Spring 2004

Index for Spring 2004 Volume 5 / Issue 3

2004 Fairfield Awards Dinner to honor six
Fr. Kelley's farewell tour continues
Alumni Return for Winter Homecoming 2004
Help name a University road
Reunion 2004
Club Happenings
Alumni Postcard - Philadelphia, Penn.
Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Jr. '74 honored
6th Annual Giants game and tailgate reception

2004 Fairfield Awards Dinner to honor six

His Excellency Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, former president of Mexico and director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, will present the keynote address and receive the Fairfield University Distinguished Leadership Award at the 2004 Fairfield Awards Dinner on April 13 in New York City. The dinner chairman is Board of Trustee member E. Gerald Corrigan '63, managing director at Goldman Sachs.

Since 1988, when the annual dinner began raising funds for the University's endowed Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund, more than $3.6 million has provided financial aid to nearly 70 students.

"Fairfield University provides the kinds of scholarship opportunities that competitive AHANA (African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) students seek. The funds raised from the Fairfield Awards dinner are a tremendous help for them to study here," says Larri Mazon, director of Multicultural Relations at Fairfield University. "Before the dinners began, we didn't have the resources to compete with major schools or offer similar financial aid packages to AHANA students. We're so grateful for this event and to the Alumni Association and the University for changing the format of the dinner."

This year's event will honor the following:

Jorge Figueredo '82
Alumni Professional Achievement Award

Jorge Figueredo is president of Liz Claiborne International in New York City. He joined the organization in 1984 as warehouse personnel administrator and rose through the ranks to his current position. From 1986 until 1999, he served in the department of human resources in the positions of manager, director, vice president, and senior vice president. In 1998, Human Resources Executive Magazine selected him as Human Resources Executive of the Year.

"Someone once said that success is when preparation and opportunity meet," says Figueredo, who credits hard work for his career advancement. He also gives credit to Fairfield's curriculum. "Though it's my business achievements I'm now being recognized for, I'm a very strong proponent of the liberal arts education," says Figueredo, who majored in English. In addition, he says, the Jesuit environment instilled in him the value of "dealing with people honestly, fairly, and with integrity," especially during difficult situations.

Rosellen Walsh Schnurr '74
Alumni Service Award

A member of the Board of Trustees, Rosellen Schnurr's dedication to Fairfield University is reflected in the energy she has spent building its future. She has served on numerous committees including co-chair of Our Promise: The Campaign for Fairfield National Alumni Executive Committee and the Presidential search committee. She is also a liaison to the Trustees Advisory Council and a member of The President's Circle.

"I only involve myself in things I have a passion for," she said in a 2001 article about Our Promise, "which is why serving these last six years on Fairfield's Board has been so wonderful. Viewing the University on a larger scale and getting to work with other trustees has been a privilege."

Charles and Helen Dolan, P'86, '85 Honorary Alumni Award

Charles and Helen Dolan are long-time benefactors of Fairfield University. In 1990, the Dolans made a $1 million gift to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. At the same time, the University's north campus buildings were named for members of the Dolan family in honor of a $4 million gift that contributed to the acquisition of 13 acres and three structures purchased from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

In 2000, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business was named to recognize the couple's $25 million gift, which also established several endowed chairs and a lecture series.

Mr. Dolan has been a member of Fairfield's Board of Trustees since 1981 and was awarded the University's 50th Anniversary Jubilee Medal in 1992. He and Mrs. Dolan have six children, including two graduates of Fairfield - Kathleen '85 and Deborah '86.

Barbara Kiernan, M.A.'90, P'02, '94
Distinguished Administrator Award

Most familiar to Fairfield University alumni as the editor of Fairfield Now, Barbara Kiernan, Director of University Publications and Marketing Communications, has worn many hats throughout her 20-year career at Fairfield. From producing the alumni magazine and the president's annual report, to overseeing the creation of admission marketing materials and countless other publications, she's become a fixture in the University community as the "voice" of Fairfield alumni, employees, and friends.

"Good writing, like a great singing voice, is a gift," she says. "When I'm working with others, I try to be aware that each person brings gifts to the table and that their gifts are as sacred as the ones I've received. Ignatian spirituality acknowledges God as the giver of these gifts, as do I. So in dealing with others, I am also dealing with the Giver of their gifts."

In addition to having many Fairfield publications receive regional and national awards, Kiernan has also received some from the University: Administrator of the Year (1998, Center for Multicultural Relations), honorary membership in Alpha Sigma Nu (1999), and the Human Resources Choice Award (2003).

