Archived News 2022        Home

December 27, 2022:
In memoriam: December 3, 2022:  Arthur Weigand, `53  Arthur David Weigand, 91, of Lawrence Kansas passed away on December 3, 2022 from natural causes. He was a beloved husband to Palmina C. Weigand. He was predeceased by his son David and left behind 5 additional children, 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. His humor and smile will be sorely missed.

In memoriam: September 21, 2022: Donald T. McClain, `59 Donald T. McClain, age 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at the Knollwood Nursing Center in Worcester. Born in Mount Kisco, NY, he was the son of the late Harold and Anna (Cunningham) McClain.

Don grew up in Mount Kisco, NY, and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. At 19 years of age, he joined the United States Army during the Korean War, stationed in Fort Gordon, GA. After moving back home, he went on to attend the now State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, where he met the love of his life, Angela “Angie” Castagnello. He finished his master’s degree in Education at SUNY and took advantage of an amazing job opportunity as the first lay Dean of Men at Holy Cross College in Worcester, bringing his family with him to Central Massachusetts. Later, Don became Dean of Students at Holy Cross College for many years and finally worked as Vice President for student affairs at Bradford College. He and his wife resided for almost 48 years in Holden before moving to Briarwood in 2020.  Don is survived by his loving wife, Angela McClain of Worcester, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his two brothers, William and Robert McClain.  He was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of St. George Church in Worcester.  Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Don’s family from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 25th, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 am on Monday, September 26th, at St. George Church, 40 Brattle St., Worcester. Burial will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, September 27th, at St. Francis Cemetery in Mount Kisco, NY.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Briarwood Salem Community Corporation for Residents’ Assistance Program, 65 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit the "Tribute Wall" on this page.  To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Donald T. McClain please visit our Sympathy Store.

[N.B.:  Don was president of Potter Club, 1958-1959.  As he continued toward his Masters as mentioned in the obituary he was also Potter Club House Manager, 1959-1960.]

September 9, 2022:  New York State Writers Institute event, courtesy of Joe Mullin, `77
Hello Jack,

I wanted to make sure you are aware of this event that is taking place on campus concerning a fellow clubber from the '70s. The New York State Writers Institute is focusing on a book written about a clubber.

Ben McGrath, from the New Yorker, wrote the book about Dick Conant after meeting him on the Hudson River. Dick was around  campus in the early 70's and as the book tells the story, he was a troubled soul but non the less a traveler who made friends where ever he went.

Perhaps you could put the event on the Club's Alumni website.

Here's a cut and paste about the event: 
In-conversation with Paul Grondahl on Riverman: An American Odyssey,
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Campus Center West Boardroom

Ben McGrath is the author of Riverman: An American Odyssey (2022), the true story of Dick Conant, a former UAlbany student and American folk hero who, over the course of more than 20 years, canoed solo thousands of miles of American rivers — and then disappeared near the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 2014. Conant received a scholarship to attend the University at Albany where he majored in art, played varsity soccer, and graduated in 1976. The New York Times reviewer said, “This quietly profound book belongs on the shelf next to Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild.” A longtime staff writer for The New Yorker, Ben McGrath has contributed more than 200 stories to “Talk of the Town.”

August 23, 2022:  In memoriam: Harold "Sparky" Vaughn, `50  
[N.B.: Harold's passing was brought to our attention by the UAlbany Alumni Office, Loida Vera Cruz.  It is posted here belatedly.]

