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Central Central the magazine for alumni & friends of central connecticut state university spring 2007

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Page 1: Central · Robert F. Mullins ’94 Justin J. Pagano ’64 Ron Perry ’94 Daniel M. Siracusa ’79 Richard A. Sullivan ’75 Ed Vescovi ’84 Karie G. Walczewski ’06 Richard A

CentralCentralthe magazine for alumni & friends of central connecticut state university

spring 2007

Page 2: Central · Robert F. Mullins ’94 Justin J. Pagano ’64 Ron Perry ’94 Daniel M. Siracusa ’79 Richard A. Sullivan ’75 Ed Vescovi ’84 Karie G. Walczewski ’06 Richard A

John W. Miller

Blue Devils fans packed the

house and raised the roof

this past season, cheering

the Central men’s basketball

team on to the Northeast

Conference title and its

third NCAA tournament

appearance in seven years.

Letter from the President of Central Connecticut State University

ongratulations to the men’s basketball team on its amazing championship season and trip to the NCAA Tournament! This year’s squad played with a certain heart and relentless determination that has made the entire CCSU

community proud.

While we still bask in the glow of this feel-good story, it is just one of a myriad offaculty, student and alumni successes in which the University is taking great pride.A sampling of the intriguing work of Central faculty engaged in diverse fields ofexciting research and publications bringing distinction to the University includes: thework of Dr. Sylvia Halkin, professor of biology and a specialist in animal behaviorand ornithology, who has published a groundbreaking study on the behavior ofsquirrels; the writings of associate professor of history Dr. Matthew Warshauer ’90,whose recently published book on Andrew Jackson is the centerpiece of an article inthe January 29, 2007 issue of The New Yorker (see inside); and a new book, AmericaBeyond Black and White: How Immigrants and Fusions are Helping Us Overcomethe Racial Divide from the University of Michigan Press, by Dr. Ronald Fernandez,professor of criminology and criminal justice, which provides a riveting discussion to add to the national dialogue on race.

Dedicated students who work for the annual phonathon informing alumni of thecritical need for support are among our student champions. CCSU’s outstandingJazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo both finished in second place at the prestigiousVillanova Jazz Festival. Additionally, sophomore saxophonist Andrew Lefebvre wonthe Outstanding Soloist Award for the Big Band competition, while Dennis Alex,A’Lvaro Maldonado, Dana Russo, John Anderson and Weena Walton won the awardfor Best Trombone Section.

Alumni, too numerous to cite here, are yet another group of champions who continueto bring great distinction to the University. This cadre of achievers includes leadersin education, business, industry, the military and service professions. There is noquestion that alumni play a pivotal role in advancing the mission of CCSU inConnecticut, across the nation and around the world.

Dr. Jack Miller

President

C

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CCSU Alumni Association

OfficersChristine I. Sullivan ’73, MS ’81, PresidentFrederick B. Agee III ’80, Vice PresidentAndrew J. Felder ’02, TreasurerFernando G. Rosa ’75, SecretaryWendell G. Davis Jr. ’89, Past President

DirectorsElaina Brachman-Snyder 6th Yr ’97, Ed.D. ’05Carmen E. Espinosa ’71Keith T. Hall ’78, MS ’85Kelley A. Hedley ’97Judi Ann (Spirito) Lausier ’82John “Corky” S. Mazurek ’83, MSOM ’91P. Faith McMahon MS ’68Robert F. Mullins ’94Justin J. Pagano ’64Ron Perry ’94Daniel M. Siracusa ’79Richard A. Sullivan ’75Ed Vescovi ’84Karie G. Walczewski ’06Richard A. Wiszniak ’73

Ex-officioJohn W. Miller

Central Focus Staff

Managing Editor: Dennis BudenAssistant Managing Editor: Dorothy FinnCynthia B. Cayer MS ’00Joseph Gordon Jr. MS ’96Catherine (Healy) Jost ’74

SportsBart Fisher ’69

PhotographyRobert J. Wessman ’70

Design and LayoutAnn (Volpe) Sack ’79

ContributorsStaff members of the offices of Development &Alumni Affairs, Marketing & Communicationsand Sports Information.

Central Focus is published by Central ConnecticutState University, New Britain, CT 06050 for alumni and friends.

Central Connecticut State University is an AA/EOinstitution and a campus of the Connecticut StateUniversity System.

CentralS p r i n g 2 0 0 7 • V o l u m e 4 I s s u e 2

c o n t e n t s

d e p a r t m e n t s

Feature Story: John Larson ’71 Finds His Stride in Washington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Happenings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14

In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Central Profiles: Trailblazing DiplomatEbenezer Don Carlos Bassett 1853 . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Sports: Addazio ’81 Dazzles; Sagnelli Shines; Men Earn NEC Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

F R O M U S T O Y O U John Larson’s life has taken him from the neighbor-hoods of East Hartford to Capitol Hill, but some of his fondest memories are of hisundergraduate days at Central. In this edition, we take a look at the prominentCCSU alumnus’ accomplished career and just how, 36 years removed from campus,he has emerged as one of Congress’ most influential Democrats.

Larson studied in the Department of History, which itself has evolved. We offer an overview of some of this dynamic department’s most noteworthy recentaccomplishments. Also, you’ll enjoy the profile of Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett,who used his State Normal School education to become the nation’s first African-American diplomat.

Nearly a century after Bassett’s graduation, Barbara and Bill Detrick attended theTeacher’s College of Connecticut. Both would become lifelong educators; Barbaraas an elementary school teacher, Bill as the legendary coach of CCSU basketball.The Detricks talk of their love for all things Central in our donor profile on theback cover.

Go Blue Devils!

The Central Focus Editorial Staff

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3

Andy, Opie – and the Larsons“We used to say there were two kinds of

kids in East Hartford,” says Larson’s boyhoodpal and later campaign organizer CraigJordan. “Those who grew up in MayberryVillage and those who wished they did.”

To know Mayberry Village in the 1950sand ’60s is to know John Larson. Not to beconfused with the fictional television nirvanaof Andy and Opie, Mayberry Village wasnonetheless a little slice of heaven for thefamilies who grew up there back in the day.It was not unlike thousands of government-subsidized housing developments across thecountry in the wake of World War II;

sits just off Burnside Avenue in East Hartford, adrop kick from the venerable Marco Polo Restaurant, hardby “The Hock” (local-speak for Hockanum River) and up the street from the now-abandoned Molinski’s Garage. TheCommunity Center still stands, as does Labor Field, theplayground dedicated to the union laborers who called thisvillage home and worked, in round-the-clock shifts, at themassive Pratt & Whitney plant off Main Street.

