Bonaventure Magazine: Fall 2026

Vol. 18, No. 2, FALL 2026

BONAVENTURE The Magazine of St. Bonaventure University

12 Home Again in the RC After more than 500 career victories and three decades as a head coach, Mike MacDonald, ’88, returns to where his coaching dreams began. Now leading the Bonnies, he’s bringing a team-first philosophy — and a deep appreciation for what makes Bonaventure special.

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Cover Story From the boardroom to the Brickyard, Jim Meyer, ’76, ’79, has built a remarkable second act in motorsports. The former SiriusXM CEO reflects on the relationships, values and determination behind Meyer Shank Racing’s rise to Indy 500 glory.

38 Chances of a Lifetime From studying abroad in Italy to pursuing her dream career through a competitive internship, senior Ava Pierce has seized opportunities once beyond her reach — experiences made possible by donor generosity that have inspired her to one day pay it forward.

INSIDE Off the Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Weddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

ON THE COVER: Jim Meyer celebrates this year’s Indy 500 win with driver Felix Rosenqvist. Editor, Beth Eberth Contributors Susan Anderson, ’11 Danny Bush, ’13, ’15 Scott Eddy, ’08 Faith Gworek, ’23, ’25 Tom Missel

Submit Class Notes | Address Changes www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate Additional contacts Office of Alumni, Donor, and Family Engagement 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 magazine@sbu.edu | (716) 375-2000

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

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Pre s i d e nt’s Me s s a ge

When values are lived: putting our mission into practice

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here is something speSt. Bonaventure. It is cial about the beginsomething we strive to ning of a new demonstrate in the way academic year at St. Bonavenwe live our lives. ture. My heart beats a little Francis and Clare did faster when I see cars flooding not transform the world onto campus, families helping through slogans. They did their children unload as they it through the radical auprepare to embark on a rethenticity of their lives — markable journey. through humility, comCampus comes alive again. passion, courage and a New students begin discoverprofound respect for the ing what it means to be a Bondignity of others. nie, while returning students Imagine the impact our reconnect with friends and Bona Family can have if professors who have become each of us embraces that an important part of their same spirit. lives. Our alumni live and And each year we are rework in communities minded that a St. Bonavenacross the country and ture education is about much around the world. You more than what happens in a are educators and busiclassroom. It is about who we ness leaders, healthcare become. professionals and public This year, I asked our camservants, parents, pus community to reflect on coaches, neighbors and President Jeff Gingerich and his wife, Betsy, welcome new something that I believe is in- students to the Bona Family at the Candlelight Induction friends. Every day, you creasingly important — not have opportunities to inCeremony. only for St. Bonaventure, but fluence the lives of others. for the world beyond our camIn those moments, you difficult to truly see and hear one anpus. carry St. Bonaventure with you. other. We speak often and proudly about My hope for our students — and for Our Franciscan tradition offers us a our Franciscan mission and values. all of us — is that people recognize different way of moving through that We talk about compassion, wisdom something distinctive in the way Bonworld, one grounded in humility, and integrity. We celebrate the examnies move through the world: comcompassion and a recognition of the ple of St. Francis and St. Clare and passion in how we treat others, dignity of every person. their commitment to recognizing the integrity in how we conduct ourThat was the reflection I shared with dignity and worth of every person. selves, and wisdom in how we engage our faculty and staff at our opening But values matter most when they with a complicated world. Convocation, and it is one I believe are lived. We will not always agree. We will extends naturally to our entire Bona They are revealed in how we treat not always get it right. Family. the person who disagrees with us. In But we can always strive to do better. At our best, we are a community whether we listen before we respond. And if we do, together, we can offer that makes room for different perIn the patience we extend to someone our students — and our world — an spectives, listens with a genuine dewho is struggling. In the respect we example worth following. sire to understand, assumes good show colleagues, classmates, neighintentions and offers one another bors and strangers. They are found in grace. We may not always agree, but the small, often unnoticed moments we can remain connected by the valwhen we choose empathy over judgues and sense of belonging that have ment, kindness over indifference, and always made St. Bonaventure such a grace over anger. special place. Those choices matter, especially in Because being Franciscan is not Dr. Jeff Gingerich a world that can sometimes make it simply something we say about University President

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Campus News

Four accomplished alumni join SBU Board of Trustees; Luke Brown elected board chair Four distinguished alumni were added to the Board of Trustees and new officers were elected at the board’s May 15 meeting. D. Scott McGurl, ’92, of St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, is a retired managing partner and global head of healthcare industry at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, where he led a national practice of 1,800 professionals serving health systems, payers and healthcare technology clients. In his role, he advised C-suite and board-level executives on transformation strategy, artificial intelligence and operational performance. McGurl brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across healthcare, consulting and enterprise transformation. Carolyn (Frazier) Nice, ’06, of Sanford, North Carolina, is chief of strategic readiness at Fort Bragg, where she coordinates cross-functional operations supporting complex military missions. She provides strategic counsel to senior leadership while overseeing long-term planning, stakeholder coordination and operational readiness initiatives. A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, Nice has held senior leadership assignments in Washington, D.C., the Pentagon and military commands around the world. Her military honors include two Bronze Stars and four Meritorious Service Medals. Theresa (Zagrobelny) Bone, CPA, ’85, of Pittsburgh, is an independent energy consultant specializing in finance, accounting, tax planning and corporate governance for investment, research and energy organizations. She previously served in executive finance leadership positions with EQT Corporation and its affiliated entities, including vice president of finance and chief accounting officer roles overseeing accounting, risk management, investor relations and board reporting. During her tenure at EQT, Bone helped lead major public offerings and capital transactions that raised more than $6 billion in investor capital. She also directed Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiatives, led cross-functional financial operations and implemented enhanced systems and governance practices across the organization. Sean P. Lynch, ’06, of Los Gatos, Cal4

BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

D. Scott McGurl

Carolyn Nice

Theresa Z. Bone Sean P. Lynch

ifornia, is a managing director in technology investment banking at UBS in Menlo Park, California. He joined UBS in 2024 after more than 11 years with Barclays Capital, where he focused on technology, media and telecommunications sectors. While a student at St. Bonaventure, Lynch co-founded BonaResponds in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, launching what would become one of the university’s signature service organizations. He remains actively involved with BonaResponds at the board level and also serves on the university’s Students In Money Management (SIMM) Advisory Board. Trustees also elected a slate of officers to serve in key leadership positions and guide their work in support of the university’s long-term success. Luke H. Brown, ’89, is the new board chair, stepping into the role after serving as a vice chair this past year. Brown is the associate director for Supervisory Policy for a regulatory agency. He brings more than 30 years of leadership and professional experience in the financial services industry, with expertise in financial institution supervision, enter-

Luke H. Brown

prise risk management, national public policy formulation, strategic communications, and legal and government affairs. Brown graduated from St. Bonaventure with bachelor’s degrees in Social Science and Philosophy Pre-Law. While a student at St. Bonaventure, he served as student body president. Brown received his law degree from The George Washington University in 1992. “For me, as for so many others, St. Bonaventure is a special place — it’s home,” said Brown. “I’m excited to work alongside my fellow board members to continue our proud Bona history and rich Franciscan tradition, while supporting President Gingerich’s leadership in further strengthening the university and advancing its unique and important mission.” In addition to Brown’s election as chair, trustees elected four talented board members to serve in key officer roles. Fr. Larry Ford, O.F.M., Kristan McMahon, ’97, and Mark Murphy, ’91, were elected as vice chairs, and Susanna Stitt, ’99, will serve as board secretary.

WE’RE MOVING!

New print schedule for Bonaventure magazine Bonaventure magazine has moved to a new publication schedule. Instead of arriving in summer and winter, you’ll now receive two issues each year in fall and spring. You will still enjoy the inspiring stories, campus news and alumni features you look forward to — just timed to better reflect the rhythm of university life. The next issue will hit mailboxes in early May. Submit your Class Note at www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate or to magazine@sbu.edu by Feb. 1, 2027. Submissions for the Off the Shelf book column should include a summary press release and high-resolution image of the book’s cover. And make sure we have your current email address so you don’t miss the monthly enewsletter from the Office of Alumni Engagement.

Campus News

40TH YEAR OXFORD REUNION

If you went to Oxford, come back again Over the past four decades, nearly 1,000 Bonnies have been part of St. Bonaventure’s Oxford program. Almost all of them have described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Except it isn’t. You can go home again. You can return to Oxford next year for the spectacular 40th Year Oxford Reunion. The Radcliffe Camera (above) is an iconic Oxford landmark and a working library. Scheduled for July 14-17, Harry Potter Studio, the magical place where the movies were 2027, tentative plans include a filmed. Pimm’s reception, afternoon tea We also plan to have rooms blocked at hotels with different price with the presidents of St. Bonavenpoints so that alumni may book their preference when the time ture and Trinity College, Mass in comes. Come back to Oxford next year and bring your family. the historic Trinity Chapel, a pub Show them the place that was so important to you. quiz and a multicourse banquet Final details and costs are being worked out and will be anwith a palate-blowing gourmet nounced within the next couple of months, when registration will menu and perfect wine pairings. officially open. Meanwhile, you can signify your interest (and get There will also be two optional on the priority registration list) using the QR code to the left. It is excursions. not binding, just a way to save your place in line when registration One will be a tour and morning tea at Somerville College officially opens. for those alumni whose Oxford days were spent there. The See you down at the pub next July. second will be a chartered-bus journey to the Warner Bros.

