Spring 2006 Vol. 7, No. 3

AWizard in Oz Balancing black and red in a technicolor town 20 06

New York Mets vs. New York Yankees

Friday, May 19 I 7:10 p.m. Shea Stadium I Flushing, New York

$27 per person* - upper reserved seating

Skyline Princess Brunch Cruise

Saturday, June 10 I 10 a.m.

Includes round-trip bus transportation from the Queens campus, private East River sailing with views of the Manhattan skyline, brunch, taxes and gratuities.

Tarzan, The Broadway Musical

Sunday, June 17 I 2 p.m. I Richard Rogers Theatre I New York City Tarzan has his first encounter with humans and must choose where he belongs – the “civilized” world or the “wild” one that nurtured him.

$74 per person* - rear mezzanine seating

The Wedding Singer Sunday, September 24 I 3 p.m. I Al Hirschfeld Theatre I New York City Robbie Hart lives in his grandmother’s basement in New Jersey and sings in a wedding band. When his own fiancée leaves him standing at the altar, he turns to a new friend who’s engaged to a wealthy Wall Street broker. $106 per person* - front mezzanine

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 25th Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend June 9 – 11, 2006

Celebrating the class years of 1931, ’36, ’41, ’46, ’51, ’56, ’61, ’66, ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’01

DO: STAY:

I Take a brunch cruise Enjoy the dorm life around Manhattan experience by staying I Participate in complimentary in one of our affordable, specialty seminars on-campus residence halls. I Enjoy the Welcome Home Summer Barbeque

I Celebrate at the Gala Cocktail SAVE: Reception and Dinner Dance

I Attend the alumni Mass Register before May 24 and brunch and receive 40 percent I Tour the campus including the or more off on the Red newly-built Taffner Field House Storm Day Package and St. Thomas More Church and the Reunion Weekend Package. For more information or to serve as a member of your class committee, call the Office of Advancement Events at (718) 990-2929, toll free at (877) SJU-ALUM or e-mail [email protected]

Visit our Web site at www.stjohns.edu/alumni for updates and registration information. president’s message

Vol. 7, No. 3 Spring 2006 Dear Friends, I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce you to this issue Publisher Donald J. Harrington, C.M. of the Alumni Magazine and, in so doing, to comment briefly on the President

articles contained herein as well as to share with you some of the recent Dave Wegrzyn Vice President news of the University. Institutional Advancement

Perhaps most significant is the fact that our Campaign for St. John’s Catherine Camera ’65CBA Contributing Editor — Fulfilling the Dream has met its goal, thanks to the overwhelming

generosity of our loyal alumni and special friends. Your exceptional Editorial Staff outpouring of support allowed us to steadily increase our ultimate goal Valerie Peters Editor to an unprecedented $250 million, an ambitious figure to be sure but Lisa France one which has now been exceeded by more than $10 million as the Writer/Associate Editor Campaign enters its final days. Danielle Bushell Alumnotes This spring, a team from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools came to St. John’s for its regular decennial accreditation The St. John’s Alumni Magazine is published by the visit. In preparation for that visit, the University engaged in a self-study, Division of Institutional Advancement for alumni, staff, focusing on topics that were of special interest and concern to us as an faculty and friends of St. John’s.

institution. One of those topics was our Vincentian mission, which is Send address changes to: Lisa Capone both a strength and challenge for St. John’s. Clearly, it is what makes Division of Institutional Advancement us distinctive. At the same time, given the decline in the number of St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway Vincentian priests, there was a need to explore ways of inculcating the Queens, NY 11439, by fax to (718) 990-1813, mission into the very fabric of our institution, so that our graduates by e-mail to [email protected] or return the enclosed form. literally live the mission. It is particularly appropriate, therefore, that Correspondence: this issue of the magazine highlights three alumni — Ed Romano, The Alumni Magazine staff welcomes Sr. Elizabeth Burns, RSM, and Tom McInerney — who have done your thoughts and comments. Please address letters to: precisely that: adopted the Vincentian mission of service as their own. Editor, Alumni Magazine St. John’s University I trust that you will find their stories inspiring as well as indicative of 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439 the ideals that animate our institution. or e-mail [email protected]. Our St. John’s family is indeed a nurturing one, and every one of Letters and articles may be edited for publication. you is special to alma mater. I invite you to return to campus for Consistent with the University’s mission as a our 25th Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend in June and renew your Catholic, Vincentian and metropolitan institution of higher education, the University abides by all friendships with classmates and faculty members who were such an applicable federal, state and local laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, important part of your life. color, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital In the meanwhile, I invite you to enjoy this issue of the St. John’s status or disability in admitting students to its programs or in administering its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan Alumni Magazine. 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. contents features 14 Edward Romano is working wonders in a wondrous industry where the line between reality and illusion is often blurred.

20 Waging a one-woman war to bring out of hiding a very real condition affecting some very neglected women in Ghana.

26 Alumni involvement brought the capital campaign to unprecedented success, but the need doesn’t end here. departments

4 noteworthy 8 up front Advancing business leadership Libraries as classrooms New financial lab Visit our Web site for the latest Leveling LSAT prep Long-distance learning updates, news and events at www.stjohns.edu/alumni 30 campus briefs Commencement traditions or call (877) SJU-ALUM. Legacy of legends Mock trial team victorious 41 giving back 42 alumnotes On the cover: Edward Romano on the Warner Bros. 52 a conversation studio lot in Burbank, CA. Celebrating Courage Clinic Lands

Since 1995, the University Federal community has come together Support the last week in January to celebrate Founder’s Week in The School of Law’s Child honor of its Vincentian heritage. Advocacy Clinic, where This year’s series of workshops, second- and third-year law lectures, luncheons, discussions, films and a special convocation students serve as advocates and Mass were centered around for children involved in the theme “Courage: To Act Queens county court cases, With Love.” received significant federal At the Mass held in St. Thomas funding secured by New York More church on the Queens Senator Hillary Rodham campus, University President Clinton. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. The $300,000 allocation challenged those present to open from the 2006 Science, their eyes to those less fortunate. State, Justice, Commerce “Do I have the courage to really and Related Agencies encounter the poor and let them Appropriations Act will aid convert me?” he asked, after students in representing the sharing the stories of St. Vincent best interests of their young de Paul and the apostle Paul on clients in cases ranging from the road to Damascus. “I ask that, alleged abuse to educational as a community, we really look at neglect. The students conduct what the blindness is in ourselves. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. conducts the Founder’s Week Mass. research on the cases, referred Are we blind to the poor?” to the clinic from the Queens Those honored at the Queens, who received the Caritas of Pharmacy and Allied Health Legal Aid Society, plus prepare convocation were: Sharon Lynch Medal; Marilyn Martone ’86G, Professions, who received the legal documents and work Norton ’74L, associate dean and associate professor of theology St. Vincent de Paul Medal; and with education and psychology associate professor of criminal and religious studies, who Sr. Madeline Kavanagh, D.C., students to address the justice and legal studies, who received the St. Elizabeth of St. John’s the Baptist R.C. children’s needs. received the Vincentian Mission Ann Seton Medal; Robert Parish in Bedford-Stuyvesant, “I am grateful and Award; Gladys and Bruce Brown, Mangione ’77P, ’79GP, ’93PD, Brooklyn, who received the proud that Senator Clinton civic leaders in South Jamaica, ’99Ed.D, dean of the College President’s Medal. recognizes and supports the longstanding commitment of Award recipients and honored guests at the Vincentian St. John’s University to help Convocation in January were, meet the needs of the under- from l., Norton; the Browns; served of New York City,” said His Excellency Archbishop Rev. Donald J. Harrington, Celestino Migliore, J.C.D., D.D., C.M., president. “The federal permanent observer of the support of the Child Advocacy Holy See to the United Nations; Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.; Clinic will not only help Kavanagh; Mangione; children in most need of and Martone. legal advocacy, but it will also provide our law students with practical courtroom training and valuable legal experience.”

4 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine An Entrepreneurial Edge Inside the Beltway by Petrina DiGangi ’91MBA More than 80 alumni and students enjoyed the Becoming independent just deliverable dates for functional 25th anniversary of the Insider’s View of the Capital program got easier for about 100 current areas; seeking out expert help held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. where, and potential small business from other small business owners owners thanks to a global and trade organizations; financial services organization obtaining any necessary licenses and several successful alumni and certifications; and projecting who spoke during the Third a professional image. He also Annual Entrepreneur Day. reminded everyone of the Sponsored by Chase and The importance of growing and Peter J. Tobin College of Business maintaining a network of alumni, Alumni Association, the “Starting professors and professional Your Own Business: The Challenges advisors on whom you can rely — The Rewards” seminar was for advice, guidance and referrals. organized to assist alumni and Charles Antonucci, Sr. ’78CBA each year, students enjoy an opportunity to learn about students considering the launch took the audience from his first the inner workings of the nation’s capital from alumni and of a small businesses with a day “hostile takeover” of a paper of information and advice. route at age 13 to his success friends. The group gets a behind-the-scenes peek at living

as president and CEO of Park and working in Washington over the course of two days Avenue Bank in New York City. through tours, networking events, speakers and panel He left the group with five fundamentals for success as a discussions on legislation and government relations, health business owner: have passion care, law enforcement and the Securities and Exchange for what you do; don’t be afraid Commission. Pictured are participants touring the area. to fail; timing is everything; network; and once you grow your business, know what you want to do with it. services such as payroll processing presentations and resources were Joan Mitchell, vice president of and cash management. shared by Frank Dito, economic Chase’s Community Development The afternoon was chock full development specialist and Group, and Jean Cole, vice of breakout sessions including: veterans affairs officer of the U.S. president of Chase’s Direct Sales Successful Entrepreneurship: Small Business Administration, Group, presented the critical A Marketing Challenge, and Marcello Rios, business factors financial institutions look presented by Professor Sreedhar counselor at the Queens Michael Maye ’87CBA, for when an entrepreneur seeks Kavil, Ph.D.; Writing a Business Business Solutions Center of the president of MJM Financial financing. From choosing the right Plan, presented by Professor New York City Department of Advisors in Berkeley Heights, NJ, business for you to understanding Larry Boone, Ph.D.; How to Small Business Services. took the group through his path the “Five C’s of Credit”: character; Value Your Business/Succession to entrepreneurship by sharing capital; capacity; collateral; and Planning, presented by Frank his “building blocks to success” guarantees and conditions, Riggio ’80CBA; Working With which include: preparing a formal Mitchell guided the group through an Accountant, presented by business plan with realistic the various aspects of preparing Professor Thomas Boyd ’59CBA; financial projections; preparing and presenting a case for obtaining Financing Your Business, presented a master project plan including financing. Cole then concentrated by Mitchell; and Q&As with marketing and technology with on how to establish small business Antonucci and Maye. Final

Spring 2006 5 My Day on Wall Street by Alicia Small ’07TCB

In November, I joined 24 other of the New York Society of students at the 5th Annual Day Securities Analysts, and Charles on Wall Street for an education Menges ’66MBA, partner with by volunteer executives and The Sanford C. Bernstein and Co. alumni working in the financial Foundation, Inc. Stieglitz and industry. Evans provided practical We arrived at the Standard advice on resume writing and and Poor’s (S&P) building in interviewing tips and advised us Manhattan for a breakfast on how to get the most out of presentation by moderator internships. Menges spoke Tom Lupo ’70Ed, ’75MBA, vice briefly about private wealth president of Advisor Services, and portfolio management. Students and speakers gather for “A Day on Wall Street.” and panelists Kathleen Corbet, The day wrapped up with president of S&P, Vickie Tillman, From there, we boarded a Next stop was a visit to the dinner and remarks from Spiro executive vice president of bus to A.G. Edwards & Sons for Museum of Financial History to Germenis ’95CBA, ’98MBA who Credit Market Services, and a luncheon with two of the view an exhibit on the Dow chronicled his path from hard- Owen Ruhnke ’89CBA, vice company‘s executives, Michael Jones Industrial Average, then working student running his president of finance for S&P, Spataro ’92NDC and Daniel to the Manhattan campus for father’s business to president and who discussed career goals, Maida ’92NDC, ’98MBA, who a final Q&A with Eric Stieglitz, founder of Oracle Evolution, a described their individual jobs discussed their careers as traders president of Conspectus Inc., successful hedge fund on Wall and entertained questions and sellers and the pitfalls of Jeff Evans, former president Street. from students. buying and selling stocks. and current board member

Most Unwired Again Central New Jersey Chapter

For the second year in a row, St. John’s is the only school Thriving by Michael Brill ’79MBA in New York ranked in the top 10 among Intel’s “Most The Central New Unwired College Campuses.” The second annual survey ranks the top 50 colleges Jersey Chapter, in and universities in the United States, with student bodies operation for four of more than 1,000, on the percentage of campus that is years now, has the covered by wireless Internet technology, the number distinction of being of undergraduate students and the computer-to- located in an area student ratio for each school. with over 3,000 St. John’s was ranked seventh in 2005, up alums. Typically, th from 10 in 2004, when many colleges meetings are held and universities polled reported limited in Monmouth From l., Central New Jersey Chapter members wireless network capabilities. The following Mike Bart ’85CBA; Joe DiPietro ’88CBA; County where year, the Intel survey showed that 74 percent of the Joe Giannola ’91CBA, ’93MBA; Brill; Ernie several events are Feiteira ’98CBA; and Peter Reddy ’94C. top 50 schools reported 100 percent wireless network planned each year coverage, up from 14 percent the previous year. And, on average, 98 percent of the top 50 schools are covered by along with outings to see the minor-league baseball team, the a wireless network, up from 64 percent in 2004. Lakewood BlueClaws, or to see St. John’s vs. Seton Hall or Rutgers in Information was gathered through university interviews, basketball. Last year’s events were highlighted by a chapter-wide game review of public documents and additional industry sources watch at the Olde Silver Tavern in Manalapan, NJ, and opening day plus an online survey that schools completed between at Monmouth Park Racetrack. All alumni in the area are invited to May 1 and September 1, 2005, executed by the Center attend and get involved. For more information about this dynamic for Digital Education and Intel Corporation. chapter, e-mail [email protected] or call (732) 766-5655.

6 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Law School Turns 80 From l., Brian Fisher ’02CPS, information technology project manager for JetBlue Airways, Ken Devane ’78SVC, president The School of Law became an octogenarian in 2005. At an event and chief operating officer of Minetech, and Richard Feil ’99MBA, where over 200 alumni celebrated, Kings County District Attorney a consultant for Pinkerton Computers Consultants, Inc., Hon. Charles Hynes ’57UC, ’61L, ’81HON and former police discussed career options and their professional experiences commissioner Hon. Robert McGuire ’61L, ’80HON announced with over 40 students and alumni at “The Future of that the Hon. Joseph W. Bellacosa Distinguished Jurist in Residence Computer Science and Telecommunications Majors” College Program was established to invite outstanding leaders of the of Professional Studies' Computer Science program.

From l., Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick ’67L, '03HON; Bellacosa; Hynes; Dean Mary Daly; Chief Judge Judith Kaye; and McGuire.

bench to spend a day or two sharing their experiences with faculty and students. Named in honor of their classmate, former School of Law dean and retired New York State Court of Appeals Lewis Avenue Alums Gather

Judge Hon. Joseph Bellacosa ’59C, ’61L, ’87HON, the program was Alumni from Lewis Avenue attended the 48th Annual Lewis funded by his friends to acknowledge his exemplary service to Avenue Reunion on the Queens campus in October where they St. John’s and the courts. reminisced and honored William “Bill” McKeever ’40C who received the Legacy Award. Jack Kaiser ‘49C, athletic director emeritus, says it’s vital to keep the spirit of the old Brooklyn

More than 100 attendees gathered in Long Island for the Sitting, from l., are Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON, McKeever 46th Annual Alumnae Fashion Show and Luncheon where fall and Kaiser. Standing, from l., are Andrew "Fuzzy" Levane ’44C; Sal Ferrara ’40C; Milton Rosenbaum ’41C; George Milhaven ’42C; Tom styles from Brooks Brothers were modeled (above) and more Henry ’48C; and Jack "Dutch" Garfinkel ’42CBA. than $2,500 was raised for the Alumnae Memorial Scholarship. Through several other events held throughout the year, the campus alive. “We want to make sure that people know where scholarship is funded in escrow and used to award an immediate we came from,” he says. “Brooklyn was the place where the relative of an alumna who is nominated and selected to receive University was born. We think it’s also important to see our friends up to $5,000 per year for a four- or five-year period and must and catch them up on what’s happening at our modern campus.” remain in good academic standing. Linda Lam ’08C was the The Vincentians established the Church of St. John the Baptist, 2005 recipient nominated by her sister, Grace Lam ’04P. St. John’s College, St. John's Preparatory School and St. John’s Seminary, all at the Lewis Avenue campus in Brooklyn.

Spring 2006 7 up front

The Business of Global Partnering

Since gaining independence from Russia in 1991, Kazakhstan has been the site of a growing effort to expand the development of its vast energy resources and improve their exportation to world markets. Prof. Jay Nathan is hoping to ensure the success of this effort by enriching the business education of the leaders in this still-emerging nation. Kazakhstan, which possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves plus plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals, came to the attention of Nathan several years ago when he realized an opportunity to meld two of his passions — discovering new cultures and educating others about business. Having previously taught business management courses in Thailand and Poland on Fulbright grants, he recognized a relative need in Kazakhstan and began working closely with officials at the Karaganda University of Nathan (center in robe) poses with faculty, administrators and students of Karaganda University after receiving the distinction of honorable Prof. dr. in 2005. Economics in Karaganda, a major industrial city in the center of the country. He was understood their lack of resources including the vast wealth of knowledge he accumulated awarded two additional Fulbrights to assist in libraries, distance-education tools and in his international projects,” Angelidis the modernization of their business curriculum American business textbooks.” explains. “Business is a glue that holds together and was asked by the minister of education Nathan, who teaches management at The the fabric of our humanity independent of and sciences of the republic to help assess the Peter J. Tobin College of Business (TCB), planned color, sex or national origin. Professor Nathan’s national standards of their degree programs an eight-day seminar at the Manhattan campus work is one more example of what can and in business administration. “I suggested later this year for 10 representatives from oil, should be done if we want to live in a peaceful new programs such as finance management gas, banking and government organizations and prosperous world.” For his independent and accounting that met the international in Kazakhstan to advance their business efforts of donating several hundred personal standards set by The Association to Advance leadership skills in the areas of law and ethics, books from his library to Karaganda University Collegiate Schools of Business,” Nathan says. finance, accounting, information technology, and CDs for students to use, he was awarded “[Kazakhstan] wants to be in the family of risk management and marketing. He feels the title of honorable Prof.dr. last year, the countries that have modernized, and I that a concentrated course program such equivalent of our honorary doctorate degree. as this will increase the aptitude of these Richard Highfield, dean of TCB, says the captains of industry who are helping to shape Manhattan campus will serve as the venue the Republic of Kazakhstan despite their limited for the seminar participants to learn the scope of international business. “I consider approach to Western economics in an St. John’s to be, among the universities in the atmosphere that is rigorous yet informal. United States, a leader in global education “It’s valuable for us to offer our resources and and I think our outreach should extend to we learn from it as well by having people the central Asian region,” he adds. from these economies come here,” he states. John Angelidis, TCB management “It allows for an exchange of ideas.” Nathan department chair, says Nathan’s work is of says he hopes to use the event as a test case great benefit to those he teaches. “He has to determine whether similar programs can carried his expertise from the Americas to be held in the future as part of an ongoing Europe to Asia, and at the same time has cooperative relationship with Karaganda Nathan with students at Karaganda University. brought back and shared with our students University of Economics.

