Summer/Fall 2006 - St. John`s University

Transcription

Summer/Fall 2006
AScholarly
Gesture
In this home,
the opportunities
are endless
Vol. 8, No. 1
9
The Board of Trustees, President of St. John’s University and the Dinner Chairs
cordially invite you to attend the
th
Annual
President’s Dinner
Thursday, October 26, 2006
The Waldorf
Astoria
New York City
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
President
St. John’s University
Dinner Co-Chairs
Lesley H. Collins ’83SVC
William L. Collins ’76C
Chairman and CEO
Brencourt Advisors, LLC
2006 Spirit of Service
Award Honorees
Kathleen M. Foley, M.D. ’65UC
Attending Neurologist
Pain and Palliative Care Service
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Jeffrey R. Holzschuh
Vice Chairman, Institutional Securities Group
Chairman, Power and Utilities Group in Investment Banking
Morgan Stanley and Company
For more information,
please call (718) 990–6776.
Salvatore J. Zizza ’67UC, ’72MBA
President
Zizza and Company, Ltd.
YOU INVITED
T O
B E C O M E
A
M E M B E R
O F
…
St. John’s Loughlin Society is a premier group of donors
who actively embrace the University’s Mission of caring and
concern for others.
Loughlin Society gifts provide increased scholarship
assistance to our students as well as support for academic
programs, upgraded facilities, technology innovations and
faculty research.
Society benefits include networking opportunities
with other business leaders and industry professionals and
special invitations and VIP seating at select University events.
Contact Stacey Philips Varghese at (718) 990-2982 to
become a Loughlin Society donor…and make a real
difference in the lives of real people.
ARE
president’s
message
Vol. 8, No. 1
Summer/Fall 2006
Publisher
Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
President
Editorial Staff
Valerie Peters
Editor
Catherine Camera ’65CBA
Contributing Editor
alma mater
Campaign for St. John’s — Fulfilling
Lisa France
Writer/Associate Editor
Danielle Bushell
Alumnotes
the Dream
The St. John’s Alumni Magazine
is published by the
Division of Institutional
Advancement for alumni, staff,
faculty and friends of St. John’s.
Send address changes to:
Lisa Capone
Division of Institutional Advancement
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439,
by fax to (718) 990-1813,
by e-mail to [email protected]
or return the enclosed form.
Correspondence:
The Alumni Magazine staff welcomes
your thoughts and comments.
Please address letters to:
Editor, Alumni Magazine
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
or e-mail [email protected].
Letters and articles may be edited
for publication.
St. John’s Alumni Magazine
Consistent with the University’s mission as a
Catholic, Vincentian and metropolitan institution
of higher education, the University abides by all
applicable federal, state and local laws which
prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion,
color, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including
sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital
status or disability in admitting students to its
programs or in administering its educational
policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan
programs, athletics and other institutionally
administered programs or activities generally made
available to students at the University. In accordance
with these laws, the University also prohibits
retaliation against anyone who has complained
about discrimination or otherwise exercised rights
guaranteed under these laws. In addition, the
University continually strives to fulfill its educational
goals by maintaining a fair, humane, responsible
and non-discriminatory environment for all students
and employees. All University policies, practices and
procedures are administered in a manner which
preserves its rights and identity as a Catholic and
Vincentian institution of higher education.
contents
features
12
Dick Meyer is an insurance man.
That’s why he knows how important
it is that the most deserving,
no matter their resources,
receive every opportunity to excel.
16
In just one instant, Tom McDermott’s life changed forever
— and we can all rest a little easier for it.
22
departments
4
7
noteworthy
up front
•
•
•
•
•
28
Do you want to make people laugh,
tap in to your creative side
or live your best life?
Find out how from our
very talented graduates.
Middle States review
a Vincentian summer
new biomed degree
it’s all in the writing
acronym reflects past
campus briefs
• a look at student fashion
• reunion recap
• bricks & mortar
38
giving back
40
alumnotes
48
a conversation
Visit our Web site for the latest
updates, news and events at
www.stjohns.edu/alumni
or call (877) SJU-ALUM.
On the cover:
Richard “Dick” Meyer ’55C, ‘73MBA(TCI), ’88HON
Politics and Peace
Soccer Goes Global
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams
Members of the men’s soccer team received a warm welcome when
began a tour of St. Patrick’s Day
they traveled to Vietnam to play in exhibition games, participate in
celebrations in the United States
service learning projects and a mentoring workshop for a group of
with a visit to the Queens campus,
disadvantaged youth. The trip marked the first official visit of any
the only stop at a university or
American soccer team to play in Vietnam and came more than
college during his trip.
Adams spoke to an audience
of students, faculty and
community members about
the developments in his native
Ireland. “Ten years ago, the Irish
conflict might have been
depicted as intractable, but the
Gerry Adams.
truth is it is not intractable.
We have made progress in the
to help those in developing
peace process and there may be
countries as we are all members
lessons available from that for
of the human family.”
other parts of the world, and we
University President
offer them up without prejudice.
Hopefully, the students here
commented on Adams remarks
can learn from that.”
at the end of his address. “He
10 years after the normalization of diplomatic relations with the
United States. While there, the players and coaches visited the
related that peace requires the
Formation Center of the Daughters of Charity in Da Lat Province
of Sinn Fein and Ireland and
presence of justice and justice
where they met with 25 children — some of them deaf and mute
discussed his belief that the spark
requires inclusivity,” said
— who are students in the Center’s school for the poor. Officials
which fueled his organization is
Harrington. “What a great
of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, who designate
indicative of the passion needed
lesson, not just for every city,
gifted scholars to be formally educated throughout the world,
to impart change around the
every nation or every state, but
rated St. John’s their first choice among American universities
world. “Over 1 billion people
for every community no matter
for students to attend.
live on less than $1 a day, and
how small that community is.
every year 11 million children
That clearly applies to us as a
die of curable and preventable
university community.”
He touched on the history
diseases,” he added. “When
Sinn Fein is an Irish political
I think about the Irish peace
and cultural society founded in
process, I think about it in the
1905 to promote political and
global context and there is a lot
economic independence from
that needs to be done. We, who
England, unification of Ireland
live in developed countries, need
and a renewal of Irish culture.
Student-Athletes Excel
in Classroom
An NCAA graduation report confirmed that St. John’s studentathletes are stars both in the classroom and on the field.
Fourteen Red Storm teams achieved scores above the national
average on the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) list which
enhances the federally-mandated graduation rate and more accu-
Latin Influence
rately reflects the mobility among students since it now includes
For the second time, the University made the “Top 100 List of
designed to assess the graduation of scholarship student-athletes
U.S. Colleges and Universities Graduating Hispanics” by The
who earn a baccalaureate degree within six years of their initial
Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine distributed to
educators; higher-education administrators; students; student
service and community-based organizations; and corporations.
student-athlete transfer data in the calculation. The GSR is
enrollment.
The men’s basketball team achieved a GSR score of 86, a ranking which tied for third among all BIG EAST teams and above the
national Division I average of 58; the women’s basketball team
It ranks schools that granted the largest number of degrees to
scored a 94, ranking second in the BIG EAST and above the
Hispanic students based on the data from the National Center
nation’s average of 81; and the women’s fencing and tennis
for Education Statistics.
teams achieved perfect GSR scores of 100.
4
Alumni Magazine
Physicist Shares Theories
by Rajeshwari Kalicharan ’04C and Barry Moskowitz ’06G
Renowned physicist Brian
leading proponents of the
of Relativity, Isaac Newton and
Greene gave an engaging
Superstring Theory, an attempt
the Big Bang Theory and was
presentation titled “Explaining
to explain all of the particles and
able to translate the language
the Elegant Universe” before
fundamental forces of nature
of mathematics and physics
nearly 200 students, faculty and
by modeling them as vibrations
into real-world situations by
alumni on the Queens campus
of tiny supersymmetric strings.
challenging the audience with
as part of a St. John’s College
Superstrings are thought to be
questions such as, “How did
of Liberal Arts and Sciences’
tiny particles one would find
the universe come to be?”
lecture series.
if slicing open electrons or
and “What makes up the stuff
quarks. These “infinitesimally
around us?” To fully understand
professor discussed his unproven
small filaments” vibrate “like
Big Bang and what came before
“Superstring Theory” and its
the strings of a violin or cello.”
it, scientists must reconcile
The Columbia University
relation to Einstein’s “Unified
Brian Greene.
the different physical laws
Theory of the Universe.”
“We’re trying to figure
out the rules of the
universe...When we
have those rules, that’s
where the fun begins.”
governing the big and small,
“Though Einstein undeniably
Einstein, Newton and other
had a dramatic impact on the
giants of physics. This theory
way we think about things,
was the basis for Greene’s New
one goal eluded him — finding
York Times-bestselling book, The
a ‘unified theory’ of the
Elegant Universe: Superstrings,
universe,” Greene said. Today,
Hidden Dimensions, and the
that goal may be closer than
Quest for the Ultimate Theory,
“You have to bear in mind
subject of physics as we know it,
ever thanks to a mysterious
plus a PBS television special
that this is not a ‘theory’ in a
he responded to the contrary.
substance physicists call
titled “The Elegant Universe,”
traditional sense,” Greene said.
“To my mind,” he said, “this is
“strings” — tiny particles of
which Greene narrated.
“These are cutting-edge ideas
a beginning, not an end. We’re
not yet tested by the experi-
trying to figure out the rules
mental community.”
of the universe...When we have
vibrating energy whose worm-
A noted author, Pulitzer-Prize
like wriggling in the fabric of
finalist and winner of the
reality may be the key to
Aventis Prize for Science Books,
questions that stumped
Greene is one of the world’s
he added. Superstring Theory
appears to do just that. Greene
also discussed the theory as it
relates to reality and, when
asked if the proving of the
theory would be the end of the
He held the audience rapt
with discussions on the Theory
those rules, that’s where the
fun begins.”
Grad Program Recognition
The School of Education
rose 12 places ranking
84th in the U.S. News &
World Report 2007
edition of “America’s
Best Graduate Schools”
issue listing the
country’s top 100
graduate education
programs. Dean
Jerrold Ross attributed
the improvement to several factors
Members of the Indian Society gathered to celebrate the blessing and
including the appointment of new faculty with
dedication of a plaque to be posted in Lavelle Hall recognizing all of the
exemplary records of research and publication, and the
fraternity brothers who donated more than $100,000 toward the Indian
creation of partnerships with regional school districts.
Society Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Summer/Fall 2006
5
Honoring a King
During a recent trip to Asia, President
compassion for the poor that is truly
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. conferred
remarkable. Especially when he was young,
an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon
he crisscrossed his nation many times, often
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of
walking long distances on rough terrain to
Thailand. The ceremony took place in
visit his people, listen to their problems and
King Bhumibol’s summer palace where
thereby gaining firsthand knowledge he
the emotional King voiced his sincere
believed was essential in order to help
appreciation to Fr. Harrington for this
improve their standard of living.
recognition.
St. John’s knows well this concern
beloved by his own people and respected
for the poor, for the University itself was
Bhumibol is the world’s longest serving
by the global community for his wisdom
founded to serve their needs, and the
current head of state and the longest
and political skill.
caring concern and compassion that are
At 60 years on the throne, King
serving monarch in Thai history. He is also
one of its most highly esteemed leaders,
King Bhumibol’s long and illustrious
reign has been characterized by a
so central to the life of His Majesty are
values that St. John’s embraces as well.