ACADEMIC INNOVATION

New academic programs target growing career fields The university is offering two new majors and several new minors, expanding academic opportunities in healthcare, technology and other high-demand fields. The School of Business is now offering a major in Healthcare Management, providing students with an interdisciplinary business education tailored to the rapidly evolving healthcare industry. The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in healthcare administration, health systems management, healthcare finance, medical practice operations and related fields. The major blends core business disciplines with specialized healthcare coursework focused on management, finance, law, ethics, information systems and healthcare delivery. St. Bonaventure also began offering a major in Computer Information Systems this fall, expanding opportunities for stu-

Computer Science Department Chair Dr. Chris Bopp.

dents interested in technology-focused careers that bridge computing and organizational problem-solving. The program will prepare students to understand not only how technology systems are built and secured, but also how they function within businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and other institutions. The university also updated its Data Sci-

ence major, now called Data Science and AI, to incorporate additional content and coursework focused on artificial intelligence. St. Bonaventure has also expanded its Computer Science offerings with a suite of new academic minors designed to give students across disciplines in-demand technology skills, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. The new minors include AI Literacy, Data Analytics, Game Design, Computer Information Systems and App Development. Together, they reflect a shift toward more focused, career-aligned programs that allow students to tailor technology skills to their academic and professional interests. Many of the courses in the new minors will be available to students across all majors, reinforcing the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary learning. FALL 2026

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Campus News

ST. BONAVENTURE FILLS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Retchless, Redfern and Scheppner named to roles in Advancement, Marketing and Alumni Engagement The university has filled three key leadership positions in recent months. Lindsay Retchless, most recently serving as chief of staff to the president and interim vice president for University Advancement, has been named to the Advancement role permanently. She will retain her role as chief of staff. Since her appointment as interim vice president, Retchless has worked closely with Advancement colleagues on successful Giving Day efforts and yearend fundraising strategies that helped the division exceed key annual goals. She also helped launch and lead the St. Bonaventure Golf Invitational at Pinehurst with Board of Trustees leadership and Advancement colleagues. The event has generated more than $1.4 million for the university’s endowment in two years. Retchless joined St. Bonaventure in 2020 and previously served in Alumni Engagement before becoming chief of staff in August 2024. Paul Redfern, a nationally respected higher education marketing and communications leader with more than 25 years of experience at institutions in the Northeast, has been named chief marketing and communications officer at the university. Redfern most recently served as vice president for University Communications and Institutional Strategy at St. Lawrence University, where he was a strategic adviser to the president and senior leadership team. During his tenure, he transformed the university’s communications operation into a digital-first marketing organization centered on storytelling, analytics and audience engagement, 6

BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

helping strengthen enrollment marketing, advancement communications and institutional reputation. Before joining St. Lawrence in 2018, Redfern spent nearly 18 years at Gettysburg College, rising to executive director of Communications and Marketing. There, he led integrated branding and communications initiatives that more than doubled the college’s national media visibility. Since late 2024, Redfern has worked as a communications and marketing strategy consultant, advising higher education and nonprofit organizations on strategic positioning, messaging, digital engagement and organizational communications. Chris Scheppner, ’13, ’14, was named associate vice president for Alumni Engagement. Scheppner brings more than a decade of experience in higher education admissions and enrollment leadership, including extensive service at St. Bonaventure earlier in his career. Most recently, Scheppner has served as assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of admissions at Marietta College in Ohio, where he led a team of admissions professionals and oversaw strategic recruitment initiatives. Prior to that role, he was Marietta’s director of admissions, managing a staff of 11 and implementing new marketing and communications strategies to strengthen enrollment outcomes. Scheppner began his career in Bonaventure’s Admissions Office in 2014 and steadily advanced through multiple roles. During his tenure, Scheppner played a key role in growing enrollment across several major markets, managing highimpact programs such as the university’s Franciscan Health Care Professions program, and helping to enroll some of the university’s largest incoming classes in recent years.

Co m m e n ce m e nt 2 0 2 6

A WEEKEND OF FIRSTS

Twice the Celebration For the first time, St. Bonaventure celebrated its graduate and undergraduate classes in separate Commencement ceremonies. And another first took the stage when basketball legend Frederick “Freddie” Crawford, ’64, and his daughter, Crystal Crawford (at right), delivered the undergraduate keynote address together. Freddie helped lead the Bonnies to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1961 before going on to play for five NBA teams. Following his basketball career, he built an impressive legacy of civic leadership in Harlem. In recognition of his achievements and service, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate.

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“ The most successful people do not avoid failure. They learn from it faster than others. EMMA SPADONI Undergraduate Student Speaker

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What defines success is not the absence of change — it’s the ability to adapt to it.

— FREDDIE CRAWFORD

” This year, my word is alignment. ... It’s when your purpose, your values, your voice and your actions finally stop pulling in different directions. SHANTELL WILSON Graduate Student Speaker

I urge you to live your life in the Franciscan values of humility and service. Find an interesting cause and give your time. KATE BRODERICK, ’90, ’93 Keynote Graduate Speaker Broderick also received the inaugural Distinguished Graduate Alumnus Award

HONOREES The university honored John Broderick, ’87 (MSEd), retired president emeritus of Old Dominion University, and Olean’s Jim and Carol Stitt, civic leaders and longtime benefactors of the region, with honorary degrees. Broderick was recognized for his “visionary leadership ... and extraordinary contributions to higher education.” The Stitts were honored for lives “rooted in generosity, guided by values, and dedicated to lifting others.”

President Jeff Gingerich (left) and John Broderick

Jim and Carol Stitt

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Campus News

WELCOME HOME! More than 700 alumni and guests came home for Alumni Reunion 2026, filling campus with laughter, memories and the unmistakable Bonaventure spirit. From reconnecting with classmates and favorite professors to meeting new members of the Bona community, the weekend was a celebration of friendships old and new. Thank you to everyone who made Reunion 2026 so memorable. We can’t wait to do it again! Mark your calendars now for Reunion Weekend 2027, June 4–6.

The Class of 1976 commemorated its 50th class reunion with a photo in the University Chapel after a special anniversary Mass.

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

Campus News

Two lifelong champions of St. Bonaventure whose family ties to the institution span generations were honored with the 2026 William P. “Stax” McCarthy Alumnus of the Year Award. University President Dr. Jeff Gingerich (right) congratulates honorees Pat Doyle, ’81 (left), and Mary Beth “MB” (Shea) Wells, ’76, during Reunion festivities.

Photo galleries from Alumni Weekend: sbu.edu/BonaFlickr

Update your contact info to ensure you receive Reunion 2027 emails: sbu.edu/alumniupdate

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Off the Shelf

“Dear Mike” by George Wentworth, ’74, is a coming-of-age novel about a tight-knit group of friends growing up in the late ’60s in the factory town of New Barry, Connecticut. In this fictional memoir, Michael Warren examines the power of new friendship and the paths of self-discovery within the micro-society of a Catholic high school. Against the backdrop of the politics and music of the times, “Dear Mike” follows Mike, his younger brother Dave, and their friends through college. At the same time, memories of a horrific double murder decades earlier that forever changed life in New Barry haunt Mike’s newspaperman father. When the ’80s bring major life transitions, joy and tragedy, the memoir reminds readers that even as they weave in and out of our lives, it’s often the first people we love who teach and sustain us. At age 73, Wentworth is a first-time author. He spent his career as a labor and employment attorney with the Connecticut Department of Labor and the National Employment Law Project. A proud father and grandfather, Wentworth lives in Oakland, North Carolina, with his wife, Barbara. John Kucij, ’70, has published “No Parenthesis,” a collection of more than 40 poems and 18 essays and op-ed pieces. Matthew Thomas Meade, author of “Strip Mall,” describes Kucij’s essays and stories as “brave, honest and disarmingly true. These are poems born equally from the sounds of city streets and the music of babbling brooks,” he said. Kucij retired after a long career in human services and higher education. He lives in Schenectady, New York, with his wife, Lyn. Neil Tarpey, ’73, has released his first novel, the murder mystery “Darkness in the Redwoods.” 10

BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

During a dark, rainy winter on Northern California’s rural redwood coast, a judge’s 20-year-old granddaughter vanishes. Inspector Kevin Valken and his Native American partner, Detective Naomi Marren, investigate the case, crossing paths with several scoundrels, a violent felon, and a mysterious villain who takes one shoe from each victim. Valken is a troubled soul, grappling with bad dreams and unresolved grief since a drunk driver killed his wife and daughter. Marren is sensible, balanced and a sharpshooter, but she’s disturbed by a sleazy rogue sergeant and her sadness about missing and murdered Indigenous people. Independent Book Review described “Darkness in the Redwoods” as “a read that’s genuinely rewarding for those drawn to small-town mysteries with haunted detectives.” For more information about “Darkness in the Redwoods” or Tarpey’s book of 52 short, short stories, “Flashes of Lightning,” visit www.tarpeydiem.com. New York Post sports columnist Mike Vaccaro, ’89, penned an instant New York Times bestseller this spring, debuting at number 14 on the nonfiction list for April 12. Vaccaro’s “Bosses of the Bronx” is published by Harper Books and features vivid press box reporting that goes beyond the headlines to chronicle how the Steinbrenners have transformed the New York Yankees franchise since taking over in 1973. “Bosses” covers the complete saga — from the times King George went mad and was eventually banned to how Prince Hal, living in the long shadow of his father, has struggled to put his own unique stamp on the Pinstripe realm. Vaccaro is also the author of three other books: “Emperors and Idiots,” “1941: The Greatest Year in Sports” and “The First Fall Classic.”

Dr. Christopher Stanley, professor emeritus of Theology and Franciscan Studies, has published the final novel in a historical fiction trilogy that has earned praise from historians and ordinary readers alike. The series, titled “A Slave’s Story,” immerses readers in the experiences of ordinary people in the Roman provinces in the first century A.D., a world Stanley knows well as a social and religious historian of the Roman world. The first two books in the trilogy, “A Rooster for Asklepios” and “A Bull for Pluto,” follow the Roman slave Marcus and his master on an eventful journey across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) in search of healing. Along the way, Marcus uncovers hidden secrets about his past that send him on a quest for his long-lost family. In the third book, “A Ram for Mars,” Marcus and his new wife arrive in Israel to discover that the land is seething with resentment against Roman rule. The outbreak of war a few years later forces Marcus to choose between loyalty to Rome and solidarity with his Jewish friends and family. The story takes place against the background of the cataclysmic Jewish revolt against the Romans in A.D. 66-73. Mark Macedonia, ’82, has published his fifth novel, “Shadows in the Dragon’s Lair,” the second historical fiction novel of a trilogy featuring the espionage characters Dr. Francis Nash and Peggy Harrelson. The year is 1920, and although the Great War has ended, the world is still a very dangerous place. The political map of Europe has been redrawn as a result of the defeat of the Central Powers, and in promoting self-determination for all peoples, the Treaty of Versailles has given rise to new nations, much to the dismay of the vanquished empires that once ruled over them. Change has also found its way into

