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LEE IRVING was nominated by his classmate James Cochran. Lee is being inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame for his leadership and scholastic achievements in high school and his continued success in the business world, as well as for his leadership in his church and community activities.
Lee is an alumnus of the Class of 1966. While in high school, he excelled in both athletics and academics. He was also popular and well liked, becoming president of the class in his senior year. He belonged to Varsity Club, Beta Phi Chi fraternity, and was Key Club president. Additionally, he was in Student Council and belonged to National Honor Society for three years. He received the DAR Good Citizen Award, Latin Award, the Prize for General Excellence in Citizenship Education, the Prize for Proficiency in Physics and was Salutatorian of his class. Lee received his higher education at SUNY Binghamton and the University of Wisconsin - Madison with degrees in banking, finance and accounting. Lee made his long career mostly within Key Corp, retiring in 2006 as their chief accounting officer. While still living locally, Lee shared his talents with his church, The Greenbush Reformed Church participating in many activities including serving on its local governing board. His service was rewarded with a plaque for his devotion. Lee’s career took his family to Ohio where he and his wife Linda settled and raised their daughter and son. He became active in his church in Ohio with fund raising and also with the NPR radio station WKSU in Kent Ohio. Lee returned to Rensselaer for the “Decade of the Sixties” reunion in 2011, where he was crowned King of the evening. In 2012, while battling cancer, he took on the responsibility of becoming the Class of 1966’s representative to the Alumni Association and gathered current contact information for as many classmates as he could find. He also gave generously to association fund raisers, in particular in deciding what the theme would be for his class’ basket for the 2012 homecoming fund raiser, and in giving to the membership drive. As a tribute to how well he was respected by his classmates, over $500 was donated in his memory to the Alumni Association when he passed away about a year ago. And in homage to his spirit of generosity, his wife Linda matched the amount.
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ANNA MEURS IRVING was nominated by her daughters Deborah Irving Reimann and Mary Irving. She is being inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame for her fifty (50 !!) years of dedication as an employee of the Rensselaer City School District and for her humanitarianism.
Anna is an alumna for the Class of 1945. She began her career as a secretary for the school district even before she graduated high school. Like most women who work outside the home, her dual career was as a wife and mother to her 3 children, all of whom were schooled in the city: William (deceased), Class of 1969, Deborah, Class of 1974 and Mary, Class of 1983. For most of her career Anna was personal secretary to the principal. She was known to faculty and staff as the “go-to” person for all things. Anna, or Mrs. Irving as the students knew her, was motherly and kind, but also “no-nonsense”. Anna served the district also in the capacity of member of the Board of Education. In addition she served her community as a member of the Rensselaer Historical Society and the Rensselaer Business and Professional Women’s Association. In both, she promoted the impact women can have in the business world and for their city. She also served her church, The Church of the Redeemer, in many capacities, as a member of the choir, the altar guild, the Redeemer guild, offices within the Vestry and as Sunday school teacher. Her volunteerism benefitted Damian House, Capital City Mission (Love Knots), families she adopted during the holidays and others when the need called. Her commitment to others reached beyond the city in her work with the Order of the Amaranth, Capital City Court 15 and the Order of the Eastern Star, Van Rensselaer Chapter #256, especially with the Diabetes Foundation and Leukemia Society. This commitment continued when she needed to be placed in a nursing home, in her latest role as advocate for her fellow residents at the Eastern Star Home in Oriskany, NY. Anna lived a good and productive life, having passed just recently in 2013
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MICHAEL J. FUSCO, JR. was nominated twice, once by his daughter Michele Benyo, and also by his colleague and classmate, James Cochran. He is being inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame for his high school athleticism; his lengthy, successful career in the Rensselaer City School District and his civic contributions to the city and its youth.
As a youth, Mike won several baseball awards including the batting (.542) and pitching (8-1) titles in the 1959 Rensselaer Little League. Mikeis an alumnus of the Class of 1966. In high school in 1965 he broke, and still holds, the record for interceptions in one football game (5), Rensselaer vs Tamarac. As a varsity bowler, Mike won the 1966 Most Valuable Player. He was also MVP in ’66 for the Melvin Roads American Legion Baseball team. He was a member of the College Club, treasurer of the Varsity Club and acted in two plays and was in the Drama Club. Mike went to Hudson Valley Community College and received an Associate’s Degree in Recreation Administration and Supervision in 1968. He attended SUNY Brockport the next year, transferring to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Springfield College in 1971. He began his career with RCSD that year, becoming a highly respected athletic director and completing his Master’s degree in Education at Russell Sage in 1979. While at Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School Mike coached varsity baseball, bowling, softball and girls’ volleyball, leading the RHS baseball team to the Section II regional championships. While teaching, he also volunteered at school as advisor to the Varsity Club (1971-81), advisor for the Black History Month Club and founded the first chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) in 1988 and was its advisor. He formed the “Prom Promise” program for students and was also its advisor. He also founded “Red Ribbon” week, which was a K-12 week-long campaign against smoking, alcohol and drug use. In addition, Mike was one of the creators of the Rensselaer Middle High School PTSA and he helped several disabled and less fortunate students. Mike also shared his teaching talents outside of his employment. He served as a board member of the Rensselaer Boys and Girls Club for 21 years (1979-2000) and coached Little League and Babe Ruth and led the 1982 Gerald O’Neil American Legion Post to the county championship as their Head Coach. He umpired many Little League and Girls Softball games. He also was director of the city’s summer recreation program for 15 yrs (1987-2001) and was honored by the city Youth Bureau with a plaque for his service in 2001. Mike also had a political career and served the city as Alderman for the 1st Ward for 8 yrs (1978-86) as well as majority leader of the city common council from 1984-86. Mike passed away tragically and prematurely in 2013.