Real Life Perspective
by Therese Wycklendt ’06C
“Four years ago, if I were to
is that they are professional,
specifically the poor, have to
gift of our education and find
stand up here in front of all of
compassionate, and most
offer me. Active participation
positive ways to contribute to
you and introduce myself, it
importantly, good people…
in service, particularly through
society, whether through
would probably be something
The time in the classroom
the St. Vincent de Paul Society,
professional or personal means.
like: Good evening. My name
here at St. John’s prepared
has enhanced my Catholic faith
I challenge my fellow graduates
and brought me the under-
…to find ways to be people
standing of what it means to
of service.
is Therese Wycklendt. I was
“We must take our
academic experiences
and the gift of our
education and find
positive ways to
contribute to society,
whether through
professional or
personal means.”
born and raised in Milwaukee,
be Vincentian. Vincentian is
And now, in closing, let
50 students packing into the
me reintroduce myself: Good
conference room of the church
evening. My name is Therese
twice a month to discuss
Wycklendt. I have lived in
ways of serving the poor, and
New York City for four years —
then acting on those ideas.
and survived. I still have really
Vincentian is 25 students hanging
cool parents. I value my faith
out on a Saturday with 103
more than ever and have new
kids ages 3-13 at St. John the
appreciation of St. Vincent de
Baptist. Vincentian is 20 college
Paul and his mission. I am so
students and their fearless
extremely proud to be able
me academically for graduate
newly-ordained priest getting
to call myself an alumna of
school, and, more importantly,
on a plane and spending spring
St. John’s University and
it has prepared me for life.
break cleaning out houses in
humbled to say I will always
New Orleans…Service has been
consider myself Vincentian.”
Wisconsin, by really cool parents.
My expectations of college are
very few; I’m just hoping to
have a good time. I have never
been to New York City and I
know very little about St. John’s
University. I’m Catholic and
I celebrate my faith, but
I’m not really familiar with
St. Vincent de Paul or with the
idea of what it means to be
‘Vincentian.’
Tonight, however, I would
introduce myself differently…
because of the education I have
Through service, a person
received and because of the
gains a unique and important
a vibrant and important part
strengthening of my faith…
perspective. I’ve gained an
of many students’ St. John’s
My experience with professors,
appreciation for what I have to
experience. We must take our
especially those in my major,
offer others and what others,
academic experiences and the
6
Alumni Magazine
Excerpt of baccalaureate
Mass speech given by Therese
Wycklendt on May 13 in
St. Thomas More Church.
up
front
Middle States Commission Gives University High Grades
A great deal can happen in a decade.
steering committee, to be the chairs of the
administrators and solicited input from students
St. John’s has been transformed in multiple
various committees and populating the
to trustees on what became the final self-study.
ways including improvements in technology,
committees is, to me, the challenge of doing
“At the end of the day, it truly was our report,”
new buildings, strengthening of the curriculum
something like this,” she says.“It’s about
she says. “Everyone had an opportunity to
and the introduction of a host of academic
getting broad-based participation and finding
have their imprint on this.”
initiatives. That growth was recognized by a
people who are willing to dedicate themselves
glowing review from the Middle States
to the task.”
This past spring, a Middle States evaluation
team made up of faculty and administrators
Commission on Higher Education
from various regional colleges
this year.
and universities visited both
the Queens and Staten Island
The commission is an arm of the
Middle States Association of Colleges
campuses and found the
and Schools that accredits degree-
University to be in compliance
granting colleges and universities in
with all of the standards for
the region including: Delaware; the
accreditation as set forth in
District of Columbia; Maryland;
their guiding document,
New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania;
Characteristics of Excellence.
Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands;
St. John’s was especially hailed
and several locations abroad. It is a
for its proactive approach, the
non-governmental, peer-based
openness and thoroughness
association that conducts reviews of
of its report and the strength
its members every 10 years through
of the 45 recommendations
on-site evaluations and reports. This
to which the institution
process is preceded by a self-study
committed itself. Included
wherein the institution carefully
among these were suggestions
examines its educational programs
for creating “teachable
and services, with particular attention
points” about St. Vincent
to student learning and achievement,
de Paul and the Vincentian
and determines whether it meets the
charism that would help
Commission’s standards and fulfills its
professors and adjuncts
own mission and goals.
relate their subject matter to
The St. John’s self-study focused on five
Sharon Lynch Norton ’74L, vice provost of
these concepts; enhancing the use of available
topics that were selected because they had
the Staten Island campus, and Larry Boone,
technology both within the teaching and
special significance at this time in the
associate professor of management and director
learning process and in the streamlining of
institution’s history: mission, with an emphasis
of the executive in residence program at The
administrative processes; and enhancing the
on ensuring the vitality of the Vincentian
Peter J. Tobin College of Business, served as
quality and quantity of evening and weekend
mission at a time of declining numbers of
co-chairs of the steering committee and
programming to help better establish a vibrant
priests and brothers; learning outcomes
provided leadership for the more than 125
campus life.
assessment; institutional assessment; residence
members of the various committees. Boone,
life; and technology. Dr. Dorothy Habben ‘66G,
who served during the 1995 accreditation,
endorsed by the Middle States team in their
vice president and secretary, oversaw the
says everyone was more prepared during this
highly laudatory final report which ended with
reaccreditation effort and says that, in selecting
self-assessment process. “It was comparatively
these words: “Your continuing commitment
the faculty, students and administrators who
easy this time because the administration has
to excellent planning and successful
would have responsibility for undertaking the
built such a solid foundation for thinking
implementation of plans will, in our judgment,
study, a great deal of effort was put into
about the institution, how it operates and the
enable the new St. John’s to become a jewel
ensuring adequate representation from all
future it wants the institution to have,” he
among higher education institutions.” The
of the campuses and schools and reflecting
adds. Lynch Norton says each subcommittee
University has begun to implement the
the racial, ethnic and gender diversity of our
drafted reports to the steering committee,
recommendations from the report in its
population. “Getting people to co-chair the
presented findings to students, faculty and
next phase of institutional planning.
These and other suggestions were all
Summer/Fall 2006
7
up
front
A Summer Sanctuary
by Alice Arvan
The After-School All-Stars of New York
(ASASNY) CampUs program continues the
Vincentian mission of meeting the needs
of the poor. Just as St. Vincent de Paul’s
compassionate concern for those in need led
him to create charities, hospitals and other
social welfare organizations, CampUs gives
inner-city children a safe and affordable
out-of-school sanctuary.
In existence for the past 10 summers,
CampUs is an outgrowth of the After-School
All Stars nationwide program for urban youth
started by Arnold Schwarzenegger, now
honorary chairman, and busses some 1,200
children age 7-14 from the five boroughs to
the Queens campus and other program sites.
Alumni participants are, first row from l., Sylvia Egal; Jonathan Guerrero ’06CPS; Toni-Ann Barone ’95GEd, ’03PD;
Lisa Liguori ’91GEd; Judith Scharf ’84MBA; Richard Sinatra (kneeling); Michael Archer ’06Ed; James Haluska ’96C,
’03GEd; Ricardo Castellon ’10C; Karen Smith ’97P; and Eric Stoddard ’05Ed. Second row from l. are Steven Shpak ’04CPS;
Joseph Gilpin ’06C; Andrew Pecorella ’96Ed, ’00GEd, ’06PD; Cristin Genzale ’05Ed; Keisha Pierre ’98Ed, ’00GEd;
Margaret McGlynn ’91Ed, ’93GEd, ’98PD; Denise DiBartolo ’06CPS; Teresa Sellitto ’99SVC; Laura Burlacu ’06C;
William Gavin ’95CBA, ’97MBA; and Antonella Fini ’01Ed, ’04GEd.
Drawn from those being serviced by the
Housing Authority and the Department of
Verrilli uses her annual vacation from her
funding; and St. John’s offering the site,
Homeless Services facilities, campers spend
State Improvement Grant Team reading/literacy
equipment and personnel. Hailed by housing
10 days receiving supervised reading, writing
specialist position with the Long Island
officials as a “shining” example of the benefits
and computer instruction in addition to their
Regional School Support Center to participate.
to be gained from public/private partnering,
choice of athletic and recreational activities
They both agree on the synergy of mission
the program’s campers have made quantifiable
including basketball, soccer, track and
and the value CampUs brings to students
improvements in their writing skills consistent
volleyball. Richard Sinatra, The School of
and volunteers. “In addition to living out the
with state standards and many have asked to
Education professor and one of the CampUs
Vincentian mission, we are also using our
be return enrollees.
project directors, oversees curriculum design
St. John’s education in a very positive way,”
and program assessment and injected a
Egal says. Verrilli hopes that their enthusiasm
attended seven times and went on to become
theme-based dimension this year which
and pride influences the youngsters. “They
a CampUs writing tutor for younger children
included, “Say no to bullying,” “Say no to
get to come to a metropolitan campus where
says, “my grades improved, also my reading
drugs, alcohol and cigarettes” and “practicing
they are exposed to literacy programs, sports
and writing skills got better, all thanks to the
good citizenship.” All of the camp’s activities
and technology,” she says. “It’s my hope that,
CampUs program.” Each summer, an award
are geared towards reinforcing those themes.
for the younger campers, they are so impressed
is conferred to the best-performing campers as
Sinatra has run the program since its outset
that they don’t forget St. John’s, and for the
an inspiration to aim for a college education
and speaks enthusiastically about the fact
older ones that it gives them a desire to go
and, this year, Herrera received a $1,000
that “virtually all of our staff is made up of
to college. You hope that they see that
scholarship from the University. And, in addition
University personnel — professors, instructors,
someday it may be possible for them.”
to motivating the participants to excel scholas-
A further Vincentian parallel is the
tically, Rosalie Aviles, recreation coordinator for
students, coaches, athletes and alumni.”
One such camper, Ethan Herrera, who
Every year, a dedicated group of alumni —
successful collaboration of public and private
the Jackson Avenue Family Residence, notes
all educational professionals — train 45
entities with the Department of Education
that CampUs provides another necessary
students from The School of Education for
contributing transportation and meals; the
component currently missing in the young lives
service as CampUs teachers.
Housing Authority and the Department of
of some in her community: the opportunity
Homeless Services selecting participating
to bond with positive, educated role models
Verrilli ’97GEd, ’99PD are two graduates who
shelters and housing projects; the UK-based
— crucial to their future development as
have volunteered for the past several years.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation providing
caring and productive citizens of the world.
Sylvia Egal ’90PD, ’08Ph.D. and Maria
8
Alumni Magazine
Acting on One Accord
Graduating students from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
(AADA) who earn an associate degree or certificate, but want to
continue their education, must transfer to a school that would accept
either a few or none of their credits. Now, an articulation agreement with
St. John’s gives them the opportunity to pursue a unique four-year degree
while sharing their expertise with the University’s students.
A BS in film and television from the College of Professional Studies
(CPS) is available to AADA graduates who have completed the Academy's
two-year program and may transfer up to 60 credits. With the transfer
students comes a wealth of experience in auditioning and performing
which may be helpful to those already matriculating at St. John’s who are
interested in pursuing a career in the arts. While AADA is prestigious, it is
also a small school. With the agreement in place, more St. John’s students
will be aware of the academy which might entice them to audition for
the very competitive
On Course with
Leading Technology
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of
biomedical engineering jobs is projected to increase by more
than 31 percent through the year 2010 — that’s more than
double the average predicted in other fields. As interest in this
burgeoning profession increases, the University is prepared to
answer the call with a new combined, five-year degree in
partnership with Polytechnic University of Brooklyn.
Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and
techniques to the medical field and can specialize in
bioinstrumentation, cellular, tissue and genetic engineering,
medical imaging or orthopedic surgery. According to Jeffrey
Fagen, dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
the new degree fills a need at the University and includes
courses required for admission to medical and dental colleges
acting program.
and schools for other health professions. Robert Finkel,
At a ceremony
professor and chairman of the department of physics, says
held at the Academy’s
the relationship may also prove instrumental in job placement.
Manhattan campus,
“Polytechnic is affiliated with SUNY Downstate Medical
the agreement was
Center, which could be helpful to the students once they
signed by University
get into the career field,” he adds.
Provost Dr. Julia
According to data from the Biomedical Engineering Society,
Upton, RSM ’73G,
’75G and Robert
many graduates go on to earn a Ph.D. or M.D. and, in some
Wankel ’68CBA,
academic programs, the percentage of students applying to
chairman emeritus
medical school is as high as 50 percent. Barbabra Dunlavey,
of AADA’s board
Upton and Wankel at the signing.
executive director of the Landover, MD-based society with 3,500
of trustees. Wankel
members worldwide, says there is a reason for the marked
says he is proud as both an alumnus of St. John’s and a board member of
increase in the colleges and universities offering biomedical
AADA to see the two schools joined by the agreement. “This brings to
engineering degrees. “The merging of technology and medicine
St. John’s one of the oldest and most distinguished acting conservatories in
is what biomedical engineering is and it’s growing because it
the country,” he says, adding that the partnership brings with it shared
is on the cutting edge of the medical field,” she says. “Salary
resources including the Academy’s comprehensive collection of books,
expectations are also expected to be on the increase.”
scripts and audio/visual material used for the study of acting.
