Vol. 28, Issue 3 - Eagle Online - Niagara University

EAGLEN I A G A R A U N I V E R S I T YVol. 28, Issue 3A Promise Fulfilled pg 12Commencement Returns to Campus pg 10The Great Guatemalan Adventure pg 6

“Human nature grows tired of always doing the same thing,and it is God’s will ... because of the opportunity of practicingtwo great virtues. The first is perseverance, which will bring usto our goal. The other is steadfastness, which overcomes thedifficulties on the way.” — St. Vincent de Paul

N I A G A R A U N I V E R S I T YEAGLEVol. 28, Issue 3Inside this issueFEATURES10 Commencement Returnsto Campus12 A Promise FulfilledDEPARTMENTS2 Opening Remarks4 On the Ridge8 Living the Mission22 News from the Nest24 Alumni Stories28 Catching Up36 The Last Word Niagara University’s undergraduate commencement exercisesreturned to Monteagle Ridge this year. Here, NU’s newestalumni leave the Gallagher Center after receiving their degrees.See story on page 10.View the Eagle online at http://eagleonline.niagara.edu/The Niagara University Eagle is published three times per year bythe Office of Public Relations, Communications and Marketing.Please send correspondence to:Lisa M. McMahon, MA’09, EditorOffice of Public Relations, Communications and MarketingNiagara University, N.Y., 14109716.286.8747 • lmcmahon@niagara.eduDesignSuzanne M. KaraszewskiContributors/PhotographyTom BurnsJim McCoyMichael Freedman Derek Zeller, ’12Founded by the Vincentian Community in 1856, Niagara Universityis a private liberal arts university with a strong, values-based Catholictradition. Its four academic divisions include the colleges of Artsand Sciences, Business Administration, Education, and Hospitalityand Tourism Management. The university also maintains anAcademic Exploration Program that provides a learning communityfor students who are undecided about their major.

oPENING REmARkSon April 10, I had the great pleasure ofannouncing that the promise we madeto our students and community in2007 had not only been fulfilled, but exceeded.We are grateful to everyone who made gifts to thePromise of Niagara, a record-breaking capitalcampaign that has allowed us to transform ourcampus, both physically and programmatically. I havealready begun traveling across the country to thankand celebrate with our thousands of supporters.Throughout the pages of this magazine, you willlearn much more about the details of this historiceffort and the impact it will have on generationsof Niagara students.Looking back, it’s hard to believe that five-plusyears have passed since we launched the publicphase of the campaign. I recall the earliest daysbeing filled with visits to alumni and friends acrossthe country. Continuous travel is tiring, but theenthusiasm, interest and generosity that I receivedfrom Niagarans at every stop made the effortextremely rewarding. I found it exhilarating toconverse with alumni about all that we wanted toaccomplish at Niagara, and how it correlated withour Catholic and Vincentian mission.Those from the staff who helped me were amazing.They possessed the stamina, determination andexpertise needed to accomplish this monumental feat.I always thanked them, but probably never enough.Here’s hoping that they understand how grateful I am— how grateful Niagara University is — for theextraordinary work they’ve done during this campaign.There are, of course, several humorous stories thatresulted from our journeys. As a matter of fact, theonly time I ever really questioned if I would see thecampaign’s successful completion came whiletraveling to Naples, Fla. – by way of Alligator Alley.Don Bielecki and I were en route to visit analumnus when our car’s low fuel light illuminated.Don took it in stride initially, although hisnervousness seemed to increase as the gas gaugeplunged closer and closer to “E.”When we stopped to try to buy gas from someonepulled off to the side of the road, we discovered thatwe were less than a mile from a filling station. We justbarely made it there, our arrival announced by the car’sobnoxious warning buzzer. What a relief for Don,although I’ve never allowed him to forget the story.And from that time on, we always started ourjourneys with a full tank of gas!Others who accompanied me to various alumnicities would have difficulties finding the bestdirections to our destination. The U-turns wemade were many, but they made us laugh ... mostof the time! I truly enjoyed the opportunities wehad to know each other better.The most important part of this story, from my pointof view, is that we were accomplishing our goal. Ouralumni and good friends were generous, welcomingand gracious. They were happy to help their almamater. Everyone gave according to their means, eachgift as heartfelt and important as the next. Withoutthose thousands of generous alumni and friends, wecould never have achieved what we did.Our very large leadership gifts served as catalysts,enabling us to construct some wonderful newfacilities, which are so necessary for NiagaraUniversity at this time. And we will continue buildingand renovating our campus right into 2013.A game-changing $10 million gift by Mr. ThomasGolisano, the largest single gift in Niagara’s longhistory, illustrated his faith in Niagara and theWestern New York region. Soon, a state-of-the-artscience center bearing his name will become a fixtureon the south end of our campus.We are most grateful to God for being with us andallowing us to be successful. I offer my gratitude toour generous donors, alumni and friends, each andevery one of you. The Niagara University oftomorrow stands stronger because of the peoplereading this magazine.Now that this important story can be placed inour history annals, we must add an epiloguededicated to all those who will come forward tohelp us in the future. The story of a great andfaithful university is never-ending. It lives on inthe minds and hearts and generosity of all itsalumni and friends. This allows us to dream, andto begin planning for what lies ahead.Yes, another campaign story is going to begin in thenear future. Until then, I look forward to seeing youin the coming year, and if you have any special ideasor comments, as always, I invite you to get in touchwith me at jll@niagara.edu.Again, thank you.Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.President3

oN THE RIDGE4Niagara University’s Eagle magazine won aGrand Award in the 2012 APEX Awards forPublication Excellence. eGrand Award is the competition’shighest honor, with only100 entries out of 3,300selected for the award.According to the judges, “e oldmagazine was good. e new version is better. Clean,elegant, large format design, well chosen and croppedphotos, an appealing layout with legible typographyon readable matte paper — all create an impressivebackdrop for strong editorial content, with interestingprofiles, features and shorts. Well done.”e APEX Awards for Publication Excellence is anannual competition for writers, editors, publicationsstaff and business and nonprofit communicators.NU director of athletics Ed mcLaughlin hasaccepted the same position at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity in Richmond, Va., effectiveAug. 13. He had been AD at Niagara since 2006.The John R. oishei Foundation pledged$2 million in April to support construction of theB. omas Golisano Center for IntegratedSciences. Construction of the science center is partof the university’s $80 million capital campaign,“e Promise of Niagara ... e next 150 years.”Dr. Debra Colley, dean of Niagara University’sCollege of Education, and Kalani Personius, ’12, werehonored by the Niagara Gazette in May as Womenof Distinction for 2012. e women were chosen fortheir achievements, public service and entrepreneurialleadership in the Niagara community. (Read moreabout Kalani’s good work on page 9.)Twenty Niagara University Reserve officerTraining Corps cadets were commissioned secondlieutenants in the U.S. Army during a May 11ceremony in NU’s Gallagher Center. It marked the71st consecutive year that members of NU’s PurpleBattalion have taken the oath of office.Twelve priests returned to monteagle Ridge inMay to celebrate the history of the Seminary ofOur Lady of Angels, the forerunner of NiagaraUniversity. e anniversary Mass, which includesa renewal of the men’s commitment to priestlyservice, has become an annual tradition at NU.Five NU students received awards at this year’sEastern Colleges Science Conference for theirpresentations on the empirical and discoverybasedresearch they have conducted in the naturalsciences. Ashley Scofeld, ’12, Kristina Foderaro,’12, Lisa Chute, ’12, Christopher Dietz, ’12, andEric Stoutenburg, ’13, were among the 16students who received awards at the conference.Twenty-one colleges and universities from thenortheastern United States attended the ECSC,which was held on April 14 at William PatersonUniversity in Wayne, N.J.In August, Dr. William D. Frye, associateprofessor of Hospitality and Tourism Management,became the 10th person to receive theRaphael Kavanaugh Champion of EducationAward from the International Council on Hotel,Restaurant, and Institutional Education since theaward’s inception in 1991. is unique award is givenby the I-CHRIE board of directors — upon specialoccasion — to honor a corporation, organization orindividual who has been a longtime supporter ofspecial initiatives that advance the mission of I-CHRIE. Previous winners include Michael E.Hurst, J.W. Marriott Jr., and Anthony Marshall.Bisgrove Hall provided the scene may 9 where11 participants of the Transition Readiness forEmployment in the Community programreceived completion certificates. TREC, acollaborative program between Niagara Universityand Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, assistsindividuals with intellectual and other developmentaldisabilities to accrue the skills necessaryfor community-based employment. Fifty-twoparticipants have earned certificates since theprogram was launched in 2009.Thirty-three men and women joined the morethan 3,500 alumni of Niagara University’s nursingprogram during the annual Mass and BlessingCeremony that took place May 8 in Niagara’sAlumni Chapel. During the ceremony, thegraduates were presented with pins symbolizingacademic achievement, scholarly learning,professional dedication and Christian commitment.Anika Loeffler, ’12, received the Best PaperAward at the 2012 Korea America Hospitalityand Tourism Educators Association Conferencein Las Vegas, Nev., this April. Anika’s paper, AStudy of Adopters of Hotel Mobile Applications: ADiffusion of Innovation eory, took the top prizein the undergraduate student forum category. eGlashuette (Sachsen), Germany, native is one ofsix German students who earned a dual degreefrom Niagara University and from theInternational University of Applied Sciences in BadHonnef, Germany, as part of a new partnershipbetween NU’s College of Hospitality and TourismManagement and the German institution.on April 17, seven members of Western NewYork’s faith-based community graduated fromNU’s new advanced certificate program in appliedurban ministry during an event at NiagaraUniversity. e seven comprised the first cohortof graduates to complete the program, whichbuilds on skills gained in the university’s basiccertificate program in applied urban ministry.Several alumni were honored during the Collegeof Business Administration’s 22nd annual BusinessAppreciation and Accounting Banquet, held thisApril. Donald T. Denz, ’80, C.E.O. of Tara Cares,was honored with the Corporate LeadershipAward, and Chiampou Travis Besaw & KershnerLLP, an accounting firm that features the surnamesof three Niagara alumni in its title (CharlesChiampou, ’76, Robert Travis, ’77, and Kelly Besaw,’83), was recognized as this year’s DistinguishedAccounting Firm.

oN THE RIDGELauren merrick, ’12, and molliann Zahn, ’12,were presented awards for presentations theymade at the Conference for UndergraduateResearch in Communication, held April 18 atRochester Institute of Technology. e conference,which began in 2004 as a gathering ofcommunication students from Western NewYork, has grown into a regional conference thatdraws nearly 250 undergraduate scholars fromcolleges and universities in New York,Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia.kathleen Gormley, ’63, Patricia NowakOrzetti, ’63, John T. Overbeck, ’75, and BarbaraNeubert Pascua, ’66, were honored by theFriends of Niagara University Theatre withSpirit of Niagara University Theatre awardsduring the Friends’ annual Gala in April. Theaward is given to individuals or couples eachyear who have been generous to the theatre withtheir time and contributions.Dr. William FryeSeminary of Our Lady of Angels celebration.5Eight honors students enrolled in Dr. DougTewksbury’s Information as Power course createda 12-minute video, Living By e Book: A User’sGuide to Facebook, as their final project in the class.e tongue-in-cheek documentary delves intothe unwritten etiquette of Facebook and howcollege students are using it. To view the video,visit Niagara University’s YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/niagara university.Dr. Debra Colley, dean of NU’sCollege of Education, andKalani Personius, ’12.Harry Gong, Niagara University’sdirector of admissions, with MelissaPinterpe, a 2010 NU graduate whoworks as the convention and eventservice manager at the BuffaloNiagara Convention Center.Anika Loeffler, ’12, with Dr. Chang Huh,NU assistant professor (left), andDr. Yen-Soon Kim, president ofthe Korea America Hospitality andTourism Educators Association.Harry Gong, NU’s director of admissions, washonored by Visit Buffalo Niagara with a BuffaloAmbassador Distinguished Service Award inrecognition of his contributions as chair of theNational Association for College AdmissionCounseling’s National College Fair in Buffalo,N.Y. e two-day fair, held annually at theBuffalo Convention Center, brings in more than200 colleges and universities during the localtourism industry’s offseason in March and April.Patricia Nowak Orzetti, ’63, John T. Overbeck, ’75,and Kathleen Gormley, ’63.The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara Universitypresident, and Donald T. Denz, '80.

oN THE RIDGEThe Great Guatemalan AdventureIt’s not often that a college professorhas the opportunity to share a favoritepastime with students, but Dr. JoeLittle had that unique chance when hetook a group of students on a backpackingadventure to Guatemala in March.The trip was envisioned as a way to makethe work his students were doing in hisEthnography and Travel Writing coursemore coherent.“The students were reading aboutcertain cultures but writing about others,and it wasn’t working as well as it couldhave,” Dr. Little, an associate professorof English, explains.By Lisa McMahonSo he decided to add an experientiallearning component to the course thatwould enable his students to immersethemselves in the cultures they werereading about. He chose Guatemala “outof longstanding personal interest intravel to Guatemala,” and redesigned hiscourse to include a nine-day backpackingtrip to that country.“We read Guatemalan ethnographies andmost of those focus on Mayan cultures aswell as backpacker culture because thosetwo elements play out in Guatemala,” hesays. “The Great Guatemalan Adventureallowed us to immerse ourselves in thosecultures so that the students couldwrite ethnographies based on their ownfield work.”

