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Ross Pisano knows how important scholarships are tostudents and their families. For the past 50 years, he’s beenproviding financial support to high school students as amember of the National Association of the Wolves.Pisano is a lifelong resident of Coraopolis. He entered theArmy in 1954 and served with the 63rd Antiaircraft ArtilleryBattalion in Weisbaden, Germany, as a radio interceptoperator until 1956.The Wolves Club, as it’s commonly known,traces its roots back to 1929. That year, a groupof Italian-American businessmen in the thenboomingmill town of New Castle, Pa., formeda civic club to provide financial support toneedy male students. The club expandedto other cities, and in 1951 the NationalAssociation of Wolves was founded.Since then, the organization has grownto 14 dens throughout WesternPennsylvania and Ohio.The club’s motto is “Pro bono publico,” aLatin phrase meaning “For the good of thepublic.” It could just as easily be “For thegood of the student.” The club’s scholarshipand grants program provides financialsupport to needy high school students,regardless of race, color or creed. Allscholarships are granted for a four-yearperiod at a minimum of $1,000 per year.Each den is required to sponsor at least onestudent in college at all times, and each mayoffer further financial support of any amountfor any educational purpose.Pisano is the first Vice President andscholarship chair for Den IX in Coraopolis,Pa., which is just down the road from RMU.Next year, he will be named president of thenational association. In this new position,he hopes to encourage greater collaborationamong the various dens and foster amore active commitment to supportingendowment. “Our club has been successfulbecause of its focus on scholarship andendowments,” says Pisano. “It’s a 100 percentreturn on your money, and long after we’regone, these endowments will still be hereproviding financial support to deserving students.”The Wolves Club has endowments with 14 regional collegesand universities, including two with RMU. Den IX has nineendowments total, more than any other den, and RMU’swas its first. “My goal as national president will be toget more dens to make endowment their primaryobjective,” says Pisano.____________“RossPisano’sefforts havehad a positiveeffect onthe lives ofmany of ourstudents,and we wishhim nothingbut the bestin his newposition asNationalPresident.”____________Starting in 1957, Pisano worked in themailroom for Crucible Steel in Pittsburgh.“Everyone started in the mailroom,” he says.“I’d catch the train from Station Square toBeaver every day to meet the mail boy fromCrucible Midland. Then I’d wait for threehours or so until the next train back toPittsburgh.” During this time, Pisanoattended night classes at Duff’s BusinessInstitute in Pittsburgh and graduated witha degree in accounting. He stayed withCrucible for 13 years, working his wayup to credit manager. He then went on towork at Westinghouse as treasury manageruntil 1975, when he returned to Crucible,retiring in 1982.Last April, Pisano spoke at RMU’s annualScholarship Luncheon, which recognizesthe university’s many scholarship donorsand recipients.Stephanie N. Hendershot ‘98, RMU directorof financial aid, knows what a valuableservice the Wolves Club providesto students. “The scholarship contributionsprovided by the Wolves Club are a valuedresource to many of our students,” saysHendershot. “Ross has a strong commitmentto students and scholarships in his localcommunity, and I am sure he will have aneven greater impact at a national level.”RMU President Gregory Dell’Omo, Ph.D.,also appreciates the generosity of Pisano andthe Wolves Club. “The Wolves Club has beena valued partner of Robert Morris Universityfor many years,” says Dell’Omo. “RossPisano’s efforts have had a positive effectn the lives of many of our students, and we wish him nothingbut the best in his new position as national president.”WRITTEN BY VALENTINE J. BRKICH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN ALTDORFERROBE RT M O R R I S UN IV E R SIT Y F O UN DATIO NS . 2 3