Reflections Magazine Issue #70 - Fall 2009 | Page 13

Anniversary Feature

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Robert Eick

Sister Jeannine Klemm

Sister Leonilla Barlage

Robert Eick is a 2007 graduate of Siena Heights’
Distance Learning Program. He began working for
the Port Huron Fire Department in 1978, and after
working his way up through the ranks, was appointed
chief in 2003. He majored in fire science and multidisciplinary studies at Siena while still maintaining
his position with the department.

Sister Jeannine Klemm, OP ’44 chaired and taught
in the art department from 1955-88. She was a leading influence in the construction of Studio Angelico
in 1966; art students of that era remember carrying
equipment to the new building under her direction!
Reminders of her artwork remain on campus; several
of her metal crucifixes adorn rooms around campus,
including the Stimson Science Lecture Hall. The
Klemm Gallery was named in her honor. She also
established an art-semester-in-Italy program that
was coordinated by faculty colleague (and sister)
Jean Agnes Klemm, OP.

Sister Leonilla Barlage, OP was a professor of English,
speech and drama for many years at Siena Heights.
Known as an innovator, she established Siena’s first
radio studio that broadcasted for a local radio station.
Sister Leonilla also directed many campus productions, including the annual Lenten play. She also
started the “Little Theatre” for class productions.

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John Detro

John Detro ’85 was recently named the Army’s
Physician Assistant of the Year. A veteran of several
combat tours in Iraq and the first combat tour in
Afghanistan, he also received the Defense Meritorious Service medal for service to his unit and his
third Bronze Star medal for his latest deployment
to Iraq. He is the first military physician assistant to
ever attend the resident Command and General
Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. He was a fourtime All-American runner and is a SHU Athletic
Hall of Fame member and Outstanding Alumni
Award Winner.

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Rebecca Seitz

Rebecca Seitz ’10 was only one of 10 in the nation
to receive a full tuition Clinton Scholarship to study
at the American University of Dubai. The Siena
Heights art major spent the winter 2009 semester in
Dubai. She was the first Siena Heights student ever
chosen by the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation
for her academic excellence and leadership abilities.
She is a member of Habitat for Humanity and is
president of the SHU’s Visual Artists Society.
In addition, Seitz serves as a mentor for Student
Support Services.

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Louis Vaccaro

Dr. Louis Vaccaro continued the push towards
community outreach when he took over as the 7th
President of Siena in 1978. The “father” of the Fieldhouse, he helped raise the funds to get Siena’s oncampus athletic facility built. A hands-on leader,
Vaccaro was a believer in international education and
actively recruited students to Siena Heights from
around the world, especially China. He helped grow
enrollment using a strong business approach, and
also built a strong board presence from the corporate
world. Dr. Vaccaro is still active for SHU, helping
Siena recruit students from China.

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Jim O’Flynn

Jim O’Flynn ’98/MA is an assistant professor of management and has taught at Siena since 1999. He has
been Distance Learning coordinator for SHU’s College for Professional Studies and has been instrumental in the rapid growth of Siena’s online programs. A
certified online instructor, he retired from IBM after
30 years. His background in information technology
has allowed him to work with a number of positions
in marketing, consulting, education and technical
support with national and international assignments.

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Darrell Issa

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Doug Miller

Doug Miller ’74 has been a longtime fixture at Siena
Heights, starting as a student when he was one of
the first male graduates of the college, also affectionately known as the “Dirty Dozen.” Miller has since
helped build a national reputation for Siena’s theater
program and currently serves as its program chair.
An internationally known set builder, Miller has
traveled the world constructing performance sets
in locations such as London, England.

Darrell Issa ’76, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has
served in the U.S. House of Representatives for
California’s 49th Congressional District since 1991.
Before taking office, he was a successful businessman,
starting Directed Electronics, a company that makes
the “Viper” car alarm. He attended Siena Heights on
an ROTC scholarship and served in the U.S. Army,
reaching the