To attend the 2004 Fairfield Awards Dinner, contact the Office of Special Events at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2660.

Fr. Kelley's farewell tour continues

In the past six months, University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., has visited several alumni hubs, where alumni, family, and friends have gathered to salute him for his 25 years of service to Fairfield.

Class of 1999 alumni Katie (Hibler) Pickard, Nick Segretario, Veronica O'Connor, and Brooke Mikesell in Washington, D.C.

 

Fr. Kelley with alumni in Puerto Rico and event host David Chafey '76 (far right).

John McNally '78, Nancy (Curran) McNally '77, Kelly McNally '07, Tom Quick '77 (event host), and Gerard Altieri '52 in Palm Beach, Fla.

Interested in becoming a class rep?

The Fairfield University Alumni Association Board of Directors has class rep openings for the classes of 1951, 1982, 1993, 1996, 1998, and one graduate school representative. The three-year terms begin July 1, 2004. Interested alumni should send a letter of interest by April 30, 2004, to the Alumni Association Nominations Committee, Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Alumni Return for Winter Homecoming 2004

On Feb. 14, it was all about alumni's love for Fairfield hoops. Fairfield alumni and friends donned their red for the Stags as the men's and women's teams went head-to-head against Canisius.

Basketball alumni cheered from the stands after their own morning hoops game at Alumni Hall. The 6th Man Club and the Golden Stags celebrated Winter Homecoming with receptions during and after the games. Between games, Fairfield alumni and families posed with the Fairfield Stag for a photo.

Fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard were on the edge of their seats as the men's team lost in overtime.

Golden Stags (l-r) Rudy Girandola '53, John Bigley '53, Valeria Girandola, and Eleanor Bigley.

Basketball alumni (l-r) Terry FitzSimons '92, Kyle Commodore '99, and Tom Crowley '69 were among the grads who took part in a game in Alumni Hall.

Photos by Jean Santopatre

Help name a University road

Mceleney Lane? Bellarmine Drive? Dolan Circle?

Giving directions and getting around Fairfield University will get easier in the not-too-distant future.

The University is developing a signage plan that includes naming the streets and roadways after those who have been influential in the growth and development of the institution or whose name is associated in some way with it. Now through June 1, alumni are welcome to submit suggestions. Names of individuals currently employed at Fairfield will not be considered.

If there is someone whom you would like to see honored in this way, please send his or her name and a brief statement on why you think the individual deserves such an honor to roadways@mail.fairfield.edu.

Have you seen these missing alumni?

We've lost track of the following alumni, but maybe you haven't. Reunion Weekend 2004 is just a few months away and we want to make sure all reunion-year alumni receive invitations. If you've seen or heard from any of the following people, please call (203) 254-4280.

Reunion Weekend 2004

Reunion invitations will be mailed in April with specific details, including campus housing information.

Note: Tickets and confirmation will NOT be mailed; please check in upon arrival.

50th Reunion Weekend

Join The President's Circle

The President's Circle is Fairfield University's most prestigious giving society, comprising individuals who contribute $1,000 or more annually ($600 per year annually for graduates of the last nine years). Since its founding in 1971, President's Circle members have played a critical role in helping Fairfield and its students realize an unprecedented level of achievement in the classroom and in the community. By providing the foundation of the Annual Fund, The President's Circle enables Fairfield to meet its short- and long-term goals.

For more information on joining The President's Circle, please call the Office of Annual Giving at (877) 748-5123 or e-mail annualgiving@mail.fairfield.edu.

Reunion awards: Make your class # 1

Join the Reunion Giving competition and help your class win in one or more of the following categories:

Best Attendance at Reunion
Highest Number of Gifts
Best Class Participation Rate
Most Money Raised

May 31 is the deadline to make your contribution count toward this year's competition. Awards are based on actual dollars in hand; class totals will include this year's installments toward multiyear pledges.

Club Happenings

Baltimore/Washington, D.C.
On Feb. 4, more than 100 alumni, family, and friends met at the Down-town Club in Washington, D.C., to bid farewell to Fr. Kelley. Many thanks to hosts Thomas Loughlin '80 and his wife, Kathi (Puglise) '80.

Alumni and friends gathered for a pre-game reception at Loco Hombre in Baltimore on Feb. 25 to rally spirit for the Stags basketball game at Loyola.

Boston
Neither frigid temperatures nor blinding snowstorms could keep Boston-area alumni and friends from cheering on the Stags during their contests at Holy Cross, Harvard, and Dartmouth in February. In March, alumni celebrated the luck o' the Irish at their annual St. Patrick's Day party.