8 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Rewarding A Literary Alliance

Outstanding Effort Graduates of a new program developed through a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Library Connections partnership are enriching the lives There is heavy competition to attract the best and brightest of parochial students in some New York City boroughs by making students to colleges around the country, but an attractive libraries more than just repositories for books. financial package makes it easier for them to consider and Library Connections is a four-year program run by the Archdiocese of attend St. John’s. New York to revitalize its inner-city elementary schools by integrating These students are courted heavily, even those that lack library programs and collections with curriculum and classroom activities. the financial means, for admission into Ivy League schools and Through active planning and collaboration among administrators and the City College of New York’s honors program because of their library, computer and classroom teachers, officials hope to increase the academic achievements. To remain competitive and diverse, use of the library in each of the participating 32 parochial schools located St. John’s offers a Presidential Scholarship to these talented students, which includes full tuition and a residential living in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. stipend for on-campus housing. Matthew Whelan, director Eligible schools must apply and are accepted based on criteria such of undergraduate admission, says the scholarship honors the as identifying a possible library teacher, having available space for a library Vincentian mission by serving gifted students who are in and showing a commitment to the program. St. John’s then waives half financial need or have limited resources. “The scholarship is the tuition for the selected teacher to earn a master’s in library science in place to attract even students who aren’t economically (MLS) and Library Connections subsidizes the other half. Candidates are disadvantaged, but who may have been shut out of a private already teachers in other subjects who, by completing their library science college education due to increased cost,” Whelan says. “It degree, become “library teachers” for the school that is approved and provides those students with a private school opportunity in learn how to actively engage in educating students from multiple grade the St. John’s Catholic, Vincentian tradition.” levels by using library technology such as the Internet and databases. There were 95 presidential scholars in the 2005 freshman Part of the goal is to show class and there are currently more than 200 scholars attending how vital the library still is in the University from various states including Florida, Illinois, Texas, the ease-of-information age. Massachusetts and Maryland plus the countries of Trinidad, At one school, seventh and Tobago, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe and Korea. These students have an eighth graders learned to average SAT score of 1,400, well above the national average of master research in the library 1,028 for verbal and math, and a grade point average of when they were charged with 97 percent. To qualify, students must have a minimum 1,250 writing reports about select SAT score and a 95 grade point average out of high school. mathematicians including their Yoojung Yang ’08Pharm.D says she was attracted to biographies, knowing the St. John’s because of the accelerated pharmacy degree program, math concepts with which which allowed her to complete a doctorate in six years, and they were involved and received a full scholarship for her initial four years of study. creating a historical timeline “My family is certainly not wealthy, and this places less of a with the assistance of social burden on them,” she adds. James Simmons ’06C, who lived studies teachers. with other Presidential Scholars during his freshman year in the Maureen Moffit ’05MLS is a former third- and fourth-grade teacher residence halls, says the group has a lot in common. “I feel like who is now the librarian at Our Lady of Solace, an elementary school of we have formed a little community,” he states. “I moved about 280 students in the Bronx. She says she learned how to build and around a lot when I was younger, so coming to St John’s was maintain a school library through the courses she took at St. John’s. “[The the first time I ever spent four years at one school.” And, students] don’t have a local library, and for many of them, they had never Youngwan Kim ’07P says the program enabled him to enjoy even been to a library,” she says. “Suddenly, they had access to all of and appreciate diversity. “Being at St. John’s has opened my these resources and many are now skilled library users.” eyes to a lot of different experiences, religiously and culturally. Each school is assigned a mentor, many being St. John’s MLS graduates, It ‘s a melting pot of a school,” he says. who are experienced school librarians affiliated with Library Connections Students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average and assigned to the library teacher. The mentor advises on acquisitions and stay in good academic standing in order to continue to and works with the teacher, faculty and principal to offer guidance on receive funding. The Presidential Scholars program is the programming. Library Connections, which also allocates funds for University's only full, four-year tuition scholarship other than furniture, paint and library materials, is supported through grants from a visual arts and athletic scholarship. foundations and individual donations. up front

Hi-Tech Market Share for Business Majors

A new facility planned to benefit students can quickly obtain information such as the McTiernan, associate dean for graduate from a variety of majors at The Peter J. Tobin biographies and management styles of programs and external affairs, says TCB officials College of Business (TCB) will broaden their the chief executive officers, cultural and have been forward thinking in realizing that educational experience by placing a world of environmental information depending on information is a commodity valued across information at their fingertips. where the companies are located and disciplines, not just to those studying finance The Financial Information Lab is slated to television coverage of what analysts are and accounting. “This lab is a poetic blending be built in Queens bringing together a variety saying about the merger — all information of our tradition of excellence in business of media sources including live CNN news that has a potential effect upon the education and the most contemporary feeds, Bloomberg financial news and Internet completion of the deal and the formation business technology methods,” she adds. access to create a technologically-sophisticated of the future company. In other instances: “Business doesn’t happen in a silo. That’s learning environment. Plans call for the lab to finance and economics students will have where this lab goes above and beyond what

be equipped with computer work stations, real-time business data and news from around A computer-generated rendering of the real-time news, market information, analytical the world in order to make the soundest planned Financial Information Lab. software and trading simulations shared over investment and portfolio management we have seen because there is a focus and an projectors and flat-screen monitors connected decisions; marketing students will be able to emphasis on the global view.” to television feeds. In addition to a stock ticker, plan and research new products and services; St. John’s has the added advantage of being there will be an electronic display board risk management students can simulate located in New York, one of the business showing the leading economic indicators from scenarios to arrive at the best formula for capitals of the world, and counseled by several Dow Jones, the New York Stock Exchange and coverage; and students of organizational distinguished alumni who are leaders in U.S. Treasury bond rates. Using this technology, behavior can derive business cases for use in the financial sector. “There will be many faculty and students from across several strategic and operational analyses. There are opportunities for alumni to come in and work disciplines including accounting, finance, also plans to use the lab as a space where with students in a setting like this,” Highfield organizational behavior and marketing will corporate partners could utilize continuing states. He hopes to see them participate as be able to develop business strategies and education classes in such diverse fields as guest lecturers and advisors since they are make informed decisions based on actual e-commerce and market research. already using similar technology in their jobs market situations. A project such as this is vital to the on Wall Street and in other corporate settings. The lab will be similar to facilities already University and to the students who hope Plans for the initiative were announced at an in existence at schools like Bentley College, to compete in their fields after graduation. event held in the boardroom of The New York Baruch and Lehigh University although at “It’s becoming necessary that the top business Stock Exchange. Those in attendance heard St. John’s, the concept goes beyond the schools have something like this,” says TCB how establishing the Lab will contribute trading-room floor experience taught elsewhere Dean Richard Highfield. “These days, students significantly to the College’s reputation as a in order to enhance the education of business are expected to be fluent in the analytical leader and innovator in business education, students in various curriculums. For example, tools of financial data, to know where to get thereby increasing the recognition of the at the announcement of a merger, students the data and to know how to use it.” Susan Tobin degree worldwide.

10 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Leveling Representation in Law

ENSURING EQUALITY AND PREPAREDNESS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS

A 2005 American Bar Association’s (ABA) importance of the LSAT.” Baynes points to three weeks including one week rotation in report on the underrepresentation of African additional statistics from a recent study by the the court system offering a behind-the-scenes Americans and Hispanics at law schools across Law Professors’ Division of the National Bar look at the judiciary system and networking the country sparked an innovative program Association that show a nine percent decline with judges. Janice Villiers is one professor at St. John’s designed to mitigate some of in admissions of African-American students to who volunteered and, along with Hon. Philip the multiple challenges these potential law schools in New York from 2002 -2004 Roache ’54L, Hon. Patricia Satterfield ’77L, undergraduate candidates may face. ’05HON and other distinguished alumni, helped The Summer Law School Prep Program for head up the committee that launched the College Students was developed last year by Center. “The need for diversity in the field of representatives of the School of Law’s Ronald law is one that’s been very well documented,” H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and says Villiers, who teaches torts and immigration Economic Development where research and law. “One of the issues is that students of outreach is conducted by professors on issues color have not been well advised on how to affecting the lives of minorities, and students take the kind of action needed to make learn how to be leaders in racial, economic themselves viable candidates for law school.” and social justice issues. The one-week Baynes already sees evidence that program was launched with $5,000 in seed participants are using what they learned money and a select group of sophomores last summer to launch successful student from John Jay College of Criminal Justice; government campaigns and land jobs in the Medgar Evers College; York College; state attorney general’s office. “Their resumes and St. John’s participated in a four-day are now much more impressive and they introduction to the law school environment are putting themselves in a position to be and curriculum. “Students of color have not mentored,” he says. By providing them with information on Other programming supporting this the courses needed to prepare for law school been well advised on how initiative and conducted by the Center’s staff and the LSAT, minority students from lower included a symposium on the lack of racial income backgrounds become better equipped to take the kind of action diversity in the media and how that affects for acceptance into law programs. “By bringing social justice and policy, funded by a $50,000 them here, they are learning about real needed to make themselves Ford Foundation grant, and the first Alumni courses from real professors,” says Leonard of Color Reunion Weekend Celebration. This Baynes, Center director. “It decreases the viable candidates for summer, Center representatives will partner intimidation factor and they learn about what with Legal Outreach, an organization that they have to do for the educational process.” law school.” prepares urban youth in New York City to Results of the ABA’s Commission on compete at high academic levels, to host 24 Racial and Ethnic Diversity study found eighth graders from Queens schools for five that, according to census figures, minority as further evidence for the need to conduct weeks of classes on criminal procedure, representation among lawyers is less than outreach early on. At St. John’s, just over five criminal law and trial advocacy. At the 9.7 percent compared to 20.8 percent among percent of first-year law students entering in conclusion, they will argue a mock trial in accountants and auditors, 24.6 percent the fall 2005 semester were African American the Belson Moot Court Room. among physicians and surgeons and 18.2 and nearly eight percent were Hispanic. The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil percent among college and university teachers. Since last year, $70,000 in grants were Rights and Economic Development is named “The goal [of the prep program] was to get awarded to the Center and will be used posthumously for an alumnus who served the students on the right track because law to compensate professors who previously as the first African-American secretary of school is very competitive,” Baynes adds. “I’ve volunteered their services, to enable past commerce, the first African-American chair of found that many of the kids wait until the last participants to receive free LSAT preparation the Democratic National Committee and as a minute to apply. They don’t realize the and to expand the 2006 summer session to member of President Bill Clinton’s administration.

Spring 2006 11 up front

Advancing Global Solidarity

BUILDING A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF SKILLED CARE WORKERS

A landmark agreement with an organization formed to aid the poor and oppressed will bring relief workers together from all over the developing world via an innovative distance learning program earning them an advanced degree from St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The partnership between St. John’s and Caritas of Rome, one of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations present in over 200 countries and territories around the world, will involve up to 20 participants selected for this two-year course From l., Sacca, Upton and Caritas of Rome Director Guerino Di Tora, sign the Caritas partnership agreement in Rome. of study. Qualifying students must possess accredited bachelor’s degrees or the equivalent, of viewing global development from the As further evidence of the focus on this be proficient in English and be working in, standpoint of Catholic social teaching working important mission, Ruiz cites the first encyclical or planning to work in, relief services, social toward developing an ethics of global letter, a teaching document for Catholic officials services or refugee care. solidarity,” Ruiz adds. and laypersons, from Pope Benedict XVI which In selecting class members, representation of the least-developed nations where there is the greatest need for workers to increase ARTICULATION ABCs their skills was considered. The inaugural Students attending two-year colleges sometimes have difficulty transferring credits to a group are from such countries as: Bolivia; four-year institution because the schools’ core curricula and major course requirements Cameroon; Chad; Kosovo; the Philippines; differ. Articulation agreements often define the credits transferable toward specific degree Ghana; India; Thailand; Timor East; Uganda; plus representation from the United States. requirements between the two- and four-year schools easing the way for transfer students. Not only is the goal to teach the relief workers Over the past few years, Provost Dr. Julia Upton, RSM ’73G, ’75G has signed a number about social justice and strategies to better of agreements with local community colleges in the New York metropolitan, Long Island and serve their communities, but there is also hope New Jersey areas. David Blanchard, associate director, transfer and articulation agreements, that they will cross-share their experiences says that, so far, partnerships have been forged with seven schools: LaGuardia Community with each other during the program in order College (CC); Queensborough CC; Borough of Manhattan CC; Suffolk CC; Rockland County to create a network of trained professionals CC; Ocean County College; and Bergen CC. There are also articulation agreements in place in this field. with the Institute of Audio Research and the Outreach Training Institute that allow students Rev. Jean-Pierre Ruiz, S.T.D., director of who have earned their associate degree to transfer to St. John's College of Liberal Arts and the master of arts in liberal studies program and an associate professor of theology and Sciences, The School of Education and the College of Professional Studies. religious studies, says it was also important to “Community colleges are always looking for four-year schools that will benefit their identify students from countries where there students,” Blanchard adds. “This puts our name out there as one of the four-year universities were active Catholic Bishops Conferences that will accept their students. We become another option for their students to consider.” and arms of the Caritas organization so that According to Blanchard, 76 students were enrolled in fall 2005 as a result of these students would have adequate support and partnerships, up from 61 in 2003 when the first agreement was signed. collaboration. “In some sense, this is a way

12 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine states, “The Church's charitable organizations, Fulbright Honors beginning with those of Caritas (at diocesan, national and international levels), ought to Two professors recently joined the growing list of St. John’s Fulbright Scholars, participants do everything in their power to provide the in a program started in 1946 and named for the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas resources, and above all, the personnel who introduced the legislation to fund the research of United States faculty and professionals needed for this work. Individuals who care who travel to a wide variety of countries each year. for those in need must first be professionally Senshang Lin, an associate professor of pharmacy and administrative sciences, and Mary competent: they should be properly trained Ann Maslak, associate professor of education, both received Fulbright Research Awards in what to do and how to do it, and for 2005-2006. Lin for his work on a system of delivering effective levels committed to continuing care.” of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to fight breast cancer topically Conceived and championed by Annalisa by using a current-producing device that makes the skin more permeable. Sacca, an associate professor of Italian, Leuprorelin acetate, a potent GnRH agonist, was approved by regulatory and Riccardo Colasanti, general secretary agencies worldwide to market as Lupron Depot for treating prostate cancer and for Caritas, the program’s curriculum will endometriosis. Clinical studies have further demonstrated that the continuous include courses on: social ethics; integration Lin injection of leuprorelin acetate has achieved a reduced serum level of estradiol, issues; information resources for development the most powerful female hormone that occurs naturally, and suppressed the professionals; economic development; growth of cancer tissue by 80 percent in breast-cancer patients. “This is my first time applying government and politics; and anthropology for a Fulbright and I am very excited,” says Lin, who will return to Taiwan for this study where resulting in a master of arts in liberal studies he worked last summer on his research and taught at Kaohsiung Medical University. “Taiwan degree with a concentration in global is my home country so I feel like I am returning to be of service.” development and social justice. Each student Maslak is in rural China where she is exploring circumstances, situations and factors that will attend an orientation at the Rome influence the secondary school enrollment of Muslim girls who are not graduating at a rate campus this summer where they will deemed acceptable by Chinese authorities. Although Han is the receive a laptop for communicating via majority nationality, there are 55 minority nationalities that the Internet from their various locations. include 10 Muslim groups — two from the Gansu and Xinjiang “This program provides an education to provinces whose girls Maslak is studying because they have the people in a unique way,” says Provost highest illiteracy rates and lowest graduation rates at all levels of Dr. Julia Upton, RSM ’73G, ’75G. “These education compared to the Han. Last summer, she participated in are people who are involved in pastoral work Maslak (center). the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program where she traveled all over the world and who will be able to to India to explore some of the unique cultural, social, religious, participate while continuing their work.” economic and political contexts that define the position of women in that country. She also Caritas representatives plan to fund 15 received a 2006 Summer Fulbright to return to India where she will continue her previous full scholarships each year to cover tuition, studies and further explore the impact of poverty and education on these women. “Learning the laptop, travel expenses to and from about education, and the ways in which race, class, religion, culture and gender intersect Rome and students’ room and board while in China, enhances my knowledge base about those subjects and will help me to broaden there. St. John’s representatives will recruit and deepen my students’ understanding,“ said Maslak who periodically updates a blog on five more who may or may not have to her research. apply for financial aid or loans and realize University Provost Dr. Julia A. Upton, RSM ’73G, ’75G sees the prestigious Fulbright that the possibilities of building this awards as an extension of the talent these professors possess. “For the faculty of St. John’s, interdisciplinary program are endless. a dedication to teaching goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to research of the highest “Imagine a student here at St. John’s being caliber,” she says. Lin and Maslak join a long list of St. John’s Fulbright recipients from partnered with one of the students in the various disciplines including: Tony Bonaparte; Frank Coppa; Jefferson Fish; Willard Gingerich; field,” says Dr. Upton. “I could envision us one Frederick Lang; Francis Lees; Andrea Licari; Susan Lushing; Greg Maertz; Stephen Miller; day developing an undergraduate program Jay Nathan; Konrad Tuchscherer; Laura Snyder; James Vorbach; Charles Wankel; Roger similar to what this program will be.“ Wetherington; and Zheng Zhou.

