Fall/Winter 2005 Vol. 7, No. 2
Gaining the Competitive Edge Enterprise advice from IBM’s on-demand specialist TÜàá & ADVENTURE SERIES
For more detailed information on this and all other alumni events, log on to www.stjohns.edu/alumni
Broadway Theater N New York City 2006The Color Purple N Saturday, February 4 2 p.m. Alice Walker's diverse and unforgettable characters come to life on stage blending dance with blues, gospel, jazz, swing, rural roots and African music. $90 per person* - orchestra
Gerald Schoenfeld Theater N New York City Chita Rivera: Saturday, February 25 N 2 p.m. The Dancer’s Life Gypsy extraordinaire Chita Rivera relives many of her, and Broadway's, finest moments. $75 per person* - orchestra
Lincoln Center, New York State Theatre N New York City Don Giovanni Sunday, March 26 N 1:30 p.m. Mozart’s magnificent retelling of the amorous exploits of literature’s most notorious philanderer continues to shock and delight audiences. $93 per person* - orchestra
American Airlines Theatre N New York City The Pajama Game Saturday, April 8 N 2 p.m. starring A classic musical set in an Iowa pajama factory concerns a Harry Connick, Jr. female union head and a handsome new foreman who find themselves falling in love just as a strike becomes likely. $107 per person* - orchestra
Lincoln Center Plaza N New York City John Williams Wednesday, April 26 N 7:30 p.m. and the New York In a program of music from his unforgettable film scores, Philharmonic John Williams leads the Philharmonic in what will surely be a season highlight. $105 per person* - preferred orchestra
Sunday, July 16 – Sunday, July 23 Just Cruisin’ Come and enjoy a seven-day cruise from New York City to Bermuda on the Norwegian Crown. Prices start at $1,179 per person (plus $303.50 per person port charges and fees)
For more information or for tickets, contact Susan Bunatta at (718) 990-2356, toll free at (877) SJU-ALUM or e-mail [email protected] *$5 will be donated to the University If you’ve made a direct gift to the University or attended an event for which you paid a fee in the last year, you are automatically considered an annual contributor to St. John’s.
Your donation supports an advanced education for deserving students and entitles you to myriad discounts and services from our family of corporate partners.
Once you receive your Annual Contributor Card in the mail, take advantage of this great benefit:
Save 10% on all GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT classes with The Princeton Review.
Call 1-800-2Review to enroll and to receive information regarding classes held on the Queens campus or visit www.princetonreview.com for course information.
New partners are added regularly, so be sure to visit www.stjohns.edu/alumni for a complete and updated list of the service providers.
For more information on becoming an annual contributor, log on to www.giving.stjohns.edu, call (718) 990-6232, toll free at (877) SJU-ALUM or e-mail [email protected] president’s message
Vol. 7, No. 2 Fall/Winter 2005 Dear Friends, Publisher The end of the year provides an opportunity to reflect upon the significant Donald J. Harrington, C.M. President events that have shaped our lives. 2005 brought profound changes to our Dave Wegrzyn world and our University. Vice President for Institutional Advancement In April, St. John’s joined in what was truly a global expression of Catherine Camera ’65CBA sorrow for the death of Pope John Paul II, a dynamic and humble servant Contributing Editor of God whose humility, courage and indefatigable faith will inspire generations to come. John Paul was our spiritual leader for more than Editorial Staff Valerie Peters a quarter century, and our sense of loss at his passing was indeed great. Editor
I had the privilege of meeting with him on several occasions. Perhaps Lisa France Writer/Associate Editor most memorable was my encounter with him shortly after I became Danielle Bushell president of St. John’s, when he underscored the importance of Catholic Alumnotes higher education and the role that St. John’s plays within Catholic higher
education in the United States. This year, we have expanded that role The St. John’s Alumni Magazine even further. is published by the Division of Institutional For the first time in our University’s history, enrollment topped 20,000 Advancement for alumni, staff, faculty and friends of St. John’s. students in fall 2005. These students study on our five campus locations Send address changes to: and come from 43 states and 131 countries, demonstrating our status Lisa Capone as one of the world’s most highly respected universities. Our entering Office of Institutional Advancement St. John’s University freshman class of over 3,100 is the largest in over 20 years, and their 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439, impressive academic credentials attest to their already-considerable by fax to (718) 990-1813, achievements in the classroom. by e-mail to [email protected] or return the enclosed form. Our Campaign for St. John’s – Fulfilling the Dream has generated Correspondence: more that $247 million and is rapidly approaching its overall goal of The Alumni Magazine staff welcomes $250 million. The support provided by our alumni and friends has been your thoughts and comments. Please address letters to: nothing short of phenomenal, and the increased scholarship assistance, Editor, Alumni Magazine St. John’s University endowed chairs, facilities enhancements and technological innovations 101 Murray Street made possible through these revenues will enrich the education of New York, NY 10007 or e-mail [email protected] every St. John’s student. Letters and articles may be edited for publication. As we await the New Year, it is my fervent hope that 2006 will be a time of health, happiness and prosperity for every member of our Consistent with the University’s mission as a Catholic, Vincentian and metropolitan institution St. John’s family. With the exceptional support of loyal alums like you, of higher education, the University abides by all applicable federal, state and local laws which I am absolutely certain that the unprecedented achievements of our past prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including will be equaled or exceeded by the unlimited potential of our future. sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status or disability in admitting students to its May God continue to bless you today, tomorrow and always. 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 Donald J. Harrington, C.M. 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.
2 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine contents features 16 Linda Sanford went from the farm to foremost authority on transforming a business using information technology that engineers change and innovation.
20 Tucked away in upstate New York, hundreds of children are safely playing, laughing, dancing, swimming, canoeing and checking their blood every two hours.
24 So how do capital campaign funds actually reach the classroom? Three professors explain what academic innovations departments have effected change.
4 noteworthy 9 up front Katrina relief efforts Saving the forgotten ones Giving children a voice Visit our Web site for the latest 28 campus briefs updates, news and events at Archival treasures www.stjohns.edu/alumni Criminology and justice degree or call (877) SJU-ALUM. Pharmacy front lines Art accreditation Bricks & mortar
41 giving back On the cover: Linda Sanford ’74Ed, ’98HON 45 alumnotes at IBM headquarters in Armonk, NY, standing in front of “the Shark,” an Enterprise Storage 56 a conversation Server she helped to develop and market. Service Day a Success
The 4th Annual University a local prison, cleaning system while having fun. An alumni team also and Centro Hispano Service Day held in up a park and serving at Breen says she was as visited the Newman Cuzcatlán in Jamaica, NY, September grew this a soup kitchen. thrilled as her students. Residence, a home for where that team did a year to 720 volunteers Dori Breen ’89SVC, “I feel very fortunate the developmentally mailing of a newsletter representing the five ’98GEd has both to have been a part of disabled in Manhasset, and created signs for a campuses, and working in volunteered for several St. John’s,” she adds. NY, where they decorated community meeting. 55 teams at 40 different years and benefited from “In our everyday life, it’s for autumn and had locations. From Manhattan Service Day as principal important to give a little lunch with the residents, to Rome, alumni, of Presentation of the extra. It’s not just, ‘It’s employees and students BVM School in Jamaica, Service Day so I should turned out to volunteer NY. This year, fifth grade be of service.’ We should their time in the spirit of students from her school all try to help others St. Vincent de Paul by participated in a mock throughout our lives. helping those in need trial of the “Boy Who That’s what I feel I’ve with such activities as Cried Wolf” with School taken from Service Day creating gift bags for of Law faculty and and it’s very motivating.” hospitalized children, students allowing the visiting the sick and youngsters to learn the elderly and inmates at fundamentals of the legal
4 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Indian Society Celebrates by Nicholas Legakis ’97SVC
More than 260 guests Other scholarships will attended the 75th be given annually to anniversary celebration current Indian members of the Indian Society or descendants of past fraternity (Iota Sigma) brothers. Last year, in September at Staten members of the fraternity Island’s Hilton Garden raised over $100,000 to Inn where 150 brothers endow the fund and of the fraternity, with this year’s celebration memberships dating garnered more than Some of the members of the Indian Society and guests back to the 1940s, $18,000 toward the honor society on the pose at the gathering. Kneeling from l. are Bobby Colon ’81SVC; Paul Errigo ’90CBA; Sean Lando ’91SVC; came to honor John scholarship. Brooklyn campus and Anthony Marin ’03C; and honoree John Tutunjian. Tutunjian ’59UC (Pledge The Honorable Judge later became a fraternity First row standing from l. are Mike Magiulo ’08TCB; Class 1955) on his Adolph C. Orlando ’47L which relocated to the scholarship recipient Michele Burfeind ’09TCB; Bob accomplishments and his (Pledge Class 1939), the Staten Island campus in Dowdy ’74NDC; Vickie Cueter, wife of the late Peter 50 years with the group. oldest living member of 1971 boasting more than Cueter ’75P; Anthony Brienza ’66UC; and John Barbagallo ’84CBA. Back row standing from l. are The first awards of the the fraternity, addressed 500 initiated members Sly Willis ’92MBA; Gus Zacharakos ’84CBA; Ken Indian Society Alumni the gathering and today. Lewaine ’77NDC; Pete Dowd ’66UC; Nick Sitnycky ’66UC; Scholarship Fund were expressed how proud Frank Rourke ’69UC; Steve Spinelli ’79NDC; John presented at the event to he was to be an Indian. Grazioli ’80NDC; Mike DeVico ’82CBA, ’85MBA; and Joseph Walkin ’07TCB and The Indian Society was Fr. Eugene "Nick" Pappas. Michele Burfeind ’06TCB. founded in 1930 as an
Celebrating with Music Criminal Justice It was “A Summer Evening of Opera Classics” for the 7th Annual Summer Concert Professionals Hailed on the Great Lawn in August when more than 1,500 attended to hear the Queens Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Arthur Fagen, with tenor Over 200 alumni, faculty, students and friends Todd Greer and soprano Catherine Cangiano. Estelle Cooper, deputy attended the 7th Annual Criminal Justice Awards commissioner of parks for Dinner to celebrate the accomplishments of Queens, served as professionals in the field and provide a networking guest conductor. opportunity for students striving to become established in that field. New York City Police Department Deputy Commissioner Joyce Stephen was honored with the Criminal Justice Distinguished Leadership Award; Chief Philip C. Spinelli ’70UC, coordinator of counter terrorism in Union County, NJ, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award; Keith Carrington, director of the criminal justice undergraduate program, was given the H. Craig Collins Award; and Natalie Nieves ’05CPS, president of the Criminal Justice Student Association, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for Extracurricular Activities. Those in attendance included past honorees First Deputy Commissioner George Grasso ’84L, Chief Michael Scagnelli ’68C and James O’Keefe ’79NDC. Southeast Michigan Chapter Thrives by Jay Baxter ’59C
The Southeast Michigan Alumni touch with each other and bring Chapter was launched in 1997 and them up to date with what is has been going strong ever since. happening at the University. Geographically, it encompasses Meetings and events such as the Detroit area, south to Toledo cocktail receptions and dinners and west to Lansing, MI. There bring members together much are over 150 alumni in the like the one held this year at the Members of the Southeast Michigan Alumni Chapter area with the largest number Detroit Institute of Arts where gather at a recent meeting. concentrated in three areas – a presentation by one of the Bloomfield-Birming ham, museum’s curators and a tour of the chapter, contact Jay Baxter Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti and Lansing. the featured exhibit was included. at [email protected], call The purpose of the chapter’s To join future meetings and Ray Lipinsky at (877) 758-2586 or Active CHAPTERS activities is to put graduates in events or for questions regarding e-mail [email protected]
Members of the Richmond-Hampton Roads Alumni Chapter in Virginia enjoyed a day at the races in August at Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA, where they posed with members of their families and jockey Peter Sosa, Jr.
FAA Induction Members of the Queens Future Alumni Association met in April to induct new members and introduce their new board. Some of those in attendance included, from l., Barbara Kolodziejski ’08TCB; Iskrena Popivanova ’08TCB; Dwayne Punnette ’08C; Monique McCatty ’06TCB; Jeanette Awai ’08C; Keone Wilkie ’08TCB; Kaitlin McGovern ’08CPS; Denise Tulley ’06Ed; and David Yam ’05CPS.
6 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Bob Kovalsky’82CBA;andSteveScafa’81SVC. Richard Laskowski’66Ed,’70G,’72PD,’81Ed.D.; Jim O’Connell’76CBA;GregLaCasse’80SVC; Doug Latrenta’80CBA;SteveBingham Bill Sheridan’77CBA;WilliamPermakoff ’77Ed; l., Manhasset, NY. Enjoyingtheeveningwere,from in held inJulyatthePlandomeCountryClub for thebaseballprogramatBullpenGolfOuting More than180peoplecametogethertoraisefunds Garden City, NY. Cherry Valley Country Club in and ReceptionheldinJulyatthe the BasketballAlumniGolfOuting beginning withthe1940s,who attended were amongthesixdecadesof alumni, Michael Keilty’72CBA;andKevin Raftery’75C Peter Lamantia’72Ed;FrankHoehlein’72SVC; to theUniversity. work andaraffle garnereda$1,200donation League ofDouglastonsoldtheir Art National Neck weremodeled,apaintingclassfromthe of in Roslyn,NY, wherefashionsfromChico’s Luncheon Fashionand The LadiesAuxiliaryheldtheirannualSpring Art ShowattheSwanClub Great
COACH Programs WNEW Radio. Bill Schultz’86C,productiondirectorwith with IntegratedCommunicationsCorp.;and senior vicepresidentandassociatecreativedirector a reporterwiththe manager withABCsports;LarryCelona’78SVC, speakers included,froml.,BobGray’82CBA,senior discussed theircareerswithstudents.Guest where alumniandfriendsworkinginthemedia MTV Networks,WNBCandtheManhattancampus Communication CareerDayincludedvisitstothe The CountonAlumniforCareerHelp(COACH) Careers inCommunications Testani ’91C,’03GEdattendthe25 From l.,EdRom’91CBA,LauraCranston,R.Ph.’84PandChris DC Insider’s View of theWashington, D.C.,Insider’s ofthe View Capital attheQueenscampuswhere tours, a wineandcheesereception anda buffet dinnerwere held. New York Post ; Tom Clark’84Ed, th Anniversary Celebration Anna Papadopoulos ’96SVC, Laux ’93SVC also met her husband, Thanks for the Memories now a media director, says, “It Steven Laux ’94SVC, through the was great seeing old friends and club and learned so much on by Tara O’Grady ’94SVC, ’96GEd especially professors. It was also Friday afternoons producing the great to introduce my husband to weekly cable show, Redmen In the early 90s, the fourth floor of this part of my past.” For some, Magazine, that she later became Marillac Hall on the Queens campus the TV Club was, and still is, a a producer at CNN. She loved her held special significance for a passion. Former members recalled St. John’s experience so much that select group of students. It was editing shows and building sets she now shares her knowledge where members of the TV Club well into the night during a time with current students as an spent virtually all of their free long before they had dorms adjunct professor. “Chances are time. Today, many students and to return to. These devoted [alumni] will be meeting students commuters, in addition to in the working world someday,” obtaining careers in media, she says. “That's the thing about established relationships with their this huge city of New York — classmates who now work along you always meet someone side them in companies like NBC who was part of the St. John's and CNN. Michael Raguso ’94SVC, community, and that usually a member of the College of starts a new friendship.” Professional Studies alumni board, Whether alumni were members remembered commuting as a of the Chappell Players, the student from Rockland County dance team or a fraternity, there every day and not only volunteered is always an opportunity to his free time to learn how to work reconnect with people who a television camera, but also met helped shape them and who Some alumni who alumni are unaware of that corner and married his wife, fellow club made their time spent at St. John’s returned to the studio of the campus where careers in member Verusha Palczynski ’97SVC. more enjoyable. “I enjoy coming for the TV Club reunion communications were built. “I went to school with a lot of back to the school,” Laux says. are, standing from l., Kim Perrone ’91SVC; It was on that top floor in April talented people,” Mike recalls. “Especially the fourth floor of Mike Hennelly ’01CPS; where some 50 alums, many from “It would be foolish not to Marillac because, in a way, it's Laurie Wiseman ’93SVC; the past decade, and their former maintain ties with them and like coming home.” Anthony Girgenti ’79SVC; professors reunited in the television learn from their experiences.” Bob Gray ’82CBA; and studio to reflect on their memories, Some alumni stay connected Anthony Defonzo ’88SVC. Sitting, from l., are their years in the profession, by acting as mentors to current Annette Lellis ’92SVC and career histories and introduce students and by remaining active Brenda Barry Laux. old friends to new ones. in the organization. Brenda Barry
SI Hits The Links
Over 100 golfers turned out for the 26th Annual Sipp/DeStefano Golf Outing in July at the South Shore Country Club on Staten Island to benefit the Sipp/DeStefano Scholarship; the Indian Society Alumni Scholarship; the Eleanor Proske Scholarship; and the Sigma Chi Upsilon Scholarship funds. A day on the greens was concluded with a dinner attended by 155 guests where John From l., Victor Ramos ’91CBA, ’93MBA; Pat Bean ’80CBA, Barbagallo ’84CBA; Thomas Joyce ’73CBA, ’88MBA; Ron Mazzucco ’73L; Crystal Vera ’07CPS; and Kristy Horning ’06CPS enjoy the outing. ’77MBA; Edward Skirde ’67UC; and Linda Walsh ’02C were honored.
