A Kickoff with Class Morosky’s wife, Dianne, was Catholic and he had attended a Catholic university, but his reasons for converting were personal. “I did a thorough review of several religions,” he explained, “before realizing that I wanted to be Catholic.” He chose Catholicism over a Protestant religion because he felt that the Catholic Church hierarchy freed the spirit. He felt that Protestantism put too much responsibility on the self rather than the community and order of the church. Now, more than thirty years after converting, he has become a financial leader for the Catholic faith. After personally conducting a great deal of research in the early 1980s, Morosky concluded that the American Catholic Church had been built and funded primarily on debt, not capital. In 1983, he suggested to Bishop James Griffin of Columbus, Ohio, the idea of a Catholic Foundation. The Bishop approved and asked Morosky to act as the foundation’s chairman. Since then, Morosky has helped to form more than 50 diocesan foundations across the United States. He has also incorporated the National Society of Catholic Foundations and has served on the Board of the National Catholic Stewardship Council. For his efforts, he was granted a private audience with Pope John Paul II, and he has been awarded the Knight of St. Gregory the Great, the Church’s highest honor. He is also a Knight of Malta and Knight of St. Sylvester. The depth of meaning that his religion holds for him goes far beyond financial challenges and fundraising successes. Morosky also spends quite a bit of his spare time these days recreating biblical stories with canvas, brush, and paint, exploring and expressing his faith through art. He has also added serving on Gannon’s Board of Trustees to his list of things to do in his retirement. After transforming the retail industry and the finances of the Catholic Church, Morosky has returned to Gannon to join many other leaders in transforming and renewing the University. As The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign enters its public phase, his presence, knowledge, and experience are highly valued.
To kickoff the public phase of The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign, Gannon’s leaders celebrated with a Garden Party Dinner inside a transformed Waldron Campus Center followed by a jazz performance by the Michael White Quartet of New Orleans. During the evening, a campaign video featuring Homer Smith ’76, Susan Palmisano Forquer ’66 (VMC), Father Nicholas Rouch ’83, Joseph Messina, Esq. ’63, and Suzanne Richard, Ph.D. ’71 aired both at the event and online at www.gannon.edu/campaign. Currently, the Campaign has reached 46% of its goal of $30 million. Of the final total, $13 million will enhance Gannon’s endowment, $9.5 million will help renovate the Zurn Science Center, and $7.5 million will be added to the Annual Fund. To learn more about the The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign and how you can help, visit www.gannon. edu/campaign and enjoy the video.
Leading the Transformation: the Universitas Society As the highlight of the Campaign Garden Dinner Party, Gannon inducted those leading the transformation of the University into the Universitas Society. The University thanks the following members for their generosity and support of The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign.
Robert H. Morosky ’63 & Dianne D. Morosky Henry T. Pietraszek ’68 & Margaret M. Pietraszek Louis J. Porreco & Debra Porreco Thomas F. Power, Jr. ’63 & Loretta V. Power Sally R. Schulze, Ph.D. ’77M & John B. Schulze William C. Springer ’63 & Mary Anne Springer Daniel J. Stubler ’66 & Andrea Stubler James F. Toohey ’56 & Mary Ann Toohey Gerard T. Uht, Sr. ’53 James J. Weber ’62 James E. Winner, Jr. & Donna C. Winner Robert R. Womack Paul J. Gitnik William M. Hilbert, Sr. & Martha M. Hilbert Brian J. Jackman ’63 & Mary Carroll Jackman James W. Keim, Jr. & Patricia M. Keim Urban J. LaRiccia ’59 & Rosalie J. LaRiccia Thomas M. Li ’55 Thomas J. Loftus ’74M & Mary H. Loftus Rev. Msgr. Walter H. Lohse Anne D. McCallion ’74 Timothy J. McCallion ’75, ’81M Marilyn Mead Joseph T. Messina ’63 Michael J. Minnaugh ’53 & Judy G. Minnaugh Lawrence A. Arduini & Donna M. Arduini James A. Baldauf ’62 & Mary Ann Baldauf James R. Boris ’66, ’73M Mary J. Boris ’66 VMC Marion T. Brugger Daniel C. Carneval, D.O. ’51 & Sallie K. Carneval Louis R. Cicerone ’67 & Leslie L. Cicerone Kevin J. Collins James F. Considine, M.D. ’56 C. Christopher Cooney ’63 Joseph B. Dahlkemper & Nancy D. Dahlkemper James J. Duratz
Robert and Dianne Morosky are introduced into the Universitas Society by Joseph Messina ‘63 and Dr. Garibaldi.
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