FALL 2010
Saint Peter’s College
The Magazine of The jesuit College of new jersey
Our Jesuit community Grows
Father Broadway
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10th anniversary of criminal justice
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peacock Blue
From the President Saint Peter’s College Reaching VISION 2015 There are many ways to measure our progress in reaching VISION 2015, the strategic plan that will firmly establish Saint Peter’s College as an innovative leader in Jesuit higher education. The growth of our Jesuit community strongly speaks to the vitality of this vision. We were thrilled to have five Jesuits from the New York Province of the Society of Jesus step into new roles this year: Rev. Vincent Sullivan, S.J., Rev. Joseph Papaj, S.J., Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., Rev. José-Luis Salazar, S.J., and Brent Otto, S.J. These men are an incredible blessing. The diverse gifts and talents that they bring enriches the Jesuit mission and identity of the College and of our entire community. We are also blessed with faculty members who are not only dedicated and accomplished educators, but are passionate advocates for ideas and research that strengthen our culture of academic excellence. In this issue, you will find stories about some of the programs started by Saint Peter’s faculty and the outstanding contributions they make to students and society. From among the many, allow me to share three examples.
Administration Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President Marylou Yam, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning Rev. Michael L. Braden, S.J. Vice President for Mission and Ministry Michael A. Fazio, M.B.A. Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Kenneth Payne, M.P.A. Vice President for Finance and Business Terence Peavy, M.S. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing Fall 2010 Saint Peter’s College Magazine Volume 30, Number 1
opening last month, is the first and only center devoted to microplasma research, creating exciting
Editor Lorraine McConnell Executive Director of College Communications
new opportunities for students and furthering scientific advances in plasma physics.
Associate Editor Meredith MacDonald
The Center for Microplasma Science and Technology (CMST), which celebrated its official
Our criminal justice program marks its 10th year of excellence and introduced a new master’s degree this year. Employers value the program’s emphasis on critical thinking and leadership skills, and Saint Peter’s graduates are now influencing policy at law enforcement agencies at the local, state and national level. And our social justice program, led by Anna Brown, Ph.D., is an inspiring model of social justice in the service of faith. VISION 2015 calls on us to continue our great tradition of educating leaders and to meet the challenges of a changing world. As we work together towards this vision, we are grateful to those like you who continue to bless us with your support.
Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President
Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group Contributors & Editorial Assistance Jamie Bredehoft Ana M. Cravo Leah Leto ’05 Gloria Mercurio Lauren Pantano Frances Salvo ’02 Photography Jeffrey Vock Saint Peter’s College Archives Catherine Mernar SR Smith Sports Photography
Saint Peter’s College magazine is printed on an elemental chlorine-free paper containing 50 percent recycled content with 25 percent post-consumer waste. This is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.
Fall 2010
Features 6. Justice League 10. Faith Meets Justice 12. Counting Our Blessings 16. Father Broadway 18. Donors Who Make a Difference 28. Bob Hurley’s Hoop Dream
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Departments
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2. On the Boulevard 22. Peacock Blue 24. Alumni News and Notes 32. Then and Now
How to reach us Alumni News and Notes Submit a note online at alumni.spc.edu or send it to: Office of Alumni Relations Cushing Alumni House 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Letter to the Editor E-mail: lmcconnell@spc.edu Editor, Saint Peter’s College magazine 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6240 Fax: (201) 761-6241 On the cover: Members of the Jesuit Community of Saint Peter’s College.
10 28 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 1
On the Boulevard
CLASS OF 2014 arrives
Two members of the Class of 2014
Before the Class of 2014 began classes on August 25, students had received a warm welcome to Saint Peter’s College the previous day at the Freshman Convocation held at the Yanitelli
70 nationalities 55 percent of the
Recreational Life Center. They joined a student body that represents
40 different languages. Approximately 500-member class have settled into residence halls on the Jersey City campus. Here are
and speaks nearly
a few other noteworthy facts and figures about Saint Peter’s newest students. Saint Peter’s freshmen are from around the corner and around the world. A number reside within blocks of the College (Fairmount, Bergen and Sip avenues) while others traveled from as far away as the Dominican Republic, Ghana, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Waipahu, Hawaii to attend The Jesuit College of New Jersey. Students come from private and public high schools, including five from McNair Academic High School, which consistently ranks as on of the best high schools in New Jersey. Nearly one third of the class is from Jesuit or Catholic high schools that include Saint Peter’s Preparatory School and Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City, Boston College High School in Massachusetts and St. Xavier’s High School in Nepal, to name a few.
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Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
This year’s freshman class includes 54 honor students, 54 student-athletes and one Eagle Scout. More than 200 joined the Saint Peter’s College Class of 2014 group on Facebook where they post news, comments and questions related to college life. All 500 students are reading Crossing Into America: The New Literature of Immigration, a collection of writings edited by Louis Mendoza and Subramanian Shankar about immigration after World War II. The book is this year’s selected text for the Freshman Common Reading Program. Throughout the semester, program activities related to the book will include a research project of personal immigrant history, a field trip to Ellis Island and an interfaith evening of reflection.
First Doctoral Programs Launched Saint Peter’s College launched its first doctoral programs in education and nursing this fall. Post-masters students pursuing the highest level of education in these fields may earn a Doctor in Education (Ed.D.) in educational leadership or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.). The development of the doctoral programs is an important milestone for the College and will help meet the demand for highly educated professionals and ethical leaders in health care and education. In the last decade, Saint Peter’s has established a comprehensive array of graduate programs in education, nursing, criminal justice and business. Today, nearly 40 percent of degrees awarded at the College are at the graduate level. The D.N.P., offered within the College’s School of Nursing, is housed at the Englewood Cliffs campus. Its objective is to prepare socially and ethically conscious graduates to provide the most advanced level of nursing care for patients. “The nation’s changing complex health care environment demands the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise to assure quality patient outcomes,” noted Ann Tritak, Ed.D., dean of the School of Nursing. Coursework for the Ed.D. is taught by faculty in the School of Education, which is located on Saint Peter’s Jersey City main campus. The Ed.D. is a discipline-based doctorate that prepares students for academic, administrative, clinical or research positions in education. “It is essential that students in this program are trained to be leaders who can implement strategies for improving teaching and learning,” said Anthony Sciarrillo, Ed.D., J.D., chairperson of the Department of Education and director of graduate education. Doctoral students in both programs began their course work in September.
Six NEW MEMBERS FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees at Saint Peter’s College welcomed six new members to its ranks: Rev. Gary Michael Gurtler, S.J., Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J., Rev. Vincent Sullivan, S.J., Fred Nitting Jr., CPA ’83, Alfa Melesse Demmellash H ’10 and Michael Massey ’10. Father Gurtler is an associate professor of philosophy at Boston College. Prior to joining the faculty at Boston College in 1992, he taught at Loyola University of Chicago College of Arts and Sciences for 12 years and has served as a visiting associate professor at Fordham University and John Carroll University. He holds a M.Div. from Weston School of Theology, a Ph.D. and M.A. from Fordham University, and a B.A. from Saint John Fisher College. Father Monan is chancellor at Boston College. He assumed the post of chancellor in August 1996, following 24 years as president of Boston College— the longest presidential tenure in the institution’s history. Prior to joining Boston College, Father Monan held positions as acting president, vice president, academic dean, chairman of the philosophy department, professor and instructor at Le Moyne College in New York, and instructor of philosophy at Saint Peter’s College. Father Monan entered the Society of Jesus in 1942 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1955. He holds A.B., Ph.L., and S.T.L. degrees from Woodstock College and a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain in Belgium.
Father Sullivan is rector of the Saint Peter’s College Jesuit Community. Prior to his appointment to The Jesuit College of New Jersey he served as the rector at Ciszek Hall, the Community for Jesuit Scholastics in First Studies at Fordham University and rector of the Jesuit community of Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. The Jesuit has spent the bulk of his ministry in pastoral settings, serving as pastor of Saint Peter’s Church in Jersey City, as well as parishes located in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island. Ordained to the priesthood in 1976, Father Sullivan also taught for two years as a Jesuit regent at Xavier High School in the Federated States of Micronesia. Nitting is the CEO of Accume Partners. He has more than 25 years of experience in banking and investment services industries with particular expertise in operational accounting and internal control, financial management and regulatory reporting, budgeting and forecasting, change management and team building. A former member of the Board of Regents, Nitting holds a B.S. in accounting from Saint Peter’s College. He is married to Michelle E. (Incognito) Nitting ’84 and the couple has three children. Demmellash is the cofounder and CEO of Rising Tide Capital, Inc., a Jersey City based nonprofit organization that supports struggling entrepreneurs in low-income communities. Born and raised in Ethiopia, Demmellash was
selected by CNN in 2009 as a CNN Hero for “serving as a Community Crusader.” She is a graduate of Harvard University and received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Saint Peter’s College in 2010. Michael Massey ’10 is the valedictorian of the Class of 2010 and is currently a first year law student at Rutgers School of Law. A resident of Jackson, N.J., he majored in political science and history, was a member of the Gannon Debating Society and served as president of Phi Alpha Theta, the College’s chapter of the national history honor society. Massey will serve a one-year term on the Board of Trustees.
Alfa Melesse Demmellash H ’10
Rev. Gary Michael Gurtler, S.J.
Rev. Vincent Sullivan, S.J.
Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J.
