Annal of The Pennsylvania Society in its One Hundred and Twenty-Third YearPUBLISHED SPRING • 2022COMMUNITY • CHARITY • CIVILITY •A N N UA L A N N UA L DINNERDINNERPHOTOS PHOTOS page 21page 21LOOKING BACK ON 50 LOOKING BACK ON 50 YEARS WITH PAST PRESIDENT YEARS WITH PAST PRESIDENT ANDREW SORDONI ANDREW SORDONI page 35page 35BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SCHOLAR AWARD WINNERS SCHOLAR AWARD WINNERS page 33page 33WELCOME WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! NEW MEMBERS! page 5page 5
Council Members Gregory S. BentleyNicholas DeBenedictis*Louis DeNaples Jr.Evan S. FrazierDaniel J. HilfertyMaria Sordoni HudacekCharles D. Hummer IIIMichael A. InnocenzoDusty Elias KirkRobert M. KrasneMike MolewskiTimothy G. NeCastroBrian A. NesterJean Craige PepperVelma A. RedmondJoseph ReschiniDeborah Rice-JohnsonJames D. SchultzKaren Winner SedSusie J. ShahPatricia WellenbachF. J o h n W h i t eLeRoy S. Zimmerman*Executive DirectorJulien Scranton*Past PresidentOfcersEdward J. Sheehan Jr. PresidentElizabeth Preate Havey Vice PresidentChristine Toretti TreasurerThe Council of The Pennsylvania Society1
A Message from the Executive Director The Annual Dinner made its heralded return to the beautifully decorated ballroom of the New York Hilton Midtown after an almost two-year hiatus. The smiles, laughter, hugs, and exuberant storytelling of the hundreds of attendees reminded us just how much we missed this time with our fellow Pennsylvanians – and how special it is to be a member of The Pennsylvania Society. It was great to be back! On behalf of President Sheehan and Society Council, let me say again how grateful we are to the sponsors and members who supported the Society during our time apart. The global pandemic that required us to cancel our 2020 Annual Dinner continued to endure yet, thanks to vaccinations and New York City’s COVID protocols, we were able to safely bring back the Dinner and proudly present the Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement to Dr. Ala Stanford. The rst black woman to receive the Gold Medal, Dr. Stanford, creator of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, was responsible for testing and vaccinating tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians in historically underserved areas. Dr. Stanford’s acceptance speech captivated the room, challenging and inspiring the audience to take greater ownership of issues impacting our own communities. Dr. Stanford reminded us that Pennsylvania’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and we are thrilled to welcome her as a new Life Member of the Society.After having been apart, the return of the Annual Dinner helped remind us of what makes The Pennsylvania Society unique – and why it is as relevant and meaningful to our members today as it was when they rst gathered in 1899. What I consider to be the three pillars of the Society were on full display at the Dinner: Community, Charity, and Civility. These pillars are the bedrock of The Pennsylvania Society that have brought us together for more than 120 years. Each year, our Gold Medal recipients choose a charity to which the Society makes an impactful contribution. Combined with our scholarship programs, The Pennsylvania Society has contributed millions of dollars to charitable organizations and students seeking higher education. It is a proud legacy that I believe has gone largely untold. Our members come from different communities with varied opinions and backgrounds, yet we share a love of Pennsylvania, celebrating the successes and contributions of Pennsylvanians with the entire nation. When we come together it is with an abiding respect and recognition that “PA Society Weekend” is a time to set aside our daily discord and treat one another with civility and appreciate what we have in common. Community. Charity. Civility. I believe any member of The Pennsylvania Society will conrm that these attributes – our pillars – make us proud to call ourselves Society members.I look forward to seeing you this spring for our Annual Meeting in Harrisburg. Until then, please reach out to say hello or let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you. Sincerely, Julien Scranton2
We have upgraded our member portal and moved our membership book to a digital format. The following instructions will help you access our searchable member directory and connect with fellow members.LATEST ON MEMBERSHIP› Go to www.pasociety.com› Select the Member Login tab at the top right of the page › Type the email associated with your Society membershipNote: If you have not created a password or have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password and a password will be emailed to youOnce in the member portal you can also:$Print your membership cardPay an invoiceEdit your proleMake a donationChange yourpasswordBrowse archive of annalsIf you have any questions or need assistance, please call us at 215-233-2650.3
REFER A MEMBER OR GIFT A MEMBERSHIPMembers have access to the Society’s community through our annual events and our online member portal. Members also join us in recognizing the accomplishments of Pennsylvania and its citizens at invitation-only Society events throughout the year including our Annual Dinner in New York and our Annual Meeting in Pennsylvania. Our events provide a forum for civil discussion and our revenues have made possible millions of dollars in charitable contributions to Commonwealth non-prots and college-bound high school students. We share a love of Pennsylvania and are proud to continue to support the citizens who make this Commonwealth magnicent. LEARN MORE:www.pasociety.com/membershipThese values are the bedrock of the Society that have brought us together for more than 120 years.Community. Charity. Civility. The Society has thrived since 1899 largely because its members continue to refer friends, colleagues, and family members to the organization. Members join for fellowship with Pennsylvanians who share a deep affection for our state, pride in giving back to the Commonwealth, and a commitment to civil engagement.4
