Return to Newsletter • Inaugural Edition - March 2008

Class Notes

1963

Steve Haar (B.B.A.) of Bayville, NY, retired as vice president of Handy Store Fixtures almost three years ago, having been with the company for over 35 years. Steve and his wife Mary Ann, whom he met at a Theta Kappa fraternity house party while at Hofstra, just celebrated their 43rd anniversary with their son and two daughters, two of whom received degrees at Hofstra. Steve serves on the board of directors for the United States Tennis Association on Long Island, is affiliated with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, and is a certified instructor with an active program for kids and adults. He participates in the Long Island Senior Games each year in golf, tennis and racquetball, is a political activist, manages investments, and takes college courses periodically. He is also a volunteer with the Hofstra CAAN program, and a member of the Hofstra Pride Club…

1966

Terence E. Smolev (B.B.A.) of Roslyn, NY, has been elected to the board of trustees of Dowling College, located in Oakdale, NY. Attorney Smolev is a partner at the Mineola-based law firm Forchelli, Curto, Schwartz, Mineo, Carlino & Cohn, LLP…

1968

Paul J. Flora (B.S.) of Massapequa Park, NY, a senior vice president and auditor for AXA Financial Inc., has been named Princeton Premiers Honored Member in Business. He is a reunion co-chair for the class of 1968…Kenneth Kuscher (B.B.A.) of Boynton Beach, FL, has been selected by the U.S. Army to serve on the Philip A. Connelly Awards Committee which inspects U.S. Army foodservice facilities all over the world to select the top operation of that branch of military. He was the only civilian chosen to be part of this special committee of three experts…

1969

Martin Press (B.B.A.) of Fort Lauderdale, FL, was recognized by Chambers USA 2007 as a top lawyer amongst those practicing in the area of tax-related issues. He has also been named one of the top taxation lawyers for South Florida…

1972

Kenneth J. Witkin (B.A.) of Brookline, MA, has been named president and chief executive officer of CBRE Realty Finance Inc.…

1973

Robert O. Mayer (B.B.A.) of Woodbury, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Accounting." Mr. Mayer, CPA, is managing partner at Mayer & Company LLP, a full service certified public accounting firm with offices in Woodbury, Westhampton Beach and New York City…

1974

Howard Dewey (B.B.A.) of Huntington Bay, NY, is currently employed as senior vice president and chief financial officer for the Institute for Community Living. The Institute for Community Living is the largest provider of services for the mentally ill in New York City. Mr. Dewey and his wife, Tracy, recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary and are expecting their first grandchild in January…Daniel T. Henry (M.B.A.) of Rockville Centre, NY, has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of American Express. He will be responsible for leading the company's finance organization and representing American Express to investors, lenders, and rating agencies…Wayne Hoeberlein (B.B.A., J.D. '77) of Washington, DC, has joined UHY Advisors FLVS, Inc. as managing director in the firm's New York office. He will serve as the practice leader for the firm's litigation services practice in New York City and is the latest experienced litigation consultant to join UHY Advisors' growing team of professionals providing consulting services related to investigations, disputes and litigation…Warren Meierdiercks (B.B.A) of Seaford, NY, is the superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District…

1975

Daryl Jo Greenwald (B.B.A.) of Brookhaven, NY, had her poem, "Mary Magdalene's Beloved Fable," published in Concert magazine…Ronald LaSerra (B.B.A., M.B.A. '77) of Farmingville, NY, has been appointed a financial services representative /investment advisors representative with North Shore Financial Group, an office of MetLife in Hauppauge, NY…

1976

Frederick C. Johs (B.B.A.) of Melville, NY, is one of the founding partners of Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles LLP with offices in Melville, Riverhead and New York City. He serves as senior trial partner in all areas of litigation…

1977

Sal Gervasi (B.B.A.) of Massapequa, NY, a former district manager of Administaff's New York office, has been named district manager of the company's new Long Island office in Melville…John S. Hodgson (M.B.A.) of Tempe, AZ, is chief financial officer of Syntax-Brillian Corporation, a manufacturer and marketer of LCD and LCoS™ HDTVs and digital entertainment products…

