NOTES FROM 2024 LUNCHEON

CONGRATULATIONS TO GINNY APUZZO FOR HER AWARD AT THE NEW PALTZ AWARDS DINNER

The SUNY - New Paltz Awards Dinner was a great success. Ginny was glowing and smiling all evening! She had two surprises. The first was when she arrived and was told she was expected to give a speech! She pulled it off. The second surprise was the bouquet of purple flowers.

The flowers were perfect and she so appreciated Theta’s support.

Yours in Theta,

Carol Hearst Brott

Theta Luncheon

 Dear Theta Sisters-

In case you missed our recent newsletter via snail-mail from Janice Oehler (many thanks to Janice), our annual luncheon is just 5+ weeks away. Here are the details:

THETA PHI ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Date: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024

Time: 12:00 NOON

Place: Garvin's Gastropub – 215 Huguenot Street, New Paltz

(at the New Paltz Golf Course)

Garvan's Gastropub | New Paltz, NY - Home (garvans.com)

It’s a beautiful setting and the lunch menu is all set. Everyone will enjoy a salad and choice of entrée (burger, scampi, or chicken), plus Guinness Chocolate Cake and a beverage. There’s no need to order in advance, but let me know if you have any dietary requirements. We continue to hold the price at $25.00 per person and the sorority picks up the balance.

Please reply to this email with your RSVP, then send your check payable to Theta Phi Alumnae Association to Laurie Spiegel, 11 Murphy Circle, Florham Park, NJ 07932. The deadline is SEPTEMBER 20.

Many thanks to Rosarie Mastropaolo, a.k.a. Beads, and our Theta Phi Alumnae President, Pat McKeown Withers, for once again making all the arrangements!

QUESTIONS??? Call Pat Withers at 631-669-2018. We hope to see you all there.

Yours in Theta,

Laurie Chase Spiegel ('75),

Theta Phi Alumnae Treasurer

P.S. Please see if you can carpool with sisters in your area. Some may be without a means to join us. Also, if the cost of the luncheon is preventing you from coming, please reply to this message and we will help you.

2024 NEWSLETTER

 

 

WE MOURN THE PASSING OF JOANN BIANCA O'CONNOR

 Thanks to Leslie Drojak Lomita for passing this information along to us...

Joann Bianca O’Connor, 83, passed away at her residence in Rosendale on March 25, 2024.  She graduated from SUNY New Paltz and began her teaching career in West Hurley. She left teaching temporarily to raise her family, and when she returned to teaching, she worked at Marbletown Elementary School. She also was a board member of the Theta Phi Alumnae Association during its early years following the sale of Theta House. She is survived by her husband Edward O’Connor; their three children Christine, Joseph, and Annie; and her seven grandchildren.

HOPE THIS FINDS YOU ALL WELL!

Dear Theta Sisters, 

 

It's been a VERY long time since I last posted on the blog and I send apologies to anyone who sent info that didn't get posted.  If you sent me something and it's not included in this posting, please send it again! 

 

Thanks to Pat Withers for sharing this photo from this year's luncheon which was held on October 21st at Maggie Mae's in New Paltz. 

Thanks to Laurie Spiegel for the following information which was shared by some sisters who couldn't attend the luncheon:

 

From: Petrina(Tantillo) Tersillo ‘60
 - Sorry I cannot make it this year. I will be on a cruise.  Tell everyone sorry and am sending many hugs.

From: Nancy (Arcoleo) Erikson ‘59 
- So sorry I'm unable to attend this year's luncheon. Medical issues keep me away unfortunately. Wishing all sisters a great time.

From: Carol Hearst Brott '63 
- I will be in town for my Class Reunion but have another commitment for the same day and time. Please send my sisters in Theta my best along with special memories.

From: Priscilla (Tesone ) Tortorella ‘61 
- Timing is everything…& mine is off! We’ll be in Florida by then so will not attend this year’s luncheon. However, I still conduct a zoom session every two weeks with Ann, Chris, Ruth, Carole, Roni & Nancy…a practice we began during the Pandemic! Enjoy the luncheon & give those attending a big Theta hug!
 

