Summer 2008
Heart of a Champion Bill Stein leaves a legacy that’s hard to beat
A New Beginning Many in the Saint Peter’s College community celebrated the Baptism and First Holy Communion of Evgeniya Pavlova ’08 at Saint Peter’s Chapel earlier this year. The College senior studied with Rev. Peter O’Brien, S.J., for three years before converting to Catholicism. The complete story appears on page 7.
Pictured from left to right are: Rev. Peter O’Brien, S.J., Evgeniya Pavlova ’08 and godmother and sponsor Megan Craven ’08. Seated at left is Rev. Joseph Papaj, S.J. Saint Peter’s College Magazine
SAINT PETER’S COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President Marylou Yam, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs Michael A. Fazio, M.B.A. Vice President for Advancement Jon E. Yellin Vice President for Finance and Business Virginia Bender, Ph.D. ’78 Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Planning www.spc.edu Saint Peter’s College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, marital status, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation or veteran’s status. SUMMER 2008 SAINT PETER’S COLLEGE MAGAZINE Volume 27, Number 3 Editor Lorraine McConnell Executive Director of Public Relations and Publications Editorial & Design Services Erbach Communications Group Contributors & Editorial Assistance Jamie Bredehoft Ana M. Cravo Daniel Drutz Leah Leto ’05 Catherine Mernar Frances Salvo ’02 Rosemary Servidio Photography Juan Cardenas ’09 Gene Shaw Saint Peter’s College Archives Hillier Environmental Graphics Saint Peter’s Magazine is published by the Office of Public Relations and Publications, Saint Peter’s College. Views expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or official policies of the College.
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Diversity is Our Strength When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States recently, one of the most striking things he noted about the American Catholic Church is its rich diversity. Our Holy Father witnessed firsthand how diversity enriches our American culture and our faith. During the Holy Father’s visit, I was proud to travel to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. to attend the special session with Catholic college presidents and to represent a Jesuit college that truly embodies these values. As the most diverse of the 28 American Jesuit colleges, located in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, Saint Peter’s boasts a student body representing more than 70 nationalities and speaking nearly 40 different languages.They come from all over the country and all over the world, forming a mosaic of many ethnic groups, races and religions. Here at Saint Peter’s, I have witnessed so many beautiful expressions of inclusion.Where else can we attend the Baptism of a student on a Sunday evening, followed a few days later by a campus seder for Passover? Or find students of different religions and races coming together to celebrate the blessing of a Muslim prayer space? Or watch American students learning the game of cricket from fellow students who hail from India and the West Indies? Saint Peter’s has always been a beacon for first-generation college students who have benefited from the Jesuit, liberal arts education that develops our society’s leaders. Glance through the pages of this magazine and you’ll read about Saint Peter’s graduates who have emerged as leaders in their respective fields, as well as students and faculty who truly embrace the Jesuit ideal of “men and women for others.” Of course, no one embodies this ideal as much as Director of Athletics Bill Stein, who leaves an enduring legacy of care after 26 years at the College. In today’s multi-cultural world, effective communication skills, mutual respect and teamwork — the very skills cultivated when living and learning alongside others from different cultures — are valued in increasingly diverse and global work environments. We are blessed with a community that can appreciate each other’s differences and, at the same time, recognize that our hopes and aspirations are really quite similar. Diversity is our strength. And one of the greatest gifts we offer our students.
Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. President, Saint Peter’s College 2
Saint Peter’s College Magazine
Contents
10.
16.
12. Features 4.
Q&A
A conversation with Kathleen McKenna, Esq. ’75, the new Chairman of the Saint Peter’s College Board of Trustees.
24. Heart of a Champion
Set to retire after 26 years at Saint Peter’s College, Director of Athletics Bill Stein leaves a legacy of care that’s hard to beat.
10. Inside “Cabaret”
Departments
12. Health Smart
7. 19. 26. 32.
A behind-the-scenes visit with the Argus Eyes players, 72 hours before the opening of “Cabaret.” A new Saint Peter’s College outreach program is teaching Jersey City school kids that practicing good hygiene is smart, providing health benefits that last a lifetime.
16. The Jesuit Painter
For Oscar Magnan, S.J., the pursuit of art goes beyond paintings or sculpture. It’s a way of life.
20. Leaders in their Field
Meet two Saint Peter’s alumni who are making their mark in college academia.
22. Destination Jersey City
A grassroots marketing effort is uniting 30 Jersey City area institutions, and putting the State’s second-largest city on the map. Literally.
On the Boulevard Donors Who Make a Difference Alumni News and Notes Ad Finem
How to Reach Us Alumni News and Notes Submit a note online at http://alumni.spc.edu or send it to: Office of Alumni Relations Cushing Alumni House, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07306 Letter to the Editor E-mail: lmcconnell@spc.edu Editor, Saint Peter’s College Magazine Hilsdorf Hall, 51 Glenwood Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306 Telephone: (201) 761-6240 Fax: (201) 761-6241 On the cover: Bill Stein, Director of Athletics at Saint Peter’s College
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DONORS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Trustee News
Q&A with Kathleen McKenna, Esq. ’75 Kathleen McKenna, Esq. ’75 has always lived by the Jesuit principle of magis — to continually strive for more — as a first-generation college student at Saint Peter’s College, a law student at Boston College, and now a partner and attorney at Proskauer Rose LLC, where she is consistently ranked as a “New York Super Lawyer” and one of “The Best Lawyers in America.” McKenna takes the Jesuit principle one step further on July 1 by becoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Saint Peter’s College. Q. You have the distinction of being the first alumna and only the second woman to be elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Saint Peter’s College. How does it feel?
A. Well, it’s wonderful to be asked to take on such an important task. I am not someone who normally thinks about my gender until somebody raises it, so if my gender inspires women into leadership, then I’m happy! Q. As a law partner at Proskauer Rose you’ve been asked to serve on the boards of many worthwhile organizations. Why have you made this commitment to the College?
A. That’s very easy; I really love Saint Peter’s. If it weren’t for Saint Peter’s, my life would have been very different. I was the first in my family to go to college because I had a debating scholarship from Saint Peter’s. I received a wonderful education and the Jesuits were a great inspiration to me. I really feel like I need to give back, and am delighted to be able to give back. Q. Saint Peter’s has been undergoing a decade of renewal with new academic programs and now residence life. What’s next?
A. I think there isn’t any question that we need to make a big investment in the College; this is 4 Saint Peter’s College Magazine
really a critical time for us.We need to develop a student center and would like to see Saint Peter’s be as successful as a lot of other institutions in Jersey City.The city, as you know, is experiencing a renaissance, so I’d like to see us broaden our footprint in a way that increases our presence in Jersey City. Q. Strengthening Jesuit mission and identity has been another key focus for the College. What role does the Board play in that?
A. Given the scarcity of Jesuit resources, the role of the laity is increasingly important. I think our role is first and foremost to articulate the purpose and value of Jesuit education at the Board level. We’re going to have to be the spokespersons. If we can articulate that for ourselves, I think that’s the beginning of being able to take that message to a public level. If you’re talking to prospective students, you need to be able to define your identity and distinguish yourself as a Jesuit institution. Q. Saint Peter’s just entered a new era of lay leadership. How do you feel about that?
A. We are just so blessed to have Gene Cornacchia as our first lay President of the College.We desperately needed someone in this time of transition who is not
only extremely knowledgeable about higher education, but really thinking about the future challenges.We also needed someone who loved and understood the College, and Gene really does. I promise you — people will look back in a very short time — and will come to see what a great treasure we have in Gene. I am happy and delighted to be supporting him in any way. Q. You became a litigator and litigators tend to be supremely confident people. Would you say that’s derived in part from Jesuit education?
A. I think so, for two reasons. One, because I think debate really instilled that in me. And two, because I think the intellectual debate that goes on there gives you the ability to defend your position.The Jesuits would always say, “I don’t want to know what you think — I want to know what you know.” Your ability to back up your opinion, defend your position and explicate what you’ve learned was vigorous. Q. How does Jesuit education influence your decision making today?
A. Well, I hope it causes me to be analytic in a moral framework. I hope I’m always asking, “What is the right answer?” and not necessarily “What’s the successful answer?” I hope that I have a
Thank You Frank Ziegler ’63
Kathleen McKenna, Esq. ’75 in her law office at Proskauer Rose. Colleagues say that the new Chairman is a role model who will inspire others into leadership.
moral compass. I think I look at the greater good, not just at the individual good. I hope my analytical rigor takes place in a moral framework. Q. Anything else you’d like to add about the future of the Board of Trustees?
A. I think it’s very important that we diversify the representation of the leadership levels of the College, both at the Board of Regents and the Board of
Trustees. I think we still have far too few women and far too few people of color. I would like in my tenure, and certainly in my lifetime, to see these boards reflect the diversity that is the College. I personally encourage alumni who want to be involved at that level to make themselves known to us. McKenna and her husband Joseph Vallerini ’75, live in Ridgewood, NJ with their children, Matthew, Nora and Colin.
