Alumni Association Gala
The Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Association hosted its annual Alumni Gala on Saturday, April 7, 2018, 5 p.m., in Heritage Hall at the Living Learning Center, Pitt-Johnstown campus.

THANK YOU to all alumni and friends who attended or supported our recent Alumni Gala, which honored five of our most distinguished alumni.

The 2018 gala was one of our most well-attended galas to date and honored more alumni than ever.
A special thanks to our two Gold Sponsors, Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity and UPMC, and to our Patron Sponsors, Conemaugh Health System, Excelsior Wines, and Seton Hill University.

The Pitt-Johnstown Alumni Association, comprised of an all-volunteer board of alumni, serves the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and its alumni network of more than 22,000 graduates through alumni membership programs, fundraising and networking events, and student scholarships.

Distinguished Alumni Award
Honors alumni with significant accomplishment in their careers and a commitment to Pitt-Johnstown

Rob DeMichiei ’87, Business Economics 

Robert A. DeMichiei is a certified public accountant and serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UPMC.  Before joining UPMC, a $17 billion health care provider and finance system with more than 30 academic, community and specialty hospitals, international and commercial operations, and an insurance division with over 3.2 million members,  Mr. DeMichiei held various executive and management roles with the General Electric Company (GE) and Price Waterhouse in Pittsburgh. 

Rob currently serves as the Finance Committee Chairman of the United Way of Allegheny County.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of UPMC Hamot, UPMC Passavant and UPMC Susquehanna Hospitals, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Board of Directors and the Seton Hill University Board of Trustees. Rob, a Kappa Delta Rho, and his wife, Amy (a Pitt-Johnstown graduate and Alpha Sigma Alpha), have four children and reside in Hampton Township, PA.

Alumni Memorial Award
Remembers alumni who are no longer with us but demonstrated the qualities of Pitt-Johnstown through their life

Samuel Hicks ’99, Biology

Special Agent Samuel S. Hicks grew up in Scottdale, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. While a student at Pitt-Johnstown, Samuel was an active participant in the campus community as president of the Acacia Fraternity, women’s soccer coach, and ice hockey player. After graduating in 1999, Samuel pursued a career in law enforcement, first as a police officer in Maryland.

Samuel joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2007. In August 2008, he was one of 11 agents chosen from across the country to attend a special training in Amman, Jordan. Tragically, on November 19, 2008, Special Agent Samuel S. Hicks was shot and killed in the line of duty while executing a federal search warrant at a home in Indiana Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was only 33 years old and left behind family, friends and colleagues. To honor Samuel, the FBI named their Baltimore field office “The Sam Hicks Building.”

In 2009, the Samuel S. Hicks Memorial Fund was established to support youth programs such as scouts and local soccer clinics, as well as families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. The Fund also supports outstanding Pitt-Johnstown students majoring in the Justice Administration and Criminology program.

Rachel Logan, Copy Editor
April 12, 2017

After a recent temporary suspension of Kappa Zeta, Pitt-Johnstown is home to only one social sorority out to four social fraternities.

Finance and Administration Vice President Amy Buxbaum, also a Campus Title IX coordinator, said that there is no violation of equal opportunity for men and women.

“(Pitt-Johnstown) does not organize these groups or recruit for them. We simply provide equal opportunities for both sororities and fraternities to organize on campus.

“This is different than varsity athletics programs, which we actively organize and direct, which are subject to Title IX.”

A memorandum from the federal Department of Education, dated May 3, 1989, noted the difference between social Greek life and professional, service or honorary Greek life. Title IX, the memo says, applies to service and honorary organization in that they may not exclude members based on gender.

“Under Title IX and the implementing regulation, the membership practices of social fraternities and sororities are specifically excluded from coverage if the active membership consists primarily of students in attendance at institutes of higher education, and the fraternity or sorority is exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code.”

Pitt-Johnstown administrators thus do not guarantee the presence of equal Greek life opportunities on campus. Student Affairs Vice President Shawn Brooks said such matters stay on the student level, unless things go awry.

According to Brooks, there have been as many as four social sororities on campus in recent years, but two have been suspended for possible hazing, and one has been removed by its national sponsor.

Brooks said that those looking to organize a social fraternity or sorority on campus could connect with the national organization they wish as a sponsor, then petition the Pan-Helenic council.
“It’s a separate process for recognition. It doesn’t rise to the administrative level. Our role is very limited unless things go absolutely haywire.”

Currently, the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta is eligible to return to campus if they wish to recolonize, a process that takes about half a year, Brooks said.

Greek Affairs Director Shaun Hemphill did not respond to attempts to contact him.

The president of the remaining sorority on campus, Phi Sigma Sigma, declined comment.

READ MORE: Only 1 sorority is left

Brian C. Tressler,  61, Johnstown. Passed away August 23, 2015, in Rockville, MD after a courageous 12 month battle with cancer.  He died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends who loved him.