Off the Shelf

the world of Nash, a history professor and an undercover agent for the Office of Naval Intelligence. Since his last espionage assignment to Europe in 1917, Nash has been entangled romantically with Harrelson, a fellow spy and Baltimore newspaper reporter. Nash is assigned to track down American military codes stolen by Japanese spies, while Harrelson accepts an assignment to make contact with a Chinese warlord seeking military assistance from the United States. Both missions produce twists and turns that result in the two American agents arriving in China, where they find an exotic land roiled by political rivalry. Nash and Harrelson are forced to use their espionage skills to survive a hostile environment filled with Japanese spies, Chinese warlords and Russian Bolsheviks. Macedonia dedicated the book to Dr. Russell Jandoli and Dr. George Evans, two former St. Bonaventure journalism professors who influenced his desire to write. Macedonia’s previous novels are “The Soles of Cyrus Eblis,” “Beneath a Crescent Moon,” “Beware the Shifting Sands” and “Silhouettes of the Dark.” Matt McGuire, ’92, has published his first book, “Fairfield American: A Legacy of Little League Dreams.” McGuire and his wife, Renee (Schmauss), ’92, raised their four sons in Fairfield, Connecticut. They love Fairfield and everything it has to offer, including one of the best Little League organizations in the state. Looking back on his time with this incredible league, he never could have imagined the trajectory it was about to take. “You get involved for all the right reasons. You played Little League, high school, possibly college, and are typically a diehard fan of Major League Baseball. You get married, have a few kids, and from the moment you start playing catch with your son or daughter, the passion you had as a kid starts all over again,” said McGuire. “Whether it’s an ability to channel the days of your youth or the eagerness to want your child to play, learn and compete – it begins.” By the mid-2000s, Fairfield American

Little League was building something special. By 2010, a decade of Little League dominance began. McGuire got involved as a coach, commissioner, field coordinator, board member and president. “Four sons playing Little League baseball kept me involved for 15 years. This is my story,” he said. Samantha Russo, ’15, ’17, published her first book under the pen name S.J. Beck. The fantasy romance novel is titled “Soul Mated: Blood Moon Mates.” Awakening from a mysterious illness, Myrna struggles to piece together lost memories and the secrets of four enigmatic men. As an ancient evil approaches, she must forge unbreakable bonds to survive and confront the darkness threatening her new life. Myrna’s journey begins with confusion and fear as she awakens without recollection of the blood moon or the events that transpired during its haunting glow. The four diamond tattoos etched on her arms serve as a constant reminder of the mysteries she cannot grasp. As she attempts to reintegrate into her college life, the shadows of her forgotten past loom larger, hinting at a connection to four captivating men, each harboring secrets that could change everything. Russo created the artwork for “Soul Mated” and looks forward to continuing to work on the next book in this 10-part series. “Lifebeats” features 178 poems by John J. Burns, ’65. Collectively, the poems reveal what matters most to Burns as he continues to live a life blessed by God’s love while enjoying its rewards. The book’s title is an acronym for its chapter headings: Love, Inspiration, Family, Education, Beauty, Episodes, Army, Travel and Sports. Many of Burns’ poems have been published in local newspapers and other

publications. “Their topics were inspired by my love for God, family, friends, arts, athletics, sports, history, nature, exercising, philosophy, travel, and living God’s great gift of life in general,” he writes. Burns served as a medical lab technician at U.S. Army hospitals from 1969 to 1972, followed by a 35-year career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. He retired as the chief logistics officer for the VA New Jersey Healthcare System. A Kindle version of “Lifebeats” is available via Amazon.com. To purchase a signed copy of the book, contact Burns at jburnscmt@aol.com. Kate (Evon) Broderick, ’90, ’93, has released “Teaching Grandma and Grandpa,” a heartwarming picture book that celebrates the extraordinary bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Told through the eyes of a child, this charming story follows the journey from infancy to age 10, sharing the many “lessons” a grandchild teaches — from the art of cuddling and storytelling to the joy of asking endless “why” questions. Along the way, grandparents learn to embrace laughter, imagination, adventure and the beauty of slowing down to enjoy life’s little moments. As the child grows older, an important truth is revealed: while it seemed like the grandparents were learning all along, they were quietly teaching the greatest lessons of all — unconditional love, kindness, patience and creating memories that last a lifetime. Broderick began her professional life as a nurse before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education from St. Bonaventure and teaching at the elementary level, where she was recognized for her work in literacy instruction. She later served in leadership roles in the Office of Educational Accessibility at Old Dominion University. On the back cover of the book, she shares that her love of children’s literature began at St. Bonaventure. Broderick, the mother of three and grandmother of seven, has had a frontrow seat to their lives. FALL 2026

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HOME inAGAIN the RC

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By Scott Eddy, ’08 | Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications

or Mike MacDonald, the dream of coaching basketball as a career took hold during his time as a student at St. Bonaventure. That dream has resulted in over 500 coaching victories in a career spanning three decades as a head coach and now comes full circle as he enters his first season leading his alma mater. “It’s great to be back,” he said. “The one thing that hasn’t changed is how deeply people care about the Bonnies.” An institution in the Western New York collegiate basketball scene, MacDonald, ’88, revived the program at

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BONAVENTURE MAGAZINE

Medaille before recording a 265-86 record over the past 12 seasons at Daemen, including a sparkling 61-3 mark over the last two years. While it may have been easier to continue running his Division II powerhouse, the opportunity to return home was one he couldn’t pass up. “This is a special place where people really care about basketball. It’s a premier basketball program in the East,” he said. “We had a great run at Daemen, but this was a chance to try it at a different level and at a place that was very important in my development as a person.”

Knowing the uniqueness of St. Bonaventure firsthand as an alumnus, MacDonald plans on selling what makes Bona’s special to recruits – and then cultivating relationships to make it a place student-athletes come to stay, rather than merely using it as a stopover on the next trip to the transfer portal. “What you see nowadays in college sports, athletes jump from school to school. We want to show them how special Bonaventure is and have them realize it’s not like that everywhere,” he said. “Our hope is in the new landscape, once our guys see that, they will want to stop bouncing to other programs just to make a move. This is a great place to be a part of, a great place to get a degree.” MacDonald returns to the Division I ranks as he takes over the Bonnies, having accepted his first head coaching position as a 30-year-old at Canisius. He won 108 games with the Griffs over nine seasons at the helm and left downtown Buffalo with a different perspective on coaching and himself. “The first time running a program is always challenging. You just learn, like in anything,” he said. “When I left Canisius, I had opportunities to be an assistant other places or get out of the profession altogether. The opportunity to go to Medaille came along and I looked at it as a challenge. I knew I could coach and wanted to prove it. In the lower levels, you step out of your comfort zone and learn and grow as a coach.” He overhauled a program that had won just four games in

the previous four seasons before his arrival, leaving as the school’s all-time wins leader (149) in eight years. MacDonald preaches a team-first approach built on player development. That approach has led to becoming the only coach in college basketball history to earn at least 100 victories at every NCAA level.

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It’s great to be back. The one thing that hasn’t changed is how deeply people care about the Bonnies. Mike MacDonald Head men’s basketball coach

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“We pride ourselves on sharing the ball, being unselfish both offensively and defensively, and competing like crazy,” he said. “When people watch us play, we want people to say, those guys are connected and they care about each other. We are going to have people who represent Bonaventure well on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. When you have that, and some talent mixed in, you can go far.”

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COVER STORY

The Fast Lane . Alumnus Jim Meyer turned a love of the

Indianapolis 500 into an unlikely second act — and a racing team that has reached Victory Lane twice By Scott Eddy, ’08 | Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications

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ack in Victory Lane at the Indianapolis 500 for a second time, Jim Meyer was fresh off another drink of the celebratory milk reserved for winners of one of sports’ most iconic events when he heard a group clad in brown and white shouting his name. Several Bonaventure alums boasting Bona’s shirts who had just watched perhaps the most thrilling finish in the event’s 110-year history called out to their fellow Bonnie, giving Meyer yet another reason to smile while taking in the moment. “That was a really cool experience,” he said of his meeting with Bonaventure brethren on his way to the winner’s press conference. “We all know one thing: How do you know someone went to St. Bonaventure? They’ll tell you.” Bonnies watching the race at the Brickyard and around the world had plenty of reason to celebrate as one of their own again reached the pinnacle of motorsports at the world’s most famous speedway. For Meyer, it was the latest triumph in the rise of his Meyer Shank Racing team, which has grown from a one-off effort into a two-time Indy 500 champion. When considering Meyer’s background, his team’s success in racing shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After graduating from St. Bonaventure, Meyer, ’76, ’79, spent over two decades in Jim Meyer, ’76, ’79 senior management at RCA and General Electric before climbing to CEO at SiriusXM as part of a 20-year leadership role at the satellite radio giant. The chapter that defined his rise in motorsports began following his move to the Hoosier State with RCA – a ticket to the Indianapolis 500. At that time, racing was the furthest thing from Meyer’s radar. “I’d never been to a race and frankly didn’t know anything about it,” he said. But his father-in-law was a fan and when Meyer was able to get tickets in 1980, he thought at the very least the trip would be a good gift, never expecting the impact that race would have. “I had no idea how much I’d enjoy it,” he said. “I was mesmerized by it. The speed, the pageantry.”

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We all know one thing: How do you know someone went to St. Bonaventure? They’ll tell you.

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p Jim Meyer, far left, celebrates in Victory Lane with driver Helio Castroneves and his Meyer Shank Racing team following their first Indy 500 triumph in 2021.

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He hasn’t missed a trip to the Brickyard since.

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hat first race started what would become a family tradition for Jim and his wife, Nina, ’79. As Meyer climbed the executive ranks, his connection to the racing world grew as well. While running Thomson Consumer Electronics North America, his Indy experience changed after meeting racing royalty in Roger Penske. For the next several years, trips to the 500 became black-tie affairs alongside racing’s elite. After a quarter of a century in consumer electronics senior

p Meyer and partner Michael Shank.

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management positions, Meyer joined SiriusXM in what he planned as a temporary assist to a former colleague. “I only intended to work at Sirius for nine to 12 months at most and ended up staying 24 years,” he said. Meyer became CEO of SiriusXM in 2013, holding the position until the end of 2020. While at Sirius, his ties to racing deepened as the company held many interests in motorsports through programming and sponsorships. In 2017, a friend of Meyer’s mentioned knowing a driver who was looking to raise funding toward landing a ride for that year’s

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Indy 500 with a team organized by Michael Andretti. The driver already had sponsorship from a company both Meyer and Sirius had partnerships with, and Meyer helped push the deal to the finish line. As May approached, though, a wrinkle in the plans developed when Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso announced plans to make his own Indy attempt. The F1 champion’s decision to come to the U.S. made a global splash, and it suddenly altered Meyer’s Indianapolis debut. The resources Andretti planned to prepare for Meyer’s entry would now be going to Alonso. When Meyer arrived in the garage area at Indy to see his car, he met a racing Michael – but one without the famous last name of Andretti. Instead, Michael Shank Racing prepared Meyer’s car through a partnership with Andretti. A former driver, Shank was realizing his own dream of competing in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” himself. His Ohio-based team, described by Shank as a “scrappy, smaller-type team,” prepared sports cars in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and had scored multiple wins, including the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 500 presented a different challenge against the titans of the IndyCar world: names like Penske, Ganassi, Andretti and McLaren. The race was short-lived for the newly formed pairing. Meyer and Shank’s car, driven by Jack Harvey, finished 31st after an accident short of halfway in the event. “We had a lousy experience in the race,” Meyer said, “but we really hit it off getting to know each other.” “We share a lot of the same core values,” Shank said of Meyer. “He does exactly what he says he’s going to do. You have to have thick skin; he will find your weakness and try to make you stronger. If you can endure that, you will be better when you come out the other side, I promise you. He’s forgiving when he needs to be, but hard on you when you’re heading in the wrong direction.” The two started talking about a potential longer-term partnership. Originally, it seemed as though they were a bit of an odd couple – the lifetime racer and the business executive. “He said, ’We’re not going to do this, but if we did, how

p SBU swimming alumni were on hand to celebrate Meyer Shank Racing team’s 2026 Indy win. u The partnership between Meyer Shank Racing and Helio Castroneves resulted in the famous driver’s fourth Indy 500 crown – and the first-ever IndyCar win for MSR.

would we do it?’” Meyer recalls. “We started comparing notes and formed a really strong relationship.”

