2018 – 2019 Class Notes

August 2019

Did you change jobs? Get married? Have a baby? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Send your alumni updates to brb15@psu.edu for the next issue.

Calling World War II veterans with a Penn State connection: If you are a World War II veteran with a Penn State connection and are willing to share two photos, one of your time in the service and one recent photo, please forward them with your contact information to news@psu.edu. Your photos could be shared on Penn State news and social media platforms this fall.

Check out the Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Facebook page at facebook.com/montaltoalumni

Three men and a woman stand in front of Conklin Hall — Old friends and classmates (l-r) Lou Shain, Jack Zimmerman, and Chuck Strauss with wife Carol enjoy catching up during their 61st Reunion in June.

Chuck Strauss ’58 recaps the Class of ’58 Reunion at Penn State Mont Alto in June. Thanks to the organizational efforts of my classmates Ralph Heilig and George Siehl, and the effective implementation of these plans by Mont Alto’s Development team, about 22 members of our Class of ’58 enjoyed a cordial and meaningful reunion. Our agenda included educational programs from Mont Alto’s faculty on exercise and how to approach this thing called “old age.” And we are in that mode of life’s trials and tribulations. Interspersed in our three-day reunion were times to relax and enjoy the amenities of a campus we knew and appreciated some 65 years ago. Yeah, count ’em, fall 1954 to spring 2019. One of the definite improvements to this fine campus is The Mill Cafe in the Heritage Room—simply great food, fine service from a cordial staff, and the impressive view of the General Studies Building across the Quadrangle. We also enjoyed evening programs arranged for our pleasures—the historic recall of this region’s role in the Underground Railroad and Dr. Bill Sharpe’s recollection of Mont Alto in the early 60s, his introduction to ROTC, and his eventual role in Vietnam as an Army helicopter pilot. Dick Hunter and his wife provided an impromptu slide program on their early assignment in Libya and management of Firestone’s rubber plantations. And Lou Shain provided photos of Bluejay Camp and a previous Mont Alto reunion in 1993. We can summarize certain aspects of our reunion, but it is impossible to recall the myriad of conversations among fellow classmates. Photos available https://www.flickr.com/photos/psuma/albums/72157709520231351

Honey Bunny by Linda Wright '71 — *Linda (Russel) Wright’s recent book cover for “*Honey Bunny Amigurumi Dress-Up Doll with Garden Play Mat.”

Linda (Russell) Wright ’74 graduated from Penn State with a degree in Man-Environment Relations and an emphasis in Textiles, Clothing Design & Construction. For the past 10 years, she has found her passion in writing and publishing handicraft books. “My latest works are crochet books, specifically using a style of crochet called “amigurumi. Crocheting brings me so much joy. My motivation is to spread that joy to others through my designs.” Published in February 2019, Wright’s most recent book is, “Honey Bunny Amigurumi Dress-Up Doll with Garden Play Mat.” Prior books include “Amigurumi Golf Club Covers” and “Amigurumi Animal Hats Growing Up.” Her books are sold at online bookstores including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Book cover featuring black and white photo of American soldier on a bicycle — Jim Ingram’s book, “Unlimited Duty,” describes the life and character of his late father, Jack Ingram.

James (Jim) Ingram ’79, ’83 has published a book about his father, the late Jack Ingram. “Unlimited Duty,” describes his father’s military career in the emerging field of aerography and later in intelligence. Living through the hardship of the Great Depression and rising to face the challenge of WWII, were pivotal to shaping his life and character, according to the book cover. “I have carried his many leadership character traits and lessons with me throughout my life, and they have served me well,” said Ingram. The book may soon be available at the Penn State Mont Alto bookstore. Ingram is president of Bartlett Tree Experts, a Connecticut-based tree care company with 142 offices in four countries. He was recently named the 2018 Fundraising Volunteer of the Year for leading fundraising efforts for Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses as a member of the “Greater Penn State” Campaign Executive Committee and chair of commonwealth campus campaigns. Earlier, he served as campaign chair for Mont Alto and led the campus in raising $5.4 million, exceeding its $5 million goal during the “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students.” He and his wife, Barbara ’85, have also provided significant support to Penn State and the Mont Alto Campus, including the Jack Ingram Endowed Scholarship at Mont Alto, named for his father. He holds an associate degree in forest technology from Penn State Mont Alto and a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture from the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Keith Hartman ’94 is Penn State York’s women’s volleyball coach. (Photo by Barbara Dennis/Penn State York)

Keith Hartman ’94, who works in advertising as a regional sales manager for LOCALiQ/Gannett in York was recently named the head women’s volleyball coach at Penn State York. Hartman earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Penn State Harrisburg and an associate degree in business administration from Penn State Mont Alto. He was a student-athlete at Penn State Mont Alto, where he played soccer from 1992–1994, and at Penn State Harrisburg, where he played club volleyball from 1995–1997 and served as captain of the team. “I take great pride in returning to a Penn State campus as a coach,” said Hartman in a news release. Hartman has served as the head varsity boys’ volleyball coach at Dover High School (Dover, PA), where he began in 2016. He also continues to coach in the New Oxford Volleyball Association for the under-17 girls’ team. He has also previously coached several other women’s club teams.

