Class Notes for August 2020

2020s

Andrew Pedone ’20 was chosen as a performer of the week by the Independent Collegiate Baseball League.

2010s

Kevin Quirk G’19 has been named associate principal for Robert Frost Middle School in the Deer Park School District (Deer Park, New York). Quirk, a native of Deer Park, has worked for the past decade at Robert Frost Middle School as a special education teacher.

Anthony Pokrentowski ’18, G’18 CPA, has been promoted to tax senior at Dannible & McKee LP in Syracuse, New York.

Casey Bergeron ’17 has been promoted to deployment lead at UniFirst Corp. in Buffalo, New York.

Jared Cechnicki G’15 has become an acute sales representative at BSN Medical in New York, New York.

Daniel Gonzalez ’10, G’12 is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education at the University of Minnesota. “I was awarded a highly competitive Fellowship for the program and will also be a research assistant with Dr. Karen Miksch.”

Tyler Hassenpflug ’10 is a strategy and management consultant with Accenture in Boston, Massachusetts. “I am senior strategy and management consultant for Accenture based out of the Boston office. My focus is primarily in life science, technology and data science.”

2000s

Rebecca (Beach) Byrne ’04, G’09 will start as library media specialist at Troy Middle School this fall. “I am leaving higher education and excited for this new experience.”

Brendan Hoffman G’04 led the Albany High School Select Choir (Albany, New York) in a virtual choir performance of “Earth Song,” a song that the ensemble has sung annually for 11 years. Current students, as well as 23 choir alums, each sent in an individual recording of their part of the song, which Hoffman combined for the choir performance.

1990s

Megan-Claire Chase ’99 is starting as marketing and communications specialist for Peach State Health Plan in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mary Mattes ’97 was featured in a podcast about the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and longterm strategies for preparedness.

1980s

Tim Koubek ’89 has become senior vice president, sales, Americas, at LogicMonitor, a cloud-based infrastructure-monitoring platform.

Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CSJ, ’84 was in the news for food drives and community food giveaways by the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Van Deusen is director of community partnerships for the organization. She also serves as a member of the Saint Rose Board of Trustees.

1970s

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ‘70 is presiding over the high-profile case of Ghislaine Maxwell.

1960s

Sen. Betty Little ’62 was nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

In memoriam

Scott Thomas Gillis ’03, G’06
Thomas W. King, IV ’92
Alice Cathleen Begley ’89
Annamae (Ryan) Smith ’63
Mary (Duggan) Fortino ’57
Dr. Anne Tobin Ashe ’53
Mary Jo (Keenan) Rutnik ’53
Mary Ann (Qualtere) Kaiser (Qualtere) ’50
Patricia (Morgan) Dumas ’49
Theresa (Byrne) Markert ’47

Friends of Saint Rose

Joseph R. Donovan, Jr., spouse of Mrs. Marie Donovan ’53

Claire Kosden (née Fox) Perskie passed away peacefully at home on July 1, 2020. Claire was born in Czechoslovakia to Cantor Eugene and Esther Fox. She escaped the country’s occupation in 1938 with her parents and brother. She lived in London until she arrived in Atlantic City in 1950. She graduated from Atlantic City high school in 1951 and met her husband Carl “Buddy” Kosden soon after. They married in 1953. Together Claire and Buddy owned the St. Charles Hotel and Midtown Motor Inn in Atlantic City. At the same time, Claire was also the proprietor of Top of the Shop at Gordon’s Alley. After Buddy’s untimely death in 1977, Claire delved into new opportunities, becoming the manager of Brittany Jewels at Resorts, and later, a licensed real estate agent. She married Lawrence Perskie, Esq. and they were married 22 years until his passing. She was always there to cheer on each accomplishment of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She continuously introduced them to many of her interests, enriching their lives.

It was her passion for life that allowed her to explore a multitude of hobbies and interests. An avid walker, she would often be seen walking around Margate, connecting with the community she loved so much. When she wasn’t walking, she could likely be found knitting, golfing, working on a crossword puzzle, planting flowers in her garden, or at Temple. Claire wrote “The Forsaken Suitcase” to share her family history, and her life story is highlighted at The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University, as well as in the book “Portraits of Resistance.”

Claire is survived by her three loving daughters, Sheryl Kosden Schiraldi (Patrick), Micki Massry (I. Norman), and Ava Kosden Lubert (Richard); seven grandchildren, Julie (Jimmy), Murray (Mallory), Stephen (Ashley), Laurie (Ken), Carly, Daniel (Rosa), and Leah; six great-grandsons, Isaac, Ezra, Asher, Norman, Jonah, and Aaron; her brother Harry Fox; her cousin Henry Herner; and her wonderful caregiver Ivellisse.

Contributions in Claire’s memory may be made to the Beth El Synagogue in Margate, N.J, The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center at Stockton University, or a charity of one’s choice. To leave a condolence message for the family, please visit levinememorialchapel.com.