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ltimately, those talks turned into Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) as Jim bought into the company. While Shank handles the racing side of the business, Meyer uses his business acumen to create sponsorship opportunities that represent the lifeblood of race teams. Over their time together, MSR has grown from 12 full-time employees to more than 80. “Jim is by far the most loyal person I’ve ever met,” Shank said. “I can rely on him 1,000 percent. If we have someone who has a health or personal problem (on the team), Jim and his family are the first people there to rescue you, in whatever form that may take.” Meyer and Shank launched a process of slow expansion with part-time schedules as the Indy 500 served as the key date circled each season. MSR began to make incremental gains on the grid. In 2020, the team embarked on a full-time campaign with a ninth-place run in that year’s 500. At the dawn of the 2021 season, MSR remained an underdog in IndyCar but was about to shock the sport after creating a partnership with one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. While Harvey continued to drive the team’s full-season entry, MSR took the next step in its progression by announcing a second car for that season’s 500, driven by three-time Indy champion Helio Castroneves.

After being released from his full-time ride by Penske before the season, Castroneves entered MSR’s No. 06 car with something to prove despite being one of the sport’s most well-known stars. Meyer used a previous relationship with Castroneves to present the opportunity in their entry, and the partnership immediately bore fruit as the car showed speed from the time practice began in the month of May. “On the last day of practice, I’ll never forget, Helio said, ‘Put a cover on this car and don’t you dare touch it,’” Meyer said. “That’s when I knew Helio felt he had a car he knew he could win with.” Qualifying sixth on the grid, Castroneves found himself in a dramatic duel with star Alex Palou for much of the second half of the event. Over the last two laps, the two racers exchanged the lead with Castroneves surging ahead for the final time on the penultimate circuit, racing first across the yard of bricks to take his record-tying fourth Indy 500 triumph. MSR later captured two more crown jewel wins in the racing world by taking the overall victory in back-to-back 24 Hours of Daytona endurance sports car events. Until this past May, however, IndyCar wins had eluded the team since the 2021 Indy 500 win. The 2026 renewal of Indianapolis magic brought an unforgettable battle to the finish, with two MSR drivers front and center as 25-year-old Marcus Armstrong and teammate Felix Rosenqvist, seeking his first-ever IndyCar win on an oval, helped create a race for the ages. Armstrong held the lead after a daring, three-wide pass of

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his teammate on a restart, but a caution flag restacked the field for a final dramatic push. With one green flag lap to go, the race restarted as Armstrong led the field while Rosenqvist maintained third. Team Penske driver David Malukas, a former MSR wheelman, seized the lead on the green, leaving the two MSR cars battling wheel-to-wheel, an extremely treacherous position for IndyCars at speeds of over 200 mph. Suddenly, having two cars heading for the wall seemed more likely than a return trip to Victory Lane. “I thought we were going to go from finishing first and third to getting tangled up with each other,” Meyer said of his emotions as he watched from the pit box. Instead, Rosenqvist made a thrilling move around his teammate, then ran down Malukas with an incredible surge off the final corner. As the checkered flag waved, the Swedish-born driver outdueled the competition by a nose across the finish line in the closest Indy 500 finish ever. “I didn’t know he had won until everyone started screaming,” Meyer said. “There’s nothing like 350,000 people (in attendance). You cannot believe the intensity of the crowd.”

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t the top of the motorsports world for the second time, Meyer found more of an opportunity to enjoy the accomplishment this time around. “When we won (in 2021), it changed our lives. I never thought we’d win it as quick as we did,” he said. “This one meant more to me because it sunk in more how hard it is. All the guys work so hard, and frankly, there’s an element of luck.” Since first dipping his toes into the racing pool, Meyer Shank Racing has become a family affair. His three children have attended the 500 since their childhood days and in recent years his son, Tim, moved back to Indianapolis to take on a key role with MSR. In just under a decade together, Meyer and Shank have won three Daytona Rolex 24 crowns and a trio of IMSA titles along with their Indy glory, establishing impressive success in two forms of motorsport. Shank also credits Meyer with helping to create an ownership charter system in IndyCar — essentially turning teams into franchises, similar to other major sports. “We’ve accomplished more than I ever thought we would,” Shank said. “Jim and Nina changed our lives and we are eternally grateful.” MSR has formed a technical alliance with Ganassi Racing in recent seasons and the Indy 500 victories have the team standing in elite racing territory. “We’re focused on getting better and better. We were OK with being the little team that could when we started, but not anymore,” Meyer said. From the boardroom to the paddock, Meyer credits much of his success to cultivating strong relationships. “I’ve had a lot of luck in my life; I’ve been really fortunate,” he said. “I’ve been able at different times of my life to identify good people I needed to work with. Mike Shank has been a tremendous partner.” 18

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p Meyer found his second Indy 500 title even more satisfying than the first as MSR driver Felix Rosenqvist scored the win following the closest finish in the 110-year running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” this past May.

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long the way, Meyer has remained connected to Bonaventure. The celebratory cheers of his fellow Bona alums following this year’s 500 victory represent the community he has stayed so deeply connected to since first setting foot on campus as a teenager. He served on the university’s Board of Trustees for 10 years, received an honorary degree and was the Commencement keynote speaker in 2018, and he and Nina donated key gifts in support of the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions. He credits a course in corporate finance taken during his sophomore year in helping to set the path for his future business success. This summer, he returned to campus for his 50th Reunion with a group of friends who have remained close since their undergrad days. “I grew up there. The thing I hope doesn’t ever change about St. Bonaventure is that values matter. Humbleness matters. Those core Franciscan values really matter,” he said. “I didn’t understand that when I was 19, but those values have served me well.”

profile By Susan Anderson Photos by Faith Gworek

Small Atoms. Big Ideas. Scott Simpson’s groundbreaking hydrogen research is earning international attention while showing Bona’s students just how far chemistry can take them.

p Chemistry Professor and Department Chair Dr. Scott Simpson

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p Chemistry Professor Dr. Scott Simpson and student Jacob Smeraldo.

“Electrons are fuzzy and really smeared out.” That’s how St. Bonaventure Chemistry Professor Dr. Scott Simpson describes one of the fundamental challenges of his research: using computers and mathematics to predict what happens during chemical reactions. That approach, known as density functional theory, is at the heart of the research that earned him international recognition. The American Chemical Society has named Simpson to the 2025 Class of Influential Researchers through its scholarly journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (at right), making him one of just 16 early-career scientists worldwide recognized for the quality of their work and significant contributions to chemistry and chemical engineering. The award recognizes Simpson’s research into hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source. One focus of his work is understanding how hydrogen molecules break apart on surfaces, which is a critical step in making hydrogen practical for energy applications. His research explores how mixtures of metals, such as copper and palladium, can be used to trigger that reaction. “This work is all about understanding why copper does not split molecular hydrogen into atomistic hydrogen — but toss on a bit of palladium and it suddenly can!” Simpson said. “This has applications in hydrogen as an alternative energy source compared to fossil fuels, which are finite.” Chemists call the process catalysis, he said. “It’s about making chemical reactions that don’t want to hap20

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pen, happen,” Simpson explained. “So, what you’re doing is driving the cost down for the consumer because chemical reactions that take a lot of energy or time cost a lot of money.” Simpson’s fellow honorees represent leading global research institutions, including Imperial College London, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Texas and Sandia National Laboratories. While the international honor recognizes his contributions to hydrogen research, Simpson says his greatest motivation remains helping students see how chemistry can solve real-world problems. “I’m very happy about the award,” he said. “A lot of people look at undergraduate institutions and think research is playtime or not real. But it is real — and this shows it.”

Building an Undergraduate Research Culture at Bona’s Simpson said it takes a place like Bona’s — with the right mix of students, faculty members, alumni and resources — to make

an award like this possible. He has spent the past decade helpJames Brown, ’18, who majored in Chemistry, went on to ing create that environment by obtaining multiple research earn a master’s degree and doctorate and later taught at the grants from the National Science Foundation, Dreyfus FounUniversity of the Incarnate Word. As a professor himself, dation and the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum ReBrown drew upon the example Simpson had set. search Fund. “Dr. Simpson was a good role model in how to be approachThanks to those competitive grants and the generosity of able as a professor, how to build connections with the students donors, the department’s instrumentation suite now includes and inspire them to want to learn and enjoy the subject,” more than a dozen pieces of research and teaching equipment Brown said. valued at more than $2 million. Today, Brown works for Dirigo Sea Farm, where he helps deSimpson also built a 47-node high-performance computing velop sustainable materials using seaweed as a renewable feed(HPC) cluster that supports not only computational chemistry stock. He and Simpson keep in touch, discussing research and student projects but also other research happencomputational chemistry, including “limitations in modeling ing at the university. that you can recognize, appreciate and work around,” as well He credits his mother, Bona grad Debra Simpson, ’81, ’87, an as possibilities for future research projects. elementary school teacher, with instilling the importance of strong fundamentals. He carries that emphasis into his own teaching and has integrated fundamentals and computational methods into an educational style for undergraduates. He said his goal as a professor is to “foster lifelong learning and real-world problem-solving skills” in his students. He is committed to helping them visualize what can be done in chemistry, both academically and in the job market. That hands-on approach is one of the qualities that most impresses Dr. Erin Sadlack, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences. “Our undergraduates get Dr. Simpson’s attention from day one,” Sadlack said. Simpson mentors several undergraduate researchers each year. They work alongside him, conduct publishable research, present at conferences and even co-author papers. Such opportunities are more commonly p Senior Jacob Smeraldo observes the fluorescence of a compound he associated with much larger universities and are often synthesized during his 10 weeks of research as a Maydonovitch Rereserved for graduate students, Sadlack noted. search Fellow this past summer. “Being able to work with someone of Dr. Simpson’s caliber is exciting for everyone,” she said. “This recognition reflects the respect he has earned among fellow chemists, and our students have the extraordinary opportunity A Global Reach to learn from — and contribute to — the work of a researcher Simpson also collaborates with colleagues across the United whose discoveries are advancing the field.” States and Europe, with particularly strong ties to the Univer-

