In Memoriam

Remembering members of our cherished GSE community who have recently passed away. 

Staff

Ruth Steegman.

Ruth Steegmann, a clinical coordinator for GSE’s school psychology program from 2001-11 died on October 19, 2023. She was 90 years old. She was given emeritus status upon retiring in 2011. Steegmann lived in Pendleton, and was the wife of Ted Steegmann Jr. mother Catherine Vandor and Thomas Steegman.

Steegman contributed greatly to the field of psychology. She held positions as a school psychologist and was a publications chair, archivist and presenter for the New York State Association of School Psychologists for many years. She was presented with the Gil Trachtmann Leadership Award in School Psychology in 2004. This award was given in recognition of her contribution to her field.

A music lover, Steegman showed her enthusiasm for classical music through her commitment to weekly piano lessons beginning as a child. She practiced the piano for 80 years. She was also an excellent cook according to her family and could bring everyone together nightly for a hot meal.

Faculty

Mwalimu Shujaa.

Mwalimu Shujaa, a professor and part of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and the Department of African American Studies at UB from 1989-1998 died November 25, 2023. He was 73 years olf. His book, “Too Much Schooling and Too Little Education,” is a classic and was influential to many. Through his writing, he clearly described a fundamental flaw in the efforts to bring academic, social, cultural and spiritual success to Black students.

“He was a giant in the field of Black education and some of his most influential work came out as a UB professor,” said LaGarrett King, PhD.

Shujaa held a master’s degree from The College of New Jersey, and an EdD in anthropology of education from the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. He was the founding executive director of the African World Studies Institute at Fort Valley State University in Georgia and successfully led that institution’s effort to launch a degree program in African world studies.  

Another edited work by Shujaa was “African Cultural Heritage in North America,” which was co-edited by his daughter, Kenya. It is considered one of the leading studies of Africanisms in the diaspora.

Vincent Coppola.

Vincent J. Coppola, was a beloved and longtime educator within the Western New York Community. He was the former executive director of UB’s Western New York EducationalService Counsel (WNYESC); a longtime adjunct faculty member in GSE from 1999-2019. He was also one of the guiding forces that started the Leadership Initiative for Tomorrow’s Schools, or LIFTS, an administrative development program that has graduated some of the most celebrated school administrators in WNY.

Coppola was an educator who spent 40 years working in public schools as an English teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, principal, director of personnel and superintendent of local schools. He then went on to be a full-time consultant for the WNYESC.

Coppola was also a GSE alum and received two master’s degrees in school counseling in 1963 and college counseling/student personnel in 1966. He went on to earn his EDD in counselor education in 1971.

Born in Watertown, NY, Coppola was a devoted husband and best friend of Rosebud Coppola (nee DeMarco) and was an adored father of Jim Coppola and Nancy Jo Coppola, and was called “Papa” by granddaughter, Bella A. Coppola.

Friend of GSE

Gail Johnstone.

Gail E. Johnstone, donor and wife of SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Higher and Comparative Education and former SUNY Chancellor, D. Bruce Johnstone, died November 30, 2023. She was 82. The couple established the GSE Johnstone Distinguished Lecture Series in Comparative Education Policy.

Within 18 months of moving to Buffalo in 1979, Gail E. Johnstone began to make a significant impact locally. She became the City of Buffalo’s director of planning, leading development of master plans for Buffalo’s waterfront and a revitalized downtown. In her next position as vice president for planning at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, she was instrumental in laying the groundwork for development of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Johnstone went on to serve as the CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for 10 years.

Born Gail Eberhardt in Wichita, Kansas, she received a bachelor’s degree in French and history from the University of Kansas in 1963. On a Woodrow Wilson fellowship, she earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, where she met her husband. They were married on July 30, 1965.

Gail Johnstone is survived by a son Duncan; a daughter, Cameron Rostron; and three grandchildren.

