Fr. Robert Koopmann '68

MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2009 Fr. Robert Koopmann ’68, OSB An interview with the 12th President of Saint John’s F E A T U R E S 10 Meet the Prez 14 Serving with Spirit 22 SJU Culinary Institute? He’s on a mission to “bring people Four graduates span the globe—and Th ese Johnnies have degrees like philos- together.” Meet SJU’s new president learn some surprising lessons—as ophy and botany. And one is a former in an exclusive Q&A with Fr. Robert members of the growing Saint John’s doctor. So what are they doing winning Koopmann ’68, OSB. Benedictine Volunteer Corps. awards for food and drink? DEPARTMENTS 2 From the President 3 Behind the Pines 18 Service to the Church 20 Arts & Culture 30 Advancing the Mission 34 Johnnie Sports 36 Alumni Connection 40 Milestones 48 Inspiring Lives 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT The Magazine of Saint John’s University AUTUMN 2009 Dear friends, EDITOR Jean Scoon It is an honor and a pleasure as the new EDITORIAL TEAM president of Saint John’s University to wel- Glenda Isaacs Burgeson Rob Culligan ’82 come you to the autumn issue of the Saint Troy Fritz ’88 Greg Hoye John’s Magazine. Jon McGee ’84 On behalf of the Saint John’s community, John Young ’83 I would like to thank Dan Whalen ’70 for his CONTRIBUTORS contributions in the transition. Dan stepped John Biasi Rob Culligan ’82 in as interim president during a difficult time Brendon Duffy and has served us well since last October. Jennifer Mathews Emery Troy Fritz ’88 I know you all join me in thanking him for Michael Halverson ’01 his guidance and leadership. Michael Hemmesch ’97 Ryan Klinkner ’04 Saint John’s has had some influential Catholic Church leaders in our midst in the past few Rose Beauclair Radkowski Jean Scoon months. Walter Cardinal Kasper joined us from Rome in March to deliver the Godfrey Diek- John Taylor ’58 mann, OSB Lecture at Saint John’s School of Theology∙Seminary and received the Pax Christi Jim Triggs Thom Woodward ’70 Award from Saint John’s Abbey and University. Cardinal Kasper, a renowned theologian and John Young ’83 ecumenist, shared some thought-provoking theological concepts with us and offered us his EDITORIAL ASSISTANT insight into church relations. It was a privilige to have someone with us who works so closely Julie Scegura with the Holy Father. DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Right after Cardinal Kasper’s visit, one of our own—Dr. Miguel Díaz, professor of theol- Greg Becker, Karen Hoffbeck ogy—was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. We couldn’t be more pleased for EDITOR EMERITUS Miguel and wish him the best. Lee A. Hanley ’58 In our first feature in this issue, we focus on the Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer Corps, a UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST program that is close to my heart. Some outstanding SJU alumni have been sponsored by Saint Peggy Roske John’s Abbey, volunteering in the United States, Africa, the Middle East and South America while exploring their own futures in the context of Benedictine communities. Our second feature deals with a topic people from every corner of the world can relate to: food. It is inspiring to learn how some of our alumni have carved out niches sharing their is published in the fall passion for food and made their dreams come alive. Our staff seemed to particularly enjoy and winter and researching this delicious article! CSB/SJU Magazine is published with the Finally, we pay tribute to Don McNeely, a close friend and benefactor of Saint John’s, College of Saint Benedict who passed away in March at 94. McNeely’s contributions to Saint John’s were numerous in the spring. and extensive, and we thank him and the McNeely family for their generosity. ADDRESS CHANGES I’m excited to be leading this university that has been such a significant part of my life. I hope Saint John’s University P.O. Box 7222 to soon be visiting alumni groups far and wide. And I look forward to seeing many of you at my Collegeville, MN 56321 inauguration on October 1 as well as at Homecoming weekend on October 2 and 3. [email protected] CONTACT Sincerely, 320-363-2591 800-635-7303 www.csbsju.edu LETTERS Saint John’s Magazine Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB Ofﬁce of Institutional Advancement President P.O. Box 7222 Collegeville, MN 56321 E-MAIL [email protected] 2 Michael Becker Michael Second-largest Combined Class in History Graduates First I-LEAD Scholars Graduate The 2009 SJU graduating class included 420 undergradu- Among this year’s combined graduating class was a unique BUFNFOBOE4DIPPMPGɨFPMPHZt4FNJOBSZHSBEVBUFT8IFO group of 13 men and women: the first cohort of CSB/SJU combined with CSB’s 511 graduates, this year’s undergraduate *-&"%TDIPMBST HSBEVBUJOHDMBTTPGJTUIFTFDPOEMBSHFTUDMBTTFWFS *-&"% *OUFSDVMUVSBM-FBEFSTIJQ &EVDBUJPOBOE%FWFMPQNFOU Sharon Daloz Parks, director of Leadership for the New Com- 'FMMPXTIJQ1SPHSBN JTBQSPHSBNHFBSFEUPDPMMFHFTUVEFOUTGSPN