’60s
Frances Fynn Liburt ’63 (seated, left) submitted this photo of an annual get together from the classes of ’63 and ’64 that has been taking place annually for more than 40 years. Pictured in the back row: Dorothy Shafer Ryzewski ’62, Lorraine Razatkie Tomasini ’62, Linda Mantel Weeks ’62. Seated: Anne Reichman ’63. Missing from this photo is Joan Bula Travis ’62.
John T. Spitznagel ’63 was recognized as a 2016 Professional of the Year by Strathmore’s Who’s Who for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of healthcare sales and marketing. Spitznagel, who received his bachelor’s in English from Rider and an MBA in marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson, is the chief executive officer of NovaSom Inc., a leader in obstructive sleep apnea home testing located in Glen Burnie, Md. He is a former member of Rider’s Board of Trustees and Science Advisory Board.
Linda B. Forgosh ’65, an independent scholar and executive director of the Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey, had her book Louis Bamberger: Department Store Innovator and Philanthropist published by Brandeis University Press in September 2016. Bamberger founded the L. Bamberger & Co. department store in Newark, N.J., and made it into the sixth-largest department store in the country. In a starred review, Library Journal wrote, “Forgosh’s captivating biography of Louis Bamberger…explores Bamberger’s business successes and visionary genius in enriching the lives of his Newark employees and many others.”
’70s
Joan Mazzotti ’72 announced in September 2016 that she would step down from her role as the head of Philadelphia Futures after more than 16 years at the helm of the nonprofit. Mazzotti, who has a bachelor’s from Rider and a law degree from Villanova University, is a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees, the sponsor of The Mazzotti Awards in Women’s Leadership, which enables Rider to continue supporting women faculty and staff in their professional development, and a dedicated alumna whose contributions to Rider have made a meaningful difference.
Shelley A. Brown ’73 was hired by PKF O’Connor Davies, one of the nation’s fastest growing accounting and advisory firms, as principal in the firm’s Forensic, Litigation and Valuation group. Brown brings over 20 years of experience in business valuation and forensic accounting to the firm and is the latest in a series of high-profile hires as the firm has added more than 160 professionals over the past two years. Prior to PKF OD, Brown served as the partner-in-charge of the Forensic and Valuation Services Department for a mid-sized accounting and advisory firm in the New York tri-state area. She has also served as an expert witness and has been court appointed in both state and federal courts.
’80s
Alice (Buckley) De Lancey ’81 joined Day Pitney as chief talent officer responsible for all human resources functions for both attorneys and staff for this regional mid-size law firm with 11 offices and 600 employees. De Lancey was previously chief human resources officer at Lowenstein Sandler for nine years after spending eight years at EY and over a decade on Wall Street. She resides in Caldwell, N.J., and enjoys travel and the New Jersey Shore in her spare time.
Donna Kaiser ’81, Patty Hodge ’81, Betsey Scheper Bradley ’82 and Alice Buckley De Lancey ’81 gathered for a girls’ weekend at the Grand Old Oprey in Nashville. The group (listed from front to back) consists of Rider alumni who studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, during their undergraduate years. Those who reside in Texas and New Jersey get together several times a year.
Andy Skibitsky ’82 became, in June 2016, the longest-serving mayor in the history of Westfield, N.J. Skibitsky works as the marketing director at Merck Animal Health.
Stephen M. Fogler ’83 is a shareholder in the Haddonfield, N.J., law firm of Archer, P.C. Fogler concentrates his practice on real estate-related litigation representing a wide variety of real estate developers, builders and commercial landlords.
Jim Grech ’84 was named chief information officer of Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial servicers technology solutions, after nearly five years in key leadership roles with the company. He will be overseeing information technology infrastructure and operations, cooperate systems, enterprise architecture, and technology governance, all while leading the company’s strategic focus on next-generation technology platforms. Grech was previously the executive vice president of BNY Mellon’s Technology Services Group where he was responsible for all technology infrastructure platforms.
