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BAABC: Scholarship reception; seminar on Alumni College Day. Craig Collins, ’98, (718) 342-7073. Broward-Dade Chapter: Theater party; membership luncheon; scholarship luncheon; tour of Spanish monastery; museum tour; slide show: “Brooklyn Remembered.” Millie Bialeck Cohn, ’43, (954) 925-6459, or Diane Nadler Simon, ’64, (954) 475-1638. Campus Chapter: BC theater party; Regina Opera; Museum of Jewish Heritage; Cyclones baseball game at KeySpan Park in Coney Island. Sam Rabinoff, ’49, (718) 377-6133. Central Florida Chapter: Luncheon. John Banaghan Sr., ’57, (407) 339-9110. Long Island Chapter: Westbury Pops concert; Aviation Museum tour; wine and cheese party. Marsha Zirn Elowsky, ’56, (516) 349-8821, or Claire Garfinkel Kerman, ’56, (631) 367-2833. Los Angeles/Southern California Chapter: cultural extravaganza; theater party; bus tour and matinee; Mystery Bus Ride. Jay Bachrach, ’48, (818) 986-9252, or Allen, ’52, and Suzanne Eisenberg Klein, ’52, (818) 789-4000. Manhattan Chapter: Tour of Radio City; boat ride to the Rockefeller estate. Arlene Lichterman, ’53, (212) 988-9471. New Mexico Chapter: Picnic. Barbara Rothman Vojta, ’57, (505) 771-0143. Northern Metropolitan Chapter: Luncheon with Professor Howard Davidoff; luncheon with Professor Stuart Schaar. Joan Tartell Stupler, ’52, (914) 968-3530. Palm Beach Chapter: Speakers luncheon; boat ride; slide show: “Brooklyn Remembered;” annual luncheon; dessert discussion. Eugene Fried, ’49, (561) 734-5934. Phoenix Chapter: Luncheons on three occasions. Joanne Gurin, ’73, (602) 942-4622. San Francisco/Northern California Chapter: Alumni picnic; lecture with Polytech alumni. Arnold Kaufman, ’59, (650) 493-5287. Southwest Brooklyn Chapter: Dinner and tour of AREAC. Agnes Ford, ’71, (718) 332-8715. Tucson Chapter: Luncheons; theater party. Irma Schulman Sankman, ’50, (520) 877-8283. Accountants Affiliate: Edward Shoenthal, ’67, (212) 807-8013. Brooklyn College Former Athletes Affiliate: Reunion dinner in Florida. Dave Askinasi, ’50, (561) 499-6601. BC Managers for the Performing Arts: Dinner. Neal Brilliant, ’93, (718) 768-4937. 8 alumni news Marla Hasten Ginsberg, ’87 Director of Alumni Affairs Stacey Vianne Backenroth, ’02 Assistant Director Brooklyn College Alumni Association Brooklyn College The City University of New York 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11210-2889 Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 3091 Brooklyn, N.Y. Printed on recycled paper
Transcript
Page 1: Alumni News layout 6/03 - Brooklyn College€¦ · volunteered at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Youth Center. She writes and edits a newsletter for Brooklyn Cable News and worked on a project

BAABC: Scholarship reception;seminar on Alumni College Day.Craig Collins, ’98, (718) 342-7073.

Broward-Dade Chapter: Theaterparty; membership luncheon;scholarship luncheon; tour of Spanishmonastery; museum tour; slide show:“Brooklyn Remembered.” Millie BialeckCohn, ’43, (954) 925-6459, or DianeNadler Simon, ’64, (954) 475-1638.

Campus Chapter: BC theaterparty; Regina Opera; Museum ofJewish Heritage; Cyclones baseballgame at KeySpan Park in ConeyIsland. Sam Rabinoff, ’49,(718) 377-6133.

Central Florida Chapter:Luncheon. John Banaghan Sr., ’57,(407) 339-9110.

Long Island Chapter: WestburyPops concert; Aviation Museum tour;wine and cheese party. Marsha ZirnElowsky, ’56, (516) 349-8821, or Claire Garfinkel Kerman, ’56,(631) 367-2833.