Spring 2006 13 Fueling the fantasy that anything is possible in a city where dreams come in high-definition technicolor is the multi-billion dollar entertainment industry which, every year, churns out movies, music and television shows that are glossed, air brushed and produced to perfection. But peer behind the curtain and you will see a very real business dependent on the hard work and talent of thousands of people. Behind all the glitz and glamour stands an elite group of executives whose hands are firmly at the controls.

Edward Romano ’63CBA is one wizard that trifecta when Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. plenty of people pay attention to and who has built Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures International up something more valuable than box office receipts all finished as the market share leader in their and awards. The executive vice president and chief respective business categories. financial officer for Warner Bros. Entertainment has Romano rode the waves of success and withstood amassed a reputation for integrity and reliability in the gales of less prosperous times with the grace and a commercial enterprise that can be both seductive agility of a man who understands the volatility of and fiercely competitive. “He’s one of the most Hollywood. His experience, managerial acumen and honest people I know,” says Barry Meyer, chairman the strong team he has assembled over the years have and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. helped him to weather many storms and thrive in Entertainment. “He’s got a depth of character a business as unpredictable as the next movie and everybody trusts him.” opening. “I’ve gone through a lot of acquisitions and Essential traits when you consider that Romano dispositions and we’ve had our issues, but we’ve been stands at the top of a corporation with annual lucky enough that the company has had a steady level revenues of more than $10 billion and an operating of growth,” he says. “Maybe I’m biased, but I think income in excess of $1 billion — pretty impressive most people agree with me that Warner Bros. is for a company that was raking in $500 million in the best studio in Hollywood and our record speaks revenues when Romano first started there over for itself.” Richard Fox, executive vice president, 35 years ago. A division of Time Warner, the international for Warner Bros. Entertainment, has company rests at the forefront of every aspect of known Romano for more than 30 years and says his the entertainment industry including feature films, experience is widely trusted and admired. “Ed brings television, home video/DVD, animation, comic a level of professionalism not only to his own area of finance, but as a model overall to his colleagues,” Fox says. “Also, by his example, he's made us I tell young people all the time that if aware that we must be cognizant of the financial you are going to go into business, you ramifications of our decisions, even creative ones. He has more passion and knowledge about films should at least have a grounding in than most Hollywood producers.” Ed Romano is what they call in his native Brooklyn accounting. Accounting is the a stand-up guy. Growing up in Bed-Stuy in the language of business. You can’t come out 1940s and 50s, he reveled in all the neighborhood had to offer — a closeness of community, a working- of school with a marketing degree and class spirit and lively games of stickball. He was a become an accountant, but you can student at St. John the Baptist grammar school and later went on scholarship to St. John’s Prep. From have an accounting background and there, it was a natural progression to St. John’s University where, as a student at the College of go into marketing or into management. Business Administration, he majored in accounting since he theorized it offered an easier opportunity { } to work and go to school. He says his experiences books, interactive entertainment and games, product at the University invoke some of his fondest and brand licensing, international cinemas and memories as they profoundly impacted his life. broadcasting. The studio is one of the most prolific “[The University] was an important part of my producers of prime-time series’ and currently has foundation,” he reflects. “In a lot of ways, I have to shows on every network plus two on cable television. credit St. John’s, along with my parents, for getting The corporation last year celebrated an unprecedented me to where I am today.”

16 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine His family moved to Richmond Hill in Queens belongings and the understanding that if he was not when he started college, but his father’s increasing happy with the move, the company would pay his poor health forced him to give up a long-held position airfare back east. The company never had to make at Western Union leaving the young Romano, his good on that offer despite his initial misgivings. mother and his sister Joan to make ends meet. “For the first five years, I wasn’t quite sure if I He secured a place in a program with Peat, Marwick, wanted to stay,” Romano recollects. “It was difficult Mitchell & Co. (KPMG today) that employed students to leave family and friends, and California was a bit for the final six months of school and, after graduation, of a culture shock.” But, from the high rises of they offered him a permanent position. “I like to tell Manhattan to the campus setting of a studio, the story that when I graduated I was offered $6,600 Romano quickly came to enjoy parking in front a year and my father, after 42 years with Western of his office and the near-perfect weather. And, as Union, retired making $6,200,” Romano recalls. He much as California agreed with Romano, he agreed became a bookkeeper for different businesses and with Warner Bros. where he went from assistant credits these early years learning the nuts and bolts controller to assistant treasurer, controller, vice of public accounting with shaping what would become a most prodigious career. “I tell young Through all of the technological people all the time that if you are going to go into business, you should at least have a grounding in changes, whatever they may be — accounting,” Romano offers. “Accounting is the language of business. You can go from accounting television, the Internet or video — to almost any other part of a business, but you can’t content will always remain king. go the other way. You can’t come out of school with a marketing degree and become an accountant, but Good content is what people want, you can have an accounting background and go into marketing or into management.” no matter how it’s delivered to them. After five years at Peat Marwick, he was hired in 1968 at the New York office of Warner-Seven Arts, { } the predecessor to Warner Bros. Entertainment. The president and controller, senior vice president and position was plum with a hefty pay increase, but far controller and, finally, to his current position which from glamorous. “I didn’t go to Warner-Seven Arts he has held since 1994. Romano directly oversees the from the standpoint of entertainment because it was information technology and all finance departments very distant to think about the movie business since for the various businesses, which translates to here you were on 14th Street in New York City,” responsibility for more than 1,000 employees. he reminisces. “The floor below us held the steam “I think that he exemplifies the very best in the fitters union, so it wasn’t exactly Hollywood.” profession,” says Alan Horn, Warner Bros. Instead, he was lured by the idea of doing something Entertainment president and chief operating officer. different from accounting for publications and “He has enormous responsibility and tons of people banks that made up the bulk of his daily duties at reporting to him.” Meyer agrees that Romano has Peat Marwick. After two years and the acquisition done an exemplary job and adds, “Warner Bros. is a of Warner-Seven Arts by Kinney National Service vast and international corporation, and to be able to and its transformation to Warner Communications, keep track of all the businesses we are involved in upper management decided the commute from Los takes experience and talent.” Angeles to the corporate headquarters in New York In his executive office on the Warner Bros. wasn’t practical and Romano was soon California studios lot in the heart of Burbank, Romano sagely bound. The then bachelor went to check out life on discusses everything from the fears that shake the the left coast with his clothes, a box of personal industry with the introduction of new technology

Spring 2006 17 to the problems with piracy. Surrounded by photos creation of the DVD as we did the creation of the of his beloved family members (he and his wife, VHS tape. And we are adapting to and pushing the Murphy, their children, Lindsay and Jonny and their digital world, whether it’s in digital downloading, grandchild, Kasey) and his Labradors, Romano offers video on demand or high-def DVD or wireless.” a clear perspective on the industry’s history and future With so many available mediums and more where technology is ever evolving. “We have to respond being developed every day, the chief concern for the to technology because the industry, going back 50 years industry is guarding against piracy, both digital and or more, has always responded to technology,” he says. physical, which Romano says costs movie businesses “The advent of television had a significant change on approximately $5 billion a year in lost revenue. “The the entertainment industry and people thought, at physical is with southeast Asia where you are getting that point, it would be the death knell to theatrical pirated DVDs, a major business over there, that are film as we knew it. What it became was just another distributed all over the world, and digital with the medium for us to gravitate toward. Through all of downloading of film and TV content,” he remarks. the technological changes, whatever they may be — “We are trying to combat it on various different fronts.” The policing techniques include educating Think about it, you are still seeing consumers on the illegality of possessing pirated materials, lobbying for stronger anti-pirating laws Casablanca. You are not selling cars and better enforcement of those already on the books. Movie and television executives are also which you sell to the consumer, it goes taking a page from the lessons learned by the music out the door, the consumer owns it industry. “We feel one of the things that the record business did wrong is, when the Internet penetration then 20 years later it’s on the junk was expanding, they were increasing their prices heap. The studio owns these assets instead of decreasing their prices,” he says. “They were charging more for the CDs when all the kids forever unless they decide to sell really wanted was one song on the CD, so they gravitated toward getting it off of the Internet and their library, and this library of films Napster and file sharing.” With DVDs, his industry can generate revenue for years. is looking at an alternative strategy. “We are driving the price of the DVD down,” he explains. “We are { } trying to make the price point between buying a television, the Internet or video — content will legitimate DVD and a pirated DVD smaller so the always remain king. Good content is what people consumer will say ‘OK, maybe I am paying a few want, no matter how it’s delivered to them.” In dollars more for this DVD but, one, I know I am Romano’s estimation, Warner Bros. Entertainment going to get better quality, two, I’m going to get has more than answered the call for quality content extra features and, three, I am not doing something with films like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the against the law so I’ll pay a little extra.’” documentary March of the Penguins and television There’s a lot of money to be made and accounting hits “ER,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Gilmore Girls.” The for all of it can be heady. Studios, he explains, are no company is even taking a foray into theater with the longer public companies but rather parts of larger play Lestat opening on Broadway this spring and conglomerates. Gone are the days of the tyrannical views digital as the next frontier. “The entertainment studio head who orchestrated the lives of a stable of industry was the prime mover in the establishment stars. Instead, they are now held by corporations like of the DVD along with the technology companies,” News Corp., Viacom and General Electric with Romano shares. “We saw that as another avenue for stockholders evaluating their investments in terms us to maximize our assets so we helped push the of how it will affect the bottom line such as the

18 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine announcement of the merger of the WB and UPN there will be profits to be made and a need for men networks into the CW network. “One of the things like Romano who understand the dollars and cents you ultimately learn in accounting is that there really of it. “A movie never dies,” Romano continues. isn’t any transaction that can be completed in the “Think about it, you are still seeing Casablanca. You company without somehow the CFO and the are not selling cars which you sell to the consumer, it controller knowing about it,” Romano muses. “So goes out the door, the consumer owns it then 20 you are involved in everything.” With so much fiscal years later it’s on the junk heap. The studio owns responsibility, Romano prides himself on the fact these assets forever unless they decide to sell their that his company has a strong system of checks and library, and this library of films can generate revenue balances to keep everything in line. “The motion for years.” In fact, the 1942 film distributed by Warner picture industry has its own set of accounting Bros. and ranked number two on a list of 100 greatest standards,” he says. “The negative cost of the film, American films by the American Film Institute, has which is the asset itself, is basically expensed on what’s grossed more than $10 million in the United States called the flow of income method of amortization. — an admirable showing considering that the Simply what that is is the amount of revenue that average movie ticket cost at its release was 27 cents you take in as actual compared to the ultimate — and it continues to rake in cash as a popular amount of revenue that you think you are going to rental. It’s enough to make Romano smile. On the Warner Bros. lot. get from that product.” So, while films may cost hundreds of millions of dollars to produce, there are a variety of ways that the money can be recouped including through the sale of DVD releases overseas. With so much to do, Romano doesn’t have much free time, but when he does, he and his wife enjoy going to the movies. In fact, he is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves as chairman of the audit and finance committee for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He is also a member of the finance committee and the board of trustees of the Saint Joseph Medical Center Foundation, of the board of directors of the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles and the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Foundation audit committee. His Vincentian values are reflected in his desire to help further the education of students who, like he did, are willing to work hard and make the most of their opportunities. “Sometimes all they need is a helping hand,” Romano says. “There is an element of luck involved in having certain breaks, and sometimes part of that luck is receiving a helping hand. This is a tough, tough world.” In Romano’s personal and professional world, he has found a balance and contentment that will keep him right where he is, at least for a few years more. That is probably a comforting thought to his superiors since, as long as there is an entertainment industry,

Spring 2006 19 A triumphant warrior is not only willing to engage in combat, but also has a vision of what victory will look like. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds or circumstances, the willingness to answer the call unselfishly, and motivate others to do the same, is a leader who emerges confident, STEWARD, successful and most respected. SOL It’s a spirit that makes it impossible not to answer this call, especially when those being defended are so utterly defenseless. That leader must have a vision of triumph — a desire to achieve a noble mission as, according to General Douglas MacArthur, “it is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” DIER, Savior Previous pages: Sr. Elizabeth Burns, RSM ’64GNEd is a All the more reason why Burns so passionately Far left: Two children of Ghana. warrior. She has that single-minded focus that leads the charge on behalf of the disenfranchised Right: Burns with fistula patient, comes with years of pursuit of goal. But with women of the country already without Rily Asamoah. will or not, she is fighting an uphill battle, at resources, and who have so very little except least during her lifetime and possibly ours. for need. Her special forces, the medical Ask her about herself and she will steer the outreach workers, travel to surrounding conversation to her work. Praise her efforts villages where word quickly spreads that and she will list a cadre of things that still need health services are available, though the teams to be done. Express interest in where she may are often hard pressed to deal with the sheer be headed and she speaks only of the many number of women who need help. “Some miles left to go. The Sisters of Mercy make days, 50 or more women show up who have a vow to care for the poor, the sick and the never been seen by a health professional,” she uneducated, and although Burns is not says. Those services can include everything personally armed with a stethoscope or sutures, from immunizations to medical checkups and she is especially obliged as the only member of advice on childcare. Burns says women often her order tackling a relentless enemy with an bring multiple children looking for care for army she has cobbled together from like-minded them all because they are so rural and can’t comrades. “I am only doing what I am supposed afford to travel to the nearest medical facility. to do,” she says simply. “I do not wish credit “The government has limited resources, so for what I am doing. I do not wish for pay to when women hear that outreach team members do the work that I am involved in.” are there, word of mouth travels from one poor hat makes her work village to the next poor village,” she explains. on the front lines of These locations are so remote that there is WGhana, Africa, so special little or no prenatal care, and a pregnant woman is the level at which it is may have to withstand days of labor without both heart wrenching and necessary. First of any relief. During a prolonged obstructed all, there is poverty — beyond-imagination labor, blood flow can be cut off causing fistulae, poverty to anyone living in the developed holes between the bladder or large intestine and world. While Ghana is now considered one the birth canal that lead to a loss of control of the most politically-stable and prosperous over bodily functions. The sufferers of fistula countries in West Africa, it is still a harsh tend to be young girls who are traditionally economic climate compared to Europe and married at an early age and their bodies are America. The small nation is still a land where often not developed enough to allow for ease kerosene lamps are used for light, wood fires in childbirth so, without medical intervention, are used for cooking and most doctors or the baby almost always dies. Through no fault hospitals demand payment before treatment. of their own, these women are victims to a

A roadside village outside of Cape Coast.

Burns, standing second from right in the first row, in Cape Coast with students from 10 regions in Ghana for a symposium where she lectured on the problems youth face.

22 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine A view of the medical center and fistula hospital.

condition that ostracizes them from their As a result of her convictions, Burns community. Because of their stigma and became one of the driving forces behind the poverty, they are seldom admitted to general establishment of the Mercy Reproductive and hospitals, further isolating them. Child Health Care Centre (MRCHC) in According to the World Health Organization, Makessim for pregnant women and their there are more than two million women offspring, and the neighboring Fistula throughout the developing world who suffer Hospital. For Burns, that means maintaining from fistula, thousands of whom live in central a steady pace from sun up to sun down to Ghana. Because of their smell and soiled ensure that the hospital and center are well condition, they are cast aside by husbands and equipped, that construction on ancillary family members — abandoned and destitute. projects such as storage facilities and garages Others may be hidden away by loved ones, but are complete and that no one forgets the are no less alone and lonely. But where some women who need help. As project coordinator, see modern-day lepers, Burns sees sisters in she writes grant applications and prepares Burns with Sis.Victoria Swanzy-Essien SSND, the human family. “These women can’t get reports to show how the funding will be a nurse and member of the jobs, they are complete outcasts,” she adds. used, a task that takes up many of her hours. Mercy Outreach Team. “In some cases, even their own families will There are always boxes of equipment to sort hide them. It’s pathetic and they need our through, contractors to meet with and help.” This practice in Ghana today harkens potential patients to minister to — quite back to similar circumstances in 19th-century a bit for a youngster to tackle, let alone a America when many physicians refused to woman in her 80s. But Burns, who is the treat female patients simply because they were only member of her order working in women. Specialty treatment for gynecology Ghana, seems to run circles around those and obstetrics was virtually unheard of resulting half her age. “She’s incredible,” says Dr. Julia in suffering for thousands of women. In 1852, Upton, RSM ’73G, ’75G, provost of the the first article detailing the surgical principles University and a friend of Burns for several used to treat fistula appeared in the American years. “At an age when most people are retired, Journal of Medical Sciences, and by 1855, the putting up their feet and reading a book, she first fistula hospital was opened on Madison is working to make a difference in the lives of Avenue in New York City. After the patient others.” In 2004, Burns traveled to the Queens population outgrew the space, it was moved in campus for the Alumni Convocation and was 1857 to a Park Avenue location that is now a New accompanied by Upton when she received the York City landmark — the Waldorf=Astoria Pietas medal presented to alumni who have Hotel. Fistula was eradicated in the western demonstrated loyalty, fidelity and devotion world at the end of the 19th century when to alma mater. cesarean section became more widely available The early life of Burns served as her basic as a method of handling difficult deliveries. training for the hot, dusty roads of Ghana.

Spring 2006 23 Burns volunteering at the Abandoned Childrens’ Home with Sr. Monica Smythe, DMJ, an Irish nurse practitioner, and some of the several hundred children that live and go to school on the compound called "Ahotokurom," or Serenity Village.

