THE GREEN | PLYMOUTH STATE ALUMNI NEWS & NOTES | SUMMER 2025
Jump to Decade
He lives in Wagontown, PA, (55 miles NW of Philadelphia) with his wife of 52 years, Anne. They get back to NH often as they have many siblings, nieces, and nephews there. They are blessed with nine grandchildren. He also wants to note that their oldest grandchild currently attends the “other” PSU, Penn State :-).
Patrick Miller ’78 retired in December 2023 after 45 years in the business world. He spent his first year of retirement pursuing a personal goal—’skiing his age’—and managed to hit the slopes for 78 days (and no, he’s not 78). In January, after a nudge from his aunt to start volunteering, Patrick teamed up with his “partner in crime,” Lucy Lavender, and the duo became certified through Pet Partners International. As fate would have it, Professor Palmer served as their evaluator and later invited Patrick to join PSU’s WAG (Wellness Animals Group) Program. Since then, Patrick and Lucy have made regular visits to campus, spending time with students and professors—a return to campus life that’s been a dream come true. Patrick extends a heartfelt thank you to John and Rodney for their help navigating parking constraints—“you guys are awesome.” These days, he fills his time walking four to five miles daily, volunteering with Lucy, and traveling to Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and California to visit his four grown children.
Carol Sussman-Ghatak ’81 retired from Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, MA, in June 2024. She was an ESL teacher and bilingual family liaison there. She then travelled cross country with her daughter and her dog from MA to Washington State, California, and Utah and back for a month. When she got back, she accepted a part time job teaching ESL in Norton, MA, public schools.
Chuck Caulkins ’85 was a United States Naval Officer after graduation for eight years. He moved to Ventura, CA, in 1995. He worked in Port and Vessel Operations for 30 years. Chuck married Michelle Holmes in 1999 and they have two daughters: Maddeline, a fourth year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Carolyn, a second year at UCLA. He plans to attend the 2025 Homecoming—he first in over 20 years!
Patrick Morrissey ’87 majored in marketing with a minor in economics and was a four-year member of the PSC’s nationally ranked soccer team, serving as captain in his senior year. After graduating, he began his career in advertising, working for several years in the fast-paced creative industry. Drawn back to his roots in woodworking, a craft he learned from his father, Patrick discovered a passion for guitar building (lutherie) and built his first acoustic guitar 25 years ago.
In 2015, he turned that passion into a full-time business, (www.MorrisseyGuitars.com) specializing in high-end, custom acoustic guitars. Today, his waiting list stretches out well over a year, with clients including professional musicians and serious collectors who appreciate the blend of the best tone woods, craftsmanship, and artistic design. Outside of his workshop, Patrick enjoys staying connected to his athletic background by coaching soccer and spending time outdoors, cycling, fly fishing, and skiing. Patrick resides in Hopkinton, MA, with his wife Maggie and teenage boys Daniel and Sean.
Gina (Spagone) Williams ’92 has always had a passion for learning—and leading. A proud PSU graduate with a degree in elementary education, Gina balanced her academic pursuits with athletic excellence as a member of the Field Hockey Team. After graduation, she began her career in the classroom, but quickly rose through the ranks, serving as a building administrator and later as assistant superintendent. Her dedication to students and community culminated in her appointment as superintendent of East Bridgewater Public Schools in April 2025. Now leading the district with vision and heart, Gina also leads a busy life at home. She and her husband of 27 years are the proud parents of three college-aged sons.
Elizabeth O’Keefe ’94 (Beth to friends and family) currently works as senior director, global compliance for the United States Pharmacopeia, and divides her time between the Washington, DC, area and her lake house in Maine. She spends the bulk of her free time traveling and volunteering for social justice and music projects, and remains active with the Greater Boston area chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha national sorority.
Chris Hamer ’95 graduated with a BFA in graphic design after a senior thesis centered around brewery branding, packaging, and associated POS materials. After 12 years with Smuttynose Brewing Co., Chris is now the creative director for the newly formed Barrel One Collective, makers of Harpoon, Smuttynose, Long Trail, Wachusett, and other fine adult beverages.
Ronald Fussell ’97 is currently associate professor and associate chair of education at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Ron recently coauthored the book Faith Formation for the Catholic School Community, published by the National Catholic Educational Association. Ron is a vocal advocate for Catholic schools in the United States, which together serve 1.6 million students. He is completing his first term of vice president of the advisory council that oversees that National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Schools, and he presents frequently at the national level on topics related to school mission, culture, and curriculum. Ron lives with his wife (Tina Fussell ’97) in Papillion, NE.
Professor Fran Page ’05 is a regular Powerhouse participant. “Powerhouse has become an artistic home for many PSU theatre alumni to flex our craft and grow as theatre artists.”
Kyle Sidders ’23 joined after seeing several of his friends in shows. He has been in every Colonial Series show since and played Quasimodo in Hunchback. “What keeps me coming back show after show is the Powerhouse community, and I still get to see and perform with friends I made in college while also making new friends for life,” he says.