Academy of Lifelong Learning | Professional and Continuing Studies

Summer 2009 Academy Instructors

BAYARD, TIM—A.B., French, Stanford University; M.A., history, University of Delaware. Checkered career in architecture, photography, and the army. Served in the 66th Engineer Company, Topographic in Vietnam, 1967 to 1968. (G03)

BOWEN, CATHERINE WHEELER—B.A., Hollins University; M.A., University of Kansas. A native of New Jersey and a Delawarean since 1971. Career has included writing and editing in theatre, tourism, and museums. Has attended Tinker Mountain Writers Workshop. (K01)

CUCCIA, SANDRO—B.S., University of Delaware. Native-born Italian and awardwinning commercial and fine-art photographer with 21 years corporate IT experience. Functioned as Apple Support Coordinator and Senior Technical Specialist in personal computer security. Owns a commercial digital photography and Macintosh consulting business. Provides training and consulting in traditional and digital photography, Adobe Photoshop, and Macintosh computing. Founder of the Macintosh Users of Delaware. (N01)

DEL PESCO, SUSAN—B.A. UCLA; J.D. Widener University; M.A. University of Virginia. Practiced law from 1975-88 then was appointed to the bench of Delaware Superior Court; retired May 2008. Currently on the board of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law, and director of the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection. (G05)

DOMBCHIK, STEVEN—B.S., University of Rochester; M.S. and Ph.D., organic chemistry, University of Illinois. After a 30-year career, retired from the DuPont Co. in 1998 as a research fellow involved in new business development, followed by three years as a parttime consultant in intellectual property sales. Past president/chair of four nonprofit organizations. Other interests include family, tennis, golf, music, theatre, photography, and travel. Lifelong love of history and current events. (T01)

DUFF, ALLEN—B.B.A., finance, University of Miami. Retired from corporate finance. Selftaught painter since childhood. Member of the Delaware Foundation for the Visual Arts, Rockland, DE, the Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA, and the Hobe Sound Fine Arts League, Hobe Sound, FL. (B02)

EHRLICH, MARION—B.A., political science, Hunter College; M.A., public administration, University of Delaware. Retired senior investigator, U.S. Department of Labor. (H01, H02)

EHRLICH, ROBERT—M.S., environmental engineering, University of Delaware; Ph.D., physics, Rutgers University. Research in biochemistry and environmental chemistry at University of Delaware. Editor of the “Academy Newsletter.” (G02, L03)

FELLNER, BILL—Ph.D., biostatistics, University of California at Berkley. Retired from DuPont Company. Accomplished singer, actor, and pianist; has appeared often with area community theatre groups, both on-stage and as music director. (C03)

FLEXMAN, ED—B.S. Bradley University, Ph.D. Indiana University. Retired DuPont Fellow with 42 years research experience in polymer chemistry; recipient of Lavoisier and Pedersen awards. Enjoys many fields of science, history, travel, world affairs, Celtic music, woodcarving, and wide ranging discussions. (R02)

FLOOK, SUSAN—B.A. French literature, Muhlenberg College; M.Ed. counselor education, Millersville University. Retired from school counseling and teaching English as a Second Language. Lifelong interest in poetry and cross-cultural communications. (J02)

GINGHER, FRAN—Attended classes at the University of Delaware and St. Joseph’s Institute of Industrial Relations. Native Delawarean, active in volunteer work as a facilitator at Meeting Ground Women’s Homeless Shelter in Elkton, Maryland, a listener on Contact’s Suicide Prevention and Crisis Line, and an associate certified alcohol and drug counselor in an out-patient family treatment program. Has led retreats and labyrinth walks as part of sharing spiritual journeys. (J02)

HASKELL, DEBORAH—B.A., theatre, Penn State University; Ph.D., mass communications, New York University. Taught speech and communications courses at various colleges including Hunter College. Former executive director of Delaware Heritage Commission. (C03, G04)