From Students to Colleagues Jacob Smeraldo, this year’s Maydonovitch Research Fellow and senior Chemistry and Biochemistry double major from Jamestown, New York, says his experiences with Simpson have allowed him to see “all the hats he wears, as an administrator serving on committees, a researcher, a teacher and a mentor.” Smeraldo serves alongside Simpson on the university’s Presidential Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Their conversations often turn to the changing demands of their field and “how any good chemist will need background in AI, computation and lab work.” “We’re always sending papers back and forth and just talking about what is happening in chemistry,” Smeraldo said. “Dr. Simpson is always there to help you with anything, whether for class, research or a personal reason,” he said. “His attitude toward teaching and his students is always positive.” Simpson’s relationships with students often evolve from teacher to mentor to colleague.

sity at Buffalo, where he mentors graduate students, many of them St. Bonaventure alumni. He regularly presents his research to scientific and public audiences nationally and internationally, including at American Chemical Society national meetings, the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Aalto University in Finland, and the European Symposium on Chemical Bonding in Amsterdam. In September, Simpson returned to the European Symposium on Chemical Bonding as an invited speaker, joining international researchers in chemical bonding, quantum chemistry and electronic-structure theory. He is professor of Chemistry, chair of the Chemistry Department and director of the Honors Program. Across those roles, his focus continually returns to helping young researchers be ready for anything the future holds. “I want to show that chemistry is not just an academic thing. There are a lot of jobs,” Simpson said. “I want them to see what’s possible through chemistry.”

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FACES & PLACES ALUMNI EVENTS 1.) South Carolina Low Country Chapter Watch Party – March 7 2.) Buffalo Harbor Cruise – July 28 3.) Bona Day at the Race Track in Saratoga – Aug. 8 4.) NYC Chapter volunteer event at Crossroad Food Pantry – July 11 5.) Class of 1999 Weekend in NYC – Feb. 6 & 7

www.sbu.edu/AlumniEvents

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CLASS NOTES

4 4 SHARE YOUR CAREER NEWS WITH THE BONA NATION! To submit professional news for the next issue of Bonaventure magazine, complete the online form at www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate or email magazine@sbu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity or length.

1964 Tom Brett donated two autographed baseballs to The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The balls were signed by U.S. Supreme Court Justices Harry Blackmun and Warren Burger, both Minnesota natives who were nicknamed “The Minnesota Twins” during their time on the court. Blackmun also authored the Supreme Court’s 1972 Flood v. Kuhn decision involving Major League Baseball’s reserve clause. Although the 5-3 ruling favored MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, the decision unified the Major League Baseball Players Association and ultimately led to player free agency in 1975. The Hall accepted both baseballs into its collection, adding Brett’s unique contribution alongside the legacies of fellow SBU alumni and Hall of Famers John McGraw and Hughie Jennings.

1966 Frank Higbie, a longtime member of the Elks organization in Somerville, New Jersey, helped support a local adaptive Girl Scout troop after learning about its work with young women with disabilities. Higbie brought the troop’s needs to the attention of an Elks committee on which he serves, resulting in a donation that funded a trip to an interactive science center in Jersey City. The donation also allowed the troop to invite another Girl Scout troop to join the outing. Fourteen scouts and parents participated in the trip, which included sensory support tools and a visit with the center’s “Animal Ambassadors.”

1976 William F. Fagan was appointed vice

chair of the Hudson Valley Community College’s Board of Trustees. A 1973 graduate of Hudson Valley, Fagan has been a member of the board since 2009. In addition to his service as a college trustee, Fagan served as a member of the college’s Foundation Board of Directors from 1994 to 2015, including as vice president and president from 1997 to 2007. In recognition of his longstanding commitment and leadership, he was named Foundation Board director emeritus in January 2018. He also has been a member of the college’s Faculty Student Association Board of Directors since 2010. He is the president of Wm. J. Fagan and Sons, Inc., a family business founded by his grandfather more than a century ago in Troy, New York.

Christopher Bellavita Educator Award, which recognizes individuals for innovation in advancing the homeland defense and security mission. McDaniel, who retired from Cooley in 2025, served the law school as a professor, dean and director of Cooley’s Homeland and National Security Law LL.M. Program for 13 years. As a former state Homeland Security adviser and member of the Michigan National Guard, he was named co-chair of the state’s task force on terrorism by Gov. John Engler and Attorney General Jennifer Granholm following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Additionally, McDaniel’s leadership and homeland security knowledge were paramount during the Flint water crisis and in helping Lansing restore power to 96,000 residents who had been without power for 11 days following a massive ice storm in 2013.

1980 Maureen “Mo” Keenan-LeBoeuf proudly shows her Bona pride in North Carolina (above). Edward Rose, fulfilling a long-held goal, now lives on Lake Chapala in Mexico. In addition to improving his Spanish, he volunteers to teach English to local residents. Although mostly retired, he continues to travel to Florida for his real estate company.

1979 Cooley Law School Distinguished Professor Emeritus Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael McDaniel was honored by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Naval Postgraduate School for his commitment to homeland security education. McDaniel received the

Col. (Ret.) Thomas G. Kane retired from civilian service in the U.S. Army in December 2025. Kane was the installation legal officer at the U.S. Army War College and Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He served as a GS-14 government employee and had more than 45 years of combined military and civilian service. Kane was commissioned as a second lieutenant through St. Bonaventure’s ROTC program. He and his wife of 45 years, Yvonne, live in Carlisle. They are the parents of six, two of whom are SBU graduates, and grandparents of 12. A former Bona rugby player, Kane sends congratulations to the team. FALL 2026

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Class Notes

1986 Kathleen Major is a senior editor at 21GRAMS (21gramsworld.com), a division of Real Chemistry, currently ranked by Cannes Lions as the No. 3 most creative agency in the world. In her role, she provides editorial support for a range of healthcare communications, including website content, interactive visual aids and physician educational materials.

1988

Reuniting in Savannah Class of 2017 alumni (from left) Autumn Wiggs, Karissa (Kuhl) Rigby and Nicole (Sweazy) Johnson are pictured at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, in May.

Alumni earn Buffalo Business First honors Six St. Bonaventure alumnae were named to Buffalo Business First’s 2026 Power 200 Women list, which celebrates some of the top business leaders in Western New York. Alumnae on the list include Judy Baumgartner, ’91, president of Millard Fillmore Hospital and DeGraff Medical Park; Jody Chesko, ’92, president of Niagara Produce; Mari Howard, ’10, president and CEO of Intandem; Jennifer Murphy, ’92, president of NetPlus Alliance; Catherine Roberts, ’18, president and CEO of the Resource Council of Western New York; and Daphne Ross, ’12, chief impact officer for Say Yes Buffalo. Two alumni were named to Buffalo Business First’s 2026 40 Under 40 list of Western New York professionals: Nicholas DeMarco, ’11, partner and attorney at Rossi & DeMarco PLLC, and CEO of Maverick Real Properties; and Jeffrey Papia, ’18, chief strategy officer at OLV Human Services. 24

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After 38 years with KPMG, Steve Barry retired Sept. 30. Barry is a former member of the SBU Board of Trustees (vice chair) and most recently served as KPMG’s national partner in charge of regulatory and quality monitoring. In retirement, Barry and his wife, Shirley, plan to maintain their home in suburban Washington, D.C., visit their children (two of the four are St. Bonaventure alumni), volunteer and enjoy travel and time together.

1987 Mary (Lapp) DiRisio’s work as a Fayetteville, North Carolina, librarian has been recognized by national and state organizations. DiRisio oversees the college library’s Living Law Project at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which received the 2026 Community College Program Award (Community and Junior College Library Section) from the Association of College and Research Libraries. This annual award recognizes significant achievement in outreach or academic programs in community college libraries. The Living Law Project examines significant U.S. Supreme Court cases through short films and panel discussions with legal and subject-matter experts to encourage civic engagement and collaborative learning. Past cases have covered topics ranging from medical

marijuana legality to Miranda rights to First Amendment limits in social media threats. This year’s topic was “Kelo v. New London,” in which the city of New London, Connecticut, used its eminent domain authority to seize private property for sale to private developers. DiRisio was also a recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in North Carolina. She was recognized for her volunteer service on the Cumberland County Literacy Council and her leadership as a literacy ambassador. DiRisio plays an active role in supporting and promoting the council’s story time programs serving children ages 0–5.

1989 Jeanna Taraci Savage was promoted to director of communications for the New York State Unified Court System’s 7th Judicial District. Reporting directly to the administrative judge, the 7th Judicial District comprises eight counties (Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates) and employs more than 685 judges and court staff. On April 24, Savage received the inaugural statewide Equal Justice Champion Award from the NYS Office for Justice Initiatives, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, for expanding meaningful access to the courts and for cultivating principles into practice.

1994 Mike “Mex” Carey, the associate director of athletic communications for men’s basketball at Michigan State University, was the winner of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Katha Quinn Award for 2026. His timeless advocacy for reporters has made him an essential resource for more than a quarter-century. Carey received the award April 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at a luncheon before the national championship game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. In his role at Michigan State, Carey is the primary media rela-

Class Notes

tions contact for the men’s basketball program and Hall of Fame Head Coach Tom Izzo. Prior to his arrival in East Lansing, Carey spent 12 years at Georgetown University, along with previous stops at Siena College and St. John’s University.

1998 Jim Walter was named president and CEO of Visit Cheyenne, the official destination marketing organization for Laramie County, Wyoming. The appointment comes after he served as vice president of the organization since 2020.

2001 Matt Bach was elected president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association in May. A career history teacher and successful activist, he now leads the largest labor union in New England with 117,000 education worker members. Kate (Lewis) Torok was named chief marketing and communications officer at St. John Fisher University.

2010 Noelle (Pierce) Wilkie, guided by faith and a commitment to service, spearheaded the launch of a Code Blue warming shelter through St. Mary’s P.A.T.H. (Programs Assisting the Homeless), a New Jersey nonprofit. As site coordinator, she developed state-compliant operating procedures, managed the program’s budget, strengthened community partnerships, and coordinated staff and volunteers. Under her leadership, the shelter provided safe, dignified emergency housing and food resources for the local unsheltered community during extreme winter conditions while expanding long-term outreach efforts.