Dr. Harold Albert Vaughn, Jr. died on January 9, 2022, at the age of 95. He is survived by his sisters Helen Ruoff and Celia Butterfield; his 8 children Karen Schlendorf, Connie Scaglione (Jim), Eric Vaughn (Ann), Melanie Duke (Kevin), Jason Vaughn, Chip Vaughn (Ellen), Chris Vaughn (Tracy), and Elizabeth Hern (Kevin) and their mother, Betty Jane Vaughn (nee Bittner); 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Maria Pia, two of his grandchildren, Christine and Peter Schlendorf, and many beloved family members. Harold was a man of letters, with a keen interest in culture and history. He developed a passion for international travel that only grew throughout his career in shaping and leading collegiate international studies programs at Syracuse University and the University of Arkansas. He fell in love with Florence in particular, establishing a second home there with his second wife Maria Pia. Harold was a lifelong member of the Rotary Club International and was very active in its programs and charity work. He would often attend Rotary meetings wherever he traveled and eventually developed terrific friendships around the world through Rotary. He was a dedicated member of the Cosmos Club and an active member of the National United Methodist Church. A Memorial Service to honor Harold's life will be planned for the Spring in Washington, DC. His remains will be interred at Southside Cemetery in South Glens Falls, NY, where his parents, grandparents and an infant son are buried. The family asks that any memorial donations in his name be made to the Peter Schlendorf Foundation (https://www.peterschlendorf.org) or the Rotary Club Foundation (https://rotaryclubdc.org/foundation/).
Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 13, 2022.

August 19, 2022:  In memoriam: Jack Kirby, `49  [N.B.: No obituary currently available.  It will be posted when it becomes available.]  Note from Sally Kirby:  It is with heavy hearts that Scott and I have to tell our friends and family that Scott’s Dad and my husband, Jack, passed away on August 3, 2022.  He was a wonderful father and husband and our lives are filled with beautiful memories of an intelligent, humorous and loving man.  His life was dedicated to his many Math students at Brockport Central School in Brockport, New York, who will remember him fondly.  We are comforted with the fact that he is not suffering anymore, and that he is with our Lord, his first wife, Jeanne, his parents, his brothers, and many friends. He is playing his trumpet with the angels.  There will be a Memorial Service at Northminster Presbyterian Church and the National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida,  probably in October.  Thank you for letting folks know. Sincerely, Sally Kirby.

August 17, 2022:  Wanderings of a Wayward Woodcarver by Gerry Holzman.  Gerry's latest book on his woodcarving career has been announced and is on sale.   Click on the following link for further ordering information:  Wanderings   Gerry hosted the 2007 Potter Club Reunion at Cooperstown.  Click on the  Photo Gallery link at the left to view the 2007 Reunion - Cooperstown Album for more than 80 pictures from that event.  Congratulations Gerry!

In memoriam: John Rookwood, `57
John R. Rookwood, a resident of Wappingers Falls, previously living in Charlestown, R.I. and Pleasantville, NY, passed away on August 5, 2022. He was 87. John was born on July 29, 1935, in Mt. Kisco, NY the son of the late John and Sarah Jean (Hendron) Rookwood Sr. John earned his bachelor’s degree from Albany University, where he also played basketball, and his master’s from Fordham University. On May 10, 1958, he married the love of his life Geraldine Marshall at St. Francis of the Assisi Church in Mt. Kisco. Geraldine passed away on May 4, 2015. John owned and operated G. Marshall Moving & Storage in Pleasantville, NY, and worked for 9 years for Ossining High School as a teacher, where he also coached basketball. He had a great love of sports especially basketball, football and baseball, and was a member of the Pleasantville Dad’s Club, where he also coached those three sports. John loved fishing and golf, and was very proud of his hole-in-one in Rhode Island. For 31 years, John volunteered for the Pleasantville Fire Department where he was past Chief. John is survived by his children: Laurie & Deacon Stephen Broussard of Wappingers Falls, NY, John Rookwood of Brewster, NY, and Mark and Francine Rookwood of Pelham, NY. His grandchildren Renee, Erin, Emily, Cooper, Shay, Francesca, and Richard. In addition to his parents and wife, John is predeceased by two brothers William Rookwood and Frederick Burlison, and his stepfather Morris Burlison. Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 9, 2022, from 4pm-8pm at the McHoul Funeral Home Inc. 895 Route 82 Hopewell Junction, NY. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at 10am at St. Columba Church. Interment to follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Mt. Kisco, NY. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department 75 Washington Avenue Pleasantville, NY 10570.