Fred Nitting Jr. ’83
Michael Massey ’10 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 3
On the Boulevard opening a world of opportunities Center for Microplasma Science and Technology Officially Opens Saint Peter’s College ushered in an exciting era of scientific rescience and technology research,” said College President Eugene search with the official opening of the new Center for Microplasma J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. Science and Technology (CMST) on September 10. John W. Luginsland, Ph.D., program manager of the Plasma The Center serves as the and Electro-Energetic Physics program nation’s first and only scientific of AFOSR and self-described “plasma and educational center devoted geek,” offered congratulations to the entirely to the emerging field of College and noted the significance microplasma research in the United of the milestone event. “The driving States. Research conducted by assisthing here is not only the students tant professors of physics Jose L. and the research, but the sense of Lopez, Ph.D. ’00, director of the discovery to serve society,” he said. Center and principal investigator, Microplasmas are tiny discharges and Wei-Dong Zhu, Ph.D., director of ionized gas that hold tremendous of research and co-principal invespower to purify water, sterilize medical tigator, earned the College the equipment and promote energy effiinitial $2 million federal grant from ciency. “The Center is going to be the Department of Defense’s Air at the cutting edge of innovative, Force Office of Scientific Research pioneering technology and the vast, (AFOSR) to establish the CMST. unimaginable promise it holds for Team members instrumental to challenging and changing the way we the launch of the Center include live in building another great American Rev. Daniel O’Brien, S.J., director century,” said Sen. Robert Menendez of educational outreach, and senior ’76, who supported the 2008 Defense research scientists Alfred Freilich, Appropriations Bill that included the Ph.D., Valencia Johnson, Ph.D., and grant to establish the CMST. Jenny Mahoney, Ph.D. Rep. Albio Sires ’74 and Rep. “Today we not only open up Steve Rothman, two congressmen a world of opportunities for our who supported the appropriation, and students, we open up Saint Peter’s Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy College to a level of national and L to R: John Luginsland, Ph.D., program manager of the Plasma and spoke about the significance of the new international recognition, keeping Electro-Energetic Physics program of AFOSR, Rep. Albio Sires ’74, Sen. center. Said Sires: “We worked together Robert Menendez ’76, President Cornacchia, Rep. Steve Rothman, the College, the city, the state and and Mayor Jerramiah Healy for the benefit of Saint Peter’s College our nation at the cutting edge of and this is a step into the future.”
Dr. YAM APPOINTED PROVOST
Marylou Yam, Ph.D. 4
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Vice President for Academic Affairs Marylou Yam, Ph.D., has assumed the title of provost of Saint Peter’s College. As provost, she will oversee Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, which has recently been renamed Student Life and Development. A chief priority will be to create greater synergy between learning and living areas in order to fulfill the goals of the College’s strategic plan VISION 2015: Powered by Faith, Reason, Service and Justice. A member of the Saint Peter’s College community since 1989, Dr. Yam has led many initiatives that have fueled the College’s growth and success. Among these are new academic programs, expanded graduate education and the introduction of the College’s first doctoral programs in education and nursing. “Dr. Yam is an exceptional leader whose passion and expertise has strengthened the College’s rise to excellence,” said College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. “Under her leadership as provost, this institution will continue to advance its mission.”
On the Boulevard
New Academic Dean
Gift on permanent display in Guarini House
Velda Goldberg, Ph.D. Velda Goldberg, Ph.D., recently appointed the academic dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business Administration, is thrilled to join the Saint Peter’s College community. “The transition has been wonderful,” said Dr. Goldberg, formerly a professor and chair of the physics department at Simmons College in Boston. Velda Goldberg, Ph.D. “Everyone I have met here has been kind, gracious and helpful. It’s very clear that Saint Peter’s students see it as their responsibility to make newcomers feel welcome.” Dr. Goldberg began her new post on July 1. She was attracted to the College’s multicultural student population and location in Jersey City: “The level of diversity here is extraordinary and makes for a tremendously rich environment.” The academic dean also praised the College’s commitment to Jesuit education. “The Jesuit tradition emphasizes justice and that really resonates with me,” she said. “For instance, I recently met with a member of the criminal justice graduate faculty, and you might think his work would focus on perpetrators and victims. Instead, he was eager to discuss the dynamic between law enforcement personnel and members of the community. Part of the Jesuit mission is to see the value in everyone and reach out to others.” Dr. Goldberg is looking forward to playing an important role in the College’s growth. “We’re developing new programs and attracting students from outside of New Jersey,” she remarked. “Being in Jersey City is very exciting at this time—it’s like a living laboratory. The community is developing at a fast pace and I hope Saint Peter’s will be able to make a significant contribution to its growth. It’s exciting that we can help determine the future of this wonderful city.”
Joey Travolta and President Cornacchia
“The Quiet Zone”
Joey Travolta, the older brother of film star John Travolta, led a short film camp for 50 campers at the Saint Peter’s College Englewood Cliffs campus last summer. During the two-week program, young filmmakers, most of whom were autistic, created three short films and a PSA about autism. A native of Englewood, N.J., Travolta ran the inclusion films program at Saint Peter’s with the help of his crew and 20 volunteers. The program is produced by MarbleJam Kids, Inc., a nonprofit charity dedicated to bringing creative arts enrichment to individuals with autism.
“The Quiet Zone,” a painting by the late artist George A. Rada ’56, is now on permanent display at Guarini House. The landscape, which depicts East Meadow in Central Park, is a gift to the College from Rada’s widow, Jacqueline Sferra Rada. Bringing together the landscape and human figure, “The Quiet Zone” is an especially significant piece since it graced the cover of George A. Rada: A Painter’s Journey, a retrospective of Rada’s life and work published in 2009. Sferra Rada said she welcomed the opportunity to have the painting on permanent display at Guarini House.
Media Maven Saint Peter’s College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., appeared on two news programs recently. On August 30, ABC Eyewitness News Education Reporter Art McFarland interviewed Dr. Cornacchia about the College’s successful summer tuition discount program. The president also discussed the future of higher education with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Caucus: New Jersey, hosted by Emmy Award-winning anchor Steve Adubato. The Caucus: New Jersey segment aired on PBS stations last July. Both programs can be accessed at spc.edu/EyewitnessNews2010 and spc.edu/CaucusNewJersey2010.
L to R: Steve Adubato, President Cornacchia and Gov. Chris Christie
President Cornacchia and Art McFarland, ABC Eyewitness News education reporter
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 5
Future criminal justice graduates (L to R): Andre Almeida ’11, Jalessa Wreh ’11, president of Alpha Phi Sigma, and Nic Garcia ’13. Department Chairperson Ray Rainville, Ph.D., is second from the right. 6
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Academic story
Justice League Graduates of the Saint Peter’s criminal justice program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, are making their mark on all levels of law enforcement, emerging as a new force of professionals influencing regional, national and international policy. Nine years ago, Walter Berbrick ’06 watched in horror as the World Trade Center collapsed. Like many Americans, that day changed his life forever. Then a senior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Berbrick was a standout high school football player planning to pursue a career in sports medicine. But the terrorism that defined 9/11 caused him to ask some painful questions: Who would do such a thing? How could it happen? Seeking answers to those queries and others, the Florida teen accepted a football scholarship to Saint Peter’s College and enrolled as a criminal justice major. The College had launched the major just a year earlier, but already it had gained acclaim for its well-balanced curriculum that combined real-world experience with coursework that emphasizes Jesuit ideals.
“This area of study enabled me to learn about a wide variety of issues affecting national security, including drug trafficking, information technology crimes and terrorist financing,” explained Berbrick, whose senior thesis examined the relationship between credit card fraud and terrorist financing. Berbrick put his education to good use, joining the Navy and earning a Master of Arts in international relations with a concentration in justice and homeland security from Salve Regina University. Now, pursuing a doctorate in law and policy at Northeastern University, Berbrick works as a naval intelligence officer with the U.S. Naval War College advising high level officials on regional military threats, vulnerabilities and strategic intelligence analysis. He also teaches in the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the College.
“As a naval intelligence officer, I am armed with highly classified, real-time data related to international policy and military strategy that help military commanders and policy makers make informed decisions,” he explained. “The responsibilities that accompany this duty include a strong commitment to ethical standards, integrity and service—the same fundamental principles that the criminal justice program at Saint Peter’s instills in every student.” Berbrick is one of many Saint Peter’s criminal justice graduates who have made their mark on the regional, national and international levels. The program is one of an elite few in the nation to offer a concentration in criminal research and intelligence analysis preparing graduates for careers in federal agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service and FBI.
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 7
[
“WE’re PROVIDING Better
administrators, Better Police Officers and better intelligence analysts Who can deal with more complex problems and situations.”
New Jersey State Police Officer Michael Garvey ’08
Other concentrations include law and justice for future attorneys, corrections, computer science and crime forensics, investigative sciences and police administration, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of the major’s enrollment.
The program’s origins The Saint Peter’s criminal justice program began in the late 1990s as part of the sociology department, but quickly branched off into its own department in 2000. That first year, 17 students enrolled in the department; today the program boasts enrollment of more than 200. Raymond R. Rainville, Ph.D., chairperson of the Department of Criminal Justice, attributes the department’s fast growth to a national trend stemming from 9/11 and the popularity of television dramas such as Law & Order and Criminal Minds. “We’re seen as an exciting career,” said Dr. Rainville. “The federal government has put more money and resources into developing highly educated personnel.” The Saint Peter’s program combines courses in criminal justice with the liberal arts core curriculum completed by all students at the College, as well as internships providing hands-on education, overseas travel to study law enforcement systems throughout the world and research opportunities. “We’re a traditional liberal arts college, not a cop shop,” explained Dr. Rainville,
a former probation administrator, who developed New Jersey’s Deadbeat Dad law. “The education is broad. Our students are critical thinkers who can write, and this is important since about one half of a career in criminal justice is spent writing reports.” State Police Trooper Michael Garvey ’08 can attest to that. “Everything in law enforcement needs to be documented and you have to articulate what happened accurately and appropriately. It involves a lot of writing and having those core classes at Saint Peter’s definitely helps me in my current position.” Garvey, who wanted to be a police officer since childhood, credits the program for allowing him to attend the Ocean County Police Academy as an undergraduate. “I don’t know if there are many colleges that would let you get that kind of experience,” he added. Prior to his acceptance to the New Jersey State Police Academy, the alumnus worked as a Seaside Park seasonal patrol officer. In August 2008, Garvey received a commendation from the town for helping to rescue four swimmers caught in a riptide.
can deal with more complex problems and situations.” Employers also seek out Saint Peter’s graduates because of the College’s emphasis on diversity and developing a world view in every student. The College enrolls students representing 70 nationalities and speaking nearly 40 languages, with criminal justice majors hailing from Nepal, Bulgaria, and Nigeria, in addition to the United States. Through the program’s comparative criminal justice component, students have the opportunity to travel overseas with faculty members to study other law enforcement systems and issues such as illegal immigration to make comparisons with U.S. policy. The 10-day trips, which also include classes and a research paper, have included Athens/Rome and Lisbon/Barcelona/Madrid. This year the program will travel to London and Paris. “It was a good experience,” said Jonathan Matamoros ’10 who participated in three of
Jesuit Influence Crucial Infused throughout the academic program is a heavy emphasis on remedying problems rather than just locking up criminals, an approach that sets graduates of this Jesuit program apart from others in their fields. “The Jesuit ideal is to make the world better,” Dr. Rainville added. “We’re providing better administrators, better police officers and better intelligence analysts who Meghan Ellerman ’08 works in the counterfeit squad for the U.S. Secret Service.
