Alumni Hall of Fame
The Port Jervis
School District established the Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize
individuals who were educated and inspired by our school system.
Those selected for this honor have achieved personal success and
have made a significant contribution to society. They will serve
as role models to inspire current and future generations of
students.
Three local
community servants, Orange County’s first full-time district
attorney, and the former attorney for one of the nation’s
leading public-interest organizations were honored October 9, 2011 at the third
annual Port Jervis High School Alumni Hall of Fame induction
ceremony.
The Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to recognize and
honor individuals who were educated and inspired by the Port
Jervis school system. Each fall, a new group of alumni is
inducted into the Hall of Fame, and plaques with their
photographs and biographies are placed on permanent display at
Port Jervis High School.
“It is important that we recognize the achievements of our
exceptional alumni. They are a link to the district’s past and
serve as excellent role models to current and future generations
of Port Jervis students,” said Superintendent John Xanthis. “We
look forward to honoring each of them this fall for their
outstanding achievements and contributions to society.”
 Jerome Cohen
Class of 1944
Jerome Cohen was
the first elected full-time District Attorney for Orange County
and one of the area’s most prominent attorneys. Even though he
could have lived anywhere in the world after graduating from
Syracuse University and Brooklyn Law School, Cohen returned to
Port Jervis, where his family had lived for 140 years, to start
a private law practice. Cohen founded the Port Jervis law firm
of Cohen, Bavoso, Weinstein & Fox, where he served as a senior
partner until his retirement.
During his distinguished career, Cohen served as president of
the Port Jervis Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association,
and as the local delegate to the NY State Bar Association.
Cohen’s reputation led to him to become the Orange County
District Attorney, a position he held for 18 years. He was also
admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Motivated by a deep-rooted allegiance to his hometown, the World
War II and Korean War veteran always found time in his demanding
schedule to give back to the community. In addition to being an
active member of the Masons, Elks, American Legion, and the
Middletown Chapter of the Jewish War Veterans, Cohen often did
pro bono work for less fortunate members of the community.
A staunch advocate for education, Cohen was responsible for
bringing advanced college courses from his alma mater – Syracuse
University – to Port Jervis High School in the 1970s. The
Syracuse Project Advance, which allows high school students to
reduce college expenses by earning college credits, has
benefited countless numbers of Port Jervis graduates. Cohen and
his wife Zilda have three children who are part of a long family
line of Port Jervis school system graduates.
 Tom Hoppey
Class
of 1949
A beloved
educator, Tom Hoppey has impacted the lives of three decades of
students in the Port Jervis School District – first as a science
teacher and later for 22 years as principal of Port Jervis
Middle School. The Korean War veteran entered the field of
education after serving two years in the U. S. Army and earning
bachelor and master’s degrees from the New York State College
for Teachers (currently known as SUNY Albany). Other than
teaching a few years in upstate New York, Hoppey has spent his
entire life in Port Jervis working tirelessly as an educator and
community leader to make a difference in kids’ lives. The scope
of the positive influence he had on the youth of this community
is reflected in the fact that five of the initial 15 Hall of
Fame members are his former students.
Outside of the classroom, Hoppey has done much for the City of
Port Jervis. In addition to serving two terms on the Port Jervis
City Council, Hoppey has been a stalwart leader in the Port
Jervis Elks, Knights of Columbus and other community
organizations.
At age 79, he continues to serve his hometown as chairperson of
the Port Jervis City Recreation Commission, as a member of the
Board of Directors of the Port Jervis Educational Foundation,
and as co-chairperson of the Elks Children’s Christmas Party,
which brightens the holidays every year for more than 200
children. Hoppey and his wife Carol have four children, who are
all graduates of the Port Jervis School District.
 Roberta Glinton
Class of 1951
Posthumous
Award
A skilled
nurse, educator, and local business woman, the late Roberta
Glinton had a passion for helping others. This enthusiasm led to
a 40-year career as a registered nurse with the Orange County
Department of Health and Bon Secours Community Hospital. Early
in her career, as a migrant health nurse, she provided health
care to migrant residents and assisted in establishing the
county’s first migrant clinic. Later, she served as a staff
nurse, clinical consultant for ostomy services, educator for
nursing students, and Public Health Nurse for the Orange County
Department of Health in Goshen. After she retired from nursing,
Glinton earned her real estate credentials. She was the
broker-owner of Hawks Nest Realty in Port Jervis when she passed
away in October 2010.
An inspirational role model for young women, Glinton
demonstrated that a woman can successfully balance education, a
demanding career, meaningful community service and a rewarding
family life. Much of her volunteer work centered on children,
education, and services for the sick and elderly.
Glinton was instrumental in establishing the first Orange County
Meals on Wheels Program, organizing the delivery of health care
services to homebound patients, and developing a nutritional
program for the elderly. She was also an avid volunteer for the
American Cancer Society and a member of the group that launched
the first Relay For Life in Orange County. Additionally, she
served as a member of the New York Congressional Health Advisory
Committee, the Bon Secours Charity Health System Board and board
of directors for the Bon Secours Community Hospital, which she
chaired for 4 years.
In 2007, Bon Secours Community Hospital honored Glinton for her
service by naming the new medical building in her honor. Her
other honors included the inaugural Orange County Department of
Health Commissioner's Award for Outstanding Service, the Tribute
to Women of Achievement in Orange County award, and the Martin
Luther King Award for Public Service. Glinton and her husband
Albert had five children, who all also alumni of the Port Jervis
School District.
 Mike McCarthy
Class of 1952
A dedicated
community leader, Mike McCarthy has spent much of his life
serving the people of Port Jervis. After attending SUNY Orange
and SUNY Cortland, McCarthy was employed by Sparkomatic
Corporation as a service manager until his retirement.