Tina Libertella-Morrison ’86 and Mark Morrison ’84 married in 1988 and after more than 15 years of Tina teaching group exercise classes at area gyms, she decided to open a gym of her own in the couple’s hometown of Sicklerville, N.J. (with help and support from Mark). October 2016 marked the second anniversary of Fuel Fitness. Tina compares Fuel to the television show Cheers… where everybody knows your name. She never expected to form such a strong bond with her members and employees and loves going to work every single day because of it.
Pamela K. Shipp ’87 will publish her first book, a memoir called The Furnace of Affliction: Surviving Bipolar Disorder, on July 14, 2017. Shipp graduated from Rider with a bachelor’s in marketing. The book, which provides personal and spiritual insight into the dark and painful world of bipolar disorder, will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers.
Robert Shumosky ’87 was nominated for the SmartCEO Circle of Excellence Award. A College of Continuing Studies alumnus who studied accounting, Shumosky is president of Infiana USA, Inc., a company that produces engineered and innovative films for consumer and industrial markets. SmartCEO magazine’s 2016 Circle of Awards program recognizes the region’s most accomplished CEOs for business excellence in distinct categories.
Patrick McGuiness ’88 was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of U.S. LBM Holdings, which is one of the largest specialty building material distributors in the U.S. with a network of distributors in 27 states. Previously, he was an executive vice president and chief financial officer with Houston-based Landmark Aviation. Prior to Landmark, McGuiness spent 23 years with Tiffany & Co., holding multiple leadership roles.
Rich Reisert ’88 submitted this photo of the 2016 Bearcats/Paleologos Memorial “Charity” Golf Outing. Tournament Trophy Champions were Jorge De La Bandera ’86, Matt Howarth ’88, Dominick Callandriello ’92 and Joe Kochberg ’92. Reisart thanked the outing’s hole sponsors: Al Daniel ’84, Frank Batula ’84, Mark Cartier ’84, Canada Dry Delaware Valley Bottling Co. (Tony Angeli ’86), Dominick Callandriello ’92, J.C. Endahl ’87, Gary Frey ’84, Paul Fucci ’88, Lenny Garrity ’83, Howard Green ’85, Jim Hollasch ’86, Robert “Woody” Johnson ’88, Craig Kanouse ’83, Rockin’ Road Grill (John Killion ’78), Joe Kochberg ’92, Bob Kramer ’88, Reggie Leach ’80, Keith Lentini ’84, Joe Massucci ’81, Jim Murray ’77, Bob Paolini ’86, Rich Reisert ’88 and Dr. Jeff Uhl ’88.
’90s
Gregory Englesbe ’90 was recognized by the Politz Day School of Cherry Hill, N.J., a 48-year old Orthodox Jewish day school for children from preschool through eighth grade, for providing tuition assistance to the children and families of the community facing financial difficulty. Englesbe is the founder and CEO of E Mortgage Management LLC in Cherry Hill. He supports many worthy causes and has been cited for his other philanthropic contributions.
Tim Ungerleider ’90 was promoted as Dominion Due Diligence Group’s chief operating officer. Ungerleider worked for D3G for more than three years as senior leader/program manager.
V. Joseph Trost ’91 received the the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award in October 2016 from the Information Science School at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a master’s in telecommunications in 1993.
Kevin Davis ’92, who has 24 years of experience leading adult, handbell and children’s choir programs, joined the staff of Calvary Episcopal Church in Summit, N.J., as organist-choirmaster in August. Davis holds a bachelor’s from Louisiana Tech and a Master in Music from Westminster Choir College. Since earning his master’s in 1992, he has held organist/music director positions in three churches in Vermont and Alabama. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians and the Royal School of Church Music.
Sheila Newquist ’92, a watercolor painter who works in the healthcare industry, had her work featured in “Monday’s Palette” at The Hale House in Matunuck, R.I., and the juried artist member show at the Wickford Art Association in Rhode Island in September 2016.