Los Angeles/Southern CaliforniaChapter: cultural extravaganza;theater party; bus tour and matinee;Mystery Bus Ride. Jay Bachrach, ’48,(818) 986-9252, or Allen, ’52, andSuzanne Eisenberg Klein, ’52,(818) 789-4000.

Manhattan Chapter: Tour of RadioCity; boat ride to the Rockefellerestate. Arlene Lichterman, ’53,(212) 988-9471.

New Mexico Chapter: Picnic.Barbara Rothman Vojta, ’57,(505) 771-0143.

Northern MetropolitanChapter: Luncheon with ProfessorHoward Davidoff; luncheon withProfessor Stuart Schaar. Joan TartellStupler, ’52, (914) 968-3530.

Palm Beach Chapter: Speakersluncheon; boat ride; slide show:“Brooklyn Remembered;” annualluncheon; dessert discussion. EugeneFried, ’49, (561) 734-5934.

Phoenix Chapter: Luncheons onthree occasions. Joanne Gurin, ’73,(602) 942-4622.

San Francisco/NorthernCalifornia Chapter: Alumni picnic;lecture with Polytech alumni. ArnoldKaufman, ’59, (650) 493-5287.

Southwest Brooklyn Chapter:Dinner and tour of AREAC. AgnesFord, ’71, (718) 332-8715.

Tucson Chapter: Luncheons;theater party. Irma SchulmanSankman, ’50, (520) 877-8283.

Accountants Affiliate: EdwardShoenthal, ’67, (212) 807-8013.

Brooklyn College FormerAthletes Affiliate: Reunion dinnerin Florida. Dave Askinasi, ’50,(561) 499-6601.

BC Managers for thePerforming Arts: Dinner.Neal Brilliant, ’93, (718) 768-4937.

8alumni newsMarla Hasten Ginsberg, ’87Director of Alumni Affairs

Stacey Vianne Backenroth, ’02Assistant Director

Brooklyn College Alumni AssociationBrooklyn CollegeThe City University of New York2900 Bedford AvenueBrooklyn, New York 11210-2889

Nonprofit Org

U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 3091

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Printed on recycled paper

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Alumna at CitibankProvides InternshipsThanks to the Citibank–BrooklynCollege Career Makers Programfounded by Marge Magner, ’69, chiefoperating officer of Citigroup’s GlobalConsumer Group, Citibank andBrooklyn College are finding out howmuch they have to offer one another.Aiming to provide students with theopportunity to build a career infinancial services, the program placesstudents in full- and part-timepositions in local Citibank branches. Italso offers professional training andthe possibility of employment withCitibank after graduation.

Since the inception of theprogram in fall 2002, seven studentshave benefited. More than a dozenare expected to participate thissummer. The program has providedCitibank with a pool of valuable newemployees. “We are extremelypleased with the talented students wehave found in the Career MakersProgram,” says Citibank Area ManagerGale Schwartz. “Many Citibankmanagers who have heard about theprogram from participating colleaguesare contacting me to request studentsfor their own branches.”

If you would like to tap into thetalent by creating student internshipplacements and filling job openings,contact Robert Oliva, director of theBrooklyn College Center for CareerDevelopment and Internships.

Levenson Awards 2002by Samuel Rabinoff, ’49

Each year, the BCAA presents awardsof $2000 each to three students fortheir contributions to campus andcommunity life and/or in theperforming arts. The awards are inhonor of Sam, ’34, and Esther LevineLevenson, ’34. Sam Levenson was aSpanish teacher at Tilden High Schoolwho left the classroom to perform; hebecame a beloved comedian andmade countless appearances on theEd Sullivan Show.

The Levenson Awards Committeescreens the applicants and examinestheir applications, records ofachievement, and recommendations.The 2002 awards were presented atthe BCAA Annual Meeting, held onAlumni College Day, April 28, 2002. Asalways, the diverse winners representthe best of Brooklyn College.

