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MIKE SAFFRAN: What I described when I came back to Geneseo last summer —
It was like coming home, and it was coming back to my first love of a radio station. There's no doubt about that.
And I think for all of us this is our first love of a radio station — the hallowed halls of Blake Hall, as well.
Want to quickly recognize a few people with a little token of our appreciation.
First of all, the members of the alumni committee, who helped put everything together. We have a little token.
GREG ADAMO: Oh, thank you.
MIKE SAFFRAN: For Greg, who came from?
GREG ADAMO: Baltimore.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Baltimore. Teaching at?
GREG ADAMO: Morgan State University. And I would not be a college professor if not for those places. [Applause]
Those studios there, and the reason I had a 2.7 GPA here … [Laughter] was those studios.
And when I left, I realized, gee, if I study I could do well. So — but never as well as I did here.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Here's a token.
GREG ADAMO: If I could just say, I have a book for John Davlin.
People who were here in his days, there's a book, just inside here, if you want to write a note.
I'm gonna make sure he gets to it — that we get it to him. And I have some pictures and some other things.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Where is he? Where is John?
GREG ADAMO: He is in Maryland. Yeah, he's in Maryland.
He does some work with the Baltimore Orioles. But he retired from teaching a number of years ago.
So, we're going to make sure — Rick has talked to him recently — we're going to make sure he gets the book that we have signed notes from.
I'm going to reach out to him. Thanks.
MIKE SAFFRAN: You know, kind of a similar story I had.
I don't like to boast about this, especially in front of my current colleagues. I failed a photography course because of WGSU. [Laughter]
I had fallen behind on assignments, and I was at a point in the semester where I had to choose between:
Am my catching up with photography assignments or am I doing the WGSU work that I wanted to do and loved so much. And WGSU won out.
Rick Askoff is here — Rick. [Applause]
Rick came back from?
RICK ASKOFF: New Jersey. I do federal telecom regulatory work, all because of this.
French was the course I failed because of this. [Laughter]
Anyhow, down in New Jersey now, having a great time, and just owe tremendously …
John, by the way — I have talked to him, for those of you who know — sends his regards and love. He's sorry he couldn't make it.
But he remembers this place, and he remembers us and sends his wishes. So, if people can write something for him, that’d be great. Thank you.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Francine is here — class of '80.
FRANCINE GABRELUK: '80, yes.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Good broadcast name.
FRANCINE GABRELUK: Yes. Just real quick, I didn't go into, specifically, communications.
But, I am in public relations and marketing for a major insurance company, and having this experience, and graduating from SUNY Geneseo, helped me get that job.
So, I am thrilled, and glad this huge group is here today. This is just wonderful, so thank you. What a nice thing to do. [Applause and airplane noise]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Thanks. Gary Martzolf.
GARY MARTZOLF: Very good.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Class of '68. Welcome back. [Applause]
GARY MARTZOLF: Thank you, very much. [Applause]
My years in broadcasting here drove me into banking. So that's where I've been. [Laughter]
I spent 40 years in banking. But it's great to be back and to see everybody.
Ah, thank you, very much. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Dan O'Brien, class of '73.
DAN O'BRIEN: I'm a lawyer in Rochester, and I thought that after several years of speaking to people who I couldn't see …
… it would be a good idea to actually look at the people that I'm talking to. So that's what I do. [Laughter]
Thank you. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Dave Slade is here. Here's Dave, right in front of me. Class of '71. And Dave, if you don't mind my saying …
DAVE SLADE: No, not at all. [Airplane noise]
MIKE SAFFRAN: A couple of years ago when we reconnected, I always like to remind Dave …
… that my sister and I used to listen to Dave when he was broadcasting the Rochester Red Wings games in the '70s.
DAVE SLADE: Mid-'70s.
MIKE SAFFRAN: With Pete Brown — and so that was my first introduction to Dave, and it was so great to meet him as a fellow alumnus.
DAVE SLADE: And I'm now in Durham, North Carolina, and WGSU and SUNY Geneseo laid the groundwork …
… for a very satisfying career that I've had in the broadcast business for 20-plus years day in and day out, and for 20 more years beyond that on a contract basis. It's been great.
And let me take this opportunity right now to thank Mike, because a lot of hard work went into what you see inside the studios. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Thank you.