Louis Picone ’92 published his second book, The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of the Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond (Skyhorse Publishing, 2016), in August. This is a follow-up to his first book, Where the Presidents Were Born: The History & Preservation of the Presidential Birthplaces (Schiffer Publishing, 2012). In June 2016, he was invited to speak at the international conference “U.S. Presidents and Russian Rulers” at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow where he presented a paper, “The Evolution of Presidential Birthplace Commemoration: From Washington to Obama.” In addition, in October 2016 he was awarded a scholarship grant to attend the prestigious “Region and Nation in American Histories of Race and Slavery” conference at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. He currently lives in Roxbury, N.J., with his wife, Francesca, and two boys, Vincent and Leonardo.
Chris Catalano ’93 was named chief financial officer of Catapult Learning, Inc. in January. In this role, Catalano oversees corporate finance, general accounting, legal and procurement for the largest provider of K-12 contracted instructional services in the United States. Prior to joining Catapult Learning, Catalano served in many operational, financial and investment leadership roles in private equity-backed organizations. Most notably, from 2009 to 2014, he served as chairman and CEO of the School of Rock, which he built into the country’s largest after-school provider in the music education industry. Catalano also spent five years as CFO and chief investment officer of McDonald’s Ventures, where his financial expertise led to a multibillion-dollar return on investment to McDonald’s shareholders. As chairman of the board of Redbox, he oversaw the growth of that company from its first location to over 12,000 installations. Catalano holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from Rider and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Villanova University.
Charles Holloran Jr. ’93 is engaged to be married to Theresa Behul. He earned an MBA from Rider University and works in the financial services industry. The two met while working together and got engaged while on vacation in Newport, R.I.
Kevin R. Sorge ’93 of Norfolk, Mass., has been named the executive director of the New England Affordable Housing Management Association, a nonprofit trade association for the affordable housing industry representing members in all six New England states. The Edison, N.J., native earned his bachelor’s from Springfield College and a master’s from Rider.
Jennifer Downing ’94 was promoted to deputy first assistant prosecutor of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Previously, she had been an assistant prosecutor with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office working in various units such as Megan’s Law, Juvenile, Domestic Violence, Grand Jury and Trial. For the past eight years, she worked as the chief assistant prosecutor of the Special Victims Unit. The lifelong Mercer County resident went on to earn her law degree from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Del. in 1997.
Stacey Peeples ’95 was the featured historian on an episode of PBS’ “A Taste of History.” Peeples is the curator-lead archivist for Pennsylvania Hospital, historic collections.
Kristine Hodge Quinby ’95 was named the executive director of Potential, Inc. The company’s goal is to provide high-quality interventions for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities
Elizabeth F. Monahan ’96 was named chief human resources officer of Walter Investment Management Corp. Over her more than 27-year career, Monahan has led the human resources functions for diverse businesses, complex global organizations and start-up companies including Quintiq, Homeward Residential and, most recently, Assero Services. She holds a master’s from Rider University and a bachelor’s from Penn State University.
Veronica Yankowski ’96 was named the No. 12 best wedding photographer in the world by the wedding photography website www.wedaward.com. Yankowski, who earned her bachelor’s cum laude in journalism, is the owner of VeroLuce Photography (“veroluce” is Italian for “truth and light”). Learn more at www.verolucephotography.com.
Dawn LeMasney ’97 joined the faculty of Valley Music Academy, the largest private music school in the Shenandoah Valley. Lemasney, a soprano, received a master’s from Westminster Choir College. She also holds a bachelor’s in music education (magna cum laude) from Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. Lemasney is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the recipient of the Keith Lance Kuhlmann Scholarship for musical performance.