Students will spend three years studying at St. John’s
“We see this as an opportunity for students from the AADA who may
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and, those who maintain a
not be going directly into working at their craft to further their education
3.0 grade-point average or higher, will transfer to the graduate
and learn more about television and film,” says Frank Brady, CPS chairman
biomedical engineering program at Polytechnic to complete
of mass communications, journalism, television and film. “We have a lot to
their remaining two years of study. Successful graduates
offer in our program including screenwriting, broadcasting and many of the
receive a BS in physical science from the University and an
allied arts.” He is working with the College’s administrators on how to
MS in biomedical engineering from Polytechnic.
best supplement CPS programs with the Academy’s offerings, which has
Polytechnic, one of the oldest engineering schools in the
campuses both in New York and Los Angeles and has graduated such
country, integrates advanced academic training in engineering,
luminaries as Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, Robert Redford and Kirk Douglas.
basic sciences and medicine with industrial experience in its
Hunter College in New York also offers AADA students a bachelor of
graduate curriculum. Mostafa Sadoqi, an associate professor
arts in theater and St. John’s has agreements with such other schools as:
in the physics department in the College of Liberal Arts and
Suffolk Community College; Borough of Manhattan Community College;
Sciences, and a graduate of Polytechnic, says that coupling
LaGuardia Community College; Queensborough Community College;
the training the students will receive at both schools provides
Rockland Community College; the Outreach Training Institute; and the
them with a firm foundation for whatever profession they
Institute of Audio Research.
choose to pursue within the healthcare field.
Summer/Fall 2006
9
up
front
Revisiting the Written Word
William Zinsser, prolific author and writing
group tutorials as part of their required courses.
every graduate is recognized for the quality of
coach, is credited with saying, “Writing is
A Writing Center will also be housed in
their writing skills,” says University President
thinking on paper.” With the opening of
Mahoney Hall on the Staten Island campus.
the Institute for Writing Studies this fall in
Some goals over the next four years
Derek Owens, director of the Writing
St. Augustine Hall on the Queens campus,
include the addition of a first-year writing
Center and an associate professor of English
students will be required to realize concepts
program to the English composition class
in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and
in an improved culture of writing thus
currently required of freshmen and a writing-
Sciences, says that up to 700 students a
becoming better wordsmiths and better
across-the-curriculum program designed to
year are currently served by the Center’s
overall communicators.
increase the amount and quality of the
staff. The Institute will include 15 full-time
The seed of the Institute is The Writing
students’ writing in their core courses. There
writing and composition specialists who
Center, already in existence since 1996 in
are also plans for a Writing Fellows program;
have teaching expertise in English-as-a-
Queens, where tutors — referred to as
workshops and other activities designed to
second-language; literacy, writing and
consultants — aid undergrad and graduate
increase faculty development in writing
technology; writing center theory; and
students with their writing skills. With a focus
instruction; ongoing collaboration with faculty
writing program administration.
on conceptualization, organization and the
to more effectively incorporate writing into
mechanics of the written word, students
their lesson plans; integration of writing and
generous donation from trustee Thomas
formerly made appointments when seeking
technology in the form of online tutorials; and
McInerney ’64UC, ’01HON and his wife, Paula,
help on projects such as research papers and
an online journal comprised of the writings of
who, along with enthusiastic administrators, all
class assignments. But now, each incoming
first-year or transfer students. Everything is
believe that improving the writing ability of
student will interact with writing specialists
designed to further the mission of producing
both students and faculty is imperative to the
at the Institute through one-on-one and small
better writers. “I envision a St. John’s where
success of St. John’s and its graduates. “We
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Alumni Magazine
The ambitious effort is the result of a
want to promote writing, not just as a skill, but
skill, especially in this age of e-mail, but it’s
initiative that would more improve the quality
as a vital component of any learning process
still crucial,” he says. “People are judged by
of our students’ critical thinking and writing
in every discipline,” says Owens. “All types of
how well they speak and write. A person could
abilities, and also contribute to the reputation
writing will be discussed — research, creative
be enormously talented, but if they don’t
of St. John’s,” he says. “Our students will be
and multi-media. What I envision is not only a
ommunicate well, they will be underestimated.”
accomplished writers and thinkers.” Owens
place where students can come for help with
Steve Sicari, chair of the English department,
adds that students will be asked to self-assess
their papers, but also a place where poets
says the Institute’s counselors will focus on
their own writing and utilize a future digital
and scholars can come to discuss their work.”
how improved writing can help students in all
writing portfolio and a print publication to
subject areas. “I can’t imagine an academic
showcase their work.
The Institute will be staffed with a director
of writing across the curriculum, specialists
in topical writing and a director of writing
assessment who will assist in hosting workshops
and consultations with faculty. “We will
conference with faculty on how to promote
writing in their courses, work with them on
their syllabi and deal with any concerns they
may have about their own writing,” says
Owens, who adds that there are also plans to
New Logo and Acronym Build Brand
by Stephen Vivona ’92SVC
Since 2001, St. John’s has undergone an
extremely successful rebranding effort which
established a unique identity for the University
have faculty give informal talks about their
and brought a consistent look to all multi-
own research and writing processes.
media communication efforts and electronic
University Provost Dr. Julia Upton, RSM
materials. A new athletic logo and the
’73G, ’75G says that bringing in specialists
adoption of the acronym STJ is an outgrowth
emphasizes the commitment at the University
of that original effort, all resulting in greater
to a new culture of writing expertise. She feels
that having specialists takes writing instruction
to a greater level for both students and faculty.
“Usually, it has been left to people in the
awareness of St. John’s.
While conducting an historical review of
athletics logos, University administrators
English department to teach writing, but when
recognized there was a long and storied
you think about it, they are no better equipped
history with STJ. Several teams already use
to teach writing than a history professor, a
the STJ logo, most notably baseball, but now
philosophy professor or a theology professor,”
all teams will use an identical logo that brings with it a new look. Senior Vice
she says. “They weren’t trained in writing —
President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications Brenda Majeski notes,
they are scholars.”
The McInerneys have provided some of the
financial resources to make the Institute possible
to ensure that a reputation for graduating
“STJ plays off the heritage of the baseball team and we can own it across all media.
We can protect it. The new logo respects the past while representing the future.”
Majeski noted that implementation of a new brand and the new logo complements
skilled writers can be achieved by the University.
the resurgence in excitement for Red Storm Athletics led by a crop of dynamic and
“Writing skills really are overreaching in their
successful coaches, and Athletic Director Chris Monasch agreed that creating uniformity
applicability,” he says. “Whether you are an
across all athletic teams is the goal. He added that with the unveiling of he new
engineer, a teacher or a scientist, you have
logo, it fulfills a variety of additional needs including the branding of uniforms and
to be able to communicate adequately, and
merchandise. “The reputation of the University and its athletics program will only
writing is a big part of that.” A successful
businessman who was an English literature
major, McInerney is cognizant of how
important writing is to young professionals.
be enhanced by this branding effort and continues to build on the initiative to
generate awareness.”
The new logo has been designed by Nike, which chose St. John’s as one of a
“In the business world, of which I have been
handful of schools nationally with whom to work. The University solicited feedback
a part for the past several decades, writing
from various constituencies including alumni, students, coaches and student-athletes.
intelligently, cogently and clearly is a dying
The final design, which won out over 30 others, was unveiled this season.
Summer/Fall 2006
11
insuring a
legacy of
education
Richard “Dick” Meyer ’55C, ’73MBA(TCI), ’88HON is the type of man who harkens back to a time
of quiet strength and dignity, long before seeking fame and fortune became a national pastime.
Although known for his business acumen and often tapped as an expert in his field by national
media, it is what he does quietly and without fanfare which may have the most lasting impact.
“W
Meyer in front of the
Boys Hope Girls Hope
Brentwood home.
Summer/Fall 2006
13
Meyer and 15-year-old scholar Antonio “Tony” Hawkins.
14
Alumni Magazine
pro bono
Meyer with resident scholars in the
Brentwood home backyard.
alma maters
Summer/Fall 2006
15
Everyone can use some expert
advice. With tens of thousands
successful alumni working in a
plethora of professions around the
world, we thought we’d reach
out to a handful of
them for helpful
hints on everything
from finding love to
getting on TV. So, heed
this advice if you ever
wondered how to:
…OVERCOME ADVERSITY
by Victor Calise ’02CPS
…AVOID A
SPEEDING TICKET
Never look at the big picture. The
by Peter Biondo ’94CBA
best thing to do is take it one day
at a time and you’ll start to notice
that things aren’t as bad as they
seem. Set some goals and work
hard to achieve each one. Once you
achieve them, set even higher goals.
The reality of a bad situation is not
good, but you have two choices:
ponder over how bad your life is or
do something positive about it.
I actually don’t speed, believe it or not. But if you
do get pulled over, it usually helps if you have
kept your speed under 70. Stay friendly with the
police officer and try to engage him or her in
conversation.
I sometimes
start talking to
them about my
drag-racing career
and that piques
Seek out others who have or had a
their interest. Be
similar problem and ask them what
polite and don’t
they are doing to address it.
argue, because
Knowing that there are others with the same challenges makes you realize
it won’t help.
that you are not alone. Then, seek out others who are in the same situation
that you were, and help them out. You will be someone that can now help
others and giving back or changing a person’s life for the better is the best
gift you can give. Find a physical outlet to get all your negative energy out
and turn that physical activity into a challenge. Make that another goal in
your life. When I feel discouraged, I reflect on how much my life has
improved.
Calise (above right), a member of the 1998 US Paralympic Sled Hockey team
in Nagano, Japan, directs the United Spinal Association’s sports marketing
program and is team captain of the United Spinal Rangers sled hockey
squad and the United Spinal Mets.
The best way to
avoid a ticket is to
keep the speeding
to the racetrack. Most people don’t realize that
you can take a street car to the race track and
race if you want to. You don’t need a special
license to go to the track, so if you have the urge
to speed, go and get it out there.
Biondo is the 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005 National
Hot Rod Association world champion.
…BE A MENTOR
by Jack Carew ’59C, ’00HON
Mentors share their wisdom, provide knowledge, teach skills and guide the person they are mentoring
to greater effectiveness. To be an effective mentor, you must develop a trust-based relationship, and the
essential qualities in building and enriching that relationship are listening, encouragement and reliability.
Listening sends a message of concern. It is the most important step in responding to another person’s
call for help and is the best way to say you are interested, you care and you want to help.
Encouragement inspires confidence and helps another discover that they can — they have what
it takes to be successful.
Reliability demonstrates that you are worthy of trust and will keep your promise. As a mentor you
are making a deep commitment to relationship and are creating a bond that will magnify and
multiply the potential for growth and the success of the person you are mentoring.
By applying these attributes, you will enable the person you are mentoring to accomplish
goals they thought were unattainable and recognize positive qualities he or she never
thought they possessed. Mentoring is what the times demand.
Adapted from “Beyond Leadership — Expanding Potential in the Workplace,”
by Carew, a New York Times-bestselling author, lecturer and
chairman/founder of Carew International.
…TELL A JOKE
by Paul Anthony Mongelluzzo ’86SVC, a stand-up comedian who performs under the stage name
Paul Anthony and is the founder of the Long Island Comedy Festival.
The next time you're going on a sales call, giving a presentation or making a speech, you might want to consider doing what some
of the greatest orators in history have done successfully for ages — use humor! If used effectively, it can help build rapport with an
audience and your confidence as a public speaker. Here are four simple rules to
follow if you'd like to work in a joke or two:
Know your audience. No inside jokes. It's the law of averages at work here.