Edward Barrera, ’03, returned toBrooklyn College as an adult studentafter a few tough years. Idealistic andpassionate, he wishes to exert apositive influence on the world as ajournalist. A former managing editorof the Kingsman, he served as anintern with the New York Daily News,where he worked on pieces exposingabuses of power. The first CUNY student to win an internship at theDaily News, Edward “may well be

blazing a trail for other BC students,”says one of his professors.

Tina Samuels, ’03, hopes tobecome a television writer andproducer, using her experiences tocraft documentaries, comedies, anddramas about teenagers. Her goalcame into focus while she wasworking at a TV station in Kingston,Jamaica, during her final year of highschool. Since then Tina hasvolunteered at the BrooklynTabernacle Youth Center. She writesand edits a newsletter for BrooklynCable News and worked on a projectfor the BC TV Club with the goal ofincreasing student involvement incampus activities.

Elliot Wasser, ’02, in the words ofone of his professors, “served thestudent body at Brooklyn College inevery imaginable capacity.” Hereceived a degree in physicaleducation, specializing in adaptivephysical education. He was a studentteacher at Edward R. Murrow HighSchool, working with physically andemotionally challenged students. Healso held an internship at theBrooklyn United Cerebral PalsyCenter. He has been recognized witha number of honors including theCommunity Civic Action Award, theEmerging Leader Award, and theSocial Justice Award.

Volume 5, Number 1 • Spring 2003A newsletter published by the Brooklyn College Alumni Association

Phone: (718) 951-5595; Fax: (718) 951-5962; E-mail: [email protected]

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The Levenson Awards are fundedby alumni who make donations toreward worthy recipients. They are theonly awards funded by the AlumniAssociation. Contributions may bemade specifically to the LevensonAwards Fund and sent to the BrooklynCollege Foundation.

Brooklyn CollegeFormer AthletesAffiliateby George Edelman, ’42

The Brooklyn College Former AthletesAffiliate (BCFAA) held its thirteenthannual dinner on January 21, 2003, at BenVenuto’s in Boynton Beach, Fla. Theanecdotes, ambience, food, drink, andPresident Kimmich’s remarks all got ravereviews. Julie Kasner, ’41, (basketball) andI were the oldest in attendance. If youare an alumnus or alumna who is aformer athlete living in Southern Floridaand wish to participate in this affiliate,contact Dave Askinasi, ’50, 14738Shadowood Lane, Delray Beach, Fla.33484, telephone: (561) 499-6601, e-mail:[email protected]. The next dinner isplanned for Tuesday, January 20, 2004.

Tucson ChapterReceives Milgram Awardby Helen Zegerman Schwimmer, ’69

“We all like each other, so we have funwhen we get together,” says IrmaSchulman Sankman, ’50. A veteran NewYork City and Chicago metropolitanarea teacher, Sankman came to Tucson,Ariz., in search of warm weather. Shefound that and a group of energetic

Brooklyn College graduates. They soonformed the Tucson BCAA chapter.Whether it’s for a luncheon, a theaterparty, a trip to Rocky Point, Mexico, orthe stimulating book discussion groupsled by Niel Glixon, ’43, the Tucson alumshave enjoyed each other’s company forover fifteen years. They count amongtheir number a flock of snowbirds thatmigrates every winter to bask in thewarmth of the Arizona sun and thecompanionship of fellow alumni.

This year the Tucson chapter wonthe Jerome S. Milgram Award. Typically

given to an individual, the award went,for the first time, to a chapter, inrecognition of its outstandingcontribution to the advancement of theBCAA and its activities on behalf ofBrooklyn College.

Sheila Weitzner Liebson, ’46,accepted the Milgram Award for thechapter on Alumni College Day, May 4,2003. A seasoned traveler, Sheila justreturned from a trek to the GalápagosIslands. She noted that she found it “apleasure to walk around the campusand see that it’s still Brooklyn College.”