Dr. Joseph Little, Jessica Schug, Brianna Lanoye, Steve Dempsey, Chris Rensel, Jaimee Schweigert, Amanda Trickey, Cassie Pericak, Shannon Ronald, Courtney McClurg,Shawn Reidy, Brittany Smykowski, Kristin Delia, Hannah Owczarczak, and Sam Lightowler at Lake Atitlan.e trip began and ended in Antigua, a city inthe central highlands of Guatemala, andincluded stops in the villages of Tzununa(located on Lake Atitlan, considered by many tobe the most beautiful lake in the world), andSanta Cruz la Laguna.Each village offered a different experience forthe group, which consisted of Dr. Little, hisfriend Sam Lightowler, and 13 students. InAntigua, they stayed in a hostel frequented bybackpackers, ate at a local Mayan food market,and socialized at night, getting a sense of Mayanculture and the relationship between Mayansand non-Mayans. In Tzununa, one of thepoorest villages in the area, the group visited aschool, a library, and a guitar academy.“We spent a lot of time walking aroundTzununa, exploring the area, taking photos andunderstanding the culture,” Dr. Little says. “It’sa very secluded Mayan culture, where the folksspeak Kaqchikel, which is a Mayan language,more than they do Spanish.”From Tzununa, the group hiked the two-hourdistance to Santa Cruz la Laguna, a village that isaccessible only by boat or footpath. Here, thestudents went to places where they could interviewand observe backpackers and compare what theysaw with what they had been reading in class.Although the trip was much shorter than atypical backpacker’s, the students got a taste ofwhat backpacking is like. Dr. Little alsoallowed for considerable “alone time” so studentscould experience the more contemplative side ofthe activity.“ere’s a definite spiritual dimension tobackpacking,” he says. “And I think there was anatural spiritual dimension for a lot of studentson this trip.”Brittany Smykowski, ’12, a marketing majorfrom Darien, N.Y., was one of those students. “Ibelieve that backpacking is an experience thatreally expands your mind and is definitely a timeof reflection,” she says. “Dr. Little suggested webring a notebook so we could reflect on ourexperiences at the end of each day. It is amazingto look back and read your entries to see how youwere feeling or what intrigued you for the day.Backpacking is definitely an amazing adventurefilled with reflection and self-realization.”It is also physically demanding, which came asa surprise to some students.“e trip was breathtaking, literally andmetaphorically,” says Cassandra Pericak, ’12, aFrench major from Buffalo, N.Y. “e views wesaw are indescribable, but the strenuous hikingliterally took my breath away because of thedifficulty of the climb.”While Jessica Schug, ’12, a political science/environmental studies major from Niagara Falls,N.Y., expected the trip to be challenging bothphysically and mentally, she says her expectations“were blown out of the water.”“is trip was one of the most incredibleexperiences I’ve ever had,” she says. “We wereconstantly surrounded with the most amazinglandscapes and it was wonderful to feel so closeto nature. We had the perfect balance of activityand downtime, and the hiking was the greatestchallenge I could have asked for. Plus, every timewe would hike somewhere, the destination wasso much more than worth the struggle.”One of those destinations was the top of Pacaya,an active volcano near Antigua.“We were not studying volcanoes, and volcanoesdon’t function in Mayan culture in any way thatI’m trying to expose the students to, but we wentto the volcano just for a sheer backpackingadventure,” Dr. Little says.As hoped, upon returning to Niagara, thestudents were able to connect their GreatGuatemalan Adventure to their work in Dr.Little’s class.“We read I, Rigoberta Menchu before we wenton the trip to see a background of their culture,”says Courtney McClurg, ’14, a tourism andrecreation management major from Perry, N.Y.“While in Guatemala, we even got to speak tosome natives about how they felt about her story.It was amazing.”Hanna Owczarczak, ’13, an education/specialeducation/English major from East Aurora,N.Y., added that a tour guide on the trip sharedhis first-hand experiences with the civil war inGuatemala. “His touching story was so personaland made the horrors of war we read aboutrealistic. He exposed students to the bloodshedand hardship these people had faced not toolong ago.”Students were also impressed by the cheerful waythe Guatemalan people handled their poverty.“e people in these villages have so little, but yetthey are still so content with what they have,” saysBrittany. “Everyone went about their day with asmile and was so welcoming to us as travelers.”“I think all of us were expecting poverty to looka certain way: anguish, physical issues going on.We’d go into these villages and the kids wereplaying — they’re playing with a 20-year-oldball that they keep fixing — but I think it gavethe students a more realistic look at poverty,”Dr. Little says. “at sometimes you can’t seepoverty in the face of it, and that poverty doesn’tnecessarily mean unhappy living all the time.”However, perhaps the most valuable takeawayfor the students was the experience itself.“It was a wonderful, exciting, incredible journeythat taught me more about Guatemala and evenmyself than I ever thought was possible in justone week,” says Jessica.Brittany agrees. “Guatemala is so beautiful andwaking up to watch the sunrise over volcanoesin Lake Atitlan was the most peaceful feeling Ihave ever felt in my life,” she says. “is trip hastaught me so much about culture, values andwhat truly are the important things in life.”7

Kalani Personius, a 2012 NU graduate, was integral in theestablishment of a weekly soup kitchen at St. George’s Churchin Niagara Falls. Several other NU students are planning tocontinue the soup kitchen in the fall.

LIVING THE mISSIoNNiagara University Students Launch Soup kitchen in Downtown Niagara FallsBy Michael FreedmanSt. George’s Church is bustling on thisursday evening in May. osecongregated come from all walks of life— young and old, white and black, Catholic andotherwise. eir appearances have been hardenedby life’s sometimes unfortunate circumstances.As four college students approach the head ofthe room, a hush falls over the assemblage. First,a prayer. en, the moment of truth: “Tonight,we will be serving grilled cheese sandwiches,cabbage and broccoli soup, as well as beef andvegetable stew,” recites Kalani Personius, ’12.It’s going to be a good night. It is any time meatis on the menu, Kalani says.Truth is, Thursday nights have been prettygood here for months, ever since Kalani andrising NU seniors Mary Gibson and JessicaSpellane started a soup kitchen at this longtimepillar of the Falls’ east side. Their effort, alongwith that of the 20 or so Niagara students whohave joined them, has brought much-needednourishment and camaraderie to hundredsof disadvantaged community members on aweekly basis.“I cannot tell you how desperate some parts ofthe city are for people to step up to the plate likethese students have,” says Joanne Lorenzo, whooversees programming at St. George’s. “And notonly have they come in with a willingness tofeed the hungry, the students actually seem eagerto listen to these folks, who may not haveanother person in the world to talk to.”e idea for the soup kitchen arose last fall whenJoanne, looking to fill the church’s only nightwithout a community outreach program, reachedout to Monica Saltarelli, ’86, a campus ministerat NU. She was aware of the university’s servicelearningmission and wondered if Niagara mightbe interested in partnering. It was.In need of a student leader for the project,Monica recruited Kalani, a member of NU’sSt. Vincent de Paul Society and the 2011 recipientof the Niagara University Student GovernmentAssociation’s Compassion Award. Kalani jumped atthe opportunity, signing up to organize volunteers,monitor budgets, plan menus and shop for food.Eventually, Kalani began mentoring other students,namely Jessica, Mary and, later, Christa Mastro, ’13,so as to enhance the initiative’s sustainability.e quartet decided that they wanted to domore than feed the hungry. Establishingpersonal connections became a primary goal.Kalani informed potential student volunteersthat if they were going to participate, they hadto invest themselves for the whole semester.“I wanted the teams to be consistent on a weeklybasis so that we weren’t just servers for the peoplethat came to eat,” she explains. “I wanted them toget to know us, to have conversations with us andfor it to be more of a community experience.”Jessica adds, “e most rewarding part for mewas talking with all the people that came in fora meal. I loved sitting down and having aconversation with them. One man came up tome and said, “Jessica, you’re a good person,”which meant the world to me. All the peoplethat come in for a meal are so thankful, and Ireally love this volunteer experience.”e soup kitchen opened at St. George’s inNovember, giving the student leaders time toiron out the wrinkles before Christmas break.While the university recessed for the holidays,Kalani emailed everyone who had expressed aninterest in participating.She heard back from only four people. So Kalanidid what any enterprising college student doeswhen they find themselves in a bind: She calledher friends.Word spread quickly. Within weeks, Kalanireceived an email from Chase Brooks, headcoach of the men’s soccer team, saying that hewanted his players to get involved.Although desperate, Kalani reiterated that thesoccer players would be held to the sameexpectations as the other volunteers.“ey needed to prove to me that they weren’tdoing it for the kudos or volunteer hours, but forthe outreach experience,” she says. “I wanted tomake sure that people were doing it for the rightreasons and not because it would make themlook good.”e soccer team more than fulfilled its obligation,drawing additional volunteers in the process.Momentum gained. Students began taking partbecause their friends were involved or becausethey needed Learn and Serve hours. ey stayedbecause they were making a difference.Soon, there was a regular rotation of three fivestudentteams. A steady stream of 35-40 patronsfrequented St. George’s every ursday night,drawn by an outdoor sandwich board sign and thearoma of Dr. Amelia Gallagher’s homemade soup.e group supplemented donations from the St.Vincent de Paul Society by selling concessions athome basketball games. Desserts were donated byPanera Bread, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Tops.On May 12, Kalani graduated from NiagaraUniversity with a degree in French education,but not before receiving the department ofreligious studies’ Blessed Frederic OzanamAward, the Father James O’Keefe Medal forexcellence in the study of French, and a Womanof Distinction Award from the Niagara Gazette.is fall, she’ll be teaching English as a secondlanguage to elementary school students inAngers, France.But that doesn’t mean the soup kitchen will stopserving while Kalani is overseas.“I couldn’t imagine not being involved afterthe experiences I have had thus far,” saysChrista, a gerontology major. “I am excited tocome back and start things up again. I hope tosee the project expand and grow to adapt tothe needs of the community. Hopefully, we willbe able to increase our involvement andinterest in the project.”9

Niagara University’sCommencement Ceremonies Return to CampusBy Michael Freedman10For the first time in several years,all Niagara University students were able toconclude their undergraduate careers at thesame place they started them: Monteagle Ridge.Since moving graduation off campus in 1976 infavor of more spacious locales, undergraduatecommencement has occurred on MonteagleRidge only on rare and special occasions.Bringing the ceremony back to NU meant thatthree commencement events had to bescheduled — two on May 12 for undergraduatesand one on May 13 for graduate students. Allexercises took place on the upper level of theGallagher Center.“It was really cool to have graduation oncampus, considering that this place has beenour second home for the last four years,” saidDerek Zeller, a communication studies graduate.“Graduating from college would obviously beexciting no matter where it was held, buthaving it here is definitely special.”Niagara’s colleges of Business Administrationand Hospitality & Tourism Management heardfrom Tom Ashbrook, an award-winningjournalist and host of National Public Radio’sOn Point with Tom Ashbrook. Ashbrook andJames Boldt, ’73, chairman and C.E.O. ofComputer Task Group, received honorarydegrees during the morning ceremony.In the afternoon, NU’s colleges of Arts &Sciences and Education were addressed bySylvia Nasar, best known as the author of ABeautiful Mind. She and Robert Clune, Esq., ’58,managing partner of Williamson Clune &Stevens, were presented with honorary degrees.Lloyd Robertson, the retired chief anchor andsenior editor of CTV National News with LloydRobertson, delivered the graduate address andwas the recipient of an honorary Doctor ofHumane Letters degree. HGTV’s Mike Holmeswas presented with an honorary Doctor ofPedagogy at the event.On the Friday preceding CommencementWeekend, Niagara University hosted a numberof events intended to bring the communitytogether, including a Mass, a Senior Gala, andthe first-ever Senior Class Celebration, duringwhich Andrew Siedlecki, who graduated witha degree in biology, was presented with theprestigious Niagara Medal.“It was wonderful to be able to celebrate thegreat achievements of our students together asone family — on campus,” said the Rev. Joseph L.Levesque, C.M., NU president. “I want to thankeveryone who was involved in making theweekend successful, and I am hopeful thatthis will become an annual tradition forNiagara University.”James Boldt, ’73 (above left), and award-winning journalist Tom Ashbrook, received honorary degreesduring the morning undergraduate commencement ceremony, while Robert Clune, Esq., ’58, and SylviaNasar, author of A Beautiful Mind, were presented with honorary degrees during the afternoonceremony. They are pictured with Niagara’s president, the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M. The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., withhonorary degree recipients Mike Holmes,host of HGTV’s Holmes on Homes (left), andLloyd Robertson, the retired chief anchorand senior editor of CTV National News withLloyd Robertson.

HGTV’s Mike Holmes gives his signature “thumbs up” during thegraduate commencement on May 13. Derek Zeller’s helmet cam recorded his walk across the stage.To view, visit http://youtube/B1lGeKxv6ik.11Niagara University AlumniWhat are some of your fondest graduation memories, both on andoff campus?Like • Comment • ShareAnita (Monroe) Cronk, ’69: Graduation on campus, nurses’ceremony in the chapel, tears in my father's eyes. I was the firstMonroe to graduate from college in 1969.Sheila Miller Mayson, ’75: I graduated in 1975 ON CAMPUS. Ourswas a big class, so it was great fun seeing each person walk up toget her or his diploma. It was a hot sunny spring day on campus. Theceremony was held outside between the library and the sciencebuilding. I can’t imagine it having been held any other place.Clayton Ehrenreich, ’80: @ NF Convention Center. They forgot theschool of arts and sciences in the procession. We were waiting in aside room till they noticed the hold in the class. We had to make afast entrance.Joan McCool, ’80: A certain group of girls, not having the wisdomyet to believe in a good nite’s sleep. … showering, getting allbeautiful and hopping in a big blue convertible and driving to theNFCC, only to be late and leaving the car illegally parked right infront of the convention center! Yeah, it was ticketed!Tom Fraley, ’95: I was called, walked across the stage, stopped halfway and threw my arms up. The whole place went nuts! My claimto fame!Annmarie Thomas, ’01: The Class of 2001 had their ceremony inwhat is now the casino!