DAVE SLADE: Thanks, Mike, I appreciate it. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Tad Thompson is still here. Yes, here he is. [Applause]
TAD THOMPSON: I'm still here.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Class of 1969. And let me say about Tad — if there's been anyone who's been the most help for me just in the last week, especially.
And I'm an old news guy, and so "accuracy, accuracy, accuracy." I didn't want to put anything on those little placards in there that was inaccurate.
And so, when I'm identifying certain rooms that didn't quite jive with as Tad remembered it in the '60s, we realized …
… oh, the old newsroom, as I remember it, used to be John Davlin's office, the station manager's office.
So, Tad was a tremendous help for me. So, thanks, Tad.
TAD THOMPSON: Well, you're very welcome. [Applause]
Yeah, this is a hoot. I never thought I'd be back here doing this.
I started off in radio, after graduation, but didn't stay there very long — it was basically a money issue. [Laughter]
But the foundation I got here really helped me go into newspaper work, educational communications …
… and then finally high-tech marketing, which I retired from after about 30 years.
And now, I'm finally using my degree — I'm an instructor at a college down in Ocala. So doing, of all things, communication and public speaking. [Laughter]
So, thanks, very much, Mike. I appreciate it, it's been a great time.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Great to have you. [Applause]
As long as you're here, and it's such a great occasion — past advisers to WGSU. It's kind of a "pioneers" recognition ceremony.
I believe we might have only two past advisers with us. But very, very significant moments in time in WGSU's history.
And dating back to the early days of WGSU. He was here in 1963 — Dr. Robert Freiburger, who also was … [Applause]
C'mon up. [Applause]
ROBERT FREIBURGER: This is embarrassing. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: Dr. Freiburger was here, he was my adviser, when I was a student.
Director of Instructional Resources, at that time, when WGSU was under Instructional Resources.
And, Dr. Freiburger, I remember sitting down with my student station manager here in the fall, and citing you as an example.
Kind of a model for me, in my advising of WGSU. So, thank you for mentoring me back in those days.
We had great people in Dr.Freiburger, Ernie Fox was fantastic — he's no longer with us — and many others, certainly, in the early days. You were here since '63, so …
ROBERT FREIBURGER: Yes.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Congratulations, thanks for making it back. [Applause]
ROBERT FREIBURGER: As some of you know, I actually was a student here, from 1957 to 1961, when I graduated.
At that time, there was a carrier-current station on the second floor of Sturges Hall called WGTC.
And I got involved in that, by accident, because I walked in one night and there was somebody doing some music and stuff — so I figured OK, what's this all about?
So, you want a job? Here. So, I ended up spending my four years working at that station.
And then, when I left here for two years to go on and get my advanced degrees, I never thought I would be back.
So, now that I'm retired I'm on a cemetery board. [Laughter]
I worked in a liquor store for 10 years.
And most recently, I am now a volunteer at the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehab, and work with dementia patients.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Oh, very good. Good for you. That's great.
ROBERT FREIBURGER: So that's what I'm doing.
MIKE SAFFRAN: Well great. Thank you, again. Glad you could make it back, and we'll see you again. [Applause]
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Wonderful. Thank you, Bob. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: We have another very significant former adviser to WGSU.
The younger alumni would remember CP — Chris Pruszynski — who served as the faculty director from 1999 through 2012, and has been just fantastic.
He is still on the faculty — easing into retirement — but I'm so glad that he's been around for the last year, when I got back here and started in this job.
So, CP, c'mon up — Chris Pruszynski. [Applause]
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Thank you. Thanks, Mike. Well, I'm not a SUNY Geneseo student, so I don't have a "I flunked this class" story. [Laughter]
But I did flunk my first edition with the classical radio station WKAR, in East Lansing, when I pronounced Pagliacci as "Pag-lee-ackee." [Laughter]
And I might've learned a little bit since then.
It's been great being faculty director these years, and to see the people who built the station that we could enjoy and have fun with when I was here.
Especially Dr. Freiburger, and all you from the early years.
And also special thanks to Mike for, in a sense it's changing a job, but in a better sense it's accepting the call to come back to his alma mater.
To take what he's learned both here and at other places, and come back and contribute that.
Because it's not like somebody is giving you the biggest salary award to come back here. [Laughter] You have to have the heart for it and you have to have your heart in it.
