Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning at Florham 
(FILL-Florham)

please report errors to bpeabody@fdu.edu;

schedule subject to change

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MONDAY CLASSES

*M01. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Nonfiction Book Discussion Group.” Brigid Coakley. Jan. 27, March 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12 (10 sessions): 10:00a-11:15a. Email: brigidhcoakley@gmail.com

NOTES: limited to 18

 

*M02. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Unlock the Power of your Heart’s Intelligence to navigate challenging times.” Cathryn Iorio, RN, MS, CHC. Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3 (5 sessions): 10:00a-11:15a. Email:

nursecathy101@aol.com

NOTES: limited to 15;

 

*M03. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “A History of Protest in the 60s and early 70s, Explained Through Music.” Dave Ogens. Mar 3, 17, 24, 31, Apr 7 (5 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p. Email: Bandit29@aol.com

NOTES: Limited to 35 students

 

*M04. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Decorate a Keepsake Box with Collage.” Jean Leigh. April 14, 21, 28, May 5 (4 sessions): 11:30a-1:00p. Email: cookinjean@gmail.com

 

*M05. IN PERSON. ZEN 135.  “FILL Film Discussion Group.” Dave Ogens & Dawn Bonthron-Ogens. Jan 27, Feb 3, 10, 17, 24, Mar 3, 17, 24, 31, Apr 7, 21, 28 (12 sessions): 1:30p-3:45p. Email: Bandit29@aol.com NOTES: limited to 45 students.

 

*M06. IN PERSON. ZEN 135.  “Grief: Continued Teachings about Preparations for End-of-Life.” Katharina Hellner-Apelt. Jan. 27, Feb. 3, 10, 24, March 3 (5 sessions): 4:00p-5:15p. Email: katmagnolia@gmail.com

NOTES: Class limited to 20 students;

 

TUESDAY CLASSES

*Tu01. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Past, Present, & Future: Threads of  History & Their Influence on Current Affairs.” Ken Spingarn. March 18, 25, April 1, 8 (4 sessions): 10:00am-11:15am. Email: kenspin@gmail.com

 

*Tu02. IN PERSON. TBA. “George Washington in New Jersey.” Paul Soltis. Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, Feb 11, Feb 18 (5 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p. Email: Paul.Soltis@dep.nj.gov

 

*Tu03. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Paper Play aka Collage.” Elaine Hoffman. Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 (4 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p. Email: emkhoffman@gmail.com NOTES: limited to 10 students; supply list sent upon registration

 

*Tu04. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “250 Years of Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility.” Patricia Ard, Ph.D. March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8 (4 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p. Email: ardedu@msn.com

 

*Tu05. IN PERSON. FDU CAFETERIA (Student Center, second floor). “Let’s Talk about Death (Over Lunch).” Katharina Hellner-Apelt. Feb. 4 (1 session): 1:00p-2:30p. Email: katmagnolia@gmail.com

NOTES:  limited to 10 students; open to FILL students and faculty

 

*Tu06. ZOOM. “Ekphrastic Poetry.” Deborah Gerrish, EDD, MFA. Feb. 18, 25, March 4, 18, 25 (5 sessions): 1:00p-2:15p. Email: shakabeee@aol.com

 

*Tu07. HYBRID (meets in person in ZEN 135 and online via Zoom). “Topics in Cosmology.” John C. Fusi. Feb. 4, 18, March 11, 25 (4 sessions): 2:30p-3:45p. Email:  jcf@jcfra.com

NOTES: Instructor will provide Zoom link for online students via email.