8 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine up front
Lending Many Hands
Helping those in need is one of the things a 20 percent discount on books and supplies school,” says Fr. James Maher, C.M. ’84C, that the St. John’s community does best, from campus bookstores. They also met vice president for student affairs, who adds so it is no surprise that those affected by with representatives from the Freshman that none of the students required housing Hurricane Katrina were welcomed with Center who helped them arrange their as they were all able to find accommodations open arms in the days and weeks following schedules and who organized a special with friends and family. The scope of tragedy the devastation as relief efforts gathered orientation and meet and greet. Jacqueline inflicted by Hurricane Katrina posed special momentum on various campuses. Grogan, senior associate director of the challenges for those who were displaced, Thirty-four students from universities and Freshman Center, says most of the students especially the inability to share information colleges in the Gulf Coast region including: are carrying a full course load of 12 - 18 quickly. But Matthew Whelan, director, Delgado Community College; Dillard credits and needed all of the services undergraduate admission, says word spread through the University and National Catholic College Admission Association Web sites that St. John’s was willing and able to accommodate those who were forced to flee. “The parents we spoke to were extremely relieved and some were astonished at the gesture,” Whelan says. “We are trying to mimic their schedules as closely as possible had they been able to remain at their schools.” Both Whelan and Maher stress that
A team of students works with Habitat for afforded an enrolled St. John’s student. Humanity at Rockefeller Center to build a home “Every department just stepped up and said, that was shipped to the Gulf Coast. ‘Whatever you need,’” Grogan states. “Everything was networked with other University; Loyola University-New Orleans; departments so that the students could Southern University; Tulane University; be easily integrated into the St. John’s University of New Orleans; and Xavier community.” There was even a special chat University transferred tuition free to room set up on St. John’s Central, the St. John’s for the fall 2005 semester. student intranet, so the hurricane The displaced students, from various years survivors could stay connected. of study, were enrolled at their respective “The mandate was to do colleges and universities when the hurricane everything we could within our hit and were left without a place to continue power to keep them in studies. Their move north included more than free classes as each received laptops, Andrew Chabalko ’07TCB assistance from the Counseling Center, gives blood during a drive at Campus Ministry and Student Affairs and the Manhattan campus. up front
officials made clear to the temporary students a “Skip-A-Meal” program, where lunch money a bake sale, a barbeque and a clothing and that their time at St. John’s is simply a stop- could be donated in turn for soup, bread and critical items drive. At the Manhattan campus, gap measure until their home schools can water and worked with Habitat for Humanity members from Student Life organized a recover. “It is not our goal to recruit these to rebuild homes. Additionally, 25 student blood donation drive, a collection of school organizations donated supplies and “Drop Your Change, Change a a portion of the money Life” stations. All tolled, nearly $10,000 was raised from their collectively raised and donated to organizations fundraisers to the such as the American Red Cross, the St. Vincent St. Vincent de Paul de Paul Society and the Salvation Army. Society hurricane Book bags filled with school supplies at the relief fund. Manhattan campus were pledged to Grace At Staten Island, Baptist Academy in Houston, TX, for children fundraisers included evacuated to that area.
Some student members of the St. John’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. students,” Whalen adds. “Rather it’s to provide them a place to continue their education until they can return to their home institutions.” And, according to Maher, there were four Gulf Coast-native students already enrolled at St. John’s who also received financial assistance, academic and social support similar to that offered to the displaced students so they too could remain in school. Community support and fundraising activities were held at the various campuses to aid the many other victims of the natural disaster. In Queens, members of Greek Life raffled a reserved parking space and representatives from Campus Ministry organized a prayer service, coordinated At the Staten Island campus, students sell T-shirts to aid victims.
10 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Caring for the Forgotten Ones by Snejana Farberov ’06CPS
Being professors at St. John’s is not all that bonds Annalisa Sacca and Umberto D’Arista — they are both native Italians and good friends of many years who share their devotion to the Vincentian spirit of charity and their passion for education. These forces propelled them to make the life of one forsaken Ecuadorian community better. Inspired by their philosophy that “a shared life is the only one worth living,” Sacca and D’Arista established a nonprofit organization called Frates in 2003 to help tribes in Amazonian Ecuador while facilitating academic research. Frates, which is Latin for “brothers,” started accidentally in 1997 when D’Arista, an adjunct professor of languages and literature, took a trip to Ecuador and purchased 120 acres of the Amazonian rain The Desideri Center. forest in order to save it from destruction by logging companies. From there, one good justice. “When my husband died [in 2000], deed led to another. I wanted to do something in his memory,“ During subsequent visits, D’Arista got to says Sacca. “He was very humane. Peace know the indigenous people of the area and and justice — that’s what he was all about. their everyday struggle including malnutrition, He was for the world,“she reminisces. staggering poverty and the depletion of their The small staff of the Desideri Center, natural resources. He began to contribute his located on the fringe of the rain forest near own money and seek additional funds to the town of Puyo, consists of skilled volunteers improve their situation. “All my life, since I in the medical and educational fields and are was a child growing up in Naples where many often joined by D’Arista himself. They provide people are not rich, I wanted to do something many primary services and supplies to the [to help] because I was surrounded by poverty,“ tribes including nutritious meals, medical D’Arista explains. It wasn’t long until Sacca, assistance, hygiene classes and professional associate professor of languages and literature training, but recognize the importance of and an accomplished poet, joined her long-time avoiding complete dependency on their friend and colleague in his effort to make a assistance. One of their primary objectives is difference in the lives of some 300 indigenous to enable those who benefit from the work people who belong to the Vencidores, Nuevo of Frates to adapt to the world by becoming Mundo and San Pedro tribes living in the part self-sufficient and free of the vicious cycle of Amazonian Ecuador that has been devastated of poverty, ignorance and unsustainable by deforestation over the last 20 years. development, says D’Arista. To that end, She financed the construction of the they sponsor a hotel management course, Desideri Center, the centerpiece of Frates, language instruction, culinary, woodcarving in memory of her late husband, Francesco and pottery classes to provide the indigenous Above, Annalisa Sacca presenting the Center’s Desideri, a poet, journalist and former securities people with real skills. “We want to train them identification plaque and, below, Umberto executive, who spent his life fighting for social D’Arista (standing rear) with local children. so they won’t need us anymore,” adds Sacca.
Fall/Winter 2005 11 up front
of the doctors who regularly meets with the tribes is Didier Lacaze, an expert in herbal medicine, who teaches the locals about the healing properties of medicinal herbs and their uses — an ancient knowledge lost to the younger generation of tribal members but one which remains vital to their survival simply because they do not have a free access to pharmacological cures in the form of pills and injections. The importance of Frates is not restricted to just its charitable endeavors in Puyo. There are also invaluable opportunities for faculty and student research in the fields of anthropology, medicine, sociology, pharmacy In classes at the Center, natives learn how to make pasta (top), pottery (below) and speak and environmental science. Dr. Barrett Brenton, English (bottom). an associate professor of anthropology and Despite future possibilities, the three balanced meals to the local children twice a social science, was the first to recognize the tribes still live in rudimentary huts in harsh month, financed the cultivation of vegetables academic possibilities that Frates offers. Last and solitary conditions with limited access and built a community oven. “We built an summer he traveled to Ecuador to work with to supplies needed to meet their basic oven to teach them how to make pasta, the three communities supported by Frates as needs. One of the greatest concerns is the part of his project studying the anthropology malnourishment of their children, most of of food and health and international health whom show signs of stunted growth and and nutrition with a concentration on the impeded cognitive development due to the link between food security and sustainable lack of vitamins and nutrients in their sparse ecological development. These tribes are at the meals. Consequentially, many of Frates’ funds very bottom of the socio-economic scale, partly are directed toward introducing the tribes to due to their remote location and partly due to new and diverse foods. Frates founders and a lack of adequate education and resources. volunteers have facilitated the purchase of “They are the poorest of the poor,” says staples such as rice and sugar, opened small Brenton. “And that’s what I think is so great chicken and rabbit farms, established a food about the work of Frates. They are working with distribution program serving healthy and the groups that are really in the most need.” pizza and bread — especially bread so they Students are also offered a rare chance to can sell it,“ explains Sacca. To encourage gain first-hand experience conducting classes proper hygiene, showers and bathrooms in the breathtaking rain forest with free room were constructed and access to supplies such and board. “I definitely try to encourage as toothpaste, soap, aspirin and cough syrup students to volunteer,“ adds Brenton. “I really was made available. want them to do service learning. To blend Frates staff also facilitates a free medical together maybe a course in ecology, where program where a team of 10 doctors and they learn about tropical ecosystems, along nurses provide ambulatory services to the with international development, if even for natives twice a month and are occasionaly just a couple of weeks.” Of the future goals joined by the recognized health leader in of Frates where students can get involved are Ecuador and anthropologist of Andean the expansion of the food program and the populations, Dr. Fernando Ortega, from the planting of new crops to help transform the University of San Francisco de Quinto who pastoral villages of the tribes into an attractive currently conducts research in the area. One site for the development of agro- and eco-
12 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Development of the State of Amazonas (CODEAMA) to subcontract, for a small fee, monthly monitoring services by professionals who permanently reside in the country. “It’s absolutely essential,” says D’Arista. “CODEAMA helps us manage [the work] and provides us with monthly reports while we’re away.” Based on the critical situation of the tribes, which D’Arista defines as being “between nothingness and eternity,“ Frates must succeed or, as he points out, “it would have been better if we didn’t start at all.“
Opening ceremonies at the Desideri Center.
families and friends. The other 60 percent come from monthly and annual fundraisers. “We have been given so much, we have to give back,” says Sacca in her melodic Italian accent. “We are trying to catch people between the cracks. The forgotten. A group of people who have to learn how to survive.” Both Brenton and D’Arista have prospects for grants in the near future and, according to Brenton, the long-term perspective on the Dr. Ortega examines a patient. future of the three tribes is cautiously optimistic barring any unforeseen disaster tourism in the region. To encourage this, in the region similar to the African AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. This past year, Frates tribesmen and women would participate in Above and below, local children happily professional training and acquire the necessary has co-oped with the Commission for the show off their gifts and supplies. skills in English and computer literacy to communicate with future visitors and tourists. Meanwhile, Brenton makes a point of incorporating his findings into his curriculum. “I teach a course on human origins and human variation, and a lot of it involves human nutrition,“ he states. “I try to get students interested in groups like Frates to either support them or understand why [tribes] are the way they are and how they adapt to their environment.” Like other reputable charities, nearly 100 percent of all donations to Frates go directly to the people with the most need. In fact, nearly 40 percent of operating funds come personally from D’Arista, Sacca and their
Fall/Winter 2005 13 up front
Helping the Smallest Victims
Abused and neglected children ranging in clinic and attend a two-hour seminar, but that representing children goes far beyond age from newborns to 18 years old who they often put in much more time conducting the courtroom,” says Hughes of this holistic require legal representation are given a voice research, writing legal documents and meeting approach adding that fine arts students just by those that have their best interest at with their clients. conducted a painting workshop to provide heart thanks to a new School a recreational outlet for the of Law program. young clients. The Child Advocacy Clinic, Because the children meet launched this fall, is comprised with the student litigators, of eight law students who act educational and psychological as advocates for children consultants at the clinic on involved in Queens County the Queens campus, it was court cases that range from important to Hughes that, domestic violence to excessive in the midst of all of the corporal punishment and procedural facets of their educational neglect. cases, that they also have fun. Theresa Hughes, director and Belanna Lauto, associate co-founder of the clinic, says professor for the Department the students work in teams of Fine Arts, says the painting of two to provide the best workshop was a pilot program representation to their young with the possibility of becoming clients. “We are here to a service learning project for advocate for the children’s the art students. “When [the wishes and in their best children] are in the process of interest,” says Hughes, who these hearings, we thought it is also an assistant professor would be good that they have for clinical education. “The an outlet through arts,” students are considered law Lauto says. “We would like guardians to the children.” to see [the workshop] grow Hughes explains that these into a once- or twice-a- children are legally considered semester event.” indigent, therefore they lack the ability and Caring for the best interests of children Virtually all of the cases are referred financial means to hire their own attorney, includes a multidisciplinary approach at the to the student clinic by authorities at the yet they must still be represented in their clinic. For example: a psychology student Queens Legal Aid Society. Tamara Steckler, own cases. “If a parent had to hire their pursuing a Ph.D. conducts assessments of the attorney-in-charge at the Juvenile Rights
“We are here to advocate for the children’s wishes and in their best interest. The students are considered law guardians to the children.” child’s attorney, it would be a conflict of the clients, reviews reports and makes referrals Division (JRD) for the city of New York, says interest,” Hughes says. “Our aim is to really when necessary; a master’s student in education the clinic provides a service for attorneys, the provide depth more than breadth so that we acts as a consultant for the educational needs students and the clients. “It helps the JRD don’t take on more cases than we can handle. of the children; and graphic arts students are attorneys because the students can pick up We want to be able to serve our clients as assisting in the design of an informational the cases and it helps the clients because the well as possible.” Each week, the students brochure directed at older children to help students have the energy and the dedication,” are required to work at least 13 hours at the them understand the legal process. “I think Steckler says. “It also gives the students a
14 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Good Neighbor Indeed feel for public interest law. It’s the hope that Making a good school even better. That’s the mantra being shared by St. John’s [this clinic] will create a cadre of dedicated and a neighboring middle school in support of a new initiative aimed at providing interest-law attorneys.” Kim McLaurin, an enhanced education for students from both. attorney-in-charge of the Queens Legal Aid Society, JRD, says she has full faith in In June, the University adopted George J. Ryan Junior High School in Fresh the student attorneys under the supervision Meadows, Queens, also known as JHS216, as part of an ongoing cooperative project of clinic director Hughes. “It helps that to strengthen student performance. Jerrold Ross, dean of The School of Education, Theresa [Hughes] did this type of work,” says the partnership is the first between a private university and a public school in McLaurin says. “She works the cases with the students, closely supervising them, so New York City and was initiated at the behest of Schools Chancellor Joel Klein. they are learning while the client is getting “The chancellor feels, as do I, that wherever a university sits in a community it good representation.” should stand as a resource to that community,” Ross says. “It’s a good school, and Stephanie Tabone ’05L, a third-year law the motto that we have adopted is ‘Making a good school great.’“ student who works at the clinic and who According to Ross, the school had some trouble in the past meeting academic also participated at the Elder Law Clinic run by the School of Law, says she welcomed standards and having The School of Education come in to help is being deemed a the opportunity to work with younger win-win situation for both the students of JHS216 and the future teachers currently clients. “I am very much interested in matriculating at St. John’s. “There will be professional development for the teachers this type of work,” the 24-year-old says. and a range of activities for the children,” Ross says. “Our faculty and our students “I’ve always known that I wanted to do something with my law degree that could will be able to learn from the successes of the program and develop new strategies help children. My mother was an educator, from being in real-school situations.” A comprehensive implementation plan is so I grew up in a child-friendly home,” being formulated that will include administrative assistance, course creation and Tabone states that working with children an after-school program for the middle school students that combines literacy also means learning how to relate to them practices with games so that learning becomes fun. There will also be a focus on and having the utmost sympathy for what they have experienced. “The most enhancing the school’s three-themed academies — Arts and Humanities, Law and challenging thing sometimes is just hearing Justice and Health and Environment. about what they are going through,” she Principal Reginald Landeau, Jr. will himself receive mentoring from a School of says. “We have a lot of resources available Education administrator as it is only his second year as principal at the school of to us, but it’s still very different dealing with a child than it is [working on a case] with an approximately 1,400 pupils. Landeau says it’s an exciting time at JHS216 with the adult.” As part of their preparation, students planned involvement of the University. “They are going to help us [formulate plans learn and practice child-interviewing skills to] work with at-risk children, improve teaching methodology and provide our and at their weekly seminar, they are taught teachers with professional development,” he adds. And, Landeau muses, it will essential legal skills and substantive areas of give him a home-field advantage to check out local teaching talent. “We are looking law required in client representation. The students also conduct a peer education to start almost like a farm school where we will be able to identify some of the program where they counsel groups of best minds in education before they can get away from us,” he says. “They will teenaged foster children about their rights already have had exposure to how great our school is.” And that is yet another while living in foster care. There are plans perk for all involved in the program. for those teens to in turn participate in a once a semester town hall meeting in Dean Ross says University officials will be closely monitoring the partnership to Manhattan with other foster children their determine if similar projects will be launched with other schools in the future. age and younger to share what they have learned.
Fall/Winter 2005 15 WHILE GROWING UP ON HER FAMILY’S FARM IN LONG ISLAND, LINDA SANFORD ’74ED, ’98HON LEARNED ALL ABOUT THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF NATURE. THERE WAS A TIME TO PLANT AND A TIME TO HARVEST, A TIME OF GROWTH AND A TIME OF RENEWAL. PERHAPS THAT IS WHY SHE SO INTIMATELY UNDERSTANDS THE NATURE OF BUSINESS AND HOW EVERYTHING FROM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TO REORGANIZATION IS CULTIVATED AND SOWN. AND, IF THERE WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF A FARMER’S ALMANAC FOR THE CORPORATE CLIENT, SANFORD WOULD BE A CONTRIBUTING AUTHORITY TO THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY BE ON THE HORIZON AS SHE HELPED PLANT THE SEEDS THAT SHAPED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT BROUGHT THE WORLD MARKET CLOSER TOGETHER. TODAY, INDUSTRIES AND CONSUMERS ALIKE ARE EVER MORE AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN THIS TIGHTLY-WOVEN ECONOMY. TECH AND TODAY’S
As some American industries shift to our clients and to our customers. New skills a company that add value. In a more global recruitment practices, there is and new capabilities become what is required world where MP3 players, laptops concern over the potential effects of overseas and the best thing for us to do here in the and wireless reign supreme, outsourcing — especially tech jobs — and over United States is to keep ourselves skilled and competition is as fast paced and as the weakening of the economy from the loss retooled on an ongoing basis.” rapidly evolving as the technology of home-grown technology and materials Words of wisdom from a woman who has itself. There are few better suited development. But where some worry, Sanford born witness to change, and is now affecting for navigating and interpreting sees opportunity for growth. “We are going it. As the senior vice president, enterprise on that landscape than Sanford who, from one age to another age, and what demand transformation & information in her more than 30 years with happens is we go through angst and fear,” she technology for IBM, she is responsible for IBM, has excelled and steadily says. “That’s what a lot of people are worried leading the metamorphosis of this industry risen through the corporate about, that jobs are going away. What has powerhouse by transforming their core business infrastructure to become one of happened here in the United States in the past processes, creating an IT infrastructure to the highest-ranking women in when we went from the Agricultural Age to support those processes and helping to build the technology industry. She the Industrial Age and to the Information Age a corporate culture that recognizes what has done it by following the is that we have spawned new innovations, we on-demand leadership can bring — a focus very framework she advocates have found new ways of delivering value to on the efficient and adaptable activities of to be successful, which also CHANGE MARKET mimics her thoughts on the ideal business my background,’” Sanford now recalls. “I really letting them know what our requirements are, model — stay pliant, stay informed and work credit my experience with math at St. John’s as what the hot skills are today and what they hard. “Businesses need to be positioned in a launching me into a career where I brought a will be tomorrow so academic institutions can way that they cannot just react to change that set of skills and capabilities that I have used plan for those things.” She credits St. John’s for is occurring, but anticipate it,” she says. “So throughout my career.” being proactive in its desire to be cutting edge. we have to be much more agile, much more Her personal experiences are one of “They are one of the universities around flexible and, at the same time, deliver the the reasons why she is so passionate about the world that is at the forefront in the resiliency that a business needs to deliver.” education. In addition to being a trustee for use of technology,” she says, citing the laptop The corporate world has indeed changed alma mater, she chairs The Business Council distribution program and the wired campuses. since Linda Sanford entered it. Anything solid of New York State, Inc. and previously served “I think they have attacked it as a sort of three- needs a firm foundation and hers was growing as chair of its Education Task Force, which is legged stool, the tools, the network access up on a potato farm with four sisters who all responsible for developing and promoting the capability and the actual embedding of the technology into the learning process itself, “NEW SKILLS AND NEW CAPABILITIES BECOME WHAT IS and that type of combination will make for a very powerful set of skills for St. John’s REQUIRED AND THE BEST THING FOR US TO DO HERE IN graduates as they go into the workforce.” For the woman who received a full scholarship to THE UNITED STATES IS TO KEEP OURSELVES SKILLED St. John’s, education is key, especially in the creation of a skilled employee pool and, by AND RETOOLED ON AN ONGOING BASIS.” extension, better business. “It’s very important for our educational systems around the country excelled at, and later majored in, science and business community’s views on education and and around the world to provide continuous math. She credits her parents and her daily workforce training issues. She spoke on their education —not just for the students who are chores with instilling in her the rudiments of behalf last year before the New York State there for the next four years, but for ongoing discipline, working cooperatively and problem Board of Regents about the role businesses can education of the workforce,” she reflects. solving, which all have served her well. play in improving education, the challenges It is essential, in her view, for businesses A star in the classroom from an early age, the companies face in today’s global economy and to also be as committed to evolving and then Linda Szabat arrived at St. John’s intent the Council’s education reforms. “I honestly collabor ating to remain competitive. “Change on teaching math until the department’s think businesses have an obligation to play is not only happening faster, it’s happening in chair intervened by loaning her a book on a very strong role in terms of keeping our more unpredictable ways,” she says. “It used to operations research that showed her the educational systems up to speed with what be, you could look out 10 years from now and practical applications of the subject in the skills are required,” says Sanford. “It’s an kind of predict how businesses would go and business environment. “I went home that obligation for us to be very tightly working you would be set for those 10 years and there weekend, I read through that book and I came with the educational institutions around the may be slight variations along the way, but not back and said, ‘That’s what I want to do with country and around the world, constantly very much. You can’t do that anymore. Future
The extremes in technological advancement go from the Babbage Analytical Engine 1 (r.), a general-purpose calculating machine invented in 1833 and functionally similar to the modern day computer, to the IBM 300mm semiconductor wafer (in hand) which is diced, packaged and incorporated into a wide range of products from cell phones and printers to supercomputers. Wafer photo by Tom Way, courtesy of International Business Machines Corporation. Unauthorized use not permitted. Way, photo by Tom Wafer 18 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Left: The Szabat sisters from l., Kathy, Linda, Laurie, Mary and Eva (on lap). Above: Linda as a member of the President’s Society (fourth from right). Right: With daughter, Cathi, at her St. John’s 2003 graduation.
