TCNJ

28 The College of New Jersey Magazine Newman became a go-to resource in the aviation-building community. In 2022, he took on an especially complex project when pilot Jessica Cox, who was born without arms, asked him to help create what became known as the "Impossible Airplane," designed so she could operate it with her feet. Newman and about 20 volunteers from Ocean County's Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 898 spent four years adapting the plane's controls, radios, and gull-wing doors to Cox's needs. In summer 2026, they shipped the aircraft to Mesa, Arizona, where another crew is reassembling it ahead of flight testing and Federal Aviation Administration approval. GLENN FUCHS '85 LIFE SAVER HIS JOB: Graphic designer at Bristol Myers Squibb HIS PASSION: Giving blood RARE BIOLOGY: O-negative and CMV- negative blood makes him a universal donor whose blood can safely go to just about anyone on Earth. THE TURNAROUND: Initially had a fainting spell during a blood drive in his 20s but was coaxed back years later by a coworker at BMS. Since then, he has had 27 separate donation appointments and given more than 3.5 gallons of blood. SCI-FI CROSSOVER: A Star Wars fan, he posts pictures of his post-donation arm bandage with the hashtag: "This is the way." MARIA HOPPER '62 FAMILY TREE TRACER LIFELONG LEARNER: Retired from teaching in 2004. Became a certified genealogist in 2006. NOT A PASSING PASSION: Was waiting in line to buy a Cub Scout uniform for her oldest son in the early '70s; spotted a merit badge book on genealogy on a wire rack, bought it, and never looked back. "Best 50 cents I ever spent," she says. DETECTIVE WORK: Treats genealogy like solving mysteries, diving deep into colonial wills, deeds, and historical records. Self-published the first six generations of the Hopper family. COOL CONNECTION: Found that her family is related to the famous artist Edward Hopper. He is her children's seventh cousin three times removed. TOM CASAZZA '94 BRICK MAKER THE BRICK BOND: Picked up LEGO building as an adult, a passion that accelerated during the COVID pandemic with the creation of a massive six-table LEGO city in his garage. ACT ONE: As a student at TCNJ, worked in Kendall Hall on the main stage, focused on lighting design. Built a career in technical theater and is currently a business development manager at InterAmerica Stage. SET DESIGNS: Designed a custom minifigure-scale theater and named it Builtmor Theater, but his inspiration came from the look of Kendall Hall. It features working front-of- house lighting, an orchestra pit, and interchangeable sets for more than 30 different productions, including Sweeney Todd with a working trapdoor, which he displays at regional conventions. Today, Newman shares his expertise with fellow builders through the chapter. Together, they are rehabbing a donated aircraft whose sale will create a scholarship fund for people pursuing flight training, whether for a career or as a hobby. At 89, Newman still flies weekly when weather permits, alongside a younger pilot, and continues building aircraft. "There hasn't been a time that I don't have an airplane in the workshop," Newman says. "There will continue to be one there until I can't do it any longer." Arlene '62 and Robert '62 Newman met at a sock hop. WHAT IS YOUR CALLING? SHARE YOUR INTERESTS AND HOBBIES WITH US AT MAGAZINE@TCNJ.EDU.

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