Alumni

1950s

  • Anthony P. Catalfamo, Sr., BE ’52 | 05/23/2023
  • C. Howard Johnt, BE ’53, EdM ‘58 | 12/30/2023
  • Edward J. McGreevy, EdM ’55 | 10/31/2023 
  • Margaret M. Radzwill, BE ’50 | 10/24/2023
  • Norman F. Pyzikiewicz, BE ’57 | 01/09/2023

1960s

  • Diane E. Davidian, BE ’57, EdM ’67 | 11/26/2023 
  • Shirley L. Feldman, BFA ’61, BA ’62 | 12/29/2023 
  • Dr. Joseph A. Igoe, EdD ’68 | 02/09/2024
  • Alan V. Manchester, EdM ’65 | 11/08/2023
  • Giulio Michienzi, BFA ’61, EdM ’69 | 01/19/2024
  • Vincent J. Murphy, BS ’60, EdM ’62|  01/11/2024
  • Suzanne T. Oyer, EdM ’69 | 11/03/2023
  • Dr. Thomas H. Peeler, EdD ’69 | 10/24/2023
  • James A. Phillips, MS ’68 | 01/15/2024
  • Christa K. Paolini, BE ’61 | 03/19/2024
  • Dr. Theron D. Rockhill, EdD ’69 | 12/24/2023
  • Frank J. Ventura, BE ’55, EdM ’67 | 08/15/2023
  • Francyne L. Willby, BA ’67, MLS ’69 | 08/10/2023

1970s

  • Dr. Saleh I. Assad, EdD ’78 | 01/23/2024
  • Gail S. Beere, EdM ’71 | 09/12/2023
  • Gloria J. Boice, EdM ’72  10/27/2023
  • Patricia J. Bosinski, EdM ’73 | 02/29/2024
  • James J. Boyle, MLS ’74 | 03/05/2024
  • Ronald L. Clayback, BE ’62, EdM ’71| 11/06/2023
  • Dr. Peter R. Cunningham II, EdM ’71 07/25/2023
  • Martha L. Faller, BA ’71, MLS ’73| 11/22/2023 
  • Beverly J. Fish, EdM ’75 | 03/08/2024
  • Dr. Joseph S. DiCarlo, MS ’61, PhD ’71 | 12/15/2023
  • Marieanna L. Elliott, EdM ’75 | 02/19/2024
  • Barbara S. Fox, BA ’57, EdM ’71, | 09/03/2023
  • James J. Gibbons, BE ’58, EdM ’77| 10/02/2023
  • Dr. David L. Haniford, MS ’63, PhD ’71 | 01/25/2024
  • Kathleen D. Harrigan, EdM ’73| 11/23/2023
  • Barbara L. Helmer, EdM ’74 | 06/29/2023
  • Dr. Herbert G. Koenig, EdM ’72 | 03/16/2024
  • Felix G. Labaki, MS ’64, EdD ’73 | 09/24/2023
  • Dr. Clifford V. Lochhaas, EdD ’77 | 03/11/2023 
  • Mary P. Lyons, EdM ’75 | 10/22/2023
  • Marian M. McLellan, MLS ’79 | 09/14/2023
  • Edward J. Myszka, BS ’66, EdM ’71| 07/14/2023
  • George M. Needham, BA ’76, MLS ’77 | 11/28/2023
  • John F. Schleifer, Jr., BE ’67, EdM ’73 | 11/09/2023 
  • Dr. William J. Tolien, EdD ’72 | 02/17/2024
  • Dr. Gerald G. Winkleman, PhD ’75 | 11/10/2023  

1980s

  • Dr. Agnes M. Apicella, EdD ’83 | 10/31/2023
  • Dr. Peter M. Byron, EdM ’74, PhD ’81 | 04/18/2023 
  • Michael Christman, BE ’74, EdM ’82| 12/26/2023
  • Dr. Dennis P. Igoe, EdD ’81 | 02/2023
  • Marilyn A. Foote-Kragbe, EdM ’89 | 10/01/2023
  • Annette R. Kallett, EdM ’81| 08/26/2023
  • Dr. Beth R. Lawton, PhD ’85 | 10/30/2023 
  • Concetta C. Rao, BE ’59, EdM ’89 | 10/22/2023 
  • Nancy S. Reingold, EdM ’83 | 06/24/2023
  • Irene L. Walsh, BA ’52, MLS ’80 | 09/01/2023

1990s

  • Lisa M. LaQuay, MLS ’97 | 09/13/2023
  • Joseph W. Marciniak, BA ’95, EdM ’98 | 02/11/2024
  • Dr. Marian Catherine Meyers, MS ’70, EdD ’94 | 03/17/2024
  • Amy J. Trawinski-Marcin, EdM ’96 | 03/10/2024

2000s

  • Nicole M. Dicarlo, BA ’03, EdM ’05 | 10/11/2023