Winter 2003

Index for Winter 2003 Volume 4 / Issue 2

Alumni Honor a Classroom Favorite
Memorial events honor alumni
2,500 Celebrate Homecoming Weekend 2002
Save the Date - Winter Homecoming: Feb. 15, 2003
Athletic Hall of Fame inducts four members
Calendar of Events
Trustee Michael Neal chairs 2003 Fairfield Awards Dinner
Special events for recent grads
Club Happenings
Alumni Postcards: Boston, Massachusetts
Fairfield University alumni in post-graduate service
A welcome surprise
Teddy Bears with Love ... thanks you!

Alumni Honor a Classroom Favorite

Pictured above are (l-r): Dr. Orin Grossman, academic vice president; Mary-Margaret Weber '84, former president of the Alumni Association; Dr. Alan Katz, professor of politics; Bryan LeClerc '84, current Alumni Association president; and Dr. Mary Frances Malone, associate academic vice president.

Photo by Bob Winkler

When Dr. Alan Katz learned he'd be receiving the first Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award, the longtime professor of politics says he was stunned and speechless.

But Dr. Katz, who joined the faculty in 1970, has been lauded before. Students have honored him twice - as Teacher of the Year and Advisor of the Year.

Dr. Katz accepted his latest accolade on Nov. 9 at a lunchtime ceremony in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The ceremony, attended by more than 100 University graduates, was part of the annual Alumni College event. Alumni College, now in its third year, offers alumni a day of interactive "courses" taught by Fairfield University professors, and, for the first time this year, an alumnus.

The award, which carries a $5,000 prize, honors faculty who have served the University for 10 years or more and who have displayed excellence in the areas of teaching, curriculum development, and mentoring/advising. Nominations were accepted from alumni, and a committee of alumni, faculty, and administrators chose Dr. Katz from among the candidates.

"One name kept coming up among the nominations," said Academic Vice President Dr. Orin Grossman, who introduced Dr. Katz at the awards ceremony as a "gifted and talented faculty member who goes above and beyond."

Mary-Margaret Weber '84, former president of the Alumni Association and the creative power behind the award, then read from a nomination letter submitted by Jennifer (Hafner) Cratem '90. Cratem expressed that she was following her professor's advice to go into teaching. "If I can be a fraction of the teacher he was and is, my students will be lucky," she wrote.

Current Alumni Association President Bryan LeClerc '84, presented the award to Dr. Katz.

"I'm humbled by the award," Dr. Katz said after the ceremony. He plans to give some of his award money to charity.

Dr. Katz will serve on next year's selection committee and will be named Dean for a Day, presiding over the 2003 Alumni College.

Memorial events honor alumni

Family members and alumni adorned the University's permanent campus memorial with dozens of red carnations at November's unveiling. The engraved stone honors the 14 Fairfield University alumni who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

In another ceremony, the field hockey team remembered three loved ones who died in the World Trade Center: Joseph Coppo, father of field hockey team alumna Kathleen Coppo '01; Joseph Heller '86, husband of team alumna Mary Jean (O'Shea) Heller '86 ; and team alumna Johanna Sigmund '98. The team presented Johanna's parents, John and Ruth Sigmund, with a framed action photograph of their daughter.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

2,500 Celebrate

Homecoming Weekend 2002

	Prior to the game, Class of 2001 alumni Dave Voyer, Frank Ferrucci, Christian Colasuomo, Alex Pabst, and Andrew McNulty grilled a few burgers in the tailgating area.
Alumni, students, and friends cheered the Stags on to victory as they played St. Peter's.
	Regan Steed (daughter of Mike '87 and Jackie (Steed) Mead '88), and Owen and William Jahne (sons of Catherine and John '89, looking on) got in on some of the Homecoming festivities with "Dapper" the Clown.

Photos by Jean Santopatre

Save the Date - Winter Homecoming:

Feb. 15, 2003

Save the date for this year's Winter Homecoming! Plan to wear your Fairfield red and cheer on the Stags at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. The women's basketball team takes on Rider at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men against MAAC rivals Marist at 3:30 p.m. For tickets, call (203) 368-1000. Watch your mailbox for more details.

Athletic Hall of Fame inducts four members

To kick off Homecoming Weekend, Fairfield University honored three alumni athletes and one favorite coach for their outstanding contributions to Fairfield's athletic program. Pictured left are (l-r): John "Doc" McCarthy (hockey coach, 1968-1996), Melissa Gassler '95 (tennis), Kara (Burmaster) Heckler '96 (soccer), and Shannon Bowman '97 (basketball).

Also honored at the Hall of Fame dinner were the founding members of Fairfield's lacrosse club team, who paved the way for the University's Division I program. The teammates pictured above with Alumni Association President Bryan LeClerc '84 and University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., are: (back row, l-r) Bryan LeClerc, John Hughes '74, Jim Coakley '74, Roger Yergeau '73, Steve Hinchey '73, Ed Perlak '74, Joe Kern '74, Fr. Kelley, Michele (Vittori) Casandra '75 - team manager; (front row, l-r) Will Mraz '73, Paul Gallois '73, John Raymond '73, Ken Gilstein - coach, Thomas Fox '73, Larry Puzzo '73, Mary (Starchan) Sherrow '75 - team manager.

