Professor Emerita Marsha Della Giustina, founder of Emerson’s Broadcast Journalism program and a trailblazer for women in the profession, died on June 12. She was 76.
She is remembered by generations of alumni and colleagues as a huge and influential presence in the classroom and the newsroom, many of whom attended a Celebration of Life for her at the Cutler Majestic Theatre on October 12.
Della Giustina joined Emerson in 1977 from the newsroom at Boston’s WCVB-TV to build an undergraduate program in Broadcast Journalism, a mission she expanded on 20 years later when she helped create the College’s first master’s program in Journalism. She was the founder and long-time advisor and general manager of WEBN, Emerson’s award-winning student-run broadcast news station. Through WEBN, Della Giustina gave students opportunities to cover high-profile, national news stories, including presidential inaugurations, Iowa Caucuses, the Academy Awards, Super Bowls, and Spring Training.
“She was a force of nature that shattered the glass ceiling for women in the industry, bringing all that WCVB expertise, talent, and grit to us at Emerson,” said Claire Andrade-Watkins, professor in Emerson’s Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, and a longtime colleague and friend of Della Giustina.
During her 40-plus-year tenure at Emerson, she served multiple terms as department chair and represented the Journalism faculty as a founding advisor of the chartered chapters of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). As both a news producer and an educator, she specialized in media management, political journalism, international affairs, and gender issues.
She leaves her sister, Jo Ann Della Giustina; her brother, Joseph Della Giustina Jr.; her niece, great-niece, and several cousins; and thousands of former students who loved her.
Professor Emeritus Manny Paraschos, who was instrumental in developing the College’s Print Journalism program and served as the College’s first Journalism graduate program director, passed away on July 30. He was 77.
Paraschos joined Emerson in 1988 and as a Print Journalism professor, he was integral in leading students into the emerging online world of journalism. He also was the founding dean of Emerson’s European Institute for International Communication in Maastricht, The Netherlands, from 1991 to 1994. In 1995, he was honored with Emerson’s Distinguished Faculty Award.
He served as the founder and editor of the Journalism Students’ Online News Service (JSONS), which in 2001 was recognized by Apple as one of the best academic internet news sites in the country. He continued to work with JSONS until his retirement in 2018.
He was the author of several books including The Boston Journalism Trail, which is still given to incoming Journalism students, and Media Law and Regulation in the European Union; co-author of Mass Media in Greece: Power, Politics, and Privatization; and was the editor of Greece and the American Press.
Paraschos’ commitment to his students extended beyond the classroom, establishing a fund to support first-generation college students majoring in Journalism. To date, four students have received support from this fund.
He leaves his wife, Janet Nyberg; son, Alex; and daughter, Sophia.
Arleen Sorkin ’77, a multi-talented actress, screenwriter, and comedian who was both the inspiration for and voice of comic character Harley Quinn, died on August 24 at age 67.
“Arleen was an Emersonian in the truest sense. Talented, generous, and devoted to making the world a better place,” said Emerson College Board of Trustees Co-Vice Chair Kevin Bright ’76, LHD ’11.
One of Sorkin’s most prominent roles was as the kooky Calliope Jones on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. In one episode, she played a harlequin in a dream sequence. That scene inspired Paul Dini ’79 to co-create the iconic comic book character Harley Quinn—a character she voiced in Batman: The Animated Series.
Sorkin was active in the Emerson alumni network and was honored with an Alumni Recognition Award in 1987.
She leaves her husband, television producer Christopher Lloyd, and their two sons.
Dorothy Hanley ’77, died Monday, August 21, 2023. She was three weeks shy of her 67th birthday, on September 11.
Born in Bayside, Queens, Dorothy met her late husband, Ralph Abitbol ’77, at Emerson. They were in a number of theatrical productions together and married the year after she graduated.
Ralph, who later became an attorney, died in 1996.
Dorothy worked for years in the field of reproductive medicine before becoming, as she put it, “a high priced nanny” on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. There she put to use her considerable parenting and cooking skills.
Dorothy and Ralph had two children together: Arielle and Noah. To her great delight, Dorothy became a grandmother two years ago with the arrival of Arielle’s son, Arlo.
