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October 24, 2019: Albany Area Luncheon Final Attendance: 10 members and 6 spouses attended for a total of 16 at Avila Senior Living Center. The Grennans decided not to attend at the last minute (see below). Another marvelous lunch provided by the kitchen at Avila enjoyed by all. See photos in the Albany Luncheons Album in the Photo Gallery.

Paul reported that information had been received of the passing of Myron Rindsberg, `51, formerly of Millerton, NY. However, we have not been able to find an obituary or any data to confirm his passing.

Next Albany Area Luncheon: Friday, April 24, 2020 at Noon at Avila. Note the change in day from Tuesday to Friday

October 22, 2019: In Memoriam: Carl F. Herman, `62, Class of 1962 Carl's passing was brought to our attention by Anne Holcomb Fairbank, who worked with Carl at Guilderland CS. Carl was President of Potter Club 1960-1961. He was awarded the Bertha E. Brimmer Medal by the University in 1970.
Carl F. Herman passed away peacefully on Monday, September 23, 2019, at Albany Medical Center. Carl was born in Johnson City, N.Y. to his parents, the late Fred and Lyda (Gromley) Herman. During his school years in Johnson City, Carl earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. After high school, Carl served in the United States Navy for exactly three years, nine months and 17 days. He went on to marry the love of his life, Joan J. (Ferrari) Herman, his wife of 57 years, in 1962 and to earn his master's degree in education from SUNY Albany. For 30 years, Carl taught and later supervised, social studies for the Guilderland Central School District where his coworkers became his second family. He also served for a time as supervisor of student teachers at SUNY Albany. Carl was an awesome husband, dad and "pop pop" who had a deep pride and love for his family. He was a teacher, mentor and friend to everyone he met. Carl loved the game of golf and played with family and friends at the Western Turnpike Golf Course. He and Joan enjoyed 15 years of winters at Ocean Village on South Hutchinson Island in Florida where they valued lasting friendships. Besides his devoted wife, Joan (UAlbany 1961), Carl leaves behind his two daughters, Susan Jones (David) and Wendy Laing (John Cimino); six grandchildren, Taylor, Connor and Carly Jones and Nathan, Evan and Adam Laing. He also leaves behind sister-in-law Joanne Herman; nieces and nephews, Chris Herman (Kathy), Kathleen Garrant (Todd), Michael Garrant (Vanessa), Sue Quinn (John), John Garrant (Gina), Rick Herman (Ann), David Herman (Jenifer), as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews. Carl was predeceased by his parents; and his brother, Paul Herman; sister and brother-in-law Mary and Don Garrant; and niece Cheryl Carboni. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 3500 Carman Road in Guilderland. A funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. Interment with military honors will be held in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 30. In lieu of flowers, donations in Carl's name may be made to the City Mission of Schenectady, P.O. Box 760, Schenectady, NY, 12301, or to St. Madeleine Sophie School, 3510 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY, 12303. To share condolences online, please visit demarcostonefuneralhome.com.

October 16, 2019: Albany Area Luncheon, October 22, 2019 - Attendance List as of 10/15.

The following 18 members (and guests) have reserved for the Tuesday luncheon at Avila Senior Living Center: Gene McLaren, `48; Paul Ward, `53; Joe & Annette Anderson, `57; Jack & Jan Higham, `57; Bernie & Barb McEvoy, `57; Jim & Ann Morrissey, `57; Fred & Maureen Culbert, `65; Peter Schroeck, `65; Dick & Anne Fairbank, `66; Dan & Jan Grennan, `68; and Doug Davis, `69.

Regrets and well wishes from: Sandy Bernstein; Bob Downey; Bob Fairbanks; Steve Finn; Jim Finnen; Ron Graves; Gerry Holzman; Mike Judge; Gerry Leggieri; Vince Mauriello; Richard Moore; William Murphy; Claude Palczak; Bob Sage; Bob Umholtz; and Franz Zwicklbauer.