Go with material that appeals to the masses
Less is more. To be truly effective in telling a funny story or joke, it's important
to get to the punch line as quickly as possible. Audiences lose interest VERY fast.
Edit your material down to the bare essentials. Less words = more laughs
Leave them wanting more. Don't milk it. If your joke goes over well, mission
accomplished. Smile and move on to your presentation
Work clean. This is the most important rule of all, especially in any business
situation. Getting a laugh is not worth risking your reputation. Many of the
best working comics use very clean material. Funny is funny
Good luck, and don't quit your day job!
…TAKE A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH
by Alex Morel ’97C
I believe a strong image is one that includes a balance between
great content and composition — where the subject matter is
intense and the visual arrangement of all the elements in the
image is captivating. There are times when one of these two
elements might suffice or will compensate for the other. Here
are some ideas that could help to create different and
interesting images:
1. Observe intensely and get to know your subject. Some say that
you can photograph better what you know best, or perhaps you
can get to know your subject better by photographing it.
2. Try extremes. Bring your camera as close as possible to your
subject, and also try to step back as far as you can.
3. The main
subject does not
always have to be in the center of the image. Try placing it within the frame of
the picture and allow for other elements in the environment to inform and
complement subject.
4. Choose a different point of view. Point the camera down or up or tilt it to one
side or the other. Choose to see the world as would a mouse or a pigeon or a
baby or someone of a different gender or age or belief.
5. Appreciate the available light in any given situation before turning on the flash.
At the same time, don’t be afraid of using flash — be creative and give it a try even in situations where it might not be needed.
Morel is a professional photographer who shows his work worldwide.
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Alumni Magazine
…DEAL WITH REJECTION
…WORK THE CELEBRITY BEAT
by Stephen Szekely ’78SVC
by Danielle Monaro Neal ’95SVC who schedules
guests on the Z100 “Elvis Duran & the Z-Morning Zoo”
radio show, syndicated in New York and Miami,
and delivers its gossip report, “The Sleaze.”
Handling rejection can be
difficult, but being thickskinned helps a lot. You have
to have a good sense of
I have many sources:
yourself and know what your
magazines, Web, TV
strengths and weaknesses are.
and even publicists that
It can be painful, but don’t let
I speak to. There are many
it devastate you. As an actor,
celebrities that people
these are a few affirmations I
always want to hear about
use if an audition goes badly:
and I know to look out for
gossip on them. If a celeb
Is there anything you can learn from the rejection? Is there
something you can take away from it which will help you to
does something crazy,
improve?
people want to hear about
Just keep moving on and develop ways to repackage
yourself. Keep putting yourself out there and hope that
someone discovers you and takes you under their wing
it! A juicy story can go on for weeks. You have to be up on
“pop culture” and know what the listeners are buzzing about.
Celebrities are hot one day and not the next, so it’s my job to
follow what they are doing and keep people in the know.
Focus on the successes that you have had in the past. For
every amount of failure you think you have had, there are
To separate a legitimate story from just straight gossip, I always
people who wish they have had your experiences
quote my source. I also know which magazines and sites can be
relied on to be true and which ones stretch the truth. I often go
The grass is always greener, as they say, so stay hopeful and
keep going as long as it doesn’t bankrupt you.
to msnbc.com, AccessHollywood.com, perezhilton.com, E! online,
TV Guide online and both the New York Daily News and New
Szekely is an actor who uses the professional name Steve
York Post’s Web sites. I know which magazines have "fact
Sekely and has appeared in movies, theater and television
checkers" and which just print anything. For example, People
shows including the recent NBC sitcom “Teachers” and the
magazine is awesome; The National Enquirer is not so great.
critically-acclaimed “NewsRadio.”
You learn which sources you can trust.
…PLAN A PARTY ON A BUDGET
by Stacie N.C. Grant ’92C
In order to create the style and theme you want within a realistic operating budget, use craft stores like Michael’s or a wholesale
florist to create your own decorations, favors, etc. Other stores like Target, Party City, Staples and Office Max sell “do-it-yourself”
kits that can help you create your own invitations, programs, place cards and thank you notes, plus thrift shops are good for items
that can be re-used as props. Each event has its own identity, so it requires the organizer to be
creative, especially if they don’t have the luxury of hiring a professional planner to assist
them. Some other helpful tips for putting together a successful event are:
Establish a realistic timeline for the execution of your event
Create a theme or focus
Design invitations that set the tone for the event
Make sure your décor is inviting and soothing. Less is more
Use RSVPs to plan adequately
Choose a small gift or favor to give your guests as a thank you for attending
Go the extra mile when preparing food and beverage specifications
Grant is a motivational speaker and founder of C&G Enterprises, which includes the
full-service subsidiary C&G Professional Event Coordinators.
…FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE
by Robin Gorman Newman ’87MBA, love coach and author
of the books How to Marry A Mensch: The Love Coach’s Guide
to Finding Your Mate and How to Meet a
Mensch in New York.
You can meet the love of your life at any stage in your
life but your head has to be in the right place. There is
a big difference between saying you want to find
someone and really acting like you want to. The first
thing a person needs is clarity about what they want. Here are some steps I give to help a person
get to that point:
1. Ask yourself what it is you need, what you can live with and what you can live without.
2. Put all that down on paper because there is something about seeing it in print which really
helps to narrow the focus.
3. Once you have it all written down, cut the list in half because you are never going to find
everything that you are looking for.
4. Really assess what your efforts have been thus far, what has worked for you and what hasn’t and why. Do you have a
pattern when it comes to relationships?
5. Take a hard look at yourself and be able to change those things about yourself that just aren’t working.
6. Broadcast to your friends and family that you are looking. You have to put yourself out there.
7. Change doesn’t come overnight, but just being able to admit that you have made wrong choices in the past, or,
no choices at all, is a start.
8. Cut yourself some slack and don’t obsess over it. Like the old song says “You can’t hurry love.”
…KEEP YOUR SKIN LOOKING YOUNG
by Edouard Joseph ’97C
There are several things you can do to establish a routine to both protect and nourish your skin.
Use sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the
rays are the strongest
Don't — I repeat — don't smoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs a lot of circulation
and smoking impairs that dramatically
Protect yourself from emotional and environmental stress as they both have an effect on
your skin
Wash your face twice daily using the proper treatment for your skin type
Touch your face less and wash your hands more
If you wear it, keep your makeup clean. The average shelf life for cosmetics is six to 12 months
More is not always better. Moisturizer, for example, is the most overused product in America.
Exfoliators are another thing to be careful with. Used too often, they overacidify and irritate
your skin
Keep your regimen simple. Use soap, moisturizer and toner and when you add a new product,
do it gradually so your skin has time to adjust
Joseph is founder of the skin-care company Princereigns.com
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Alumni Magazine
…LIVE WELL AT ANY AGE
by Hon. Nancy Mottola Schacher ’46UC, ’47L
Anyone past the age of 65 should keep working. Work until you drop, I say.
A few years ago, I retired as a law judge for the Workers Compensation
Board and I started just staying home. I found myself becoming a recluse.
I didn’t go anywhere or do anything, which isn’t at all like me. Then I was
approached to become a commissioner for the board of elections in Kings
County, and it has made all the difference. I look better and I have never
felt better. Staying in the workplace gives you the impetus to take care of
yourself because you want to look as young as possible since looking
younger these days is the name of the game. So when you know that you
are going into work, you take better care of your skin, your hair and your
appearance. Of course diet and exercise are key too, but you also have to
keep yourself in circulation. You have to keep going the best you can.
Schacher has long been active in New York City politics and has opted
to stay in her beloved Brooklyn rather than “retire” to Florida.
… BECOME A CONTESTANT
ON A REALITY SHOW
by Danielle Turner ’05C
If you are trying out for a reality show, be energetic and different.
It helps to have a good back story that would make being on the
show change your life in some way. Here are a few other tips:
1. When auditioning, stress how much you love the show you are
trying out for.
2. Having both wit and smarts goes a long way because you want
to sound smart but at the same time you need to be entertaining.
3. You need to have an open mind about things. Show the
Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2005 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
producers that you are up to doing just about anything, even
if you know you won’t, because it only makes for better TV.
4. Some mistakes people make when trying out for a show is that
they either apply too late or don't have enough originality.
5. Another mistake people make is that they get very nervous
in the final interview process with the creator of the show and
that shows. This is your one and only shot to make a really good
impression.
I am proud of all the things that my friend and I achieved. We
conquered fears, tested our strength and endurance and learned
so much more about each other on this race. My proudest
moments were making it one more leg every day and not being
eliminated. It was such a sense of accomplishment.
Turner (left) appeared with friend, Dani Torchio, on last season’s
series of the “Amazing Race” on CBS.
Summer/Fall 2006
21
At first, he thought prankster kids were throwing rocks
at the train. It was the evening of December 7, 1993 and
the 5:33 p.m. Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) bound for Port
Jefferson had just pulled away from the New Hyde Park
station. The train was filled with people heading home to
their families, their minds on upcoming holidays,
the cold outside, dinner plans.
Anything except what was
about to happen next.
Summer/Fall 2006
23
Copyright 1993 Newsday, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
Lawyers, Guns and Money
With wife, Rosemary,
at Mercy Hospital in
Long Island the day
after the shooting.
G
The New York Times
24
Alumni Magazine
Copyright 1994 Newsday Inc. Reprinted with permission.
McDermott
(foreground) at a
press conference
on victims of gun
violence in 1994.
Copyright 1993 Newsday, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
“I went to one
victim’s funeral who
was a man my age and
I almost fainted
with the realization
that it could have
been me.”
H
With others rallying to end gun violence in 1994.
Speaking at a press conference
in support of the ban on
assault weapons bill.
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Alumni Magazine
In his role as advocate, McDermott (l. of podium) listens to Gov. Cuomo defend his proposed legislation against illegal weapons.
“A youngster could
purchase guns in the
south where the laws
were very lax.
They could buy five
or six handguns for
$50 to $65 each,
come to the city
and sell them for
$100 or $150 each.”
Summer/Fall 2006
27
campus
briefs
From Dress Codes to Fashion Statements:
The Changing Look of the St. John’s Student
by Blythe E. Roveland-Brenton, Ph.D. ’00G
As sophomores, St. John’s College Class of 1920 wore suits and ties. 1918 Vincentian
The Torch
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Alumni Magazine
Once they became
juniors, the Class of 1920
donned caps and gowns.
The noticeable attrition
was the result of students
entering seminary life
and military service.
1919 Vincentian
Downtowner
Strict codes
regarding the
customary jacket
were occasionally
relaxed to allow for
varsity sweaters.
1954 Closing Entry
Summer/Fall 2006
29
campus
briefs
Wearing the requisite dress
did not deter sophomore
Julia Ann Mattone ’65Ed
from performing a hula-hoop
stunt during the 1962
“rehazing skit.”
1963 Johnsonian
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Alumni Magazine
Freshman beanies
and red neckties
were standard
apparel for decades
during hazing.
1966 Tomahawk
Security officers’ duties included enforcing the
dress code.
1967 Vincentian
This Torch cartoon appeared in
January 1967 amidst growing
dissatisfaction with
the dress code.
Summer/Fall 2006
31
campus
briefs
(Counterclockwise from left)
The class of 1973, pictured
here at Orientation in 1969,
was the first incoming class
to be free of a dress code.
Big hair was a typical
1980s look reminiscent of
The Breakfast Club.
1986 Vincentian
Jeans and T-shirts have
been standard campus
gear for decades.
1996 Vincentian
Mademoiselle
Blythe Roveland-Brenton is the University’s archivist.
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Alumni Magazine
Did you save mementos of your
commencement celebration or
Senior Week or photographs and other
memorabilia from that time you
would like to share?
To discuss a possible donation, write to:
St. John’s University Archives
Library, Room 430
8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439,
call (718) 990-1465 or e-mail
[email protected]
Then and Now
There are khakis, cargos and camo.
Boho, logo wear and leggings. Wedges,
platforms and pumps. Plus iPods, PDAs
and Notebooks. The trends of 2006 are
influenced by ‘70s retro, the political
climate, urban uniforms and a desire for
comfort and independence. The St. John’s
student is no different, and living and
studying in one of the world’s fashion
capitals has its advantages.