Kevin Atkinson ’98 is the co-founder of Homestead Beer Company, which received the Outstanding American Small Business award sponsored by Sam’s Club and given by the SCORE Foundation. Founded in 2011 and opened to the public in 2013, the large–scale microbrewery was the first in Licking County, Ohio, to be dedicated to craft beer. Atkinson is the business side of the company, finding himself on the road pitching the beer to supermarkets, bottle shops, bars and restaurants.
Jonathan Parker ’99 and his wife, Robin, and son Bryce welcomed a new baby boy on June 28, 2016.
Suzanne Viscomi ’99 married Courtney Wuss at the Thomas Pain House in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., on Sept. 24, 2016. She shared her day with Melissa Nielsen Corso ’99 and Cara Jeiven ’98. Viscomi has been the chief financial officer of National Parts Supply for six years and was elected to her third term on the Red Bank School Board on Nov. 8, 2016. She was also elected to be the president of the Red Bank Republican Club in 2016.
’00s
William Incollingo Jr. ’00 was appointed to become Bensalem Township School district’s director of instructional technology, district-wide telecommunications/security. He previously served as principal at Robert K. Shafer Middle School in Bensalem and assistant principal at Cecelia Snyder Middle School and Bensalem High School.
Abigail Wright ’00 headlined composer Milton Granger’s modern opera The Proposal at St. Malachy’s/The Actors’ Chapel in New York City in November 2016. Moving to New York after finishing her master’s in opera performance, Wright has performed in several of the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD broadcasts and Live from Lincoln Center’s Carousel, and she made her solo Carnegie Hall debut in The Song of Norway. No stranger to highlighting women in all stages of the struggle for equality, she portrayed Meg in the Israeli premiere of Mark Adamo’s treatment of Little Women, working directly with the composer himself.
Greg Meehan ’01 was selected to lead the American women’s team at the 2017 FINA World Championships. A women’s assistant coach for Team USA in Rio, Meehan made quite an impact on the 2016 U.S. Olympic swimming team with Maya DiRado, Simone Manuel and Lia Neal combining to earn nine medals. He is also the women’s coach at Stanford University, where he guided them to a runner-up finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships. He currently coaches five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky at Stanford.
John Blake ’02, ’04 was promoted to partner of Klatzin & Company LLP. He also serves as chair of the firm’s tax committee and co-chair of the marketing committee. Blake graduated cum laude from Rider University with a master’s in management and a bachelor’s in accounting. He is a certified public accountant in New Jersey and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New Jersey Society of CPAs.
Glenn Robbins ’02 was named the new superintendent of the Tabernacle Township School District. Robbins had served as principal of the Northfield Community Middle School in Atlantic County since 2012. He has also been an assistant principal, social studies teacher and soccer coach at Egg Harbor Township High School. Winner of the 2016 National Digital Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, he earned his bachelor’s in secondary education and social studies from Rider University and his master’s in educational leadership and administration from Jones International University.
Alexandra Alazio ’04, who majored in communication at Rider, is the new sales marketing director at Thrillist Media Group where she and her team develop campaigns built to deliver multi-platform, multi-screen branded content. She is also newly married to Bob Bilodeau as of April 2016.
Matt Cook ’06 was cast in CBS’s primetime television show Man With a Plan. Cook studied theater and communication at Rider. Born and raised on the East Coast, he now resides in Los Angeles.
Tirusha Dave ’07 and Prashanth Gorantala were wed on Aug. 21, 2016, at Princeton Marriott at Forrestal Village in New Jersey. Jessica Andrulewich ’12 was a bridesmaid and Dr. Roberta Clipper of Rider’s Department of English was a guest at the couple’s wedding events. Dave is an editor at Bravura Magazine and Gorantala is an IT professional.
Reginald Meadows ’07, an assistant principal at the Pennsbury High School
West campus, is to become co-principal of Pennsbury High School East Campus in August. He had served as an assistant principal for the past nine years in different capacities on the high school’s east and west campuses.
