Reflections Magazine Issue #70 - Fall 2009 | Page 20

Anniversary Feature

Leo and Leslie Butler

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There once was a student strike at Siena. It was the
1970s and the issue was … a proposal to close the
library on Sunday nights. Identical twins Les ’75
and Leo ’75 Butler, President and Vice President
of Student Senate, were outraged. They marshaled
student support and marched on Sacred Heart Hall
shouting “The library is the heart of the college!” The
students won. The library stayed open! Leo and Les
were the first of five Butler siblings to attend Siena
Heights. The twins both majored in history, going
on to careers in education and government.

Sue Idczak

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Dr. Sue Idczak has been the architect behind the
establishment of Siena Heights’ nursing program.
Arriving from Lourdes College in 2007, Dr. Idczak
has shepherded the program’s accreditation process.
In fall 2008 the first RN to BSN degree completion students started classes, and Idczak’s nursing
philosophy of treating both the body and spirit of
a patient meshes well with Siena Heights’ mission.
SHU nursing has already received two federal
grants, and both of Michigan’s U.S. senators have
visited the nursing facility in 2009 to show their
support of the program.

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Sister Bertha Homminga
Sister Bertha Homminga, OP was a founding faculty member who was an advisor, science instructor
and registrar from 1920–65. She was known for
her warmth, efficiency and extraordinary memory,
especially as registrar. In fact, it was told that she often
stopped students as they passed her in the hallway,
reminding them from memory of the class requirements they still needed to complete their degree.

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Reflections Fall ’09

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Sister Magdalena Ezoe

Deb Carrington Keller

Sister Magdalena Ezoe, OP ’55, a native of Tokyo,
Japan, taught music at Siena Heights for almost 50
years before her recent retirement. During her tenure,
she has received many awards, including the Sister
Eileen K. Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching in
2005. Sister Magdalena has also served on the boards
of the Adrian Symphony Orchestra and the SHU
Youth Symphony. She is an accomplished pianist,
recognized composer and an outstanding accompanist. She coached and directed the SHU Chamber
Ensemble and served as instrumental music director
for 25 years of Madrigal Dinner concerts.

Deb Keller ’74 , ’75/MA, ’02/SA has done it all at
Siena—with enthusiasm! A New Jersey native who
arrived in 1970, she’s a three-degree grad (one of the
first to receive the Education Specialist degree), married to one Siena alum, and mother of another. As
long-time principal at St. Joseph Academy, she mentored hundreds of Siena students and taught even
more as an adjunct education professor. Now ending
two years as president of the Alumni Association,
she’s a central figure in SHU life as executive assistant
to President Albert. Deb’s favorite phrase? Go Saints!

The Chi Family

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Sisters Margaret ’82 and Jane ’82 Chi were established educators when they left China to pursue master’s
degrees, but their journey began when they were
much younger, with a scholarship offer from Siena
Heights. China’s Cultural Revolution intervened,
however, delaying their arrival on campus by 30 years!
Nephews Maurice ’84 and Jacob ’85 Chi followed,
graduating with honors in mathematics and music,
respectively. All non-traditional students who learned
English while earning degrees, the Chis have made
an indelible mark, both on campus as students and
far beyond SHU as distinguished professionals in
education, business and music.

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Robert Gordon

Dr. Robert Gordon has been a fixture in the academic community at SHU for more than 32 years.
Besides being a full-time faculty member, Gordon
also served as Siena’s dean of the Graduate College
as well as Academic Dean and Provost. He currently
is the director of the library. An avid photographer,
his photos adorn many parts of campus.

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Norma Baldwin

Affectionately known around the Adrian campus
as “Nurse Norma,” Norma Baldwin served as Siena’s
director of Health Services for more than 23 years
before retiring in 2008. With her main responsibility
being the health and well-being of Siena’s students,
she was known for her rapport with students, as well
as being a positive female role model. She is still active
on the Siena Heights campus, volunteering to help
in SHU’s new nursing program.

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Susan Matych-Hager

A star on the Walsh Hall (Sage) stage as a student,
Susan Matych-Hager ’68 joined the music department as associate professor in 1973–74. She chaired
the Performing Arts and Education division from
1990–95. Under her direction, Siena students sang
with the Toledo Symphony (1994), at Carnegie Hall
(1993) and at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. She
initiated, coordinated, costumed and directed the
Madrigal Dinners, which were a high point of Siena’s
Christmas season for 25 years. She also established
the Children’s Chorus and was also a motivator behind the Youth Symphony before retiring in 2007. u