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T H E M A G A Z I N E O F M O N M O U T H U N I V E R S I T Y » S P R I N G 2 0 1 9
PIECES
OF HOME
International
students share
the mementos
that remind
them of home.
page 32
MEET THE
NEW BOSS
Patrick F. Leahy
named 10th president
of Monmouth.
page 04
TALKING TAXES
“The Most Tax-Efficient
Man in America” takes
our questions.
page 06
SIGNS OF LIFE
Living with a terminal
diagnosis.
page 24
GRADUATE STUDIES
Contents
Features | Spring 2019
YOUR FUTURE:
MASTERED BACKSTORY »
Cancer survivor
Melissa Surdez,
Johnson & Johnson’s
Information Session 2016 Working Mother
of the Year, will give the
4/13 @ 10 a.m.
keynote address at a
March 28 Women’s Lead-
ership Conference
on campus.
Story, p. 24.
REGISTER @
MONMOUTH.EDU/INFO
Continue your studies by pursuing a graduate degree
at Monmouth University. Programs include:
• Addiction Studies
• Athletic Training
• Anthropology
• Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Communication
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Education
- Teaching, M.S.Ed., M.Ed. and Ed.D. options
• English (M.A. and M.F.A.)
• History
•
•
•
Information Systems
Nursing (M.S.N., D.N.P.)
Physician Assistant
24
SIGNS OF LIFE
28
DRAWN OUT
32
PIECES OF HOME
Seven years ago, Melissa When Frank Gogol International
• Social Work
Surdez was given six months began processing a students share
- Traditional/Advanced Standing M.S.W. to live. Now her message is, personal tragedy, he the mementos
• Software Engineering “terminal” doesn’t mean you turned to an unexpected that remind them
• Speech-Language Pathology NEW PROGRAMS: have to stop living. source: comics. of home.
Graduate scholarships available for eligible students. • M.S. in Athletic Training
• M.F.A. in Creative Writing photo MATT FURMAN Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 01
732-571-3452 | West Long Branch, NJ
Contents letters
Departments | Spring 2019
MONMOUTH » VOL. 38, NO. 2
12 14 44 Monmouth magazine is published thrice
annually by the Monmouth University
Division of Enrollment Management.
Vice President for
Enrollment Management
Robert D. McCaig, Ed.D.
The Front
TELL
Associate Vice President,
Marketing & Communications
currents » RESEARCH & REFLECTION
US
Tara Peters ’94, ’99M
06 10 12 Editor
WHAT
Tony Marchetti
NEED TO KNOW CONCEPTS SOUNDING OFF
Assistant Editor
YOU
Doug Stives, CPA, “The Most In search of America’s Professor John Morano’s
Breanne McCarthy
Tax-Efficient Man in Ameri- favorite rock band. eco-adventure novels give
ca,” takes our questions. voice to the voiceless.
THINK
Design & Layout
Dog Ear Consultants
As a senior criminal justice major, let him win.” It turned out to be a
TIDES » CULTURE & COMMUNITY Re: Fall 2018 I interned at the Monmouth very fun and friendly game, and
Contributing Writers
14 16 17 Incredible photo! I was moved to County Youth Detention Center yes, he won. (He probably would Email us at
Pete Croatto
Nick DiUlio tears reading the article on Mr. in Freehold, New Jersey. One of have won anyway, because my magazine@
Morganne Dudzinski ’11, ’13M Hanlon (“Larger than Life”). the most interesting aspects of basketball skills back then were monmouth.
THE INSIDER HOW MONMOUTH CAMPUS BRIEFS Jennifer Moroch Fara this experience was observing not the greatest.)
Kelley Freund
Senior Kayvon Paul is WAS MADE The scene at West via Instagram the interaction between inmates After graduation, I was em- edu, or write us
Mark Gola
already a force in the The early days of Long Branch. Maureen Harmon and corrections officers. I was ployed as a hotel and casino at Monmouth
political world. Monmouth’s Fourth Estate. Meeri Kim I agree with giving employees most impressed with the pro- security officer and as a county
magazine,
Molly Petrilla an expanded paid family leave fessionalism exemplified by the investigator and special deputy
(“Family Matters”). I remember officers despite the difficult situ- sheriff, before going back to Monmouth
PLAY » SPORTS & FITNESS Melissa Kvidahl Reilly
when starting in the workplace ations they often faced. Although school for paralegal certifica- University,
20 22 23 Photographers they did not have employee it was a juvenile facility, some of tion and working as a paralegal,
leave to take care of a parent or the inmates were charged with senior paralegal, and ultimately
Alumni House,
John Davis
Anthony DePrimo child. The only paid leave was for violent crimes and were con- as a case manager at several 400 Cedar
FUTURE FOCUSED STRIKING A BALANCE SPORTS SHORTS Matt Furman six months, and you could stay at sidered very dangerous. There large law firms. It’s interesting Ave., West
Megan Hart is making the Diego Zubieta finds ful- Recapping seasonal high- Mark Ludak ’81 home with your baby up to a year was a healthy mix of potentially to note that I was able to relate
most of the opportunities fillment in two seemingly lights from the world of without pay. But you always had violent juveniles and others who my internship experiences to Long Branch,
she’s getting on and off contradictory worlds: art Hawks athletics. Illustrators a job to go back to. They never may have just been in the wrong many of my current and past NJ 07764.
the field. and football. John S. Dykes replaced you. I am a mother of place at the wrong time. employment experiences, both Submissions
Nenad Cviticanin two adult children, and I can One of my most memorable in law enforcement and legal
tell you it wasn’t easy when you experiences was a time when settings. for the Letters
have to combine work plus your a correction officer and I were Michael Lodato ’82 page are subject
On the cover children’s activities. observing inmates during out-
to editing for
The Back The Rest Graduate student Zainab Audu, pho-
tographed by Anthony DePrimo
Sandra Cobo ’88 via Facebook door recreation, and I noticed
clarity and
one inmate shooting baskets by
Class notes » ALUMNI LIFE Letters, 03. Leahy himself. The officer asked the length and must
44 54
named 10th presi- A meaningful inmate if I could play a game with Let’s
dent of Monmouth, him. The juvenile, who was being
include the
04. Explain This, 09. A experience detained for a somewhat violent
Connect writer’s name,
THE CHANGEMAKER THE MORNING MAN Day at the Beach, 18. crime, accepted. As I walked For more content and
Editor’s note: Last issue, we asked readers address, and
Karen Silva is leading a new Brad Hennessy takes you Alumni Roundup, 46. 400 Cedar Ave. to share stories about the hands-on learning onto the court, the officer photos, follow us on
effort to identify and assist behind the scenes at GMA. In Memoriam, 55. The West Long Branch, NJ 07764
experiences they had at Monmouth. Read
quietly gave me a last-minute Twitter and Instagram: phone number
the unedited responses at monmouth.edu/
human trafficking victims. Recommender, 56. 732-571-3489 • monmouth.edu magazine. word of advice, “Make sure you @monmouthumag for confirmation.