October 15, 2019: "New Member" found! Dan Grennan, `68, ran into his high school and college buddy, Vince Mauriello, `68, at their 55th HS Reunion last week. Vince mentioned Potter Club, but Dan had heard nothing from either UAlbany or Potter Club since graduating. Dan was in our database and in the UAlbany online directory, but without an address, phone number, or email address. He called us and "introduced himself to us. He is now among the fold of Pottermen, officially, and with contact information!   And, he and his wife plan to attend the luncheon (see above).

September 13, 2019: Fall Albany Area Luncheon mailing goes out, Tues., October 22, 2019.
The Fall luncheon flyer has been sent to 77 members with email and 10 more without email access. If you are interested and did not receive a flyer please contact me. The Fall Luncheon will be held again at Avila Senior Center, with arrangements made by Paul Ward. We are also extending an invitation to encourage spouses and guests to attend. The agenda will pick up where we left off with discussion about the future of the web site and the membership database, along with whatever else arises.

May 7, 2019: In memoriam: Richard J. Witko, 72, Class of 1969, formerly of the Town of New Scotland, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2019, at the Teresian House after living with dementia for several years. Dick was born in Albany, the son of the late John Witko and Loretta Hoeltzel Witko. He lived in the area all his life, except during his time in the U.S Air Force. He grew up on Russell Road when it was more country than city and where his dad had a baseball field on their property for neighborhood kids, as Dick always loved baseball. He graduated from St. Margaret Mary's grade school. He was a proud 1965 graduate of Vincentian Institute where he played football, basketball and baseball. Dick received his degree in political science in 1969 at State University at Albany. College also provided many lessons on how to live life to its fullest, especially with his Potter Club fraternity brothers. After graduating, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force as a Captain during the Vietnam War from 1969-1974 at Webb Air Base in Texas, Castle Air Force Base in California and Plattsburgh Air Base in New York. Dick returned to Albany, and lived on Brookline Ave. and State St. across from Washington Park until moving to the Town of New Scotland where he enjoyed the beauty of his Diamond Hill Road property for nearly 30 years. Dick knew growing up that he wanted to be a state worker and that is what he pursued. He was employed as a Medicare/Medicaid Specialist at the New York State Departments of Social Services and Health, retiring in 2003. Most who knew Dick have stories about an interesting, fun and crazy time. Dick loved a good time and enjoyed the pleasures life has to offer with friends and family. Some of his favorite things were: being outside on a beautiful day especially in Thacher Park; partying with rock music blaring; hanging with the boys; politics and sports (Jets and Yankees fan); and champagne which he drank every Friday. As his signature drink, he'd bring the bubbly to celebrations, including all the Femia/Meehan holiday gatherings he enjoyed so much. He started a tradition that will continue. Dick's mantra was to be positive, confident, and to have good self-esteem, which he frequently told his children. This life philosophy is now being passed on to his granddaughters. His spirit and love of life will carry on. Dick is survived by his daughter Amy Savoie and her husband Dave; his son Christopher Witko and his wife Rebecca; his granddaughters, Alexis and Caitlin Savoie, and Sarah and Rachel Witko; his sister Joan Irish and her children Kelly and Raymond; his former wives, Gail Femia Meehan (husband Bill), and Sally Mills; his children's half-sister Jill Meehan Burke; and by many brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews through his previous marriages. Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Wednesday evening, May 8, at 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Wednesday prior to the service from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Feed and Read (FAR) Program, Albany Fund for Education, PO Box 3110, Albany, NY 12203 or https://www.thealbanyfundforeducation.org/admissions . Dick supported this weekend backpack food and literacy program from the time it was only a concept to combat childhood hunger and would be happy to support the over 600 children it helps. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com .