With access to the best stores and
shopping bargains, students can experiment
with different looks because, here,
individuality is embraced. They also have
the latest technology at their fingertips,
literally, and would no more leave the
home without their cell phone than they
would a shirt. But going to St. John’s
keeps them connected with the IBM
laptop they receive as freshman and the
“unwired” college campuses.
Tech savvy no longer means geeky in
this day and age when accessories are
almost as important as the technology.
In any purse or messenger bag you can
find a fashionable MP3 player with cover
in various designs and colors, a pocket-size
digital camera for capturing a collegiate
memory or, of course, the hottest cell phone
which doubles as a personal digital
assistant. Armed with this standard
equipment in a wireless environment, text
messages fly faster than any passed note
in class ever could.
Where this generation differs is that tech
and style now meet, and fashion statements
are as eclectic as ever. Common among the
men is an urban look, which is often baggier
and looser fitting than the metro style of
fitted apparel. Then there are those who
bring an edgier or avant garde look, or
those who go for the comfort of athletic
apparel. Message Ts or T-shirts that express
a person’s beliefs are very trendy coupled
with well-worn jeans or mini skirts (again).
And, while St. John’s now has a “dorm
culture,” most students don’t follow the
common practice of wearing pajamas and
slippers to their early a.m. classes. Most
take pride in their appearance on campus
where presentation is as diverse as the
student body and the city where they reside.
campus
briefs
Welcome Home
alma
mater
alma mater
34
Alumni Magazine
campus
briefs
Bricks & Mortar Update
Community Services Open
Little Theater Gets Big Makeover
The “new” Little Theater.
Donald (’53C, ’89HON) and Eleanor Taffner ’94HON stand
below a new clock that graces the front
of the Taffner Field House
as part of the overall
beautification effort of
the Queens campus.
From l., Provost Dr. Julia Upton, RSM ’73G, ’75G, University President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.
and Fagen.
The sale of the Oakdale campus to the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) will not
proceed as previously announced. The JIB cited the cost of planned renovations as the reason for its
decision not to proceed with the purchase. The actions will have no impact on the academic offerings at
Oakdale, which will continue to include graduate degree programs in library and information science,
criminal justice leadership, school psychology and educational administration and supervision.
36
Alumni Magazine
Thank you
…for helping us raise
a record $271 million,
the largest amount raised
from philanthropic
sources by any Catholic
educational institution
in New York State.
www.stjohns.edu/capitalcampaign
Q u e e n s
S t a t e n
I s l a n d
M a n h a t t a n
O a k d a l e
R o m e , I t a l y
giving
back
A Reason to Celebrate
The Campaign for St. John’s — Fulfilling the
Dream
Fr. Harrington (l.) with Denis Kelleher 65CBA 91HON.
St. John’s knew
what it had to do
and everyone pitched in
to make it happen.
From l., Joseph Smetana 69TCI, 06HON, Claire Smetana, Brandon Sweitzer, Ellen Thrower, Leandro Galban, Jr., Richard
Meyer 55C, 73MBA(TCI), 88HON.
38
Alumni Magazine
From l., James Schiro 67CBA, 95HON, William Montgoris 67CBA, 88HON, Denis Kelleher 65CBA, 91HON
and Linda Sanford 74Ed, 98HON.
From l., Robert Chrenc 66CBA, 06HON, Susan
Chrenc and Norman Roberts.
David Wegrzyn (c.), vice president for the Division of Institutional Advancement,
left in September to join Providence College in his hometown of Providence, RI.
Wegrzyn, joined here by Rob Wile ’99SVC (l.) and President Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M. (r.), served in several leadership roles over the years including:
assistant vice president of institutional advancement; associate vice president
for alumni relations and development; and vice president for institutional
advancement and athletics. Wile, chief of staff for the Office of the President,
will serve as acting vice president until a permanent replacement is found.
Summer/Fall 2006
39
alum
notes
40s
JOHN RYAN ’65Ph.D. was elected
chairman of the board of Northern
Virginia Community College,
Annandale, VA, and also serves as
vice-chair of the INOVA Loudoun
Hospital board in Washington, D.C.
PAUL FREEMAN ’48L was awarded a certificate
of recognition by the California Supreme Court for
50 years of meritorious service with the bar and
was presented the Wiley W. Manual Award by the
California State Bar for his pro-bono services.
JOHN IMHOF ’66C was appointed commissioner of
social services for Nassau County in Uniondale, NY.
50s
FRANK BADALI ’56CBA is a volunteer for the Nicholas
Green Foundation, which promotes organ-donation
awareness.
DIARMUID O’SCANNLAIN ’57C was appointed chair of
the appellate education advisory committee of the
Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C., by Chief
Justice John Roberts. He is a 20-year member of the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San
Francisco and has his chambers in Portland.
NORMA O’NEILL ’59NEd, ’62GNEd is a professor
emeritus at Nassau Community College in
Garden City, NY.
MARY KLEIN SHAPIRO ’59NDC is a gerontologist
counselor, co-founder of a geriatric care management
company and trainer for staff at Alzheimer’s care
facilities and at the University of Nevada School of
Medicine, Las Vegas.
60s
KENNETH KOOCK ’66L was elected co-chairman of
the board of VSUS Technologies in Boca Raton, FL.
JANICE LoPRESTI ’67Ed retired as principal of PS 42,
Staten Island, after serving 10 years as an administrator
and 38 years in education.
JOHN (’67P) and LYNN NAVARRA ’67Ed received the
Humanitarian Award from the Catholic Guardian Society
and Home Bureau at the 21st Annual Child of Peace
Award Dinner in recognition of their exemplary
commitment to those in need through their many
volunteer and philanthropic activities.
SANTO COSTA ’68P, ’71L was elected to the board of
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in Melville, NY.
MICHAEL BECK ’64C, ’72Ph.D. joined the faculty of
Long Island Institute for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies
in Jericho, NY.
70s
GREGORY ANEKIOE ’70G is a biochemistry professor
at the University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria and was awarded
of the Niger for his meritorious service in the field
of education.
NELSON JOHNSON ’70C joined the ranks of the state
of the New Jersey Superior Court.
ARTHUR KROLL ’65L is chairman and chief
executive officer for KST Consulting Group in
Hartsdale, NY.
Alumni Magazine
positions as director of the 125th anniversary year
celebration; executive assistant to the president;
acting director of public relations; vice president
for institutional advancement; and, most recently,
vice president for University relations, was
named the superior at St. Vincent’s Seminary
Headquarters) of the Vincentians. He is responsible
for the administration and coordination of those
assigned there.
JOHN LAZAR ’71Ed serves as
Commonwealth Club of California,
judiciary when he was sworn in as the newest member
REINHARD GREISMER ’65CBA, ’71GEd, ’75Ph.D.
retired as principal of Southampton Elementary School,
Southampton, NY, after 38 years in education.
who served the University for many years in
chair of Member Led Forums for the
the Nigerian National Honor of Officer of the Order
ALFRED POGGI ’64C was re-elected
to the board of the Pennsylvania
Osteopathic Medical Association
in Harrisburg.
REV. BERNARD TRACEY, C.M. ’70C (r.),
in Philadelphia, the motherhouse (Provincial
BARBARA FONTANA ’68Ed, ’70GEd, ’71PD, ’75Ph.D.
is a self-employed psychologist in Shoreham, NY, and is
president of the Suffolk County Psychological Association.
RONALD REGAN ’68C is vice president, information
services, for Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., Campbell Hall, NY.
SALVATORE FASCETTA ’63P retired from Lohmann
Therapy Systems Corp, West Caldwell, NJ, as vice president of plant operations.
40
Fond Farewell
a 103-year-old public affairs group,
and moderated a program of theirs
in San Francisco.
JOSEPH CAMPISE ’73C was promoted to captain in the
NYPD and was assigned to the 10th precinct in Brooklyn.
NICHOLAS LANANNA ’74C, ’76G
was appointed chief, travel and
general services, for UNICEF in
New York City.
WILLIAM DOWLING ’71L, former president of the
Onondaga County Bar Association, was designated by
SHARON LYNCH NORTON ’74L,
the chief administrative judge of the State of New York
formerly the associate dean for the
to serve as a special referee on cases assigned to the
College of Professional Studies in
Model Permanency Part in Onondaga County Family
Staten Island, was appointed to the
Court in Syracuse.
newly–created position of vice
provost for that campus.
WILLIAM COLLINS ’76C, chairman and CEO of
Brencourt Advisors, LLC, located in New York City,
chaired the Fourth Annual Jonathan P. Altman Golf
Classic in Scarsdale, NY.
WAYNE MERCKLING ’76GEd, ’99Ed.D. was appointed
principal of Kinnelon High School, Kinnelon, NJ.
LEO CALLAGHAN ’77CBA is a partner at Callaghan
Parente LLP, Uniondale, NY, and a professor and senior
DOREEN DiDOMENICO ’84NDC,
’95Ph.D., a part-time clinical
psychologist at Rutgers University in
Piscataway, NJ, was sworn in as a
freeholder in Hudson County, NJ,
and chairs the environmental, health
and human services and women and minority issues
committees. She also serves as a trustee on the
Bayonne Board of Education and the Bayonne
Community Mental Health Center board.
All In The Family
fellow at Long Island University’s Homeland Security
Management Institute, Southampton campus, NY.
EDWARD DELUCIE ’77P was promoted to administrative
ANNEMARIE MCAVOY ’84C joined IPSA International,
Inc. in New York City as special counsel on anti-money
laundering matters.
director of pharmacy and respiratory care at South
Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, NY.
RUSSELL MATTHEWS ’78L an executive vice president
of Albanese Organizations, Inc. in Garden City, NY, was
honored by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce as
businessperson of the year.
DENNIS CORNICK ’79SVC was promoted by Gilbane
AILEEN ROSA-ARROYO ’84SVC
received the Outstanding Educator
and Community Leader Award from
The 108th Congressional Women’s
Caucaus, Washington, D.C., and a
citation from Brooklyn Borough
President Marty Markowitz for her Outstanding
Educational Leadership.
ANDREA PAPA ’88SVC was named associate
director for alumni relations at alma mater and is
responsible for the department’s daily operations,
strategic planning and new initiatives. She was
formerly the associate director for the career
center on the Staten Island campus and was
with JPMorgan Chase in New York City where
she was responsible for corporate organizational
development.
Building Company, Lawrenceville, NJ, to be their national
sales manager and senior vice president.
RICHARD DAILEADER ’79CBA was hired at Churchill
Financial in New York City as managing director for its
MARK ARNING ’85MBA was
elected senior vice president for
New York Life Insurance Company
in New York City.
structuring and origination group.
80s
RICHARD CORBETT ’80L is an
associate counsel for the New
Jersey Office of Legislative Services
in Trenton, earned an executive
master’s in public administration from
Rutgers University in Newark and was
inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society
for public affairs and public administration.
STEPHEN BATES ’81C was appointed to the board of
EnviroSafe Corporation in Germantown, MD.
VIRGINIA ROWE ’81CBA was one of Mediaweek’s 2005
Media All-Star winners for her work in the industry and
is one of only eight of the 226 winners to be given the
award more than once.
PAUL LAKI ’82P joined Access Communications,
Berkeley Heights, NJ, as their senior vice president,
government affairs.
CLIFFORD DEGEL ’85C and his wife, Carmen, are a
husband and wife dental team that operates the Astoria
Dental Group office in Astoria, NY.
KEITH HUBER ’89CBA, ANDREW SCHLEIDER ’90SVC and
RICHARD MAKARICK ’93SVC participated in the NASDAQ
closing bell ceremony
to celebrate Charles
Schwab Corporation’s
decision to list there
exclusively.
MAUREEN SHEEHAN ’89L was
promoted to senior vice president,
associate general counsel at
Primedia, Inc. in New York City.
JAMES MARKEY ’85L joined
Duane Morris LLP as partner in their
intellectual property practice group
in New York City.
