N N IAL CEL O - Youngstown State University

A Proud Past A Promising Future A Proud Past A Promising Future A Proud Past A Promising Future A Proud Past A Promising Future A Proud Past A Promising Future A Proud Past A Promi
emoies
Dr. Ronald E. Domen, ’72, BA
One of my fondest memories at YSU was of Dr. Elmer
Foldvary, a chemistry professor, who taught me three quarters
of organic chemistry.
During our first laboratory session, he said, “Class,
Youngstown is the most dangerous place between Cleveland
and Pittsburgh. Pay attention to your experiments.”
It wasn’t long after that pronouncement that a student
succeeded in creating an explosion in the laboratory.
Dr. Foldvary was very approachable and took an erstwhile
student under his wing and encouraged me to do the
best I could. Eventually I earned an “A” in the third class of
his that I was enrolled in, and he wrote me an excellent letter
of recommendation for medical school.
I attended YSU between 1968 and 1971, before I headed
off to Mexico to go to medical school. I will be forever
indebted to YSU for providing me with an opportunity to
succeed. Thank you.
(Dr. Domen of Hummelstown, Pa., is a professor
of pathology, medicine, and humanities and associate dean
for graduate medical education at Penn State University
College of Medicine.)
Jennifer Suhovecky Gallo
’99, BSAS, ’04, BSE,
’05, MPH
My favorite memories
at YSU all stem from one
defining semester when I took
Dr. Kathy Akpom’s human
sexuality course.
I had yet to determine
what major I was going to
pursue. But after having such
an amazing professor – who
truly cared about her students
– I knew what I wanted to
do with my life. I wanted to
strive to be like Dr. Akpom.
After that class, I declared community health as my major
and then went on to obtain an MPH as well, all because I
had an educator who made students eager to learn because of
her enthusiasm and passion.
The fact that my future husband, Justin Gallo, ’00, was
also in that class was an added bonus.
Thank you, Dr. Akpom, and Youngstown State for providing
me with the education I needed to follow my dreams.
(Gallo, who resides in North Ridgeville, Ohio, is a health
educator and outreach coordinator for Family Planning Services
of Lorain County.)
The staff of the YSU Magazine want to hear more memories about your
university for the special centennial issue to be published in Winter 2008.
Don’t miss your opportunity to share your memories in the Centennial
issue of the YSU Magazine. Forward memories to universitymagazine@ysu.edu,
call 330-941-3519 or fax 330-941-1704.
36 Youngstown State University
Graduates Share Memories of
Youngstown State Years
Tom Fabek, ’50, BA
A special memory of mine has
to do with an instructor, Pauline
Botty. Ms. Botty taught statistics
for non-engineering students. She
challenged us to use more than 10
percent of our brain power.
I also have fond memories of
Dr. Dykema, who examined why we
all speak differently. Mary B. Smith,
who worked at the university for
decades, became a dear friend.
I also remember having classes
in the main building (now Jones Hall).
I enlisted in the Navy on July 1, 1944, while I was in the
11th grade, before I graduated from South High School. I was
a minesweeper in the Pacific.
While I was in school, I worked steady nights at the telephone
company, then worked for Ohio Bell for 40 years. Most
of my career was in Cleveland as the plant supervisor.
Because everybody treated us so well at the college, I
established three scholarships.
I also have donated dozens of books to Maag Library.
I feel very fortunate to have five great kids that I raised on
my own and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dr. F. John Naples, ’33, BA
I have many memories of my time
at Youngstown College.
After graduating from Rayen
High School in 1929, I enrolled at
Youngstown College.
The Great Depression was a factor
– my only expenses would be tuition
and lab fees.
It also helped that, as a freshman,
I won a $50 prize from a national
chemistry contest. Tuition was $75 a
semester.
Classes mainly were held in one of two mansions on Wick
Ave., with chemistry laboratories in the basement of the business
college.
I started advanced chemistry courses in my sophomore
year, when I met Dr. Eugene D. Scudder. He decided to convert
the kitchen into a lab.
In 1933, I accepted a scholarship to the University of Vermont,
earned a master of science degree in physical chemistry
in one year and a doctorate in organic chemistry by 1936. In
1937, I was appointed head of the Chemistry Department at
Springfield Junior College in Illinois.
Three years later, President Howard Jones offered me a
full-time position as associate chemistry professor. In another
three years, the draft board intervened, and I accepted a position
as a research chemist at Goodyear in Akron and stayed
until 1977, when I reached the mandatory retirement age.
C e l e b r a t i n g
100 Years
Banners, special music, parades, reunions and parties are
among the many special events planned to celebrate YSU’s
100th birthday.
The Centennial Celebration clock starts ticking – literally –
at halftime of the annual homecoming football game on Saturday,
Oct. 20, in Stambaugh Stadium. At that time, a large digital clock
will officially start the Centennial Celebration and will count down
to homecoming on Oct. 28, 2008, the official end of the year-long
celebration.
Centennial Celebration Kickoff/
Homecoming, Oct. 20, 2007
• Homecoming Parade, 2 p.m., Fifth Avenue,
• Alumni Terrace Dinner, 2:30 p.m., Stambaugh Stadium
• Special pre- and post-game tailgate parties.
• YSU vs. Illinois State, 4 p.m., Stambaugh Stadium
• Original Centennial music composition, halftime.
• Centennial Celebration clock countdown, halftime.
• 50th reunion, 11 a.m., Oct. 21, Stambaugh Stadium.
Alumni will receive more information soon about other
Homecoming 2007 events. For more information, contact
Alumni Relations at 330-941-3497 or www.ysu.edu/alumni.
Centennial Banners
To help recognize YSU’s 100-year presence in Youngstown,
a 45 feet wide by 80 feet long banner will adorn the front of
Stambaugh Stadium on the YSU campus. It is one of three banner
projects underway to celebrate the university’s Centennial. Similar,
smaller banners, at right, will be hung throughout the campus core
and around the campus perimeter. In addition, These 100 Years
‘Art’ Over, a project that includes 50 banners with original artist
designs, will debut at the Summer Festival of the Arts in July 2008.
Centennial Music
Several months ago, YSU put out the word for
composers to create an original fanfare to commemorate
the university’s centennial. Nearly
20 musicians entered the contest, and the
composition will debut at halftime of
homecoming on Oct. 20.
Summer 2007 37