Canisius College Magazine Winter 2010

THE HOUSE THAT DAVID bUILT

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • WINTER 2010

president’sperspective REV. VINCENT M. COOKE, S.J .

President

Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.

Executive Vice President &

Vice President for College Relations

John J. Hurley ’78

Associate Vice President for

Public Relations & Executive Editor

Debra S. Park MS ’06

Managing Editor

Audrey R. Browka

Director of Creative Services

& Layout Editor

Andalyn Courtney

Contributing Designer

Shaun M. Maciejewski

Director of Alumni Relations

Eileen L. Hudson ’83

Contributing Writers

Elizabeth M. Bohen ’74, MS ’76

Dianna Civello

Kristin E. Etu ’91

Rachel Flammer

Eileen C. Herbert ’04

Eileen L. Hudson ’83

Laura B. Marek ’06

Marion A. Mittler

Debra S. Park MS ’06

Kirsten L. Reppert MS ’07

Erica C. Sammarco ’00

Photography

Dylan Buyskes

Joe Cascio

Eric Frick

Shaun Maciejewski

Tom Wolf ’86

To Contact Us

We are eager to hear your comments

about Canisius College Magazine.

Please send correspondence to:

Canisius College Magazine

2001 Main Street, Lyons Hall

Room 209, Buffalo, NY 14208

Phone 716-888-2790

Fax 716-888-2778

E-mail [email protected]

Canisius College Magazine is published

four times a year by Canisius College at:

2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

USPS 908-760

Periodical postage paid at Buffalo, NY

Postmaster send change of address to:

Canisius College, 2001 Main Street,

Buffalo, NY 14208

As we move toward the end of the college’s fiscal year on

May 31, we watch closely several key indicators. How are

deposits for the fall freshman class coming in? What will be

the college’s surplus at fiscal year end (deficits not being part

of the Canisius vocabulary over the past 35 years)? What will

the college’s Annual Fund raise?

The Annual Fund is as much a part of the annual landscape at

Canisius as basketball and snow. A legion of college develop-

ment staff, alumni volunteers and student callers set out each

September to raise critical operating and scholarship dollars

from our alumni, friends, faculty and staff, corporations and

parents. Our current comprehensive campaign, A Legacy of

Leadership, included the Annual Fund as one of four main

priorities and throughout the campaign, we have sought to

increase participation and inspire higher levels of giving.

I am pleased that the Canisius Jesuit Community has joined forces with us to move the Annual

Fund needle upward. The Jesuit Challenge (see p. 27) will provide matching funds for new and

increased gifts to the Annual Fund. This part of the campaign seeks to inspire alumni with the selfless

example of generations of Jesuits who have made Canisius what it is today.

Nationwide, the number of alumni participating in college and university annual funds has been

slipping. Among private colleges nationally only 17 percent of alumni contribute to their school’s

annual fund. The Canisius rate is only slightly better and we need to increase it.

Consider a couple of key facts about the importance of Annual Fund donors:

• Seventy-eight (78) percent of the gifts to the Annual Fund are $250 or less. It really is a campaign

made up of many modest donations, each one of them important.

• To replace the $2.6 million raised in last year’s Annual Fund, the college would need to raise

$52 million in endowment. The Annual Fund is providing a vital and consistent stream of income

for college priorities.

• Ninety-two (92) percent of Annual Fund dollars are directed into student financial aid.

Our Annual Fund runs through May 31. If you are not yet a donor, please visit www.canisius.edu/gift

today.

God bless You,

W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

V O L U M E 1 1 , I S S U E 1


departments

4 BLUE & GOLD BRIEFS

CAMPUSNEWSANDNOTES

9 FacULty nOtES

fACUlTyNEWSANDUPDATES

26 a LEGacy OF LEaDERShIp

CAMPAigNNEWSANDUPDATES

28 canISIUS cOnnEctIOnS

AlUMNiNEWSANDNOTES

36 aS yOU WERE

STORiESfROMTHEPAST

20

14

14 | Added FeaturetEachInG tEachERS

Creative new educational

partnerships enhance the learning

experiences of teacher-candidates

and local educators.