April 27, 2019:
Spring Albany Area Luncheon held Tuesday, April 23 at Avila Senior Center
See list of attendees and regrets below. View photos in Photo Gallery, Albany Luncheon Album (Viewing Tip: Search for 2019).
Discussion topics included:
     Status of web site and membership database;
     Potter Bank account;
     The future of the Potter Memorial Room at Alumni House and possible fund raising
     (does not seem feasible to mount a fund raising effort at this time)
    Next Albany Area Luncheon set for Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, tentatively at Avila Senior Center

Web Site Housekeeping: Updates made to Sections panel at left; Potter Club Directory updated; In Memoriam Deceased Members list updated; Past Presidents list sorted by presidency year; Myskania list corrected (was missing several in the 50s); Corrected links to Albany frats and sorority.

"Found" EEP Members: Timothy Mailloux, `80, `91 was listed in the UAlbany Online Directory with a graduation date of 1991. He started at UAlb in 1976, joined EEP in 1977, then left Albany and returned to get a degree in 1991.

Status of Web Site and Membership Database: Discussions are ongoing with the Alumni Association about the prospects of migrating the Potter Club web site to the University web site, and merging the Potter Club Alumni member database records with the UAlbany Alumni Database records for Pottermen. Stay tuned for developments.
[N.B. We continue to "cross check" our database records with the listed records for Potter members in the UAlb Online Directory to reach congruency between the two lists.]

April 13, 2019: Albany Area Luncheon, April 23, 2019 - Attendance List as of 4/13.
(See further information below.)

The following members have reserved for the luncheon at Avila Senior Living Center, 4/23/19:
Gene McLaren, `45; Bob Umholtz, `51; Vince Aceto, `53; Paul Ward, `53; Jack Higham, `57; Bernie McEvoy, `57; Ron Graves, `58; Fred Culbert, `65; John Schneider, `65; Peter Schroeck, `65; Dick Fairbank, `66; and Doug Davis, `69.

Regrets and well wishes from: Joe Zanchelli, `49; Claude Palczak, `53; Art Weigand, `53; Jim Finnen, `54; Sandy Bernstein, `57; John Rookwood, `57; Dick Herodes, `59; Doug Penfield, `60; Franz Zwicklbauer, `62; Bob Cross, `63; Dick Moore, `63; Gary Penfield, `63; Bob Benton, `64; Bob Fairbanks, `64; Bill Murphy, `64; Tom Flanagan, `65; Don Kisiel, `66; Jerry Leggieri, `68; Vince Mauriello, `68; Roger Gorham, `69; Barry Kolstein, `71; Charles Kriete, `72; and Seth Zamek, `82.

A very nice response to the invitation. Thanks for your replies.

Bounce backs of emails to members with bad email addresses, including: Ron Obach, `63 and George Nigriny, `64. Help needed to find these members.

April 13, 2019: "Found" EEP members. Fred Culbert, `65, recently forwarded a copy of a 1978 letter from the Potter Club Vice President, Ken Kurtz, `79, to Potter Club Alumni. Ken's name had not been in our member database. Also listed as officers at the end of the letter were: Jeffery Peters, `82, Pres.; Eugene Hallacy, `81, Clerk; Bill Raydo, `80, Treasurer; and Tony Lenkiewicz, `80, Alumni Secretary. Gene and Bill were also not in our DB. A contact has been made with Bill, but no reply, yet, from either Jeffery or Tony.

March 27, 2019: In memoriam:
Albert F. Beninate, Potter Club, 1949: Albert's passing, May 22, 2015, was listed in the Spring 2019 UAlbany magazine, no obituary is available.

