Posted on May 27, 2009

Below are award winners honored at the Alumni Convocation and the Engineering Awards Reception during ReUnion '09. The citiations printed below are excerpted from the Convocation program.

Alumni Gold Medals recognize alumni and faculty who have demonstrated distinguished service to the College.

Seymour L. Meisel ’44

As a senior at Union, you won the Fuller Prize, which honors a high-achieving chemistry student who shows an unusual ability in original experimental work. That prize came a few years before the start of your long career at Mobil Oil Corp., which was marked by excellence in research chemistry. Maybe you expressed the impact of your Union education best, when, in 1958, you wrote in a College questionnaire: “It started me on a scientific career which I have thoroughly enjoyed.” Beginning in 1968, as vice president of research at Mobil, you oversaw activity in exploration and production, research and development, and long-range exploration. You joined Mobil in 1947 as a research chemist and progressively moved up to management roles. You hold a number of patents in both petroleum and chemical fields, and published a book on thiophene derivatives; a fitting subject for a former doctoral student in chemistry at the University of Illinois. As an alumnus, you were a charter member and chairman of the Trustee Board of Advisors beginning 1986. You served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1994 and as a class treasurer and Ramée Circle member. Prior to that service, you frequented Union’s campus to visit your sons, Mark, Class of 1969; Alan, Class of 1971; and Neil, Class of 1974. The family connection does not stop there. Your brother, Philip, was a member of the Class of 1948, and your nephew Lee a member of the Class of 1974.   In recognition of all that you have done for Union, the Alumni Council is proud to bestow upon you this Alumni Gold Medal, citation and certificate.

Michael S. Rapaport ’59

In the spring of 2008, you told the College magazine that Union graduates should be equipped to perceive ethical issues and make appropriate and conscious choices. To help meet that goal, you helped fund and build the Everyday Ethics across the Curriculum initiative, which has helped create ethics segments in more than 50 courses at Union. The ethics initiative is only the most recent chapter of your support of Union. For the Union Bicentennial Campaign in the mid-1990s, you made a significant gift to support the expansion of Schaffer Library. You served for many years on the Trustees Board of Advisors and served on the Alumni Council. And more recently, you hosted a special event in Lake George for the first group of Minerva Fellows.   And, it seems likely that you and possibly your brother, Peter, Class of 1962, influenced your daughter Rachel as she searched for a college. Today Rachel, a member of the Class of 1992, is a doctor and professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. It was in 1959 that you earned a bachelor’s degree from Union in Social Studies and, a few years later, a law degree and MBA from Columbia University. In your professional life, you’ve worked as a partner in your family’s law firm, based in New York City, where you specialize in real estate and elder law.   At Union, you were a member of the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity, student government and Concordiensis. In recognition of all that you have done for Union, the Alumni Council is proud to bestow upon you this Alumni Gold Medal, citation and certificate.

Lawrence S. Gordon ’74 

It’s hard to imagine an alumni role that you have not taken on. Your resume reads like a list of all possible roles for alumni: Trustee, Alumni Council, Admissions Chair, Associate Agent, Alumni Admissions Representative, Friends of Union Athletics, Terrace Council. A graduate of Linton High School here in Schenectady, you followed a number of relatives to attend Union. After going to the Case Western Reserve University for a dental degree, you started a successful dental practice in Middletown, N.J. Somehow, you have managed the demands of a busy dental practice and family life. Yet you’ve always found time for Union. Perhaps the greatest legacy of your commitment to Union comes in the form of getting others to follow in your footsteps. Your enthusiastic recruiting on behalf of the admissions office has brought a legion of young scholars to this College. You have hosted prospective and accepted students at receptions, represented Union at high schools and college fairs and contacted hundreds of students in your area to tell them about Union. If there were any doubts about your dedication to your alma mater, you answered them succinctly in a ReUnion questionnaire: “Union College is my life.” On behalf of the Alumni Council, I am pleased to recognize your commitment and generosity to Union by presenting you with this Alumni Gold Medal, citation and certificate.

The Faculty Meritorious Service Award goes to a faculty member or member of the Union College community who has rendered exceptional service to the College.

