Bonaventure Magazine | Winter 2021-22

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE


Bonnies light up the night

Danny Bush, senior multimedia producer at the university, captured this night view of the new Bonaventure sign in front of Doyle Hall. An adjacent brick patio offers a perfect spot to relax or grab photos.

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Vol. 14, No.1, WINTER 2021-22

BONAVENTURE The Magazine of St. Bonaventure University

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Cue the Confetti!

Many of the Alumni Office’s in-person events are back. We have had a wonderful time getting together with our Bonnies and seeing your smiling faces.

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Cover Story

This is a story that’s been going strong for two decades – keeping ties strong, alumnus Rob Peraza’s memory alive, and stoking a remarkable turnaround of the St. Bonaventure rugby program.

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A Life Well-lived

In memory of the indelible mark Erick Laine left on so many, the Erick Laine Endowed Chair has been established in the School of Business. It is the first of its kind at the university.

INSIDE

Off the Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 The Pathway to Success . . . .16 Alumni Voices . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Honor Roll of Donors . . . . . .34

Editor, Beth Eberth Contributors Susan Anderson, ’11 Danny Bush, ’13, ’15 Tom Donahue, ’76

Cassidey Kavathas, ’24 Tom Missel Jennifer Pulver

Submit Class Notes: www.SBUmagazine.com Address changes: www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate Additional contacts: Office of Alumni Services www.sbu.edu/alumni (716) 375-2302

Bonaventure Magazine Office of Marketing & Communications 3261 W. State Road P.O. Box 2509 St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 (716) 375-2000 magazine@sbu.edu

Bonaventure: The Magazine of St. Bonaventure University is produced twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Communications.

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Pr es id e n t’s M es sage

A refreshing fall semester

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Student activities, athletics, strategic initiatives are all bright spots in a busy year s we enter into the homestretch of the fall semester, there is a lot to be thankful for at St. Bonaventure. The semester has gone as well as can be expected. The students, in general, had a much better time in residence than when they were under the pre-vaccine restrictions of last year. The pandemic moved from being an overwhelming concern of the institution to being a daily inconvenience of masking and COVID protocols for students, faculty and staff. We have managed well. Our COVID case numbers on campus were in the single digits through almost all of the semester, with several periods having no active cases among the campus community. That’s a tribute to the commitment our students and staff had to get vaccinated. More than 90% of the campus community was fully vaccinated at the start of the semester. This fall we began to implement our new strategic plan. Boldly Bonaventure, approved by the Board of Trustees in June, provides solid strategies to guide the university for the next five years. This bold new plan deals head on with the demographic challenges the institution will face during the next decade, and it sets the stage for a much more overt embracing of diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. The senior leadership team has identified the first 10 or so strategies to focus on to get the plan

moving, and we are making great progress on all of those. In admissions, our fall 2022 cohort of first-year students is building faster than usual. In early December, we were almost 25% ahead of 2020 in applications, and more than 30% ahead in admitted students. While it’s still early in the process, we are hopeful that Bonaventure will be the destination for 500 or more graduating high school seniors next year. As always, we appreciate the support and nudging our alumni do with high school seniors among your family and friends, especially in convincing these young people that heading off to Bonaventure is the best decision they will ever make. All of our fall sports played their complete schedules without COVID interruption, and the

St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees

John D. Sheehan, ’82 Board Chair Deb A. Henretta, ’83 Vice Chair Michael E. Hill, ’96 Board Secretary

Michael A. Anderson, ’77 Steven G. Barry, ’88 Judy Baumgartner, ’91 Norbert A. Bennett, ’62 Luke H. Brown, ’89 George Camacho, O.F.M Pikai Chiang, ’84 Michael T. Fossaceca, ’88 Mark R. Gianniny

Gerry Helper, ’79 Michael A. Hickey, ’84 Linh N. Hoang, O.F.M. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., ’05 Laurie R. Krupa, ’82 Molly Kulesz-Martin, ’71 William J. Lawley Jr., ’85 Cindy Abbott Letro Kayte A. Malik, ’03

Kristan K. McMahon, ’97 Kevin J. Mullen, O.F.M. Richard A. Penna, ’68 John E. Puodziunas, O.F.M. Carol A. Schumacher, ’78 Ann L. Swan, Pd.D. James T. Walsh, L.H.D., ’70 Kevin Watkins Joseph Zimmer

men’s basketball season has started with all the excitement associated with having a preseason top-25 team. No doubt, our alumni and students played a huge role in their victory in the Charleston Classic the week before Thanksgiving (see page 22), which moved the Bonnies to No. 16 in both national polls. ESPN analysts and Charleston business owners were in awe of the fan support the Bonnies received over those four days. We have high hopes for the Bonnies and are anticipating tremendous alumni support at both home and away games this year. Our men’s rugby team had a breakthrough season on the national stage, reaching the title game of the National Collegiate Rugby Division I Championship in Houston Dec. 11. (The game was played after press time.) The elite program Tui Osborne has built is a testament to his intense dedication to getting better every day. In closing, St. Bonaventure continues to tip upward as we work through this transition year. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to lead Bona Nation through this year, and my thanks go out to all of you for your support in time, talent and treasure to the university we all love. Happy holidays, and Go Bona’s! Joe Zimmer

Trustees Emeriti Robert J. Daugherty, ’77 John R. “Jack” McGinley, L.H.D., ’65 Charles Osgood, L.H.D. Leslie C. Quick III, L.H.D., ’75

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Off th e Sh elf

Kathleen Brady, ’68, is the author of “Francis and Clare: The Struggles of the Saints of Assisi,” published by Lodwin Press and for sale on Amazon. Francis of Assisi is, of course, rightly known for his joyous love of God and nature, but his life was filled with opposition, as Brady’s new dual biography shows. Clare of Assisi, to the extent that she is known at all, is honored for fasting and suffering, but in fact she was a fighter who outwitted a pope. Their real story has long been obscured, but today, when many feel betrayed by their beliefs, this book offers new reasons to love Francis and Clare. Francis’s greatest shame was allowing the church to betray his promises to Clare. She used her association with him to wage a decades-long fight with the papacy, upending some of its plans and blindsiding the pope who thought he had confined her in a cloister. One cannot tell the full story of Francis without the story of Clare. It was not a romance, but it was an extraordinary relationship. Brady is also the author of “Ida Tarbell: Portrait of A Muckraker,” for which she was named a Fellow of the Society of American Historians; and “Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball.” She appears on diverse media from Fox News to National Public Radio, the History Channel and Turner Movie Classics podcasts talking about her subjects. John Moody, MA 2015, has published his fifth book, a novel titled “Of Course They Knew, Of Course They...” The book is a fictional account of the many unprecedented events of 2020, including the deadly spread of COVID-19, the social protests that shook the United States, and the clamorous presidential campaign, election and post-election furor. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and local bookstores, as well as on Kindle and Nook. 6

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John V. Callaghan, ’67, is the author of a new novel, “The Virgin of the Adirondacks,” available through Amazon. A young woman experiencing a Marian apparition in the forest and troubled by strange dreams becomes obsessed with seeking out Thomas Merton, the famous Trappist monk. She forms an unlikely friendship with a directionless, apathetic college student and their lives become entangled with a Franciscan friar who tries to help them. Spanning several decades, “The Virgin of the Adirondacks” explores the question of spiritual longings, our relationships with others and the power of solitude, prayer and love. Many of the novel’s scenes take place at St. Bonaventure and Olean. JG “Greg” Faherty’s (’84) eighth novel, “The Wakening,” will be released in January 2022. It follows a reality TV ghost hunter and his crew, an exorcist, a psychic, and a defrocked priest as they try to rid an upstate town of an ancient evil. Anyone who’s spent time at Bona’s or in the Olean area will likely recognize many of the locations described in this story, which takes place in a fictional town and nearby university on the banks of the Allegheny River. More than a few of the events depicted are based loosely on stories Faherty heard growing up in the area, or from his conversations with the late Fr. Alphonsus Trabold, O.F.M., professor of theology. “The Wakening” follows on the heels of Faherty’s previous book, “Sins of the Father" (2020), which dealt with the very different theme of a young man trying to forge his own path in life and not follow the horrific footsteps of his mad-scientist father, only to find their paths intersecting when he is faced with the very same life-or-death predicament that sent his father to prison for life. Faith, priesthood, church, relationships and home slip through his grasp making way for the sight of never imagined horizons.

“Seven Games in ’62: The Yankees and Giants Square Off in a Classic World Series” is John Iamarino’s second book since he retired as commissioner of the Southern Conference in 2019. His first, “A Proud Athletic History: 100 Years of the Southern Conference,” was published in 2020. “Seven Games in ’62” details the New York Yankees facing the San Franciscan Giants in a competitive seven-game championship. Included is a review of both teams’ pennant races and an in-depth look at the Giants’ three-game playoff with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League crown. The book also compares game strategies in the early 1960s to those six decades later. Additionally, Iamarino, ’77, provides possible factors to explain why a World Series that was still very much in doubt when the final pitch was thrown has historically not received more acclaim. Iamarino lives with his wife and son in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In a new book, Dr. John Robert “Bob” Greene, ’77, presents a perspective that differs markedly from the negative judgment most of his colleagues have passed regarding the presidency of George W. Bush. Working through Freedom of Information Act requests to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the National Archives, the author unearthed a trove of newly released information and documents that include some previously classified materials. These provide evidence that despite its shortcomings and defining response to 9/11 and the War on Terror, the Bush administration produced many positive achievements in social, domestic, economic, and national security policy matters, Greene says. The assessment is documented in his book, “The Presidency of George W. Bush,” published by University Press of Kansas. Its publisher says it is the first scholarly work to make wide use of doc-


Off th e Sh elf / N ew s

uments accessed from the Bush Presidential Library and the National Archives through extensive FOIA requests. Greene, a nationally noted presidential historian, is the longest-serving faculty member at Cazenovia College, where he has taught for 42 years. John J. Tivenan, ’72, is the author of “Letting Color In: A Memoir of Eroding Faith & Expanding Gratitude” published by Caritas and available exclusively on Amazon. Abandoning chronology as a tool for telling his stories, Tivenan punctuates instances of a life review, which gave his odyssey pauses for reflection. On what was once taken for granted, and on what seemed unalterable elements of his identity, Tivenan concludes that, like everything else in life, they were all transitory. Despite the implosion of what was considered sure and true, Tivenan finds hope in the significant tallies of loss, humor in multiple derailments, and reasons for expanding gratitude in examining his unexpected trajectory.

