The BAHS Alumni

1885 Club


In 1998, members of the Bangor Area High School Alumni Association began to search for a way for to honor graduates of Bangor High School who have distinguished themselves through public service, scholarship, and recognition in their chosen fields of work. Discussions naturally led to creating a hall of fame for such individuals. Concerned about possible confusion with the new Athletic Hall of Fame, however, the committee began to seek ways to create a different type of recognition with its own unique distinction. From their collaboration, the 1885 Club was born. Named in honor of the first year in which a class of students graduated from Bangor High School, this exclusive club will honor distinguished alumni and hold these individuals as outstanding examples for others to follow. Through the creation of the 1885 Club the Alumni Association underscores and upholds the fact that graduates of Bangor Area High School have been making contributions to mankind throughout the past 100 years.


 

2000 Members of the 1885 Club

The pictures below were taken from the program and are of poor quality. We apologize for this. If you have an original picture you may email it to us and we will replace it.

 

The James P. Brusie(*)
Class of 1936M
 
Dr. Brusie, a physical chemist, served as a research chemist for the Manhattan Project at Yale and Columbia Universities and developed many patents in his field. The late Dr. Brusie was the son of Jay and Lizzie Powers Brusie. He and his wife, Ruth, were married 50 years and had 3 sons. While at Bangor, Dr. Brusie was valedictorian of his class and a letterman on the undefeated, unscored upon football team. He was also credited for playing every moment of every game.
 
Dr. Brusie did his undergraduate work at Lafayette College, graduating suma cum laude with honors in chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Yale University.
 
In addition to his research work at Yale and Columbia, he was a section supervisor for Carbide and Carbon Chemical Corp. in Oak Ridge, TN. At Oak Ridge he participated in the start-up of its plant and operations. At General Aniline and Film Corp. in Pennsylvania, he served as senior technical assistant and was technical director for Girdler Catalysts in Louisville, KY and Alrac Corp. in Stanford, CT. He was retired from M.W. Kellogg.
 
Dr. Brusie had many publications and patents in his name. He also was a member of the American Chemical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi. Dr. Brusie had a lifelong commitment to his community. When at Bangor, he served as a member and president of the school board. He was a member and president of the Kawanis Club, a member of the Holy Name Society and a volunteer fire fighter for the Harrods Creek Fire Department in Kentucky.

(*) Deceased

Dr. Joseph C. DiMarco
Class of 1952
 
Dr. DiMarco, opthamologist and past president of Warren Hospital, was one of the first doctors in the area to pilot the use of the phaco-emulsification technique in his surgical practice.
 
Dr. DiMarco is the son of Mrs. Margaret DiMarco and the late Charles DiMarco. He and his wife, the former Rosemary Nisonger, reside in Phillipsburg, NJ and have five grown children.
 
While at Bangor High School, Dr. DiMarco had the distinction of being the first student from our school to make the State Band and is currently a member of the Whitehouse Wind Symphony and the Easton Municipal Band.
 
Dr. DiMarco did his undergraduate work at the University of Maryland, receiving his BS in zoology and chemistry and his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College. He continued his post graduate and medical training at William Beaumont Army Medical Hospital, El Paso, TX; Brooke Army Medical Center San Antonio, TX, and Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, PA.
 
Locally, Dr. DiMarco served as the chief of the Department of Opthamology at Warren Hospital, as well as president of the medical staff, and was also president of the Lehigh Valley Opthamological Society. He has been inducted into many American International Societies of Surgeons. Dr. DiMarco's many volunteer activities include NORWESCAP of Phillipsburg, NJ, St. Philip and St. James Church, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Metuchen, and ongoing tutoring with ProJECT of Easton since his retirement from his opthalmology practice in 1997.

Dr. Earl S. Beck
Class of 1940M
 
Dr. Beck, a bacteriologist, has served as a health advocate to third world countries and his involvement has fostered the research and funding of the clinical testing of the German measles vaccine.
 
Dr. Beck is the son of the late Ralph and Mae Beck and is married to the former Helen Mack. They have three children and six grandchildren. They have been living in Maryland since 1955 and currently reside in Frederick, MD. After graduating from Bangor High School, Dr. Beck received a BS degree from Muhlenburg College and his Master's degree from the University of Connecticut. He earned a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University in bacteriology.