Burns and Victor Davis, a Ghanaian with a biomedical engineering degree assisting with set up in the hospital and medical center, unpack a piece of medical equipment.

he youngest of seven children appointments and an “early retirement” meant she sees human relationships inextricably tied growing up in St. Louis, she to allow her order the benefit of her pension. to spirituality. She is also project director on Tknew from an early age that “In the old days, one went where one was sent the construction of a maternity ward in she would lead a religious life and did what one was told to do,” she says of Nsawam and for an extension of the library at and was drawn to the Sisters of Mercy who her multi-faceted and multi-state career. Her a teacher training college in Cape Coast, but it taught at her school, loved the stories of the mind was too active to just stop working, so is her work with the fistula sufferers that will be missionaries in Africa and yearned to share she accepted a professorship at the University her most indelible legacy with the completion in that life. She entered the Sisters of Mercy of Iowa teaching mental health and studying of the much needed MRCHC and Fistula order in 1940 at the age of 17, went on to brain circulation and blood-brain barrier Hospital. George Gyader ’09D.A. met Burns receive a degree from the St. John’s Hospital function before teaching and furthering her when he was a student in Cape Coast in 1994 School of Nursing in St. Louis and continued research at the University of Ohio in 1982. and says her work is vital in his native land her studies in biology at St. Louis University. Later, it was on to Ohio State where she because the lack of any organized health Because of her science background, she spent was given the title of emerita professor insurance system means that many have no way years as a hospital administrator, an educator of psychiatry in 1993 upon her next to pay for medical aid. “Her work will leave a and even supervised surgical wards until “retirement” to accept a Fulbright to teach mark,” says Gyader, who Burns recommended obtaining a graduate degree and a Ph.D. in at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. for a fellowship to study at St. John’s. “At the neurophysiology at the University of Colorado As much as Burns knows the brain, she end of the day, those who benefit from what School of Medicine in Denver. When her also knows the heart, and hers knew she had she has done may never know how it came to superior suggested she work to help care for found a land that called to her. She embraced be, but it was through her.” the elderly sisters in her order, she served on the people of Ghana and they in turn came Her involvement with fistula sufferers the faculty at St. Louis University School of to love her. Whether it be the hundreds of grew out of her concern over the high infant Medicine and spent summers studying students she taught for several years or her mortality rates and lack of prenatal care for brain ultra structure and neurochemistry volunteer work for the Archdiocese of Cape the women of Ghana. While exact numbers at the Hoffman-LaRoche Department of Coast home for abandoned children, a leper are hard to determine, Burns has since learned Experimental Medicine in Basel, Switzerland. camp and an alcohol and drug treatment that there are an estimated 200 new cases of That was followed by several faculty center, she opens herself up to be of service as obstetric fistulae a year in central Ghana,

24 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine which underscores the need for the specialty the women. Projected estimates show the convincing young women to delay pregnancy hospital. Although she is the project’s biggest total cost for the Fistula Hospital at $600,000 until their bodies are physically mature enough booster, the need is clear to the locals who have dollars. So far, roughly $390,000 was raised to handle delivery — all strategies that cannot embraced her and the construction of the new through grants and donations, many of them be tackled overnight. In 2003, the United facilities. “A few years ago, I was making visits personally solicited by Burns who has become Nations Population Fund launched a global to the various chiefs because we needed to get quite creative at negotiating appropriations. effort to eradicate fistula, and in Ghana, their permission before we could go ahead with “The Japanese Embassy in Ghana gave representatives from the Ministry of Health the building,” she recalls. “One chief reached $57,000 and Ireland Aid gave €95,000 [for announced a year later that they would institute into his pocket and pulled out 50,000 cedi, which the MRCHC],” she says. “When the Irish Aid national policies including educational programs is next to nothing in American money, but he director for mission work invited me to write a for young women and improved documentation wanted to pay for our fuel to come there because proposal, he did not ask about my citizenship, of cases by health care providers to deal with he said his people really needed the help.” apparently assuming I was an Irish Sister of this crisis. Burns works with a team of nuns The project has moved ahead without Mercy. I was later asked what Irish Province from other orders who she believes will be benefit of government funding as Burns I was from and I told them none, but was more than capable of carrying on what she continues to mobilize people and resources, allowed to apply as the project director of a started. Until then, she continues to seek determined to see it through to completion. community with Irish citizens in it since there resources and skilled volunteers to secure the Her arsenal in the Fistula Hospital now are three Irish sisters here.” Gyader believes it future of the complex. “The more we have, contains a surgical theater suite, surgical wards is due to the esteem in which Burns is held the more we could treat the people who have with 44 beds, a recovery unit with 10 beds and that she is able to garner such support for the fistula, and then go about trying to actually a large out-patient unit. Construction is nearly hospital and center. “It’s an issue of trust to prevent it,” she muses. complete on the 23-bed hostel adjacent to the raise money and to make sure that the money For now, Burns is one of many sounding surgical theater outfitted with a living room, goes where it is supposed to,” he says. “She the call for improved care as The Regional a skills-learning room, two 11-bed dormitories has shown me that selfless sacrifice can be Health Administration, which offers health and cooking, dining and laundry facilities. achieved by anyone. You just need the will and care services in central Ghana, is pledging Fistula patients will be housed there long-term the ear to listen to God. Her energy and her to provide obstetricians, midwives, in preparation for surgery, as they are frequently drive have served her well.” technicians and administrative personnel malnourished and anemic. Installation recently Burns envisions a day when the battle cry to work in the MRCHC and Fistula Hospital began on an underground rain water storage is muffled, troop deployment to the field is once they are operational. To Sr. Elizabeth tank and rain water collecting system, less necessary and her leadership is no longer Burns, it all seems so simple — there is a imperative in a region that is often so dry. needed. She theorizes that it will take 30-50 need to be filled. Others might think it odd Her short-term strategic plans are to complete years to adequately attack the problems plaguing that she would abandon her own well-earned buildings for staff housing, parking lots, the women of Ghana. Prevention methods for comfort at a point in her life when she could garages, security and storage facilities, an fistula include comprehensive medical care for be forgiven for slowing down. But while incinerator plus a second hostel added for pregnant woman, access to emergency obstetric the helpless are suffering, she can’t sit idle. post-operative, long-term rehabilitation for care for those who develop complications and A warrior never shies from a just war.

Burns and Dr. Catherine Husa (c.), a visiting gynecologist from Ithaca, NY, who is serving as a surgical volunteer, with a group of Ghanaian women at a roadside market.

Spring 2006 25

FULFILLING THE DREAM

alumni involvement

THE CAMPAIGN FOR ST. JOHN’S — FULFILLING THE DREAM, THE SECOND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

UNDER FATHER HARRINGTON’S LEADERSHIP, IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN UNIVERSITY HISTORY

RAISING OVER ONE QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS IN RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE EARMARKED

FOR SUCH TOP PRIORITIES AS SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT; FACULTY RESEARCH; ACADEMIC PROGRAM

INITIATIVES; FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS; AND TECHNOLOGY. AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE

THE CAMPAIGN'S SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION IN MAY, WE LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF ALUMNI

INVOLVEMENT IN THIS FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE THREE-PART SERIES EXPLORING HOW

ACHIEVING OUR GOAL WILL FULFILL MANY DREAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHN’S FAMILY

— STUDENTS, FACULTY AND ALUMNI.

s a young man in the early 1960s, Thomas McInerney ’64UC,

by Lisa France and ’01HON hurried from his job in midtown Manhattan to Thomas Burke ’68C, ’71G A attend night classes at Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn.

There, during long, coffee-fueled evenings, he immersed himself in his

studies before catching the subway for the half-hour ride back home to

Flatbush. It wasn’t easy, working during the day and attending college

at night, but for McInerney it laid a foundation for a successful career

Thomas McInerney and a lifelong appreciation of education.

Spring 2006 27 campus, as was the DaSilva Academic Center integrity and innovation. He began to reap in Staten Island; the libraries and laboratories the financial rewards that accompany hard were significantly upgraded; and technological work and opportunity and, along with his sophistication became an integral part of wife, Paula, gave magnanimously to causes nearly every classroom and curriculum. such as the Inner-City Scholarship Fund Although St. John’s in 2006 is indeed a that benefits schools of the Archdiocese of very different university from what it was New York and a $10 million gift to alma during McInerney’s student days, its mater. It was a decision that was intrinsically underlying mission of caring and compassion logical and heartfelt for them. “The biggest for others remains unchanged. Now, as single factor was the desire to give something then, academically-deserving but financially- back in proportion to the value I got out of burdened students are offered a helping St. John’s,” McInerney now remarks. “The McInerney in his New York office. hand to make their dreams of a higher experience of college and how that created education a reality, and McInerney is a the platform for my success in business is a Today, he is general partner at the striking example of what such help can powerful lesson.” investment firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson accomplish. Watching this self-assured The man who credits an English and Stowe in New York City, a loyal alumnus professional navigate his midtown literature class for fostering his love of and an ardent supporter of the University that gave him his start. “It’s only in retrospect that you see not only the absolute things “EVERY UNIVERSITY HAS THE EFFECT OF IMPROVING you learn, but also the process of learning THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS WHO GO THERE JUST and the discipline of having to go to classes and do the work. It is then that you realize BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ATTEND. how tremendously educational and enriching an experience it was,” McInerney now BUT ST. JOHN’S IS EXPLICITLY ABOUT IMPROVING reflects. “Looking back on those times, I realize what a big impact it had. I wanted LIVES. IT’S PART OF OUR STATEMENT, OUR MISSION, to do more professionally, I wanted to see more and I wanted to be more involved in OUR GOALS AND OUR VALUES.” the world.” Today, his involvement with students — academically, spiritually and financially — is evident in his commitment Manhattan office, it seems incongruous poetry is genuinely eloquent when he speaks to the capital campaign by helping to provide to think of him as someone who was once of the necessity for higher education. When the very best to those who have the very least. in need of financial assistance. His parents he and Paula were honored at the Eighth “Every university has the effect of improving were not wealthy, and for the initial six Annual President’s Dinner with the prestigious the lives of the students who go there just months of his freshman year, McInerney Spirit of Service Award, bestowed upon those by virtue of the fact that they attend,” he matriculated on a partial New York State whose vision, accomplishments and good says. “But St. John’s is explicitly about Regents scholarship. When illness struck works embody the essence of St. Vincent de improving lives. It’s part of our statement, his father and the possibility loomed that Paul, McInerney held more than 1,000 guests our mission, our goals and our values.” his dad might have to leave his job, young spellbound as he shared disheartening Campaign funding has accounted for McInerney was forced to enter the workforce statistics gathered from the columns of The major additions and improvements that full-time, which challenged his ability to New York Times illustrating that college-age permeate every aspect of campus life. Since carry the 16 credits per semester needed students from the poorest quarter of our its inception: more than 70 new scholarships to maintain his scholarship eligibility. population have only a nine percent chance were endowed; the Laptop Initiative was Undaunted, he refused to let misfortune of getting a degree compared to those in the launched, placing a wireless computer into damper his desire and worked even harder top quarter who have a 75 percent chance. the hands of every entering freshman; the to finish his liberal arts degree. With tuition costs skyrocketing, that gap St. Thomas More Church and the Taffner What followed was a meteoric business between the rich and the poor is widening Field House were completed on the Queens career and a reputation as a businessman of and McInerney bristles at this situation he

28 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine considers both disturbing and unfair. “The world of business, he knows how important Going forward, he would like to see whole concept of making higher education it is for a university to be able to point to students increase their level of service more accessible to poorer people seems to substantial alumni involvement when and improve their communication skills, be heading south,” he says. “It’s a terrible seeking additional funding from corporations something that he firmly believes is a message for the people who are being and foundations. He is well aware that these necessity for professional success. He notes adversely affected and, ultimately, for our organizations carefully consider the level that even the brightest graduates will country.” As the gap between rich and poor appears to be widening, McInerney sees the “THE CAMPAIGN CREATES A GOAL — IT CREATES mission of St. John’s becoming increasingly A SENSE OF FOCUS THAT ENERGIZES PEOPLE.” vital. While he and Paula support specific initiatives including the Student Managed Investment Fund, the Rome Scholarship Fund of alumni support when making decisions flounder if they are unable to express and St. Thomas More Church construction, about where to direct their charitable gifts, themselves well when speaking or writing. they also expressed the desire that many of and he is pleased with how our alumni have Fittingly, the evolution and expansion of the their gifts be directed toward the University’s responded to the multiple initiatives and University’s on-campus Institute for Writing most needed priorities, confident that the goals of the campaign. “Athletics, dorms Studies is just one example of the many money will be well utilized. “I’m less and other facilities are all part of the academic initiatives made possible by the concerned and opinionated about how quality of life [at St. John’s], and that helps success of the Campaign. He notes that the the money should be spent because I have to attract good students,” he adds. “For our abundance of newly-endowed scholarships the belief that the people who are working contributions, we want them to go to lots coupled with the ever-increasing academic at the University know far better than I of different things that support the different standards allows St. John’s to attract some how to make those tradeoffs,” he remarks focal points of the University. The Campaign of the best and brightest students from confidently. “I don’t think I can make the creates a goal — it creates a sense of focus varying demographics. “There is no decisions and say whether we want a new that energizes people.” necessary trade-off between being Alumni involvement has increased every academically rigorous and still serving year since the Campaign began to more the mission,” he says. “You don’t have to than double the level of support today. sacrifice one for another, and we haven’t.” McInerney believes that launching an McInerney knows that the same spirit initiative as ambitious as Fulfilling the Dream of giving that characterized the Campaign was a natural way to foster continued needs to continue, and is hopeful that the growth while capitalizing on the momentum many alumni initiatives and programs of a graduate base over 140,000 strong. planned for the future including an “A university of St. John’s size and profile on-campus lecture series, expanded has a responsibility,” he says. “It can’t think C.O.A.C.H. programs and various other small, and it shouldn’t think small. If it thinks constituency-specific activities will small, it is failing its many constituencies, accomplish that goal. He is well aware that which are potential students, former students, the end of the Campaign does not mean

With wife, Paula, and Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. its actual students and the faculty.” Evidence the end of the need, but rather more at the President's Dinner. of the Campaign’s success can be found resources for more students. As one with within every academic area of the University. first-hand knowledge of the supreme science lab versus automating the library “The initial amount, $100 million, was satisfaction that comes from helping others, versus the laptop program. So, I’m a big an enormous undertaking. And then to he embraces a personal philosophy that believer in unrestricted gifts.” increase and ultimately exceed that, I think, “…it’s great to make it, but it’s even better Giving in all forms, whether in time or is somehow right. It’s what should have to give it away. If you’ve been successful, money, is extremely important to McInerney, happened,” he beams. “There is satisfaction then you really have an obligation to and his support of the Campaign as both a that objectives are being met and pride society. But more importantly, you have an trustee and contributor is exemplary. As that St. John’s is doing well in many obligation to yourself — you can’t not give someone completely familiar with the different areas.” something back.”

Spring 2006 29 campus briefs

Pomp and Circumstance: Commencement Traditions by Blythe E. Roveland-Brenton, Ph.D. ’00G

The word commencement refers to a event noted “the boys acquitted themselves groups from outside the school. In the beginning, but for most people it connotes remarkably well of the parts assigned to late 1800s, it became common to sing the an end, a finale. Thousands of students them.” Oratory, music and the distribution St. John’s Farewell Song, set to the air of have passed through the hallowed halls of of premiums became a regular feature of the My Old Kentucky Home, at the close of St. John’s in anticipation of graduation day early commencements, but it was not until exercises. Alma Mater (to the tune of and the conferral of their degrees. When 1881 that the first college degree as we know Maryland, My Maryland) and Hymn to that day finally did come, they donned the it — the Bachelor of Arts — was conferred St. John’s were staples at many a graduation customary caps, gowns and hoods, processed to three graduates — Patrick Callahan, John and patriotic songs like the Stars and Stripes in solemn lines to designated seating and Maguire and William McGuirl. Callahan and the National Anthem have been listened to lofty speeches and uplifting and Maguire earned the first Master of commonplace since the 1920s. music. They may have risen as the president Arts degrees two years later. The early commencements were conferred the rights and privileges of their While the sparse early records do not evening affairs that occurred on weekdays. degree, or perhaps they were called to the reveal when caps and gowns were initially Beginning in 1925, exercises were held in dais to receive the diploma. After the worn, the first attire was certainly black. the afternoon and from the late ’40s, they conferral, they were likely prompted by A standardized code of academic dress for took place on weekends. Through the ’20s, student marshals to transfer their tassels American colleges and universities was the date of the ceremony was on or around from the right to left side of their caps. agreed upon in the 1890s and a photograph June 24, patron saint day of the University, If they were doctoral candidates, they of St. John’s graduates from 1905 indicates St. John the Baptist. For over 100 years, the were ceremoniously hooded. At the end that, at least by this time, the senior class main commencement was set in June (with of the formalities, graduates may have let wore caps and gowns. Another, from 1908, the exception of the May 1943 graduation) out shouts of exuberance, or even thrown shows that hoods became part of the and other smaller graduations took place in their caps into the air in elation. The spring regalia and by the late ’60s, newly-designed September or January with August reserved 2006 commencement exercises will mark scarlet academic robes were phased in for the accelerated program during World the end of the 136th academic year at incrementally beginning with doctoral robes War II. Since the mid-’70s, the academic St. John’s and, while this year’s graduates in 1968, master’s gowns the following year year-end undergraduate commencements might recognize some of the sights and and finally bachelor’s gowns corresponding have been in May. sounds of earlier ceremonies, some of with centennial year celebrations. The location of the ceremony has also the pageantry and rituals would seem Music has traditionally been an changed over time. The original Lewis completely unfamiliar. Indeed, the first important accompaniment to commencement commencement exercises did not even exercises. At various times in the past, the have any college graduates. Glee Club and the College Chorus provided The first “exhibition,” as it was called, vocal performances while instrumental took place at eight o’clock on a Monday arrangements of marches, like the familiar evening in June 1871 at Lewis Avenue. Pomp and Circumstance, plus classical and Students gave speeches on topics as diverse popular selections, were performed by the as “Pius the Ninth,” “Benjamin Franklin” St. John’s Orchestra, St. John’s Prep Band, and the “Treatment of the Indians.” Strains the occasional organist and professional of music filled College Hall and premiums or awards were distributed to those of special merit. Dignitaries such as the Bishop of Brooklyn, the Right Reverend John Medals and other “premiums” were Loughlin, were in attendance and graduate commonly bestowed on deserving James Moran earned a gold medal for students. James Moran was awarded this gold medal for general improvement in general improvement in his various studies. his various studies at the very first

An entry in the college diary describing the commencement in 1871. Mikesell Brian Photo:

30 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine When the library was built on the Queens campus, the area in front of it on the Great Lawn became an ideal spot to stage the ceremony (held here from 1964-73 and since 2003). The 1967 graduation is pictured.