Carl J. George

When you arrived at Union in 1967 as a young professor of biology, you brought more than a vast knowledge of your subject. You brought an insatiable curiosity and a rare ability to connect seemingly disparate areas of knowledge. You also brought an infectious enthusiasm that has turned hundreds, perhaps thousands, of alumni into lifelong learners. In many ways, your career at Union is emblematic of the most distinctive goal of a Union education: to provide students not only a deep knowledge in a subject area, but to cultivate in them a thirst for broad-based learning and a sense of obligation to contribute to society. Since you “retired” a dozen years ago you have been a nearly constant presence on campus: leading tours of the Nott Memorial, exploring the ecology and natural history of the Mohawk Valley, tracking bird migration patterns, teaching your popular “Illustrated Organism” course, and promoting diversity through UNITAS, an important initiative that you began with friend and colleague, Twitty Styles. Finally, we must acknowledge the rich contributions that your wife, Gail, and you have made to the cultural life of this College. Gail’s talent and energy were instrumental to a number of arts, cultural and celebratory events, and we are all truly blessed that her spirit lives on here at Union. Carl, it would be difficult to summarize the effects you have had on generations of former students. But one comes close: “Professor George was a remarkable mentor, having all the attributes of a great scientist – naturally inquisitive, methodological in his pursuit, and showing both great diligence and precision. But more importantly for me, Carl was inspirational by allowing me to set my own goals, develop my own type of experimentation, and to provide support and encouragement. No doubt that his positive influence greatly helped formulate my own career path.” It is my pleasure to recognize you, a remarkable mentor, with the Alumni Council’s Faculty Meritorious Service Award.

Engineering Alumni Awards go to alumni who are working as dynamic leaders and who show a commitment to their profession and community.

The 2009 award recipients are: Beno B. Sternlicht '50, of Schenectady was given the Dean's Award – Electrical Engineering; Richard M. Tyndall '44, of Franklin, Mich. was given the Gold Award – Electrical Engineering; Archna Bajaj '04, of Cleveland was given the Silver Award – Electrical Engineering; A. Brian Aronne '83, of Pleasantville, N.Y. was given the Gold Award – Civil Engineering; Christopher R. Stolicky '00 was given the Silver Award – Civil Engineering; Richard G. Budynas '64 was given the Gold Award – Mechanical Engineering; Matthew E. Bazydlo '99 was given the Silver Award – Mechanical Engineering; and Steven R. Dumais, Jr. '04, of Ann Arbor, Mich. was given the Gold Award – Computer Engineering.

Posted on May 27, 2009

Posted on May 27, 2009

Thursday, May 28 – Sunday, May 31 /Campus wide / ReUnion and Family Weekend 2009, featuring an array of events and activities, including dinners, discussions, lectures, theater, music, exhibitions, luncheons, tours, races, fireworks and more

Thursday, May 28 – Sunday, May 31, 8 p.m. / Yulman Theater / Play: House of Blue Leaves. General admission $10, with Union College ID $7. For reservations, call the box office at 388-6545 between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Thursday, May 28, 4:30–6:30 p.m. / Hale House, Everest Lounge / Philosophy Speaker Series presents New York University Professor Ted Sider on meta-Metaphysics.  

Thursday, May 28, 5 p.m. / Grant Hall (Admissions) / Release party for "Aleph," a journal of global perspectives. Each year, student editorial boards at Union and Hobart and William Smith Colleges gather photographs, essays, poems and stories from students’ terms abroad. Event also includes the opening of the new Global Visions Gallery show, "Down at Albion; Images of England," featuring the photographs of James Morton ‘10, who studied in York, England last year.