We welcome the new members joining the Society in 2021!ALLEGHENYElizabeth M. Groch David M. Martin Jessica Meissner Rachel Ann Murphy Kial Vidic Winthrop Watson BUTLERTricia Staible CAMBRIAAmy Marie Bradley Michael Kane Susan M. Mann Julie Wanamaker Sheehan CENTREJustin Behrens CHESTERHunter Tower CUMBERLANDJeffrey Lord Nathan G. Mains DAUPHINAndrew Joel Marsico, Esq. ERIEMarcus S. Atkinson Wade Clayton Root INDIANADave Reed Michael J. Supinka, Esq. James Zerfoss LANCASTERMark A. Vergenes LUZERNECassandra I. Coleman Rev. Thomas Looney Daniel J. Myers, PhDMONTGOMERYBro. Zach Penska Dr. Susie J. Shah Dr. Ala Stanford NORTHAMPTONNicole Farmer Hurd PHILADELPHIAMary Elizabeth Ashenbrenner Leah Blain, PhDRobert Boaz Birtwell Gregg Caren Taylor Paige Cobb Sean Christopher Edwards Leah C. Kordeck Margo Robinson George William Simmons Mikecia J. Witherspoon YORKCol. Douglas T. Charney OTHER STATES:GEORGIAHoward Andrew DeHavenNEW YORK Emily LapisardiKhawar Nasim Amanda Claire SimmonsTEXASClayton Gates DeHavenWEST VIRGINIACurtis Wilkerson To upgrade your membership from annual to life, please contact the Society at 215-233-2650To gift a life membership, go to www.pasociety.com and click Gift a Life MembershipTo refer a member go to www.pasociety.com, click the Membership tab at the top of the page and then click Refer a Member››››››
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One Hundred Twenty-ThirdOF THE PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETYSATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2021
The global pandemic of 2020 forced – for the rst time in the history of The Pennsylvania Society – the cancelation of the Annual Dinner. It was an incredibly difcult decision but prioritized the health and safety of Society members and guests. Scientists developed groundbreaking vaccines that were granted emergency use authorization by the FDA by December 2020. Shots were administered rst to frontline workers, high-risk individuals, and those over 65 years old. All Americans over 18 had access to the vaccination at no cost by spring, but by late summer, Delta became the dominant variant in the United States and the numbers of those contracting COVID increased. Questions arose as to whether the Dinner might face a similar fate for a second straight year. The New York Hilton, the largest hotel in the city and the temporary home of the Annual Dinner, shut down in March 2020 at onset of the pandemic. Thankfully, by October of 2021, vaccinations were ubiquitous in the United States, Delta was in recession, New York City had mandated proof of vaccination for indoor dining and entertainment, and the Hilton was able to reopen. For Society members eager to reunite again, these factors allowed the Dinner to proceed.
“It’s hard to believe that I am entering my nal few months as president of the Society, yet this is my rst opportunity to address all of you, our cherished members. It has surely been a unique term; nothing I could have ever predicted. As you recall, we made the difcult decision to cancel last year’s dinner. I know I speak for our councilors when I say I’m grateful to come back together knowing some members have chosen to wait one more year before returning. We certainly understand that decision. “I am especially grateful to the sponsors and members who supported the Society during our time apart. It was particularly inspiring to see our members and our sponsors, during these most difcult times, continue to support the Society’s important mission and traditions. And to our team at Society headquarters, Julien Scranton and Michele Greenway, a heartfelt “thank you!” for keeping us on course through an uncertain time. Their commitment never wavered, and they remained positive and optimistic throughout.“These last two years have been unprecedented in so many ways. Our nation and our commonwealth have lost so many loved ones and we faced tremendous economic hardship as a result of the global pandemic. But like so many times before in our nation and our commonwealth’s history, out of difcult times come examples of resilience, recovery, creativity, and leadership. “There are countless examples of Pennsylvanians who stepped up in signicant ways during the pandemic … many heroes across our great commonwealth. Of course, right at the top of the list are our healthcare professionals. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and EMTs – all of whom risked their own lives to protect ours. One such doctor is tonight’s Gold Medal honoree - Dr. Ala Stanford. We look forward to sharing her remarkable story later in the program. “ “I wondered what this year’s Dinner, in the second year of COVID would be, and I commend the leadership and staff of the Society for its careful planning. Enjoyable and edifying in every way.Opening Remarks by Society President Edward J. Sheehan Jr.President Sheehan proposes a toast.9
“Dr. Stanford was an excellent choice. Her message was powerful and moving leaving everyone in a positive spirit and thankful for her good works and for our good fortune in a difcult time.- Society Members on the One Hundred Twenty-Third Annual Dinner“While COVID-19 dominated headlines – and our lives – in 2020, we were also reminded that longstanding racial inequalities continue to preclude people of color from achieving all of the economic opportunities that are available – across the nation and in our beloved commonwealth. As a result, the Society has redoubled efforts to make certain that ours is an organization that is welcoming to all Pennsylvanians. This inclusiveness matters to us and we are committed to getting it right. “And since we last met, the nation paused to remember the 20th commemoration of the 9/11 terror attacks. The Pennsylvania Society was proud to partner with Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial to support their new Flight 93 Heroes Award (page 28). The award helps to remind all Americans of the heroic actions that were taken in the skies above Pennsylvania on that fateful day. We look forward to continuing our new partnership with the Friends for many years to come. “So … While it may have taken longer than expected … I am honored to stand before you this year to celebrate The Pennsylvania Society – the rst Society of its kind that’s been bringing Pennsylvanians together to celebrate Pennsylvania for over one hundred-twenty years. We welcome all of you to this time-honored evening of friendship, fellowship, and family as the holidays begin and we take time to enjoy one another’s company.”University of Pennsylvania’s Counterparts perform Hail! PennsylvaniaPresident Sheehan thanks the Annual Dinner Sponsors (page 31)10