After ten years of service as a Trustee and Chairman, Frank Ziegler ’63 will retire from the Saint Peter’s College Board of Trustees on June 30. The former President and CEO of Claneil Enterprises Inc., and operations and marketing executive with Johnson & Johnson for 30 years, Ziegler led the Board during a decade of strategic renewal at the College. During his tenure, Saint Peter’s introduced new academic Frank Ziegler ’63 programs, invested in faculty and infrastructure improvements and as a result, experienced increased admissions and a rising academic profile among incoming students. He also chaired the Presidential Search Committee after the unexpected passing of Rev. James N. Loughran, S.J. in 2006. “Frank is an enormous booster for Saint Peter’s,” said Kathleen McKenna, Esq. ’75, who becomes Chairman of the Board of Trustees on July 1. “He has an inherent sort of verve and enthusiasm. I think he draws out the best in people; he gets people to really bring their talents to the school because you can’t say no to Frank!” “We had to take a chance,” said Ziegler, regarding the many improvements and changes at Saint Peter’s. “The Board of Trustees in the last 10 years has really started to invest in opportunities for the College.” The former Chairman also said he’s thrilled to see McKenna and College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., leading Saint Peter’s, noting, “The future of the school is in great hands with the two of them.” Saint Peter’s College Magazine 5
Trustee News
Russo, Carver and Webster Join Saint Peter’s College Board of Trustees The Saint Peter’s College Board of Trustees elects three new members: Ralph R. Russo ’70,Thomas D. Carver, Esq. ’58 and Elnardo J. Webster, Ed.D. ’69. CA, and is on the Volunteer Services staff for Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA. Russo resides in Atherton, CA, with his wife Susan and their two children, Jessica and Richard.
Ralph R. Russo ’70
Ralph R. Russo ’70 is a veteran technology company executive with more than 30 years’ experience managing firms through challenging business situations. He is currently President, CEO and Director of Strategic Polymer Sciences, Inc., a polymer applications company he started with Dr. Qiming Zhang, a renowned polymer scientist from Penn State University. Over the course of his career, Russo has provided leadership and expertise to companies such as Nortel Networks and Apple Computer Corporation. A graduate of Saint Peter’s College, Russo earned an MBA from Regis University and certificates in operations and marketing management from Harvard Business School and Stanford Business School. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Seton Medical Center in Daly City,
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Thomas D. Carver, Esq. ’58
Thomas D. Carver, Esq. ’58 was appointed Executive Director of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in 2005. He previously served as Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and Managing Partner of The Castle Group, LLC, a government affairs firm with expertise in transportation issues. A graduate of Saint Peter’s College and the keynote speaker for the College’s Commencement in May 2008, Carver is a Regent Emeritus and the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Loyalty to Alma Mater in 2006.
Carver received his law degree from New York Law School and is a member of the New Jersey Bar. He resides in Allenwood, NJ, with his wife Sheila.The couple has three grown children and five grandchildren. Elnardo J. Webster, Ed.D. ’69 has been Superintendent of the Roselle School District since April 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was Director of Newark’s Office of Extended School Day Programs and Director of Recreation for the New Jersey Department of Corrections. While he attended Saint Peter’s, Dr.Webster played varsity basketball at the College and played one season in the ABA. A resident of West Orange, NJ, he is married to Sandra and has two sons, Elnardo, Jr. and DaMarko.
Elnardo J. Webster, Ed.D. ’69
On the Boulevard
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Her Spiritual Journey Home When Evgeniya “Jenny” Pavlova ’08 began her undergraduate studies at Saint Peter’s College four years ago, she never expected to graduate as a Catholic. “New York was always a dream for me,” explained the Psychology major, noting that proximity to the Big Apple was the initial draw for enrolling in The Jesuit College of New Jersey. “Once I got here, however, I got to know the Jesuits
Saint Peter’s Chapel
and started attending Mass with friends who were Catholic. I started to learn more about Jesuit values and became really comfortable with all of it.” On April 6, Pavlova was baptized a Catholic by Rev. Peter O’Brien, S.J., and received First Holy Communion during a moving Mass attended by many in the Saint Peter’s community.The ceremony, held in Saint Peter’s Chapel, was the culmination of a three-year spiritual journey for Pavlova, who had a secular upbringing in Varna, Bulgaria. “I think of tonight as exceptionally beautiful,” said Father O’Brien during the Mass. “I’ve known Jenny for about three years now and it was simply evident to me that she was the real McCoy, that indeed, God was moving her.”
Evgeniya Pavlova ’08 received a hug from Patricia Nicodemus ’08 following the Baptism.
Pavlova describes her discernment process as one filled with questions, study and reflection on Catholic traditions and values.“The classes seem like a long time ago,” she said. “At the same time, it’s the beginning of something new that’s so exciting. The Catholic Church is everywhere in the world, and no matter where I go, I know I’ll have a home to go to.”
New e-Commerce Concentration for the New Economy Electronic commerce is exploding, and so is the demand for qualified employees who can manage applications for computerized networks. Next spring, Saint Peter’s College will graduate its first class of Computer and Information
Science students who hold a new concentration in e-Commerce. This innovative course offering introduces business processes for the new economy with specific emphasis on the use of commercial portals for sales, marketing, customer service and supply chain management. Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science Dr. Edward Moskal says the e-Commerce concentration, along with courses in computer security and cryptology, will provide students with a fundamental and technical understanding of how to manage the delivery of goods and services effectively in a secure, online environment. Saint Peter’s students will have
a distinct advantage in the workplace because cryptology, the science of cracking codes, is an area of focus not found at many colleges offering e-Commerce programs. “Everything right now is Web-based,” Dr. Moskal emphasized. “Because there is a lot of commerce with business-to-consumer electronic business and business-to-business buying and selling, it made a lot of sense to offer e-Commerce as a concentration to Computer Science majors.” Students seem to think so, too. Within weeks of the College offering the new concentration, five Computer Science majors had already signed up. Saint Peter’s College Magazine
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On the Boulevard
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Cricket Comes to Campus
Former New York Times Bureau Chief Chris Hedges.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Speaks at Saint Peter’s Hundreds in the Saint Peter’s College community turned out to hear former New York Times war correspondent and Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges, present “Iraq:Why Care?” on April 23. Hedges shared his experiences as a foreign war correspondent and urged attendees to take an active interest in the war in Iraq, despite decreasing media coverage. A former Middle East Bureau Chief for The Times, Mr. Hedges was part of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s coverage of global terrorism. Currently a Senior Fellow at The Nation Institute in New York City, he also received the 2002 Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. Hedges’ appearance also coincided with a voter registration drive organized by Political Science faculty members, Dr. Michelle Hartman and Professor Alain Sanders. “Students are definitely paying more attention this election year,” said Dr. Hartman, noting that the effort included soliciting faculty participants to distribute voter registration forms to students as well as “on-the-street” recruiting.To date, the effort registered a total of 200 students as new voters. “This is a small school,” added Dr. Hartman. “Two hundred of anything is a great turnout.” 8 Saint Peter’s College Magazine
“Googly,” “hit wicket” and “yorker” are the latest sports terms being bandied about the Saint Peter’s campus since the College instituted an intramural cricket team last year. “It all started with the IndoPak Club, where many of us had a mutual interest in cricket,” explained Team Captain Anand Churi ’09, who hails from Mumbai.“Father Loughran was among the first who saw us play and took a keen interest.We’re very happy to see that it’s spreading.” With a regular roster of 15 students, the team is comprised of experienced players (Churi competed in the Indian-American National Cricket Championship last year) and novices. Many are from the West Indies, India, Pakistan and Nepal, where the bat-and-ball sport is followed with
a passion, but there are also a few American students ready to take a turn as bowlers or batsmen (think pitchers and batters in baseball). Practices take place in the Yanitelli Recreational Life Center, or outside of Saint Peter Hall and sometimes in nearby Lincoln Park. When cricket season officially begins, the Saint Peter’s team travels to South Brunswick and other locales to play club teams in the Cricket League of New Jersey. There have been some losses, but also some exciting wins against competitive teams like the New Jersey Titans. Mostly, team organizers say it’s about working together and having fun. “It’s going to grow more,” predicted Churi. “There’s more strategy to the game, there’s more teamwork. Everyone should try it at least once.”
“There’s more strategy to the game, there’s more teamwork. Everyone should try it at — Anand Churi ’09 least once.”
The Saint Peter’s College Cricket Team, back row (left to right) Raghav Marthi ’11, Saugat Kumar Jung ’11, Vishal Upadhyay ’11, Anand Churi ’09, Tushar Trivedi, International Student Coordinator, Gary Young ’10, Samik Adhikari ’11, Paul Lazzaro ’11, Anthony Frattali ’11, Arpan Rijal ’11. Front row (left to right) Sangam Pokharel ’09 and Jackson Strokes ’11.