Come to the music

Photo by Danny Bush

The university’s Concert and Chamber choirs returned to the stage Nov. 7 for the first time since the pandemic began. The concert, “Come to the Music,” was held at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and was livestreamed. Pictured above are Malaunah Jones (left) and Tenaya Ramadhan. The choirs, plus soloists Emma Stoeckle, Lorrenzo Burnside, Malaunah Jones, Nikolas Figueroa and Kimberlie Mitchell, sang a diverse collection of inspirational music including “Esto Les Digo,” “Rise Up,” and “O Love.” A video of the concert is available at video.ibm.com/channel/st-bonaventure-university-live-stream.

A book on the inscriptional program of the Taj Mahal by Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M., Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at St. Bonaventure, has been published by I.B. Tauris. The book, “The Language of the Taj Mahal: Islam, Prayer and the Religion of Shah Jahan,” provides a deeper understanding of the Taj Mahal and its builder by examining its inscriptions within their architectural, historical and biographical contexts. The texts adorning the Taj Mahal comprise verses from 22 different chapters of the Qur'an but their meaning and significance escape most non-Muslim visitors or those unable to read them. This book is the first dedicated solely to the inscriptions in the monument, providing translations, commentary and interpretation of the texts.

>>> WE LOVE MAIL! We are happy to print brief summaries of new books, CDs and other multimedia works published by SBU alumni, faculty and staff. Send a copy of the book or CD and summary press release to magazine@sbu.edu or via snail mail to: Bonaventure magazine 3261 W. State Road P.O. Box 2509 St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 All books mailed to the magazine are shared with Friedsam Memorial Library for its collection. WINTER 2021-22

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Inside The Match N ew s

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Alums launch podcasts with advice, resources for medical students

hree years into her medical residency in St. Louis, Missouri, alumna Simone Bernstein, ’14, still remembers the intense stress and uncertainty that follows a medical student in the months leading up to residency placements known as The Match. In their fourth year of medical school, medical students apply for a residency in a specialty field, such as radiology, psychiatry, ob/gyn, internal medicine, pediatrics and surgery. The annual National Resident Matching Program’s Main Residency Match takes place each March. When the pandemic upended the traditional in-person interview process and forced the implementation of a virtual one, Bernstein and her fiancé, fellow SBU grad Alex Gu, ’15, decided to create a podcast to help medical students navigate the residency interviews and match process. In fall 2020, Bernstein and Gu launched the podcast Inside The Match in which they interview medical residency program directors and medical residents in a variety of specialties. The response from program directors seeking to fill residencies and medical students alike was rapid and positive. The transition to a video interview experience was a big change for medical schools and the applicants, Bernstein said, and medical students had little information on how to do well in a virtual setting. “We recognized when program directors were taking the time to provide guidance via our platform, there was trust in the

medical community,” said Bernstein, who is a third-year psychiatry resident at Washington University in St. Louis. Gu is a second-year orthopedic resident at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During the past year they have posted more than 110 podcast episodes and have more than 101,000 listeners. Their Twitter account has garnered more than 19,000 followers. Podcast episodes range from general topics, such as tips for the ranking process and writing a letter of intent, to specialty interviews about dermatology, emergency medicine, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Bernstein and Gu’s goal is to provide guidance throughout the match process and share wisdom from residents as well as leaders in medical education. It’s also important for them to keep providing the resources for free, which Bernstein believes helped provide momentum for the platform. As the podcasts took off, the alums thought, what’s next? In October, they launched a website and formed an advisory board composed of faculty members from a number of medical schools. “We are excited about these faculty leaders who will be providing their valuable experience,” Bernstein said. They aim to continue to provide important content to help new medical students, and be ready to pivot as the interview process evolves. Bernstein, who pursued an individual-

Inside The Match @Inside_theMatch InsideTheMatch.com

ized major in social entrepreneurship and altruism at St. Bonaventure, and Gu, a biology major, attended medical school at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Following her residency, Bernstein hopes to join Gu in Washington, D.C., where her long-term goal is to work in medical education. “My goal later down the road is to be a dean of student affairs at a medical school. That is truly why I’m so excited about The Match and to see it flourish,” she said. She also would be happy to be a resource for any St. Bonaventure students and young alumni. “It is a long journey but one that is deeply rewarding. It is important to find a mentor to offer guidance. Alex and I are always willing and able to help anyone going through this stressful journey,” Bernstein said.

NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Minors offered in Leadership, Native American & Indigenous Studies

St. Bonaventure has developed two new minors. The minor in Leadership is open to all degree-seeking undergraduate students regardless of their majors and offers a curriculum that spans academic schools at the university. The program features electives from 13 different academic departments. The scope of the leadership minor is to provide the tools that will enable students to ethically influence people though purpose, direction and motivation. Through mentorship, personal development and internship opportunities, the minor prepares students to serve effectively in formal and informal leadership 8

BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

roles on campus and in their lifelong pursuits. The minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies introduces students to issues facing Native American and indigenous people from a variety of perspectives. The program benefits from a remarkable local resource: St. Bonaventure is less than 20 miles from the Seneca Nation of Indians Allegany Territory. The past few years saw a cultural exchange develop between the university and the Seneca Nation in the form of Iroquois dance and song shows on campus and a number of workshops that educated St. Bonaventure faculty on Iroquois traditions.


Alu mn i E ve n ts

Cue the confetti, in-person events are back! Visit sbu.edu/alumnievents to find events near you

BUFFALO Feed More WNY Huddle for Hunger food drive with the Buffalo Bills, Sept. 23.

CAMPUS Class of ’65 Mini-Reunion, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2.

NEW YORK CITY Fr. Mychal Judge 911 Walk of Remembrance, Sept. 5.

ROCHESTER Meet Joe Manhertz at Rohrbach Brewing Company, Oct. 19.

BUFFALO Alumni Chapter Harbor Cruise, Aug. 10.

SYRACUSE Welcome Party for recent grads, Aug. 19. WINTER 2021-22

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A BONA RUGBY LEGACY Scholarships tied to ’94 grad Rob Peraza helped put SBU’s rugby program on the map Story by Rich Blake

Photos by Ron Raff Photography

ne bright October afternoon this fall, the St. Bonaventure University men’s rugby team beat Penn State, taking down one of the most successful collegiate rugby programs in the nation – on their home turf.

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For the Bonaventure side, it was yet another major milestone for a program that over the past two decades has risen steadily, surprisingly, to national prominence. Rob Peraza would be proud.

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ROB PERAZA

Peraza earned both his bachelor’s (’94) and master’s degrees (’96) at Bona’s as well as utmost respect when the winger was named most valuable player on the ’93 rugby squad that won an Empire State (Small School Division) title. Fond memories (beating Le Moyne in the championship) were often rehashed – and new ones, at spirited alumni matches, were made – as an extended crew of fast friends dragged themselves from McGraw-Jennings Field into adulthood. It was a long way from his apartment above Randy’s Up the River, but Peraza, by age 30, had made his way to the top of the Wall Street world. On September 11, 2001, he was trading bonds for Cantor Fitzgerald. On the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s Tower One. Peraza was among the victims who perished in the terrorist attacks. After that unimaginable day, outpourings of grief gave way to determined remembrances. No one would be forgotten. Charities were formed. Events staged. Annual walks and races. And, of course, memorial golf outings. Lots of them. This is the story of one that’s been going strong for two decades, keeping ties bound, Peraza’s memory alive – and stoking a remarkable turnaround of the St. Bonaventure rugby program. Two dedicated scholarships in his name are earmarked for incoming recruits with as many as six students supported annually. “There is a direct link between what we’ve been able to achieve on the field and the Peraza scholarships, unquestionably,” said men’s head coach Tui Osborne. “Because now we can recruit the kinds of players that previously weren’t available to us for a variety of reasons, financial reasons being among them. So yeah, you can say it leveled the playing field.” Since Osborne arrived in 2014, Bonaventure rugby has dashed on to a national stage. The team ranks atop Division 1-A. Two years ago, Bonaventure won a Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) “7s” tournament (Bowl Bracket) – against the University of Notre Dame on national television. t The late Rob Peraza, ’94, ’96, during his rugby years at SBU.

Robert Peraza Sr.