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“Brooklyn Bridges the World”

Gala Alumni ReunionSaturday, October 25, 2003

The Water Club (on the East River)

Editors: Roberta Rose Wallach, ’53; Helen Zegerman Schwimmer, ’69Staff: George Edelman, ’42; Jack Godler, ’52; Arlene Lichterman, ’53;

Sam Rabinoff, ’49; Marilyn Levy Sarhis, ’53; David Wenger, ’03

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Gala Alumni Reunionto Be Held in Octoberby Arlene Lichterman, ’53

Hold the date—Saturday, October 25,2003—for an exciting reunion that willhighlight many groups, including:

• Class of 1993—Tenth reunion;

• Class of 1978—Twenty-fifth reunion;

• Class of 1963—Fortieth reunion;

• All House Plans, Sororities, andFraternities.

In addition, the Alumna and Alumnusof the Year Awards will be presented toMary E. McWilliams, ’49, and BrooklynBorough President Marty Markowitz, ’70.Mary E. McWilliams has had lengthy,successful, and diverse careers. Hercollege years were interrupted by a tourin the Women’s Reserve of the CoastGuard and a job with the FBI. She was ateacher from 1950 to 1975. Since herretirement, she has been an activist inmatters of concern to senior citizens.

Marty Markowitz, in his own words,is “as Brooklyn as they come.” He hasrealized his dream of becoming theBrooklyn borough president. As hesays, he is “the chief advocate, biggestpromoter, best defender, and mostenthusiastic cheerleader that Brooklynhas ever had.”

Join us for the Gala Reunion, whenwe honor our alumni, and dine anddance under the stars, at the Water Clubon the East River. See for yourself how“Brooklyn College Bridges the World.”

“If You’re Lucky”Reunion Recollectionsby Jack Godler, ’52

As I headed to the Fiftieth ReunionDinner for the Class of 1952 in theStudent Center on the evening of May 29,2002, I wondered who I would see.Two thousand of us graduated in 1952.One hundred and forty-five submittedbios for the Reunion Journal. Aftercollege we spread out across thecountry and around the world. Weworked in every profession. A directorof the Alaska Fisheries Science Center ;at least two military aviators; a rankingState Department officer who wasaccused of being a spy; a top Canadianforeign service officer :Who would havethought that a bunch of BC grads couldbe such an array of Le Carré characters?

I thought about the six people I hadknown since college. Only two werehere tonight. The three of us walkedinto a room buzzing with chatter. I sawBob Goldberg and his fraternity pals;Marilyn Freedman Antelis, recentlywidowed; Eleanor Jensen Scott, starsenior athlete; Anita BernheimWeintraub, former member of theBCAA Board of Directors; andTheodora “Teddy” Levin Sklover.

One hundred eleven members ofour class came to the reunion dinner;all but a handful attended theCommencement exercises the next day.The majority came from themetropolitan area and its suburbancounties. Some were from as far awayas California and Hawaii.

I don’t remember what we ate, justthe table-hopping and the waves ofconversation. “You look like the womanin the Varsity Players production . . .

Were you the guy who . . . whenVanguard was suspended . . . house planparty . . . Country Fair. . . Boat Ride . . .Kingsman . . .Calling Card . . .department club . . . the big game whenwe beat . . .Weren’t you in my class?The evening ended with a slide show,“Brooklyn:The Way It Was,” by BCAAboard member Ron Schweiger, ’70,official Borough of Brooklyn Historian.

The next morning at breakfast,there was a tangible sense ofexcitement in the Georgian Room. Wedonned our golden caps and gownsand smiled for the photographer. (Inthe picture, I’m in the front row, a fewseats away from Bill Taylor, one of ourclass heroes.) We marched down theaisle to our seats in front, past rows ofyoung people in their maroon or blackrobes applauding us. Myron Kandellater quipped to the graduates, “Whenyou come back for your fiftieth, this iswhat you’ll look like. If you’re lucky.”

At the luncheon that followed theceremony, we heard from MarlaGinsberg, President Christoph Kimmich,and Roberta Rose Wallach,’ 53,president of BCAA. Then Joan TartellStupler, Northern Westchester Chapter ;Bob Goldberg, Nyack, N.Y.; Ethel LipschitzMcClatchey, Los Angeles/SouthernCalifornia Chapter; and I offeredcomments.