HEED, SAMUEL—B.A., Trinity College; J.D., Dickinson School of Law; Russell C. Ball, Jr. Chair in History emeritus, the Haverford School; lawyer and published lecturer with 20 years of teaching U.S. and European history; currently senior historian and director of education for the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation; enjoys sharing ideas with lifelong learners of all ages. (G06)

HOFFMAN, BARBARA—B.A. in music and education, Queen’s College. M.S. in library science. Former professor at Long Island University and St. Joseph’s College. Professional performer for 35 years. Currently a music director at Landenberg Methodist Church and guitar instructor for Newark Arts Alliance. (C01)

LAWRENCE, WILLIAM—B.A., international relations, Stanford University; M.B.A., international business, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Manager, foreign exchange, Hercules, Inc. ATA accredited for French to English translation. (O01)

LE, ELLEN—B.A., Brown University; M.B.A., George Washington University. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. More than 20 years’ experience in financial industry as investment advisor and portfolio manager. Currently president of local investment company in Glen Mills, PA. Interests include tennis, bridge, and art (docent at the Delaware Art Museum). (S01)

LECK, KARL—President of Delaware Photographic Society. Photographed international horse sports for 30 years, including six summer Olympic Games. Won two Photojournalist of the Year Awards. Made over 50 magazine covers. (B06)

LEWIS, MARY—M.S., University of Chicago, physics. Worked as a research scientist in industry before going back to school for a Ph.D. in oceanography (from the physicist’s point of view) from University of Delaware. Trained in volcano monitoring with University of Hawaii at Hawaii volcanoes. Interested in travel, scuba, photography, digital imaging, and art. Author/ designer of the photo book In Delaware… (R04)

LIVINGSTON, BEN—B.A. and B.S., Ohio University; M.A., Rutgers. Science teacher in American and international high schools. College chemistry course instructor: Florida, Ohio, and Louisiana. Desk editor, medical and chemical journals, in Copenhagen, Denmark. (D01)

MADDUX, THOMAS—University of Delaware and Auburn University. A retired veterinarian and an avid gardener living in New Castle where he is involved in city, church, and personal gardening. (U01)

MCCOMSEY, JIM—B.S., chemistry, Pennsylvania Military College; M.S., analytical chemistry, Villanova University. Retired from the DuPont Co. after 32 years in various technical assignments, with last 15 years in wastewater treatment, environmental and hazardous waste analysis. Volunteer at the Brandywine Hundred Library and on various local civic committees for the Village of Ardencroft. (L01)

MCMANAMON, MARY BRIGID—B.A., history, Yale University; J.D., Cornell University. Professor of law at Widener University School of Law. More importantly, has been an avid Jane Austen fan since age 12, when she discovered Pride and Prejudice. (H03)

MEITNER, PAM—B.S., chemical engineering, Drexel University. J.D., Widener University. Practiced law for the DuPont Company in the areas of patents, labor, litigation, and environment. Retired 2007. Member of Community Involvement Advisory Council. (G05)

MENTZER, ROBERT—Ph.D., organic chemistry, Ohio State University. Taught physics, chemistry, and astronomy at William Penn High School, New Castle, DE until retirement in 1998. Currently treasurer of Delaware Astronomical Society. Interests include astronomy, genealogy, and history. (G01)

MILLER, CYNTHIA—B.A., University of Delaware. Interests include church; singing; playing recorder, guitar, dulcimer, and hand bells; composing; learning Chinese; painting; archaeology; paleontology; photography; and travel. For 25 years owned Miller’s Fossils, a wholesale supplier for museum gift shops. (B01)

OLINCHAK, JOSEPH—B.S., electrical engineering, Drexel University. Retired from Delmarva Power Company after 32 years in a variety of positions including manager of Internet development. Served in the U.S. Air Force 1964 to 1968. Interests include literature, languages, comparative religion, science, and computer technology. (L01)