Members of the class of 1924 pose for an informal snapshot outside of St. John the Baptist Clare Boothe Luce ’64HON, church on Lewis Avenue. writer, politician, diplomat, speaks to the class of 1964 about the crisis in

Soviet-Chinese relations. Studio. Routel Photo: campus briefs

From 1949 through 1955, the general commencement was held at the Second Corps Artillery Armory in Brooklyn. The June 1949 exercises are pictured here. Photo: James Kavallines, New York Herald Tribune. Herald York New Kavallines, James Photo:

Avenue campus was home to the ceremonies and College of Pharmacy, became part of in the 19th century until the number of the University and multiple graduation graduates and their guests outgrew the ceremonies were often held at various available space. In the early 1900s, other spots such as the Brooklyn Elks Club, the venues were sought out that could Schermerhorn Gymnasium and De Gray accommodate the growing numbers such Auditorium on Lewis Avenue. Surprisingly, as The Bijou, Columbia, and Broadway in 1942 and ’43, the law schools of St. John’s Theatres in Brooklyn — sites for the and New York University held a joint celebration during the initial years of the commencement. From 1949-1955, general 20th century. By 1909, the Brooklyn commencements including all graduates Academy of Music became the primary took place at the Second Corps Artillery locale for the event used for the last time by Armory until, in 1956, commencement was St. John’s in 1948. All graduates were part of held for the first time outside of Brooklyn the same ceremony until 1928 when other on the newly-opened Queens campus where schools and colleges, like the School of Law the tradition of a combined graduation (all schools and degrees) continued there The Brooklyn Academy of Music, at Lafayette Avenue through 1974. The first years’ exercises were and Ashland Place, was home to the ceremonies held out of doors but moved to the new for many years during the period 1909 - 1948. Alumni Hall (now Carnesecca Arena) in

32 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine 1961. Commencement again took place annual baseball game between the seniors outdoors in 1964, this time in front of the and faculty held at Carey Field, a theatre new library (St. Augustine Hall). Graduation party in Manhattan, a farewell banquet This brochure features a returned to Alumni Hall in 1974 because of and a dance. New events like boat rides newly-styled scarlet doctoral inclement weather, where it remained until up the Hudson and a trip to a academic costume designed by Cotrell & Leonard, Inc., in 1968. 2002 and prompted multiple ceremonies Brooklyn Dodgers game were because of space constraints. Since 2003, a introduced in the 1940s, but general combined commencement returned during 1942-45, the dance to the Great Lawn in front of the library. became a “war casualty.” Ceremonies are held at the Staten Island Beach parties and picnics campus since it was acquired in the early were occasionally on the 1970s, at the Rome campus since 1998 agenda and Senior Night, and since 1994, like in the early days of its held before graduation, existence, the Law School graduation is was a time to read class celebrated separately. prophecies, hold We tend to think of commencement as Valedictory addresses, a one-day affair, but for many decades transfer the class key well into the ’60s, it was usual for senior to the juniors and festivities to stretch out over an entire week or present academic more before graduation. A host of activities awards. took place including the Sunday Baccalaureate Honorary Sermon, Monday Mass and Holy degrees to people Communion for the seniors followed by of prominence have breakfast. Other traditions included the been bestowed by

In the late 1960s, over a three-year period, the academic attire for graduate and undergraduate candidates was altered. Shown here is the 1969 commencement on the Great Lawn, at which time the graduate students had the new scarlet robes while the undergraduates wore the traditional black attire. The following year, the undergraduates would

Vincentian yearbook, 1970. yearbook, Vincentian also wear scarlet garb.

Spring 2006 33 campus briefs

St. John’s for more than a century with the earliest, an honorary Master of Arts degree, given in 1898 and the first honorary doctorate granted in 1902. Not surprisingly, many recipients were Catholic priests, especially in the early decades of this tradition, plus judges, politicians, college presidents and other educators, but people from all walks of life were chosen. Some of the most well known to receive honorary degrees at graduations include: Paul Anka ’78HON; Arthur Ashe ’83HON; Duke Ellington ’71HON; Estee Lauder ’90HON; Robert Moses ’59HON; Charles Osgood ’90HON; and Kate Smith ’68HON. Often, an honorary degree recipient gives the commencement address as have: Striking faculty members and Benjamin Cardozo ’28HON; J. Edgar sessions. The 1966 commencement drew supporters chose commencement Hoover ’42HON; Clare Boothe Luce about 250 picketers, including members of day, June 1966, to stage a ’64HON; Hon. R. Sargent Shriver ’65HON; the faculty, teaching unions and other schools, demonstration. Terence Cardinal Cooke ’69HON; David to protest the dismissal of professors a few Rockefeller ’71HON; Sister Helen Prejean months before and to urge reform. ’96HON; Raymond Kelly ’71L, ’98HON; The local media covered this instance, as Tim Russert ’99HON; and Ron Silver ’70G, would be expected, but news coverage of the Did you save mementos of your ’04HON. Except for the period 1972–1992 events surrounding St. John’s graduations is commencement celebration or when the University’s president gave the far from unusual. Newspapers carried stories Senior Week or photographs and address, and occasionally prior to that, on the institution’s ceremonies from the other memorabilia from that time prominent people from outside the University 1870s like the Brooklyn Eagle which ran this you would like to share? generally serve as distinguished speakers. piece following the 20th commencement To discuss a possible donation, Most graduates likely do not recall the in 1890: “The outside and inside of the write to: commencement speech delivered at their building were profusely decorated and the ceremony, though often quite eloquent, but private residences in the vicinity were St. John’s University Archives texts of some speeches were published either tastefully draped with bunting in keeping Library, Room 430 as a separate publication or in one of the with the exterior college decorations. From 8000 Utopia Parkway school or local newspapers. In the 1950s the roof of the building to the sidewalk, long Queens, NY 11439, and ’60s, speeches were printed as a series strings of Chinese and Japanese lanterns call (718) 990-1465 or e-mail of pamphlets entitled Educatio Christiana were suspended and the flags of all nations [email protected] with topics ranging from the state of covered the windows and doorways of the Catholic higher education to concerns structure.” The experience of the graduate about pollution, poverty and war. who witnessed this day in June 1890 was While mainly a time for jubilation, different in so many ways from that of the commencement exercises at colleges and graduate seated on the Great Lawn this universities are rarely free from controversy May 2006. Yet they share a common bond and tension, and St. John’s is no exception. that distinguishes them as proud and Speeches have often been of a political or accomplished alumni. ideological nature and students have been unhappy with certain decisions, like the Blythe Roveland-Brenton is the one that moved the outdoor ceremony into University’s archivist. Alumni Hall in the 1970s, necessitating split

34 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine 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.

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 and many other great offers:

FEATURED PARTNER Liberty Mutual’s Group Savings Plus program includes: Q Group discounts of up to 10% off already competitive rates on auto and home insurance* Q Additional savings based on age, level of education and more* Q Convenient payment plans Q Rates guaranteed for 12 months instead of six Q 24-hour claims service and Emergency Roadside Assistance* For a free, no-obligation quote, visit www.libertymutual.com/stjohns or call (888) 285-7635.

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For more information on becoming an annual contributor, log on to www..stjohns.edu/giving, call (718) 990-6232, toll free at (877) SJU-ALUM or e-mail [email protected] campus briefs

Legendary Achievements

Alumni and friends gathered for a magical evening in January to honor 10 legends of basketball who were more than just stars on the court, they were shining examples of integrity, sportsmanship and true team players. The St. John’s Legacy Honors event began with a dinner at the Queens campus for the honorees and family members of athletes who were selected unanimously for their achievements beyond wins character, team success and young age in an automobile and losses. Those feted, some national recognition. accident, bringing many in the posthumously, spanned the Touching remarks from the room to tears. The recipients century from the 1920s to the honorees and surviving family were also recognized the next 1990s and were selected by a members who spoke of the evening during half-time at the committee comprised of strong ties between the St. John’s vs. Pittsburgh men’s administrators, coaches and recipients and the University, basketball game at Madison members of the men’s basketball other players, coaches and Square Garden and their family who took into account family highlighted the evening’s names now each grace a several aspects of the honorees ceremony. Even eight-year-old banner hanging from the careers including athletic Malik Sealy, Jr. spoke on behalf rafters of Carnesecca Arena achievement, citizenship, of the father he lost at such a at the Queens campus. Legacy honors went to…

WALTER “THE TRUTH” BERRY who LLOYD “SONNY” DOVE ’76C is one TONY JACKSON was a two-time DICK MCGUIRE ’50C was a standout played just two seasons but was the of only two players in the University’s consensus All-American and is currently during the 1940s and a member of 1986 BIG EAST Player of the Year and history with more than 1,000 career listed ninth among the all-time scoring the 1944 NIT Championship team who the John R. Wooden Award winner, points and 1,000 career rebounds. He leaders with 1,603 points and is also will always be remembered for his citing him the National Player of the starred in the mid to late ‘60s under third on the all-time rebounding list playmaking abilities, court sense and Year for 1986. He totaled 1,424 career Joe Lapchick and then Lou Carnesecca, with 991 career boards. He was ball-handling skills. He was a two-time points in those two seasons and was a and currently ranks 10th in all-time named the most valuable player of Haggerty Award winner for out- key member of the 1985 NCAA Final scoring with 1,576 career points and both the ECAC Holiday Festival and standing play in the New York area Four team and the 1986 BIG EAST second all-time rebounder with the Postseason NIT during his 1958-59 and was inducted into the Naismith Tournament championship squad. 1,036 boards. season on the varsity team. Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

LOU CARNESECCA ’50C, ’60GEd, MARK “ACTION” JACKSON ’87SVC JOE LAPCHICK was a legend, first CHRIS MULLIN ’85CBA is the all-time ’00HON is the all-time winningest is the all-time leader in assists with as a player and then as a coach. His scoring leader with 2,440 career points mentor with a career record of 738 and was the floor general for overall record in two stints on the and one of the most honored players 526-200 and author of 18 20-win the great mid-1980s teams under sidelines was 334-130 and he directed to ever take the court at St. John’s. seasons. He directed his alma Lou Carnesecca. His honors ran the his teams to 12 post-season NIT His accolades include the 1985 John R. mater’s basketball program to five gamut from the BIG EAST All-Rookie appearances and four unprecedented Wooden Award, naming him the post-season NIT Championships team as a freshman in 1984 to an NIT championships in 1943, ’44, ’59 national player of the year, and the and 18 NCAA Tournament berths, honorable mention All-American to and ’65. He was a 1966 inductee into BIG EAST Player of the Year citation in 1985, placing him among the elite including the 1985 Final Four, and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in college basketball history. He led was inducted into the Naismith the Year as a senior in 1987. and was inducted into the inaugural St. John’s to four NCAA Tournament Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. class of the St. John’s Athletic Hall appearances including the 1985 Final of Fame. Four and a No. 1 national team ranking.

36 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine National Civil Trial Competition

From l., sports broadcaster Spencer Ross Law Students Capture Title skills and an assistant professor for clinical representing Seiden; Seiden’s sister Susan education, says she stresses the importance Winter; Seiden’s brother Ronald Seiden; Buoyed by their 2005-2006 number-one of the invaluable experience being gained by Berry; Dove’s son Leslie Dove; Dove’s daughter Kimberly Dove; Lapchick’s ranking from the National Institute for Trial the students. “It’s fun to win the competitions, son Richard Lapchick ’67C, ’01HON; Advocacy, members of the External Trial but what we are really doing is training Tony Jackson’s wife Patricia Jackson; Advocacy Team took the championship at young lawyers,” she adds. “It’s a way to have Mullin; Mark Jackson; McGuire; the Loyola Law School’s National Civil students think collaboratively and learn Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M; Trial Competition held in Los Angeles in about preparation. Everyone works together Carnesecca; Malik Sealy, Jr.; and Sealy’s wife Lisa Sealy ’92SVC. November. and there are no stars on the team.” Elizabeth The team attends the Frank S. Polestino Brown ’06L, one of the four winning team Below, banners honoring the legends hang from the rafters during the dinner. Trial Advocacy Institute at the School of members, agrees. “It’s practical experience Law, which combines the Civil Trial that you can’t get in the classroom. We Institute and the Criminal Law Institute. prepared for a number of weeks and it is just like a real trial with depositions, transcripts, reports and exhibits from which you have to develop your case. A competition like this gives us a chance to really get our feet wet.” The mock case requires students to argue both sides and also sometimes serve as From l., Deven Smith ’06L; Elizabeth Brown; Kristi Guigliano-Breloff ’06L; witnesses. “You are and John Paul Igoe won the first-place trophy at the 2005 National Civil playing a role, and Trial Competition. one of the most challenging aspects To be selected, participants must compete is figuring out the tone of the trial and MALIK SEALY ’92CBA is only the by conducting a cross examination and getting into the skin of that role,” says second player in school history to net opening arguments in front of a panel of John Paul Igoe ’06L, another member more than 2,000 career points, totaling 2,402. A 1992 consensus All-American, two to three faculty members. Those chosen of the winning team. he led teams which captured the represent the School of Law in competitions Victoria Brown-Douglas, assistant 1989 NIT Championship and made across the country and participate in mock director for the Center for Professional three NCAA Tournament appearances under Lou Carnesecca. His name can trials with experienced coaches to learn Skills and an associate professor for be found among many in the the fundamentals of litigation. The Loyola clinical education, says students can St. John’s record books, including at competition involved 16 teams and participate in several trial competitions the top of the career field goals (900) and career steals (238) charts. marked the first invitation for St. John’s to including those held at the University. participate. It included an impressive roster Last year, the Institute and the Nassau Bar ALAN SEIDEN was a consensus of evaluating judges including criminal Association sponsored the National Civil All-American in 1959, a team captain and key member of the squad that defense attorney Mark Geragos, who Rights Trial Competition and, in February, brought home the NIT Championship. garnered headlines for high profile cases the Institute hosted the regional competition Oftentimes mentioned with his including those of Scott Peterson, Michael for the Texas Young Lawyers Association, backcourt-mate, Gus Alfieri, he provided a solid scoring punch and Jackson and actress Winona Ryder. one of the most illustrious trial advocacy averaged more than 20 points per Keri Gould, faculty advisor for the programs in the country. game in two different seasons. He Institute and assistant dean for professional totaled 1,374 points for his career.

Spring 2006 37 Save the Date thth Annual President’s Dinner 9 Thursday, October 26, 2006 Waldorf Astoria

Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. President St. John’s University Dinner Co-Chairs Lesley H. Collins ’83SVC William L. Collins ’76C Chairman and CEO Brencourt Advisors, LLC

The 2006 Spirit of Service Award recipients to be announced. For more information, please call (718) 990–6776.

38 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Bricks & Mortar Update

Queens Campus Reorganizes Oakdale Campus Sold

The first phase of a master plan designed to better Courses will continue at the 175-acre Oakdale campus in Long Island despite a utilize space on the Queens campus is now complete pending sale of the property thanks to a lease agreement which allows the and includes the relocation of the Office of Alumni University to continue holding classes there. Relations, previously located at the Citibank building The sale, approved by the board of trustees in March and subject to the approval on Union Turnpike, to the former Our Lady of of the town of Islip, is to the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIB) Lourdes Chapel. and includes a leasing provision enabling the University to maintain and grow its James Perrino, senior vice president, administration, graduate offerings at that location. “We will continue to be a vibrant academic says phase two is set for a spring launch with plans presence in Oakdale for many years to come, and believe this agreement is in to construct an Institute for Writing Studies on the the best interest of our students and our University,” said President Donald J. first floor of St. Augustine Hall and the reacquisition Harrington, C.M. “It allows us to continue to serve the Long Island community.” of the leased Army Reserve Center located near the Goethals gate. “It’s a multi-year, dynamic plan that we will continue to evaluate as we go along,” Perrino says. “The goal is to have the great lawn framed by academic space, with the majority of classrooms and faculty offices there, and have the administrative offices toward the perimeter.”

Rosati New Home to CPS Currently, graduate programs in library and information science, school The College of Professional Studies (CPS) at the psychology and educational administration, criminal justice leadership and Staten Island campus has moved into Rosati Hall, supervision are offered at Oakdale and will not be affected by the sale. The an early-1900s English Tudor-style house, originally property was purchased in 1999 from the La Salle Christian Brothers whose a private residence that underwent renovations La Salle Military Academy was suffering from declining enrollment. last summer. The JIB is a labor management organization whose representatives work to enhance the professionalism and financial stability of the members of the electrical industry in New York City.

Two pergolas were erected last fall as part of an overall beautification campaign on the Queens campus. Guests at the blessing enjoy the student/faculty commons. The four-column, stone-clad trellises Formerly offices to faculty from The School of with wood lattice- Education and St. John’s College, it now accommodates work are built out four administrators, two staff members and 15 of the same quarried full-time faculty from CPS in addition to shared fieldstone from space for 50 adjunct professors and a study-abroad Massachusetts used program allowing for more student/faculty interaction. in the construction To further facilitate that, a commons area was set of the old and new up in the living room of the house made cozy by buildings on campus. aworking fireplace.

Spring 2006 39 If you’re looking to advance your education in a familiar setting, consider investigating St. John’s master’s and doctoral programs through individual counseling and advisement with our graduate admission and financial aid professionals.

There are just a few spring and summer graduate recruitment events left, so don’t miss this chance to participate either in person or online.

To register, go to http://new.stjohns.edu/open_house/register or contact the Office of Graduate Admission at (718) 990-1601 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

ONLINE CHATS @ http://chat.stjohns.edu QUEENS CAMPUS OPEN HOUSES OAKDALE CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE

I Domestic I International I Graduate Information Night I Graduate Information Day All 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. All 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. June 7 7 p.m. Marillac Terrace June 21 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. La Salle Hall May 16 May 23 I Graduate Information Night June 20 June 21 July 26 7 p.m. St. John Hall 112 July 26 July 25 Legacy Scholarships Available Are you a graduate with a relative who wants to further their education but has limited financial resources? Requests for The Alumnae Memorial, The Legacy Academic and The Peter J. Tobin College of Business scholarships available to full-time freshmen entering in the fall term are now being accepted.

M To be eligible for the Alumnae Memorial Scholarship, the applicant must have an alumna of St. John’s (mother, sister or aunt) serve as a sponsor

M To be eligible for the Legacy Academic Scholarship, the applicant must have alumni parents or grandparents serve as a sponsor

M To be eligible for The Peter J. Tobin College of Business Alumni Association Scholarship, applicants must be entering the Tobin College of Business and must have an alumnus/a as a sponsor from that college

To apply for any of these scholarships, call (718) 990-6802, toll free to (877) SJU-ALUM or download and application at www.stjohns/alumni/legacy

40 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine giving back

Insurance Leader Dinner a Success

More than 1,000 guests gathered for the 11th Annual Insurance Leader of the Year Award Dinner in January at the Marriott Marquis in New York City and raised over $1.5 million for scholarships and programs supporting School of Risk Management (SRM) students. Each year at this premier event for SRM, a division of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, an individual is recognized for leadership in the world-wide insurance and financial services industry. This year, Peter Lewis, chairman of The Progressive Corporation, was honored as the “2005 Insurance Leader of the Year,” an award presented annually since 1995 to recognize the contributions of outstanding individuals which set them apart from their peers. “Peter Lewis has a long and distinguished From l., Lewis, James Stone, chairman, Plymouth Rock Companies and co-chairman of the event, and Sweitzer.

career in insurance and has built Progressive Insurance into a genuine powerhouse among the country’s leading auto insurers,” said Brandon Sweitzer, director of Fairfax Financial Holdings, Ltd. and chairman of the SRM board of overseers. “Without question, he deserves to join the ranks of those before him who have received this award.” “Our students, most of whom come from modest economic backgrounds, will be the direct beneficiaries of the high esteem in which Peter Lewis is held by the insurance industry,” adds Ellen Thrower, executive director of SRM.

