Russell Martina
Class of 1925

• Graduate and Retired teacher from St. Mary's School for the Deaf
• 1925-1970 Teacher, Special Class.  Continued interest in photography,  took many pictures of school activities for yearbooks
• 1929-1938 Taught Wood Finishing in New Trade Building (now named Russell Martina Industrial Arts Building)
• 1926-1928 Taught Sign Painting, Woodworking, Archery
• 1925-1932 Assistant Supervisor in Senior Boys, Teacher, Coach in Sports Program
• Member of NYSAED; American Instructors of the Deaf, National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Buffalo Civic Association of the Deaf, Buffalo Club of the Deaf, and Buffalo Catholic Deaf Society
• 1973 Received NYSAED Honorary Life Membership Award in appreciation of service to the Deaf (1925-1973)
• 1944 Received Silver Beaver Award, Scoutmaster’s Key Award, and Diocesan St. George Award
• 1944 School Photographer; Leader of the Deaf; received the Monsignor O’Connor Award
• 1931- Organized Boy Scout Troop 40 at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf; Scout Master until 1972
• 1932-1972 Took many leadership training courses for Boy Scouts 
• Married to Stella Potocki and daughter Ann

Jeannie Suzba
Class of 1945

• 1987- Graduate and retired Sewing Teacher at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf 
• Attended St. Mary’s School for the Deaf throughout her school career
• Talented seamstress and quilter
• Her talents and skill were evidenced by her students’ creations for fashion shows, school play costumes, and graduation gowns at St. Mary’s
• Became a Sewing Teacher for St. Mary’s School for the Deaf after her graduation
• As a High School Senior, she taught sewing classes to the Junior girls and was on Yearbook Staff
• In High School, she performed in school plays, was on the CYO Basketball Team, SMSD Girls Basketball Team, and was an officer for The Athletic Association
• Took numerous Bernia Sewing Machine classes and Aurora Sewing Center classes; earned Singer Sewing Pin
• Wrote and illustrated a book for Deaf children, titled “Sewing for Beginners”
• Former Assistant Leader of Troop 24
• Former performer and member of Deaf Dramatic Club of Buffalo
• Former member International Catholic Deaf Association Chapter #2
• Former member of New York Association of Educators of the Deaf (NYSAED) and Empire State Association of the Deaf (ESAD)

Terri Pordum
Class of 1950

• Member of the Board of Directors for eaf Adult Services
• Member of the Board of Trustees, St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, Buffalo, NY
• Strong advocate for the rights of Deaf people in Western New York.  Worked to improve closed captioning and interpreter services
• Recognized and honored for her strong leadership and commitments in the community 
• Received a leadership award from the National Association of the Deaf
• President of the Buffalo Civic Association of the Deaf (BCAD) for over 15 years
• BCAS representative on the Empire State ASsociation of the Deaf Board of Directors
• Chaired the ESAD Student Scholarship Award Program
• Chaired several fundraisers for the BCAS
• Retired from Bell’s Supermarkets after many years of employment 
• Married former SMSD graduate Don Pordum, Sr. (1995) and raised one hearing son, Dan Pordum, Jr.

Alice Guinane
Class of 1950

• 1980 graduate of Erie Community College
• After raising her children, she went back to college 30 years after graduating from SMSD
• Certified in Leadership Training, Gallaudet University
• Helped to establish Deaf Adult Services in Western NY
• 1980-1990 Past President of the Buffalo Civic Association of the Deaf
• Member of the Board of Directors of Deaf Adult Services for many years
• Strong advocate for the rights of Deaf people in Western NY.  Worked to improve closed captioning and interpreter services
• Recognized and honored for her strong leadership and commitments in the community
• Served in leadership positions including President of  the Empire State Association of the Deaf
• Retired from KeyBank
• Married and raised 2 sons and 4 grandchildren

Daniel Pordum
Class of 1950

• USA Deaf Basketball International Relations Director
• Founded the USA Flag Football Association for the Deaf
• Coached USA – Deaf Olympic Basketball team to hold metal in Romania in 1977
• 1950- WNY All Catholic All Star Team; 1^st player to break 1000 point career total
• Excelled on baseball and football teams in 1947-1950 at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf
• National (AAAD) and International (CISS) Leader of Athletics for the Deaf
• 1993 Leadership Award – SMSDAA Hall of Fame
• 1988 Inducted into St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Sports Hall of Fame
• 1985 Inducted American Athletic Association of the Deaf, AAAD Hall of Fame
• 1985 Inducted Eastern Athletic Association of the Deaf, EAAD Hall of Fame
• 1977 Honored by the AAAD for Leadership 
• 1950 Honored by the EAAD for Athletic Achievement
• Married to Terri Pordum (Class of 1950), father of Dan Jr.

