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