Posted on May 16, 2002

Gerard A. Neumann '36, a trustee emeritus of the College and chairman of the board of Spearin, Preston & Burrows, Inc., a New York City construction firm, died January 15. He was eighty-seven

He received his B.S. in civil engineering and, while an undergraduate, was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa and participated in cross country, track, and hockey.

He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1970 as an alumnus trustee, and later served as a term trustee and a life trustee. He was named a trustee emeritus is 1987. At his 50th ReUnion in 1986, the College awarded him a Founders Medal for outstanding service, noting, “Whatever your role, from trustee to chairman of the national committee of The Campaign for Union, you have given time, encouragement, and love to your college.”

His wife, the former Alice G. Burrows, died in 1983. Survivors include his son, George '67, and his daughter, Jeanne O'Neill '76.

Adeline A. Bouck, executive assistant to the provost of the College for more than thirty-five years until her retirement in 1977, died January 22 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. She was eighty-four. Survivors include a niece, Cynthia Bouck, assistant director of financial aid and student employment coordinator.

Cecelia Pawlaczyk, an assistant manager at the College Bookstore from 1960 to 1981, died February 26 at Guilderland Center (N.Y.) Nursing Home. She was eighty-three.

Posted on May 16, 2002

Peter L. Freund '77, of Westtown, N.Y., died Sept. 11 in the World Trade Center disaster. According to his wife, Robin, he was a New York City fireman at the time of his death. A native of Staten Island, N.Y., he entered Union in 1973 and withdrew for personal reasons the next year.

The article in the winter issue about the loss of alumni in the World Trade Center attack misidentified a photograph. The correct photograph of Alexander R. Steinman '91 is shown here. Union College regrets the error.

Francisco P. Munoz '96, whose named was included on the lists of those missing used to prepare the magazine story, called us in late February to say he is working as a human resources director and living in the Bronx.

Posted on May 16, 2002

Abbe Hall, the College's new alumni center and home for its alumni offices, is scheduled to open by June, 2003.

The restoration and renovation of the historic property, located at Lenox Road and Union Avenue, has been slowed by a lawsuit brought by a nearby resident. With the suit resolved in favor of the College, work will now accelerate.

The project will provide a comfortable work environment for College staff and a gracious home base for returning alumni. In addition to extensive office space, the main house will have a reception area, meeting rooms, a lounge, and a library for use by alumni visitors as well as by staff. The nearby carriage house, which will be known as the Bailey Carriage House, will contain more office space (the Bailey Fund provided the requisite funds in honor of Frank Bailey, Class of 1885, the College's treasurer for more than fifty years; John Vanneck '60; and William Vanneck '61). Landscaping will include a formal garden adjacent to the main building.

The house, formerly known as the Parker-Rice House, was built in 1900, and its renovation was made possible in part by a gift from Robert T. '49 and Virginia O. Abbe. Experienced in historic renovation, the Abbes requested that the house be restored, as near as possible, to its original decor. Abbe Hall will be decorated with mission-style furniture in keeping with the architectural character of the building.

Posted on May 16, 2002

Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, a partner with Earlybird, a leading international venture capital firm in Palo Alto, Calif., has been elected chairman of the College's Board of Trustees.

He succeeds David B. Chapnick '59, who has been named a life trustee.

Ciesinski joined the board in 1993 as a term trustee. He has served as an alumni admissions representative, is a member of Friends of Union Athletics, and has hosted alumni events. He received his B.S. in electrical engineering and A.B. in modern languages and has an M.B.A. from Stanford University. A Dean's List student and member of Chi Psi, he played varsity lacrosse and football, receiving Little All America mention in the latter.

Other new board officers include Robert DeMichele '66, vice chairman; Norton H. Reamer
'58, secretary; and Fred G. Pressley, Jr. '75,
general counsel.

New term trustees are William J. Curtin '82 and
Jennifer C. Smith Turner '74.

Curtin is a financial consultant known for his expertise in the bond market. An economics major, he began as a trainee at A.G. Becker and became the chief investment officer of fixed income for Putnam Investments before leaving for the University of Chicago's executive M.B.A. program. He previously served as an alumnus trustee, and his many other activities on behalf of the College include the Alumni Council and executive committee of the Annual Fund. As an undergraduate he was a member of the Newman Club and Chi Psi.

Smith Turner is a consultant who specializes in assisting organizations achieve their strategic and operational potential. She has held leadership positions in virtually all lines of insurance and has been a member of the board at the University of Connecticut, Connecticut Public Television and Radio, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship Fund, and the Hartford Stage Company. She has been a member of the Trustee Board of Advisors at Union and an alumni admissions representative and, as an undergraduate, was a member of the Drama Club and the Black Student Alliance.

Posted on May 16, 2002

When Bob Fischman '71 was looking for a way to help the College, he remembered reading about the Fly a Counselor to Campus program.

“I thought it was a great way for the Admissions Office to attract attention from high school counselors in areas where Union is less familiar,” he says. “So I was happy to contribute some frequent flyer miles.”

Since the Admissions Office began the program four years ago, counselors have been flown in from Texas, Colorado, and California. In letters, e-mail messages, and phone calls, they praise the College's initiative as a wonderful way to make them more knowledgeable about Union.

Fischman, vice president, North America, for Stratus Technologies in New York City, has been donating frequent flyer miles for three years and says he plans to keep doing so.

“It's a real plus for the College, and it gives you a real feeling of making a contribution,”
he says.

If you would like to help fly
a counselor to campus, please contact Lilia Tiemann in the Admissions Office at
1-888-843-6688 or tiemannl@union.edu.