Author: Leslie Egbo

Categories newsmakers | 1980sPosted on

Will Hobert ’85, John Gannon ’86

Former Wesleyan hockey teammates Will Hobert ’85 and John Gannon ’86 were executive producers of In the Crease, a documentary film that is the first to take an inside look at the world of youth sports and their impact on kids and families. The film chronicles an underdog California hockey team’s pursuit of a national championship and also co-stars 15 of the National Hockey League’s biggest names, who share their own early playing experiences. In the Crease has topped Amazon’s bestseller lists in both the US and Canada as the #1 sports DVD. It was directed/produced by Matt Gannon ’91, and co-produced by Sarah Killough-Dhar ’88 and Stephen Gannon ’88. The film was screened at the Boston Film Festival in September. Check out the trailer at www.InTheCreaseMovie.com.
Former Wesleyan hockey teammates Will Hobert ’85 and John Gannon ’86 were executive producers of In the Crease, a documentary film that is the first to take an inside look at the world of youth sports and their impact on kids and families. The film chronicles an underdog California hockey team’s pursuit of a national championship and also co-stars 15 of the National Hockey League’s biggest names, who share their own early playing experiences. In the Crease has topped Amazon’s bestseller lists in both the US and Canada as the #1 sports DVD. It was directed/produced by Matt Gannon ’91, and co-produced by Sarah Killough-Dhar ’88 and Stephen Gannon ’88. The film was screened at the Boston Film Festival in September. Check out the trailer at www.InTheCreaseMovie.com.
Categories newsmakers | 1950sPosted on

Edmund Sonnenblick ’54

Edmund Sonnenblick ’54, MD, received the Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for his lifetime contributions to cardiovascular science and medicine. A chemistry major, summa cum laude, who earned his medical degree with honors from Harvard University, he is the Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He is the author of nearly 700 papers reporting on his field-related research and has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals. Among his greatest contributions to the field of cardiology was the application of muscle mechanics to evaluation of cardiac performance, now central to clinical practice in measuring cardiac function throughout the world.
Edmund Sonnenblick ’54, MD, received the Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for his lifetime contributions to cardiovascular science and medicine. A chemistry major, summa cum laude, who earned his medical degree with honors from Harvard University, he is the Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He is the author of nearly 700 papers reporting on his field-related research and has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals. Among his greatest contributions to the field of cardiology was the application of muscle mechanics to evaluation of cardiac performance, now central to clinical practice in measuring cardiac function throughout the world.
Categories newsmakers | 1960sPosted on

Hugh Wilson ’65

Hugh Wilson ’65 has recently received the Helmholtz Award from the International Neural Network Society for his neural network studies of sensation and perception. A chemistry major while at Wesleyan, Wilson further pursued his education with a PhD in chemical physics at the University of Chicago and then spent more than 25 years as a professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Science department at the University of Chicago, before moving in 2000 to York University in Toronto. A widely published researcher, Wilson is now associate director of the York Centre for Vision Research.
Hugh Wilson ’65 has recently received the Helmholtz Award from the International Neural Network Society for his neural network studies of sensation and perception. A chemistry major while at Wesleyan, Wilson further pursued his education with a PhD in chemical physics at the University of Chicago and then spent more than 25 years as a professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Science department at the University of Chicago, before moving in 2000 to York University in Toronto. A widely published researcher, Wilson is now associate director of the York Centre for Vision Research.
Categories newsmakers | 2000sPosted on

Meeth Soni ’01

Meeth Soni ’01 and her companions on the mock trial team at American University’s Washington College of Law made it to the finals of the 16th Annual Cathy Bennett National Criminal Trial Competition, held in Boston last fall. The competition, sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is one of the most prestigious, with law schools participating by invitation only. This was the first year that Washington College of Law received an invitation, making their final standing particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the judges specifically commended them for their excellent work throughout the competition and for placing second overall. She is a graduate of Wesleyan’s College of Social Studies.
Meeth Soni ’01 and her companions on the mock trial team at American University’s Washington College of Law made it to the finals of the 16th Annual Cathy Bennett National Criminal Trial Competition, held in Boston last fall. The competition, sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is one of the most prestigious, with law schools participating by invitation only. This was the first year that Washington College of Law received an invitation, making their final standing particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the judges specifically commended them for their excellent work throughout the competition and for placing second overall. She is a graduate of Wesleyan’s College of Social Studies.
Categories newsmakers | 1970sPosted on

Norma J. Williams ’74

Norma J. Williams ’74 has been named the chair of the real property section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Williams has been a member of the executive committee of the section since 1993 and an officer since 2002. Her law firm, Williams & Associates, represents institutional real estate clients in transactions involving the financing, leasing and purchase and sale of commercial real estate. She majored in American Studies at Wesleyan and later received her law degree from UC, Berkeley.
Norma J. Williams ’74 has been named the chair of the real property section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Williams has been a member of the executive committee of the section since 1993 and an officer since 2002. Her law firm, Williams & Associates, represents institutional real estate clients in transactions involving the financing, leasing and purchase and sale of commercial real estate. She majored in American Studies at Wesleyan and later received her law degree from UC, Berkeley.
Categories newsmakers | 1990sPosted on