12Success,Scholarship,Stewardship:A Promise FulfilledBy Lisa McMahonCampaign Complete!At 9:45 a.m. on an unseasonably warm Thursday morning in March,Don Bielecki, vice president for institutional advancement at NiagaraUniversity, called the staff together in the Clet Hall conference room.Don Bielecki“Today,” he said, “is the first day of our next capitalcampaign. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart,and from Father Levesque and the Board of Trustees, forall the hard work it took to complete the Promise ofNiagara campaign.”It was a long, hard road that took almost 10 years and morethan 14,500 donors to complete. Along the way, there wereobstacles to overcome: a campaign goal that was nearlythree times more than the university’s campaignconsultants recommended could be achieved; an 18-monthrecession that started in December 2007 and has beencalled the longest and deepest downturn for the U.S.economy since the Great Depression; the fact that theuniversity had never, up to this point, engaged in acomprehensive campaign and had no strong history ofphilanthropy; and a growing public questioning of thevalue of higher education.But through the perseverance and steadfastness of thosecharged with undertaking this extraordinary endeavor, thePromise of Niagara campaign not only met its goal, butexceeded it, raising $82.5 million for the university.

Robert Dwyer, ’65e first discussions about taking on acampaign began in January 2003, at a dinner at the home of Robert Dwyer, ’65.Bob, who had just been named chairman of the university’s Board ofTrustees, was one of the first to recognize the need for the university toundertake a comprehensive fundraising campaign. At the dinner, heencouraged those in attendance to consider launching one.“Bob encouraged us to do it for the good of Niagara, and it was veryinspirational,” recalls the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., Niagara’s president.Bob also asked Robert Daino, ’66, a member of the university’s Board ofAdvisors, to join him in taking a major role in the campaign cabinet.“I was very pleased to have been asked to be involved early on and to dowhatever I could,” Bob Daino says. “Although Niagara did not have a longhistory of putting capital campaigns together, I was optimistic about it, andI thought it was necessary for us to undertakethis campaign to stay competitive in theacademic environment in Western New York.”At about this same time, a comprehensivecampus master plan for the university was indevelopment. e plan suggested a majorreorientation of the campus and the addition ofseveral buildings. As the members of theuniversity’s Administrative Council and Boardof Trustees considered possible campaignpriorities, they looked to this plan for direction.The Planning StagesAer much discussion and debate, it was decided that capital projects wouldbe the focus of the campaign, including an academic complex to house thecolleges of Business and Education, a new science center, the renovation ofthe Gallagher Center food court and the Leary eatre, a new VincentianResidence to replace Meade Hall, and the expansion and enhancement ofthe campus’s athletic facilities. ese updates would create an active andvibrant campus life.“I was very pleased tohave been asked to beinvolved early on and todo whatever I could,”Bob Daino says.Robert Daino, ’66, and Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.e administration understood that it would take more than bricks-andmortarto achieve their educational vision, however. Endowments, studentscholarships, and the Niagara Fund would all be vital priorities in thiscampaign as well.As these priorities were being determined, campaign consultants wereworking with the Board of Trustees and key staff members, and feasibilitystudies were being conducted. ose initial studies suggested that the bestcourse of action would be a campaign that was conducted in two phases,with a goal of $30 million.That recommendation did not satisfy Father Levesque.“I remember vividly when the consultants camein and suggested that we start the campaign witha short phase, then take a pause before goingback to finish it,” Father Levesque says. “Iremember hearing that and thinking about it,and then suggesting to the board that we do itin one fell swoop so that I could commit myenergies to it.”e board agreed. e members also consideredthe initial goal too low and recommended it beincreased to $60 million.In 2004, Niagara University launched “e Promise of Niagara … e next150 years” capital campaign. Its theme, inspired by the sesquicentennial thatthe university would be celebrating in 2006, represented the commitmentthat Niagara made to its future students: to give them the best college lifeand education possible, in an environment that continued the university’sCatholic and Vincentian mission.1314,689 Number of donors33States visited,plus Washington, D.C.464,500 Miles logged38 Scholarships created

14The Silent PhaseJerry Bisgrove, ’68During the first three years of the campaign, the“silent phase,” some $26 million was raised.Alumni and friends of the university steppedforward in support of the vision of atransformed campus.One of those donors was Jerry Bisgrove,’68, whose $5 million gi was the largestsingle gi ever received by Niagara at that time. Hisdonation was directed toward the construction of newfacilities for the College of Business Administration.“I would never be where I am today without my Niagaraeducation,” he said. “Countless times I have come to relyon the values and strong ethics that were so much a partof my Niagara education.”As the campaign was closing in on $60 million, it was becoming clear that even thatamount would not be adequate to finance the kind of broad-brush transformationenvisioned by the university’s administration.Don Bielecki was just one month into his new role as vice president ofinstitutional advancement when he held a special teleconference among keyadministrators and campaign cabinet members to recommend that thecampaign goal be raised to $80 million.“Identifying a campaign goal isboth a science and an art,” Donexplains. “I strongly felt that $80million was achievable because ofthe strong case for transformationand the passion of Niagara’s alumnito be part of that transformation.”While some may have doubted theuniversity’s ability to raise such aconsiderable amount of money,Bob Dwyer was confident that itcould be done. “It is a realistic goalbecause that is what it will take toallow Niagara to transform ourphysical and academic environmentin order to grow stronger and morecompetitive,” he said at the time.“And it is achievable, with strongsupport from our benefactors,alumni and friends, and throughthe hard work of our presidentand the entire campus community.”Marsha Joy Sullivan, a vice chairpersonfor the campaign, alsoMarsha Joy Sullivanbelieved that the goal wasachievable. “At that time, therebegan to be the possibility of some significant gis fromsome of the cultivations that were under way. As we beganto put the solicitation list together and started some earlyconversations, the team gained confidence that it couldstretch the goal. It was a pretty exciting time.”Marsha added that she felt the research being conductedin preparation for these solicitations would help themachieve the higher goal. “I was impressed with the researchand exploration that was being done to identify a varietyof philanthropic opportunities, both public and private,and cultivate those that could be successful.”Don also suggested that the public phase of the campaignbegin in May, with an expected end date of December2011. It was a risky decision, because the university hadraised only 33 percent of the new goal at that time, andcampaigns generally secure 46 percent before going totheir public phases. But Don was sure that Niagara wouldsuccessfully raise $80 million in that time period, and theboard agreed.On May 2, 2007, Niagara shared its ambitious campaigngoal, and its equally challenging time frame, with the publicduring a news conference at the Castellani Art Museum.“At this point in time, we begin a public effort to garnerthe resources needed to chart the history of Niagara foranother 150 years,” the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.,said at that time. “This is a pivotal day that will belooked on as the beginning of a new era of excellence forNiagara University.”His words were prophetic. Over the next five years,Niagara’s campus underwent significant transformationwith funding from the campaign.6,980 New donors22 campaign events1931-2014Class years represented2,950 Days to complete 12,901Number of giftsfrom Niagara staff326Number ofstudents donating

The Public PhaseJust seven months aer the Promise of Niagaracampaign went into its public phase, the UnitedStates went into a recession. Members of thecabinet and the advancement staff werepersistently working toward securing themoney necessary to complete the campaign,but the economic downturn was impactingtheir efforts.Bob Daino recalls being concerned if there wouldbe enough people who were willing to support thecampaign during this most difficult time. “efinancial meltdown was affecting everyone’s abilityand willingness to contribute to any organization,no matter how worthy,” he says. “However, as Ithought more about our prospective donors, I wasconfident they would recognize the importanceof supporting our mission.”Father Levesque and Don Bielecki remainedpositive that the goal would be reached, and theadvancement team redoubled its efforts to sharethe vision of a transformed university withalumni and friends.Support for the campaign continuedthroughout the recession, but the economy didtake its toll, and by fall 2011, it was apparent the$80 million goal would not be reached by theoriginal December 2011 deadline. FatherLevesque and Don Bielecki, in consultationwith the Advancement Committee of the Boardof Trustees, decided to extend the campaigninto the following spring.“I think we all knew that we were going to beclose to achieving our goal at the end of theyear, and it if was a matter of a few months toachieve the goal then I think we were allcomfortable with that,” says Jeffrey Holzschuh,’82, board chairman.at decision proved to be a prudent one. OnMarch 22, 2012, a gi was received that put thecampaign over the $80 million mark.“I was extremely proud of everyone involved inthe campaign, from Father Levesque and BobDwyer, to the entire advancement team,” BobDaino says. “ey never gave up.”“e credit ultimately is Father Levesque’s,”Marsha Joy Sullivan adds. “It was his vision andbelief in that promise that people ultimatelyinvested in. You invest in people, you don’tinvest in bricks-and-mortar. ey invested inFather Levesque.”The Campaign LeadershipWhen the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., was named president of Niagara University inJanuary of 2000, he was unaware that the university would be undertaking a comprehensivecampaign in the near future. While his background encompassed teaching andadministrative work, he had never done any fundraising before, so he was uncertain abouthis ability in this area. However, he was determined to learn what he needed to, and to seekhelp when necessary, in order to fulfill his role in the campaign.By all accounts, he not only fulfilled them, but excelled.“e greatest strength of this campaign was, without a doubt, the charisma of FatherLevesque,” says Don Bielecki. “Father truly cares about our alumni and donors as peoplefirst. He is compassionate, he is driven, and fundamentally superb at ‘making the ask.’ esuccesses of this campaign are directly attributable to his leadership.”Bob Dwyer recalls having some uncertainty as well. “When I was asked, 10 years ago, to benational chairman of this aggressive campaign, I had some questions. How effective wouldI be in this position? Would the Rev. Joseph Levesque, who was new in his role as presidentof Niagara, be a good fundraiser? It was a pleasant surprise to discover how good FatherJoe was at raising money, and in the end, I think we made a good team.”Another team that was vital to the success of the Promise of Niagara was the campaigncabinet. Its members were charged with assisting the advancement staff in identifying andvisiting potential donors.“The greatest strengthof this campaign was,without a doubt,the charisma ofFather Levesque,”says Don Bielecki.omas O’Brien, ’72, a member of theBoard of Trustees who served as a vicechair, admits that he was somewhatnervous about assuming the responsibility,but says that the positive attitudeFather Levesque, Bob Dwyer, and DonBielecki kept throughout the campaigngave him confidence.“ey kept saying, ‘we’ll get there,’” Tomremembers. “It seemed like a bigundertaking, but then all of a suddenthe Bisgrove building was up andrunning, and the Golisano building will be open pretty soon, so it all happened quickly.”His colleague on the board, Marsha Joy Sullivan, was also named a vice chair. “At that time,” sheexplains, “one of my roles was as a liaison to the WNY philanthropic community, so I understoodthat I could make a contribution in developing that network a little bit. Father Levesque is suchan excellent spokesman for the university and so well liked that I viewed it as my pleasure to behis escort around the philanthropic community to talk about the plans for Niagara.”In October of 2010, when Bob Dwyer’s term as chairman of the university’s Board of Trusteesended, Jeffrey Holzschuh was named to the position. He said he felt his past experience on theboard helped to make it a smooth transition, and that he was ready to take on the additionalresponsibilities the role would require.“It’s very important that the chair is integrally involved in the campaign,” he says. “You’re askingalumni and contributors to invest in the future of the university, and I think it’s important thatthe board chair is able to both sell that future story and vision and also be helpful, particularlywith some of the larger donors, in having them understand how meaningful their gi can be.”e assistance of these individuals and the other members of the campaign cabinet was a crucialfactor in the success of the campaign, but as Marsha Joy Sullivan notes, “Don (Bielecki) wasthe mule that pulled everybody along and kept momentum going. At many times, it was a verydifficult position to be in, to keep positive and keep your own personal momentum going.I think he brought us across the finish line.”15

16The People Who Made it Happenis remarkable achievement could not have happened without the generous support ofdonors, both alumni and friends of Niagara University. During the numerous visits that weremade throughout the country, donors were apprised of the ways in which the universitydemonstrated its faithfulness to its mission, and they responded with their support of thatmission and the vision for the university’s future.Some were inspired to make theirgis because of their fond memoriesof Vincentians and professors.A donation from Dick, ’49, and ereseChapdelaine toward the cost of buildingthe Vincentian Residence was a way topay back the kindness shown to themby the Vincentian priests and brothers.“e main reason is affection and whatthe Vincentian fathers did for me,” Dicksaid at the time. “roughout my life,they were always there.”William Gacioch, ’61, too, feltcompelled to show his appreciation ofthe Vincentians, and directed his gitoward the renovation of Meade Hall,where he waited tables and manned theswitchboard while he was a student. “My parents believed in good schools and my motherencouraged me to look at Niagara even though we didn’t have the money,” he explains. “Father(Edward) Burke was very instrumental to my education, and my experience working in MeadeHall had a direct impact on who I am today.”The Vincentian Residence“I was extremely proudof everyone involved inthe campaign, fromFather Levesque andBob Dwyer, to the entireadvancement team,”Bob Daino says.“They never gave up.”e late Dr. John J. Hughes, ’67, was inspired to make anestate gi to establish the first endowed chair at theuniversity because of the professors he had while he was ascience major at Niagara. e John J. Hughes, ’67 EndowedChair in Biology will support the research, teaching andscholarly activities of a distinguished scientist and serve asa catalyst for Niagara to build upon and expand itsprograms in the interdisciplinary sciences.Mary Ellen Korndoerfer, ’73,established an endowed scholarshipfor the nursing completionprogram in the names of theRev. John G. Nugent, C.M., andSister Bernadette Armiger, D.C.,who had helped her achieve heraspirations of becoming a nurse.Others wanted to honor lovedones with their gis.Pamela R. Jacobs-Vogt and her family made a donation tohonor the memory of her late husband, Dr. Lawrence D.Jacobs, ’61, an internationally acclaimed researcher whodeveloped the first treatment proven to slow the progressof multiple sclerosis. While the gi was applied toward theconstruction of the science center, the intent was toencourage students to follow the example of Dr. Jacobs bypursuing careers that improve the lives of others.

