Commanding Presence

The article about Jonathan Frakes in the Sept./Oct. Penn Stater [“Still Going Boldly,” Sept./Oct., p. 52] brought back some good memories. I knew Mr. Brown and Bruce Trinkley from Penn State choirs and was talked into auditioning for a small role in Most Happy Fella in the summer of 1972. Raymond Brown played the lead, Bruce Trinkley was the music director, and Jonathan starred as one of the three chefs. I thought that Jonathan was very talented at the time. Jump forward 15 years, and I was thrilled to see that he had made it big and now starred as William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was excited to see how much Penn State prepared him for the amazing future that he’s had. 

Marty Nadenichek ’73 Agr
Warren, Ohio

Back in the 1970s, Jonathan Frakes and I were both involved in a wonderful Penn State Thespians production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He was Snoopy, I was the piano player in the pit. We all loved what we were doing, and we hated to see it close. As it happened, I was able to make arrangements with a public school in New York City to perform our show there. At the last moment, it became impossible for me to go, and the show couldn’t be done without its accompaniment. I got a note from Jonathan; he said, “This is the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever heard of.” Mr. Frakes, you were right. I humbly apologize. And I’m sorry that it took so long for me to do it.

Mike Stu Chamberlain ’65 Com
Peoria, Ill.

I’ve been a Star Trek fan since sitting in the basement of Jordan Hall on old beat-up chairs watching the original on an old black-and-white TV. I knew Frakes played ’bone from The Next Generation but somehow didn’t know he was a Penn State graduate until this article. I must have been living under a rock. My question is with Frakes’ prowess on trombone: Did he ever play in the Blue Band? I played in the Marching & Concert Blue Bands—sousaphone and tuba respectively—and was even the uniform manager during my 1968–1972 tenure, plus in the stage/dance band my senior year. If he had any presence in the band, I should have rubbed shoulders at some point.

Charlie Brown III ’72 Eng
Livonia, Mich.

Justice in the Balance 

Reading the Penn Stater is enjoyable and provides an opportunity to chat with former classmates about articles. Thank you for keeping alumni connected to Penn State. I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your article “Justice in the Balance” [Sept./Oct., p. 44]. Criminals deserve punishment, but it is criminal for years to be taken from innocent people. Whatever the truth is related to Subu Vedam, I hope that the telling of his story and the team working through the records results in relief if deserved.

Anne Anderson ’74 Lib
Sarasota, Fla.

Weather Watch

Yes, that is Paul Heppner in front of the maps delivering a forecast. But it is Ed Kieser ’83, ’87 MS EMS, not longtime weather tower denizen Fred Gadomski ’83 MS EMS, if memory serves, behind the camera. 

Scott Lindstrom ’82 EMS, ’82 Sci
Madison, Wis.

I enjoyed the “Then and Now” piece on the Campus Weather Service on page 17 of the Sept./Oct. 2025 issue. I had the pleasure of being a member in the early 1980s and then the faculty adviser for 25 years, stepping down in 2024. In the top picture, however, although Fred Gadomski is a Weather World legend, it is not him in the picture with Paul Heppner. At the time of the picture, Paul was the CWS president, and the person behind the camera was the vice president, Ed Kieser '83, '87 MS EMS. CWS has come a long way in 50 years, thanks in large part to the hard work of those involved at the beginning, including Paul and Ed.

Bill Syrett ’83, ’87 MS EMS
Boalsburg, Pa.
 

Lion by Love

I would guess there aren’t very many people left who would remember the Penn State–Pittsburgh football game in 1955 at old Beaver Field. I remember it so well because I was eight months pregnant and it was snowing like crazy. 

I married a Penn Stater named Bob Louis who had graduated in 1950. He was so devoted to Penn State that he drove me to State College to meet his lacrosse coach, Nick Thiel, before I met his parents! He played lacrosse for five years at Penn State. Bob and I retired to Florida in 1991, but we kept our season football seats on the 40-yard line for a few more years. My dear husband of 62 years passed away in 2017. Now 91, I love watching Penn State games on my 70-inch TV in Florida and I have lots of memories.

Nancy Carter Louis
Melbourne, Fla.

High Notes 

The wonderful tribute to the Marching Blue Band [“Beating Heart of Nittany Nation,” July/Aug., p. 34] failed to recognize that it would not be the great institution it is today were it not for the efforts of prior Directors Hum Fishburn, Jim Dunlop, and Ned C. Diehl. In particular, Dunlop and Diehl made it possible for women to join the band. I was fortunate to be in the band from 1966 to 1970.

Raymond deLevie ’70 Sci
Bexley, Ohio

Thank you for featuring a pictorial history of the Penn State Blue Band in the July/August 2025 issue. I recently learned about another milestone in the Blue Band’s rich history that celebrated a 50th-year anniversary back in 2022. I had the pleasure of meeting Judy (Shearer) Lawrence ’74 Lib, the founder of the majorettes, now known as “Touch of Blue” and talented twirler from Hanover, Pa. Judy shared with me that it was her classmates at Penn State Schuylkill, Joan Batutis Reilly ’73 Sci and Laraine Betts Legg ’72 Sci, that challenged her to approach director James Dunlop. She auditioned for him in the basement of the music building, resulting in another addition of skillful performers to the Blue Band.

Lesley Larson
State College

Fishing Legend

When I was an undergrad, trying to get into Joe Humphreys’ fly-fishing class [“Flow State,” July/Aug., p. 52] was nearly impossible unless you were able to be in the first group to go through registration back in the days of punch cards. Fly-fishing and Penn State have held a special place in my heart, so it was amazing to spend a couple of days fishing Spring Creek when I was working on my degree back in 2014, fishing with one of Joe’s disciples from the TCO fly shop and catching my first brownie on a dry fly. I make it a point every year to go fly-fishing somewhere and always take a piece of my Penn State fly-fishing heritage with me. So glad to hear the program lives on and is in great hands with George Daniel. 

Scott Berman ’83 Eng, ’15 MHA H&HD
Oro Valley, Ariz.

Stadium Seating

I really enjoyed “Seat Assignments” by the editor, Ryan Jones [Sept./Oct., p. 5]. We had season tickets for 12 years, and one of the most memorable events was the first Big Ten game at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 4, 1993. We lived in Pittsburgh at the time, and LaVar Arrington was our neighbor! The tickets and souvenir coins are still a part of the football section of my man cave.     

Mike Hmel ’71 Sci
Mars, Pa.
 

Hope Gala Correction

Your coverage of the Hope Gala (July/Aug., p. 64) is highly inaccurate. The Hope Gala is its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, consisting of an annual gala and year-round fundraising to support the fundraising efforts of the Penn State Dance Marathon. While The Hope Gala was founded with the local NYC/NJ alumni chapters in 2008, we have operated as our organization for over a decade, and we have raised $2.7 million since inception. Additionally, our photographer, Perry Bindelglass '08 Lib, was not properly credited for his work (above).

Maggie Kreienberg ’19 Com and Danielle Stolakis ’18 Sci 
Co-executive Directors, The Hope Gala