Member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and Johnstown Lodge #175, B.P.O.E. Sincere appreciation is expressed to the medical staff at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. for the expert and compassionate care he received during his illness. 

Friends received from 2-8 PM Friday at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland, and 9:30 to time of service at 10:30 AM Saturday at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Rev. Toby Holland, officiating. Interment at Richland Cemetery. (Online condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com)

Baccalaureate degree programs established during his tenure include secondary education programs in biology, chemistry, Earth and space science and general science; geology; chemistry; computer science; geography, and business economics.

An associate’s degree in respiratory therapy also was established, as were certificate programs in business and international studies. Blackington also established the UPJ president’s scholars program.

His tenure also saw the introduction of women’s intercollegiate athletics and the campus’s membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

He oversaw the successful “Shaping a Future” capital campaign that raised more than $16 million; sponsored six major symposia, and established the Center for Technological Training of the Unemployed and the John P. and Joyce Murtha Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development.

Blackington also was instrumental in the creation of the National Center for Excellence in Metalworking Technology, which evolved into today’s Concurrent Technologies Corp. Additionally, Pitt-Johnstown became a Regional Computer Resource Center during his tenure.

During his time at UPJ, Blackington was involved in the community, serving on several local boards, and was a champion for the economic development of the region.

Following the local flood of 1977, Blackington opened the campus to evacuees and relief workers. More than 400 community members were provided with temporary housing in the campus’s residential facilities and 540 volunteers and workers from relief organizations were provided with other accommodations.

At the time of his retirement in December 1993, when asked to reflect on his accomplishments, Blackington said, “All I did was my job. Then I remind myself that it is important for people to have the opportunity to say this is a job eminently worth doing and I look at it as a celebration of the enterprise rather than the individual.”

A native of Keene, New Hampshire, Blackington earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Keene State College, his master’s degree in education from Boston University and his PhD in education from Michigan State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean conflict and held the rank of sergeant major.

After completing military service, he briefly served as director of publicity at Keene State, and then was appointed as head of the social studies department at Peterborough High School in New Hampshire. He also taught history and held appointments as head of the social studies department and assistant principal at Marshfield High School in Massachusetts.

After earning his PhD in 1960, he joined the education faculty of Michigan State, later serving as director of its Honors College, where he remained until accepting the presidency of Pitt-Johnstown in 1974.

Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said, “The University is grateful for the excellent service of Dr. Blackington and for the enormous contribution he made to enhancing the quality and impact of Pitt-Johnstown and strengthening links between our University and the greater Johnstown community. Our campus, our community and our world are a better place because of the service of Dr. Blackington. Our hearts go out to his family.”

Blackington is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rosella; his daughter Deborah Blackington; his son Bradley Blackington; his grandchildren Courtney, Tyler, Brynne and Grace Blackington, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family suggests that contributions in Blackington’s memory be made to the Frank Blackington Memorial Fund for the Pilgrim Church of Duxbury Choir, P.O. Box 186, Duxbury, MA 02331, or to Snug Harbor Community Chorus, P.O. Box 945, Duxbury, MA 02331.

—Peter Hart, via University Times

June 28 2012: NEWS: Obituary: Dr. Frank H. Blackington III Tags: Acacia, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Chi, Kappa Delta Rho, Kapp Zeta, Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Tau Gamma, UPJ

For those who have not heard the sad news yet, the Delta Chi Johnstown Chapter has lost a much respected Brother yesterday. Brian Kirk Gindlesperger was born on July 30, 1983 and has left us June 3, 2012. 

Brian joined the Fraternity in the Fall of 2009 along with Mike Dishong, Cody Grech, Ben Karas, Tyler Fraer and Keith Phillips in the Zi Delta-II pledge class and became Gamma Tau-23. While pledging Brian was the Pledge Class President and used this experience to serve on the E-Board as the ‘A’ from 2010 to 2011. 

He recently graduated from UPJ in the Spring of 2012 with a Business Degree in Marketing. Brian has also joined another Fraternity before arriving at UPJ, the Marine Corps, and while in active duty had served two tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

June 3 2012: NEWS: Farewell & Parting: Brian Kirk Gindlesperger Tags: Delta Chi, Farewell & Parting

January 24 2012: NEWS: Farewell & Parting: Former UPJ President, Jack Freeman, dies at age 80 Tags: UPJ

"I admired his sense of confidence and competence in every situation he faced," Nordenberg said. "He was a natural leader who reached out to the younger leaders. 

"He not only offered us support but made us feel comfortable in our new leadership roles."

Under Freeman's administration, UPJ established five academic divisions – education, engineering technology, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences – and began offering its first four-year degrees. His tenure at UPJ also saw the formation of the faculty senate, the first academic convocation, and groundbreaking for the Engineering and Science Building. Additionally, UPJ held its first homecoming celebration, introduced the Mountain Cat as the official school mascot, and added wrestling as a third intercollegiate sport.

