Winter 2006

Volume 7 / Issue 1

Frank Romano '84: Mercy dentistry

Spending the night in a refrigerated morgue truck isn't as cool as you'd think it might be. But for forensic dentist Dr. Frank Romano '84, it was just another day at the office.

When the cots he and his companions thought they'd be sleeping on didn't arrive in time on the tarmac at the Gulfport Municipal Airport (Miss), the narrow wooden platforms along the truck's walls served as beds. They bunked this way for a week, with no more than a balled up sweatshirt for a pillow. Given the devastation they witnessed, however, they were glad for any respite they could manage. These "condos," as they tried to joke about their makeshift sleeping quarters, would hold the scores of unidentified Hurricane Katrina victims in the days and weeks to come.

A family dentist in Bridgeport, Conn., Dr. Romano is part of the Region I Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT), a federal-level response team that provides mortuary assistance when a mass fatality incident occurs. After a fire, plane crash, or a hurricane, these DMORT teams are often called in to set up temporary portable morgues to help identify victims. Three days before Hurricane Katrina hit the United States, his DMORT team was put on alert and asked to commit two weeks of time if necessary. After getting the okay from his wife, Ginny (Drew '85), and their three sons, Michael, Nicholas, and Thomas, the Fairfield resident was ready to go.

The team endured an emotional and physical journey to its destination. After flying to Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 31, the group caravanned 90 miles to Anniston, Ala., and then another 64 to Birmingham, the furthest stop south where they could still get gasoline. With a military escort leading the team along a dark and spooky 360-mile trail from the Mississippi border to Gulfport, Dr. Romano could not have imagined what he was about to encounter. "We had heard rumors about violence, poisonous snakes, no gas, and no electricity," he says, "but what we saw totally blew me away. Imagine an area from Greenwich to Mystic completely destroyed. There were no streetlights, signs and trees were down, military police were stationed at every corner, and buildings had been blown over."

Once they reached camp, accommodations were meager. They ate military ready-to-eat meals, made their own latrines, and had no running water for days. By morning, their real work began.

Bodies were deteriorating quickly in the 100-degree heat, making it difficult to get positive identifications on some. But since teeth don't decompose, they are usually the most promising way to identify a victim. After taking X-rays of the unidentified person, Dr. Romano and the team of forensic dentists painstakingly looked for peculiarities such as crowns or dentures with names in them - even knowing that most local dental offices and their records were likely destroyed. Photographs, DNA sampling, and data recording were done methodically and swiftly by various specialized examiners. Clothing was removed and stored, and fingerprints were taken.

"You respect the body as if it were your mother's," he says. After about a week, Dr. Romano began to suffer from a kidney stone attack, which, exacerbated by dehydration, led to a ruptured kidney. He had to depart his post earlier than the rest of his team. "I was upset that I was sick and had to leave," he says, and hopes to be called in again.

"It was a true team experience," he reflects. "Everyone was so strong and positive; they had faith in what we were doing. It was the ultimate team exercise."

Pictured above (l-r) is Dr. Frank Romano '84 with other members of the Region 1 Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team: Ken Temple, DDS (forensic dentist), Mark Soucie (computer expert), Patty Soucie (dental assistant), and Tony Bowers (funeral director). The group drove together from Atlanta, Ga., to Gulfport, Miss.

Homecoming Weekend 2005

On Oct. 15, more than 250 alumni returned to campus for Homecoming 2005 - an exciting day filled with activities. The crowd was treated to a variety of alumni games played all over campus (field hockey, men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, rugby, swimming/diving) and ice hockey at the Wonderland of Ice. Alumni also got a preview of the 2005-2006 Fairfield Stags action at the red/white scrimmages put on by the men's and women's basketball teams. Afterward, the action moved to The Levee, where alumni celebrated Stagtoberfest 2005 with a drink and pizza, plus tunes from four alumni bands.

