Committee Chair

Mr. Benz grew up in Fairview Township and received his elementary and secondary education through the Crestwood School District, graduating in 1986. Upon graduation from Crestwood, he attended Dickinson College where he studied Computer Science and Mathematics and was a member of the Varsity Basketball team. Mr. Benz graduated from Dickinson with academic honors in 1990.  Mr. Benz went on to earn a Master’s Degree from the University of Scranton in Software Engineering and was named the University’s Outstanding graduate in 1993. He also went on to earn a Master’s in Business Intelligence from Villanova University.

Professionally, Mr. Benz worked for Verizon Wireless for 28 years in various Engineering, Finance and Executive capacities.  He also led Global Analytics and Fraud Prevention teams for a technology-based company (Endurance, Inc) in Waltham, MA for three (3) years before retiring from Corporate America in 2021.

Mr. Benz has remained an advocate of the District and its students since graduating.  He has served as the Treasurer of the Crestwood Education Foundation, volunteers time announcing Crestwood sporting events and is a full-time volunteer in the District’s Business Office.  He is also an active supporter of the various sports booster clubs at the school. Among his many personal hobbies is Mountain Top History, especially as it relates to school systems.

Mr. Benz has served as the Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee Chair since its inception in 2020.

He and his wife currently reside in the White Haven Area.

Committee Vice Chairman

Mr. Boone served as a high school mathematics teacher at Crestwood High School from 1980 through 2006. While at Crestwood he coached in the girls basketball program (22 seasons), track and field program (6 seasons), boys basketball program (1 season), and football program (1 season). He also served as mathematics department chairperson for 12 years.

Upon his graduation from Bloomsburg State College Mr. Boone served 4 years in the United States Navy. He then taught math and coached track and field, cross country, and boys junior high basketball for 4 years at Mountain View High School in Kingsley, PA before moving on to the Crestwood School District.  Upon his retirement from Crestwood, Mr. Boone worked part-time at PNC bank and taught 5 years as an adjunct math instructor at Wilkes University.

Presently Mr. Boone serves as the vice president of the Crestwood School board, vice president of the Crestwood Education Foundation, and statistician of the Crestwood football team.

Mr. Boone has been a member of the Distinguished Alumni Award Committee since its inception in 2020.

Barry and his wife Carolyn (a teacher for 37 years in the Crestwood School District) have been residents of Mountain Top since 1985. Their five children are all graduates of Crestwood High School.

Tracy is a lifelong resident of Dorrance, Pennsylvania, where she attended Rice Elementary and is a 1991 graduate of Crestwood High School.  She was a Comet cheerleader from Junior High until her graduation.  She was captain of the squad her senior year.

After High School, she entered the corporate world, working for Bell Telephone/Verizon for over 25 years. Tracy held the elected seats of her local CWA union rep, and then local union secretary. Tracy retired from corporate America and now owns her own business in Wright Township where she pursues her passion of helping others better themselves.

In her free time, she enjoys being a part of the American Legion Auxiliary and volunteering for numerous community activities.  She resides in her family homestead with her husband Dan.

Louise Jarick Fino was born and raised in Dennison Township. She attended Middleburg Elementary,White Haven Elementary and Crestwood High School, graduating in 1972. 

She continued her education at the Geisinger Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology in Danville and was then employed by Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

She later went on to earn an Associate Degree in Business Management from Luzerne
County Community College and co-owns, with her brothers and sisters, G & A Hardware Inc. in White Haven. 

Louise married Gregory Fino in 1979 and they raised three children, all graduating from Crestwood. She has been active in the school system throughout their education by volunteering in PTA and numerous booster clubs. 

Louise served on Crestwood Board of Education for eighteen years, including time as president of the board. Louise is currently active in her church and community. 

Louise joined the Distinguished Alumni Selection Committee in 2022.

Mary Catherine Leo is a life-long resident of Mountaintop. She was a 1984 graduate of Bishop Hoban High School. She attended Misericordia University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree. Mary was an organist at St. Jude’s Church for 33 years. During that time, she was also the Music Director and organist for the Mountaintop Presbyterian Church for 23 years. In 1994 Mary began her first music teaching job at Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg, PA. She taught there for seven years. In 2002 she returned to Mountaintop to continue her teaching career with the Crestwood School District. She taught 1^st through 7^th grade at Fairview for two years and then moved to the High School, where she currently teaches 7^th-12^th grade music courses. She is also the Jr. and Sr. High Choral Director and the Director and Music director of the High School Musicals. She served many years as the Senior Class Advisor and has been involved with many other activities throughout her career at Crestwood.

While at Crestwood, Mary continued her education receiving 30 Music Education master’s credits from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Classroom Technology from Wilkes University.

Mary resides in Wright Township with her husband Bob Leo. She has one daughter, Angela McQueen, who resides in Philadelphia and has two Step-daughters, Melanie Leo and Emily Leo-Hagenbach, who were both graduates of Crestwood High School.

Casey was born and raised in Dorrance, Pennsylvania attended Rice Elementary, the Crestwood Middle School and High School. Casey was a four year letterman in Golf, Softball and Basketball.  She attended Pennsylvania State University, main campus for four years and studied abroad at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. She graduated with a degree in Political Science and minors in Mass Media Communications and History. After graduating, Casey went down to Orlando, Florida attending Barry University School of Law. 

Professionally, Casey passed both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar exams and is licensed to practice in both states.  She has worked in the areas of Family Law, Contrating and Elder Law.  Currently Ms. Sauerwine works as an Attorney Advisor for the Social Security  Administration.

Casey has been involved in the community since moving back from law school.  She is the Majority Inspector of Elections in Dorrance and is currently a member of the Youth Aide Panel for the Crestwood area. Casey currently resides in Mountaintop with her husband and dog, Wrigley.

Mr. Harry Zearfoss is a lifetime resident of Mountain Top.  He attended Crestwood High School, graduating in 1976.  Upon graduation, he attended Penn State University, graduating with a degree in Marketing.  He went on to earn a Master’s Degree from the University of Scranton in School Counseling.

Professionally, upon graduating, he worked in the family business as manager of the Shalimar Motel and Lounge.  He was also employed as a Youth Development Counselor at the Youth Forestry Camp in Hickory Run State Park.  In 1993, he started his career in the Crestwood School District as a school counselor, retiring after the 2017/2018 school year.

While working at the district, he was involved in many activities.  During that tenure he coached baseball, football, softball and basketball.  He is still active as a PIAA softball umpire and assists with the boys’ varsity basketball program.  His hobbies include hunting and fishing, especially on the Susquehanna River.

He and his wife currently reside in Fairview Township.