We said goodbye, trading phonenumbers and addresses, promising tobe in touch.We left, ready for the timesahead. Listen up world: We’re the Classof 1952. We’re still here and going strong.

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Brooklyn College is“Family”by Roberta Rose Wallach, ’53

Attending Brooklyn College is atradition carried on by generation aftergeneration in many families. Theromance doesn’t stop there. Manycouples meet at Brooklyn College aswell. If you would like to see the BCalumni in your family listed in thiscolumn, send their names to the Officeof Alumni Affairs. Please give us yourname, too, and your street and e-mailaddresses and telephone number.Contact Stacey Backenroth, ’02, at theOffice of Alumni Affairs by phone at(718) 951-5065, or e-mail [email protected].

GenerationsSylvia Udis Haironson, ’38, and SidneyHaironson, ’34 (both deceased)Don R. Haironson, ’45Estelle Salmansohn Haironson, ’46(deceased) Eli L. Methal, ’74Ira Haironson, ’81

Mina Leibowitz Herman, ’53 Bruce Jay Herman, ’80Susan Herman Mendelowitz, ’76

Stuart Lawrence, ’63 Elena Sherri Lawrence Dredger, ’88

Aurora Messina Natt, ’44Allegra Natt, ’84

Marilyn Levy Sarhis, ’53Elyse Wolkin Sarhis, ’81

CouplesStacey Reinecke Backenroth, ’02, andLyle Backenroth, ’95

Irene Danzker Deitch, ’52, and Jack A. Deitch, ’49

Wendy Goodman, ’76, and Leonard Sudberg, M.D., ’76[We apologize for the incorrect listing for Dr.

Sudberg in the last issue of the Alumni Newsletter.]

Ellen Sussman Greenspan, ’69, and Aaron Greenspan, ’70,

Sylvia Udis Haironson, ’38, and Sidney Haironson, ’34 (both deceased)

Lillian Gulotta Knight, ’53, and George Knight, ’53

Cora Helena Bialis Roth, ’60, andSheldon Roth, M.D., ’60

The Post-fiftiethAlumni Reunion 2002by George Edelman, ’42

The Post-fiftieth Alumni Reunionluncheon was held on October 6, 2002,in honor of the classes of 1937, 1942,and 1947 on their sixty-fifth, sixtieth,and fifty-fifth anniversaries. Attended byalumni, friends, relatives, BrooklynCollege Alumni Association boardmembers, and College faculty and staff,the festive gathering at the BrooklynCollege Student Center was presidedover by Dr. Robert I. Goldberg, ’41.

This reporter was both an honoreeand presenter at this function. Theother reunion honorees were: MildredWiner Abramowitz and Lea SchwartzSinger from the Class of 1937; PaulBaer, Bernard Buchner, Esther Conwell,

Bertram Fields, Morton Glantz, GeorgiaHeaslip, Frances Koltun, Jerome Laskey,Benjamin Rivlin, and Leonard Rokawfrom the Class of 1942; Lilyan GoldmanGlusker, Ben Hammer, Herbert Kelman,Abraham Klein, Myron Levine, JudyGorenstein Salwen, Miriam Schlein,Grace Marmor Spruch, and PhilipStopol from the Class of 1947.

This year Dr. Robert I. Goldberg,’41, and Evelyn Horowitz Weinstein, ’43,shared the Milton Fisher, ’38, SecondHarvest Award, which acknowledgesthe creative, professional, andphilanthropic accomplishments ofalumni subsequent to their fiftiethreunion. Recipients have the privilegeof determining the disbursement of the$5000 grant to benefit BrooklynCollege. Mrs.Weinstein specified thather half be used for a scholarship whileDr. Goldberg assigned his portion tothe Art Department.

The meeting closed with a slidepresentation by BCAA board memberRon Schweiger, ’70, which wasthoroughly enjoyed by the guests.