It is Mayberry Village, an unassuming community of600 or so modest, weathered single- and multi-family homesthat, like Pratt & Whitney and East Hartford itself, hasexperienced both prosperity and pain.

And it is the boyhood home of John Barry Larson ’71,son of Raymond and Pauline, Central alumnus – andConnecticut’s 1st district congressman, vice chairman of theU.S. House of Representatives’ Democratic Caucus and theHouse’s fifth-ranking Democrat behind Speaker of theHouse Nancy Pelosi.

How it is that this gregarious, self-described “chubbyIrishman” – a former high school history teacher and insurance executive whose political career appearedderailed after a crushing 1994 Democratic gubernatorialprimary loss – today stands as one of Washington’s risingHouse Democrats is a story inextricably tied to his EastHartford roots.

It

During a recent visit to campus, Congressman Larson debates economictheory in Vance Academic Center’s Financial Technology Room with Dr. John A. McDonald, associate professor of finance, and studentMarcus Buffaloe.

from “The Hock” to “The Hill”CE N T R A L AL U M N U S JO H N LA R S O N FI N D S HI S ST R I D E I N WA S H I N G T O N

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victorious vets were coming home, and with them camethe prospect of good jobs, economic prosperity – and the need to house the by-product of these glad tidings,America’s baby boomers.

“It was a wonderful place to grow up,” says the 58-year-old Larson, the oldest son in a large Irish-Catholicfamily of five boys and three girls. “We didn’t have muchmoney, but we never lacked. My parents were of theGreatest Generation; they placed sacrifice and familyabove all else.

“The neighborhood was full of large families,” hecontinues. “We played in the streets all day, and if weweren’t doing that we were putting cement tubs on ‘The Hock’ and paddling around – against the will of our parents, of course.”

Making friends, influencing people and perfectingthe fine art of compromise – particularly in a householdwith eight children and one bathroom, as Larson says,“the size of a pay telephone booth” – were skills Larsonlearned early in life. He would use these skills to becomea star athlete and senior class president at EastHartford High School. Today, some of Larson’s closestfriends and advisors remain people he played with inMayberry Village.

“Guys from that neighborhood learned to survive,”says Bob Carlson ’70, who grew up with Larson andwould become his roommate at Central. “John has thestrongest people skills of anyone I’ve ever known. Hejust knows how to treat people, respect them and listento them.”

Central DaysCarlson remembers when Larson, a year younger,

joined him at then-CCSC in 1968. They shared an off-campus apartment on Allen Street and became membersof the athletic fraternity Omega Kappa Delta. Carlson, abiology major, would go on to a 35-year teaching career

4

When John Larson studied Jacksonian democracy at CCSU under the tutelage of Dr. Peter Tolis, he no doubtlearned a historical lesson in Manifest Destiny. As thoughrealizing a manifest destiny all its own, Central’s Depart-ment of History and faculty are earning notice thanks to a variety of diverse initiatives.

A $1 million U.S. Department of Education grant –secured in part with assistance from CongressmanLarson – has made possible a groundbreaking teachingpartnership with six local school districts, the state’stechnical high schools and the Connecticut State Library.HISTORY is CENTRAL aims to raise student achievementin U.S. history by connecting participating teachers tothe best in history scholarship, local historical resourcesand an ongoing network of colleagues. Dr. John DayTully MA ’95, assistant professor, is academic directorof this enterprising project.

Another CCSU history professor, Dr. MatthewWarshauer ’90, was recently featured prominently in TheNew Yorker magazine. In a feature story examining thelessons and legacy of Andrew Jackson’s use of martiallaw during the Battle of New Orleans, Warshauer’s 2006book Andrew Jackson and the Politics of Martial Law(University of Tennessee Press) is cited as “lucid andwell-researched.” Warshauer’s book engages the age-old controversy over if, when and who should beable to subvert the Constitution during times of nationalemergency.

Dr. Warshauer, not incidentally, is also the editor ofConnecticut History, the state’s only professional journaldevoted to the history of Connecticut. The journal isintegral to the entire department, including the HISTORYis CENTRAL project.

Meanwhile, the Department of History’s new master’sdegree program in public history is using the entire stateof Connecticut as its “field lab” to prepare graduatesfor work as public historians, front-line interpreters whobring historical knowledge to a broad public audiencethrough their work at museums, historical societies andthe like. Dr. Briann Greenfield, associate professor, iscoordinator of this innovative program.

For more information on all the happenings in CCSU’sdynamic Department of History, call (860) 832-2800 orvisit www.history.ccsu.edu.º

at C C S U

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at Rockville High School, whileLarson studied history. (Larsonwould eventually teach for about six years in Farmington and EastHartford before entering the insur-ance business and, later, politics.)

Having been the star quarter-back in high school, Larson haddesigns on playing football for then-CCSC coach Bill Loika. “When Johndidn’t make the football team, it wasa disappointment,” Carlson says. “Itwas a pivotal moment in his life.”

“I thought about transferring,but I had so many friends here,” saysLarson. “My goal was to teach andcoach. I was fortunate to have greatprofessors like Dr. (Peter) Tolis ’54and Dr. (William) Winter. I stillhave notebooks from Dr. Tolis’ class.

“I don’t think I could have metany more decent, fun, caring, good people than those I met at Central,” he continues. “People who went herecame from blue-collar backgrounds. We had a lot ofsimilar experiences; maybe we had to work a littleharder. I’m proud to be a Central grad and very proudof the school’s growth and accomplishments.”

Dr. Tolis, retired and living in Old Saybrook, fondlyrecalls Larson.

“John was a very sincere, very bright student,”says Dr. Tolis. “He was a voracious reader, and wrotevery well. We had a rapport between us.

“John always had what I call a very public person-ality,” he continues. “I can recall discussing John’sfuture with other professors and saying, ‘We are goingto hear from John Larson.’”

5

A Public LifeLarson put his “public personality” to work

in local East Hartford politics before beingelected a state senator in 1982. He quickly – andsurprisingly according to veteran State Capitolobservers – rose through the ranks, achievingthe position of President Pro Tempore of theState Senate in 1987 while only in his secondterm. Larson’s upset victory over then-Senateminority leader and odds-on favorite CorneliusO’Leary was a precursor to his unexpected risein Washington 20 years later to the caucus’ vicechairmanship, a bruising, intra-party battle in which he began as a lightly regarded third candidate only to end up with the big prize.

