah, Calif., following his retire-ment; June 16, 1999. Robert F.Steigerwald ’58, Ph.D. ’62, formergroup manager, Bechtel Inc.; Feb.11. David L. Weaver ’58, professorof biophysics and former chair,physics and astronomy, Tufts Uni-versity; April 4.

Michael M. Abbott ’60, Ph.D. ’65,professor emeritus, chemical engi-neering, Rensselaer (see page 15);May 31. Theodore M. Jungreis ’60,mathematician, computer program-mer, and entrepreneur; Aug. 10,2005. Frederick C. Sernatinger,M.M.G. ’64, retired executive vicepresident, Combustion EngineeringInternational, sailor and model ship-builder, and Korean War Navy vet-

eran; April 17. Thomas A. Duches-neau ’67, M.S. ’69, longtime alum-ni adviser to Mother’s Wine Empo-rium at Rensselaer, and U.S. Armyveteran; May 10. Sally I. Fox, Ph.D.’67, retired professor of microbiolo-gy, College of St. Rose, first Ph.D.student in biology at Rensselaer; April27. Milton J. Makoski ’68, formerhuman resource manager for Uniroy-al Inc., TWR Inc., Monsanto Co.,GTE Corp., GE, and Echlin DanaCorp.; Feb. 6. Robert J. DeJonge ’69,retired manager, Northeast Utilities,active in United Way, food pantry,and audio society; March 28.

Daniel J. Goggins ’71, retiredCoast Guard captain, and directorof treasury services for A. SchulmanInc., Akron; March 14. Brent D.Beckley ’72, former leader, tech-nology strategy programs, GE; Feb.4. George H. Kindler ’72, light andsound specialist for Miss Americapageants and many Las Vegas es-tablishments, including the Mirage,Treasure Island, MGM Grand, andthe Bellagio; May 21. Mary E.Emery, M.S. ’73, assistant professorof English, State University of NewYork, Cobleskill; Feb. 21. James R.Cooley ’74, M.E. ’75, principal en-gineer, AAI Corp., where he designedradar system simulators, and avidhiker; March 13. Paul A. Marchisot-

to ’79, vice president, NorthropGrumman, where he led advancedsystems and technology for the inte-grated systems division, and a Rens-selaer Key Executive; May 28.

Linda S. Marcy Marchisotto ’80,senior materials and process engi-neer in Northrop Grumman’s spacetechnology division; May 28. JamesW. Atkinson, M.S. ’86, environ-mentalist, formerly with the NewYork State Energy Research & De-velopment Authority, instructor withRensselaer’s environmental man-agement and policy program, co-founder of the Rensselaer-TaconicLand Conservancy, Eagle Scout, andavid outdoorsman; May 10. MichaelP. Gordon ’99, M.S. ’01, employedby Plug Power, former NCAA All-American decathlete and pole-vaulter, avid snowboarder and ad-venture seeker; March 6. Joseph P.Kelly, M.D., ’00, physician in War-rensburg, N.Y.; March 9.

Curtis V. Green, retired associateprofessor, language, literature, andcommunication, at Rensselaer; May11. Henry T. Nagamatsu, professoremeritus of mechanical engineeringat Rensselaer, internationally rec-ognized pioneer in hypersonic re-search, former research associate,GE R&D Center, and former seniorresearch fellow, Caltech; May 15.


CLASSNOTES

Graham G. Williams ’52, professor emeritus ofarchitecture at Rensselaer, where he taught for

35 years prior to his retirement in 1998,died May 5. He earned bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees at Rensselaer andafter time in the Navy and in practice,joined the faculty in the early 1960s.

“Over the years, Graham Williamswas central and formative to the Schoolof Architecture and several programs,most notably the development of theDesign Development Studio—that com-prehensive, integrated experiencedesigned to equip bright minds and creative thinkerswith the ability to accomplish their architectural ambi-tions,” said Mark Mistur ’83, associate professor of

architecture, who paid tribute to Williams at theschool’s 75th anniversary celebration in May.

Throughout his career, Williams hadan active architectural practice, design-ing residential, religious, and educa-tional buildings. He was also an activemember of the community, serving onnumerous boards, and was instrumen-tal in establishing the Rensselaer Coun-ty Council for the Arts, now the Arts Cen-ter of the Capital Region.

A lifelong sailor, he started the sail-ing program on Forest Lake, where his

family resided each summer. Williams served as pres-ident of the Class of ’52, and remained active in alum-ni activities throughout his life.

Graham Williams ’52: Professor, Architect, Alumnus


MY DECISION TO ATTEND RENSSE-laer was made in 1949, at age 7. Iwas in the park behind our apart-ment with my father. He was talkingto a good friend, asking him aboutengineering schools. My father’sfriend, an engineer himself, said:“Well, Rensselaer, in Troy, is a verygood school.” The words “Rensse-laer” and “Troy” meant nothing toa 7-year-old. However, they nestledin a place in the back of my cerebralcortex and slept there for the next10 years.