Steve Roslonek ’93

Steve Roslonek ’93 received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Marvelous Day! (Rounder Records, 2006), which they named one of the best CDs of 2006 for this “sprightly collection of 16 tunes that range from funky rock to ska to flute-y folk and power pop, all of which invite sing-along participation.” After majoring in economics at Wesleyan, Roslonek discovered his passion for writing children’s music and has been entertaining kids with his clever lyrics and catchy tunes ever since. In January, the Wesleyan Clubs of Connecticut invited Roslonek to return for the fourth annual SteveSongs concert in Crowell Concert Hall. Find further information at Stevesongs.com.
Steve Roslonek ’93 received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Marvelous Day! (Rounder Records, 2006), which they named one of the best CDs of 2006 for this “sprightly collection of 16 tunes that range from funky rock to ska to flute-y folk and power pop, all of which invite sing-along participation.” After majoring in economics at Wesleyan, Roslonek discovered his passion for writing children’s music and has been entertaining kids with his clever lyrics and catchy tunes ever since. In January, the Wesleyan Clubs of Connecticut invited Roslonek to return for the fourth annual SteveSongs concert in Crowell Concert Hall. Find further information at Stevesongs.com.
Categories newsmakers | 1950sPosted on

Dr. William J. Richards ’58

Dr. William J. Richards ’58 recently completed a two-volume work, Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes, a project 15 years in the making. He produced the books for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for which he serves as senior scientist at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami. Early Stages includes detailed descriptions and over 2,500 illustrations of fish in the waters between Hatteras and the equator, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A self-described “farm boy from Pennsylvania,” he said that he had never even seen the ocean before coming to Wesleyan. He became interested in ichthyology, the study of fish, while taking a biology course with an assistant professor named Rudy Haffner. After graduating from Wesleyan with a biology major, he pursued his interest in fish while earning a master's degree in biology from Syracuse University and a doctorate from Cornell.
Dr. William J. Richards ’58 recently completed a two-volume work, Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes, a project 15 years in the making. He produced the books for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for which he serves as senior scientist at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami. Early Stages includes detailed descriptions and over 2,500 illustrations of fish in the waters between Hatteras and the equator, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A self-described “farm boy from Pennsylvania,” he said that he had never even seen the ocean before coming to Wesleyan. He became interested in ichthyology, the study of fish, while taking a biology course with an assistant professor named Rudy Haffner. After graduating from Wesleyan with a biology major, he pursued his interest in fish while earning a master’s degree in biology from Syracuse University and a doctorate from Cornell.
Categories newsmakers | 1980sPosted on

Melissa Stern ’80

Melissa Stern ’80 had a collection of her drawings featured at Wesleyan’s Zilkha Gallery this fall, in a show, Loose Lips, which opened Sept. 8, 2006. Her recent sculpture installation “Birdland” was exhibited at the David Lusk Gallery in Memphis, Tenn., where the art critic for the Memphis Commercial Appeal described her work as “clever, engaging, impressive, and intriguing.” After majoring in anthropology and art at Wesleyan, Stern earned her master’s in fine arts at SUNY, New Paltz. She currently works from her loft in New York City, which she shares with husband Jim Friedlich ’79.
Melissa Stern ’80 had a collection of her drawings featured at Wesleyan’s Zilkha Gallery this fall, in a show, Loose Lips, which opened Sept. 8, 2006. Her recent sculpture installation “Birdland” was exhibited at the David Lusk Gallery in Memphis, Tenn., where the art critic for the Memphis Commercial Appeal described her work as “clever, engaging, impressive, and intriguing.” After majoring in anthropology and art at Wesleyan, Stern earned her master’s in fine arts at SUNY, New Paltz. She currently works from her loft in New York City, which she shares with husband Jim Friedlich ’79.
Categories newsmakers | 1970sPosted on

Katherine O’Brien ’75

Katherine O'Brien '75 was appointed vice president and chief diversity officer at New York Life Insurance Company, overseeing the implementation of best practices in the recruitment and training of a diverse workforce and the maintenance of an environment of inclusion. She joined New York Life in 1995 as a litigator and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently she was with human resources, managing benefits compliance and administration. Previously, she worked with several law firms in New York in general commercial litigation. An English major as an undergraduate, she holds a J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Katherine O’Brien ’75 was appointed vice president and chief diversity officer at New York Life Insurance Company, overseeing the implementation of best practices in the recruitment and training of a diverse workforce and the maintenance of an environment of inclusion. She joined New York Life in 1995 as a litigator and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently she was with human resources, managing benefits compliance and administration. Previously, she worked with several law firms in New York in general commercial litigation. An English major as an undergraduate, she holds a J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School.

 

Categories Obituaries | 1950-1959Posted on

CHESTER J. DZIALO ’50

CHESTER J. DZIALO, a retired attorney and the co–founder of the Middletown, Conn., law firm of Dzialo, Pickett & Allen, P.C., died Mar. 16, 2010. He was 85. A member of Sigma Nu, he received his law degree from Catholic University of America. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army and landed on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion on D–Day. He served on numerous boards in the Middletown area. Predeceased by both of his wives, Doris Griskhkat Dzialo and Barbara Jackson Dzialo, he is survived by eight nieces and nephews, two stepchildren, and several special friends.