FALL 2011 - The University of Scranton

DENNIS SIZE ’76
Shining Bright on the Biggest Stages
While millions across the globe
watched the pomp and circumstance
surrounding this spring’s
Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine
Middleton in London, Dennis Size ’76,
too, was overcome with emotion.
It was hay fever season in England, and a
relentless sneeze and cough were making his
18-hour workdays even more fatiguing.
As vice president of design for the
Lighting Design Group (LDG), the United
States’ largest broadcast lighting design
company, Size was in Great Britain with
Steve Brill, president of LDG, overseeing
a crew of 30 and setting up more than 20
television studios throughout London.
Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and
Robin Roberts were among the onscreen
personalities Size and his team lit. Essentially,
if a television program appeared on ABC
or Comcast’s bevy of networks, the LDG
handled its wedding coverage.
“Unfortunately, working the wedding
wasn’t as romantic as it sounded,” Size laughs.
“It was a mammoth undertaking, right when
London was going through one of the biggest
heat waves in its history.”
But as they say in the theater, the show
must go on.
For Size, his three-week commitment to
the Royal Wedding was just one of a series
of notable productions he’s tackled this year.
Thanks to a well-earned reputation – he’s
a three-time recipient of the Emmy Award
for Outstanding Lighting Design – Size and
his staff had a jam-packed summer lighting
events such as the Ames Iowa Straw Poll,
Good Morning America’s Summer Concert
Series in Central Park, ABC’s new daytime
show The CHEW, and the Republican Presidential
Debate in Orlando, Fla.
In addition to lighting most of London this
spring, Size illuminated superstars Beyonce
and Lady Gaga and presidential hopefuls
Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul.
Having worked on hundreds of television
productions throughout his career, including
Oprah and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,
Size wouldn’t have it any other way.
“As I’m fond of telling people, you can’t
turn on your television at any time of the day
or night and not see a show that we do,” he
says. “Plus, I love what I do, and I don’t want
to get bored staying too long in the same
place.”
Since his break into television production
more than three decades ago as a vacation
replacement on the daytime drama Ryan’s
Hope, Size has always enjoyed the challenge of
“setting up the picture of the stage.”
“Dennis never ceases to amaze me with his
boundless energy and enthusiasm for whatever
he is working on,” says Rich Larsen, professor
of English and theatre at Scranton.
Larsen recalls that when Size returned to
campus to work on a University production
years ago, the students took to him immediately.
“Dennis really impressed them with his
wit, talent and accessibility,” Larsen recalls.
The bright lights of the entertainment
industry are a far cry from what Size set out
to do upon enrolling at Scranton. Initially
a pre-med student, Size soon realized it was
theater production in his future, not medicine.
“It wasn’t until years later that I understood
if it wasn’t for Scranton, I wouldn’t have realized
what I really wanted to do,” he explains.
“My courses at Scranton didn’t prepare me for
what I do today, but what the University did
offer me was a lot of experience – and a lot of
life lessons.”
Before stars such as Beyonce (top)
and the legendary Dick Clark (at
left) can shine on stage or in the
studio, Dennis Size ’76 (below; at
left with Dick Clark), a renowned
lightning designer,
is responsible
for making their
performances look
just right.
Michelle Bochanski, DPT ’07, Washington Twp,
N.J., received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy
from the University of Rhode Island. v
Jenna Brown, D.O. ’07, Lewisburg, received the
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine in June.
She will continue her medical training in family practice
at Williamsport Regional Medical Center. v
Joegi Mathew ’07, North Massapequa, N.Y., is a
fund controller for Tishman Speyer where he oversees
the accounting for two real estate funds. v
Melissa Thompson, D.O. ’07, Norristown, received
the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in
June. She will continue her medical training in
family practice at Mercy Suburban Hospital. v
Colleen Zanis, D.O. ’07, Ardmore, received the
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine in June.
She will continue her medical training in psychiatry
at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. v
Sarah Kosydar ’08, Media, recently returned from a
mission trip to Guatemala where she volunteered
for Hearts in Motion. Sarah is a physician assistant
with Just Kids Pediatrics in Newark, Del.
Andrew Calogero ’10, Brookside, N.J., is assistant
stage manager at The Shakespeare Theatre of
New Jersey.
Mia Collarini ’11, Jessup, was named head coach
of Scranton’s softball program. In addition to
becoming the 12th head coach in the program’s
35-year history, she is pursuing a Master of
Science in school counseling.
Marriages
Gerald Straub’67 to Kathy Ofeldt
Carisia Switala ’82 to Lekan Obadeyi
Katharine Suarez ’93 to Justin Kletter
Thomas Kelly ’97 to Carie Sarrapede
Denise Mahalidge ’98 to Matthew Derricks
Kristin Wunner ’98 to Michael Mark
Nicole Lane ’02 to Alan Hoff
Andrea Lawruk ’02 to Luke Woolley
Eric Mosblech ’02 to Nicole Sublette ’03
Christine O’Herron ’02 to Eric Johnson
Nancy Panarese ’02 to Kyle Pierson
Patricia Meli ’03 to Henry Pruzhansky
Leigh Muraca ’03 to Daniel King
Lauren Van Slooten
Burchill ’89 married
Richard Burchill, and
the couple celebrated
their third anniversary
in March. Lauren
Burchill completed her
master’s degree from
Montclair State
University in 1996.
She is currently
working as a
psychotherapist in
private practice.
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ScrantonAlumni