10 | Faculty ProfileGLaDLy hE WILL tEach

Walter G. Sharrow, PhD, seamlessly

marries his infectious love for the

past with his passion to educate

the whole person of the future.

20 | Cover Story thE hOUSE that DavID BUILt

David M. Stapleton ’87 provides

the opportunity to showcase

Buffalo as a small place with

a big heart.

6 | Jesuit Profile SpIRItUaL cOmpanIOn

Rev. Thomas Colgan, S.J.,

nourishes the spiritual health

of the Canisius community.

6 10

contents winter 2010

4 | C A N I S I U S C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 0

A national search is underway for a new dean of the School of Education and Human Services. Shawn M. O’Rourke, PhD, began serving a six-month term as interim dean on January 1.

Prior to this appointment, O’Rourke was associate dean for the School of Education and Human Services. During this time, he assisted faculty in the development of on-line programs, oversaw graduate student recruitment and admissions, and served as the certification officer for all graduate students who seek certification in New York and

the Province of Ontario.

O’Rourke earned a PhD in organizational effectiveness from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Richmond, and a bachelor of arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Margaret C. McCarthy, PhD, who served six years in the position, will return to the faculty in fall 2010 following a sabbatical this spring.

O’Rourke is Interim Dean of Education, human Services

canisius creates two new Institutes

The College of Arts and Sciences will have new leader-ship on June 1, when David W. Ewing, PhD, becomes dean. Ewing is the dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences at the State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia, where he also serves as chair of the executive committee for its Science Technology Center.

Ewing brings with him to Canisius 24 years of expe-rience as a faculty member and administrator. He spent 20 years at John Carroll University, during which time he served as a professor of chemistry, chair of the Department of Chemistry, and marshaled the design and construction of the university’s Dolan Center for Science and Technology.

As dean at Canisius, Ewing will shepherd the Science Hall project, to ensure that the new interdisciplinary science center is configured in a way that is true to the learning needs of students, and the teaching and scholar-ship needs of faculty.

“My experiences have given me leadership opportunities at the department, college and university levels, as well as in the broader community,” says Ewing. “I have learned a lot and gained valuable experience in public higher education but am excited to return to a Catholic, Jesuit institution and to a more personal educational environ-ment with a strong sense of community.”

Ewing holds a PhD in physical chemistry from Ohio State University, and a BA in biology and general science from Hiram College.

He replaces Leonid Khinkis, PhD, who has served as interim dean since April 2009.

Ewing named new Dean for arts & Sciences

Canisius College increased its number of educational institutes to five this winter, with the establishment of The Institute for Autism Research (IAR) and the Institute for Transformational Leadership in Education.

“These institutes are designed to provide signature learning experiences for students,” explains Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “At the same time, they support Canisius’ mission to combine academic excellence with an emphasis on social responsibility to use one’s gifts for the benefit of society.”

The IAR supports Canisius researchers and affiliated faculty with the necessary facilities to study and treat autism spectrum disorders in a collaborative manner. Christopher Lopata, PsyD and Marcus Thomeer, PhD, assistant professors in the Department of Education, are co-directors of the IAR. They work with a team of researchers from Canisius College (Susan Putnam, PhD, associateprofessor of psychology and Robert E. Nida, PhD, associate professor of education), SUNY Buffalo and Summit Educational Resources to conduct a broad range of basic and applied (treatment) studies for children with autism spectrum disorders.

“Over the past seven years at Canisius, our research team has conducted multiple studies of Connections (Canisius Magazine, fall 2004), our summer social devel-opment treatment program for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders,” explains Thomeer. Their research has been published in many top-tier scientific journals, and featured at both state and national conferences.

The Institute for Transformational Leadership in Education will implement several new educational initiatives that prepare leaders at the teacher, admin-istrator and community levels to meet the unique educational challenges in high-need urban, public, private and charter school settings.

To learn more about the Institute for Transformational Leadership in Education, see “Teaching Teachers” on page 14.

Shawn M. O'Rourke, PhD

David W. Ewing, PhD

blue&goldbriefs

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canisius commencement 2010

canisius college Brings “a Blessing to One another” to Buffalo

Kay Koplovitz will present the com-mencement address to the Canisius College graduate Class of 2010 on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center.