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Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Academic story
U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer Walter Berbrick ’06
the comparative criminal justice experiences. “We got to see how police responded to certain situations.”
EXPERT FACULTY Saint Peter’s faculty members bring a strong hands-on component to the courses they teach. In addition to Dr. Rainville, the fulltime faculty includes Richard J Cosgrove, Ed.D., a retired lieutenant for the New Jersey State Police and administrative officer for the state office of Homeland Security; Kari Larsen, J.D., ’89, an assistant district attorney with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office; and Daniel Simone, a captain with the Hoboken Police Department. Lauding the Saint Peter’s criminal justice department faculty for the real-world experiences they bring to the classroom, Matamoros added, “The faculty is very knowledgeable. They have experience in what they are teaching. The education I received at Saint Peter’s was excellent.” Saint Peter’s students also have some high profile mentors including the Hon. Kevin G. Callahan ’69, a New Jersey Superior Court judge assigned to Hudson County and John T. Sullivan, Esq. ’97, a partner and civil defense litigator with one of the oldest continuing law firms in the State.
From internship to agency position Internships often lead to jobs for Saint Peter’s criminal justice majors, and representatives from a wide variety of agencies from the
local to the national levels visit Saint Peter’s each year to recruit the program’s graduates. For many criminal justice majors, internships and other field experiences open doors to tremendous opportunity. During her junior year, Meghan Ellerman ’08 interned with the U.S. Secret Service, Newark field office in Morristown, N.J. After she completed the internship for course credit, the agency invited the Saint Peter’s student to apply for the “Stay in School” program, a paid position that provides flexible work schedules so students can complete an undergraduate or graduate degree in a timely fashion. Assigned to the counterfeit squad where her responsibilities included the tracking and analysis of counterfeit money, Ellerman continued to work for the federal agency and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at Kean University. “It worked out really well,” said Ellerman. “If I hadn’t done the internship, I never would have received this opportunity. Had I applied directly to the ‘Stay in School’ program I would have been just another resumé.” Dr. Rainville estimates that there are 300 job titles connected to criminal justice careers. Saint Peter’s alumni now work in local law enforcement, as well as state and national agencies including the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the New Jersey State Parole Board. Ellerman says the criminal justice program and a strong liberal arts background prepared her to balance the rigors of work and graduate study. “What I learned in the criminal justice program was not so much the technical aspects of my job,” she explained. “The lifelong skills of effective communication, teamwork and leadership learned at Saint Peter’s are not only crucial in the working world, but are extremely important in every aspect of life.”
Alumni Sign on for Master’s Program Alumni of the criminal justice program at Saint Peter’s College were waiting for a graduate program to further their education and move up the ranks. This fall, they got their wish. The College launched its Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and according to Criminal Justice Department Chairperson Raymond Rainville, Ph.D., the majority of students who enrolled in the program are Saint Peter’s alumni. “Once the word went out, alumni were ready to sign up,” he said. The 36-credit program began with approximately 20 students. “We’re starting out small because we want to make sure it’s developed right,” Dr. Rainville added. Its aim is to prepare professionals to ethically lead a diverse workforce within service-oriented governmental and nonprofit organizations. In addition to the core courses, graduates will also complete a 12-credit specialization in police administration. Specialties planned for the future are corrections administration and federal law enforcement administration. Since most candidates are working professionals in the field, the program is designed for adult learners. Most are expected to complete their degree on a part-time basis while they work fulltime. Job prospects and advancement to leadership roles within government and nonprofit agencies looks promising. Overall, law enforcement positions are expected to increase by 11 percent by 2016, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the past five years, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics has also seen a significant increase in federal, state and local government spending on police protection, corrections, judicial activities and legal activities.
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 9
Above: Anna Brown, Ph.D. Below: Dr. Brown with Saint Peter’s students (L to R): Nour Abdelhady ’12, Lyudmila Lofenfeld ’12 and Tamia McCormick ’13 on the steps of the King-Kairos Social Justice House. The quilt was donated to the social justice program by the St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Brooklyn.
Faith Meets Justice
Anna Brown, Ph.D., is no stranger to passive resistance. The assistant professor of political science and director of the social justice program at Saint Peter’s College has protested the proliferation of nuclear weapons with the Kairos Peace Community (a faith-based community that works to affect change through nonviolent action), walked 75 miles to visit detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and was once banished from Mexico for bearing witness to human rights violations. Now in her 18th year at the College, Dr. Brown talks about the evolution of the social justice program, Jesuits who have inspired her and the future of justice in higher education.
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Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Question
and answer
How and when did the social justice program begin at Saint Peter’s College?
You’ve described the Kairos Peace Community as your moral compass. How come?
It began about 10 years ago. In 1999, all of the Jesuit colleges and universities met in specific regions around the country. The point was to promote justice in the service of faith. And what the Jesuit schools asked was, “Are we really living this or is this something that we say?” So we had regional meetings to get ready for the national meeting and at that meeting, the Jesuit schools recommitted themselves to the work of justice. The way that it incarnated itself here at Saint Peter’s was through a social justice minor and program.
The experience of living in that community planted in me the notion that community comes first and everything flows from that. In Kairos, you learn how to take risks. I think I’ve been arrested about 60 times and Father Dan Berrigan (co-founder of the Kairos Peace Community) would always say, “It’s not enough, it’s not enough.” And it’s not so much the number… it’s that model of right action for right reason. It’s leaving the consequences if you are a person of faith in the hands of God and doing what’s right simply because it needs to be done.
Do you see common threads among students who are drawn to social justice at Saint Peter’s?
And the 60 acts of civil disobedience?
People bring a wide range of experience and that’s a good thing. So in addition to students’ cultural, family and religious background, what they bring is a deep sense of empathy. I think it’s hard to be in the work of justice without a deep feeling for others. Another is intellectual hunger and hunger for justice in the world. We really do need clear and rigorous minds that can see the bigger picture, but keep it real. One of the things about social justice is that it gets very concrete. How many children have died in this war? How many women are not receiving health care? What exactly happened when that village was blown up? You really get to the details and not just make abstract statements about justice. You also need students who are courageous. Social justice is a difficult path because you have to ask hard questions and you sometimes have to take a stand. The Kairos Peace Community has certainly informed your work at Saint Peter’s, but what were some of your earlier connections to social activism and the Jesuits?
Growing up in Allentown, Pa., I’d been in Catholic school ever since the first grade. We know that Catholic social teaching is a large part of that tradition, so it’s been germinating in me for a while. I first met the Jesuits when I came to Fordham to do my graduate work. I chose to work and often stay overnight with residents of a soup kitchen called Part of the Solution (POTS) that was started by Father Ned Murphy. Just the experience of being immersed in the world of the homeless and seeing how they saw the world and how the world saw them…it opens your heart so much. My first act of nonviolent civil disobedience was with Father Dean Brackley to protest the martyrdom, the killings of the Jesuits at the University of Central America in November of 1989. So there have been a lot of different Jesuit connections, but then you bring your own insight, because finally, you need to stop following. We all need to walk our own path in our own way. But I am grateful to the Jesuits. They are just amazing examples. Amazing.
Let me just say that choosing acts of civil disobedience is one path. When I think about justice, I think of the community organizers that I knew in the Bronx, single mothers raising children who somehow made the time to demonstrate against the plague of drugs in their neighborhoods. I think of the teachers here at Saint Peter’s who often “burn the midnight oil” and who are so present to their students. This is the daily practice of social justice. It’s all around us. For whatever reason, temperament, experience, this is what I can do, so I do it. But that is by no means to say that it is better or less than any other act. You contributed a chapter to a new book, Being Transformed/ Transforming the World: Justice in Higher Education. What’s that about?
Well, what I look at there is the world of nonviolence in Jesuit schools and if that can be a hallmark of who we are as a Jesuit body of people. I frame it in terms of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because we are the only Jesuit school that gave Dr. King an honorary doctorate. I think what Dr. King was saying is that community service is an important first step. Our strength in service opens the door to further development of justice and peace studies in our Jesuit college and universities. It won’t happen overnight. But it needs to be started. In terms of living this ideal, how would you say Saint Peter’s is faring?
I think Saint Peter’s really does live this work every day. And it’s not just located in the social justice program. You go to any office and people are doing the work of justice, and not being recognized for it often. So I think that this is a school that really lives and struggles for doing that work. There’s tremendous life here. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Anna Brown, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of political science and director of the social justice program at Saint Peter’s College. Faith, Resistance and the Future: Daniel Berrigan’s Challenge to Catholic Social Thought, a compilation of essays Dr. Brown coedited, is due out in Fall 2011. Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 11
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Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
COVER Story
ng our
sings Our Catholic and Jesuit identity is stronger since five Jesuits from the New York Province stepped into new roles this fall. “Jesuits continue to be sent, ” explained Rev. David Ciancimino, S.J., provincial superior of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, “because the Society of Jesus believes in the important work being done at Saint Peter’s College.” Now settled on the Jersey City campus, meet the five Jesuits who bring diverse gifts and talents to Saint Peter’s College.