90s
STEPHEN MURPHY ’85MBA is a
certified tax accountant and tax
partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
Florham Park, NJ, and was elected to
the board of the New Jersey Society
of Certified Public Accountants.
VALERIE BELL ’86MLS is a chief librarian of branch
services for Ocean County Library, Toms River, NJ, and
was named one of the top 25 movers and shakers in
American libraries by Library Journal magazine.
JOHN MAROON ’87SVC, a former publicist of
Ripken Baseball, has launched Maroon PR in
Marriottsville, MD.
FRANCIS KENNA ’90L was appointed managing
attorney and attorney of record for the New York
Liquidation Bureau in New York City.
THOMAS QUINLAN ’90MBA is executive vice president,
operations for R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company in
Chicago and was appointed interim chief financial
officer this year.
ANNMARIE SIMEONE ’90NDC, a
member at Norris McLaughlin &
Marcus P.A., Somerville, NJ, presented
“The New Jersey Theft Prevention Act
Made Easy” at their Hot Topics in Labor
& Employment Law 2006 seminar.
Summer/Fall 2006
41
alum
notes
PHYLLIS ZAGANO ’90ICD is a senior research associatein-residence at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY,
where she teaches in the department of philosophy
and religious studies.
SABINA DESANTIS ’91C is a deportation officer with
the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and
Customs Enforcement/Detention and Removal Office
in New York City.
ARTHUR GIANELLI ’91C was appointed executive vice
president/chief operating officer of Nassau Health Care
Corporation, Nassau County, NY.
PATRICK IGOE ’91CBA was promoted to sergeant with
the New York Police Department and is assigned to the
75th Precinct in East New York, Brooklyn.
BRIAN SMITH ’91C founded the law firm Smith &
Newman, LLP in New York City.
TARIQ KHAN ’92MBA was appointed
vice president for market development
and diversity for Nationwide Financial
Network in Columbus, OH.
MELINDA SALZER ’93MBA is
president and founder of Renewing
Moments, LLC, which provides
organic, natural, caffeine-free and
chemical-free gifts for women in
cancer treatment.
MICHAEL ISRAEL ’94MBA is senior vice president of
information technology for Six Flags in New York City.
FRANK MCQUADE ’94L was
selected by the Nassau County
Republican Committee to run for
the New York State Assembly,
20th Assembly District.
DEBRORAH MORGAN-RUNG ’94SVC is a paralegal at
the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe LLP in Lake Success, NY.
IAN SCOTT ’94G joined Duane Morris LLP in New York
City as partner.
ALBERT TOMM ’94GEd is a coach and teacher at
North Tonawanda High School in North Tonawanda, NY.
THOMAS FLATT ’95SVC was named head golf
professional of Apple Ridge Country Club in Mahwah, NJ.
JOHN HORAN ’95CBA, ’98MBA is a supervising auditor
for the state of New York in New York City.
CLAUDIA ALIN ’96NDC is a kindergarten teacher for the
New York City Board of Education at PS 69 in Brooklyn.
42
Alumni Magazine
Division Appoints
Acting VP
ROBERT WILE ’99SVC,
chief of staff for the
Office of the President
at St. John’s, was
appointed acting vice
president for the
Division of Institutional
Advancement while a
national search is
being conducted to fill
the role permanently.
Rob replaces David
Wegrzyn who left in September to join Providence
College in his hometown of Providence, RI.
FRANCINE DIGIAIMO ’97NDC is a second grade
teacher at PS 14, Stapleton, NY.
STEPHANIE HALLFORS ’97CBA is a compensation
analyst for Arrow Electronics in Melville, NY.
KALIOPI PETRIS ’97C, ’00P graduated from
Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, with a doctor
of pharmacy degree.
TRACY MARTUCCI ’98SVC is a first grade teacher at
PS 1, Tottenville, NY.
VINCENT PEREZ ’98CBA, ’01MBA is a senior financial
analyst of EURAM – Pali Capital, Inc., New York City, and
an adjunct professor for The Peter J. Tobin College of
Business in the economics and finance department.
EVAN CURREN ’96CBA is the vice president of print
production for Cossette Communications in New York City.
CAROLINE SANCHEZ-BERNAT ’98SVC is director of
communications and marketing for Ripley-Grier Studios
in New York City.
PAULA DELSANTO ’96MBA ran in the San Diego
Marathon on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society.
MARYANN VALERIO-THOMAS ’98SVC is a certified
paralegal with the law firm of Snell Legal in Ormand
Beach, FL.
ROBERT JANICKE ’96SVC is a chip trader with Trinity
Technologies, Medford, NY, and writes a monthly music
column for the online magazine, thetruthmagazine.com
LISA ANN VENTO ’98CBA, ’99MBA is an adjunct
professor for The Peter J. Tobin College of Business in
the economics and finance department, is vice president,
project management for the National SWAT Team for
Global Client Development at March & McClennan in
New York and co-owns with her husband CNL Sports
Cards, Collectibles, LLC in Staten Island.
HEATHER PASTORE ’96SVC, ’03GEd is an advisor for
Lia Sophia Jewelry, Staten Island, NY.
DORIS RIVERA ’96C is a supervisor at EMBARQ,
Orlando, FL.
WILLIAM SPINELLI ’96CBA, ’03MBA is a director at
Fitch Ratings in New York City.
SUSAN TELESMANIC ’96MBA was appointed vice
president of consumer marketing for The New York
Times Company in New York City.
JESSICA VIDES ’96SVC is an associate contract
manager with New York City Department of Youth
and Community Development and received her
master’s in social work from Hunter College
Graduate School of Social Work, New York City.
CHARLES WILLIAMSON ’96L was appointed president
of the American International Group, Inc., Private Client
Group in New York City.
LAWRENCE AMBROSE ’97SVC is an ultrasound
technician with Verrazano Radiology, Midland Beach, NY.
PATRICK BOYLE ’97L was elected to partnership
with Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP, New York City,
and will be in charge of the litigation and dispute
resolution practice group.
DEBORAH BILELLA ’99CBA is a manager of financial
reporting with MetLife, Queens, NY.
KATHY GOODWIN ’99SVC is a senior strategic planner
for Brand Buzz in New York City.
SAMUEL FIGUEROA ’99SVC is an attorney with Amir
Alishahi & Associates, Great Kills, NY.
00s
MICHAEL BRUNO ’00CBA is an analyst with Bank of
America Securities in New York City.
ANTHONY CAPRIOTTI ’00C is a computer consultant
with Alliance Bernstein, New York City, and a real estate
broker Frandore Realty, South Beach, NY.
NICOLE COLONNA ’00CPS is a supervisor-litigation support
services for Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP in New York City.
JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM ’00CBA is an assistant
manager for Commerce Bank in New York City.
WALTER KENUL ’00CPS is an executive analyst with
Sprint Nextel Corporation in Rutherford, NJ.
Green Dreams
FRANCESCA CIARAVINO ’02TCB is a planner with
Ann Taylor in New York City.
JOHN HIGGINS ’53C, ’68Ph.D.
is the author of the fifth through
11th editions of English
BRIAN FARNAN ’02L is an attorney at Ulmer & Berne
LLP, Cleveland, OH, and was recognized as one of the
Ohio Rising Stars for 2006 in Law & Politics magazine.
Simplified (Longman, 2006),
a composition text for
college freshman.
KWANG HAN ’02MBA is vice president and audit
manager for Citigroup, Inc., New York City.
JOSEPH PICONE ’02TCB is a field supervisor with
National Futures Association in New York City.
NORMA ERCOLANO O’NEILL
’59NEd, ’62GNEd is co-author
of the second edition of
JILLIAN PRESTI ’02CPS is a bank teller with
Richmond County Savings Bank, Great Kills, NY.
TINA SCACCIA-MORELLO ’02G is a speech-language
pathologist for The Summit School in Jamaica
Estates, NY.
ANDREW SVOBODA ’03TCB is a former member
of the University’s golf team and was one of 18
players in a field of 153 to qualify for the U.S. Open.
He missed the cut by one stroke and finished two
strokes ahead of Tiger Woods in the second round
of the Open. He also won the Winged Foot Golf
Club championship for four consecutive years,
has played on the Hooters Tour and twice made it
to the second round of PGA Tour Qualifying School.
RALPH BASELICE ’03CPS was one of three Queens
parks enforcement patrolmen recognized by Helen
Foster, chairwoman of the City Council’s Parks
Department Committee, and fellow committee member
Joseph Addabbo for helping to prevent an assault in
Forest Park.
DAVID GRAZIANO ’03CPS is the director of leadership
programs for Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity,
Richmond, VA.
Math and Meds for Nurses
(Thomas Delmar
Learning, 2005).
MARY KLEIN SHAPIRO ’59NDC
published Alzheimer’s and
Dementia: A Practical and
Legal Guide for Nevada
Caregivers (University of
Nevada Press, 2006).
VIRGINIA SHIELDS WALKER ’63Ed, ’65G was an
associate editor for a volume of poetry, The Light of
BRAD LOTITO ’00CPS is a lead carpenter with M.W.S.
Construction, Inc., Pleasant Plains, NY.
MICHAEL NASSY ’00CBA was
promoted to vice president of
national real estate underwriting
for National Cooperative Bank,
Washington, D.C.
BRIDGET TRUSTY ’03MBA is a tax managerinternational taxes for WPP Group USA, Inc. New York
City, and was one of five women to be featured in the
article “Success Story” featured in the National
Association of Female Executive’s quarterly
(3rd quarter, 2005).
City and Sea: An Anthology of Suffolk County Poetry
(Street Press, 2006), in which three of her poems
also appeared.
ALEXANDER GALLARDO ’76Ph.D., using the pen
MARY BURKE ’04Ed is a fourth grade teacher at PS 57
in Clifton, Staten Island.
name Larry Condé, published The End of History
(Writer’s Club Press, 2001), a study of the meaning
of history based on the philosophy of former
JEFFREY SILVA ’00CPS is an assistant vice president,
account management for Synergy in Ocean, NJ.
ANTONIA ALBERGA ’01C, ’02G is teaching English at
The Mary Louis Academy in Jamaica Estates, NY, after
earning her master’s from alma mater.
LARA MANNINO ’01C is a sixth grade mathematics
teacher with Barnes Intermediate School, Great Kills, NY.
DAWN PASSANESI ’04Ed is a teacher with Our Place
School, South Beach section of Staten Island.
JULIETTE McNULTY ’04GEd teaches for the Westchester
County school district, is pursuing a second master’s in
school psychology at Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY,
and she presented on trauma recovery and brain plasticity
at the annual American Psychological Society (APS).
VIKASH CHITRODA ’05TCB is an operations manager
for Bell Trading, Inc., Uniondale, NY.
JENNIE TOM ’01MBA is an associate director in
Asset Backed Finance Group with UBS Securities LLC,
New York City.
DANIELA ROSA ’05GEd is an English teacher at Paulo
Intermediate School, Huguenot, NY.
JORGE ARBELAEZ ’02TCB is an equity trader with
Prestige Capital in New York City.
ELIZABETH VELAZQUEZ ’05CPS is a software analyst
for Westbrook Technologies, Branford, CT.
St. John’s professor Boris de Balla.
REGINALD MARRA ’76CBA
published his fourth book,
This Open Eye: Seeing
What We Do-Poems
2003-2005 (From The
Heart Press, 2006).
