The College's Alumni Council honored three alumni with the Alumni
Gold Medal at the College's ReUnion recently.
They were Seymour Gluck '49 of Niskayuna, N.Y.; Elwyn Harp '53 of West Hartford, Conn.; and Frank Messa '73 of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The award, presented at the Alumni Convocation by Alumni
Council President Jason Oshins and Union President
Roger Hull, cited the trio for their support and leadership as alumni.
Also at ReUnion, Dan
Lundquist, vice president for admissions, financial aid and
communications received the Alumni Council's Meritorious Service Award. To read
more, visit: http://www.union.edu/N/DS/s.php?s=3845
The citations for each read as follows:
Sy Gluck '49
Sy, the
Army's loss was Union's
gain when you arrived on campus in 1946. You were an active leader in a number
of organizations. You also were a member of Kappa Nu fraternity, Block U
Society and a letter-winner on the tennis team.
Thanks to
lots of hard work and some credit from the Army Specialized Training Program,
you earned a bachelor's degree in economics in only three years, in 1949.
You went on
to a distinguished career as a financial planner, spanning some 32 years with
Metropolitan Life. During that time, you received the designation of Chartered
Life Underwriter, the highest designation in your field. You went on to serve
10 more years with Massachusetts Mutual in order to provide clients with
investment products and casualty insurance.
You also
served to advance your field as president of the Schenectady Life Underwriters
Association and president of the Northeast Chapter of the Metropolitan Veterans
Association.
Through the
years since graduation, you have been a model of alumni support and class
leadership. You have been head class agent for nearly every year since you
graduated. You have held every class office. You have been ReUnion chair for every major class ReUnion, perhaps most notably at your recent
50th, when your class swept the awards. You have also been a
steadfast volunteer during Phonathons, and a very active member of the Alumni
Council and the Schenectady Alumni Club.
You also
were a dedicated supporter for the new football stands and press box that we
see at Frank Bailey Field today.
Sy, in
appreciation for all you've done and continue to do to honor Union College, the Alumni Council is proud to
confer this Alumni Gold Medal, citation, and certificate.
Elwyn Harp '53
El, you
came to Union in 1949 and earned a bachelor's
degree in economics in 1953. During your four years at Union, you served as President of your
fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and of your Freshman class.
You also
won two letters playing varsity football and served your country in the Naval
Reserve.
Among your
honors, you were a member of the Delphic Society, Hale Club, and Block U
Society.
After
graduation, you had a 30-year career with IBM in marketing then “retired” to
establish your own business, El Mar Inc.
Through the
years, you have continued to serve your alma mater. You've been an associate
agent for the Annual Fund; a member of the Terrace Council, Ramée Circle, and
Alumni Council; a Phonathon volunteer; Class vice president; ReUnion chairman;
a Class correspondent; and an Admissions volunteer.
Furthermore,
your family is well-represented among Union alumni — your daughter, Susan
Santamauro '75; and brothers Robert '51, Darrell '56, and Wendell '63.
For your
years of dedicated service to Union College, the Alumni Council is honored to
present you with the Alumni Gold Medal, citation, and certificate.
Frank L. Messa '73
Frank, your
impressive record as a professional and volunteer, should come as no surprise
to those who knew you at Union.
You
graduated magna cum laude with a
bachelor's degree in political science that included the scholarly distinctions
of Phi Beta Kappa membership and Departmental Honors. You also were a finalist
for the Albert Ingham Prize. Subsequently you earned a J.D. from Albany Law School.
After law
school, you joined Ayco, rising to your current position as CEO of one of the nation's
premiere financial counseling firms.
As a
dedicated alumnus, you've served on the Terrace Council; national chair of the
Annual Fund; volunteer for the Phonathon; Term Trustee; member of the Ramée
Circle and the Alumni Circle, where you also were a class Representative and
member-at-large; Class President and Alumni Council representative since 1993;
ReUnion Chair; and a member of the Local Alumni Club. You've also created the
Frank Messa '73 Endowed Scholarship that will make a Union College education possible for worthy
students.
Your energy
and vision is not limited to your alma mater. You've also been a community
activist serving as a board member of the United Way of Northeastern New York; a member of the Parents' Committee
of the Hotchkiss School; a trustee for the Albany Academy for Girls; chairman of the Capital
Campaign's steering committee; and as a trustee for St. Gregory's School for
Boys.
Frank, for
these many gifts of your time and resources, the Alumni Council is honored to
present you with this Alumni Gold Medal, citation, and certificate.