A pioneer in cable television and new media ventures, Koplovitz founded the successful cable television fran-chise USA Networks, under the banner of Madison Square Garden Sports. In doing so, she became the first female network president in television history.

Koplovitz used her platform at USA Networks to found Koplovitz & Co., where she serves as chair and CEO. Koplovitz & Co. is a leading media advisory and investment firm that specializes in marketing and growth strategies for early- to late-stage companies.

Koplovitz will receive an honorary doctorate degree during graduate commencement ceremonies, as

will Thomas R. Beecher Jr., an attor-ney, investor and community vol-unteer in causes that range from education to the arts and healthcare.

Undergraduate commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2010 will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 at U.B.’s Alumni Arena. Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., the outgoing president of Canisius College, will receive an honorary doctorate degree from the college, as will Calvin G. Rand, philosopher,

philanthropist and founder of the Shaw Festival; and Victor and Corinne Rice. Victor is the former chair and CEO of Varity Corporation. He and Corinne devote themselves to several significant causes in the community, including the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

The college has not yet announced the under-graduate commencement speaker.

coming to canisius

JanE GOODaLL, phD, DBEUN Messenger of Peace Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute

“Gombe and Beyond: the next 50 years”

Wednesday, april 14 | 7:30 p.m. Koessler athletic center

Presented by the Canisius College Institute for the Study of Human-Animal Relations and The William H. Fitzpatrick Institute of Public Affairs and Leadership

For more information on this and other upcoming events, visit www.canisius.edu.

People of all faiths are invited to view the historic exhibit “A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People,” when it opens in Buffalo April 16 - June 30. The local exhibition is presented by Canisius College and the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture. It will be housed at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in downtown Buffalo and is expected to attract thousands of visitors.

The 1,500 square-foot, multi-media exhibit chronicles the Pope’s associations with the Jewish community from the time of his childhood and illustrates how these lifelong associa-tions shaped his papacy, the Catholic Church and the future of Jewish-Catholic relations. Pope John Paul II was the first pope ever to enter a synagogue, officially visit and recognize the State of Israel, and formally engage in an act of repentance for the Catholic Church’s historical treatment of Jews.

“A Blessing to One Another” was created and produced by Xavier University of Cincinnati, the Hillel Jewish Student Center of Cincinnati and the Shtetl Foundation of New York.

For more information, visit www.canisius.edu/blessing.

Kay Koplovitz

Pope John Paul II greets Rabbi Elio Toaff, chief rabbi of Rome, during his visit to the Synagogue of Rome on April 13, 1986.

Additional support from The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo; The Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies; WLOF 101.7 FM, The Station of the Cross; Temple Beth Zion; Church of the Assumption; Richard Stenclik; The Vincent and Harriet Palisano Foundation and Our Lady of Pompeii Church.


When Rev. thomas colgan, S.J., arrived at Canisius in 2006, he introduced himself to the campus community one individual at a time. It was during those door-to-door visits that Father Colgan explained that he was called to the college to help enhance and strengthen peoples’ faiths through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

Father Colgan’s passion proved infectious. He built the program from its initial eight participants to 28 faculty, staff and students who completed the exercises last year. “The heart of the Jesuits’ mission is the promotion of faith and the justice of the kingdom through inter-religious dialogue and a creative engagement with cultures, and that is precisely what the Spiritual Exercises accomplish,” says Father Colgan. “The more people who complete the Spiritual Exercises, the more likely St. Ignatius’ vision will be kept alive at Canisius.”

Saint Ignatius of Loyola developed the Spiritual Exercises as a way for Jesuits to grow in their relationships with God, through 30-day retreats of prayer and silence. He later adapted these exercises for those who could not retreat for 30 days with the creation of the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life. Referred to as SEEL, this version of the exercises is offered at Canisius and allows members of the campus community to complete the Spiritual Exercises with the guidance of a spiritual director over a period of eight to nine months.