“I never saw someone so determined andtireless,” says Joe Harper ’78, MS ’99, whochaired the General Assembly’s AppropriationsCommittee during Larson’s eight-year run asSenate president. “John was always the kind ofguy who, if he didn’t endear himself to you thefirst time around, he kept coming back until hefound a common thread that won you over.”

Between 1987 and 1994, the Central alumnitroika of Larson (Senate president), Harper(Appropriations) and Bill DiBella ’67 (Finance,Revenue and Bonding Committee, Senatemajority leader and a Larson fraternity brotherat Central) wielded extraordinary power at the Capitol.

“We were respected and we were resented.But we got things done,” says Harper. “Johnprovided leadership that was new to that institu-tion. He was bold enough to say that we are notjust going to react to what the governor wants.The whole paradigm changed under John.”

Congressman Larson at a November, 2005education lecture sponsored by CCSU’sDepartment of Political Science.

don't think I could have met anymore decent, fun, caring, good people than those I met at Central.”John Larson

While in the Senate, Larson authored thenation’s first family leave law. And he – and the troika – was instrumental in the legisla-ture’s reworking of how the state funds theConnecticut State University system, of whichCentral is part.

“The CSU system had always been thestepchild of UConn,” says Larson. “We changedthe formula by which these schools received

‘‘I

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funding. We wanted to make sure that CCSUgot what it so richly deserved.”

Adds Harper, “John and I are products of these schools. We are fervent believers in public higher education. The stage for UConn2000 (the state’s major infrastructure fundinginitiative for UConn as well as CSU) was setwith our move to increase funding for thestate’s universities.”

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opposition to it and the nationwide Democratic victorylast November that have helped raise his profile. Hehas spoken passionately on the House floor duringCongress’ debate over the war, and on his home turf he has conducted a series of public forums on the warthroughout the 1st district.

Larson today is one of Pelosi’s most trusted allies.The high-profile California Democrat has even been a guest at Larson’s infamous annual summer boccetournament for friends, family and colleagues at hisEast Hartford home, which he shares with wife Leslie(Best) ’80, teenage daughters Carolyn and Laura, andson Raymond.

Dare it be asked if the House speakership mightbe in his future?

“How can you not have aspirations for Speaker of the House when you are fifth in line in your ownparty?” Larson asks rhetorically. “People even ask meif I’d like to run for governor again. Listen, these arejobs that anyone who likes to look at big issues andeffect change would want.

“If you work hard, if you are diligent, if you havethe enthusiasm, then opportunity will present itself,”he adds. “My mother said to me after I lost the gover-nor’s race that when one door closes, another opens;that the hard work I did will serve me well in anothercapacity.”

Larson’s political rebirth is compelling evidencethat his mother may have been on to something. Thosedays long ago on the streets of Mayberry Village haveprovided, perhaps, much more than nostalgia. Thecement tubs on “The Hock” may be a distant memory,but John Larson’s political career remains buoyant,sailing forward to a port to be determined.

Congressman Larson and family clockwise from left: daughterCarolyn, wife Leslie (Best) ’80, daughter Laura and son Raymond.

think sometimes you have to lose to know how to win." John Larson‘‘I

Washington BoundLarson’s rise took a decided detour in the

1994 governor’s race. The Democratic front-runner, he dropped a bitter primary battle withBill Curry that stunned his camp and placed hispolitical career in limbo. He’ll be the first to sayhe looked too far ahead to the November election.

“I think sometimes you have to lose to knowhow to win,” he said afterward.

His youngest brother Tim, a former mayorof East Hartford, remembers the disappointment.

“He felt terribly about it,” says Tim Larson.“But it was good for him from the perspectiveof taking it on the chin, dusting yourself off,learning from your mistakes and getting backon the horse.”

That “horse” arrived in 1998, when 1st district Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly’sfailed run for governor opened the door to hercoveted House seat. In a political resurrectionof historic proportion, Larson put to good usethe lessons learned from his defeat four yearsprior; he won handily.

During his 10 years on Capitol Hill,Congressman Larson has found his stride. Inaddition to his plum Democratic Caucus assign-ment, he currently serves on the powerfulHouse Ways and Means Committee.

Among his legislative initiatives, he haschampioned a decrease in dependence on foreignoil; the government’s negotiation of lower drugprices for the nation’s 40 million Medicare beneficiaries; and incentives for technologypartnerships between community colleges andfour-year institutions.

But it is the nation’s growing disenchant-ment with the war in Iraq, Larson’s fervent

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7

A P P E N I N G SH

From Tikrit in northern Iraq, seven CCSU alumni salute the Blue Devils men’sbasketball team. From left to right: CPT Derek Musgrave ’92, battalion S-2;CPT Steve Landry ’02, battalion senior battle captain; CPT David Nutt ’87,battalion chaplain; 1LT Regina Grant ’00, daytime battle captain; CPT CoryOlmstead ’93, battalion S-3; CPT Christian Gutierrez ’96, MS ’03 garrison liaison officer; and SPC Jason Cruz ’04, SPO transportation specialist.

Peg (O’Brien) Meotti ’50 and George Gustin ’50 atFebruary 2007 Florida Reunion in Boca Raton.

Norm Feitelson ’51 and Lois Dwyer at 2007 FloridaReunion.

l–r: Russ Marcotte ’62 and Peggy and Rick Lantz ’64 at2007 Florida Reunion.

Joan and Mike Perrone ’59 were celebrating their46th wedding anniversary the day of the 2007February Reunion.

l-r: Maryalice (Ward) Sundberg ’55; Dave ’64 and Carmay (Santoro) Monti ’64;and Carol (Ward) ’64 and Bob Lanese at 2007 Florida Reunion.

l-r: Al Pelligrinelli ’64, Gretchen (Anderson) ’64 and Nick DelRosso ’63 at 2007 Florida Reunion.

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8

A P P E N I N G SH

l-r: CCSU football coach Jeff McInerney, Ray and Janet(Sinkiewicz) Sola ’57 enjoy alumni networking happy hour inNovember, 2006 at Eli’s on Whitney in Hamden.

l-r: Judi (Proto) Starno ’71 and Helen (Jacobs) Morrissey ’74at alumni networking happy hour at Eli’s on Whitney in Hamden.

