In Memoriam

inmemoriam1940s

Mary L. Roessing ’47, Altoona—August 25, 2016—retired cardiology technician.

James E. ‘Jim’ Davidson ’48, Altoona—August 19, 2016—retired professional engineer, U.S. Army veteran.

Peg Smith (front) with children, Thomas R. Smith and Dr. Margaret E. “Peggy” Smith, at the dedication of the Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center, 2010.

Peg Smith (front) with children, Thomas R. Smith and Dr. Margaret E. “Peggy” Smith, at the dedication of the Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center, 2010.

Margaret McCartney Smith ’48

Margaret Augusta “Peg” McCartney Smith, a former Penn State Altoona teaching assistant and longtime supporter and friend of the college, passed away August 30, 2016, at the Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg. She was born in Huntingdon, PA, daughter of the late Clifford and Cora McCartney.

Peg was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert L. “Bob” Smith, who retired from Penn State Altoona in 1983 as associate director emeritus and holds the distinction of being the first employee of the Altoona Undergraduate Center when he was hired in 1939. Surviving are the couple’s two children, Thomas R. Smith, of Hollidaysburg, and Dr. Margaret E. “Peggy” Smith, of State College.

A 1948 Penn State graduate, Peg maintained an active association with our college through various forms of service. After her marriage to Bob in 1948, Peg became an active participant in Penn State Altoona events, activities, and programs. Regarded as Altoona’s “Poet Laureate”, Peg’s poetry has appeared in numerous publications. Peg was inducted into the Blair County Arts Hall of Fame in 2007 in the Literary Arts category. A retired school teacher and author of the book The Railroad Revisited, Peg dedicated her life to teaching and learning. Through her philanthropy and volunteerism, she enhanced the educational experiences of countless students at Penn State Altoona.

In 2010, Peg and her children made a gift to name the Learning Resources Center at Penn State Altoona—the Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center—to honor the life of her husband and their father.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Robert L. and Margaret A. Smith Scholarship at Penn State Altoona. For more information, please contact N. Susan Woodring at 814-949-5104.

1950s

Charles Edward Kessler ’51, Clermont, Florida—October 10, 2016—World War II veteran.

The Rev. Dean Earl Rupe ’51, Lewistown, Pennsylvania—October 19, 2016—retired pastor and U.S. Army and Air Force veteran.

Bernard Allen Martz, Jr. ’52, Mountain Top, Pennsylvania—April 28, 2016—retired engineer.

Robert William “Bill” Perry ’53, Altoona—July 31, 2016—retired civil engineer.

Sue A. Reading ’55, Hermitage, Pennsylvania—October 29, 2016—retired social worker and former teacher.

Herman J. Kessler ’56, Altoona—June 19, 2016—retired railroad worker, and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

Donald W. McGraw ’56, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania—June 12, 2016—retired engineer, and U.S. Army veteran.

Henry H. ‘Ace’ Evey ’57, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—December 31, 2015—retired.

John M. Luther ’58, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania—January 20, 2016—retired.

Faber C. Weakland ’58, Duncansville, Pennsylvania—October 22, 2016—self-employed owner of Allegheny Supply & Maintenance Company, of Altoona, since 1972.

1960s

John Boyd Martin’61, Altoona—May 2, 2016—retired.

Louisa Joyce Marshall ’62, Altoona—May 9, 2016—retired faculty member, Penn State Altoona.

Joseph A. Swayne ’63, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania—March 23, 2016—retired teacher.

Laura Grace Gunnett ’64, resident of Homewood at Martinsburg, formerly of Clappertown, rural Martinsburg—December 22, 2015—retired.

Ruby J. Griffith ’66, ’72g, Altoona—August 2, 2016—retired teacher.

Helen Christodoulos at the dedication of the Adam and Mary Christodoulos Gazebo, 2006.

Helen Christodoulos at the dedication of the Adam and Mary Christodoulos Gazebo, 2006.

Helen M. Christodoulos ’68, ’71g

Helen Christodoulos, an alumna of Penn State and Penn State Altoona, passed away on September 18, 2016. Helen was a resident of Garvey Manor Nursing Home in Hollidaysburg and previously lived in Altoona. She was the daughter of the late Adam and Mary (Khoury) Christodoulos. Surviving are a brother, Dr. Charles Crist, of St. Petersburg, FL, and many nieces and nephews.

Helen retired as an elementary school teacher from the Altoona Area School District in 1993, after twenty-eight years of service. A member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox and St. George Orthodox churches, she was actively involved with various organizations in Blair County, including the Altoona Symphony League and the Hollidaysburg YMCA. In 2005, she received the Altoona YMCA Humanitarian/Volunteer Award.

In 2006, Penn State Altoona dedicated the Adam and Mary Christodoulos Gazebo in memory of her parents. Adam and Mary Christodoulos were immigrants from Cyprus and Lebanon, respectively, and came to the United States to achieve “The American Dream.” Helen was inducted into Penn State Altoona’s donor recognition society, Ivyside Society, and served as a member of the college’s Alumni Society. She was also second vice president on the original Altoona Campus Alumni Board in 1958.

