Wilkes Gets Shot At Scranton's Streak

Alfred Savitsky 
Jan. 17, 1996 
Alfred Savitsky, 71, Of East Fourth Street, Wyoming, Died Wednesday At 
Wilkes-barre General Hospital.

By DARREN STRITZINGER; Special to The Times Leader
 Friday, January 19, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Cameras and smiles flashed Thursday as nearly 100 students
from Wilkes University said goodbye to their alma mater. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The university's annual winter commencement conferred 72 bachelor's degrees
and 25 master's degrees in the Henry Gymnasium in the Arnaud C. Marts Center
on South Franklin Street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Most good things in life come from disciplined effort and staying power.
Whatever your precise academic interests and professional acquirements as a
result of your Wilkes education, your degree is a significant accomplishment
in and of itself," said university President Christopher N. Breiseth. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dr. Thomas C. Check, a 1950 Wilkes graduate, and Vincent G. Sortino were
awarded honorary doctorate degrees. Check, a Wilkes-Barre native, began a
dental clinic in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1962, serving 600 children at the Alpha
Orphanage. The children were receiving no dental care and would have lost most
of their teeth by age 20. He now practices dentistry in Norristown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sortino, a native of New York City, is vice president of Nabisco's
Wilkes-Barre Financial Services operations. He served as chairman of the
Business Education Council of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Partnership, bringing
school officials and college presidents together with business leaders to
reform the city's educational systems. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Professor Bradford L. Kinney, chairman of Wilkes' Communications
Department, addressed the graduates, comparing them to David, the Biblical
figure who defeated Goliath. He also offered inspiration for the years ahead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "In four short years, we will be at the beginning of a new millennium, but
your millennium will begin in 20 minutes," Kinney said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For some students, graduation couldn't come soon enough. Business
administration graduate Philip J. Calabro, Jr., 46, a production supervisor
for Tredegar Industries in Carbondale and father of four, expressed his joy at
his achievement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I didn't think this day would ever get here, but I'm happy that it has,"
Calabro said. "I wanted to finish my degree before I died." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following students received bachelor of arts degrees : Igor Kleyman,
Kingston, biology; Mary Beth Gillespie, Wyoming, communications; Raymond C.
Monzon, Hialeah, communications; Jodi E. Nammar, Pittston, communications;
Eric J. Nelson, Bay Shore, communications; Jon M. Dietrick, Pittston, English;
Timothy S. Williams, Laflin, English; Michael J. Sabatella, Dunmore, history;
Stanley J. Solarczyk, Edwardsville, history; Alex K. Lindgren, Shavertown,
Kingston Township, philosophy; Charlotte B. Raup, Wilkes-Barre, philosophy;
Jason C. Parise, Carbondale, political science; Claudia Zain, Wilkes-Barre,
political science; Sandra L. Brown, East Stroudsburg, psychology; Francine
Caporali, Carbondale, psychology; Julie A. Crawford, Binghamton, psychology;
Diana Drozdis, Wilkes-Barre, psychology; Keith D. Fox, Northampton,
psychology; Carole Ann M. Gerchak, Tunkhannock, psychology; Linda R. Harvey,
Harveys Lake, psychology; Jill Hughson, Millrift, psychology; Nicole C. Mack,
Kingston, psychology; Maryellen McDonald, Dallas, psychology; Scott R.
Minkoff, King of Prussia, psychology; Ann M. Myers, Tunkhannock, psychology;
Amy R. Peacock, Hatboro, psychology; Karen A. Ruduski, Endicott, psychology;
Gia M. Serino, Pittston, psychology; Eileen E. Tamanini, Trucksville, Kingston
Township, psychology; Robin M. Waters, Tafton, psychology; Lynne M. Wright,
Carbondale, psychology; David L. Obal, Denver, sociology; and Jo A. Singer,
Scranton, sociology. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following were awarded bachelor of business administration degrees :
David D. Bruno, West Pittston, business administration; Philip J. Calabro,
Forest City, business administration; Maureen E. Gaughan, Scranton, business
administration; and Christopher L. Johnson, Bedminster, business
administration. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following graduates received bachelor of music degrees: William
Bratten, Wilkes Barre, music; Lev Garbar, Wilkes-Barre, music; and Bradley J.
Timbrell, Berwick, music. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following received bachelor of science degrees: Gail A. Cupani,
Altamonte Springs, accounting; William R. Keiderling, Pittston, accounting;
Robert K. Oley, Dallas, accounting; Eric Bercarich, Sparta, business
administration; Kimberly B. Carr, Clarks Summit, business administration;
Debora M. Hill, Factoryville, business administration; Judith A. Hollenbeck,
Olyphant, business administration; Anthony M. Mallon, Gambrills, business
administration; Erika Obser, Quogue, business administration; Stephanie
Sciandra, West Pittston, business administration; Joel C. Smith, Wilkes-Barre,
business administration; Paul A. Summa, Dunmore, business administration;
Charles Rowe Swientisky, Dalton, business administration; Corinne M. Thomas,
Wilkes-Barre, business administration; Joseph S. Antonishak, Wilkes-Barre,
biology; Eric J. Dotzel, Wilkes Barre, biology; Jay K. Franus, Scranton,
biochemistry; Donna A. Silinski, Plymouth, biochemistry; Kerrin E. Pantucci,
Nanticoke, computer information systems; Richard E. Schiavo, Dunmore, computer
information systems; Jennifer Trapane, Wilkes-Barre, computer information
systems; Betsy J. Maines, Wilkes-Barre, computer science; Lawrence Roman,
Nanticoke, computer science; Viet Bao Huynh, Green Belt, electrical
engineering; Joseph L. Balay, Hazleton, environmental engineering; Jeffrey J.
Gocek, Plains Township, environmental engineering; Christopher Langley,
Lakehurst, environmental engineering; Marny K. Mead, Tunkhannock, earth and
environmental sciences; Brenda A. Ragni, Moosic, earth and environmental
sciences; Gregory P. Parrs, Wilkes-Barre, engineering management; and Stefanie
Weinstock, Pittston, nursing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following graduates received master of business administration degrees
: Elizabeth Y. Anders, Austin; Cynthia Elizabeth Brown, Wilkes-Barre; Edward
F. Cywinski, Wilkes-Barre; Lisa L. Holak, Nanticoke; Richard Hudock, Hazleton;
John J. Julius, Washington, D.C. Terence P. Kevett, Mountaintop; Charlene T.
Klynowsky, Weatherly; Edward C. McGinnis, Dumont; Erin Ann McHale, Pittston;
Britt W. Mowery, Nescopeck; John J. Mulhern, Swoyersville; Linda G.
Oberrender, Freeland; Joseph T. Racho, Conyngham; Deborah K. Ruggere,
Wilkes-Barre; Susan M. Searfoss, Conyngham; and Richard D. Wisniewski,
Larksville. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The following graduates received master of science degrees : Debra L.
Peters, Nashua, education; Cindy Shaner, Hughesville, education; Linda C.
Palamone, Chambersburg, education; Neil Andres, Kingston, physics; Michaline
A. Grzymski, Mocanaqua, education; Holly C. Baranick, Wilkes-Barre, education;
Amy Beth Clark-Grubb, Harrisburg, education; and Steven Daniel Distasio,
Blakeslee, education. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/RICHARD SABATURA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes University students Julie Crawford of Binghamton, N.Y., left, and
Nicole Mack, Kingston, earned bachelor of arts degrees in psychology.
Commencement was Thursday's in Henry Gymnasium in the Arnaud C. Marts Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wilkes Honors Winter Graduates University Hands Out 72 Bachelor's Degrees And 25 Master's Degrees