Meade HallDr. John J. Hughes, ’67“Niagara has always recognized and encouraged Larry’swork,” Pamela said. “It seemed most appropriate for ourfamily to honor Larry and thank Niagara by making thisgi to the science center. It will serve as a way for futuregenerations of the Jacobs family, as well as NiagaraUniversity students, to know more about Larry’s research.We also hope it will serve as an inspiration for students topursue careers in the science field.”Dr. omas Summers, ’84, and his wife, Jennifer, honoredhis mother Louise, a retired teacher, by establishing aspecial award for students planning to work inunderserved school districts. Robert Mitchell and MaryRinker established scholarships in memory of their lovedones, who, coincidentally, were both members of the Classof 1973 — Robert’s wife, Beverly Tierney Mitchell, andMary’s brother, Lt. Col. Walter J. Mazurowski. DennisProuty, ’65, carried out the wishes of his uncle, RonaldKopenski, by establishing the Mary Ward KopenskiScholarship in memory of Ronald’s late wife.Christopher Coyer, ’93, wanted to honor his parents,Richard and Barbara, with a scholarship in their name ingratitude for the opportunity they gave him to go to college.Tragically, Richard passed away just days aer Christophertold him about the scholarship, but Christopher says he wasthrilled by the gesture. “He was overwhelmed that wewould do that for him and my mother,” he said.e Castellani family continued their parents’ legacy witha gi to the Castellani Art Museum on the university’scampus. “e art museum is a very special place for ourfamily,” said Robert Castellani, a 1964 Niagara Universitygraduate and current member of NU’s Board of Trustees.“We want to continue the legacy that our parents le andsupport the museum as a premier resource for students,the university and the community.”Many were so impressed by the academicdirection the university was taking that they feltcompelled to help, including B. omas Golisano,whose $10 million gi, the largest ever receivedin Niagara’s history, will provide nearly a third ofthe funding needed to build the science center.Golisano praised the university’s “thoughtfulattention and careful plans to radically alterscience instruction at NU” and credited this as thereason he felt confident in making this investmentin Niagara.Others agreed. Michael Kakos, M.S.’60, and hiswife, Aimee, for example, made a contributionbecause they were pleased with the plans for thescience building. “I was impressed with thetechnological areas into which the college isevolving,” Michael said. Similarly, Judy QuigleyRuse, ’69, offered her support because sherecognized the critical need for a science buildingthat would facilitate a higher level of learning andresearch than was possible in DePaul Hall. Shemade an additional gi to ensure that this newbuilding will be filled with students who areacademically gied in math and science andfocused on careers in those fields. “e idea is tocreate a special recruitment program with afinancial incentive to entice these students, whonormally would not have considered Niagara, tocome,” she says. “We have an enthusiastic,charismatic faculty, and we will have a state-of-theartbuilding that can accommodate a larger numberof students. Now we need to attract talentedstudents who aspire to go into the United Statesworkforce in the math and science fields, which issomething the country desperately needs.”Pamela R. Jacobs-VogtDr. Lawrence D. Jacobs, ’6117

ere were many alumni who made contributions simplyto thank the university that had prepared them for theirpost-graduate lives and careers, including Ed Riedlinger,’71, who noted that Niagara’s “small school atmosphereand the values-based education was extremely important”in his professional life. Like Ed, Rob Fitzgerald, ’74, andhis wife, Mary Ellen, and James, ’73, and Mary Boldt,MBA’92, contributed because of the knowledge and valuesthat they learned at NU. Salvatore Pace, ’61, was gratefulfor the start he got at Niagara, which led to his fulfilling alifelong dream of becoming a pilot. And Gary Shank, ’85,and his wife, Diana, gave their support in gratitude of thegreat memories and good friends Gary made while atNiagara. ‘It’s impossible to put a value on your Niagaraexperience,” he said, “but it’s important to give back.”18Castellani Art MuseumGolisano praisedthe university’s“thoughtful attentionand careful plans toradically alter scienceinstruction at NU.”James Glynn, chair emeritus of Niagara’s Boardof Trustees, has been a steadfast supporter ofhis alma mater since he graduated in 1957.During the campaign, he and his wife, Mary,made yet another significant gi to Niagara,half of which was given as an unrestrictedendowment, which provides the universitywith a steady source of income that it can useat its discretion to meet its most urgent needsat any given time.e other half established the VincentianScholars Program, a unique, four-year serviceand learning experience that will preparestudents to step in and assist local, regional andnational organizations that work with the poorand oppressed.“Our love for Niagara — both the university and thelocal community — also motivates us in our desire topartner with the university in developing anongoing program that will make a realdifference in the lives of the marginalized,”James said.Some gis had unusual inspiration. DickBrown and his wife, Jane, namedNiagara in their wills as a tribute toDick’s grandfather, Marcus Brown.Marcus, a Jewish immigrant andmerchant, is credited with saving theSeminary of Our Lady of Angels (theforerunner of Niagara University)from foreclosure when he fought hisway through a snowstorm to providethe seminary with the $3,000 itneeded to pay the mortgage company.B. Thomas Golisano (left), andthe Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.

George Wiegers, ’58, was so taken by Elizabeth Ann Clune,daughter of his classmates Robert and Jo Ann Clune, andher ardent love of theatre, that he made a donation to thetheatre and ensured that it would be named in her honor.e theatre also provided inspiration for the “ree MenFrom Mars,” high school classmates of Brother AugustineTowey, C.M., director emeritus of NU eatre. Accordingto Brother Augustine, Drs. Hugh Babinski, Dick Cheshireand Gordon Weil “wanted to do what they could to seethat our physical theatre is renovated to equal theexcellence of our theatre program,” so they developed afundraising proposal that was accepted by the university.Vincent Russo, ’68, an avid baseball fan, wanted people toknow of Niagara’s proud baseball history. His gi wasdirected toward the Kiernan Center, where a locker roomwill be upgraded and named for Joe McCarthy, a former NUstudent and the “winningest” manager in New York Yankeehistory. “It’s about honoring Joe McCarthy and creating alevel of interest about not only McCarthy, but also the otherbaseball players who have played at Niagara,” he said.e Niagara University community accepted thechallenge, too. e faculty and staff participation rate of90 percent was well above average when compared to othercolleges and universities.“I truly believe that our facultyand staff understand that theirsupport for the university andFather’s vision will enable us tobest serve our students,” DonBielecki says.Dr. Nancy McGlen, dean of theCollege of Arts and Sciences,and her husband, JosephGadawski, ’58, wanted to ensurethat students have ampleresearch opportunities duringtheir studies at Niagara, so theyestablished an endowed fund.“We are strongly committed to the importance of studentresearch as a critical part of the educational experience,”Dr. McGlen said. “Having the opportunity to do researchreally makes a difference.”Students also understood the importance of contributingto the campaign. One of the most significant studentgifts came from the Student Government Association,which established an endowed scholarship in its name toassist an undergraduate student who is a demonstratedleader in his or her community and/or on the Niagaracampus. Chris Zukas, ’12, who was president of NUSGAat the time, noted that, “It was very important to us tofigure out a way to make asignificant, lasting impact on thecurrent and future students ofNiagara University. Endowing anannual scholarship in perpetuityseemed like an especially meaningfulway to do exactly that.”Outside grantors, which contributed$17 million to the Promise ofNiagara, were also an importantfactor in the campaign’s success.Foundations like Statler, Baird, andAvon supported the campaign’sacademic priorities with gisdirected toward program enhancementand research.“Niagara is a little jewel,both in terms ofacademic excellenceand the community spirityou find at that school,”Voboril said.Greatbatch, Inc., established eGreatbatch Scholarship Fund inHonor of Edward Voboril, thecompany’s former president andCEO, to provide scholarships for Jo Ann, ’58, Elizabeth Ann, and Robert Clune, ’58students pursuing studies in thebiological, chemical and physicalsciences. “Niagara is a little jewel, both in terms ofacademic excellence and the community spirit you find atthat school,” Voboril said.The Margaret L. WendtFoundation and the James H.Cummings Foundation directedtheir gis toward the constructionof the science center,as did the John R. OsheiFoundation, whose $2 millionaward brought the campaigntotal past the $80 millionmark and ultimately endedthe campaign.In all, more than 70,000 giswere received during thePromise of Niagara, and each one represents a strong faithin Niagara on the part of the donor.“It says a lot about the school, first and foremost,” says TomO’Brien. “People give for a reason, and it’s not just becausethey’re asked, and it’s not because there might be a taxdeduction, it’s because they believe in something. We’vereceived 80 million reasons why people believe in Niagara.”Editor’s note: e individuals and organizations mentionedin this story were selected because they are representativeof the variety of ways and reasons donors supportedthe campaign.Vincent Russo, ’68Christopher Zukas, ’1219

Bisgrove Hall / Academic ComplexCourtesy of Tim Wilkes Photography20 “Niagara holds a very, veryimportant place in ourhigher ed communityrelative to whatdistinguishes us, andthat’s the mission,”says Marsha Joy Sullivan.Dwyer Ice Arenaentertainment loungeClassrooms

A New NUOne needs only to step onto the Niagara campusto see the transformation already taking placeas a result of the success of the Promise ofNiagara campaign. Business and educationmajors are now able to learn their professions inan environment that replicates the real-world settings in which they will work, such as a WallStreet trading room floor and a pre-K-12 classroom, thanks to the addition of the AcademicComplex/Bisgrove Hall. Student-athletes compete on state-of-the art playing surfaces, and theatremajors perform in a space that provides an excellent backdrop for teaching and learning, as wellas a comfortable and engaging audience experience.e university’s Vincentian fathers and brothers now live in a contemporary, two-story residencewith updated accessibility conveniences that were not available in Meade Hall. is new facilitypaved the way to transform Meade Hall into the Gacioch Family Alumni and Admissions Center,which will provide a place for alumni to remember the past, and for potential students and theirfamilies to feel and live the tradition embodied in the building.And, of course, the B. omas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, already underconstruction, will enable students to work collaboratively with faculty mentors in a facility thatfeatures a cutting-edge blending of teaching spaces and technologies.ese are the visible signs of the transformation of Niagara. But there are numerous changes thatcan’t be seen, yet will contribute substantially to the university’s future.e university’s emphasis on active learning will be enhanced through endowed professorshipsand visiting professors, by new programs in all four colleges, and by improvements to existingacademic programs, thanks to the endowments established during the campaign. Newscholarships will attract talented, bright, and promising young people to Niagara. e university’smost critical projects — those that most affect the quality of life for all students and have the mostpressing financial need — can be undertaken because of the dollars donated to the Niagara Fund.e success of the Promise of Niagara campaign will enable the university to fulfill its promise toprovide a Catholic and Vincentian, values-based education for generations of students, and todevelop leaders who will make a difference in their local communities and the larger world. Andit will ensure its position as a regionally important Catholic university.“Niagara holds a very, very important place in our higher ed community relative to whatdistinguishes us, and that’s the mission,” says Marsha Joy Sullivan.The End?Perhaps the most significant accomplishment ofthe Promise of Niagara campaign is the way itpositioned Niagara University to continue tobuild resources for the future.“is campaign, and the future campaigns, willcontinue to be critical in that regard,” saysJeffrey Holzschuh. “Niagara’s ability to continueto invest in technology, student scholarship,faculty education, and increased infrastructurewill ensure that the university is kept in its rightplace for the next 50 or 100 years. I think we willcontinue to try to raise the profile of theuniversity as it relates to advancement, and thisis a great first step.”Marsha Joy Sullivan notes that the realization ofthe gi from B. omas Golisano was a turningpoint in the university’s ability to attract futuregis of that size. “ere were many otheruniversities, particularly some of our closestcompetitors, that were in the running for thatgi,” she says. “It’s a very, very competitivephilanthropic environment, so I felt tremendouspride in the university’s ability to set the rightcourse and engage donors at that level.”For Father Levesque, the success goes beyond that.“It’s the reaffirmation of the university that isso important to me,” he says. “e donorsappreciated that the mission they learned andprofited from still exists, and they showed thisappreciation by giving back. is support,which is so vital in enabling us to continue toeducate generations of students, was aresounding confirmation that what we havebeen doing for more than 150 years is making adifference in the world.”21“It’s the reaffirmationof the university thatis so important to me,”says Father Levesque.The B. Thomas Golisano Center forIntegrated Sciences as of August 2012.