“Pastor Marshall Paul Hughes Mitchell delivers his prayer:We’re grateful for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and for how it has led the nation in so many ways during the sojourn of our nation. But teach us, Oh God, that our commonwealth does not come in our primacy as a state or the robustness of our economy, but for the love that we have for one another. Redene for us what commonwealth means at a time when there is so much need in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and Harrisburg and Aliquippa and Altoona. Teach us, Oh God, that the eeting and ephemeral and evanescent things of this world like race and gender and political party and ideology all fall in the great shadow of thy greatness.So now God, allow your Holy Spirit to waft over us so that we will see in this Gold Medal, which is bestowed upon this, your daughter, who is here today because she believes in the truth of your Almighty hand but also in the facts of science.We are so grateful that in her you have given us some hope in the time of storm. Encourage our hearts. Make us love one another more truly and more genuinely and more robustly. And now, Oh God, because You doth require, encourage us to have fun. Let us nd in our tablemates laughter, comity, and people who know how to party. It is in thy Son’s name that we do utter these prayers and petitions. Amen. 11
The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium Recipient of the Society’s $25,000 Charity ContributionThe Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium (BDCC) was founded in March 2020 by Dr. Ala Stanford, an American Board of Surgery certied pediatric surgeon and adult general surgeon. BDCC was created in response to the disproportionate number of African Americans being diagnosed and dying from coronavirus, and the lack of swift intervention to mitigate disease spread. The mission of BDCC is to educate, provide advocacy and barrier-free coronavirus testing and vaccination in an effort to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. BDCC has been integral in increasing the number of African Americans vaccinated against coronavirus. In fact, Philadelphia has the highest percentage of vaccinations of African Americans in any large urban area in the United States (City of Philadelphia, City Council Report, September 2021). To date, BDCC has administered over 53,000 vaccines and administered over 25,000 COVID-19 tests. We understand that access and equity require action and we have answered the clarion call. We are Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.www.blackdoctorsconsortium.com
Dr. Ala Stanford is a board-certied pediatric and adult general surgeon and the Founder & CEO of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium. During her career, Dr. Stanford has served at some of the nation’s leading medical institutions, including Jefferson Health-Abington. She is a healthcare advocate, practicing physician (24 yrs.), and physician scientist published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Stanford has performed clinical research and clinical outcomes work. A widely respected presenter/discussant, Dr. Stanford is the former Director of the Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities at Temple University. On November 3rd, the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity (ASHE) opened its doors in the heart of North Philadelphia to continue to provide quality care to Philadelphia’s most underserved communities. She is the visionary founder of The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which was recognized as a national model for its swift response to mitigating coronavirus spread among African Americans in Philadelphia. In 2017, she founded Stanford Pediatric Surgery LLC, a private practice; R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine, Co. (2013), providing unique/complex health services to individuals and corporations worldwide; and It Takes Philly, Inc. (a 501 c 3) that focuses on the professional and personal development of underserved youth. The rst African American woman to graduate from the adult General Surgery program at the University of Pittsburgh and upon completing her Pediatric Surgery fellowship, she was one of two African American women pediatric surgeons in North America.Dr. Stanford is a wife and mother of three sons, a 13-year-old and 11-year-old twins.Dr. Ala StanfordGold Medal for Distinguished Achievement 13
The Pennsylvania Society proudly presents each year’s recipient with a 14k solid gold medal in addition to a contribution to a charity of their choice.The gold medal, shown in actual size, was designed by Mr. John Flanagan, a New York sculptor. Since no prole portrait of William Penn exists, the sculptor redrew the face from the Society’s famous armour portrait of Penn, a gift of Mr. Andrew Carnegie. On the reverse side of the medal, Renown is awarding sprigs of laurel to three male gures depicting Force, Character and Intelligence – the three qualities essential to distinguished achievement. The gold medal was founded at the Dinner of December 12, 1908, “to be awarded by the Society from time to time to such persons as it may wish to especially honor for Distinguished Achievement.”The Gold Medal14
Dr. Stanford was introduced to the audience with an eight-minute video produced by CNN that captured the hard work she and her community of doctors and volunteers had undertaken in testing, and ultimately vaccinating, the underserved communities of color in Philadelphia. Dr. Stanford took the stage to a standing ovation and tearfully thanked individuals in the room who made her mission possible, in many cases calling people out by name and giving specic examples of their contributions to her success. “As I prepared for this night, I learned of many I admire that received this award. Two: Colonel Guion Bluford, fellow Philadelphia Public School educated student and Penn State Alumnus, the rst African American to enter into space. And Dr. C. Everett Koop, a man I had the pleasure of meeting. He was Surgeon General of the United States and like myself was also a pediatric surgeon. I also learned that I am the rst African American woman to receive this award in 112 years. I appreciate the acknowledgement though I seriously doubt that I am the rst deserving of this prestigious honor, and sincerely hope that I will not be the only.“Coronavirus has lifted a veil and removed the rose-colored glasses that socioeconomics have played in society, especially as it relates to healthcare in America. The pandemic has Dr. Stanford Accepts the Gold Medalwww.pasociety.comWatch Dr. Stanford’s speech in its entirety:15