Photos by B.K. Angeletti

Calendar Of Events

Trustee Michael Neal chairs 2003 Fairfield Awards Dinner

University Trustee Michael A. Neal, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Commercial Finance and Senior Vice President, General Electric Company, is chairman of the 2003 Fairfield Awards Dinner.

Recipients of this year's awards include: Arthur Laske '51, Alumni Service Award; Maive Scully '76, Alumni Professional Achievement Award; Dr. Kurt Schlichting, professor of sociology and anthropology, Distinguished Faculty/Administrator Award; and Victor Leeber, S.J., Honorary Alumnus.

The dinner, which benefits the Alumni Multicultural Scholarship Fund in support of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native America students, will be held in April. For event details and tickets, call the Office of Special Events at (203) 254-4000, ext. 2660.

Special events for recent grads

If you graduated between 1994 and 2002 and are looking for a way to get involved with the Young Alumni Committee - or have an idea for a great social, service, or networking event - we would love to hear from you! In recent months, the Young Alumni Committee has hosted social events in Fairfield and New York City, volunteered at community organizations and soup kitchens, offered career workshops, and cheered on the Stags together at fall games.

Contact Cristina Dieguez '99 at cdieguez@mail.fairfield.edu, Jeremy Nappi '00 at jnappi@mail.fairfield.edu, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 254-4280

Club Happenings

Atlanta
The Atlanta Club - one of Fairfield University's newest alumni clubs - hosted two socials in Buckhead with area alumni. The first was held at Casa Grande on Aug. 14; the second on Oct. 9 at Rock Bottom. Area alumni also welcomed University President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., to Atlanta at the offices of Troutman Sanders on Oct. 29. Thank you to host Jack Dalton '64 and to Atlanta Club President, Paul Gallois '73, for organizing these successful events. For information about upcoming events, contact Paul at pgallois@aol.com.

Baltimore/DC
The Baltimore/D.C. Club held a Sept. 11 memorial Mass and reception with Holy Cross alumni, families, and friends at St. Patrick's Church in downtown Washington, D.C. Thank you to Club President Kathleen Berganski '77 and Kathleen Healy '88.

Boston
In October, more than 100 alumni, parents, and friends welcomed Fr. Kelley to the Boston area. The event was held at the Wellesley Country Club and was hosted by William and Carolyn Joy P'00, P'04.

Save the Dates
Upcoming Boston area events include the St. Patrick's Day party, March 16; Party for a Plate, April 1; Habitat for Humanity, April 12 (to sign up, e-mail Jodi DiGregorio '98 at jodidi@bu.edu or Matt Curran '93 at curran@bchigh.edu; Alumni Golf Tournament, June. E-mail fuboston@hotmail.com for details on all events.

Chicago
The Chicago Club held an alumni reception in December at Timothy O'Toole's Pub. Guests included Fairfield University Athletic Director Gene Doris and Men's Basketball Coach Tim O'Toole '86 (no relation!).

Alumni cheered on the men's team during their game against DePaul at the Allstate Arena in Rosemount, Ill., and enjoyed a reception at the Allstate's Overtime Sports Bar. Thanks to Rusty Magner '89 for being the Stag!

Save the Date
Don't miss the Chicago Club social on May 2 at Stanley's Kitchen and Tap, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kelly Simon '01 at (847) 736-1538, or Marjorie Vollmer '01 at (773) 296-2147.

Fairfield
In November, alumni enjoyed a post-election-day luncheon discussion at the Alumni House with guest speaker Dr. John Orman, politics professor.

Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the University President, celebrated the Alumni Christmas Mass on the First Sunday of Advent at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. After the Mass, alumni rang in the Christmas season with a reception at Alumni House.

More than 100 alumni enjoyed a pre-concert reception in the Wien Theatre prior to the Glee Club's Christmas concert at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts.

Hartford
In September, alumni and friends turned out at the Elbow Room in West Hartford to meet new Club President Paul Thompson '87 and to discuss upcoming events. For information or to volunteer, contact Paul at thomppft@aol.com.

Save the Date
Catch up with Hartford alumni on Feb. 6 at Grant's at a "Chase Away the Winter Blues" alumni social.

New Jersey
William Connolly '69 hosted an alumni and parent reception with Fr. Kelley at the Montclair Golf Club in September. Fr. Kelley provided an update on campus and University activities.

New York
In November, area alumni and friends attended a New York Philharmonic concert.

Also in November, Rob Gillin '92 and the "Friends of Chris Slattery '92" hosted a fundraising event for the Christopher Slattery Fairfield Memorial Scholarship Fund. The event was held in New York City at Rob's establishment, Mad River Bar & Grille. Members of the Class of '92 served as bartenders.

Philadelphia
Area alumni enjoyed a concert by the Fairfield University Glee Club at Old St. Joseph's Church in Philadelphia in November.

