Posted on Nov 1, 1996

As far away as Schenectady, NY is from Issaquah, WA, it is not too far to benefit from the generosity of a Union College alumnus. As a long time contributor to Union College's Annual Fund and a benefactor of the new Yulman Theater, Donald Mackenzie `34 expanded his vision and the future benefits to Union College by creating the Donald H.G. Mackenzie Charitable Trust for the Schaffer Library renovations. Making the transaction particularly appealing was being able to fund the trust with appreciated securities. Because no capital gains taxes were due on the securities given to a Charitable Remainder Trust, Don's stock gift maximized his benefit while minimizing his tax consequences.

Therefore, the gift to Union was considerably larger than the net after selling the securities and paying taxes would have been. Furthermore, Mackenzie has a higher income from his Charitable Remainder Trust than he had previously from his stocks. If ,you're interested in making a gift of this type, please call Carol Widmer, CFP in the Gift Planning Office at 518-388-6156.

Posted on Nov 1, 1996

Philip R. Beuth, `54 has pledged a $1 million gift to support the expansion and renovation of Union's Schaffer Library, the largest gift from an individual in support of the library thus far. “I want my gift to encourage my classmates and other members of the College community to contribute significantly to the College as well. 1 personally believe that when one does well, there is a following obligation to do good. Union was there when I needed help, and I've always felt indebted to the college.”

“Phil's gift will have a dramatic impact on the success of our new library and all of us at Union are deeply grateful for his generous vision for the College,” said Dan West, Vice President of College Relations.

“I feel a special affinity to people who encouraged me… people like the late Dean Huntley.. he helped me to get through. And I give my gift in memory of Harold Olsen, Sr., who was the father of my best pal at Union, Hal Olsen, Jr. `54. Mr. Olsen wouldn't let me even consider another college, although I couldn't afford Union. He introduced me to Frank Bailey, who provided me with a scholarship. God willing, I intend to continue to give to Union.”

After 40 years with Capital Cities Communications in various capacities, Beuth retired in 1995 as President of CapCities/ABC's “Good Morning America.” Phil remains active at ABC as a consultant, and recently started Broadcast Consultants International, his own company. In addition, he serves as a board member of UNICEF and DIFFA (Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS) in New York. He and his wife Mary also have a new venture, building oceanfront villas and condos on St. Maarten in the Caribbean. They live in New York City and Putnam Valley.

Posted on Nov 1, 1996

October 1996

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends of Union:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Importantly aided by your caring and generous support, Union College had another tremendous year.

In the months of August 1995 through July 1996 we celebrated:

• the 201st Founders Day and our commitment to international education,
  • the Sesquicentennial of Civil Engineering (1845), 
• the Centennial of Electrical Engineering (1895), 
• the 75th anniversary of radio station WRUC (1920), 
• the 25th year of co-education (1970), and 
• the 5th anniversary of the Steinmetz Symposium where more than 200 students presented their creative, scholarly and research activities.

And, I'm pleased to report that our celebrations not only recognized our distinguished history, but also our promising future.

Your active involvement and investment in Union resulted in several notable achievements including:

• the second highest level of total gifts ($14.9 million) to the College; second only to the Bicentennial year, 
• the second highest level of support for the Annual Fund ($3.53 million), again second only to the Bicentennial year, 
• established or added to 81 endowed scholarships with commitments of $2.6 million, and 
• achieved a Bicentennial Campaign total of $113 million toward our goal of $150 million.

Among our scholarly activities, celebrations and fund-raising efforts, we balanced our budget, maintained a low (13.4 cents) cost per dollar raised, and brought in an extremely talented and full complement of students for the Class of 2000.

This year's accomplishments are a tribute to your dedication and commitment to the College, and the thousands of others who join with you and me to make Union the best it can be. On behalf of the entire College community, 1 thank you.

Sincerely,

Norton H. Reamer `58
Chairman, The Bicentennial Campaign

Posted on Nov 1, 1996

Milestones David C. Mandeville '45, a longtime benefactor of the College, died Sept. 16. He was seventy-four.