Rev. Vincent Sullivan, S.J. Rector of the Saint Peter’s College Jesuit Community Rev. Vincent Sullivan, S.J. is happy to be back in Jersey City. “It’s a great place for us to be,” said the Brooklyn-born Jesuit, who served as pastor of Saint Peter’s Church in downtown Jersey City for eight years. The experience of working with a multicultural community fostered a deep appreciation for the city—both its people and institutions. “The Jesuit presence of Saint Peter’s College is an important presence in Jersey City,” said Father Sullivan. “People know of Saint Peter’s and the Jesuits. This really is an opportunity to do good and to serve people in many ways.” Father Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus after graduation from high school. Spiritual, administrative and pastoral concerns have been the primary focus of his ministry. The bulk of his career has been spent in parishes in New York and New Jersey. During his tenure at Saint Peter’s Church from 1996–2004, Father Sullivan was appointed rector of the Saint Peter’s Prep Jesuit Community. For the past six years, he has served as the rector at Ciszek Hall, the Community for Jesuit Scholastics in First Studies at Fordham University. As rector of the Saint Peter’s College Jesuit Community, Father Sullivan’s chief role is to support the men in living their personal, communal and apostolic lives as Jesuits. As a priest who “likes to be where the action is,” he is also furthering his engagement with the College community by celebrating Mass and lending support for workshops and programs focusing on The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola. He is also a member of the College’s Board of Trustees. “The College is growing and it has a direction that I’m happy to support,” said Father Sullivan. “Jesuits are called to cross boundaries and barriers of different ethnic groups and I hope to find my place in it.” Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 13
Rev. Joseph Papaj, S.J. Alumni Chaplain For Rev. Joseph Papaj, S.J., the move from Campus Ministry to alumni chaplain of Saint Peter’s College is a natural one. In this new position, Father Papaj expects to build on the relationships he has developed over the past six years as chaplain for the College. Pastoral ministry was a new venture for Father Papaj when he arrived at Saint Peter’s in 2004. Originally from New York, the Jesuit spent many years in education administration as school principal, assistant for education for the New York Province, and president and headmaster of Loyola School in New York City. As a priest, one of the things he relishes is being present and available to members of the College community. “I got to the point in my life where I wanted to be more involved with people and their personal lives,” he explained. Father Papaj, who celebrated his Jubilee year in the Society of Jesus in 2008, also brings a deep understanding of Ignatian spirituality to the position of alumni chaplain. A major priority will be working with the Office of Alumni Relations and the Alumni Board on initiatives that further the Jesuit mission and identity of the College and also meet the personal and spiritual needs of alumni. “I’m especially excited about a new Alumni Ignatian Retreat Program,” said Father Papaj. The program, to be held April 8-10, 2011, at the Carmel Retreat House in Mahwah, N.J., is an opportunity for participants to use the guiding principles of Saint Ignatius Loyola to deepen spirituality and apply it to everyday life. The new alumni chaplain also hopes to extend volunteerism and service initiatives from the Jersey City campus to the alumni body. “I’ve seen good possibilities of things to come,” he said.
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Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J. Chaplain The first Sunday evening Mass to kick-off the academic year on August 29 was standing room only. One reason for the enthusiastic turnout was that Rev. Rocco Danzi, S.J., the College’s new chaplain, had met nearly every freshman during Summer Orientation and was a familiar presence to many when the semester began. “There was a lot of good energy at that Mass,” said Father Danzi. “I was humbled and blessed by the faith exhibited in the room. People are longing for community and connection with God.” A New Jersey native, Father Danzi brings a diverse array of ministry experience to the position of chaplain in Campus Ministry. He has spent a considerable amount of time in Haiti learning the culture and language, and also developing a new school modeled on the Jesuit tradition. The Jesuit was recently awarded the Medgar Evers College Ecumenical Leadership award for his many years of dedication to ecumenical work in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Prior to Saint Peter’s, his most recent position was in the New York Province Vocations Office, where he shared his experience in ministry with young people. The door to his office in Dinneen Hall is always open, and his enthusiasm for the College, the students and Jersey City is infectious. “Being here makes real sense to me, “ said Father Danzi, who will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood this year. “It brings together pieces of my past and also visions of Jesuit ministry. This is where [the Jesuits] should be. This place keeps us very honest, real and alive.”
COVER Story
Rev. José-Luis Salazar, S.J.
Brent Otto, S.J.
Assistant Professor of Theology
Jesuit Scholastic in Regency
When you teach four sections of Introduction to Theology at Saint Peter’s College, you are going to be well known among the student body. Rev. José-Luis Salazar, S.J., or Father Lito to many in the College community, enjoys teaching one of the core curriculum classes at the College, as well as getting to know his students in and outside of the classroom. Father Salazar taught at Saint Peter’s during the 2009–2010 academic year as an adjunct. Now a full-time member of the Department of Theology, he appreciates the ethnic and religious background of his students. The diversity he has found is as enriching for the faculty as it is for students. “It’s a good thing,” said Father Salazar. “It stretches us beyond our comfortable limits and provides the opportunity to become better teachers.” A native of the Philippines and a member of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus, Father Salazar has taught at several educational institutions, including Fordham University and Saint Peter’s Prep. The Jesuit earned different academic degrees on three continents, and he speaks or reads six different languages. Father Salazar completed his doctoral studies at Radboud (Katholieke) Universiteit-Nijmegen in the Netherlands. His book, Conspiring unto the Good: Bernard Lonergan’s Critical Contribution to Theology of Religions, was published in July 2010, by Lambert Academic Publishing. Outside of the classroom, Father Salazar assists with marriage preparation and officiating at weddings of former students from Fordham and Saint Peter’s Prep. He also offers spiritual direction for individuals and assists with parish groups in Jersey City as well.
People are often surprised to learn that Brent H. Otto, S.J., didn’t attend Catholic grammar or high school. Otto first met the Jesuits as an undergraduate at Holy Cross College in Massachusetts and from there, he says, his spiritual life took off. “I resisted the call to religious life,” he recalled, “but I couldn’t deny that God was pushing my buttons.” So before entering the Society of Jesus in 2004, Otto taught high school and was awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship in India to study how Catholic education operates in a primarily Hindu culture. He was in India when the World Trade Center fell and says it was formative to observe 9/11 through the lens of another country and culture. Otto is a Jesuit scholastic in the regency stage of formation, preparing for eventual ordination to the priesthood. He recently completed a double master’s degree program in international and global history from Columbia University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. At Saint Peter’s, Otto is teaching two history classes and is also assisting with campus ministry and retreat planning. One of the things he noticed about The Jesuit College of New Jersey is “the care for individual students. People here experience it every day, even if they don’t name it as Jesuit.” Otto also describes the reception from his Jesuit brothers as “wonderful.” “They’ve been so welcoming to me,” he added. “My work is much more than teaching at Saint Peter’s—it’s shared with a Jesuit community that has been connected to the College for so many years.”
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 15
Father Br The memory of Rev. Joseph Kelly, S.J., lives on at Saint Peter’s College and on Broadway—where his portrait now hangs in Sardi’s. 16
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Sardi’s Wall of Fame is the last place one would expect to find a Jesuit priest, but the late Rev. Joseph A. Kelly, S.J., was no ordinary priest. Father Kelly was a beloved member of the Saint Peter’s College community for more than two decades and the parochial vicar of St. Malachy’s Church/The Actors’ Chapel for 15 years. More than 200 people paid tribute to him at the unveiling of one of Broadway’s greatest honors—the Sardi’s portrait—on May 26, 2010.
Feature story
roadway Best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark H ’93, a former member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Peter’s, spoke about her good friend, whom she often called “Father Broadway” for his love of theater and dedication to the Actors’ Chapel. “[Joe] charmed everyone,” said Clark. “He’s one of the reasons St. Malachy’s lasted. He brought that beautiful chapel back to life. He gave it back to us.” The celebration took place on what
would have been the eve of Father Kelly’s 79th birthday. The Jesuit passed away in December 2008, shortly after returning to Saint Peter’s to begin a new post in the Office of Advancement. Many, including the actor and author Malachy McCourt, recalled his genuine love of people and special gift of engaging others in worthy causes. “Joe had no concept of sin,” said McCourt. “He just thought we all had some minor defects.”
Father Kelly’s portrait is now formally installed in the main dining room of the famed West 44th Street restaurant. Kathryn Fisher, a former St. Malachy’s parishioner who led the effort to include the late Jesuit on the Wall of Fame, called it a fitting tribute. “Joe Kelly was my best friend,” she said. “But I’m sure that many of you could also say that he was your best friend because he had such a warm, loving heart and was such an important part of our lives.” Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 17
John DePalma ’53
Sharing His Good Fortune A Saint Peter’s College education made a world of difference to John DePalma ’53. So this successful alumnus is paying it forward with the L. Augustine Grady, S.J., Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will help future students achieve the dream of Jesuit higher education. Many years ago, John DePalma ’53 attended a reunion and learned that an old friend’s mother had passed away. She was someone who had been very kind and had taken a consistent interest in his life. DePalma felt 18
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
sorry he’d never had the chance to thank her for her consideration. He decided to take advantage of opportunities to show gratitude and made arrangements to thank Saint Peter’s College, by making a $100,000 scholarship part of his estate plan. The L. Augustine Grady, S.J., Endowed Scholarship Fund is named
for Rev. Augustine Grady, S.J., an administrator who played an integral role in helping DePalma obtain his Saint Peter’s education. DePalma was only able to attend Saint Peter’s because of a swimming scholarship, and Father Grady paid for the books that he couldn’t afford. DePalma was the first in his family to graduate high school (Thomas Jefferson
donors who
make a Difference
High School in Elizabeth, N.J.). “Most of my cousins quit school at 16 and went to work. They had to hand in their paychecks to their parents.”
College Days “I wanted to go to Saint Peter’s. I found the student body friendly, and for a small college, Saint Peter’s has produced some pretty big names. My only fear was that I wouldn’t be able to finish.” At the end of his first year, he waited to hear if his scholarship would be cancelled along with the swim team, which the College
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Graduation is DePalma’s favorite college memory, particularly kissing the archbishop’s ring. (Archbishop of Newark Rev. Thomas A. Boland accepted an honorary degree at Commencement that year.) He remembers a number of professors fondly, including Rev. Herbert J. Clancy, S.J., Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J., and Rev. Lincoln Walsh, S.J., as well as Professors McInerney and Sullivan. After so many years, his recollections tend to center on the character of these men. He took their lessons into his adult career, first at Burroughs
if I didn’t Attend Saint Peter’s or have that scholarship.”