An Evening to Remember by Nicholas Legakis ’97SVC

A crowd of alumni and friends gathered at The Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island in November for “An Evening with the President,” an elegant cocktail reception held in support of the Staten Island Scholarship Fund and to pay homage to University supporters. Richard Nicotra ’76NDC, ’86HON, chairman and president of the Nicotra Group and Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn, and his wife Lois Nicotra ’77NDC, ’83GEd, chairman and chief executive officer of the Nicotra Group and Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn, were presented with the Fidelitas Award, given to couples who met at the University, married and have consistently demonstrated their deep commitment to alma mater. Elizabeth Dubovsky, executive director From l. Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.; Elizabeth Dubovsky; Lois Nicotra; of the SI Bank & Trust Community Foundation, was awarded the Larry Arann, committee chairman for the event; and Richard Nicotra. Terence Cardinal Cooke Medal for her outstanding contributions to the St. John’s University community.

Spring 2006 41 alum notes

WILLIAM D’ONOFRIO ’69CBA, ’74MBA retired after 30s more than 33 years in leadership positions in regulation, accounting, operations and shared services for the A Life of Service electric utilities industry at American Electric Power in Columbus, OH, and now runs D’Onofrio & Associates, LLC in Powell, OH, offering regulatory consulting services for the electric utility industry.

JOHN TUTUNJIAN ’59UC (l.) caught up with Kings County District Attorney CHARLES “JOE” HYNES ’57UC, ’61L, 70s ’81HON at Keyspan Park in Coney Island at the unveiling of the Jackie Robinson/Pee Wee Reese Memorial JOHN COSTA ’70L retired from public service after commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brooklyn nearly 23 years as Clarkstown, NY, town attorney and Dodgers’ 1955 World Series championship. will work at his private law practice in Nyack, NY.

MICHAEL KAPLAN ’70Ed retired as state director for 60s charter schools for the New Mexico Public Education MARTHA CURRAN ’62UC retired to Cranston, RI, Department in Santa Fe and founded Alternative after 25 years as a computer programmer for the Educational Options, an educational consulting business U.S. Postal Service. that provides technical assistance to developing charter ZEATHEA ARMSTRONG ’39P was inducted into schools throughout New Mexico and other states. the Virgin Islands Women’s Hall of Fame for her NICK DAVATZES ’62C, ’64G, ’95HON, outstanding contributions and achievements toward chief executive officer emeritus of ARLENE TEPLANSKY ’70Ed retired after 35 years of the advancement and development of the community. A&E Television Networks, was teaching in Clinton, CT, and relocated to Bradenton, FL. She was the first female licensed pharmacist on inducted into the Cable Television Hall St. Thomas, opened its second drugstore in 1952 of Fame during a gala celebration at MICHAEL DORATO ’71P, ’73GP, ’76Pharm.D. is an and served on several pharmacy, health and The Cable Center in Denver. executive director of toxicology for Eli Lilly and Company community boards throughout the years. in Indianapolis. CATHERINE ROBERTSON ’65CBA was appointed to the board of the Literacy Volunteers of America, one of the BRUCE KELTON ’71L was appointed an administrative 40s largest affiliates of ProLiteracy America with over 1,000 law judge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human member groups throughout the U.S. Services, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals in SEN. JOHN MARCHI ’49L, ’71HON was honored at the 124th anniversary ball of the Staten Island Institute of Irvine, CA. Arts & Sciences for his contributions to the local JOSEPH MAROTTA ’65P completed the New York cultural scene. City Marathon last November despite his battle with DENNIS McGUIRE ’71CBA is the vice president, diabetes, going legally blind and receiving a donated regional spot director for Carat USA in New York City kidney from his son Paul. and was given an “All Star” award for radio at the 50s MediaWeek 2005 annual ceremony in New York City. BARRY SALMAN ’65L was named chief administrative ANGELE D’ANGELO ’53P, ’73GP was judge of the New York City Supreme Court, Bronx County. SOL NEEDLE ’71L is a partner at Sirota Kurta Wyetzner presented with the J. Leon Lascoff Memorial Award from the American Needle & Ptak, LLP in New York City and serves as College of Apothecaries at their PHILIP MINARDO ’67L was appointed to the newly- chairman of New York City Community Board 18 and annual meeting in Coeur d’Alen, ID, created position of administrative judge for Staten Island. president of the Mill Island Civic Association in Brooklyn. for her outstanding service to the profession of pharmacy. SANTO COSTA ’68P, ’71L was named to the board of ROBERT OBERSTEIN ’71Ed was appointed the new Constella Group, LLC, a global provider of professional labor relations administrator for the city of Phoenix. ANNE (’55Ed) and ANTHONY ADOLINO ’59GEd health services based in Durham, NC. celebrated 50 years of marriage last July with their RALPH CATALANO ’72CBA just formed a new insurance children, grandchildren and friends aboard a cruise BARRY RADICK ’68L joined Huron Consulting Group in marketing company, Security Partners, LLC, in Naples, FL. to the western Caribbean. New York City as a director in their corporate advisory services practice. ANN WINTERGERST ’72C was WILLIAM ANDERSON ’56CBA returned to the position promoted to full professor in the of chairman of the Service Corp. of Retired Executives BARBARA ANGIOLELLI ’69Ed was hired as a field department of languages and in Staten Island, which he previously held from 1999 to training specialist for Kronos, Inc. in Somerset, NJ. literatures in St. John’s College. 2002. He is founder and retired chief executive officer of the former Tartan Executive Services, Ltd., New York City.

42 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine CHRISTOPHER FLORENTZ ’73C of ANTHONY BARBERA ’77CBA, ’87MBA is an assistant 80s Christopher Florentz Public Relations professor of accounting and interim dean of the School in Philadelphia received the of Business at the State University of New York College FRED BOY ’80L was appointed Independent Practitioner award from at Old Westbury in Old Westbury, NY. as general counsel for Tradeware the Philadelphia chapter of the Systems Corp. in New York City. Public Relations Society of America ANN JAWIN ’77PD, founder and chair of the Center for for a campaign his company created and presented at the Women of New York, was named Activist of the Year the 37th Annual Pepperpot & Achievement Awards. by the Jefferson Democratic Club of Northeast Queens and was honored by Comptroller William Thompson at SEBASTIAN BORRIELLO ’81C was promoted to director, CRAIG SMITH ’73C was appointed director of affiliation New York City Hall at an event celebrating prominent sales and marketing advanced wound care management for The Center for Wealth Preservation, Syosset, NY. Italian-Americans in recognition of a lifetime working for Johnson & Johnson in Somerville, NJ. on behalf of equal rights for women, minorities and JOHN ADAMOVICH ’75CBA, ’88HON accepted a position the underprivileged. PAUL FEINER ’81L was re-elected as senior vice president and chief financial officer for to an eighth term as town supervisor Aeroflex Incorporated in Plainview, NY. TIMOTHY KOLLER ’77NDC served as chief of the of Greenburgh, NY. Richmond County District Attorney’s Supreme Court VITO NARDELLI ’75MBA was promoted to executive Bureau since 1991 and was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer at OceanFirst assistant district attorney for the Office of the District Bank, a subsidiary of OceanFirst Financial Corp., Attorney, Richmond County in Staten Island. MARGARET KEANE-HAJDAROVIC ’81C, Ocean County, NJ. ’87MBA was appointed by General FREDERICK DUFFNER ’78C, who formerly led the Electric as president and chief WILLIAM MIECUNA ’75C is a grants Revlon sales group and worked on the launch of the operating officer, retail consumer administrator for the U.S. Department Atkins brand, is now founder/president of Fred Duffner & finance, GE Consumer Finance- of Housing and Urban Development in Associates and will provide sales and marketing direc- Americas in Stamford, CT. New York City and received the 2005 tion for new client Vitasti, Inc. on their line of Acai Berry Clark R. Law Public Service Award products. from the American Association of Taking the Show Service Coordinators for managing a program that THOMAS LENIHAN ’78CBA is president of Health on the Road allows owners and sponsors of federally-assisted senior Special Risk, Inc. in Carrollton, TX. citizen housing to hire professional social workers to assist residents and allow them to remain self sufficient. JOSEPH BARONE ’79P, ’83Pharm.D. was appointed to the New Jersey State Health Planning Board. MARILYN KAISER ’76C completed 20 years of service as a clerk with North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System. JAMES CAMPBELL ’79CBA was appointed by General Electric REGINALD MARRA ’76CBA Company as its new president is the founder and owner of and chief executive officer of Integral Journeys in GE Consumer & Industrial in New Milford, CT. Louisville, KY. PAUL ANTHONY MONGELLUZZO ’86SVC wants to make Long Island residents laugh. NELSON GEORGE ’79SVC, a writer and filmmaker, LINDA PARISI ’76Ed, ’79GEd, The Massapequa resident and stand-up comic joined Black Entertainment Television’s expanded news was appointed principal of Corpus is launching and sponsoring the Long Island production team as their consulting producer on all Christi School in Woodside, NY. Comedy Festival this summer, a series of shows news and public affairs programs. featuring New York-area comedians to be held in local theaters and music halls. “There used to be WARREN RUPPEL ’79CBA joined a ton of comedy clubs in Long Island years ago, Marks Peneth & Shron LLP in but that number has really dwindled,” says TERRENCE ULLRICH ’76MBA, senior New York City as their director of Mongelluzzo, who performs under the name vice president of Chase Business government services. Paul Anthony and once even shared the stage Credit in New York City, was elected with comedian Chris Rock. He hopes to reignite the 2006 vice president-finance of an interest in comedy in the area that was once the Commercial Finance Association, the stomping ground for such icons as Jerry the trade group of the asset-based Seinfeld and Eddie Murphy and has already financial services industry. secured fellow alum TONY COLLETTI ’88CBA as a featured performer.

Spring 2006 43 alum notes

MICHAEL PISAPIA ’86C, ’90L is a partner at Pisapia & Breaking Records Lipsig Law firm in New York City.

Koch Records, one of the largest KENNETH TIRANNO ’88CBA is a program specialist independent record companies in the with the U.S. General Services Administration in New music industry, has three alumni on York City. their senior staff. Pictured showing their Red Storm pride are, from l., WANDA DeOLIVEIRA ’89SVC ’92L was promoted to ED FRANKE ’88SVC, senior vice president deputy chief of the sex crimes and special victims of sales, BOB FRANK ’87CBA, president, bureau for the Office of the District Attorney, Richmond and RICK MEUSER ’87L, senior vice County, Staten Island. president of business and legal affairs/ general counsel. Based in New York City MARIAN JAFFE ’89GEd received the and part of the Koch Entertainment Group New York City Department of Education of Companies, which includes distribution, Guidance Counselor Recognition video and publishing, their catalog includes artists from a variety of genres including Ringo Starr, Howard Day Award for her dedicated and Jones, Jeffrey Osborne, Joan Baez and rapper Li’l Romeo. According to Variety, Koch Entertainment is “the outstanding service on behalf of New fastest-growing independent music and video company in the U.S.” York City students and their families.

PILAR ODENHEIM ’89MLS retired after 35 years as first LISA ANZISI ’82P, ’84MS is a clinical pharmacist KEVIN SAULS ’83CBA is president of KGS Financial Inc., children’s librarian then director of the William E. manager at Affinity Health Plan in the Bronx. a derivatives and financial consulting firm in New York City. Dermody Library in Carlstadt, NJ.

THOMAS HEINIMANN ’82MBA retired after 35 years of JOHN SIMONE ’83MBA is the director, business building JOSEPH TANCREDI ’89CBA joined Washington Mutual service with The Bank of New York in New York City for Colgate Palmolive in New York City. Bank in Uniondale, NY, as first vice president and where he was managing director of accounting systems regional underwriting manager. and controls. DANIEL WALSH ’83MBA was named executive vice president and chief ANTHONY SANTINO ’82C was ethics and compliance officer for 90s Cardinal Health in Dublin, OH. re-elected to a fourth term on the JACQUELINE ROSS ’90C, ’93GEd holds a doctor of Hempstead (Ll) Town Board and is a education degree from Columbia University and is a senior councilman and legislative THOMAS BARNES ’84SVC retired from the New York teacher at Marta Valle Secondary School in New York City. majority leader in the township. Police Department Gang Division after serving 21 years and is now a security consultant for a real estate firm in JOAN ALVAREZ ’91GEd is a social studies teacher at New York City. Garden City High School in Garden City, NY. STEVEN BROCKETT ’83SVC was elected to a 10-year term as a full-time Middletown City court judge in YVONNE MADDIONA ’84CBA is teaching at St. Paul’s TYRONE VIAS ’91C graduated from the U.S. Capitol Middletown, NY. Lutheran School in East Northport, NY. Police Academy in Washington, D.C.

JOHN DALEY ’83MBA, president and chief operating EDWARD O’DONNELL ’84CBA, LINDA GEISLER ’92SVC, ’95G is an associate editor at officer of Saratoga Polo and president of XPO ’88MBA, ’99L was promoted to CMP Healthcare Media in Darien, CT. Enterprises, LLC, both in Saratoga Springs, NY, signed senior vice president at The Bank with Crescende International Inc. in Vancouver to of New York in New York City. ANDREW GORELCZENKO ’92SVC is a production manage the sponsorship, merchandising, licensing manager for “The People’s Court” television show in and project management of its major traveling New York City. exhibitions of art and artifacts. ELIE BAHOU ’86P is the director of managed care business KARL SCHAEFER ’92SVC is a police officer with the KAREN HAZEL ’83SVC is the development for Rite Aide New York Police Department, an instructor at the Police owner of Hazel Communications, Corporation in Anaheim, CA. Academy in New York City and is pursuing a master’s in a full-service marketing and social work at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. communications consultancy company based in Minneapolis. ANTHONY SORRENTINO ’85SVC was promoted to EVANGELOS APOSPORIS ’93MBA is a vice president, deputy chief investigator for the Kings County district business development for The Bank of New York in attorney’s office in Brooklyn and is a retired first Jackson Heights, NY. EDWARD LONG ’83SVC is an assistant vice president lieutenant for the U.S. Army Reserve, Field Artillery with The Bank of New York in New York City. Branch in Fort Tilden, NY.

44 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine ROBIN BEAVER ’93SVC, ’94G joined AVIANCA BOUCHEDID ’95SVC is the DANIEL QUINONEZ ’97NDC is a senior political field the law firm of Riker Danzig Scherer vice president and the head of global director for the International Council of Shopping Hyland & Perretti LLP in New York City corporate citizenship for Interaqt Centers in Washington, D.C. as an associate. Corporation in Pine Brook, NJ. CHRISTOPHER D’AMBROSE ’98CBA is a trading assistant for Bank of America and a specialist on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. RALPH BRANCIFORTE ’93CBA JESSICA FELDMAN ’95NDC is a speech-language pathologist with United Cerebral Palsy, Brooklyn joined Sahn Ward & Baker, PLLC RICHARD DELGIORNO ’98SVC is an enterprise Children’s Program, and a home-based independent in Garden City, NY. information technology contract officer for the City contractor for the early intervention program in Brooklyn. University of New York in New York City.

LINDA GANNAM ’92SVC, ’95G is an associate editor at CARI GENOVESE ’98CBA, ’99MS is a tax specialist Cliggott Publishing, a division of CMP Healthcare Media of state and local taxes with Altria Group, Inc., formerly JEFFREY BREEN ’93SVC was awarded a master’s in Darien, CT. known as Philip Morris Companies, Inc., in New York City. degree in telecommunications management from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and is a RAYMOND LAMBRIGHT ’95SVC joined Pearlstine MICHAEL GUERIN ’98C founded technical specialist, client network operations for AT&T Distributors Inc. in Charleston, SC. Veritas Wealth Management, LLC, in Bedminster, NJ. an independent wealth MICHAEL PIZZINGRILLO ’95C, ’98GEd is the associate management firm in superintendent for instruction, government programs PATRICIA CHAKERES ’93MLS, Brookfield, CT. a reference librarian at Elizabeth High and public policy for the Roman Catholic Diocese of School in Elizabeth, NJ, was named Brooklyn and began a doctoral program in education CHARLENE KNADLE ’98D.A. is an Teacher of the Year for the Elizabeth administration and supervision at Fordham University, associate professor of English at School District, an award given by the Lincoln Center, in New York City. Suffolk Community College, Grant Elizabeth Education Association, and Campus in Brentwood, NY. is a past recipient of the Edward F. Kappy Memorial NADINE RICKETTS ’95C is a senior analyst on the investment team for the North Carolina State Employees Award for her distinguished teaching. Pension Fund in Raleigh.

ANTHONY FILLORAMO ’93SVC is a systems engineer IGNAZIO MESSINA ’98SVC was promoted to education MEGHAN BURKE ’96SVC is a with Hartz Mountain Industries, Secaucus, NJ. reporter of The Toledo Blade, a Pulitzer-prize-winning recruiting coordinator/assistant coach daily newspaper in Toledo, OH. of women’s basketball in the athletics STEVEN KREITMAN ’93SVC graduated from Seton Hall department at Yale University, New University in South Orange, NJ, with a master’s in KELLY O’BRIEN ’98CBA is an assistant vice president Haven, CT. healthcare administration. with Marsh and McLennen in New York City.

