Buffalo State Honors Alumni at Commencement

Buffalo State will honor three of its most distinguished and dedicated alumni during its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 13, in the Sports Arena.

Distinguished Alumnus Awards will be granted to Eduard Feibischoff, ’79, an Emmy Award-winning television sports producer and Ruthann E. Grey, ’66, ’71, a retired national and global business executive. Gregory T. Clabeaux, ’03, a board-certified vascular and general surgeon, will receive the Young Alumnus Achievement Award.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARDS

Eduard Feibischoff, Class of 1979

Eduard Feibischoff graduated from Buffalo State with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting. During his student days, he made the Dean’s List and worked at the gymnasium for professor emeritus Stephen Schwartz. He played intramural football and hockey, and was the manager for the varsity basketball team under head coach Dave Rooney. He also competed in the Budweiser Super Sports Competition held at Buffalo State.

Feibischoff will receive Buffalo State’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and deliver the commencement address during the 1:00 p.m. baccalaureate ceremony.

Since graduating, Feibischoff has had a successful career as a television sports producer at NBC, ABC, and ESPN. He has earned seven Emmy Awards for sports television production: four for the NBA Finals and three for the Olympics.

Feibischoff overcame significant obstacles to achieve his goals. Born with Perthes disease, a rare childhood condition that affects the hip, he was unable to walk until he was 8 years old. At the age of 28, he had a hip replacement, which has enabled him to lead a more active lifestyle.

Feibischoff is a valued member of the Buffalo State alumni community who gives back by speaking to students about his life and career. He was last on campus in October 2016, visiting four classes and meeting with faculty and students.

Ruthann Grey, Class of 1966 and 1971

Ruthann Grey, Ph.D., received a bachelor of science degree in history education and a master’s degree in education from Buffalo State College. She earned her Ph.D. in higher education administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1981 and completed the Harvard University School of Business Administration’s Program for Management Development in 1987.

Grey will receive Buffalo State’s Distinguished Alumnus Award during the 9:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony.

Grey began her career as a history teacher at Bennett High School and later worked at Erie Community College and the University at Buffalo. She enjoyed a long and distinguished career in business working for national and global organizations in executive roles. She was the director of public affairs at Burroughs Corporation, executive assistant to the chairman of the board at Equitable Life Assurance Society, and marketing manager for the New York Times. In 1990, she was named division manager of corporate relations and internal communications at the Public Service Company of Colorado before returning to the East Coast to assume the position of corporate vice president for communications at Hoechst Celanese, a German chemical and pharmaceutical company, and later vice president for global communications and public affairs at Aventis Pharmaceuticals. In 2004, Dr. Grey founded the Caunos Group, a global strategic communications consulting firm whose clients included Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough Corporation, Novartis, and Merck & Co.

Dr. Grey served on multiple boards of directors, including the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America, the Public Education and Business Coalition, the Raritan Valley Community College Foundation, the New York City Police Foundation, and the Lake Superior College Board of Trustees. She was appointed by the governor of Colorado to the Commission on Children and Families and the Colorado Child Health Plan. She is listed in the World Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who of American Women. Since retiring, she has lived in rural western New Jersey, where she built a five-acre perennial garden, and in New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, volunteers weekly in Central Park, and enjoys meditation, traveling, and spending time with her six grandchildren.

YOUNG ALUMNUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Gregory T. Clabeaux, Class of 2003

Gregory Clabeaux, D.O., is a vascular surgeon affiliated with the Buffalo Medical Group PC and Vascular & Endovascular Center of Western New York. A Buffalo native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in health and wellness from Buffalo State College. While a student, he was an offensive lineman for the Bengals football team. The team compiled a 24-18 record during his four-year playing career, including two appearances in the NCAA playoffs and an Eastern College Athletic Conference Bowl Championship.

He holds a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he received the Western New York Outstanding Osteopathic Medical Student Award.

He was the first graduating fellow from the Sisters of Charity Hospital Vascular Surgery Fellowship, and he completed his surgical residency with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Horizon Campus, where he served as chief resident in his final year. Dr. Clabeaux also served as chief intern in a University at Buffalo and Sisters Hospital rotating internship. He is double board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery.

He is a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery, the Eastern Vascular Society, the Western New York Society of Vascular Surgery, and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery as well as the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. His special interests in vascular surgery include disease of the carotid arteries and aneurysmal disease of the aorta, as well as the remainder of the arterial system, peripheral arterial disease involving the lower extremities, dialysis access, and venous insufficiency (varicose veins).

His practice covers the spectrum from conservative, nonoperative management to minimally invasive endovascular procedures to complex open repair. Dr. Clabeaux and his wife, Bernadette, a professor at Medaille College, live in Orchard Park.