Mandeville was a major supporter of the restoration of the Nott Memorial. The Mandeville Gallery, the exhibit space on the building's second floor, also honors his father, William H. Mandeville 'l5, and his grandfather, Hubert C. Mandeville, Class of 1888 and a life trustee of the College.

Mandeville received his undergraduate degree in English and his law degree from Albany Law School. He lived and practiced law in Elmira, N.Y., where he was active in philanthropy and promotion of the arts, helping to establish the Strathmont Museum and funding the Mandeville Hall for Performance.

As an alumnus, he was an associate agent of his class, an Alumni Club officer, a member of the Terrace Council Membership Committee and the Ramee Circle, and estate affairs chairman of his class. In 1975 he received the Alumni Council's Gold Medal for service to the College.

A national honor for the Nott Memorial
In recognition of the meticulous restoration of the Nott Memorial, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has given its National Preservation Honor Award to the College.

Also honored were the architects for the restoration, Finegold Alexander and Associates, Inc., of Boston, and the company that did the work, A. J. Martini, Inc., of Malden, Mass.

Richard Moe, president of the National Trust, said, “In its restoration of the Nott Memorial, Union College has saved an architectural masterpiece from the Gilded Age. The painstaking restoration of this unique building is a model of good stewardship.”

Campus adds new greenhouse The Robison Thurber Greenhouse, a new 864-square foot facility for research, teaching, and plant propagation for Jackson's Garden, was dedicated October 2.

The new greenhouse is located just north of the Campus Operations Center; it replaces Melius Conservatory, which was dismantled to make room for the Yulman Theater.

The research lab, designed for use by up to four researchers, and the teaching lab, which can accommodate fifteen students and an instructor, have such features as fluorescent and arc lighting and thermostatically-controlled venting and heating/cooling.

The greenhouse was made possible by gifts from the Ellis H. Robison Fund, James Robison,
Elissa Prout, Richard Robison, Dr. and Mrs. Walter A. Thurber '33, Mr. and Mrs. William Bachtel '70, Faddegon's Nursery, Edward R. Smith '44, Pedrick's Glass Gardens, Mark Ruscitto, and Peter Ruscitto.

New faculty welcomed The College welcomed the following new, full-time faculty members this fall:

Davide Cervone, assistant professor of mathematics, is a graduate of Williams College with a Ph. D. from Brown University. His interests include using the computer as a teaching tool as well as World Wide Web development and programming.

Andrew S. Curran, assistant professor of French, has his bachelor's degree form Hamilton College, his master's from the New York University in Paris, and is completing his Ph.D. in French literature at NYU. His honors include the Paris-American Club Summer Research Fellowship.

Paul T. Gremillion, assistant professor of civil engineering, has his Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Louisiana State University. He has worked as a staff engineer in Virginia and Florida and has taught at several universities.

Sarah M. Henry, assistant professor of history, graduated from Yale University and has her master's and Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her interests include twentieth-century American politics and reform movements.

William D. Keat, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received his Ph.D. from MIT and his bachelor's and master's degrees from WPI. He is the co-author of a number of articles and presentations.

Dianne M. McMullen, assistant professor of performing arts, is a graduate of Smith College with advanced degrees in musicology and organ performance from the University of Michigan. She also has studied as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany.

Presha Neidermeyer, instructor of management, is a graduate of West Virginia University and has a master's from Miami University. She is a certified public accountant.

Bernadette Nye, assistant professor of political science, received her Ph.D. from Emory University. Her professional interests include voting behaviors of U.S. citizens and U.S. elections.

Hyungji Sophia Park, instructor of English, has degrees from Harvard and Princeton and is completing her Ph.D. at Princeton. Her interests include nineteenth-century British literature, gender studies, and the novel.

Posted on Nov 1, 1996

A grant of $250,000 from The Schenectady Foundation to enhance the Special Collections area of Schaffer Library was announced in September.

The grant, the largest ever made by the local foundation, will give local residents greater access to archival and manuscript materials. The Special Collections contains a number of rare books, manuscripts, and other items that relate to the history of Union and the local community. The area is popular with exhibit curators, scientific writers, genealogists, students, and teachers.

The gift came as fundraising for the $17.6 million renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library was nearly complete. As of early October, less than $600,000 was needed for the project, and fundraising was expected to be completed during the month.