is two, three years out in business now — not delivers business value,” she explains. “Not just St. John’s and to follow in her footsteps as a 10 to 15.” The good news, she adds, is that the a faster box, not just a slicker design, not just a successful career woman. “She definitely has technology now exists for companies to be cheaper product, but that there is real business been a huge influence,” says Cathi, who also more nimble and forward thinking. “There’s value. That I can look the head of a client’s began her studies as a math major before been a very strong shift away from proprietary supply chain in the eye and say, ‘We’ve been switching to marketing. “She’s a great role model solutions and technologies to open standards,” able to help you reduce your inventory by having seen all that she has accomplished.” she says. “And it’s open standards that allow a couple of weeks,’ or I can look at another Even more impressive than her career is her you to connect, disconnect and reconnect in client’s sales force leader and say, ‘We’ve mother’s ability to always put family first and new ways in responding to changes in the been able to help you drive X percent more make Cathi and her brother, William, a priority. marketplace. It used to take years to tear revenue for your business.’” “Balance is the thing that a lot of women have down the old system and build up a new one Sanford draws on her many years of to deal with,” Cathi adds remembering the to support that change but you don’t have that experience in several high profile executive basketball games her mother organized and luxury of time any more.” positions within IBM for her current role which coached when she was younger. “But she was Such a skilled assessment is the hallmark she has held for the past three years. It is a always there for the important things and I of a dynamic business leader who looks to challenging job for even the most seasoned never felt like she was away at work too much.” introduce sustainable ideas that formulate veteran, but Sanford is more than up to the Sanford continues to mentor both men and business solutions and who is entrusted to task thanks to her drive and her ability to women at IBM where she counsels them to roll help shape a culture shift at such a venerable command the respect needed to get others up their sleeves, reminds them to work as a team company. “We don’t change just to change,” on board. Her acumen has won her acclaim and to always, always be themselves. “Don’t Sanford says of her employer. “We change throughout the years including the honor of think you have to be someone else other than because our clients, our customers, our being named one of the 50 Most Influential who you are,” she offers, especially to young competitors have changed.” Part of that shift Women in Business by Fortune Magazine, one women just starting out in her field. “Use your includes a more technologically-savvy consumer. of the Top Ten Innovators in the Technology natural instincts and abilities and it will take Earlier in her career, as senior vice president & Industry by Information Week Magazine, one you a long way.” She recently completed Let group executive, IBM Storage Systems Group, of the Ten Most Influential Women in Go to Grow: Escaping the Commodity Trap Sanford oversaw the develop ment and Technology by Working Woman Magazine with co-author Dave Taylor, a book aimed marketing of the Enterprise Storage Server, a and a recipient of the University’s Spirit of at helping companies find growth in the age massive computing and data storing system Service Award presented to individuals whose of this ultra-competitive time by helping known as “the Shark,” and became savvy at vision, accomplishments and good works executives let go of traditional management evaluating business-to-business need and embody the essence of St. Vincent de Paul. styles in favor of focusing on their strengths, demand. “[Customers] know what’s out there,” Having enjoyed her career immensely, she partnering with other firms and creating a Sanford says. “They know what the technology now focuses on helping young women find workplace culture that fosters and rewards can and cannot do and they know what their their futures in math and science. One young collaboration, productivity and innovation. It’s business priorities are.” Consequently, the onus woman who is profoundly affected by her is just one more way Linda Sanford is sharing is now on the provider to quickly assess their her daughter, Cathi Sanford ’03TCB, who her wisdom and contributing to the dialogue client’s needs and provide a benefit to their works as an executive services assistant for of the changing tapestry of business in America, customer base. “I think the biggest challenge Oppenheimer in New York City and who and the scope and practical use of technology is being able to demonstrate that technology says she was inspired by her mother to attend in the classroom and the workplace.
Fall/Winter 2005 19 Li fe G o e
s
F
u
l
l
C
i
r
c
l e An oasis — that’s
what she set out to create. A place she
would have wanted for herself when she was young to avoid the curious stares when she had to stop suddenly to eat, when the incessant questions became too much and where
she wouldn’t be treated like a fragile piece of china. She was
determined to spare others as best she could, even if it was
only for a few days each summer. Neither inexperience nor a
lack of funding, not even the fact that she had no role Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty ’04G, ’05Ph.D. model in this venture, would stop her from doing what was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 11. Her mother, while studying to be a she felt compelled to do. Her dream was, in reality, dental hygienist and practicing data collection for a patient’s medical history, first discovered a need not yet being fulfilled by other, more her daughter’s illness. “She was using me as a test patient and I was answering ‘yes’ to all of the questions mainstream organizations. related to diabetes,” the 28-year-old McAuliffe-Fogarty now recalls. “All I knew about diabetes was that there was a character in the Babysitter’s Club books that had it. I started taking daily injections and back then, the diet was very strict.” From the start, she remembers being more fearful of her parents’ reaction than she was about the actual diagnosis. “When your parents are crying and upset, it’s scary,” she says. “I just wanted them to be OK, so I learned to inject myself that first day.” They, in turn, taught their daughter to fit diabetes into her life rather than structure her life around the illness. Others were not as progressive in their thinking. “There were a lot of misconceptions and fears about diabetes, so sometimes teachers and school nurses didn’t understand,” she relates. “They didn’t want me Alicia to go on field trips or a substitute teacher wouldn’t understand McAuliffe-Fogarty. why I would have to have a snack during class. No child wants to be different, and that’s what makes it difficult.” Rather than just accept these reactions as inexperience, the then 14-year-old Alicia set out to change it. She sent a letter to schools in her district offering her services as a speaker and educator, which was so well received she was soon addressing classes and giving demonstrations about living with diabetes. She voraciously read and researched all she could on how to educate others, and started a support group and peer counseling for kids like her. Word quickly got out about the well-spoken young advocate, and by the age of 17, she was invited by members of the local Lion’s Club to attend an international diabetes conference in Sweden and, later, The American Diabetes Association sponsored her to act as a state representative at a conference in Washington, D.C., where she shared her story with national politicians. Such exposure allowed her to make connections with health professionals and researchers who stoked her interest in activism. In some ways, it was an extension of what she had done at age 14 when she sent that letter to the schools. It was a bold move for a young teenager and, four years later, she took an even more audacious leap that has paid off and benefited hundreds who know exactly where McAuliffe-Fogarty is coming from. The Circle of Life Camp in upstate New York is the culmination of her avidness, empathy and drive. The non-profit, overnight sanctuary is for children and young adults with diabetes who, for a few days each summer, get to focus on being youngsters rather than on their disease. She knew that other camps existed, but she used her imagination to develop a curriculum that perfectly balanced the medical needs of the campers with fun activities and sought funding from local businesses, grants and foundations like Ronald McDonald House. “I did my research, I got insurance and I ran the first camp with 22 kids and 10 staff members, a nurse and a doctor,” reminisces McAuliffe-Fogarty. “The camp was modeled after my philosophy which my parents shaped — you can do anything you want to do: canoe, swim, play. You just have to check your blood sugar and take your glucose tabs with you. I created the camp the way I would have wanted camp when I was a child.” It was an ambitious undertaking for a teenager, but it flourished and is now in its 10th year, currently located at Camp Scully on Snyder’s Lake in North Greenbush, NY. any health professionals say that diabetes is being seen in almost epidemic proportions today. According to the American Diabetes Association, 20.8 million Mpeople suffer from it with nearly one-third unaware that they even have the illness. Children frequently suffer from Type 1 diabetes where the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, which allows blood sugar, known as glucose, to enter the body’s cells where it is used for energy. Type 2 diabetes is often referred to as “adult-onset diabetes” and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or loses its ability to efficiently use insulin. In the past, Type 2 was rarely seen in children but that number is increasing due to what some experts believe are poor dietary habits and the lack of exercise seen among many of today’s youth. The condition is associated with an increased risk for a number of complications including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness and amputations, and the treatment for both types includes diet, exercise, monitoring and management of blood sugar along with regulated doses of insulin. So prevalent a disease today that there are a plethora of books, magazines and Web sites devoted to lifestyle changes and even a television show — “dLifeTV” on CNBC — aimed at helping people manage this condition. Such resources were not as readily available when McAuliffe-Fogarty was growing up in Albany, NY, and she is determined to provide some extra help, especially to parents who are grappling with the same issues hers were when she was young. Daniel Collins has been attending the camp since he was first diagnosed at the age of nine. Now 16, he serves as a counselor in training and his mother, Debbie, says he enjoys helping the younger children. “He said that one of the highlights of his time there this past summer was helping one of the campers give himself an injection for the first time,” she recalls. Collins wasn’t always so enthused about the camp. Her son’s diagnosis came as a shock as there is no history of the disease in her family, and the last thing she wanted to do was send her son away when they were so sensitive to his newly-discovered illness. “Everyone kept saying, ‘Send him, it will be a great break for you, like a mini-vacation,’” says Collins. “I felt like he couldn’t take a break from it so why should I. But once I sent him and he had so much fun and came back so happy, I had no problems sending him again.” There are two camp sessions for about 100 children ages 8-15 who are cared for by a round-the-clock volunteer staff of camp counselors, doctors and nurses. The campers awake early and come together as a group to check their blood sugar and administer their insulin. Each child
22 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine brings their medicine from home and decorates their own medicine boxes. After breakfast, campers are awarded prizes for FIRSTs, an activity they do for the first time such as injecting themselves or injecting at a different location on the body, and later fill their day with crafts, activities, periodic snacks and blood sugar monitoring. There are evening break-out sessions for the teenaged campers where they discuss topics including dating and the effects of stress on diabetes followed by a dance and snacks. Staff members check the campers blood sugar every two hours throughout the night and radio those numbers to the overnight nurse who then advises them on what to do if the number is too low. It may sound regimented, but former camper and secretary for the camp’s board of trustees, Danielle Unser, says she previously attended a day camp which was much more structured and a lot less fun. “Alicia’s camp is more focused on the campers building relationships with each other,” says Unser, 23, who volunteers at the camp and first met McAuliffe-Fogarty 12 years ago. “I truly adore camp and it’s the closest thing you can have to getting a day off from diabetes.” Jacquelyn McComkey, 15, has attended the camp for five years and says she “feels like a normal person” there. “It’s so difficult trying to explain diabetes to someone, and you feel like you are answering the same questions all the time,” says McComkey, who is now a counselor in training at the camp. “I like being able to go there and, in a way, forgetting that I have diabetes.” nderstanding the stresses of a family coping with diabetes has guided McAuliffe- Fogarty’s career path. At 21, she authored the book Growing Up With Diabetes: UWhat Children Want Their Parents To Know (Wiley, 1998) to help educate and promote her philosophy — one she also incorporates into activities at camp — of allowing children with diabetes to have as much normalcy as possible. That conviction lead her to pursue her next personal challenge of getting an advanced education in the clinical child psychology program at St. John’s where her study, “Psychosocial Functioning and Regimen Adherence in Adolescents with Diabetes,” won a $15,000 Rebecca Routh Coon Student Research Grant. “It’s rare to have a student enter the program with such clearly- defined career goals,” says Alice Pope, associate professor of psychology and McAuliffe- Fogarty’s mentor for her master’s thesis and dissertation. “She’s dynamic, she’s very, very smart and her dedication is everything.” Today, McAuliffe-Fogarty draws on that dedication as she balances a Pediatric Psychology Doctoral Fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine where she hopes to stay on as the coordinator of a diabetes intervention program. She also envisions expanding the Circle of Life Camp to include a 50-bed, year-round residential facility for the treatment of children ages 7 - 18 who have difficulty managing their diabetes and/or psychological problems originating from having the disease and is in contract to buy a 372-acre site outside of Kingston, NY, to serve as its permanent home. To reach her goal, she organizes fundraisers such as celebrity cooking competitions held the past two years at Carmine’s Restaurant in Albany, NY, and a celebrity cook-off held in Westchester, NY, gets lots of help from family including her husband, her younger sister and her parents (her mom is the camp’s cook) and relies on referrals and media coverage to promote the camp rather than paid advertising. She has no choice but to rely on the generosity of others as she reinvests every available cent back into the camp. For anyone else, raising millions of dollars for a center and a camp might seem a Herculean effort, but McAuliffe-Fogarty has her eyes on a bigger prize. “My focus is that, until there is a cure, we are going to keep these kids happy, healthy and well adjusted,” she says. “They deserve that.” That means she’ll keep contacting any and everyone she thinks can help, and she’ll do whatever it takes because she’s come so far and she knows what it’s like.
Fall/Winter 2005 23
FULFILLING THE DREAM
supporting academic excellence
THE CAMPAIGN FOR ST. JOHN’S – FULFILLING THE DREAM, THE SECOND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
UNDER FATHER HARRINGTON'S LEADERSHIP, WAS ANNOUNCED IN 2002 WITH A $200 MILLION
GOAL. THE GOAL WAS RAISED TO $250 MILLION IN 2004 AS A RESULT OF THE EARLY SUCCESS OF
THE INITIATIVE. THE CAMPAIGN WILL CONCLUDE IN MAY 2006. FUNDING HAS BEEN EARMARKED
FOR SUCH TOP PRIORITIES AS SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT; FACULTY RESEARCH; ACADEMIC PROGRAM
INITIATIVES; FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS; AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS THE SECOND IN A THREE-
PART SERIES ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN WHICH EXPLORES HOW ACHIEVING OUR GOAL WILL FULFILL
THE DREAMS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHN’S FAMILY — STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND ALUMNI.
by Thomas Burke ’68C, ’71G t the heart of any great University is its teaching A and learning environment. Fulfilling the dream at St. John’s means giving students the best learning tools and
the best professors who are themselves engaged in scholarship.
This message has resonated with individuals, corporations and
foundations that have provided campaign gifts in support of
enhanced facilities, instructional technology and innovative
educational programming, which combined have significantly From l., Drs. Liaw, Flannery and Trombetta. altered classroom instruction.