Reunion 2002 GarnersRave Reviewsby Helen Zegerman Schwimmer, ’69

Picture this:The air is crisp on theevening of October 19, 2002. As thesun sets over the tranquil waters of theHudson, the luxury yacht Horizon setssail from Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.As the liner cruises down the river, thealumni on board watch the New York

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skyline light up. The Statue of Libertystands taller and prouder than weremember. Pure magic.

Suddenly a voice calls out, “Did youhang out at Wolfie’s, Dubrow’s, orGarfield’s? Did you listen to Odetta, JanPeerce, or Simon and Garfunkel? Didyou go to Saturday matinees at theKingsway, Oriental, Avalon, Rugby, orPitkin? Did you hear Eleanor Roosevelt,Allen Ginsberg, or Robert Kennedyspeak on campus?” As emcee, RobertaWallach, BCAA president, takes us on atrip down memory lane.

A little background: The ActivitiesCommittee began to plan the 2002reunion shortly after 9/11, when touristtrade in the city was at a low ebb.Wedecided on the theme “BC CelebratesNew York” and to have the event aboarda ship that would sail the harbor insupport of our school, city, and country.

This was the first time in years thata reunion was held off-campus, andwhat a success it turned out to be.Alumni who graduated as recently as2002 and as long ago as 1943 mingledamiably over dinner, dancing as the wineflowed, the music played, and theconversation sparkled. Our honoreeswere straight out of central casting.Scott Herman, ’80, with a bachelor’s inTelevision and Radio, was presented theAlumnus of the Year Award by hisformer professor and presentemployee, Sister Camille D’Arienzo,R.S.M., professor emerita of televisionand radio, and commentator for 1010WINS. Since 1994 Scott has been vice-president and general manager of 1010WINS, America’s first all-news radiostation and one of the InfinityBroadcasting Corporation’s six NewYork City radio stations that Scott now

manages. Scott, his wife, Beth, and theirthree children live in New Jersey.

The Alumna of the Year Award wentto Sandra Feldman, ’60, president of themillion-member American Federation ofTeachers since 1997. As vice-president ofEducation International, an organization ofteacher’s unions in democratic countries,Ms. Feldman travels extensively in Asia,Eastern Europe, and South America topromote trade unionism and democraticprinciples. She is married to New Yorkbusinessman Arthur Barnes. Unfortunately,Ms. Feldman could not attend.

By the end of this spectacularevening, we were looking forward toour next reunion. If you missed theboat, make sure to mark your calendarfor October 25, 2003. Join us on theEast River at the world-famous WaterClub restaurant when “BrooklynCollege Bridges the World.”

Spotlight on a Faculty AlumnusSamuel L. Leiter, ’62:A Life in the Theaterby Helen Zegerman Schwimmer, ’69

One spring day in 1962, while strugglingto decide what to do after graduation,Samuel Leiter spotted a flyer on aBoylan Hall bulletin board. “It was pureserendipity,” marveled DistinguishedProfessor of Theater Leiter, a formerBroeklundian professor who is currentlythe chairperson of the TheaterDepartment.

Flashback:While studying a text onthe different aspects of theater, Leiterhad been fascinated by the chapter onkabuki, the traditional form of Japanesetheater. The author of that chapter was

the person named as the contact onthe leaflet. Although Leiter discoveredthat the announced position had beenfilled, he was offered a two-year grantto pursue an M.F.A. in directing at theUniversity of Hawaii, with six months ofstudy in Japan. This decision was as easyas the one to marry Marcia Lerner, ’63.The couple have three children.

Over the past thirty-five years,Leiter has become a renowned scholarin theater generally and kabuki inparticular. His numerous books includeThe Great Stage Directors, ShakespeareAround the Globe, and The Art of Kabuki.

The subject of his doctoraldissertation, the history of theater inBrooklyn, lies closer to home. In thenineteenth-century, Leiter notes, “thearea around the present-day Fulton Mallwas considered Brooklyn’s Broadway,”offering Shakespeare revivals andmelodramas. Theater continued tohave a strong presence in the borough,and Leiter has fond memories ofattending performances in twoBrownsville theaters with his mother,who nurtured his love of the stage.