Thursday, May 28, 6-8 p.m. / Blue House / ASU and Shakti present Asian Stereotyping Forum

Thursday, May 28, 6:30-8 p.m. / Memorial Chapel / Black Student Union presents 2^nd Annual Union Idol. Admission free, but donations will benefit the Building Up Ghana Project. To compete, e-mail alexisn@union.edu or pacea@union.edu

Friday, May 29, 3-3:45 p.m. / Visual Arts Building, Dance Studio / "An Intimate Afternoon with Dancers," honoring Mrs. Sue Davis and Dr. Gus Davis '59 

Friday, May 29, 4 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Becker Career Center Alumni panel on advertising, event planning and public relations

Friday, May 29, 8 p.m. / Memorial Chapel / Union College and Community Orchestra and Chorale Concert, conducted by Victor Klimash and presented by the Department of Music; “Missa in Tempore Belli” by Franz Joseph Haydn with Deborah Rocco, soprano; Heidi Skok, mezzosoprano; Alex Schlosberg ‘09, tenor; and Steven Marking, bass

Friday, May 29 – Monday, June 1, 8 and 10 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / Film: “Friday the 13^th”

Saturday, May 30, 1-2 p.m. / Reamer Campus Auditorium / Alumni presentation by Chris Sheridan ’89, writer and executive producer of Fox’s hit TV show “Family Guy”

Saturday, May 30, 2:15-3:15 p.m. / Taylor Music Center / Alumni presentation by Scott Siegler ’69, partner at Zelnick Media, specializing in the areas of television, film and news media.

Saturday, May 30, 3:30-4:30 p.m. / Taylor Music Center / Alumni presentation by Alan Horn ’64, President and COO, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Saturday, May 30, 3:30-5 p.m. / Blue House / Jeffrey Winsoff ’74, director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery and associate professor of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the New York University Medical Center, lectures on pediatric neurosurgery; co-sponsored with Pre-Health Society

Monday, June 1, 2:30-4 p.m. / F.W. Olin Rotunda / Lower Mohawk River Watershed Assessment poster sessions, featuring work by students in Watershed Hydrology and Quantative Chemistry.

Monday, June 1, 5 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / Student recital

Tuesday, June 2, 9:30-11 a.m. / F.W. Olin Rotunda / Lower Mohawk River Watershed Assessment poster sessions, featuring work by students in Watershed Hydrology and Quantative Chemistry

Thursday, June 4, 7:30, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. / Reamer Campus Center Auditorium / “Coping with Change” workshop addressing issues of change in the workplace or in personal lives; coordinated by Human Resources

Friday, June 5, 5 p.m. / Taylor Music Center, Emerson Auditorium / Senior recital: Alex Schlosberg

Posted on May 27, 2009

The 2009 Senior Invitational is open now through Sunday, June 14 in the Nott Memorial’s Mandeville Gallery.

The show, running for the second year, features work by Union’s most accomplished graduating artists. Interested seniors are required to complete an application process and studio visit before being accepted into the Invitational.

“Our goal is to introduce students to the real-world exhibition process, and to mirror the rigors and requirements which confront professional artists,” said Rachel Seligman, Mandeville Gallery director.

This year, 15 students will display work in a variety of styles, including painting, photography, prints, sculpture, videos and installation art. Participating artists are Michael Bono, Justin Blau, Ian Brennan, Megan Chiriani, Katherine Cissel, Kelly Craparotta, Catherine Davis, Eleanor Hazlett, Alexandra Lindsay, Tobias Leeger, Brandon McArdle, Sarah Mueller, Emmaline Payette, Sarah Scott and Megan Sesil.

A closing reception will be held Saturday, June 13, 2-4 p.m., in the Nott. During this event, a Union College Permanent Collection Purchase Prize will be awarded. Other accolades to be presented include a Judith Gardner Ainlay Prize and two Curator’s Choice prizes.

For more information call 388-6004 or visit www.union.edu/gallery.