Darren Sweeney ’98, WFSB Channel 3 weekend meteorologist and honorary co-chair of the CCSU AlumniAssociation Read Across America program, reads to 4thgraders at Wolcott Elementary School in West Hartford.

CCSU president and honorary co-chair ofthe CCSU Alumni Association Read AcrossAmerica program, Dr. Jack Miller, readsto students at Chamberlain ElementarySchool in New Britain.

Donald M. Casey Jr. ’86, special education teacher, and 10 students atStepney Elementary School in Monroe performed an original play entitledDr. Seuss Characters Come Alive for the entire school population to celebrateDr. Seuss’s 103rd birthday and promote the love of reading and learning.

Terri Savino ’96, dressed as Cat in theHat, with son, Kyle, a 1st grader at theKathleen Goodwin Elementary School inOld Saybrook, where Terri was a volun-teer reader on Read Across America Day.

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Campus Obituaries

Dr. John B. Bulman, a member of the CCSU faculty for morethan four decades and the first chairman of Central’s Depart-ment of Physics and Earth Science, died February 5, 2007, atage 86. A recipient of the CCSU Distinguished Service Awardin 1984, Dr. Bulman retired in 1989. The Copernicus Hall roomwhich houses the University’s Van de Graaf Acceleratorbears his name.

Donald B. Clerkin, CCSU’s first full-time sports informationdirector and later the University’s assistant director of publicaffairs, died February 23, 2007, at age 79. A World War II U.S.Navy veteran, he enjoyed a four-decade career in sports andpublic service. The former Hartford Times sportswriter andtwo-term president of the Connecticut Sports Writers’Alliance retired from the University in 1988.

Dr. Elizabeth R. Cunningham, associate professor of elemen-tary education, emeritus, died September 3, 2006, at age 91.She had a long association with CCSU, then known asTeachers College of Connecticut, retiring in 1977, and was an award-winning amateur photographer.

Dr. Francis J. Glasheen, professor of English, emeritus and a Fulbright scholar and linguist, fluent in Dutch, French andItalian as well as English, died September 27, 2006, at the age of 96. Dr. Glasheen is perhaps best remembered for hislively Shakespeare classes.

Carl B. Holgerson Jr., adjunct professor of psychology atCCSU until his retirement in 1981, died January 27, 2007, at age 78. Mr. Holgerson devoted his entire professional careerto the education of young people in the Wethersfield and West Hartford school systems.

Peter W. Peterson, former director of publications at CCSUbefore retiring in 1988, died February 1, 2007, at age 85. A distinguished journalist, Peterson was a veteran HartfordTimes copy editor before joining the University Relations staff at CCSU in 1968.

Dr. Arnaldo C. Sierra, a founding member of the ConnecticutAssociation of Latinos in Higher Education and CCSU associate professor of modern languages, emeritus, diedOctober 27, 2006, at age 76. In addition to Dr. Sierra’s morethan two decades on the CCSU faculty, he was publishedextensively in area Spanish newspapers and served for manyyears as an interpreter in the Connecticut judicial system.

Dr. Joanne K. Walker, interim associate dean in the School of Education and Professional Studies, died on October 25,2006. A respected educator, a teacher of teachers, Dr. Walkerhad been an associate professor in the Department ofSpecial Education at CCSU since 1999.

Dr. William J. Waskowitz, who served as CCSU’s team physi-cian for more than three decades and earned membership inthe CCSU Alumni Association’s Athletic Hall of Fame, diedDecember 4, 2006, at the age of 75.

CCSU’s long and proud history is chock full of distinction. Over its 150-plus years, it has been home to distinguished scholars, visited by international luminaries andlauded for educational excellence.

This tradition of distinction has its roots in the State NormalSchool’s earliest days.

Among those in the fourth graduating class of 1853 wasone Ebenezer Don CarlosBassett. Bassett’s graduationwas noteworthy not onlybecause of his academicachievement (he graduatedwith honors), but because

he was the first graduate of African-American heritage in school history.

Appropriately, Bassett immediately became an educator. He was principal of Whitney Street School in New Haven (whilecontinuing studies at Yale), and from 1857-69 — through the CivilWar years — Bassett was principal of The Institute for ColoredYouth in Philadelphia.

Bassett also played an important role in the emancipationmovement. He was an active member of Connecticut’s Convention of Colored Men, and was a powerful voice inConnecticut’s movement to free black slaves.

In Philadelphia, Bassett befriended renowned abolitionistFrederick Douglass. It was Douglass’ recommendation that helped secure Bassett’s appointment in 1869 as the nation’s first minister to Haiti; he was, in fact, the country’s first African-American diplomat.

Wrote Douglass to Bassett upon his appointment: “Yourappointment is a grand achievement for yourself and for ourwhole people. It forms an important point in the history of ourprogress and upward tendency.”

Bassett would serve in the post for eight years, and wouldlater serve another nine years as American consul general forHaiti in New York. He passed away in his adopted hometown ofPhiladelphia in 1908.

The original State Normal School in New Britain.

benezer Don Carlos BassettE

Bassett

9

Make your gift to CCSU by June 30, 2007:Online – by VISA, MasterCard, Discover or online check atwww.ccsu.edu/give;By mail – send check or money order in the envelope in the middle of Focus;Phone – by VISA, MasterCard or Discover at (860) 832-1740.

Be ≤ounted in the Honor Roll of Donors

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10

P O R T SS

Blue Devil Pedigree on National Stage

teve Addazio’s introduction to the worldof college football happened on the

CCSU campus; it was “love at first sight.”He attended many games as a child withhis father, the late Dr. Louis Addazio, apopular history professor at Central and aBlue Devils fan. As a player he progressedfrom a stellar scholastic career atFarmington High School to become anoutstanding CCSU lineman and brilliantstudent who won several awards beforegraduating in 1981.

Professionally Addazio has coachedat almost every level, culminating in thispast year’s national championship for theUniversity of Florida, where he’s responsiblefor offensive linemen and tight ends underhead coach Urban Meyer. He launchedhis career more than 20 years ago atWestern Connecticut State University,later moving on to Cheshire High School(where he won three state Class L cham-pionships) and Syracuse University.

Addazio left Syracuse in 1999 forNotre Dame, where Meyer was also anassistant. Five years later when Meyerwas named head coach at Florida, hewasted no time in calling on Addazio, whoby that time had moved on to the offensive

coordinator post at Indiana University; in a matter of days, the CCSU graduate wasadded to the Gators’ brain trust. The collab-oration has resulted in a 22-4 record overtwo seasons and a national championship.