NPOTBUUIF8IJECFZ*OTUJUVUF EFMJWFSFEUIFDPNNFODFNFOUBE- EJWFSTFVSCBOIJHITDIPPMTɨFZDPNFGSPNEJêFSFOUCBDLHSPVOET ESFTTBOESFDFJWFEBOIPOPSBSZ%PDUPSPG-BXTEFHSFF4BJOU+PIOT and cultures and are recognized leaders in their schools and com- "CCFZBOE6OJWFSTJUZQSFTFOUFEJUT1BY$ISJTUJ"XBSEUPUIF3FW NVOJUJFT +PIO1'PMFZ 4+ FYFDVUJWFDIBJSNBOPGUIF$SJTUP3FZ/FUXPSL ɨF*-&"%4DIPMBSTIBWFCFOFëUFEGSPNTDIPMBSTIJQT NFO- +PF,BOF BQPMJUJDBMTDJFODFNBKPSGSPN(PMEFO7BMMFZ .JOO toring, student workshops and campus experiences that support XBTUIFTUVEFOUDPNNFODFNFOUTQFBLFS FNFSHJOHMFBEFST'PVSIBWFQMBOTGPSHSBEVBUFTDIPPM TJYBSFMPPL- (Video of the SJU commencement ceremony is available online at JOHBUUFBDIJOHQPTJUJPOT GPVSJO,PSFB +BQBOPS$IJOB BOEUISFF csbsju.edu/news/commencement.) BSFQVSTVJOHFNQMPZNFOUPSWPMVOUFFSPQQPSUVOJUJFT 3 BEHIND THE PINES Reinhart Honored Posthumously values and the ethics of the monks that are all around you. It is and A tribute was held always has been an inspiring place to work.” for the late Saint John’s University President Caritas Awards Ceremony Honors Alumni Emeritus Br. Dietrich Five graduates were honored for their commitment to and in- Reinhart ’71, OSB, at volvement in service and social justice activities at the annual CSB/ the annual Saint John’s SJU Caritas Awards ceremony in April: John Smith ’09, Ashleigh Day in April. Leitch ’09, Nick Davis ’02, Joe Schmit ’55 and Marilyn Schmit ’56. Th e evening included the presentation of Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning several posthumous Expands Mission, Adopts New Name awards, including the Fr. Walter Reger Distin- guished Alumnus Award and honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Saint John’s University and the Crouser Michael University of St. Th omas. A musical tribute in honor of Reinhart was provided by George Maurer ’88. Th e Saint John’s Men’s Chorus performed and Bela Petheo, professor emeritus of art, unveiled his portrait of Reinhart. On March 24, Reinhart was honored for his lifelong dedication to service in Collegeville and the Catholic collegiate community with a statement in the Congressional Record, the offi cial record of the proceedings of the House of Representatives. Saint John’s Coaches Featured in USA Today (L to R) Fr. Colman Barry, OSB; Jay Phillips; and Rabbi Nahum Schulman worked closely to establish the Jay Phillips Chair of Jewish Studies at SJU in 1969. Th e Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning sponsored jointly by Saint John’s and St. Th omas, has expanded its mission and adopted a new name. Th e center now is named the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning. Its mission to promote understanding and combat prejudice has expanded to encompass USA Today Islam and other world religions. Th e Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning was Andy King for Andy formed in 1996 by bringing together the Jay Phillips Chair in (L to R) Coaches Jerry Haugen ’76, Tim Miles ’76, Pat Haws ’72 and John Jewish Studies at Saint John’s and the Center for Jewish-Christian Gagliardi. Learning at St. Th omas. Coaches John Gagliardi, Jim Smith, Jerry Haugen ’76, Pat Th e chair at Saint John’s was established in 1969 and named Haws ’72 and Tim Miles ’76 were featured in a Feb. 26 USA Today for the Jewish philanthropist who endowed it. Th e chair was most article celebrating their lengthy careers at Saint John’s. When asked recently held by Rabbi Barry Cytron, who retired in January 2009. what has kept them here, basketball coach Jim Smith said “Th ere Edward Phillips, grandson of Jay Phillips, will be honored on was just something about this place that made it unlike anywhere October 12 by Saint John’s with the Colman Barry Award for I had ever been. I think it all goes back to the monastery and the Distinguished Contributions to Religon and Society at an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Jay Phillips Chair in Jewish Studies. csbsju.edu/news 4 McCarthy Center Hosts Durenberger ’55 Maple Tappers Featured in Star Tribune Video More than 100 volunteers gathered at Saint John’s to continue the annual tradition of tapping maple trees. Th eir eff orts were captured on video by the Min- neapolis Star Tribune. More than 900 guests Erica Manternach CSB ’11 demonstrates tree visited the Arboretum tapping. during the Maple Syrup Students meet with former Sen. Dave Durenburger ’55 (back) and Festivals this spring. former Vice-President Walter Mondale (far right). David Wagoner Th e Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic En- Visits Campus gagement hosted Dave Durenberger ’55 for a week-long residency as Woodrow in February as part of the Scholar-in-Residence program. Duren- Wilson Visiting berger served in the U.S. Senate from 1978-95. Th e week was Fellow highlighted by two panel discussions. Other panelists who joined Poet, novelist, Durenburger included former Vice President Walter Mondale, playwright and former Sen. Rod Grams, former Sen. Mark Dayton and former screenwriter David Rep.

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