April 6, 2022: Membership Update:  Recent developments have uncovered several "new" Potter Club members, namely ones who had not been in our Potter Club Membership Database previously.  Dave Porter, `76 and Joe Mullin, `77, were able to create from their recollections a list of members from the late 70s era who had been missing from our DB.  They also were able to caption a photo from the 1976 yearbook that had been uncaptioned.  The new names have been added to the membership database and now appear in the Potter Club Directory in the link at the left.  A second file at the same link shows the names of those newly added with their Zip code included.  If a name is listed with a Zip Code = 00000, this is an indication that we do not know the status of the person, vis a vis, living or deceased.  If a name in any list has a Class Year with "h" following the year, it is an indication that the person has been designated as an "Honorary Member." 

We ask for your help in trying to track down any of the Zip=00000 members.  Any information should be sent to me to update the database.  Also at the same directory location is a link to the captioned photo.

In memoriam:  Chester F. Nedvesky, Jr., `79
Chester F. Nedvesky, Jr. : Rochester: May 17, 2017 son of Virginia and the late Chester F. Nedvesky. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday morning at 10AM at St. Anthony's Church, Fredonia, NY. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass and call on Tuesday 4-7PM at Fantauzzi Funeral Home, 82 E. Main St., Fredonia, NY.Published by Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on May 22, 2017. [N.B. No other obituary information has been found.]

January 24, 2022:  In memoriam:  Jon J. McCloskey, `69
Jon J. McCloskey, Guilderland, NY, passed away suddenly of natural causes on January 7, 2022. Jon was the son of the late John and Inez McCloskey of Johnson City, N.Y. He and his twin brother Peter were born on August 21, 1946. He was educated in the Johnson City school system and achieved a Master of Arts in economics at SUNY Albany in 1972. He was amember of Potter Club.  Jon continued his education to accumulate sufficient credits to earn a Ph.D. in economics, but was just short a dissertation to complete requirements. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1970. Jon began his long term state service with the N.Y.S. Department of Audit and Control in 1969. In 1972 he transitioned into the N.Y.S. Legislature and worked in various fiscal capacities in both the N.Y.S. Assembly and Senate. Jon noted that during his career he managed to be employed by both legislative majorities and minorities at various times. He served as the director of Committees on Racing and Wagering and was considered a well respected authority on these issues. He retired in 2002 and continued part-time work as a racing analyst for several years. Jon was known to be quite the athlete. In his earlier years he was a U.S. Olympic try-out for boxing. A long distance hiker and rock climber, he was a member of the 46'ers Club and travelled all over the country and world to pursue these interests. Later, he took up golf and played in many leagues throughout the Capital District. He was co-founder of "The Loop" at Western Turnpike golf course and was particularly proud of his two holes in one. Jon was a long-term member of the Elks in Guilderland. Besides his many accomplishments, Jon will be long remembered for his compassion for animals. He lovingly cared for many dogs and cats, both his own and sometimes even his neighbors, and donated regularly to a number of rescues. He had a kind and caring heart. Jon is survived by his twin brother, Peter of Mount Morris, N.Y. and innumerable friends. He will be missed. Per his wishes, Jon's cremains will be interred in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd., Schuylerville on Wednesday, January 26, at 12 p.m. In order to accommodate his many friends, there will be a celebration of life service on January 29, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Guilderland Elks, 3867 Carman Road, Schenectady. A reception will follow from 1:30- 3:30 p.m. Remembrances will also be held at Cat's Meow Restaurant, 14 New Karner Rd., Albany on February 13, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. and The Maple on the Lake Restaurant, 141 Warner's Lake Rd., East Berne (hours to be determined) on February 20, 2022. Please respect COVID-19 protocols at all indoor events. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the or an animal rescue of your choice. To leave a special message for the family online please visit www.NewComerAlbany.com 

[N.B.  See archives link at the left for previous years.]