Joseph J. Dolan, Potter Club, 1952: Joseph Daniel Dolan, 89, died Sunday at The Pines at Poughkeepsie. He was born at Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie on June 15, 1929 to Raymond and Helen Ryan Dolan and grew up in Wappingers Falls. He had two brothers, Raymond and John "Jack" who predeceased him. A graduate of Wappingers High School, Class of 1947, he excelled in academics and athletics. He went on to attend Albany State Teachers College, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. While there he belonged to The Potter Club. He served in the United States Navy Supply Corps in Green Cove Springs, Florida from 1953 to 1956, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and continued in the Naval Reserve until 1967. He earned a Masters of Science Degree in Business from Albany State Teachers College in 1957. He was devoted to his wife, the former Marlene "Dolly" Martoni, who survives and resides at The Pines at Poughkeepsie. They were married on September 26, 1954 at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in the City of Poughkeepsie. After his service in the Navy, they returned to Poughkeepsie where he worked as a stock broker at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith from 1957 until his retirement in 1994. A communicant of St. Martin de Porres Church, he was a founding member of that parish. His interests and passions included reading, travel, tennis, golf, and skiing. He was also a member of the Poughkeepsie Tennis Club. Along with his wife, he volunteered for ten years delivering meals for The Dutchess County Office for the Aging Home Delivered Meals program. He is also survived by two daughters, a son, and two sons-in-law, Mary Kaye (John Anderson), Michael (Patrick Young), and Jo Anne; five step-grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews, a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, a great niece and great nephew, and one step-grandson. The family would like to thank all the staff at The Pines at Poughkeepsie and Hudson Valley Hospice for the excellent, attentive, and loving care they gave Joseph. He could not have been in better or more compassionate hands. Calling hours will be on Thursday, November 1 from 4:00 to 7:00pm at Miller Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie. The funeral will be at 10:15 am on Friday, November 2 at St. Martin de Porres Roman Catholic Church on Cedar Valley Road in Poughkeepsie followed by a burial at Calvary Cemetery in Arlington. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com Donations can be made to The (memo: The Raymond and Bernice Time Away Fund), 2649 South Road, Suite 101, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or The Church of St. Martin de Porres, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Published in the Poughkeepsie Journal from Oct. 30 to Oct. 31, 2018

[N.B. Joe's passing was listed in the Spring 2019 UAlbany magazine.]

Robert A. Ashfield, Potter Club, 1955: Robert A. Ashfield passed away Friday, November 23rd, 2018 in College Station, TX at the age of 85. Born October 16th, 1933, Bob grew up on a dairy farm in Chateaugay, New York, just a few miles from the Canadian border. He was deemed "college material" by his high school principal and subsequently attended the University of Albany, New York working his way through college and living with a local professor couple for the duration of his college years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics in 1955. There he met Jane Egan on a blind date, and they married in 1956. Bob joined the U.S. Army prior to their wedding and was soon relocated to Middlesboro, Kentucky where he served in the Army Intelligence Division. In 1958, their first son, Robert A. Ashfield, Jr. was born. After release from the Army in 1959, he relocated back to Albany working for the State of New York Health Department as a chemist. Deciding to take on a different challenge, he interviewed with Shell Oil Company and accepted a marketing job, commencing a 32-year career whereby he, and his family, traversed the northern seaboard in a number of promotions and transfers. Bob was also involved in a number of civic organizations including the New York Junior Chamber of Conference, which he joined in 1959, and where he proudly served as President in 1964-65. In this capacity, he and his young family were constantly on the move as he delivered speeches across the state. After another Shell transfer to Baltimore, MD in 1965, their second son, Michael J. Ashfield, was born. Subsequently, the family moved to upstate New Jersey as he accepted a Shell position in New York City. In 1970, all of the New York -based oil companies moved their headquarters to Houston, TX and so did the Ashfields settling in what was at the time the far west side of Houston in the Memorial area. Bob accepted a position in managing the Procurement Division for Shell which he loved and built a spirited team of professionals interplaying hard work with fun and personal development. In 1992, he accepted early retirement, and immediately accepted a position with another chemical firm where he provided consulting expertise in leadership and personal motivation. During his time in Houston he was also active in local activities serving on the local subdivision board, the area Pool Association and was a long-time Little League baseball coach, winning several championships and coaching his son, Mike.
In later years, he started two companies, Ashfield & Associates, a consulting firm, and Shellmark, Inc., which published the Shell Desk Diary. He also volunteered for SCORE, a local association devoted to helping entrepreneurs and new start-ups with experienced help from senior business professionals.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife of 57 years, Jane Ashfield and is survived by his sons, Robert (Rock) A. Ashfield, Jr. of San Pedro, CA and his wife, Deborah; Mike Ashfield of College Station, TX and his wife, Carol (Barrett) and grandchildren Jackie (Barrett) McMillan and her husband Jeremy, Nathan Barrett and his wife Kelly, Jodi Barrett, and Tiffany Barrett; great grandchild Ellie McMillan; and brother Joseph Ashfield and his wife Mary Anne as well as other extended family and good friends. The Ashfield family will be present to receive friends Monday, December 3, 2018 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. The Funeral Mass will commence Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079. The Burial Ceremony, with Military Honors, will be at 1:00 PM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you send donations to St. John Vianney Catholic Church (www.stjohnvianney.org) or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org). Visit www.DettlingFuneral.com to leave on-line tributes. Published in Houston Chronicle on Nov. 29, 2018

