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H Stephen Rochon ‘84 Hosts Private Tour for Pharmacy Students and Faculty H was a Saturday afternoon in mid-March and the nation’s HHIT capital was a very dreary place dealing with record-breaking weekend rain totals.
l Rochon’s d all of Admira ye jo en ly ar ul ic and his “I part t the President ou ab s ie or st personal w basketball a parties, the ne zz pi That hardly mattered to a group of more than fifty Xavier students from the e th ily m fa Obama girls at the two little th ct College of Pharmacy plus their Interim Dean, Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, and a fa e th t, cour n beds, etc. make their ow to d handful of faculty who had traveled to Washington, DC to attend the American ire qu re ill ind me are st things that rem of s rt so Pharmacists Association 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition. e th e ers These ar er (and past lead ad le e th gh ou This group was happy to brave the inclement weather for a very special that even th those walls, it resides within y) tr un co r private tour of The White House – home of the President of the Unites States – ou me. It is a of meone to call ho so r fo e ac pl a runs the conducted by none other than Rear Admiral Stephen Rochon (XU Class of ’84) is still at the man who th ow kn to g in nus whose formal title at The White House is “Director of the Executive Residence and cool feel ations is an alum er op ily da s ’ se Chief Usher.” White Hou honorary XU esident being an Pr e th as l el w as (P-3) Rochon learned that the group from his HBCU shley Lenfant graduate!” - A alma mater was interested in a White House tour, and so he decided to conduct a private tour for the fairly large group that lasted much longer “As I approached the entryway afte than the conventional “public tour” plus, they’d r clearing security to enter th e White House, I in be allowed to bring personal cameras inside. stantly felt a lump form in my throat, my stom ach was doing flips, an Rochon shared his own personal story of d my eyes began to tear up. It was a humbl becoming the first African American to ever ing feeling to know that I now belong to a co hold his position, having been hired during mmunity, that of Xa vier the previous administration of President University, with co nnections that al lo wed me George Bush. He also shared stories of welcoming the Obama family entry into the top house in the Unite d States.” members into their new home and making adjustments to accommodate - LaKeasha R. Ba tiste (P-2) their desires and needs, while showing his tour guests so many of the famous White House rooms where so much history has been made.
Rochon’s job includes overseeing nearly 100 White House employees whose mission is to ensure that the First Family is always comfortable – and to further ensure that the world’s most famous residence is always ready for whatever historic and social events are scheduled there too. Needless to say, the private White House tour resulted in very personal and special memories for the Xavierites who were fortunate enough to attend; many of whom were eager to share their reflections in writing.
in the story will forever be on ch Ro l ira “Adm der of a distinct remin is e H e. lif y m line of can be. It should be and what an XU alum oud to be a Xavierite. e me pr definitely mad ith my White House w e th de si in ng Bei dean professors, and s, nd ie fr s/ ue colleag I hope I ing feeling that lm he rw ve o -2) was an ia Incaprera (P - M .” of h uc to never lose
XG Spring 2010
“This meant th e WORLD to me! I truly felt at home & welcomed…it was an honor and priv ilege…if I neve r see the White Hou se again, I will N EV ER forget the expe rience… an em otional moment.” - Michelyn “M issy” Patton (P -2)
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