, ontone , Rob M m left o d n Fr a : r FAR LEFT roedersecke as RNB ch m Blaise S pson perfor g their m o in Neal Th s Beach” dur il’ on “Nev ar. ye senior ft) and cker (le ederse or an RNB o r h c S LEFT: the arse f e rehe held at ion Monton g, which was g Reun in gi r n u d io n reu inner f 1987 d . class o in June d n e k e We
NAME:
Rob Montone ’87
HOMETOWN:
East Aurora, N.Y.
Wife, Nancy; son, Nathan (20); daughter, Logan Anne (18); and son, Gabe (14)
FAMILY:
Account Director at EarthLink Business
OCCUPATION:
HOBBIES:
Music, Music & Music
MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT SCRANTON:
Hosting “fundraisers” at the Mad House to pay for utilities. Attending Father Gannon’s final class days before he passed. Working with President Panuska on student rights.
This is one of my favorite pictures from my days at “The U.” Neal Thompson ’87 and I met during orientation and immediately started playing music together. When Blaise Schroedersecker ’87 transferred to the University and began singing with us the following year, our trio “RNB” was born. We loved every moment of our three years spent entertaining friends at the campus coffeehouse “Crossroads” and at local late-night haunts. Often Neal, Blaise and I would depart Oscars after a gig, high-fiving each other and gloating about how much fun the evening was, when the owner would come running down Mulberry Street shouting, “Guys, you forgot to take your pay!” This old photo captures one of our last moments together on “Nevil’s Beach” during a warm spring afternoon with many of our classmates in attendance. It was a “last hurrah” of sorts as we felt the inevitability of graduation and its accompanying dispersion. The music scene was just one aspect of campus life. Most profoundly, the University gave me an opportunity to really reach, expand and blossom – and ultimately become myself. The Jesuit way of liberating minds from preconceived notions and present culture, lighting the fire of critical thought and curiosity, and fomenting a passion to serve has helped me succeed in everything I have pursued. In a world of such powerful persuasion toward questionable values, the morals I gained in those four years have kept me focused on what is truly important in life. Twenty-five years later, so many of our profound experiences have now become “sermons in stone.” I couldn’t wait to return for Reunion to see buildings now named after great people we communed with, plaques of professors who inspired us and, as the new photo shows, to jam with RNB again and reconnect with old friends. I wish that every student now and in the future might have such a memorable time at my alma mater.
–– RoB Montone ’87
Rob
8
TH E SCR ANTON J OU RN A L