Answer Special Call to Serve - King's College

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NEWS & NOTES Thomas V. Tobin 1926-2009 Tom Tobin ’51, King’s most senior faculty member, passed away in August. According to fellow faculty member Barry Williams, Tobin once wrote in a senior faculty review, “My association with King’s began at birth.” As a student and a faculty member, Tobin was a fixture of the King’s campus for 61 of the 63 years of the College’s existence and the 83 years of Tom’s existence. After being identified through high school aptitude tests as having engineering talents, Tobin took several classes at King’s College in New York City (now Columbia University) before entering the United States Air Force. He was a member of an engineering team that developed Walkie-Talkie upgrades needed for the Normandy Invasion. He later worked on the Manhattan Project, although he never knew his work would be used in the development of an atomic bomb. After his military discharge, Tobin, in a previous Pride profile, said he heard about the formation of King’s College and felt “it was opened just for me.” At King’s, he pursued his true passion, biology. He quickly formed a mentor-protégé relationship with original King’s faculty member Rev. Frank O’Hara, C.S.C. After being a lab instructor under O’Hara in his junior and senior years, Tobin won fellowships from the Danforth and National Science Foundations for advanced studies which he pursued at Boston College. Tobin was hired by King’s in 1952 and given the responsibility to develop the science curriculum and set up labs. “There was little money to buy lab equipment. My wife, Dolores, would often get angry with me because half of everything we had in our house, including baby food jars and ketchup bottles, ended up in the lab. The best things I learned from Father O’Hara were confidence and friendship, which I tried to pass along to my students.” Tobin once admitted that he had a reputation for “a no nonsense, work now, play later” approach to teaching that often intimidated his students. However, many of those same students have been consistent in their admissions that it was Tobin’s thoroughness that allowed them to have an easier time in advanced graduate and medical school courses than some of their counterparts. “There were three major parts of my father’s life: my mother, me and King’s,” Tobin’s daughter, Cynthia Jackson ’76, said recently. “King’s wasn’t just a job or career for my dad— it was his passion, his life’s mission. He was as excited about each new class and semester as the first year he taught.” Jackson also recalled, in lieu of a family vacation, accompanying her father on “road trips” to get eggs for use in In January, Tom Tobin, center was presented a plaque detailing the faculty development and research fund established in his honor by former students. Shown with Tobin are, first row, from left, Dr. Robert Paoletti, professor of biology and health professions advisor, a position Tobin occupied for many years; Father O’Hara, C.S.C., president; and Dr. Nicholas Holodick, vice president for academic affairs; Standing, from left, is Dr. David Glick, associate professor of biology; Father Tony Grasso, C.S.C., associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty; Dr. Ann Yezerski, associate professor and chair of the biology department; and Frank Oliver, vice president for institutional advancement. embryology classes. “My father working for King’s during those early years resulted in financial and time sacrifices for our entire family, but his dedication to the College never wavered.” Being the daughter of a biology teacher did have some advantages - Jackson recalls being “the most popular kid in the neighborhood” when Tobin brought home an alligator that had been donated to the College’s biology lab but grew too big to keep on campus. In the short time before he was able to relocate it to an amphibian farm in the Poconos, he would walk it in the neighborhood on a leash. Befitting Tobin’s special relationship with his mentor, he received in 1984 the Fr. Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Service Professor of the Sciences Award. During an on-campus memorial service held early in the fall semester, Tobin was recognized for his humility and devotion to his Catholic faith, his family, his students and the field of biology. Tobin rarely had his name stitched on his ever-present lab coat, instead using the inscription “Theophrastus,” a Greek philosopher who is widely credited for starting the study of botany and being the first physiologist. His constant recognition of those who came before him was also exhibited by the brick from Northampton Hall, the College’s original building, which Tobin kept in his office. His habit of whistling in the hallways was also mentioned by more than one speaker. A plaque dedicating to Tobin the second floor of the Parente Life Sciences Center where the biology offices and classrooms are now located hangs where he taught in his final years of service to King’s and his students. 32 Pride ✦ Fall 2009
Donor Profile Richard A. Alley, M.D. Dr. Alley has always understood the importance of education. His parents, who emigrated to the United States from Lebanon, stressed academics and the importance of giving back. Now semi-retired, Dr. Alley has had a distinguished medical career spanning almost 50 years and a long record of public service and charitable efforts. He has also participated in numerous medical missions to third world countries. He became a member of the King’s College Board of Directors in 2006 and was quickly impressed by the College and its senior staff. “Being a board member convinced me that King’s was deserving of my time and financial resources.” Dr. Alley recently took advantage of a “tax-free” giving option. “My accountant, pension plan advisors and the staff at King’s all informed me of this opportunity. Given the economic downturn of the last year, I thought this was a good way to make my gift to King’s College. Unless Congress extends the legislation past December 31, 2009, a window will close on a once in a lifetime charitable opportunity for philanthropists aged 70½ or older. This is the last year transfers from traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Accounts can be made to charities without paying income taxes on the distribution. Funds transferred directly to King’s College from IRAs do not qualify for an income tax deduction, but they do transfer without incurring any income tax liability, essentially the same net result as a 100% tax deduction. This is an excellent time to create a named scholarship endowment or other type of legacy at King’s College. For information contact Frank H. Oliver Vice President for Institutional Advancement at (570) 208-5882 or e-mail: frankoliver@kings.edu
Page 1 and 2: FALL 2009 Deacons- King’s Graduat
Page 3 and 4: Contents Fall 2009 PRESIDENT Rev. T
Page 5 and 6: Kevin Clark Mathematics, football a
Page 7 and 8: Dustin Stark, who received a degree
Page 9 and 10: Deacon Gene Kovatch is shown with s
Page 11 and 12: King’s Earns Place on CCAP/Forbes
Page 13 and 14: Faculty Profile Laurie Ayre Reading
Page 15 and 16: Faces of King’s Jacintha Burke Ad
Page 17 and 18: Matt Easterday named Head Swimming
Page 19 and 20: Knoblauch, Venarchick Achieve Rare
Page 21 and 22: Athletic Schedule Winter 2009-2010
Page 23 and 24: King’s Easter Egg Hunt Despite a
Page 25 and 26: R e u n i o n King’s Annual Reuni
Page 27 and 28: Campus Neighbor Celebrates Part of
Page 29 and 30: Alumni Profile Mike Angley ’81 Mi
Page 31 and 32: Joseph Newcomer ’94 was promoted
Page 33: Alumni Births Congratulations to Jo

Answer Special Call to Serve - King's College

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