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Alumni Across the Decades

Compiled by Luann (Zanke ’78) Gilliland

George Fertal 

Class of 1953

Major: Economics

Fraternity: Omicron Alpha Kappa

George chose the College of Steubenville first of all for it’s convenience—he could commute by bus each day from his hometown of Weirton, West Virginia. He says his years at the College gave him lots of good memories. He enjoyed the small class size—sometimes only five or six in a class, and that many of his classmates were WWII vets getting their education on the GI Bill. After graduation George spent 34 years working for General Electric, where his specialty was marketing and distribution services. Retired since 1989, he lives in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with his wife, Eileen. They have three children and five grandchildren. Golf is his favorite pastime. 

George’s Steubenville associations are more than memories. He recently traveled to Kettering, Ohio, to visit his favorite professor, Dr. John Carrigg.

Joseph Tripodi

Class of 1963

Major: Political Science

Fraternity: Alpha Phi Delta

Joseph Tripodi was one of many who attended Steubenville because he grew up here. To this day, he has many family members in the area. After graduation, Joe went on to law school and earned his degree from Ohio Northern University in 1967. He has been practicing law for over 41 years. Joe enjoys spending time with his family—including five grandchildren—and having a weekly game of golf. 

Tom Cannizzaro

Class of 1973

Major: Sociology

Fraternity: Alpha Phi Delta (Greek Council)

Tom credits his Franciscan teachers at Bishop Neumann High in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with getting him interested in the College of Steubenville.

“One of them organized a weekend bus trip for any interested seniors. A bunch of us went and five of us enrolled that next fall. I knew it was where I wanted to be immediately and didn’t apply anywhere else.” 

Tom taught in a Catholic grade school in Levittown, Pennsylvania, for seven years after graduating, then headed west to Los Angeles where he spent 15 years working for an electronics company in customer service, and later human resources. From there he moved on to human resources at a title company, and eventually transferred back to Philly with that company. For the last 13 years, he has worked in HR for an advertising business. 

“My biggest joy in life is that I’ve been able to travel to many parts of the world. I also enjoy doing charitable work whenever I can.”

Terri (Jolly) Miffitt

Class of 1983 

Major: Nursing

Organizations: Morning Star Household, Music Ministry

Terri has the distinction of being the first student to sign up for the new Nursing Program, which was what drew her to Steubenville in the first place. After graduating she worked as a registered nurse for a short time at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut, and then went on to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, also in Hartford. There, Terri is a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She is also an instructor in infant CPR and is a preceptor, or instructor of newly hired nurses at the NICU. 

Happily married for 14 years, she met her husband, Paul, at work, where he was a respiratory therapist. Paul has since become a police officer, and Terri is proud that he was awarded a medal of valor for rescuing three boys caught in a flash flood. Terri and Paul have traveled to the Caribbean, Alaska, and to Ireland, where she acquired an interest in competitive Irish step dancing: “It’s never too late to follow your dream,” says Terri. 

The Miffitts make their home in Marlboro, Connecticut. 

Compiled by Luann (Zanke ’78) Gilliland, Don Plagman ’66, and Paul Pinto ’86, MBA ’91 for the Autumn 2009 Baronette newsletter. Since then, both George Fertal and Joseph Tripodi have passed away. May they rest in peace.