02 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 03
SPECIAL REPORT »
Events & announcements
Monmouth University Names
O
n Dec. 14, 2018, the Monmouth University Board of Trustees announced that Patrick
Patrick F. Leahy 10th President F. Leahy, Ed.D., would serve as the University’s 10th president, effective Aug. 1, 2019.
The announcement was made at an event in historic Wilson Hall, where the incoming
CURRENT WILKES UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT TO START AUG. 1, 2019. president addressed the university community.
BY MORGANNE DUDZINSKI
Leahy emerged as the board’s unanimous selection from 2012. He first served as vice president of university rela-
a diverse pool of more than 100 highly accomplished lead- tions, successfully completing a $129 million comprehen-
ers in the nationwide search. He will succeed Grey J. Di- sive capital campaign. He was then promoted to executive
menna, Esq., who will retire on July 31. vice president, where he was responsible for develop-
“I am thrilled to begin my tenure as the next president of ment, government relations, undergraduate and gradu-
Monmouth University,” said Leahy. “Monmouth has con- ate admission, intercollegiate athletics, planning, and in-
tinually demonstrated its willingness to evolve to meet formation technology. Leahy also taught in the Business
the needs of all students and is dedicated to serving an in- Leadership Honors Program.
creasingly diverse student body. Before moving to Scranton, Leahy was co-founder and
“As we move forward, we’ll build upon the strong founda- president of the Business Affairs Forum, a 15,000-member
tion here at Monmouth and move toward even higher levels distance learning community based in Ithaca, New York. He
of excellence and access. It is clear that the Monmouth com- has also worked as an investment officer for Allied Capital
munity is a family. I, along with my wife, Amy, and our chil- Corporation, as an account executive at Deluxe Corporation,
dren, am excited to be joining this family at the Jersey Shore.” and as a development officer at Georgetown University.
Leahy comes to Monmouth from Wilkes University in Wil- A native of Towson, Maryland, Leahy graduated from
kes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he has served as president Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts in English lit-
since 2012. Guided by a fundamental commitment to stu- erature. He earned dual master’s degrees in business admin-
dent success, Leahy led the development of a comprehensive istration and labor relations from Cornell University, where
strategic plan for Wilkes that focused the university’s efforts he was a Fried Fellow, and earned his Doctor of Education
and resources on teaching, research, and civic engagement. from the University of Pennsylvania.
The plan set the stage for key initiatives and accomplish- Leahy and his wife, Amy, have four children: Grace, 20;
ments, including the introduction of 20 new academic Molly, 18; Jack, 14; and Brian, 12. They will relocate to
programs; strategic enrollment growth in online master’s Doherty House, the presidential residence, this summer.
programs and doctoral degrees, including the launch of the The announcement of Leahy’s hiring concludes a year-
university’s first Ph.D. program; investments in faculty schol- long national search, conducted in consultation with Isaa-
arship and research, resulting in the university’s first five pat- cson Miller, headquartered in Boston. The 17-member
ents; and innovative external partnerships that expanded presidential search committee included two students, two
the university’s reach and supported the local community. administrators, three faculty members, and 10 members
Fulfilling key initiatives of the Wilkes plan, Leahy has been of the Board of Trustees, six of whom are alumni.
instrumental in over $100 million in transformative cam- “I am grateful to Search Chair Henry Mercer and all 17
pus enhancements, including the construction and renova- members of the presidential search committee, who gave
tion of five academic buildings to support learning in the arts, generously of their time to serve the University,” said Board
sciences, health care, and business. In order to enhance the Chair Michael A. Plodwick ’82. “I would also like to extend
student experience and strengthen undergraduate enroll- my gratitude to President Dimenna for his outstanding ser-
ment, Wilkes launched seven new NCAA Division III athlet- vice. His tenure has been characterized by a keen dedication
ic teams and the region’s only collegiate marching band. to student engagement and success, and I have greatly val-
“Dr. Leahy is a strategic, entrepreneurial thinker,” said ued his leadership, energy, and commitment to Monmouth
Henry D. Mercer, III ’87, chair of the presidential search University in the years we have worked together.”
committee and immediate past chair of the Monmouth Dimenna will continue to actively lead the university while
University Board of Trustees. “He has a clear understand- he works with Leahy to facilitate a productive transition. The
ing of how a private university works and knows how to university has appointed a cross-functional presidential tran-
get visionary initiatives realized.” sition team, led by co-chairs Robin Mama, dean of the School
Prior to his time at Wilkes, Leahy was a senior adminis- of Social Work, and Richard Veit, chair of the Department of
trative leader at The University of Scranton from 2004 to History and Anthropology, to help ensure a smooth process.
04 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 05
Currents RESEARCH & REFLECTION
“
Don’t ever
do your
return by
hand. That’s
stupidity.
NEED TO KNOW » Topics & trends Accounting is a foreign lan-
” guage; it’s also an art. It’s not
Many happy a science. I teach my students
this. I’ll say to them, “OK, you
just elected me treasurer of
returns
TALKING TAXES AND MORE WITH DOUG
your organization. Do you want
me to give you good news or bad
news?” And they’ll say, “Just
give us the numbers.” And I’ll
STIVES, CPA—“THE MOST TAX-EFFICIENT say, “No. Do you want me to
show a profit to shareholders
MAN IN AMERICA.” and a loss to the IRS?” I’m not
INTERVIEW BY NICK DIULIO talking about breaking the law;
I’m talking about understanding
S
pecialist Professor Doug Stives spent 36 years the language of business. An ac-
countant isn’t there to just add
at a public accounting firm before joining up numbers. Anyone can use a
Monmouth’s faculty in 2006. software program to do that. An
accountant needs to put talent
Five years later, The Wall or science, or history—I al- and experience together to as-
Street Journal bestowed the ti- ways said that if I took anoth- sess who the information is be-
tle “The Most Tax-Efficient er history course I was going ing tallied for and what that in-
Man in America” on him be- to get sick [laughs]. Account- formation will be used for.
cause of his decades of experi- ing wasn’t easy, but I was able
ence as a CPA and the ways his to get it. I started to see it as Do your experiences from that
nuanced and meticulous use the language of business, and time trickle down to your stu-
of annual deductions, benefits, like learning any new lan- dents?
and professional autonomy al- guage it’s not fun in the begin- I teach by telling stories. Sure,
lows him to “live a fuller life.” ning. But the more I learned, I show PowerPoints and go over
Stives talked with us about how the more I liked it. homework and prepare students
he first fell in love with account- for exams. But I don’t go 10 min-
ing, what the new federal tax Why do you think the subject utes without saying, “Let me tell
law could mean for filers, and clicked for you? you about this experience I had.”
how you should never do your I think it was because I was al- I use that technique in my con-
taxes by hand. ways fascinated with business. tinuing education courses as well.
