St. Mike’s community wishes ‘Happy Trails’ to retirees

 See a photo gallery of retiree event in Dion>>

The Saint Michael’s community gathered in Dion Student Center’s Roy Room late in the afternoon on Monday, May 22, to honor employees retiring through the Voluntary Separation Plan offer put forth by the College earlier this year.

Congenial fellowship over tasty Sodexo food included many former employees who returned and heard brief remarks from President Jack Neuhauser – also, from Human Resources Vice President Michael New, who is among the retirees and wished everybody “Happy Trails,” echoing one of his childhood TV favorites, Roy Rogers, whose theme-song lyrics he read aloud.

Here are employees who will be retiring June 30, 2017:

Jeffrey Adams , associate professor of psychology; Catherine Hurst, professor of fine arts/theatre; David Landers, instructor of psychology; Adrian Languasco, associate professor of modern languages and literature (Italian) for more than 50 years; Edward Mahoney, professor of religious studies and director of the Center for Faith and Culture; Denise Martin, instructor of biology; Karen Abbott, administrative coordinator for graduate education; Anthony Aldieri, night custodian; Stephen Barnier, night custodian; Karen Donovan, licensure coordinator; Harry F. Hoppe Jr., print services coordinator/press operator; Grace Kelly, associate dean of students/director of student activities; Kenneth Kretzer, technical trades/HVAC; Joe Kroger, professor of religious studies; Joyce McNight, evening and night custodian; Janet Post, purchasing services specialist, Neal Robinson, vice president for finance, and Robert Vallie, investigator/liaison officer, A host of others who have indicated they will retire within the next two years through the VSP terms also were at this event.

Rev. Brian Cummings, SSE, director of Campus Ministry, in his opening prayer thanked God for the retirees’ years of service and dedication and love of students and “for their sharing in our Edmundite mission.”

New of Human Resources said many of the longest-serving retirees spent their entire professional careers at the College. He and President Neuhauser gave special thanks to former Board of Trustees Chair Bill Chadwick, who had traveled some distance to attend and recognize many retirees he had worked with and knew well.

Before a toast, President Neuhauser offered that an institution of higher learning is basically “what we pass on to other generations over a long period of time … and together you accomplished an awful lot for this institution.” Something to keep in mind, he said, is “how many lives got changed because of the time you spent here.”  Neuhauser encouraged everybody to ponder ways they might have changed the course of colleagues’ and students’ lives through little things done on a day-in-day-out basis. “I think we do that remarkably well … we take care of each other,” the president said.  He closed by voicing his hope that such celebrations might continue regularly with the newest retirees returning for them, just as many emeritus employees had for this event. “You’re still here in a very real way,” he told them.

Neuhauser had sent a note to the honored retirees earlier in the week, stating: “in gratitude for your service the College will be making a donation to Camp Ta Kum Ta in your name and those retiring with you this June.”

New, joking that nobody had cause to worry since he only planned to read the familiar song lyrics, said his tribute (with apologies to Roy Rogers) was his wish for the retirees: “…. some trails are happy ones, others are blue, it is the way you ride the trail that counts, here is a happy one for you.”