Posted on May 27, 2009

“Shakkei,” an oboe concerto by Hilary Tann, the John Howard Payne Professor Department of Music, has been selected for the opening concert of the 15th World Saxophone Congress in Bangkok, July 8. Performing will be the Thailand Philharmonic with soprano saxophone soloist Susan Fancher. The following day, Tann's alto saxophone concerto, "In the First, Spinning Place," will be premiered by Debra Richtmeyer in a reduction for alto saxophone and piano. Richtmeyer, president of the North American Saxophone Alliance, was soloist for the original orchestral version of the concerto in Tucson, Ariz. at NASA 2000. Later this summer, she will record the work for CD with Kirk Trevor and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Cay Anderson-Hanley, assistant professor of psychology, recently presented research from her cybercycle study on videogame-enhanced exercise for older adults at the annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Montreal. She was joined by several Union students, Paul Arciero, associate professor of exercise science at Skidmore, and two Skidmore students. Anderson-Hanley, John Nimon ’07, Sarah Westen ’09, Lyndsay DeMatteo ’10 and Skidmore’s Naoko Okuma  presented on neuropsychological effects of videogame-enhanced exercise. This same group, along with Skidmore’s R. Klein, presented on physiological effects. Nimon, Anderson-Hanley, Arciero, Westen, DeMatteo and Okuma discussed the theory of planned behavior, and Westen, Anderson-Hanley, Arciero and Nimon presented on mediating effects of BDNF and IGF-1 on cognitive outcomes from the study.

Katherine Lynes, assistant professor of English, will present a paper at the conference for the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment in Victoria, B.C., in June. The paper is titled, “‘Maybe, In Fact, It Is Especially for them’: Audience and Nature Poetry Anthologies.” She will participate in a seminar at the Futures of American Studies Institute at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in late June. Recently, an article by Lynes, “The Ecologies of African-American Poetry Collections,” was accepted for publication and is forthcoming in “Comparative American Studies” (June 2009). In addition, Lynes participated in a seminar on “Remapping the Harlem Renaissance” at the Modernist Studies Association conference in Nashville.

The Edward Villella Fellowship was awarded to Lisa Crescenzo ’11, who will pursue a summer internship at the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, N,Y. She will be an assistant for exhibit and research programs and also attend workshops with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. The fellowship, created in honor of Edward Villella through the gifts of Charles D. Lothridge ’44, was designed to expand the experience of dance beyond Union.  Villella, founder of Miami City Ballet, was a principal dancer with the New York City ballet.

Posted on May 22, 2009

A memorial service for William M. Murphy, the Thomas Lamont Research Professor of Ancient and Modern Literature at Union College and a noted Yeats scholar, is set for Saturday, May 30 at 3 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, 1221 Wendell Ave.

Prof. Murphy died Sept. 26, 2008. He was 92.

Murphy taught in Union’s English department from 1946 until his retirement in 1983. He began at Union as an assistant professor of English. He was named associate professor in 1948 and full professor in 1960, and he became the Thomas Lamont Professor in 1978. In 1983, he received the Faculty Meritorious Service Award from the Alumni Council.

He married the former Harriet Doane on Sept. 2, 1939. Survivors also include a son, Christopher; and daughters, Deborah Chase Murphy and Susan Doane Murphy Thompson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Schaffer Library at Union College.

Murphy was well-regarded internationally among Yeats scholars and researchers. In 1978, he published Prodigal Father: The Life of John Butler Yeats, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and was a National Book Award finalist. He later published a companion book, Family Secrets: William Butler Yeats and His Relatives, which The New York Times described as one of the finest biographies of the Yeats family.

Murphy had a lifelong passion for politics, and was a close friend of U.S. Rep. Samuel S. Stratton, himself a former Union philosophy professor. The Murphy and Stratton families have remained close. In 2007, the Congressman’s son, Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton, presented the Murphys with Patroon Awards, the highest honor bestowed by the city.

Murphy made unsuccessful runs for Congress in 1948, state Senate in 1956 and state Assembly in 1959. He was appointed in 1956 by the elder Stratton, then Schenectady mayor, to fill an unexpired term on the Schenectady County Board of Supervisors. He was a member and chairman of the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority, which, with Stratton, had instituted a policy of desegregation in the city’s public housing.

Murphy served on the New York State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He was part of the mayor’s “kitchen cabinet,” and later, a part-time staffer in the Congressman’s Schenectady and Washington offices.

Murphy was born Aug. 6, 1916 in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Flushing. He would go on to study at Harvard University, earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees there. He taught for three years at Harvard, then served another three years as secretary of Harvard’s Committee on Educational Relations. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years, specializing in anti-submarine warfare, before he joined Union College.