“I don’t know how far I would have gotten
had deemed too expensive to maintain. “Things were up in the air. A couple of my swim team buddies said they would pray for me. I went to public high school; that was the first time someone said they would do that for me.” As it turned out, the College cut the swimming program, but maintained DePalma’s scholarship, without which he would have been unable to continue college. “I felt that was very generous on the part of Saint Peter’s. I don’t know how far I would have gotten if I didn’t attend Saint Peter’s or have that scholarship. I would have been trapped in low-paying jobs,” DePalma said. He recalls that he was making 75 cents per hour at his parttime jobs at the time; tuition was $470 a year and books cost $110. While he was at the College he held down jobs at the Saint Peter’s College cafeteria and a clothing store, as well as driving his Plymouth to make deliveries in New York City for a textile manufacturer in Elizabeth, N.J. He would start studying at 10:00 p.m. and keep at it until 2:00 a.m. “When you’ve got so many things going on, you just keep going.”
Corp. and then Friden, Inc., a data processing division of Singer Corp. After 20 years, he started his own equipmentleasing company. DePalma earned his pilot’s license at 69, has participated actively in community and philanthropic activities, and served as treasurer to the Milford Yacht Club for 20 years. When he retired, the club gave him a reserved parking spot. An admirer of Warren Buffet, DePalma reads four newspapers each day.
Giving Back “I felt I had a debt or obligation to pay back,” DePalma said in explaining why he established the scholarship. He hopes Saint Peter’s College will continue to educate as many students as possible. DePalma is especially proud of The Jesuit College of New Jersey’s emphasis on ethics and patriotism. While the scholarship specifies that its recipients have a grade point average of 3.0 or above, DePalma stated, “It is my desire that the awards go to derserving students who might not be eligible for other awards or aid.” DePalma recalls that his own high school grades “weren’t that great,” but his Saint Peter’s College education prepared
him well to achieve success. “A scholarship provided Mr. DePalma with the necessary resources to attend Saint Peter’s College and he made the most of the Jesuit education he received,” said Ana M. Cravo, director of planned giving. “By choosing to give back, Mr. DePalma’s very thoughtful and generous gift will benefit future Saint Peter’s students. One person can make a difference.” DePalma said that if he could offer advice to the recipients of the scholarship it would be this: “If you want to do well, deliver what you promise. If you want to hit a home run, don’t look for security. Look for opportunities.” For more information on planning a gift to Saint Peter’s College, please contact Ana M. Cravo, director of planned giving, at (201) 761-6104 or visit spc.edu/giftplanning.
We asked. You responded. The last issue of Saint Peter’s College magazine included a special request for medical professionals willing to mentor Saint Peter’s science majors through the Board of Regents Mentoring Program. Already, three alumni responded. Many thanks to Eugene Batelli, D.P.M., FACFAS ’94, a board-certified podiatric surgeon with practices in North Jersey, John D. O’Brien, M.D. ’60, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and director of the Child/Adolescent Training Program at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Peter DeSciscio, D.M.D. ’81, associate professor at UMDNJ New Jersey Dental School and a dentist in private practice at Perth Amboy, N.J. The alumni have been matched or will soon mentor Saint Peter’s College students. To learn more about the Board of Regents Mentoring Program, contact Jenny Campbell at jcampbell1@spc.edu.
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 19
GIFTS AT WORK 30th Anniversary of Azarow Memorial Scholarship
Jay Geldziler ’12 and Chuck Azarow
W
hen Michael S. Azarow ’76 passed away in a car accident at the age of 26, his family looked for a meaningful way to commemorate his life. The alumnus had been the recipient of the Rev. Victor R. Yanitelli Scholarship, an award that was offered by Saint Peter’s College when he was a student. Father Yanitelli, who served as College president while Michael was an undergraduate, worked to bring together a culturally rich group of students at Saint Peter’s College and the Azarow family had been proud that a Jewish student was a recipient of the prestigious Yanitelli Scholarship. 20
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
“Judith, my wife, and I knew we wanted to establish a scholarship in Michael’s name. Saint Peter’s was the logical choice because of the educational opportunity the Yanitelli Scholarship offered to Michael,” said Michael’s father, Chuck Azarow. While a student at The Jesuit College of New Jersey, Michael was dedicated to community service activities and was a member of the ski team.
A Way to Assist Veterans In 1980, Chuck and Judith Azarow established the Michael S. Azarow ’76 Memorial Scholarship, an endowed fund. Chuck, who served as a sergeant in the
United States Marine Corps during World War II, wanted the scholarship to help students who had been enlisted in the Marine Corps before pursuing higher education. He worked with John B. Wilson, Esq. ’70, the former vice president for advancement at Saint Peter’s College (now president of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey), as well as Rev. L. Edward Glynn, S.J., who was then the College’s president, to establish the scholarship. In order to fund the endowment, their friends sponsored art expositions, with proceeds benefiting the Azarow Scholarship.
DONORS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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“We wanted to establish a scholarship in Michael’s Name.
Saint Peter’s was the logical choice Because of the educational opportunity the Yanitelli Scholarship offered to Michael.”
“Judith and Chuck are fond of Saint Peter’s, interested in the education of students, and committed to assisting veterans—and through these activities, honoring the memory of Michael. That is what makes this scholarship special,” noted Wilson. Through the years, Chuck has also sought the advice of his close friend Gary Schweikert, a vice chairman of the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, when deciding the criteria for scholarships; the charitable organization provides financial assistance to children of activeduty Marines killed in the line of duty. “Saint Peter’s should be proud that it has a scholarship available to students who served our country—there are few schools that come to their aid so quickly,” said Schweikert.
30th Anniversary Recipient This year, the scholarship’s 30th year, the recipient is Jay Geldziler ’12, a Hoboken resident who served in the Marine Corps from June 1998 (five days after graduating from Freehold Township High School) to June 2002. A former employee of the Law
The late Michael Azarow ’76
Enforcement Department of the Federal Reserve, Geldziler started his Saint Peter’s College education in Fall 2009. To date, the Azarow Scholarship has awarded more than $170,000 to 15 students. After graduation, past recipients attained positions at organizations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Goldman Sachs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; another recipient attended graduate school at Oxford University. Geldziler, who is a public policy major, plans to seek a public service position upon graduation. He is currently an intern at a New York City consulting firm, works on a New York State Senate electoral campaign and volunteers at St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church’s Lunchtime Ministry in Hoboken. “When I received the Azarow Scholarship, I was the happiest person in the world,” said Geldziler. “This scholarship took a huge financial burden off my wife and me. We were expecting our first child and were in the middle of buying our first home. I am extremely thankful.” Due to the timeline of his discharge from the Marine Corps, Geldziler was only partially eligible for educational provisions under the federal government’s Post9/11 GI bill or the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. Since 2009, Saint Peter’s has participated in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which aims to help men and women who have served their country attain higher education. “When I was in high school I was so focused on entering the military, college was the furthest thing from my mind,” he added. “But eventually, you really need that degree to get ahead. There’s no way around it.”
Board of Regents welcomes new members Two alumni and a community leader have joined the Board of Regents at Saint Peter’s College. Carlos Lejnieks is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Carlos Lejnieks of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties, the nonprofit organization that matches children with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one John Licata ’95 relationships. Since 2008, Big Brothers Big Sisters has expanded its presence in Jersey City through community partnerships with Saint Peter’s, as well as other companies and Gary F. Vitale ’74 organizations. Lejnieks is a graduate of Brown University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. John Licata ’95 is chief investment strategist for Blue Phoenix, Inc., an independent energy and metals research/ advisory company that he founded in 2006. Prior to Blue Phoenix, Licata held positions at Dow Jones, Salomon Smith Barney, BrokerageAmerica and R&M Futures. He holds a B.A. in economics from Saint Peter’s College and was the recipient of the College’s Wall Street Journal Award for Economic Excellence. Licata is also a regular commentator on CNBC, CNBC Asia, FOX Business Channel, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio and BNN. Gary F. Vitale ’74 is the president of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) and the president of the Temperate Forest Foundation in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Vitale holds a B.S. in marketing management from Saint Peter’s College and is also a member of the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame for baseball. Active in the College’s Executivein-Residence program, Vitale resides in Ada, Mich., with his wife, Karen. Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 21
PEACOCK
BLUE
Worlds of Opportunity Student-athletes from around the globe are finding that Saint Peter’s is a great place to study, compete and experience all the United States has to offer.