The Graduates 30 Years Later
This Old House
A look at what has changed — and what hasn’t — among Saint Peter’s College graduates in the last 30 years.
Do you have a story or information about Guarini House? E-mail AnnMarie Cornacchia at AMCornacchia@spc.edu.
If Guarini House could talk, AnnMarie Cornacchia would have a lot of questions. For starters, she’d like to know what year the historic home — purchased in 1993 by the College for the President’s residence — was built. “Sometimes you look down the Boulevard at all the grand houses and wonder,” said Cornacchia, a history and antiques buff who is currently researching the provenance of the home she shares with College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. Information has come from a variety of sources, including an alumnus who is a member of the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission, and a faculty member who was a childhood friend of the previous owner’s daughter. Recently, Cornacchia discovered that the great-grandson of Dr. Edmond A. Utkewicz, possibly Guarini House’s original owner, is attending Saint Peter’s Prep, and hopes to welcome a few members of the Utkewicz family to the residence soon. Her ultimate goal is to create a short history of the
house that can be viewed by visitors. Based on details such as gas-lit lamps and evidence of a former coal room, Cornacchia estimates Guarini House was built sometime between 1895 and 1905. Elements such as a high-pitched roof with a decorative cap, gabled dormers, Tuscan-style columns and Art Nouveau brass plates indicate several styles of Victorian architecture, including Italian Renaissance. Cornacchia was both surprised and delighted to find so many period details intact.“It shows the house hasn’t had oodles of owners,” she noted.“It’s really a lovely home. It has a graceful presence.” To further develop the provenance of Guarini House, Saint Peter’s College Magazine invites readers to share any information, anecdotes or memories of the historic home, which may be published in a future issue of this publication. Kindly e-mail submissions to AMCornacchia@spc.edu.
2008
1978
Total undergraduate degrees conferred
544
537
Total graduate degrees conferred
312
0
Number of degrees awarded in Criminal Justice, Communication, International Business and Nursing
140
0
Number of students living in residence halls
795
0
Top selling graduation gift
iPod
Cross Pen and Pencil Set
PNC Bank Arts Center
Giants Stadium
Black
Black
Commencement Venue Cap and Gown Colors
Graduation keynote address
Thomas D. Carver, Esq. ‘58, Executive Director of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
Rev. Victor Yanitelli, S.J., who then retired after 13 years as College President.
Sources: Consumer Electronic Association, New York Times, Saint Peter’s College Registrar and Office of Residence Life.
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INSIDE “CABARET” A visit with the talented and dedicated Argus Eyes players, 72 hours before showtime. Set in 1930s Berlin on the eve of the Third Reich’s rise to power, “Cabaret” is a musical with a message. And that’s exactly what performers from the Saint Peter’s College student drama society wanted. “This is a step in a different direction for Argus Eyes,” said Kaitlyn Flannery ’09, during a technical rehearsal a few days before the show opened on April 10. A Criminal Justice major from Maryland who played Fraulein Kost, Flannery added, “We are 10
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usually pretty conservative with what we’re doing. “Cabaret” has material we’ve never really dealt with before.” “We’re getting a chance to look at some real issues,” agreed Matt Vieria ’09, a Mathematics and Chemistry major from New York, who played Herr Schultz. “It really gave us a chance as actors to flesh out a lot of our different acting muscles, but also as students to discuss and also teach our audience. It’s very interesting that we’re in a really big election year,
and so many of the things that are touched upon in this show can be applied to where our country is going now.” Sarah Anfora ’08, who starred as Sally Bowles and will begin an MFA at the prestigious Actors Studio at Pace University in the fall, also appreciated the chance to break out. “Sally is quite the opposite of anything I am in my life. It was hard at first getting comfortable in her skin, but I like that because it gave me the opportunity to go out
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of the box I normally like to stay in. And that’s how you learn as an actor, to keep challenging yourself and do things you normally wouldn’t do.” Despite edgier material and demanding rehearsal schedules, hands-on involvement is still very much a part of the Argus Eyes experience. “In our group we’re not just all actors,” explained Veronica Graveline ’10, a Psychology major from southern California. “We’re actors, producers and builders.
It’s the combination of doing everything that makes it fun because you get to do it all.” “We’re a really dedicated cast,” noted Brandon Hightower, a freshman who made his Argus Eyes debut in the role of Clifford Bradshaw. “Even though it’s only a two-hour production, it takes way more than two hours to get it to where it’s at — perfection. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and I’m excited I got the chance to experience it.”
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Sarah Anfora ’08 as Sally Bowles. The Kit Kat Girls at the cabaret. The cast of “Cabaret.” Veronica Graveline ’10 as Fraulein Schneider. The Kit Kat Boys. Argus Eyes newcomer Brandon Hightower ’11 in the role of Clifford Bradshaw. G. Dominic Furina ‘10 as the omnipresent Emcee. H. Argus Eyes players Matt Vieria ’09 as Herr Schultz and Chris Fanguy ‘10 as Ernst Ludwig.
The student drama society,Argus Eyes, has a long and proud history at Saint Peter’s College.With a mission to foster excitement and awareness of the arts in the spirit of cura personalis, the organization has experienced a revival in recent years with productions that have included “Noises Off,”“Into the Woods,” “The Crucible” and “Godspell.” Saint Peter’s College Magazine
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MEN AND WOMEN FOR OTHERS
Health Smart With the help of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Saint Peter’s is teaching kids in Jersey City schools that practicing good hygiene is smart — and provides health benefits that can last a lifetime. 12
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Kevin Tanner ’09 discusses basic health habits, such as brushing teeth, with first graders from Saint Patrick’s School in Jersey City.
Brush. Floss. And for heavens sake, get off the couch and get some exercise! Those parental edicts make kids cringe. And when parents don’t exactly practice what they preach, it can lead to a lifetime of health problems. A group of Saint Peter’s alumni, faculty members and students are hoping to change that cycle among urban school kids through a program launched last year called “Healthing Along in
Jersey City.” The program sends Saint Peter’s students into local elementary schools to teach simple health habits that can have profound lifelong health benefits. Funded through a generous grant from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the program focuses on teaching the basics of healthy living such as frequent hand washing, brushing and flossing teeth, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and
refraining from smoking. Dr. Raymond Maguire ’58, a College trustee and retired pathologist, is the principal organizer of the new program, which was launched in January 2006. A Preventive Approach
“We decided to try to teach little children to take care of their health, because once positive behavior is instilled, it’s hard to change,” Dr. Maguire explained. “The topics sound really basic, but Saint Peter’s College Magazine
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Students from Soaring Heights Charter School responded enthusiastically to “Healthing Along.”
they’re important, mostly because a lot of these habits aren’t developed at home.” A strong proponent of taking charge of personal health through education and preventive measures, Dr. Maguire pointed out that lack of exercise and poor diet can translate into Type II diabetes, a big health issue in urban areas such as Hudson County, and poor
lectures and workshops presented by Saint Peter’s Biology majors at several Jersey City elementary schools beginning last spring. In all, the program reached 640 students at parochial and charter schools in the city last year.This spring, that number expanded to nearly 1,000 youngsters, thanks to the participation of an additional charter school. Dr. Maguire and Dr. Sciorra eventually hope to include students enrolled in the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to reach even more children. Student Involvement
A key feature of “Healthing Along” is the involvement of Saint Peter’s students, who lead discussions on health topics and hands-on activities among children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Kathleen Starr ’07, who is currently working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York before attending California’s Touro Medical School next fall, used
“ It was a great partnership between the College and the elementary schools. We like having that connection.” — Michele Link, Co-Principal, Saint Patrick’s School
dental hygiene can lead to heart disease. “Type II diabetes is an acquired disease with treacherous consequences, so we’re trying to instill behaviors now to prevent it,” he noted. “I’ve always been interested in trying to convince people to take care of themselves.” Dr. Maguire worked with Dr. Len Sciorra, the College’s Schuh Professor of Health and Natural Sciences, to develop a series of
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creativity and games to ensure that her young students at Resurrection School took her lessons to heart. “When I was teaching, their eyes opened up to certain things,” Starr recalled. “Kids hear certain things over and over again, like washing their hands, but they don’t necessarily understand why. They don’t think they need eight hours of sleep, but when you explain the sleep cycle and dreams to them, they become interested.”