[N.B. Bob's passing was listed in the Spring 2019 UAlbany magazine.]

March 5, 2019: In memoriam:
John J. DeLuisi, Potter Club, 1957: Dr. John James DeLuisi beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle passed away February 26, 2019. He was 88. He is survived by his five children, John Jr., Barb, Rebecca, Nan and Michael; nine grandchildren; sister Vincenza Maruszak; sister-in-law Sandra Furlo; seven nieces, five nephews; and cousins in the U.S. and Italy. John was born in Little Falls, NY to his Italian immigrant parents John and Anna DeLuisi. John enjoyed retelling the stories of his happy and carefree childhood spent roaming and playing in the nearby woods of Little Falls. From an early age, he had an interest in science and mathematics. After graduating from high school, John joined the United States Navy in 1948 and entered the Navy Reserve in 1949. He was recalled to active duty in 1951 and served two more years during the Korean War. John valued education, earning a B.S. degree in Mathematics from New York State College for Teachers in Albany in 1957, and then earning a Master's degree in Mathematics in 1958. After graduating, he taught biology, chemistry and physics at a high school in East Greenbush, NY. He attended Brown University in 1961, earning a Master's degree in Science Education on a National Science Foundation Scholarship. From 1962-1967, he attended Florida State University in Tallahassee. He earned his PhD in Meteorology in 1967. John met Prudy Williams, the love of his life, in 1958 while both were attending college. For John, it was love at first sight. They married in 1959 in Granville, NY and were happily married for 57 years. John and Prudy moved to Colorado in 1967. They lived in and around the Denver metro area for 10 years and settled in Boulder in 1978. John spent the bulk of his career at NOAA in Boulder. With NOAA, he traveled the world collaborating with many international atmospheric scientists and organizations. He was one of the world's experts in the study and investigation of the interaction of solar radiation with the Earth's atmosphere. John initiated and developed the U.S. SURFRAD network, which has become NOAA's longest running and most successful surface radiation network. During his career he also mentored many young scientists. John will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues. The DeLuisi household was always a popular gathering place for friends and family. John and Prudy were well known for their superb culinary skills and warm hospitality. Their gatherings were filled with great food, plenty of beer and wine and an abundance of love and laughter. John will be remembered for his affection, wit, intelligence and a full life lived with adventure, passion, integrity and love. A celebration of John's life will take place Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Boulder.
Published in The Daily Camera from Mar. 3 to Mar. 4, 2019

[N.B. John actually majored in Physics, earning both BS and MS from Albany. ]

March 1, 2019: Spring Albany Area Potter Club Alumni Luncheon to be held in Albany, Tuesday, April 23, 2019.
The Spring Luncheon will be held at the Avila Senior Living Center, arranged by Paul Ward who resides there. A flyer and map have gone out to 88 Pottermen who have asked to be notified of these events. If you did not receive notification, contact me and I will send the materials to you.

Our attempt to meet in October 2018 had to be cancelled due to an insufficient turmout in regsitration. We hope a significant number will be available now and want to attend to help us plot the future for the Potter Club Alumni Association. Please keep in touch with us so we can learn of your suggestions.

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