NEWS FRom THE NEST22A Fond Farewell and a Warm WelcomeArt CardellaPatricia McIntosh,M.S.Ed.’10Niagara University wishes Art Cardella, directorof alumni relations, a fond farewell as he retires tospend more time with his family. During his sixyears as director, Art instituted numerous changesand improvements in the university’s alumniprogram, most notably recreating the AlumniAssociation; instituting an Alumni of Distinctionprogram; and enhancing, growing and establishingseveral regional alumni chapters. Under hisleadership, the number of alumni volunteers whoare engaged with the university has increased, andnew creative programs have been added to AlumniWeekend, including affinity group reunions.We’re pleased to announce that Patricia McIntosh,M.S.Ed.’10, has been named assistant director ofalumni relations. Patty is no stranger to NiagaraUniversity — for the past five years, she served asoffice coordinator for the Office of ContinuingEducation. In 2010, she earned her master’s degreein school counseling, and two of her three sons arecurrently pursuing degrees at Niagara. Now she’sexcited to join the alumni relations team to helpreconnect and engage alumni with their formerclassmates and their alma mater.“I love working with people and I love planningevents,” Patty says. “I thought this job would letme do the things I love while giving me an evenbetter opportunity to promote Niagara University.”You can contact Patty at pdm@niagara.edu or 716.286.8770.Questions regarding alumni relations can be addressed to Christine S.O’Hara, ’88, M.S.Ed.’06, in the Office of Alumni Relations and AnnualGiving, at cohara@niagara.edu or 716.286.8792.Check us out online at:To register for events, please visit the Eagle’s Nest at www.niagaraalumni.com. The Eagle’s Nest is also the spot to view a list of eventattendees as well as get more information about each event. New tothe Nest? Your first-time login code can be found above your nameon the address label of this magazine.Questions? Call the Alumni Relations Office at 716.286.8787 or emailus at alumni@niagara.edu.Dear fellow alumni,My term as president of theNiagara University AlumniAssociation is ending. Thesepast two years have been busyand rewarding, and I amthankful for the support andencouragement I received fromthe executive committee, theNUAA board, and especially,Art Cardella. Art was a drivingforce behind the reinstatementof the NUAA, and his drive anddetermination to grow alumniinvolvement made my term veryenjoyable. I personally want tothank him for his dedication toNiagara and wish him well as heretires this summer.I would also like to thank my family for their support andencouragement during my term as president. My wife and childrencontinue to be my constant source of energy. The memory of my fatherand his role as alumni president was a constant reminder of theimportance of this association, and I feel very fortunate to havefollowed in his footsteps. The Byrne legacy will always be alive andstrong in Syracuse.The initiatives we identified for the NUAA, including communityinvolvement, social networking “apps,” and continued direct contactwith our alums, will be undertaken by the next NUAA president, butwe need your support, as well, to make this board strong. I urge allNiagara graduates to reach out to your chapter leaders and getinvolved so we can continue our growth and you can stay connectedto our great university.There are a lot of exciting things happening on campus, due in greatpart to the successful completion of the Promise of Niagara capitalcampaign. There are new buildings and new students on campus, andthe B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, scheduled toopen in fall 2013, is under construction. Please plan to visit this newcomplex on your next trip to campus.Although my term as president is over, my work with the NUAA willcontinue. I will serve in my role as a board member in central New Yorkand as a member of the executive committee. Please contact me or anyNUAA member to stay connected or reconnect with Niagara. The prideof the Purple Eagles will continue to grow with your support.Sincerely,Martin F. Byrne Sr., ’78President, Niagara University Alumni Association

NEWS FRom THE NESTWho Was ThereBeer tasting — Wharf Rat, Baltimore, md. —June 16, 2012 — mary Beth (Sowers) o’Brien, ’80,marilyn Healy-mcDermott, ’75, andBarbara masiulis, ’76.President’s Reception —maggiano’s Little Italy,Atlanta, Ga. — June 8, 2012— Charlie, ’80, and Jackie(Sheridan) Balunek, ’78.23kist Golf Classic —Niagara Falls CountryClub — June 11, 2012— Anne kist andGreg Hudecki, ’68.Rochester Alumni Golf Classic— Ravenwood Golf Club —July 16, 2012 — Joe kalil, ’07,and Dan Parsons, ’06.kist Golf Classic —Niagara Falls CountryClub — June 11, 2012 —matt Jacob, ’84, andSteve Sacheli, ’83.Beer tasting — WharfRat, Baltimore, md. —June 16, 2012 —James,’69, and Patricia(Behringer) Gorman, ’68Rochester Alumni Golf Classic— Ravenwood Golf Club —July 16, 2012 — Incoming NUfreshman Rachel Sanger withher father, keith Sanger, ’85.

ALUmNI SToRIESkimberley minkel, ’88: moving Transportation Forward in WNYBy Lisa McMahonWhen Kimberley Minkel, ’88,accepted a job 25 years ago as aresearcher for an incubatorcompany focused on bioremediation, a newtechnology at that time, she thought it would besomething to do while she studied for theMCATs and made her plans to attend medicalschool. What she didn’t know was that the jobwould change her career focus, ultimatelyleading her to the position of executive director ofthe Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.“Never did I dream that I would end up intransportation,” she says. “What’s ironic is thatmy grandfather and my great-grandfather werein transportation, so I think they would beamazed if they were alive today to see where Iended up.”at first job, isolating the bacteria used incleaning up oil spills at gas stations, piqued herinterest in environmental health and safety, afield that she did not know existed until then.From there, Kimberley went on to takemanagerial positions with local and regionalorganizations, building an impressive résuméthat included experience in the environmentaland safety regulations business and compliancemanaging. She also married her collegesweetheart, Mark Shepard, ’88, and had a son. In2002, while she was pregnant with her daughter,she joined the NFTA as its director of health,safety, and environmental quality. is role gaveher the opportunity to “be physically in everyarea of the Authority” and gain a comprehensiveview of how the organization worked.So when Larry Meckler, longtime executivedirector of the NFTA, announced that he wasgoing to retire in 2010, Kimberley knew she hadthe knowledge and experience to take on thisleadership role. After a national search, theNFTA’s Board of Commissioners unanimouslyselected her to fill the position. She is the firstwoman to hold the post in the organization’s 45-year history.She took the helm at a tumultuous time for theNFTA. Budget concerns, increased focus on theenvironment, and a “mass exodus” of personnel,many of whom held key roles, were issuesthat needed to be tackled immediately. ButKimberley has always enjoyed a challenge. Someof her most memorable professors at Niagarawere those whose classes were considered bymost to be difficult, and she says she likes goinginto an impossible situation and trying to workher way through it. “I guess I like puzzles and Ireally felt that I could do the job,” she says.e job is a substantial one. As executivedirector, Kimberley heads an organization thatowns and operates the Niagara FallsInternational Airport, the Buffalo NiagaraInternational Airport, the Port of Buffalo, andthe Niagara Frontier Transit Metro System, Inc.,which provides service on 76 bus routes and onelight rail line, carrying about 27 millionpassengers annually.Despite her extensive knowledge of theorganization, Kimberley admits her first year was adifficult one. One of her first actions was to puttogether what she calls “five focus areas.” e areascentered on people, both the NFTA’s employees andthe community it serves; economic sustainability;quality improvements; environmental sustainability;and community partnerships.“We’ve had a lot of success in many areas,” shesays, noting that new training and successionplans have been implemented, the budget hasbeen balanced, and quality improvements havebeen made. In addition, the NFTA is forming acitizens advisory panel to engage the communityon a regular basis so that continuous improvementcan be made.One of the things that Kimberley is most proudof accomplishing during her time at the NFTAis the subsurface-engineered wetlands that wereestablished to reclaim spent deicing fluid instorm water runoff at the Buffalo NiagaraInternational Airport.“At most airports, ours included, when youspray the planes, the deicing fluid just goes offinto the neighboring creeks and streams,” sheexplains. “We were the first in the nation andstill the only one to put in a treatment systemusing manmade wetlands.”e project took about five years to complete.Because it was new technology, Kimberley didextensive research (which included a trip toAlaska to learn about the wetland treatmenttechnology that state used in its strip miningindustry) and treatability studies to test theprocess on a small scale before the system wasinstalled in 2009.e area appears to be a grassy field, and that’sthe beauty of it, says Kimberley, who notes thatmost treatment facilities have a distinctive lookand smell. And it saves the NFTA half a milliondollars every year. In fact, the project has beenso successful that it received the DiamondAward in the Environmental Category by theNew York branch of the American Council ofEngineering Companies and the nationalACEC’s Honor Award. e EPA is also lookingat it as a model of best practice.Today, from her office on the sixth floor of thebuilding on Ellicott Street in Buffalo where theNFTA’s fleet of buses come and go, the softspoken,petite woman reflects on the 15 monthsshe has served in the NFTA’s top spot. ethings she likes best (“e diversity. We’replanes, trains, buses, boats. It’s always somethingdifferent.”), those that keep her up at night(“Tragedy. I always worry about what can gowrong. Before, I was responsible for riskmanagement so I always do the ‘what if.’”), andhow she prepares for her day (“Usually when I’mdriving to work or the night before, I lay out aplan as to where I’m going to focus my time andenergy for the day, and then I consider it asuccess if I can cross off half the items on thelist.”). Although her attention is focused onrunning all aspects of the NFTA, her particularinterest in the environment remains a priority.“Public transportation is an extension ofenvironmental,” she says, noting that whenpeople take the NFTA’s buses and rail service,it reduces the region’s carbon footprint. “Mygoal is to make the world better as a result ofour activities.”Read more alumni stories at www.niagara.edu/featured-alumni/25

ALUmNI SToRIESDr. Paul Harrigan, ’97: Serving Those Who ServedBy Lisa McMahonListening to Dr. Paul Harrigan, ’97, speak,one immediately gets the sense that heis a warm, compassionate man. He isquick to laugh and uses adjectives like wonderful,great, nice, and sweet to describe the people he’sknown. As he discusses his work as team leaderand director of the Buffalo Vet Center, thatimpression only grows stronger. And you knowthat his life’s path has taken him exactly wherehe was meant to be.Paul grew up in Lewiston, N.Y., the youngestchild of parents he describes as “real hardworkingfolks.” His dad was a union bricklayer,his mom a telephone operator. As a child, Paulspent a lot of time with his grandfather, whoinstilled in his grandson a love of history and anappreciation for veterans.“I remember him hanging around with hisWWII buddies when I was a kid and howhe’d get dramatic when he told their stories,”Paul says.A self-described average student, Paul brieflyconsidered attending college after graduatingfrom Lewiston-Porter High School, where heparticipated in Model UN and was in the KeyClub. But he knew money was tight and noneof the college programs really appealed to him.Influenced by his interest in history, theveterans’ stories he had heard as a youth, andhis brother, who was serving in the U.S. Navyat the time, Paul decided to enlist in the U.S.Marine Corps during his senior year.Paul spent the next four years in the Marines, atour of duty that included a deployment withthe 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to evacuateembassies in Liberia, which was in the midst ofa civil war at the time. is experience had aprofound effect on him. “I remember lookingout from the ship at the ocean and deciding that,no matter what I did with my life, there wouldbe a humanistic element to it,” he says. He wasjust 21 at the time.When his tour was over, Paul was ready to givecollege a try. He completed an associate’s degreeat Niagara County Community College (whereone of his professors, a practicing psychologist,became a mentor to him and inspired him topursue a career in psychology) and attended theUniversity at Buffalo before transferring toNiagara University’s psychology program on afull-tuition scholarship. Here, professors includingDr. Peter Butera, Dr. Timothy Osberg andDr. Burt ompson encouraged him to take onwork in research and assessment, and convincedhim to continue his education after earning hisbachelor’s degree. So Paul headed for New YorkCity to pursue a master’s degree in counseling atColumbia University, and then to Florida topursue a doctorate at the University of Miami.His fieldwork centered on serving veterans, firstat the Miami Vet Center and then at theveterans hospital there.With this experience under his belt, Paulreturned to New York state to work at a homebasedprimary care program at the VA MedicalCenter in Bath. He then took a job at the VACenter in Batavia, working with veterans whosuffered from post-traumatic stress disorder andsubstance abuse. In April of last year, he acceptedthe position of team leader at the Buffalo VetCenter, joining what he calls “a team of heroes,”most of whom are overseas veterans themselves.Together, they provide nonmedical counselingand assistance to veterans and their familymembers who are experiencing problems andissues related to active military service in a warzone or in the course of deployment during war.“is all goes back to my granddad,” Paul says.Because of him, “I always had this connectionwith the vets, and I’m proud to be in a positionnow to help them. It’s just a real pleasure.”Paul’s days are full, and he balances theadministrative responsibilities of his positionand one-on-one counseling sessions with theveterans. It’s a challenging, yet rewarding job.“When you’re side by side with someone and yousee he’s not making the right choices yet, you hangin there knowing they’re doing the best they can,and that can take time and patience andunderstanding and a lot of acceptance,” Paul says.“But to be there, to help those who fought for thepeace actually have peace in their lives, is just awonderful experience. It’s such an honor to do this.”Read more alumni stories at www.niagara.edu/featured-alumni/27

