2023 Legacy Celebration

Sister: Alexandra Athens ’15

“Since my sister and I have a big age gap I have always looked up to her as a role model. Seeing her going to Geneseo and how happy she was at school and all the memories she made, I knew in the back of brain that Geneseo was the place for me. I remember being little and being so excited to go visit Lexi and to see the gazebo and go to the toy store in town and hang out in her dorm room. Siblings weekend was my favorite I loved exploring campus and doing all the fun activities and meeting my sister’s friends and hanging out in the Union. Going to Geneseo makes me feel closer to my sister since she was in college and working from when I was 6-16. Walking onto campus for the first time as a prospective student I just knew it was the place for me. And knowing that it was also the place for my sister just made it even more special.”

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Mother: Patricia Schirmer Bacon ’85

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Father: Kevin Baird ’97
Mother: Elizabeth Johnson Baird ’97

“My parents have shared stories about their time at Geneseo since I was small. It is obvious that the friendships that they made almost 30 years ago are lifelong. As I walked through campus and town with my parents on a visit, they reminisced about the people, their professors, the buildings and they obviously felt right at home. I am eager to have those same experiences and embark on my own Geneseo journey. If my parents had not met in a house on Court Street, I would not be who I am today.”

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Father: David Bathrick ’98
Mother: Margaret Ritzel Bathrick ’00

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Aunt: Maureen Hartigan Rogan ’83

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Father: Brian Bibler ’00
Mother: Erin Lerminiaux Bibler ’99

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Uncle: George Metz ’00

From Emily’s mom – “My brother and many friends attended Geneseo, most of them are now teachers. When I visited them, I fell in love with the campus and atmosphere. When my daughter expressed her desire to be a teacher and attend a smaller school, I immediately thought of Geneseo. I love that so many people could vouch for the school and share their positive experiences with her to help her make her decision.”

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Aunt: Kathryn Boice ’89

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Father: Chris Bryant ’95
Mother: Maura O’Donnell Bryant ’97
Aunt: Heather Bryant Gayton ’85
Grandmother: Judith Williams Bryant ’78

“…they always encouraged me to choose Geneseo without any pressure to go there. I absolutely loved it, and I knew I wanted to go there since I was little. My parents met at Geneseo due to a room placement error, they were housed in the same room! That’s how they were introduced, and they became great friends throughout the years and as soon as they graduated, they married.”

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Mother: Joyce Serbalik Choi ’90
Cousin: Vincent Fuschino ’06
Cousin: Julia Fuschino DeCiantis ’02
Cousin: Thea Fuschino Dalfino ’99

“All of my life I have heard what a special place Geneseo is from my mom, her friends and my cousins. When I was seven, I visited the campus with my family and felt then that Geneseo was where I would go! My relatives all went on to obtain advanced degrees and all have told me what an outstanding education they received at Geneseo and how prepared they were for their next steps when they graduated. Plus, they have always spoken of the beauty of the campus, the sunsets, the strong community feeling both on campus and in the Village, and the strong connections and friendships they made with other students. My mother still gets together with her Geneseo friends once a month, and in our travels we have connected with other Geneseo friends who live all around the country. These lasting friendships have made an impression on me. When a Geneseo connection hears I will be attending, they are always so genuinely excited & always share what a beloved place Geneseo is to them. I am looking forward to what lies ahead for me at Geneseo.”

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Mother: Rachael Guy DeMarco

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Mother: Rosann Cerame DiProspero ’00

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Father: Mike Gagnier ’91
Aunt: Kathleen Gagnier ’88
Uncle: George Gagnier ’88
Aunt: Tracy Young Gagner ’93

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Uncle: Joseph Dalio ’88

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Sister: Amy Dhaliwal ’21

“It will forever create a special bond between my sister and me.”

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Aunt: Tara Apker ’05
Uncle: Benjamin Apker ’06

“When I chose Geneseo, part of the appeal was how much I felt at home there. I come from a small farming area very similar to Geneseo, so sense of community, family and tradition was important in my initial college searches. The energy of Geneseo is very similar to my actual hometown, so it drew me in. However, the other factor is knowing I have family that call it home as well; family that have their own special connections due to Geneseo and would not be the same without it.

My aunt was the most excited member of my family when I decided to attend Geneseo over Binghamton. She is extremely proud of the legacy she helped create and hopes to attend my move-in just like she gave me the initial tour of the campus last summer. She tells constant stories and is proud of her accomplishment to be able to attend Geneseo. She and I shared very similar reasons for Geneseo: the atmosphere, the campus and the education programs. Her and I are making our best attempt to attend the legacy event, if time allows.”

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Mother: Anita Viele Hodge ’91

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Mother: Nicole Evans Hubbard ’92

“I knew my mom received an excellent education at Geneseo and I was encouraged to apply to Geneseo by my family.”

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Sister: Carissa Junz ’23

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Father: John Keene ’98
Mother: Mary Hannon Keene ’98

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Mother: Amy Coleman Koziej ’99
Aunt: Sherry Coleman Starowitz ’03

“It means that I can carry on my family’s tradition.”

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Mother: Colleen Lott Kuzniar ’93

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Mother: Melissa Scotty LeVesque ’99

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Father: Scott Lorraine ’93

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Cousin: Kendall FitzGerald Goldstein ’17

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Father: Vincent Maronski ’94
Mother: Megan Lanier Maronski ’95

“Both of my parents attended Geneseo, and I spent my childhood listening to stories about their time at Geneseo, the friends they made, and the memories created. When I was looking to apply as a transfer-student, they both encouraged me to visit Geneseo. It was easy to see what my parents loved about Geneseo. My mom is a teacher, and I am a secondary education major. We are also both athletes. I currently play on the men’s soccer team and my mother played volleyball. Even better, I am currently living in the same suite my dad lived in!