As a kid I would look up stock It adds value and my students ar-
What led you to a career in ac- prices in the paper. One time, I en’t just watching a video.
counting? visited a family friend who was
I took five years at Lehigh a stockbroker in New York, and So your approach is a combi-
University to get my bache- we watched the tickertape come nation of theory and practice?
lor’s and M.B.A., but when I off the machine. I was captivat- Absolutely. Students need
got there, I didn’t even know ed, even though I didn’t under- both. I think some schools in ac-
what “CPA” meant. I original- stand it all. My father was also counting have gone a little too
ly wanted to become an engi- fascinated with finance, and far in practice. For instance, my
neer, like my father. Nonethe- we would sit and read annual students don’t ever do a tax re-
less, my studies in engineering reports together. turn in my classes because the
weren’t working out, and this forms change, the laws change.
was the ’60s, so you didn’t You worked for several de- I want them to understand the
drop out, or you got a one-way cades in public accounting be- theory behind the practice. I
ticket to Vietnam. The only fore joining Monmouth’s fac- OPPOSITE: Stives is a don’t do my own tax returns, the
thing I really enjoyed was my ulty. What did you come to two-time winner of the software does. But if you don’t
Leon Hess Business School
accounting class. It was dif- realize about the profession in Teaching Excellence understand what the software is
ferent. It wasn’t more math, that time? Award. doing, you’re lost.
06 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 illustration JOHN S. DYKES Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 07
CURRENTS
Let’s talk about that title, “The “ ter you get at it. I’m careful. I If you have investments, a EXPLAIN THIS »
Most Tax-Efficient Man in know what records I need, and business, or rental properties, Answering your burning questions
America.” How did that come
You don’t I know what to back up and then you really need profes-
How Can I Preserve
about? call a what will survive an audit. sional help from a CPA. And
I wasn’t keen on that title, doctor and you need to meet with that
actually [laughs]. But here’s The article also mentions person one-on-one. Unfortu-
just
My Family’s History?
The Wall Street Journal writ- “the flurry of tiny deduc- nately our profession has mor- FAMILY
ing about some CPA from New tell him tions that add up,” explain- phed into just scanning your ALBUM
Jersey—already you’re off to what’s ing how you write off things W-2 and other forms. Then the
a bad start, because it doesn’t wrong over like allowable mileage and accountant processes your re-
I
get any duller than a CPA from food expenses on business turn and sends it back to you t’s a familiar scene folders and papers, and keep the ing from people who aren’t in
New Jersey—but they were the phone, trips—even down to a hot dog for filing. Don’t do it that way. documents as flat as possible to the history books, we’re get-
looking for a way to get read- right? When you bought at the airport. You don’t call a doctor and just for so many today— avoid putting any unwarranted ting different perspectives.”
ers interested in this tongue- it comes Are there things the average tell him what’s wrong over the basements full of stress on them. The good news is that it’s easy
in-cheek, front-page article. person doesn’t understand phone, right? When it comes old photo albums, attics In addition to storing the orig- to get started capturing your
And they said, “What do you to finding about deductions? to finding an accountant, you inal copies properly, Ziobro rec- family members’ personal his-
do that’s different?” Well, I get an account- Deductions can be very benefi- have to insist on some kind of overflowing with home ommends investing in an inex- tories. Chances are you already
a W-2 from Monmouth, and I ant, you cial. However, one of the things personal meeting, at least the movies, smartphones pensive scanner to create digital have an app on your smartphone
get benefits. I used to pay for I’m constantly telling my stu- first time. versions. Just be sure to cap- that can record crystal-clear au-
my own health and life insur- have to dents is that just because you People should also be aware
bursting at the seams
ture a high-resolution image— dio. Ziobro says it’s best to start
ance. All pension money came insist on can deduct it from your tax- of the new Qualified Business with selfies and videos. one that is at least 300 dots per simple. “Even if I’m interviewing
directly from me. But as a full- some kind es doesn’t make it free. There’s Income deduction, which, if Chaotic? Sure. But put inch, and possibly 600 dpi if the grandpa about his Korean War
time employee of the Univer- so much misinformation out you have your own business— scanner is capable. service, it can be hard to jump
sity, those things are now cov-
of personal there. You have people who brag within certain parameters—you them together, and what For images born digital—smart- right in there,” she says. “Start
ered. I even get a 10 percent meeting, at about being in the top tax brack- won’t pay taxes on 20 percent you have is valuable phone photos, for example—Zio- at the beginning with ‘When and
discount at the bookstore and least the et or who brag about not paying of what you make. This law sim- family history. “Whether bro recommends printing and where were you born?’ It’s a sim-
free tickets to football games. any taxes at all. That tells you a plified taxes for a lot of people backing up the images in the ple question and sets the context
first time. you’re preserving your
Then, on the side, I have Doug lot about a person. but made it unnecessarily com- cloud or on a thumb drive. “Have for the interview.”
Stives LLC, which is my vehicle ” Also, some people think that be- plicated for others. But we don’t family’s stories to pass as many different versions as Oral histories, photos, and vid-
for teaching continuing educa- cause they work from home, they have nearly enough time to get down to your children, you can,” she says. “This goes for eos make great family keepsakes,
tion classes across the country. can deduct part of their house. into all of those complications printed and digital files.” but Ziobro encourages families
For that work I get a 1099. So I Well, no, there are very strict [laughs]! or you’re planning to And while images and docu- to share them with museums,
told [the Journal] it’s the best rules about that. People are doing donate your photos or ments can tell a valuable story, historical societies, and oral his-
of both worlds. I get benefits stuff they shouldn’t, sometimes Any other tips? Ziobro says we shouldn’t under- tory archivists. “People tend to
keepsakes in some way, all
from the college side and then intentionally and sometimes be- If you hear from the IRS, get estimate the value of the spoken be humble and think that no one
deduct on my tax return things cause they lack information. professional help before you re- of these stories make up word. Collecting oral histories cares about their story, but that’s
like my Wall Street Journal spond. The IRS is not the Mid- a narrative worth saving,” can be a fun and informative just not the case,” she says. “We
subscription, my computer, This is the first year that peo- dletown police. They don’t read way to make the past accessi- want to know what the average
Wi-Fi, my cellphone, continu- ple are filing under the new tax you Miranda rights. You open says Melissa Ziobro, a ble for future generations. “It’s person in New Jersey was doing
ing education, and some trav- law. What should the average your mouth, say the wrong specialist professor of so much more relatable because during World War II. The only
el expenses. You can’t do that filer know heading into this thing, and you could go to jail. public history. But how to we’re hearing from people in way to get that is to hear these
as an employee. They twist- season? their own words and cadence,” ‘average’ stories.”
ed it around in journalistic For a lot of people, tax returns What do the next few years do that? she says. “And since we’re hear- —Melissa Kvidahl Reilly
fashion—which I admire—and are simple. They get a W-2, and look like for you? When it comes to paper doc-
came up with the title. unless they are afraid of com- More of the same wonderful uments like photos, keep them
puters, they get a software pro- stuff, really. I know it can’t go comfortable. “Most of these
That article says you “use the
tax code’s many quirks” as
gram and file that way. By the
way, don’t ever do your return
on forever. I’ve tragically seen
people who don’t know when
family collections get stored in
the basement or attic because
the
10-second WHAT’S
the means through which you
“can live a fuller life.” How so?
by hand. That’s stupidity.