Noel Andrew Kline ’95 began serving as an associate professor of nursing for the Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA, in January 2019. Before joining RACC, he served as an adjunct nursing instructor for the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) in Harrisburg. Kline took his wedding vows in the Emmanuel Chapel in 2011.

Lumber Jill hold trophy above her head — In July, Lumberjill Martha King took first place in the Stihl Timber Sports National Championship held in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Martha King ’11 is the 2019 Stihl Timberstports Women’s Champion, proving she’s one of the best athletes in the sport which took place in Milwaukee, WI, in July. She finished third in the inaugural Women’s Division Championship in 2017, and second in 2018, before breaking through this year, according to a Stihl Timbersport release. She finished in the middle of the pack in the first discipline (stock saw), but then dominated the final two disciplines—the singlebuck and underhand chop—to win. King, who is a former Mont Alto Woodsmen’s Team lumberjill who competed at Penn State Mont Alto from 2007−2009 and began competing professionally while working in Germany in 2013. She now competes in international lumberjack sports in disciplines that include the standing block chop, the single buck, and the underhand chop, which she claims is her favorite event and for which she is a 2015 world champion. King holds a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences, with minors in wildlife and fisheries science and forest science.

Family stands with Nittany Lion statue — Rachel Trayer with her husband, Kyle, and son, Liam, snap a family photo at the Lion following Commencement in May.

Rachel Trayer ’19, ’15, ’11 graduated in spring 2019 with her third Penn State Mont Alto degree. She first earned an associate in occupational therapy assistant degree in 2011, then an associate degree in nursing in 2015. “Shortly after graduation, I started taking classes part-time. I worked as an RN at Chambersburg Hospital for almost four years on a medical-surgical unit, taking a year off from school following the birth of my son, Liam, who is turning 3 this fall. Now, I am finally graduating with my B.S.N. and am very excited for what comes next,” she said. Trayer is one of four Barrett sisters who have attended Penn State Mont Alto―Angela Hess ’15, Kara Hess ’12, and Julie Green ’09. Trayer also met her husband while attending Mont Alto, Kyle Trayer ’12. She says, “We are for sure a Penn State family!”

In Memoriam (as of June 19, 2019)

1940s

Robert Q. Wallace ’42―March 22, 2019

Alvin G. Leidel ’49―March 14, 2019

1950s

Walter R. Rossman ’50―May 7, 2019

John I. Zerbe ’51―April 5, 2019

William J. Stambaugh ’51―April 22, 2019

Lawrence J. Gedda ’52―May 6, 2019

W. James Graef, Jr. ’53―May 5, 2019

William J. Tabar ’53―Feb. 4, 2019

Spencer H. Bingman, Jr. ’56―April 19, 2019

Patrick M. Lantz ’56―May 30, 2019

Richard F. Kost ’58―May 10, 2019

Jess F. Clarke, Jr. ’59―Jan. 30, 2019

Roger P. Friedrich ’59―March 9, 2019

1960s

John M. Skelly Sr. ’62―March 22, 2019

1970s

Ellen Carlson Peters ’74―May 31, 2019

Richard E. Fetterman ’75―May 8, 2019

1980s

Jeffery F. Carty ’83―May 17, 2019

Wayne R. Shaneberger ’84―June 3, 2019

James R. Johnescu ’85―Feb. 20, 2019

Timothy W. Krebs ’89―March 23, 2019

1990s

Robert L. Swanger lll ’98―March 27, 2019

March 2019

Did you change jobs? Get married? Have a baby? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Send your alumni updates to brb15@psu.edu for the next issue.