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Aunt: Karen Marra O’Brien ’80
Uncle: Michael O’Brien ’81

“My family legacy means a lot to me. My aunt and uncle met at Geneseo and are both successful lawyers due to their time spent at this college. They have both had nothing but positive things to say about Geneseo and are very inspiring to me to hear all the good things that have happened because of this college.”

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Uncle: Vance Hagen ’02
Aunt: Anita Prabhu Hagen ’02
Aunt: Karra Hagen Bass ’98
Grandmother: Phyllis Crane Hagen ’71
Grandfather: Jim Hagen ’70

“Katie will be the 3rd generation of her family to attend Geneseo. Like her grandparents, (who met and were engaged on the Geneseo campus), Katie will be studying Education. She is excited to spend her freshman year in Monroe, the same residence hall where her grandfather stayed as a freshman!”

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Mother: Lorri Jo Gibson McCoy ’90
Brother: Evan McCoy ’25

“Geneseo represents a high-quality education in a beautiful setting not too far away – but far enough to feel like you have left home. It allows you to build both valuable relationships and knowledge that will last a lifetime.”

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Father: Brian Meister ’98
Mother: Iliana Rodriguez Meister ’98

“Relatives encouraged me to visit. Fell in love with the campus on my own.”

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Mother: Penny Papageorge Meskos ’93

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Mother: Miriam Doud ’93

“I encouraged Ethan to visit Geneseo as I knew it was a smaller more connected college and he would do well there as it had a smaller town feel. I think he agreed when he visited. He also will be majoring in psychology as I did.”

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Mother: Kathleen Crandall Morichelli ’86

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Mother: Laurie Quinn Murty ’96

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Mother: Tracy Sawicz Pearce ’96

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Sister: Lauren Peifer ’19
Brother: Brandon Peifer ’14
Mother: Nancy Hansen Peifer ’87
Father: Jeffrey Peifer ’87

“We believe that Geneseo provides an excellent academic education, but more importantly, it is an environment which creates critical thinkers and well rounded, kind people. Geneseo expects the best of its students and somehow instills the value of going above and beyond in whatever you do.
Geneseo sports have played a large role in our Geneseo lives with Nancy a member of the softball team, Brandon a Blue Wave diver and Lauren having been the mascot, Victor E. Knight.
Nancy, Brandon and Lauren were all members of GFR as well.

Jeff and Brandon were both physics majors at Geneseo, both went on to become electrical engineers and work for the same company where they had the opportunity to collaborate on projects.

We are thrilled that Kristen had chosen to continue the Geneseo tradition and can’t wait to see what Geneseo holds for her!”

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Cousin: Suzette Williams Grinnals ’80
Aunt: Linda Rohlin ’83

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Mother: Laura Orlando Savage ’94

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Mother: Kelly Parker Schirmer ’94
Aunt: Lisa Schirmer Barber ’89
Great Aunt: Gail Smith Schirmer ’61
Great Uncle: Thomas Schirmer ’58
Grandmother: Mary Vogt Schirmer ’57
Great-Great Uncle: Norman Flint ‘1924

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Madeline Shaw ’24
Lexi Ford ’15
Heather Shaw ’92
Elaine Forti ’68

“Geneseo has always been a beloved school in my family. When choosing a college, I immediately knew Geneseo was the school for me because all of my family members had such a great experience.”

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Mother: Jennifer Donovan ’93

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Mother: Kate Mahoney ’91

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Cousin: Caitriona Fitzgerald ’02
Aunt: Jean Schultz ’90
Aunt: Fiona Hanrahan Cardillo ’94

“I was encouraged to attend SUNY Geneseo by both of my aunts.”

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Mother: Kim Alberalla Syracuse ’93

“Seeing my daughter experience Geneseo 25 years after I graduated was surreal and special.”

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Brother: William Teasdale ’25
Uncle: James Teasdale ’03

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Father: Jeffrey Turri ’96
Grandfather: Louis Turri Jr.’67
Grandmother: Julie Pepitone Turri ’67

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Mother: Darlene Covell Vullo ’96

Sibling: Stephanie Wall ’21
Aunt: Kathleen Goodman Zappia ’81
Grandmother: Lynn Carr Goodman ’54

“It all started with my grandmother! She loved to tell stories about Geneseo, the friends she made and how important it was for her career. Then my aunt Kathy told me how amazing Geneseo was, and they started our legacy. Our legacy is important to me because it is a line of women taking the opportunity to receive higher learning at a very good school. I feel like my family is a good representation of what this school was designed to do. Which is to give everyone equal opportunities when it came to the work force. I know if my grandmother was still here today, she would be proud of the strong, smart, and caring women that she had parts in raising. As well as very happy we all got to experience Geneseo in all its glory. “

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Aunt: Mary E. Martin ’73
Uncle: Joe X. Martin ’71

“Education was always a big part of my relationship with my aunt Mary, she helped me with my application essay, essays once I was accepted into Geneseo and everything in between. It is so nice to have a deeper sense of connection with my aunt and uncle who actually were married on campus in 1971 in the Newman Center Chapel knowing we studied and enjoyed our friends on the same campus although years apart.

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Uncle: Greg Zah ’91
Aunt: Amy Long Zah ’92
Cousin: Emily Frisbee ’23
Cousin: Tori Zah ’25
Cousin: Olivia Shell ’27

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