ROBERT CASTERLINE ’96SVC is an associate with FRANK ODEH ’93P and his wife, Lisa, opened their LISA VENTO ’98CBA, ’99MBA is a senior project E*Trade Financial in Jersey City, NJ. second pharmacy, Prosperity Outpatient Pharmacy, manager with McGraw Hill Education in New York City at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA. and an adjunct professor at alma mater. EILEEN MANNINO ’96CBA is an accounting manager for Comcast Cable, Toms River, NJ. DAMON COROMILAS ’94CBA opened Pottery In The JASON BRACCO ’99CBA is a vice president of trading with Blue Line Capital, a division of Buckman, Buckman Works in Beverly Hills, FL. DANA PRITSKY MORELLO ’96Ed is a special education & Reid, in Shrewsbury, NJ, and is a singer with the math teacher for the Harrison Central School District in Staten Island-band, Crisis of the Day. LAURA MONAHAN ’94GEd is a school counselor at Prall Harrison, NY. Intermediate School, West Brighton, NY. VALERIE CORVINO ’99CBA is a media supervisor with KEVIN BUTHORN ’97CBA is a firefighter with the New KWG Advertising in New York City. PETER MONTANTI ’94SVC is a licensed funeral director, York City Fire Department in Brooklyn. managing director of Menorah Chapels, Inc., New NOELLE DEPASQUALE ’99SVC is a paralegal with Springville, NY, and a member of Assumption Council, EDOUARD JOSEPH ’97C is chief Weiser & Associates in New York City. Knights of Columbus in West Brighton, NY. executive officer at Prince Development, LLC in West Palm MICHAEL FULMINO ’99CBA, ’00MS became a PETER PISAPIA ’94CBA, ’97L was promoted to director Beach, FL, and recently founded a certified public accountant and was named manager of and counsel at BlackRock, Inc. in New York City. skincare company called residuals and contract accounting for New Line Cinema Princereigns.com. in New York City. JENNIFER STEINER ’94NDC, ’98GEd is a second-grade JENNIFER COWAN ’97CBA, ’05MBA is a vice president teacher at P.S. 58, New Springville, NY. BRIAN JOHNSTONE ’99SVC is the vice president of with Marsh, Inc. in New York City. operations for Always Rent, Inc., Piscataway, NJ.

Spring 2006 45 alum notes

BELLA KANG ’99L is an associate with Jones Hirsch VILMA MELENDEZ ’01GEd is an assistant principal for Connors & Bull P.C. in New York City. Wishing on a Star the Mickey Mantle School in New York City.

JOSEPH LA MICELA ’99L was promoted to vice CHRISTINE MORELLO ’01TCB, ’02MS is a senior president of the legal department at Bear, Stearns accountant of financial reporting and analysis with and Co., Inc. in New York City. Moody’s Investors Service in New York City.

SALVATORE LICARI ’99SVC is an associate with Bear ROSEANN RUBINO ’01C is a speech-pathologist with Stearns in New York City. Volunteers of America, Early Learning Center in Tottenville, NY, and is a dance instructor and student CHRISTIAN MARIANO ’99SVC is a pharmaceutical sales with Staten Island Dance Center in Annadale, NY, where representative with Cardinal Health, Syracuse, NY. she teaches children with special needs.

JENNIFER SEAMAN ’01Ed, ’02GEd, ’05PD is in her fifth 00s year of teaching at Holy Family School, Flushing, NY.

CASSANDRA CHIACCHIO ’00C, ’05G is pursuing LAUREN BITTNER ’02C is using the acting chops WENDY TUOSTO ’01P is a registered pharmacist with membership in the American Speech-Language and CVS Pharmacy in Grasmere, NY. Hearing Association in Rockville, MD, and is a speech she honed while a member of the Chappell Players to break into Hollywood. She followed the therapist with Eden II, a program in Elm Park, NY, that KRISTINE URSILLO ’01C, ’03MBA is a securities big lights and appeared in last year’s Paul Reiser provides specialized services for people with autism. compliance examiner with the U.S. Securities and film, “The Thing About My Folks,” as Trish; filmed Exchange Commission in New York City. ROBERT DANZA ’00CBA is an assistant vice president a pilot, “Nobody’s Watching,” from the creator of and certified public accountant with Merrill Lynch in NBC’s “Scrubs” sitcom; played a small role as EILEEN DARRAGH ’02GEd is the director of the Edwin Jersey City, NJ. “Nicole” on the daytime drama “Guiding Light;” Markham Childhood Center in Stapleton, NY. and appeared in the film, “Flannel Pajamas,” ELEANOR KELLY ’00Ed, ’02GEd is a kindergarten shown at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. “It’s COURTNEY FARMER ’02P is a pharmacist with CVS teacher at P.S. 23 in the Richmond section of Staten Island. been a crazy time,” says Bittner who continues to Pharmacy in Sunnyside, Staten Island, NY. audition for television pilots and movies. “You are WALTER KISSEL ’00CPS is an officer with the New York on set with all of these celebrities and you feel SOPHIA FARAJ ’02TCB, ’03MS is a senior tax consultant City Police Department (NYPD) in Brooklyn and a member like maybe they made a mistake. You have to with Deloitte Tax, LLP in New York City. of the Holy Name Society, one of the oldest Catholic constantly pinch yourself and remind yourself fraternal organizations within the NYPD. that they did indeed choose you.” KELLY GALVIN ’02C is a global custody income ANTHONY MAZZO ’00CBA is a financial analyst with administrator with Sumitomo Trust & Banking, Time, Inc. in New York City. Hoboken, NJ. ANTONELLA COLOMBO ’01TCB is a securities lending accounting administrator with The Bank of New York in SEAN MESKILL ’00P, ’05Pharm.D. is a staff pharmacist TRACY LOTITO ’02CPS is a general clerk in the Center West Paterson, NJ. at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY. for Women’s Health at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, NY. JOHN DIDONATO ’01TCB is a private access client ANGEL RODRIGUEZ ’00C is a submarine operations service specialist with Fidelity Investments in officer for the U.S. Navy at the Mayport Naval Station, ROBERT MODZELEWSKI ’02TCB, ’03MS is a tax New York City. Mayport, FL. consultant with Deloitte Tax, LLP in New York City.

JOANNE HOGAN ’01CPS is MICHAEL SACCENTI ’00C is a sanitation worker with MARISA MUSTILLI ’02CPS is the owner of First Class pursuing a master’s degree in the New York City Department of Sanitation in Brooklyn. Learning Center, a daycare in Bloomfield, NJ. public administration and policy at the University of Pittsburgh. NICOLE TASSO ’00CBA is a licensed real estate associate CHRISTINE OLIVERI ’02CPS, ’05L; ALISON with Abiding Real Estate Agency in Dongan Hills, NY, and ANDREWS ’05L; JACLYN BELSON ’05L; TERI ANN a member of the Staten Island Board of Realtors. PULIAFICO ’05L; JACQUELINE RIZK ’05L and JESSE BRIAN LYONS ’01TCB is an agency trader with Robotti RUTTER ’05L were all appointed assistant district PETER VANTERPOOL ’00CBA is the branch manager at & Company in New York City. attorneys by Queens district attorney Richard Brown. Robert Half International, Inc., Kew Gardens, NY.

CYNTHIA MATHIS ’01CPS was promoted to the position NICOLINA TARTAMELLA ’02TCB, ’03MS is a tax DANIELLE ANTENNA ’01Ed is a second-grade teacher of deputy director of human resources for the New York associate with Grant Thornton in Edison, NJ. at P.S. 14 in Stapleton, NY. City Department of Citywide Administration Services and is earning a master’s degree in public administration at MICHAEL BURNS ’01C is a customer relations specialist MONICA COLON ’03TCB is an analyst for UBS Long Island University. with Reliable Van & Storage, Elizabeth, NJ. Investment Bank in Stamford, CT.

46 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine VINCENT GIOVINAZZO ’03MBA is an account HOLLY DEMAREST ’04TCB works as an 11th grade math ARIANA DEL BUSTO ’05GEd is a Spanish teacher at executive with Future Trade Technologies in teacher at Notre Dame Academy High School in Staten Curtis High School in Staten Island, NY. New York City. Island and is enrolled in the master’s program for education at the University. LILIA PONTON ’05C is pursuing her master’s degree in ALISSA MARCHI ’03TCB is an assistant manager health service administration at Saint Joseph’s College with Wells Fargo Financial in the Travis section of JONATHON HAYNES ’04CPS is a police officer for the of Maine in Standish, ME. Staten Island. Avon Police Department in Avon, CT.

PABLO MARTINEZ ’03C is the third secretary of the ROBERT IADANZA ’04MBA is a senior account Missing a Class Ring? Ecuadorian Foreign Service for the Ministry of Foreign manager with 1-800-Flowers.com in Westbury, NY. Affairs of Ecuador. A 1965 class ring was returned to the University JASLEEN KAUR ’04Pharm.D. is a pharmacist with and we would like to get it to its proper owner. CVS Pharmacy in Elizabeth, NJ. WILLIAM SMOLTINO ’02TCB, DIANA GOODHEART If this might be your ’03TCB and MARGARET ANTONIELLO ’04TCB are all ALISON KEANE ’04TCB is a marketing associate with ring, or you have financial services representatives for the Shore Road Talk Marketing, Morristown, NJ. information Financial Group, an office of MetLife Financial Services, pertaining to it, in Brooklyn. The trio of recent graduates work under the JOSEPH TARTAMELLA ’04MBA accepted the full-time contact the leadership of the firm’s managing director VICTOR assistant coach position with the University’s women’s Office of Alumni MURO ’87CBA, ’89MBA. basketball program. Relations at (718) 990-2419 or MATTHEW STOLFO ’03TCB is a product manager ALISON ANDREWS ’05L is an assistant district (877) SJU-ALUM. of mutual-fund operations with UBS Financial attorney in Queens. Services, Inc., Jersey City, NJ. To order or replace a class BARBARA CROOKS ’05C works as a bilingual case ring, contact Mark Sunderland at Herff Jones NATALIE TODMAN ’03CPS was hired as a fair housing manager for the Briarwood Family Residence run by at (631) 226-2270. counselor at the New York Urban League in Harlem. The Salvation Army in Jamaica, NY.

JOSEPH MARZIOTTI ’53UC, ’55L DONALD FARINACCI ’63C wrote When One Stood KENNETH BLUME ’80G wrote the Historical Dictionary wrote Chris: A Memoir (Old Soldier Alone: John J. Sirica’s Battle Against The Watergate of US Diplomacy from the Civil War to World War I Publishing, 2006), the story of his Conspiracy – A Tale of Moral Courage (Xlibris, 2005). (Scarecrow Press, 2005), the first in a planned new series. son’s life and battle with leukemia. F. ANTHONY D’ALESSANDRO ’64Ed published the DALE BENJAMIN DRAKEFORD ’83G is the author of poems Scraps of Life in the anthology Familiar several books in various genres including A Political (People’s Press, 2005), and Just a Walk in the Park Education Life Arts Project (Writers Press Club, 2003) WILLIAM DRENNAN ’56UC is the author of Advocacy in the anthology Friends: Stories of Friendship and A Universal Template For Research Position and Words: A Thesaurus (American Bar Association, 2005) (A Measure of Words Press, 2005). Life Experience Papers: Applied To Contemporary Urban to be used by those in the legal profession as an Education (iUniverse, 2005). effective aid in communicating. LINDA SANFORD ’74Ed, ’98HON co-authored with Dave Taylor Let JOHN SULLIVAN ’85SVC is the FRANK STEVENS ’58G wrote The Big Apple and Other Go to Grow: Escaping the author of the novel Rock and Foods You Can’t Eat (Authorhouse, 2005), a book of Commodity Trap (Prentice Hall, Roll Murder (iUniverse, 2005), hundreds of food-related double meanings. 2005) designed to show a mystery about a detective business leaders how to let and rock journalist who team JASON MIRANDA-LEVI ’61L writes go of outdated business up to find a rock music icon’s under the pseudonym of Joseph models and management killer in New York City. Steven and is the author of two systems and embrace collaboration as a means of driving innovation and sustained revenue growth. novels, The Spanish Enigma ROBIN GORMAN NEWMAN ’87MBA wrote How to (PublishAmerica, 2004) and Marry a Mensch: The Love Coach’s Guide to Finding Dancer In The Dark (Airleaf Your Mate (Fair Winds Press, 2006) and former Publishing, 2005). authored How to Meet a Mensch in New York.

Spring 2006 47 alum notes

CHRISTOPHER D’AMBROSE ’98CBA to Krista Savarese ANTONELLA COLUMBO ’01TCB to JOHN DiDONATO 70s – October 15, 2005 ’01TCB – October 1, 2005 THOMAS LENIHAN ’78CBA to Cathy Bratton – July 4, 2005 RICHARD DelGIORNO ’98SVC to Anita Legan THOMAS LaPERA ’01C to KIMBERLY SANTORO ’02C – September 10, 2005 – July 17, 2005 80s VERONICA GAUDIUSO ’98CBA, ’99MS to Steven EVA LONARDO ’01Ed to Angelo Rivera Busiello – August 6, 2005 – November 4, 2005 THERESA DELGADO ’82SVC to James Bluett – May 1, 2005 CARI GENOVESE ’98CBA, ’99MBA to James Capper BRIAN LYONS ’01TCB to Kathleen Schatz – November 5, 2005 – October 21, 2005 EDWARD LONG ’83SVC to Angela Shaw – September 18, 2004 TEDDY KAMBOURIS ’98CBA to Popi Anthoulis MADELYN MEJIA ’01C to Jeffrey Heigl – November 27, 2005 – August 13, 2005 KERRY KENNEDY ’88SVC to Daniel McBride – October 2, 2004 JASON BRACCO ’99CBA to ROSEANN RUBINO ’01C JENNIFER SEAMAN ’01Ed, ’02GEd, ’05PD to – September 30, 2005 GARY McCOMISKEY ’02CPS – July 8, 2005 KENNETH TIRANNO ’88CBA to Jacqueline Menza – February 19, 2005 YENDI DANIELS ’99SVC to ROODLEY LHERISSON WENDY TUOSTO ’01P to Anthony Maiello ’02CPS – June 4, 2005 – November 13, 2005 90s NOELLE DEPASQUALE ’99SVC to Charles Carbone KRISTINE URSILLO ’01C, ’03MBA to Mark Geissler – September 10, 2005 – October 8, 2005 FRANCINE KAUFMAN ’91G to John Queen – August 6, 2005 MICHAEL FULMINO ’99CBA, ’00MS to Christine D’Aiuto EILEEN DARRAGH ’02GEd to Anthony Zaccone – August 7, 2004 – October 29, 2005 LINDA GANNAM ’92SVC, ’95G to Raymond Geisler – August 13, 2005 BRIAN JOHNSTONE ’99SVC to Dana DaGraca DAMELLIA FREEMON ’02CPS to Gerald Browning – October 29, 2005 – March 22, 2003 ANDREW GORELCZENKO ’92SVC to Tracy Howard – August 7, 2005 BELLA KANG ’99L to David Manno – November 7, 2004 KELLY GALVIN ’02C to Michael Mangino – October 22, 2005 JOSEPH MORALES ’92SVC to LYDIA BONILLA ’94SVC SALVATORE LICARI ’99SVC to Cherisse Dicupe – October 9, 2004 – December 2, 2005 TRACY LOTITO ’02CPS to Anthony Galanti – September 30, 2005 LAURA MONAHAN ’94GEd to William Hayes JOSEPH LA MICELA ’99L to Viktoriya Laskina – November 19, 2005 – April 27, 2003 ROBERT MODZELEWSKI ’02TCB, ’03MS to NICOLINA TARTAMELLA ’02TCB, ’03MS PETER MONTANTI ’94SVC to Stacey Payne CHRISTIAN MARIANO ’99SVC to CASSANDRA – October 9, 2005 – September 6, 2005 CHIACCHIO ’00C, ’05G – October 16, 2005 ALISSA MARCHI ’03TCB to Paul Tarantola JENNIFER STEINER ’94NDC, ’98GEd to Richard RAENA SUAREZ ’99SVC to Daniel McCarthy – October 15, 2005 Selvitella – November 19, 2005 – May 23, 2004 PABLO MARTINEZ ’03C to Daniela Alvarez JESSICA FELDMAN ’95NDC to Matthew Greenzweig – August 20, 2005 – November 12, 2005 00s NICOLE GADE ’04L to Nathan Brill – September 3, 2005 NADINE RICKETTS ’95C to Brad Taylor – June 12, 2004 ELEANOR KELLY ’00Ed, ’02GEd to Dieter Ventura – September 17, 2005 ROBERT IADANZA ’04MBA to KimLi Arjani PETER TUTRONE ’95SVC, ’97MBA to Jennifer Denaro – October 22, 2005 – August 12, 2005 MICHAEL O’ROURKE ’00CPS to OLIVIA PROSPERO ’01C – August 13, 2005 DAWN PASSANESI ’04Ed to John Manning MEGHAN BURKE ’96SVC to Juan Brown – May 20, 2005 MICHAEL SACCENTI ’00C to Rachel Marsh – September 17, 2005 THOMAS DALY ’96NDC to Jennifer Nigro – December 10, 2005 ARIANA del BUSTO ’05GEd to Michael Chiaravalloti – – August 6, 2005 NICOLE TASSO ’00CBA to Richard Andersen, Jr. October 1, 2005 KEVIN BUTHORN ’97CBA to Bridget Ryszetnyk – October 9, 2005 – October 15, 2005 DANIELLE ANTENNA ’01Ed to Christopher Bellone JENNIFER COWAN ’97CBA, ’05MBA to Craig Ellefsen – November 11, 2005 – December 9, 2005 MICHAEL BURNS ’01C to Ericalee Perosi EDOUARD JOSEPH ’97C to Sheri Bernard – August 27, 2005 – March 6, 2005 MARY CAGGIANO ’01Ed to Justin Hendelman MICHELE BRANDNER ’98NDC, ’00GEd to Saverio Binetti – August 12, 2005 – October 15, 2005