The “kid” from Farmington, whoresides in Gainesville, Fla., with his wifeKathy (Donoghue) ’81 and three children,has become one of the most respectedposition coaches in the country. Will hestay at Florida? Will he take an assistant’sjob in the NFL? Or might he become a collegiate head coach himself? Only SteveAddazio knows what play comes next, butwith his track record of success, onething’s for sure – it’s his call.

For Sagnelli, a Very Good Year

Any way you look at it, Linda Sagnellihad a great year.

CCSU’s volleyball coach saw herteam finish the past season with a19-10 record and reach the semifinalsof the Northeast Conference tourna-ment before bowing to Long IslandUniversity. Along the way, she wasinducted into the C.W. Post AthleticHall of Fame.

A three-time C.W. Post captainand MVP, Sagnelli helped her almamater finish in the top 10 nationally asa senior. The 47-5 Pioneers also madetheir first NCAA volleyball tournamentappearance.

In 21 seasons, including seven atCentral, Sagnelli has 242 wins. She isthe only 100-game winner in CCSUvolleyball coaching history.

Central Dominates NEC Awards

CCSU’s domination of the NortheastConference in men’s basketball this pastseason was so stunning and so completethat for the first time in the league’s 26-year history, three players from the sameteam were named to the All-Conferencestarting five.

In a virtual sweep of the league’s topawards, senior Javier Mojica was namedNEC Player of the Year; junior TristanBlackwood earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors; and head coachHowie Dickenman ‘70, MS ‘75 won anunprecedented fourth Coach of the Yeardesignation.

Mojica, the walk-on-turned-team-captain and emotional leader, is the fourthBlue Devil in the past eight seasons to benamed the best player in the NEC. He wasjoined on the All-Conference squad byteammates Obie Nwadike and Blackwood.

The team also made its mark in theclassroom. Senior Ingo Beaudet is a Dean’sList scholar with the highest GPA amongmale student-athletes, and graduates withhonors in May.

Central finished 16-2 in league play,winning both the regular season and NECtournament championships to earn itsthird trip to the NCAA “Big Dance” in seven years.

Steve Addazio ’81

Linda Sagnelli

Celebrating another NEC title.

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Thomas F. Callinan, who wasConnecticut’s first official state

troubadour in 1991, released his 12thsolo CD entitled Connecticut Sampler;17 of the 20 songs on the album areTom’s original compositions. Sharon(Golden) Katz is a project manager forUnitedHealth Group in Hartford.Robert J. O’Connor, physical educationteacher at West District ElementarySchool in Farmington for 28 years, wasselected as Farmington’s Teacher of theYear. O’Connor’s teaching skills wererecognized by his peers and he has beenlauded in the community for promotingphysical fitness and mentoring youngathletes. Robert credits spouse, Christine(Kenyon) O’Connor ’72, MS ’80, whoteaches physical education at Irving A.Robbins Middle School in Farmington,as his inspiration, saying she’s “anawesome teacher.” Sylvia (Andreasen)Person is the director, and teaches, atImmanuel Lutheran School in Danbury.

Susan (O’Brien) Lebeck MS ’79is chair of the social studies

department and teaches American government, psychology and sociologyfor the Simi Valley Unified SchoolDistrict in Simi Valley, CA.

Alan D. Friedman joined ColliersDow & Condon, commercial real

estate consultants, as vice president of operations for the firm’s Hartfordand New Haven offices, managing thestrategic growth of the company and itsbusiness development and operations.John W. Kukulka is the director of hous-ing development for New NeighborhoodsInc., a nonprofit bricks and mortaraffordable housing developer dedicatedto building and preserving rental andownership housing in Stamford forgrowing families, graduates enteringthe workforce and retirees. CCSUAlumni Association secretary FernandoG. Rosa, as committee chair, deliveredthe welcoming message to the attendeesof the Portuguese American LeadershipCouncil of the United States annualgala in New York City on October 13.Fernando is deputy director of theHartford Economic DevelopmentCorporation and a long-time activist inthe Portuguese-American community.David A. Scavotto is a principal in theChicago, IL office of Tatum LLC, anexecutive services and consulting firm.He and his wife, Laurie, reside inWheaton, IL.

Sharon J. Gemza is a project manager at IBM in Southbury.

Michael R. Martin MS ’79 is a technology

Mary Loftus Levine accepted a positionwith the Connecticut Education Associ-ation in Hartford after representingFairfield County CEA members for 18 years.

Retired educator Margaret B.Morse (MS) has published her

third book, A Matter of PerceptionBreaking Through.

Gary J. Blanchette MS ’75 is retir-ing after 35 years of teaching, and

was re-elected to a fourth four-year termon the Ellington Board of Education.

Ruth (Perkins) Gibson and herhusband of 67 years, John, have

been enjoying cruising all of their married life and have plans to cruisethe Rhine River in May.

Robert F. Skinner, a recognizedleader in the insurance industry,

and Frances L. Mainella MS ’75 havebeen collaborating for years on a mutualpassion — the preservation of naturalareas and the establishment of parklandin Florida. Both have been committedenvironmentalists for more than 40years and became allies and friendswhen Fran, former director of theNational Park Service, served for 12years as director of Florida’s Division of Recreation and Parks overseeing themanagement of 155 state parks fromthe Florida Keys to Pensacola Bay.

The United States TennisAssociation has ranked Raymond

A. Brodeur #7 in singles and #2 in doubles in the age 65 bracket for NewEngland. Jeanette (Mitchell) Church isenjoying retirement after 40 years ofteaching at Brookside ElementarySchool in Norwalk.

Diane (Zabicki) Crannis was a“stay-at-home” mom and active

volunteer. An avid reader, knitter, skierand golfer, she enjoys “retirement” inthe western mountains of Virginia, continues to volunteer, belongs to aninvestment club, and sees her collegeroommates at least once a year.

Richard C. Langer MS ’73 retiredfrom Haddam-Killingworth

High School after 38 years of teaching,but continues to coach the girl’s volleyball team.

Beth (Moreland) Ardaiolo MS ’75retires in June after serving 19

years in the Prince William County, VA,school system as a teacher and readingspecialist. She and husband, Jim ’70,will remain in Manassas, VA, whereJim owns a financial planning firm.