Fall/Winter 2005 25 Dr. Maura Flannery has seen many of own personal wireless laptop, earning construction for our students and faculty. these changes since beginning her career as the University a spot on Intel’s “Top 10 We’ve already built a brand new research lab a biology professor at St. John’s 34 years ago. Most Unwired Colleges” list — the only for three new faculty that we hired last year.” Now the director of the Center for Teaching university within the New York City area He credits members of the Science and Learning, she marvels at the significant to be so honored. Advisory Committee with making good use improvements that have taken place during Flannery pointed to the library as of the University’s additional funds secured the past few years, especially the introduction another major area in which technology through campaign contributors. “We of leading-edge technology. “I think for has substantially altered the learning modernized techniques in the laboratory most faculty, including myself, having what process. She noted that the days of students where, by using laptops and some pretty is called podium classrooms, where the lining up to wait for materials placed on sophisticated software, we are now able to computer is at the front of the room, has reserve by their professor are a thing of make our physiology experiments more made a big difference. Because the computer the past thanks to an innovation called up-to-date and involve more critical thinking is tied to the Web, you can use it in a variety e-reserves. “Before e-reserves, the student than we did in the past. We’re very strong of ways during class. I find that very helpful would have to go to the reserve room and on laboratory instruction at this University. in my teaching. ” wait to look at the physical article, of which We believe that the only real way you learn Flannery recalls the days when a lack only a few copies were usually available. science is by hands-on experience. You have of technology in the classroom limited the Now, a professor can put those same articles to eliminate scientific illiteracy, and this is scope of material which could conceivably be on e-reserve and the students can work at one of the ways we can do it.” covered within the context of a traditional their own computers and either read their Some academic programming funded lecture format. She is quick to point out that materials for the week or print them out to by the campaign often gives students at St. John’s, those limitations are a thing of look at later. The library has done some opportunities not found at other universities. the past. “Since I’m teaching differently, I wonderful things with technology during Dr. K. Thomas Liaw, a professor in the find that the students are learning differently the last five or six years, and it’s made a Tobin College of Business (TCB), is the in the sense that it is easier for us to explore real difference for both the students and faculty member most directly involved with a topic in depth. I can also introduce a topic faculty.” She is the first to admit that students the Student Managed Investment Fund, visually in class to get my students interested, take the lead in embracing the University’s which provides real-world experience in and then they can follow up on it outside of burgeoning technology. “Since students are operations of a typical mutual fund to class on their own individual computers.” so willing to use it, I find that my pace with both undergraduate and graduate finance Vice Provost Dr. James Benson agrees trying new technology has also increased.” students. The undergraduate fund was that the most significant overall academic Improved facilities were cited by Dr. Louis initiated in 2000 and expanded to include enhancement is the use of computers within Trombetta as a major factor in enhancing a graduate component in 2002; the the entire educational process. “The Laptop classroom teaching in the sciences. A member combined funds have an asset base of Initiative,” he notes, “places a personal of the faculty for 27 years and chair of the nearly $1.8 million. A significant portion wireless computer into the hands of every department of pharmaceutical sciences for of these funds were secured as a direct result new entering freshman, and podium the past seven, Trombetta echoes Flannery’s of the capital campaign, primarily from classrooms and portable professor bring belief that the past few years have been alumni contributions. Liaw says the finance that technology directly and dynamically marked by tremendous improvements in courses associated with management of the into the educational process for every single academic life. “One of the biggest problems fund are among the most popular at the student.” By utilizing advanced computer we’ve had is [the lack of] teaching and college. “We offer two sections on the technology, Benson says the University has research laboratories. Our teaching has Queens campus and a section on Staten “…leveled the playing field, especially for changed dramatically over the years where Island in order to maximize the opportunities those students who may not have access to a we have much more emphasis now on for students to participate, since the computer at home.” For the past three years, areas such as molecular biology and bio experience has such great benefits for every entering freshman receives his or her informatics, so we need more laboratory everyone associated with it.”
26 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Those advantages include job leads for stress disorder. She is implementing Brondolo was awarded a NIH grant of students, professional placements upon programs to serve the under-represented nearly $2 million to expand her innovative graduation and the opportunity for students diverse populations of Queens and eastern examination of the health effects of racism to add hands-on experience to their Brooklyn by providing screening, evaluation on people of color living in New York City, resumes. Liaw notes that the firms hiring and treatment through collaborations with an exciting project made even more so these graduates also win since they have area hospitals and recruits graduate students by the enthusiasm her graduate and under- access to new employees whose specialty to assist in the management of research graduate assistants bring. “The students who training allows them to “hit the ground data, conduct interviews and take part in work with me are involved in absolutely running” from their very first day on the the actual clinical treatment. Undergraduate every phase of the research, from gathering job. Another benefit is that annually an students participate by educating the targeted data to helping with analysis and writing average of five percent of the portfolio value audiences on the project-related services grant requests,” Brondolo says. “They are is dedicated to scholarships for deserving available to them. “Many of the families the meaning of this to me. To watch them TCB students. Liaw notes that, since the which would most benefit from our develop and grow as researchers is very inception of the fund, this has amounted interventions are less than fluent in English,” exciting and completely why I teach.” That, to more than $180,000. notes Brown. “We have students who are coupled with the fact that her work so clearly While gifts from individuals and proficient in their languages, and we use dovetails with the Vincentian mission, is a corporations have been central to the them to make phone calls and engage in matter of great pride to Brondolo. “We are
“THE LAPTOP INITIATIVE PLACES A PERSONAL WIRELESS COMPUTER INTO THE HANDS OF
EVERY NEW ENTERING FRESHMAN, AND PODIUM CLASSROOMS AND PORTABLE PROFESSOR
BRING THAT TECHNOLOGY DIRECTLY AND DYNAMICALLY INTO THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.” success of the campaign, faculty themselves other forms of outreach to families who trying to use the methodology of science to have been actively involved in generating can benefit from our assistance.” understand the effects of social injustice and revenue through grants in support of their An $800,000 grant from the American poverty,” she says. “We are hoping that, in scholarly research. Many of these research Cancer Society has provided Dr. Ales discovering this, we can then find ways of projects provide significant opportunities Vancura, professor of biological sciences, correcting and improving people’s lives.” for student participation and also make with much-needed support to study the Diverse as their disciplines may be, all important contributions to the faculty complex methodology of cell division in his of these professors share an exceptional members’ disciplines. quest to understand, and ultimately inhibit, sense of gratitude to the many donors Case in point is a study being conducted cancerous cell formations. His research who have made the capital campaign such by Associate Professor of Psychology would not be possible without the assistance a tremendous success. They know that the Dr. Elissa Brown known as Community of outside resources. “Grants are essential,” generosity of these supporters has a direct PARTNERS (Prevention of Adverse Reactions Vancura says. “I spend about $30,000 a year impact upon the educational environment To Negative Events and Related Stress). on equipment and chemical supplies, and at St. John’s. “The changes that I’ve seen are Through support from two federal agencies that money is very much needed. unbelievable,” Trombetta adds. “We’re here — NIH and the Substance Abuse and Researchers who don’t receive grants really because we want to change lives, we want to Mental Health Services Administration — can’t conduct the experimentation that they make people better.” And every gift to the Brown’s project involves the prevention and need to and they cannot stay competitive.” capital campaign ensures that this goal is treatment of child trauma and post-traumatic Psychology Professor Dr. Elizabeth being met.
Fall/Winter 2005 27 campus briefs
Treasures Within: The Queens Library’s Unique Collections by Blythe E. Roveland-Brenton, Ph.D. ’00G
Libraries are at the heart of any reputable 16th-century volumes by Luca Pacioli, the institution of higher learning, but what father of accounting. often adds to their distinction are the As early as the 1940s, when various “special” items and collections that few, committees were charged with planning the if any, other schools and colleges own. new campus at Hillcrest, suggestions for the St. John’s is fortunate to have numerous library included a dedicated space for rare unique items available for study by students, books, Vincentiana, St. John’s history and faculty and visiting researchers that were a museum. When St. Augustine Hall was acquired over the course of its history completed in 1964, a special collections area through purchase and donation. Many of was incorporated and the Rare Book Room, these exceptional books, manuscripts, art designed and furnished during the mid 60s and objects are housed in Special through the mid 70s and known today as Collections and University Archives in Special Collections, was gradually filled St. Augustine Hall on the Queens campus. with existing library holdings and new Old and rare volumes, especially Bibles acquisitions. In 1969, the Office of and other religious books, were part of the Historical Collections emerged in the early library at the original Brooklyn campus library to house other rare items and had on Lewis Avenue and the Schemerhorn one director during its brief existence, Street campus housed, among other Dr. Irving G. Williams ’36C, ’38G, professor Title page from a 1523 edition of Luca Pacioli’s books, the notable Myer Collection of early of history and renowned scholar on the volume on bookkeeping. Myer Collection. publications on the theory, practice and vice presidency. Williams envisioned history of accounting, which were the building a collection of primary historical bequest of Joseph C. Myer, the first dean of documents to encourage research by students, collections through purchase and donation the School of Commerce (1927-34). Works faculty and other scholars. By the time of its including those written by U.S. presidents, in this collection span the 15th through early closing in 1971, he compiled an impressive vice presidents, congressmen, ambassadors, 20th centuries and include 15th- and early array of individual documents and manuscript educators, authors, religious leaders and other historical figures. Records of organizations like the American Friends of Irish Neutrality and the American League for an Undivided Ireland were also acquired at that time. The holdings of the Office of Historical Collections were transferred to the newly-established University Archives where they remain today. Other manuscript collections have come to the University since then including papers of political figures like Governor Hugh L. Carey ’42C, ’51L, ’67HON and other prominent figures such as James Needham ’51CBA, ’72HON, former
Incunabula Bible from 1492. Rare Book Collection.
28 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Letter dated 1691 written by Giovanni Francesco Albani, who would later become Pope Clement XI (1700-1721). Halpern Collection. chairman of the New York Stock exchange, surprised to find that St. John’s is the attracts researchers of the game from across and Paul O’Dwyer ’29L, lawyer, politician permanent home to the Fischer Lawn the nation and the world, decided upon and champion of civil rights. A collection Tennis Collection because of the University’s St. John’s in 1976. of documents written by popes and saints proximity to the site of the U.S. Open. Naturally, the bulk of the material in dating from 1256 through the 20th century Trustees of the William Fischer estate, not Special Collections consists of books. given by Congressman Seymour Halpern satisfied with the two previous hosts of the Aside from those mentioned already, other ’67HON offers students the opportunity to collection that consists of hundreds of specialized holdings include a Children’s examine a small sample of primary papers publications, photographs, scrapbooks and Historical Collection, which has at its core not ordinarily accessible to them. documents on this popular sport and a group of 19th-century children’s books Over the years, assorted non-book donated by Anne Thaxter Eaton who was material found a home in Special Collections once an instructor in the library science including religious and other art as well as program, and the Heller Collection of 18th- like works by noted photographers such as and 19th-century volumes about stenography Garry Winograd, donated by Theodore and shorthand given by Dr. Saul Heller. L. Barba ’65P. A large collection of The Rare Book Collection, comprised majolica pharmacy jars, together largely of religious works includes with related artifacts and books, three incunabula (books printed during donated by the family of Lucy and the infancy of Western printmaking Edward Carofano, is a treasure trove before 1500) and one of 10 extant for serious students of the history of copies of the third edition of the Saur pharmacology. And people are often Bible printed in German in 1776 in Pennsylvania. The British used most of One of two 16th-century Venetian majolica the copies for litter for their horses and pharmacy jars donated by Mrs. Edward Carofano paper for their rifles, hence this edition is in 1969. Hundreds more majolica jars and pharmacy often referred to as the Gunwad Bible. The related artifacts and books were later donated by the family. Carofano Collection. University has been fortunate to see this
Fall/Winter 2005 29 campus briefs
costs for the receiving library. Old and rare items have particular preservation requirements that call for accommodations with appropriate humidity and temperature controls and staff time is required to process, catalog, develop guides that outline their history, contents and notable facts and maintain them so that they can be found and used by researchers. These days, such items are often digitized so that they will be accessible to many more people, contributing additional costs. But the gems that do become part of the University Libraries provide Unidentified women tennis players, Hartford c. 1886. Fischer Collection. opportunities for scholarly research and enjoyment by book collection grow through generous general library visitors, are used as teaching donations of rare works from many tools and bring prestige to the institution. friends, particularly alumni like the Some donors are alumni and faculty Hon. James F. Tierney ’39C, ’41L, and while others are friends who simply wanted Dr. Robert J. Cascio ’56C, ’60G. The most recent acquisition, the Gottscheer Heritage Preservation Collection, began to take shape in 1997 with items donated by representatives of the Gottscheer Relief Association of Ridgewood, Queens, with the encouragement of William Schauer ’50C, ’52L. The Gottscheer people emigrated from a German-speaking district of the Austrian duchy of Carniola, now part of Slovenia, and many settled in Queens. The growing collection includes published sources and some documents and photographs concerning the history, language and culture of the Gottscheers. Of course, not all that is old, unique or rare belongs at our University. Academic A page from a facsimile edition of the earliest libraries evaluate potential new additions known Christmas book published in the according to acquisition policies guided by United States (1821). curricula and institutional mission. While Children’s Historical Collection. gifts that fit within a library’s collecting scope are always appreciated, donated items, A Japanese crepe paper fairy tale book, especially those that belong in Special printed in the early 20th century. Collections or Archives settings, involve Children’s Historical Collection.
30 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Page from Samuel Henry’s American Medical Family Herbal (1814), which reported on the “medical virtues of the plants indigenous to Detail from a 19th-century the United States of America.” Ethiopian painting depicting Carofano Collection. the story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Gift of Stanley Slotkin. to find an appropriate home for their items. It would be impossible to do justice to such numerous and varied collections or mention all the generous donors in this brief overview, but perhaps this glimpse into the wide-ranging materials represented in these library departments will inspire readers to explore the University’s holdings in more detail through their Web pages, online catalog or a visit to campus.
Dr. Roveland-Brenton is the University Manumission document Archivist. from Maryland dated 1784 liberating two slaves, James and Frances, upon Materials housed in Special Collections and the their 21st birthdays. Archives are available for study by members Historical Collection, University Archives. of the University community and visiting researchers. Appointments are recommended.
Fall/Winter 2005 31 campus briefs
Investigating Career Options
In an era of increased attention on national Prof. Barrett Brenton teaches principles different areas [of criminology],” Brenton security, and the red-hot popularity of of forensic science, environmental crime adds. “Our students go on to work in television shows such as “CSI,” criminology and crime mapping but says he informs his homeland security, in immigration and and forensics have taken center stage and students right up front that the classroom at the FBI.” a St. John’s College master’s program is experience is not as intense as the cases they Marquis White ’05C, ’06G was completing answering the call for those whose interest see squeezed into one hour of television but his undergraduate degree in psychology when is piqued by such heady topics. he learned about the criminology The Criminology and Justice graduate program. “I originally graduate degree differs from the wanted to go into federal law master’s in Professional Studies in enforcement but I have so enjoyed Criminal Justice Leadership offered my classes, and now I am planning by the College of Professional on going into education,” he says. Studies in that the latter is geared “I would like to get my Ph.D. in toward students already in the criminology.” He states his most criminal justice field who are interesting course so far was a pursuing management or executive class he took on terrorism taught positions. According to St. John’s by Prof. Harvey Schlossberg, the College Associate Dean Frank former director of psychological Biafora ’95C, his school has crafted services for the New York Police a different curriculum. “Ours is Department and a noted terrorism an academic track, theirs is a expert and pundit. “He undid all professional track,” Biafora says. of the stereotypes about terrorism “Theirs is designed for those and told us what was really going who already have professional on,” White says. “It’s learning in an experience working in the field interesting environment like that. and they take courses in such I have gotten a better understanding subjects as leadership style, budgets, and discipline with all of the evaluations and research.” Students required reading.” pursuing an M.A. in Criminology Stephen Rapp ’97SVC, ’05G and Justice instead take classes completed the degree this year in subjects like social research and is currently working in the methods, criminological theory and computer technology field. He says statistics for social sciences and can “Our students go on to there are now more courses available opt for electives such as forensic since he graduated and he is happy to psychology, terrorism and white- work in homeland security, see the program thrive. “It’s doing well collar crime. Biafora adds that he sees and I would like to see it develop to an increased interest in such topics in immigration and include more internship opportunities,” partly due to the public’s fascination Rapp says. “There is interesting with criminology and the heightened at the FBI.” course work for this degree and you awareness of our post-September 11th learn a lot of theory.” society. “It’s amazing how television and the that the field itself is as fascinating and Biafora says he hopes to see interest in media help to push students in the academic highly valued in solving crimes as portrayed the degree grow and that there are plans to arena,” he says. “[Hollywood] has done a in the media. “Our program is really trying develop a post-graduate forensic certificate tremendous job of making students more to capture students from various backgrounds for those in the psychology field that want aware of the advances in criminology.” who have an interest in working in all to serve as expert witnesses in court cases.
32 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Pharmaceutical Front Lines
A partnership between a dedicated alumnus Education Institute, where professional compliance — making sure they are taking and alma mater has resulted in a unique education, research and community outreach their prescriptions. Being able to have the opportunity for students to gain firsthand programs are used to further awareness of level of direct, daily contact with patients knowledge of what a career would be like and increase training in this specialized who, for example, have HIV, hepatitis or in urban health care and how to be of field. Dean Robert Mangione ’77P, ’79GP, need dialysis, is unprecedented for a recent service to some of the New York’s most ’93PD, ’99Ed.D. says that because of the graduate, she says. “Exposure to inner-city vulnerable patients. school’s location in a thriving metropolis medicine is in and of itself priceless,” she John Navarra ’67P, founder of Town made up of a variety of residents, adds. “I am able to interact more with the Total Health in New York City, has including those in urban areas who have patients and it’s really helping me learn partnered with the College of Pharmacy historically been underserved, it has long about the medications. I definitely wouldn’t and Allied Health Professions to form a been his desire to identify and address the have had this opportunity anywhere else.” new, one-year residency program in urban challenging health problems that plague Navarra says he values the education he pharmaceutical care. Navarra’s company the urban poor through the Institute’s received from St. John’s and is happy to specializes in pharmaceutical services and offerings. “We see that there is an unmet provide a place for Mena and other programs for health care professionals and need in providing services to many in students. “I think the program will also their patients such as disease management urban areas who may be the most in benefit [Town Total Health] because we and treatment adherence programs. He says need,” Mangione says. “It has been an will be able to gather information from that the Pharm.D. graduates who complete overlooked population. Mr. Navarra’s their interactions with the patients,” he the residency will have the benefit of his company services the economically says. “I was fortunate to do well in the company’s years of experience. “It will disadvantaged in urban areas by providing industry and with the experience I have enable them the opportunity to get involved exemplary health care. The residency will gained I felt the need to give back.” in a field I personally feel is the wave of the provide a student with advanced training Repre sentatives from St. John’s and future,” he says. “It’s a field that a person at and a wealth of experience.” Town Total Health comprise the selection this stage in their career wouldn’t ordinarily Navarra’s initial two-year commitment committee and, as part of the residency, have available.” allows one graduate per year to work at his participants will complete a relevant The program is part of the college’s company and Sysylia Mena ’05Pharm.D. is research project. Urban Pharmaceutical Care Research and this year’s resident working with patients on
Fine Arts Recognition
New York City is known as the hub of the art world, so it seems only natural that a metropolitan university would concentrate on attracting those seeking an arts major. Enticing such students is now much easier thanks to a prestigious accreditation of the Department of Fine Arts. Paul Fabozzi, chairman of the department, says the accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is evidence that “the program at St. John’s is on par with some of the best schools in the country.” “This is a pretty elite club,” says Fabozzi. According to NASAD’s directory, no other university programs in New York City or Long Island have the same accreditation. He credits key members of the department who worked over four years gathering data and preparing for site visits to prove that the fine arts program was worthy of such an accomplishment. As a result, there is now more opportunity to engage students committed to a career in the arts he says. “One of the major differences is that we will now get to attend NASAD-only portfolio recruitment review events,” Fabozzi says. “I would like to see a substantial increase in those interested in studying fine arts at St. John’s.” The current accreditation includes an associate membership with NASAD, which entitles the University to its many resources including an extensive library and institutional research and calls for reevaluation in five years. Fabozzi hopes to elevate that to a full membership, which means the school does not need to be reviewed again for 10 years, but to do that, several areas within the program would need to be addressed such as the addition of a full-time, tenured-track position in printmaking. “Success gives you more work to do, not less,” he says. “We are looking towards recruitment and a substantial facilities upgrade because our existing resources are more than 40 years old.“ The department currently includes classrooms and studios for creative photography, fine arts, graphic design and illustration. NASAD was founded in 1944 and is an organization of schools, colleges, and universities with approximately 248 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials and is the national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.