As for the new law, a lot of peo-
to quit, and I don’t want that
to happen to me. My memo-
that’s where there’s room,” says
Ziobro. “But these are the worst
bonus
question WORTH
DONATING?
Tax laws are complicated by ple won’t itemize deductions ry is not as good as it used to possible places for them” since
their nature. Congress writes this year. Many people are re- be. I need more sleep. My hear- there is minimal control over
them—and Congress can’t do verting to standard deductions. ing is terrible. My eyesight’s bad temperature and humidity. A
anything without complicat- And if you don’t have more than [laughs]. I think I’ll give myself good rule of thumb, she says: “If A national organization may be
ing it. As a professor, I know $24,000 (for married taxpay- another four or five years in the you wouldn’t be comfortable in
interested in military uniforms, while
what you can do—not what you ers) in deductions, there’s not a classroom. But I still like to ski your basement or attic, the doc- To ask a question of our
faculty experts, email
can get away with—what you whole lot you need to know. and sail. The last thing I’ll ever uments aren’t comfortable ei- local groups would love to preserve
magazine@monmouth.
can do to reduce your taxes le- do is sit around screaming at the ther.” Also, it’s best not to use a scrapbook of memories from the edu, or mail Explain This,
gally. I’d be a fool not to take What about someone whose television. But right now I am paper clips or staples, which can Monmouth magazine,
advantage of those things. And return might be a little more just exceedingly happy doing rust and destroy the documents neighborhood. Many archivists Alumni House, 400 Cedar
Ave., West Long Branch,
the more you do it, the bet- complicated? what I’m doing. over time. Instead, use acid-free welcome recordings or interviews. NJ 07764.
08 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 09
CURRENTS
CONCEPTS »
Dispatches from the Monmouth University Polling Institute
ROCK OF AGES
The latest example: In a national and Queen were the only other the polling report: Two percent and Keith Richards’ seeming
poll conducted by Monmouth bands named by more than 1 of respondents said they’d never immortality, can give you some
University’s Polling Institute, percent of respondents. heard of the lads from Liverpool. satisfaction.
Americans were asked to name When asked if they like the So take heart Stones fans. Hy- —Compiled from Monmouth
IN SEARCH OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE ROCK BAND. the greatest rock ’n’ roll band or Beatles, 86 percent of Ameri- pothetically speaking, there’s University Poll data by
group of all time. Nearly 1 in 4 cans said they do, either “a lot” at least a sliver of the popula- Tony Marchetti
P
ity the Rolling Stones. Still going strong nearly six decades after they (23 percent) said the Beatles. The (50 percent) or “a little” (36 per- tion for whom your band nev-
formed, scheduled to hit the road in April, and reportedly working on Stones finished a distant second, cent). Eight percent reported er played second
with just 8 percent naming disliking the group, while 4 per- fiddle to the
a new album, they again find themselves eclipsed by their one-time them. AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, cent weren’t sure. Perhaps the Beatles. May-
rivals, the Beatles—a band that broke up nearly 50 years ago. The Eagles, Aerosmith, most surprising piece of data in be that tidbit,
AERO- QUEEN
THE LES SMITH
EAG
LED PELIN
ZEP
AC/DC
%
NG
ROLLI STONES
2 2 %
% 3%
4
4%
BEATL
ES
8%
%
23
SUPPORTING ACTS
The following artists were mentioned by no more than 1 percent of respondents:
»»The Beach Boys »»Journey
»»Bon Jovi »»Kiss
»»Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band »»Lynyrd Skynyrd
»»Creedence Clearwater Revival »»Metallica
»»Def Leppard »»Pink Floyd
»»Elvis Presley »»U2
»»Fleetwood Mac »»The Who
»»The Grateful Dead
»»Guns N’ Roses Visit monmouth.edu/polling for
»»The Jimi Hendrix Experience complete findings and methodology.
10 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 11
CURRENTS
acters, both human and animal,
in settings ranging from the MONMOUTH
CAMEOS
Cambodian coral reefs to the
volcanic Guadalupe Island, and
tackles issues ranging from cli-
mate change and pollution to Early in Flocks of One, the new eco-adventure novel by
captivity and overfishing.
John Morano, a group of scientists and conservationists
Flocks of One intertwines new
and old characters with a focus convene an international bird conference at Monmouth
on birds, such as the critically University. It’s not the first time Monmouth—or some
endangered Ivory-billed wood-
pecker. It features scenes set in representation of it—has appeared in print or on screen.
New Jersey, with both the Pine Here are a few other fictional works that featured
Barrens and Monmouth Uni- Monmouth-related cameos:
1
versity’s campus making ap-
pearances (see sidebar).
While Morano admits that
the books in his series focus on Annie
highlighting imperiled species Wilson Hall served as the setting for Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks’ Park Avenue.
and their stories, which can be mansion in the 1982 movie musical, which was shot partially on campus over
emotionally taxing, he does try the course of six weeks. According to The New York Times, Roger Paradiso, a
to inspire hope. former Monmouth student who was the location manager for Annie, suggest-
“Those are some depressing, ed using the iconic building as the setting for Warbucks’ home.
dark stories, and you can capture
2
that … but write a story that’s
still hopeful, that says the glass
Sounding Off
isn’t necessarily half empty,
and have characters that might Fall of Giants
model the ways things should The first book in Ken Follett’s The Century Trilogy includes multiple
be,” says Morano. “That’s what I references to Shadow Lawn, the estate that once stood on the grounds
PROFESSOR JOHN MORANO’S ECO-ADVENTURE where Wilson Hall now does, and that served as the “summer White
tried to do. The books are funny.
NOVELS GIVE VOICE TO THE VOICELESS. They’re fun—like Disney for the House” for President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. In one passage from Fol-
environment.” lett’s historical novel, the main character, Gus Dewar, picks up a ringing
BY BREANNE MCCARTHY
Morano’s eco-adventure series phone and is told, “A call from Shadow Lawn. The president wants to
has been endorsed by the World speak to you.”