Patrick M. Clow is director of theSouthfield Children’s Center, an

inter-faith initiative by Newingtonchurches and synagogues for pre-schooleducation of children of all faiths, racesand special needs from infant to kinder-garten. Robert H. Hartley recently retiredafter 34 years of teaching Spanish andserving as head of the foreign languagedepartment at Seekonk High School inSeekonk, MA. Frank P. Naczi retired afterteaching business education for 36 years.

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Marriages

Teresa Diaz-Faes & Brett M. Joly ’91 7/21/06

Jodi Kissinger & Ryan E. Carrigan ’98 10/7/06

Erin E. Naugle ’98 & Brian L. Scozzafava 6/30/06

Judy F. Wisnefsky ’00 & Andrew Foreman 10/8/06

Taryn N. Miller ’04 & Earl S. Grey III 9/26/06

Quinn E. Wazorko ’04 &Theodore Christopher 11/24/06

Michael P. Starkowski ’74, a 31-yearveteran of the Connecticut Depart-ment of Social Service and one of the architects of Connecticut’sHUSKY health care plan, wasappointed commissioner of thedepartment, one of the state’slargest public agencies and theagency having the largest annualoperating budget. He is a chartermember of Rho Kappa Sigma fraternity.

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education instructor at George C.Marshall High School in Falls Church,VA. Jane McGill teaches AP economicsand contemporary history at Key WestHigh School in Key West, FL.

Joseph P. Wolnick is managinggeneral partner and chief invest-

ment officer for Halcyon Asset BackedAdvisors LP in New York City.

James R. Haslett is vice presidentof operations and partner for

Perlmart ShopRite located in TomsRiver, NJ. Barbara L. Iversen is directorof aquatics K-12 and women’s varsitybasketball head coach for Stephen S.Wise Temple Schools in Los Angeles, CA.

Terrence M. Milka joinedMassMutual’s broker/dealer,

MML Investors Services Inc., as secondvice president responsible for the invest-ment products due diligence team.

Thomas F. Laske is director of distributor relations for Novartis

Medical Nutrition. Mark A. Suprin is aprofessional development manager forAetna in Middletown and is involved inAetna’s information systems collegerecruiting programs.

Karen (Wunsch) Ferranti joinedPrudential Connecticut Realty

in Glastonbury as sales executive.

Cindy-Lee (Zaleski) Corriveauworks in human services for the

Connecticut Department of MentalRetardation, eastern region, and hasauthored an Images of America bookabout the history of Salem, CT. ChristaA. Sterling was appointed programmanager at Rensselaer PolytechnicInstitute in Hartford. Katherine (Pellerin)Sweetland MS ’91, a physical educationteacher at Eric G. Norfeldt ElementarySchool in West Hartford, was chosen as the Elementary School PhysicalEducation Teacher of the Year for 2006by the Connecticut Association forHealth, Physical Education, Recreationand Dance. Jill Knight Weinberger MA ’87discussed her new book, Vienna Voices:A Traveler Listens to the City of Dreamsat CCSU’s Central Authors monthlyseries. Formerly associate professor ofEnglish teaching creative writing andAmerican literature at CCSU, Dr.Weinberger retired in June, 2006.

Leigh M. Fitzgerald BS ’94 was promoted to senior account exec-

utive at Cronin and Company Inc. inGlastonbury. William G. Nemer is vicepresident of client services for Weichert

Relocation Resources Inc. in MorrisPlains, NJ. Leslie (Nowacki) TraverMSOM ’88, a teacher of business, com-puter science and civics at Lyme-OldLyme High School in Old Lyme, wasnamed the 2006 Connecticut BusinessEducator of the Year by the ConnecticutBusiness Education Association.

Judith (Wheeler) Baker is a productmanager for Accu-Med Services

in Anacortes, WA. John E. Brymer III is a meter representative for SouthernConnecticut Gas Company. Michael T.Cotnoir received his Six Sigma BlackBelt and Green Belt certifications andearned ASQ’s Certified Quality Auditorcertification. He is a project director atUnitedHealth Group in Hartford. Mary (Corraro) Griskewicz is director of ambulatory information systems at theHealthcare Information and Manage-ment Systems Society in Madison.Patricia L. Levandoski is director of

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New Arrivals (Births/Adoptions)

L A S S O T E SC N

finance for the New Britain Museum of American Art. Lori (Toback) Lubetkinwas named director of human resourcesfor Arbors of Hop Brook, ManchesterManor, Vernon Manor and Fenn-Woode.Helen M. Moriarty is a product consultantfor MetLife.

Former Hartford Public Schoolsadministrator Kathleen (Conlin)

Greider MS ’94 was appointed deputysuperintendent of Greenwich PublicSchools. Kathy was also honored by the Connecticut Board of Education as Educational Leader of the Year for2006. Dr. Pamela A. McMullin-Messieris assistant professor of anthropologyand sociology at Kutztown Universityin Kutztown, PA. Scott J. Nolan is a bioanalytical scientist for EnvivoPharmaceuticals in Watertown, MA.

Stephen M. Emirzian is busy freelance writing for several

magazines and newspapers in theHartford area and producing videos.

Suzanne Wargo (MS) is director of media services at Millbury

Memorial Junior/Senior High School inMillbury, MA and was recently electedto the executive board of the CentralMassachusetts Regional Library System.

Justine A. Dougherty is a curriculumand assessment English language

arts specialist for Measured Progress, anorganization that provides customizedassessment products and educationalservices. Joseph F. Krocheski Jr. wasnamed a security analyst in the core/value equity team at Turner InvestmentManagement. Aaron J. Steinberg is co-owner of Provident Estate Jewelry in Naples, FL.

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Judith (Wheeler) ’87 & Craig C. Baker: a daughter, Aja MargaretAnn & James V. Fatsi ’90: a son, ThaddeusPamela (Izzo) ’93 & Dana Giammatteo: a daughter, Natalie ClaireJill (Andrews) ’93 & Steven Van Voorhis ’87: a daughter, Katherine So-YunHeather (Davis) ’96 & James Hiebner: a son, Tyler JamesSheila (Reilly) ’96 & E.J. Howard ’96: a daughter, Addison MaireadJennifer (Hill) ’96 & Eric Thompson: a son, Gage LloydAnne & Daniel Lynch ’97: a son, Brendan DanielChristina (Mobilio) ’99 & John Carmon Jr.: a daughter, Juliana ChristinaAllison (Rolls) ’99 & Colin Delaney: a son, Nevin ScottKaren (Gaylord) ’01 & Mark Benson: a daughter, Alexa KathrynEmilie & Jeremy Bergh ’01: a daughter, Ava GrayChristine (Distasio) ’02 & Jeffrey Wiesner Jr.: a daughter, Gabriella Makenzie

Donna M. Fiedorowicz ’80, vicepresident of champions, tourbusiness affairs, was promoted tosenior vice president, tournamentbusiness affairs, the PGA Tour.