Getty Images photo courtesy of the Peraza family

Portrait of a simple prayer It remains one of history’s most resonant images of post9/11 grieving: a Getty Images photo, taken on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, of Robert Peraza Sr., praying for his son. Photographer Justin Lane’s happenstance shot made its way, almost instantaneously, to news websites around world. Peraza Sr., who passed away in 2016, told ABC News at the time, “I was just honoring Rob.” “That was a surreal day,” Neil Peraza, Rob’s brother, recalled. He, along with his parents and his then 7-year-old daughter, Emily, had travelled to New York City for one-decade-later ceremonies that included the unveiling of a new 9/11 Memorial: enormous twin reflecting pools at the site where the towers once stood. Surrounding the pools are bronze parapets, engraved with the names of the victims. As the family walked along the 9/11 Memorial’s North Pool, Peraza Sr. steeled himself for the task, moments away, of reading his son’s name aloud when suddenly he happened to spot it. His son’s name. A man of deep faith, he took a knee and said a silent prayer. “My father was aware someone took his picture but he really thought nothing of it,” Neil said. Within the hour, a snapshot for the ages went viral. It struck a chord for a world still trying to come to grips with the magnitude of the tragedy yet hopeful for the possibilities of some healing. For the remainder of that day, Neil’s phone lit up – “so much for quiet reflection” – as friends, relatives, reporters reached out. The next several hours were spent arranging telephone interviews with media outlets the world over. The photo was compelling enough to land on the front page of the next day’s New York Post. Later, Neil Peraza made a poster-sized version. It was displayed at the funeral service for a simple man of faith. “When I see the picture,” he said, “it sums up Dad.”

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THE GRINGO OPEN

The annual golf outing (dubbed “The Gringo Open,” a nod to Peraza’s nickname in college) was born in the summer of 2002 with the goal of bringing together an extended family to celebrate Peraza’s life. It was one embodied by a love of sports. “Anything and everything,” his brother Neil said. “Didn’t matter what, he was a natural.” Quiet, determined, Peraza was always proving himself. The family moved several times during the boys’ childhood. A Cuban immigrant, Robert Peraza Sr. worked as an IT manager for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, doing stints in Delaware, Colorado, Connecticut, and, by the late 1980s, in Norwich, New York, in Chenango County. As a Norwich High School junior, 17-year-old Rob excelled at football, wrestling and tennis. (He golfed well, too). For his senior year, Peraza parlayed a Rotary Club scholarship into one year abroad in Johannesburg, South Africa. There he got a masterclass in rugby, from summer of 1989 through the summer of 1990. Then he came to Bona’s, an interest sparked innocently enough by some high school friends and later cemented by a memorable campus visit. Early in his freshman year, Peraza’s next-level rugby acumen and humble demeanor won over teammates. Fellow freshman Billy Kelly, a top player at rugby powerhouse Xavier High School in Manhattan, remembered being struck by “just what a super nice guy he was off the field – but such a fierce competitor on the field.” After finishing his studies, Peraza, in 1995, moved to Cincinnati, where his family had, one last time, relocated; soon thereafter he set out for the Big Apple, landing a job at Refco Securities trading cocoa futures. Eventually he wound up at Cantor Fitzgerald.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED

The flagship memorial scholarship – the Robert David Peraza Annual Scholarship at St. Bonaventure University – ties back to the first few weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Peraza’s devastated parents, Robert Sr. and Suzanne, and his two-and-a-halfyears’ younger brother, Neil, created it almost immediately, coordinating with a core cadre of pals united in their intensity. “Rob Peraza’s legacy was going to carry on and we were going to make sure of it,” said classmate and event co-organizer John D’Arcy, ’95. “He was that good of a man.”

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At a sit-down at Connelly’s Pub in Midtown Manhattan, D’Arcy recalled, a plan quickly coalesced: Their friend’s twin passions, his school/sport, would be intertwined though an endowed rugby scholarship connected with an annual golf outing for the old gang held in the New York City area, at Dunwoodie Country Club in Yonkers. (Actually, it’s a public course and a gem at that, set against rolling green hills of lower Westchester County). The game plan set, Kelly took the ball and charged up field, lateraling assignments to D’Arcy, who arranged the venue, as well as to ’95 classmates Mike Minardi, Joe Zamparelli and Sean Mayer. The latter would skillfully take on the master of ceremonies role. Mindy (Coffey) Zamparelli, ’95, helped send mailers and collect cash (in the days before Facebook and Venmo) with all of the organizers going the extra yard to make the event a success. About 100 golfers showed up for the first outing and attendance all these years has stayed fairly, impressively, steady. Donations, from alumni around the country, have grown.

THE PUSH TO EXPAND St. Bonaventure having one of the few rugby scholarships in the country didn’t necessarily just flip a switch; only a few recipients came into the fold during those initial years. But, in time, there was a sense the program was on the right path.

“Knowing the alumni had our back, that motivated us, and raised expectations,” recalls Jon Garbin who played Bona rugby from 2009 to 2013. The Clarence Picard-coached rugby teams of that era notched several landmark victories, including a win over the University at Buffalo in Bonaventure’s first-ever appearance as a Division 1-A rugby competitor, moving up from D2. That was in the fall of 2009. Four years later, in 2013, the team, captained by Alex Brussard and featuring Garbin, Tim Hanna and Kevin McCorry (a Peraza scholarship recipient), advanced to the Elite 8 tournament, losing to Dartmouth University. Bonaventure was now at least in the conversation in Division 1-A Rugby, at that time dominated by a handful of upper-echelon West Coast programs (e.g. University of California, Berkeley and Brigham Young University) and, on the East Coast, by the likes of Penn State, Army West Point and Kutztown University. The door had cracked open. And another key turning point loomed, courtesy of the Southern Hemisphere.

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COACH TUI OSBORNE

Growing up in Suva, capital of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji and a hotbed of passionately played “footie,” Tui Osborne won rugby union accolades as a schoolboy during the 1990s. But he wasn’t winning over any scouts for the storied Flying Fijians national squad. In 2000, Osborne, age 19, came to America, settling in Los Angeles where some relatives had relocated, opening the door to assimilation – within L.A.’s tight-knit rugger community, chiefly the San Fernando Valley RFC and Riverside Rugby Club. Small world, rugby, as doors opened in the Washington, D.C.-based super league, leading to a spot on the USA Eagles men’s national team (2006-2008). Osborne would go on to attend (on a scholarship) Life University where he played rugby and obtained a degree in sports exercise science. At Atlanta-based Life, known for its chiropractic school and for its rugby team, Osborne made his bones as a coach, winning men’s collegiate championships in 2011 and 2014. Along the way (in D.C.), he met his future wife, Jessie. “She was from the Buffalo area and we’d visit a lot,” Osborne said. “It began to feel like that’s where we were meant to be.” Osborne, feeling particularly far from home on some of these visits, nevertheless felt a connection to the area, falling in with the Buffalo Old Boys rugby club. In winter of 2014, word of the talented Life coach moving to the Western New York area reached Bill Kelly, who’d spotted an item about it on a rugby social media feed. Out of the blue, Kelly placed a call to bluntly ask: Any interest in coaching at St. Bonaventure?

BONNIES MAKE AN IMPACT

Pleasantly surprised, instantly intrigued, Osborne agreed to visit campus. By spring of 2014, Osborne on board as coach, the endowed scholarship had swollen to more than $100,000 in principal. A portion, 5% of total assets per year, was going to one student’s tuition across four years. Ramping up, Peraza’s friends and family next created a second annual gift so that the golf event proceeds (about $35,000 annually) could be spread around to help more students attend the school. As many as six student-athletes could be put into the mix each fall. An influx of talent paid off. In spring of 2019, the Bonaventure rugby team, led by a scholarship recipient, Jersey City, New Jersey-native Eamonn Matthews, made its first appearance in the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby 7s Championship, romping through early rounds en route to a stunning, come-from-behind-while-shorthanded win over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. ESPN analysts were baffled, as were alumni watching around the country. The elite college rugby landscape had shifted. Bonaventure ranked eighth. And how’s this for shocking: Following that stunning Penn State victory in October, the reconfigured National College Rugby polls put Bona’s at No. 1. The team beat perennial power Kutztown PHOTOS two weeks later and secured the No. 1 seed in the NCR tournament, where they Cover: Alex Chura, a 2021-22 drubbed Mary Washington, 39-7, in the first round Nov. 20. (They faced off with team captain Kutztown again Dec. 4 with a berth in the national title game in Houston on the line. Both games were scheduled after the magazine went to press.) Page 12: John Sullivan during a “The impact of the Peraza scholarship can’t be overstated,” said Matthews, ’19, who 2016 match signed a professional rugby contract with Rugby ATL in December 2020. He’s one of Page 15: From top, a September four Bona alumni/Peraza Scholarship recipients now playing Major League Rugby. match against Army; alumnus Another 2019 graduate, Kyle Ciquera, just re-signed with the MLR’s New England Kyle Ciquera in 2016; the 7’s Free Jacks. John Sullivan, who earned both his bachelor’s (’15) and master’s degrees team pays tribute to Rob Peraza (’16) at Bona’s, has played professionally for NOLA Gold in New Orleans. Sullivan during an April 2015 Virginia Beach tournament; and alumnus this past fall left for Atlanta. The Rugby ATL vice president who helped recruit him? Eamonn Matthews in 2019. It was McCorry, a Peraza rugby scholarship recipient. 14

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SUCCESS AND TRIBUTE

The number of donor-established scholarships at St. Bonaventure totals more than 350 and these run the gamut in terms of size, years in existence and areas of focus. There are actually two rugby-related scholarships; the ones connected with the Peraza memorial efforts have grown substantially and, over these two decades, have helped roughly three dozen students attend St. Bonaventure and play rugby, according to Neil Peraza. “Many of our supporters agree that helping students achieve educational dreams through a scholarship is one of the most rewarding investments they can make,” said Janet Glogouski, an SBU major gifts officer. “These scholarships benefit our students and their families, while keeping someone’s memory alive in a meaningful way. I think the Peraza Scholarship is an excellent example of that.” The golf outing remains a solid draw and acts as a galvanizer for the rugby community, past and present, as well as an extended family of boosters, alumni of a certain age and a wider network of family/friends, not all of them Bona graduates. Held each June, usually on or near the summer solstice (the longest day of year and, seemingly every year, also the hottest) the “Gringo” gathers guys and sometimes a few gals from all over the country. It’s a veritable feast of friends, hugging and high-fiving hello, then wolfing down an early barbecue lunch prior to a shotgun start and 18 nottoo-serious but competitive holes. Catch-up conversations migrate to the back veranda and/or inside the large, air-conditioned glass-window-enclosed banquet hall where Sean Mayer will soon be rousting attendees to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, formally kicking off a program that always includes awards, raffles and heartfelt remembrances of Rob. Laughter is abundant. But there are solemn moments, too. Indeed, no one who was at the event in June 2011 (seven weeks after Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy SEALS) will ever forget Mayer kicking things off with three simple words: “We got him.” The room burst into applause. “Rob would have loved all of his friends getting together every year, just that alone was enough,” Neil Peraza said. “That his legacy is tied to this turnaround of the team – that goes way beyond what we ever figured on.” A fitting tribute, friends agree. “Rob loved rugby,” Kelly recalls. “And he loved Bona’s.”

