To the Editor:
As I talk to more and more Berne-Knox-Westerlo (aka Berne-Knox) attendees, I am impressed by how many truly good people have been educated in the “shade of old U Hai.”

“Givers” appear to be hallmarks of our school district. When you learn of someone who gives without asking for anything in return, you remember that person. 

An outstanding example of such an individual is Brian Stempel (Class of 1974), son of Rudolph  and Sheila Stempel. Brian has worked at the family sawmill business” for many years. In addition to helping anyone who needs a helping hand, Brian coached Little League for 10 years and initiated the “Berne Music in the Park” program where he volunteered, for over 18 years, playing acoustic guitar with a group called “Just a Bunch of Guys & Girls.”  

Perhaps one of this unsung hero’s selfless gifts was to donate a kidney to his sister Sandra. Brian has spent most of his life quietly working for the well being of others and for the community.

In addition, he married our beloved Kathy Donahue, the director of the Berne Library. They have three grown children who were the third generation to attend BKW.  

The oldest is Avery. Avery is the owner of Collar City Mushrooms, an indoor mushroom farm. For more information, consult https://collarcitymushrooms.com/. The product is available at Helderberg Brewery on Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. and at Delmar Bistro on Tuesday. Avery’s interesting offerings include tea with mushrooms and facial cream with mushrooms. He is the proud father of Kaya and Fox.

Brian and Kathy’s second son is Nathan. He enlisted in the Navy following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists’ attacks and is a lieutenant commander. While deployed in Africa, he got permission to fly an American flag over the embassy in Somalia. He dedicated the flag to BKW in honor of the elementary children who had written cards and supported the military. Nathan has a son, William, who is less than a month old.

Lastly, their daughter, Molly Cocer, resides in Cortland and works at Nets Transformers, the Cocer family business as well as raising her first child.  

Kathy Donahue Stempel believes that raising children with a strong sense of community starts at home and will be reflected in them as they reach adulthood. Congratulations, Brian and Kathy, on a job well done!

The late Marcia Ricketts Pangburn is another of BKW’s cherished givers. She was the daughter of Ray and Lora Ricketts.

After graduation, Marcia went on to complete a college degree. She trained at the Veterans Affairs and St. Peter’s hospitals.

In 1990, she began a 28-year career at the VA where she worked as an x-ray technician. She was trained to work with ultrasound and CAT (computed tomography) scans.

Marcia had many patients who requested her as she built a rapport with them and they trusted her. She is dearly missed by all of them.

She is survived by three children all of whom are BKW graduates. Her son, Brandon Clark (Class of 1996), completed an electrical union apprenticeship program in 2006 and is employed as an electrician at the VA Hospital. Her son, Miles Pangburn, is a high school teacher and her daughter, Kyra, is a certified cosmetologist.

Marcia is loved and missed by all who knew her.

Helen M. Lounsbury Galicki

Berne

Editor’s note: Helen M. Lounsbury Galicki graduated with the Class of 1956 and is a former teacher and former school board member for Berne-Knox-Westerlo.