Fall/Winter 2005 33 campus briefs
Bricks & Mortar Update
Field House Opens to Fanfare
The band played on and cheerleaders revved up the crowd at the grand opening of the Taffner Field House on the Queens campus in September. The ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the building named for the family of generous benefactors Donald (’53C, ’89HON) and Eleanor Taffner ’94HON was attended by more than 100 students, administrators, faculty and alumni and featured remarks by Athletic Director Chris Monasch, Head Basketball Coach Norm Roberts and even student-athlete Andrea Peterson ’08CPS who expressed what the new facility means to her and her fellow students. “This building benefits us both athletically and academically,” she said in thanking the Taffners. “Success is not only based on talent, but also on having a support system.”
The new weight training room. The Taffner family and members of the University community pose in front of the building after the ceremony. A visibly-touched Donald Taffner spoke to those assembled and paid homage to other alumni who have supported the University. “It’s not what Eleanor and I did,” he said. “It’s what all of us who graduated from St. John’s have done.” The slightly more than 42,000-square-feet, two-story facility features recreational and varsity basketball courts, classrooms and study space, offices and a weight training room. It is adjacent to Carnesecca Arena, formerly known as Alumni Hall.
A ribbbon cutting ceremony officially opens the new Field House.
34 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine New Student Housing Gallery Gets Named
Two properties were purchased near Complex. Thomas Nedell, vice president In August, a ceremony on the Queens the Queens campus this year to provide for business affairs and treasurer, said campus marked the renaming of the additional housing for nearly 200 students both The DePaul Houses and The Seton gallery in Sun Yat Sen and much-needed space for some of the Complex are already at capacity and that school’s clinics. University officials are open to possibly Hall and the formal More than 80 students are currently obtaining more properties in the future. dedication of the housed in the newly-dubbed “The Seton “One of our issues is that we haven’t yet Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Complex” on Union Turnpike, less than a developed a series of mature off-campus Art Gallery in honor
of Dr. Yeh ’82HON,
chairman of Hsin
Chong International
Holdings Ltd. and
director of Hsin
Chong Land Co. Ltd.
in Hong Kong. Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Yeh is best known for at the ceremony.
having pioneered the introduction of the
hand-dug caisson foundation, slip-form
construction for high-rise buildings and
semi-mechanized construction of public
housing in Hong Kong. The Seton Complex mile from the campus. Student apartments housing,” Nedell said. “Our strategy is a are located on the second and third floors mixture of on-campus housing, mostly while plans are underway to move the for the freshman and sophomores, and Speech and Hearing Center, the Center for owning some off-campus housing as well Psychological Services and the University as providing referrals to students for other Reading Center to the first floor by January. housing opportunities.” Seton joins “The DePaul Houses,” a row The DePaul Houses are located at of 12 buildings containing three apartments 147-04 through 147-30 Union Turnpike each and accommodating over 100 students, and The Seton Complex is at is located just two blocks west of The Seton 152-11 Union Turnpike. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. said
aspirations are that the gallery will grow
The DePaul in prestige. “We want this gallery to be a Houses very big, small gallery, rivaling the smaller
galleries one finds in the city,” he said.
“Dr. Yeh's contributions will enable us to
host the caliber of exhibits we aspire to.”
Housed in Sun Yat Sen Hall, the gallery
has been the site of student shows as well
as high-profile exhibitions of local and
nationally-recognized artists. campus briefs
Celebrating Their Moment
The 24th Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend held in June was an event to remember for the 775 alumni, friends and family who participated. Class members from graduation years ending in “0” and “5” converged from near and far to reconnect with old friends and celebrate the “This is Your Moment!”-themed event on the Queens campus. Festivities began Friday afternoon with check-in at the dorms, the McCallen Society Annual Recognition Luncheon and ended that evening with the Alumni Convocation. Saturday was a chock full of activities including a Welcome Home breakfast, seminars, walking tours, barbecue, a wine tasting and a Skyline Brunch cruise. Kevin Reed ’75C attended the barbeque on Saturday afternoon and said he would encourage everyone to come out and visit the campus. “It’s amazing to see the progress the University has made,” he shared. Michelle Yen ’85CBA and fellow alumna, Tanya Robinson ’85C, said they felt it was time to revisit alma mater. “Twenty years is long enough,” Yen said. “I enjoyed the tour and we saw everything,” Robinson added. Saturday evening’s schedule included a special medal ceremony honoring members of the class of 1955, 1965 and 1980, a cocktail reception and Gala Diner Dance held in Carnesecca Arena, decorated to showcase the Broadway theme, and special recognition of members of the class of 1930, ’35, ’40 and ’45. Honored with the Fidelitas Award, conferred upon alumni couples who attended the University at the same time, married and have consistently demonstrated their deep commitment to alma mater, were Roberta (’75CBA) and John Adamovich, Jr. ’75CBA, ’88HON and Catherine (’65CBA) and Dominic Camera ’64C. Dancing to live music was interrupted only by the presentation of the record-breaking $1.5 million reunion gift to Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. by the volunteer class chairs. Alice Zobian ’80CBA said she especially enjoyed interacting with members of the Future Alumni Association. “Seeing the students and how excited they are by what’s going on here is great,” she said. Barney Rosenstein ’30L traveled from his home in Sarasota, FL, because “my roots are here” he said. “At my age, it was a great effort but I wanted to come,” he added. Sheila Kearney Corrigan ’80C, ’86MBA said the event only added to the fond feelings that she has for the University. “I have really good memories of St. John’s,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many. The weekend wound to a close with a special Sunday Mass held in the new St. Thomas More Church and a champagne brunch in Marillac Terrace where additional medals were awarded. Jim (’60C) and Pat Murphy ’60Ed came from their home 20 miles south of Boston and said they welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with other alums and witness the changes at the University. “We were looking forward to seeing the church,” Jim Murphy said. “That was on the drawing board for a long time and it was great to see it come to fruition.”
36 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine campus briefs
A Vincentian Family
The Vincentian values that form the institute of academic excellence where than 30 years, he was the first president foundation of St. John’s have meant a young men were encouraged to fully of the Particular Council of Queens, and great deal to the students, faculty and embrace the teachings of St. Vincent de a president of the Board of Directors of administrators who throughout the years Paul, who devoted his life to the poor. the Catholic Home Bureau for Dependent have graced its hallowed halls. But for The senior Drennan did just that, Children. His son says he went about one family, the Vincentian way of life becoming a lawyer and New York City quietly serving others with no desire for also signifies a wealth of personal history Civil Service Commissioner before going recognition or reward. “He never wanted spanning three centuries, three generations on to serve as the executive secretary of the to take credit for anything he did for the and one beloved alma mater. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, executive Society even though he was the author of William D. Drennan ’56C has reason to secretary of the Superior Council of the many of its writings,” the younger Drennan speak with pride when revealing his fond Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the United says. “He was a dedicated Vincentian and I memories of his time spent at the University States. As a member of the Society for more remember that he and another gentleman because his family’s connection can would go out on Friday nights to be traced from the late 19th century check on families in the parish to the early 21st century. Drennan’s and deliver goods to them.” father, William P. Drennan, grew In 1932, when the pastors of up in Brooklyn, a community which parishes in Brooklyn and Queens nurtured him and where the church were organizing conferences to was deeply woven into its fabric, and tend to those in need, Drennan graduated from St. John’s College in became the first president of the 1895. “My father was baptized in Conference of St. Bonaventure. St. John’s parish,” Drennan recalls. An avid writer — he and fellow “It was an era when religion was 1895 graduates Paul Foley and central to your life.” Francis Uleau handwrote and So it stands to reason that since published a literary journal, the Drennan family valued their faith The FUD Times, (FUD standing as well as their education, St. John’s for Foley-Uleau-Drennan) while was an ideal place for the young undergraduates — Drennan wrote Drennan to pursue his higher and published The Vincentian education. Opened in 1870 Supplement as a supplement to at the request of the first The Catholic Charities Review bishop of Brooklyn, and his mini-essay, “I Am The Bishop John Loughlin, Poor Box,” implores the reader the then St. John’s to recognize that “I am the poor College had a mission box, all alone in the Church. to educate the poor and Please remember me.” immigrant population in So highly regarded was Drennan the area. Within a few that he received a citation from William P. Drennan years, it was known as an as a young man. St. John’s in recognition of the Golden Jubilee Medal presented on the 50th anniversary of his graduation. In the citation, it is noted that “Throughout his life he has been actively engaged in the charitable and magnificent work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society” and that “For his magnanimous and indefatigable work, for his own personal sanctity and “My father was baptized in St. John’s parish…It was an era when religion was central to your life.”
– William D. Drennan ’56C
Regrettably, William P. Drennan didn’t live to see his son attend his beloved alma mater and would have been equally proud to learn that his grandson, William T. Drennan, also attended St. John’s in 2002 and 2003, thanks in part to a St. Vincent de Paul scholarship. Today, William D. Drennan heads up Drennan Communications in East Kingston, NH, and has enjoyed a career working as both an editor and literary Sis. DeChantal and Fr. Michael Drennan outside of St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. agent. He remembers fondly his time at the University as one in which he was ideal Catholic life, he has been recognized encouraged to develop his own opinions by his church.” and where he found the same nurturing and William Drennan was not the only spiritual environment his dad did. He says member of his family whose life was entwined with the Vincentians. His brother, Drennan in his 50s. Rev. Michael Drennan, C.M., also attended St. John’s College and was ordained in 1892. He later became president of another his father often expressed a desire to learned center of Vincentian education, leave this earth on the day that marks th Niagara University, and served as its 10 the Feast of the Immaculate president from 1912 -1917. Known for Conception, and indeed died his wit and oration, he did much to on that very day in 1945. popularize the school and instituted "My father was a constant a policy of admitting day students inspiration," Drennan now from Niagara Falls and surrounding says. "He had considerable areas. He later taught moral theology talents, he worked diligently at St. John’s Seminary from 1917- and he had values which he 1921. William and Michael’s sister, passed on to me." Josephine, also felt called to the church and became a Daughter of Charity, an order co-founded by St. Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. As Sister DeChantal, she served for many years at St. Agnes William D. Drennan (r.) and Hospital in Baltimore. And cousin, son, William T. Drennan, Rev. Arthur DeChantal Hamilton, C.M., today. served as dean of the College of Business Administration at Niagara University.
Fall/Winter 2005 39 For a comprehensive look at what’s going on at
+ happenings St. John’s, surf the interactive calendar at www.stjohns.edu/alumni You can even register for an event online or forward event information to a friend. Here are just a few upcoming activities:
events February 7 March 20 The Peter J. Tobin Inspiring Women in the Workplace College of Business COACH (Count on Alumni for MBA Open House Career Help) Program Queens campus Alumnae discuss achievements in the fields of law, communications, business, pharmacy and education. Queens campus
School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science
Insurance Leader of the Year 11 TH ANNUAL AWARD DINNER January 18, 2006 The New York Marriott Marquis The Board of Overseers honors Peter B. Lewis Chairman, The Progressive Corporation as the 2005 Insurance Leader of the Year
For Award Dinner information, contact: LORELEI ENTERPRISES (212) 838-2660 ext. 16
40 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine giving back
Record Setting President’s Dinner
More than 1,000 guests attended the 8th Annual President’s Dinner held at The Waldorf=Astoria in New York City in October to honor the alumni and friends receiving The Spirit of Service Award for their vision, accomplishments and good works which embody the essence of St. Vincent de Paul and reflect the mission of the University. This year’s honorees were Richard DeZego, senior executive vice president, commercial real estate, HSBC Bank USA, N.A.; From l., Spirit of Service recipients are Richard DeZego, Paula and Thomas McInerney and Mary P. Tobin. Paula McInerney, chief executive officer, Bluff Point Associates; and the formation of the Francesa Scholarship in an evening that highlighted the school’s Thomas McInerney ’64UC, ’01HON, Fund in honor of his late mother. Rev. Donald Vincentian history and spirit. “St. John’s general partner, Welsh, Carson, Anderson J. Harrington, C.M. proudly shared that the gave me a wonderful start,” he added. and Stowe; and Mary P. Tobin ’00HON. University’s enrollment is over 20,000, the “As an undergraduate, it taught me the The 2005 dinner co-chairs, Arthur highest in the school's history, there is an value of a sound education and going to Mirante II ’68L, ’98HON and William entering freshman class of over 3,100 and law school gave me the opportunity to work Collins ’76C, welcomed guests and thanked more than 20,600 applications were in a profession I love.” Robert Ashworth them for their generous support which received for admission this year. “How is ’73C said he felt fortunate to renew his exceeded a record-setting $1.7 million for the University doing,” Harrington asked relationship with alma mater. “The academic programs and scholarships. rhetorically. “Looking at these facts, one University has had a great impact on my Next, master of ceremonies and sports cannot help but conclude that the University life,” he said. “I feel like at this point in talk show host Mike Francesa ’77SVC is doing very, very well. St. John’s is what it my career, it’s time to give back.” It was introduced mini-biographies of each is because of the people who support it.” a sentiment echoed by his wife, Peggy honoree produced by the award-winning Tom Principe ’69C, ’73L said he Ashworth ’75P. “As we have come back A&E Television Networks and announced welcomed the opportunity to participate and gotten more involved, we realize how important St. John’s has been in our lives,” she added. Also on hand were hospitality management majors to both learn and assist. Members of the Hospitality Management Club gained valuable experience helping the event planners with setup and crowd flow. “Experience is the most essential part of education,” said club member Kara Barker ’07CPS. “You can learn about working in hotels and at events in class, but it’s different actually doing the work.” Christine Glueckert ’07CPS, president of the club, said the event was the perfect example of what majors can expect once they graduate and are working in the
Fall/Winter 2005 41 giving back
field. “Hospitality management is exciting and always changing,” she said. “There is a lot of preparation that goes on right up until the last minute.” Professor Heidi Sung, director of the hospitality management program, hotel, restaurant, sports, travel and tourism division, said the students were excited to volunteer for the hands-on knowledge gained from putting together gift bags, helping with seating and escorting guests to their tables. “This is a good fit because the University gets the additional assistance and our students in the program get to see what really goes into putting together an event.”
WELCOME HOME
The 25th Annual Alumni Reunion is scheduled for June 9 -11, 2006, and will be here before you know it.
If you graduated in years ending in “1” and “6,” this is your weekend!
Don’t miss this chance to reminisce with old friends, enjoy a summer barbeque, attend the Gala Reception and Dinner Dance plus the special alumni Mass and brunch.
Volunteers are needed to serve on the Reunion Committee and encourage fellow classmates to attend the event.
For more information, call (718) 990-1504, toll free at (877) SJU-ALUM, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.stjohns.edu/alumni Loughlin Membership Grows
The 15th annual Loughlin Society dinner was value in the tradition of held in October at The Sky Club in New Loughlin. “One of the York City where more than 300 members reasons I have gotten as of this prestigious group, along with their far as I have is because of family and friends, enjoyed spectacular alumni like these who were twilight views atop the MetLife Building supportive of students like while engaging in an evening of appreciation me,” she said. “I want to for their contributions to St. John’s success. continue to give back.” Loughlin Society co-chairs Antoinette The Loughlin Society (’82CBA) and Joe O’Connor ’82CBA proudly was formed in 1990 and is announced that membership participation made up of supporters reached an all-time high of 1,275 in the who give $1,000 or more 2004/05 fiscal year and graciously accepted toward the annual fund. the charge to remain co-chairs for the The Loughlin Associates coming year. “Those members contributed Program is open to alumni nearly $10 million, a striking reflection of within one to four years of the ongoing generosity which has always From l., student speaker Ian Pinnavaia joins Loughlin co-chairs graduation who contribute been so typical of the Loughlin Society,” Antoinette and Joe O’Connor. $150 or more, to those Joe O’Connor said. “We know that we speak within five to seven years for the entire St. John’s community as we most out of the St. John’s experience.” of graduation who contribute $300 or more extend a profound ‘thank you’ to our fellow University President Donald J. Harrington, and alumni to within eight to nine years of Loughlin members and especially everyone C.M. hailed the O’Connors for their hard graduation who contribute $600 or more. here tonight for your outstanding efforts in work. “I thank Joe and Toni for their Find out more about the Loughlin support of the wonderful things that happen great efforts and their willingness to take Society at www.stjohns.edu/giving every day at St. John’s.” on this task again,” he added. Ian Pinnavaia ’06CPS, a computer science Looking ahead, the major and member of both the Vincentian O’Connors said their goal is Initiative to Advance Leadership and the to increase membership and President’s Society, thanked those in overall revenue and continue attendance on behalf of all of the students efforts to encourage more who have received scholarship support. recent graduates to become “You are making an investment in all of us,” involved. Cindy Chen ’04L, he said. “It is through your generosity that one new member at the young people like myself are able to get the event, said she sees great
Fall/Winter 2005 43 alum notes
30s TIMOTHY CLOONAN ’62P retired as a colonel and physician after serving Point of View THEODORE ZOOB ’38L competed and won the 2005 as a Radiology Flight Commander National Public Parks Tennis Championships at Scalzi in the 81st Support Squadron, 81st Park in Stamford, CT, in the Men’s Age 90 and Over Medical Group, Keesler AFB, MS. tournament and is now ranked No. 1 in the country in this singles category. JACQUELINE JOHNSON ’62GNEd was named professor emeritus of nursing at California State University after retiring as chair of their nursing department. 40s DANIEL PALMIERI ’64C, ’65L, a former Nassau County JEROME BELSON ’48L, ’80HON court judge for Garden City, NY, who returned to private was presented by New York Mayor practice, was nominated to seek a second term by the Michael Bloomberg the Certificate of Nassau County Republican Committee at their annual Recognition Award on the occasion convention. of the 15th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act in PETER CLEMENT ’65G retired after 42 years of July for his leadership and contributions to the United teaching at Elms College in Chicopee, MA. Cerebral Palsy of New York City and the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York. SONIA NIETO ’65Ed received the 2005 English JUSTIN THOMPSON ’64C recently authored Language Educator Award from the National Council an analysis titled “Crime, Citizenship and Illegal 50s of Teachers of English. Housing in Huntington Station,” a study on community affairs that have the potential to affect DOMINICK CUTRONE ’51C celebrated ARTHUR KROLL ’65L is chief executive officer for th a broad range of Long Island issues, and as a result his 50 anniversary as priest of KST Consulting Group, Inc. in Hartsdale, NY, and was was invited to attend the 51st Annual National Our Lady of Grace Parish within the appointed professor of executive compensation at Diocese of Brooklyn in June. Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College in Baruch Business School in New York City. Carlisle Barracks, PA, to provide a civilian viewpoint on defense matters and to meet and exchange RICHARD TEGNANDER ’65C retired after 35 years from JOHN PALUMBO ’55C, ’66G, ’72Ph.D. is an associate the Nassau County Probation Department in New York views with the nation's future military leaders. professor of history at the College of Staten Island and and now writes mystery novels based on his past cases. Thompson, who is active in community affairs and received their Dolphin Award in June for being named spent more than 25 years as a volunteer firefighter professor of the year. CHERYL COSCIA ’66C, ’72Ed.D. retired after 39 years in both Rockville Centre and Halesite, NY, was one in higher education as an associate professor of biology of more than 160 business, government, academic RICHARD NEROD ’59C was honored at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, NY, Suffolk County and community leaders chosen to participate. in April at General Motors’ (GM) Community College in Brentwood, NY, and The American 10th annual Chairman’s Honors School of Paris in France. Program with the Chairman’s Career JOSEPH BRUNO ’68L, ’88HON is the commissioner of Achievement Award given to retirees DONALD COSCIA ’66Ed, ’68G retired after 39 years the Brooklyn-based Office of Emergency Management whose leadership has significantly as a professor of mathematics at St. Francis College and an author of New York City’s Citywide Incident impacted GM and continues to inspire their global in Brooklyn, at Suffolk County Community College in Management System. workforce. Nerod is one of only eight retirees to ever be Seldon, NY, and as a graduate school lecturer at Stony recognized with this annual distinction since its inception Brook University in Stony Brook, NY. VICTOR VISCONTI ’68Ed, an assistant principal of in 1997, and the youngest among such other honorees as Centereach High School, received an Achievement a former chairman and vice chairman of the company. GERARD DREW ’66CBA celebrated 20 years as owner Award from Fordham University’s School of Education of AIA Minutemen Realty Inc., Cocoa Beach, FL, in July. Alumni Association for contributions to his community 60s and the educational profession. ALAN HARPER ’67Ed, ’72Ed.D., former principal of ANTHONY D’AURIA ’60C, ’67G was ordained at Elmont Memorial High School in Elmont, NY, was PAUL COLASONO ’69CBA, ’75MBA joined Franklin St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY, to the unanimously approved by the Elmont School District Credit Management Corporation in New York City as permanent deaconate and assigned to St. Thomas Board as their new superintendent. chief financial officer. the Apostle Church in West Hempstead, NY. ANTHONY KATKOWSKI ’67Ed, ’70G, ’77PD retired PAUL NAUGHTON ’69MBA was elected to serve from the Sewanhaka Central High School District in on the board of directors of SEMCO Energy, Inc., Sewanhaka, NY, after 37 years as a teacher in the Port Huron, MI. social studies department.