Rich Blake, a ’90 graduate who proudly spent eight semesters under the tutelage of the late Dr. Russell Jandoli, is a veteran newspaper and magazine writer specializing in financial journalism. During the mid1990s, Blake was a crime reporter for The BVI Beacon in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. He is the author of four non-fiction books, including his most recent, “Slats: The Legend & Life of Jimmy Slattery.” He lives in The Catskills. WINTER 2021-22

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Th e Pathw ay to Su c c e ss B e gin s W ith Yo u .

Erick Laine Endowed Chair Faculty award is first of its kind for the School of Business

A LIFE WELL LIVED.

Visionary businessman Erick Laine passed away in December 2020 at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable leadership and generosity. In memory of the man who has left an indelible mark on so many, the Laine family created the Erick Laine Endowed Chair for the School of Business — the first of its kind at the university. A devoted son, husband, father, friend, business partner and world citizen, Erick believed in people. And he embraced the adage that to whom much is given, much is expected. After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Erick joined the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). He spent the next 25 years progressing through the company at plants in Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and Pennsylvania. In 1977, he arrived in Olean, New York, to assess the salability of one of its subsidiaries: Alcas Cutlery Corporation. His evaluation revealed a vast potential in not only the products being produced but also in the loyalty of the people producing them. Five years later, in a “leap of faith,” he and the management team he put together leveraged a buyout from ALCOA, and the rest, as they say, is history. As president, CEO and chairman of Alcas (which became CUTCO in 2009), Erick oversaw the transformation of the “little knife factory” into the largest cutlery company in North America, expanding sales, workforce, and the company’s global presence. “There was a talent alive in Erick, and that was the ability to see possibility that others did not,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., president emeritus of St. Bonaventure and a close friend of the family. “Through many extraordinary gestures, Erick showed his real affection for the men and women who made CUTCO’s name a badge of honor. He held a constant commitment to the town he called home.” 16

BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

A 2010 image of SBU President Emeritus Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. (from left), Marianne Letro Laine, Erick Laine, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deb Henretta, and Trustee Emeritus John R. McGinley Jr., Esq.

Erick made sure his car was the first in the parking lot each morning, with the lights on in his corner office and the door open for anyone who wanted to meet with him. He loved being on the factory floor and talking with employees just as much as he enjoyed attending local high school sporting events to cheer on an employee’s son or daughter. Jim Stitt Sr., executive chairman of Olean’s CUTCO Corp., worked closely with Erick for more than 30 years. The two enjoyed a unique partnership and built the family culture that turned the company around and still exists there today. “I am a very fortunate individual in that I had two dads — the one I worked with in business growing up and Erick, who was a mentor, friend and partner,” said Stitt. “He was a very special man.” Erick made long-lasting contributions to the region, serving on the boards at Olean General Hospital, St.

Bonaventure University, Alfred University and the Cattaraugus Economic Development Zone. The Olean Area Chamber of Commerce honored him with the first L.O.U.I.E. award for the person who best embodies the enterprising spirit for the greater Olean community. Erick and his wife, Marianne Letro Laine, ’68, L.H.D., chaired the fundraising for Jamestown Community College’s downtown Olean campus. They also endowed the Mrs. Mary A. Letro Memorial Scholarship in 2011 and the Joseph A. LoSchiavo Endowment for Exhibitions in 2012 at St. Bonaventure. Marianne is a native of Olean and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Bonaventure. After teaching secondary English for nine years in West Irondequoit, she returned to Olean and began a long service of volunteering with various organizations. She was named the inaugural chair of


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the Guild for the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts in 2004 and remains its chair today. As a result of her commitment to the Quick Arts Center, the West Gallery was renamed the Marianne Letro Laine Gallery in May 2010. She aids in funding exhibitions, arts education and other Quick Center projects. Marianne and Erick received honorary doctorates from St. Bonaventure in 2010. The Erick Laine Endowed Chair will be awarded to a professor who recognizes the duality of business and embraces both the local and global business environment. The award will be a continuous appointment and will fund programming-related projects and endeavors that embrace the

Pictured at the Gaudete Medal ceremony are (from left) Timea, Emily, Luke, Patricia and Gary Marchiori; David Whalen; and acting University President Dr. Joseph Zimmer.

2021 GAUDETE MEDAL HONOREES

Serving in the Franciscan Spirit

He [Erick] put a great value on education, and he spent his life advancing the business environment in Olean.

essence of Erick’s business acumen and keen focus on ethics in business. “We are thrilled and humbled by the Laine family’s extraordinary generosity, which will empower the School of Business and enhance our students’ academic experience for generations to come,” said Dr. Matrecia James, dean of the School of Business. “Erick’s hands-on management style and belief in the philosophy that employees come first enabled the highest performance among those with whom he worked.” Marianne said Erick would be honored by establishment of the chair in his name. “He put a great value on education, and he spent his life advancing the business environment in Olean. Family, education and business were his top priorities,” she said.

The St. Bonaventure community celebrated the joyful service of a family and two individuals during the 2021 Gaudete Medals ceremony this past October at the Marin in Buffalo. Honored with medals were the Marchiori Family, longtime supporters of St Bonaventure’s athletic programs and the School of Business, Catholic Charities, and several local human needs causes, in memory of Ryan Marchiori, ’08, (MBA ’09); David Whalen, ’84, founder of Disability Awareness Training (DAT) and longtime employee of Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara where he served individuals with developmental disabilities; and Robert Zak, chair of the Board of Directors of MerActing University President Dr. Joseph Zimmer (left) chants Mutual Insurand Robert Zak. ance Company and its subsidiaries. The Gaudete Medal is one of St. Bonaventure’s highest awards. Each year, St. Bonaventure bestows the Gaudete Medal to outstanding business and community leaders who exemplify the same spirit of joy and service expressed through the life and teaching of St. Francis of Assisi. This year’s event raised more than $50,000 for student scholarships. WINTER 2021-22

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Th e Pathw ay to Su c c e ss B e gin s W ith Yo u .

Longtime employee Kathy Boser nourishes Bona’s legendary family atmosphere

Jamie Peace finds strong foundation in lifelong Bona-friar family Tagging along with his grandfather to various job sites brought a young Jamie Peace to St. Bonaventure’s campus in the early 1960s. Peace hails from a family of master stonemasons and the university’s brick and mortar projects at the time (Doyle Hall and the Administration Building) kept the crews busy, offering him a chance to watch artisans at work. By the time the Reilly Center and Shay-Loughlen halls were being built in back-to-back construction contracts, Peace was old enough to be moving about on his own and curious enough to be scolded for wandering into construction areas. He also met the friars, and a lifelong bond was forged. Peace grew up in Portville, New York, the eldest of five children in a Catholic family. His maternal grandfather, Jack Rowe, was founding partner of Stohr & Rowe masonry contractors in the mid-1930s. His uncles, father, and he himself helped continue the company into the 1990s. But his strong connection with the university drew him to creating a career here. For 43 years and 44 classes, Peace has worked at St. Bonaventure. He began as a roustabout and today serves as manager of mail and receiving. “Bonaventure has been my life,” he said. “Now my family is very much a Bona friar family.” u Enjoy the full story online at www.sbu.edu/JamiePeace.

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By Cassidey Kavathas, ’24

For more than 36 years, Kathy Boser, administrative assistant in the Jandoli School of Communication, has championed the strong sense of community found at St. Bonaventure University. Throughout her long career, she has served under four deans, welcomed dozens of faculty members and greeted hundreds of students — all while raising a family in nearby Allegany, New York, with her husband of 48 years “Her ability to build connections and to think about the values of the school and what’s really important go well beyond her job duties,” said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli School of Communication. In 1998, she served on the retirement subcommittee that gained approval for staff members to receive TIAA-CREF retirement benefits. She has served on the Staff Affairs Committee for more than 20 years, and this past May received the Advocacy Award, presented to a staff member who has contributed to improving the work environment. Dean Chimbel perhaps sums it up best: “She is a really good example of what makes St. Bonaventure special. She has a specific job but she goes well beyond that job every day because she cares so much about the university, the Jandoli School, and most importantly the people.” u Enjoy the full story and Kathy’s Q&A online at www.sbu.edu/KathyBoser.


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The Bonathon & You

Bonathon students make calls during the fall semester. They enjoy making connections with alumni and friends of the university.