1979

Debra N. Oster (B.B.A.) of Oceanside, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." Ms. Oster, CPA, is director of tax compliance at Margolin, Winer & Evans LLP in Garden City, NY…

1980

Diane Lazuta (M.B.A.) of Freeport, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Banking". Ms. Lazuta is regional manager for Citibank's 78 Financial Centers on Long Island…Ilene Schuss (B.B.A, M.S.Ed. '04, ADVCRT '07) of Oceanside, NY, attended Hofstra's Summer Certificate program to extend her NY State Mathematics teaching license into grades 5-6. She has been helping local area alumni connect to Hofstra as Planning and Events Coordinator of the Nassau Alumni Chapter and as Executive Council representative for the SOEAHS Alumni Association. She has been on a quest to encourage local area alumni to provide updated emails to Hofstra so they can hear about exciting events happening on campus. Ilene currently is teaching Mathematics at Lynbrook High School…

1981

Lawrence Byrne (B.A.) of Pelham, NY, is a litigation partner at the international law firm, Linklaters LLP, and has been named the co-managing partner-U.S., of Linklaters' New York office where he is also the head of the litigation department…Jerome Nevitt (B.B.A.) of Freeport, NY, is celebrating twenty years of marriage, with two daughters, 13 and 18 years old. He works as a computer technician…Julio A. Portalatin (B.B.A.) of Princeton Junction, NJ, has been promoted to president of AIG Europe, S.A., and president of AIUs Continental European Region, based in Paris. He has served as president of the AIU Accident and Health Division since 2002…Joseph M. Salvator (B.B.A.) of Lake Grove, NY, is a partner at Biscotti, Toback & Company in Rockville Centre. He was featured in "Who's Who in Forensic Accounting" for his integrity as an auditor and his expertise in finance…

1982

Diane Giordano (B.B.A.) of Farmingdale, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." Ms. Giordano, CPA, CFP is a senior tax manager at Marcum & Kliegman's Melville office…

1983

Thomas J. Clarke (M.B.A.) of Bridgewater, NJ, was elected director of LiveDeal, Inc., the nation's first combined local online classifieds and Yellow Pages marketplace. Mr. Clarke was recently featured in the 2007 Silicon Alley annual list of the 100 most influential folks in New York digital business, ranking 26 out of 100…

1984

Michael Lang (B.B.A.) of Hauppauge, NY, joined the firm Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Company LLP, Certified Public Accountants and Profitability Consultant, as a principal. Mr. Lang has been providing auditing, accounting, tax, and consulting services for over twenty-three years……Kathryn Marinello (M.B.A.) of Minneapolis, MN, has been elected to the General Motors Corp. Board of Directors…

1985

Robert Ballan (B.B.A.) of Incline Village, NV, is founder and CIO of RB Capital Management LLC, a money management firm with over $150 million in assets under management…Steve Bartels (B.B.A.) of Riverside, CT was promoted to president/COO, Island Def Jam Music Group…Karen Parrish-Deesing (M.B.A.) of Babylon, NY, is proud to announce that her daughter, Tracey Lee, is currently a sophomore at Villanova School of Business in PA and that her son, Francis James, is currently a freshman at Saint Francis University, also in PA, majoring in management…

1986

Robert Cirabisi (B.B.A.) of Commack, NY, has been named chief risk officer and interim head of internal audit at CA, Inc…

1987

Lisa M. Ricciardi (B.B.A.) of Massapequa, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." Ms. Ricciardi CPA, DABFE, DABFA, is a partner at Armao, Costo & Ricciardi, CPAs PC; with offices in Valley Stream, NY, New York City, and Greenwich, CT…

1988

Karen Amato (B.B.A.) of Syosset, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." Ms. Amato is an audit partner in KPMG LLP's assurance practice on Melville, NY… Eileen Nolan (M.B.A.) of Farmingdale, NY, was featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Banking" for recently joining the Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) in Westbury as senior vice president, marketing and community relations…Dawn Walker (B.B.A.) of Mooresville, NC, received her M.A.Ed. in June and is employed as a fifth grade teacher at Mount Mourne Elementary School in Mooresville NC…Deborah Brown-Volkman (B.B.A.) of East Moriches, NY, has published her fifth book, How to Feel Great at Work Every Day. Deborah is a professionally certified coach, motivational speaker, and the president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. She provides career coaching for senior executives, vice presidents and managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seeking to become more productive in their current roles…