2014 Brad Shepard (also 2015 MBA) was promoted to senior vice president at M&T Bank in Buffalo. He is a senior tax credit equity asset manager in the Community Finance division, specializing in affordable housing development.

Honoring friends, sharing memories Classmates from the Class of 1971 visited Mt. Irenaeus together before the official start of Reunion Weekend activities. They learned about the founding of the Mountain community from Br. Kevin Kriso, O.F.M., as well as the role the Mountain plays in the lives of SBU students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends. The alumni also read aloud the names of their deceased classmates and prayed for them. They plan to continue that tradition at their 60th reunion. Pictured clockwise from left are Jeanne Sabrack, ’71, Dorothy Gallagher, Jim Gallagher, ’71, Bob Crowley, ’71, Br. Kevin, John Vance, ’71, Kathleen Vance, ’73, Denise Benner, ’71, Donna Kipers, and Jim Kipers, ’71.

2017 Emily Rosman graduated from Binghamton University with her Ph.D. in Translation Research and Instruction.

2020 Cameron Hurst earned statewide recognition from the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA) for his storytelling and communications work at Jamestown Public Schools (JPS), where he serves as public relations specialist. Hurst and JPS received five awards in the organization’s annual communications contest, including two “Excellence in Video” honors — one of only five statewide recognitions presented in the category — most notably for “100 Years of Music,” a documentary celebrating the centennial of the Jamestown High School band and chorus programs. JPS also earned three honors in the “Excellence in Writing” category, one of only 16 entries statewide to be recognized. In addition, Hurst presented at the 2025

NYSPRA Winter Conference at Turning Stone Resort Casino alongside partners from Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES on Jamestown Public Schools’ districtwide rebrand and mascot identity work. Matt Tyssee, after completing his required 3,000 clinical hours and passing the New York State Mental Health Counselor examination, officially received full licensure as a mental health counselor in New York. He is a senior therapist with Cerebral and provides mental health counseling to adolescents, adults, couples and families, with a focus on neurodivergence, LGBTQIA† identities and life transitions.

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Class Notes

2nd Loughlen, together again In June, friends from 2nd Loughlen gathered to reconnect and reminisce. Pictured are (front row, from left) Lorraine (Lavallee) Reeves, ’76, Shelly (Meka) Wild, ’76, and Anne (Artman) Wild, ’76; and (back row, from left) Mary “Skeller” (Arquiette) Stavisky, ’76, and Andria (Staiti) Balicki, ’77.

Carozza family legacy Sam Carozza, ’26 (center), is congratulated by his father, Andrew Carozza, ’86, and grandfather Julius Carozza, ’59, in the Dev quad in May after Sam’s graduation. A fourth member of this legacy family, Joseph Carozza, graduated from St. Bonaventure Prep in 1928 before attending several semesters at St. Bonaventure’s College. (According to St. Bonaventure Archives, St. Bonaventure Prep closed in 1931.)

Friendships that travel This group of 1980 2nd Dev East friends gathered in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, for a reunion in and around Charleston. Pictured (from left) are Jeanne (Curran) Mammes, Jane (Savio) Sutton, Patty (McKenna) Frac, Maureen (Grune) Horgan, Felicia (Berardi) Watson, Liz (Kieffer) Sullivan, Patty (Smith) Voelkel, and Molly (Zimmermann) Callery.

Welcome, Baby Bonnies! Cristiano Oscar, 4, and Landon Francisco, 3, adopted by Rachel and Kevin Okun, ’03 Molly Davie to Kelley and Patrick Gill, ’04 Mairin Frances to Anne

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(Young), ’10, and Brian Walsh, ’10 Theo James to Sheila and Matthew Karpas, ’11, ’12 Danny Joseph to Haylei John, ’18, and PJ Neubauer, ’19

A Bona-fide coincidence Kirsten Witherell Fuller and Donna Quigley, both from the Class of 1998, had a chance encounter at the Joy 101 Spring Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona. The wellness retreat was hosted by TV personality Hoda Kotb. Fuller and Quigley were seated at the same dinner table, where they discovered their Bonaventure connection. The weekend offered opportunities for mindfulness, connection and new friendships.

Mark Battaglia elected chair of SBU Alumni Council Mark Battaglia, ’04, ’11, has been elected chair of the St. Bonaventure University Alumni Council. He will serve a two-year term. Battaglia earned his BBA in Business Information Systems from St. Bonaventure in 2004 and returned to earn his MBA in 2011. He currently serves as assistant vice president at Gallagher Insurance. Battaglia has been a dedicated member of the Alumni Council for nine years, including significant service on the Alumni Mentoring Committee. His connection to Bonaventure is truly a family affair — his father, Paul Sr., ’74, and brothers, Paul Jr., ’00, and Tim, ’07, are also proud Bonnies, as is his sister-in-law, Jenna (David) Battaglia, ’00. “We are grateful for Mark’s continued commitment to St. Bonaventure and excited to welcome him as chair of the Alumni Council,” said Chris Scheppner, ’13, ’14, associate vice president for Alumni Engagement at the university. Battaglia lives in Fairport, New York, with his wife, Pam, and their two children.

Dr. Michael E. Hill, ’96

Hill inaugurated as president of Randolph-Macon College

A winning day for Bonnies The Aug. 8 Bona Day at the Race Track brought an extra reason to celebrate when Sail With the Wind, racing for Bona Venture Stables, crossed the finish line first in Race 4! Congratulations to Dan Collins, ’73, and Bona Venture Stables on the exciting win. It was a special moment made even better with so many fellow Bonnies there to cheer them on.

Dr. Michael E. Hill, ’96, was inaugurated April 24 as the 16th president of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. In his inaugural address, Hill outlined a vision that bridges tradition and transformation: a liberal arts education that is both deeply human and decisively future-focused in an era when intelligence is increasingly artificial. Hill joined the Randolph-Macon community after completing his tenure as president of Chautauqua Institution. Hill was a first-generation graduate of St. Bonaventure, where he was a staff member early in his career. He served on SBU’s Board of Trustees from 2013 to 2022, culminating his service as the board’s secretary. He earned a master’s degree in arts and cultural management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He has lectured frequently on nonprofit management to international audiences and trade organizations, and has served as a visiting lecturer for Georgetown University. He is a member of the Robert H. Jackson Center Board of Directors and a member of the Leadership Network of the American Enterprise Institute. Hill previously led the nonprofit Youth for Understanding USA and served in senior roles at United Cerebral Palsy, Washington National Cathedral and The Washington Ballet. He was also a founding faculty member at George Mason University’s Master of Arts Management program. Hill and his husband, Peter Korns, live on the Randolph Macon campus.

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Class Notes

Teeing off for Tim

Class of ’78 Bona River Cruisers Alumni from the Class of 1978 celebrated a milestone birthday year by taking a Viking Rhine River cruise. Travelers included Karen (Smith) Callanan, ’78; Sheila (Kane) Dubinsky ’78, and Jay Dubinsky; Thava Freedman; Antena (Skrobacz) McCarthy, ’78; Dr. Alicia Finn, ’78; Thomas McCarthy, ’10; Dianna (LaVance) Pepe, ’78, and Peter Pepe; Catherine Gleason, ’78; Kathryn (Dillon) Hogan, ’78; Helena (Scanlon) Bohl, ’78; James Krupa, ’78; and Tim O’Brien.

Sophomore Business major Charley Dougherty joins a long-standing family tradition of attending St. Bonaventure. His paternal great-grandmother graduated with a health education degree in the 1960s. His paternal grandmother, Kathy Cooney Dougherty, graduated in 1973 with a B.S. in Education and in 1978 with an M.S. in Education. His uncle Matt Dougherty, ’03, and his father, Nate Dougherty, ’05, both graduated with communication/journalism degrees. 28

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A number of alumni and friends gathered for their fifth annual golf outing. This year they honored friend and classmate Tim Carlo, ’90, who passed in December 2025. Pictured are (from left) Mike Fitzsimmons, ’90, John Haar, ’90, John Stevens, ’90, Sean Mahoney, ’91, Pat Reynolds, ’90, and Dan Mangan, ’91. (Not pictured: Joe Gannon, ’91.)

A Reunion on the Greens Classmates from 1988 travel yearly to Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, for a golf outing. Those who attended this year are (front row, from left) Rich Cutia, ’88, Mark Whitehouse, ’87, Scott Garton, ’88, and (back row, from left) Joe Farrell, ’88, Tom Dembik, ’88, Gary Izzo, ’88, Steve McGuire, ’88, Joe Simoneau, ’88, Leo Kirby, ’88, and Jim Petcoff, ’88.

Class Notes

BOUND BY BOOKS AND BONA’S

Book club marks 14th year The Class of 1978 Bona Book Club is celebrating its 14th year of bringing classmates together through a shared love of reading. The club began during the class’s 35th Reunion in 2013, when Kate Dillon Hogan, ’78, mentioned to fellow alumnae that she would like to be part of a book club. The idea quickly took hold, and nine classmates formed what became affectionately known as the “78-BBC.” Joining Hogan were Catherine Gleason, Alicia Finn, Debi Klisart, Laura (Horton) Post, Sheila (Kane) Dubinsky, Janet (Bozzi) Anderson, Anne (Heindl) Strang and Dianna (LaVance) Pepe, all from the Class of 1978. Because members live in different states and time zones, the club has always met virtually, moving from telephone conference calls in its early years to monthly Zoom gatherings. Each month, a member selects a book and leads the discussion. Over the years, the group has read more than 150 books, often choosing titles members say they might never have discovered on their own. Their discussions have introduced them to different cultures and historical events while giving the friends, who have known one another for more than 50 years, a meaningful way to stay connected. They like to think

The Class of 1978 Bona Book Club meets monthly on Zoom.

their Bonaventure English professors would be proud of the thoughtful discussions their selections inspire. The group welcomes other members of the Class of 1978 who would like to join. For information, contact Cathy Gleason at glease78@gmail.com.

A Diamond Anniversary in Rome Peter, ’63, and Sharon (Leone) Cummings, ’65, marked their 60th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy, highlighted by meeting Pope Leo at St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 8, 2025. The couple were married on campus Oct. 9, 1965, in the Friary Chapel and were among the first couples to be married there. Dean of Students Rev. Cornelius Welch, Rev. Fidelis O’Rourke, dean of the Business School, and Rev. Edward Metzger participated in their wedding Mass. During their meeting, the couple presented Pope Leo with a St. Bonaventure pennant. Pope Leo attended Villanova (1973-1977), which the Bonnies defeated to reach the 1970 NCAA Final Four. His Holiness presented each of them with rosary beads and wished them continued happiness and health. The Cummingses, who live in Virginia Beach, Virginia, are the parents of five children and have seven grandchildren.