 

*Tu08. ZOOM. “Fact and Fiction in 2025: A Q&A with the Director Emeritus of FactCheck.org.” Eugene Kiely and Bruce Peabody. April 1 (1 sessions): 4:00p-5:15p. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

 

*Tu09. ZOOM. “Threats to American Constitutionalism: A Conversation with Professors Adams and Finn.” Bobbi Adams, John Finn, and Bruce Peabody. April 22 (1 session): 4:00p-5:15p. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

 

*Tu10. IN PERSON. FDU CAFETERIA (Student Center, second floor). “Let’s Talk about Death (Over Dinner).” Katharina Hellner-Apelt. March 4 (1 session): 5:30p-7:00p. Email: katmagnolia@gmail.com

NOTES:  limited to 10 students; open to FILL students and faculty

 

WEDNESDAY CLASSES

*W01. IN PERSON. TBA. (Mansion, second floor). “Fiction Book Discussion.” Rick Klass. March 5, 19, April 2, 16, 30 (5 sessions): 10a-11:15a. Email: rickklass1@gmail.com

 

*W02. IN PERSON. ZEN 135.  “Travels in the Classroom- featuring highlights of NYC.” Charlie Pomel. March 5, 12, 19, 26 (4 sessions): 10:00a-11:15a. Email: dcmp@comcast.net

NOTES: limited to 30 students

 

*W03. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Out and About.” Neil Ullman. Feb 12, 19, 26 (3 sessions): 11:30-12:45. Email: neil.ullman@gmail.com

 

*W04. IN PERSON. TBA. “Singing Bowl Meditation.” Vern Miller & Jean Leigh. Feb. 5, March 5, 12 Apr 23, 30 (5 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p.

Email: vsomaph44@gmail.com,  cookinjean@gmail.com

 

*W05. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. Mark Weisstuch, Ph.D. “Othello: A Fearful Symmetry,” Exploration of Shakespeare Series. March 19, 26, April 2, 9 (4 sessions): 11:30-12:45. Email: mweisstuch@gmail.com

 

*W06. IN PERSON. TBA. “Birds of New Jersey.” John Gribbin. April 16, 23 (2 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p.  Email: gribbinbreslin155@gmail.com

NOTES: limited to 20 students.

 

*W07. IN PERSON. TBA. Jeffrey Eger. “Literature to Film, Part 2: Short Stories Adapted to Film.” Jan. 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 19, 26 (8 sessions): 1:00p-4p. Email: jegercatalogues@aol.com

 

*W08. IN PERSON. TBA. “Columbo in the Classroom.” Larry Stanley. Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, and March 5. (5 sessions): 1:00 p-3:00p. Email: perryscafe@gmail.com

 

*W09. IN PERSON. Rutherford Room (Recreation Center, Second floor). Hon. Kenneth MacKenzie. “The Life and Presidency of Woodrow Wilson.” March 26 (1 session): 1pm-2:15p. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

 

*W10. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Broadway Musicals.” Eleanor Flanigan, Ed.D. April 2, 9, 16 (3 sessions): 1:00p-4:00p. Email: flanigane@mail.montclair.edu

 

*W11. IN PERSON. HARTMAN LOUNGE (Mansion, first floor). Hon. Kenneth MacKenzie. “Aaron Burr: The Rest of the Story.” April 30 (1 session): 1pm-2:15p. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

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*W13. ZOOM. “Civic Activism 101: Lessons from a career lobbyist.” John Isaacs, Senior Fellow, Council for a Livable World and Bruce Peabody. April 2 (1 session): 4:30p-5:30p. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

 

*W14. ZOOM. “Deep Dive into Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.” Ben Rifkin, Ph.D. Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 1,* April 9, April 15,* April 23, 30 (14 sessions): 8pm-9:15pm. Email: b.rifkin@fdu.edu

NOTES: dates marked with *asterisks are on Tuesdays, not Wednesdays

 

THURSDAY CLASSES

*Th01. ZOOM. “A Brief History of the 20th Century, Part 14.” Arnold Goldstein, Ph.D. Feb. 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20 (6 sessions): 10:00a-11:15a. Email: arnoldmgoldstein@aol.com

NOTES: No limit to number of students

 

Th02. ZOOM. “Tips and Tricks for Mastering Your Apple Devices.” Debra Goldfaden. Feb. 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20 (6 sessions): 11:30a-12:45p. Email: debragoldfaden@me.com

NOTES: No limit to the number of students

 

*Th03. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Democracy and Voting.” Elizabeth Uptegrove. April 17, 24, May 1, May 8 (4 sessions): 11:30am-12:45am. Email: ebuptegrove@yahoo.com

