TTHHEE totoFOR ALUMNIrr AND FccRIENDShh OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE A U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT TOP TIER REGIONAL UNIVERSITY ST.THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE CELEBRATING 60 YEARS 1952-2012 IN THIS ISSUE Campus News Faculty/Staff Kudos Alumni News Alumni Events Volume 38. Winter 2011 Welcome WINTER 2011 PRESIDENT’S REPORT STAC APPOINTS NEW TRUSTEES Dear Friends: What a joyous time it is for the College as we begin our 60th anniversary celebration! Throughout this issue you’ll read about the advancements we’ve made as a college community over the years and our visions for the future. Michael Kennedy Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP, ’70 This Fall, we completed our newest building, Borelli Hall. This environmentall - Mr. R. Michael Kennedy was recently Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP, ’70 was ly friendly Hall houses the business and appointed the College’s Board of appointed to the College’s Board of education faculty, executive offices, and Trustees. Trustees in the Spring of 2011. four technologically enhanced classrooms. Sr. Peggy is currently the Director of I’m pleased to announce that for the Mr. Kennedy is the President of Development for the Dominican Sisters second consecutive year, the College was Kennedy Companies, a real estate of Sparkill, New York. She has been named to the Top-Tier for U.S. News holding and management company involved in Development/Fund-Raising and World Report’s , Best Colleges with offices located in Warwick, New for the Dominican Sisters since 1986. edition for Regional Universities-North. York. The Kennedy Companies In her role, she feels blessed to have The college is recognized for its high aca - manage small commercial retails center, been able to share who the Dominican demic quality, its successful alumni, and its office buildings and other commercial Sisters are with thousands of people. regional reputation. properties in New York, New Jersey, Prior to working in Development, Sr. We are constantly striving to move the and South Carolina. Peggy served as Principal of St. Vito College towards the future. This year, we Elementary School in Mamaroneck, Kennedy Construction was founded in introduced a new vision statement: New York and taught on the elementary, “St. Thomas Aquinas College is a 1 9 5 4 b y M r. K e n n e d y ’ s f a t h er, Robert high school and post-graduate levels for premier liberal arts and sciences M. Kennedy, and his brothers, Arthur many years. She started and coordinated college in the United States of and Thomas. Under their direction, the Learning Center at the Rockland America.” Our goal is to expand the Kennedy Construction was established County campus of Long Island College’s reputation as a quality institution into a thriving business responsible for University. of higher learning. the construction of over fifty new Sr. Peggy is a member of the National Our alumni are always invited to visit buildings in the New York/New Jersey Catholic Development Conference campus and see what’s new. Learn more area. Michael assumed the role of (NCDC) and has served in many different about our graduate program opportunities President in 1991. capacities, including a member of the by attending an information session and Board of Directors, Finance Committee, Mr. Kennedy serves on the Provident take the next step in your career Resource Development Committee, and development. Bank Board of Directors, the Winslow Professional Development Committee. Therapeutic Riding Academy, and the She is a member of the Rockland Thank you for who you are and all you do Warwick Savings Foundation. He is a County Development Council, Inc. to support St. Thomas Aquinas College. past trustee of St. Anthony Community Sr. Peggy was born and raised in the You are in my grateful prayers. Hospital in Warwick. Bronx, New York. She entered the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill in 1964 Mr. Kennedy graduated from the after graduating from St. Helena High University of North Carolina, Chapel School. She made her first vows in Dr. Margaret M. Fitzpatrick, S.C. Hill, and holds a diploma in Real Estate May 1966. She graduated from St. President from the University of New York School Thomas Aquinas College in May, 1970 of Continuing Education. He currently with a Bachelor of Science in Education sides in Warwick, New York with his and holds a Masters in Special Education family. from Manhattan College. In addition, she holds a New York State Permanent Certification as a School Administrator from Fordham University. 