You hear your phone buzz as you put away dinner dishes and the evening sun casts its rose-colored rays through the kitchen window. “Hello!” A cheerful voice greets you. “I’m calling from St. Bonaventure University.” You take the call and chat with the Bonaventure student. Soon you’re talking about meals in the Hickey, buzzer beater games in the Reilly Center, classes that both inspired and challenged you, and the friars and professors whose voices you can still recall. The conversation sends you back to your college days at Bona’s. And if your connection with the student caller is genuine, you might even donate to The Bonaventure Fund. The Bonathon is our student-driven calling program, which operates Sunday through Wednesday evenings during the fall and spring semesters. Located on the first floor of the Murphy Professional Building, the Bonathon is staffed by more than a dozen students who make phone calls to update the Bonaventure community on what is happening on campus and ask for donations. The operation is overseen by three student supervisors: Victoria Vega, ’22, an accounting major; Nate Cole, ’23, a political science major; and Allison King ’23, an inclusive childhood and early childhood education major. Each worked as a Bonathon caller in previous years. Bonathon students are encouraged to view their position as more than just an on-campus job. A certain amount of telemarketing takes place, but the work is ultimately driven by Bona’s mission. “I like working at the Bonathon because of the connections I can make with alumni and friends. I love the feeling of home at St. Bonaventure and the connection that exists between all the students,” said Laura Esposito, ’23, a health science major. “The Bonaventure Fund has helped me network with alumni and make

WAYS TO GIVE

Online Visit www.sbu.edu/donate Mail Drop a check in the mail to: St. Bonaventure University 3261 W. State Road P.O. Box 2519 St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 Phone Call us at (800) 664-1273 Matching Gift Your employer may match your gift — learn more at www.sbu.edu/matchinggifts In Person Stop by Murphy Hall, Room 213, to talk with us Recurring Gift Use your credit card or bank account to make automatic monthly donations

connections in my major. Plus, alumni have given me awesome advice.” Asking for money can be challenging, but Assistant Director of the Annual Fund Rachel Elser works with her supervisors to make the job fun. The room is decorated for each holiday, games are played every night, competitions are waged to see who can earn the most, and callers

snack on candy during the break. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. On any given shift, callers attempt hundreds of calls, although only a small percentage lead to actual conversations. While callers have a general script to follow, the calls are led by connection. More than anything, the students want to make genuine connections with the alumni, parents, and friends whom they call; a winwin for everyone, regardless of the outcome. Although, of course, they would prefer that the phone conversation end with a donation, too. “I like working for the Bonathon because I love talking to parents and alumni,” said Matt Villanueva, ’22, an English and adolescent education major. “I also like being able to thank the people who help fund the scholarships that allow me to attends Bona’s. I love Bonaventure because of its intimate community. Along with small class sizes, everyone knows each other and the community is so close.” That sentiment is echoed by criminology major Chloe George, ’22. “I like being able to talk about Bonaventure and a person’s time here,” she said. “Bonaventure has brought me my greatest friends.” So, next time you hear the phone buzz, take a moment to answer the call — you may be surprised to find a fellow Bonnie on the line. Please take the call! Add us to your select phone list: (716) 375-2000. WINTER 2021-22

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Alu mn i Vo ic es

Mentors Our faculty and staff dedicate themselves to making connections with each other and our students. In the last edition of the magazine we asked alumni to tell us about the mentors who made the biggest impact on their Bonaventure journey. Here is what they shared.

There are several people at St. Bonaventure whom I remember in a special way. One of those is Professor Ralph King. I was enrolled in his Math 104 class my freshman year. His teaching skills, student empathy and constant support made the class a great experience. In my following years he contributed greatly to my meeting the challenges of succeeding as a math major. I always felt comfortable dropping by his office for a chat. He was a wonderful instructor and a wonderful friend. For me, he definitely belongs in the mentor category! — Terry Kehoe, ’63

www Mentor? Father figure? Taskmaster?

Dr. Russell J. Jandoli, of course. He guided, cajoled, pushed for excellence … firmness always tempered with Franciscan kindness. I still have papers he graded (some with so much red they look like he bled on them). Whenever the ego gets too big, I review them. In a secondary position would be Fr. Gaudens Mohan, O.F.M., who taught Latin. My father knew him, which Gaudens frequently noted, reminding me that Mohan is Monaghan with the “nag” le out. — Gerard J. Monaghan, ’67

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We graduated as Army 1st lieutenants and accountants. I would never have made it through without their support and love. One that I now call “Saint” William Brown has been a Franciscan priest in northern Peru for over 60 years. He has built churches and schools, calling forth deacons, priests and nuns. How can you not succeed with role models like that? — Richard Pardi, ’57 1st Lieutenant Army Ret.

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Fr. Evan Banks, O.F.M., stands out among the many who made my 1967-71 Bona journey memorable. Fr. Evan was responsible for student activities, which included sponsoring the Student Senate and the student-run Student Activities Council. Dr. Patrick Panzarella had the largest impact on my Bonaventure journey. He was my professor, coach, mentor and friend. He touched thousands of lives through his tenure at Bonaventure so he wouldn’t even remember me, but his dedication and demeanor were worthy of emulation. I spent four years on his tennis team. He was a fantastic coach, supporting us through the ups and downs of competition. He had us to his house, drove the bus for our away matches, and was always there for us. Bonaventure is a caring community and he lived the motto – he cared! — Fran Machina, ’82

FOR THE NEXT EDITION: More students than ever arrive on campus with their own wheels. But we know that wasn’t the case for earlier generations. How did you get to campus – carpool with a buddy from your hometown? A brutal bus ride from New Jersey? Or did you thumb it across Route 17? Tell us in 100 words: magazine@sbu.edu. We’ll print a collection of responses in the summer issue.

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I entered St. Bonaventure as an accounting major. Seven students lived in rooms along the same hallway in Francis Hall. We lived together for four years; we were all in the ROTC program.

These were turbulent times and Fr. Evan managed to remain fair and constant in his dealings with others. He was a tall, slender, craggy-faced man of few words who walked with dignity. Some students referred to him as “Nails” because he was a man whose demeanor demanded respect. He certainly had mine and my admiration and that of others who knew him and worked with him. He served as guardian of the Friary, too. I’m sure that job demanded the same qualities that made him a mentor for me and for others. — Jeanne A. Sabrack, ’71

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I had many mentors at Bona’s. One was Dr. Helen Jones, history professor. Besides being an excellent teacher, she had great wisdom. When I told her I got a teaching job, she said, “Now you will be a teacher. Don’t ever forget what it was like to be a student.”


Alu mn i Vo ice s

I have applied that to many situations in my life in teaching, retail, banking, and ministries through my parish, and have tried to pass it on to others. — Kevin Fritz, ’74

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She never hesitated in telling us how she was living with HIV and how it was not the dirty word or thing to be ashamed of that others thought it was, and it never slowed her down. Her obvious love of children and love for education made you love education even more. I’m a better person and educator because of what I learned from her. — Sara Hovey Eskildsen, ’94

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I met Phil Eberl on my first day on campus. I was signing up for classes in the School of Education and he became my undergraduate adviser. Ray Collins and Professor Ted Woodruff As a communications major heading toward a career in TV news, I had nothing in common with economics Professor Ted

Woodruff, but we did share a penchant for rushing into the dining hall just as it was closing. We wound up eating many dinners together as we solved the world’s problems before being kicked out by the staff waiting to lock up. He was brilliant, eccentric and silly. He never married (“What if she snored?”) and never learned to drive. Occasionally, I would take him out for ice cream at a place down the road from campus. It was there he made a comment that made a lasting impact on me: As we sat licking our cones and staring out the window, we noticed a road sign that designated the Olean/Allegany town line. He said, “Look! You could stand in either town and clap your hands!” I laughed at the simple comment by the former valedictorian of Columbia University and said, “Woody, most people wouldn’t do that.” He said under his breath as he went back to his cone, “I don’t think most people know how to live.” — Ray Collins, ’85

www My biggest mentor and greatest inspiration in my St. Bonaventure University path toward becoming an educator is Helen

Worth. I will never forget her gentle kindness, supportive encouragement and unwavering strength in everything she did and everyone she came into contact with.

I was a veteran who was feeling his way through the process and was a little lost. In just a few words he said that things would work out and to call him anytime with questions. During that time, he was there with answers and ideas that made the process easier. Aer graduation I had questions on applications and getting certificates, which he always helped me with. Once a mentor and now a friend, he was simply the best. — Dave Hale, ’76

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Dr. Claire Watson made the biggest impact on my Bonaventure journey. She was someone who was always there for me, not just with my education but also personal life. She taught me so much in my four years at Bonaventure and I am forever grateful. — Hayley Calcagno, ’12, ’15

May 17, 1992: Pictured from left are Kevin Paulsen (Hall of Famer), Matt Monos, Dr. Daniel Brislane, Coach Kevin McNamee (Hall of Famer), Matt Gianiodis, and Louis Conlin. My mentor at Bona’s was Coach Kevin

McNamee, ’76. He coached swimming from 1978-92. He was a rock-solid, uncompromising person. He emphasized discipline and toughness under the umbrella of Franciscan values. He loved the university and its mission, and his guidance led to all of us loving it as well. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to mentor me through college. My teammates and I were lucky to have had him as a coach. — Matthew Gianiodis, ’92 www

The person who had the most impact on my life at St. Bonaventure was Dr. Stephen Grey-Lewis, who guided me academically as I earned my secondary concentration in theater arts, and mentored me as an actor and crew member in 16 Garrett Theatre productions. Because of the knowledge and confidence I gained from my time with Doc I have been blessed with the opportunity to act in more than a dozen film projects. I honor Doc’s legacy as a member of the Gaithersburg Cultural Arts Advisory Committee and organizer of the Gaithersburg 2021-2022 film series. — Patrick Opitz, ’01

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2022 Led by tourney MVP Kyle Lofton (inset) and his senior mates — (from left) Jalen Adaway, Osun Osunniyi, Dominick

Welch and Jaren Holmes — and spurred on for three games by more than 1,500 students, townsfolk and alumni, the Bonnies mauled Marquette, 70-54, to win the Charleston Classic and jump to No. 16 in the Nov. 22 AP poll. (Photo/Christopher Cook)

4 4 SHARE YOUR CAREER NEWS WITH THE BONA NATION!