Leiter is gratified that many of hisstudents are working actors who havefound their niche in commercials,television, and theater—on and offBroadway. Two of the best known areJimmy Smits of L.A. Law and NYPD Blue,and Dominic Chianese, a.k.a. UncleJunior in The Sopranos.

What’s ahead for the BrooklynCollege Theater Department?

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Professor Leiter describes the twomillion dollars recently bequeathed byformer Brooklyn College philosophyprofessor Walter Cerf as “manna fromheaven,” which will allow thedepartment to expand in spite of thecurrent economic crunch. High on hiswish list are additional faculty and moreclassroom and rehearsal space. “Weare trying to be recognized as one ofthe best municipal colleges in thecountry for theater,” he said. Moreproductions that will attract localaudiences are on the horizon as well.

Alumni College Day2003: Spotlight onNew Facultyby Marilyn Levy Sarhis, ’53

In August 2002 headlines nationwidedeclared: “Brooklyn College Tops ‘BeautyList.’”The Princeton Review’s eleventhannual guide to the best colleges in theU.S. ranked Brooklyn College as having“the most beautiful campus in thecountry.” There seemed to be a greaterthan usual sense of pride in the airwhen we gathered at our alma materon Alumni College Day, May 4, 2003.In the morning, concurrent sessionsallowed us to choose from a range ofintellectually stimulating topics, severalof which were presented by newmembers of the faculty.

Amnon Wolman, associateprofessor of music and director of theCenter for Computer Music at theBrooklyn College Conservatory ofMusic, spoke on “Computer Music:The

Sounds of the Present.” Robert Lurz,assistant professor of philosophy,examined the timely question, “DoSome Animals Have Human Minds?The Controversy Over Self-Awarenessin Primates.” He was assisted by hisstudent Beinecke Scholar NicholasPitsirikos, ’04.

The Black Alumni Association ofBrooklyn College (BAABC) presentedits seventeenth Annual ClearinghouseExpo, convened by Craig Collins, ’98,BAABC president and board member.The speakers were Marcia Goldman,’57;Winston Price, M.D., ’70; andBarbara Gordon, M.D., ’86. Ms.Goldman is president of the MagnoliaTree Earth Center of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc., a part of the Trust forPublic Land; she is past president and aboard member of BAABC, and therecipient of the 2002 Jerome S. MilgramAward. Dr. Price is assistant professorof clinical pediatrics at the StateUniversity of New York Health Science

Center at Brooklyn. Dr. Gordon is anattending physician at New YorkMethodist Hospital.

The Theater Arts Affiliate, under thestewardship of chairperson andproducer Eleanor Blunk Wolff, ’55,presented “A Director’s Workshop:Scenes Drawn From American Classics.”Samuel Leiter, ’62, distinguished professorand chairperson of the Brooklyn CollegeTheater Department, introduced thedirectors:Yvonne O. Conybeare, M.F.A.,’90, associate producer and director,Gallery Players of Park Slope, andMichael F. Cesarano, M.F.A., ’94, professorof speech and theater, QueensboroCommunity College.

An elegant champagne receptionhosted by President Christoph M.Kimmich and Dr. Flora Graham Kimmich,M.F.A., ’88, preceded the BCAA AwardsLuncheon where the 2003 DistinguishedAchievement Awards were presented toEdward I. Geffner, ’59, and JoanneWaldstreicher, M.D., ’81.

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Alumni College Day, May 4, 2003, left to right: *Edward I. Geffner, ’59; Ethyle R.Wolfe; Roberta RoseWallach, ’53; Christoph M. Kimmich; **Sheila (Dorseman) Weitzner Liebson, ’46; Marcia I. Goldman, ’57;Morton D. Glantz, ’42; * Joanne Waldstreicher, M.D., ’81.