Linda (Russell) Wright ‘7I holds a Penn State degree in man-environment relations with an emphasis in textiles, clothing design and construction. For the past ten years, she has found her passion in writing and publishing handicraft books. Her latest are crochet books, specifically using a style of crochet called “amigurumi.” She says, “Crocheting brings me so much joy. My motivation is to spread that joy to others through my designs.” Her most recent book, published in February 2019, is “Honey Bunny Amigurumi Dress-Up Doll with Garden Play Mat.” She has also published “Amigurumi Golf Club Covers” and “Amigurumi Animal Hats Growing Up,” which are sold at online bookstores including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Noel Andrew Kline ‘95 started a new faculty position in Jan. 2019 with the Reading Area Community College as an associate professor of nursing for its Associate of Science in Nursing program. She formerly served as an adjunct nursing instructor for Penn State University, Harrisburg, and at HACC. In 2011, she was married in the Emmanuel Chapel.

Nathaniel Philip B. Proce ’15, formerly of Boonsboro, graduated cum laude with a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Port Orange, Fla., during a Dec. 14 ceremony. While attending Penn State Mont Alto, he received the Chancellor Scholarship and was awarded U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Academic All-American status for wrestling. He is working to complete his diplomate in functional neurology. He is board-certified and has applied for his license to practice in Florida.

Check out the Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Facebook page at facebook.com/montaltoalumni

In Memoriam

Ellen L. Palmer, 1943 – 2019

Ellen Kramer (Gilbert) Palmer ’89 of Chambersburg, PA, was a 1961 graduate of the Chambersburg Area Senior High School and a 1989 graduate of Penn State Mont Alto with an associate degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences. She also served on the Penn State Mont Alto Advisory Board beginning in 2006 and its Executive Committee in 2007 and served as advisory board chair for three years. She was named an emeritus member in 2015. In 2002, she joined the Penn National Nursing School Dinner Committee for the Penn State Mont Alto Nursing School Scholarship Program on which she served for twelve years. She also served as volunteer chair of the Penn State Mont Alto Development Committee. She chaired the “For the Future Campaign” kick-off and in 2016 chaired “A Greater Penn State” Campaign Committee. Ellen was also a generous supporter of Mont Alto’s Veteran’s Program and Chorale. Her husband, Sidney, followed her closely in death on Feb. 2, 2019. He was also a staunch supporter of Penn State Mont Alto. She is survived by one son, Collin S. Gilbert (wife Angela), of Colorado Springs, CO; four stepchildren: Linden P. Madara (husband Steven) of Columbus, Ohio; Sidney Jr. of Philadelphia; Page P. Nitterhouse (husband Craig) of Chambersburg; Grant (wife Heather) of Philadelphia; three brothers: Wilmer (Bud) Kramer (wife Sarah) of Pittsburgh; Robert Kramer (wife Deborah) of Middletown, PA; John Kramer (wife Robin) of New Cumberland, PA. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who were the light of her life.

1940s

Robert C. Early `48 – November 08, 2018

1950s

Robert L. Richards ’50 – Sept. 30, 2018

Thomas J. Beard ’51 – July 09, 2018

A Lacy Johnson ’51 – Nov. 03, 2018

Paul LaBar ’52 – Aug. 23, 2018

Gordon E. Robinson ’52 – Aug. 31, 2018

Charles L. Whitfield ’57 – Dec. 29, 2018

Nelson S. Loftus Jr. ’58 – Nov. 23, 2018

Robert L Schall ’58 – October 01, 2018

Jess F. Clark ’59 – Jan. 30, 2019

Sydney M. Kurtz ’59 – June 19, 2018

Wilbur E. Wolf Jr. ’59 – Jan. 04, 2019

1960s

Allan M. Peterson ’61 – July 21, 2018

Michael E. Baker ’62 – Sept. 23, 2018

William M. Durdan’62 – Oct. 05, 2018

Eric S. Ulrich ’63 – Dec.17, 2018

Thomas C. Bast ’67 – Sept.19, 2018

David M. Caldwell ’67 – November 25, 2018

1970s

Terry L. Smith ’70 – April 19, 2018

Gary L. Storch ’70 – Oct. 24, 2018

Robert H. Kessler ’72 – Oct. 23, 2018

Jonathan Papp ’74 – Feb. 14, 2018

David M. Bolinger ’76 – Oct.17, 2018

Dale A. Stiffler ’76 – Oct. 29, 2018

Neil Shattuck ’79 – Sept. 24, 2018

1980s

Diane Walsh Hain ’82 – Aug. 13, 2018

Robin S. Dunn ’85 – June 18, 2018

Daniel P. DiPaolo ’86 – June 19,2018

Ellen K. Palmer ’89– Jan. 18, 2019

Sidney Palmer, Friend – Feb. 2, 2019

1990s

Karin I. Breiter ’90 – June 04, 2018

Judith A. McKee’94 – April 1, 2018

James J. Molony ’96 – July 17, 2018

Instructors

Earl Saunders Elliott Jr., former student counselor and Psychology Instructor ’64 -’66

Please send death notices to: Terri Doss at tjm152@psu.edu or mail them to Development Office, Penn State Mont Alto, 1 Campus Drive, Mont Alto, PA 17237

November 2018

Stay in touch with your classmates! Penn State Mont Alto alumni who want to contact their classmates can join a class group from the Mont Alto Facebook page at facebook.com/psumontalto. Look for the “Groups” link on the left-hand side of the page, click on it, and find your class.