From: Nina (Friedman) Lazar - '66 
So sorry I won't be able to make it.  Two other family events are planned for that date.  Perhaps next year... Please give my warmest regards to all who attend.  Be happy and stay safe!
 

From: Carmella (Lagano) Alfano ‘66
 - Thanks for the reminder. I wish I could be there. I have commitments on both Friday and Sunday of that weekend, and it’s too late to change either. Regards to the class of 1966!
 

From: Bobbi (Burns) Murray ‘71
- Regretfully, I am not able to attend the Theta luncheon this year. I just learned a few days ago that I need to be in Chicago that weekend.  I will be meeting my son's "intended" in-laws. I am sending my RSVP today. I admire the job you're doing. I miss that Long Long line of Thetas...🎶 Sending purple 💜
 

From: Donna (Mastroianni) Kubovic ‘72 - 
I will not be attending this year’s luncheon. I am having cataract surgery in October the week before and the week after the 21st. Please send my good wishes to all the Thetas who will be attending. Thanks to all the members who keep Theta going strong.
 

From: Carol (Cooper) Sonenblum ‘72
 - Sorry, that I won't be able to attend. Please send my love to all my Theta sisters.
 

From: Linda Kvam ‘72
 - I was really touched by the “Theta Phi” newsletter that I received over a month ago. I was especially surprised to see my name included in the list of “news” makers. Please tell Janice that she does a terrific job, and her efforts are appreciated by me and probably by everybody! I really enjoyed the luncheon last year and hope that you have a good time this year.

From: Ann (Bonventre) Van Damm ‘74
 - Sorry I will have to miss this year’s get together.  It’s my granddaughter’s 5th birthday and we are babysitting for the 3½ year old twins while mom and dad are in London.  Busy weekend.  Hello to all!!

From: Celeste (Silvers) Reingold ‘74
 - Well, I will be back in Florida by the annual luncheon. Maybe next year-hope all is well- I look forward to seeing the news of all the Thetas. I am in St. Pete Beach Florida is anyone comes down my way.

From: Linda (Yatchie) Goncher ‘75
 - I regret I won’t be able to attend. Have a great time Thetas!
 

Also, we received 2 individual donations towards the luncheon from:

Bob Mahoney, husband of Lolly Cox Mahoney ‘58. After Lolly passed away in 2021, Bob asked that we continue to send him the newsletter. He enjoys the connection to sisters he knew from when Lolly was at New Paltz. Last year he also sent us a donation.

 
Flo Ferguson Brandt ’68. Flow said that commitments keep her from attending luncheons but she wanted to help out.

Financial Update – Laurie Spiegel, Treasurer

2022: Last year, we began the year with $10,272.34 in the bank. Last October, we had twice the number of sisters attend the luncheon compared to the previous year and each plate was more expensive. So, we finished the year with a net luncheon expense of $558.70. With additional expenses for the newsletter and NY State income taxes, we ended the year with $9324.55 in the bank, a reduction of $947.79 from 2021. The 2022 financial statement is available here for anyone interested.

For this current year, with fewer sisters joining us today, our net expense for the luncheon will be around $175. Added to the typical newsletter and taxes expenses, Laurie expects the year to end with a reduction in assets of about $500. This will leave us with about $8800 in the bank.

The bottom line is that we have enough money to continue on, and we would like to plan for a luncheon next year.

Now this is the BIG news: 

 

With our NY State Certificate of Incorporation dated April 24, 1933, 

we are officially celebrating our 90th anniversary 

as a SUNY New Paltz sorority!  

Congratulations to each and every one of us, 

and everyone who came before us for this achievement!! 

Happy anniversary Theta Phi Gamma!! 

Let’s toast to that!!!

 

Thanks to Janice Oehler for sharing the following news about Lynn Heyman (68).

Janice said that Lynn sent her a bookmark from her latest novel, Paris Moments, which she wrote during the pandemic. 