Save the Dates
On April 24, join Boston alumni with hammers and nails to help Habitat for Humanity. For information and to sign up, contact Jodi DiGregorio '98 at jodianne_d@yahoo.com.

Don't miss the newest networking opportunity for Boston alumni: the first Briefcase Breakfast at the Downtown Club, 225 Franklin Street, Boston, on April 29. For information, contact Bill Crean '91 at bill.crean@cbre-ne.com or (617) 912-7014.

Sample foods from some of Boston's finest restaurants at the 13th Annual Party for a Plate, a fundraiser organized by young alumni from colleges throughout greater Boston to support the Greater Boston Food Bank. This year's event will be held at Cyclorama on April 29. For information, call Tracey Doolin at (617) 427-5200, ext. 5050, or visit www.gbfb.org.

Don't miss the 7th Annual Greater Boston Club Golf Outing on May 15 at Juniper Hills Golf Course in Northborough, Mass. Proceeds will go to a scholarship benefitting a Boston-area Fairfield University student. For information, contact Brendan Downey '92 at (781) 440-6248.

New York - The New Manhattan Club
Announcing the new Manhattan Club! The New York Club has been renamed, redefined, and reorganized to include those alumni who live and work in Manhattan. Thanks to Matt Kramer '96 for taking the lead in helping us jump-start the Club. Don't miss the group's first event on April 21 at the University Club when Fr. Kelley makes a stop on his farewell tour.

Calling all alumni bar and restaurant proprietors and private club members! The new Manhattan Club is looking for locations for alumni events. Why not make it yours? Let us know if you have ownership or partnership in such a business or have a club membership by contacting us at alumni@mail.fairfield.edu. Please include your name, class year, and contact information, as well as the venue's name and location.

Don't miss out on upcoming Manhattan Club events. Update your home or work information by visiting "Tell Us Your News" at www.fairfield.edu/alumni/ to make sure you receive the next invitation! Also, let us know if your workplace has a conference room available for networking events after office hours.

Florida reunion

Members of the classes of 1951 through 1954 - the "Golden Stags" - gathered for a mini-reunion at the Jacaranda West Country Club in Venice, Fla., on Feb. 7. Pictured are Peg and Jim '54 Stapleton; Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the University president; and hosts Walt '54 and Betsy Zackrison. Also in attendance were Jane and Robert Fitzpatrick '51; Mary Lou and John Roche Jr. '51; Mrs. Maryann Kennally, widow of William Kennally '54; Dr. John Nori '54; Louise and Anthony Pagliaro '54; Patricia and Douglas Smith Jr. '54; and Joan and Jack Welch '54.

Stags play in Hawaii

Pictured above with the women's basketball team are Head Coach Dianne Nolan (front, left). Next to her are Meghan and William Akim, children of Suzanne (Graham) Akim '77 (front right), a local alumna who cheered on the Stags as they played in the Hawaii Classic. Jeanne DiMuzio, director of Fairfield's Center of Wellness and Prevention (center), and her son, Christopher (second row), lent their support.

The men's and women's basketball teams played in Honolulu, Hawaii, during December break. On the women's team, Marybeth Chartier '04 led the Stags to a 67-65 win over the University of Hawaii to advance to the championship game of the 12th annual Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic. However, Fairfield fell to Northern Iowa in the championship game, 83-77, in overtime.

On day one, the men's team defeated Bowling Green, 70-60. The last four points in the men's game against Pepperdine University were scored by Michael Bell '06. He hit a three-pointer in the final minute, which broke a 56-56 tie, and provided the men with a 60-56 win. In the next day's Rainbow Classic Final Round, however, the men were defeated by the University of Hawaii, 50-49.

For a complete list of alumni clubs and upcoming events, visit www.fairfield.edu

Fore!

On May 10, the Fairfield University Alumni Association will host the 22nd Annual Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Fairfield. This year's tournament will benefit student-athletes with financial need, thereby significantly advancing Fairfield's mission and the institution's efforts to keep a high quality education within the reach of today's students. All alumni are welcome to play and should contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 254-4280 for more information.

Alumni Postcard

Philadelphia, Penn.

At the St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, Penn., everyone is welcome. The lonely, the poor, the addicts, the homeless, the unemployed - no matter what their background or current status - are all respected guests at this busy urban soup kitchen.

