Danny Glover, the acclaimed actor of theatre and film who has used his celebrity to advance many community programs and worthy causes will be the keynote speaker at this year's Fairfield Awards Dinner on May 1. The dinner is a fundraiser for Fairfield University's multicultural scholarships.

The Dinner, to be held at the Sheraton New York, will also celebrate three members of the Fairfield University community who have distinguished themselves and brought honor to the University. Eileen Clarkin Rominger of New York City, chief investment officer of the U.S. value team at Goldman Sachs, will receive the Alumni Professional Achievement Award; Dr. Winston Tellis of Fairfield, Conn., will receive the Distinguished Faculty / Administrator Award; and B. Maxwell "Max" O'Meara of West Simsbury, Conn., will receive the Alumni Service Award.

Danny Glover, Actor, Producer, Director
As an actor, Danny Glover has amassed an impressive body of work, including the films "Witness," "The Color Purple," "Mandela," "Places in the Heart," the "Lethal Weapon" series with Mel Gibson and "Beloved," the film adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel.

A distinguished stage actor, Danny Glover first gained national recognition in the New York production of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold and the Boys."

He executive produced and acted in "To Sleep with Anger," and was executive producer, executive director and actor in "America's Dream" an HBO project. His other HBO projects include "Deadly Voyage," the true story of eight African stowaways aboard a cargo ship in search for a better life in America, and most recently, "Buffalo Soldiers."

A generous advocate for young people, Mr. Glover speaks at junior and senior high schools on the importance of education and self-determination. He serves on the board and as spokesperson for the Walden House, a drug rehab center for teens and adults in San Francisco, and narrated a critically acclaimed film, "Street Soldiers," for the Omega Boys Club, an organization committed to helping at-risk young people.

He was appointed the first Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Development Programme and received the first annual William Kunstler Racial Justice Award for his work on a variety of social issues, including the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Eileen Clarkin Rominger, Goldman Sachs Executive
Eileen Clarkin Rominger joined Goldman Sachs last August after 18 years at Oppenheimer Capital, where she was most recently a managing director and member of the Executive Committee. At Oppenheimer, she had served as a senior portfolio manager for corporate pension fund and insurance company accounts, as portfolio manager of Quest Value Fund since 1988, and as a senior research analyst responsible for several industries.

In her new role at Goldman Sachs, Ms. Rominger is guiding the U.S. value team's portfolio construction and investment research for institutional, individual and mutual fund accounts.

Ms. Rominger was the treasurer/director of the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service where she now serves on the finance committee. She also was a member of the Trustees Advisory Council at Fairfield University.

A 1976 graduate of Fairfield University with a degree in English, she earned an MBA in finance from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. She and her husband, Robert (Class of '76), live in Park Slope in Brooklyn and have four children, Julia, Christopher, Peter and Katie.

Dr. Winston Tellis, Educator
Dr. Winston Tellis has been at the forefront of technology on campus since arriving in 1967 to develop a course to teach students programming logic. While continuing to teach, he went on to work in the University's computer center, where he researched, planned and supervised the hardware and mainframe computer system for the University.

In 1997, he was appointed director of undergraduate studies in the School of Business and today is assistant dean and director of undergraduate programs, internships, and technology.

While helping students find whole new worlds to explore with the use of computers, Dr. Tellis has also opened their eyes to people who live in very poor regions. He brought students to St. Aloysius School in Harlem to update computers that had been donated to the school. Working with other business faculty, he challenged students to design a business plan that would create a working bakery in a small village in Haiti with no infrastructure and then traveled back and forth to the village to support its success.

Among his other outreach projects is his work with FONKOZE, Haiti's only alternative bank for the poor, where he set up a computer network system and redesigned materials for its literacy and business training program.

A graduate of the University of Bombay with a degree in accounting and economics, Dr. Tellis earned a master's degree in education from Fairfield University and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in computer technology in education. He lives in Fairfield, Conn., with his wife Kathy. They have three children, Matthew, Joanna and Jonathan.

B. Maxwell O'Meara, Volunteer
B. Maxwell "Max" O'Meara, a member of the Class of '52, is affectionately known on campus as a tireless volunteer for his alma mater.

A semi-retired financial planner, Mr. O'Meara is president of the Hartford Alumni Club and was instrumental in starting crew as a club program at Fairfield. Two years later, when the sport needed a team facility at a boathouse on the Housatonic River in Shelton, Mr. O'Meara helped to build and paint the boat racks, changing room and work room.

Since then he has instituted the annual Marguerite F. O'Meara Cup and the Dr. William F. O'Meara Cup, in memory of his parents, to honor one senior from both the men's and women's crew teams who best demonstrates the qualities of academic excellence, leadership and service. Several years ago he established a scholarship at Fairfield in memory of his parents - the O'Meara/Foster Scholarship.

Among his many other volunteer activities are spearheading alumni phonathons to admitted students, expanding the alumni Book Award program, and finding alumni to help staff college fairs. He generously hosts an annual summer send-off event for incoming students.

His interest in student-athletes and his willingness to advise them about academic and career goals has made him a favorite among students from all sports.

Mr. O'Meara and his wife, Dottie, live in West Simsbury, Conn. They have three children, James, Peter, and Susan, and five grandchildren.

For additional information or reservations, please call the Office of Special Events at Fairfield University, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2660.

Posted On: 04-05-2000 09:04 AM

Volume: 32 Number: 204