impacted everyone in this room, some more personally than others. But for an entire ethnic group as we found in Philadelphia, there was no cure and no treatment for COVID-19. Only a test and contact tracing could lend to a favorable outcome. But in all the areas most affected by COVID, they were devoid of testing locations. In fact, if you were white and afuent you had 6x’s more testing locations in your neighborhood. Facts not speculation. “If you did not have a car (Philadelphia is a commuter city largely for people of color, not because they left their car at home but because they don’t have a car) you could not get a test. If you did not have a referral from your primary care doctor – remember most of the PCPs were at home or so backed up – you could not get a referral. If your doctor was not on staff, you could not get a test at a particular hospital, if you came as a family, again multi-generational households are more common in communities of color, many locations would not test the family. Children with only certain insurance could be tested at the best children’s hospital in the U.S. “So, this is where I inserted myself. People of color could not stay at home and shelter in place. They needed tests and contact tracing arguably more than anyone else during this time. As I watched this unfold, I could not stand to watch the images of lives lost of color, young and old. Let me add here, we have lost children to COVID-19 and 65% of them are Black and Hispanic. So I was comfortable with my husband and children at home, with food for months, 16
health insurance and access to any doctor we may have needed in the city, but I left my comfortable, earned, privileged life to help those whom no one was coming to save with alacrity. Literally thousands of lives were lost until help would arrive.“I share those examples of the lack of equity so that we do not go back to the way it was, ever. We cannot. “So, by January 2021 and 25,000 tests later we had earned the trust of many, we received our vaccines publicly, we lead by example so that the communities that were left behind would not be caught up in the narrative that African Americans do not want the vaccine. But even with the numbers in the book, the awards coming for days, contracts and resources were given to the young, white, inexperienced male. For those who thought we were only serving African Americans, we served everyone who came to us. And when his organization went defunct our patient mix was 50/50, and again we served everyone. I mention these examples of bias and injustice, so it won’t be repeated again. So that, though you honor me today and I appreciate it, you don’t underestimate 17
how incredibly difcult this has been to save people’s lives while also combatting societal, historic, and present-day barriers that allow these incidents to occur. So, when you look at 112 years that I stand here it is not without some battle scars and sleepless nights. “But we pressed on, now having provided over 52,000 vaccinations and counting. In fact, Bloomberg News published recently that the City of Philadelphia has the greatest rate and percentage of African Americans vaccinated of any other city or state across the United States with a population of greater than 500,000. I, we the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, will proudly stand here and take full credit for this statistic because we did that, humbly serving those whom many turned their backs on. “Many of you in healthcare know that COVID-19 was just an added weight to the burden of healthcare that already existed to many people of color who, rightfully so, did not trust a healthcare system that has been largely untrustworthy. So instead of returning to the operating room, I opened a center for health equity, because the people let us know daily that they needed us for more than a vaccine. Since opening on November 3, offering primary care and behavioral health for mental and emotional wellness, we have seen over 1,300 people. “The need is great, it can be overwhelming the need, but we press on awaiting support from our city, state, and federal representatives. I believe it will come, but as from the beginning, our support has been from personal donations, corporate sponsorship, but largely from the people and GoFundMe. And I have taken all of those dollars and re-invested them back into the community. To achieve health equity, for health outcomes to improve and eliminate disparities, it requires line-item funding in perpetuity. My efforts and initiatives must outlive me for substantive lasting change to occur. “And so, as you recognize me, please know that I have worked, we have worked, tirelessly with enormous sacrice to do work that someone else is being paid to do. “It is a labor of love. I take care of every person I encounter like I would want to be cared for, regardless of their ability to pay me, the color of 18
their skin. It is how I would like them to treat my children and my parents. So, I challenge you to take care of one another in whatever industry you are in like they are your own. “Thank you very much for this Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement. As the founders of this great award created this medal, Renown is awarding springs of laurel to three people depicting the three qualities essential to distinguished achievement, those are: Character, Intelligence, and Force and I would like to add Force with grace. Thank you for acknowledging my work as an individual that embodies the attributes. God Bless You All.” 19
““What a stellar evening. In the annals of PA Society events it could very well rank in the Top 3.- Society Members on the One Hundred Twenty-Third Annual DinnerSo many people stopped me to comment on the feeling of the evening and the experience of being present to see Ala get the award. Total strangers came up to me to tell me what the evening meant to them. They saw it as a turning point for the Society. What a way to come back.
SILVER SPONSORSBentley Systems • Richards & Associates, P.C. BRONZE SPONSORSHighmark • PECO • TC Energy • The Reschini Group Christine J. Toretti • Waste Management SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORSAT&T • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia • Robert M. Krasne • Craig & Velma Redmond Reed Smith • Dr. Susie & Mr. Jay H. Shah • Winner International SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTERSEd & Julie Sheehan • The High CompaniesThe Pennsylvania Society Acknowledges the Generous Support of its 123rd Annual Dinner Sponsors31
In 2021, The Pennsylvania Society pledged $25,000 over ve years to the recipient of the annual Flight 93 Heroes Award. Created by the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, the new Flight 93 Heroes Award identies individuals who act with extraordinary heroism; show courage at the risk of one’s own personal safety; and who put the physical well-being of someone else above themselves.In presenting the rst check on 9/11/21, Society President Edward Sheehan Jr., noted that Pennsylvania and the families of those on board The Pennsylvania Society proudly gives millions of dollars to Pennsylvania non-prots and college-bound students through the annual Gold Medal charity selection (page 15), scholarships including the annual Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award (page 29), and strategic partnerships including this year with the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA. Charitable GivingFriends of Flight 93United Flight 93 will always have a special and unique bond. The Pennsylvania Society looks forward to a lasting partnership with the Friends of Flight 93 as they continue their important work to ensure the Flight 93 National Memorial will remain accessible, relevant, and inspirational to present and future generations – both in the Commonwealth and around the world. To learn more about the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial visit www.ight93friends.org.32
The Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award was created in honor of one of our nation’s founding fathers. This writing competition is open to Pennsylvania public high school juniors. Students submit an original essay of not more than 750 words discussing the modern-day relevance of a selected quote by Benjamin Franklin.2021 Quote“[A] great Empire, like a great Cake, is most easily diminished at the Edges.”- Rules By Which A Great Empire May Be Reduced To A Small One (September 11, 1773 | www.franklinpapers.org) Congratulations to the 2021 Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award Winners!1st Place Winner: Sophie Lu | North Allegheny Senior High SchoolWexford, Allegheny County2nd Place Winner: Amulya Nasta | Penncrest High SchoolMedia, Delaware County3rd Place Winner: Aditi Srivastava | South Fayette High SchoolMcDonald, Allegheny County33
50-YEAR MEMBERSHon. William H. Lamb Anthony J. RinaldiAndrew J. Sordoni IIIJoseph L. Wesley Sr.40-YEAR MEMBERSNicholas O. Antonazzo Donald M. Bernhard Arthur BoyleJohn L. BuckmanJames C. Byerly Carl N. Frank, Esq.Randall G. Gale Dennis L. GrumbineEugene R. Klein Andrew D. Lyons, Esq.Patricia M. Mahoney Frank G. McCartneyReed McCormick Hugh G. Moulton Jamie P. Musselman Spencer G. Nauman Jr. A. William Schenck IIICharles R. Zappala30-YEAR MEMBERSDaniel I. Booker Albert C. Boris IIIKelly Boyd James M. Campolongo Matthew Chabal IIIMaureen Quinn Dwyer, Esq.Robert Brian Elderton John M. Elizandro Colin A. Hanna Caitlin T. Hatch Anthony J. Hom Robert A. Judge Sr.Robert E. Kelly Jr., Esq.Paul J. Kennedy Ash Khare Thomas R. Kline, Esq.Robert V. Littner Vincent A. Panvini Robert L. Pratter John G. Rangos Jr.Daniel J. Reisteter John K. Tsui Marylouise M. Uhlig John G. VanNatta IIRobert Smith Walker Floyd W. Warner Katharine McDowell Watson Dr. Robert C. Wilburn 20-YEAR MEMBERSHon. Cynthia A. Baldwin Theresa Lynn Barnaby Jeffrey S. Batoff Robert P. Boran Jr., MDHoward Brod Brownstein Hon. Walter W. Cohen Annabelle B. Creveling Hon. Ruth S. Damsker Peter Graham Egan Christopher G. Fulmer Richard Hudic Jr.Farah M. Jimenez Rev. Philip D.W. Krey Kenneth G. Lawrence Seth A. Mendelsohn Nicholas Hemelright Niles Michael J. O’Connor David Reid Nathan A. Schwartz, Esq.Edward J. Sheehan Jr.Diane L. Slifer Andrew (Jack) Sordoni Stephen D. Steinour Kathryn P. Taylor Chance Burke Trammell Hon. Tim F. Twardzik Rev. Rodney W. Wells F. Joh n W h i t eDonald E. Wieand Jr.Jack Wright10-YEAR MEMBERSHon. Lynne Abraham John M. Arnold Hon. John C. Bear Jeffrey A. Becker James W. Brown Hon. Jim Cawley Francine A. Cerami William J. Cerami Barbara C. Chaffee Darren J. Check Charles Croce Richard J. Davies Paul I. Detwiler IIIJennifer D. Dobbs, MPAKevin A. Feeley Stephen P. Fera Mariann K. Geyer Cynthia L. Goodin, CPA, MBADouglass Henry Robert M. Hess J. Christopher HorstMelanie HorvathRichard M. Kelly Mark Kempic Geoffrey Kent Kathryn Z. Klaber Kevin Kruse Keith S. Kuzio, PEDouglas G. Lee Paul A. Lukach Ryan B. Martin David M. Maser John E. McDowell John D. Moran Jr.Douglas L. Morrow Michael P. O’Donnell Daniel Onorato John E. Osborn Donald P. Palmer Jr.Chitranjan Patel Allison Preate Kenneth J. Rampolla Ronald N. Repak, Esq.Hon. Keith Rothfus M. Night ShyamalanHon. Edward G. SmithScott R. StevensonLawrence Merritt Stratton Jr.Thomas A. TupitzaWesley TurianoJames W. Van BurenJeffrey J. VrabelPatrick R. WallaceTracy WingenrothAlison T. Young A special thank you to those who have been members for over 50 years and counting!50+ YEAR MEMBERSRobert C. Bair, MDRichard L. Bunn Eugene L. DiOrio Gerald Leonard Hempt Hon. Robert C. Jubelirer Robert M. Kurtz Jr.Eugene J. Manning Wilson D. McElhinny Gretchen Zeidler Miller Donald W. Pulver Roger W. Richards Hon. Edward E. Russell Ronald P. Sandmeyer Sr.John D. Zimmerman Hon. LeRoy S. Zimmerman Congratulations to our long-standing members celebrating their decade anniversaries in 202!34
50-YEAR MEMBERS“Fred Rogers was one of the most remarkable men I’ve ever encountered. The Pennsylvania Society wanted to present him with the Gold Medal, but he initially declined.” Andrew Sordoni, Society President from 1988-1991, recounts the conversation with the legendary Mister Rogers as if it were yesterday. “He told me that he preaches in Pittsburgh on Sunday mornings and he was afraid he wouldn’t make it back from New York in time. So, he politely declined our invitation.”Undeterred, Sordoni came up with a plan. He contacted and was assisted by Pittsburgh friends Elsie and Henry Hillman, who later would be Gold Medal recipients themselves, who offered to y Mister Rogers to and from his neighborhood on their plane. It cleared the way for Fred Rogers to accept the Society’s 1990 Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement, a very special night indeed for all those in attendance in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria. “It was the most prestigious ballroom in North America, and it was ours on the second Saturday in December! The Pennsylvania Society had it from the day it was built in 1931. Society ceremonies at the Waldorf were magnicent and could not be duplicated anywhere else.”For Andrew Sordoni, who attended his rst Annual Dinner in 1967, the selection of recipients such as Fred Rogers, James Michener (’78), and Andrew Wyeth (’81) represented a critically important shift in how The Pennsylvania Society chose its Gold Medal awardees. “You had so many colorful characters over the years. Back in the ‘80s we advanced artist Andrew Wyeth, for example. He was charming and broke through the lines of it not being a politician or a captain of industry. Change is inevitable. Your audience dictates what you give them. It’s essential to attract a crowd. That new direction was hugely important to the Society.”From both a personal and business standpoint, Society membership also was hugely important to Sordoni, a lifelong resident of Luzerne County who held executive responsibilities in construction and telecommunications. As a “proud capitalist” Andrew Sordoni Society President 1988-1991Andrew Sordoni in his role as Society President in 199035