2 www.stac.edu Campus News WINTER 2011 REMEMBERING MARIAN HALL Marian Hall, both the West and East sections, was originally constructed as a novitiate dormitory and infirmary before it became a student dorm There was a chapel, parlor and two dormitories with rooms for novices and postulants. The dormitories were outfitted with small closets, attached desks and metal beds surrounded by curtains for privacy. Marian Hall West was an extension of the Mother House and housed those who were preparing for religious life as Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Nightly In the parlor there was a life size statue of The stories of our lives and pranks could prayers were said in the Chapel and the Blessed Mother — she often “took fill pages — but Marian Hall East and evening recreation was held in the large trips” off her stand to unexpected places West were buildings built out of need — parlor. The parlor also served as a like faculty offices and even to the mother- the need to carry on the mission of the gathering hall where young sisters would house for a surprise visit to Sr. Adele Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Now the line up to request permission or confess Myer’s room. The Blessed Mother’s statue mission continues and the spirit sheltered faults — these lines were usually long! could not fit easily into a car and had to by those buildings gives Breath for the With the building of the College and travel with both back doors open for her Future! Maguire Hall, the Novitiate was moved journey to unexpected places. ~ Sr. Margo Saich, OP ’70 and and Marian Hall became “The Dorm” for Rosary Villa, the former infirmary, housed Sr. Mary Shea, OP ’69 lay students. The rooms were still outfitted the upper class students each of whom with small closets, attached desks and “I loved being a dorm student at STAC! I had private rooms with attached baths. metal beds. The curtains were removed have very fond memories of watching There was a “smoker”, not a grill, but a and walls were created to accommodate General Hospital on the big TV which room where we gathered to “smoke” and two students to a room. On occasion was located on the second floor of a kitchen where we could cook and eat the walls and the windows didn’t quite Marian Hall on the “guy’s side”. We and even have our ears pierced. match and a window was shared by two used to have tremendous water fights, rooms. The dining room was where the resident throwing buckets of water at each other, students would sign in and out and it and long talks with Freddie, the security The parlor remained a parlor and the often became a place to test the sobriety guard for the “girl’s side”. Despite all Chapel became the College Chapel of the students. The two house mothers this, I was a serious student and had where daily mass was celebrated. The kept very careful watch each evening. great experiences as a member of the Chapel roof would sometimes leak which Violations were issued for various offense s Student Council and the Social Mixer led the statue of St. Joseph to don a rain — from breaking “quiet study” to failing Program, for which I was President.” hat and slicker! the room inspections. ~Ray Bengtson ’81 STAC HOLDS 54TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES On a perfect spring day, 378 students Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the Joanmarie Wallace, President of the class graduated with their respective Bachelor, ceremony. The College also bestowed an of 2011, addressed the class along with Master, Associate degrees as well as Post Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science Anthony Bragaglia, President Emeritus of Masters Certificates on Friday, May 13th degree on Frank J. Borelli, Sr., retired the Student Government Association. at the College’s 54th Commencement Chief Financial Officer and Director of exercises. More than 2,500 family and Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. Several Class Service Awards were friends looked on as the graduates bestowed as well as the Terence Cardinal "We are so honored to be able to bestow received their diplomas on the College’s Cooke Award for outstanding service to degrees upon our own students as well as sprawling front lawn. Anthony Bragaglia; the Francis Cardinal upon such exemplary individuals receiving Spellman Award to Emil Cherian and William H. Roedy, former Chairman and honorary degrees this year. The College Vincent Vaillancourt; and the Regina Chief Executive of MTV Networks is truly blessed," said Dr. Margaret M. Rosaire Dolan Award for academic International, was the commencement Fitzpatrick, S.C., President of the excellence to Nicole Dorn. speaker and received an Honorary College. 3 www.stac.edu Campus News WINTER 2011 ST. THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE WELCOMES NEW PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MEMBERS It is a great pleasure to introduce our The President’s Council is a dynamic and Finance and Budget for Rockland newest President’s Council members for talented group of alumni, business County’s Department of Finance. A great 2011-2012: professionals and community leaders deal of my success I owe to St. Thomas who provide thoughtful counsel and Aquinas College.