River Campus Undergraduate: Slater Society—1950s
1929
Dorothea Michelsen de
Zafra ’33 (MA), the youngest member of the Prince
Street campus women of the Class of 1929, recently celebrated her
98th birthday, writes her daughter, Dorothea
de Zafra Atwell ’63 in an update e-mailed this spring.
As the youngest class member, her mother was named “Class
President for Life” at her 50th reunion, and she notes that
her mother “enjoyed many years of fellowship, both before and
after the 50th reunion, with the ‘permanent’ class
reunion committee.” She also served as treasurer of the Phi
Beta Kappa chapter at the University. The elder Dorothea now lives
in a nursing home in Silver Spring, Md. 1951
Mary Form Bobinski has
retired after 33 years as director of the Amherst, N.Y., public
libraries. She was honored at a “Woman of the Year”
luncheon with proclamations from the town board and the county and
state legislatures. Among her achievements: a new main
library—to be named in her honor—and the expansion and
renovation of three branch libraries. She also produced and hosted
Library Limelight, a weekly television program, for 32
years.
1953
Kenneth Cameron writes
that he has signed a three-book contract with Orion Publishing
Group in London. The first book will appear in 2008. He continues
to write a regular column for the English fishing magazine
Waterlog.
1956
Donald Messina ’57
(MA) writes that he created and conducted a special Palm Sunday
program at St. Andrew’s Church in Rochester. The 110-minute
concert included 15 narrations he wrote to describe the Passion
story of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, each of which preceded
selections of music he chose and modified to reflect the lives and
emotions of Jesus and Mary. Entitled Love, Agony and Hope,
the program featured the Eastman-Leung chamber orchestra, Chorus
Novus, and four lead soloists. Don notes that he is eager to share
his program information, script, and music with those who are
interested. He describes the experience as “the most
beautiful, challenging, and meaningful event of my life. I have
never been so fulfilled.” For more details or a CD, contact
him at dmessina@localnet.com.
1958
John Rathbone, class
correspondent writes:
Dr. Salvatore (Sam)
Pappalardo retired from Niagara University after 28 years
teaching in the graduate education program. Sam’s area of
specialization is counselor education: training school, agency, and
mental health counselors. Sam says that he found his work most
rewarding and he is still teaching one course each summer just to
keep his knowledge and skills current. Additionally, in 1985, Sam
retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of captain following
28 years of reserve duty which included four years of active
service. Sam thoroughly enjoyed his naval career which gave him a
change of pace from teaching. As a retiree, Sam finds he has more
time to do the “fun” things, such as volunteering with
the Niagara County Hospice with their Camp Hope program, a
bereavement camp run for children who have had significant losses
in the preceding year. Sam has served on the organizing committee
for the past seven years and has conducted training for all
volunteers who attend the camp. Sam also works as a counselor
during the camp itself. He serves on the Niagara County Girl Scout
Board of Directors and spends a lot of quality time volunteering
for various projects. The Pappalardo family continues to grow. Sam
became a great-grandfather when the family welcomed Aiden Spencer
Hamilton to the fold. Sam writes, “I can’t imagine
where the past 50 years have gone but they sure have been good
ones! Mary Anne and I are looking forward to the 50th reunion next
year and to renew some very important connections with some of my
classmates.”—Contact: John Rathbone, 2375 Brookview
Dr., Hamilton, N.Y. 13346; jbone58@dreamscape.com
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