and successful young businessman with a keen interest in civics and politics, The Pennsylvania Society provided critical networking opportunities early in his career. “Networking is a terric advantage for civic, social or career purposes. It’s a tremendous way to advance ideas and open doors. To this day it is a terric benet for Society members and the Commonwealth as a whole.”Reecting on his many years on Council, Sordoni credits past progressive and pragmatic leaders such as the late Herb Barness, Bob Campbell, and Charles Snelling with transforming the Society from a “smoke-lled room of decision-makers” to an organization that attracted professional women and a younger demographic. “That was much needed, and t me well as I was a young man at the time.” It was also around that time that the Society instituted giving a meaningful philanthropic gift to a Pennsylvania charity selected by the Gold Medal recipient. “Many of us on Council at the time were active and engaged philanthropists so it was very much in keeping with the mindset of leadership at the time.”Sordoni considers The Pennsylvania Society to be one of the Commonwealth’s crown jewels. He believes Pennsylvanians often underestimate the signicance of Pennsylvania to the nation and the world, given its contributions in the areas of education, healthcare, technology and infrastructure, among others. “We are the Keystone State! The Pennsylvania Society is one of many organizations that can add luster – at a prestige level – that makes our Commonwealth so attractive.”These last several years have presented unprecedented challenges for all Americans. The Pennsylvania Society was impacted like all businesses and organizations as a result of the pandemic. The 2020 Annual Dinner was canceled and membership was called on to help support the Society through a very challenging time. Sordoni credited Society leadership for ensuring its future when things looked bleak and uncertain. “Like all organizations you have high and low points. I cannot imagine the Society could have survived without the leadership of President Edward Sheehan and Executive Director Julien Scranton. I’m delighted to know that our beloved Society is alive and well.”36
50-YEAR MEMBERSWilliam H. Lamb, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, is Chairman of Lamb McErlane PC and directs the rm’s Post-Trial and Appellate Advocacy Group. Justice Lamb returned to the rm in January 2004, after serving a one-year appointment to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Named a top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for appellate law since 2005 and a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2006.Governor Mark Schweiker nominated Justice Lamb to the post in January 2003 to ll a vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala. Justice Lamb was the rst justice to serve from Chester County in 147 years, an achievement recognized in 2003 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry. During his tenure at Lamb McErlane, Justice Lamb served as a special prosecutor for Chester County from 1981 to 1984, during which time he received two Awards of Merit from the Pennsylvania State Police for his prosecution of the Johnston Brothers and Ancil Hamm cases. He served as District Attorney of Chester County from 1972 to 1980 and Assistant District Attorney in Chester County from 1967 to 1972. Since returning to Lamb McErlane, Justice Lamb has put his experience to work for clients through a unique Mock Argument Service for attorneys preparing cases for appeal and argument. As part of the service, the Post-Trial group reviews the briefs, prepares a bench memo, and conducts an in-house conference. Justice Lamb then presides over the mock argument and questions counsel much as he did when he served on the bench. Thereafter, he discusses and critiques the argument at length and provides the parties with guidelines for arguing before the Court. Justice Lamb is an active member of the community and is highly sought after for his political acumen on the federal, state, and local levels. Since 2004, he has served on the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Court of Judicial Discipline, and the Pennsylvania Elections Reform Task Force. William H. Lamb
“For two or three years, I attended the Annual Dinner as a guest. After experiencing the camaraderie of the members and having the privilege to get to know current members at the time, I knew I had to join.”That was 50 years ago. Anthony J. Rinaldi was born in Old Forge, PA, and has been a longtime business and community leader in Northeast Pennsylvania. “Over the years, I have served as a sponsor for many individuals from Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Bucks counties who would become Society members.”As a successful builder and developer, Anthony’s contributions to the region are evidenced by an array of residential development, ofce buildings, medical ofce buildings and varied commercial properties. He is still actively involved in business and real estate and continues to keep his eyes looking forward to the future and evolution of real estate, building, and development as he has done throughout his 60-plus year career.Among his favorite Society memories were speaking with and honoring the Gold Medal and Distinguished Citizen awardees over many years. “I think the memories of traveling to New York City every year with my family for the PA Society weekend is most dear. To be able to have carried on the tradition of attending the events of the weekend year after year with my sons, all culminating with dinner in the Grand Ballroom, gathered at our longtime table #202, to carry on the long-standing traditions of our Society, has provided so many great memories.”Given Anthony’s pride for his hometown, he recalls fondly the year the Society’s Annual Meeting was held in Scranton. “After careful planning and decision-making, Scranton was chosen as the host city for the 2016 Pennsylvania Society Annual Meeting and luncheon. It was with great pride my family and I assisted Carol Fitzgerald with different aspects of the event in our hometown. The beautiful Courthouse Square and the rich history of the City of Scranton was one of the best attended luncheons in recent Society history.”Anthony also proudly notes that all of his children, sons William, Elmo, Donald, and Anthony Jr., who passed away in 2002, are longtime members of the Society. Anthony J. Rinaldi50-YEAR MEMBERS38
