VN_SPR SUM_06 covers FINAL.indd - Villanova University

FAREWELL TO FATHER DOBBIN“Thank you!”“He put together a whole game plan,and right from the get-go, that was thename of the game and what we weregoing to try to do.” The Rev. George F.Riley, O.S.A., Ph.D., ’58 A&S, ’61 G.S.“And son-of-a-gun, if he didn’t doit. Within two years, he had a strategicplan, he had every professor, everydean bought into it.”James R. Birle ’58 M.E.“He’s a great manager, and I think he’sdone an extremely good job in terms ofbringing together the resources of theUniversity.” Edward J. Welsh Jr. ’66 VSBThe Rev. George F. Riley,O.S.A., Ph.D., ’58 A&S, ’61 G.S.Patricia H. Imbesi“His model for the intellectual lifeis St. Augustine’s model, or ideal, ofthe union between the mind andheart.” The Rev. Michael J. Scanlon, O.S.A.,S.T.D., ’60 A&S“It’s always been there. The Augustinianshave always had a very strongcharism in this school, but he reallyarticulated it.”The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., ’75 A&S“I guess the best way to say it is thathe loves Villanova, and that shinesthrough in every aspect of theUniversity.” Patricia H. Imbesi“He took what was a respectedregional university and made it clearlya well-respected national institution oflearning.” William M. Gibson ’66 VSB“I think he picked the University up offthe ground and put it on his back andcarried it forward. He very deliberatelyworked on the physical facilities andturned to the academics….”John G. Drosdick ’65 Ch.E.Edward J. Welsh Jr. ’66 VSBWilliam M. Gibson ’66 VSB“Thanks, Father, for being a greatfriend.” James R. Birle ’58 M.E.“Great job, Father! I’ve enjoyed workingwith you.” Edward J. Welsh Jr. ’66 VSB“Our campus is dramatically different,the buildings are different. Not just thedormitories but the academic buildings,athletic facilities. All that brickand mortar stuff was done.”Robert M. Birmingham ’66 A&S“That certainly translated into a differentkind of student body. Parents weremore interested, the campus lookedbetter, it appeared better and it feltbetter.” Arthur J. Kania ’56 J.D.“We have the best undergraduate studentbody we’ve ever had. If you lookat the faculty, particularly the researchof the faculty, we have the best facultywe’ve ever had.” James F. Orr III ’65 A&S“I believe Father Dobbin would lookat the academic success, the advancementof Villanova, both in its facultyand its student body, and the kind ofintellectual environment at Villanovathat’s been created is one of the strongestelements of his legacy.”Dorothy A. Malloy, Esq.“Villanova has a great spirit, first of all,and also it has stayed very much anAugustinian university.”John J. Quindlen ’54 VSBRober M. Birmingham’66 A&SAr thur J. Kania ’56 J.D.Dorothy A. Malloy, E sq.The Ver y Rev. Donald F. Reilly,O.S.A., D.Min., ’71 A&SKenneth G. Valosk y ’82 VSBTerence M. O’ Toole ’80 VSB“Thank you for your 18 years of superbservice.” The Very Rev. Donald F. Reilly,O.S.A., D.Min., ’71 A&S“It’s just been an unbelievable opportunityto work with you for the past 18years.” William B. Finneran ’63 VSB“Thanks for serving with me on theboard and trying to do the good work forVillanova.” Robert M. Birmingham ’66 A&S“The ability to work so closely withsomeone to advance an institutionthat you both believe in and love isextraordinary.” Dorothy A. Malloy, Esq.“Thank you for having the vision.”Patricia H. Imbesi“All Villanovans, such as myself, areproud of what this university hasbecome.” Kenneth G. Valosky ’82 VSB“Thank you for the community thatyou’ve brought onto campus. Thankyou for expanding facilities, academicprograms and student life.”Arthur J. Kania ’56 J.D.“I really do think you’ve led Villanovainto the 21st century.”Terence M. O’Toole ’80 VSB32 Villanova Magazine