To submit professional news for the next issue of Bonaventure magazine, drop us a note in the enclosed envelope, fill out an online form at www.SBUmagazine.com or email magazine@sbu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity or length.

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Marv Stocker has been retired for 18 years, 11 of which he served as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees. His class held a mini reunion on campus the first weekend of October. “It was PRICELESS!” he writes. Donna (Wallace) Rahner was able to visit with SBU friends Lillian Schaffhauser Patten, ’66, Janet Steppe Griffin, ’66, and Tom Griffin, ’64, in 2021. She said it was great to connect with SBU classmates, and find them active and well. She continues to serve on the board of Mom’s House, an organization that provides free day care and support services for low-income single parents who are working to complete their education. Volunteering at the local Catholic Charities food pantry and singing with Binghamton’s Downtown Singers choir, as well as babysitting some of her 11 grandchildren, have kept her busy since her retirement from IBM management in 2006. 22

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David Owen retired from practicing law Dec. 30, 2020, after 38 years of federal and state (Florida) criminal and civil practice. The Rev. Robert “Bob” Werth is a parochial vicar in the Diocese of Rochester, New York. Peter Bonanno and his wife, Shirley, celebrated 50 years of marriage Oct. 10, 2020. Pete has won numerous regional and national senior softball tournaments with the Sun City Hilton Head, South Carolina, travel teams and a gold medal at Senior Olympics with his Connecticut team. Bob Skinner has retired as a board member of The Concept Foundation, an international maternal health foundation, located in Geneva, Switzerland, and Bangkok, Thailand. He was previously director of corporate relations for Johns Hopkins University.

1971

Paul Bishop retired from his second ca-

Bona Pride Trifecta Tom Franczyk, ’67, attended Family Weekend at SBU with his granddaughter, freshman Claire Fisher. Since the event corresponded with Tom’s birthday, he received a shirt from her depicting his Bona history: 1967, his graduation date; 1994, his daughter Beth Franczyk Fisher and her husband Eric Fisher’s graduation date; and 2025, Claire’s graduation date.


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reer in public education in June 2021 after 28 years serving as a high school JROTC instructor. He continues to serve with the University of Phoenix as an adjunct faculty member and as a U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer.

1974

James Van Develde retired in December 2000 from the Lakeland Central School District after 36 years as the director of communications. He lives in Putnam Valley, New York, with his wife, Patricia. They have three grown children.

1975

Bill Reed, after 45+ years working as a professional journalist, retired from The Philadelphia Inquirer in October 2020. Working from home for the previous seven

position as director of communications for Holy Name Province. She enjoyed her 15 years with the Franciscans, sharing the news about the province’s friars and ministries, and recommends that alumni follow the friars on Facebook – Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. Thomas lives in central New Jersey and can be reached at Jocelynmthomas@gmail.com.

1978

Robert Kane was appointed vice chair of the advisory board for the Wall Business and Finance Academy. The academy at Wall (New Jersey) High School is a competitive academic environment with emphasis on developing practical business skills. The academy provides mentoring and job shadowing opportunities, as well as specific programs on resume writing, job interviewing, and LinkedIn.

1981

John Enright and Roxanne Baker, ’81, are proud to announce their son Liam Enright’s third CD, “Morning Zoo,” as lead singer of The Climactics is available on Spotify and iTunes.

1986

months because of COVID-19 helped provide a transition, as did the furloughing of his wife, Valerie Mottes Reed, ’77. Since retirement, they’ve been busy sprucing up their home and planning/attending weddings of two of their children and several nieces and nephews, plus spending time with their eldest son’s family. In June, they staged an unofficial Alumni Weekend in Olean with several First Rob classmates and visited Mt. Irenaeus (thanks, Fr. Dan). Pictured above at the Old Library Bed & Breakfast are Melanie Dufour-Pilny and Rich Pilny (both ’75), Linda and Carl (’75) Harvison, Mary Jo (Kessing) and John Quigley (both ’75), Bill (’75) and Valerie (Mottes) Reed (’77), and Leslie and Bill (’75) Hulbert.

1977

Jocelyn Thomas retired in the fall from her

Mary Jean (Mulhall) Stevens marked her 30th year in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry in 2021. She enjoys her position as senior director of national accounts at Exelixis, a commercially successful, oncology focused biotechnology company that strives to accelerate the discovery, development and commercialization of new medicines for difficult-to-treat cancers.

1987

Kimberly (Cousins) Abney retired Feb. 1, 2021, from the city of Aiken, South Carolina, after 28 years. She spent most of her years in the Finance Department, retiring as the assistant city manager. She and her husband,

Richard, hope to travel once the pandemic allows. For now, she is enjoying her three grandchildren, volunteering with her church and the local Rotary Club.

1988

Liz Manning is a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in the Cleveland area. She and her husband, Casey Ryan, live in Rocky River, Ohio. She would love to connect with classmates, other Realtors and Ohio alumni via email: LizManning@HowardHanna.com.

1990

Brian J. Williams was named executive director of the Capital Region Workforce Development Board (CRWDB). The board strives to strengthen the skills of the New York Capital Region’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and communitybased organizations. Williams will administer all of the federal workforce development funding that flows to organizations in the Capital Region as well as oversee three career centers in the region that offer a variety of programs designed to help adults and youths identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills.

1991

Russell Lusak has served for the past five years as the chief operating officer for Selfhelp Community Services, Inc., a large home- and community-based services (HCBO) not-for-profit located in New York City. Lusak has 23 years of experience in the health care field, the last 14 of them at Selfhelp. He is often sought for his expertise by New York state regulators and serves on various statewide committees to shape health WINTER 2021-22

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’09 alums’ next project in Nepal is potable water system

St. Bonaventure alumni continue to persevere despite the global pandemic. Elevate Nepal, founded by 2009 classmates Anthony Mancini and Daniel Maurer (pictured above, from right), is working with marginalized rural communities in Nepal to develop vital infrastructure that will impact generations. This winter, construction will begin on a sanitation and potable water system to pipe clean water directly to villages year-round. Access to a stable water source will have a massive impact on the communities served by boosting overall health and slowing the spread of waterborne illness, increasing nutritional capacity through expanding agricultural output, and reducing missed school days, which will improve literacy. These sanitation systems will prevent open defecation, a huge problem in many villages, and result in a decreased rate of infant mortality. “Access to clean water is unequivocally pivotal to the development of a healthy and prosperous community. By partnering directly with the local governments and communities within them we take a holistic, Franciscan approach to deliver sustainable humanitarian aid,” write Anthony and Daniel. They invite alumni to visit their website, www.elevatenepal.org, and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to learn more about Elevate Nepal or to reach out to them at anthony@elevatenepal.org. 24

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care policy. A member of the Home Care Association of NYS Board of Directors, he serves on the nominating, governance and information technology committees. In addition, the New York State Department of Health invited him to serve as a member of the state Transparency, Evaluation, and Health Information Technology Workgroup and the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) workgroup. Lusak represents home and community-based services and is developing the regulatory landscape to exchange client data with hospitals, which supports new payment models. Prior to joining Selfhelp, Lusak served as the marketing director at Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Retirement Community and as assistant vice president of administration for Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation. While much of his career has been serving the elderly, Lusak’s background also includes working in hospitals serving children with disabilities and special health care needs.

of medical education for the Arthrex medical device distributor Legacy Ortho. He is responsible for the education of surgeons and technology consultants in the Cincinnati and Lexington markets. This year marks his 17th wedding anniversary with his wife, Amy. They have two children. He would love to hear from any former classmates. Jean (Osta) Niemi was promoted to chief marketing & communications officer and senior vice president at True Value Company in Chicago, Illinois, where she has been the chief communications officer for the last seven years.

1999

Holli (Millerd) Henning is a school psychologist for Winchester City Schools in Winchester, Virginia.

1992

Douglas Miller retired from a 25-year career in journalism to become a drug and alcohol addiction counselor in Boulder, Colorado. He is married and has two teenagers.

1994

Sara (Hovey) Eskildsen is a reading interventionist in the Manchester-Shortsville (New York) Central School District. William Morrell had his series of “Paris Poems” published in The Lyric’s summer 2021 edition. The Lyric is the oldest magazine in North America in continuous publication devoted to traditional poetry.

1995

Andrés Calderón has retired after 20 years of federal government service. His career included positions as a foreign service officer for the Department of State, program analyst for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General, and Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya. Calderón looks forward to spending more time with his family in Lubbock, Texas.

1996

Kevin Higley was promoted to director

2000

Lt. Col. Mark P. Frank (above) was acknowledged as a Superior Graduate in July 2021 at his graduation from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Frank is serving as the New York Army National Guard G1 (Human Resources) Officer at the Joint Force Headquarters in Latham, New York. Frank began his military career in 2000, when he graduated from St. Bonaventure as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

2001

Anthony Barrett was named athletic director, physical education teacher and coach at All Saints Catholic School in Jupiter, Florida. Barrett coaches the All Saints Run Club, which educates elementary


Clas s N o te s

In June 2021, after the SBU Reunion was canceled, four Class of 1986 roommates got together for a girls weekend in Lake George, New York. Pictured from left are Maureen Lonieski Reuther, Elizabeth Knowles Laplante, Kathleen Major, and Julie Ottaway Schmit.

Ellie Hayes Grooms, ’70, and Fran Machina, ’82, were St. Bonaventure cheerleaders 50 and 40 years ago, respectively. The alums met at a Syracuse Alumni Chapter function and discovered their common background.