50-YEAR MEMBERSJoseph L. Wesley Sr. joined the Society after attending a meeting of the Philadelphia branch of the Young Presidents Organization where a presenter made the suggestion of Society membership. Joe considers it one of the best decisions he ever made as his Society network was transformational to his successful crane rental business, AmQuip Corp. AmQuip grew to be one of the largest industrial crane rental and sales companies in North America, operating from 10 locations in eight states.After service in the Marine Corps, Joe received his pilot’s license and still pilots his own plane between his farm home in Bucks County and his winter home on the East Coast of Florida. He has wonderful memories of attending Society events that allowed him to maintain friendly relationships and establish new ones with fellow Pennsylvanians. He particularly enjoyed his friendships with Senator Arlen Specter and Governor Tom Ridge. Joe says Pennsylvania has meant a great deal to his family, dating back to when his parents rst immigrated from Poland to Philadelphia to start a new life. Maintaining his membership in the Society remains important to him. In fact, at age 85, Joe says he’s planning to make it to 100 and “will die a member!” Joseph L. Wesley Sr.AmQuip “The Crane People”
40Gretchen Zeidler Miller has been a member of The Pennsylvania Society for 58 years and counting. For over ve decades, Gretchen has carried a longstanding commitment to many valuable causes, community and charity alike. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on December 28th, 1931 to Lorenz and Mildred Hendrickson Zeidler, she attended Keystone College in La Plume, Pennsylvania. After graduating, she was employed by the Globe Store in Scranton as a buyer of women’s wear. She then moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to work as a personal secretary for William W. Scranton, the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania. There she met her beloved husband Richard J. Miller, former president of the Pennsylvania Gas Association, who passed away in 2014. They married in 1965 and had one daughter, Heidi Hendrickson Miller who passed away in 2012. Gretchen and Dick made their home in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with an enduring generous spirit. They were both active members of Camp Hill Presbyterian Church and the West Shore Country Club, substantially contributing to both over the years. Gretchen has sat on the board of Keystone College and has maintained a strong connection to the West Shore Public Library and other organizations in later years. Celebrating our Current Longest Standing MemberGretchen Zeidler Miller 58 YEARS & Counting!
Joseph J. McLaughlin, 93, of Gladwyne, a banker and longtime supporter of the Catholic Church, died Thursday, August 19 with his children and caregiver at his side. Throughout his life, Mr. McLaughlin always instructed new friends and acquaintances to call him “Joe.”Joe served his country in the US Army as a Corporal in occupied Japan – Post-WWII. However, he would often cite the service of his older brother Jack, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 17 and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima for 22 days, and survived. Joe married Agnes Small in 1954. Agnes was one of six children born to immigrants, Henry Small and Mary Agnes O’Neill, who ed from Northern Ireland in 1923. Joe and Agnes raised three children (Anne Kennedy, Joe McLaughlin, and John McLaughlin) and were very proud of their nine grandchildren. Joe became a clerk for Benecial Savings Bank at the age of 23 and was soon promoted to teller. He became President of the Bank in 1974 and served as its president for 20 years. Ultimately, Joe continued to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for another 20 years and retired from the Board well before the sale of the Bank to WSFS. Ultimately, Joe served Benecial Savings Bank for nearly 65 years.While President of the Bank, Joe McLaughlin was asked to meet with President Ronald Reagan for an hour at the Bellevue Hotel in 1983, given his involvement in the Citizen’s Crime Commission. Thatcher Longstreth joined him. “In addition to discussing the Citizens Crime Commission, our father took this rare opportunity and implored President Reagan to revise regulatory barriers like reducing Federal Reserve lending rates, easing constricting bank regulation, etc. to aid the Savings & Loan sector,” said his son John. Reagan responded by invoking his father’s struggle with alcoholism and JOSEPH J. “JOE” MCLAUGHLININ MEMORIAMSociety President 1993-1995 analogizing it to working with the Federal Reserve Bank.“Our father was fortunate enough to meet with Paul Volker in 1985, when Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank. Well prepared, our father implored Chairman Volker to revise regulatory burdens,” said his son Joe. “Chairman Volker left the meeting saying to his aide, ‘Martin, get these people some help!’ Not too long after the meeting, the Federal Reserve Bank began to ease interest rates and the regulatory burden faced by many thrifts and savings & loans began to subside,” added his son Joe.Joe McLaughlin spent his remaining years in retirement with Agnes, traveling with friends and enjoying time with their nine grandchildren. Joe and Agnes were married for 61 years upon Agnes’ passing in 2015. Joe McLaughlin served on many boards over the years including but not limited to: Philadelphia Electric Company; National Savings & Loan Association; Chairman of Magee Hospital; Jefferson University Hospital and Health System; Little Sisters of the Poor, Holy Family Home at 5300 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia; Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute; Citizens Crime Commission; Immaculata University; Saint Joseph’s University.Joe McLaughlin also served on the Finance and Audit Committees as well as the Real Estate Committee of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for many years spanning the leadership of John Cardinal Krol to Archbishop Charles Chaput. He was given the titles Knight of St. Gregory the Great and Knight Commander of St. Gregory, the highest honor given to lay personnel by a pope.Joe McLaughlin was also recognized over the years by a number of non-prots and honored through fund raising efforts including but not limited to The National Coalition of Christians and Jews and The City of Hope Cancer Center Los Angeles, California. Obituary provided by the McLaughlin Family41