Richard Miskell
Class of 1951

• 1982- Worked at the U.S. Postal Service for 21 years
• 1964- Worked at Courier Express Newspaper as a printer for 17 years
• 1961- Worked at Westinghouse for four years
• 1955- Worked at Harrison Radiator for four years
• 1951- Worked at Wurlizer for four years
• Served as President of Buffalo Club for the Deaf for 13 years
• Served as President and Vice President of Central Athletic Association of the Deaf (CAAD) for 11 years
• Athletic Director for Buffalo Club of the Deaf for eight years and Law Chairman for one year
• Past Host Chairman for Athletic Association of Deaf Tournament and Central Athletic Association of Deaf (CAAD) and Eastern tournament
• Member of Buffalo Club of Deaf
• Member of Buffalo Deaf Senior Citizens
• 1994- Inducted into Buffalo Club of the Deaf Hall of Fame
• 2000- Inducted into Greater Lakes Deaf Bowling Association (GLDBA) Hall of Fame
• 2002- Inducted into Eastern Deaf Bowling Association Hall of Fame
• 1993- Received Leadership of the Year Award from St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Alumni Association
• Married to Joan Miskell ‘53, has 5 grown children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren

William Flanders
Class of 1953

• Worked at Trico Products Company in Buffalo, NY as Leadman; promoted to Foreman in 1978
• 1991- “St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Sunshine Award” recipient
• 1989- “Dedicated Service to Deaf Community” Award recipient
• Former Basketball Coach for Buffalo Club of the Deaf and Erie Silent Club; both teams winning championships
• 1959- Erie Silent Club: EAAD Champion, EAAD Hall of Fame Coach, AAAD Champion and AAAD Coach of the Tournament
• 1955- Buffalo Club of the Deaf: 40 points in three games, EAAD All-Star Team and EAAD competition
• Helped to form the Buffalo Club of the Deaf and was active in the campaign to purchase a building in Buffalo for a Club House
• Served as Vice President and President for Buffalo Club of the Deaf
• Serviced as an officer in many organizations serving the Deaf Lions Club Member 
• Married to Audrey (Mekus) ‘53 and has five children

Peggy O'Gorman Hlibok
Class of 1953

• 1990-Doctoral Student, Union Institute & University, Cincinanati, Ohio 
• 1985- Certifications in Deaf Culture and Community Education, Gallaudet Univeristy
• 1980- Masters in Deaf Education, New York Univeristy 
• 1959- Bachelors of Art in Sociology, Gallaudet Univeristy 
• Retired Educator, from five schools serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Member of NYS Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Children with Disabilities for 15 years, including the passage of American Sign Language (ASL) as a second language, curriculum and evaluation development of ASL for High School courses
• First Director of the Deaf Senior Citizen Program, Camp Mark 7, Old Forge, NY
• Delegate to the National White House Conference on the Handicapped
• Member to the State of New York on the Handicapped, Albany, NY
• Deaf Adult Program Coordinator of La Guardia Community College, NYC
• President and Secretary of Empire State Association of the Deaf
• Delegate to National Association of the Deaf
• Downstate Coordinator of Special School of the Future for 4201 Schools
• Presenter at college, schools for the deaf, conferences, libraries and hospitals
• Research Assistant, New York University 
• Co-founder, Mental Health Assocaition of the Deaf, Inc., NYC
• 1998- Leadership Award from St. MAry’s School for the Deaf Alumni Assocaition
• Married to Albert J. Hlibok with four deaf children and eleven grandchildren

Kevin Milligan
Class of 1955

• 1970- Masters in Special Education, Lewis and Clark College
• 1967- Bachelors in Physical Education, Gallaudet University
• Taught for 4 years at Washington State School for the Deaf
• Taught for 20 years at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf and retired in 1991
• 2005- Inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
• 1995- Inducted into the Gallaudet University Athletic Hall of Fame (Basketball and Soccer) lead teams to two great ten-victory seasons
• 1999- Inducted into the Eastern Association of Deaf Bowlers Hall of Fame
• 1996- Inducted into the Buffalo Club of Deaf Hall of Fame
• Player of the Year 1996 for Buffalo Club of the Deaf
• His uniform #24 was retired at Gallaudet after scoring 1,681 career points and 47 in one game
• Catholic High School Basketball All-American
• Inducted into American Athletic Assocation for the Deaf Hall of Fame
• 1993- Inducted to the SMSD Sports of Fame
• Led the U.S. to a Gold Metal in the Pan American Games for the Deaf in Venezuela (1975)
• Led the United States Deaf Basketball Team to a Gold Metal in the 1961 Deaf Olympics in Finland
• Coached various teams at Buffalo club of the Deaf
• Member of the Board of Directors of Deaf Adult Services
• Involved in various Deaf organizations in Western New York
• Married Millie (nee Velez) (Class of 1966), raised 2  children and has 4 grandchildren

William Schwall
Class of 1957

• 1978-2000- Retired as a Customer Service Technician for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Little Rock, Arkansas
• First Deaf Telephone Installer in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Received Southwestern Bell Award “Appreciation of Your Dedication and Personal Sacrifice Restoring Service during the Ice Storm in 1999”
• Recieved Deaf Employee of the Year Award from Superspeech
• 1968-1978- Printer for Sun Times in Chicago, Illinois
• 1959-1968- Printer for United Airlines in Chicago, Illinois
• 1993- Inducted into St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Hall of Fame
• 1992- Chairman of National Bass Association of the Deaf (NBAD) tournament
• 1965- Member of the USA Basketball Team, which won the Gold Metal at the International Games for the Deaf (WGD)
• 1961- Member of the USA Basketball Team, received Gold Metal
• 1959- Leading scorer in the AAAD Tournament with the Chicago Club of the Deaf
• Participated for various American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD) member teams for eight years, starting with Milwaukee Silent Club in 1958
• Excelled in basketball at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf; led his team to two straight ESSAD titles in 1956 and 1957
• Received numerous Sports Awards for Basketball
• Married to Nancy Kellar; daughter Kristen; two sons, William, Jr. and Walter; six grandchildren (three hearing and three deaf)