Marco Antonio Melendez ’07 performed in the sixth annual Music for Christmastide program at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Texas in December 2016. Melendez is currently in his fifth season as artistic director of Milwaukee Children’s Choir and has performed throughout the nation as a choral conductor, clinician, soloist and church musician. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College and Holy Names University.
Nicole Nicholson ’09, MA ’11 and Todd Malkiewicz ’09, MA ’11 married in September 2016 in Hamilton, N.J. Other ’09 Rider alumni who helped them celebrate were Holly Shavell, Kristen Pesce, Rachael (Nitti) Chazan and Matthew McAuliffe.
’10s
Robert E. Gildea II ’10, ’16 married Christina A. Rech ’11 at St. Charles Borromeo in Skillman, N.J., in June 2016.
John J. Lanza ’11 is approaching graduation in December with a Master of Professional Studies Degree in Homeland Security from George Washington University. He is currently in an internship with an agency of the federal intelligence community.
Wendy Feaver ’12 provided musical direction for The Vicky Boofont Show!, which ran weekly off-Broadway in February and March.
Elizabeth Wojtowicz ’12 sang the lead role of Hansel in a family friendly version of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel produced by Buffalo Opera Unlimited. Wojtowicz has been featured in other major works including Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. She is on the voice faculty at Buffalo State and has a private studio in Lancaster.
James N. Kirchner Jr. ’12 of Whitehouse Station, N.J., was sworn in as a sheriff’s officer in Somerset County, N.J., in January. Kirchner graduated from Somerville High School, where he was a New Jersey state wrestling champion, in 2008 and from Rider in 2012. He is active in the Somerville Fire Department and was a two-time top responder to fire calls. He is currently a lieutenant with Somerville Hook & Ladder.
Jaime Giannakis ’13 was hired in August 2016 as a guidance counselor at her alma mater South Plainfield High School. Giannakis earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Rider and a master’s in mental health from Monmouth University. She completed an internship at SPHS in 2015-16.
Rachel Stengel ’14 has been hired as a marketing specialist for clinical operations at Salus University, Elkins Park, Pa. She had been marketing communications coordinator for Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano.
Teresa Bonilla ’14 appeared in Bravo Puccini: An Evening of Operatic Solos, Arias and Duets on Sept. 10, 2016, as part of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association’s Great Family Entertainment series. In 2014, Bonilla appeared as a guest artist with the OperaFest International in Hachenburg, Germany, and recently sang with The Savoy Opera Company of Philadelphia. She is currently teaching voice through her studio, Bonilla Vocal Arts.
Andrès Féliz ’15 appeared as Nakawa in Festival of the Lion King at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. At Rider, he was cast in productions of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Merrily We Roll Along and Metamorphosis. After graduation, he performed as a cabaret artist at Uncle Charlie’s, a piano bar in New York City.
Blair Godfrey ’15 has started teaching English in Rouen, Normandy, through the French Ministry of Education’s Assistants D’anglais program. Godfrey plans to take the oral proficiency interview in French upon her return in hopes of finding a high school teaching position.
J’na Jefferson ’15 has been serving as a contributing writer for VIBE. Jefferson, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s in journalism and digital media, has written articles and features for entertainment figures such as JoJo, Jazmine Sullivan, LMFAO’s Red Foo, Keke Palmer, producer Hit-Boy and more. She also covered the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden, interviewing Chance The Rapper, A$AP Ferg, Justine Skye and Kent Jones.
Jennifer Smolyn ’15 is currently teaching ninth-grade biology at Princeton High School and working towards a master’s in cell and developmental biology at Rutgers University.
Cameron Cook ’16 has begun teaching English in eastern France through the French Ministry of Education’s Assistants D’anglais program. Cook plans to begin graduate school when he returns next fall.
Brooke Vernon ’16 is running the fashion closet for Marie Claire magazine, where she previously interned. Since graduating, she has been searching for jobs and writes, “I greatly miss Rider and all of the wonderful staff!”
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