Lovro Bilonic ’12
Andrew Gain ’13 hadn’t always planned on attending college away from home. Almost on a whim, the Australian golfer sent out e-mails to Division I schools across the United States as he was preparing to graduate from high school. One day, a response arrived in his inbox from Peter Falloon ’65, the golf coach from Saint Peter’s College. Several months later, Gain arrived on the Jersey City campus to begin his freshman year. The College’s community-oriented atmosphere in the midst of a large American city was a big drawing card for Gain. “I like the small classes,” said Gain, who is studying international business and economics. “All the professors are very nice and really want to work with you. Saint Peter’s has been everything that I thought it would be.” Gain’s experiences mirror those of a growing number of international studentathletes studying and competing at Saint Peter’s this year. From men’s soccer to women’s tennis, student-athletes’ home countries include Croatia, Latvia, Serbia, 22
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
Russia, the Czech Republic, Holland, Sweden and more. Patrick Elliott, the College’s director of athletics, says the popularity of Saint Peter’s in the international sports community comes from a combination of factors, including increased awareness of the College’s strong academic and sports programs and a welcoming atmosphere that is often absent at larger universities. In fact, Saint Peter’s goes the extra mile to ensure that student-athletes who are new to the United States make a smooth transition to college life in a new land. “Arriving in a new country and immediately beginning college and athletic competition can be difficult,” said Elliott. “At Saint Peter’s, we have programs in place to support all of our studentathletes academically and socially. When international students arrive, we make sure they’re aware of these programs and take steps to introduce them immediately to their coaches, teammates and American culture.” For Valerijs Lebedevs ’13, a swimmer who hails from Latvia, the College’s healthy international student population made him feel right at home. In fact, he and Croatian teammate Lovro Bilonic ’12 have joined up to make quite a splash for the Peacocks’ men’s swimming team. Lebedevs holds the all-time record at Saint Peter’s for the 100-meter backstroke and Bilonoc holds individual Saint Peter’s records in the 100-meter breaststroke, 200-meter breaststroke, 200-meter individual medley and 400-meter individual medley. “I didn’t know anyone at all in the U.S.,” recalled Lebedevs, who initially discovered Saint Peter’s via the Internet and values the College’s proximity to Manhattan. “It’s very diverse here, very cool and different because you interact
with people from different countries and cultures.” Another Saint Peter’s swimmer, Taylor Dupuis ’12 from Ontario, Canada, found out about the College through her swimming coach, whose son and daughter both swam for Saint Peter’s. After the College received her academic records and swimming times, Dupuis was offered a scholarship. Like her counterparts on the men’s team, Dupuis has made her mark, holding school records in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke and the 200-meter individual medley. Despite a grueling schedule that includes early morning workouts, followed by a full day of coursework, homework and a job as a lifeguard in the Yanitelli Recreational Life Center, Dupuis is happy with her college choice. “I love it here,” said the swimmer, who shares an off-campus apartment with two teammates. “There’s so much support for student-athletes. There’s an overall balance to everything.”
Andrew Gain ’13
Gain has emerged as a team leader for the Peacock golf team, placing fifth in the Bucknell Invitational in Pennsylvania in September. His experiences as a varsity athlete in the United States have enabled him to tour the east coast with his team and play on a variety of courses. “Athletically, this has been great,” Gain commented. “I have been able to travel a lot and play on many courses I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. The team has a good sense of community and they have helped to boost my confidence.”
Root for your favorite Peacock and Peahen teams! Schedules for: Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Men’s Soccer Women’s Soccer Swimming and Diving Bowling and more can be found online at spc.edu/athletics.
New Coaches for Peacock Nation Saint Peter’s College welcomed three new coaches to its Athletics staff this fall. Ranae Bart is the new head coach of Peahen softball. She is no stranger Ranae Bart to Division I athletics or the competitive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). An assistant softball coach at Rider University for three years, she also served as head coach at Westwood Regional High School and the Westwood UGALS Summer League. As a student-athlete at Seton Hall University, Bart helped lead the Pirates to the Big East Championship and the NCAA Softball Tournament. Mohamed Abdelaal will lead the swim program as the new aquatics director and head coach of swimming and diving. He spent last season as an Mohamed Abdelaal assistant coach for the Peacocks and Peahens. As aquatics director and pool manager of the Bayonne Municipal Pool as well as head coach of the Bayonne Mermaids-Starfish (BMS) Age Group Swim Team, Abdelaal has spearheaded many successful programs in Bayonne. A graduate of Montclair State University, he was also named New Jersey Swim Age Group Coach of the Year by the American Swim Coaches Association in 2009.
Veteran coach Bruce Hamburger begins his first season with the Peacocks as the assistant coach of men’s basketball. He brings more than Bruce Hamburger 25 years of basketball experience at all levels of college basketball and the WNBA. Hamburger was most recently the assistant coach at Caldwell College, but has also been an assistant with the New York Liberty and the head coach at Kean University where he coached his alma mater to four Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament Appearances, winning the ECAC Championship in 2005. The assistant coach on P.J. Carlesimo’s staff at Seton Hall University, he helped lead the Pirates to two Big East Titles and the 1989 National Championship Game. “We are very lucky to have Bruce join our staff,” said John Dunne who is entering his fifth season as head coach of the Peacocks. “His experience at all levels of basketball will be an invaluable resource for the program.” Coach Dunne also announced the promotion of two staff members, Marlon Guild and Dalip Bhatia, last July. Guild was promoted to a full-time assistant coach position and Bhatia, the former video coordinator for the program, was elevated to assistant coach. The men’s basketball team will open the season at home when they face Long Island University on November 27.
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News and Notes
Saint Peter’s College ALUMNI WEEKEND 2010 JUNE 4 - 6, 2010
More than 200 alumni and guests attended the newly renamed Alumni Weekend 2010. There was something for everyone at the first Saint Peter’s College Alumni Weekend, held June 4–6 at the Jersey City campus and locations throughout the city. More than 200 alumni and guests returned for a series of events that were open to all graduating classes of Saint Peter’s instead of only traditional reunion class years. Highlights included kick-off social events, an international fair that featured its own Alumni Beer Garden, and the Alumni Mass and Gala at the Westin Jersey City. The evening included music from the Glee Club, dancing and the presentation of a check for $1,707,983 to the College. The gift represented alumni giving to the Saint Peter’s College Annual Fund for 2009–2010. More than 100 Jubilarians representing the Class of 1960 participated in Alumni Weekend. At a Mass and brunch on June 6, the gentlemen formally became Golden Peacocks of the College.
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1950 The Irish American Cultural Institute awarded its Annie Moore Award to Thomas Potter, M.D., in recognition of his efforts for building the pediatrics department at St. Joseph’s Medical Center.
1962 Robert Vecchiotti recently joined BeamPines, a talent management firm based in New York City, as the senior vice president for leadership development and president of strategic initiatives. His office is located in Peterborough, N.H.
-OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Campus and city tours, special lectures, festive events and a sensational gala dinner dance will evoke memories of your college years, and give you a chance to appreciate all that your Saint Peter’s College education has brought to your life.
Joseph E. Scuro and his wife, Phyllis, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on April 7.
Reunite with fellow alumni and the many friends that you made during your college years to see the changes that have energized Jersey City and the Saint Peter’s College campus. Take advantage of the unique activities planned for you and your family.
1955 James Lacey published Double Trouble: A Ryan/Lehrer Mystery.
1962 Cosmo F. Ferrara, Ed.D., authored a new book Profiles of Italian Americans: Achieving the Dream and Giving Back.
1959 David Leahy published The Cube Unlike All Others. He dedicated the volume to James T. Conneen ’61.
1964 Anthony Verdoni has teamed up with New Jersey restaurateur Victor Rallo and launched RalloWines.com, a Web site that
from every class are invited back to Saint Peter’s College for what promises to be a memorable weekend. Alumni Weekend is a time for recalling the past, celebrating the present, and glimpsing the future of Saint Peter’s College. 24
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
provides information on food, wine and travel. Nicknamed “The Professor,” Verdoni will contribute ideas on how to create dishes that will “represent the structure and flavor profile of wine.” Daniel E. Toomey, Esq. a partner of Duane Morris Practice Groups, was honored in this year’s Chambers USA survey of the American legal profession. 1967 Brian Donnelly recently showcased his first solo museum exhibition at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Conn. Donnelly’s work has also been featured on CBS News Sunday Morning and The Simpsons.
Charles Tahaney was named UNICO Citizen for his contributions to the well being of the Township of Livingston and its citizens at the Livingston chapter’s 55th annual award ceremony brunch. Tahaney was presented with a plaque and The Hillside Avenue Community Center meeting room was named in his honor. 1968 Charles Bordogna won the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award. This international award honors faculty, staff and administrators for their contributions to teaching, leadership and learning. Bordogna has been an associate professor of
News and Notes
Opposite page (left to right): The Class of 1960 at the Gala; Glee Club alumni. This page (from top, left to right): Jubilarians presented the alumni gift to College President Eugene Cornacchia Ph.D.; balloons added to the festive spirit of Alumni Weekend. (bottom, left to right): the Gala at The Westin, Jersey City; alumni and families attended a barbecue on June 5; young alumni kicked off the weekend celebration.(bottom); the Alumni Mass (top).
humanities at Bergen Community College for the past 38 years. 1969 Nadia Makar received the Saint Peter’s College 2010 Heritage Award at Commencement last May. Makar is chairwoman of the Science Department at Union Hill High School. She is also the coordinator for the American Chemical Society New York Section Project’s Summer Experience for the Economically Disadvantaged.
––––––– 1970s –––––––– 1970 Andrew T. Turrisi, M.D., the specialist-in-chief for Detroit Medical Center, was recognized
by Cambridge Who’s Who for his excellence in medicine. An international expert in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, Dr. Turrisi has practiced medicine for 28 years. 1975 The Star-Ledger named Lou Stancampiano, a 35-year advertising veteran, vice president of advertising for New Jersey’s largest newspaper. 1977 Rosemary Gousman, Esq. has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2011. She has been practicing labor and employment law for more than 25 years.
––-––––– 1980s –––––––– 1981 Peter DeSciscio, D.M.D., was reappointed to the State Dental Board last May. In addition to serving as a dental examiner for the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners Inc., he is also an associate professor at UMDNJ New Jersey Dental School. 1982 Thomas J. Duffy has been named national managing partner-audit, for KPMG LLP. Previously, Duffy served as partner-in-charge of the metro New York audit practice. 1983 Frank Mercado was appointed vice president for college
communications at Hudson County Community College. He has been employed at HCCC since 1997. 1986 Curt J. Philipczak, CPA, was recently elected to East Brunswick’s Board of Education. He serves on the Board’s Finance and Policy Committee. Philipczak and his wife will also celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on November 12. John Robert Job was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon on May 23, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, N.J.
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 25
News and Notes
ALUMNI Happenings GREETINGS FROM SAN FRANcISCO
“Conversations with the President,” a series of regional receptions to discuss VISION 2015, the College’s strategic plan, headed to San Francisco this summer. Susan M. Russo and Ralph M. Russo ’71 hosted the event, held on July 24 at the Epic Roasthouse Restaurant. College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., and senior administrators provided northern California alumni with an update on progress and new initiatives at the College.
Galileo’s Italy Pictured (L to R): AnnMarie Cornacchia, College President Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., Ralph Russo ’71 and Susan Russo.