1989

Eric Goldstein (B.B.A.) of Sandy Hook, CT, and his sister Joelle Goldstein Cohn (B.B.A. '91) of Charlotte, NC, have started a company called Sporty Minds. They have developed a DVD targeted to children ages two and up that teach children their ABC's through sports imagery. To learn more about Sporty Minds, visit www.sportyminds.com…

1991

Augusto Esclusa (B.B.A.) of Coconut Grove, FL, is vice president of multi-cultural marketing at Citi One Bank…Joelle Goldstein Cohn (B.B.A.) of Charlotte, NC, and her brother Eric Goldstein (B.B.A. '89) of Sandy Hook, CT, have started a company called Sporty Minds. They have developed a DVD targeted to children ages two and up that teach children their ABC's through sports imagery. To learn more about Sporty Minds, visit www.sportyminds.com...

1992

Jeffrey Barber (M.B.A.) of Plainview, NY, was promoted to senior vice president/team leader in the State Bancorp Commercial Lending Division…Curtis Barnhill (B.B.A.) of Selden, NY is now the managing director of SMART Business Advisory and Consulting LLC's New York firm…Thomas Hanik (B.B.A.) of Farmingdale, NY, was featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Title Insurance." Mr. Hanik is senior title consultant at CLE Abstract in Amityville, NY… Michael Minars (B.B.A.) of Massapequa, NY, has been named a chair on Logicworks independent advisory board of select business leaders. Mr. Minars is the chief financial officer of Millennium Technology Ventures. He is responsible for all of the financial operations, accounting procedures, and reporting functions as well as structuring transactions, monitoring portfolio company performance and performing financial diligence…Namira Salim (B.B.A.) of Southern France is poised to become the first Pakistani woman astronaut, having successfully completed her space flight training at a facility in the U.S. ahead of blasting off into space in the world's first commercial space liner, Virgin Galactic, in 2009. She was Hofstra's Alumna of the Month in March 2008…Daniel Sheinwald (B.S.) of Marlboro, NJ, is now the senior vice president of business development for ExpertPlan…Matthew J. Shelhorse (M.B.A.) of Huntington, NY, is a director in PricewaterhouseCoopers' Investigations & Forensic Services Practice in Melville. He has been featured in Who's Who in Forensic Accounting for providing accounting, financial, operational and investigative expertise to attorneys, corporate clients, individuals and governmental agencies assisting them in a variety of matters including the investigation of embezzlement, misappropriation of assets, FCPA violations, contractual disputes and money laundering as well as the performance of risk assessments, royalty audits, arbitrations and purchase price disputes…

1993

Carlo Gambale (B.B.A.) of Commack, NY, is a partner in Computer Information Solutions Firm, Nextlevel Information Solutions in Lido Beach. He is a partial owner of a large recording studio and music venue, 3MB Recording Studies, in Smithtown, New York. He is married to Tanya Schulte (B.B.A. '95). They have two children; Hayley and Christopher…

1994

Arisleyda Maldonado (M.B.A.) of Glen Cove, NY, serves on Merrill Lynch's Diversity Council for the Long Island region…Michael McCreesh (B.B.A.) of Southport, CT, has been named "hero father" by Best Life Magazine for his passion and commitment to his family and especially for his dedication to his son, Brent…

1995

Carrie Quinn (M.B.A.) of East Northport, NY, has been featured in Long Island Business News "Who's Who in Women in Professional Services." Ms. Quinn is a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP…Gregory T. Rinckey (B.B.A.) of Albany, NY, the managing partner of Tully, Rinckey & Associates, writes a syndicated column for the Federal Times, "Ask the Lawyer," which focuses on topics including employment law, federal procurement law, and general litigation…Seth Weingarten (B.B.A.) of Fanwood, NJ, was recently promoted to vice president of network technology at National Cable Communications. Seth resides in New Jersey with his wife, Karyn (B.A. '96, J.D. '99), and their two children, Lillian Rose and Perry Michael…