Fall/Winter 2005 45 alum notes
NICHOLAS PLAKORIS ’77SVC, ’83MBA is the Direct Success group development director for corporate marketing information/Time Inc. magazine and was appointed NORMA BECK ’67Ed.D. was honored by chairman of the College of Professional Studies’ her fellow theater arts students at Oxnard advisory board. College, CA, with a trophy for “Best Director of a One-Act Play” for her work ROSEMARY BERKERY ’78L, general counsel at Merrill on “The Gin Game.” Although she has Lynch in New York City, was featured in The Financial performed on stage with her drama class Times in May as one of the most influential executives and with the Rubicon Theatre of Ventura on Wall Street. County, this was her directorial debut. She would like to return to acting on stage ERICA GARAY ’78L, a partner and and screen, but will meanwhile continue corporate litigation attorney with Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein in her work as a clinical psychologist in Mineola, NY, was appointed to the private practice in Oxnard, CA, travel, board of Friends of the Arts, study and consider retirement – someday. Locust Valley, NY.
JOAN LaBARGE ’78SVC is the president and publisher 70s ANTHONY FRISCIA ’73MBA was appointed to the of Working Mother Magazine. board of directors for Superior Galleries, Inc. MICHAEL DeMICCO ’70Ed, ’84L was promoted to JAMES YEE ’78MBA was elected executive vice senior vice president and deputy general counsel for BRIAN GALLAGHER ’74Ph.D. was named to the president and chief information officer for UnionBanCal New York Life Insurance Company in New York City. TyRx Pharma, Inc. board of directors in Monmouth Corporation and its principal subsidiary, Union Bank of Junction, NJ. California, in San Francisco. SUSAN KROPF ’70Ed, president and chief operating officer of Avon Products, Inc. in New York City, delivered JOSEPH NIXON ’74Ed became pastor of Our Lady JAMES BAKER ’79CBA was promoted to head the labor the keynote address at the Health & Beauty America of the Assumption Parish in Copiague, NY. and employment section of the law firm Weiss, Serota, Expo in September at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Helfman in Miami, FL. Convention Center. THOMAS LaPERA ’75NDC, ’78GEd served as a probationary city firefighter at the New York City MARGREET CEVASCO ’79C, an interior designer, is MARY SCHAFENBERG ’70Ed, ’80PD was promoted to Fire Academy, Randall’s Island, NY. co-owner of CDXO Design Inc. in Sea Cliff, NY, and was principal of P.S. 76 in Long Island City, NY. a 2004 and 2005 recipient of Distinction Magazine’s ROBIN WINOGRAD ’75C won her third daytime Emmy Designer of Distinction award. ANGELO VESPE ’70C was selected to serve as assistant award as head make-up artist on the ABC daytime superintendent of schools in Stratford, NY. drama “All My Children.” JANET CITRANGLO ’79Ed, ’81GEd was elected to a three-year term with the Ringwood Board of Education HERBERT STUPP ’71C, ’75G, JAMES BRESLAWSKI ’76CBA was appointed president in Ringwood, NJ. chief executive officer of Little Flower and chief operating officer of Henry Schein, Inc., JOAN DELLA VALLE ’79PD, ’84Ed.D., the principal of Children and Family Services of New Melville, NY. York in Wading River, NY, was elected Otsego Elementary School in Dix Hills, NY, for over 20 years, was presented with the National Parent Teacher to the board of directors of Council ROBERT IANNIELLO ’76C, ’79G was promoted to Association Life Achievement Award for her commitment on Family and Child Caring Agencies executive director, research and development, strategic and devotion to children in June. in New York City. technologies, at Engelhard Corporation in Iselin, NJ.
PHILIP LOSCHIAVO ’79C, an Air Force colonel, RUSSELL BOVE ’72CBA was appointed as director of RICHARD (’76NDC, ’86HON) and LOIS NICOTRA ’77NDC, assumed command as project manager, navigations amateur scouting for the New York Mets in Flushing, NY. ’83GEd broke ground on their new property, the systems, and as program manager, user equipment Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel in Staten Island, which is Navstar Global Positioning Systems (GPS), at Los MAURICE LEWIS ’72C, ’83MBA was promoted to slated to open by summer 2006 and is near their first Angeles Air Force Base where he is responsible for all assistant chief transportation officer for capital programs hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield. and for the New York City Transit Authority in the Bronx. military GPS receivers. He also consults with Army product managers at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. THOMAS CANALE ’77CBA is a certified public JOSEPH CAMPISE ’73C was promoted to captain with accountant and partner at Canale & Tellekamp CPAs PAUL REILLY ’79CBA was named senior vice president the New York Police Department and is currently in Freeport, NY, and joined the faculty of The Peter J. to Arrow Electronics, Inc., Melville, NY. assigned to Brooklyn North which covers 10 precincts. Tobin College of Business as an adjunct professor of accounting and taxation. SUSAN SMITH ’79P was promoted to laboratory BARBARA CURIO ’73Ed is a manager of the executive supervisor of the evening shift at Winthrop University office at SourceMedia in New York City. Hospital, Mineola, NY.
46 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine WILLIAM GALARZA ’85L relocated to Venice, FL, and 80s Celebrity Chef started The Law Office of William Galarza. JOHN BOTTEGA ’80SVC was elected director and global head of product VERONICA GLIEBE-CROUCHER ’86GP & price reference data at Credit Suisse was promoted to director of health First Boston in New York City. safety environment communications for Sanofi-Aventis in Bridgewater, NJ.
ANA GUISADO ’80G received her Ph.D. from Drew University in Madison, NJ, and was a recipient of the ROBERT JURSIK ’86C, ’88G is a Mary Pennywitt Lester Dissertation Prize for her work claims analyst for CIGNA Healthcare, titled “Keats and Silence.” Hooksett, NH, was named the New Hampshire Knights of Columbus State ROBERT LAZARO ’80C is director Council 2004-2005 Knight of the of communications for Piedmont Year, is serving his second year as Environmental Council in Lessburg, a Knights of Columbus district deputy and became a member of the group of Knights who conduct Third VA, and was elected to the Purcellville SALVATORE SCOGNAMILLO ’85SVC is used to Degree exemplifications for the state. Town Council as vice-mayor for the cooking for the celebrity clientele at Patsy’s, the 2005/06 fiscal year. famed New York City restaurant where he is the MARK MIELKE ’86CBA is a Professional Golf chef, and he just may be on his way to joining KENNETH SIMON ’80L was appointed vice president, Association (PGA) head professional at Mill River Club in their ranks after appearing three times on the th worldwide taxation, for Herbalife Ltd. in Los Angeles. Oyster Bay, NY, and tied for 13 in the 2005 PGA Club television shopping network QVC and twice on Professional Championship at the Baltusrol Golf Club, the nationally-syndicated “The Tony Danza Show.” JOSEPH TARANTINO ’80CBA is the managing director Springfield, NJ. On QVC, he cooked Patsy’s Eggplant Parmigiana for Protiviti Inc., Northeast Operations in New York City. and for Tony Danza, fan and customer of Patsy’s, JOHN BARRY ’87CBA is vice president of wealth he cooked linguine and chicken picatta. SUSAN ANTONELLIS ’81C celebrated her 15th year as a management for USI of Southern California in clinical supervisor of audiology at the University’s Torrance, CA, and was named top producer nationwide Speech and Hearing Center. for USI Scudder Funds for 2003 and “top producer” LANA REIMER VOGEL ’82SVC won for Outstanding for USI Wealth Management Division for 2004. th BERNADETTE FORD ’81C, ’85L was appointed deputy Live Event Turnaround at the 26 annual Sports Emmy county attorney in Nassau County, NY, after 20 years as Awards for her participation in the telecast of the GERARD CIGNARELLA ’87P joined Acorda Therapeutics in th an assistant district attorney in Queens and received 28 Olympiad in Athens, Greece, by NBC Sports. Hawthorne, NY, as vice president of business development. her MA in theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, NY. MARGARET PONTERELLA ’83CBA is a seventh-grade JONATHAN SHAW ’87SVC is the director of marketing math teacher at Myra S. Barnes Intermediate School, communications at Carrier Transicold in Syracuse, NY, MAUREEN LICCIONE ’81L joined I.S. 24, in Great Kills, NY, and received a master’s in and was recently endorsed by the Central New York Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP, education in June from the College of Staten Island. Republican Party and the Onandaga County Conservative Garden City, NY, as a partner in Party as their candidate for the Syracuse Common the environmental and municipal ROBERT SAWICKI ’83CBA was promoted to assistant Council. law group. vice president of leadership programs and employee development at the Hartford Financial Services Group, TERESA VENEZIA ’87CBA, ’92L was elected to the Inc., Hartford, CT. partnership of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP ROBERT MOZDEAN ’81MBA was appointed to lead in New York City. the global human resources division for Overseas PHILIP DONNELLY ’84NDC, ’87L was promoted to Shipholding Group, Inc. in New York City. senior vice president of general council and secretary CHRISTOPHER YANKANA ’87MBA worked as of FINOVA Capital Corporation in Scottsdale, AZ. comptroller in the pharmaceutical industry and started MARK CORNETTA ’82SVC was promoted to president a veterinary pharmaceutical company called Amatheon, and general manager of Channel 9 News in Denver. MARK McALLISTER ’84CBA is an award-winning Inc. in Miami, FL. fund manager for Smith Barney Capital & Income Fund LISA LASAGNE ’82P is a clinical education consultant in New York City and was listed among the top five top MARTIN ERAZO ’88L was promoted to administrative for Pfizer Inc. in Mamaroneck, NY. scorers in the Barron’s/Value Line survey for managers law judge with the New York City Division of Human who added the most value in their respective fund Rights and is also an officer of the Minority Bar VIRGINIA PFEIFFER ’82CBA is a mortgage specialist categories over the past year. Association of Western New York, Inc. for Family Equity in Floral Park, NY. FRANK D’ALTO ’85CBA joined Sovereign Bank in ANTHONY NOTAROBERTA ’88SVC was appointed chief JOHN SULLIVAN ’82CBA was promoted to president Reading, PA, as a regional commercial executive to of police for New York City Health and Hospitals at of Norseland Inc., Stanford, CT. provide leadership in the north New Jersey market. Elmhurst Hospital Center, Elmhurst, NY.
Fall/Winter 2005 47 alum notes
CAROL SUMMA ’88SVC is a corporate parts manager BRIAN SMITH ’91C is a founding partner of the new ARCILIA GRACIA ’94Ed is a technology specialist at with Foley Inc., Piscataway, NJ. law firm Smith & Newman, LLP in New York City. P.S. 249, The Caton School in Brooklyn, NY.
JAMES APPIO ’89SVC was named director of operations CAROLYNE DeGRAMMONT ’92C is a program VANESSA LOPEZ ’94Ed is a fourth-grade teacher at for US Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, IL. director/clinical therapist at Queens Child Guidance P.S. 90, Bronx, NY. Center in Jamaica, NY. JOHN EGAN ’89MBA was promoted GEORGE NIBLOCK ’94SVC is vice president and half STACIE GRANT ’92C is founder to vice president, administration, partner of Friedman-Roth Realty Corp in New York City. for Assurant Asset Management in of C&G Enterprises in Cambria Heights, NY, and joined the Give ’N New York City. MATTHEW TURK ’94SVC is sports information director Take team as their event manager for college athletics at Simpson College in Indianola, IA, for New York City. and was honored in June when the 2004-2005 Simpson College Wrestling Brochure received First Place in Division III 2005 Amateur Wrestling News 90s CHRISTOPHER MAHER ’92CBA is Blue Ribbon Wrestling Brochure Contest. vice president/global implementations IVAN BLUMENTHAL ’90L was manager for JPMorgan Chase in named partner of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, JAMES CONROY ’95SVC is a special agent/criminal New York City. Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. in investigator for Trenton County Law Enforcement in New York City. Trenton, NJ.
BRIAN BROWNE ’93C, ’97G was promoted to assistant THOMAS GRIMES ’95C was promoted to director of vice president of government relations for the University. GREGORY CONNOLLY ’90CBA was promoted to sales and marketing for Medical Specialists Network assistant vice president for Informational Technology Imaging, Inc., Cleveland, OH. at Wachovia Bank in Charlotte, NC, and is a member JILL GRIFFIN ’93SVC is senior vice president and group account director of American Mensa LTD. KIMBERLY PINTO ’95NDC performed a dramatic for Media Contacts in New York City reading in May at Slither @ Starlight in New York City SANDRA LOPEZ ’90C is a medical biller at ASAP and was featured in an Ad Age to help raise money for the WOW Café. Billing Source in Tampa, FL. special report about women in agencies, marketing and media whose ANTON STUBBS ’95CBA returned JACQUELINE ROSS ’90C, ’93GEd, graduated with a accomplishments and potential demand attention. from his second combat tour in Iraq doctorate in education from Columbia University in in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom August. NAT PITTI ’93SVC is a co-owner of J&N Mechanical, Inc. in Brooklyn. and is now stationed at the Naval RICHARD ATKINS ’91C, ’93Ed.D., ’05GEd founded Surface Warfare Center in Indian ImprovingCommunications.com, a company that CLAIRE FICARRA-GOHN ’94Ed.D. is assistant principal/ Head, MD, where he serves as the provides corporate and individual training in dean of students at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in supply officer for the Chemical Biological Incident management, selling, customer service, public Hicksville, NY. Response Force. speaking and professional/personal development.
SONIA BLANGIARDO ’91SVC was hired as a director for Mission of the Heart the CBS daytime drama “As the World Turns” and was previously an Emmy-award-winning producer for ABC’s The first-ever medical mission to “One Life to Live.” Sassier, Haiti, arrived in March 2005 and along with it came powerful tales JAMES GOLDRICK ’91CBA is vice president of New of those so badly in need of treatment York Business Development Corp’s satellite office in they walked over an hour to reach the Melville, NY. make-shift clinic, and some so ill they had to be carried. MARLIE HALL ’96SVC, JOSEPH OLIVA ’91CBA, ’94L was promoted to general a Haitian-American herself, gives voice counsel at St. John’s University. to the stories of these doctors and patients in “Mission To Sassier,” a MICHAEL REPOLE ’91SVC is executive vice president for Energy Brands, a Whitestone, NY-based company feature-length documentary she wrote, which produces a line of Glacéau waters. produced and directed since appearing as host of the Food Network’s “Recipe JOSEPH SANDERLIN ’91C, ’93G is taking a break from For Success” program. She increased awareness of her movie at a benefit screening in September at working in the publishing and legal technology sectors to musical duo Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar in New York City and is submitting the project for screening attend Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, CA, where at several upcoming film festivals. he is pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology.
48 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine PETER TUTRONE ’95SVC, ’97MBA is a programmer and math teacher in the Prall Academy of Engineering and The Glamorous Life Enterprise at Prall Intermediate School, West Brighton, NY, and is a member of the sports committee and a DONALD DASZKOWSKI ’98NDC (r.) was Catholic Youth Organization varsity basketball coach surrounded by stars in August when celebrities at St. Charles R.C. Church, Oakwood, NY. like Usher (l.) and Nelly Furtado flocked to his temporary DASZIGNer Lounge in Miami’s JASON BUERKLE ’96CBA is controller at RF/Binder Catalina Hotel prior to the MTV Video Music Partners, Inc. in New York City and was elected social Awards where gift bags and merchandise chair for Fordham Business School, also in New York. from his fashion boutique, Daszign New York, were distributed. His brother and business THOMAS DALY ’96NDC is a corporate litigation partner, WALTER DASZKOWSKI ’94CBA, is consultant with Jacob, Medinger & Finnegan in co-owner of both their boutiques permanently New York City. located in Miami and Staten Island.