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Alumni De aths

A life of scholarship and service

Alumni Deaths

Fr. Dominic Monti, O.F.M., leaves an enduring legacy at St. Bonaventure

Maxine (Younglove) Muller, ’47, Fairport, New York Mary B. (Morton) Spencer, ’49, Tucson, Arizona Arnold D. Gallo, ’51, Manhasset, New York John G. Aicher, Esq.*, ’52, Southold, New York Mario J. Pirrello*, ’52, Rochester, New York Robert J. Sciamanda, ’53, Erie, Pennsylvania Dr. James F. Gilligan, ’54, Summerfield, Florida Joseph F. McNulty, ’54, Delray Beach, Florida Thomas H. Bresson, ’55, Severna Park, Maryland Joseph J. Feloney, ’55, Centerville, Massachusetts Dr. Richard A. Gennett, ’55, Naples, Florida Patrick J. Mahoney, ’55, East Falmouth, Massachusetts Thomas J. McMahon, ’56, Pinehurst, North Carolina Gen. Joseph L. Nagel,* ’56, Fayetteville, North Carolina Michael D. Meilach,* ’57, Port Charlotte, Florida Henry J. Tessandori, ’57, Sun City Center, Florida Edwin J. Halloran, ’58, Georgetown, South Carolina James L. Crowley, ’59, Fairport, New York Joel E. Halloran*, ’59, Collins, New York Dr. Dominick P. Moffre, ’59, Rensselaer, New York Gerald C. Paris, ’59, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Anthony J. Cardiello, ’60, Naples, Florida Michael J. McCoy, ’60, Bakersfield, California Sr. Frances O’Dell O.S.F., ’60, Allegany, New York Harry D. Podgurski, ’60, Canton, New York Francis J. Vacanti, ’60, Fairport, New York Frederick J. O’Donnell, ’61, Venice, Florida Terrance T. Ryan, ’61, New York, New York Paul E. Whiteman, ’61, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky Richard M. Vattimo, ’62, Albany, New York Joseph F. Amoroso, ’63, Dublin, Ohio Richard M. Bisciotti, ’63, Litchfield, Connecticut John F. Bradshaw, ’63, Newburyport, Massachusetts Paul L. DeLisio*, ’63, Kingston, New York Edward G. Geier, ’63, Harrison, Arkansas Matthew T. Halloran, ’63, Ball Ground, Georgia Richard J. Luke, ’63, Milford, Massachusetts William E. McDonald, ’63, Rochester, New Hampshire Donald R. Gallehr, ’64, Warrenton, Virginia Thomas J. Mullin, ’64, Chatham, New Jersey Peter R. Sullivan, ’64, Marshfield, Massachusetts Norbert J. Witzigman, ’64, Hinsdale, New York James “Jim” Cattano, ’65, Naples, Florida Dr. Alfred T. Culliford, ’65, Bolton Landing, New York John R. Hedges, ’65, Florence, South Carolina Francis J. Kestler,* ’65, Brutus, Michigan Earl M. Leake, ’65, Denver, Colorado James R. Martin, ’65, Sandy, Utah Thomas C. Power, ’65, Olean, New York Russell C. Schoonover, ’65, Medina, Ohio Charles C. Whitty, ’65, Baltic, Connecticut Francis P. Albanese, ’66, Albion, New York John P. Becker, ’66, Syracuse, New York Sr. Ruth M. Goggin, O.S.F., ’66, Allegany, New York Dr. Frederick Prevo, ’66, Frederick, Maryland John J. Zuzga, ’66, Orland Park, Illinois Richard J. Cronin, ’67, San Francisco, California Thomas M. Gilson, ’67, East Haven, Connecticut Fr. Dominic Monti, O.F.M., ’67, St. Bonaventure, New York Joseph P. Talty,* ’67, Carefree, Arizona Stanislaw Kyc, ’68, Franklinville, New York Lt. Col. (Ret.) James R. Lapsley, ’68, Wellington, Florida John T. Moore, ’68, East Williston, New York Lorene A. (Leschinski) Sholl, ’68, Leland, North Carolina Diana E. Dutton, ’69, Hinsdale, New York

Fr. Dominic Monti, O.F.M., a revered Franciscan scholar and educator whose lifelong devotion to the Franciscan intellectual tradition was matched by decades of service to St. Bonaventure, peacefully passed away on Sept. 16, 2026. He was 83 years old, a Franciscan friar for 61 years and a priest for 55 years. A native of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Fr. Dominic’s relationship with St. Bonaventure spanned nearly six decades, beginning as a student and ultimately encompassing roles as professor, scholar and university leader. He earned a degree in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure in 1967 before entering Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor. He was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1971. “Fr. Dominic had the ability to embrace the challenges and difficulties of daily life, contemplate their deeper meaning, and allow them to shape a wise vision of the world — to see the world and the people around him as gifts from the Creator and instruments of grace,” said Minister Provincial Br. Michael Perry, O.F.M., of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fr. Dominic went on to pursue advanced studies at The Catholic University of America, Union Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he earned a doctorate in theology, specializing in the history of Christianity, in 1979. After teaching theology at St. Bonaventure early in his career, Fr. Dominic spent many years teaching church history at Washington Theological Union and Christ the King Seminary. He returned to St. Bonaventure in 2002 as a professor of theology, later becoming Distinguished Professor of Franciscan Studies and Professor of Franciscan Research at the Franciscan Institute. His scholarship helped make the Franciscan tradition accessible not only to academics, but to generations of friars, students and laypeople seeking a deeper understanding of Franciscan history and spirituality. His service to St. Bonaventure extended well beyond the classroom. On March 9, 2003, Fr. Dominic was named interim president of the university during one of the most challenging periods in its history. He served through May 31, 2004, providing a steady presence during a critical leadership transition. “Fr. Dominic took the presidency of St. Bonaventure at the darkest hour in its history. What he brought to that critical time was his profound knowledge of the importance of history. He knew the history of the university and the two provinces that were its founders,” said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., president emerita of St. Bonaventure who succeeded Fr. Dominic as president. “His expertise in Franciscan history gave him perspective and patience. And he knew that there was deep in the Bonaventure community a profound capacity for renewal. Now he becomes a blessed name in that story,” she said. Read more about Fr. Dominic at www.sbu.edu/FrDominic. 30

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*Member of Seraphim Legacy Society

Alumni De aths

Barbara J. (Brennan) Fahey, ’69, Holderness, New Hampshire Thomas B. Quinn, ’69, Baldwinsville, New York Nancy J. (Hendel) Roberts, ’69, Rochester, New York Michael Wallace, ’69, Buffalo, New York Timothy Wood, ’69, Aiken, South Carolina Nancy L. (McIntosh) Benedict, ’70, Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania Thomas J. Brennan, ’70, Sun City Center, Florida Christine A. (Krysiak) Dodd, ’70, Timnath, Colorado Robert T. Maslyn, ’70, Greenfield, Massachusetts Sr. Regina McCloskey, ’70, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania John F. Morrissey, ’70, Saint Marys, Georgia Robert J. Vaisey, ’70, Warrensburg, New York Dale E. Bell, ’71, Cary, North Carolina Robert J. Hornak, ’71, Grovetown, Georgia John C. Morello, ’71, Brooklyn, New York Timothy D. Neville, ’71, St Augustine, Florida Louis “Lou” Nessle, Jr., ’72, Corning, New York Richard B. Parzych, ’72, Phoenix, Arizona Rev. Conrad S. Pecevich, ’72, Woonsocket, Rhode Island Janice E. (Arvidson) Stevens, ’72, Addison, New York William S. Sullivan, ’72, Durham, North Carolina John A. Capizzi, ’73, San Diego, California Timothy J. Bergan, ’74, Great Valley, New York Patrick T. Slavin, ’74, The Villages, Florida Peter C. Erbland, ’75, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho William B. Ford, ’75, Houston, Texas Virginia C. Randolph, ’75, Bradford, Pennsylvania Cynthia L. (Rizzo) Richetti, ’75, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Stephen Agosto, ’76, Webster, New York Fr. Joseph A. Gullo, ’76, Lackawanna, New York Cynthia A. (Riehle) Reinl, ’76, Henrietta, New York Brenda Quist, ’78, Allegany, New York Douglas A. Klem, ’81, Maineville, Ohio Deborah C. Baran, ’82, Prattsburgh, New York Paul Abdo, ’83, Olean, New York Julia M. Bergin, ’83, Fairfield, Connecticut Rebecca Marlowe, ’83, Massena, New York Timothy P. Danahy, ’84, Buffalo, New York Moira J. (Kruse) Ireland, ’84, Youngstown, New York Christopher J. Lawlor, ’84, Clifton, New Jersey Theo E. Bullock, ’85, Friendship, New York James F. Eagen, ’85, Crossville, Tennessee Ronald G. DeCarli, ’86, Bradenton, Florida Sr. Francis Kowalski, ’86, Syracuse, New York Colleen A. (Stevens) Redenback, ’86, Preble, New York Joseph Cuzzola, ’87, Erie, Pennsylvania Sr. Joan M. Bastress, ’88, Baltimore, Maryland Dorothy M. (Schaefer) Pfaff, ’88, Syracuse, New York Siobhan (Clancy) E. Fanucci, ’89, Bridgeport, Connecticut Samuel E. Graham, ’89, Bronx, New York Donna M. Harradine, ’89, Silver Spring, Maryland Jay F. Mangione, ’89, Albany, New York Michelle D. (Shongo) Hilton, ’90, Jamestown, New York Kenneth N. Mandell, ’90, Buffalo, New York Peter D. Shaffalo, ’91, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David A. Sanford, ’92, Canandaigua, New York Patrick D. Videll, ’93, Chicago, Illinois Sarah A. (Chapman) Wess, ’93, Jamison, Pennsylvania Lauren A. Duryee, ’95, Pittsfield, Massachusetts Danielle D. (Kneller) Kretzer, ’98, Hagerstown, Maryland Carrie R. Takarsh, ’99, Stephens City, Virginia Kevin J. Fritz, ’01, Cheektowaga, New York Michael C. Hickey, ’01, Newton Highlands, Massachusetts Linda J. (Zaleski) Manross, ’02, Allegany, New York Fredrick R. Crocker, ’09, Brooklyn, New York Alexandra C. Broughton, ’14, Washington, D.C. Danielle (Mangine) Russell, ’19, Russell, Pennsylvania