3
Wildlife Fund, the Nature Con-
“
servancy, the ASPCA, the Ocean Those
I
n 2011, millions of children around the world fell telling—began 25 years ago with Conservancy, and Oceana. Even
the publication of the first book the Grateful Dead have lent its are some 30 Rock
in love with a Spix’s macaw named Blu, the lead
in what’s come to be called The support, giving him permission depressing, In the season four episode “Anna Howard Shaw Day,” Jon Bon Jovi
character in the animated film Rio. The movie tells John Morano Eco-Adventure to use its lyrics for free: His sec- ’01HN touts his Hawk credentials. Playing himself, the singer reprimands
dark
the story of Blu, the last known male of his species, as Series, A Wing and a Prayer. In- ond book, Makoona, features Tina Fey’s character for blindly signing paperwork. “Woah, woah, woah,
spired by a news story about the a psychedelic octopus named stories, and woah—you shouldn’t sign anything without reading it first,” he warns Fey.
he is brought from captivity in Minnesota to his native last hamster of its kind, Morano Molo who only communicates you can “I made that mistake once and ended up NBC’s artist-in-residence. Give
Brazil to mate with the last known female of his species. became determined to tell the through the band’s lyrics. capture me it,” says Bon Jovi, adding as he takes the papers from her, “I have an
stories of endangered animals A proponent of thinking glob- honorary degree from Monmouth University.”
4
What viewers might not have eco-adventure novels. His new- through the perspectives of the ally and acting locally, Morano that …
realized was how that fiction- est book in the series, Flocks of animals themselves. travels to college campuses and but write
alized story, which ends happi- One, which was published by “It’s not about our loss, what holds book signings where he a story
ly with the birds returning to Grey Gecko Press in February, about their loss? We think of ev- tries to provide a voice for the Back to School
the wild to carry on their spe- focuses on some of the planet’s erything through our viewpoint,” voiceless. Already at work on
that’s
Forty-three minutes into this 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie, the come-
cies, forewarned of a grave re- most endangered bird species, says Morano. “But, what’s it like the next book in the series, he still dian jumps on stage at a bar to sing “Twist & Shout.” As the camera cuts
ality. Last September, the Spix’s including the Spix’s macaw. “I’m to not—forget about selecting a says he’s grateful for a life which hopeful, back and forth between patrons dancing and the band, you can see an
macaw was officially declared not Bill Gates, you know; I can’t mate, what about not being able has afforded him the ability to that says old Monmouth College pennant on the wall behind the backup singers.
extinct in the wild. The news throw a hundred million dol- to find a mate? Forget about not work on subject matter that he —Breanne McCarthy
hit Monmouth communica- lars at the Spix’s macaw. I want liking your community, what is passionate about. the glass
tion professor and nature-lover to—I can’t. So, what can I do? I’ll if you don’t have a communi- “It’s been, honestly, for me, it’s isn’t
John Morano particularly hard. write a story. I’ll be that guy.” ABOVE: John Morano is ty? What if your habitat—your been a magical life. Magical,” necessarily
“I wanted to cry—I really did,” This avocation—to effect change also the author of Don’t world—is shrinking?” says Morano. “And I don’t know
says Morano, who is the author for imperiled species and endan-
Tell Me the Ending!, a
Each book in Morano’s series why or how, but I’m taking the half empty. »»Know of any other Monmouth “cameos” in fictional works?
textbook for aspiring
of a series of critically acclaimed gered habitats through story- film critics. features a different cast of char- ride.” Write us at magazine@monmouth.edu to let us know.
”
12 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 photo MARK LUDAK Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 13
tides CULTURE & COMMUNITY
Poll
position
In the months lead-
ing up to last fall’s
midterm elections,
Paul expanded his
political science
savvy—and further
bolstered his re-
sume—by working as
a research assistant
for Monmouth
University’s Polling
Institute. He was
The insider
part of a team of
He took his political educa-
students who helped
tion outside the classroom in
assemble datasets
2016 as an intern with New Jer-
for congressional
sey Congressman Frank Pallone
KAYVON PAUL IS STILL MONTHS AWAY house races across
Jr.’s campaign for re-election. A
FROM GRADUATING, BUT THAT HASN’T the country.
few months later, he worked on
STOPPED HIM FROM BEING A FORCE IN THE a local board of education cam-
POLITICAL WORLD. paign, and then joined the state
Senate campaign of Vin Gopal
BY MOLLY PETRILLA as a paid field organizer.
Outside of the obvious resume
B
building, “all this is fun for me,”
rowsing Kayvon Paul’s LinkedIn profile, it’s easy
says Paul. “I like the vibes that I
to forget you’re looking at an undergraduate’s get from being around a bunch
resume. There’s a significant amount of of political people, Republican
or Democrat. I like listening to
scrolling required as you cruise through his list of
other people’s views.”
work experiences: field organizer for political races, Paul spent all of 2018 work-
community outreach for an LGBT organization, ing as the community out-
reach coordinator for Garden
associate at a Trenton lobbying firm. State Equality—a statewide or-
ganization that advocates for
At just 22 years old—and still to help pay the bills and tried to LGBT rights. This past Janu-
several months away from grad- stay out of trouble. He hadn’t ary, he started full time with
uating with his bachelor’s in po- thought much about college un- a Trenton-based lobbying firm,
litical science—Paul has leapt til his high school history teach- MBI- GluckShaw, where he
fully into the work world while er—who also teaches at Mon- hopes to continue working after
still balancing classes and col- mouth—encouraged him to graduation.
lege life. At one point, he was consider it. As he looks toward graduation
juggling 50- to 60-hour weeks “He has a very good mind that in May, Paul has also been reflect-
working on a state senate race grasps things in a commonsense ing on his time at Monmouth.
while keeping up with his way,” says Noah Lipman, who He credits the University’s Edu-
coursework and serving as pres- taught Paul both in high school cational Opportunity Fund Pro-
ident of his fraternity. and at Monmouth. “He can re- gram, Sigma Tau Gamma fra-
“If you want something in life, solve daily problems in a much ternity, and the political science
you make time for it,” says Paul. quicker, analytical way than department—where “each and
“You stay up a little later, wake most people have the ability to.” every one of the professors real-
up a little earlier. I have a lot of Paul initially enrolled as a ly cares about the students and
friends that are dead, that are in social work student at Mon- wants to see them grow,” he says—
jail. I just use that as motivation mouth, but soon politics beck- with propelling him through these
every day.” oned. “When people ask me why busy and often challenging college
Born and raised in Long I like political science, I usually years.
Branch and Asbury Park, Paul say that politics affects every- “If you were to take one of
says violence and gangs were all thing you do, every day. How OPPOSITE: Paul has those three things away,” says
already taken his LSAT
around him. The oldest of eight could you not be involved?” says exam but says law school Paul, “then I probably wouldn’t
children, he worked at Rite Aid Paul. will likely wait for now. be where I am right now.”