Freeman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Baylor University prior to joining the Air Force in 1954. He was appointed as an assistant professor of political science at the Air Force Academy in 1959. From 1964 to 1967, Captain Freeman worked at the Pentagon for United States Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis Lemay and later for the Assistant to the Deputy Undersecretary USAF for International Affairs.

Jerry Cochran, executive vice chancellor and general counsel for the university, said both Mr. Freeman and Posvar served in the Air Force, and their experience in the military had an impact on younger executives like him. 

Freeman resigned his commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1967 to accept a position at the University’s Pittsburgh campus, where he joined then-Chancellor Wesley W. Posvar, who was a longtime friend of Freeman’s and his mentor at the Air Force Academy. 

"Dr. Posvar was his mentor at the Air Force Academy," Cochran said. 

"Leaders are born," said Cochran. "Both Freeman and Posvar were Air Force officers, and this commitment to the military enhanced their quality of leadership. 

"I had the highest level of respect for Jack Freeman, who taught us the ropes in our new undertakings," he added. "I often sit in my office and think of Jack and what he meant not only to me, but to the university."

Freeman served as executive assistant to Posvar and secretary to the Pitt Board of Trustees. He became Pitt-Johnstown’s second president in 1971.
 
In 1974, Freeman returned to the Pittsburgh campus as vice chancellor for planning and budget. In 1977, he earned his PhD at Pitt in higher education administration, and he was named senior vice chancellor for administration two years later. He became executive vice president for the university in 1986.. He resigned in 1990 after Posvar announced his plans to retire.  After leaving Pitt, Freeman held administrative positions at Penn and Cornell, and worked as a higher education management consultant until his retirement in 2006.
 
Following his Pitt career, Freeman served as executive vice president at Temple University, at the University of Pennsylvania, and at Cornell University, and he worked as a higher education management consultant until his retirement in 2006.
 
Under Freeman’s administration, Pitt-Johnstown established five academic divisions (education, engineering technology, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences) and began offering its first four-year degrees. He also established its faculty senate, held its first academic convocation, and broke ground for its Engineering and Science Building. Freeman’s tenure at Pitt-Johnstown also saw the university’s first Homecoming celebration and the addition of wrestling as a third intercollegiate sport.

Freeman is survived by his wife of 60 years, Betty Hawling Freeman; sons Jack R. Freeman, David M. Freeman, Mark R. Freeman; daughter Melissa Emanuele; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his elder brother, Bob Freeman. The family is being served by the Hall Funeral Home, Purcellville, Va

Read More: Tribune Democrat & University of Pittsburgh

March 26 2007: NEWS: Farewell & Parting: Keith "Floyd" Dougherty

Floyd was President "A" of the Delta Chi Fraternity at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 1989 - 1990.  He was a founding member of the Golden Triangle Alumni Chapter of Delta Chi in Pittsburgh, PA.

FRAZIER - Pamela L. (Hutzell) "Pam," 39, Stafford, Va., formerly of South Fork, died Feb. 22, 1995, at home, after an extended illness with cancer. Born Nov. 19, 1955, in Johns town, daughter of Alvin and Velma (Stombaugh) Hutzell. Survived by parents, South Fork; husband, Wayne R. Frazier, Stafford, Va., formerly of Alexandria, Ind.; daughters, Janelle and Allison, at home; brother, Barry, Bellefonte; sisters, Sharon, wife of Tom Myers, and Brenda, wife of Paul Webb, both of South Fork; Kathy, wife of Terry. King, Victoria, Texas; and eleven nieces and nephews. 

• Graduate of Forest Hills High School, Class of 1973. 
  
• Crowned Cambria County Junior Miss in 1973. 
  
• Graduate of Univer sity of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, in 1977, with a degree in elementary education. 
  
• Crowned Homecoming queen [as UPJ as Delta Chi's candidate]

Pam earned her master's de gree in systems management in 1984 from University of Southern California in Northern Virginia. Member of Delta Zeta Sorority. Active member of Regester Chapel Methodist Church, Stafford, Va. Also involved with several local craft, painting and home hobby activities. 

Pam began her em ployment with the U.S. Government in 1977, near Louisville, Ky moved to Washington, D.C., area in 1978, where she continued to work for the govern ment in several positions, culminat ing with Defense Logistics Agency in 1988. From 1993 until her illness, she was employed by the Red Apple Pre school in Stafford, Va. Friends re ceived from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Charles 0. Dimond Funeral

Home Inc., South Fork, and from 10 a.m. until the time of-service at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Hope United Methodist Church, South Fork, the Rev. Larry Rowe. Interment, Mount Hope Cemetery. Memorial contribu tions may be sent to Regester Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 697, Stafford,. Va. 22555. 

Read More at: http://www.pennhighlands.edu/library/Gensoc/Obits/1995%20Obits/Franceschini(France)-Fyock.pdf

February 22 1995: NEWS: Farewell & Parting: Pam Hutzell, Homecoming Queen 1975 Tags: Delta Chi, Delta Zeta, Homecoming, Farewell & Parting