Friends & Family Rodolphe Berville, Ashland, Massachusetts Dr. Waleed Brantley, Olean, New York Edythe A. Burch, Schuylerville, New York Carmen A. Cassavino, West Seneca, New York Karl D. Chandler, Newark, New York Keith H. Clark, Houlton, Wisconsin Terrance Comerford, Richmond, Virginia Roger L. Howard, Olean, New York Timothy Keenan, Hudson Falls, New York John G. Kelly, New York, New York Samuel C. Kneller, Troy, Pennsylvania Valentina E. Kozlowski, Endicott, New York Mary Jane Kramer, Bemus Point, New York Eileen Light, Henrico, North Carolina James W. Mahar, Olean, New York John F. McGarry, Euclid, Ohio Peter A. Mirando, Kenmore, New York Patrick E. Mooney, Limestone, New York Patricia A. O’Brien, Allegany, New York Stanley F. Phillips, Naples, Florida Thomas H. Quinn III, Olean, New York William B. Rooney, Olean, New York Jerome M. Schnell, Williamsville, New York Robert C. Smith, Vergennes, Vermont Terrance Tambash, Olean, New York Mary L. Tyndall, Rochester, New York Dr. William A. Wehmeyer, Olean, New York Mary E. Wieland, Gladstone, New Jersey Dr. Paul W. Wood,* Olean, New York Gerald Zimmerman, Olean, New York

In Memoriam James “Jim” Cattano, ’65, a former member of the university’s Board of Trustees, passed away Monday, Sept. 7. St. Bonaventure held a special place in Cattano’s heart, and he served on its Board of Trustees for more than 10 years. He lived for Bonnies basketball and represented the university at every opportunity. Ronald “Ron” DeCarli, ’86, who spent five years as an assistant coach with the Bonnies before serving as head coach from 1986-89, passed away Friday, June 26. After leaving coaching, DeCarli began his career as a school administrator, serving as principal and superintendent in several area school districts. Francis J. “Frank” Kestler, ’65, who served on the university’s Board of Trustees from 1996 to 2005, passed away July 30. Under Kestler’s leadership as chair of the BOT Development Committee, the Gaudete Medal was unveiled in 1996. In 2000, Kestler served as national co-chair of the record-breaking Annual Fund effort and was recognized as Alumnus of the Year. Dr. William “Bill” Wehmeyer, a full-time professor of English at the university from 1962 to 2007, passed away July 29. During his tenure at SBU, Bill founded the Northeast Modern Language Association and cofounded St. Bonaventure’s Irish Studies program with colleagues Jeff White and Tony Farrow. Dr. Paul Wood, a professor of World Languages & Cultures at St. Bonaventure whose 35 years of teaching shaped generations of students, passed away July 11. In 1972, he created Language Day, an annual competition on campus that grew to 6,000 high school students over 15 years. Wood also founded St. Bonaventure’s chapters of the Phi Eta Sigma and Pi Delta Phi honor societies. He and his wife established the Paul and Mary Lou Wood Annual Swim Scholarship in 2017 at Bona’s and have been strong supporters of University Ministries.

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Class Notes

CLASS NOTES SPOTLIGHT

SAFARI DREAMS & SERVICE A mother‐daughter adventure Mother and daughter alumnae Mary Kay (Bondi) Chester, ’73, and Katie (Chester) Huntemann, ’07, were called to service after Katie read “The Elephant Whisperer” by Lawrence Anthony. As a rite of passage in turning 40, Katie decided that visiting the Thula Thula Game Reserve in South Africa and volunteering at its Volunteer Academy was her calling. After sending her mother a quick, somewhat vague email asking her to come along, their adventure of a lifetime began to take shape. Mary Kay and Katie spent seven days in early March in the African bush taking part in activities ranging from clearing invasive plants and repairing fences due to elephant mischief to animal monitoring and even competing in Bush Olympic Games — which included spitting antelope dung! They concluded their trip with two days in Johannesburg learning about South Africa’s complex history and soaking up its beautiful culture. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine this journey would become part of their mother-daughter story, but it did, and it left an elephant-sized footprint on their hearts. Thula Thula, which means “peace and tranquility” in Zulu, is the oldest private wildlife reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. Once a hunting ground of legendary Zulu King Shaka, the reserve encompasses diverse landscapes, including riverine bush, savanna and forest. The 4,500-hectare (17.3-square-mile) wildlife sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation, protection and survival of endangered species. In Mary Kay and Katie’s opinion, it’s the closest thing to heaven on earth. Read about their adventures: marykayandkatiessafariadventure.blogspot.com 32

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Mary Kay and Katie help clear overgrowth from an electric fence and repair it after the reserve’s elephants decided to crash into the anti-poaching unit’s camp the day before.

We d d i n gs

Hailey Garske, ’21, and Branden Myers, ’22

Submit your wedding for the next edition

Emily Wallace and Stephen Ross, ’12

To submit your wedding announcement for an upcoming edition of Bonaventure magazine, email magazine@sbu.edu or use the online form at www.sbu.edu/alumniupdate. 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. 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.

Carlisle Pinter, ’19 and Jared Roosa, ’18, ’19

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We d d i n gs

Caleigh Keane, ’21, and David Follenius

Hannah Skrzeczkowski, ’21, ’24, and Jake Kaempf, ’20, ’21

Avisha Castro and Thomas Chaddock, ’23 34

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Megan Barr and Ben Bootey, ’14

We d d i n gs

Stephannie Cravatta, ’12, and Shawn Updike

Anna Thomas, ’20, and Kevin Dulinawka

Alicia Heesen and Kyle Allan, ’17

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We d d i n gs

Marissa Carrig, ’21, and Joshua McGraw, ’19, ’20

Allie Piergustavo, ’19, and Kyle Ciquera, ’19

Alexandra Pochop, ’18, ’19, and Drew Bartlett

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BECAUSE OF YOU The print edition of Bonaventure magazine contained exclusive content, including an Honor Roll of Donors for Fiscal Year 2026.

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The gift of opportunity Donor support gives students life-changing opportunities — at home and abroad BY TOM MISSEL

W

When Ava Pierce reflects on the last 15 months, she doesn’t see two separate experiences — studying abroad in Italy and completing a competitive wealth management internship in New Jersey. She sees two opportunities that may never have happened without the generosity of St. Bonaventure University donors. The senior Finance major from Hamburg, New York, credits two endowed funds — the John ’65 and Joan Deignan Endowed Scholarship and the Brian and John McAllister Business Scholars Program Endowment — with making the last two summers more transformative than she ever dreamed. “These experiences changed me,” Pierce said. “I wake up every day just grateful for the experiences that I’ve had. I hope the donors are proud of who they chose to support because their hard-earned money has had such a long-lasting impact on me.” Pierce first traveled to Sorrento in 2025 through St. Bonaventure’s summer study abroad program, an immersive academic experience that combines classroom learning with cultural exploration throughout southern Italy. The Deignan Endowed Scholarship helps students with demonstrated financial need participate in the university’s Italian study abroad programs, removing financial barriers that might otherwise keep them from studying overseas. Before receiving the funding, Pierce wasn’t sure studying abroad was financially realistic.

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Photos provided

p Ava Pierce (center) and classmate Ava Guardino prepare a meal in Sorrento, Italy, with former program director Anna Bulszewicz.

t Ava Pierce and Ava Guardino in Sorrento, Italy

“It just seemed like an insane experience,” she said. “But I kept thinking, ’There’s no way I can afford this.’” Due to the endowment, she spent several weeks experiencing a different culture, exploring historic cities and gaining a broader perspective on the world. “It really made me appreciate how differently people live,” Pierce said. “You realize there’s so much more to the world than your own bubble. It gives you such an appreciation for different cultures, different people and different ways of life. It makes you want to experience everything life has to offer.” THIS PAST SUMMER, Pierce accepted a wealth management internship with Simon Quick Advisors in Morristown, New Jersey, a firm founded in 2004 by one of St. Bonaventure’s most generous benefactors, Les Quick III, Class of 1975. While the opportunity aligned perfectly with her career goals, the costs associated with relocating for the summer initially seemed overwhelming. “I knew I couldn’t say no because it was the opportunity I’d been working toward,” she said. “But I also knew I had to figure out how I was going to make it work financially.” Then came the McAllister Business Scholars Program Endowment, which provides business students with funding for housing, living expenses and summer tuition so they can pursue transformative internships in metropolitan areas. “When I found out about the McAllister scholarship, it honestly felt like God answered all my prayers,” Pierce said. The internship confirmed that wealth management is the career she wants to pursue after graduation while giving her confidence she couldn’t have gained in a classroom alone. “I’ve learned so much in two months that I genuinely think I’ve learned as much as I did in three years of school,” she said. “Applying the concepts I’ve learned in class alongside real professionals every day has completely changed how I look at my education.” The experience also replaced uncertainty with confidence. “I’m excited to graduate now,” Pierce said. “I’m not scared to enter the workforce anymore because I honestly feel prepared.” Without the McAllister Endowment, she said, that confidence might not exist. “Without this internship, I would have gone back to my restaurant job and still felt extremely unprepared to enter the workplace,” she said. “Instead, I’ve gained professional skills, built relationships and discovered exactly what I want to do.” Pierce, who serves as head of operations for St. Bonaventure’s Student Managed Investment Fund (SIMM), said both opportunities reinforced one important lesson: philanthropy creates possibilities that extend far beyond finan-

Photo provided

p Ava Pierce interned this past summer with Simon Quick Advisors in Morristown, New Jersey (pictured in the background).

cial assistance. It also serves as inspiration to pay it forward down the road. “Both of these experiences were opportunities I couldn’t have provided for myself,” she said. “I’m incredibly thankful to the donors who believed in students like me. They have definitely changed my life for the better and made me want to give back as an alumnus one day to future Bonaventure students because I know the impact that they had on me.” Nearly 50 donors — alumni, friends and family of Brian and John McAllister — have contributed to McAllister Business Scholars in celebration of their legacy. This endowment will continue to provide meaningful summer internship opportunities for students for years to come. (Tom Missel retired in September as chief communications officer at St. Bonaventure.)

Create a new legacy

If you wish to support the Brian and John McAllister Business Scholars Program Endowment, donate to study abroad programs, or establish an endowment to enhance a student experience abroad, visit www.sbu.edu/donate or contact Melissa DeRose, major gifts officer, at mderose@sbu.edu.

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3261 W. State Road P.O. Box 2509 St. Bonaventure, NY 14778 If the magazine is sent to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, drop us a note to magazine@sbu.edu.