September 2019 Class Notes

Guitarist Stephen Benson (Hartt) of New York, N.Y., held a jazz guitar workshop in September at the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ. He is very active on the New York City freelance scene and has performed or recorded with many successful artists in a variety of venues and projects.

Steve’s Bagels, offering a New York deli-style menu, is now open in Vernon Social at Trinity College. Steve’s Bagels is owned by Steven DiGiorgio (Ward) of Lido Beach, N.Y. This is the third location for DiGiorgio, who also has delis in Ridgefield, Conn., and Manchester, Conn.

Kathy Behrens (ENHP) of Irvington, N.Y., was recognized in an article that appeared on frntofficesport.com for helping to lead the league’s push for gender diversity. She is currently president of social responsibility and player programs at the National Basketball Association, and vice chair of the University’s Board of Regents.

Darcy Maccarone Belyea (Barney) of Glen Cove, N.Y., was profiled on glencoverecordpilot.com. The article focused on her role as director of parks and recreation in Glen Cove, her successes and vision in developing opportunities within the department, and growing up as a city resident. Belyea is a member of the Glen Cove Hall of Fame.

Ken Kadet (A&S) of Minnetonka, Minn., is now director of global communications at Entrust Datacard in Minneapolis, Minn. Entrust is a leader in technology for trusted identify and secure transactions. Previously, he was director of public relations with the company.

Debra Volz (Hartt) of Kenilworth, N.J., is celebrating her 20th anniversary in the marketing department at the Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J. Currently the senior director of creative services, she leads a design and production team in the creation of thousands of marketing and sales projects for about 400 events each season.

Former UHart men’s soccer standout George Kostelis (A’91 Hillyer), (ENHP) of Cromwell, Conn., was the subject of an article in the Hartford Courant on his role as the goalkeeper coach of the Hartford Athletic professional soccer team. He has spent the past 20 years coaching at the collegiate level in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

NewtownBee.com published an article profiling former American Idol winner Javier Colon (Hartt) of West Hartford, Conn., He returned to the Newtown, Conn., area in September 2019 for a performance at the Edmond Town Hall Theatre. In addition to his recording projects, Colon has pursued theatre and has done a great deal of charity work.

Theday.com profiled Edward “Ted” Keleher (M ENHP) of Marlborough, Conn., detailing his early days as the new principal at Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton, Conn. He came to Fitch after serving as principal of East Windsor High School the past eight years.

The North Stonington Board of Education has appointed Allison Reyes (ENHP, A&S) of Westerly, R.I. as associate principal of Wheeler Middle and High School. She has been teaching for 20 years, the last 14 at Wheeler Middle and High School, and serves as the program supervisor of the mathematics department there.