Frank Sinsheimer ’68
Share your experiences and thoughts to help MCC paint a fuller picture of alumni success.
I graduated from Edison High School in 1965. Shortly before, my father told my twin brother and I that he could not afford to send us both to college so we would have to work a year first. I am the first generation to go to college. I am a second generation American on my mother’s side and third on my father’s side. Neither of my parents graduated from high school so none of us knew the admission process for college. At the end of the year I was wondering what my options were. I dated a girl whose mother was the secretary to the Dean of Admissions of a new college opening in September. She told me of Middlesex County College. I did nothing but she sent me an application in the mail. There was no internet or even desk computers then. She changed my life beyond words and I don’t even know her name. I started college in September. I was introduced to new ideas and concepts. I was liberal arts major with a business minor. My world exploded in leaps and bounds. I wish I could say I was a stellar student but I was mediocre at best.
In September of my second year, the athletic program started. I was always a second string athlete but excelled in Soccer and Tennis. Some afternoons we would play tennis doubles with Dr. Chambers, the college president. We thought we were special. I was one of four students that year who lettered in two sports.
At graduation there were about 150 graduates in the first class. It was very exciting because we all knew each other. In June 2018 it will be 50 years.
What have you been up to since graduation?
Upon graduation I moved to California because college was less expensive than New Jersey. In order to support myself, I worked in a hospital and became a Respiratory Therapy trainee. I enrolled in California State University Northridge, as an accounting major. I soon changed majors and went to the UCLA School of Respiratory Therapy. In the summer of 1974, I passed my Respiratory Therapist registry boards, graduated from CSUN with a BS in Health Science, had my first daughter and was hired by LA Valley College as a Respiratory Therapy instructor.
I subsequently earned an MPH in Health Education from CSUN and an Ed.D. from Pepperdine University. Upon my retirement I had been a full professor for 32 years and an Academic Dean for two years.
What is one of your greatest achievements since graduating from MCC?
Other than my academic achievements, I have been married for 45 years, I have two daughters. My oldest is an educational technology specialist and my younger daughter is a doctor. I have four grandchildren.
My Respiratory Therapist Program was one of the best in the country. In 1995 it was awarded the “Outstanding Occupational Program” out of all of the occupational programs in all of the 105 California Community Colleges. I wrote a textbook that was a lab manual for Respiratory Therapy education. I have spoken at many state and national conferences. I was on the National RT Program accreditation team and visited about 25 colleges in the U.S.
What is your fondest memory of MCC?
There are many fond memories. One is scoring in a soccer game and winning a tennis match. There were many fun hours in our make-shift student union.
What was your favorite place on campus, why?
The student union was a place to meet friends and kill time between classes.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
John Sacchi – He was my Tennis coach
If you could offer a current MCC student advice, what would it be?
You can do whatever you set your mind to do. I did.
Final thought…
Middlesex County College and its professors changed my life. I learned more than facts, I learned an appreciation for learning.