OLMSTEAD, JR., VAN—B.A. history/political science, West Chester University; Delaware Law School, Widener University; College for Financial Planning CFP, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School AWMA. Employed as a financial consultant with over 30 years of service. Experienced with both Windows and Apple-OS-X, has taught software concepts, acted as software beta tester for several commercial software companies and provided technical support to individual computer users. (L02)

O’SULLIVAN, GERALD—S.T.L., theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy; Ph.D., classics, Fordham University; M.L.S., library service, Columbia University. Retired after 39 years as teacher and library administrator. Long-time interest in the history of Christianity and the philosophy of religion. (J02)

PATTON, JIM—M.S., chemical engineering, University of Tennessee. Thirty-six years with the DuPont Co. Ten years as self-employed consultant in organizational development. Currently serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. A published author. (D02)

SHATTUCK, JACK—B.S. secondary education (English, social studies), Fairleigh Dickinson University. Graduate Rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College--Jewish Institute of Religion. Webmaster, Jewish Delaware Web site. (J01)

SIEGELL, STUART—Ph.D., chemical engineering, Columbia University. Retired from the DuPont Company after 36 years of experience in research and development and manufacturing. Docent at the Delaware Art Museum. (A01)

SLAVIN, JULES—B.S., mechanical engineering, CCNY. Retired after 35 years as an engineer with the DuPont Company. (R03)

STANKIEWICZ, CAROLYN—B.S., business administration, Neumann College. Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, University of Delaware. Retired from Bureau of Homeland Security. Interests include foreign films, travel, and astronomy. (R01)

TOY, STEPHEN—Ph.D., medical sciences, University of Florida; post-degree training, University of Texas, Austin, CR&DD, DuPont Experimental Station. Teaching and research in virology and immunology at Case Western Reserve and Thomas Jefferson Medical Schools plus 20 years immunology research at DuPont. Nearly 30 years experience visiting Berlin, both East and West. (D01)

ULERY, DANA—B.A., Grinnell College; M.S. and Ph.D., computer science, University of Delaware. Retired research manager and consultant, U.S. Army Research Laboratory and DuPont. Currently co-founder and deputy director of a research center at Morgan State University. Lifelong participation in choral groups and chamber ensembles as singer and accompanist, with special interest in American music. (C03)

VASSALLO, DONALD—B.A., University of Connecticut; M.S., Ph.D., chemistry, University of Illinois. Retired from the DuPont Co. plastics research and development. Hobbies are art, especially decorative bird carving, computer multimedia, birding, golf, cooking, tennis, and the Academy. (B04, B05)

VON SCHRILTZ, DON—Ph.D., chemistry, Duke University. Retired from the DuPont Co. A recorder player for 40 years. Founding member of Brandywine Chapter of the American Recorder Society, the Orange Recorder Rollick, and the Ohio Valley Recorder Ensemble. (C02)

WEIHER, JAMES F.—B.A., Carleton College; Ph.D., physical chemistry, Iowa State University; Johannes Gutenburg Universitaet, Germany. Retired researcher and consultant, the DuPont Co. Interested in using new technology and methods in adult foreign language instruction. (O03, O04)

WHITELEY, DON—B.A., psychology, Lafayette College; M.A., psychology, Temple University. Employed 30 years as industrial psychologist with Atlas Chemical/ICI; has worked in local and professional theatre for over 30 years as set designer, set builder, prop specialist, and stagehand; worked with most local theatre groups as well as the DuPont Theatre. (C04)

WHITELEY, LORETTA—B.A., psychology, University of Delaware. Performed with the Brandywiners, Ltd., the Ardensingers, and local worship drama. Experience in directing, casting, set design and construction, costuming, and makeup for community and church drama productions. (C04)

YOUNG, KAY—B.S., art education, Pennsylvania State University. Studied at Centenary College and with Hobson Pitman. Art supervisor and teacher in Pennsylvania public schools and in home studio. Community volunteer with YWCA, Red Cross, Giesinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, and elsewhere. (B03)