 

Olga Vezeris (‘68), a dear friend of Lynn’s, has worked in publishing for over 30 years & helped with the editing in addition to giving Lynn support while she worked on her novel. Lynn has been invited to Paris & the French Riviera to do presentations of her book. She stated, “I am so happy to have a major following in France as well as here in the United States and around the world.”

According to the bookmark, Lynn has been a French teacher and has studied & spent years in Paris & throughout France.

We Mourn the Passing of Linda Whitaker Megdanis

Maryanne Herzog has shared the following news about the passing of Linda Whitaker Megdanis:

Linda’s husband reached out to me a week ago to share of Linda’s passing.

My heart is broken

Linda Megdanis Obituary

2022 LUNCHEON

Dear Theta Sisters-

In case you missed our annual newsletter via snail mail, here are the details on the upcoming luncheon.

THETA PHI ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Date: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022

Time: 12:00 NOON

Place: THE CREEKSIDE BISTRO – 1128 ROUTE 32, ROSENDALE, NY

MENU (Please select from the following):

ENTRÉE (CHOOSE ONE):

GRILLED CAJUN SALMON WITH CILANTRO

CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH GREEK MARINADE

SAUTEED BEEF TIPS

VEGETARIAN DISH

SIDES (CHOOSE TWO):

RICE

SALAD

FRENCH FRIES

CHIPS

POTATO CROQUETTES

COLESLAW

THERE WILL BE AN ASSORTMENT OF DESSERTS, COFFEE, TEA, AND SOFT DRINKS.

THE PRICE IS $25.00. Please reply to this email with your RSVP and food selection. Then send your check payable to Theta Phi Alumnae Association to Laurie Spiegel, 11 Murphy Circle, Florham Park, NJ 07932. THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 25.

Many thanks to Rosarie for planning this wonderful luncheon. QUESTIONS??? CALL PAT WITHERS 631-669-2018. We hope to see you all there.

Yours in Theta,

Laurie Spiegel,

Theta Phi Alumnae Treasurer

 

Alumnae News

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We Mourn the Passing of Four Theta Sisters

 Laurie Spiegel has shared this information about the passing of four of our Theta sisters.

Ruth Niesen Samuel

Ruth Samuel (Class of 1942) of Brick, NJ passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. Born in 1920, she was the oldest member on the Theta Phi roster. Ruth was one of the first women inducted into the US Coast Guard SPARs serving from 1943 to 1946. A charter member of Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, she is one of the female WWII veterans featured at the memorial in Arlington. Ruth was a second-grade teacher and worked as a substitute before her retirement.

Ruth Samuel Obituary (1920 - 2015) - 94, Brick, NJ - MyCentralJersey (legacy.com)

 

Nancy Keller Kelly

Nancy Kelly (Class of 1951) of Valatie, NY passed away in 2018 at the age of 89. She was a former kindergarten teacher at Kinderhook (Ichabod Crane) Central School District for over 20 years before working at the N.Y.S. Department of Taxation and Finance in Albany.  An avid golfer and volunteer, Nancy was “an extremely independent woman who continued to live at home by herself right up until her recent illness.”

 Nancy Kelly Obituary (2018) - Valatie, NY - Albany Times Union (legacy.com)

 

Eileen McFetridge

Eileen McFetridge (Class of 1953) was born in Oyster Bay, NY and lived in Greenport, NY when she passed away at age 85 in 2018. Eileen was a supporter and activist for affordable housing in the North Fork of Long Island worked to spearhead the Initiative for Community Land Trust of Southold Town.

Eileen McFetridge Obituary (1932 - 2018) - Greenport, NY - Newsday (legacy.com)

New groups seek to create affordable housing on the North Fork - The Suffolk Times (timesreview.com)

 

Alice Foley Martin

Alice Mary Foley Martin (Class of 1957), a lifelong resident of Warwick, NY, passed away at home in 2014 at age 78. Before retiring, Alice was an Art Teacher with the Monroe-Woodbury Schools in Central Valley, NY for 38 years and was an artist in her own right. She was a Supervisor for Student Teachers at SUNY, New Paltz.  She spent her life with horses and was an avid rider.

 

In Memory of Alice Foley Martin (lsvpmemorialhome.com)