Hall of Fame Class of 2024
An Albany High School Class of 1953 graduate, Dr. Alter is a noted Bible scholar and professor emeritus of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California Berkeley.
Dr. Alter’s studies of the Bible are unique for their focus on literary analysis of the text. Rather than viewing the Bible solely as something to be either accepted or rejected entirely through a religious lens, he examines the text for its narrative structure and technique.
Perhaps the most famous of Dr. Alter’s many published works is The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary. Completed in 2018 after years of careful and intentional translation, this version strives to convey the feel of the original Hebrew texts to an English-speaking audience, and was met with critical acclaim.
When reflecting on his work in a 2019 UC Berkeley interview, Dr. Alter explains “What I’ve tried to do is to reproduce the beautifully expressive syntax of the Hebrew, which the modern translators don’t try to do at all.”
“All great literary prose is rhythmic. And if you translate as arrhythmic, you are destroying the effect of the original. So that’s the kind of thing that I’ve worked on. And I think that is quite different from the English versions that have been produced by all these committees.”
An Albany High School Class of 2005 graduate, Dr. Kai Dallas is currently chief of urology at Palmdale Regional Medical Center in California.
During his time in the City School District of Albany, Dr. Dallas won many awards, including a scholarship that helped meet the cost of attending Cornell University. At Albany High, he participated in varsity sports every semester and was named captain of the cross-country team, and even started a chess club during his elementary days at School 16 (now Pine Hills Elementary School).
Dr. Dallas recalls fondly his excellent teachers and mentors at School 16, the former Philip Livingston Middle School and Albany High, all of whom were instrumental in instilling a love of learning.
After his time at Albany High and Cornell, Dr. Dallas studied medicine at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, where he was recognized for distinction in research. He completed a residency in urology at Stanford University and subspecialty training in genitourinary reconstruction and female pelvic medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Dallas treats bladder disorders, stricture disease, fistula, pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. He also studies these conditions, focusing on disparities in outcomes between populations and the use of artificial intelligence to improve care.
He takes pride in treating his patients as a whole, including all aspects of physical and mental wellness, truly listening to his patients while collaborating with other medical specialists to maximize patients’ quality of life.
Dr. Robert Menchel’s story is one of triumph, success and inspiration, and his time at Albany High School in the early 1950s plays a particularly important role in this story, although not in the way many would expect.
Dr. Menchel was a gifted young student and academically well ahead of his peers. However, after becoming deaf at the age of 7, he found that the education system of the 1950s was largely ill-equipped to help him flourish.
During his high school years, Dr. Menchel found most staff dismissive of his academic talents, denying him access to advanced coursework and refusing to believe that a deaf student could achieve the successes he knew himself to be capable of.
Despite the challenges he faced during his time at Albany High, Dr. Menchel graduated in 1953 and found opportunity in the then-newly established community college system at Hudson Valley. From there, he continued to prove to society that his intellectual capacity was in no way limited by his deafness, going on to Clarkson University to earn a bachelor's degree in solid-state physics.
He then embarked on a successful career as a research scientist, working first with the U.S. Air Force on the first-ever weather computer, then the Apollo Program and ultimately at Xerox in Rochester. He would also go on to join the faculty at RIT, as well as earning a doctorate from Harvard University in 1995.
Along with his contributions to the scientific community, Dr. Menchel has been a role model and inspiration for all students – especially those with disabilities. During his time at Xerox, he partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, who recruited him to travel the country, encouraging and inspiring students with disabilities to enter the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Dr. Menchel inspired youth and adults alike across the nation throughout his career, demonstrating first-hand that societal perceptions of disability should always be challenged, and should never stand in the way of a one’s potential.
Reflecting on his time at Albany High, Dr. Menchel offers these words of wisdom: “Look far beyond a student’s disability, because you never know what they will achieve, and it may be so much more than we can imagine.”
Richard Robelotto graduated from Albany High School in 1961, and would later return to his alma mater as a teacher and coach in a career spanning nearly 40 years.
After graduating Albany High, Robelotto earned his bachelor's degree in history and master's in social studies and education from the University at Albany. He began his teaching career at William S. Hackett Middle School in 1966, where he remained until 1974, when he moved to the newly opened Albany High School campus on Washington Avenue.
He remained there until his retirement in 2000, teaching social studies to thousands of students over the years.
Reflecting on his time in the classroom, Robelotto recalls: “I learned that more than any other trait, the ability to communicate your ideas to students in a language they understood was the most effective way to teach.”
Outside of the classroom, Robelotto coached the Albany High bowling team for 25 years, and led the team to two championships during that time. He also coached Albany High’s golf team for 10 years and was an active member of the teachers' union.
An Albany native and a respected clergy member in the city for more than three decades, Pastor David Traynham long has been among the most active, recognizable and impactful members of our community through his tireless volunteer and advocacy service.
Pastor Traynham is a 1972 graduate of the former Philip Schuyler High School in the city's South End. He went on to attend the National Outreach Bible Institute, and from 1990-2020 led New Horizons Christian Church in the city's South End in partnership with his wife, Pastor Brenda Pope Traynham.
In that capacity, Pastor Traynham worked tirelessly to connect parishioners with opportunities to continue or advance their education, and with workforce development and employment services.
In 2015, he founded ALERT Partnership Inc. – or Albany Law Enforcement Resolution Team – with a goal of making communities in Albany and the Capital Region safer through better relationships and deeper understanding between members of the community and law enforcement agencies. ALERT remains an active presence in and for our community, leading a variety of annual events for residents of all ages.
That includes ALERT's Unite the City family event, the Community Leader, Police and Law Enforcement Summit and, new in June 2024, the All Star Sports and Skills Challenge. That event, at MVP Arena in downtown Albany, drew about 2,000 young people for a day of fun activities and relationship-building with local law enforcement officials and community partners.
Pastor Traynham also serves on the Albany Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. His list of past service and recognition through his dedication and commitment to our community is long, including:
- Past president of the NAACP Albany chapter
- Recipient of the Director's Community Leadership Award from the FBI
- Albany County Citizen of the Month (February 2018)
- Albany Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Policy Making Team
- Albany African-American Clergy United for Empowerment
- Albany County Ethics Commission
- Albany County Land Bank Board of Directors
- Capital South Campus Center Advisory Board
- Hudson Valley Community College Workforce Development Committee
- Spiritual Care advisor to Northern Rivers Family Services
Nairobi Vives is a fixture of the Albany community and the City School District of Albany. Growing up in the South End, she attended Albany School of Humanities (ASH) and William S. Hackett Middle School before graduating from Albany High School in 2002.
She recounts her time in our schools fondly, citing her Falcon Pride as a member of the cheerleading team, and celebrating the quality education and wealth of opportunities that helped build a foundation for her success.
Vives went on to earn dual degrees in political science and economics from the University at Albany, and graduated with honors from Albany Law School in 2012.
She currently serves as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Counsel’s Office of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.
In addition to her commitment to equity in the workplace, Vives is a staunch advocate of social justice within our city, actively participating in several community-building efforts and programs.
Among these is her work as chair of the Albany Community Police Review Board, which seeks to improve police accountability and credibility. Vives was instrumental in the passage of Proposal 7 in 2021, which allowed the review board to conduct its own investigations and issue recommendations to address allegations of misconduct.
A champion of community advocacy and social justice, Vives continues to play an active role in helping transform the future of our communities and our city at large.
