64
KEANmag
in memoriam
Albert J. Mazurkiewicz
The University community mourns the loss of Dr. Albert J. Mazurkiewicz,
who passed away peacefully last May in Tampa, Florida, at 89 years old.
Born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, in March of 1926, Mazurkiewicz
dedicated much of his 89 years to helping others in various capacities. He
served as a field medic during World War II for the 42nd Infantry Division,
and after the war, immersed himself in an academic career that culminated
with a Doctorate of Education from Temple University in 1957.
Mazurkiewicz began his professional career as a public school teacher
in Philadelphia, moving on to serve as Director for the Reading Clinic at
Temple University a few years later. In 1966, he joined the faculty in the
Department of Education at Kean University, and spent the next 37 years
in this post, serving 34 of those years in the role of Department Chair.
Upon his retirement from Kean in 2003, Mazurkiewicz was given the title of
professor emeritus, and was known on campus, and beyond, as a prolific
author and a renowned leader in the areas of reading research and teacher
instruction. Additionally, Mazurkiewicz was considered a “founding
father” of the College Reading Association (CRA), serving as their President
for several years. In 1999, the CRA renamed its Special Services Award in
his honor, to acknowledge his lifetime of contributions.
Beyond his commitment to the education of others, Mazurkiewicz was
a dedicated family man who loved to travel the world; visiting more
than 190 countries with his wife of 61 years, Helen, at his side. When he
wasn’t working or traveling, Mazurkiewicz could be found in his garden,
and it was this love of gardening that prompted the unique and special
memorial now dedicated to his memory on the grounds of the Kean
University campus. In August of 2015, “Al’s Garden” was officially opened
to the public, in celebration of his commitment to the University and his
passion for life.
H. Bernice Benner ‘41
Mary Mudrak ‘41
Joanna Mead ‘41
Martin Buchner ‘42
Mary Curry ‘42
Grace Tunison ‘42
Mildred Gelbach ‘43
E. Janet Swanson ‘46
Jean Garlock ’48
Alice Maluso ’48
Frances Passner ‘48
Jean Hapstak ‘49
Anna Quentine ‘49
Charlotte Smith ‘50
Harry Thomson ‘51
Margaret Smith ‘51
Gilbert Hughes ‘55
M. Patricia Fries ‘55
Felice Blank ‘56
Marshall Butler ‘56
Dolores Guth ‘57
Phyllis Trotta ‘59
Joyce Fitzgerald ‘59
Joan DeNiscia ‘60
SamDavis ‘60 MA
Judith Peterson ‘62
Emilie Benner ‘62
Lorraine Bull ‘63 MA
Norma Arons ‘63
Doris Smith ‘63 MA
Nancy Grove ‘63
Evelyn Giventer ‘64 ‘70
Linda Lee ‘64
John Furman ‘65
Barbara Harriet Goll ‘65
Stella Olinger ‘65
Charlene Batt ’67 ’70 MA
Edmund Spiro ‘68 ‘70
Emily Ruppert ‘69 MA
Kenneth Dalton ‘69 MA
Peter Feeney ‘69
John Mariano ‘70
Robert Cappel ‘71 MA
Barbara Nichols ‘71
Marie Parry ‘72
Ellen Prisco ‘72
Geraldine Streckfuss ‘73 ‘76
Charles Cuidera ‘73
James Bryant ‘74
Phyllis Fish ‘74 BSW
Adelaide Rossey ‘75
Doris Ricciardi ‘75 ‘86 MA
Lorraine Zamorski ‘75
Robert Szeles ‘75
Kathleen Lonzello ‘75
Thomas Ainsworth ‘76
Diane Hubert ‘76 ‘82
Kevin Touhey ‘77
Maxine Lane ‘78 H’14
Ada Corr ‘78
Maria Merida ‘79
Rochelle Dempsey ‘79
Marion Klein ‘80 ‘85
Charlotte Bloch ‘81
Alvin Curtis ‘82 MA
Raymond Alberti ‘97
Michelle White-Yates ’06 ’10 MSW
Kimiyha Henderson ‘12
