Alumni Class Notes, May 2021
What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.
William L. Kovacs ’69, Great Falls, Virginia, was awarded the 2021 Independent Press Award (category Social/Political change) for his book "Reform the Kakistocracy: Rule by the Least Able or Least Principled Citizens." In 2020, his book received the bronze award from the Non-Fiction Book Association. It was also given five stars from Readers’ Favorite. "Reform the Kakistocracy" sets out how the federal government transformed itself from one of limited powers to one of immense power without any constitutional changes. Kovacs states, “These changes in institutional power fundamentally affect the relationship of citizens to their government. Government is now the master and citizens the servant of government. The loyalty of today’s elected officials is to a political party and interest groups, not to solving problems for citizens.” Unlike many books on government reform, "Reform the Kakistocracy" does not dangle fuzzy proposals in front of the reader; instead, it presents clear, thought-provoking ideas for reforming government.
Michael F. Cosgrove ’82, Dunmore, partner in the law firm of Haggerty Hinton & Cosgrove, LLP, is president-elect for the Lackawanna Bar Association and was elected president of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for 2021-22.
Michael A. Sebastian ’88, Moosic, has joined Marshall Dennehey’s Moosic, PA office as a shareholder in the Workers’ Compensation Department. Sebastian concentrates the entirety of his practice on workers’ compensation defense and represents employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators. With more than 20 years of experience, he has appeared on behalf of his clients before many local judges, the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board, the Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In addition to litigating claims, Sebastian counsels clients on implementing risk management strategies that focus on lowering workers’ compensation costs and avoiding liability exposure.
Judith Pinataro Castrogiovanni ’97, G’01, Moscow, principal of Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson Township, in the North Pocono School District, has been named Pennsylvania’s 2021 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) by the Pennsylvania Principals Association. As a state winner in the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal (NDP) Program, Castrogiovanni will be honored by NAESP and the PA Principals Association at special award ceremonies in the fall.
Melissa M. Donahue ’98, Philadelphia, has joined Bancroft Capital, a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, specializing in Institutional Brokerage and Capital Markets services, as vice-president. Donahue will work on the equity trading desk at the Fort Washington office and will assist with compliance and back-office operations.
Kelly A. Thompson-Brazill ’99, Wake Forest, North Carolina, has been promoted to associate professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, at Georgetown University.
Robin Raju ’04, Bronxville, New York, has been appointed to chief financial officer of Equitable Holding, a financial service holding company comprised of Equitable and AllianceBernstein.
BIRTHS
A son, David William Savino, to Dave ’13 and Cassie Doheny Savino ’14, Paramus, New Jersey
DEATHS
Hugh P. Donlan ’55, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
J. Roger Kemple ’58, Alachua, Florida
James J. Peyton ’59, Binghamton, New York
Edward M. Marinchak ’63, King of Prussia
David M. Philips ’69, Northampton
Col. Arthur T. Carey, USA, Ret. ’70, Jonesboro, Georgia
Paul Serpico ’70, Fairfield, New Jersey
Eugene F. Killiany ’73, G’78, Scranton
Patricia A. Mellow ’82, Forest City
Friends' Deaths
Christopher J. Sauer, son of Joseph F. Sauer ’64