Among the Inn's volunteers is Tim Cummings '03. Immersed in his year of service with Franciscan Volunteer Ministry, Cummings is carrying out his mission to work with the underserved.

The St. Francis Inn is based on the philosophy of its namesake, Cummings explains. "St. Francis gave up everything to God, which enabled him to share only love," he says. "Life, according to him, is about simplicity. You have to love - there is nothing else beyond that."

At the Inn, Cummings helps prepare meals, wash dishes, check bathrooms, and hands out toiletry items to hundreds of people from all walks of life. The number of meals served is limited only by space and resources. "We never turn anyone away," he says. "No matter what, we can always find something for someone to eat."

But the Inn isn't only about satisfying a hunger pang. "We don't promote food, we promote quality of life," says Cummings. One way they help to promote self-worth is by individually seating and serving the guests, rather than having them receive their food cafeteria-style. "Some of these people are so lonely, or they have no family structure. It's hard to see their brokenness. If we were to turn these people away, or not make them feel welcome, what would that say?"

In addition to serving the poor, Cummings lives nearby with two other volunteers in the neighborhood. It's been an adjustment, he says, to witness some of the daily comings and goings of the local population - from criminal activity to destitution. "Here, the volunteers are always among the people we serve. It's not like we go out of the area and come in only to serve at the kitchen. St. Francis would have also stayed with the people who were struggling."

Beyond the hours of the soup kitchen, Cummings also picks up food from local grocers and helps run the Inn's thrift store.

As an undergraduate, Cummings, a philosophy major, participated in numerous Campus Ministry and peace and justice activities, including a Global Outreach trip to Haiti and service at Prospect and Caroline Houses. He knew that after graduation, serving the poor was his calling. As for next year, he's considering pursuing a master's in social work.

But for today, it's a quick stop at home and then off to the soup kitchen to distribute tickets for the afternoon meal. "If this work doesn't burn me out by the end of my year here," he says, "then it's where I belong and it's what I am called to do."

Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Jr. '74 honored

Rev. Dr. Robert Smith Jr. '74 (pictured far right) was one of five to receive a 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award as part of Fairfield University's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The award recognizes an individual's "tireless effort to instill and inspire the teachings and ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. in today's youth." Smith is pastor and co-founder of the Church of the Savior in Bronx, N.Y. He recently retired as a substance abuse specialist at Beth Israel Medical Center. Pictured with Smith are Larri Mazon, director of multicultural relations at Fairfield University, and Janet Canepa '82, director of alumni relations. Other awardees included Psychology Professor Dr. Judy Primavera, Francesca Cobb '04, Burim Gjidja '05, and community leader George Bellinger, posthumously.

2004 Distinguished Teaching Award

Is there a professor who made a difference in your life by exemplifying the Jesuit ideal? Consider honoring that unforgettable educator with a nomination for the Alumni Association's Distinguished Teaching Award.

To be considered for this award, which carries with it a $5,000 gift, the current faculty member must have completed 10 years of service at Fairfield University and have demonstrated excellence in classroom teaching, curriculum development, and/or advising/mentoring.

Alumni may submit nominations via www.fairfield.edu/alumni/ or by writing to the Office of Alumni Relations, Attn: Distinguished Teaching Award, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Submissions are due May 14, 2004.

6th Annual Giants game and tailgate reception

Despite Mother Nature's attempt to deep-freeze this year's revelers at the annual Giants game and tailgate reception on Dec. 7 at the Meadowlands, more than 70 alumni and friends (some of whom are pictured above) braved the bitter cold temperatures to come together for Fairfield University.

Tailgate reception hosts Marie and Gary '71 Marzolla, along with family and friends, presented the most impressive tailgate to date. With most of the Northeast socked in with more than a foot of snow that weekend, Gary and his crew began digging out the tailgate area at 7 a.m. Thanks to their efforts, guests were greeted with warm hospitality and unforgettable food - it was a day to remember.

Photo by Vic D'Ascenzo, M.A. '88

1073 North Benson is published three times a year by Fairfield University for its alumni. Letters to the editor, address changes, and correspondence should be sent to the editorial office:

1073 North Benson
Bellarmine Hall Room 220
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824
(203)254-4000 ext. 2556
e-mail: jcaseria@mail.fairfield.edu
www.fairfield.edu

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria

Editorial Board
Barbara D. Kiernan MA '90 P'02, '94
Director of University Publications

Janet Canepa '82
Director of Alumni Relations

Nicholas Segretario '99
Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Elizabeth Chatel '02
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

Designer: Annie Forstrom