David Theoharides
6 Frances Way
South Deerfield, MA 01373
dtheoharides@gmail.com
(207) 651-0593
facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1976/
Hello, classmates,
As you are reading this summer issue of the MAINE Alumni Magazine, I am hoping that you are all well and that your life has started to return to some sort of normalcy.
I haven’t heard from many ’76ers during the past few months, but I do have some news to share about our classmates. I’m hoping now that many of you are retired and perhaps have some more free time, you can send me an email to update your classmates about what you’ve been up to!
Regina Vasilatos-Younken has retired from her position as vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School of Penn State after 45 years at the university. After graduating from UMaine in 1976 she began her career at Penn State as a graduate assistant and earned her doctorate in animal nutrition in 1982. She joined the Penn State faculty as an assistant professor in poultry science in 1983 and was promoted to full professor in 1999.
Emily Stebbins Carbonetti was featured in the December 2020 edition of the UMaine News. After graduating, Emily and her husband, Richard “Carbo” Carbonetti ‘77, moved to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where she was an elementary school teacher at a small community school in Glover, and Carbo pursued a career as a forester. Emily retired after 39 years as a teacher in Glover and shared some advice for new teachers in the article.
There’s news from Dennis Bailey, whose ordeal with COVID was described in the winter MAINE Alumni Magazine. Dennis said, “I had some time on my hands in the hospital so I wrote a book. They’re all here: red snappers, Moxie, fiddleheads, bean hole beans, and yes even lobster.” Eat Like a Local – Maine: Maine Food Guide was published in February.
The Coastal Mountains Land Trust has recognized Thomas Jackson, of Jackson Landscaping, as the 2020 recipient of the William J. Zwartjes Volunteer Award in honor of his work as the first Land Trust board chairman.
Dean of the University of Maine School of Law Leigh Ingalls Saufley was inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame last spring. Leigh was Maine’s first woman to serve as chief justice. She became a district court judge in 1990, and chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 2001.
Bangor School Department Athletic Director Steve Vanidestine ’81G was featured in a Bangor Daily News article about his efforts to upgrade the Cameron Stadium complex in Bangor. Steve, who taught and coached football at Bangor High School, is in his 37th year as the school’s athletic director. During his tenure, Bangor High teams have won 73 state championships.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.