HEATHER PASTORE ’96SVC, ’03GEd is a full-time tutor at the Huntington Learning Center in Staten Island.
SUSANNA AUYEUNG ’99NDC is a paralegal with the TOWUANNA PORTER ’96Ed, ’00GEd is a coordinator of 00s law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walter in the Central Advising Center at the New York Institute of New York City. Technology, Old Westbury, NY. VINEET CHANDER ’00CPS is the associate director of communications for the International Society for Krishna GINA BARA ’99P is a physicians assistant with the FR. ROBERT REPENNING ’96C was ordained in 2001 Consciousness in Clifton, NJ. surgical intensive-care unit of Staten Island University for the Archdiocese of New York and is serving as a Hospital, Ocean Breeze, NY. chaplain for the 250th Signal Battalion, 42nd Infantry SALVATORE D’ALESSANDRO ’00C, ’04G is a New York Division at FOB Danger in Tikrit, Iraq, during Operation State-licensed speech pathologist; a speech teacher at LISA-MARIE BLISCHKE ’99NDC is an eighth-grade Iraqi Freedom. P.S. 36, Annadale, NY; an independent contractor for the English teacher at Bernstein Intermediate School, Visiting Nurse Association, Mariners Harbor for Sunny Huguenot, NY, and a head track coach at Michael J. ANTHONY YACULLO ’96P is owner/president of Days Inc. in Willowbrook, NY, and for the Volunteers of Petrides School, Sunnyside, NY. MEDICAP Pharmacy/Atlantic Apothecaries LLC in America in Tottenville, NY, a licensed real estate agent Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. with Abiding Real Estate in Staten Island; and a member LISA CAMERLENGO ’99C is a marketing of the Staten Island Board of Realtors and the American communications specialist at Alvarez & Marsal, LLC, Speech-Language Hearing Association. ANTONIA FATTIZZI ’97SVC was appointed district in New York City and an occasional freelance writer manager for Niebaum-Coppola Winery in Long Island, NY. for ClassesUSA.com. JOSEPH GALLANTE ’00CPS is a traffic coordinator, senior log editor, copy processor and billboard supervisor THOMAS GILBERT ’97C, MICHAEL GELFANT ’99C, MICHELLE CAPPELLO ’99C is an assistant director with for NBC’s Bravo Network in New York City. RONY MENDES ’00C and DONELSON THEVENIN ’00C the Toddler and Infant Program for Special Education, an were ordained in June by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio early intervention agency in South Beach, NY. HUI-PING HSU ’00CBA was promoted to tax manager to priesthood for the Diocese of Brooklyn at a at Deloitte Tax LLP in New York City. concelebrated Mass in St. James Cathedral-Basilica CHRISTINE CENNAMO ’99Ed is a first-grade teacher at in Brooklyn. P.S. 1, Tottenville, NY. DANIELLE KENNEDY ’00C, ’03GEd is a math teacher at St. Joseph Hill Academy in Arrochar, NY, and was named ERNESTO FEITEIRA ’98CBA was promoted to chief KAISHA HARRIS ’99C was hired in June by News 12 to Who’s Who Among American Teachers. operating officer and general manager of The The Bronx as an assignment desk coordinator after five Employment and Career Channel in New York City. years as an assistant editor for ABA Banking Journal in DIETRICH KING ’00L joined the law firm of Briggs and New York City. Morgan, P.A., Minneapolis, MN, as a member of its SUSAN FROMM ’98SVC is a production manager with business law section. Random House Publishers in New York City. RAENA SUAREZ ’99SVC is a child protective specialist for the Administration for Children’s Services in Staten MATTHEW NEWCOMB ’00C was ordained a priest of VERONICA GAUDIUSO ’98CBA, ’99MS is a fourth-grade Island, NY. the Archdiocese of New York by Cardinal Edward Egan teacher with Our Lady Help of Christians School, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Tottenville, NY. ANTHONY ZITO ’99SVC, ’01MBA is a pharmaceutical sales representative for Ortho McNeill Pharmaceuticals JOHN NINAH ’00CPS is an athletic director at Evangel MICHAEL HAYES ’98CBA is an application developer for in New York City. Christian High School in Long Island City, NY, and was foreign-exchange Web-based trading platforms at named 2005 Coach of the Year by the Private Schools JPMorgan Chase in New York City. Athletic Association for Boys Varsity Basketball.
Fall/Winter 2005 49 alum notes
JAMIE SAVINO ’00GEd, ’03PD is a middle-school OLIVIA PROSPERO ’01C is a speech-language KIMBERLY SANTORO ’02C is a math teacher at teacher at Staten Island Academy in Staten Island, NY. pathologist at the Gingerbread Learning Center, St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School in Staten Island. Greenridge, NY, and is a member of the American MARY CAGGIANO ’01Ed is a first-grade teacher at Speech-Language-Hearing Association. PAMELA TORTORICI ’02Ed is an English teacher with P.S. 176 in Brooklyn. the New York City Department of Education at Prall MICHAEL SPAVENTA ’01TCB, ’02MBA is currently Intermediate School, West Brighton, NY. CHRISTINA CANDRILLI ’01TCB received a master of studying for a certificate in educational administration/ science degree in management information systems supervision from the College of Saint Rose in Brooklyn STEPHEN ANEST ’03G is a manager with Brinks Global from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, and is a mathematics teacher at Port Richmond High Services in New York City, is a first lieutenant in the and is a specialist at Citigroup in New York City. School in Staten Island. U.S. Army Reserves and an executive officer of the 812th Military Police Corps, Orangeburg, NY. JAIME CLARK ’01Ed is a special education MERCEDES TORRES ’01Ed is a kindergarten teacher at Woodward Parkway kindergarten and first-grade teacher KATE DRAKE ’03GEd began her tenure in July as the Elementary School, Farmingdale, NY. at CCS Montessori Center in new principal at Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Rochdale Village, NY, and was named Public School in Adams, MA. SUSANA COSTA ’01C, received a master’s in special education from Lehman College, Bronx, NY, last year in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who VERONICA GLUECK ’03CPS is a probation officer and is now a teacher of speech and hearing for the Among America’s Teachers. for the Sullivan County Probation Department in handicapped at P.811x @ Cs234 in the Bronx. LAUREN YOCENDA ’01TCB is a market data analyst Sullivan, NY. ANTONIA GAGLIO ’01Ed is a fifth-grade teacher with with Lehman Brothers, Jersey City, NJ. P.S. 216 in Brooklyn. LAURIE IPPOLITO ’03CPS is a consumer-affairs BEATRIZ BRUNA ’02CPS accepted representative with Panasonic, Secaucus, NJ. ZAKIA GHAFARI ’01P is a pharmacy manager for a new position at St. John Villa Walgreens Pharmacy in Farmingdale, NY. Academy High School in Staten MATTHEW JOHNSON ’03TCB is an online media Island as a religion teacher and planner for Starcom Worldwide in North Hollywood, CA. PHYLLIS LaTOUR ’01Ed is an English and language- campus minister. arts teacher at Eugenio Maria De Hostos Intermediate TONI ANN NAVARINO ’03Ed is a second-grade teacher School in Brooklyn. at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Tompkinsville, NY, and a NICOLE CALAFIORE ’02Ed is a fifth- and sixth-grade dance instructor with Brandy’s Dance Unique, Dongan DANIELLE LOSCHIAVO ’01C is a mortgage processor English and religion teacher at St. Charles School in Hills, NY. and computer technician with Century 21 Papp Realty, Staten Island. Castleton Corners, NY. PETER BINDER ’04MBA was promoted to director of MELISSA GIANGRANDI ’02Ed, ’04GEd is a kindergarten marketing for Somnia, Inc. in New Rochelle, NY. DONALD MASON ’01MBA is a senior business teacher with P.S. 39 in Arrochar, NY. consultant in the fleet operations group at Royal MICHAEL BURGHARDT ’04MBA Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in Miami. SHALRIE JOSEPH ’02CPS, a midfielder for three years is a manager of radiology for South with the New England Revolution who led the team to a Nassau Communities Hospital, MADELYN MEJIA ’01C is a senior technical support 9-2-5 overall record and a second place standing in the Oceanside, NY, and was chosen by specialist for the University. Eastern Division of the league, was one of 11 selected the Long Island Business News as to play in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game in one of “The 40 under 40 Class of CHRISTOPHER MORAITIS ’01C is an elementary school July at in Columbus, OH. 2005 Club,” a group of Long Island’s rising stars. teacher at Northeast Elementary in Brentwood, NY. LISA KACZMARSKI ’02C is an accounts payable GEORGIA DAMOULAKIS ’04L joined the law firm of LAUREN MURINO ’01TCB is an online marketing representative for Lackawanna Products in Clarence, NY. Galgano & Burke LLP in Hauppauge, NY, as an associate. coordinator with Scholastic, Inc. in New York City. MICHAEL LaMAGNA ’04MLS is a reference librarian at TRACY LOUDON ’02CPS is a sales assistant for Cabrini College’s Holy Spirit Library, Radnor, PA. NATALIE NEMIA ’01C is a speech-language pathologist Land America in New York City. with The Block Institute and a home-care speech PAULINE LIVADITIS ’04TCB, ’05MBA completed a pathologist provider with Omni Rehabilitation Center, JOHN MASTRONARDI ’02CPS was promoted to both in Brooklyn, as well as an early-intervention master’s in accounting and was hired by Ernst & Young sergeant with the New York Police Department in independent contractor with Sunny Days Consulting in New York City. Brooklyn. Services, Mariners Harbor, NY. KERRI McDONALD ’04Ed is a pre-kindergarten teacher YESENIA NAZARIO ’02C is a social worker at the Lower JOSEPHINE NERI ’01Ed is a fifth-grade teacher at and educational director with Giant Steps to a Child’s P.S. 179 in Brooklyn. East Side Family Union in New York City. Day, Clifton, NY.
MICHAEL PLOTKIN ’01TCB, ’02MBA is a senior tax DEANA RESTIVO ’02Ed is a math teacher at Susan JOSEPH MIZZI ’04MBA is a financial advisor for accountant with Amper, Politziner & Mattia, Edison, NJ. Wagner High School in Staten Island. Morgan Stanley in Aventura, FL.
50 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine NICOLE PLUY ’04GEd is a fourth-grade teacher at RAYMOND MORRIS ’38L is the author of two REV. AIDAN ROONEY, C.M. ’78NDC P.S. 58 in New Springville, NY. self-published books, The First 80 Years of Ray Morris wrote Living Days of Advent and and The World Changes During Ray Morris’ Life. the Christmas Season 2005 AMANDA RUSSO ’04GEd is a third-grade teacher at (Paulist Press, 2005), a book William J. McGinn Elementary School, Scotch Plains, NJ. of daily reflections for PHILIP HARRIS ’49CBA wrote meditations which also contains JENNIFER SALERNO ’04Ed is pursuing a master of Managing the Knowledge the poetry of BRO. AUGUSTINE Culture (Human Resource TOWEY, C.M. ’58C, ’60G, science degree in reading literacy from Brooklyn Development Press, 2005). ’86HON. College, is a teacher at P.S. 39 in Arrochar, NY, and is a certified pharmacy technician with Eckerd Pharmacy, Dongan Hills, NY. JILLIANE HOFFMAN ’89SVC, ’92L JAMES STARRS ’58L is the has written Last Witness ALLISON DAVIDSON ’05CPS, a former MVP on the author of A Voice For The Dead (Putnam, 2005), a sequel to St. John’s tennis team, was named head coach for the (Putnam, 2005), which takes her international bestseller, University’s women’s tennis team. readers on a reinvestigation of Retribution. some historical cases using BARBARA De LALEU ’05CPS was forensic evidence. hired in sales at Petry Media PETER DABBENE ’95CBA, ’97MBA is the author Corporation, Blair TV Division for of Glossolalia (Xlibris, 2005), a collection of over 30 Spot Television in New York City. KATHLEEN GALAVITZ CONN ’64C short stories. is the author of Bullying and Harassment: A Legal Guide for Educators (Association for MARC GARTENFELD ’95CBA, LAUREN MARRONE ’05GEd is a school counselor Supervision and Curriculum ’98MBA and LUISA FOCACCI with the Archdiocese of New York at Sacred Heart Development, 2004). ’02MBA collaborated with School, West Brighton, and at St. Roch’s School, St. John’s Professor Robert Port Richmond, NY. Mockler on the book Application SONIA CORTES NIETO ’65Ed edited Why We Teach Service Providers in Business (Teachers College Press, 2005), a collection of (The Haworth Press, Inc., 2005). MAUREEN MITCHELL ’05CPS works as a customer essays from teachers. service representative for The New York Racing Association, Inc. in Jamaica, NY, and is attending THEROLD PRUDENT ’97G wrote Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, to earn a master’s RICHARD TEGNANDER ’65C wrote Scorned Glory Days and Tragedy (Bedside in sports administration. (Authorhouse, 2004) under the pen name of Richard Anders. Books, 2004), which recounts the harrowing ordeal of six VICTORIA SMILES ’05TCB was hired as a licensed young men who set out to sea sales associate for RE/MAX Classic Realty in Yorktown DAN FITZGERALD ’69MBA wrote Paul Dolan Kilcoyle: from the Caribbean island of Heights, NY. a Manhattan Novel (Authorhouse, 2005). St. Lucia before engine trouble left them adrift in a 22-foot LORRAINE TAWFIK ’05Ed.D. open boat with no water or graduated from St. John’s in May ALEXANDER GALLARDO ’76Ph.D. is the author of supplies. with a doctorate in education, Britain and the first Carlist War (Norwood Editions, 1978) instructional leadership, and was and Spanish Economics in the 16th Century: Theory, ZACH MARTIN ’00CPS is promoted to associate professor at Policy and Practice (Writers Club Press, 2002). co-author of Death Angel Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, NY. (Pinnacle, 2005), the true story of former nurse Charles Cullen JAMES WLADYKA ’05TCB played during the short THOMAS GIORDANO ’78CBA, ’81L co-authored And who confessed to killing as season with the A League Kingsport, Tennessee Mets of Justice For All: The Complete Small Claims Handbook many as 40 patients from (Looseleaf Law Publications, 2005) with his son, Daniel. the Appalachian League and was named the Kingsport 1988-2003. Mets Pitcher of the Year before signing a free-agent contract with the New York Mets in August. JEFFREY RISENER ’78GEd wrote How to Raise Your Child in The World of Sports (Vantage Press, 1998). ESTEFANIA ZEA ’05CPS is the special events coordinator in the University’s Division of Institutional Advancement.