For her dedication to the University and its Jesuit ideals, Fairfield trustee Rosellen (Walsh) Schnurr '74 was honored with a named crew shell by Andre Albert (right), director of rowing. Charles Allen, S.J., executive assistant to the president, blessed the shell at a special ceremony during Homecoming.

Photo by Jack Jones

Alumni didn't miss the action-packed red/white scrimmage! Pictured (l-r) are student-athletes Alvin Carter '06, Geoff Middleton '08, and Danny Oglesby '07.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Field hockey alumnae and friends celebrated the program's 25th year. Pictured above (l-r) are Cyndy Ruggerio '84, Marilyn Rowe (Coach in the 1980s), coach Jackie Kane '87, Director of Athletics Gene Doris, Nancy (Whelan) McColgan '82, Fr. Allen, and Stephanie Holland '02.

Photo by Jim Scholl '07

Paul Cantrell (right), assistant director of recreation at Fairfield University, and Chris Grauert '68 (left) presented one of the two remaining original Ciacci statuettes (known as the Doug Ciacci '65 MVP Award) to Elaine Ferraguta, Doug's sister and his only living relative. The other remaining statuette is now housed in the Quick RecPlex. In 1985, a scholarship was established in Ciacci's name in memory of him and classmate Joseph Pascale '65.

2005 Athletic Hall of Fame

The Fairfield University Alumni Association recognized five out- standing contributors to Fairfield's athletic program on Oct. 15. Pictured with Alumni Association President Paul A. Richards '71 (center) are this year's inductees (l-r) Ian MacNeill '97 (cross country), Jennifer (McLaughlin) Strauss '00 (volleyball), Jessica Grossarth '98 (basketball), Elizabeth (Bower) Curran '00 (volleyball), and Matthew Callaghan '98 (lacrosse).

Photo by Bob Winkler

Teach-in:

In October, more than a dozen Fairfield University faculty and administrators presented research on topics such as the Hurricane's impact on the environment, health, and the economy. The evening included a live jazz performance by Brian Torff, associate professor of visual and performing arts in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and his students, and reflections read by New Orleans natives Dr. Patricia Behre, associate professor of history in CAS, and Dr. Beth Boquet, professor of English in CAS.

Visiting students:

Fairfield University hosted more than 50 students during the fall semester from Loyola New Orleans and Tulane universities. With their campuses temporarily closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina, Fairfield provided housing, courses, and support, until they could return.

Calendar of Events

For more information and additional events, visit www.fairfield.edu/alumni or call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 254-4280.

Welcome Colleen McGinn, Assistant Director

In the fall, the Office of Alumni Relations welcomed Colleen McGinn as assistant director. Heading up events such as Homecoming, basketball receptions, and Preview Day's Legacy Breakfast, she's jumping into the position with both feet.

McGinn graduated last spring from the University of Connecticut with a degree in communication and English.

She may be new, but she's no stranger to working with alumni. At UConn, she was active in its student alumni association for four years, serving as its president for two. The biggest difference between the two associations is size. "UConn has about 180,000 alumni, while Fairfield has 40,000," she says.

With Fairfield's family atmosphere, combined with the energy of the office, she looks forward to the range of responsibilities that lie ahead. "Everyone made me feel comfortable right away."

Have ideas for an event? Contact Colleen McGinn at cmcginn@mail.fairfield.edu.

When Fairfield is a family affair

By Lisa Roberts

How does Fairfield become "all in the family" for some? We thought we'd ask that question of three legacy pairs whose reunion is coming up on June 10 and 11, 2006. Of the more than 5,000 Fairfield graduates who will celebrate a reunion this spring, the following pairs are just some of the many in the "Fairfield family" who share an ancestry.

All in the Family

When Don Ciampi Jr. '86, was applying to colleges, he was reluctant to apply to Fairfield, not wanting to follow so closely in the footsteps of his father, Don Ciampi Sr. '61. However, he soon realized that Fairfield offered everything he was looking for. "Recently I received a letter from the University President about becoming an integrated person and I truly believe in that. Fairfield does an excellent job of addressing the whole person," says Don Jr., who is proud that his alma mater has remained committed to its Jesuit mission.

