Southern honored six of its best and brightest at the annual Alumni Awards Celebration, which was held on March 13 at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center. Among the highlights of the event was the induction of three Southern graduates into the Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame. Former Southern football great Joseph D. Andruzzi, who helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowl Championships in 2002, 2004, and 2005, was among those honored. A 10-year veteran of the National Football League, Andruzzi also was a member of the Green Bay Packers and the Cleveland Browns.

Joseph D. Andruzzi

Andruzzi, who played at Southern from 1993-96, was a two-time All-American and was twice selected to the All-ECAC squad. Today, Andruzzi, who is a cancer survivor, serves as the chief executive officer of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, which is dedicated to fighting the disease.

Loretta Di Pietro

Fellow inductee Loretta Di Pietro, ’79, M.S. ’82, was a four-year starter for the Southern field hockey team, serving as captain in her senior year. Following graduation, she remained active in field hockey and lacrosse, working as a member of the coaching staffs at Southern, Yale University, Hamden High School, and Hopkins School.

Currently the chair of the Department of Exercise Science at George Washington University, Di Pietro previously was with Yale University School of Medicine, where she was an associate professor of epidemiology and public health and a fellow of the John B. Pierce Laboratory.

Adegboyega "Bo" Oshioniyi

Also honored was former Major League Soccer (MLS) goalkeeper Adegboyega “Bo” Oshoniyi, ’95, who is an assistant coach for the Wake Forest University men’s soccer team. At Southern, Oshoniyi helped the Owls to two NCAA Div. II National Championships. A two-time All American, he also received the Golden Boot Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate goalkeeper.

Oshoniyi played professional soccer in the United States for 12 years, including time with the Columbus Crew (1996) and Kansas City Wizards (2000-06), which won the MLS championship in his first year with the team.

Patty Pursell

The Alumni Citation Award, which honors alumni for exemplary achievements, was presented to Patty Pursell, ’95, M.S. ’99, 6th Yr. ’02. An elementary physical education teacher for the Wallingford Public Schools, Pursell is the author and administrator of a federal physical education grant for $314,212. The past president of the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Pursell also is the secretary for the Governor’s Committee for Physical Fitness. Pursell has received numerous other honors, including being named the Wallingford Teacher of the Year, the Connecticut Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, and a finalist for the Connecticut State Teacher of the Year.

Carolyn Dorsey Vanacore

The Alumni Service Award was presented to Carolyn Dorsey Vanacore, ’52, M.S. ’68, 6th Yr. ’73. Vanacore began her teaching career at North Haven High School, and during the next 13 years served as a teacher, coach, and intramural activity director at numerous area schools. In 1965 she joined Southern as an assistant professor, and was named director of the university’s Division of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Safety (now Exercise Science) in 1982, a position she held until her retirement in 1989.

In addition to serving on the Alumni Association Board, Vanacore has been active with numerous organizations and causes on campus, notably those supporting female student-athletes.

George M. DeMaio, Jr.

The Alumni Appreciation Award was presented to George M. DeMaio, Jr., ’70, M.S. ’77, a sportscaster on 960 WELI and ESPN Radio 1300. DeMaio, who helped found the university radio station, went on to become a pioneer in the promotion of local sports.

Affectionately known by his fans as “The Coach,” he has received numerous honors in recognition of his coverage of high school sports, including induction into the Connecticut Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was honored by the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors with the Distinguished Service Award — Outside the Field of Athletic Administration. DeMaio recently retired from a teaching career spanning more than two decades.

Score one for romance! Tiffany (Moffo) Simpson, ’00, and John F. Simpson, ’02, met on the first day of their freshman year, thanks to an experimental program called Southern’s Core (SCore). Both were enrolled in the program, which gave students the opportunity to complete their core course requirements during their first four semesters.

Entering Buley Library on Sept. 4, 1996, Tiffany asked John if the seat next to him was taken. The rest, as they say, is history. John, who was known for punctuality, began waiting for Tiffany in the parking lot so that they could walk to class together. The two became habitually late for class, but romance blossomed right on schedule. “We started as friends, studying together and hanging out,” writes Tiffany, who was the president of the Class of 2000. “Now, 12 years later, we recently celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary.” Today, John works as a software support specialist at Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Watertown, Mass. Tiffany is employed by Central Connecticut State University. Lorraine Phillips O’Grady, ’68, M.S. ’73, & Timothy O’Grady, ’67 It was spring 1965 when freshman Lorraine Phillips and sophomore Timothy O’Grady enrolled in a botany class taught by Dr. Chester Bosworth. Fortunately for the future couple, Dr. Bosworth was a proponent of alphabetized assigned seating. As surely as the letter “P” follows “O,” the two classmates were seated next to each other and quickly became friends. Because both were still involved with high school sweethearts for the moment, friendship would have to do.

Then, in the summer of 1966, Lorraine won a scholarship to travel to Turkey through the School for International Training in Vermont. It was a life-changing period for both young people, whose high school relationships came to an end. When Lorraine returned to Southern in the fall, she and Tim became a couple. On a weekend in December 1967, Tim asked Lorraine to marry him. Some time later, Lorraine told Dr. Bosworth that she hadn’t received the “A” she thought she deserved in botany. “Ah, what did you get in that class anyway…?” asked Dr. Bosworth. Lorraine proudly extended her left hand to show her engagement ring, explaining that she had gotten Tim O’Grady.

The O’Gradys, who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in December, have four sons and three grandchildren.

Lorraine taught art in Connecticut for many years, including art education at Southern from 1997 to 1999. The couple now lives in California where Lorraine is a background actress in movies and television. Tim is an executive at Western Asset Management and has completed several acting gigs, as well.

A heartfelt congratulation goes out to William “Doc” Holley, ’55, and Joan Marie Noga Holley, ’56, who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on December 20. The couple shares a devotion to their alma mater, New Haven State Teachers College, as Southern was called when they graduated. Doc, a past recipient of the Alumni Service Award, has served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1985 and currently serves as its treasurer. He also represents The Alumni Association on the SCSU Foundation Board of Directors.

He retired in 1997 after 38 years in public education, having held numerous positions, including principal. Joan taught for 35 years in public education and was employed by the state’s Department of Children and Families.

The game is on, even if you can’t cheer the Owls on in person. Now, Southern fans can watch Owls’ football and men’s and women’s basketball on the Internet by logging onto NE10.tv.

The site also can be accessed through the Owls’ new athletics Web site at www.SouthernCTOwls.com. Click on the Northeast-10 Conference logo in the bottom left-hand column, followed by the NE-10.TV logo on the next page.

The television quality videos may be ordered in advance or during the competition for $6.99 per game. Technology requirements include high-speed DSL or cable Internet connection and the capability to play streaming windows video. Viewers will be asked to create an account.