14 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 photo ANTHONY DEPRIMO Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 15
TIDES
THIS IS MONMOUTH » The scene at West Long Branch
Campus Briefs
Hawks helping Zuber says the experience taught had reached 80 percent of its
her an important lesson about her goal with $12.2 million in gifts and
Hawks future career: “I learned that when pledges committed to date. Presi-
The Nest, an on-campus food I become a nurse, and even now in dent Grey Dimenna said reaching
pantry opened last semester by the school, I can’t ever expect a day to and exceeding the campaign’s $15
HOW MONMOUTH WAS MADE » Landmarks & stories
Junior College). Sadly, it did not in- Student Government Association, go a certain way because this field million goal will enhance Mon-
PRESS MATTERS
clude a report on who suggested the supports food-insecure undergrad- is full of surprises. I think that’s one mouth’s ability to continue to
name The Outlook, nor did it list any uate and graduate students at the of the best things about nursing.” attract highly qualified students
of the other names that were consid- University. Students who do not from economically, geographical-
ered. have any form of meal plan can Springsteen ly, and culturally diverse back-
THE EARLY DAYS OF MONMOUTH’S FOURTH ESTATE. In the 85 years since then, The Out- come to The Nest, which is located grounds. Currently, 30 percent of
look has continued to “document the in the Student Center, and select Sighting students qualify for need-based,
BY BREANNE MCCARTHY
history of this university as it has hap- non-perishable food items, bever- When Monmouth University hosted federally funded financial aid at
O
ne month and two days after Monmouth Junior College pened,” says Professor John Mora- ages, and toiletries that have been a free screening of the Netflix Monmouth.
no, the club’s current advisor. “They donated by their fellow Hawks. original special “Springsteen on
opened to students, the first issue of what would become
covered protests on the Great Lawn; According to The Washington Post, Broadway” in January, the Boss him- Greek spoken here
The Outlook rolled off the presses. they covered Martin Luther King, more than 30 percent of students self was in the audience. According
Jane Fonda, Ralph Nader—anyone attending a college or university in to the Asbury Park Press, Spring- President Grey Dimenna an-
Originally titled the Monmouth Ju- president) Edward G. Schlaefer, and a who has ever been here has appeared the U.S. experience some form of steen slipped into Pollak Theatre nounced a full reinstatement of
nior College Press Publication, the pa- call for submissions to name the new on the pages of The Outlook.” Because food insecurity. just after the screening started, then the University’s seven fraternities
per was produced by a new student or- publication. of this, says Morano, The Outlook has left through the theater’s back door and eight sororities for the spring
ganization that called itself “The Press When the second issue hit news- served—and continues to serve—a vi- Crowning relatively unnoticed. Monmouth 2019 semester. The reinstate-
Club.” The group met for the first time stands on Jan. 18, 1934, it had been tal role at Monmouth. is home to The Bruce Springsteen ment of the University-affiliated
on Dec. 14, 1933, and within eight days renamed The Outlook. That issue in- “We’re the Fourth Estate on this Achievement Archives and Center for American
ABOVE: There was swag
Greek organizations follows the
and info aplenty at the
had produced Monmouth’s first stu- cluded stories on newly appointed campus,” says Morano. “We say Nursing students Madalyn Zuber Music. New Graduate Student development of a comprehensive,
Orientation in January.
dent newspaper. The issue included staff members, a student’s proclama- things no one else is going to say. We and Natalia Maticke’s final day of Monmouth has added
accountability-based plan that in-
accounts of faculty speeches, reports tion of MJC’s college spirit, and a re- ask questions that no one is going to clinical could not have been more Goal within reach two new grad programs: cludes several changes to current
from other recently formed student port on Monmouth’s first basketball ask. That’s our job. Someone has to meaningful or memorable: The duo an M.S. in athletic policies and practices in order to
training and M.F.A. in
clubs, a letter from then-dean (later game (a 41–30 win over Middlesex do that. The newspaper does it.” helped deliver a baby in the parking As of Feb. 1, Together We Can: creative writing. Info at promote a safe and productive
lot of Monmouth Medical Center. The Campaign for Scholarship monmouth.edu/grad. Greek system.
16 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 photo ANTHONY DEPRIMO Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 17TIDES
A DAY AT THE BEACH
» Coastal moments, captured
CHILLING OUT
A local surfer takes a breather to watch fellow wave riders.
Even amid icy coastal temperatures, the surf beyond
the University Bluffs still serves as a winter playland for
members of the Monmouth University Surf Club.
photo
18 MONMOUTH Spring 2019
ANTHONY DEPRIMO photo NAME NAME Spring2019
spring 2019 MONMOUTH 19PLAy SPORTS & FITNESS
IT RUNS IN
THE FAMILY
HART’S THREE
older siblings—
Dean, Tom, and
Michele—also played
collegiate lacrosse
and majored in
finance. All three
excelled at both.
“Keeping up with
them over the years
made me feel like
I had to one-up
them,” says Hart
with a laugh. Has
she? “I don’t know
about that, but
I’ve definitely held
my own.”
FutuRe
Hart’s on-field confidence car-
ries over to the classroom, where
she boasts a cumulative 3.85
Focused
GPA. In June, the finance major
will start a 10-week internship
in Bank of America’s Advisor
Development Summer Analyst
MEGAN HART IS MAKING THE MOST OF THE Program. Based in Washing-
OPPORTUNITIES SHE’S GETTING ON AND OFF ton, D.C., she’ll be working with
THE FIELD. Merrill Lynch’s wealth manage-
ment team to gain real-world
BY PETE CROATTO experience.
M
Academically, Hart says, last
egan Hart, a junior defender on the women’s
semester felt different. She had
lacrosse team, loves that she has been given completed most of her general
the green light this season to do more. She education course work and was
heavy into finance classes when
knows this is her time to shine, but also that she must the realization hit: This feels
earn that right every game. right. I can see myself using this
material in the future.
There’s no need to remind Hart man year. She entered this sea- “Everything,” she says, “is fall-
that mindset applies equally to son eager to become a larger part ing into place.”
the moments she is without a la- of the offense. Hart sees another parallel be-
crosse stick in her hands. “I think that this year I have the yond athletics providing disci-
“I am a very competitive per- potential of being a threat,” says pline in the classroom and vice
son,” says Hart, who was com- Hart. “I take the draw. I play de- versa.
ing off a two-hour practice and a fense. I’m good with transition.” “Every time I learn some-
session in the weight room. Two The 2019 season has already thing in either sports or aca-
more classes loomed, and her day added another dimension to demics, it’s such a rewarding
wouldn’t end until 10:30 p.m., the upperclassman’s role: team feeling,” she says. “Knowing
nearly 15 hours after it began. “I leader. She is teaching newcom- that you’re better than you
want to be the best on the field, ers what she’s learned while were the day before, and even
but I’m also trying to be the best embracing Head Coach Jordan to look back to my freshman
in the classroom as well.” Trautman’s mantra: Be ready to year and just how much I’ve
She is well on her way. A 2018 be uncomfortable, and be com- grown, is kind of crazy.”