Fellow Biology major Sana Zia ’08, who participated in the program last fall with her sister, Amna Zia ’08, found that students at Saint Patrick’s School were eager to learn. “They’re fun to work with. They really throw their ideas into discussions,” said Zia, who hopes to attend medical school next year. “Kids are still learning, and it’s better if they learn critical information like this at an early age. In the long run, they’ll know which things to avoid.” An Immediate Impact
The elementary school students aren’t the only ones who valued the “Healthing Along” curriculum. A survey of parents whose children participated applauded the program overwhelmingly. In fact, 99 percent reported that the topics benefited their families, with 80 percent adding that their children’s health habits improved as a result of the workshops. Parents commented that their children brushed, flossed and washed their hands more, and also encouraged family members to exercise frequently. “Saint Peter’s College and its student body have really embraced their mentoring program for healthy living — ‘Healthing Along in Jersey City,’ ” said Larry Altman, Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “Their efforts mentoring young school children about the importance of healthy eating, living and hygiene will help many of these children get important information they may never have received, and improve their quality of life.” Educators, too, valued the program, with several new schools
A Foundation for New Insights on Autism requesting to take part. Michele Link, a co-principal at Saint Patrick’s School, said students there now remind teachers when soap is running low in classrooms. “It was a great partnership between the College and the elementary schools,” Link said. “It was beneficial for our students to
students would do it anyway because they get so much personal satisfaction out of it.They just love doing it.” One of those students is Kevin Tanner ’09, who hopes to apply to veterinary school. But his participation in “Healthing Along” at Soaring Heights Charter School has sparked an interest in a
“ I feel like I would take more of a community-oriented approach to medicine. You can see how education and preventive measures help to improve overall public — Kathleen Starr ’07 health.” hear information from a source outside of the school.We like having that connection.” The program’s benefits aren’t limited to the elementary school students and their families. Dr. Sciorra said that providing community outreach fulfills the College’s mission of cura personalis while giving Biology majors an edge when they apply for a job or to medical school. “It’s a good thing to have on their resumé in terms of community outreach when applying to medical or dental school,” he said. “But I think our
possible teaching career first. “Kids are really open to learning,”Tanner said. “Even though they already know the basics, they’re not afraid to learn.” For Starr, participating in “Healthing Along” has changed the way she will someday practice medicine. “I feel like now, since I’m going to medical school, I would take more of a communityoriented approach to medicine,” she said.“You can see how education and preventive measures help to improve overall public health.”
Dr. Raymond Maguire ’58, who initiated “Healthing Along,” and Sana Zia ’08, a student participant in the program.
With a mission of promoting health, wellbeing and quality of life in New Jersey’s communities, support from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey has made important health initiatives at Saint Peter’s College possible, including “A Genetic Perspective on Autism” hosted by the College in March. The symposium offered new insights into the developmental disorder thought to affect about 1 in 150 children, according to a recent study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey has a particularly high rate of autism of 10.6 per 1,000, compared to the national average of 6.6 per 1,000. Free and open to the public, the educational event featured speakers including Clarence E. Schutt, Ph.D., a Professor of Chemistry at Princeton University, who offered his professional views on “An Architectonic Perspective on Autism.” Dr. Schutt is also the founder and co-chair of The Eden Programs, which serve children and adults with autism, and is a founding trustee of The National Alliance for Autism Research. Raymond S. Roginski, M.D., Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, offered perspectives on the links between gene sequencing and autism. Other educational forums on health issues made possible by The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey include “Diabetes: Enigma and Epidemic,” a symposium presented by Saint Peter’s College and the Jersey City Medical Center in 2006. Saint Peter’s College Magazine
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The Jesuit Painter For Oscar Magnan, S.J. Art is Life
Father Magnan works with Fine Arts students on their sculptures. Pictured left to right are: Vincent Bonionno ‘08, Alano Grove ‘09, Father Magnan and Stefania Varricchio ‘08. 16
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Focus on Faculty
When it comes to explaining the breadth of his abilities and accomplishments, Rev. Oscar G. Magnan, S.J., a beloved art professor who has been teaching at Saint Peter’s College since 1970, said, “I am blessed with an absurd amount of energy.” But clearly, it isn’t simply energy that has enabled the Jesuit. Consider his various roles. In addition to being a full professor, Father Magnan is an award-winning artist who earned first prize in a competition of young artists at London’s renowned Tate Gallery at the age of 19. His works are in the permanent collections of such
institutions as The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.,Yale University Art Gallery, the British Museum and dozens more. At Saint Peter’s, he is the Director of the Saint Peter’s College Art Gallery, which he founded in 1976 and where he has curated at least one significant show a year since. As a trained archaeologist specializing in Etruscology, Father Magnan was chosen to work on the restoration of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel in the mid-1980s, where, he recalled,“It was shocking
Underlying all this is Father Magnan’s belief that the pursuit of art goes beyond making paintings or sculpture. “Art is a way of life,” he said. He began his own studies at the age of six. His body of work is comprised of haunting realist portraits of subjects ranging from biblical to contemporary. “What interests me is their psychology. My subjects are actors in the emotional landscapes I paint.” And many are nude. “Some people find an erotic element in my work,” he said. “But I went to art school in Paris, where all the models were nude, so that is my background.”
“Father Magnan helped me find myself as an artist. He has the unique ability to sense the spirit of each student and to work with that to keep them motivated and inspired by their work.” — Anne Marie Varrichio ’08
to be so close to Michelangelo’s work.” He is currently involved in the restoration of the ancient Italian city of Velletri, in the Alban Hills around Rome. The child of a French father and a Swedish mother, Father Magnan is fluent in four languages (French, Italian and Spanish, along with English), and “dabbles” in Portuguese and Catalonian. He spoke Swedish as a child, and shares Latin with his Jesuit brothers. He earned his Ph.D. at the Sorbonne in Paris, a master’s degree at Oxford University in England, a Master of Fine Arts at San Alejandro in Havana and another master’s degree in Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Halifax.
It is also the theme of the most recent exhibition at the Saint Peter’s College Art Gallery, “La Forme Humaine,” a survey of nudes in a variety of media. Father Magnan prefers such exhibitions to one-person shows. “My vision has always been to expose the community to overall trends in art,” he noted. Anne Marie Varrichio, a senior at Saint Peter’s majoring in Visual Arts and Elementary Education, has studied with Father Magnan since transferring to the College as a junior. She describes Father Magnan as “unlike any other art teacher I’ve had.” As a professor, she said, “He’s old-school with a traditional approach. He insists that we learn the foundations of art — the natural qualities of perspective, Saint Peter’s College Magazine 17
Focus on Faculty shadow, lighting — before we can be conceptual and abstract.” One of Varrichio’s favorite places is the Jesuit’s studio, which is attached to the students’ studio and filled with art and artifacts. “It’s like a mini-museum,” Varrichio said. “There are pieces from the fourth and fifth centuries, Egyptian art, sculptures, masks and figurines. Father Magnan has surrounded himself with works from the greats. And the best part is, if you ask, he will tell you all about them. If you want to touch them, he says, ‘Sure! Go ahead!’ ” He is also willing to talk
intimately about his own work, said Varrichio, whose grandfather, Professor Francis A. Varrichio, was the one-time chair of Saint Peter’s Mathematics Department, and Anne Marie Varrichio ’08 in the students’ art studio. whose father and them motivated and inspired by aunts attended the College. their work. He believes that the “He makes you feel like his creation of true artwork is agony, personal apprentice. Father until it is completed the way it Magnan helped me find myself as should be done, and he is right. an artist. He has the unique ability Making art is serious and intense. to sense the spirit of each student I will never forget that.” and to work with that to keep
La Forme Humaine Exhibition Opens at Saint Peter’s The human body has inspired artists throughout the ages. Saint Peter’s College Art Gallery’s most recent exhibit, “La Forme Humaine,” which closed May 5, celebrated the nude form with 80 works from around the world, dating from the first through the twentieth centuries. “We showed artists from ancient Greeks to contemporaries, with works in almost every media,” said Rev. Oscar G. Magnan, S.J., the founder and Director of the gallery, and the curator of “La Forme
Humaine.” The exhibition included oil paintings, drawings, pastels, watercolors, photographs and sculptures in bronze, ivory, terracotta and marble. Some of the artists represented included the German religious painter Ernst Deger, the Belgian surrealist Félicien Rops, the Italian landscape painter Raffaele Carelli and the American realist Paul Cadmus. A highlight from the show was
Above: “Nude Female Holding Child..” Collection of E. Tiliakos. Pictured right: “The Greek Slave.” Collection of E. Romero.
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“Nude,” an original etching by Auguste Renoir. _______________
the torso of a Roman man from the first century A.D., a sculpted cloth draped over his shoulders. Most of the pieces in the show were loaned by collectors such as Emmanuel Tiliakos, Dr. Thomas Folk, a faculty member at Saint Peter’s College and The Shepherd Gallery in Manhattan. Of the gallery at Saint Peter’s, Father Magnan said, “This is a small gallery at a small college, but the generosity of these collectors has allowed us to present an enormous variety of exhibits.” An exhibition of landscapes tentatively titled “A Room With a View” is planned for next year. Saint Peter’s College Art Gallery is located on the lower level of O’Toole Library, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard at Glenwood Avenue. For further information, call (201) 761-6480.