Father Colgan, along with campus Jesuits and lay people from many denominations, serve as spiritual directors for the Canisius community. Spiritual directors are trained to facilitate the exercises. “Lay people, men and women who are married, who have families, doctoral degrees and diverse backgrounds, offer a huge gift,” says Father Colgan. “We need experts in all fields, and we don’t have Jesuits in every field here at the college. I guess what I’m saying is that we find richness in the laity of the church.”

patricia B. van verth, phD, is a perfect example. An associate professor of computer science at Canisius, Van Verth took a sabbatical from teaching to complete the 30-day Spiritual Exercises in 1999, and has served as a spiritual director for the past nine years. “I found the exercises so important because they put us in touch with the charism of the Jesuits, which is a life of prayer that leads to action,” she says. “There were attempts to promote the exercises on campus in the past but it wasn’t until Father Colgan arrived that those efforts were successful.”

While Father Colgan says that the exercises are best suited for those who wish to enter into a deeper rela-tionship with God and for those who practice personal prayer or some form of reflection, he stresses that the exercises are open to everyone. “This experience is very Catholic and by that I mean it is open to the whole world, because Catholics are universal,” he says. “SEEL is for people of any gender, spirituality, ethnicity or faith tradition who want to grow in their relationship with God, as they understand God.” For Father Colgan, this requires that he have an openness to different faiths, an area in which he has both an interest and knowledge.

A Jesuit since 1963, Father Colgan was ordained to the priesthood in 1975. He grew up in Washington State and lived for many years in the Northwest. It was there that his interest in different cultures was awakened. “I worked with Native Americans for 23 years and the experience showed me what a great opportunity we have to learn from other cultures,” he says.

REV. THOMAS COLGAN, S. J., NOURISHES THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF THE CANISIUS COMMUNITy

Story: Eileen C. Herbert ’04 Photography: Tom Wolf ’86

jesuit profile in leadership


Father Colgan continues to set aside time each day to study different religions and cultures. To date, he has directed the exercises with Catholics, Protestants, Presbyterians, Muslims and those who practice Buddhism. “All the gifts and backgrounds of the people who complete these exercises are purified, and then shared with the campus community in all their richness,” he says. “Participants are called to use their gifts in a selfless way and that is how the experience of the exercises resonates on the Canisius campus.”

Eileen a. niland, director of the college’s Counseling Center, com-pleted the exercises in 2008 with Father Colgan as her spiritual director. “Father Tom was wonderful,” she says. “When I was at the end of the exercises, I was so clear on what I should be doing. It was peaceful and confirming.”

Niland says as more and more members of the campus community complete the exercises, she can feel a difference on the campus. “How powerful would it be if everyone on campus was guided by the Holy Spirit? The exercises are well worth the commitment of time, which also nurtures self discipline.”

Participants are expected to pray daily for around one hour, to keep a journal of reflections on their experiences and to meet with their spiritual directors every week. “Discernment of spirits is the core component of the exercises,” says Father Colgan. Through discernment, participants begin to understand how to read the signs of God, and make a determination between consolation, when they feel drawn closer to God, and desolation, when they feel as if God is absent which results in a lack of confidence and peace. “It is through discernment that participants ultimately learn how to incarnate their consolations,” says Father Colgan.

adam pendleton ’08, mBa ’09 participated in the Spiritual Exercises as a student, something he never envisioned doing when he enrolled at the college. A biochemistry major, Pendleton says he chose to attend Canisius because of its strong reputation in science education. He admits that he had “no idea who the Jesuits were” when he arrived on campus. By the time he graduated, however, he says he felt as if he were a “Jesuit without a collar!”

With an interest in volunteerism and service, Pendleton was naturally drawn to the college’s Office of Campus Ministry. It was there that he met Father Colgan, whose enthusiasm prompted him to become involved. “I completed every retreat that was offered,” he says. “I became a retreat junky!”

For Pendleton, the Spiritual Exercises were the next step in his faith progression, and like many, he received encouragement from Father Colgan, whom he chose to serve as his spiritual director. “I liked Father Tom and I had built a rapport with him, which I thought would be beneficial.”

Pendleton put the exercises to the test when he was faced with what he calls “one of the hardest decisions of his life.” “I had to choose between Duke and Creighton for medical school,” he says.

“Duke is such a prestigious school but Creighton is a Jesuit school. The Jesuit model of being men and women for others had become a personal philosophy for me. I was really torn.”

