Jack James ’62 hoists the Reunion Giving Participation Cup in celebration. The 50th anniversary class posted 48 percent participation in giving.

The 50th anniversary Class of 1962 broke the participation record for 50-year classes, and the 25-year Class of 1987 and the 10-year anniversary Class of 2002 both broke the previous records for total dollars raised for their anniversary years.

“Reunion gifts are a special opportunity for our alumni to stretch their giving level in honor of Oswego and the role it has played in shaping their lives today,” said Joy Westerberg Knopp ’92, director of annual giving. “It has been a tremendous honor working with these Reunion classes and our wonderful alumni volunteers this past year.  They should all be proud of their accomplishments.”

The 50th anniversary Class of 1962 won the Participation Cup for the highest percentage of donors, with 147 donors or 48.5 percent of the class chipping in to raise $37,620.23.

The Class of 1962 not only exceeded their first class goal of $30,000, but also their original participation goal of 35 percent.

Jack James ’62 and Ed Heinrich ’62 chaired the class’s giving effort, beginning in October 2011 with a committee of a half-dozen classmates. Both chairmen led by example, with Heinrich and his wife, Janet Albreght Heinrich ’63, endowing a scholarship and James establishing a charitable gift annuity as leader of the Sheldon Legacy Society, those who have remembered Oswego in their estate plans.

“The success we had was nothing more than persistence, follow up emails, phone calls and note writing,” said
Heinrich.

James explained the importance of supporting the college in honor of an anniversary year, saying, “Reunion giving makes a statement that alumni do participate in reunions, not just to gather back on campus to have fun, but also to make a worthwhile statement of our loyalty to our class and the institution.”

The Class of 1987 presented a check for the record-setting class gift to President Deborah F. Stanley, far left. Representing the class are reunion giving committee members, from left, Henry Seymour ’87, Kimberly Morella ’87, Kimberly Cockayne Brooke ’87, Elizabeth Gocs ’87, Lisa Marceau Schnorr ’87 and Keith Chamberlain ’87.

The Class of 1987, under the leadership of Reunion Giving Chair Lisa Marceau Schnorr ’87, skyrocketed past their $25,000 goal, raising $126,396, to break the $108,000 mark set by the Class of 1982 for their 25th Reunion.

The gift was boosted by a generous donation from a class member to establish a fund supporting international scholarships and initiatives at the college.

The Class of 1987 also carries the distinction of being the class which raised the largest senior class gift as students.

In addition, the 10th anniversary Class of 2002, under the leadership of Christopher Hockey ’02, surpassed their goal of $7,500 and broke a record by raising $13,162.64. The Class of 1998 set the previous record of $10,191.

Also successful in their fundraising efforts, garnering a total of $73,667.75 were the 20th anniversary classes, led by Fred Hinrichsen ’91 and Bob Hickey ’91, co-chairing the effort for the Class of 1991; Bill Schreiner ’92, leading the Class of 1992’s giving drive, and Nancy Smith Salisbury ’93 heading up the reunion giving effort for the Class of 1993.

“Gifts of all sizes truly do add up to make a difference for our students and these classes set a fine example for future classes celebrating their own Reunions,” said Knopp. “Their generosity will impact our students for years to come.”

Reunion 2013 is set for June 6 to 9, and Reunion Giving years are 1963, 1988, 2003, the 35th anniversary classes of 1977, 1978 and 1979, and the 15th anniversary classes of 1997, 1998 and 1999. To become involved in Reunion giving efforts, contact the Office of University Development at 315-312-3003 or develop@oswego.edu, and to help plan Reunion events and encourage classmates to attend, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 315-312-5559 or email reunion@oswego.edu.

All eyes were on March for Development Office fundraisers this year as a first-ever monthlong campaign that sought to boost young alumni giving kicked off.

Saawan Pathange M ’02 and Pei-Chang “Jessie” Wu M ’03 traveled the world to meet, fatefully, at SUNY Oswego. Specifically, their world-class romance developed in Penfield Library.

“We had our spot,” said Saawan with a smile. He and his wife, Jessie, now living and working in New York City, visited Oswego in the fall as part of the School of Business Alumni Symposium.

Pei-Chang "Jessie" Wu M '03, left, and Saawan Pathange M '02 made their unlikely acquaintance at Oswego and are now married. Both work in the financial industry in New York City.

The couple found love and a great education during their time as Lakers.

“Because I was here, I was able to focus,” said Jessie, a native of Taiwan who currently works as an associate at Neuberger Berman. “To be here, to learn from other students — that was an important part of it.”

Both came to Oswego through the International Education program.

“It’s quiet,” recalled Saawan, a native of India who came to Oswego via Sydney, Australia. “You have time here and there are not many distractions.”

Both said faculty and staff were an important part of their Oswego experience as well. Professor Chuck Spector in business and Gerry Oliver, now retired from the International Education office, were particularly helpful to them.

Saawan and Jessie come back to campus whenever they can and are very encouraged by the quality of students and expansion of programming in critical areas like international business.

“I think there has been tremendous progress,” said Saawan, a director for UBS Investment Bank. “It’s good for students to experience [what they do] at this level.”

The Oneida native’s time in Oswego included internships at Fort Ontario and the Football Hall of Fame in Ohio.

Matthew Urtz '02, M '05

“Anything in sports — a lot of people focus on the numbers. But baseball, football, all of them have amazing social aspects,” Urtz said.

Today he assists historians in each of Madison County’s 16 municipalities, fields questions for a “Stump the Historian” newspaper segment and handles numerous requests from genealogists near and far. l

1) Greatest moment in football history: Most historians point to the Giants-Colts NFL championship. But for me personally it was probably “The Drive” by John Elway. That was when football started to overtake baseball as America’s pastime, in my opinion.

2) Greatest moment in your history: The day
I married my wife.

3) Best History Channel program: MonsterQuest, Modern Marvels and Cities of the Underworld

4) Little-known Madison County fact: It is home to Gerrit Smith, one of six men who helped fund John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. It is also home to Colonel William Smith, who was one of George Washington’s top aides.

5) Something we didn’t know about SUNY Oswego: SUNY Oswego’s original name was Oswego Primary Teachers’ Training School.

6) Favorite Oswego myth: If you are under 100 pounds and it’s windy, you get excused from class.

7) Tough Oswego class: Econ 200: Principles of Macroeconomics

8) Most interesting query since becoming historian: Anytime you get into criminal requests prior to 1900, the stories can be quite humorous.

9) Most interesting thing about being a historian: I love the people, anyone researching their personal history has a great energy and excitement that makes the process very fun, and if you find information they were looking for, it’s very rewarding.

10) What makes Oswego home to you? Good friends, great experiences and a cheeseburger sub from Oswego Sub Shop.