 

*Th04. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Taking it to SCOTUS: Academic Freedom on Trial.” Harry Keyishian, Ph.D. Feb. 13 (1 session): 1:00pm-2:15pm. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu NOTES: Includes a 15 minute video

 

Th05. IN PERSON. HARTMAN LOUNGE (Mansion, first floor).  “Tour and Tea with Prof. Darden.” Gary Darden. March 6 (1 session): 1:00p-3:30p. Email: darden@fdu.edu

NOTES: class limited to 20 students; course fee of $20 for afternoon tea following tour of the Mansion; April 24 1p-3:30p is backup date (in case March 6 date is cancelled on account of weather)

 

*Th06. IN PERSON. TBA.  “Advanced Watercolor Projects.” Ann Shoshkes. March 20, 27, April 3, 10 (4 sessions): 1:00 pm-4p. Email: annshoshkes@gmail.com

NOTES: A materials list will be sent out once registration is complete; limited to 12 students

 

*Th07. IN PERSON. TBA. “War Stories Off the Battlefield: Historical Drama and Satire in Film.” Joyce Kaffel. March 27, April 3, 10, 17 (4 sessions): 1:00p-4:00p. Email: blueparakeet943@aol.com

NOTES: limited to 15 students

 

*Th08. ZOOM. Doug Stowell, Market Resource Associates. Doug Stowell “Ranking the U.S. 2025 Top 10 Lists.” May 1 (1 session): 1:30-3:30. Email: dwstowell10@gmail.com

 

*Th09. IN PERSON. TBA. “The Revival of Stoicism.” John Schiemann. Feb.  13, 20, 27 (3 sessions): 2:30p-3:45p. Email: jws@fdu.edu

 

*Th10. IN PERSON. TBA. “Watercolor for Absolute Beginners.” Ann Shoshkes. Feb.  13, 20, 27 (3 sessions): 2:30p-4p. Email: annshoshkes@gmail.com

NOTES: A materials list will be sent out once registration is complete; limited to 12 students

 

*Th11. IN PERSON. ORANGERIE (Monninger Center). “Special Wrongness of Torture.” John Schiemann. Apr.  17 (1 session): 2:30p-3:45p. Email: jws@fdu.edu

NOTES: This is a philosophical discussion only; there will be no pictures or graphic descriptions.

 

*Th12. IN PERSON. ZEN 135. “Game Time.” John Gilris. April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1 (5 sessions): 3:00p-4:30p. Email: jmgilris@yahoo.com

NOTES: class limited to 10 students

 

*Th13. IN PERSON. TBA (meets off campus). “Beer and Bull.” John Schiemann, Robert Houle, and Bruce Peabody. Feb. 27, March 20, April 17 (3 sessions): 4:30-5:30. Email: bpeabody@fdu.edu

NOTES: Class limited to 20 students

 

FRIDAY CLASSES

*F01.  IN PERSON. ZEN 135.  “The First 100 Days of the Trump Administration.” Ken and Marjorie Spencer. Jan. 31, Feb 14, 28, March 28, Apr 11, 25, May 9 (7 sessions): 10:00 am - 11:15 am. Email: spencerken1946@gmail.com

 

*F02.  IN PERSON. TBA (meets off campus). “Exploring NJ’s Diners and Others.” Deborah Kander and Allan Berlinsky. Jan. 24, February 7, 21, March 7, 21, April 4 (6 sessions): 11:30a-1:30p. Email: deborahkb@gmail.com

NOTES: limited to 16 students.

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*F03.  IN PERSON. FDU CAFETERIA (Student Center, Second Floor). “FILL Family Fridays.” Ken and Marjorie Spencer. Jan 31, Feb 14, 28, March 28, Apr 11, 25, May 9 (7 sessions): 11:30a-1:30p. Email: spencerken1946@gmail.com

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*F04. ZOOM. 4:00p-5:30p. “Nutrition and Aging Well.” Violet Peabody. Feb. 14, 28 (2 sessions).​

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