DONORS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Right Chemistry Saint Peter’s benefactors establish a tissue sample laboratory Saint Peter’s College recently became one of a handful of liberal arts colleges to establish a tissue sample laboratory which is opening worlds of opportunities for the College’s Biology students. “Not many small, liberal arts colleges have a dedicated facility for tissue sampling,” said Dr. Len Sciorra, Schuh Professor of Health and Natural Sciences. “This is the kind of facility you’d find at major research universities.” According to Dr. Sciorra, undergraduate students are not only learning how to culture tissue samples in formal classes, but they are conducting research outside of class and have even presented a paper at the Annual Meeting for the American Society of Cell Biology last December. They are also very eager to meet Charles J.Vickers ’47
and his wife Anne, the generous donors who made the new facility possible. The couple, in addition to establishing the tissue sample laboratory, also created the organic chemistry laboratory at The Jesuit College of New Jersey. A graduate of the Chemistry program who enjoyed a long career in sales and marketing working for such companies as Allied Chemical, Sheffield Chemical and Ciba-Geigy, the alumnus says his motivation for establishing both laboratories is simply a desire to give back. “The education I had at Saint Peter’s helped me have a successful career,” said Vickers, who began his own company, Orbichem Inc. — a distributor of chemicals to the pharmaceutical industry — at the age of 63. “I thought I could be of
Gifts at Work: Joseph J. Jaroschak Field
March 26, 1990, Jersey Journal
Visit Joseph J. Jaroschak Field on any seasonable day of the year and you’ll find it teeming with softball, baseball, soccer and other players
Rev. Edward Glynn, S.J. (left) with Saint Peter’s donor Mary Lou Jaroschak at the ribbon cutting ceremony of Joseph J. . Jaroschak Field.
who regularly use the athletics facility in Lincoln Park. Mary Lou Jaroschak believes that the sight would make her late husband, Joseph J. Jaroschak, proud. Eighteen years ago, she provided the funds to build the outdoor facility, which is used by Saint Peter’s College as well as area high schools and recreational programs today. “The development of the field is something Joe would have done,” said Jaroschak, who was first introduced to the Saint Peter’s Athletics program through her accountant, Dennis Gaito ’70. The owner of the East Brunswick Chateau in Central New Jersey,
Charles J. Vickers ’47 and his wife Anne at the dedication of the organic chemistry lab in 2006.
support to the College. I knew they were already planning this new facility and thought it would be a good thing.” In the short time the tissue sample laboratory has been in use, it’s already made a lasting impact by helping to teach and train the next generation of scientists and medical professionals. “We’re able to do research in the facility that we couldn’t do before,” noted Dr. Sciorra.“It’s been wonderful for our students.They’ve really learned a great deal.” the Jaroschak family’s roots are in Hudson County: Joseph was born and raised in Bayonne, an altar boy in his local parish and athlete who excelled at baseball. Over the years, Jaroschak came to know Director of Athletics Bill Stein well, and has offered continuous support to Saint Peter’s Athletics by funding maintenance of Jaroschak Field and upgrades such as electric scoreboards, benches for the soccer field and a mini-van to transport studentathletes and injured players. “I wanted the fields to be the best they could be,” she said. “My husband would be so proud that he has been able to aid so many athletes.” Saint Peter’s College Magazine
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Leaders In Their Field For a small Jesuit college, Saint Peter’s has produced an extraordinary number of accomplished alumni who are making their mark in science, business, government and more. In this new and recurring feature, we introduce you to some “Leaders in their Field.”
Photo: Rod Rolle
The French Knight Ronald W. Tobin, Ph.D. ’57
It’s a rare occasion when the French Ministry bestows knighthood on an American citizen. It’s even rarer to find an American knighted six times, but that is Ronald W.Tobin, Ph.D. ’57, a Professor of French and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). An expert in the field of French literature, Dr.Tobin’s most recent knighthood occurred in 2006 when the French Ministry of Education awarded him “Commander in the Order of the Academic Palms” in recognition for his contributions to scholarship and the understanding and appreciation of French culture. 20
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“It’s been very gratifying to see how my efforts have been recognized,” said Dr.Tobin, who is widely known in academic circles as the author of “Tarte à la crème,” a groundbreaking work that studied gastronomy in the work of 17th century French playwright Molière.The editor-in-chief of French Review for 12 years, he is currently at work on a new book examining hospitality in 17th century French literature. Growing up on 14th Street and First Avenue in New York, this alumnus never imagined his career would unfold on such an international scale. He credits two people for starting him down this remarkable path: a favorite aunt, who shared her passion for French
French. He later accepted a position at the University of Kansas, where after two years, he found himself appointed Acting Chair of the French Department. It was during this period that the French government took notice and awarded Dr.Tobin his first knighthood. Dr.Tobin joined the UCSB faculty in 1969, and earned a reputation as an engaging teacher, champion of foreign study and ambassador who furthered understanding of French culture in the United States. He describes his current job as, “the best administrative job in the U.S.,” because it allows him to foster a liberal arts atmosphere and intimate connections between
It’s rare for the French Ministry to bestow knighthood on an American citizen. Ronald Tobin, Ph.D. ’57 has been knighted by the French six times. culture, and the late Professor John F. Dunn of the Modern Languages Department at Saint Peter’s College, who Dr.Tobin said, “rekindled, or kept alive, the study of French in me.” A Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton University following graduation from Saint Peter’s, and a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Lille in Northern France, the young scholar finished his Ph.D. at Williams College while teaching undergraduates
students and faculty within a research university. A member of the Saint Peter’s College Board of Regents, Dr. Tobin also speaks to California high school students about the opportunities available at The Jesuit College of New Jersey. “Through the language studies at Saint Peter’s College, I was able to pursue this very rewarding career,” he said. “It’s one way of paying back Saint Peter’s College for all it’s done for me.”
Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00
Ask Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00 how it feels to be teaching Biology at her alma mater, and she admits, it’s a little strange. After all, the Assistant Professor of Biology is now a colleague of faculty members she respected and admired not so long ago. Still, Dr. Wilmanski is thrilled to be back, having joined the College faculty in 2007, after completing a
She says Saint Peter’s prepared her well for a competitive research environment, where 14-hour days are the norm. “It’s the very good experience I had here that’s had a lasting impact on me. Saint Peter’s gave me even more than just preparation. I think it gave me perspective, even in a competitive setting, of how to be a man or woman for others, and still have compassion for others.” Though research is the primary focus of the UMDNJ doctoral program, Dr.Wilmanski discovered a love of teaching while fulfilling a requirement for her Ph.D. “I loved working with students. I loved meeting new people and helping them with their careers.” And that’s exactly what she is doing now in the Saint Peter’s Biology Department. In addition to teaching undergraduate courses in microbiology and immunology, Dr.Wilmanski is continuing her immunological research through a Kenny Fellowship, and is involving
“It’s the very good experience I had here that’s had a lasting impact on me.” — Jeanette Wilmanski, Ph.D. ’00
doctorate in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), and a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University. As a researcher at Harvard, Dr.Wilmanski focused on detecting patterns that can initiate immediate immunological responses in people.
two honor students in the process. “We’re going to see how the body responds to chitin (a substance found on the cell walls of certain fungi),” she said. “It’s an unknown field, and investigating it further can give us a clearer understanding of how to better treat someone who has a fungal infection.”
Photo: Rene Lagler
Up and Coming
The Buzz on Saint Peter’s Faculty
Professor Joe Lamachia (seated left) at the “Concert of Hope,” along with Ken Ashby and Director Daniel Ezralow.
Communication professor is live announcer for Papal concert When Executive Producers Stig Edgren and Ken Ashby needed a live announcer for the “Concert of Hope” celebrating the Papal Mass by Pope Benedict XVI at Yankee Stadium on April 20, they turned to WSPC Radio General Manager and Adjunct Professor of Communication Joe Lamachia. Approximately 57,000 attended the two-hour concert featuring headliners such as Harry Connick, Jr., Jose Feliciano and Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan. Professor Lamachia introduced all of the featured performers and provided voice-over for the various segments of the concert. He has enjoyed a long career in broadcasting, landing exclusive interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and working at radio stations WNEW-AM and WQXR. An actor and voice talent, he has also appeared in staged events, television and radio commercials, movie trailers and documentaries. Professor Lamachia has been at Saint Peter’s College since 2005 and teaches courses in Television Production, Television Post-Production, Radio, Advertising Management, Advertising & New Media, Public Relations.
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Destination: Jersey City
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A grassroots marketing effort is putting New Jersey’s secondlargest city on the map. Literally.
