TCNJ

47 CLASS NOTES SPRING 2021 In Memoriam Remembrances Amelia Blyden, 1928–2020 Professor of special education emerita When Amelia Blyden joined the special education faculty at TCNJ in 1985, Amy Dell, one of her colleagues, took her under her wing. "She came to us with a different background," says Dell, "so I mentored her and helped organize her classes and engage the students." Blyden, who earned a music education degree in 1949 and taught in Atlantic City, New Jersey, spent decades overseas, primarily in Africa. It wasn't until she returned to the U.S. in the late 1970s that she pursued her PhD in special education. Her different path proved to be an asset to the college and the students she taught. "She was interested in diversity, which was called multiculturalism at the time," says Dell. Blyden promoted a supportive environment for all students and infused that into the curriculum. Ann Shenkle '65, MEd '71, who was chair of the special education department at the time, agrees: "Multicultural education was important to her and later became important for us all." Roger Rada MEd '77, 1929–2020 Professor of health and physical education emeritus and coach "Find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life," was a lesson Roger Rada '77 often taught the baseball and softball athletes he coached. "He was our treasure," says Robin Payne '83, a softball player who witnessed Rada's love for teaching on the field and in the classroom. Payne, a self-proclaimed "sportsaholic," took Rada's words to heart. "I have coached at the university level, and I owned a business as a private instructor and travel coach," she says. "So you can say I have the same passion as he did, and I thank him for that gift." "He was the father figure I needed," says Michelle Carlson Neveling '95. "I depended on his compassion and kindness daily." Chet Snook '73, a TCNJ Hall of Fame baseball player, also modeled his life after Rada's: "I have spent the last 48 years of my life doing what I do because Coach Rada was the mentor I aspired to be." '40s Jean Goodell Slattery '42 Angelina DeRosa Briar '43 Marion Johnson Eklund '43 '50s Miles Riggin '50 Helen M. Schutz '50 Joanne Vaughn Stieold '53 Robert Y. Perinchief '57 Cynthia Heller Hoffman '59 '60s Christine Arce Olivieri '60 Carole R. MacKes '62 Marianne Cardillo Muggenburg '62 Joseph C. Paparone '62 Roberta Liberty Swade '63, MA '65 Joseph H. Rugarber '64 Philip A. Scheurer '65 Carol M. Clark '66, MA '71 Regina E. Slezak '66 John J. Lare '67 Donald P. Trucano '67 Marian Bode Bac '68 Jean Herman Brindle '68 Crosby Copeland MEd '68 Gloria Carusi Quigley '68, MA '72 Diane Zuck '68 '70s William P. Clausen MEd '70 Bette Gray Hance MEd '70 Robert A. Leete MA '70 Jean M. Seibel MEd '71 Suzanne A. Klesse MA '72 Barry W. Nottle MEd '72 Guido R. Piccolo '72 Ralph C. Stark MEd '73 Thomas M. Hopewell '74 George R. Kortbawi '74 Frieda F. Feller MEd '76 William J. Robinson '76 Inez S. Adkins MA '77 Kinga Parker '78 Gary S. Kuzniak MEd '79 '80s Peter G. Korey MA '80 James O'Shea '82 John A. Ferrick '83 Mark Nebbia '83 '90s Philip A. Bevilacqua '90 Corinne Transue Sikora '93 Vincent P. Mule '94 Maria Gioe Czumbil '95 Faculty Eileen M. Burke, professor of language and communication sciences emerita Otto A. Heck, professor of biology emeritus Editor's Note: In our Winter 2021 issue, we regretfully named two alumni on this list who are, in fact, still with us and doing quite well. They were Jean Davis Owen '59 and Joan Williams Pachuta '64, MEd '75. We apologize for our mistakes. The good news is both women had some fun catching up with college friends who called to check in on them. Class notes and Family Album photos are available only in the print edition. To submit your news and photos, visit alumni.tcnj.edu or write us at alumni@tcnj.edu.

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