1996

David Scileppi (B.B.A.) of Plantation, FL, is a corporate and securities attorney at Gunster, Yoakley, and Stewart where he recently handled the multifaceted mergers and acquisitions, securities, and bank regulatory issues regarding the Gunster Yoakley Corporate Team representation in the First United Bank and Equitable Bank merger. In addition to serving as president of Hofstra's South Florida Alumni Chapter, he is also a co-founder of Orbis, a new organization that has emerged for young professionals to develop their personal and business relationships while helping build an energetic South Florida…

1998

Jeremy Wolk (J.D. /M.B.A) of Mineola, NY, joined the Rochester office of Nixon Peabody LLP as an associate in the firm's Private Company Transactions Group where he represents clients in matters including contract negotiations, corporate acquisitions, securities requirements and operational agreements …

2004

Adam Cantiello (B.B.A.) of Oakdale, NY, is a financial and investment advisor with Goodman Financial Group, MetLife. He works with businesses of all sizes designing and implementing employee benefit programs…Michael T. Hanley (B.B.A.) of Kings Park, NY is the managing partner of Merl & Hanley, LLP, and has been elected president of the Irish Business Network, an organization of 120 Irish business owners and financial professionals from Suffolk County. The Irish Business Network strives to assure progressive, orderly community development; support effective government at all levels, and maintains a good climate for a sound expanding economy. Mr. Hanley was recently named "One To Watch" in the field of accounting by Long Island Business News…

2007

Christopher Franks (B.B.A.) of Long Beach, NY, is currently working for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street, managing documentation on large financial transactions…

New Arrivals:

Bella Grace born to Brendan (B.A. '98) and Gina (Recine) Andersen (B.B.A. '99), and big brother, Nicholas Joseph
Mitchell Joseph born to David (B.B.A. '87) and Laurie Coleman, and big sisters, Brenna, 4, and Meghan, 2
Matthew Daniel born to Karen (McNeil) Fantini (B.B.A. '93, M.B.A. '96) and Paul Fantini (B.A. '96) and big brother, Joey
Daniel Ryan born to David (B.B.A. '02) and Alyson (Mittleberg) Gass (B.A. '02, M.A. '04)
Reilly Benjamin and Joshua Hayden born to Douglas (B.B.A. '90) and Beth Moini
Dylan Richard born to Steven (B.B.A. '03) and Nicole Van Bochoven.
Adriana Delainey born to Anthony (B.S. '98) and Danielle (Kolb) Willis (B.B.A. '98)

Marriages:

David E. Ellis (B.B.A. '04) and Noreen E. Gass (B.A. '04)

In Memoriam:

George Asseng (B.B.A '57, M.B.A. '61)
Richard Eugene Ast (B.B.A. '52)
Louis Auricchio (B.B.A. '59)
William Beckert (M.B.A.'58)
Thomas J. Finneran (B.B.A. '65)
Leonard Franck (B.B.A. '60)
William J. Gray Jr. (B.B.A. '63)
Richard Haas (M.B.A. '75)
Arthur Haje (B.B.A. '65)
Robin Kugelman Holstein (B.B.A. '85)
Roger Kendall (B.B.A. '64)
Hervey Kimball (B.B.A. '55)
Seymour Kulick (B.B.A. '60)
Walter J. Luger (B.B.A. '65)
Eugene McAuliffe (B.B.A. '67)
Raymond J. Moran (B.B.A. '72)
Ashirah Naphtali (J.D.M.B.A. '83, M.B.A. '84)
Victoria Rogers (B.B.A. '96)
William Rothaug (B.B.A. '62)
Stanley Shurpin (B.B.A. '65)
Gary Steinsmith (B.B.A. '79)
Raymond Strauber (B.S. '52, M.B.A '53)
Harold Joseph Sullivan (B.B.A. '66, M.S.Ed. '67)
Anthony Todaro (B.B.A. '05)
Stanley J. Upbin (B.B.A. '56)
Walter R. Wendel (B.B.A. '69)

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