Winter 2015
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affairs group. Good is based in the
firm’s Harrisburg office, where he
will work to further enhance the
state lobbying efforts of the prac-
tice. He will also represent the
firm’s clients in the legislative and
executive branches of Pennsylvania
government.
Jean Burdick M ’98
dedicated
an exhibit of her work, “Shared
Terrains,” to her father, who passed
away recently. The exhibit was on
view at the Chapin School on
Princeton Pike in September.
Burdick will also display her work
at the University Medical Center
of Princeton in Plainsboro’s Art for
Healing Gallery, from Nov. through
Feb. 27.
included on the Bucknell University
Wrestling Wall of Achievement.
Dawn Hoffman ’95, M ’06
recently
published her first book, “The
Peisistratos Deal.” It is a super-
natural suspense story.
Melissa (Bishop) Zane ’95
was
named vice president and director
of creative services at Godfrey. She
will lead the company’s 33-person
creative services organization.
Camille Miller ’96
brought her
newest show, “Pure Imagination,”
to Florida’s Winter Park Playhouse’s
Spotlight Cabaret Series.
Shawn Good ’97
has joined the
business law firm of Cohen and
Grigsby P.C. as a senior policy
manager with the firm’s public
place at ESPN Wide World of Sports
in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Romeril is
the head coach.
Charles Sacavage M ’94
, a former
valedictorian of Mount Carmel High
School and presenter of historical
interactive programs, addressed the
Mount Carmel High School graduat-
ing class in June. Sacavage presents
various programs in conjunction
with the Central Susquehanna
Intermediate Unit 29 they are
broadcast both locally and to vari-
ous states and Canada. He is the
recipient of the Schuylkill County
Teacher of the Year Award;
Exceptional Performances Award
from Partners in Distance Learning;
the Silver Beaver Award from the
Boy Scouts of America; and is
“Some of the best things that happen to you are the opportu-
nities you don’t get,” said
JOHN GABRIEL ’78
, director of
pro scouting and free agency for the New York Knicks.
In his early 20s, Gabriel was living in Berks County, teaching
art in middle and high school and coaching basketball. What
the former KU basketball star and education major didn’t get
was the position of head basketball coach at the university.
“I went up against the likes of Bobby Valvano,” he said,
referring to the coach — now an ESPN radio host — who set
records at KU and elsewhere. “You move on, change your job
and land where you need to be. I borrowed $300 from coach
Lee Hill, who still lives in Fleetwood, loaded up the truck and
went east to South Jersey.”
In Jersey, Gabriel was able to start a landscaping business,
and on the weekends he worked for his brother Frank at the
Atlantic City Race Track, climbing a pole to monitor races. At
night, he helped splice together commercials for the track.
But his ultimate goal was working for the Philadelphia 76ers
— and he was determined to discover a way in.
“It was 1982,” he recalled. “I would stop by the Somers
Point Diner to use their phone booth to call the Sixers. A
young receptionist named Dorothy would usually answer the
phone, and I would ask to be connected to Pat Williams [then
the Sixers’ general manager] or John Nash [then a personnel
professional with Sixers]. Six months of phone calls and a lot
of change later, I got a job working in the Sixers’ box office.”
Soon after he began working in the box office, one of
Gabriel’s demo tapes from the race track caught the attention
of Williams. Gabriel was told it was raw and crazy, but he
had a hidden talent. He was recruited to write commercials,
became the go-to guy for videos and eventually rose to
Continued
scout and assistant coach. When Williams took over the expan-
sion Orlando Magic in 1987, his first hire was Gabriel, who
moved to Florida to become Williams’ right-hand man.
Accompanying him to Florida was his new wife — Dorothy —
the former 76ers receptionist.
Gabriel’s career wasn’t without its difficulties. During his
tenure with the Magic (1987 – 2003), he fought and won a
battle with prostate cancer, and in 2004, he survived anaphy-
lactic shock brought on by a series of wasp stings. The high
points, such as winning NBA Executive of the Year honors in
1999, were tempered by the low points, which included being
ousted in 2003 after the Magic hit a rough patch. But Gabriel
was resilient, and landed a number of jobs for the Portland
Trail Blazers until 2008, when he obtained a coveted spot with
the Knicks. He had to spend 70 or so nights a year in New York,
but he still had time for his family, including two daughters,
now in college, ages 22 and 18, and a son, now 14.
Then, in 2010, while Gabriel was working in his current
position with the Knicks, another blow struck when he was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The illness doesn’t rule
his life, but he isn’t ignoring it. And he credits his wife for
her inimitable strength.
“She doesn’t complain or slow down even a little bit,” he
said. “She picks up the pieces; she’s on it.”
The couple love spending quality time together in their
home of Winter Park, Fla., and both still work out, which is
therapeutic for persons with Parkinson’s. Currently, Gabriel
serves on the board for the National Park Foundation in Central
Florida and he volunteers elsewhere. His drive remains strong.
“No way I can take my foot off the gas pedal now,” he
laughed.
DOUGLAS JONES-USA TODAY SPORTS