Today, father and son both hold degrees in marketing from Fairfield and share office space at Ciampi Tax & Financial Services, in Cheshire, Conn., a business started by Don Sr. 36 years ago. Academically, Don Jr. felt Fairfield helped prepare him for graduate school and gave him the confidence to excel in a business environment. On a more personal note, he feels he has benefited from the lifelong relationships he formed with fellow classmates. But most important, believes Don, "the spirituality that was reinforced at Fairfield helps me every day to be a better parent, husband, friend, and son."

From Don Sr.'s perspective, his Fairfield education taught him how to approach everyday problems of life and helps him to connect with local Fairfield grads to this day. "If you walk into my office, you'll see two pictures of the University," he says.

"One is a sketch of Canisius and Loyola, and the other is a collage my son, Marc, designed of various images, such as the chapel, the campus center, and the Fairfield seal." The pictures often serve as conversation pieces for his clients.

Don Sr.'s older brother, Charles '58, and his sons, David '90 and Marc '92, also attended Fairfield. So with Fairfield University being "all in the family" with the Ciampis, will it be a given that Don Jr.'s son, Donald III, who is six years old, and his daughter Catherine, who is four, will someday attend Fairfield? "It's an ongoing debate," laughs Don Jr., whose wife, Ellen, is a Boston College alumna. "My leverage point will be that my wife's just outnumbered. That's all."

Across 25 Years and 3,000 Miles

Reminiscing about the University across a generational gap of 25 years and a geographical span of 3,000 miles, Bob Donohue '66 (pictured right), of Ridgewood, N.J., and Mike Donohue '91 (pictured left), of Larkspur, Calif., talk about the openness and beauty of the campus landscape that attracted each of them to Fairfield. Bob remembers how much he enjoyed the widespread grassy areas. Mike recalls, "There was this one tree behind Bellarmine that I would always sit under at night after studying. I had an escape, a way to see the open sky; I enjoyed the country feel of the University."

Despite their shared fondness for Fairfield's bucolic setting, the 25 years between father and son made for quite different experiences during those formative years. To make his way through college, Bob washed dishes in Loyola and raked leaves in the fall. In contrast, his son was a beat sportswriter for The Mirror and landed an internship at the Bridgeport Post (now the Connecticut Post). Nevertheless, Mike appreciates the work ethic his dad passed on to him, attributing it to the reason he works long hours and weekends, and doesn't take his career for granted.

Bob admits that when he thinks about his Fairfield years, he's "looking back from a long distance," but his 40th reunion will be about more than just memories. "I'm looking forward to getting a wider cross-sample of whatever happened to the Class of 1966," he says. As he and his classmates enter the world of retirement, Bob is very interested in hearing how each is approaching this next rite of passage.

At the writing of this article, Mike and his wife are awaiting the December arrival of their first child. This means Mike will need to pass on attending his 15th reunion to keep the home front running smoothly during this first year of parenthood. When asked to fast-forward 18 years from now to when his first-born heads out to college, Mike chuckles, then remarks, "The number-one thing I wouldn't want Fairfield to lose is that community feel - it was a very friendly, approachable, inviting place. I would hope it keeps its authenticity for every generation."

Someone At Fairfield Loves You

For Jennifer Maher '01 and her father Joe Maher '71(pictured below), Reunion Weekend will turn into a family reunion of sorts, as relatives Mary (Ahmuty '76) and Kevin Maloney '76 will join them on Fairfield's campus. "Fairfield was always a part of my life growing up," says Jennifer, who now lives in Manhattan. "Now that I'm a graduate, it's a stronger part that will last a lifetime." As she gets ready to attend her first reunion, she remembers her father returning from his reunions years ago. "I was the five-year-old with a Fairfield University t-shirt," she laughed. "I had a teddy bear that wore one saying 'Someone at Fairfield Loves You.'"