Fast Forward: Middle of my ju-nior year, high school. Time to startthinking about colleges. Dad stillwants me to be an engineer. “Rens-selaer.” “Troy.” Oh, yeah. Good en-gineering school. Let’s apply there.My high school counselor was notthrilled with my top choice. He waspushing for one of those 20,000-student giants, like Michigan. Toldme RPI was out of my reach. How-ever, a confluence of coincidencesassured my acceptance... Theclincher came from the brother ofmy best friend, who was a sopho-more at RPI. When he got his 1960Transit, he called home to tell themthat there was a full-page pictureof me in the yearbook, taken whenI was touring campus. Then andthere, I knew that no college wouldput a picture of a student they werenot going to accept into their year-book! Two days later, my counselorlet me know I had been acceptedby RPI.

Fast Forward II. June 1964. I wasnot cut out to be an engineer.Something about Thermodynam-ics and Physics IV at the same time.But I had an aptitude for Psychol-ogy, and I earned my B.S. in thatmajor. It was then that The Ringentered my life. The Class of 1964college ring was unique. When we

compared rings after graduation, allof my high school buddies had ringsthat looked like small hills, sur-mounted by small, colored stones.My ring was massive in compari-son. It had a large, square stone (ac-tually, a 3:2 rectangle) overan even larger body. Onone side was the RPI logo;on the other, the torch oflearning, with a VI and a IVmaking up either side of theflame. I still wear it withpride today.

Fast Forward III. Fall of1968. I had completed allmy course work for myMBA in Industrial Psy-chology, with just a thesisleft to write. My specialtywas self-instructional ma-terials (the forerunner oftoday’s computer-assistedinstruction). I received ajob offer from Westinghouse Learn-ing Corporation (WLC), in Pitts-burgh. Westinghouse was movingits nuclear pressure vessel manu-facturing operation from Philadel-phia to Tampa, Fla., and was au-tomating the method of produc-tion. They needed self-instructionalprograms to train arc welders onthe use of automatic welding equip-ment. I was instructed to spend twoweeks at the Philadelphia plant tolearn all I could about welding andthe manufacture of nuclear pres-sure vessels. I knew absolutelynothing about welding, so I askedfor and received two books onwelding and a copy of the weldingcode book. In the week before I leftfor Philly, I waded through thewelding books. The night before Imet with the people at the plant, Iread the code book from cover tocover.

Monday morning, I arrived at

the plant and was escorted to aconference room where I was in-troduced to five senior welding en-gineers. As I began to questionthem about the mechanics of weld-ing nuclear pressure vessels, I

sensed an antagonism and a reluc-tance to answer my questions,other than in cursory terms. I nei-ther knew, nor understood, thattheir jobs were going to be elimi-nated by my finished product, thatthe plant was to be closed, and thatall their friends and co-workerswould soon be unemployed. Tothem, I was just a writer whosebooks threatened their livelihood!

By 11:30, we were still proceed-ing at a snail’s pace. In response toone question, the senior member ofthe group gave an answer that, frommy reading of the welding code thenight before, did not sound correct.I challenged the answer with thecomment: “That’s not to code.”The engineer was enraged. “Ofcourse it’s to code!” he responded.Somehow, from the depths of myshort-term memory, I quoted thecode section which I thought ap-plied. He stormed out of the room

to retrieve his copy of the code. When he returned to the room,

he was still angry, but contrite. Heacknowledged that his answer wasnot to code, but that it represent-ed the way they actually did things

on the job. One of the otherengineers looked me in theeye and asked: “How didyou know that the proce-dure was not to code?” I wasabout to tell him that I hadread the code the night be-fore, but then I looked at hishand and saw a square redstone. Instead of giving myoriginal, somewhat unsat-isfactory response, I simplysaid: “Your ring is the sameas mine!”

The change in thegroup’s attitude was instan-taneous. As a Rensselaergraduate, I was accepted

into the circle of welding engineers.(Fortunately, they never inquiredas to my major!) That afternoon,the round-table became produc-tive, their answers became morecomplete, and my learning curveexpanded exponentially. By the endof the two weeks, I had more thanenough information to develop thetraining programs, and I had estab-lished five personal resources.

My employers at WLC in Pitts-burgh were amazed at the recep-tion I received in Philadelphia.Knowing the situation, they hadexpected me to receive no cooper-ation at all. My initial research onthe welding project established mycredentials immediately with theWLC staff.

Little did they know that I owedit all to a square red stone.

John Shahdanian ’64 is a real estateattorney in Rochelle Park, N.J.

ONELAST THING…

The Square StoneOr, how my college ring saved my job | BY JOHN SHAHDANIAN ’64

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