Summer/Fall 2006
43
alum
notes
20s
Elsie Bailyn ’28L
30s
Barnet Kaplan ’30L
Gerard Kuckro ’31C
Maurice Shorenstein ’31L
William O’Brien ’33C
Harold Kase ’34UC
Henry Ziemba ’35L
Charles Graves ’36C, ’38GEd
Boris Kostelanetz ’36L, ’81HON
Clara Dworsky ’37UC, ’39L, ’68LLM
Benjamin Goldner ’38C, ’40L
Simon Koenig ’38L
Sheila MacDevitt ’38UC
Lorraine Starkey ’38NDC
Dorothy Boyle ’39NDC
William Fellner ’39L
Peter Lopes ’39CBA
James O’Donnell ’39CBA
Max Streisand ’39CBA
40s
Edwin Werny ’40L
Andrew Costarino ’41C
Shephard Kole ’41L
Edward Mullen ’41C
Harold Novok ’41L
Hyman Padob ’41CBA
Adele Tanenbaum ’41L
John Coneys ’42CBA, ’48L
John Henriques ’42C
Francis Kelly ’42C
Daniel Linder ’42CBA
Joseph McPhee ’42L
Andrew Meil ’42C
Joseph Rosen ’42CBA
Charles Sullivan ’42C, ’47L
J. Donald Campbell ’43C, ’47G
Mary Donahue ’43NDC
Warren Hyer ’43CBA
John Marvin ’43L
William Toomey ’43CBA
Norma Kane ’44NDC
Robert Schlageter ’44CBA
Benjamin Belnick ’45CBA
Elizabeth Lawson ’46NDC
Philip Kronick ’47L
John Malazdra ’47C
Thomas Carney ’48CBA, ’53L
Edward Citrynell ’48L
Edmund Santogrossi ’48C
Archie Speranza ’48P
Robert Bebarfald ’49P
Frank Caracci ’49CBA
Gennaro Fischetti ’49C, ’51L
44
Hon. Mary Ryan ’63C, ’65G, ’96HON
By the time Hon. Mary Ryan left the State Department in 2002 as an assistant secretary of state, she was the
longest-serving diplomat giving 36 years to public service. A native New Yorker, she began her career in Naples,
Italy, after entering the Foreign Service in 1966 and eventually came to Washington, D.C., in 1975 to work as an
administrative officer for Africa and post management officer in the Bureau of African Affairs. She returned
overseas in 1980 and served as administrative counselor in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and Khartoum, Sudan, before
becoming ambassador to Swaziland in 1988. Two years later, she was named director of the Kuwait Task Force
after the Iraqi invasion and became the first director of operations for the United Nations Special Commission on
the elimination of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. After serving as deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau
of European and Canadian Affairs, she was named assistant secretary of state for consular affairs in 1993 and
became the second woman ever to hold the rank of career ambassador in the history of the State Department
in 1999. She received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in both 1992 and 1998 and, in her memory,
friends established the Mary A. Ryan Scholarship for Public Service at St. John’s.
Kenneth McIntyre ’65CBA
The National Invitation Tournament’s (NIT) 1965 MVP, Ken McIntyre, helped win two titles for the University and
bring to a rousing close the career of famed-coach Joe Lapchick. He was a key player in the 1965 Holiday Festival
championship game when St. John’s, a decided underdog against then No. 1-ranked Michigan, was behind by
16 points with nine minutes to play when Ken hit four straight baskets in the final moments to take the Red
Storm to victory with a 75-74 win. His brother, Bob, was a teammate for two seasons and Ken scored 18 points
to his brother’s 16 in the 1965 NIT final victory over Villanova. Ken scored 42 points in the first-round win over
Boston College during the 1965 NIT and 101 points in four games of the tournament to close his senior season.
He scored 1,174 points during his three seasons of play. Basketball was a family affair for the McIntyre clan as
another brother, Dennis, also played for St. John's from 1972-74.
Patricia Gilmartin ’56NDC
Pat Gilmartin loved the field of education and maintained close ties with alma mater. She served at varying times
as vice president and treasurer for Notre Dame College’s (NDC) Alumnae Association and as a member of the
Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship Committee. A native of Staten Island, she began teaching in 1956 and became a
principal at PS 21, Elm Park, by 1971. She was the recipient of the Woman of Achievement Award in 1982,
given by the Staten Island Advance, and served the community on the board of The Sister Elizabeth Boyle
Early Learning Center at Bayley Seton Hospital. After retiring as a principal, she taught as an adjunct professor
of education for St. John’s and was assisting in the organization of an NDC reunion for class of 1956 at the time
of her passing.
Rev. Francis X. Prior, C.M. ’55G, ’69Ph.D.
Fr. Frank Prior was a member of the Board of Trustees for almost a decade. He taught at St. John’s Preparatory
School in Brooklyn where he later became headmaster from 1960-62 and served as principal of St. Joseph’s
Preparatory Seminary in Princeton, NJ, from 1968-1975. He later became dean of student affairs and vice
president for development and university relations for Niagara University and was named vice president
emeritus of university advancement there in 1997.
Joseph Gotkowitz ’49CBA
Thomas Keeley ’49C
Thomas Klei ’49L
Stanley Lundy ’49C
Joseph Miller ’49L
Herbert Weinberg ’49P
Jacob Zwirn ’49L
50s
John Bell ’50L
Vincent Curry ’50L
John Ewers ’50L
Richard Gibbons ’50CBA
Helen Moore ’50NEd
Matthew O’Connor ’50CBA, ’56L
Ernest Zammit ’50CBA
Alumni Magazine
Helene Alence ’51NDC
Bernard Conroy ’51CBA
Stellio Elmi ’51UC
Helmuth Fandl ’51CBA, ’55L
Jule Fontanetta ’51NEd
William McGowan ’51CBA
Dominik Nemecek ’51CBA
Harold O’Leary ’51CBA
Francis O’Keefe ’51CBA
Vincent Presti ’51L
Dorothy Schmidt ’51NDC
Henry Sewell ’51CBA
Joseph Turetsky ’51L
James Whalen ’51L
Katherine West ’51NDC
Margaret Cooney ’52NDC
Julie Krause ’52NEd
Claire Lacattiva ’52UC
Thomas Mallon ’52L
Jerome McDermott ’52CBA
Rita Clare ’53NEd
Sr. Noreen Costello ’53G
Edward Farrell ’53CBA
Robert Haedrich ’53CBA
Joseph Mogavero ’53CBA
John O’Neill ’53C
Mario Ruggeri ’53C
George Caruso ’54Ed
Jeanne Gallagher ’54L
John Hussa ’54CBA
Lawrence Brailsford ’55CBA
William Harding ’55CBA
60s
John Mummery ’55CBA
Robert Roden ’55C, ’65GEd
William Besmanoff ’56L
Thomas Clerkin ’56C
Patricia Gilmartin ’56NDC
Irene Kowalczyk ’56NDC
Nina Lawrence ’56L
James Leavey ’56CBA
Richmond Louche ’56CBA
James Mech ’56CBA
Joseph Palumbo ’56L
Warren Sheldrake ’56L
Donald Bart ’57CBA
Joseph Dunn ’57GEd
Rosemarie Fava ’57NDC
Aram Yezdanian ’57C
James Davitt ’58L
Alice Dillon ’58UC
Michael Graig ’58CBA
John Holub ’58Ed
Hugh Kirwin ’58C
Evelyn Tennyson ’58NEd
John Amrod ’59L
Vincent Kane ’59C
James Kiernan ’59L
Robert Murphy ’59L
Anthony Quinn ’59C, ’61L
Robert Trites ’59C
Denis Tyrrell ’59C
Joseph Flagello ’60P
Theodore Marasco ’60CBA
William Moreno ’60UC
William Rosa ’60L
Michael Sessa ’60P
Gerard Fallon ’61L
Patricia Goetz ’61Ed
John Keating ’61L
William Keaveney ’61CBA
Andrew DelGenio ’62CBA
Robert Grace ’62CBA
Neil Gwinn ’62GEd
James Roberts ’62C, ’71GEd, ’79PhD
Paula Desopo ’63NDC
Bernard Luckart ’63L
Salvatore Mitri ’63L
Winifred Warner ’63NEd
Robert Buckley ’64CBA
Richard Blum ’65CBA
Kenneth McIntyre ’65CBA
Jerry Slater ’65L
Frank Calascibetta ’66G ’69GP
Paul Enrico ’66CBA, ’68L
Mary Leech ’66Ed
Vincent Mazzurco ’66C
Anne Parsons ’66Ed
Matthew Ewerling ’67C
Henry Ruffolo ’67L
William Sullivan ’80L
Steven DiNapoli ’81CBA
Kevin Murphy ’81L
Annette Siegel ’81MBA
Judith Shane ’82PD
Esther Zangler ’84C
Donald Faruolo ’85NDC
Mary Ann Greene ’87GEd
Charles Wenzel ’89C
Brian Saffer ’67L
Henry Scroope ’67L
Bernadette Vaccaro ’68Ed
Mary Fitzer ’69UC, ’71G
Daniel McLaughlin ’69L
70s
Dennis Curtin ’70CBA
Michael Michelson ’70L
Rosemary Curtis ’71G
James Brino ’72GEd
Anna Schiaffino ’72C
Christopher Scaglione ’73P
Anthony Buatti ’75C
Janie Fowles ’76GEd
Josephine Berger ’77PhD
Roman Hentisz ’77G
Particia Mrsich ’77L
Lawrence Nappi ’77C
John Haczynski ’78C
Judith Meyers ’78GEd
Jack Nicolais ’78GP
Dale Weeks ’78SVC
Henry Martucci ’79GP
Christopher Starr ’79P
90s
Kenneth Wilson ’91CBA
00s
Claire Meskovic ’01C
Matthew Farrell ’02L
Submissions to In Memoriam must
be received by letter, e-mail or as a
printed obit from a family member,
guardian or legal executor to:
Lisa Capone
Division of Institutional Advancement
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY, 11439
[email protected] or
via fax to (718) 990-1813.
80s
Christopher Callahan ’80GEd
Gregory Fiori ’80NDC
Storm Trackers Want You
We want to know what’s new with you since you left St. John’s. Have you been promoted? Changed jobs? Received an award? Moved? Started a family? Retired?
Please use this form as a guide for submitting personal anecdotes and updated information.
Mail your submission to: St. John’s University, c/o Alumnotes Editor, Alumni Magazine, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, fax it to (718) 990-6873,
e-mail [email protected] or enter online at www.stjohns.edu/alumni/alumnotes.sju
Name:
SS#:
First
Middle/Maiden
Last
Year:
Home Address:
Apt. #:
City:
School:
(Used for graduation verification)
State:
Zip:
Business:
if new address, as of:
Phone: (
)
E-mail:
Phone: (
)
E-mail:
Title:
Business Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Tell us your news:
In Holy Matrimony / In The Family Way
In Memoriam
Spouse’s Name:
First
Middle/Maiden
Last
(For “In Holy Matrimony”)
(For “In The Family Way”)
Wedding date:
Child’s Name:
Arts & Adventure Series
Middle/Maiden
Last
Date of death:
(If other than family member, guardian or legal executor, submissions to
In Memoriam must include a printed obit).
Daughter
Annual Giving Opportunities
First
Yr./School:
Date of birth:
Son
I would like information on:
Year/School (if also an alum)
Chapter Gatherings
News submissions will be published in the order received. Submissions may be edited for space and style.
Other
alum
notes
90s
JOSEPH STRANO ’92NDC to Candice Schiedel
– May 20, 2006
ALBERT RICHARD TOMM ’94GEd to Jennifer Fraass
– April 30, 2005
CLAUDIA ALIN ’96NDC to GEORGE KAMBOURIS ’97SVC
– June 12, 2004
DORIS RIVERA ’96C to Omar Roman
– December 11, 2005
LAWRENCE AMBROSE ’97SVC to Allison Serio
– June 2, 2006
CHRISTINA CLEMENTE ’97ED, ’01GED to
Michael Mancino – August 19, 2005
FRANCINE DiGIAIMO ’97NDC to Steven Scherma
– February 10, 2006
DONALD DASZKOWSKI ’98NDC to Jody Rodd
– August 13, 2005
JENNIFER HOFMANN ’98P, ’05GP to Shiya Ribowsky
– January 11, 2003
FAUSTO ZAPATA, JR. ’98SVC to Paula Rodriquez
– June 19, 2005
LARA MANNINO ’01C to Anthony Garramone
– April 7, 2006
DARREN AMODEO ’99C, ’01G to Rosalia Fiordilino
– July 2, 2006
JORGE ARBELAEZ ’02TCB to Josephine Gadaleta
DEBORAH BILELLA ’99CBA to Gerald Eugene
– April 8, 2006
FRANCESCA CIARAVINO ’02TCB to Matthew Kuczinski
– June 10, 2006
YENDI DANIELS ’99SVC to Roodley Lherisson
– June 4, 2005
JOSEPH PICONE ’02TCB to Nicole Maniscalco
– June 3, 2006
SAMUEL FIGUEROA ’99SVC to Joanne DeStefano
JILLIAN PRESTI ’02CPS to Anthony Sidoti
– May 12, 2006
00s
MICHAEL BRUNO ’00CBA to Geriann Schwab
– April 1, 2006
ANTHONY CAPRIOTTI ’00C to Janice Affrunti
– April 8, 2006
DESIREE DUDLEY ’00CPS to MARCUS WATSON ’00CBA
– November 26, 2005
BRAD LOTITO ’00CPS to Jennifer Siudy – May 5, 2006
MARY BURKE ’04Ed to Neal Green – May 27, 2006
LISA INSALACO ’04CPS to Robert Borges, Jr.