How did Fairfield first become a family affair? Joe, of Township, N.J., recalls that he had wanted to continue the Jesuit education he was receiving at New York City's Xavier High School. Among the Jesuit universities in the region, Fairfield stood out because it was only 25 years old at the time. Joe explains, "I felt I would be part of something that was just going to grow stronger as the years passed." Thirty years later, Joe's daughter also felt strongly about continuing the Jesuit education she was receiving in high school. "If I stayed with the Jesuits I knew I'd be getting a good education," Jennifer says.

When Joe's affiliation with Fairfield deepened from alumnus to parent, he found himself taking a more active interest in the happenings on campus. During Jennifer's college years, Joe discovered that his youthful intuition was confirmed - between 1967 and 1997 the University had indeed grown with the times and continued its ascent as one of the finest Jesuit institutions in the region.

Neither has ever regretted the decision to attend Fairfield. On Jennifer's graduation day, the two had a conversation they will cherish forever. On a small bench near Egan Chapel, Joe shared with his daughter that his own graduation was a very stressful time, as he was already married to her mom and a father to her brother. When he turned to one of the priests on campus for support, he received all that he needed and more.

"That, to me, is how I felt about attending a Jesuit school," Jennifer points out, "I always felt taken care of beyond my needs."

Wondering who's going to Reunion?

Include your name in Fairfield University's Reunion e-mail Directory! The directory will help you make plans for Reunion Weekend and reconnect with classmates. It will be distributed in mid-April to reunion-year alumni who indicate they would like to get the directory. To be included, please complete the form at www.fairfield.edu/reuniondirectory by March 10, 2006. Don't miss out - sign up today!

Represent your classmates

The Fairfield University Alumni Association Board of Directors has class representative openings for the classes of 1966, 1969, 1983, and 1998. The three-year terms begin July 1, 2006. Alumni willing to volunteer for this position should send a letter of interest by Feb. 1, 2006, to the Alumni Association Nominations Committee, Fairfield University, Alumni House, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Club Happenings

Baltimore/Washington, DC

In September, alumni and friends turned out at Porter's Dining Saloon in D.C. to network and discuss upcoming events.

D.C.-area alumni gathered on Dec. 11 to root for the men's basketball team as the Stags took on the Georgetown Hoyas. Alumni celebrated at a post-game reception at Fado's Irish Pub.

Boston

Area alumni gathered at the Jesuit Campion Center in Weston for the Fairfield University Glee Club's liturgy performance and mini-concert on Nov. 12.

Stag spirit was alive as Boston-area fans cheered on the women's basketball team. The Stags beat Harvard on Nov. 27.

A visit from Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., brought 70 alumni, parents, and friends to the State Room for a campus update on Dec. 1.

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

Save the Date

Jan. 20: Briefcase Breakfast at Ernst & Young, LLP, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. To register, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 254-4280.

Feb. 10-12, Gloucester, Mass.: A retreat for graduates of Jesuit colleges and universities presented by Fairfield University's Facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity, James M. Bowler, S.J. For more information, call (978) 283-0013 or visit www.easternpoint.org.

Other upcoming events include the St. Patrick's Day gathering and the annual golf outing! Details and dates coming soon.

Fairfield

Hoops fans came out to cheer for the men's basketball team at the home opener as the Stags took on the Saint Joe's Hawks on Nov. 21. A pre-game reception with Fr. von Arx was held in the Club Lounge.

Paul E. Carrier, S.J., University chaplain, celebrated the annual Alumni Christmas Mass at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on Dec. 4. Following Mass, alumni gathered for Christmas cheer at Alumni House.

Hartford

More than 75 alumni, parents, and friends joined in welcoming Fr. von Arx to the Hartford area on Oct. 4 at the Hartford Club.