Pendleton says he recalls Father Colgan told him to “listen to what God is telling you.” It took him three weeks of intense prayer and contemplation, until one day the decision became crystal clear. “During my nightly prayers, it was almost like God came down into the room and smacked me upside the back of the head and said, ‘This is it man, this is it!’” At that point, Pendleton says he knew Creighton was the right choice for him.

He couldn’t wait to tell Father Colgan about his decision. “I ran up to his office and said, ‘It’s Creighton, it is absolutely Creighton!’ Father Tom looked at me and said with a smile, ‘I know.’”

Father Colgan’s ability to share these faith experiences is what he says makes his work so rewarding. “There has been a group of beautiful people who have evolved right in front of me,” he says. “Every week something happens to make me step back and think, ‘wow, this person ran into the real thing.’ It gives me great joy to be a part of this.” n

“It gives me great joy to be a part of this.” - Rev. Thomas Colgan, S.J.

facultynotesA new five-year, $598,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will be used to create Mentoring Science Scholars: Creating a Learning Community in the Biological Sciences. The primary goal of the Science Scholars Learning Community is to help biology, environmental science, and animal behavior, ecology and conservation (ABEC) majors make the transition from science student to scientist. In addition, the NSF grant will provide scholarships to students who major in the biological sciences, and demonstrate strong academic performance and financial need.

“There is a growing need right now, both locally and nation-ally, for more students in the sciences,” explains Sara R.Morris, PhD, professor of biol-ogy and director of Mentoring Science Scholars. “This program is based on the best learning practices and addresses that need through shared courses, student access to scientists, student involvement in faculty research, enhanced supple-mental instruction and career counseling.”

John M. Kalb, PhD, associate professor of biology, and Susan Margulis, PhD, assistant professor of biology, co-authored the NSF grant along with Morris. Kalb and Margulis will serve on the learning community’s advisory committee.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. Each year, the foundation receives close to 44,500 competitive requests for funding, and makes more than 11,500 new funding awards.

Assistant Professor of Physics Michael H. Wood, PhD, is the recipient of a Single Investigator Cottrell College Science Award from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA). The two-year, $42,500 grant will support Wood’s project, entitled “In-Medium Properties of the RHO, Omega, and Phi Mesons at Jefferson Lab.” The project aims to understand the structure of subatomic particles that feel the strong nuclear force.

An experimental nuclear physicist at Canisius, Wood oversees the Canisius Medium-Energy Nuclear Physics (CMENP) group, which is currently investigating hadrons in nuclei. Wood and CMENP students are also collaborators at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), which is a Department of Energy national laboratory in Newport News, VA.

RCSA is America’s second oldest foundation and the first dedicated solely to science. Through its various programs, RCSA funds innovative research by early career scientists.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a two-year, $450,000 grant to Robert J. Grebenok, PhD, professor ofbiology at Canisius, and co-researchers at Texas A&M University and Cornell University.

The grant will support the work of three undergraduate researchers in Grebenok’s lab at Canisius, as they investi-gate the relationships among higher plant sterol structure, insect growth, insect develop-ment and insect reproduction. Their goal is to develop a pest management strategy with their co-researchers that utilizes the manipulation of higher plant sterol structure to facilitate the growth of economically important higher plants without the need for chemical pesticides.

This is the second such award received by Grebenok in the last three years.

The East Hill Foundation, which funds innovative chari-table projects that enhance the quality of life of Western New York residents, has put its support behind the Canisius College Video Institute in the form of a two-year, $50,000 grant. The grant will be used create documentaries and service-oriented video projects for local and international not-for-profit organizations that otherwise do not have the resources to tell their stories.

Since its inception in 2005, the Institute has produced 31 documentaries and promotional videos for various organi-zations, which then use these productions to further their missions. Many of these videos and their student producers have been recognized for their work by The International Academy of Visual Arts, the Silver Telly Council and the Public Relations Society of America (Buffalo-Niagara chapter).

