2019 Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony April 27, 2019

Congratulations to all inductees! 

Tony Butler, Jr. ‘67

Tracy Cooney Farley ’83, RCSD staff

Arthur Felt ‘67

Susan Garrigan ‘75

G. Arthur “Art” & Marie Lee Hall 1902, Posthumous

James Kapp ’69 Lasalle Institute & RCSD Faculty & Athletic Coach

Robert “Pat” “Scoop” Lewis ’67, Posthumous

Lt. Col. Ret. Thomas Mulyca ‘69

Doris Nichols Roberts '71

Karen Urbanski Faculty & Administration

Robert J “Wimpy” Whitford ’82, Posthumous

 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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To the 2019 Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Committee, we thank you:

Chair, Lynne Beiermeister ’69 (venue, selection committee, program, booklets, Powerpoint, mistress of ceremony, decorations & displays)
Deborah Irving Reimann ’74 (venue, set up and take down)
Ginny Colvin Lazzaro ’69 (finances)
Thomas Mulyca ’69 (program and Powerpoint)
Doris Nichols Roberts ’61 (registration, raffle, set up and take down)
Howard ’54 & Ruth Keenholts ’56 Dickson (cake and flowers)
Paul Werner’61 (awards)
Gerry Mullaney ’65 (registration and raffle)
Melody (Photographer)

The committee is grateful for the following who gave of their time, talents and financial support:

The Selection Committee members and Nominators
Harpists: Karen Troxell Garhartt ’72 & Susan DiFiore
Donors: Price Chopper, Lynne Beiermeister ’69, and Michael Stammel ’73. Birch Hill Staff

As always, the Alumni Association wishes to acknowledge the support of all active alumni, the Board of Education and RCSD staff, Administration Members, especially, former superintendent Sally Shields, current superintendent Joseph Kardash, Former Principal Karen Urbanski, President of the Board of Education John Mooney, and Faculty Liaison Denise Wright

THANK YOU!

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2019 Selection Committee
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Lynne Beiermeister is an alumna of the class of 1969 and a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee. Post-high school, Lynne attended the Goethe Institut in Germany and graduated with a BA from SUNY Albany (English and History) in 1973. Post college education included courses at Hudson Valley Community College (Accounting) and the University of Connecticut in conjunction with Rutgers University (Management Analysis). Lynne worked for the NYS Office of Mental Health in Quality Assurance, Licensing and Standards Compliance for 33 years, retiring in 2006. Before becoming president of the RHS Alumni Association in 2011, she was co-president of the Friends of the Albany Berkshire Ballet and sat on the ballet’s board for several years as her daughter studied and danced with the company. Although she currently lives in Voorheesville, Lynne’s Rensselaer roots include her great-grandfather John Hall, Mayor 1919-20 and her grandfather Louis Dutcher, former VRHS principal and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee. Her mother, sisters and aunts also attended VRHS. Lynne enjoys genealogy, gardening, travelling and has an antique business.

Michael Dunn is the President of Kubricky Construction Corporation. Kubricky Construction is an industry leading, large heavy civil construction group that has completed some of the most complex and vital infrastructure projects throughout the northeast. Kubricky Construction is a proud member of the DA Collins Companies headquartered in Wilton, New York. Since 2007, Mike has served on the Faculty Advisory Committee for both the Civil Engineering and Civil Technology Departments at Hudson Valley Community College. Aside from his passion to build, Mike actively supports several local charities and youth organizations such as the Rensselaer Middle School, Albany Lady Falcons and the Franklin Community Center.  Michael Dunn is a 1983 graduate of Rensselaer High School, 1986 graduate of HVCC and a 1988 graduate of University of Albany. In 2017 Mike was inducted into the Rensselaer High School Alumni Hall of Fame for outstanding achievement in business and community service. 

Tessa Sedlar is an alumna of the class of 2002. Upon graduating, Tessa entered The College of Saint Rose where she graduated with an Art Education degree, a minor in Art History, and a concentration in Photography. Tessa completed her Master’s in Education in Literacy at The University of New England and returned to Saint Rose to further continue Graduate work in the Arts. Tessa began teaching art at Van Rensselaer Elementary in 2007 and is now currently teaching in the junior senior high school. During her 12 years teaching in Rensselaer, Tessa has been a head coach for modified girls’ basketball, assistant coach for varsity girls’ basketball, assistant coach for track, assistant coach for weightlifting, senior class advisor, builder’s club advisor, Secretary of the Alumni Association, and a member of many clubs and committees. In her free time, Tessa is known to be an avid boxer and former professional football player. As a running back and linebacker, her team won a National Championship in women’s tackle football.  In her free time, Tessa loves to paint.

Christopher Leahey is a member of the class of 1983 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. Chris began his career as a teacher and coach at Bishop Maginn High School. For seven years, Chris was the Head JV Coach and guided the 1992 and 1993 teams to be undefeated. During this time Chris was also the Executive Director of the Rensselaer City Youth Bureau bringing the “Great American Circus” to Rensselaer twice. After leaving this position, Chris stayed on as a volunteer and became the Chairman of the Youth Board. It was then that Chris spearheaded the massive Coyne Field renovation project and Riverfront Park was re-designed at little to no cost to the city. Chris has also served on the Board of Directors for the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Southern Rensselaer County and worked at Camp Adventure at Burden Lake for several years. In 1997, Chris left Maginn for the South Colonie Central School District where he became an Associate Principal at Colonie High School in 2003, a position he held for ten years. Since 2014, Chris has been the Associate Principal at Lisha Kill Middle School. More volunteer work followed starting an annual golf tournament to raise funds for the Nelson Wilkinson – J. Donald Leahey Memorial Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is awarded annually to two Rensselaer High School student-athletes attending college, the service, or a trade school. Chris has also raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society and the Children’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Other positions held by Chris were: Rensselaer Pop Warner coach for two years; Advisor for the Rensselaer County Youth Employment and Training program; Grammar school basketball coach at the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Southern Rensselaer County; JV baseball and Varsity assistant coach for the 1991 Rensselaer High School New York State Championship baseball team; and physical education teacher at St. Joseph’s in Rensselaer. He is an honorary life member of the E.F. Hart Hose fire company in Rensselaer and is a member of the Rensselaer Knights of Columbus #267.

Deborah J. (Irving) Reimann is an alumnus of the Class of 1974. Deb is a lifelong resident of the City of Rensselaer. After graduation, Deb worked for National Commercial Bank and Trust Company while taking Continuing Education Classes through the American Institute of Banking and Hudson Valley
Community College. She started her career in Health in 1981 managing a small Cardiology Practice. As the practice grew, Deb’s knowledge and experience in the industry, along with attending Empire State College (Business Administration) has led to having the ideal position today of Application Specialist in the Operations Division of Community Care Physicians. Deb continues to be involved in her community being a member of the Rensselaer Kiwanis, Friends of the Library and Vice President of the Rensselaer Alumni Association. Deb and her husband Bill enjoy their camp on Brant Lake with family and friends.

 

Albany Times Union article