A true Emersonian in spirit, Dorothy loved to go to the theater, films and concerts. She attended a number of Class of ’77 reunions, and—while she enjoyed her visits to Boston and seeing old classmates—the long-time resident of the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan simply loved being a New Yorker.
And as such, she was a realist. “My mom was really fond of quoting The Rolling Stones,” Arielle said. “‘You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.’”
This obituary was submitted and written by John Hanc ’77
Carl Schmider ’60, MA ’62, died December 31, 2022 at the age of 90.
Carl was a true Emersonian. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, Carl attended Emerson College. He was a dean’s list undergraduate member of the class of 1960, graduating with a BA in Speech and English after four very active years of student activities, including: membership in the Phi Alpha fraternity, the Debate Team, treasurer of the Forensic Council, staff announcer on both College radio stations (WECB and WERS), member and vice-president of the Interfaith Council as a sophomore, member and president of the Student Christian Association as a senior, member of the yearbook staff for four years, co-editor as a senior, and so much more.
Carl also was a member of the Graduate Class of 1962, receiving an M.A. in Speech Communication. In 1961 and 1962, he was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship and taught undergraduates in Voice and Articulation and Oral Interpretation of Literature.
Carl remained at Emerson for four years after receiving his master’s degree as an assistant professor of speech, teaching Speech and Communication courses, and assisting in Choric Speech, Debating and Forensics, and other extracurricular activities. He also performed in recitals of oral interpretation of literature, including the College’s Southwick Recital Series featuring most notably, the works of E.E. Cummings, William Shakespeare, and Bernard Shaw.
In 1966, he received a graduate appointment in the doctoral program at the University of Denver, completing his graduate work in 1972 and was awarded a PhD in Communication.
Dr. Schmider also taught at the Universities of Vermont, Rhode Island, and Moorhead State, Minnesota. He was part of innovations for the University of Minnesota on two occasions: (1) he helped to innovate monthly programs from Public Television in 1978, to supplement offerings at the seven major universities in the state; (2) Dr. Schmider also was part of the Minnesota University vanguard to innovate degree programs in Akita, Japan, in 1992 and then again in 1996.
Additionally, he taught oral English, Literature and Oral Interpretation at NATO bases in Iceland; Turkey; Ramstein, Germany; and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In 2012, while teaching oral English to nuclear physicists in Northern China, he and his wife Mary Ellen (a doctorate in American Studies and then president of the Fulbright Foundation), were sponsored by the American Consulate to present seminars on the individual voice in American literature at selected locations in China, notably Tientsin and Nanking. One program included a brief lecture on T.S. Eliot and E.E. Cummings, with oral readings from their works. Other American writers were subjects in later seminars.
In Akita, Japan, they developed a series of meetings featuring short films on Japanese life followed by small discussion groups with local Japanese citizens who wanted to maintain their fluency in English.
In Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota, Carl developed book clubs, and gave readings on special occasions. He also volunteered for Hospice care programs.
Charles Wesley Emerson’s goal was to develop educated and enriched citizens who would serve society. Carl Schmider served this ideal with excellence in academic, international, and local communities. He lived a life well-served and well-loved.
1956
Nan Carney of Freedom, NH, died on May 8, 2023. Carney graduated with a BA.
1957
Elizabeth Walsh of Fairfield, CT, died on August 11, 2023, at the age of 86. Walsh graduated with a BA in Communication Disorders.
1958
Marjorie Ahlin of Machias, ME, died on March 26, 2023, at the age of 87. Ahlin graduated with a BA.
1959
Ralph Ladestro of Ellicott City, MD, died on April 14, 2023, at age 84. Ladestro graduated with a BA.
1959
Joan Pautler died on March 27, 2023, at age 85.
1959
Susanne Whyte of Burlington, VT, died on May 2, 2023, at age 86. Whyte graduated with a BSSp.
1961
Bobbi Binder Aungst of Cape May, NJ, died on July 16, 2023, at age 83. Aungst graduated with a BS in Communication Disorders.
1962
Robert Lonergan of Atkinson, NH, died on July 26, 2023, at age 83. Lonergan graduated with a BA.
1964
Karin Wander of Harrington Park, NJ, died on July 5, 2023, at the age of 80. Wander graduated with a BSSp.
