Class Notes

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Two alumns pose under giant polar bear ice sculpture

The 1950s and ’60s featured a Winter Weekend hosted by the junior class, which included all sorts of winter fun.

1981

Tom Litzinger will retire in May 2022 after 37 years of employment at Penn State. He was assistant dean for educational innovation and accreditation and director of the Leonhard Center in the College of Engineering. Posted 2023-03-24
Betty Jo Licata, dean of Williamson College of Administration at Youngstown State University, will retire at the end of the year. She has led the college for more than 26 years. Posted 2021-09-29
Cliff Meiselbach and Elizabeth Katz celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary and have recently relocated to Annapolis, Maryland. Posted 2021-07-16
Dave Larsen
Engineering Dave Larsen has been named a Collins Aerospace Fellow, recognizing his contributions to the company and the aerospace industry at large. Dave is a leader in the advancement of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Systems. He is known for authoring Collins’ common PHM standard work methods, driving cross-BU PHM collaboration, and leading the design and development of PHM-enabling systems and components. Posted 2020-05-19
Science Andy Sands was an editor for the AO Manual of Fracture Management - Foot and Ankle, which was released in Davos December 2019. Posted 2020-05-19
Christine Whittaker was featured in a publication of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) during Women's History Month in March. She is chief of the NIOSH Risk Evaluation Branch in the Education and Information Division. Throughout her career, her focus has been assessing chemical hazards to workers and determining how those hazards can be most effectively mitigated through science policy. Posted 2019-10-01
Valen Johnson was named dean of science at Texas A&M University and holder of the Richard H. Harrison III/External Advisory Council Endowed Dean's Chair in Science. At the time of his appointment, he was University Distinguished Professor of Statistics and head of the Department of Statistics, and was serving as interim dean of Texas A&M Science. Posted 2019-10-01
McNellis
Thomas McNellis, a senior manager at Lockheed Martin, was among the first three honorees inducted into the Weather Hall of Fame. His work led to development of the National Weather Radar Testbed, which advanced the state of the art in tornado detection and warning using adaptive radar scanning, among other breakthroughs. Posted 2019-03-15
Thomas McNellis, a senior manager at Lockheed Martin, was among the first three honorees inducted into the Weather Hall of Fame. His work led to development of the National Weather Radar Testbed, which advanced the state of the art in tornado detection and warning using adaptive radar scanning, among other breakthroughs. Posted 2019-03-15
With deep sorrow I must report that my friend, Mike Pickett, passed away Aug. 21, 2018. A passionate hockey player, he was inducted into the Auburn High School Hall of Fame in 1980. He loved traveling the world with his wife, Terri, and his work as director of global channel sales at Brooks Automation and regional sales director at Innovent Technologies allowed him to travel to more than 25 countries. He loved driving his Miata to Maine beaches, skiing with his daughters and friends, and following his daughters’ softball careers. He will be greatly missed. Posted 2019-03-10
Thomas McNellis, senior manager, advanced programs strategy, for Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, was one of the first three inductees into the Weather Hall of Fame at the National Weather Museum and Science Center in October 2018. His work led to development of the National Weather Radar Testbed, which advanced the state of the art in tornado detection and warning using adaptive radar scanning, and facilitated research for multi-mission phased array, and assimilation of radar data into forecast models. Posted 2019-03-10
I heard that Larry Landon and Jack Colucci got together in Niagara Falls, when Jack was up there for a hockey tournament. I am informed that after 37 years, Jack still has it! He can still make plays! And speaking of Larry Landon, he is the executive director of the PHPA—the Professional Hockey Players Association. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary, and have only had two executive directors. Larry has been in this position since 1993. In celebration, two YouTube videos were made and you can see the great work done by our classmate Larry: www.youtube.com/watchv=DvTVbhMlu4I&t=15s and www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTasoy62Ttw.

What great tributes these are. Lou Lamoriello and the hockey night Canada legend Don Cherry have some great things to say about Larry and the PHPA. This is a true tribute to my friend. Hat’s off to Larry.
Posted 2018-10-10
Engineering Frank Scavo sent news that Gustavo ‘Gus’ Santelli passed away May 15, 2017. His career included two decades at DuPont, and almost 15 years at Lead Time Technology, where he became president and CEO. Posted 2018-10-10
Engineering Cliff Meiselbach (BSME) has retired after a 36-year career at IBM, including positions as CFO of its Greater China Region and its Microelectronics Division. He and his wife, Elizabeth Katz (M.S. Pysch), reside in Fairfield, Conn., and recently celebrated their 35th anniversary while on safari in South Africa. They plan to increase travel and family time, while plotting their next career moves. Posted 2018-10-10
Pat Roohan was named vice president of data management and analytics solutions at MVP Health Care in August. Previously, Pat had a 30-year career at the NYS Department of Health leading quality, patient safety, health information technology, and data system initiatives, most recently as deputy commissioner of health for the Office of Quality and Patient Safety.  Posted 2018-03-15