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13

1924Dora Greenbaum 12/20/06

1926Elizabeth Poppel Johnson 10/12/06Bernice Weiant Strant 2/8/07

1931Ethel Hayes Reuber 3/12/07

1934Nora Fauls Merusi 11/10/06

1937Esther Holman Anderson 12/14/06Rosalie Chromik Mondani 2/17/07Constance Greco Smith 1/19/07

1939Harry Cohn 12/14/06

1940Mona Parkinson Clough 1/16/07Robert C. Wason 12/27/06

1941Emily Conklin Case 11/22/06Dorothy Welch Korn 2/12/07

1942Irene Myrene Recktenwald 3/12/07

1943Ellen M. Hippeli 9/27/06Alice Nasthoski Vail 9/26/06

1949Elsie Schmitt Bray 2/28/06Anthony P. Menditto 2/15/07

1950Kenneth I. Beatson 7/4/06June Mathewson Fava 2/23/07

1951Raymond Gregson 1/1/07

1952Alphonso Napoli 11/7/06

1954Myldred Brink Long 2/16/07George C. Springer, Sr. 12/19/06

1956Joyce Mowry Kelly 11/9/06Susan Holmes Spear 2/16/07

1959Carl P. Statchen, Sr. 2/13/07

1961Shirley Degi Jennings 2/14/07David A. Shipman 1/26/06

1963Alice Berman Sokoloff 3/17/07

1964James R. Lusk 4/29/03

1965Joanne Civizzio Reddick 12/31/06

1966Adelaide Visconti Herbert 2/27/07

1967Robert W. Mulconry 1/10/07

1968Richard J. Femc 2/17/06

1970William C. Eller, Jr. 12/28/06Flavia Aust O’Rourke 11/13/06Paul Scheinblum 11/27/06

1971Thomas N. Bussiere 9/16/05Paula Holmes Rice 1/13/07

1972Carolyn Carson Diamond 9/14/06Ronald H. Flocke 1/8/07Jo-ann Ferrero Joanis 12/13/06

1974Gregory H. Martin 12/17/06

1975William A. Foran 8/9/06

1976Marvin L. Carter 10/13/06

1977William J. Turner 12/3/06

1978Anita Eager Beckwith 2/28/07James B. Woodson 10/3/06

1979Mary Wohlfarth Corcoran 2/14/07

1980Jeffrey S. Carabetta 11/27/06Reinhold R. Helm 3/4/07

1981Edward T. Borowski 1/5/07

1985Ralph H. Gioscio 10/23/06

1986Carol Salsbury Wordell 1/14/07

1988Debra Segaloff Fargo 1/14/07

1992Vivian DiSabato Ksiazkiewicz

11/22/06

1994Matthew D. Arace 10/21/06

2001Christopher R. Needham 11/1/06George F. Stevens 2/5/07Katharine M. Wilks 12/28/06

2002John T. Crowley 3/1/07

In Memoriam

Memorial gifts may be made to the CCSU Foundation, P.O. Box 612, New Britain, CT 06050.

L A S S O T E SC N

Mark T. Danaher (MS), educatorand guidance counselor for career

services for Manchester schools, waschosen as the district’s Teacher of theYear. Michael L. Kocsis, owner of

Unlimited Changes Inc., a personal fitness and performance center inEaston, PA, is a personal fitness trainerand the #1-ranked national bodybuilderin the nation.

Elia V. Acosta MS ’97 is head of thesurgical technology department

for the Connecticut Technical HighSchool System. Craig T. Sollose is a chiropractic physician in Brookfield.Robert T. White II, MSgt. USAF, 42ndAerial Port Squadron since 1987, completed a tour of duty in support of Operations Enduring Freedom,Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom while stationed at Westover Air Reserve Basein Massachusetts, during which timehe was also deployed to Southwest Asiawhere he served as a passenger servicerepresentative.

Kristen F. Bloom received a mas-ters degree in publication design

from the University of Baltimore in2003 and spent eight months travelingthrough Asia. She presently works in

consumer marketing for Smithsonianmagazine. Heather C. Giordanella is anattorney shareholder in the law firm of Miller Alfano & Raspanti in Phila-delphia, PA specializing in commerciallaw, employment law and qui tam litigation. Kimberly A. Roman MS ’05 is a literacy teacher for the TorringtonBoard of Education.

E.J. Howard began a new careerin advertising sales with the

Hartford Business Journal. Jennifer(Hill) Thompson is a licensed socialworker and started her own business,DFW Home Study, completing adoptionhome studies in the Dallas-Fort Worth,TX area. Toni (Silano) Villines andKenneth R. Villines ’97 moved to Meridenafter 10 years living outside of Boston.Toni volunteers for the Connecticutchapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundationand is a member of the Nutmeg alumnaechapter of Gamma Sigma Sigma. Kenis a senior software engineer at CBSCorporation in Shelton, and an inde-pendent web development consultant.

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George W. Hermann ’80 wasappointed to the position of presi-dent and CEO of The First NationalBank of Suffield in Suffield, CT.

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L A S S O T E SC N

14

Jermaine R. Evans is a networkcoordinator for ESPN in Bristol.

Salvatore LoGiudice is a financial salesspecialist for TD Banknorth in WestHartford. Rachel (Vizner) Pac is a computer teacher for Newington PublicSchools. Erin (Naugle) Scozzafava is ascience teacher and tennis coach atSeymour High School in Seymour. Paul J. Sutera MS ’99 is associate athletic director of development at RiceUniversity in Houston, TX. He andwife Jennifer (Kaufman) Sutera ’98 andson live in Manvel, TX. Jennifer M.Welch is founder and director of TheDancer’s Image Dance Academy inCromwell. Sheng-Fu Yang is a radio frequency engineer for HuaweiTechnologies Inc. in Dallas, TX.

Rebecca N. D’Agostino was nameda group insurance account execu-

tive at Dill, Joyce & Thresher Insurance.Maureen A. Nadeau is the new owner of the Developing Artist Institute inManchester which serves more than100 students ages six and up.