Special thanks to Paul Thompson '87 for organizing local alumni and supporting the Habitat for Humanity efforts in Hartford on Nov. 5.

Peter Grzybala, P'09, Diane Korntheuer, P'09, and Fr. von Arx.

Save the Date

Indulge your senses, expand your knowledge, and join other alumni and friends as they "Swirl the World" with a spectacular wine tasting event at Art League, located at Mountain Road in West Hartford, on Feb. 17. For more information, contact Cathy Scarfe Pedemonti '84 at winedevine@aol.com.

Manhattan

Twenty alumni stepped up to the plate and lent a hand in the annual Catholic Challenge (Habitat for Humanity) in Yonkers on Sept. 18. Thanks to Rich Battikha '91 for his tireless efforts in gathering support for this endeavor.

More than 25 alumni, family, and friends took to the course at Tall Grass Country Club for a casual golf outing on Sept. 18 in Shoreham, N.Y.

New Haven

More than 50 New Haven alumni rang in the holiday season at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts as the Fairfield University Glee Club performed its annual Christmas concert, "In Holiday Style," on Dec. 2.

Class of 1956 to celebrate 50th Reunion

Fairfield's sixth graduating class, the Class of '56, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this coming May during Commencement Weekend. A number of activities have been planned for the 50th Reunion Weekend, May 20 and 21, and it's the hope of the Reunion Committee that many of the known 118 members of the Class will want to renew friendships made so many years ago.

Photos, films, or other memorabilia from those glory days of 50 years ago will help make this a most meaningful Reunion! If you have items that could be displayed for all to see, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (203) 254-4280. Items will be returned to you after the Reunion.

Make plans NOW to be part of the celebration in May, so you can personally witness the remarkable changes on campus since 1956.

Ways to give

• Call the Office of Annual Giving's toll-free number at (877) 748-5123 and make your gift by credit card.
• Make a secure online gift at www.fairfield.edu/give.
• Consider a gift of appreciated stock. Call the Office of Annual Giving at (203) 254-4004 for more information.
• Check with your employer to see if your company has a matching gift program. Corporate matching gifts are an excellent way to increase the value of your gift. You can view a list of matching gift companies at www.hepdevelopment.com/fairfield.

Alumni Postcards

Jessica Michael '04

From the time her alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. until her head hits the pillow 18 hours later, Jessica Michael '04 lives and breathes teaching. Since graduating from Fairfield University with a degree in chemistry, Jessica has dedicated her time to teaching primarily Spanish-speaking middle school students at St. Procopius, a Catholic school in Chicago's inner city. She is in the second year of a two-year program with the Inner-City Teaching Corps (ICTC).

Unfortunately, the classrooms at St. Procopius School reflect the neighborhood, where one-third of the residents live below the poverty line. "My students didn't ask to live in poverty, but they are asking for an education," she says. "I have the time and I am willing to spend the energy to be here." Books and other supplies are in high demand. Jessica wants to help, but her limited stipend doesn't cover what's needed to learn, and the students are often made to share the most basic items - even pencils.

Teaching in an urban setting was the farthest thing from Jessica's mind a couple of years ago. "I was planning to go to medical school. I had studied for the MCATs and had interviews all lined up," she says. Then, near the time of the annual volunteer fair at Fairfield University, she considered participating in a year of service to take a break from studying. At the fair, she saw a brochure for ICTC, and immediately felt that she should dedicate the next two years of her life helping poor students. "So on June 10, 2004, I drove to Chicago. I didn't know my placement and I had never been to Chicago before," she says. "I am normally such an intense planner, but in this case I didn't even research the program. I just went."

Her first few weeks in Chicago, she was charged with teaching a summer chemistry course to inner city high school students. Michael, who stands at 5'4", says that on the first day of class, 17 teenage boys walked into the room, towering over her by at least 12 inches. "'We failed this three times,' they told me. 'What do you think you're going to do differently?' I was really scared at first," she admits, "but by practicing the lessons through experiments, they caught up - and I relaxed."