McCarthy’s volunteering spirit, and love of sports, led him to
give back to his community by volunteering for 19 years as a
coach, official, director and president of the Port Jervis Pop
Warner Football program. The former member of the 1952 DUSO
Baseball Championship team and high school four-sport varsity
athlete also served as a high school football official and as
vice president of the Mount Carmel Society. McCarthy continues
to contribute to the community through his service as a member
of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Knights of Columbus, Mount
Carmel Society and as volunteer at Bon Secours Community
Hospital.
One of the U.S. Army veteran’s greatest legacies is his two
decades of service on the Port Jervis City Council. The longest
serving councilmen in Port Jervis history, McCarthy served for
18 consecutive years – as First Ward Councilman and
Councilman-at-Large. Two years ago, he was re-elected to serve
the First Ward.
During his years in office, the City secured the $10 million
Fresh Air-Fresh Water Grant that allowed it to replace its water
lines and received the NY Coalition of Mayors Main Street Award
for the Erie Depot/Erie Hotel restoration project. In 2010, the
Port Jervis Police Benevolent Association recognized McCarthy’s
distinguished service to his nation, state and community by
presenting him with the John L. MacKechnie Award. McCarthy and
his wife Mary Ann have two children, both of whom are Port
Jervis High School graduates.
 Donald Simon
Class of 71
A renowned expert
in the areas of campaign finance and election law issues, Donald
Simon is a partner in the Washington, DC office of Sonosky,
Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry, LLP. He also served for five
years as executive vice president and general counselor of
Common Cause, one of the nation’s leading public-interest
organizations.
Over the past 30 years, Simon was involved in numerous
legislative initiatives and litigation matters related to
campaign finance, and testified numerous times before Congress
and the Federal Election Commission on issues relating to
federal campaign finance laws. The Harvard graduate has also
advised elected officials, presidential candidates, state
political parties, and the Democratic National Committee; and
has been interviewed by virtually all major media outlets as a
knowledgeable expert on campaign finance and related matters.
Additionally, Simon participated in election monitoring on
behalf of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Peru in
2000, and represented the NDI on trips to Russia and Algeria
where he spoke to parliamentarians and the media on issues
relating to regulation of politics in the United States.
Currently, the magna cum laude Harvard graduate and cum laude
Harvard Law School graduate is general counsel to Democracy 21,
a leading campaign finance reform organization.
2011 Hall of Fame Committee
The district wants to thank the
following alumni, teachers, staff, school board member, and
community members for serving on the Hall of Fame Committee:
Christine Addy,'89 Tom Hoppey,
'49
Frank Bell, '60 Jared Kahmar,
'96
John Bell, '85 Lori Lawrence,
'81
Kevin Birmingham, '71 Tom Leek,
'78
Tom Bongiovi
Luann McCarthy, '76
Deb Cassara, '76 Mike McCarthy,
'52
Phil Chase, '50 Deb Meerdink,
'90
Mike Cordisco, '78 Richard Roberts,
'66
Kelly Decker, '85
George Rollman
Nancy Dunn
Ron Semerano,
'73
John Faggione, '90
Bill Smith, '78
Chris Farlekas, '47
Hugh Spangenberg,
'59
Lynn Hendershot, 83
Superintendent John Xanthis
Jim Hendry, '95
Tell us who you think
should be in the 2012 Alumni Hall of Fame
If you would like to join the Hall of Fame committee or want to submit alumni names for consideration,
please submit the name, graduation year, contact information and
reasons for consideration to:
John J. Bell, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Port Jervis City School District
9 Thompson Street,
Port Jervis, NY 12771
jbell@pjschools.org
(845) 858-3100, Ext. 15521
Pictured at the Oct. 9, 2011 banquet are
(from left) Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, '72; who accepted the
award for his father Jerome Cohen, '44; Thomas Hoppey, '49; Albert Glinton and Gwendolyn Glinton,'76,
who accepted the award
for the late Roberta Glinton, '51;
Michael McCarthy, '52; and Donald Simon, '71.
Click here
for 2011 Hall of Fame Banquet Photos.
The
2010 Alumni Hall of Fame inductees were honored October 10,
2010 at
the second annual induction banquet. Pictured (from left) are
Chris Farlekas, '47; Perrie Whitten who accepted the award for
her father Chuck Salmon, '47; Anita Pahmahmie Evans, '76; Linda
Dunn Brown who along with her brother Bo accepted the award for
their father Eddie Dunn,’35;
Gib Romaine, '62; Bo Dunn;
Col.
Steven Dutkus, '83; Col. (Ret) Steve Banach, '77; and
LTC David
(Ret) Farace, '77.
Click here
to learn
more about the eight distinguished alumni.
Photos of 2010 Hall of Fame Banquet
|
2009 Hall of Fame
- Inaugural Class |
The first class of inductees were honored October 11, 2009 at the
inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame banquet at the Erie Trackside Manor. Pictured (left to right) are
Ed Banach. '78;
Marion Rohner, '35; Brigid
Gray,'78, who accepted the award for her father
Senator E. Arthur Gray, '43; Dr. Sam Levinson, '47,
who accepted the award for his brother
Dr.
Harry Levinson, '39;
General William Norris, '45;
Philip Chase,
'50; and
Lou Banach, '78.
Click here for the 2009 Hall of Fame Page to learn
more about the seven distinguished alumni.
Click here to see more photos of the Hall of
Fame Banquet & to watch the
Channel 6 news segment about the
inaugural induction ceremony.
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