CATCHING UP281959Jerald Wolfgang was elected chairman of the board ofthe United Way of Greater Niagara.1960Sal D’Aquino reports that the middle school youthgroup at his church, Saints Peter and Paul CatholicChurch in Bradenton, Fla., donated $850 to theWounded Warrior Project in memory of Sal’s classmate,Paul J. McCarthy, ’60, a decorated Army veteran withthree combat tours in Vietnam. Sal notes that the studentgroup, known as S.W.A.G. (Students WorshipingAlmighty God), was able to raise that amount by“spreading the word” among their friends and families,who matched the donations the students made.1962 REUNIONJoe Wolf was inducted into the Greater Buffalo SportsHall of Fame in June in recognition of his outstandingservice and accomplishments as administrator andultimately athletics director at St. Joseph’s CollegiateInstitute in Kenmore. Joe’s varsity baseball teams wonmore than 130 games and two Georgetown Cups; hisfootball teams were 97-7-4 and had eight undefeatedseasons. Under his leadership as athletics director, St.Joe’s athletics grew from six to 16 sponsored sportsprograms, and the school’s athletics teams won 273championships, including 31 Monsignor MartinAssociation overall sports program Supremacy Cups.Joe served more than 46 years at St. Joe’s before hisretirement in June of 2008.1963Joe Baxter was inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubsof Providence Alumni Hall of Fame on May 16. Joe isa district manager for Staples, Inc., in Massachusettsand Rhode Island. For six consecutive years the districthas been placed in the top 10 percent of all Staplesdistricts in the country.1965Edward J. Kampf recently completed his seventhdental mission trip to Guatemala. He is teaching atNew York University College of Dentistry.Ed Mayer is the associate university registrar at IllinoisState University in Normal, Ill. He has spent his entireworking life in higher education: as a philosophyinstructor at the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minn.,and at Quincy College in Quincy, Ill.; and as registrarat Quincy College, Beloit College, and the Universityof St. omas in St. Paul, Minn.1967 REUNIONMonsignor Raymond Chappetto, SOLA’70, has beenappointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Brooklynby Pope Benedict XVI. He was ordained on July 11.1968Patrick A. Monti, M.S.Ed.’73, completed his 43rdyear of coaching boys basketball. He has served thepast four seasons as mentor and associate head coachat Naples High School in Florida.Salvatore “Sam” Santarosa was elected to the NiagaraFalls Memorial Medical Center board of directors inMarch. Sam is president and sole director of BuffaloFuel Corp., Singer Transport, Santarosa Trucking Inc.,International Waste Removal and Santarosa Sales andService Inc. He is a former board chairman of theIndependent Health Corp. (now Independent HealthAssociation), and has served on numerous otherboards, including the YMCA of Niagara Falls. He alsohas done financial and management consulting forlocal and state government agencies.1969Anthony Caruana, M.S.Ed.’75, was re-elected to hissecond four-year term as town supervisor for the Townof Tonawanda, N.Y., the third-largest suburb inWestern New York.Michael Ricci retired in 2009 from his career as anEnglish teacher. During this time, he continued thehigh school baseball umpiring career he began in 1952and continued over a 50-year period. In 2010, he begana new avocation as a monthly newspaper columnist inhis Auburn (N.Y.) Citizen. e column is called WatchYour Language and deals with many aspects of ourEnglish language.Charles B. Wydysh retired in May after 34 years as afederal prosecutor. He started his career at the ErieCounty District Attorney’s Office, and in 1978, joinedthe U.S. Justice Department’s Organized Crime StrikeForce, where he led a series of high-profile mobprosecutions, including Leonard F. Falzone, a unionmember with alleged ties to organized crime in23614 51. Maryliz Valli, ’74 2. Lina Marchionda-Salvatori, ’79, M.S.Ed.’81 3. Kathy Meyer, ’80 4. Ed Reilly, ’80 5. Shelly (McLaughlin) Cieslak, ’056. Matthew Nethercott, ’06 7. Mark Anastasia Jr., ’097

CATCHING UPBuffalo, and Robert E. Delano, the former Buffalo cityparks commissioner and the target of one of the biggestpublic corruption cases of the last 50 years.1971Carmen A. Granto has been elected chairman of theboard of trustees of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital andHealth Center in Lewiston, N.Y. Carmen, the retiredsuperintendent of schools of the Niagara Falls SchoolDistrict, is the first nonreligious chair for Mount St.Mary’s since the Sisters of St. Francis founded it in 1907.He first joined the Mount St. Mary’s board in 1999.David Porretta, professor of physical activity andeducational services at e Ohio State University, hasbeen selected as a fellow by the InternationalFederation of Adapted Physical Activity in recognitionof his scholarship and service to adapted physicalactivity around the world. He was recognized at the2011 International Symposium of Adapted PhysicalActivity in Paris.1973Jack Yanno recently wrote a book entitled A JourneyAcross the Diamonds, which details the history ofClarence baseball. Jack’s passion for the game ofbaseball as a player and a coach began at the age of 15and led him to Clarence, where he spent 30 years as aresident teacher and high school coach. Jack washonored by the Town of Clarence Baseball Associationwith induction into its Wall of Fame in 1998. Jack liveswith his wife, Ursula, in the Tampa Bay, Fla., area, andhas two sons, Anthony and Scott.1974Ray Grace has been nominated banking commissionerby North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. Ray, whojoined the N.C. Office of the Commissioner of Banksas an examiner trainee in 1974, was appointed chiefdeputy commissioner in 2010.Maryliz Valli was named Service Excellence HelpingHands Volunteer of the Year for Cook Children’sHospital in 2010. She was recognized for sharing hergift of music as an atrium pianist with the patients,families and staff at the hospital, which is located inFort Worth, Texas.Lt. Col. Lynn Walker, M.S.Ed.’76, has retired fromthe Army Medical Service Corps. and was appointedchaplain in the Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxiliary,effective March 1, 2012.1975Marilyn Lojek was elected to a three-year term on theUnited Way of Greater Niagara board.Marilyn Marini-Farber recently retired from herposition as migrant outreach R.N. with InterCareCommunity Health Network. She was with theorganization for 10 years, providing outreach nursingto migrant workers and their families from May toOctober of each year.1976James Rosebrock was elected to the board of directors ofthe Western Maryland Interpretive Association in April.e association is a not-for-profit cooperating associationof Antietam and Monocacy national battlefields.1977 REUNIONCol. Mark Lindon recently completed a tour in Kabul,Afghanistan, as a contractor working for the Departmentof State.Robert Travis joined the board of trustees for MountSt. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, N.Y., as the vice chairand treasurer. He is a partner with Chiampou TravisBesaw & Kershner LLP.1978Joe Giarrizzo, M.S.Ed.’05, has been named businessadministrator for the Grand Island Central SchoolDistrict. Previously, he served a similar role for theTonawanda city schools. Before that, Joe was financedirector for the Niagara Falls City School Districtfrom 2002 to 2009 and served on its board.Nancy Langer was honored by the St. omas MoreGuild for her work as president of the Nativity MiguelMiddle School of Buffalo.1979Lina Marchionda-Salvatori, M.S.Ed.’81, wasrecognized as Ontario Counselor of the Year by theNiagara University College of Education. Lina is acounselor at Blessed Trinity Catholic SecondarySchool, Niagara Catholic District School Board.1980Kenneth K. Conte accepted the position of vicepresident and chief financial officer of Frontier OilfieldServices, Inc., in Texas. Prior to joining Frontier, Kennethserved as executive vice president and CFO of NYTEXEnergy Holdings, Inc., in Dallas, Texas.291198 10128. Jessica Fuhrey, ’08, and Robert Morgan, ’07 9. Stacie Ann Blaut, ’08, and Nicholas Glielmi, ’0810. William Patrick, Lucy Christine and Daniel Ryan Reardon 11. Olivia Loreen Meyer 12. Jace Michael Glielmi

CATCHING UP30Kathy Meyer is celebrating 25 years as a ConsolataMissionary Sister. She has been working as amissionary in Kenya since 1991.Ed Reilly, a journalist with WKBW-TV’s EyewitnessNews in Buffalo, N.Y., received the Backpack Multi-Media Journalist of the Year award at the inauguralBuffalo Excellence in Media Awards on April 12. Edstarted his career with WKBW as an intern in 1980.Since then, he has been recognized with numerousawards for his work, which includes traveling to theUnited Arab Emirates to cover USAFR 914th in thefirst Gulf War, covering Pope John Paul II’s visits toMiami and Toronto, and working on the nationallyacclaimed Cry for Life project, which promoted a drugfreelifestyle for teenagers and received an award fromthe White House.1981John Ottaviano joined the law firm of Rupp BaasePfalsgraf Cunningham & Coppola LLC in an ofcounsel capacity. He focuses his practice in the areas ofcommercial real estate development; commerciallitigation; corporate, municipal law; wills and estates;and local development corporations. He will head thefirm’s Lockport office.1982 REUNIONKevin A. Brauer, senior vice president, memberrelations, for Alloya Corporate FCU, has taken on theadded responsibilities of chief operating officer in thecorporation’s Albany, N.Y., office. In this role, he willbe responsible for leading the company through severaloperating changes and fulfill a key role in theintegration of operations between Alloya and anyfuture strategic partners. Kevin will also maintain hiscurrent responsibilities, which include executiveoversight of the corporate’s sales, member call center,marketing and payments processing operations, andrelationships with various credit union organizations.Kevin is a certified public accountant and a member ofthe American Institute of CPAs. He has more than 20years of service at Alloya.Christopher Ross has been appointed to the BuffaloPublic Schools Foundation’s board of directors. efoundation invests in Buffalo city schools bypurchasing athletic uniforms, funding summer musiccamps, supporting arts programs and other projects tobenefit city school students.1984Mark Gabriele joined the board of trustees at MountSt. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, N.Y., as its secretary.He is with the law firm of Harris Beach.Larry Sirianni was inducted into the StamfordCollegiate Wall of Fame on May 10, 2012. Larry wasthe department head of the Secondary School ToCommunity department at Stamford from 1991 to1994. He coached football for three years and rugbyfor one year. He was principal from 1997 to 2003, andduring his leadership he was instrumental in institutingthe Stamford Wall of Fame.1985Mark Tambini has been selected as a member of themedia center operations committee for the 2013 PGAChampionship, which will be held at Oak HillCountry Club in Rochester, N.Y.1987 REUNIONBob Jellinick was promoted to first vice president inMerrill Lynch’s Williamsville office.Michael J. Knight Sr. was recently elected aspresident-elect for the National Client ProtectionOrganization, Inc., an educational resource for theexchange of information among law client protectionfunds throughout the United States and Canada.Michael previously served for six years as counsel tothe NCPO before his election to the current two-yearterm. He is also deputy counsel to the New York StateLawyers’ Fund for Client Protection.Ted Ritter has been promoted to special projectsmanager: external affairs at the North JerseyTransportation Planning Authority in Newark, N.J.,the nation’s fifth-largest metropolitan planningorganization. In this role, Ted represents theorganization at partner agency meetings, conferences,and special events. He’s also responsible forrelationship/consensus building, developing mediaproducts and presentations, and writing material forthe agency’s publications and website. Ted, who holdsa master’s degree in journalism and public affairs fromAmerican University, has been with the NJTPA since2001, after a 12-year career as a broadcast journalist.He and his wife, Susan, live with their daughters, Jayneand Dorian, in Westfield, N.J.1988Joe Arlauckas was inducted into the Frontier FieldWalk of Fame in a ceremony on Aug. 19. e FrontierField Walk of Fame is a walkway within the ballparkwhich features the names of fans, players and mediathroughout Rochester, N.Y., sports history.Lynn Scarpelli has been named national sales managerfor Grand Lucayan, Bahamas, the premier resort onGrand Bahama Island. Lynn joins the Grand Lucayanteam with more than 25 years of experience in salesand marketing, particularly in group sales in Floridaand the Northeastern United States. She is a memberof various organizations including MeetingProfessionals International, National Association ofProfessional Women, the Auction Committee forBroward Boys & Girls Club, and is on the board ofdirectors for Hoping for a Cause, which benefits theMultiple Sclerosis Foundation.1989Col. Carl Pfeiffer, MBA’96, recently published a bookentitled It Never Ends, e Terrible Life of Carl, ahumorous memoir/autobiography centered on hischildhood. Now retired, Col. Pfeiffer works for U.S.Central Command at Mac Dill Air Force Base.During his career, he deployed to Iraq duringOperation Iraqi Freedom III, and as a battalioncommander he led his tank battalion to New York Cityin the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11,2001. His military awards include the Iraqi CampaignMedal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze StarMedal and the Legion of Merit. He and his wife, Jane,have two children, Chris and Rebecca. ey liveoutside Tampa, Fla.Anne Snyder was named executive director of SistersHospital Foundation. She joined the foundation in2001 as a development officer and was most recentlychief development officer.1990Andy Touma, M.S.Ed.’98, was elected to a threeyearterm on the board of the United Way ofGreater Niagara.1991Lt. Col. Jeffrey Abramaitys was deployed with I MarineExpeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward) asexecutive officer of Task Force Belleau Wood.Kimberly Boynton was elected senior vice chair of theUnited Way of Central New York’s board of directors.She has been a board member since 2006 andpreviously served as secretary and treasurer.James Ebenhoch has been named director ofindividual giving in the development office at NazarethCollege. James will be responsible for leadership andstrategic direction of the college’s developmentprograms, including major gifts, planned gifts, the ArtsCenter, and the Annual Fund.