*Distinguished Achievement Award recipient**Accepted the Jerome S. Milgram Award on behalf of the BCAA Tucson Chapter

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Geffner is executive director ofProject Renewal, Inc., which offersrehabilitation and job training tothousands of recovering addicts andhomeless in New York City. A memberof the bar, he is a staunch supporter ofcivil rights, the environment, and humanand social services ranging from theVera Institute in New York City to theDepartment of Social Welfare inJerusalem. Geffner is often an invitedspeaker at leading university businessand law schools, including Yale LawSchool, where he earned his J.D. EthyleR.Wolfe, provost and vice-president foracademic affairs emerita, and formerdean of the School of Humanities,presented Edward Geffner with thecoveted award.

Dr. Joanne Waldstreicher is vice-president for internal medicine, clinicalresearch and development, withJohnson & Johnson. Since receiving herdegree from Harvard Medical School,she has devoted her professional life topharmaceutical and clinical researchinvolving endocrinology, metabolism,and oncology. She has received manyacademic and professional honors, hasco-authored numerous publications andabstracts in the most respected medicaljournals, and holds thirteen patents.Dr. Morton D. Glantz, ’42, professoremeritus of chemistry, who taught andmentored Dr.Waldstreicher, presentedthe award.

The Jerome S. Milgram Award, givenfor outstanding contributions to theadvancement of BCAA, was awardedto the Tucson, Ariz., Chapter. Sheila(Dorseman) Weitzner Liebson, ’46, pastpresident and current secretary,accepted the award for the group fromMarcia Goldman, ’57, who received theMilgram Award in 2002.

The keynote speaker for the afternoongeneral session was DistinguishedProfessor Samuel L. Leiter, ’62, who holdsan M.F.A. from the University of Hawaii(1964) and a Ph.D. from New YorkUniversity (1968). (See the “Spotlight”article about him in this issue.) His topic,“From Gefilte Fish to Sushi:A Life inAcademic Theater,” captivated us.

The day concluded with the BCAAAnnual Meeting, the presentation of theSam Levenson, ’34, and Esther LevineLevenson, ’34, Awards, and the annualreport by President Roberta RoseWallach, ’53.

Get-Together for New Alumni by David Wenger, ’03

After graduation most Brooklyn Collegestudents go on to be successful in theirchosen professions. Most rememberthat Brooklyn College opened doors forthem. Some give back to the College byactively participating in the affairs of theAlumni Association and the school. Inthis spirit, the Brooklyn College AlumniAssociation held a start-up meeting onThursday, April 10, 2003. Graduatesfrom 2001 and 2002 were invited to theStudent Center for a dinner withRoberta Wallach, the president of theBCAA, and Marla Hasten Ginsberg, thedirector of the Office of Alumni Affairs.Such issues of interest as seniorrecruitment, job placement, networking,graduate studies, mentoring, andscholarship programs were discussed. Acommittee was formed and anothermeeting was scheduled. Items on theagenda include a Brooklyn Cyclonesbaseball game, various social activities,and a newsletter. All are welcome toplan and enjoy the events to come.

Letters to the EditorThe gala reunion of October 19, 2002,was twenty on a ten-point scale.

–Hal Schaffer, ’56

The harbor cruise [10/19/02] was avery nice way to hold a reunion.

–Barbara Fenko, ’80

My last year at Brooklyn College isalready crammed with plans for myfuture in journalism. I have been lucky tobe a part of this “poor man’s Harvard.”The Sam Levenson Award has lifted ahuge financial burden, and once againmade me realize that without theacademic support of professors andfinancial support of alumni, journalismwould be a distant dream. I thank all ofyou who helped me.

–Edward Barrera, ’03

What joy to receive the AlumniNewsletter, Volume 4, Number 1! Youand your team turned out acommunications piece that was warm,newsy, and full of heart. Everyone is fullof compliments. Diane Simon, ’52, and Ihave received several inquiries onmembership from local alumni whodidn’t know we had a [Broward-Dade]chapter . . .Wonderful!!

–Millie Bialeck Cohn, ’43

Chapters andAffiliatesby Roberta Rose Wallach, ’53

This column highlights recent events ofeach chapter and lists people whomyou may contact for information aboutlocal events:

Atlanta Chapter: Dick Sobel, ’51,(770) 410-9117.

7alumni news


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