Dr. John Rizzo, ’87, and Sue Rozler DeWitt, ’88, along with their spouses, teamed up for a second adventure abroad, this time to Africa. Delayed a year by COVID, the quartet went on safari to Kenya and Tanzania, including a three-night stay in Serengeti National Park, where they fell asleep to the sound of lions roaring outside their tents.

After COVID-19 thwarted two attempts for the Class of 1970 to celebrate its golden anniversary on campus, a group of classmates took matters into their own hands. In July, six Bonnies went to the Thousand Islands in Alexandria Bay, New York, to celebrate their 50th class reunions. Pictured are Gary Lester, ’70, John Morrissey, ’70, the Rev. Edward McAuley, ’69, Kevin Clark, ’70, Thomas Matteo, Ph.D., ’70, and John C. Fee, ’70.

Courtney (Murphy) Hull ’99, ’08; Karen (Barber) Ejeriefe, ’99, and her daughter Emma; and Kirsten (Herkert) Douglas, ’99, and her daughter Amaya had a mini reunion in Lavallette, New Jersey, in July 2021. Except for Zoom calls, these classmates – friends since freshman year – hadn’t gotten together since the summer of 2016. They had a great time on the beach, in the pool and sharing meals and memories.

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students on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in a motivational setting. He has also helped reestablish the varsity golf team. Jupiter is home to many of the world’s top golfers, including Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka, among others, and it was important to Barrett to give students the opportunity to play the sport in the same settings as these professionals. He has also enjoyed crossing paths with a handful of Bona’s alumni who have an association to All Saints. Barrett and his wife, Kristina, live in Port St. Lucie, Florida, with their two children. Maureen (Langton) Henderson is director of the Niagara County Community College (NCCC) Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She has already served the Niagara SBDC for more than 14 years as a business adviser. Prior to this position, she was employed in the banking and financial industry and was a successful business owner. An engaged community leader and active

within Niagara County, Henderson has served as treasurer of the Board for Lockport Main Street, Inc., since 2016. In addition, she previously served as president and vice president of the Newfane Business Association, chairperson of the Newfane Town Celebration, and led the town’s beautification grant committee. Henderson is the recipient of a number of awards, including Buffalo Region SBA’s Women in Business Champion award, Newfane Business Association’s Business Person of the Year award, and Buffalo Business First’s 40 Under 40 award. She lives in Olcott, New York, with her husband, Charlie, and two children.

2003

Michael Curran, ’06, was named veteran teacher of the year at DeMatha Catholic High School, where he chairs the social studies department.

2004

Kimberly (Karcher) Tylec is a social media specialist with Manzella Marketing of Buffalo.

2009

Andy Brown, ’10, has been named a user interface (UI) designer and developer at marketing agency FIFTEEN. Brown will utilize his marketing background and UI skills to create digital experiences for FIFTEEN’s clients. Brown has experience in web design and development for clients, having worked at Mr. Smith Agency and Mainstreethost. He lives in East Amherst.

2011

Precious memories shared 13 years apart

Karen Attea, ’90, shared these photos of her husband, Mike Attea, ’91, and their daughter, Maggie, ’21. Both pictures – the first taken in October 2008, the second on graduation day in May 2021 – were captured at the same spot on campus with the pair walking toward Devereux. “It was a blessing to have our daughter attend SBU — a second home to all of us!” writes Karen.

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

Robert McGlenn, ’12, was promoted from account manager to senior account manager at FIFTEEN, a Buffalo-based full service marketing agency. McGlenn, who has been with the agency since

2018, lives in Amherst. Jeremy Smith, CPA, has joined the audit department of Lumsden & McCormick. Smith has more than 10 years of public accounting experience with an expertise in governmental entities and nonprofit organizations.

2011

Kristy (Kibler) Holfoth was named managing editor and coordinator of foreign correspondents at Orato World Media. Holfoth has 10 years of experience as a journalist and award-winning communications professional in Western New York. She has written and reported for The Buffalo News, East Aurora Advertiser, Warsaw’s Country Courier, Batavia Daily News, and Visit Buffalo Niagara. With a background in marketing, public relations and editing, with her most recent position at Trocaire College and her previous role as managing editor at Neighbor to Neighbor News, she brings seasoned experience and writing skills to Orato World’s international team. Orato World Media provides state-of-the-art journalistic and technical support for journalists to record and share verified, first-person accounts of world events in multiple languages. As managing editor, Holfoth aims to grow and develop the organization’s mission and vision and help achieve global cooperation. Brian Michel is assistant vice president of academic affairs and economic development at Niagara County Community College. Cathy (Ehehalt) Way was promoted from operations engineer to production manager for BASF Corporation’s Livonia, Michigan, site.

2012

Emilee Lindner started as a senior editorial specialist at Corning Incorporated in May 2021 and will contribute to setting and executing content strategy to advance Corning’s internal and external storytelling initiatives. She will oversee creation of editorial, video, audio, and photo narratives in support


Clas s N o te s

of Corning’s brand. Prior to joining Corning, Lindner led editorial for MTV’s Snapchat Discover channel and collaborated with MTV’s brand social team on video and social media strategy. Creating and producing video franchises like “Don’t @ Me” and “Name That Video,” she helped raise MTV’s social media viewership by millions of users. Her creative strategies have been instrumental for brand initiatives like tentpole events (MTV VMAs, VidCon) and youth-centered social campaigns (+1 The Vote). Lindner has also written for numerous publications, including The New York Times, Vice, and The Independent. Djenita Svinjar is corporate counsel for Hensel Phelps Construction Co., one of the nation’s largest general contractors. Most notably, it is recognized as the top aviation contractor in the country. As one of the company’s inhouse attorneys, she assists with the negotiation and acquisition of $100 million+ transactions on a regular basis as well as overall legal operations nationwide. Prior to her time at Hensel Phelps, she was inhouse counsel and assistant vice president at Fidelity National Financial, Inc., a For-

tune 500 company and the nation’s leading provider of title insurance and settlement services to the real estate and mortgage industries.

2013

Robbie Chulick, ’15, is director of Residence Life at the University of Virginia. Kelly (O’Dell) Cooke, ’14, (below) was promoted to chief marketing officer at Salsarita’s Fresh

Mexican Grill, a national fast-casual Mexican chain headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was also listed in Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the most influential restaurant executives in the country in 2021.

2015

Amanda Ornowski, CPA, joined Lumsden & McCormick as a tax prin-

Bir th s / Ado p tio n s

John to Janine and Kevin Cleary, ’02

RyLee Thomas to Victoria (Horton) Wehler, ’03, and Dustin Wehler, ’02 Cameron Michael James to Kathleen (Smith) Murtaugh, ’04, and Eric Murtaugh

Ella Josephine Khan to Lauren Gomes Atwood, ’06, and Ethan Atwood, ’05

Claire Catherine to Rachelle (Hoeflschweiger) Nuhfer, ’08, and Dan Nuhfer, ’08, ’09 Devereux James to Jenny (Favre) Pringle, ’08, and Matthew Pringle, ’07

Mia Christine to Katie (Mohagen) Daugherty, ’08, and Connor Daugherty, ’09

Archer Joseph to Alaina and Joseph Scotto, ’09

Liam Thomas to Anne (Young) Walsh, ’10, and Brian Walsh, ’10 Rocco Thomas to Colleen Kelly Andhor, ’10, ’11, and John Andhor Eleanor Ivy to Emilee Lindner, ’12, and Peter Cauvel, ’11

Luke Trung Edward to Samantha (Kauffman) Nguyen, ’13, and Nick Nguyen

Gwendolyn Mae to Hannah Walker, ’14, and John Gordnier

Chip David to Micaela (Farley) Sperrazzo, ’16, and James Sperrazzo, ’15

cipal with more than 12 years of accounting experience. Her expertise includes business and international tax consulting, along with compliance for highnet-wealth individuals. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Tim Parks received his Ph.D. in counseling and school psychology from the University at Buffalo in May 2021. He is doing a postdoc at Devereux Center for Effective Schools. Ashley Wakelee was appointed director of learning and continual improvement in the Gowanda Central School District.

2017

Allison Field has spent the four years since graduation attending pharmacy school in Auburn, Alabama. In May 2021, she graduated from the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and has now started her career as a clinical pharmacist by earning a position in the pharmacy residency program at SUNY Upstate University Hospital. She writes, “I’m so glad to be back in my hometown of Syracuse, where I can give back to my community.” Jaren M. Johnson is a graduate of Marquette University Law School, Class of 2021. Jalen Middlebrooks is head coach for the women’s lacrosse 20212022 season at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia.

2019

Charlie Crouse was honorably discharged from the Air Force in March 2020 and joined the Finance and Business Operations team of Lockheed Martin Space – Special Programs based in Littleton, Colorado. After focusing on estimating and analyzing WINTER 2021-22

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projects for a $1.5 billion line of business, Crouse was offered a position in the Business Development section of Lockheed Martin Space, where he will concentrate on capturing new business and developing critical national security capabilities worth more than $50 billion.

2020

Nathan Apker (’21) has joined Dannible & McKee, LLP as an audit staff accountant. The certified public accounting and consulting firm has offices in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton, New York. Apker is responsible for performing audits, reviews and compilation services, as well as proofing of client financial statements/reports in preparation for issuance. Apker is a volunteer for BonaResponds and lives in Syracuse.

Courtney Kempski, ’12, ’13, and Erick whelpley, ’13

2021

Mike Hogan covers Wisconsin Badgers football and basketball for 247Sports, which is owned by CBS. As the 2021 winner of the Mark Hellinger Award from the Jandoli School of Communication, Hogan was honored at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in October.

