“I give to Scranton because... W INTER 2007-2008 ...I had a wonderful educational experience at The University of Scranton.” CRANTO S JOURNAL N Scrantastic! Office Convention Puts Scranton in National Spotlight A Message from the President EXPE R IE NC E O U R J E S U I T TRA DI T I ON Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., right, reminisces with alumni during Reunion 2007. t the start of his best novel, Howard’s End, E.M. Last June, during Reunion weekend, many mentioned to Forster writes, “only connect.” It is a prescription me the pace of physical change on our campus. That will Ato his readers regarding the achievement of the be even more obvious when classes that graduated in years fullness of life in an increasingly busy age. Forster’s instruction, ending in 3’s and 8’s return next year. They will not be written almost a hundred years ago, rings even truer in our able to miss the already completed Patrick and Margaret age of cell phones, iphones, e-mails and text messages. For DeNaples Center, the soon-to-be completed Christopher all our technological ability to stay in touch, it seems more “Kip” and Margaret Condron Hall, and our Mulberry and more difficult to maintain the ties that bind. Street Improvement Project. These are all signs of the Uni- versity’s commitment to future generations. At the same I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Scranton time, I want to assure those who graduated in past years alumni for bucking this trend of attenuation. In the past that the essential characteristics of the campus they knew four years, I have observed that graduates of the University have not changed and hopefully never will. We are as com- cultivate and sustain, very deliberately, the bonds forged mitted as ever to our mission and identity. Our students during their years on our campus. I see this most poignantly continue to pursue rigorous academic goals in the context at Reunions, of course. Those spring gatherings are great of a caring community and in the company of a faculty occasions for returning to this special place that shaped you and staff that is second to none when it comes to promot- so well. The energy and enthusiasm you bring to those days ing student success. Scranton remains a place where people is a sure sign of your love for Scranton and your love for are closely connected to one another, and that is a sure one another. I live vicariously through your shared stories sign of God’s grace at work here. of the past, and I thank God for your commitment to the University’s future. Sincerely, Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. PPrideRIDE PassionPASSION PromisePROMISE EXPE R IE NC E O U R J E S U I T TRA DI T I ON REFER A STUDENT WWW.SCRANTON.EDU/ALUMNI More Than 45 Prestigious Student Scholarships and Awards Since 2000 2007 Scholars: Goldwater, Truman, Udall, Three Fulbright Scholars, and twoN CAA Post-Graduate Scholars No fee for online applications | www.scranton.edu | [email protected] CRANTO S JOURNAL N INSIDE WINTER 2007-2008 • VOlume 29, NumBER 1 2 EDITOR Valarie J. Wolff On the Commons DESIGNER Cast members, writers and producers Francene M. Dudziec from NBC’s The Office descended on CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Scranton at the first Office Convention Sandra Skies Ludwig in October. Kevin Southard Robert P. Zelno ’66, G’77 Stan M. Zygmunt, ’84, G’95 14 ASSOCIATE WRITER The Ties That Bind Thomas W. Durso Scranton alumni discuss the many ways ASSISTANT CLASS NOTES EDITOR that they have remained connected to Margery Gleason the University after graduation. PHOTOGRapHY Terry Connors Paula Lynn Connors Bill Johnson Michael Touey Paul Treacy PRESIDENT Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. 26 VIce PRESIDENT FOR Athletics UNIveRSITY RELATIONS Patrick F. Leahy ASSOCIATE VIce PRESIDENT FOR 11 ALUMNI AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Gerald C. Zaboski ’87, G’95 The Scranton Journal is published by The University of Scranton for its alumni and friends. The editorial offices are in the Public Relations Office, O’Hara 28 Hall, The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA The Alumni 18510-4615. The telephone number is (570) 941- Alumni News, Class Notes, Births, 7669. Web site www.scranton.edu/pr Marriages and Death Notices The address for The University of Scranton Alumni Society is Alumni Office, The University of Scranton, Institutional Advancement Scranton, PA 18510-4624. The telephone numbers Louis A. DeNaples, Sr., H’05, President are (570) 941-7660 and 1-800-SCRANTON. On the Cover E-mail address: [email protected] of DeNaples Auto Parts, Keystone Web site: www.scranton.edu/alumni W INTER 2007-2008 Thousands of Sanitary Landfill and Mount Airy Resort CRANTO S JOURNAL N If this issue is addressed to a graduate who no & Casino, received the President’s Medal students