In Memoriam, Last Word

A Tradition of Growing Grapes

or millennia, beginning with the ancient city Bovillae, viticulture has been part of life on the Eugene Constantin Campus (affectionately known as Due Santi), where most University of Dallas un- dergraduates study for a semester with UD’s legendary Rome Program.

The soil on campus is largely petrified vol- canic ash, infusing the fruit with a high acid structure and the soil with minerals — perfect for growing the grapes for Due Santi Rosso and Rosato. This past year, Due Santi planted two additional acres of vines, so annual production will go from 8,000 to more than 12,000 bottles over the next four years.

Because of Due Santi’s deep-rooted connection to the University of Dallas, Due Santi Wines returns a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold to UD and, of course, the Rome Program. Purchase your Due Santi wine (or find out where to buy it locally) at duesantiwines.com.

Fall Romers participate in the annual vendemmia, or the grape harvest.

(cont. from p. 23) She described the species in partnership with the World Wildlife Federation and will have the holotype stored at the Smithsonian Institution. Bryan Barrera, BA ’09, runs the business D.C. Dog Runner in (you guessed it) D.C. Check them out at dcdogrunner.com, and get Bryan’s book, The Ultimate Guide to Running With Your Dog, on Amazon. Jessica (McLeod) Hornsby, BA ’09 MBA ’17, is the program manager of data management and integrity at CHRISTUS Health.

2010s

Justin Barnhart, MBA ’15, developed a “one-of-a-kind multifunctional tool designed for avid golfers, out- doorsmen and everyday folks alike.” Justin is part of the management team at PACCAR, a Fortune 500 worldwide producer of mediumand heavy-duty trucks. Carolyn Mackenzie, BA ’18, is a senior account manager at Stripes Agency. Gabriella Montes, BA ’18, is a registered client service associate at UBS. Sophia Andaloro, BS ’19, one of last year’s Cardinal Spellman recipients, is a 2020 NSF Graduate Fellowship recipient. She applied for the award in October of her first year in grad- uate school at Rice University. She also received the NNSA Steward- ship Science Graduate Fellowship. Clare Basil, BA ’19, was awarded a Publius Fellowship by the Clare- mont Institute. Clare Slattery, BA ’19, is a press as- sistant at the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.

In Memoriam

Professor of English John Alvis, BA ’66 MA ’69 PhD ’73, died at age 75 on Dec. 23, 2019, less than two weeks after the passing of his wife, Sara Kathleen, MA ’71, on Dec. 14. See pp. 18-19, as well as udallas. edu/remarkable-mind. Father Denis Farkasfalvy died at age 83 on May 20 in a nursing home in Dallas, after testing positive for COVID-19. Father Denis was born in Hungary on June 23, 1936, and entered the novitiate of the Cistercian Order in Zirc, Hungary, on March 19, 1955, persevering in monastic life for 65 years. He taught theology at Cistercian Preparatory School and

An Education That Endures

hat a joy it is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Rome Program. Whether you spent a semester in Rome or not, the Rome Program is a fundamental part of the ethos of our university, and one cannot help but be affected by it. Though our Rome Program leaves an indelible mark on the character of our culture, Rome means more to us than just that program. The city of Rome itself and all that it represents are interwoven into every element of our education — undergraduate and graduate, and whether one is majoring in the sciences, humanities, business or cybersecurity. Each particular discipline has critical parts of its history and development that run through Rome, and every discipline at once invites the ongoing dialogue between faith and reason that is at the center of a University of Dallas education.

Just as Rome is the source of so much of what we are about at UD, our Rome Program led the way in signaling what was to come in this last, strangest of spring semesters. The COVID-19 pandemic affected Italy before Texas. When we made the difficult choice to bring our “Spromers” home in the midst of their study abroad experience, we got a taste of what would be coming to our Irving campus. The move to remote learning and teaching was a challenging one for many of our students and faculty, even though we were better prepared for that move than many of our peer institutions because of the long history and good example of our graduate programs’ work in an online environment, especially in the Gupta College of Business. We already had an ELearning Office with talented staff, and a lot of technical support in place. Those faculty unfamiliar with online learning threw themselves into training during our extended spring break and provided the high quality of instruction that you expect from the University of Dallas throughout the rest of the semester.

I cannot be prouder of my faculty colleagues, who juggled the difficulties of their own quarantined lives with the time-intensive approach to online teaching that was required of them. I cannot be prouder of our students, who overcame great obstacles in their living arrangements, financial stresses brought on by COVID-19 and the locked-down response to contain it, illnesses and deaths in their own families and circle of family friends, and so many other things to persevere in their pursuit of wisdom, truth and virtue.

The response of our faculty, staff and students to the unprecedented circumstances of this past semester is a testament to the value of the education we provide. We provide an education dedicated to a lifetime of learning and living well, one that withstands the test of time and the vagaries affecting our common life — one that, like Rome, will endure.

UD, considering it an important task to help UD enter into the great renewal of Catholic theology that came with the Second Vatican Council. “He eagerly embraced every opportunity to teach, and was deeply devoted to his students,” said Assistant Professor of Theology Father Thomas Esposito, O. Cist., BA ’05. Antoinette “Toni” (Interrante) Horak, BA ’60, valedictorian of UD’s first graduating class, died at age 80 on Oct. 14, 2019. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Horak, BA ’60, and is survived by her two sisters, Rosalie Theriot, BA ’62, and Minnie Shelby; son, Michael Horak, MBA ’93, and his wife, Natalie; daughter Judy Benavides, BA ’83 MBA ’92, and her husband, David, BA ’81 MBA ’85; daughter Suzanne Bacile and her husband, Mike; and six grandchildren, Anton and Christina Horak, Angela and Benton Bacile, Katie Carrillo and Molly Benavides. “Toni was a math teacher, family counselor, community volunteer and devoted mother. Always passionate about helping others, she … gave her time, energy and endless creativity … in the pursuit of keeping families safe, healed and whole.” Michael Kiss, MTS ’01, was the middle of five children, born to Louis Andrew and Mary Kiss on Jan. 18, 1955, in western Pennsylvania. He died on May 19, 2020, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 65. Michael is survived by his wife, Kimberly; son, Andrew; daughter, Gloria Henderson, and her husband, Brian; grandchildren, Christopher and Victoria Henderson; sister and three brothers; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. After earning his master’s degree from UD, Michael taught the New Testament as an adjunct instructor and was pleased that several of his students became permanent deacons in the Diocese of Tulsa. Nalin Ranasinghe, MA ’86, passed away at age 59 on March 13. He had taught at Assumption College since 2001. According to Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo, Nalin had immersed himself in the classics, seeking “to integrate politics, philosophy and literature. Nalin emphasized crucial affinities between classical and Christian thought, Socrates and Jesus. He was presently completing books on Homer and on Shakespeare, who, along with Plato, were his great sources of inspiration. … Nalin urged students, with unsurpassed intensity, to live up to their humanity. As a result, he connected with many students at a deeply personal level and forever changed their lives.”

University Advancement

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2020. Today, they are the mothers of six sons collectively, as well as senior administrators at UD: Julia is the dean of students, Taryn the director of financial aid, and Lizzie the assistant vice president for enrollment. Together, they provide untold support to prospective and current students, strengthening the bonds of our UD family.

Early 2000s. Julia Carrano, BA ’02, Taryn (Hames) Anderson, BA ’07, and Lizzie Griffin Smith, BA ’09 MBA ’13, were undergraduates at UD: having adventures during their Rome semesters, participating in various sports back in Irving, doing all the things UD undergrads do.