MAAC All-Academic Team se- fortable with being uncomfort- What’s even more crazy? The
lection, Hart led the Hawks with able. As Hart tells newer play- green light will be up for a
52 ball controls and tied for sec- ers, “If you can listen, adapt, and while. Hart has another year to
ond with 19 caused turnovers overcome, there are going to be OPPOSITE: Hart was show everyone—and, most im-
named to the MAAC
last year. Both were huge in- really big things for us if we can All-Rookie Team following portantly, herself—how far she
creases over a successful fresh- all just buy into that.” her freshman season. can go.
20 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 photo ANTHONY DEPRIMO Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 21PLAY
Striking a balance SPORTS
DIEGO ZUBIETA FINDS FULFILLMENT IN TWO SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY
WORLDS: ART AND FOOTBALL.
SHORTS
champs again
BY MARK GOLA Last fall, the women’s soccer
C
team won its third straight
ontrast is a principle of art that refers to the raising the flag during the Bat- MAAC title while the field
arrangement of opposite elements. Light versus tle of Iwo Jima to honor the Ma- hockey team captured the
rines and complement his por- program’s third MAAC Cham-
dark colors. Large versus small shapes. Smooth trait.” pionship in the last five years.
versus rough textures. Artist versus … football player? The mural took three months
to complete, as Zubieta de-
Senior Diego Zubieta would posted 135 career tackles in 37 signed and painted between
refute the notion that there is a games as a linebacker for the summer workouts. Following white out
Wide receiver Reggie White
contrast between his being both Hawks. “I needed to be disci- a fundraiser walk last fall, the
Jr. closed out his stellar Hawk
a football player and an artist. plined in both, pay attention to mural was unveiled to the Cos-
career as the program and
Since childhood, the lessons he detail, be willing to take risks, grove family. They were deep-
Big South record holder in
learned from both pursuits have and battle through adversity. ly touched by the commemora-
career receptions and recep-
blended together to develop his The skills are interchangeable, tion and greatly appreciative to
tion yardage. During his se-
character, challenge his resolve, and I progressed in both worlds both Venier and Zubieta.
nior year, his best ever, White
and provide him genuine joy. as a result.” “I went into the project doing
had 1,133 receiving yards on 71
“I’m a football player who Last summer, the world of a favor for a teammate,” says
catches with 11 touchdowns
loves art just as much as be- football presented Zubieta Zubieta. “And I came out of it
and was named Second Team
ing on the field,” says Zubieta, with perhaps his greatest ar- with a profound respect for
All-America by the AP and
who will graduate this spring tistic challenge. Teammate the military and this incredi-
Third Team All-America by
with a degree in graphic and Nick Venier, a junior who com- ble feeling that I helped a fam-
Phil Steele.
interactive design. “It’s given pleted four years in the U.S. ily honor their son and broth-
me great balance in life. Foot- Air Force prior to enrolling at er, who was a hero. Lance Cpl.
ball is regimented and a phys- Monmouth, approached Zubi- Cosgrove’s mom sent a letter
ical battle, and creating art is eta about painting a mural in to the institution thanking me giving back
a time that I have individual the Veteran Student Lounge and Nick. It was really moving.” In December, approximately
freedom and am encouraged in the Student Center. The While drawing is his natu- 40 student-athletes visited
to open my mind.” Student Veterans Association ral talent, Zubieta has broad- LADACIN Network’s Schroth
At a glance, football and art wanted to honor Lance Cpl. ened his skill set at Monmouth. School in Ocean Township,
would seem to have little in com- Christopher Cosgrove III ’05, His artistic repertoire now in- New Jersey, to hand out gifts
mon. One is a team sport domi- who was killed in action in cludes painting, sculpture, and and spread holiday cheer to
nated by physical force with de- 2006 while conducting com- computer graphics. He is also the school’s special needs
fined rules and objectives. The bat operations in Iraq. Zubie- creating graphics for the Ath- students. LADACIN (Lifetime
other is an individual conception ta eagerly accepted, but there letics Department to expand Assistance for Developmental
that is harmonic, creating visu- was no playbook to study. Ve- his portfolio. Zubieta is tar- and Challenging Individual
al expression through bound- nier provided him with the geting a career in branding or Needs) Network is a non-
less imagination and technical space for the mural and a por- packaging design and feels the profit agency that provides
skill. But artist and author Carrie trait of Cosgrove. The concept campus location between New education, therapeutic, social,
Lewis cites that each great artist and presentation were en- York City and Philadelphia is residential, and support
shares five common characteris- trusted to Zubieta. OPPOSITE: A optimal for a designer. services for people with ce-
tics: persistence, patience, pas- “There were three main themes mural Zubieta “I loved everything about rebral palsy or other physical
painted in the
sion, sense of adventure, and dis- to the mural,” says Zubieta. Student Center Monmouth,” says Zubieta. “I’ve disabilities. This was the 20th
cipline. Those traits are equally “Lance Cpl. Cosgrove was the fo- to honor Lance made personal connections year Monmouth student-ath-
Cpl. Christopher
prized in the makeup of a play- cal point, and we wanted to hon- Cosgrove III ’05,
and developed friendships with letes made the trip.
er in pursuit of gridiron success. or the history of the Marines and who was killed people from so many differ-
“Football and art are different, our nation’s flag, which is what in action in 2006 ent backgrounds. It’s been the
while conducting
but how you get things done is he fought for. I used the famous combat opera- perfect college experience for
Compiled from Office of Athletics Com-
very similar,” says Zubieta, who image of the six U.S. Marines tions in Iraq. me.” munication and New Media reports.
22 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 photo ANTHONY DEPRIMO Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 23SIGNS
OF
MELISSA SURDEZ WAS
GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO
LIVE. NOW, NEARLY SEVEN
YEARS LATER, SHE’S
TELLING OTHERS THAT
“TERMINAL” DOESN’T
LIFE
HAVE TO MEAN THEY
SHOULD STOP LIVING.
BY MAUREEN HARMON
PHOTOS BY MATT FURMAN
M
elissa Surdez ’91 will tell it like it is.
She will tell you about the beauty of life—of the ways
that college love can turn into marriage; of children that
can come your way; of simple moments like when those children
bound in from school to tell you of an aced test, a scorned crush,
or of landing the coveted part in the school play. She will also tell
you about anger and true, crushing sadness—of unfair diagnoses
when you had planned ahead, of mapping out your own funeral, of
imagining the lives of those precious children and that husband
moving on without you.