1965
David Anifant of Hyde Park, NY, died on June 26, 2023, at the age of 81. Anifant graduated with a BA in Psychology.
1970
Donna Comstock of Nashua, NH, died on June 29, 2023, at age 89. Comstock graduated with a BA.
1971
Linda Tyler of Enfield, CT, died on March 16, 2023, at the age of 73. Tyler graduated with a BSSp as well as an MA in 1977.
1971
Lois Weisenstein of Bridgewater, NJ, died on April 3, 2023, at the age of 73.
1972
Charles Bukowski of Newington, CT, died on April 30, 2023, at the age of 72. Bukowski graduated with a BSSp.
1972
Cynthia Doty of New York, NY, died on July 17, 2023, at the age of 72. Doty graduated with a BSSp as well as an MFA in 1974.
1972 Thomas Mazzarini of Lynn, MA, died on August 22, 2023, at the age of 78. Mazzarini graduated with an MA.
1975
Steven Aronsky of Allentown, PA, died on June 3, 2023, at the age of 70. Aronsky graduated with a BS.
1977
Joyce Aloia of Madison, CT, died on June 17, 2023, at the age of 68. Aloia graduated with a BS in Journalism.
1977
Dorothy Hanley of New York, NY, died on August 23, 2023, at the age of 66. Hanley graduated with a BS.
1978
Judy Radoccia of Jacksonville, FL, died on March 24, 2023, at the age of 64. Radoccia graduated with a BS in Communication Disorders.
1980
Mark Dyson of Weymouth, MA, died on June 11, 2023, at age 66. Dyson graduated with a BA.
1982
James Harris of Boston, MA, died on April 1, 2023, at the age of 77.
1984
Beth Prater of Framingham, MA, died on May 17, 2023, at the age of 61. Prater graduated with a BS in Mass Communication: Television.
1987
Elizabeth Robinson of Bristol, RI, died on July 2, 2023, at age 62. Robinson graduated with an MA in Communication Studies: Advertising and PR.
1990
Marla Zuk of Wappingers Falls NY, died on August 11, 2023, at the age of 54. Zuk graduated with a BA in Acting.
1991
Elena Pernokas-Yioulos of Danvers, MA, died on March 28, 2023, at the age of 65. Pernokas-Yioulos graduated with a BS in Mass Communication.
1992
Robert Desautels of Amsterdam, NY, died on April 1, 2023, at the age of 53. Desautels graduated with a BS in Television/Video.
1996
Michael Miscio of Santa Rosa, CA, died on June 17, 2023, at the age of 49. Miscio graduated with a BS in Television/Video.
1997
Edna Elle of Nashua, NH, died on May 13, 2023, at the age of 68. Elle graduated with an MA in Communication Studies: Marketing Communication and Advertising.
1997
William Lawrence of Springfield, VA, died on April 17, 2023, at the age of 47. Lawrence graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing.
1997
Chad Murphy of Boston, MA, died on April 17, 2023, at the age of 47. Murphy graduated with a BS in Television/Video.
2001
Robyn Espeleta of Somerville, MA, died on May 12, 2023, at the age of 51. Espeleta graduated with an MA in Integrated Marketing Communication.
2001
Robert Laakso of Fitchburg, MA, died on May 4, 2023, at the age of 44. Laakso graduated with a BA in Audio/Radio.
2002
Allison Armstrong of Coudersport, PA, died on April 19, 2023, at the age of 49. Armstrong graduated with an MA in Political Communication.
2012
Brandon Penny of Colorado Springs, CO, died on March 27, 2023, at the age of 32. Penny graduated with a BS in Broadcast Journalism.
2014
Michael Grein of Brockton, MA, died on June 29, 2023, at the age of 48. Grein graduated with a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing.
2018
Kirby Brennan-Riddle of New Orleans, LA, died on July 23, 2023, at the age of 27. Brennan-Riddle graduated with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing.
2024
Sammi Osman Neves of Boston, MA, died on August 10, 2023.
FACULTY, STAFF, & FRIENDS
Arthur Prince of Swampscott, MA (former staff), died on July 30, 2023, at the age of 59.
Expression magazine was notified of the passing of these community members between March 15 and September 15, 2023.