CATCHING UPJoseph M. Falbo Jr. received the Special RecognitionAward from the New York State Society of CertifiedPublic Accountants at the society’s 115th AnnualElection Meeting and Dinner on May 10. He is only thesixth person to win this award, which recognizesmembers who have made extraordinary contributions tothe NYSSCPA. Joseph, a tax partner at TronconiSegarra & Associates LLP in Buffalo, served assecretary/treasurer and Finance Committee chair for theNYSSCPA when the society was reorganizing itsinternal budget process. Working with other NYSSCPAleaders, Joseph established a new internal financialreporting system that provided board members and staffleaders crucial information. He joined the NYSSCPA in1994 and has served in a variety of leadership roles.1992 REUNIONMark Monitello was recently promoted to senior vicepresident, human resources, with FTD.1993Christina Curley accepted the position of specialevents and convention sales director for Warren Countyand the Lake George Chamber. A native of SaratogaSprings, N.Y., Christina has more than 15 years in thehospitality and convention sales business, most recentlyat the Courtyard by Marriott in Saratoga Springs.Robert C. Frost retired from his position as a middleschool counselor at Wilson Central School in June. Hisfirst book, Wounds, was published in June as well.Wendy (Lugo) Gallegos teaches Spanish in southwestFlorida. In 2007, she achieved National BoardCertification for Professional Teaching Standards in thearea of world languages. She was awarded the GoldenApple for excellence in education that same year.David Sharpe joined Buffalo Capital Strategies as vicepresident of investments.1994Matthew Celenza joined Barclays’ Wealth andInvestment Management Division in Los Angeles asmanaging director — wealth management. He brings15 years of experience to Barclays, obtained throughpositions with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney andCitigroup. Four years ago, Matthew co-founded eWilshire Group, a team serving ultra-high net worthindividuals and families with a full suite of wealthmanagement and planning capabilities. Matthewserves on the board of A Better LA and is a volunteercoach with the American Youth Soccer Organization.1995Yolanda (Bostic) Williams is the principal policyanalyst for the New York State Assembly.1996Michael Aquino joined Buffalo Capital Strategiesas vice president of investments.Christopher Falsion is the district manager atAbsolute Security, a Top 5-authorized ADT dealer.He also helped to launch the company’s first NorthCarolina office.Stephen Ostaszewicz, MBA’02, has been appointedpresident of the American Hockey League’sHamilton Bulldogs. Stephen brings extensivebusiness knowledge and hockey experience to hisnew role, gained through positions with MabeCanada (GE Appliances Canada), KPMG LLPChartered Accountants, Top Shelf SportsManagement Inc., the Greater Ontario JuniorHockey League’s St. Catharines Falcons, and theNational Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets.While at Niagara, Stephen served as a graduateassistant in sports information from 1999-2001.Nalini Packianathan recently joined UB|MDInternal Medicine, a member of UB|MD Physicians’Group. She is working in the Internal MedicineClinic at the Erie County Medical Center.1997 REUNIONCarrie Silliman was named vice president of theEpilepsy Association of Western New York boardof directors. She is a nurse practitioner with ECMC.2000Robert Perno was promoted to assistant regionalmanager for Michigan and Ohio with MerchantsInsurance Group. He previously served as corporatesales specialist with the organization.Katie Renda has been named an associate attorneyat Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer and Monte.2001Annmarie omas was named a “Most ValuedPerformer” at Sedgwick for her exceptionalcommitment to the organization’s core values, visionand mission. It is the highest level of recognition aSedgwick employee can receive. Annmarie has beenwith Sedgwick for eight years and currently serves asa corporate training consultant for the organization,which is a third-party administrator for claims,working primarily with Fortune 500 companies.60SECONDSWITH:Julie Kwasniak, ’06Hometown: Pendleton, N.Y.Degree: B.S. in business(marketing and international business)Current job: Talent acquisition at Corning, Inc.My best memory at Niagara is: Professor Pikas’ marketingclasses — he was my favorite teacher of all times!My favorite hangout was: Gallagher between classeswith friends.The most important life lesson I learned at NU was: toproofread everything – presenting well through writing iskey to being a success in the business world.I am inspired by: my 18-month-old son, Jackson.The three words that describe me are: upfront,passionate, and happy.My favorite part of my job is: Helping people find jobsthey love.When I’m not working you’ll find me: spending time withmy family around Buffalo — or enjoying a little retail therapy!I still want to learn how to: ski.Five random facts about me:1. I was born just outside of Atlanta, Ga., but moved backto Buffalo when I was little.2. In high school, I was voted class skipper.3. During my sophomore year of college, I studied abroadin Nice, France, and was able to travel all over Europe.4. One of the reasons I named my baby Jackson isbecause it was the name of a character I loved inSteel Magnolias.5. I have a serious passion for the City of Buffalo and lovespending time there with my family.We’d like to get to know you better! In each issue of theEagle, we’ll spend a minute (or so) with an alum from arandom area of the country and ask a few questions tofind out more about him or her. Will you be next?31

CATCHING UP32Alumni from Niagara University took first place at the62nd annual Little Three Alumni Golf Tournament atHickory Stick Golf Club in Lewiston, N.Y., on June 25.More than 120 golfers participated in the event, whichis touted as the oldest continual alumni competitionin the United States.Dan Gadawski, ’12, Howard Morgan, ’86, and JoeGadawski, ’85, shot a team total of 237, giving Niagarabragging rights and the Dr. Vincent Marino trophyuntil next year’s competition. This is the 10th timeNiagara alumni have won the event.The team from St. Bonaventure finished in secondplace with a 242, while the Canisius team completedthe tournament with a 247, earning it a thirdplacefinish.Next year’s event is scheduled for June 17 at theWestwood Country Club in Amherst, N.Y.Pictured are Paul Hulub, ’50 (center), with PaulHenderson (left) from Canisius, and John Wozerfrom St. Bonaventure.2002 REUNIONMark Mistriner has been recognized by the AmericanCulinary Federation as the 2012 Northeast RegionChef Educator of the Year. He is chair of the Businessand Hospitality Division and coordinator of CulinaryArts at Niagara County Community College.Brianne (Napoli) Pagliardini received a master’s degreein school counseling from the University of NorthFlorida on April 27, 2012. She will be moving fromteaching in the classroom to working as a professionalschool counselor for the upcoming school year.2003Amber Zito, LISW, LMSW, was promoted to clinicalsupervisor at Hospice of the Western Reserve inCleveland, Ohio. She has also been invited to serve asa member of the agency’s Ethics Committee and as apanel member for the local presentation of the 2012Hospice Foundation of America’s Teleconference.Amber credits the excellent education she received inNU’s social work program for her ongoing success.2004Sarah Hummell writes a specialty coffee blog thathas received international recognition. The owner ofCafe Roche Espresso Bar in Winston-Salem, N.C.,Sarah wrote a column about owning the coffee shopthat was published in the November 2011 issue ofFresh Cup Magazine, an international tradepublication. Sarah’s blog can be found at http://caferoche.blogspot.com/.Jean MacDonald, director of student activities atHilbert College, has been named by Power Performersas the 2011 Campus Event Planner in the mostmemorable event category. She was selected by theNew York-based speakers and entertainment bureaufrom among peers at more than 4,200 campuses acrossthe United States in recognition of Hilbert’scoordination of an event billed as “Robert Channing— e World’s Greatest Mind Reader and Hypnotist.”Jean joined Hilbert in 2009, where she is an adjunctinstructor, an advisor to the Student GovernmentAssociation, and serves on the Leadership TrainingCamp Committee and Wellness Task Force.2005Shelly (McLaughlin) Cieslak received the LodgingGeneral Manager of the Year award at the Visit BuffaloNiagara 2012 Beacon Awards ceremony, held onMay 10, 2012. Shelly is the general manager at theFairfield Inn and Suites Buffalo Airport.Sarah Dobe Georger has accepted the position of cocurricularcoordinator in the Honors Program at theUniversity of Delaware.Kevin Hinkley joined Webster Szanyi LLP as anassociate attorney. His practice is focused on civillitigation in state and federal courts, includingcommercial litigation, product liability, health care, andmunicipal liability. Before joining Webster Szanyi LLP,Kevin served as a law clerk to Judge Raymond W.Gruender of the United States Court of Appealsfor the Eighth Circuit and as an associate withSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP inWashington, D.C.2006Sara Caliva has been named communicationscoordinator for Catholic Charities of OnondagaCounty. Sara most recently worked as a freelancemarketing consultant.Samantha Anne Campanella is a teacher in theKenmore-Tonawanda School District.Matthew J. Nethercott completed his Ph.D. inchemistry at Michigan State University in March 2012and accepted a postdoctoral scholar position at theUniversity of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. HisPh.D. dissertation, Sample preparation and 2D solid statenuclear magnetic resonance studies of the FP-Hairpinconstruct of the HIV gp41 protein, contributed to twopapers in peer-reviewed journals: the Journal ofMolecular Biology and Biochemistry.

CATCHING UPJohn Sabloski was awarded his Juris Doctor degreefrom Western New England University School of Lawin Springfield, Mass., on May 18, 2012.Katherine (Piwtorak) Sumner has been accepted intothe D’Youville College Physician Assistant Program.She is a medical assistant in neurosciences at KaleidaHealth in Buffalo, N.Y.2007 REUNIONNicholas Hossfeld was promoted to manager withChiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner LLP. He joinedthe firm in 2007 as a staff accountant.Angela Keppel, a planner with TVGA Consultants,recently achieved certification through the AmericanInstitute of Certified Planners.2008Stacie Ann (Blaut) Glielmi is a third-grade teacher atTri Valley Elementary School in Grahamsville, N.Y.Michelle Keim is the assistant events coordinator withthe Peace Center for the Performing Arts inGreenville, S.C.2009Mark Anastasia Jr. has become a member of theFinancial Services Institute in Washington, D.C., anadvocacy organization for independent financialservices firms and independent financial advisors. Itsmission is to create a more responsible regulatoryenvironment for independent broker-dealers and theiraffiliated independent financial advisors througheffective advocacy, education, and public awareness.Mark is a financial advisor with L&M and a registeredrepresentative with Securities America, Inc.2010Jacob Jankowski, MBA’12, joined Lumsden &McCormick as a staff accountant. He is responsible fortax compliance services to businesses and individuals.Lauren Kenney was recently hired by e Saturn Clubin Buffalo, N.Y., where she assists in the business officewith billing, member marketing, member and guestfunctions, and special projects for the controller andgeneral manager.Peter A. Roberti, MBA’11, has been appointedprofessional wardrobe consultant by Adrian JulesCustom Clothiers. Peter will be working with clientson the importance of their image and appearance inthe workplace. He is also responsible for developinglead generation and sales for the retail division.2011Eva Biggers was accepted into the Culinary Instituteof America’s Accelerated Wine and Beverage Program.She will start her studies in the fall.2012 REUNIONBrett Baldeck joined WBKO in Bowling Green, Ky.,as a multi-media journalist. He previously worked as aweb producer at WIVB in Buffalo, N.Y.Wynton Bernard was selected in the 35th round ofthe Major League Baseball Draft by the San DiegoPadres. e senior outfielder was named First TeamAll-Conference in the Metro-Atlantic League whileplaying for Niagara University this past season.Kyle Breloff joined Lumsden & McCormick as a staffaccountant. She will be responsible for auditing andaccounting services to commercial businesses andexempt organizations. She previously worked as amedical bookkeeper for People Inc.mARRIAGESPatrick Swift, ’82, married Sharon Johnston onMay 7, 2012.Yolanda Bostic, ’95, married Zaron Williams, ’95, onOct. 22, 2011.Ryanne Fullerton, ’02, married Daniel Phillips onMay 13, 2012.Theresa Gleber, ’03, married Jason Ashbery onMay 12, 2012.Aniela Marisa Baj, ’05, married Myo Thant onMay 6, 2011.Samantha Anne Campanella, ’06, married DevinFarley on July 30, 2011.Katherine Marie Piwtorak, ’06, married MilesSumner on Dec. 9, 2011.Nick Beckman, ’07, married Melissa Higgins, ’08, onApril 14, 2012.M. Joseph Fratello, ’07, married Ashley Alaimo onOct. 15, 2011.Robert Morgan, ’07, married Jessica Fuhrey, ’08, onApril 13, 2012.Stacie Ann Blaut, M.S.Ed.’08, married NicholasGlielmi, ’08, on Sept. 10, 2011.Anna Maria Cosgrove, ’08, married Andrew Moranon July 7, 2012.Kaylee Scuteri, ’09, married James Kelley, ’08, onOct. 7, 2011.Karen Rajsky, ’10, married Michael Harrington onFeb. 22, 2012.BIRTHS aND ADoPTIoNSTimothy Reardon, ’89, and his wife, Joni, welcomedtriplets William Patrick, Lucy Christine, and DanielRyan on March 8, 2012. ey join big sister Grace.Dominic Cristelli, ’92, and his wife, Melanie,welcomed a daughter, Avery Grace, on April 24, 2012.Eileen (McGinn) Rupp, ’97, and her husband, Paul,welcomed twin sons James Edward and BenjaminRobert on Sept. 18, 2011.Jaime Marie (Laughlin) Myszka, ’99, and herhusband, Alan, welcomed a daughter, Sydney Harper,on April 6, 2012.Marianne (Head) Cosialls, ’00, and her husband,Olivier, welcomed a daughter, Mathilde Ruby, onFeb. 22, 2012. She joins big sister Madeleine Claire.Darcy (Oliver) Meyer, ’00, and her husband, Jeff,welcomed a daughter, Olivia Loreen, on Aug. 29, 2011.Scott, ’01, and Elizabeth (Hylkema) Becraft, ’01,welcomed a daughter, Alexandria Kathleen, onApril 19, 2012.Julie (Niemiec) Hamilton, ’01, and her husband, Jason,welcomed a daughter, Ella Olivia, on Feb. 1, 2012.She joins big brothers Colin and Bryce.Angela Harding, ’01, and her husband, JasonGrasman, welcomed a son, Jackson Dean, onApril 20, 2012.Barbara (Manning) Houck, ’01, and her husband,Chad, welcomed a daughter, Emma Grace, onFeb. 18, 2012.Kimberly Ann (Kotlarski) Marano, ’01, and herhusband, Jamie, welcomed a daughter, Gianina Grace,on April 6, 2012.Janelle (Wegener) Dengate, ’02, M.S.Ed.’10, and herhusband, Frank, welcomed a daughter, MollyElizabeth, on March 3, 2012.Jim, ’02, and Anne (Rotella) Mathers, ’02, welcomeda daughter, Vanessa Francesca, on Feb. 24, 2012.Jennifer (Erickson) Cozzo, ’03, and her husband, Phil,welcomed a daughter, Lydia Serafina, on Jan. 29, 2012.33