Jersey City organizations and institutions such as Saint Peter’s College are reaping the benefits of Destination: Jersey City, a model program designed to improve the way visitors navigate the State’s second-largest city. Launched in 2000 with nine organizations that included Liberty Science Center, the Jersey City Museum and Saint Peter’s College, the effort now involves 30 area institutions and is comprehensive in scope with more than 500 vehicular signs (the largest “Vehicular Wayfinding Project” of its kind in the nation), pedestrian signage, an interactive travel and tourism Web site, kiosks, maps and historic markers highlighting 26 sites. Funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) entitled “Centers of Place,” the program has set a goal to market Jersey City and make it easier for visitors to find their way. “For prospective students of Saint Peter’s College and their families, their initial journey to
the College can have a lasting impression and play a role in their decision,” said John Bosio of RMJM Hillier Environmental Graphics, an international design and architectural firm that spearheaded the branding of the project. “Hopefully, by providing clear direction, that’s one less thing that they have to worry about and it adds to their positive experience.” To date, the project has won accolades as a model for other cities throughout New Jersey.The grassroots campaign has also united a wide range of educational, cultural and business organizations in promoting Jersey City and its renaissance. Said Bosio, “It really showcases how many different stakeholders and destinations can come together to create a positive project for the community.” If you are planning a visit to Jersey City or want to learn more, visit www. destinationjersey city.com.
Pictured left: Pedestrian signage helps visitors (and even some residents) find their way on the Jersey City waterfront. Photos courtesy of Hillier Environmental Graphics.
Pictured (left to right): Edward J. McCrossin III ’68, Eugene R. Boffa, Jr. ’66, James F. Dronzek ’71 and Eugene T. Paolino ’69.
Legal Architects of the Jersey City Renaissance The legal firm behind some of the most exciting redevelopment projects in Jersey City’s renaissance is Schumann Hanlon LLC, one of the oldest and most respected law practices in the State of New Jersey. The Beacon (formerly the Jersey City Medical Center), Newport, Goldman Sachs Tower and Journal Square Plaza are just a few of the projects represented by the firm, which counts four Saint Peter’s College alumni among its team of talented attorneys. “The significant development that has taken place is nothing less than astounding,” said Schumann Hanlon Partner Eugene T. Paolino ’69, noting that in the last few years, revitalization along the waterfront has spread to neighborhoods surrounding Saint Peter’s College. One of the major redevelopment projects that Schumann Hanlon currently represents is the construction of two skyscrapers in Journal Square, a Harwood Properties project expected to begin later this year. The massive plan is designed to transform the block adjacent to the Journal Square transportation center into an urban village, melding residential units, upscale retail, parking and other amenities. “It’s exciting because it involves a substantial rejuvenation and renovation of Journal Square,” explained Paolino. “It will be a catalyst for tremendous development that will help make Journal Square what it once was.” Also practicing at Schumann Hanlon are James F. Dronzek ’71, Eugene R. Boffa Jr., ’66 and Edward J. McCrossin III ’68. The four law partners did not know one another before joining the Jersey City firm. Paolino says it’s not surprising to find a Saint Peter’s contingency in New Jersey’s second-largest city. “If you’re in Jersey City, you either went to Saint Peter’s Prep or Saint Peter’s College. This is a big small town.”
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Peacock Blue
Heart of a Champion When Director of Athletics Bill Stein retires from Saint Peter’s after 26 years, he leaves a legacy of care that’s hard to beat. The secret to his success is the special brand of cura personalis he brings to each student-athlete. Bill Stein has had a storied career in college and international sports. As one of the architects of Georgetown’s famed men’s basketball program, he was responsible for signing future NBA greats Patrick Ewing, Eric “Sleepy” Floyd and David Wingate. Add to that his stint as Assistant Coach of the bronze medal winning 1988 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team and you’ve got some pretty impressive stats. But ask Bill Stein his biggest accomplishment, and he’ll quickly point to the graduation rate achieved by Saint Peter’s Division I student-athletes during his 26-year tenure as Director of Athletics. With good reason.The Peacocks and Peahens have earned a graduation rate of more than 90 percent consistently, an enviable record in college sports.
Bill Stein on the cover of Saint Peter’s College Magazine before the 1988 Seoul Olympics. 24
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That success comes through a combined effort of the school’s academic coordinator for athletes, coaches and faculty, and of course Stein, who knows every studentathlete at the College. Stein employs his own brand of cura personalis with each of the
College’s 230 student-athletes, personally monitoring midterm grades and keeping open lines of communication with faculty. “My main concern has been that student-athletes graduate,” Stein said. “We’re a smaller school and we have an academic coordinator, which helps. Faculty also let you know what’s going on. If someone messes up, they tell you right away.” Men’s Soccer Coach Guy Abrahamson has seen the positive effect Stein’s philosophy has had on his players. “Academics come first and that has been my rule since I began here,” said Abrahamson, now in his second year coaching. “Mr. Stein and the Athletics Department take a lot of pride in the athletes’ academics.The mandatory study hall hours and academic meetings that are part of the athletics program are very helpful for new students or students who are struggling to balance athletics and academics.” Stephanie DeWolfe ’97 experienced Stein’s deep commitment first as a student, and now as Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “What I always remember
about Mr. Stein is the genuine interest he took in every studentathlete,” said DeWolfe. “He really cared about how we were doing in school. It was never all about how many points you scored on the court.” “Bill is a people person who knows every athlete by their first name and whom athletic administrators in the league always turn to when an issue in the conference needs expert advice,” said Richard Ensor, Esq. ’75, Commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Ensor also points out that the MAAC relies on Stein in many ways, whether as Chairman of the Baseball Commission for the last 20 years, or solving simple questions involving relationships between coaches and players. He also is responsible for 24 former Saint Peter’s College student-athletes being inducted into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame.The same Hall of Fame awarded Stein its first ever Special Recognition Award at its Induction Ceremony in March. As a kid growing up in Waterbury, CT, Stein’s two
passions were baseball and basketball. He quips that, like most kids, he “probably wanted to be a pro.” But as he grew older, he developed another goal — to teach and coach. While a student at Providence College in Rhode Island, he met John Thompson, a teammate on the court who later became a
Bill Stein takes a great deal of pride in the student-athletes he’s mentored. Pictured left, he is surrounded by graduating seniors at an awards dinner earlier in the year. Below, the Director of Athletics appears with one of the many awards and accolades he’s brought to Saint Peter’s.
lifelong friend. Stein spent several years teaching and coaching on the junior high and high school levels, as well as a stint as Assistant Athletic Director for Bryant College in Rhode Island. In 1972 the call came to join Thompson as Assistant Basketball Coach at Georgetown, which had just let go of its head coach after a dismal 3–23 season.Thompson was the master strategist, Stein the master recruiter.Together, they brought Georgetown to seven straight post-season tournaments. But traveling as a recruiter took a toll on Stein, a happily married
father of two. So when Rev. Edward Glynn, S.J., then Saint Peter’s College President offered him the Director of Athletics position, he jumped at it — but had to wait until he took the Hoyas to the Final Four with Thompson. At Saint Peter’s, Stein’s impact has been felt both on and off the field.Through the years, he has spearheaded a successful push to gain scholarships for all of the College’s 14 sports. He was also the mastermind behind Saint Peter’s 50-year lease
of Joseph J. Jaroschak Field from Hudson County, which required delicate interaction with Jersey City and county officials.Today, the field hosts Saint Peter’s men’s and women’s soccer, baseball and softball programs, as well as a full slate of high school and recreational teams. Dr. Eileen L. Poiani, the College’s Vice President for Student Affairs, credits Stein with closing the deal for the field. “He maneuvers well, whether with county or city politicians or other athletic directors. In the athletics community, he’s very highly regarded,” she said. Stein’s stint as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach in the 1988 Seoul Olympics — another invitation from Thompson — brought even more pride to his family and the College. In typical Stein fashion, he doesn’t mention the Olympic bronze medal that the team won that year. Instead, he prefers to describe the team’s visit to an Army hospital in the demilitarized zone. His chance meeting with a Lithuanian basketball player marked the first
time that Stein, who is of Lithuanian descent, met a citizen from his family’s country of origin. And of course, he would rather talk about the benefits his trip brought to his family and the College. “It was good for Saint Peter’s in a way,” Stein recalled. “I think it helped the College. And it was nice for my family to know that I was in the Olympics. It was great because I was representing my family, my high school, my college and Saint Peter’s — everyone besides myself.” That selflessness is probably the key to Bill Stein’s success. Through the coaches and athletes he has befriended, the deals he has brokered and the College committees he has chaired, Stein has earned a reputation as a real class act. Dr. Poiani summed up his legacy simply: “He’s a legend of Saint Peter’s.” Saint Peter’s College Magazine 25
Alumni News and Notes 1950s 1951
James F. McGlinchy ’51
James F. McGlinchy’s, most recent novel, “Canal Boy,” was published this winter.The book is an engaging historical novel that tells the story of a young boy cast adrift in the tumultuous world of canal life during the Civil War as he tries to avoid capture of his white slavers. McGlinchy began his career as a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune. His son, James F. McGlinchy, Jr. ’73, is Deputy Bureau Chief at CBS News, Washington D.C. Bureau, and his brother, Ed McGlinchy, was a Jesuit at Saint Peter's College.
