CUA Honors 14 Retirees

By Warren Duffie

On March 31, CUA celebrated 14 of its employees who retired during the 2004-2005 academic year, or who will do so at its conclusion, at a retirement convocation held in the Great Room of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center.

Each of the retirees in attendance was introduced by the vice president of the area in which he or she worked and was given the opportunity to make remarks. During the program, Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., university president, expressed his appreciation to all the retirees.

Seven retirees attended the March 31 celebration. Seated (from left) are: Yvonne Contee, Michael Noone, Adele Chwalek, John McCoy, Ann Aubin. Standing are: Elizabeth McFarlane, Provost John Convey, Father David O'Connell, Vice President Julie Englund and James Mayo.

Below is a brief description of each of the retirees:

Ann Aubin, an administrative assistant in the Office of the President, first came to CUA in 1980. She worked in the Student Health Center and at the Life Cycle Institute before joining the president’s office in 1986. She says that working for three different CUA presidents was “a great experience and I’ll always remember the wonderful people here.” Aubin and her husband plan to move to Annapolis, Md., travel to Hawaii and spend time with their grandchildren.

Phyllis Chock, professor of anthropology, taught at CUA for 34 years. Much of her research focused on ethnicity among Greek-Americans. Over the course of her career, she served as chair of the Department of Anthropology, as editor of the Anthropological Quarterly and as president of the Anthropological Society of Washington. In 2004 the Undergraduate Student Government recognized Chock with their James E. Dornan Memorial Teacher of the Year Award.

Adele Chwalek, director of libraries, served in that position for 18 years. During her tenure, she oversaw the $6 million renovation of the John K. Mullen of Denver Memorial Library. Improvements included a complete renovation of the first floor and parts of the second floor, improved lighting in the stacks, and an upgrade of the rare books section. Chwalek was held in such high esteem by her colleagues that a light-hearted musical was written in her honor and presented on Dec. 15, 2004, at the library staff retirement party.

Yvonne Contee, custodial staff, first began working at CUA in July 1992, spending her entire career in Mullen Library. She was known for giving a hearty “Good morning!” followed by a charming smile. Contee says that she’ll always cherish the friendships she made at CUA. She says that the university community is made up of “some of the nicest people I’ve known — good, caring people whom I enjoyed very much.” Contee plans to spend her retirement “just relaxing and spending time with my seven grandchildren.”

Sidney Guessford worked at CUA for 27 years as a refrigeration mechanic. He helped maintain all of the window air conditioning units, ice machines and refrigeration boxes on campus.

Although Tom Marcum, associate director of technical and automated services for Mullen Library, spent the 1980s working for CUA as a consultant, he came on board full time in 1990. First serving as head of the engineering, architecture and math library, and then as head of library information systems and access services, Marcum was promoted to his last position in 1998. His colleagues at Mullen Library remember him as someone who always strove for excellence in his job and who was energized and excited by change.

James Mayo, associate provost for sponsored programs, served in that capacity from 1990 until this year. During his tenure, sponsored research at CUA increased each year, surpassing $20 million at the time of his retirement. Mayo’s responsibilities included helping faculty identify funding sources for research as well as writing and submitting grant proposals. An accomplished musician, painter and sculptor, he plans to spend his retirement engaged in a number of volunteer projects, including community preservation and introducing technology to underserved communities.

John J. McCoy, professor of civil engineering, taught at CUA for 35 years. Aside from his teaching duties, he says he served on “virtually every standing and ad-hoc university committee at one time or another,” including the Academic Senate, the Senate Budget Committee and the Honorary Degrees Committee. McCoy also served two terms as dean of the School of Engineering. He says he most enjoyed being part of a university with a “truly extraordinary breadth of interests in its 10 schools.” McCoy looks forward to traveling, exploring Washington, D.C., and spending time with his grandchildren.

Elizabeth McFarlane, professor of nursing, taught at CUA for 28 years. Known for her devotion to teaching and her academic excellence, she was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing and received an award for outstanding teaching from the D.C. Nurses Association. McFarlane was a member of numerous ad hoc committees; chaired the master’s and doctoral curriculum committees and the medical surgical nursing program of the School of Nursing; and served as associate dean for graduate affairs. She also was an accreditation site visitor for the National League of Nursing and provided consultation and continuing education programs for students in Indonesia and Japan.

Joan Moore spent 10 years as an administrative assistant in the Office of the President. Her duties included receiving visitors to Nugent Hall, paying bills and maintaining office files. Her co-workers in the president’s office were the best part of her job, Moore says, and Father O’Connell was a “marvelous boss — very thoughtful and considerate.” A native of Belfast, Ireland, Moore and her husband are building a home in Ireland, on the Antrim Coast, which overlooks Scotland.

Robert Newkirk, associate professor of music, spent 40 years teaching cello and chamber music at CUA. In addition, he has been a long-time member of the Rome Trio, a chamber music performance trio composed of CUA faculty. He says the most enjoyable aspect of his career at the university has been the students — who are “very receptive and eager to learn, which is what any teacher hopes for.” Newkirk will continue to perform with Washington, D.C.-area chamber music ensembles as well as at events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Michael Noone, professor of law, has taught at CUA for 25 years. His subjects have included torts, federal litigation and national security issues. During his career, Noone has appreciated the fact that CUA is a “sectarian school that provides a positive atmosphere for students, staff and faculty.”  In addition, he was always struck by hearing of CUA’s “outstanding academic reputation” during overseas trips. The Columbus School of Law has approved Noone’s application for an appointment as a research professor. He hopes to teach half of each year and spend the other half conducting research in the field of national security. Noone’s favorite memories include attending Mass with students.

Elizabeth Plionis, an associate professor and assistant dean at the National Catholic School of Social Service, taught at CUA for 26 years. Her scholarly publications in the last decade have focused on excellence in teaching. She currently has a book contract with Oxford University Press to write a social work textbook. Plionis plans to spend time with family and friends, to write and possibly to teach part time. At CUA she most enjoyed her interactions with students and her role in helping develop their professional knowledge and lives.

Robert Talbot has spent 42 years at CUA. He coached the university’s freshman basketball team from 1963 to 1977 and the CUA baseball team from 1964 to 1977. In 1975 Talbot joined CUA’s admissions and financial aid staff, becoming director of admissions that year, director of admissions and financial aid in 1980 and dean of the office in 1985. Talbot took over as director of athletics in 1992 and in 2004 joined the Office of University Development as director of the “Competitive Edge: a Campaign for Cardinal Athletics,” which encourages former CUA athletes to contribute to a campaign to improve CUA’s athletic facilities. Talbot plans to spend his retirement traveling, playing golf and reminiscing about the “great student-athletes and parents and remarkable alums” he has known.

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