CATCHING UP34Ashley (Ryan) Winters, ’03, M.S.Ed.’07, and herhusband, Anthony, welcomed a son, Jackson James, onMarch 20, 2012.Joshua, ’04, and Mareike (Appelt) Allen, ’06,welcomed a daughter, Kirstin Olivia, on Jan. 16, 2012.Sarah (Pempsell) Hummell, ’04, and her husband,Justin, welcomed a daughter, Jocelyn, on April 4, 2012.Brian, ’05, and Laura (Murray) Kleinhans, ’00,welcomed a son, Colin Patrick, on March 13, 2012.Daniel, ’05, and Wendy (Putt) Pautz, ’04, M.A.’07,welcomed a son, Peyton Eric, on Aug. 14, 2011.Aniela Marisa (Baj) Thant, ’05, and her husband,Myo, welcomed a daughter, Aleksandra Jasmine, onApril 15, 2012.Aaron, ’06, and Jennifer (Kemak) Brown, ’06,welcomed a son, Anthony Stephen, on March 5, 2012.Amy Mortimer, ’06, and her husband, Michael,welcomed their second son, Parker Elijah, onFeb. 20, 2012.Kristen (Hamilton) Coley, ’07, and her husband,David, welcomed a daughter, Lily, on Sept. 7, 2011.Stacie Ann (Blaut) Glielmi, M.S.Ed.’08, and herhusband, Nicholas, welcomed a son, Jace Michael, onFeb. 14, 2012.IN mEmoRIAmTo have a Mass celebrated at Alumni Chapel, call NU’sCampus Ministry Office at 716.286.8400.For expanded obituaries and an opportunity to leaveyour condolences, please visit the Eagle online athttp://eagleonline.niagara.edu.* Expanded obituary available.Lt. Col. Edmund Blais, ’41, passed away onMay 1, 2012.John H. Werbeck, ’43, passed away on Feb. 13, 2012.William G. Dowd III, ’46, passed away on Dec. 22,2011. Our condolences to his son, William G. DowdIV, ’72, and his granddaughter, Courtney E. Dowd, ’05.Paul J. Green, ’47, passed away on March 24, 2012.Joseph B. Leone, ’47, passed away on March 25, 2012.Richard J. Sennett, ’48, passed away on Nov. 8, 2011.Our condolences to his son, Patrick Sennett, ’85,MBA’91; his daughter-in-law, erese SiebertSennett, ’84, and his granddaughter, Mary BridgetSennett, ’11.Leonard L. Cassert, ’49, passed away on July 13, 2012.Our condolences to his grandson, Lawrence Cassert, ’03.Donald M. Curry, ’50, passed away on April 23, 2012.Philip Freeman, ’50, passed away on Nov. 28, 2011.Col. Richard D. O’Connor, ’50, passed away onJuly 26, 2012.Dr. Anthony J. Federico, ’51*, passed away onMay 17, 2012.Joan (Carveth) Hausner, ’51, passed away onSept. 23, 2010.e Rev. Richard J. Keppeler, ’51, passed away onDec. 26, 2011.Robert R. Rafferty, ’52, passed away on Jan. 21, 2012.Monsignor Rupert A. Wright, ’52, SOLA’56, passedaway on July 3, 2012.David L. Kenyon, ’53, passed away on Jan. 11, 2012.Joseph P. Gallagher, ’54, passed away on June 30, 2009.Our condolences to his daughter, Anne (Gallagher)Yates, ’81.Kevin Barrett Weil, ’54, passed away on June 23, 2012.Frank T. Micozzi, ’55, passed away on July 21, 2012.Rev. Thomas F. Langan, ’56, passed away onJan. 3, 2012.Charles R. Marcoux, ’56, passed away on July 22, 2012.John A. Nemet, ’58, a former professor of accountingand tax courses at Niagara University and chairmanof the accounting department, passed away onMarch 24, 2012.Anthony J. Casale, ’59, M.S.Ed.’66, passed away onJune 28, 2012. Our condolences to his sister, Patricia(Casale) Santulli, ’63.Robert J. Spath, ’59, passed away on April 13, 2012.John F. Trabold, ’59, passed away on April 17, 2012.The Rev. John Ebenhoeh, ’60, passed away onMay 4, 2005.John Daniel O’Brian, ’60, passed away onApril 14, 2012.Basil Crabtree, ’62, passed away on Oct. 24, 2011.Our condolences to Joy A. Massaro, ’62, M.A.’75, onthe death of her husband, Dominick Massaro, whopassed away on June 4, 2012.Our condolences to Mary Ann (omas) Boord, ’63,on the death of her mother, Marie omas, who passedaway on Jan. 14, 2012.Henry “Hank” T. Santulli, ’63, M.S.’66*, passed awayon March 11, 2011. Our condolences to his wife,Patricia (Casale) Santulli, ’63, and to his brother,omas Joseph Santulli, ’71.Maralee Kirwan Battaglia, ’65, M.A.’74, passed awayon April 16, 2012.Our condolences to Mary Ellen Gallagher Fraser, ’65,on the death of her husband, Ian Fraser, who passedaway on May 27, 2012. Ian was the son-in-law of thelate John J. “Taps” Gallagher, legendary NiagaraUniversity basketball coach who guided the PurpleEagles for 31 seasons.J. Timothy McMahon, ’65, passed away onJune 24, 2012.Nicholas Reed, ’66, passed away on July 19, 2012.R. Joseph Hammill, ’67, passed away on June 23, 2012.Nancy Kelly, M.A.’69, passed away on April 17, 2012.Ann (Quigley) Macaulay, ’69, passed away on March1, 2012. Our condolences to her sons, Brian Macaulay,’99, and Kevin Macaulay, ’14, and her daughter,Meghan Macaulay, ’06.John N. Privitera, M.S.Ed.’71, passed away onDec. 8, 2007.Anne Marie Virtuoso, ’71, passed away on July 6, 2012.Peter E. McHugh, ’72, passed away on March 23, 2012.Michael J. Diggins, M.S.Ed.’73, passed away onMay 11, 2012. Our condolences to his wife, Maureen(Purcell) Diggins, M.S.Ed.’73, and his daughter,Maryellen Diggins, ’95.Robert C. Wells, ’73, passed away on Feb. 7, 2012.Our condolences to Lt. Col. Lynn Walker, ’74,M.S.Ed.’76, on the death of her mother, DoloresDahlem Walsh, who passed away on April 27, 2012.Wayne Eadie Sr., M.S.Ed.’76, passed away onJune 22, 2012.Christopher P. Leven, ’76, passed away on Feb. 25,2012. Our condolences to his son, Daniel Leven, ’06.James P. Kaicher, ’81, passed away on May 12, 2012.Mark C. Pacer, ’85, passed away on June 14, 2012.

CATCHING UPFond memories35A “Gay Nineties” parade was a highlightof Moving Up Day, 1961. The Class of1962’s float depicted an 1890 beachscene at Atlantic City.Our condolences to Keith Sanger, ’85, on the death ofhis wife, Claudia Tripi-Sanger, who passed away onApril 14, 2012.Our condolences to Mark Tambini, ’85, on the deathof his mother, Frances Joan Tambini, who passed awayon March 5, 2012.Our condolences to Colin Bruce, ’86, and to JonBruce, ’89, on the death of their mother; and to Tina(Fratello) Bruce, ’91, on the death of her mother-inlaw,Patricia Bruce, who passed away on Feb. 19, 2012.Edward B. Bradley Jr., ’87, passed away on June 9, 2012.Georgia A. Brannan, ’87, passed away on Dec. 30, 2011.Our condolences to Dr. Jacob L. Lochner, ’87, on thedeath of his father, Jacob L. Lochner IV, who passedaway on Feb. 27, 2012.Our condolences to Michelle Gigante-Todaro, ’88,on the death of her father; and to Paul Todaro, ’87,lecturer of theatre and fine arts at Niagara University,on the death of his father-in-law, Joseph Gigante, whopassed away on Feb. 26, 2012.Our condolences to Karen Courtney, ’89, on the deathof her husband, Stephen Roberts, who passed away onFeb. 11, 2012.Dorothy (Cannon) Dinda, ’91, passed away onNov. 7, 2011. Our condolences to her husband,Stephen Dinda, ’64.Our condolences to Michelle (Lazarczyk) Tosi, ’93,on the death of her mother, Yvonne Lazarczyk, whopassed away on June 24, 2012.Our condolences to Abigail Mitchell, ’95, on thedeath of her mother, Jane W. Shaw, who passed awayon Feb. 13, 2012.Joyce A. Murphy, ’98, passed away on May 6, 2012.Our condolences to Kevin Pole, ’98, on the death ofhis wife; to Alan, ’69, and Maryalice Pole, ’69, on thedeath of their daughter-in-law; and to Stephen, ’95,and Colleen (Dee) Pole, ’95, and Lindsay Pole, ’05, onthe death of their sister-in-law, Amy Pole, who passedaway on May 17, 2012.Joseph Fitzpatrick, ’09*, passed away on July 21.Pfc. eodore “Matt” Glende, ’11*, passed away onJuly 27, 2012, while serving in Kharwar, Logarprovince, Afghanistan.Our condolences to Dr. Debra Colley, dean of theNiagara University College of Education, on the deathof her father, Bruce Colley, who passed away onMarch 30, 2012.Bruce R. Powers, founder and former director ofNiagara University’s communication studies program,passed away on April 3, 2012.Our condolences to the Castellani family on the deathof Marie Castellani O’Donnell, who passed away onJune 3, 2012. She was the daughter of Armand andEleanor Castellani; and the sister of Carla Castellani,adjunct professor of theatre and fine arts and assistantmanager of the Castellani Art Museum shop; DianeCastellani; Anne Incorvia; Robert Castellani, ’64,member of the Niagara University Board of Trustees;Lawrence Castellani; James Castellani; MarkCastellani; Christopher Castellani; Alfred Castellani;and Daniel Castellani.

THE LAST WoRDmarch 22, 2012, is a momentous datein the history of Niagara University.It’s the day that we successfullycompleted our $80 million campaign, “ePromise of Niagara … e next 150 years.”And I say “we,” because without the generoussupport of you, our alumni, we would not havebeen able to do it.When I was asked, 10 years ago, to be nationalchairman of this aggressive campaign, I had somequestions. How effective would I be in thisposition? Would the Rev. Joseph Levesque, C.M.,who was new in his role as president of Niagara, bea good fundraiser? It was a pleasant surprise todiscover how good Father Joe was at raising money,and in the end, I think we made a good team.But perhaps the most pressing question I had wasabout alumni giving. At the time, our alumnigiving rate was 12 percent, extremely low incomparison to other institutions. Conventionalwisdom says that it is very rare for someone togive a major gift to an institution if they hadnever before contributed to it, and campaignconsultants advised us against setting such a boldcampaign goal. We would need to change theculture of philanthropy at Niagara before wecould ever expect to raise $80 million.Despite the questions I had, I never doubted ourability to achieve our goal. I was confident aboutNiagara’s potential, and I knew that, even if wefailed to raise the $80 million, we would still bemuch farther ahead than we’d be if we set andachieved an attainable goal. We had to do this,and we had to do it now, if Niagara was to staycompetitive in the changing academic environmentthat was impacting all the universities in ourpeer group.So we had to roll up our sleeves and work a littleharder. It was vital that Niagara succeed in thiscampaign, and to do that, we needed to create ourown luck by believing in ourselves, having a plan,and expecting to win. is strategy served us welland encouraged donors to support us withunprecedented gifts, like those from TomGolisano and alumnus Jerry Bisgrove.However, campaigns are not successful solelybecause of the large gifts. ey are successfulbecause of the strong support of those closest tothe cause, in this case, you, our alumni. Youunderstood the importance of helping Niagara tocontinue to graduate individuals who are not onlyleaders in their professions, but people with valuesand morals that make a difference in the world.You knew that this is what differentiates Niagarafrom other academic institutions: Not only doesit deliver a first-class education, but it also instillsexceptional values in our students. And youbecame much more aware of the importance ofannual giving. Together, we accomplishedsomething thought to be unattainable, in anextremely challenging environment, and we allhave to feel good about what has just taken place.As a result of your generous support, the campusatmosphere has changed dramatically. ere’s anexcitement here that sends a strong message topotential students — that this is the place theywant to be for the next four years. The facultyand staff are energized by the transformationtaking place, and you, as alumni, can continueto be proud in saying that you are a NiagaraUniversity graduate.So congratulations! is is a tremendous achievement,and one that will elevate Niagara to prominenceas a regionally important Catholic university.Robert J. Dwyer, ’65, ’90 (Hon.)National Chairman“e Promise of Niagara … e next 150 years”37

Office of Institutional AdvancementNiagara University, NY 14109Nonprofit Org.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDNiagara University, N.Y.Permit No. 1CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTEDWhat is the Niagara Fund?When you make a gift to the Niagara Fund, youare helping continue the great traditions ofNiagara University for the students of today ... andtomorrow. Niagara Fund gifts are used to:• Provide students with scholarships andfinancial aid• Help make campus improvements• Provide support for our athletic teams• Allow for continual faculty development• Fund student development and communityoutreach initiativesFor more information, or to make a gift tothe Niagara Fund, please contact Christine S.O’Hara, ’88, MS.Ed.’06, Executive Director forAlumni Relations and Annual Giving, at716.286.8792 or cohara@niagara.edu.www.niagara.edu/give