The East Hill Foundation is a privately-funded family foundation.

nSF helps mentor Science Scholars

Science award Supports Wood’s Research

Grebenok to use USDa Grant to Study pest management

East hill Foundation helps Fund video Institute

Michael H. Wood, PhD

Robert J. Grebenok, PhDSara R. Morris, PhD, John M. Kalb, PhD and Susan Margulis, PhD

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faculty profile in leadership

If hIstory Is a road map that charts the course from past to present, then Walter G. SharroW, PhD, Is Its gallant navIgator at canIsIus college. Now in his fourth decade at 2001 Main Street, this legendary professor has escorted thousands of students through the annals of American history. More remarkable is that in his 46 years at Canisius, Sharrow’s unbridled enthusiasm for history, his students and the college is yet to wane.

“The industrial model does not apply at Canisius College,” says Sharrow. “If you want widgets, go down the street to a factory. This work here - it’s not a job. It’s a calling that requires a commitment to human beings. They are the essential for humanity.”

No sentence more aptly encapsulates Sharrow’s allegiance to Canisius. Whether he presides over his popular courses on Buffalo and New York State history or advises seniors as they prepare to defend their honors theses, Sharrow seamlessly marries his infectious love of the past with what he considers his duty to educate the whole person of the future. It’s a fervor that is apparent to freshmen and seniors, alike, from the moment Sharrow steps foot into the classroom.

“Good morning to all you beautiful people of Buffalo and scholars of Canisius College,” he exclaims at the start of each class.

Unquestionably, the classroom is where Sharrow shines.

Sharrow asks students ‘Where should we go today?’ He then proceeds to take them on virtual tours of the nation’s most celebrated historical museums and landmarks. He doesn’t lecture; he puts on “a presentation” that educates and enlightens students from beginning to end. And he prefers PowerPoint to “chalk-and-talk.” With his hands free, Sharrow can demonstrate his enthusiasm for the subject of the day.

“Dr. Sharrow has a real personal teaching style,” says urban studies major Matthew R. Rosenbloom-Jones ’12. “He connects with students at their level to get them excited about learning the material.”

And Sharrow presents the material with great precision. He wrings every bit of vitality out of historical facts and masterfully crafts students to become historians who can interpret information, analyze it, form opinions and communicate their opinions in a most articulate manner.

“Students go to a place like Canisius because of professors like Dr. Sharrow,” says former student Hon. Mary Grace Diehl ’74, a United States bankruptcy judge in Atlanta, GA. “He is very involved with the students but at the same time is very involved in the academic world.”

gladly he WIll

teach

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story: KrIstIn e. etu ’91 and audrey r. broWKa photography: tom Wolf ’86

Sharrow attributes his prolific approach to teaching to the late Dexter Perkins, PhD. Considered one of the nation’s most distinguished historians, Perkins was an emeritus professor of history at the University of Rochester when Sharrow pursued his doctoral degree at the school. Perkins built the university’s doctoral program around ideas he developed and presented before the American Historical Association. His address was entitled “Gladly Will We Teach,” a phrase Sharrow took to heart.

“The thrust of Dexter Perkins’ thinking was that graduate experiences for people in history didn’t introduce students to what most historians will be doing, which is teaching at the college and university levels,” explains Sharrow. “His whole emphasis was to maintain the traditional focus of training students to be historians while preparing them to enter the teaching profession.”

However, Sharrow did not initially intend to be a professor.

A native of Glens Falls, NY, he came to the Queen City to earn his under-graduate degree and attend medical school at the University of Buffalo. That changed in an instant when a friend invited him over to meet ‘Oscar.’

“Oscar turned out to be a cadaver,” laughs Sharrow. “Once I saw that I realized I could never become a doctor.”

Sharrow fell back on his first love - history. He notes, “I was always very interested in the human condition and what makes people tick.”

He earned his undergraduate degree in 1960 and his PhD in 1964. Canisius welcomed Sharrow to the college that same year.

“I had no experience whatsoever with Catholic education and I didn’t know a Jesuit from a groundhog,” says Sharrow. “I came here because there was a job opening. It was in Buffalo and Buffalo was where I wanted to be.”