Fall/Winter 2005 51 alum notes
JENNIFER CAPUTO ’94Ed, ’99Ed.D. and husband, 80s PETER GAGLIO ’94C, their second son, Christopher 60s MARK SALEMI ’83C and wife, Ann Marie, a daughter, Anthony - January 5, 2005 JAMES TATE ’66Ed to Francesca Norsen Marissa - May 13, 2003 - May 21, 2005 ANTHONY LAVINIO ’94CBA and wife, PATRICIA MARIA MERCURIO ZAPPALA ’84P, ’95GP and husband, PROVENZANO ’94CBA, twins, John Christian and Anthony, twin sons, Anthony and Nicholas Juliana Sofia - April 25, 2005 70s - September 17, 2004 THOMAS LaPERA ’75NDC, ’78GEd to JENNIFER SIRIGNANO ’94C and husband, KIMBERLY SANTORO ’02C - July 17, 2005 JAMES CARMODY ’85SVC and wife, Olga, a son, TIMOTHY JONES ’95C, a daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Andrew - April 5, 2004 - April 25, 2005 80s KAREN BOGART WINTERLICH ’86C and husband, John, SARA VASQUENZ ’94NDC and husband, Mark DeVito, EDWARD MURO ’87SVC to Lisa Weiner a daughter, Paige Mary - November 11, 2004 a son, Matteo Vittorio - August 29, 2004 - November 14, 2004
MARYANN FITZPATRICK-FAY ’87C and husband, Ed, JODI BEYER ’95P and husband, RONALD ELIZABETH FERRIER ’88SVC, ’92GEd to a son, Liam James - August 17, 2004 PERAGALLO ’96P, a daughter, Jamie Lynn - June 2, 2005 GEORGE INCATA ’88CBA - June 25, 2005
JAMES BARTOLOTTO ’88C, ’91L and wife, Elizabeth, THOMAS GRIMES ’95C and wife, Megan, their second CAROL SUMMA ’88SVC to Robert Lucciola their third son, Christopher Joseph - April 15, 2004 son, Peter Thomas - June 22, 2005 - May 13, 2005
DARREN KILEY ’88SVC and wife, Sonja, a son, CHERYL SCHMIDT ’96NDC, ’99GEd and husband, Austin Blake - December 7, 2004 JAMES SCHMIDT ’02GEd, a son, James Patrick 90s - May 9, 2005 KIM JENSEN NACIONALES ’88SVC, ’90C and husband, IHOR KOBRYN ’92NDC to ANGELITA RIOS ’96CBA Paul, their third son, Kyle Peter - June 7, 2004 ANTHONY YACULLO ’96P and wife, Laura, a daughter, - May 7, 2005 Caroline Mary - July 23, 2005 KEVIN DONNELLY ’89SVC and wife, Donna, their fifth JOCELYNE HATTAIS ’93C to David Biggs son, Brendan Edward - November 25, 2004 TRACI GERVASI ’97NDC and husband, Joseph, their - September 27, 2003 second daughter, Ashlee Ann - May 28, 2005 JOANNA KOLOR VARGAS ’89SVC and husband, CHRISTINE NELSON ’93CBA to Richard Reynolds Michael, a son, Christian Jude - November 15, 2004 ELIZABETH STANTON ’97C, ’00G and husband, - November 29, 2003 GIANCARLO DiPRIMA ’98SVC, a daughter, Isabel Maria ALFRED PETEROY ’93CBA to Jennifer Blandino - April 20, 2005 90s - April 16, 2005 NANCY McGOVERN ’90SVC and husband, MIGUEL ORTIZ ’98SVC and wife, Melissa, a son, NAT PITTI ’93SVC to Elaina Toti - June 10, 2005 JOHN HALLORAN ’92CBA, a son, Peter William Miguel Angel Ortiz III - April 29, 2005 - October 11, 2004 ARCILIA GRACIA ’94Ed to John Derenzo - July 5, 2005 NICHOLAS DiFIORE ’99SVC and wife, JEANINE TORIN CORNELL ’91NDC and wife, STEFANIA FRAUENBERGER ’99P, a daughter, Elizabeth VANESSA LOPEZ ’94Ed to Samuel Beltron VASQUENZ ’94CBA, a son, Stefano - November 3, 2004 - September 1, 2004 - February 13, 2005 DONNA HAY ’91CBA and husband, Jeffrey, a daughter, GEORGE NIBLOCK ’94SVC to Helen Madeo Christina Marie - June 3, 2005 00s - November 27, 2004 RITA KARAGEOZIAN-ZOHRABIAN ’00CPS and EDWARD LAFITEAU ’91SVC and wife, Janine, a husband, Anthony, a son, Saro - June 27, 2004 STEPHEN PERRELLI ’94CBA, ’02MBA to daughter, Kathryn Anne - April 19, 2005 LISA RIZZOTTI ’96CBA - May 1, 2005 SUSANA COSTA-PENA ’01C and husband, Rui, CHRISTOPHER O’REILLY ’91SVC and wife, Monica, a daughter, Victoria - February 8, 2005 TOWUANNA PORTER ’96Ed, ’00GEd to their second daughter, Kaitlyn Marie - April 22, 2005 David Brannon - January 15, 2005 CHRISTOPHER MORAITIS ’01C and wife, Nira, their CAROLYNE DeGRAMMONT ’92C and husband, Allen, second son, Alexander Peter - March 24, 2005 SUSAN FROMM ’98SVC to Thomas Chodakiewicz a son, Jalen Jeantou - September 22, 2003 - April 30, 2005 LISA MARIE KACZMARSKI ’02C and husband, JOCELYNE HATTAIS-BIGGS ’93C and husband, David, Michael Salsman, a daughter, Michaela Riley MICHAEL HAYES ’98CBA to a daughter, Courtney Elise - February 14, 2005 - December 3, 2004 SUSANNA AUYEUNG ’99NDC - June 18, 2005 THOMAS MARION ’93SVC and wife, Lisa, a daughter, MATTHEW JOHNSON ’03TCB and wife, Pilar, a son, LISA-MARIE BLISCHKE ’99NDC to John Grassadonio Hannah Mackenzie - June 16, 2005 Joaquin - May 5, 2005 - July 2, 2005 CHRISTINE NELSON-REYNOLDS ’93CBA and husband, MICHAEL BURGHARDT ’04MBA and wife, Silvana, MICHELLE CAPPELLO ’99C to Chris Butindari Richard, a son, Matthew Richard - February 17, 2005 a daughter, Erica - January 10, 2005 - May 21, 2005
52 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine CHRISTINE CENNAMO ’99Ed to John Osorio BRIDGET LICARI ’01CPS to Gerlando Faidetta NICOLE PLUY ’02GEd to Ryan Gelicke - July 2, 2005 - April 24, 2005 - April 29, 2005 ANDREA SEDWICK ’02Ed to CARMINE LUONGO ’03TCB SHARON SOMMA ’99SVC to Eric Kinzier DANIELLE LOSCHIAVO ’01C to Daniel Gilby - July 3, 2005 - July 23, 2005 - May 21, 2005 PAMELA TORTORICI ’02Ed to Dennis King ANTHONY ZITO ’99SVC, ’01MBA to JAIME CLARK NATALIE NEMIA ’01C to Roy Rucci - July 2, 2005 - June 25, 2005 ’01Ed - August 26, 2005 JOSEPHINE NERI ’01Ed to Michael Orlando STEPHEN ANEST ’03G to Kera Burgio - May 6, 2005 - July 17, 2005 CATHERINE HUGHES ’03MLS to Henry Corwin MICHAEL SPAVENTA ’01TCB, ’02MBA to 00s - May 29, 2005 Joanne Lamberti - June 26, 2005 ANTONIO GARGANO ’00CBA to LORENA MATORI ’00CBA - May 29, 2005 NICOLE CALAFIORE ’02Ed to Timothy Colacci LAURIE IPPOLITO ’03CPS to Brian Tompkinson - July 1, 2005 - May 20, 2005 DANIELLE KENNEDY ’00C, ’03GEd to Jason Rigatti - July 1, 2005 TANYA CRESPO ’02CPS to Joseph Janovsky TONI ANN NAVARINO ’03Ed to Antonio Gramegna - May 29, 2005 - July 23, 2005 JAMIE SAVINO ’00GEd, ’03PD to Sean Killeen - June 11, 2005 DAVID GASSMAN ’02TCB to YESENIA NAZARIO ’02C SANDRA CHOW ’04Pharm.D. to Andy Chang - October 16, 2004 - September 10, 2005 RITA ZOHRABIAN ’00CPS to Anthony Karageozian MELISSA GIANGRANDI ’02Ed, ’04GEd to John Fischer - August 31, 2003 KERRI McDONALD ’04Ed to Scott Ettinger - May 21, 2005 - July 8, 2005 CHRISTINA CANDRILLI ’01TCB to Anthony Menicherio AMANDA RUSSO ’04GEd to Russell Marchica LISA MARIE KACZMARSKI ’02C to Michael Salsman - February 25, 2005 - July 10, 2005 - June 21, 2003 JENNIFER SALERNO ’04Ed to Jose Diaz - May 29, 2005 ANTONIA GAGLIO ’01Ed to Joseph Lombardi JOHN MASTRONARDI ’02CPS to Gina Chiarulli - June 18, 2005 - July 23, 2005 LAUREN MARRONE ’05GEd to Thomas Koncewicz PHYLLIS La TOUR ’01Ed to DENNIS JAMES ’02TCB NATASHA Me’BANE ’02P, ’03Pharm.D. to - July 15, 2005 - June 25, 2005 William Johnson, Jr. - April 23, 2005
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John Fitzsimmons ’49G 20s Joseph Gotkowitz ’49CBA Hon. Martin Randisi ’41C, ’48L, ’88HON Philip Slone ’29L Patricia Hoefig ’49NDC Judge Randisi was a great friend to his beloved alma mater. While a student at Lewis Avenue, Lester Kaufman ’49UC he was baseball team manager and graduated cum laude from St. John's College. He enlisted 30s Milton Leder ’49CBA in the Navy the following year where he served as an intelligence officer until 1945. An ardent Purroy Margulies ’49L Louis DeSena ’32L learner, he earned a scholarship to the School of Law and later continued his career with the Ferdinand Miccio ’49UC Samuel Sprafkin ’32L military as a civilian analyst and agent in the Office of Naval Intelligence while serving as an Jean Mullens ’49NDC Msgr. James Asip ’33C, ’78HON active Naval reservist and a commanding officer. He went on to establish his own law practice John Reilly ’49CBA Samuel Plotkin ’33CBA Bernadette Shea ’49NDC and became a respected jurist who later served as chief administrative judge of the Waterfront Arthur Alfert ’34L Lois Traktman ’49CBA Commission of New York Harbor. Despite his many memberships in civic and professional Joseph Pokart ’34L Bettilu Tubbs ’49UC organizations, he never forgot the University that gave him his start and volunteered in a variety Herman Zipser ’34L of capacities including as Alumni Reunion chair. His steadfast devotion earned him many Mary Gallagher ’35NDC Edward Martire ’35CBA 50s accolades including an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, the Pietas and President's Medals Edward Rohmer ’35C, ’90C John Cooper ’50UC and the prestigious Medal of Honor. Sidney Sparrow ’35L Robert Davis ’50CBA Nicholas Lomangino ’36L Padric Furlong ’50C Dr. Vincent Fontana ’45C, ’76HON Theodore Morell ’36CBA Robert Hendry ’50CBA Thousands of children found safety and comfort over the years thanks to Dr. Fontana. As the Samuel Wulwick ’36L Thomas McGovern ’50Ed founder of the first crisis nursery in New York City more than 20 years ago, he was hailed for Robert Kaufman ’37CBA, ’38L John McKay ’50C his devotion to youngsters. After graduating, he earned a medical degree from the Long Island Charles Pollack ’37L Mary McManus ’50NDC Josephine DeSantis ’38UC William Schuler ’50C College of Medicine, Downstate Medical College in 1947. During his career, he served as Herman Stern ’38L Edward Walsh ’50L physician to many influential leaders including President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice Herald Sussman ’38UC, ’40L John Walsh ’50L President Richard Nixon, several New York mayors and the former Archbishop of New York, Frank Carletta ’39L Joseph Williams ’50P Francis Cardinal Spellman. In 1962, he was appointed Director of Pediatrics at St. Vincent's Christina Filice ’39NDC Rosalie Badolato ’51Ed Hospital and Medical Center and served as Medical Director and Pediatrician-In-Chief of the Helen Gillespie ’39UC William Cook ’51CBA New York Foundling Hospital until his passing. He was a celebrated author and lecturer, and Martin Albert ’39L Frances Hackett ’51Ed the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection in Manhattan exists as a thriving monument William Wittrock ’39C Sr. Dorothy Hill ’51UC to his life's work. He was no less beloved at St. John's where he received an honorary John O’Shaughnessy ’51C, ’54L 40s Jane Pashkoff ’51NDC Doctor of Humane Letters degree and the Heritage Award. Edward Cromerford ’40C James Quinn ’51L Salvatore Alfano ’41C, ’46L Joseph Tierno ’51UC Archille D’Anca ’41C Frank McCann ’52C James Pinto ’59CBA 70s 80s Russell Major ’41CBA Gerard McGuire ’52C, ’59L William Reilly ’57L, ’70Ed.D. Andrea Caffrey ’70CBA Cynthia Kratter ’80MBA Ruth McDonough ’41NDC Theodore Schuster ’52UC George Reilly ’59CBA Thomas Jones ’70CBA Michael McGuire ’80NDC Frank Sabbia ’41C Michael Ballestretos ’53CBA Angelo Spenillo ’70P Oswald Williams ’81MBA Alfred Ferrante ’42P Joseph Banks ’53L 60s Geraldine Holland ’71Ed Diane Glynn ’82C, ’87G Stephen Smirti ’42UC, ’43L John Braghirol ’53UC Albert Gervais ’60L Barbara Leiter ’71Ed.D., ’80PD David DeMaggio ’83L Charles Straeb ’42CBA John Corcoran ’53L Edgar Hartt ’60L Robert Johnson ’72SVC James Davis ’85MBA Claire Garrity ’43NDC Arlene Fogarty ’53UC, ’56G Patrick Hennessey ’60CBA, ’62L Marjorie Kipp ’73Ph.D. John Quinn ’85PD Robert Levy ’43P Federick Smith ’53UC Richard Holzknech ’60UC Walter McTernan ’74GP James Pappa ’87CBA, ’96MBA Ernest Stefancsik ’43C Eugenia Turczan ’53NDC John Patrick ’60G Michael Molina ’74CBA James Barry ’88C Lucien Barone ’44P Frank Wilburn ’53P William Rosa ’60L Genarose Sanzo ’74C Seymour Kutcher ’44P William Aldridge ’54C William Testerman ’60Ed.D. Patricia Pansini ’75C John Thornton ’44CBA Charles Laudati ’54C Leo Walsh ’60CBA Angela Misciagna ’76NDC 90s Abraham Futernick ’45L Arthur Sohler ’54G John Loverro ’61C, ’64L Gene Plunkett ’76PD Christopher Sarangaya ’91CBA Mary Spillane ’45NDC James Lee ’55UC James Mahony ’62CBA William Costello ’77L Elaine Galligan ’92MLS Joseph Sturge ’45L Albert Molesphini ’55C Mary Vitagliano ’62G Doreen Moore ’77PD Jerome Margolies ’46L Catherine Turner ’55NDC Joseph Albertelli ’63C Richard Furrey ’78P 00s Robert Wilson ’46UC Nancy Zangas ’55Ed Brian Blackler ’63C Louis Kagan ’47CBA Herbert Zipper ’55C Thomas Luhmann ’63CBA, Brian Peterson ’02 Robert Madden ’47C, ’49L Geraldine Anthony ’56G, ’63Ph.D. ’66MBA Mildred McDermott ’48CBA Gene Chu ’56L Theresa Kamage ’64Ed Thomas O’Brien ’48C Walter Doherty ’56UC Mary Moy ’64Ed.D. Submissions to In Memoriam must be received by letter, e-mail Frank Rush ’48CBA Vito Titone ’56L, ’84HON Nancy McKiernan ’65Ed, ’67GEd or as a printed obit from a family member, guardian or legal James Allison ’49UC Dorothea Walker ’56G, ’62Ph.D. James Brandi ’68CBA executor to Lisa Capone, Division of Institutional Advancement, Eugene Cassidy ’49L Mary Devery ’57NEd Marie Rogers ’68Ed St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439 Joseph Decker ’49CBA John Gillen ’57UC LeeAnn Ferrara ’69Ed or via fax to (718) 990-1813.
54 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine alum notes
John Mihalik ’52C, ’63G and John Gattringer ’72CBA and Gloria Mihalik ’58G, ’63Ph.D. Susan Gattringer ’74Ed
Out of tragedy came love. When Army officer Love was in the air in the Spring of 1971 when John Mihalik returned to school to obtain a John and Sue Gattringer met. John, an accounting graduate degree in biology he met Gloria major, and Sue, an elementary education major, Catalano who was studying for a doctorate in were seated together in theology class and took an the same subject. As fate would have it, she instant liking to each other. They dated regularly was in John's class only because she had over the summer and shared another class the earlier dropped it after losing her parents. The pair were now classmates when John was left a widower with a young son and daughter to raise. So when John asked Gloria to take notes for him during such a difficult time in his life, she was more than happy to do so. Their friendship blossomed first to dating then to love, and the couple married soon after graduation. John was transferred to Fort Detrick, MD, where he worked as a microbiologist and where their happy family John and Gloria Mihalik on their wedding day. grew by two daughters. After John served a John began a teaching Susan and John Gattringer today. career. The family decided to push even following school year. They could frequently further south and, in be found on campus together and married in 1985, they moved to June 1974. Today, they live in Seaford, NY, with Boca Raton, FL. their three children, one of whom followed in his The pair of educators parents’ footsteps and graduated from St. John’s. are now retired but Last June, the couple celebrated their 31st still very busy as the wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska. grandparents of seven and ardent volunteers within their community. Victoria Rosman Saks ’95L Gloria serves on the and Scott Saks ’95L board of directors for their housing It was the eyes that got her. While a law student, development and Victoria Rosman was as taken with Scott Saks’ The Mihaliks last year. John is the treasurer baby blues as she was with the fact that he never of the Palm Beach feared being called on in their criminal law class. tour of duty in Vietnam and was discharged chapter the Retired Military Association. They The pair met during that class in 1993 and soon in 1974, they settled in McLean, VA, where are still good friends and grateful to have began dating. Three years later, they were Gloria found work as a substitute teacher and found each other. married and today live in Paris where Scott is Of Counsel at the firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, and Victoria, who was practicing as a real estate attorney prior to their relocation, has If St. John’s played a role as matchmaker in your life, we want to know about it. If there are several taken time off to care for their two young sons. generations of St. John’s graduates in your family, we want to know that also. Share your story She says she is indebted to her father, Larry with the Alumni Magazine readership by contacting the associate editor at (212) 284-7009 or at Rosman ’69L, for encouraging her to attend [email protected] St. John’s where she met the love of her life.
Fall/Winter 2005 55 a conversation
A Super Model
Osteoporosis doesn’t have to slow you down. That’s the message Joy Sturm ’62Ed wants to share with the estimated 10 million Americans who have the disease and the nearly 34 million more thought to have low bone mass, which puts them at an increased risk. If left untreated, osteoporosis (or porous bone) can lead to broken bones, pain, and in some cases, death. Women make up 80 percent of those living with low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, so it’s no surprise that this New York native, who now lives in Mount Pleasant, SC, was one of 13 ladies chosen out of thousands from across the country Bone Divas calendar to participate in the first ever 2006 “Bone Divas” calendar as a cover. lighthearted way to raise awareness about a deadly serious disease. Sturm is quick to point out that she has continued to maintain an When were you first diagnosed with osteoporosis? About 10 years ago. active lifestyle ever since her diagnosis several years ago and serves What was your first reaction? “Not me!” I was pretty incredulous. as a docent at antebellum homes in Charleston and does volunteer I had no clue what it was at the time. work in her adopted state. When a friend told her about the model search for the calendar, she applied online and impressed organizers Has it limited you in any way? I’d like to swim in the pool but it’s with her spirit and her lamentations at having to give up her pretty hard to get on the ladder. I don’t ride my bicycle anymore and beloved five-inch heels because of the disease. Those shoes now I certainly don’t run. I get very tired gardening. I would love to go out rest in her closet but are off limits for fear of falling and the there and throw the ball with my grandson, but there are things you damage that could do. know you shouldn’t do. In June, Sturm flew to New York for a day-long photo shoot with How has it changed your life? I ended up in South Carolina. I moved renowned photographer, Joyce Tenneson, who shot covers for away from the ice and the snow in New York and that was a definite magazines including Time and Newsweek and lifestyle change. Life is much slower and more easy- has authored 10 books. Now back home, going down here. the fashion plate agreed to allow Alumni Magazine readers a walk in her (flat, What advice would you give someone thank you very much) shoes. else just diagnosed with osteoporosis? Exercise, eat properly, take your What do you do for a living? I’m a retired medicine and do the things that you teacher but I enjoy working as a docent, have to do. Just keep yourself busy an interpreter of history and as a library and that kind of takes the onus off volunteer. I’m addicted to history. of the worry. What do you think people would find How have you coped? There’s some- interesting about you? I think this body very special who walks with whole calendar thing is interesting. me and that’s the Lord. You have to When they told me I was selected, look on the bright side. That’s an I was shocked out of my mind. old cliché, but it’s important that These types of thing don’t you look up and not down. happen to me. How would you best like to be How did your childhood shape remembered? As someone who or prepare you for what you cared about others and the world do today? It was a very old- fashioned upbringing and I’m around them. That’s why I did the happy for that. I had definite calendar, because I see it as an extension parameters in which to work and of teaching. I’m educating people. I knew the ground rules. It prepared me for life. I’ve always thought Joy Sturm (l.) with fellow ‘What kind of example am I giving,’ osteoporosis patient Christine Cote especially to children. as December pinups.
56 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine
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