CHRISTINA THOMAS ’04G to Brandon Jung
– June 17, 2006
DANIELA ROSA ’03Ed, ’05GEd to Dr. Renzo Capraro
– June 10, 2006
ELIZABETH VELAZQUEZ ’05CPS to Lucas Bosch
– June 19, 2005
TRACY MARTUCCI ’98SVC to Daniel Mrakovcic
– March 18, 2006
ANTONIA ALBERGA ’01C, ’02G to Carmine Parisi
– July 4, 2006
80s
EVAN CURREN ’96CBA and wife, Katharine, a daughter,
Aeryn Lillian – December 28, 2005
00s
TINA CALIENDO ’97P and husband, Jack, a daughter,
Giuliana – January 24, 2006
DESIREE DUDLEY ’00CPS and husband, MARCUS
WATSON ’00CBA, their second daughter, Nyla
– April 18, 2006
JORDAN BOGEN ’85P and wife, Heather, twin sons,
Dylan and Jackson – June 22, 2005
90s
MORRIS ROSENBAUM ’90CBA, ’93MBA and wife,
Jacqueline, a daughter, Anna Eileen
MONICA D’AMIRE-ANTLEY ’91SVC and husband,
Bruce, a daughter, Sara Frances – June 20, 2005
DEBORAH MORGAN-RUNG ’94SVC and husband,
Kenneth, a daughter, Emily Paige – March 18, 2006
BARBARA CAETANO ’95SVC, ’97MBA and husband,
JOSEPH MALERBA ’95SVC, a son, Gregory Thomas
– April 2, 2005
CLAUDIA ALIN ’96NDC and husband, GEORGE
KAMBOURIS ’97SVC, a daughter, Eliana Luisa
– January 10, 2006
46
Alumni Magazine
MARYANN MORGAN ’97GEd and husband, WILLIAM
MORGAN ’98GEd, twins, William Jr. and Stephanie
– March 14, 2006
KALIOPI PETRIS ’97C, ’00P and husband, Peter, a son,
Stavros Peter – October 3, 2005
KATIA CANTAVE ’98SVC and husband, Jason, a son,
Asa Diamond – March 31, 2002
JANINE DILORENZO-BONACCI ’98CBA and husband,
Anthony, a son, Nicholas Anthony – June 18, 2005
JENNIFER HOFMANN ’98P, ’05GP and husband, Shiya,
a son, Jake – February 5, 2004
JOSEPH MORELLO ’98CBA and wife, TINA SCACCIA
’00C, ’02G, a son, Anthony Joseph – May 5, 2006
KRISTEN FETTER ’00Ed and husband, CHRISTOPHER
ROGERS ’00C, a son, Christopher William
– March 1, 2006
SUBRENA HENRY ’00CBA and husband, KEITH HENRY
’00CBA, a daughter, Gabriella Maya – August 16, 2005
KWANG HAN ’02MBA and wife, Kyung-Soon, a son,
Andrew – March 21, 2004
LISA INSALACO ’04CPS and husband, Robert, a
daughter, Giovanna Adora – December 5, 2005
TARA FITZPATRICK ’05GEd and husband, James,
a son, Jack Ryan – January 9, 2006
alum
notes
John (’76C, ’80L) and Linda Farmer ’77SVC & John (’79SVC) and Kathleen Serkes ’79SVC
Being the big sister, Linda often was a role model
for her little sister, Kathleen, so when she started
dating an athlete named John, it was more than
coincidence that her younger sibling would do
the same.
While students, the-then Fay sisters where
known for their de rigueur Gremlins — Linda’s
was orange and Kathleen’s yellow — which they
drove to the Queens campus from their home in
Massapequa Park, Long Island. The athletic pair
each served as captain of the tennis team and
could often be found on the indoor courts or
at the alumni tennis club program where they
coordinated court time and assisted with
tournaments. They were popular and made many
friends among their fellow students including
the equally-sporty John Farmer, a forward on the
basketball team, who Linda met first and started
dating in the spring of 1975.
Shortly after, Kathleen started dating John
Farmer’s cousin, John Serkes, who ran track.
Thus began a steady stream of double dates and
stimulating conversations about sports until they
were all an item by January 1976. The foursome
spanned all class years since John F. was a senior,
Linda was a junior, John S. was a sophomore and
Kathleen was a freshman. The Johns, whose
mothers are sisters, both came from large families
and they appreciated Linda and Kathleen’s
closeness and their strong devotion to family.
Again, big sister Linda led the way when she
and John F. were married first in 1977, followed
by Kathleen and John S.’s nuptials in 1981. Today,
the Farmers reside in Kinelon, NJ, and are the
parents of two children. Linda is a homemaker
and volunteer while John is president and chief
executive officer of Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison in
Lodi, NJ. The Serkes are the parents of three and live
in Massapequa Park where Kathleen is a teaching
assistant and John is a trader in New York City.
All four are one big happy St. John’s family.
John and Linda Farmer on their wedding day.
Kathleen and John Serkes on their wedding day.
The Farmers and Serkes on vacation.
Frank (’72C) and
Joanne Rubino ’72C
If St. John’s played a role as matchmaker
in your life, we want to know about it.
Joanne Russo first spotted her future husband at a school
picnic, but it was the Q44 bus that was responsible for
their eventual relationship when the pair were formally
introduced in 1969 during their commute from Queens to
the Bronx. From that point on, the cafeteria in Marillac Hall
and Red Storm basketball games became their gathering
places together and with all of their friends. They married
in 1972 and, today, Joanne is a guidance counselor at
PS 78 and a member of Community Planning Board 11,
both in the Bronx, while Frank is corporation counsel for
the City of Yonkers. They are the parents of two sons.
If there are several generations of
St. John’s graduates in your family,
we want to know that also. Share
your story with the Alumni Magazine
readership by contacting the associate
editor at (718) 990-5482 or at
[email protected]
Joanne and Frank Rubino today.
Summer/Fall 2006
47
a conversation
At Home with the Blues
Accounting rocks! Joseph Kaczorowski ’77CBA turned the rather
staid profession of accounting into an entertaining career. He
went from crunching numbers to becoming a certified public
accountant, but tapped into his creative side by working for
15 years at The Cannell Studios, a production company known
for such television hits as “The Rockford Files,” “Greatest
American Hero,” “The A-Team” and “21 Jump Street.”
In 1996, he moved to the House of Blues (HOB), a
Los Angeles-based global entertainment company consisting
of the club/restaurant venues located in various cities across the
country and the House of Blues Concerts, Inc., which owns, operates
or exclusively books 19 national arenas and amphitheatres.
Dedicated to the live music experience and southern-inspired
cuisine, HOB has attracted artists from just about every genre.
Kaczorowski served in several positions over the years including
executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of
the company but, since 2004, he has held the role of president
of HOB Entertainment, Inc. with primary responsibility for all
growth initiatives including domestic club expansion, hotel and
international business development and brand development. He
also manages all finance and administrative functions including
human resources, information technology, legal and planning.
There’s nothing blue about this busy executive who has
seemingly found a way to work in the best of both his worlds:
In your opinion, how important has the blues been to our culture?
I think it’s been fundamental to American music because it really
set the tone for all forms of music be it jazz, rock, hip hop or
other genres. It all started with the blues. It’s the quintessential
American music.
Given the legacy of the blues in America, what responsibility do
you feel you have running a chain branded the “House of Blues?”
We take it very seriously. The House of Blues really celebrates
what the blues represent. We celebrate the diversity of all things
cultural and musical.
Does the entertainment you book in your venues strictly adhere
to a formula within the blues genre or is it much broader? People
sometimes think that we are a sleepy little blues club,
but really only 10-15 percent of our schedule is blues.
The rest of the schedule is — you name it. One night
it could be Tony Bennett, the next night it could be a
hip hop group and the following night it could be
Norah Jones. We’ve never done opera or anything like
that because ours is more of a standing-room experience,
but that’s not to say that it wouldn’t work.
How is your New Orleans property doing after surviving
the floods of Katrina? Are you seeing that local audience
return to enjoy nightlife again? We were very fortunate
in that our New Orleans venue sustained minimal
damage. From a music hall performance perspective,
we are doing very well. The tough times are what
the blues are all about, and particularly in tough
times people want to hear good live music. Where
we continue to struggle is with our lunch
service. There is no tourist and convention
business in the city right now and that’s
where a lot of that business comes from.
Those people haven’t returned and we don’t
think they will be returning for a while. We
believe that the city will be back and better than
ever in a few years.
With the days of the Filmore, the Bottom Line and the Palladium
now over, what do you feel the state of the live music venue is
today? I think it’s a great business. Live Nation is doing very well,
we are doing very well, AEG is doing very well. Ticket sales are
strong and people want to go and hear live music. One of the
things we are finding now is that parents are bringing their kids
to concerts and that’s a fairly new thing. When I was growing up,
I didn’t go to shows with my dad but today’s generation actually
has parents and children coming to enjoy the music together.
To what do you attribute the phenomenal success of HOB and
how has it maintained popularity where others have failed?
House of Blues means great sound, great acts and a great venue.
The brand is much bigger than the footprint now. The good thing
is that we always stay current. New customers are coming to
experience the House of Blues for the first time and that allows us
to be strong because we change as the music changes. We have that
flexibility because we constantly have new artists being featured.
Who are some of your favorite artists? When I was growing up,
it was acts like Billy Joel, Jackson Browne
and The Who. I’m lucky because I get to
hear all of the different artists when
they are up and coming. I saw the
Fugees when they first broke. I saw
a show that had John Mayer with
Nora Jones. We are constantly
breaking new acts and I get to see
them. My kids think I have the coolest
job in the world.
If someone wrote a blues song about
your life, what would the title be?
That’s hard for me because I have had
a fairly charmed life. I came
from a great family, had
a happy childhood,
I’m in a great
business and I have
a wonderful family.
But I’m a huge
New York Jets
fan so, since 1969,
I guess I would
have to say that
it’s been the
“Jets Blues.”
To show our appreciation,
St. John’s Annual Contributors
receive special discounts
and benefits with the
following partners:
1-800-Flowers.com
Alamo
Avis
Calico Jack’s Cantina
Cigna Dental
Club Quarters
Data Storage Corp.
Days Inn
Howard Johnson
Jos. A. Bank
Lenovo
Liberty Mutual Insurance
McFadden’s Restaurant
Marsh Insurance Services
Bank of America
Mickey Mantle’s
Restaurant
Patsy’s Restaurant
P.C. Richard & Son
The Princeton Review
Ramada
Savanna Steak
Sheraton Hotels
Bookstore
Travelodge
Westin Luxury Resorts
The Williams Club
Wingate Inns
M1-1666-RM
Become an
Annual Contributor
As a St. John’s University Annual Contributor,
your gift has an immediate and direct impact on
our more than 20,000 students.
It gives them the superior education that only a
world-class University like St. John’s can provide
today — so that they can take their places as the
leaders who will shape our world tomorrow.
Our students are grateful for what
you do for them — and so are we.
For more information, visit
www.stjohns.edu/annualcontributor
Summer/Fall 2006
51
NONPROFIT ORG
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PAID
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8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439

Summer/Fall 2006 - St. John`s University

Transcription

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