For a complete list of alumni clubs in your area, visit www.fairfield.edu

Gathering in one's name

More than 125 family members, friends, and Fairfield University alumni gathered at Tammany Hall in New York City last spring to raise funds for the Jeffrey Killian '97 Memorial Scholarship. By the end of the evening, more than $6,000 in gifts were made. The Killian family thanks the efforts of all who organized the event, especially Kim (Azzariti) Baumstark '97, Jeff Redman '97, Ian MacNeill '97, and Tammany Hall owners Terry Fitzsimons '92 and Rob Gillin '92.

"It was truly a special night for our family, as we heard stories of Jeff and were again reminded of how much he meant to so many people," says Kristen (Killian) D'Ambrosio '93, Jeffrey's sister. "The evening also served to reaffirm just how caring the Fairfield University community is."

Since its creation fewer than two years ago, the Jeffrey Killian Endowed Memorial Scholarship has grown to more than $32,000. A fully endowed scholarship at Fairfield University requires a minimum corpus of $50,000. The goal of the Killian Scholarship committee is to have this scholarship fully endowed within the next two years.

Alumni Postcards: Boston, Massachusetts

Class of 2002 alumni Sasha Hutchings and Kevin Horne are middle school teachers at Nativity Preparatory School in Boston. An all-male school, Nativity Prep focuses on educating boys from the inner city. Hutchings and Horne found out about the school - and its one-year teaching placements - through their friend Erik Stilp '01 who volunteered at Nativity last year.

"As soon as I heard about Nativity, I thought it would be a wonderful place to be," Hutchings says.

Hutchings teaches religion and coaches physical education and basketball. Horne also teaches and coaches wrestling. And although they're called "teachers," it hardly encompasses all the tasks they perform in a week.

Since Nativity Prep is open approximately 14 hours a day during the week (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), in addition to class instruction, a teacher's duties include evening tutoring, planning and chaperoning Saturday field trips, cooking for the students, cleaning the school, and many other tasks. But of all the things they do in a day, Hutchings and Horne agree that the most important is to treasure their students.

It is obvious that Hutchings and Horne thoroughly enjoy volunteering at Nativity Prep, but they agree that the job is not always easy. "There are times when you want to walk out of the front door and not look back," Hutchings says. "But then the students put everything back into perspective. They make you laugh at life and see what is important."

When asked about their plans for the future, both said that they would like to stay another year.

"I definitely see myself here next year if not the year after that," says Horne. "I love this place; no other job could touch it. Sure, it has long hours, but if you keep your heart open, you never really seem to notice."

Both have found their niche at Nativity Prep and say that what they have taught their students can't compare to what they have learned from them in return. In Hutchings' words: "Working at Nativity is not a job, it is a blessing."

Do you know of a Fairfield graduate doing extraordinary work here or abroad? Please send photos, information, and contact name to the 1073 North Benson editorial office.

Fairfield University alumni in post-graduate service

Nine recent Fairfield graduates are participating in a year of service. They welcome your letters.

FrancisCorps
Katie Garibaldi '02
Youth Mentor
Salina Civic Center
2826 LeMoyne Ave.
Mattydale, NY 13211

Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Cindy Cota '02
Outreach Assistant
Mustard Seed School
3439 Fourth Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95817

Courtney Giannotti '00
Youth Mentor
Friendship House of Christian Service
3123 Eighth Ave. S.
Billings, MT 59101

Elizabeth Wenger '02
Catechist/Academic Tutor
Paschal Sherman Indian School
25A Mission Road
Omak, WA 98841

Mercy Works Volunteers
Kat O'Connell '02 and Dan Stalilonis '02
Youth Care Case Workers
Mercy Works Volunteers
Mercy Home For Boys and Girls
1140 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607

Nativity Preparatory School
Kevin Horne '02 and Sasha Hutchings '02
Middle School Teachers
Nativity Preparatory School
39 Lamartine St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Providence College Feinsten Volunteer Corps
Aimee Wagner '02
Providence College
Campus Ministry Center
Providence, RI 02918-0001

A welcome surprise

At a pre-convocation dinner for 2002 Academic Convocation speaker Dr. Brenda Joyce Young '74, three of her former classmates came to show their support - a surprise to Dr. Young. Also in attendance was Rudy Childers, another close friend of Dr. Young, who was instrumental in guiding her to choose Fairfield University for her undergraduate studies. Pictured above are (l-r): Dr. Robert Smith '74, Rudy Childers, Dr. Young, Robert Boccardi '72, and John Artis Yopp '72.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Teddy Bears with Love ... thanks you!

Thanks to all who contributed to this year's Teddy Bears with Love Campaign. Your donations of more than 1,000 bears brought joy to hundreds of area children this holiday season.

The bear from the furthest location was sent in from Alaska, courtesy of Renee Wilmot '85. Laura Pitaniello '89 donated the biggest bear (31 inches tall), Richard Leuschner '70 sent in the smallest (five inches tall), and the kindergarten class at East School in New Canaan, Conn., contributed the most (100+).