Joseph R. Avitable, a doctoral candidate in the Department of

History at the University of Rochester,was awarded a research fellowship by the Gilder Lehrman Institute ofAmerican History. Christine (Bedard)Tardette is a family relations counselorfor the State of Connecticut.

Sonny Gamboa is employed as an art director at Mintz &

Hoke Communications Group in Avon.Elizabeth C. LaMontagne (MS), a firstgrade teacher at Orchard Hill Elemen-tary School in South Windsor, earnedthe teaching profession’s top credentialby achieving national board certificationthrough a rigorous, performance-basedassessment that measures what accom-plished teachers should know and beable to do. Duane P. Pierre works for CoxCommunications Inc. in Cheshire as aproducer and public access coordinator.

Karen (Gaylord) Benson is directorof latency services at YOU Inc./

Wetzel Center in Worcester, MA. MaryMaciulewski is a teacher and coach forthe Shelton Board of Education. BarrieThibodeau, SPHR, is human resourcesmanager at McDonald Bradley Inc., an information technology solutionsprovider to the government marketplacewith headquarters in Herndon, VA.

In a February 2 ceremony atKanoehe Marine Corps Base in

Oahu, HI, First Lt. Stephen J. Boadawas awarded the silver star, the

CCSU Alumni Association-Sponsored

Football Season Kickoff DinnerTuesday, August 28, 2007

6:00 pmMemorial Hall, CCSU campus

Gridiron Update LunchWednesday, October 24, 2007

12:00 noonAngelico's CaféNew Britain, CT

Ted Owen Invitational MeetRecognition of CCSU Track and

Cross Country All AmericansSaturday, September 15, 2007

11:00 amStanley Quarter Park

New Britain

CCSU Alumni Day Trip to BostonCCSU faculty-led tour of

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Historical Walking Tour of BostonAfternoon at Quincy Market

Saturday, September 29, 2007

HOMECOMINGSaturday, October 13, 2007

Reservations / Informationphone: (860) 832-1740

e-mail: [email protected]: www.ccsu.edu/alumni

Please check website and e-news for latest event updates.

country’s third-highest medal of valor,for his actions in combat in May, 2006against insurgents in a mountainousregion of Afghanistan. Susan M.Wichrowski MS ’04 is a paralegal withKernan & Henry LLP in Waterbury.Christine (Distasio) Wiesner is an outsidesales representative for Ganz. MaxwellZiegler has joined Standard-Knapp, amanufacturer of innovative packagingmachinery, as a technical writer andwill be lead author of the company’sinternal and client-based manuals.

Daniel J. Grabowski (MBA) is a program manager for the

Connecticut Judicial Branch in EastHartford. Jennifer S. King (MS) hasjoined the U.S. Department of Statefollowing her participation in a highlyselective leadership curriculum knownas the Presidential ManagementFellows Program, and is currently agrants administrator for South andEast Asia. Attorney Michael C.Markowicz earned his J.D. at HarvardLaw School and joined Murtha CullinaLLP in Hartford, specializing in laborand employment law and litigation.William S. McCarey is a business analyst for Pioneer Investments inBoston, MA. Christopher B. Slater is aresidence director at Keene StateCollege in Keene, NH.

Fernando F. Mendoza is a residencehall director at Stony Brook

University in Stony Brook, NY. Taryn(Miller) Grey is an assistant projectmanager at Education Station and ispursuing a master’s degree in educationat Loyola College.

Kara R. Perreault is a court liaisonin New Haven for The Connection

Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofithuman services and community devel-opment agency.

Dr. Matthew S. Warshauer’s ’90recently published book, AndrewJackson & the Politics of MartialLaw, was reviewed in The NewYorker (January 29, 2007). Matt isan associate professor of history,completing his 10th year at CCSU.He returned to Connecticut aftercompleting graduate work at St.Louis University, and he and hiswife, Wanda, are raising theirfamily of three little girls in West Hartford.

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“I said to Bill, ‘Gee,look at that. We’ve got to get a picture,’”laughs Barbara. “Itmeant an awful lot toanyone associated withCentral. It was trulysomething to see.”

Nearly 20 yearsretired from his legendary career asCCSU head basketball

coach, Bill Detrick’s life transformation is

complete. He and Barbara, who metin their first class at then-Teacher’sCollege of Connecticut back in 1946,are unabashed Central fans.

A charter member of the CCSUAlumni Association’s Athletic Hall ofFame, Bill was a three-sport athleteat the University and coached theBlue Devils — then a Division II NewEngland power — from 1959-1988,amassing 465 career victories. Hewas instrumental in the program’smove to Division I, and the WilliamH. Detrick Gymnasium stands todayin his honor. At 79, he is still coach-ing, leading the men’s golf team atTrinity College in Hartford.

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNEW BRITAIN, CTPERMIT NO. 939

Central Focus1615 Stanley StreetNew Britain, CT 06050-4010

R E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D

Barbara, a New Britain native,retired in 1989 after a near 30-yearcareer as an elementary schoolteacher in the city’s school system.Their children Barbara, Deborah andScott ’80 are all Connecticut publicschool system educators, and all livein Wethersfield – which affords thecouple plenty of opportunity to enjoytheir six grandchildren ages 3-19.

The Detricks’ love of Central —and dedication to supporting itthrough the William Detrick AthleticScholarship — is rooted in much morethan Bill’s years of coaching. It hasas much to do with the students andfriends they have met through theyears, and the couple’s respect for thevalue of a public higher education.

“The people of New Britain andCentral have always been so hard-working and friendly, like membersof your family,” offers Bill. “Theywere doctors, lawyers – and factoryworkers. Many of the people going to games today are some of the samepeople who came when I was coach.”

“We believe in public education.It’s important that students canafford to go to college,” adds Barbara.

“We want to give and we wish we could give more.”

t the NCAA men’s basket-ball Final Four in Atlanta in March,Barbara and Bill Detrick felt thetingle in their very souls that anytrue-blue CCSU alumni would feel asthey approached the Georgia Dome.

No, their beloved Blue Devilswould not be playing that day, having exited valiantly at the handof Ohio State in Round 1. But theDetricks’ Blue Devil pride emergednonetheless, as they gazed upon thearena’s exterior. There for all to see,featured among the names of all 64tournament teams, were those fourmagical words: Central ConnecticutState University.

AA

William H. Detrick ’50Barbara (Ferguson) Detrick ’50

T e a c h e r s , F a n s , D o n o r s