After serving briefly as an assistant professor at Ohio Northern University, he accepted a position with the Physiology and Genetics Branch at Fort Detrick. He went on to the National Institute of Health, where he served as the assistant chief and then chief, of the Vaccine Development Branch. While still at NIH, Dr. Beck accepted a position with the Geographic Medicine Branch, as the head of the US - Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program. At this position he was responsible to foster cooperative scientific endeavors by scientists to investigate diseases of importance to third world countries and prepare an annual report to congress on the research progress. Through reorganization, he was named chief of the Parasitology and Tropical Diseases Branch. In this capacity he expanded the scope of international health research.

 
Since his retirement in 1987, he has served as a consultant for various scientific organizations. Most recently he has been involved in reviewing Breast Cancer Research Grants for the U.S. Army.
 
Dr. Beck has been an active volunteer in his community, serving as a guest speaker in the biology classes, judging science fairs, teaching Sunday School at the United Methodist Church of Frederick, MD, and most recently being appointed to the board of trustees of the local nursing home.
Melissa Hough
Class of 1969
 
Miss Hough, a curator, lecturer and author, is the chief curator of CIGNA Museum of Philadelphia.
 
She is the daughter of the late William and Charlotte Hough. Both of her parents were very active in community service in the Slate Belt. Melissa continues the same commitment to our community even though she resides in Philadelphia. Miss Hough did her undergraduate work at Beaver College, Glenside, PA and her Master's at the University of Pennsylvania. She currently develops and administers activities related to a 10,000 piece collection of American fine art and historical objects at the CIGNA Museum. She has also been an assistant curator for the INA Museum, and intern at the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia.
 
Miss Hough is a member of the Franklin Institute Science Museum's Collections Care Advisor Committee, the Fireman's Hall Museum Board of Directors, and the advisory board of the National Association of Corporate Art Management. She is also on the executive board of the Museum Council of the Greater Delaware Valley.
 
Locally, she has been a research associate and exhibit designer for the Slate Belt Historical Society Museum of Mt. Bethel and has served on the board of directors. She has played a strong role in the establishment of the Slate Belt Heritage Center and helped author the Bicentennial and 125th Anniversary Books of Bangor.

Dr. Donald B. Keat II
Class of 1956
 

Dr. Keat is acounseling psychologist and a professor at Penn State University. He has authored more than 60 books and an ongoing series of clinical videotapes. He also serves as a national and international consultant lecturing on his work.

 
Dr. Keat is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Donald B. Keat. His father was a teacher, principal and superintendent in the Bangor Area School District. He has a sister, Kathryn Ronalds, who also served the Bangor School District as a school nurse. He and his wife, the former Marilyn Sterner, have three grown sons and reside in State College, PA.
 
Dr. Keat graduated with honors from Bangor High School and was very active in basketball, baseball, and the school band. He served as the student director of our band and was chosen for District and All State Band for 3 years, as well as the National High School Band.
 
Dr. Keat graduated with a BA degree with distinction and Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from Columbia University and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Temple University. He is currently a full professor and Director of Psychology of Education and Counseling at Penn State University. He is nationally and internationally known for his work in educational and counseling psychology and is frequently called upon as a consultant by numerous state departments of education. Dr. Keat has conducted many seminars across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Malta.
Mrs. Mildred Beers
Class of 1925
 
AtBangor Area High School's 2000 commencement esercises in June, Mildred Evans Beers, Class of 1925, was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of Bangor High School. This prestigious honor was bestowed upon Mildred for her lifetime of philanthropy in the Slate Belt, Lehigh Valley, and Pocono Mountain areas. In addition, Mildred remains as one of the few individuals to have taught in our local one-room schools.
 
After graduating from Bangor High School in 1925, Mildred accepted a position as a teacher in a one-room school house in Richmond, PA, the same school that she attended as a youngster. Over the next several years she attended summer school at East Stroudsburg Normal School and took correspondence courses so that she could earn her teaching degree. She taught in most of the Slate belt's one-room schools. Mildred married Joseph Beers and became his lifelong partner. Their generous spirits helped launch many important community efforts in the Slate Belt area. East Stroudsburg University, the Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation center, Easton Hospital, the Salvation Army, the High School Alumni Association, and her beloved Richmond Methodist Church, are just a few of the institutions that have benefited from her kindness and generosity.
 
In honoring Mildred Evans Beers we hold to all a shining example of how the spirit of giving and a legacy of love for one's community can enhance the lives of countless people.

Top | Hall of Fame | Home