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.

Categories Obituaries | 1950-1959Posted on

HOWARD C. DYER JR. ’50

HOWARD C. DYER JR., the retired treasurer and general manager of the New Bedford (Mass.) Storage Warehouse, died Mar. 15, 2006, at age 77. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Among those who survive are his wife, Norma Dalzell Dyer, and a sister.

Categories Obituaries | 1950-1959Posted on

LLOYD CALVERT ’50

LLOYD CALVERT, 77, a retired school superintendent and educational consultant, died Dec. 17, 2004. He received his degree with honors and received advanced degrees from Trinity College and the University of Connecticut. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. During his long career in education, he served as superintendent of schools in Windsor, Trumbull, and West Hartford, Conn. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Brooks Calvert, two sons, and three grandsons.

Categories Obituaries | 1960-1969Posted on

STANLEY D. TABOR ’69

STANLEY D. TABOR, 59, an attorney who was an executive in the healthcare and building materials industries, died Jan. 12, 2007. A member of the Commons Club, he was a barefoot punter for the football team. He received a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and a law degree from the University of Denver. Survivors include his wife, Anna Manis Tabor, three children, his mother, and a sister and brother.

Categories newsmakers | 1940sPosted on

John A. Benson Jr. ’43

John A. Benson Jr. ’43, MD, dean emeritus at Oregon Health & Science University and professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, received the 2010 Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education. Presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the award, their highest, honors Benson’s “extraordinary contributions to the board certification process, medical education, and academic medicine.” Benson, who is known as the modern “father” of the American Board of Internal Medicine, was appointed and served as its first president for 16 years. A gastroenterologist by training, he began what would become a 30-year association with the board in 1961. As an elected member of the board of governors, he helped to approve examinations in new subspecialties, such as nephrology, endocrinology, and hematology, among others. A biology and chemistry major at Wesleyan, he earned his medical degree from Harvard University.
John A. Benson Jr. ’43, MD, dean emeritus at Oregon Health & Science University and professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, received the 2010 Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education. Presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the award, their highest, honors Benson’s “extraordinary contributions to the board certification process, medical education, and academic medicine.” Benson, who is known as the modern “father” of the American Board of Internal Medicine, was appointed and served as its first president for 16 years. A gastroenterologist by training, he began what would become a 30-year association with the board in 1961. As an elected member of the board of governors, he helped to approve examinations in new subspecialties, such as nephrology, endocrinology, and hematology, among others. A biology and chemistry major at Wesleyan, he earned his medical degree from Harvard University.