48 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine DEBRA MANCINI ’91C and husband, Thomas Pizzuto, JENNIFER DiLORENZO ’97Ed and husband, 50s a daughter, Giulia – September 6, 2005 RICHARD DiLORENZO ’98CBA, a daughter, Ashley Paige HENRY MILLER ’52C, ’59L and wife, Dawn, a daughter, – November 20, 2003 Anna Marie – August 23, 2005 JOHN DEVLIN ’92NDC, ’02MBA and wife, ELLEN LUNNY ’93CBA, ’97MBA, their second child, a son, CHARLES KASSATLY ’97CBA and wife, KELLY O’BRIEN 80s Ryan Edward – August 1, 2005 KASSATLY ’98CBA, twin daughters, Brianna and EDWARD GEIGER ’80CBA, ’88MBA and wife, Monica, Corinne – July 7, 2005 a son, William – August 30, 2005 ROY GARLISI ’92SVC and wife, KRISTINE ALBANO GARLISI ’95NDC, ’97G, their second daughter, Katherine DANIEL QUINONEZ ’97NDC and wife, Maria, a son, GREG POPLARSKI ’80CBA, and wife, Camellia, their Andrew – February 24, 2005 second son, Drew Edward – January 9, 2006 Amelia – February 12, 2005 CORINNE JACOB ’98C and husband, Gabe, a son, EDWARD LONG ’83SVC and wife, Angela, a son, Edward JOSEPH MORALES ’92SVC and wife, LYDIA Tyler Cristian – July 29, 2005 – October 25, 2005 BONILLA ’94SVC, a daughter, Alicea – August 5, 2005 PETER CAIRNEY ’85CBA and wife, Anna, a daughter, JENNIFER KEELING ’98NDC and husband, Fred, a son, WILLIAM BERDINI ’95CBA and wife, Rosina, daughters, Laurel Dillon – May 10, 2005 Daniel – June 7, 2005 Emma – February 6, 2004 and Maya – June 28, 2005 JAMES STARIN ’86CBA and wife, Maryellen, a son, JOSEPH LA MICELA ’99L and wife, Viktoriya Laskina, James Robert – May 25, 2005 ANDREA GRAZIANO CONROY ’95NDC, ’98GEd and a son, John Peter – April 15, 2005 husband, Michael Conroy, a daughter, Victoria Grace THOMAS DOYLE ’88CBA, ’92MBA and wife, DEBRA MARINO ’90CBA, ’93MBA, ’99GEd, twin daughters, – November 1, 2005 Amelia Margaret and Colette Regina – January 6, 2006 00s EILEEN MANNINO ’96CBA and husband, MICHAEL SUBRENA CHIN ’00CBA and husband, KEITH HENRY JIMMY MUNIZ ’88CBA, ’98MBA and wife, VERA MANNINO ’03MBA, a daughter, Taylor Lauren ’00CBA, a daughter, Gabriella Maya – August 16, 2005 RODRIGUES ’95CBA, ’97MBA, their second daughter, – March 16, 2005 Sarah Nicole – June 6, 2005 SEAN MESKILL ’00P, ’05Pharm.D. and wife, DANA PRITSKY ’96Ed and husband, Peter Morello, a JULIET NARLOCH ’00P, a son, Ryan Scott 90s daughter, Sophia Grace – September 24, 2005 – December 12, 2004 JOAN ALVAREZ ’91GEd and husband, Robert Mazzella, their second child, a daughter, Sophia Rose KERRI BOND-HIRSCHEY ’97L and husband, Ryan, a DAMELLIA FREEMON ’02CPS and husband, Gerald, – October 21, 2005 son, Christian James – October 7, 2005 a son, Isaiah – August 23, 2003

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Julia Simms ’53NEd, ’56GNEd 20s John Bacon ’54L Hon. Conrad Duberstein ’41L, ’91HON Morris Kessler ’28L Salvatore Messina ’54CBA Judge Duberstein was a giant in the field of law, and at alma mater. A native New Yorker, he Martin Stein ’29L Rudolph Aicher ’55CBA attended Brooklyn College and graduated from the School of Law in 1941. After earning a Donald Bishop ’55UC Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in World War II, he joined Schwartz, Rudin & Duberstein as 30s William Daly ’55G partner in 1954. He retired after a long career as a bankruptcy lawyer and was appointed to the Thomas Clarke ’56CBA bench in the bankruptcy division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Sidney Kaminsky ’30L Florence Downs ’56NEd Helen Bird ’31L Margaret Barry ’56UC 1981. He became chief bankruptcy judge in 1984 and, until his passing, was the most senior Irwin Rever ’31L Vincent Grimaudo ’56CBA active judge in that district. His honors include the naming of The Conrad B. Duberstein Joseph Slepian ’32L Terrence Murphy ’56L Bankruptcy Courtrooms and Chambers in the newly-renovated General Post Office Building in William Didie, Sr. ’33C Thomas Rohan, Jr. ’56L Brooklyn, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and the Medal of Honor, the highest award given Mortimer Yares ’34P Bernardine Rosenthal ’56NDC to an alumnus. His professional influence led to the formation of an LL.M. degree in bankruptcy Nathan Cohen ’36L Bernard Joy ’58L at the Law School and a national bankruptcy moot court competition that bears his name. He William Kanter ’36L William Nagle ’58CBA was also a member of the University Council, the Loughlin Society and a Reunion volunteer. Boris Kostelanetz ’36L, ’81HON Thomas Price ’58CBA Sidney Rosenfeld ’36L Dolores Raymond ’58Ed Major General Joseph Healey ’52UC Domenick SanFilippo ’36L Elizabeth Shea ’58NDC Healey was a former commanding general of the Army’s 42nd Infantry Division and one-time Sebastian Serpico ’36L Delores Brereton ’59NEd president of the New York Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Brooklyn Preparatory High Maurice Sussman ’36L, ’38L Michael Costello ’59CBA Jack Siegel ’36CBA Vincent Kane ’59C School before coming to St. John’s, he later matriculated at Brookings Institution and Harvard Enuphry Benishin ’38P John Nicoletti ’59C Business School. In the late 1960s, he commanded the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment of the John Murphy ’38C Denis Tyrrell ’59C National Guard founded by a group of Irish volunteers and made famous by the 1940 film “The Paul Zito ’38C Fighting 69th” starring Pat O'Brien and James Cagney. During the fiscal crisis of the 1970s in Lester Cooper ’39L Catherine Neaher ’39L 60s New York City, he served as a member of the Emergency Financial Control Board and an adviser Alfred Rosenberg ’39L Richard Olcott ’60UC,’61G,’78GEd to the governor. One of his last major projects was leading efforts to renovate and restore Duffy Arthur Savitt ’39L Anthony Pistone ’60L Square in Times Square, named for Father Francis Duffy, a highly decorated World War I chap- Robert Sheridan ’60CBA lain depicted in the 1940 film. In recognition of his many contributions to the state of New York, Paul Corboy ’61UC Governor George Pataki ordered the flags at the Lexington Avenue Armory, home of the Fighting 40s George Armeit ’62C th Edward Comerford ’40C Nora Corcoran ’63GNEd 69 Infantry Regiment, be flown at half-staff in Healey’s honor. William Riley ’40C Stanley Gibleski ’63CBA John Holohan ’97SVC Edward Gilgan ’41CBA Arthur Maddalena ’63CBA Francis Lehner ’43L Thomas Fettes ’64CBA Holohan was just starting to enjoy a taste of fame when tragedy struck. The drummer for the Mary Winkler ’47NDC Nancy Hatala McKiernan ’64Ed, band Bayside was heading to Utah as part of the “Never Sleep Again Tour” when the group’s Louis Johnsen ’48CBA ’67GEd van flipped on a patch of ice outside of Cheyenne, WY. “Beatz,” as he was lovingly known, never Robert Levy ’48L Anthony Kauflin ’65MLS forgot his St. John’s roots where he majored in criminal justice and served as pep band director, Daniel Simner ’48L Marcella Anton ’66CBA, ’75MBA even as his band enjoyed increasing national exposure. Bayside was formed in Long Island in David Armet ’49CBA Rev.Thomas Casella, C.M. ’66C 2000, and by 2003, they were invited to contribute a song on the album “Bad Scene, Kenneth Birchby ’49L Carole Jablonski ’66CBA, ’71MBA Everybody’s Fault,” a Jawbreaker Tribute that featured Face To Face, Sparta and Fall Out Boy. Eleanor Deschner ’49NDC Thomas Lambert ’67G Vincent Oliva ’49CBA Richard Lanza ’67L They were one of the first bands to use Web sites such as MySpace and Friendster to connect Andrew Marra ’67P with fans and their growing popularity led to coverage in publications like Teen People, 50s Maurice Bongirne ’69CBA, ’76MBA Alternative Press and Guitar World. Salvatore Moscatt ’50L Andrew Bartolone ’69UC John Walsh ’50L Laura Smith ’69UC Charles Brownley ’51P Nicholas Collura ’75G Gasper Gulotta ’82HON Submissions to In Memoriam Robert Einstman ’51UC 70s Ralph Sciame ’75SVC John Hazelton ’83SVC, ’00GEd must be received by letter, Robert Palmer ’51L John Latteri ’70CBA Marie Connelly ’76CBA Gerard Tarter ’84CBA Donald Rossler ’51G John Paider ’70L Angela Misciagna ’76NDC Anthony Sapichino ’85CBA e-mail or as a printed obit Murray Zidel ’51CBA Judah Rackovsky ’71MLS Ronald Rappo ’76L Joan McPartlin ’87G from a family member, Daniel Conti ’52P Cecelia Maher-Simonetta ’71Ed Dorothy Bauer ’77CBA Charles Wenzel ’89C guardian or legal executor Eugene Cronin ’52CBA Robert Wells ’71L Eileen Condon ’78MC to Lisa Capone, Division of Eugene Cross ’52CBA Peter Demetriou ’72SVC Carlos Tiu ’79MBA 90s Institutional Advancement, Felix DiNardo ’52C Joan Grott ’72MLS Edward Rohmer ’90C St. John’s University, Leopold Feliu ’52C J. Joseph Hofmann ’72PD Philip Ulan ’96L 8000 Utopia Parkway, Donald Noonan ’52CBA John DeSena ’73Ph.D. 80s John Devlin ’98SVC Lou Daukas ’53L Norman Dow ’73SVC Debbie Passigli ’80GP Queens, NY, 11439, Gerald Griffin ’50C,’53L Marilyn Hawkins ’73GEd Jeanette Peckauskas ’80GP [email protected] or Nedda Miele ’53P Robert Clark ’74G Joseph DeFilippis ’81SVC 00s via fax to (718) 990-1813. Alfred Shiels ’53L James McMahon ’74L Colleen Cregan ’82CBA Sean Bailey ’03C, ’05MBA

50 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine alum notes

James Toner ‘63UC and John Albers ‘64UC and Mary Pat Toner ‘63UC Helga Bernhardt Albers ‘63Ed

The inside joke was that Jim and Mary Pat Chemistry class turned out to be the scene of Toner had to get married so he could get an experiment in love for John and Helga Albers. some rest. They met in 1960 as undergraduates at the downtown Brooklyn campus where John was an During the first week of their freshman year outstanding science student who helped many at Schermerhorn Street in 1959, the Bronx boy of his classmates, including Helga, get through and Brooklyn girl encountered each other in some of their toughest courses. Helga was very line at a sandwich shop just a couple of blocks involved in student activities and served as from the 14-storied campus where Jim features editor of the student newspaper, the assisted Mary Pat with a minor wardrobe Downtowner, and as editor of the Epitome literary malfunction. After that, they ran in to each magazine. Although John eventually matriculated other so often due to their common interests at the Queens campus and Helga traveled to that they became best friends. They even Europe after graduation to attend the University double dated and would sometimes take in a of Munich, these high achievers never lost interest Broadway show, but to maintain their in each other and found a way to make their friendship, meals together were “Dutch treat” distance relationship work. John was accepted with Mary Pat slipping her share of the bill to into the doctoral program at MIT in 1964, Jim under the table. Things got serious in their they married in 1966 and Helga joined John junior year when Jim asked Mary Pat to wear in Cambridge where she taught at a junior/ his Indians’ fraternity pin with the mutual community college in Boston and they started understanding that an engagement ring would a family. They now live in Maryland where they enjoy retirement and are the parents of two and be the next step. grandparents of four. Now that they were an official couple, Jim Jim and Mary Pat on their wedding day. traveled up to three hours by subway on the weekends to pick up Mary Pat in Bay Ridge Charles Fontanelli ‘03Ed and that their nuptials were Melissa Gambale ‘01Ed necessary if Jim was to ever have a chance When it came time for their nuptials, Charles of getting a good Fontanelli and Melissa Gambale came back to the place that sparked their romance. The couple night’s sleep. A year met in 1999 while students in an elementary after graduation, their education class and went on their first official marriage took place date at a Spring Fling on the Queens campus. When in Brooklyn where they decided to tie the knot in February 2005, it one of their theology seemed only natural to return to alma mater where professors officiated they became one of the first couples to marry in at the ceremony. Of their circle of close friends, they say at least nine others found their spouse at St. John’s. Today, they live in New Fairfield, CT, and Jim has retired from his position as promotions director with the Society of The happy couple today. Plastics Engineers while Mary Pat is a library paraprofessional at before attending one of the school events. New Fairfield High School. They are the parents Getting home meant one subway to Times of three sons and the grandparents of four, Square for Jim, then a transfer to the last stop are very active in their local parish and enjoy on the Bronx-bound line. So started the teasing traveling. Jim is finally very well rested. Melissa and Charles in front of St. Thomas More Church on their wedding day. the then newly-opened St. Thomas More Church. If St. John’s played a role as matchmaker in your life, we want to know about it. If there are several The newlyweds live in Floral Park, NY, Melissa is a math coach at P.S. 326 in Brooklyn and Charles generations of St. John’s graduates in your family, we want to know that also. Share your story is a teacher at Robert W. Carbonaro School in with the Alumni Magazine readership by contacting the associate editor at (212) 284-7009 or at Valley Stream, NY. [email protected]

Spring 2006 51 a conversation

A Major Announcement

One thing Bob Sheppard ’32C, ’00HON is never at a loss for is It would take a long time to drive from Long Island to East words. These days, he just has fewer to share. The “Voice of The Rutherford, New Jersey. Then, after the game was over, there Yankees” since 1951, he recently retired as the public address would be 50,000 people all trying to leave at the same time. It (PA) announcer for the New York Giants after a 50-year run. could take an hour or so to get out of the parking field. Having introduced legends on the field such as Joe DiMaggio, Is there any other job you would have liked to have done or Mickey Mantle, Fran Tarkenton, Frank Gifford and Herschel could imagine yourself doing? My career was teaching. A public Walker, Sheppard is one of the most respected and celebrated address announcer only works part time. In football, I worked 10 in this sometimes-fleeting profession. Because announcing, or days a year and in baseball I worked 81 days. No one makes a working as a PA, is often a result of supply and demand, his living as an announcer. Teaching was my life. I started working tribute from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in at St. John’s in 1936 and I put in more than 50 years, usually as Cooperstown, NY, in 2000, and the moniker of “The Voice of God,” an adjunct. I worked in the New York public school system as a given to him by Yankee Reggie Jackson, are in deference to his speech teacher and as a chairman of the department. I loved it. great talent and longevity. He taught for several years as an adjunct at alma mater and announced the Red Storm football So what advice would you give someone trying to make it as a and basketball games for many years, so he didn’t mind at all public address announcer? How can you make a living working answering a few questions for readers of the Alumni Magazine, 81 days in baseball and 10 days in football? When I started with which he did using perfect diction. the Mighty Yankees in 1941, they paid me $15 a day. If they had a double header, the pay was $17.50. The first thing you need How does it feel to be referred to as “The Voice of God?” to be a public address announcer is a full-time job that allows (Chuckling) I would say it is definitely an exaggeration. you the schedule to be able to do it. How do you keep your voice in shape? I’ve studied voice all of How long do you think you will continue to work for the my life. I’ve never smoked, I drink a little and I’ve learned about Yankees? I will be starting a two-year contract in April. I will be the care of the voice. If you stay in shape and take care of the there for the next two seasons if God continues to give me the voice, it will serve you well. strength and the desire, if the Yankees continue to want me and Who has the most difficult name to pronounce in professional if I am still alive, I will continue. sports today? In baseball, there was a pitcher who played on What kept PA work challenging for you all the West Coast named Shigetoshi Hasegawa. At the moment, these years? I have never changed my style in my more recent past, there’s a defensive end for the Giants in over 55 years. I have always wanted to named Osi Umenyiora. He gave me an autographed football be clear, correct and concise. The three Cs. to thank me for the way I said his name. What will you do now with all your free What is your fondest Giants’ memory? My association with time? I think my wife, Mary, and I will the whole organization from Wellington Mara [president and watch the Giants from co-chief executive officer of the Giants football team] all the the comfort of our way down through the ranks. I had a great relationship with home with a nice Wellington Mara even though he was a Fordham man and Rob Roy cocktail I was a St. John’s man and there’s a bit of rivalry there. In my at my elbow. 50 years with the Giants, I’ve never had a written contract or even an oral contract. It was all done with a handshake. Whenever I needed or felt I should get a raise, I would call and say, ‘Wellington, I think it’s time to increase my pay.’ It was just a friendly, friendly situation. No demands.

Just a handshake? How do you think you were able to have such a unique arrangement? I think Wellington and I had a lot in common. He was a man of integrity and a man I greatly admired. I think he stood for good conscience, he was a man who cared for people and a gentleman to the core.

What will you miss most about Giant Stadium? I will miss most the travel from Long Island to New Jersey, and I will be glad to miss that. That, I think, was a big factor in my retirement.

52 St. John’s University I Alumni Magazine Photo: New York Yankees As you realize career success, you can help deserving students achieve their dreams of a higher education.

The Loughlin Society, our leadership giving society whose members support the most-needed priorities, offers an associate category for recent undergraduates.

Become a Loughlin Associate and make a difference in the lives of our more than 20,000 deserving students.

MEMBER LEVELS ARE MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE

I 1-4 years after graduation - $150 or above I Recognition in the annual Honor Roll of Donors I 5-7 years after graduation - $300 or above I Invitation to the prestigious Loughlin Society Reception I 8-9 years after graduation - $600 or above I Advance tickets to the summer and winter concerts I Networking opportunities

For more information, contact Stacey Philips Varghese at (718) 990-2982, e-mail [email protected] or log on to www.stjohns.edu/giving If you’re interested in teeing up for a good cause, spend some time on the green with your fellow alumni at any one of these planned outings and Te e support the red and white* at the same time: MAY 12 SRM Sixth Annual Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament Knoll Country Club • Parsippany, NJ Contact Melodee Harper at (212) 277-5110 or e-mail [email protected] anyone? JUNE 7 Law School Suffolk Chapter Alumni Golf Outing Cherry Creek Country Club • Riverhead, NY Contact Claire McKeever at (718) 990-6006 or e-mail [email protected] JUNE 19 19th Annual Newman Golf Classic Hempstead Golf and Country Club • Hempstead, NY Contact Rev. James Dorr, C.M. at (718) 990-6226 or e-mail [email protected] JULY 18 27th Annual Staten Island Golf Outing South Shore Country Club • Staten Island, NY Contact Nick Legakis at (718) 390-4146 or e-mail [email protected] JULY 31 Baseball Golf Outing Plandome Country Club • Plandome, NY Contact Susan Abbott at (718) 990-7566 or email [email protected] SEPTEMBER 11 Hon. Guy J. Mangano Golf Outing Tam O’Shanter Country Club • Brookville, NY Contact Claire McKeever at (718) 990-6006 or e-mail [email protected] SEPTEMBER 18 Alumni Golf Outing Pine Hollow Country Club • East Norwich, NY Contact Ray Lipinsky at (718) 990-6034 or e-mail [email protected]

*All proceeds support scholarship assistance for worthy students.

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