And Misse, as friends and family know her, will tell you about
these things—about anything you ask really—in a no-nonsense
manner, in a New Jersey accent, her language riddled with profanity
and punctuated with laughter.
24 MONMOUTH Spring 2019 Spring 2019 MONMOUTH 25W M
hen Misse was 35 years old, isse Surdez is still riddled with
her sister, Jessi Israel, a phy- cancer. It is not going to go
sician, convinced her to par- away. She will not beat it. But
ticipate in some of the early genetic that six-month lifespan has stretched
screenings that focused on the BRCA1/ on for nearly seven years. It was a com-
BRCA2 genes—indicators of breast bination of chemo drugs called Her-
cancer. The sisters knew their breast ceptin and Perjeta. Every three weeks,
cancer risk was higher than most she takes a day off of work and gets che-
women. Their mother had been diag- motherapy. Within 48 hours, she’s back
nosed with the disease at stage four, up and running—working, mothering,
and died in 1988. life-coaching, and TED-talking about
Knowing medicine like she did, Jessi doing all of it with a terminal illness—
wasn’t going to take any risks. The sis- and life is relatively normal. “She’s do-
ters were screened, and after six weeks, ing great,” says her husband, Lance ’90.
the results were in: Jessi, the elder by 15 “She lost weight; she’s going back to the
months, was positive for the BRCA gene. gym; she’s eating healthy. You wouldn’t
Misse was negative. That meant that even know she had it.”
Jessi was facing a 90 percent chance of But she certainly does have it. There
developing the disease unless she had a is no question. If her oncologist takes
double mastectomy, which she prompt- her off the drugs, she “lights up like a
ly did. Misse’s chances dropped to just 3 Christmas tree in the scans,” as he likes
percent, and she went on about her life. to put it. So, it’s as simple as that. She
She had been getting regular mammo- will take this combination of drugs for
grams prior to the screening because as long as she lives. The cancer, though
of her family history. But the knowl- contained, will always call her body
edge she now had in her back pocket— home. And she’s using that to connect
that figure of 3 percent—put her mind “ with others.
at ease. And she decided that she could Cancer “If you’re diagnosed with a chronic ill-
wait on additional mammograms until ness, you’re going to be scared to death,
the recommended age of 40. “You tell a is an and you’re probably going to start on
woman who has kids and is working for individual the side of, ‘Jesus Christ, did this hap-
a living that she’s not going to have to sport. So pen to you? Do you think I’m going to
squish her enormous boobs in that un- die? Will I die? What am I going to do?’”
comfortable machine? Well, I’ll see you
when you says Misse, who was named the 2016
when I’m 40,” says Misse. “And I lived But Misse, a senior human resources mother had breast cancer. So did my
“Remember who your anchors in life are,” says Misse,
pictured here playing a game of Scattergories with
go on the Working Mother of the Year by Johnson
my life, from that point on, thinking I’m director with Johnson & Johnson, had aunt, her sister. I had to go off of those her anchors: husband, Lance, and children, Quinn and internet in & Johnson and today sits on the board
never getting breast cancer.” had the screenings. She knew the risks, facts, even though the one that made Brielle.
a state of of the Central and South New Jersey
so her sister’s teary eyes, the need for me make all my decisions—the results branch of Susan G. Komen. “And I’m go-
additional testing, the quickness with of the genetic test—came out negative. panic, and ing to hear that out. I’m going to ask you
which her doctor had requested she get That was just a piece of information.” you start open questions. While you’re talking
I
t was a Saturday in the shower when the mammogram completed, simply es- This is the kind of thing Misse tells peo- looking up and telling me this story, I am getting
she first felt the lump in her upper caped her. “Even at that moment, I was ple who call her today and ask her how insurance company to understand her a piece of you—one of the many thou-
right breast. “It felt like an egg under still like, ‘Well, what the hell could it she lives with a terminal illness. In ad- benefits. “I absolutely went into finaliz- survival sands of stories that make up you, and
the skin,” says Misse, “and I was like, possibly be? Did something get stuck in dition to her role with Johnson & John- ing mode, but that, to me, only lasts so rates, you I’m listening. I’m figuring out a way to
‘Shit, what the hell is that?’” there?’” son, she’s become a life coach and a con- long. It only has a certain runway.” have to connect and be able to use it back with
After breast exams by her sister and Misse, the mother of two children fidante to others who received terminal This runway brought Misse to her you, so that you can start to see through
her gynecologist, she was given en- named Quinn and Brielle, had stage diagnoses—she’s truly living, knowing own fork in the road. Sit tight and wait remember: to the other side and remember who
couraging words—“It’s probably just three breast cancer. She was 40 years how she will likely die. for death, or live with this particular you’re only your anchors in your life are.”
a cyst”—and a script for a mammo- old—the same age her mother was when When the diagnosis came—and then hand. She decided to believe in mod- playing For Misse, those anchors are Lance
gram, which the doctors wanted to she died of the disease. came again, when she was diagnosed ern medicine. To trust her oncologist. and Brielle and Quinn and Jessi. Even
have completed quickly, within three with stage four breast cancer after a brief To trust her sister. And to do what she
against though cancer would like to take her
days. Jessi encouraged her sister to time of remission and given six months was told. What her sister told her was your own out, those anchors keep her ground-
come to Monmouth Medical Center, to live—Misse, Type A in the extreme, this: “Cancer is an individual sport. So self. Your ed to this life. When she thinks too far
G
where she worked, so she could read enetic testing, Ancestry.com, began making plans. “I do all the bills. I when you go on the internet in a state ahead, when she takes herself out of the
DNA, your
the slides herself. Misse did as she was and 23andMe are all wonderful do everything. I balance the checkbook, of panic, and you start looking up sur- present moment when she’s laughing
told and parked herself in the waiting things, says Misse, but you can’t so I came home that week, and I wrote a vival rates, you have to remember: genetic with her husband or hearing about her
room in her robe as her sister headed use them alone. “Every ounce of infor- big spreadsheet for [my husband] Lance You’re only playing against your own makeup, son’s college experience or her daugh-
in to review the images. When the old- mation—like true, factual, non-fake of all of the bills, all of the passwords, the self. Your DNA, your genetic makeup, are not in ter’s final years of high school, she re-
er sister returned, she had tears in her news information—will help you make usernames.” She called Johnson & John- are not in those stats.” Misse simplifies members, “Wait a minute, I can’t go
eyes. All she said was, “Misse, it’s not decisions,” she says. “But you still have son to make sure the beneficiary infor- it: “I’m in my own swim lane.” those stats. anywhere. This is too grand, hanging
a cyst.” to go off of all the other factors. My mation was up to date. She called the out with these guys.”
”
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