1.  RETIREMENT

 Richard (Dick) Russell will be retiring from Owens-Brockway soon.  I say soon because Dick was supposed to retire officially at the end of May 2001, but his retirement date keeps slipping.  At the moment, Dick is just irreplaceable, so the new target date is the end of July 2001.  

Dick has worked for Owens-Brockway 36 years, 28 years in the environmental testing area.

Dick wanted me to tell everyone that his fondest memories are of the annual trip to EF and the friends he made there.  Those memories will last a long time and bring many a smile to his face.

Dick wanted me to tell everyone that some of his fondest memories are of the annual trips to the EFC and the many friends he has made there.  He feels those memories are very special and will be with him always.  His true claims to fame, though, are:

 1.       Acting as the anchor person on the infamous relay race when the Americans won over the Canadians; and

2.       His awe-inspiring ability to keep up socially with the Canadians.  (Dick says he has the headaches to prove it!!)

 Although Dick is retiring and will be spending his summers boating, playing tennis and golf (and his winters in Florida with more of the same), we hope that he knows he has a standing invitation to join us at the annual Engineering Foundation Conference whenever he gets tired of having too much fun.  

 I know that everyone at SES sends his or her best wishes to a good friend, a wicked tennis player, a respected and valued member of the stack testing community, and to the brave man who hangs out with the Canadians.

 Gail T. Westlin

 P.S.  I’m assuming also that we have all standing invitations to visit Dick when he’s wintering in Florida. 

2.  Matthew S. DeVito Scholarship Fund

I received a message from Cathie DeVito, sister to Matt DeVito, recently.  She wanted to let members of the SES know how the money contributed to the DeVito Memorial Fund was being used since many members contributed.

Cathie stated that family and friends discussed many options as to how to use the fund.  Since Matt had left his family well provided for, the decision was made to provide a scholarship in Matt's name at his alma mater.

 The recipient of the Matt DeVito Memorial Scholarship this year is Ryan Costello.  He is the son of a good friend of Matt.  He is graduating second in his class at East Fairmont High School (where Matt had attended high school) and plans to major in political science. 

 Cathie writes that her family (parents, cousins and an aunt and uncle) attended the senior recognition ceremonies where the presentation was made.  She said that Ryan was very appreciative of the award, and that Ryan’s father cried openly when the presentation was made.   Below is the short speech which Cathie made at the presentation and wanted to share with us.

As you sit here tonight you might be thinking about your future and how others will measure your success.

 Success is always temporary. When all is said and done, the only thing you'll have left is your character.

 There is no more poignant example of this for my family than when we look back on the life of my brother Matt.  Last December my brother was killed in a work related accident.  Matt’s life was all about character.   Matt was a unique individual who knew what was important in life.

Tonight we honor his memory with a scholarship   He, like all the other members of my immediate and extended family, was a graduate of East Fairmont High School and, like all of us, enjoyed his high school years by being involved.  Along the way he made many friends B both students and teachers.  This was made very evident to us when over 400 people attended his memorial service, some Matt probably hadn’t seen in 10 to 20 years.   But they all knew of Matt’s character and the man he was.

 Next year we hope to make this an additional Foundation Scholarship.  Tonight’s recipient of the first Matt DeVito Memorial scholarship is Ryan Costello.