Paradise Jam
Take a vacation and root for the Peacocks. Join the Saint Peter’s College Men’s Basketball Team in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for Paradise Jam, November 18-23, 2010. The Peacocks will be one of eight teams that will compete in the three-game tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands. For travel packages and further information, visit paradisejam.com.
Alumni and friends of Saint Peter’s College enjoyed a fascinating 10-day tour of Italy last spring. Timed to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo revolutionizing the telescope, the trip included stops in Venice, Padova, Florence, Pisa, Siena and more. Front row (L to R): Michele Kaminsky Allen ’77, Thomas Hoffman, Ph.D. ’62, Louise Murray, and Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences William Gutsch Jr., Ph.D. ’67. Back row (L to R): Paul Allen, Irma Colon, Niurka Mederos ’07, Charles Carney ’56, Noreen McManus and Michael McManus ’72.
–––-–––– 1990s –––––––– 1993 Pegeen Ryan-Hansen was honored at the Hudson County Athletic Hall of Fame dinner on May 13 at Casino in the Park, Jersey City. Ryan-Hansen was recognized for making All-County three times, All-State twice and helping to win two MAAC championships in basketball.
Alumni from the Glee Club have formed the Orpheus Club, a choral group specializing in music arranged for men’s voices. The group meets every Tuesday night from September through May in Roseland, N.J. Please contact Tom Derise ’74 at tderise76@msn.com for further information. Pictured (L to R): John Adams ’71, John Mansfield ’73, Tom Derise ’74, Steve Thomsen ’72 and Warren Fristensky ’74. 26
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
1994 Rahel Getachew, M.D., was signed as a full-time pediatrician at Geary Community Hospital in Junction City, Kan. 1997 Steven Fusco was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer for Sussex Bank, located in Franklin, N.J.
1998 Kenneth Tyburczy was elected to fill a seat on the Ramsey Borough Council. 1999 Robert Giangeruso is the new principal of the Jefferson School in Lyndhurst, N.J. He has been employed with the school system since 1992.
–––––––– 2000s –––––––– 2000 Michael Leidenfrost was named ad operations manager to Smartclip LLC, a second generation premium digital video advertising network. Leidenfrost joins the company after serving as manager of traffic operations for Broadband Enterprises (BBE).
News and Notes
The Wonders of China:
View from Abroad
5,000 Years of Science, Art and Culture
Elizabeth Mancebo ’09 at the Keiji School of Science and Technology.
May 24 - June 10, 2011 Join a fabulous journey through time to explore The Wonders of China, with guides William A. Gutsch Jr., Ph.D. ’67, distinguished professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., professor of modern and classical languages. Highlights include Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin and Shanghai. For further details on price and availability information, please contact ABC Destinations at (800) 227-5858 or visit abcdestinations.com/spcollege. 2002 Dhawani A. Mehta received her Master of Science from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.
2004 Derrick Nelson was named assistant principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, N.J.
2003 Tiffany Ricciardi ’03, ’05 was named Hudson County’s Teacher of the Year last April. Ricciardi, a literary coach at Emerson Middle School has taught in the Union City school district since 2003.
2005 William “Billy” Murphy graduated with a Juris Doctor from Rutgers-Camden School of Law on May 24. He is currently studying for the New Jersey bar exam.
Robert M. Carney Sr. joined American Stock Transfer and Trust Company (AST) as executive vice president of product management. Carney came to AST after 30 years at Mellon Investor Services, where he managed product developments for the Shareholder Services group.
Kenneth Foy, M.A. is the new principal of Carlstadt’s K–8 school district. Previously, he served as principal of Kingwood Township School in Hunterdon County. 2006 Guerly Jean Baptiste graduated from CUNY Hunter School of Social Work in January 2010 with a Master of Social Work.
2008 Andreas Schwarz graduated from Seton Hall University’s Whitehead School on May 15 with a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations. 2009 Ismael Cid-Martinez was accepted into the Congressional Hispanic Institute’s Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. 2010 Conor Mullee was drafted by the New York Yankees. While a Peacock, Mullee was an infielder and a relief pitcher. He will be a pitcher in the Yankees farm system. Martine Pierre visited Haiti with a nonprofit organization to work with children.
As a Saint Peter’s College undergraduate, Elizabeth Mancebo ’09 wanted to travel and study abroad, but commitments such as playing Peahen soccer and working as a resident assistant (R.A.), kept her stateside. Determined to experience a new culture, Mancebo earned certification for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) shortly after graduation in May 2009, and was hired for the teach abroad program through the Council on International Education (CIEE). By August, she was in Shanghai and for the next 10 months, taught English to schoolchildren at the Keiji School of Science and Technology. “It was a wonderful experience,” said Mancebo, who returned from Shanghai in July, and is back in her hometown of Newark, N.J. At Keiji, her class was comprised of pupils age 2 1/2 to 8. Mancebo says she was well prepared to live and work abroad thanks to her Saint Peter’s education. “My history and anthropology classes helped me understand the culture and being an R.A. helped me meet new people and adapt to new situations.” The alumna is now investigating graduate programs in international relations. “Graduate school is such a commitment,” Mancebo noted. “Experiencing the world beforehand certainly helped me solidify what I want to do.” Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 27
News and Notes
Bob Hurley’s Hoop Dream Saint Peter’s alumnus inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Bob Hurley ’71
A
fter nearly four decades of coaching, Robert Hurley ’71 has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Duke University coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski, who escorted Hurley to the podium at the enshrinement ceremony on August 13, has said, “When
28
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
I see a Bob Hurley team or player, the first thing I see is unity and hard work.” Hall of Fame inductees this year included Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, along with the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic team, known as the “Dream Team.” Only the third boys’ high school coach to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Coach Hurley has compiled
neaarly 1,000 wins at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City while leading the team to 25 state championships, three national titles and five undefeated seasons. Hurley has described St. Anthony as “an inner-city Catholic school fighting to stay open on a yearly basis.” Over the past 38 years, Hurley has taken disadvantaged players
and tried to teach them the discipline, respect and focus they need to live good lives. Hurley has famously remained at his post despite lucrative offers from the world of college basketball; his commitment to the school enables St. Anthony to raise the funds it needs to stay open. Though he is famous for building the St. Anthony basketball legacy, Hurley worked as a probation officer in Jersey City for more than 30 years. He looked to high school coaching as a chance to reach people earlier, when there was more opportunity to redirect them. “Coaching is considerably easier than being a probation officer,” Hurley said, “primarily because I had good players to coach. You get an opportunity to see change. It’s really the opposite with probation. With probation work, if you found a person and there seemed to be real hope, that person sort of became your focal point.” Hurley’s vocal coaching style has been well documented, especially in the 2005 book The Miracle of St. Anthony and the 2010 documentary film, The Street Stops Here. Both movingly capture Hurley’s commitment to building his players’ characters and his
News and Notes
frustration when their behavior falls short. “The Jersey City I remember form 1968 and the Jersey City of 2010 are very different,” Hurley said at the induction. “But I think the kids are the same. The kids want to be coached, they want to be successful.” Basketball can be a tremendous tool of change, Hurley said. “We try to teach life lessons. The basketball is a carrot—the players want the
[
“When I see a Bob
Family Tradition
“The Miracle of St. Anthony” would not be possible without the support of Hurley’s family. His wife, Chris, keeps score at St. Anthony basketball games and has served as a maternal stand-in for many St. Anthony players in need of a kind word. Hurley said he “wouldn’t have been as good” without her. “She got me to finish college, at night. She stayed on me to get my degree. Otherwise, I would have just worked and
Hurley Team
or Player, The first thing i see is unity and hard work.”
ball—and we use it to steer behavior. In terms of work ethic, there’s so much you get from just being part of a team. You have to give up some of your individuality for the team and we try to tweak that in the direction of others things, like school.” All but two of the students Hurley has coached have gone on to college. Hurley grew up in Jersey City, and he has never left. The son of a police officer turned court clerk, Hurley went from Saint Peter’s Preparatory School to Saint Peter’s College. “I loved being taught by the Jesuits,” he said. “They weren’t just there being teachers at school and then they were gone—they were working and part of the community.”
coached, but I would have been coaching in ‘rec’ or at my parish.” Their daughter, Melissa, has been a steadfast support to the team. Hurley coached sons Bobby and Dan at St. Anthony; they have since graduated from playing college basketball to careers in coaching. Dan recently became head coach at Wagner College and hired Bobby as an assistant coach. (The Wagner and Saint Peter’s College men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in Staten Island on December 11.) Hurley is active yearround as a speaker, instructor and host of clinics and camps. He habitually asks for honorariums to be directed to St. Anthony High School.
Did You know that Jesuits are Linguists? Some, like Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., even speak 13 languages. You can learn more about Jesuits like Father DeStephano, chairman of the Department of Classical Languages and Literatures at Saint Peter’s College. Enjoy a free subscription to the new magazine Jesuits - Maryland, New England and New York Provinces. Visit nysj.org today or call (212) 774-5500.
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 29
News and Notes Marriages
Michael Salvatore Petrilli ’06 was married to Nicole Marie Hasson on June 5, 2010. Jonathan Pizzo ’07 was married to Trish Parker on May 15, 2010 in Horsham, Pa. Amy Hudson ’09 and Michael Gioia were married on June 26, 2010. Alissa Giordano ’08 and Michael DiScala were married on May 8. Alissa Giordano ’08 and Michael DiScala
Engagements
Matthew VanDeursen ’08 and Deirdre Power ’09 are engaged to be wed New Year’s Eve 2010 in West Hartford, Conn. Daniel Dunleavy ’03 is engaged to Lori Siesto.
Grow in Spirituality New Alumni Ignatian Retreat Program
April 8–10, 2011 Carmel Retreat House, Mahwah, N.J. Ignatian spirituality is for everyday life. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment and an active life of service to others. Join us for the first Alumni Ignatian Retreat next spring. For further information and registration, contact Jenny Campbell at (201) 761-6112 or email jcampbell1@spc.edu.
