Thomas L. Rollins '73
This year Curry College celebrated its fourth consecutive NEFC Championship. Some people do not know, however, that this accomplishment is not the beginning but rather a continuation of a fine football tradition at Curry. That tradition began in 1970 when Curry won its first NEFC Championship. They would go on to win it again in 1971 and narrowly miss a three-peat in 1972. A big part of those celebrated teams was co-captain Thomas Rollins.
Tom came to Curry College as a sophomore transfer from the United States Naval Academy where he was recruited to play football. As is the case with so many talented athletes, Division I Athletics was just not for him. Having grown up in Concord, NH and having attended Bridgton Academy in Maine, Tom made his way back to New England and a place where he could receive individualized classroom attention and enjoy playing football again: Curry College.
While at Curry, Tom stood out as a leader on and off the field. His grades soared and he graduated cum laude in 1973 after being named to the list of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and to the list of Outstanding College Athletes of America. He was named recipient of the President Hafer Award his junior and senior years for his embodiment of an outstanding student athlete. As co-captain of the Colonel football team, he led the way to back-to-back conference championships while being named an All-Conference Defensive End both of those seasons.
During the summer between his junior and senior years, Tom attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, became a member of the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class and paved the way to being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon his graduation. This began a 28-year career as a Marine aviator which saw him hold positions such as Commanding Officer, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, Commanding Officer of the Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station and Aviation Combat Element Commander of a special operation, Marine Expeditionary Unit. He also served as Executive Officer of the largest aviation training group in the Marine Corps and Operations Officer of the largest pilot training air wing in the Navy. Among his numerous accomplishments, Tom has served as a certified flight instructor for both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, is airborne qualified and has been awarded 28 medals, unit awards and campaign ribbons. A Desert Storm veteran, Tom has served his country all over the globe with distinction.
Tom earned Master of Public Administration from California State University at Fullerton as well as attended numerous professional development programs. He taught post-graduate Professional Military Education courses to Marine Corps flight instructors and students at The Marine Corps University in Pensacola, Florida and Kinesiology courses at California State University at Fullerton.
Today, Tom is serving as the Senior Program Manager on the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) Program for a subcontractor of Northrop Grumman Corporation. The F-35 is a stealth, supersonic jet that can take off and land vertically and will become the preeminent fighter in the United States arsenal in every branch of service. Tom currently lives in Laguna Niguel, CA. |
and Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter on September 2 at LA's Staples Center, and the November 4 WBC welterweight championship fight between champion Carlos Baldomir and boxing's consensus superstar "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at Mandalay bay in Las Vegas."
Joseph S. Donelan '78 and his wife Mary Todd moved from Sutton, VT to Sebring, FL in 2003. In Sutton, Joseph programmed and performed a two man morning show at Kix 105. Now in Sebring, he is the PM Drive Personality at OJ 99.1 which has been the number one radio station in the area for ten years. Joseph writes, "It looks like Curry has come a long way since I graduated in 1978!"
’81
Alice Buckley '81 writes, "I would love to hear from alumni from classes of '80 and '81, especially Nancy Haskell and Jeanette Ruo."
’82
John A. Manning '82 and his wife Teresa have three children. Courtney is currently in Law School; Heather is a junior in college majoring in Legal Studies; John III is a freshman at Curry College majoring in Criminal Justice. John has been on the Marlborough Police Force for over 18 years and is currently working as a narcotics detective.
’83
Janet Berez '83 is a Department Manager at Nordstrom and lives in Plano, TX. She writes, "I just wanted to say 'hello' to my fellow classmates and friends I had while at Curry. I think about my time at Curry and how my old friends are doing. I would love to hear from anyone that I knew while at Curry as those memories will always stay with me. If you are out there and see this please call, write or email (jberez@aol.com).
Kelly (Tidman) Francis '83 writes, "It has been a long time and a lot has happened in our lives. I would like to get in touch with long lost classmates, Jim Stafford '84 and Karen Nugent '83, and anyone else that would like to say hello. I can be emailed at kelly.t.francis@verizon.com ." |
’85
Anne (Johnson) Abbe '85 and her husband Dan have been married for three years and live in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. She writes, "No children, but we have three furry kids! I would love to hear from Sue McLaughlin Koon, Linda Clougherty Fox, and Linda Morrison Cahill. You three are what made Curry special for me! Hope all from the class of '85 are happy and doing well!"
Joseph Selleck '85 is working as a Reference Librarian at the Bluffton Branch Library in Bluffton, CT. He and his wife Angie have been married for four years and have a dog named Cookie.
’86
Marcy (Lieberman) Fontana '86 has been married for almost ten years to Neal Fontana. They have three-year-old twins, Katie and Brian. Marcy has worked for Ricoh Corporation in International Sales for over 17 years. "I would love to hear from any old friends. My email address is mn4697@optonline.net."
’87
Robert Howson '87 writes, "On December 5th, my wife Julia and I welcomed our Son Wesley Howson in to the world. Wesley was 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.
’88
Robin-Anne (Pulit) Carey '88 recently accepted a position as an Administrator for the Granby Public Schools. She will be the Supervisor of Special Education and is finishing a sixth year Certificate in Educational Leadership through UCONN.
’89
Shari (Alazraki) Appelman '89 received her graduate degree in Health Services Administration with a certificate in Gerontology in 2002. On September 11, 2004, she and Maurice Appelman were married. Christine (Doyle) Miele '90 and Courtney (Chouinard) Noble '88 were in attendance. In May 2005, Shari and her husband welcomed daughter Gabrielle. Shari is currently a stay at home mom. She says, |
