|
Alumni Spotlight
Dennis Thompson '77
What you are doing now: I am the Senior Trainer for Defense System product lines at Northrop Grumman Mission System in San Diego, California.
Major(s): Mathematics (with certificate to teach secondary education)
Favorite class at Brockport: Persuasion and Propaganda (Speech Communication, 1974, Dr. Floyd Anderson, Associate Professor)
Favorite professor(s) at Brockport: Stephen Dellaquilla and Joseph Harkin (both Mathematicians and sadly, both recently deceased)
Most memorable Brockport moment: On October 29, 1973, the 9th floor of Bramley Hall sponsored a bus trip to the Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs game at Rich Stadium. At the time, the Bills were the last team in the NFL to be featured on Monday Night Football. In this particular game, O.J. Simpson reached 1,000 yards rushing – in only the 7th game – a feat that was unprecedented, and the Bills went on to win 29 - 14. But the most notable incident during that game was when the RA on our floor smuggled a World War II smoke bomb into the game which he let off in the section right in front of where we were seated during the 3rd quarter. The game was stopped for 20 minutes for fear that a fire had broken out in the upper deck. We then held out our SUNY Brockport sign (4 bed sheets sewn together) in front of the cameras which were desperately trying to find the source of the chaos. I had a relative on the west coast recognize us in disbelief! We then took solace in knowing we were able to give Brockport some national exposure it had never received before! If you can believe it, this is one of the only events of that night that is printable!
Most interesting life experience: Meeting and marrying my wife of 23 years, 2 months, 5 days, Carol.
Most famous person you have met: George Herbert Walker Bush
Last book read: Visions of the Anointed, Thomas Sowell
CD most likely to find in your stereo: None. I have an IPOD but I have a special play list for late 60’s and early 70’s Soul.
Favorite Movie: Graham Green’s, The Third Man (1950), which has my favorite actors (Orson Wells and Joseph Cotton) in my favorite city (Vienna, Austria). Wells’ grand entrance in the movie (a third of the way in) is an all-time classic and alone worth the price of admission.
Favorite vacation spot: Kassiopi, Corfu, Greece
What you want to be doing next year: I enjoy my job, it affords me the opportunity to travel and meet new friends all over the world. I hope to continue in this capacity for another 10 years, then retire.
What you want to be doing in 20 years: Sitting on a rocky beach in Corfu Greece, writing a book on travel.
Message to the students of today: Grades really do matter! But life is a journey as well as a destination and there needs to be a balance – and that balance needs to be managed. My Brockport years (1973-1977) seemed like an eternity at the time, but in reality, they went by all too fast. It really was a most special time in my life. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Other Alumni Spotlight Honorees
This page is maintained by the Division of Advancement. Call us at (585) 395-2451 or e-mail us at alumni@brockport.edu