1956 Edward J. Flynn, a retired reporter
for The Record, now lives in Phoenix, AZ. His novel, “Tarnished Knight,” is available on his Web site www.edwardjflynn.com or at www.amazon.com.
1958 LTC George P. Hutnan, USA
(Ret.) and wife Andrea celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in April 2008.
1960s 1962 Brig. Gen.Vincent E. Stahl, Jr.,
USA (Ret.) was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Fairway Mews Community Association, Spring Lake Heights, NJ. He also serves on the Finance and Security Committee.
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Distinguished Alumni Awards 2008
Saint Peter’s College honored three individuals and one family at its 17th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner on April 3 at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange, NJ. This year’s Professional Achievement Award went to Ralph R. Russo ’70, President, CEO & Director of Strategic Polymer Sciences, Inc., a high-technology start-up developing applications to advance medical devices, electronics and communications. “For a lot of young kids like me, Saint Peter’s represented an opportunity: an opportunity to get a great education and perhaps to be all that I could be in life,” said Russo, who has held key management roles at Nortel Networks and Apple Computer Corporation. Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D. ’67, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Distinguished Alumni Award honorees. Pictured front row (left to right): Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D., ’67, Cecilia A. Michalik ’73, Helen Michalik, and Geraldine A. Michalik, Ph.D., ’71. Middle row (left to right): Joseph Michalik ’83, Andrew Michalik, and College President Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D. Back row (left to right): Frederick R. Cranwell and Ralph R. Russo ’70.
Newark’s Beth Israel Medical Center, received the Service to Community Award. In addition to earning accolades as a physician and teacher, Dr. Lahita has truly spent his life in service of others, most notably as part of a medical response team assisting victims on 9/11. “Community service is important to the Jesuit ideals and the ways we all think about each other,” he said. “To be recognized at all by alma mater, much less for community service, is something that will remain with me and my family forever.” For Loyalty to Alma Mater, the College honored the Michalik Family, whose lifelong relationship with Saint Peter’s began in 1947, when the late Benjamin A. Michalik, Ph.D., joined the faculty as a Professor of Economics and later, became Chair of the Economics Department. The Michalik children grew up with Jesuits and faculty members at their Sunday dinner table. Cecilia A. Michalik ’73, Geraldine A. Michalik, Ph.D. ’71 and Joseph A. Michalik ’83 all received undergraduate degrees in Economics from the College. To honor their parents, the Michalik
Pictured above: Alumni and friends of Saint Peter’s College celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s honorees at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.
family established the Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Michalik Endowed Scholarship several years ago, which has awarded 22 annual scholarships to 14 Saint Peter’s students. “Dad and mom have always believed that education is the answer to improving people’s lives,” said Geraldine. “I’m sure dad would be proud of us right now, proud to know we are still part of the Saint Peter’s College family.” Frederick R. Cranwell, retired Director of Public Affairs, received the Honorary Alumnus Award for many years of service to the College. “My life has been blessed with Jesuits,” Cranwell said. “I just hope I live long enough to see some of these new students someday receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. We have some really great people who came through the College, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
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Alumni News and Notes 1964 James P. Kelly, Jr. is a proud
supporter of the Saint Peter’s College Peacocks and Peahens. If our teams are playing in southern California, you know Kelly will be there supporting them. Most recently, he cheered on the Peahens as they played in the San Diego Classic.
1965 John J. Williams is the new
Administrator of Bayonne Parking Authority. He previously worked as Chief of Accounts Payable for the United Nations in New York.
Garry A. Prime, founder of the relief organization, Orphan Support Africa, recently received a $2.2 million grant (over 3 years) from the Gates Foundation.
Dr. Frederick Ducca of the Federal Highway Administration presented “Traffic Control through Math and Science” at Saint Peter’s College on April 16. Dr. Ducca conducts research in the traffic mobility impacts stemming from street closures, and his lecture exposed students to potential career applications for mathematics and science.
and technology consulting firm, specializing in the financial services industry and with clients in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
1968 Joseph Cervenak was named
Michael J. Malecki has joined the
President of the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) for 2008. He is Principal of Kemper-Joseph, LLC, a strategy development and performance optimization consulting company concentrating on global supply chain strategy operations and management. Cervenak taught as an Adjunct Professor at Elizabethtown College, Penn State
1969 Robert W. Betz is a proud
grandfather of four granddaughters and finally, a grandson.
human resources consulting firm, Gateway International Group/Oi Partners, Inc., as a Senior Vice President at Gateway’s corporate headquarters in Parsippany, NJ.
1970s 1971
Ellen Lanese Spaldo, Ph.D. ’71
James P. Kelly, Jr. ’64 (center) with the Peahen softball team at the San Diego Classic.
1966 William J. Netchert, Esq., Chair of
the Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees, was sworn in on November 20, 2007 for a new term on the Board. Netchert became Chairman of the Board in November 2005 after previously serving as Vice Chair.
1967 Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D.
was honored by Saint Benedict’s Prep at its annual dinner. He was also recently honored by Saint Peter’s College and received the Service to Community Award at the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner.
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Saint Peter’s College Magazine
University, Philadelphia University and was guest lecturer at the University of International Business and Economics, and at the Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Hon. Joseph V. Doria, Jr., former
Mayor of Bayonne, NJ, took the oath of office as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
James T. Leman, an expert in electronic trading as well as middle and back-office technology strategies, has joined Westwater Corp. as Managing Director and Head of its Capital Markets Practice.Westwater Corp. is an advisory
Ellen Lanese Spaldo, Ph.D. is the recipient of the 2008 Steven J. Rosen Mentor Award from the New Jersey College English Association. Dr. Spaldo is Assistant Professor of English and Director of Writing at the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University. 1972 Elnora Watson was the recipient of
the 2008 Service Above Self Award.This award was presented this spring at the Rotary of New Jersey annual dinner.
1977 Gary V. Ferrari has joined Standard
Chartered Bank as Senior Director of Compliance, based in New York City. Prior to that he spent 27 years at American Express.
Charles M. Lizza, Esq. was one of
four individuals who were inducted by Saint Peter’s Prep as the newest Legends of Prep this past November 2007.This is the school's highest honor.
1979
Mount Manresa in Staten Island. He shared his career story and discussed discernment and finding God in the world.
1988 Lawrence E. Eccleston was the
recipient of the 2008 Service Above Self Award.This award was presented this spring at the Rotary of New Jersey annual dinner.
1994
Anthony R. Romano recently
credit card that supports Saint
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V um
1980
lecturer at the Life Journey retreat at
oda y for the Sa int P
1980s
Quincy L. Ballon, owner of GalleryQB in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, is proud to announce that Ukrainian artist, Lucien Dulfan, will be
1993 Lorenzo Richardson was a guest
ply t Ap
Michael T. Kahrer was appointed Executive Director, Global HR, Consumer Health Care (CHC) at Schering-Plough. In this position, Kahrer will provide HR leadership to the CHC unit. Since 2003, Kahrer has served as Vice President, HR and Business Services, Organon USA, Inc. in Roseland, NJ.
Quincy L. Ballon ’94 at GalleryQB.
1990s
in lat
Carmel Galasso presented Hon. Joseph V. Doria, Jr. ’68 with the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in Hudson County at the Project Connect Dinner. Galasso is the Director of Homeless Services at the United Way, and is President of the Saint Peter’s College Alumni Board of Directors.
joined the Domestic Surety Group of AIG as Senior Vice President. He was previously its Senior Underwriter within National Union’s Surety Unit.
P ’s
Hon. Joseph V. Doria, Jr. ’68 and Carmel Galasso ’79.
All Visa Platinum Card Members enjoy these benefits: • No Annual fee • Low introductory rate on purchases* • No balance transfer fees for six months* Joseph J. Napolitano ’80
Joseph J. Napolitano, CPA
recently joined Liberty Title Agency, LLC as its Chief Financial Officer. Napolitano formerly was Vice President -NY Area Controller for Land America Financial Group. He currently resides in Keyport, NJ, with his wife, Frances DiPalma.
With the Select Rewards Visa Platinum Card option, extra benefits include: • Reward points with every purchase, redeemable for your choice of virtually any reward with the Choose Your Own Rewards program • 1,000 bonus points with your first purchase - and reward redemption starting at just 1,500 points! Choose the Cash Rewards Visa Platinum Card, and get: • Up to 1% cash back on net purchases per year *Certain conditions may apply. Introductory rate does not apply to Cash Advances. U.S. Bank National Association ND is creditor and issuer of the Saint Peter’s Visa Platinum Card.