Pamela K. Smith ’68, State College, Pennsylvania—April 11, 2016.

1970s

Andrew J. Balkavich ’70, Palm Springs, California—March 1, 2016—retired.

Thomas R. Klevan ’70g

Thomas R. Klevan, of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, formerly of Altoona, passed away at The Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg on October 8, 2016, after a brief illness.

Tom was born in Altoona, son of the late Meyer “Mike” and Sara Frances (Coffey) Klevan. He married Shirley L. Foor on August 20, 1954.

Tom is survived by his wife of sixty-two years; a son, Thomas W. Klevan and wife, Amy, of Bethel Park; two daughters, Stephanie F. Miller and husband, Herbert, of Altoona, and Wendi L. Klevan and husband, Mark Berger, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tom was preceded in death by a grandchild, Kelley Berger, and a sister, Mary Jane Rothrauff.

Tom was a 1952 graduate of Altoona Area High School and a 1956 graduate of Dickinson College. Tom received a master’s degree in education from Penn State in 1970.

Tom began his teaching career at Roosevelt Junior High School before teaching English at Altoona Area High School, where he later served as head of the language arts department from 1972 until 1980. He later served as executive editor of the Altoona Mirror. In 1985, he left the Mirror to begin a new phase in his teaching career at Penn State Altoona as an instructor in English. Tom retired from Penn State Altoona in 2013. Throughout his teaching career, Tom also taught English to inmates at several Pennsylvania State prisons.

Tom was a member of Llyswen United Methodist Church. He was instrumental in establishing CONTACT Altoona, a telephone helpline service in the community. More recently, Tom served on the Board of Directors of Blair County Senior Services.

“Mr. Klevan was a teacher, mentor and inspiration for me when I was a student at Altoona High School.  As someone who grew up in a blue collar neighborhood of Altoona, many of which no longer exist, Mr. Klevan taught me that it was okay to have big dreams.  His influence had a significant impact on the success I’ve enjoyed in life and for that I will forever be grateful,” said former student, Bryant S. “Corky” Messner, of Denver, Colorado.

For information about gifts to Penn State Altoona in his memory, contact N. Susan Woodring, director of Development and Alumni Relations, at 814-949-5104.

Jean Camberg

Jean Camberg

Jean (Bergh) Camberg ’71, ’15g, of Brisbin, Pennsylvania, passed away on November 14, 2016.

A compassionate and caring person, Jean dedicated her life to helping others. Throughout her more than forty-year social work career, she touched countless lives. Jean was a licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist for a private practice in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and an instructor in Health and Human Development at Penn State Altoona.

Jean received her bachelor of science degree from Penn State in 1971 and her master’s degree in social work from Marywood University in 1984. In 2015, Jean earned her doctorate of education from Penn State.

Surviving are her husband of forty-five years, Harold “Howie” Camberg; her daughter Laura Pushcar, and her husband, Mark, of Pittsburgh; and a grandson, Pierce Pushcar.

Jacob S. ‘Jake’ Snyder ’71, Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania—August 15, 2016—retired school principal.

James V. Mascitelli ’73, ’88g, Altoona—July 8, 2016—art instructor.

Darlene K. Carter ’74, Antis Township—August 12, 2016—retired history and English teacher.

Robb C. Robertson ’76, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—September 12, 2016—retired assistant superintendent at Appvion Inc. in Roaring Spring, after more than thirty years of service.

Dana Lynn Landis ’77, Wexford, Pennsylvania—January 17, 2016—retired.

1980s

David B. Irwin ’80, Loretto, Pennsylvania—November 8, 2015—geotechnical engineer and small business owner.

Kenneth F. Franks ’81, Altoona—June 1, 2016—retired, U.S. Postal Service, and U.S. Air Force veteran.

Timothy John “Tim” Spahn, Sr. ’83, Altoona—May 21, 2016—president of Tim Spahn’s Landscaping, Inc. and owner of Spahn Accounting.

Frederick C. Walter ’84, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—March 12, 2016—certified therapeutic recreation therapist.

1990s

Sonya L. Black ’90, Altoona—February 14, 2016—retired.

Trudi Kay Kane ’91, Altoona, Pennsylvania—January 6, 2016—retired.

Kelly L. Shaffer ’92, Tipton, Pennsylvania—May 2, 2016—special education teacher.

Donald G. Coffman ’96, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—March 21, 2016—retired intake caseworker.

2000s

William Albert Barger, Jr. ’01, Bethesda, Maryland—October 14, 2016.

Patricia Anne Geis ’14, Altoona—February 28, 2016.

Friends

Irene Margaret (Layport) Bedekovich, Altoona—November 2, 2016—former Penn State Altoona student.

Lynnea K. Detwiler, friend of Penn State Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—January 9, 2016—retired.

Gordon Lowell Mathers, Altoona—September 3, 2016. For more than thirty years, Mathers was employed by Penn State Altoona as an adjunct instructor in Human Development and Family Studies.

Ronald A. Petak, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania—February 14, 2016—retired as the registrar at Penn State Altoona in 1997, after twenty-nine years of service.

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