Class Notes
Achievements
1995
Patricia (Orsini) Nilsen, '95, court reporting, Franklin, TN, recently won the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) speed contest. Nilsen placed first after recording an overall 98.932% accuracy. Forty contestants competed in three five-minute-long legs. The contestants were obligated to reach specific word count targets in each segment: 220 words per minute for the literary section, 230 words per minute for the legal opinion section, and 280 words per minute for the testimony section. Earlier in the year, Nilsen also broke a world record with Mark Kislingbury in Atlanta, GA by completing five minutes at 320 words per minute with over 95% accuracy.
Weddings
2008 & 2009
Jeremiah Bailey, ‘09, architectural engineering technology, and Nicole (D'Andrea) Bailey, ’08, liberal arts & social science, East Syracuse, were joined in marriage on Aug. 19, 2023.
Weddings
2017 & 2019
Brian Markel, ‘17, and Morgan Emo,‘19, were married on Oct. 20, 2023, at Great Marsh Estate, Bealeton, VA. Of the 12 attendants, 11 attended Alfred State.
Career
1997
Scott Swift, nursing, Wellsville, has retired from the "Hart House." Swift was honored for 12 years of "invaluable service."
1998
Daniel Jordan, nursing, Corning, is retiring from the Office of Mental Health, after 25 years as a RN.
2000
Laird Updyke, construction management technology, Cortland, has been promoted to regional operations manager for K-12 markets at LeChase Construction Services, LLC, based in Central New York. In this role, Updyke will manage multiple projects for core K-12 clients. He will be accountable for quality, value and safety, as well as responsible for overseeing recruitment and training of project team members.
2008
Katherine (Freeland) Warner, nursing, Almond, has been promoted to Chief Nursing Officer at St. James Hospital. With 15 years of dedicated service to St. James Hospital and exceptional leadership, Katherine will continue to uphold the highest patient care standards and guide their incredible nursing team.
2016
Ryan Johnson, electrical construction & maintenance electrician, Shinglehouse, PA, has been promoted to maintenance supervisor/process technician on second shift at Cutco Cutlery Corp. Johnson joined Cutco on May 31, 2016, as a utility operator. He was also a departmental generalist, ultrasonic cleaning operator and electrician before being promoted to process engineering technician on June 1, 2018.
2017
Kelsey Curry, sport management, Lake Charles, CA, is the Director of Football Operations at McNeese State University. Find out more about Kelsey's great career.
Remembrance
1948
Marvin Smith, agricultural business, Silver Creek, passed away on Aug. 4, 2023.
1953
James R. Cornell, animal husbandry, Olean, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2023.
1955
Bernard Eckert, ornamental horticulture-floriculture merchandising, Atlanta, GA, passed away on May 17, 2023.
1956
James A. Comes, ornamental horticulture-floriculture merchandising, Hornell, retired faculty, passed away on May 28, 2023.
1956
Mary Keck, secretary science, Canastota, passed away on Sept. 21, 2023.
1959
Robert Olmstead, chemical technology, East Greenwich, RI, passed away peacefully on Aug. 12, 2023.
1960
Thomas Dineen, plant and soil science, Hornell, passed away on June 24, 2023.
1960
Mabel Peissinger, medical secretary science, Buffalo, passed away on Aug. 22, 2023.
1961
John Schauman, agricultural business, Safford, AZ, passed away on June 14, 2023.
1962
Gordon Mackey, agriculture-plant and soil science, Mount Morris, long time alumni and supporter, passed away on June 18, 2023.
1962
Chauncey Watches, agricultural business, Hornell, passed away on June 15, 2023, after a long illness.
1963
Richard Warriner, agricultural business, Greenwood, passed away peacefully on Oct. 18, 2023, at Elderwood of Hornell following an extended illness.
1964
Donald F. Arnold, business management, Albany, passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 22, 2023.
1965
James Lehman, human services, Hornell, passed away on Sept. 7, 2023.
1968
Albert Avery, agricultural business, Corning, passed away on Sept. 7, 2023.
1968
William Caton, business administration, Batavia, passed away on July 18, 2023, with family by his side.
1969
Mark B. Mazza, computer information technology, Allegany, passed away on Sept. 26, 2023.
1970
Richard Callahan, drafting/CAD, Hoosick Falls, passed away on July 29, 2023.
1971
Randolph "Randy" Starr, animal science, Wyoming, passed away on Sept. 10, 2023.
1973
Randall Brown, agricultural business, Ocala, FL, passed away on June 9, 2023, after a lengthy illness.
1974
Roxanne Richeson, liberal arts & sciences-math & science, Albany, passed away on June 8, 2023, at home after battling cancer.
1977
Paul Kesselring, automotive service technician, Prattsburg, passed away on April 2, 2023.
1979
Jerry Capone, surveying engineering technology, Greenwood, SC, passed away on Sept. 7, 2023.
1980
Jeffrey Bidlack, mechanical engineering technology, Murrells Inlet, SC, passed away at home on Oct. 4, 2023.
1981
James Rosenberg, ornamental horticulture-floriculture merchandising, Penn Yan, passed away on July 2, 2023, after a long battle with A.L.S.
1982
Daniel Faes, air conditioning engineering technology, Clarence Center, passed away on Sept. 13, 2023, after a courageous 4-year battle with cancer.
1984
Jeffrey Wachob, air conditioning engineering technolgoy, Farmington, passed away suddenly on July 27, 2023, of cardiac arrest.
1993
William Bouton, mechanical engineering technology, Big Flats, passed away on July 22, 2023.
1995
Michael Burgett, automotive service technician, Bradford, PA, passed away on Sept. 30, 2023, after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.
1998
Justin Aguglia, architectural engineering technology, Clay, passed away on July 1, 2023.
1998
Theodore Seeley, human services, Wellsville, passed away on July 26, 2023.
2000
Marcie (Ellis) Gard, electromechanical engineering technology, Fischer, TX, passed away on Oct. 4, 2023, after battling cancer for 13 years.
Faculty, Staff, and Friends
Donald Cameron, retired director of admissions, Alfred Station, passed away on Sept. 27, 2023, following a brief illness.
Susan K. "Sue" Cole, retired staff member, Canisteo, passed away on Aug. 29, 2023, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester after a brief illness.
Harold “Hal” Hackett, retired faculty member, Almond, passed away on Oct. 15, 2023.
Dr. John Hunter, former Alfred State President, Hornell, passed away on Aug. 3, 2023. He was President from 1986 to 1994. The Student Development Center is named in his honor.
Patricia "Pat" Fogarty, college council chair, Belmont, passed away on Aug. 21, 2023. She was one of Alfred State College's biggest advocates and was proud to serve the college in many ways. Her dedication to Alfred State began in 1984 when Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed her to the Alfred State College Council, which she served on until 2001, and chaired from 1993 to 2000. She was reappointed to the Council in 2008, and later that year assumed the position of chair, which she held until stepping aside earlier this year. In addition to her exemplary service on the Council, she was known for her tireless attendance at academic, alumni and athletic events, in addition to many college ceremonies and celebrations. Ms. Fogarty has also been a member of the board of directors of the Educational Foundation of Alfred, Inc., and served on the board of directors of the Alfred State Development Fund. Because of her enthusiastic and unwavering support of the college, she was honored with the Alfred State Outstanding Service Award in 2001 and the Alfred State College President's Medallion in 2012.