Patrick Solano, a decorated veteran of World War II and a longtime public servant who spent more than 40 years as a trusted friend and adviser to dozens of elected Pennsylvania ofcials, has passed away at the age of 95.A resident of Pittston Township, Solano spent his entire adult life in service to his country, whether it be as a member of the U.S. Air Force or as a political adviser to a number of different Pennsylvania governors during his long stint in Harrisburg.A 1942 graduate of Pittston Township High School, Solano completed 23 combat missions with the Eighth U.S. Air Force Heavy Bombardment Group. For his efforts, Solano earned a number of military honors and medals before returning home and entering into public service.In Harrisburg, Solano wore many different hats and left an indelible mark on a number of state legislators, perhaps most notably as the rst cabinet secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources after the department was created. In honor of his service, an environmental education building located in Frances Slocum State Park was named the Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center.In addition to his ofcial roles, Solano offered insight and wisdom to Pennsylvania governors from both the Democratic and Republican parties for almost 50 years, including former governor Mark Schweiker, who issued a statement in honor of his friend on Sunday:“Today is a sad day for Pennsylvania with the passing of a true patriot, Patrick Solano. He served our nation during World War II when he heroically ew B-17 combat missions over Germany. When he returned home, Pat would spend the next half century continuing his unwavering commitment to PATRICK J. SOLANOthe service of his beloved country, commonwealth and Northeastern Pennsylvania. I’ll miss my friend. He provided heartfelt and wise counsel to me, and many former governors. Pat was a giant that simply cannot be replaced. Kathy and I will keep his beloved wife, Marie, and his family in our prayers.”Schweiker took over as governor in 2001 after his predecessor, Tom Ridge, took a position in the Bush administration’s Ofce of Homeland Security.“Honor. Duty. Service. Those are the words that rst come to mind when I think of my dear friend Pat Solano,” Ridge said in a statement released Sunday. “He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will be felt here in his beloved Pennsylvania – and around the world – forever.”A number of current state ofcials and gures have expressed their condolences, as well.“Pat Solano was a patriot and a giant in Pennsylvania politics,” said U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Lehigh Valley). “For decades, Pat served as a valued counselor to countless Republican ofcials while never shying away from working with anyone who was seeking to better our commonwealth and his beloved northeast Pennsylvania.”“It’s so sad for all of us in our area to lose Pat Solano. I always liked everything about him,” said U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Moosic).“From the personal physical courage he showed in the Army Air Corps during World War II, to his sharing a half century’s worth of stories about his friends in public service, he was a man who attracted admirers from all corners. Best of all, he always told you the truth, and he put Northeastern Pennsylvania rst.”U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Dallas) shared a video on Facebook of a speech he gave in 2019 on the oor of the House in honor of Solano’s 94th birthday, along with a post mourning the loss of his friend.“Today is a sad day in the Commonwealth as the Honorable Patrick J. Solano passed away peacefully this morning,” Meuser said. “Described by all as a legend, Pat was a respected leader in Pennsylvania state government and politics…as many elected ofcials can attest, he was the best political mentor anyone could have ever asked for and one of the greatest men I have ever known.” IN MEMORIAMAmended and reprinted with permission from the Times Leader. Obituary printed on January 23, 2021.Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth 201642
43About the Society(www.pasociety.com/history)For more than 120 years The Pennsylvania Society has brought together Pennsylvanians from all walks of life to honor achievement, recognize greatness, and contribute to charitable causes beneting the Commonwealth. With no afliation to any particular political party, business or profession, The Pennsylvania Society maintains its centuries-long commitment to civility, where members celebrate service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with an abiding respect for one another.A nonprot, charitable organization with members around the world, The Pennsylvania Society is in its third century of existence and is the oldest organization of its kind in the country. New members are always welcome. History of the SocietyIn 1899 James Barr Ferree, an historian and native Pennsylvanian living in New York City, invited 55 fellow Pennsylvanians also living in New York to join him for dinner at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel. While enjoying a meal together, they decided to form a group known initially as “The Pennsylvania Society of New York.” Their goal was to establish a society “uniting all Pennsylvanians at home and away from home in bonds of friendship and devotion to their native or adopted state” and would meet for dinner every year, same time, same place.In the years that followed, the Society has honored those who have given back to the Commonwealth including Andrew Mellon, Henry Ford, Mamie and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Louise and Andrew Carnegie, Guion Bluford, Elsie Hillman, Andrew Wyeth, Arnold Palmer, M. Night Shyamalan, and the beloved Fred Rogers, to name only a few.In 1903, when the organization was incorporated, the name was shortened to “The Pennsylvania Society.” As the years passed, that dinner at The Waldorf Astoria became the hallmark event of The Pennsylvania Society.Each year, the Gold Medal recipient selects a Pennsylvania charity of his or her choice, which receives a donation from the Society. All told, millions of dollars have beneted these worthy organizations. And to honor scholarship, students compete annually for the Society’s Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award, a writing competition open to Pennsylvania high school juniors.In the more than 120 years that have passed since its rst gathering, the Society has sponsored scores of historical and social functions, bringing together its members and friends to remind them of Pennsylvania’s vital and long-standing leadership in the economic and industrial life of the nation. And today, as members of The Pennsylvania Society, we are dedicated to continuing and renewing that leadership, with friendship and with civility toward our fellow Pennsylvanians. Annal© | The Pennsylvania Society | 139 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15215 | 215-233-2650 | www.PASociety.com© 2022 The Pennsylvania Society