Friends gather around a yearbook at the Golden Alumni
Society
luncheon.
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More than 550 alumni and guests— coming from as far away as Hong Kong — returned to campus for Reunion 2007 June 8 to 10.
There were 48 classes represented at this year’s reunion, from the Class of 1935 to the Class of 1998.
Highest class participation honors go to the Class of 1947 with 25 percent.
Distance didn’t seem to be a problem for Oswego alumni, who traveled to Oswego from 26 states. Aside from New York, most of the alumni returning came from Florida, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Traveling the farthest was Ying Shirley Shui ’97 from Hong Kong.
Even a thunderstorm during the "Come As You Were" Barbecue on Friday couldn't dampen the spirits of the alumni and Saturday and Sunday were bright and sunny to close out the weekend activities.
Members of the Class of 1962 (and Robin McAleese '93 M '95, seated at center) enjoy the
"Come as You Were" Barbecue despite thunder and rain.
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Alumni shared their stories about favorite haunts, people and special adventures, said Betsy Oberst, executive director of the Oswego Alumni Association. "Regardless of the generations, Oswego people communicate with humor and tradition," she said.
Group photos and a limited number of Reunion 2007 shirts are available. Order deadline is Aug. 3 or order online . Visit our Reunion Photo Gallery for photos of Reunion 2007.
Reunion 2008 will be held from June 6 to 8, 2008.
All-Star Alumni
Alumni honorees Jack James '62 (left) and Douglas Ruff '73
receive their awards from President Deborah F. Stanley (center).
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Two outstanding alumni were honored during Reunion 2007. Jack James '62 received the Lifetime Award of Merit, and Douglas Ruff '73 was recognized with the Anniversary Class Award.
James served a 29-year career in the U. S. Marine Corps, retiring with the rank of colonel. He currently teaches adult education courses at the College of Management and Business at National-Louis University. James is a founding member of the Washington, D.C., alumni committee and 2007 Reunion committee. He established the Jack C. James '62 Scholarship in support of non-traditional students at Oswego and is active in other philanthropic endeavors.
"Giving something back to Oswego in whatever unique way works for each of us... seems only natural," James said in his acceptance speech. "As some way of thanking Oswego for what a great institution has done for me, and you, and as an investment in the future."
An attorney, Ruff is director of litigation for Nassau/Suffolk Law Services, Long Island’s largest poverty law program. He has developed a special expertise in the area of public benefits and rights of the homeless. Ruff founded the Legal Support Center for Advocates. He has been honored by the New York State Bar Association and the Society of St. Vincent dePaul for his work with the poor and disadvantaged.
"I am very proud of the fact that I went to Oswego," Ruff said in accepting the award. "I received an excellent liberal arts education and it provided a great foundation for law school."
Record-Setting Class
The Class of 1982 set a new record for Reunion giving with $108,000.
From left are President Deborah F. Stanley, co-chairs Peter McCarthy
'82 and
Greg Adams '82 and Director of Annual Giving Kimberly
McGann '95.
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The Class of 1982 broke all records for the highest giving by a 25th Reunion class. Under the leadership of Greg Adams '82 and Peter McCarthy '82, the Silver Anniversary class surpassed its goal of $100,000, raising more than $108,000.
"The class of 1982 set the bar higher than ever before," said President Stanley in accepting the donation. "These funds will be very important to pushing this institution forward."
McCarthy and Adams then challenged the next class to surpass the total raised by the 1982 class. "We issue a challenge to the Class of 1983. This has to continue," McCarthy said.
Stanley offered her own challenge to the alumni. "Be connected to Oswego; feel it in your heart and gut," she said, urging alumni to return to campus to share their expertise with students, offer internships, or volunteer with the college in any way that is meaningful to them.
Three Generations, One Alma Mater
Three generations of one family chose Oswego.
Front row, from left,
are Michael Marcellino '47, Ann Carol Marcellino Claudet '71, Kevin Claudet '08, Julia Danehy Marcellino '47, and back
from left, Sylvia Norton Griffin '47
and Denham Griffin '47.
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Mike Marcellino '47 and Julia Danehy Marcellino '47 were thrilled when their daughter, Ann Carol Marcellino Claudet '71, decided to come to Oswego three decades ago. When their grandson, Kevin Claudet '08, likewise chose their alma mater, they were overjoyed. "It's an exciting thing to think our daughter and now our grandson could share in our experiences," said Julia.
Ann Carol chose Oswego at the age of 5 when she was flipping through photo albums and saw a picture of her mother and aunt Sylvia Norton Griffin '47 in their bathing suits at Shady Shore.
For his part, Kevin said he chose Oswego because he wanted to be a teacher like his mother, grandfather and grandmother before him, and Oswego was among the top schools for teaching. "I'm very traditional," he said. "I had heard about the great times they had and wanted to make my own memories here. Plus the lake . . .I love the water." He is majoring in childhood education with a concentrate in English and a minor in coaching.
Long Way from Home
Traveling the farthest was Ying Shirley
Shui
’97 from Hong Kong.
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Ying Shirley Shui '97 chose to travel from Hong Kong to attend college at Oswego because she wanted to go somewhere "extremely cold."
"I like snow and cold," she said with a laugh. So when she was looking at colleges in the United States, Oswego was high on her list. Especially when she learned it ranked well in the Barron's guides for welcoming international students. At an educational fair in Hong Kong, she met Gerry Oliver of the International Education Office and decided Oswego was the place for her.
A business major and music minor, Shirley now works in private banking for ING.
This winter, she recalled her Oswego roots as she watched coverage of the area's record-setting 101-inch snowfall. "It made the international television, even the newspapers in Hong Kong," she said with a laugh.
Her favorite memories of Oswego include practicing piano (she studied with Dr. Anthony Crain), Hart Global Living and Learning Center, where she used to live, parties at Waterbury Hall and shopping at Wal-Mart. "And the stress before exams," she added.
Chief among her memories, however, has to be the snow. "Always the weather," she said. "It is so tough. If you can survive in Oswego, you can survive anywhere!"
Family Affair
Doris Feldman Bodin '52 with her son,
Dr. Edward Bodin, and daughter, Judy Bodin.
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Doris Feldman Bodin '52 was the only member of her class to return for her 55th Reunion, but she wasn't alone. She brought her son, Dr. Edward Bodin, a dentist, from Tucson, Ariz., and daughter, Judy Bodin, a lawyer and social worker from Teaneck, N.J. Doris taught for several years, and then substituted for 15 years, but now keeps busy selling real estate.
—Michele Reed
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