Births
Paul Laracy ’99 and Margaret Laracy welcomed Raymond David Laracy on August 18, 2010. Guery Jean Baptiste ’06 and Rondel Flowers welcomed a son, Tristian Alan Flowers, on February 15, 2010. Robert O’Connor ’72 and Beth Stevens O’Connor ’73 welcomed their third grandchild, Elizabeth Anne. Ashling Lyons Ehrhardt ’98 and Tom Ehrhardt welcomed Grace Teresa Ehrhardt on August 22, 2010.
Grace Teresa Ehrhardt
30
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
C
Support
ha On irs ly 2 R 3 em P e ai w ni ng
Saint Peter Chapel
Dedicate a pew chair in honor or memory of a loved one in one of the most sacred spaces on campus—Saint Peter Chapel. Your gift helps support the renovation of the chapel while commemorating the blessings that a loved one has brought to your own life. Donations are fully tax deductible and will benefit The Saint Peter Fund.
Two levels of support: $1,000—Chair and portable kneeler $500—Chair only For further information, please contact Alissa Giordano ’08 at (201) 761-6109 or agiordano1@spc.edu.
!
News and Notes
John Henning ’59
Legendary TV anchor passes
John Henning ’59, a veteran newscaster who reported and anchored news on practically every channel in Boston during a career that spanned nearly five decades, passed away on July 7 from complications of leukemia. He was a beloved and trusted media figure whom former Gov. Michael Dukakis described to the Boston Globe as “a real street guy, and yet at the same time, very smart, very sophisticated, a guy who was a journalist with a capital ‘J.’” Born in Brooklyn, Henning studied English at Saint Peter’s College while he worked parttime for newspapers in New Jersey and on Long Island. Following graduation, he earned a master’s degree from Boston University’s School
Willie Haynes ’89
of Communications and in 1964, joined WNACTV, Channel 7, in Boston. He became an anchor two years later. Over the next 40 years as media and programming dramatically changed, Henning made John Henning ’59 his mark as a serious reporter who asked the tough questions. A funeral Mass was held on July 13 at St. Joseph Church in Boston. Henning was the husband of the late Betsy Henning, who died in 2008. He is survived by his two sons, Matthew and Gregory, five brothers and three grandchildren.
James F. McGlinchy ’51
Saint Peter’s mourns hoops standouT
Canal Boy author passes
Former Peacock basketball star Willie Haynes ’89 passed away on August 9 after a two-month battle with colon cancer. He was 43 years old. The Peacocks’ all-time leading scorer when he graduated from Willie Haynes ’89 the College, Haynes’ 1,730point record still ranks as number three on Saint Peter’s all-time scoring list. He earned All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors all four seasons and was named to the MAAC All-Tournament team in 1989. Former teammates and coaches remembered Haynes for his tireless work ethic and grace under pressure. Former Peacock Daren Rowe ’07 told a local sports reporter: “I remember telling [Haynes] that he had to get out of the gym, because he was making us all look bad. He was very focused at what he wanted to do. He was hard working and very dedicated.” Born and raised in Lockport, N.Y., Haynes graduated from Saint Peter’s with a 3.65 grade point average, attended Seton Hall University and worked at the law firm Schieff Hardin LLP in New York. He is survived by his wife, Yokie Konah, three daughters, four siblings and parents, Virgia B. Phillips and Willie Revere.
James F. McGlinchy ’51, a journalist and communications professional who inspired many with the publication of his first novel at the age of 80, passed away on June 12. He was 83 years old. James McGlinchy ’51 Born in Jersey City, McGlinchy was a graduate of Saint Peter’s Preparatory School. He spent several years in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II and following graduation from Saint Peter’s College, enjoyed a prolific career in writing and public relations. Canal Boy, a historical novel based upon his grandfather’s life on the Erie Canal, was published in 2007. Remembered as a man who loved family most of all, McGlinchy is survived by his wife of five years, Charlotte A. Arsenault McGlinchy, nine children including James F. McGlinchy Jr. ’73, a sister, 29 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Madelyn M. McGlinchy in 2000, and by his brother, Rev. Edward McGlinchy, S.J., who served at Saint Peter’s, and two sisters, Margaret McCarthy and Elizabeth A. Masterson.
Requiescant in Pace Saint Peter’s College wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the College community and friends who have passed away.
Richard A. Arias ’74 Walter J. Bischak ’64 Rita M. Boyle Ralph G. Clark ’51 Robert Cobban ’54 Maurice H. Connelly, Esq. ’64 John Daneri ’52 James Davis ’51 William G. Davis ’57 Artenzio A. DiOrio ’72 John A. DiStaulo Sr. Josephine Doria Grace Fisher Kenneth G. Fitzpatrick ’60 Helen Madelyn Flimlin Willie Haynes ’89 John F. Henning ’59 Frank V. Hermo ’54 Donald Hevehan ’60 Frederick Ihnken ’51 Mary Lou Jaroschak Kevork Karagozlu Anne V. Kelly ’80 Mary V. Kinahan John Kinelski ’73 Rev. Paul Locatelli, S.J. Nancy L. Marks John Massarelli ’47 James F. McGlinchy ’51 Richard J. Meehan ’59 Goachim Mele ’92 Vincent J. Miller ’52 John P. Navarro ’73 James A. O’Connell Jr. ’53 Douglas O’Neill Walter W. Pearsall ’70 Josephine Picarelli Carmen N. Pontillo Loretta W. Reilly ’78 John “Gene” Schmid ’58 Eric P. Seitz ’77 Charles F. Shaughnessy ’58 George Szweada Gregory Tomaszewski ’73 Frederic N. Williams ’60 Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010 31
THEN AND NOW
LIVING THE LEGACY
THEN Saint Peter’s College conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws and Letters on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during its annual Michaelmas Convocation on September 22, 1965. Speaking out against segregation and violence, Dr. King expressed optimism for the civil rights movement. “Although some will be scared, lose jobs and be called bad names, our problems will be solved,” he said. “We shall overcome.” 32
Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010
NOW Dr. King’s legacy continues. On September 22, the 45th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s historic visit, the College commemorated the event with a day devoted to speeches, discussion, the unveiling of a “Living the Legacy” logo, and vocal performances by The Voices of Praise and the Aidan C. McMullen Chorale featuring civil rights movement songs.
Alumni Events 2010 - 2011 November 8:00 a.m.
2
Regents Business Symposium
1
Hyatt, Jersey City 10:00 a.m.
7
Alumni Memorial Mass & Brunch
9-13
Argus Eyes Presents: Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
2
Alumni in Finance Reception, N.Y.C.
8
2
The Annual Winter Concert and Senate Tree Lighting
Alumni Regional Reception Mass & Brunch
16
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
6:00 — 8:00 p.m.
Peacock Preview — College Tours
10
Jersey City Campus
2:00 p.m.
13
Saint Peter’s College
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
21
22
Argus Eyes presents
24-26 Moises Kaufman’s
Alumni Day of Service
The Laramie Project Roy Irving Theatre
Saint Peter’s College vs. Seton Hall
Prudential Center Newark, N.J.
March The 16th Annual Evening of International Song and Dance
7
8-10
Alumni Day of Service
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Peacock Preview — College Tours
TBD
Alumni in Finance Event MAAC Tournament Reception
Vacation: The Annual Spring Concert
5
Pope Lecture Hall
Roy Irving Theatre
Alumni Ignatian Retreat
Alumni Golf Outing & Clinic:
Carmel Retreat House Mahwah, N.J.
12-16 Argus Eyes Presents
Little Shop Of Horrors
12
13
21
Mid-Atlantic Alumni Regional Reception 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. Peacock Preview —
TBD
TBD
South Jersey Alumni Reception
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Peacock Preview — College Tours
14
Jersey City Campus
18
Union County Alumni Regional Reception
24
Through June 4 Wonders of China Alumni Travel
College Tours
Jersey City Campus
June Saint Peter’s College Day At Yankee Stadium
Colts Neck Golf Club Colts Neck, N.J.
Roy Irving Theatre
Jersey City Campus
24
Media in History Conference
Nov.12 — 15 - 8:00 p.m. Nov.16 - 2:00 p.m.
Hillside Food Bank
14
7:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.
Roy Irving Theatre 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.
May
April
7:00 p.m.
5
Ignatian Retreat Orientation Reception 7:00 p.m.
Hillside Food Bank
4
Peacock Preview — College Tours Jersey City Campus
11:30 —1:30 p.m.
29
Peacock Nation Donors & Class of ’61 Pre-game reception Saint Peter’s College vs. Fairfield
Jersey City Campus
28-30 Family Weekend
Monclair, N.J.
13
The Voices of Praise Black History Concert Roy Irving Theatre
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Jersey City Campus
“Coast to Coast: American Art & Wine” Vogel Collection and American Wine Tasting Montclair Art Museum
5:00 p.m.
Peacock Preview — College Tours
17
Peacock Preview — College Tours Jersey City Campus
Naples, FLA.
Roy Irving Theatre
11
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
5
Jersey City Campus
Alumni Holiday Acts of Kindness
Margaret Cusack Care Center Jersey city, N.J.
February
10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.
Peacock Preview — College Tours
7:00 p.m.
Roy Irving Theatre
10
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Jersey City Campus
Nov. 9 — 12 - 8:00 p.m. Nov.13 - 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
January
December
TBD
John J. Delaney ’50 Senior Reception
7:00 p.m.
30
The Voices of Praise Anniversary Concert
Roy Irving Theatre
TBD TBD
Tribecca Open Artist Studio Tour Jacqueline Sferra Rada’s studio
Alumni at Fenway
For more information, visit alumni.spc.edu or call the Office of Alumni Relations at (201) 761-6122.
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #129 Paramus, NJ
Office of college Communications
Saint Peter’s College
The Annual Fund is now The Saint Peter Fund. Just as Peter was the rock from which the Church was built, your annual gift to The Saint Peter Fund is the bedrock for philanthropy at Saint Peter’s College. Support of the Fund ensures that Saint Peter’s students will continue to have access to essential scholarships, innovative programs and ever-improving facilities.
To make a gift to The Saint Peter Fund, please contact Claudia Pope-Bayne, director of annual giving, at (201) 761-6111 or cpopebayne@spc.edu or log onto spc.edu/giving.