waited all longer maintains a residence at your home, please night to see Today’s tear off the mailing panel and mail it, with the cor- at the President’s Business Council’s rected address, to the Alumni Office. Sixth Annual Award Dinner, which was Al Roker broadcast The University of Scranton is a Catholic, Jesuit held on Thursday, October 4, 2007, at live from campus. educational institution serving men and women. The Pierre in New York City. The University does not discriminate on the basis Scrantastic! of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, Office Convention Puts Scranton in National Spotlight disability, sex, sexual orientation or age. © 2007 The University of Scranton On the CommonsOn the Commons University News Scrantastic! Office Convention Puts Scranton in National Spotlight In many ways, the Office Convention Beginning in the of Scrantonians Michele Dempsey, DX was much like the Emmy-award winning wee hours of the Dempsey Architecture, Tim Holmes ’88 sitcom The Office. No one could have morning of Oct. 26, of Times Shamrock Newspapers, and Sara predicted the magnitude of its success. students lined up Hailstone of the City of Scranton, who The three-day Convention, chaired in the cold to give collectively chaired the event. The week- by a triumvirate of Scrantonians and a warm welcome to end-long festivities were organized by the organized by a handful of people who Al Roker of NBC’s City of Scranton, the Lackawanna County ultimately enlisted the support of Today show in a Convention & Visitors Bureau, WBRE-TV, hundreds of volunteers, drew throngs live broadcast from Times Shamrock Newspapers, The Uni- of Office fans, not only from Scranton, campus that kicked versity of Scranton, The Greater Scranton but as far away as Wyoming, California, off The Office Con- Chamber of Commerce and Mohegan Sun. Canada and Ireland. vention. In all, more To view the full text of this story, visit the Many of the events were held on the than 3,000 people, The Convention Web at www.scranton.edu/officeconvention. campus of The University of Scranton, including 2,500 included Dunder which was an organizer of the Conven- University students, Mifflin Infinity’s “Iggy” got in the fun (and the photo) with tion and host to thousands over the turned out in Scran- Office Olympics, University President Rev. Scott Pilarz, S.J., weekend. By all estimates, a total of ton style to cheer held in the and NBC’s Al Roker. 10,000 attended the Convention, which on Roker and nine Byron Complex. included guest appearances from 15 cast cast members of members, as well as the executive produc- The Office who made special appearances ers and a dozen writers of the show. during the morning broadcast. They were For The University of Scranton, it was greeted like rock stars, with cheers from an opportunity to showcase its campus the Royals cheerleading squad and roaring to a national audience – a chance for this enthusiasm from the crowd. Jesuit jewel to shine even brighter. The Convention was the brainchild The Royals Cheerleaders cheer on Office cast members Kate Flannery (Meredith), Creed Bratton (Creed) and Oscar Nuñez (Oscar), and NBC’s Al Roker during a live broadcast of the Today show from campus. 2 The S C R A N T O N J O U RNA L Visionary Thinking Brings that ‘Star Trek’ had its conventions and The Office to Town ‘The Office’ fans were Tim Holmes comes from a family that every bit as rabid thinks big. When he graduated from the — it would be some- University in 1988, his brother-in-law thing for the fans.” hired a plane to buzz the campus trailing a The committee was congratulatory banner. So when friend Sara given a glimmer Hailstone, a city administrator, asked him of hope when they what he thought of luring NBC’s Emmy- Tim Holmes ’88, heard that Executive Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty was assisted award-winning series The Office to town, he Director of Com- Producer Greg Dan- by Office cast member Angela Kinsey said, “Let’s do it.” munity Newspaper iels’ reaction was “it (Angela) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tim became “the visionary” of the Group for Times will play well with small group of Scrantonians determined Shamrock, was part the sensibilities of to turn the national spotlight on Scranton. of a triumvirate of the show.” Tim says, “It was important that The Scrantonians who Tim’s degree in Office Convention benefit everybody — chaired The Office marketing served we wanted to structure it so it was good Convention. him well in crafting for the city and also good for the show the pitch. Moreover, itself.” When Tim opened the the wide latitude and support given him Philadelphia Inquirer the day after the by The Scranton Times-Tribune allowed convention and saw the headline, “From him to reach out to partners (including coal to cool,” he knew he’d succeeded.