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

Jesilynn Knight and Kyle witherell, ’08


We d din gs

Kati winterburn, ’16, and Steven Carcaterro, ’15

Bonaventure Magazine Wedding Guidelines To submit your announcement for an upcoming edition: • use the enclosed envelope • email magazine@sbu.edu • use the online form at www.sbu.SBUmagazine.com • mail a print to Bonaventure Magazine, P.O. Box 2509 St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, NY 14778

All photos must be of good reproductive quality. Pictures submitted electronically must have a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Original images from a camera or cell phone work best. Photographs that have been shared on social media or via text have likely been compressed and will not be large enough to reproduce in the magazine. The university is prohibited from publishing copyrighted photographs, unless accompanied by written permission from the photographer. Photos are published at the discretion of the editor. Photos that include banners or other insignia of the Brown Indian mascot will not be accepted. Don’t forget to notify us of your new name or address! Update your contact information at www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate or send an email to alumni@sbu.edu. St. Bonaventure University takes pride in its alumni and joyfully shares the news of their lives and achievements. St. Bonaventure is supportive of our Catholic Church’s teachings. Publication of announcements provided to us by our alumni does not necessarily imply an endorsement by the university.

Megan Kennedy, ’14, and Brad Vanino, ’14

Molly Curry, ’15, ’16, and Matthew Strauss, ’15, ’16 WINTER 2021-22

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Emily Sullivan, ’14, and Cael Grant

Rachael Thompson, ’11, ’12, and Travis Johnson

Michiko Gustafson and Kevin Rogers, ’14

Colleen Hannon, ’07, and Augustine Conte III

Felicia Rape and Kevin Ryan, ’03

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE


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Jenna Downing, ’17, and Daniel Dubiel, ’15

Maggie Kiernan, ’15, and Steve Aprilano, ’16

Zoe Dodd, ’17, and Chris Gilbert, ’17

Sinead Coleman, ’12, and Tim Ross

Michelle Mills, ’13, and Brendan Kennedy, ’13, ’14 WINTER 2021-22

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Galen Guindon and Dakota Carroll, ’12

Mary Schwartz, ’12, ’13, and Zachary Ciccotti Theresa Zywocienski and Jeffrey Vagell, ’77

Additional Announcements Amber willoughby, ’08, ’12, ’17, and Rob Maynard Hannah Coon, ’13, and Ben Pierce

Ali Mulvehill, ’16, and David Paccapaniccia, ’14, ’15

Paige Giammusso, ’15, and Connor LoMonaco, ’15

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Alumni Deaths

Alu mn i D eath s A directory of deceased alumni is available on Bona’s Online. Register at www.sbu.edu/alumni.

Leo P. Gallagher Jr., ’50, Naples, Florida Malcolm G. Bourne, ’51, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Walter P. Dember,* ’52, Cheektowaga, New York George S. Matthei, ’52, Saratoga Springs, New York Msgr. Richard J. Stack, ’52, Erie, Pennsylvania R. Charles Thomas, Esq., ’52, Meadville, Pennsylvania Dr. Axel W. Anderson, ’53, Winter Park, Florida Thomas J. Harte, ’53, Lakewood, New York Col. (Ret.) Joseph E. Graham, ’54, Fort Collins, Colorado Edward F. Rhodes, ’54, Binghamton, New York Charles R. Testa, Esq., ’54, Rochester, New York Thomas A. Fortkort, ’55, Vienna, Virginia Raymond E. Hanratty, ’55, Point Lookout, New York Charles D. Amidon Jr., ’56, Bedford, Massachusetts Joseph R. Horka,* ’56, Temple, Texas Donald R. Nealon, ’56, Skaneateles, New York James S. Pallone, ’56, Niagara Falls, New York William L. Schrauth, ’ 56, Fernandina Beach, Florida Rev. Benedict M. Taylor, O.F.M., ’56, Bronx, New York Max H. Deus, ’59, Melbourne, Florida Richard A. Gammon, ’59, Erie, Pennsylvania Donald J. Gracyalny, ’59, Fayetteville, Pennsylvania Dr. James K. Morrison, ’59, Westerlo, New York Edward A. Diminnie, ’60, Louisville, Kentucky John E. Harris, ’60, Key West, Florida Martin J. McAndrews, ’60, Trumbull, Connecticut Samuel C. Pagano, ’60, Williamsville, New York George Pinatel, ’60, Jamaica, New York Olga M. (Fote) Rosenthal, ’60, North Tonawanda, New York Dr. Robert E. Swinsick, ’60, Mansfield, Pennsylvania Richard E. Ganley, ’61, Arlington, Virginia Paul D. Sharon, ’61, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Van T. Albanese,* ’63, Lady Lake, Florida George L. Whitcher, ’63, Allegany, New York Patricia A. (Colella) Amoroso, ’64, Dublin, Ohio Patrick J. Demerath, ’65, Montgomery, Alabama Elizabeth A. (Boser) Hanlon,* ’65, Ballston Spa, New York David J. Levine, ’66, Bloomfield, Connecticut Richard S. McDermott, ’66, The Villages, Florida Rev. Joseph J. Saba Jr., ’66, Greenwich, Connecticut John D. Hoffmaster, ’67, Rochester, New York Patricia A. Kennealy-Morrison, ’67, New York, New York Catherine M. Dwyer, ’68, San Jose, California Kathleen M. (Brown) McGowan, ’68, Roswell, Georgia Robert S. Pastore, ’68, Scottsdale, Arizona Nancy L. (Pagano) Wagner, ’68, Dunkirk, New York Alan A. Fantuzzo, ’69, Fort Myers, Florida Kathleen M. (King) Smith, ’69, Wattsburg, Pennsylvania Leigh F. (Fricker) Wetmore, 69, Westbrook, Connecticut Lawrence A. Jonak, ’70, Olean, New York Dr. Patti M. Elenz-Martin, ’71, Escondido, California John T. Lounsberry, ’71, Levittown, Pennsylvania Thomas J. LeStrange, ’72, Conklin, New York Rev. Msgr. Harry K. Snow, ’72, Norfolk, New York Larry E. Bump, ’73, Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania Paul E. Goodwin, ’73, Olean, New York William H. Greene III, ’73, Orchard Park, New York Patrick M. Premo, ’73, Brookhaven, Georgia Martin L. Santini, ’73, New York, New York Charles F. Clarke, ’74, Olean, New York Joseph P. Foley, ’74, Johnson City, New York James Bellanca, ’76, Olean, New York Theodore J. Baker, ’76, Great Valley, New York Mary M. Sullivan, Esq., ’80, Olean, New York Patricia (Gleason) Conroy, ’82, Olean, New York Daniel H. Daniels, ’83, Olean, New York

John LaBardo, ’83, Jamestown, New York Michael Malick, ’83, Olean, New York Wayne C. Doherty, ’84, Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania MaryAnn (Slattery) Mauceri, ’86, Cutchogue, New York Lois M. (Wixson) Leotta, ’88, Olean, New York Mary L. Sprague, ’88, Jamestown, New York Karen A. (Cohanski) Dry, ’90, Salamanca, New York Melinda A. Heins, ’90, West Lebanon, New Hampshire Susan S. Groves, ’92, Delevan, New York Msgr. Henry D. McGee, ’94, Clearfield, Pennsylvania Eric A. Howell, ’95, Lockwood, New York Kara Mekos, ’95, Elmira, New York Jacob L. Mathis, ’08, Lawtons, New York

Friends and Parents

Merriellen Bedosky, Binghamton, New York Mary H. Bowler, Bradford, Pennsylvania Patricia A. (Zerby) Cole, Olean, New York Pat Collins, Allegany, New York Eric M. Garvin, Olean, New York Orville W. Johnston, Allegany, New York Robert S. Hoffman, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania James W. Kirkpatrick, Allegany, New York Marjorie J. Runkle, Allegany, New York Helen J. Weiksnar, Buffalo, New York

In Memoriam

Dr. Justin “Gus” Diehl, who taught in the Department of Chemistry for more than 40 years, passed away July 24, 2021. Diehl accepted a position with the chemistry department in 1959 and retired with emeritus status in 2000. During his years at St. Bonaventure, he was chair of the department for 17 years and also coached the first four years of the women’s swim team.

The Honorable Thomas A. Fortkort, a 1955 alumnus and longtime supporter of the university, was a judge on the Fairfax County Circuit Court. He passed away Oct 9, 2021.

Professor Emeritus of English Dr. James Martine passed away Oct. 13, 2021. Martine joined the university English faculty in 1971 and retired in December 2021. He served as head of the university’s graduate program in English from 1973 to 1987. In 1999, a $1 million gift from alumnus Leslie C. Quick III, past chair of St. Bonaventure’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Eileen, established a faculty development endowment in Martine’s name to provide for funding of activities associated with the general education curriculum. Dr. Darlene McDonough, a former associate professor in the School of Education’s educational leadership program, passed away June 18, 2021. She taught at St. Bonaventure from 2010 until her retirement in 2015.

Patrick Premo, a professor of accounting at the university for more than 30 years, passed away July 15, 2021. Premo worked in a full-time capacity at St. Bonaventure from September 1970 until August of 2004, then continued in a parttime role until 2007. In addition to being one of the founders of the Department of Accounting, he was known for his dedication to the School of Business internship program, which he helped to create in the early 1970s and oversaw throughout his distinguished career. John J. Rigas, L.H.D., a former member of St. Bonaventure’s Board of Trustees, a 1996 honorary degree recipient, 1999 Gaudete honoree, founder of the former cable television giant Adelphia Communications Corp. and former owner of the Buffalo Sabres, passed away Sept. 30, 2021. Rigas was a longtime supporter of the university and an avid Bonnies basketball fan. His family’s philanthropy included major gifts in support of The Bonaventure Fund and various campus initiatives. The Rigas Family Theatre in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts bears their name.

*Seraphim Legacy Society member WINTER 2021-22

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