Saint Peter’s College Magazine
29
Alumni News and Notes featured at his gallery. GalleryQB was chosen by New York Magazine in its highly coveted Best of New York issue as the Best New Mid-Century Shop. Additionally, GalleryQB was recently featured in TimeOut New York.
Maryanne Kelleher-Arango was
the recipient of the 2008 Service Above Self Award.This award was presented this spring at the Rotary of New Jersey annual dinner.
1996 Randy A. Holmes was featured in the
Asbury Park Press article “Passing Down Life’s Lessons.” Holmes is currently the Head Boys Basketball Coach at Lakewood High School.The article was about how he shares his experiences growing up in a broken home and other hardships he overcame with his current students.
1999 Elizabeth A. Demetrician was a
guest lecturer at the Life Journey retreat at Mount Manresa in Staten Island. She shared her career story and discussed
Hall of Famer
discernment and finding God in the world. Demetrician is a member of the Saint Peter’s College Alumni Board.
2000s 2004 Antonio “Andy” Arcangel
showcased his Fall/Winter 2008–2009 Menswear Collection with a runway show on February 7 at Club Element, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. His past two fashion shows, also held during New York fashion weeks, presented spring/summer garments.
Births
Harry Anderson ’73
Saint Peter’s basketball standout Harry Anderson ’73 was inducted into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame on March 27. A native of Weehawken, Anderson was the first player to reach the 1,000-point plateau at Weehawken High School. After a year at Jacksonville University, he transferred to Saint Peter’s College and played for three years under Don Kennedy. Competing in the era before the three-point shot, Anderson scored 984 points during his Peacock career, including 31 points in an outing against Providence College at Madison Square Garden. “Playing at Saint Peter’s was great for me,” Anderson told The Weehawken Reporter. “I had some great opportunities there.” After graduating from Saint Peter’s, the Atlanta Hawks invited Anderson to a tryout. He later began a career with the police department of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey. Anderson retired from the Port Authority in 1999 and although he now lives in East Windsor, NJ, remains connected to Hudson County. “I’m truly a Hudson County guy,” said Anderson. “This was a 30
Saint Peter’s College Magazine
Lily Marilyn Padanilam
Tess Thomas, O.D. ’93 and Joseph Padanilam, daughter — Lily Marilyn Padanilam, March 18, 2008.
Harry Anderson ’73
great honor for me. I have a lot of great memories of my days as a basketball player. It’s a great feeling and a great honor and I really appreciate it.”
David M. Mauri ’98 and Kelly Mauri, daughter — Isabella Grace, January 24, 2008.
IN MEMORIAM Saint Peter’s College wishes to extend its prayers and condolences to the families of alumni, members of the College Community and friends who have passed away. Edmund J. Broslawski ’53 Timothy J. Diffley '66 Michael J. Dugan Edward Matthew Farynyk ’69 Kathryn Faughey
James Fields Irene M. Foley William Grady ’50 Leo R. Handerhan Morris Helman ’70 Sara Johnson
Alice Kenyon Karl F. Marx ’66 Robert J. McDonnell James O. McGovern ’75 Walter Meany ’69 Francis G. Monahan
William R. Mulligan ’51 Ann Marie Nimon Arthur F. Readdy, Jr. ’49 Jacqueline Siegfried Robert F. Wertz ’36 Helen Zampella
Get Connected! • E-mail old friends • Network • Make a gift • Read about the latest news from Saint Peter’s College
It’s all happening online at alumni.spc.edu
Alumni Office Rosemary Servidio Director of Alumni Relations (201) 761-6125 rservidio@spc.edu Frances Salvo ’02 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations (201) 761-6122 fsalvo@spc.edu Edward J. Heavey, S.J. H’04 Alumni Chaplain (201) 761-6123 eheavey@spc.edu
SPC Family Baseball Game For alumni, faculty, staff and their families
Sunday, August 17, 2008 • 2:00 p.m.
Richmond County Bank Ballpark 75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island Barbeque begins a half hour before the first pitch. Cost: $25 per person, $15 children 12 and under Space is limited — reserve early! Deadline to order tickets: August 7, 2008 Fun-filled day at the ballpark includes: ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT freshly grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, soda and water; FREE game program. All kids 12 and under can run the bases for FREE after the game. To reserve your tickets, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (201) 761-6125 or mail your reservation and payment to: Saint Peter's College, Office of Alumni Relations, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07306.
Saint Peter’s College Magazine
31
Ad Finem
What’s a Nice Jewish Boy Doing at The Jesuit College of New Jersey? by Frank Rosner ’78
How does a Jew born in Budapest and raised in Israel the first five years of his life wind up at Saint Peter’s College? My journey was a little more unusual than most. My family left Hungary — high-tailed it out of there, really — along with 200,000 Hungarians right after the revolution against the communist regime in October of 1956. My father, an ardent Zionist, wanted to go to Israel, so we immigrated to a small town north of Tel Aviv. We moved to the Bronx in 1962, and one year after that came to North Bergen. I attended North Hudson Yeshiva for three years before switching to public school and became a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Emanuel in Union City. When I was a senior at North Bergen High School, my cousin, Eva, was already a student at Saint Peter’s; she was the one who encouraged me to apply. At the time, it probably wasn’t typical to find Jewish students at a Jesuit college, but no one in my family was taken aback.There were great incentives for me to go to Saint Peter’s. I had financial assistance, a work-study job and received a wonderful education. For my parents, getting a good education was the bottom line. And the liberal arts education I received at Saint Peter’s really gave me a good foundation to do whatever I wanted to do.The professors — both lay and Jesuit — were absolutely terrific. Father Magnan had a profound effect on my life. He taught me abstract 32
Saint Peter’s College Magazine
“There were great incentives for me to go to Saint Peter’s.” impressionism, how to paint using different colors and different bases like oils and acrylics. I had Father Lynch for English Literature and he was just a tremendous teacher. Doc Benson was another professor who left an incredible impression. I was a bit of a cut-up in class, but he always gave me latitude.We were reading Dante’s “Inferno” and I can’t remember which Circle of Hell we were discussing, but I looked up at him at one point and asked, “Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if everyone was Jewish?” Professor Benson had to excuse himself for a moment after that remark. I was also pretty active in Argus Eyes. My sophomore year, I played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.” A good friend of mine, Mark Morchel, helped me build Tevye’s cart over at the old Penick Building on West Side Avenue. In the last scene, I was supposed to exit out of the back doors of the
Roy Irving Theatre pushing this cart. On opening night, however, the right wheel of the cart came off, sailed over the audience and rolled right out the back doors. Okay, so what do I do now? I improvised, put a little parcel on my back, exited down the aisle and said, “We’re going to have to leave the rest to the Russians!” I think I got a standing ovation for that. Looking back, I don’t think I had an uncomfortable moment my entire four years at the College. Knowledge is knowledge; that’s what we were there for. Being an urban school, it was already ethnically diverse when I was a student in the 1970s, and is even more so today. And that doesn’t surprise me at all because the atmosphere at Saint Peter’s College has always been one of open-mindedness and acceptance. I never got a strict adherence to dogma from the Jesuits. Rather, there was an openness and the feeling that education liberates the mind. It was, and still is, a tremendous experience. Frank Rosner is Newsstand Circulation Manager for Marvel Entertainment Inc., publisher of Marvel Comics. He is also a member of Actor’s Equity,The Screen Actors Guild and The Dramatist Guild. He resides in Hoboken, NJ, with his wife Deb and daughters, Cassie and Cara.
The Business Symposium has provided a forum for the discussion of current events in business and politics since its inception in 1972. The oldest continuous Symposium of its kind in New Jersey, this event attracts more than 350 of the area’s top business and political leaders, and provides Saint Peter’s students with the opportunity to network with the business community. Over the past 37 years, the Symposium has evolved into one of the signature events of both the College and the community.
TICKETS: $75 general public $60 alumni $25 young alumni (graduates of 1998-2008)
FEATURED SPEAKERS: PRESENTING SPONSOR
Anthony R. Coscia, Esq. Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Port Authority of NY/NJ
Anthony P. Terracciano ’60 Chairman, Sallie Mae
More speakers to be announced.
MEDIA SPONSOR
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #314 Dover, NJ
There’s Still Time to Make an Impact!
Invest in the Annual Fund before June 30th!
We hope we can count on your support for the 2007-2008 Annual Fund.Your gift towards our $2 million goal will provide academic resources, scholarships, and campus improvements.
Please make your gift — of any size — by June 30. Use the enclosed envelope or give online — it’s safe and secure. Simply go to http://alumni.spc.edu/donations/ to make a gift today. Or call (201) 761-6104.Thank you! Make an impact. Please invest in a student today! Saint Peter’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30.