Having received the 2017 issue of The Bridge, Merl Bud Filler Jr. ’56 wrote a letter to the editor, stating: “The stories and pictures bring back nice memories. I was a student at Mont Alto back in 1952 to 1953, class president and outstanding Army ROTC cadet that year. It was all forestry then, a great place near the trees and wood products companies. Since then, I have been in forest products for almost 60 years, and recently sold my timber products company to a major corporation. Several other forestry friends come out to Idaho each year and we talk about the great times at Mont Alto, Conklin Hall, and the Cottage. They would be Bo Campbell ’53 and Bill Rother ’52. They have had remarkable careers in the military and the entertainment field. Mont Alto got us started. Now, I’m into writing and just published my second book, a novel Return to Phantom Creek, which is available on Amazon.

Members of the Class of 1958 gather for a photo outside The Mill Café. They are: (l-r, back row) Ralph Peace, George Campbell, Chuck Strauss, Lou Shain, Roger O’Dell; (middle row) George Siehl ’16, Ralph Heilig, Jack Zimmerman; (front row) Dick Hunter, Maurice “Bill” O’Connell, and Maurice “Duke” Hobaugh. Also in attendance but not pictured was Hank Hartman.Brandi Biesecker at brb15@psu.edu for the next issue.

Mont Alto Class of 1958 Celebrates 60th Reunion, May 30−June 1, 2017 — Through the planning efforts of Mont Alto alumni Ralph Heilig and George Siehl, twelve members of the Class of 1958 and their significant others enjoyed a three-day reunion at the Mont Alto Campus in May. Classmates Bill O’Connell and Lou Shain came from as far as Idaho and Kentucky respectively. The reunion included not only fond memories from their freshman year and tales of their professional ventures but also learning opportunities. Heilig has staged about twelve reunions for the Class of 1958 — each one distinct. He is already inviting his classmates to consider joining him at Penn State Mont Alto in 2019. Following their reunion, the group worked together to raise $34,223, enough to endow an Open Doors Scholarship that was matched by the University.

Vernon Shockley ’64 hosted a Penn State Mont Alto alumni gathering in New Orleans in September 2017. Those who attended are: (l-r) Patricia (Fuhr) Domenick ’78; Connie Bauer, widow of the late Robert (Bob) Bauer ’66; Nancy (King) Gattuso ’70; Benjamin (Dan) Domenick ’66; Vernon Shockley ’64 and Elaine Shockley; Patricia (McGuire) Ehrenzeller ’69; and kneeling is Randy Ehrenzeller ’69.

Randolph Ehrenzeller ’69 has written and published a book, Leaning Against Olden Times. He explains, “The memoir describes my childhood experiences growing up in central Pennsylvania during the 1950s and ’60s. My intent for writing it was to document what rural life was like ‘back then’ and highlight my family’s traditions.” The book is not available for purchase but free copies may be obtained from the author by emailing willowbb@ptd.net.

Matthew T. Moyer, M.D., M.S. ’91 was awarded the 2017 American College of Gastroenterology Governors Award for Excellence in Clinical Research on Oct. 16, 2017 in Orlando, Fla. For his clinical research in endoscopic ultrasound guided tumor ablation. He is an associate professor of medicine in interventional endoscopy at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and lives on the family farm outside of Hershey with his wife, Wendy, and children, Samuel and Hannah, and their bulldogs, Hank and Daisy.

In January 2018, 1964 classmates returned to campus for a basketball game. They are (l-r) Duane Thomas, Mont Alto Men’s Basketball Head Coach Ron Royster, Frank Judd, Jim Hartzler, and Charles (Corky) Trail.

Basketball Halftime Ceremony for 1964 Alumni —Members of the Penn State Mont Alto Class of 1964, Duane Thomas and Frank Judd, have been close followers of the men’s basketball program throughout the years and are annual participants in Mont Alto Men’s Basketball Golf Tournament. Following the 2017 tournament, Judd proposed coming back to campus with each member of the 1964 team for a game. On Jan. 14, 2018, they did just that and were honored during halftime in front of the home crowd by the reading of their greatest accomplishments since graduating from Mont Alto. Following the game, the classmates had the opportunity to meet the current Mont Alto men’s basketball team.