In addition to teaching middle school students in math, science, and religion, she has been responsible for the after-school programs twice a week. She also started a science club last year in which eighth graders develop their own experiments and projects. It's a hit.

"Teaching requires such endurance; it's the most draining experience you can imagine," she says about herself and her five housemates, some of whom are also teachers. "Teaching is a service. We're not paid much - I think it's about $5 a day. We're giving ourselves."

Tax-deductible donations of basic school supplies, such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and books, for Jessica Michael's program, may be sent to:

Jessica Michael, c/o Inner-City Teaching Corps, Attn: Jerry Kuthy, 3141 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612.

Jessica Michael teaches at St. Procopius School in Chicago.

Fairfield University alumni in post-graduate service

Several recent graduates are participating in service programs. They welcome your letters.

Bon Secour
Kristen Desy '05
13 South Poppleton St.
Baltimore, MD 21201

Catholic Medical Mission Board
Alyssa Aurisy '05 (working in Hillside Hospital, Punta Gorda, Belize)
c/o Catholic Medical Mission Board
10 West 17th St.
New York, NY 10011

Episcopal Urban Volunteers
Tess McMahon '05
California

FrancisCorps
Katherine Canner-O'Mealy '05 and Brian Ruell '05
c/o FrancisCorps Volunteers
1015-1017 Court St.
Syracuse, NY 13208

Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Eileen Arnold '05
P.O. Box 1765
Bethel, AK 99559

Jen Gumpert '05
3037 Frisby St.
Baltimore, MD 21218

Mary Parr '04
JVC East, Bronx

Kris Walentik '04
7716 North 18th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85021

Los Niños - Tijuana, Mexico
Tim O'Connor '05
287 G St.
Chula Vista, CA 91910

Peace Corps
Ryan Kelley '03
Madagascar

Project Pierre Toussaint
Tim Cummings '03
c/o Lynx Air
P.O. Box 407130
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33310

Providence Alliance for Catholic Teachers
Keith Maczkiewicz '04
c/o Providence College
549 River Ave.
Providence, RI 02918

Teach for America
Kristina Riordan '05
Mississippi

Teddy Bears With Love Campaign

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, hundreds of new bears were donated to the annual Teddy Bears With Love campaign and delivered to community centers, bringing joy to children who needed them most. Special thanks to local organizations, church groups, individuals, schools, and the Fairfield University community.

Service fair

At November's Service Fair, FrancisCorps volunteers Katherine Canner-O'Mealy '05 and Brian Ruell '05 spoke with Fairfield University students about participating in a year of service after graduation. More than 100 students attended the fair held in the John A. Barone Campus Center. Alumni represented many of the 30 groups in attendance, several of which have attracted numerous Fairfield University graduates in recent years.

Photo by Jean Santopatre

Season ticket winner

Carolyn Mueller '87, pictured with Athletic Director Gene Doris (left) and Fr. von Arx (right), won season tickets at last year's Winter Homecoming raffle. Don't miss Winter Homecoming 2006 - Feb. 11 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The women's basketball team will take on Canisius at 1 p.m., followed by the men's team against Iona at 3:30 p.m. Wear red and cheer on the Stags at this doubleheader! For tickets, call Ticketmaster at (203) 368-1000.

Photo by Nicholas Segretario '99

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 06824-5195
(203) 254-4000, ext. 2556
e-mail: jcaseria@mail.fairfield.edu
www.fairfield.edu

Editor
Jill Kasiewicz Caseria, M.A.'04

Editorial Board

Barbara D. Kiernan, M.A.'90, P'02, '04
Director of University Publications

Janet Canepa '82
Director of Alumni Relations

Nicholas Segretario '99
Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Colleen McGinn
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Jean Santopatre
University Photojournalist

Annie Forstrom, Designer