So, Mike, we're really glad you're here. Thanks, very much. And thanks for putting on everything. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: A few of the people who couldn't be with us. And I don't know if this is entirely inclusive.
The late Professor Kate Madden. Some of you probably knew Dr. Madden. I think she was after my time as a student.
I did not know her. But she advised I think for a significant number of years.
Erica Scharrer was here for a time. Steve Konick — for about a year or so in the middle '90s. He just joined the Facebook group.
By the way, you probably saw the flier. There is a Facebook group for the alumni — many of you are members already, but please join, if you are not.
Brad Smith was here from '96 to '98, just prior to CP — or there might've been somebody …
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Erica, Erica Scharrer was between us.
MIKE SAFFRAN: OK. And Nate Lull was here, as well, kind of in this transition period before I took over.
And Nate is class of '07 and is back on the faculty, as well, teaching Sports Broadcasting, and we're thrilled to have him.
We would also like to — well, let me first say a quick thanks to Atsushi Tajima — Dr. Tajima, on the communication faculty. [Applause]
Who is largely responsible for the photos that are on the walls in the hallways. He was a tremendous assistance to me in preparing the facilities.
We'll make sure you get a mug, a token of appreciation, as well. But thanks, so much, for your help.
And Dr. Herman, Dr. Andrew Herman, is chair of the communication department and has a special token for CP. We're gonna ask you to come up once again.
ANDREW HERMAN: And one other thanks, too. We certainly have to also recognize Debbie.
Debbie Lowery is forever young and forever keeping us on the straight and narrow.
If it wasn't for her, I think the department would fly off and get lost somewhere. So, we just love Debbie, and so we thank her.
Mike is here because Chris says he wants to retire. But, you know, Geneseo gets its fingers into you, and so he's on this phased-out retirement.
And so I thought this would be a great time to at least recognize CP's dedication to 'GSU, and building on what had gone on before him.
As he said, you don't get paid a lot of money here at Geneseo. So it's truly been over a decade of true dedication and continuing to grow the station.
So I just wanted to have a token of thanks for your phased retirement. I thought this would be a great time to present this to you.
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Thank you. Should I open it?
ANDREW HERMAN: You should, I think.
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: All right.
ANDREW HERMAN: Here, let me take this so you don't drop the mug.
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: All right.
ANDREW HERMAN: I think many people here will appreciate the gift.
And if you know CP, you know this is something that is near and dear to his heart, and something that he finds …
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Ah! Ah! All right! [Laughter and applause] Oh, great!
ANDREW HERMAN: So, for those of you who still, if you still have 45s kicking around in your basement …
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Even with the inserts.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Cool. That's neat.
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Oh, thank you very much.
ANDREW HERMAN: So they can now be turned into bookends. [Laughter]
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: No, I'm gonna take these apart and play 'em. [Laugher]
MIKE SAFFRAN: I can give you a few more of 'em.
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: All right.
ANDREW HERMAN: So, we really do appreciate all of the directors. Dr. Freiburger, and Chris I've known, and I've always appreciated him as a member of the department.
He always brings a lot of insight and practical wisdom to our discussions.
But certainly, I think has done a great job balancing the teaching, as well as keeping the radio station growing and vibrant …
And continuing to develop into new areas. So, thank you, Chris, for everything you've done. I really appreciate it. [Applause]
MIKE SAFFRAN: And I just wanted to add onto what Dr. Herman said — Andrew Herman, I guess we're less formal here — what Andrew said.
I'm used to identifying him to students — I always call him Dr. Herman when I'm talking to students.
Debbie has been here for coming up on 33 years. So, longer than many of us. She was a small child when she started in the communication department. [Laughter]
But, yes, so helpful, not only to the faculty and students, obviously, but also to me in this new job and the last couple weeks.
I guess I should point out, some of you on the Facebook page — this was an injury sustained setting up the exhibit.
Six stitches even, so it was kind of a serious one.
So, thanks for that Debbie, and for everything, certainly.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Ooh. Yikes.
MIKE SAFFRAN: But Debbie happened to be here with her dog, George. I don't know, I would be part of the exhibit if she had not been here. [Laughter]
And, again, just thank you to everyone for being here. We can't thank you enough, on behalf of the department for coming back and sharing this with us. So, thanks.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Thank you. Thank you, Mike. [Applause]
CHRIS PRUSZYNSKI: Thanks very much, Andrew. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks. [Applause]