The Forestry Class of 1965 met for a reunion on Sept. 23, 2017 at the home of Dave Zeigler. They are: (l-r, front row) Gary Kirkpatrick ’65, Dennis Mihoci ’68, Harry Johnson ’65; (back row) retired faculty member Robert (Bob) Douglass ’56, ’61; Don Clymer ’66; Dave Zeigler ’67; Ed Houser ’65, and retired professor Ken Swisher.

1965 Reunion — The first Mont Alto Class of forest technicians arrived at the Mont Alto Campus fifty-four years ago in the fall of 1963. On Sept. 23, 2017, several classmates met at the home of Dave Ziegler ’65, Blackhawk Road Homestead, which is a forested setting near Centre Hall, Pa. The group was also joined by former faculty members Bob Douglass and Ken Swisher and several wives. Fond memories of days at Mont Alto were exchanged and Zeigler’s home provided a pleasant atmosphere conducive to the enjoyment of all. A future meeting is being planned for 2019 at the home of another classmate.

On June 5, 2018, Dennis R. Fredericks ’72 was appointed a member of the Game Commission Board. He is serving his second four-year term as a commissioner, and is only the sixth individual to have done so. During his prior tenure on the board, he served as chairman of the Wildlife Management Bureau Committee for six years of his eight-year term. Now retired, he had a 42-year career as an environmental engineer and manager of conservation properties and activities for CONSOL Energy, where he was responsible for coordinating natural-resource management on 500,000 acres in several states. He is a member of many sportsmen’s organizations and conservation groups, including the NRA, Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited, to name a few.

Carol Alleman ’75 is a sculptor and writer, who has earned international recognition through her provocative, nature-inspired bronze vessels and companion writings. Having attended Penn State Mont Alto in her freshman year as an art education major, she credits her time there for planting the early seeds of nature that continues to inspire her work today. While at Mont Alto, Alleman says she was “warmed by the surrounding forest growths; and intrigued by the studies of the numerous forestry majors who quickly became very close friends. Long walks into the woodlands, sharing dialogues about the course content of dendrology classes soon became welcome and frequent encounters.” Today, she continues to foster a deep passion for conservation and in particular “our vital pollinators” through her work, which is based in Tuscon, Ariz. She has exhibited in numerous museums and earned distinguished awards for the merit of her work. See more at allemanstudios.com.

Did you change jobs? Get Married? Have a baby? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Send your alumni updates to Brandi Biesecker at brb15@psu.edu for the next issue.

Lumberjill Surprises Woodsmen Team with Gift

On the morning of April 13, 2018, a group of forestry students and members of the Mont Alto Woodsmen Team gathered around the Nittany Lion to watch Penn State Mont Alto forestry professors Craig Houghton and Beth Brantley unwrap a white custom-built Flentje Axe Box along with a single buck handle and axe wedges. The gift was mailed from Australia and was donated by world-renowned international lumberjill Martha King ’11, a Mont Alto Woodsmen Team alumna.

King, who came to Penn State Mont Alto as a student from Chadds Ford, Pa., is daughter of arborist Rob King and followed in her father’s footsteps by joining the Penn State Woodsmen Team. She competed at Penn State Mont Alto from 2007 to 2009 and began competing professionally while working in Germany in 2013. She now competes in international lumberjack sports in disciplines including the Standing Block Chop, the Single Buck, and the Underhand Chop, which she claims is her favorite event and for which she is a 2015 world champion.

The Penn State Mont Alto Forestry program receives support from both the Cumberland Valley Tree Service—Landscaping and Bartlett Tree Experts. Mont Alto alumni work for both companies. Left: On Oct 17, 2017, David Poe ’98 and Garrett Monn ’16 helped freshmen foresters make their first climb in two, 100-foot hybrid oak trees in front of Wiestling Hall. On Oct. 18, 2017, Derek Furry ’11 and Brad Evans instructed an arboriculture class on the use of a bucket and chipper.

In Aug. 2017, the first day of Assistant Teaching Professor in Forestry Beth Brantley’s class saw a visit from Mont Alto alumni Gina (Berger) Peters ’12 and Zachary Clemens ’16, who work for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources Bureau of Forestry, Forest Health. They not only provided the students with information about the spotted lanternfly but also handed out spotted lanternfly crowns. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species that has spread throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and is a significant threat to Pennsylvania agriculture.