Buffalo appealed to Sharrow for many reasons. As a student, Sharrow cher-ished the city’s Polish, Italian, Jewish, Irish and African American cultures which, “make for a marvelous mix of Americana,” he says. Sharrow maintains a great appreciation for the city’s historical and architectural treasures, such as the Burchfield Penney Art Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House and Forest Lawn Cemetery, which he revels in from his sixth-floor office in Churchill Tower. Perhaps most extraordinary to Sharrow, however, are the people of Buffalo.

“After four years in Rochester, I had it up to my earlobes with pretense,” he states. “I wanted to come back to the honesty of the Buffalo character; the hard-working, blue-collar people who, if you need something, are right there ready to help you.”

“students go to a place

lIKe canIsIus because

of professors lIKe

dr. sharroW.” -hon. mary grace dIehl ’74


Sharrow adopted the city as his own, much like he did the Jesuit tradition. He likes to joke that “You don’t have to wear a Roman collar to share in the commitment of the Jesuit ideals” but his longtime colleague, Jesse E. Nash Jr., professor emeritus of sociology, says “Walt is a serious friend, mentor and life guide to students.”

As pre-law advisor, Sharrow championed for students interested in the legal profession and set them on the path to such prestigious law schools as Harvard, Notre Dame and Georgetown.

“Walt Sharrow was instrumental in helping me to really think through why I wanted to be a lawyer and what the best law school choices would be for me,” says Diehl, who earned her juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law School.

“The dean of admissions at Harvard Law School told me years later that the reference letter Dr. Sharrow wrote for me was one of the finest references he had seen in his 30-year career,” adds former student Robert H. Maloney ’71, founder and principal of Maloney Government Relations in Washington, D.C.

Women and African American students found a friend in Sharrow, who hailed the lively new dynamic that both brought to the classroom in the mid-1960s.

The country was in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and an increasing number of African American students began to enroll in college. Larger universities addressed the new atmosphere with the introduction of courses on African American history. Sharrow knew it was time to do the same at Canisius.

He created the college’s first course on African American history and later an interdisciplinary course entitled Contemporary Problems in American Law and Society. The classes not only “helped lessen the cultural handicap for African American students at Canisius,” explains Nash, “but made the academic experience more meaningful for all undergraduates.”

Maloney adds, “Yes, there were some people who doubted that a Caucasian could teach African American history but Dr. Sharrow’s purity in academics and purity in scholarship transcended all race. He taught us that our history is extremely valuable and instilled in us a pride for our heritage.”

Around the same time, a new class of women arrived at Canisius. Their inclusion, says Sharrow, again raised the bar on teaching and learning at the college.

“With the enrollment of women at the college, it allowed our Admissions Department to lop off the weakest third of the male applicants,” says Sharrow, who describes the earliest women to attend Canisius as courageous and adventurous. “These women were not about to take a back seat to anyone. They demolished the old boys’ network - it went right down the drain! The women were the new people in town and they weren’t taking any prisoners.”

Like a true historian, Sharrow’s recollection is scrupulous of his early days in the classroom. But some of his most meaningful experiences throughout his extended residency occurred outside of class. He laughs, “Wherever the kids were, I figured they needed some adult supervision!”

Sharrow served as moderator of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, and the Afro American Society, which confronted issues of equality on and off campus. He supported students, unconditionally, during the tumultuous Vietnam era – both those who served their country and those who evaded the draft.

In July 1979, Walter Sharrow successfully secured the deanship of the College

of Arts and Sciences. It was a natural progression for this professor, who quickly rose through the faculty ranks.

In his new leadership position, Sharrow recruited upwards of 120 faculty members to teach in the Jesuit tradition. Many of these individuals remain at the college today and are considered leaders in their respective fields. Included among them are: John Zeis, PhD, professor of philosophy; David H. Sheets, PhD, chair of physics; Charles J. Wigley III, PhD professor of communication studies; and Mick Cochrane, PhD, professor of English.

But one needs to look no further than the college’s physical plant to see the tangible impression Sharrow made at Canisius, both during and after his deanship. As chair of several of the college’s building committees, he facilitated the redesign, renovation or construction of the Horan-O’Donnell Science Building, the Health Science Building, Delavan Residence Hall, Campion Hall, Lyons Hall, Old Main and the Montante Cultural Center.

“I want to be an architect when I grow up,” says a witty Sharrow. He notes that his most creative work is that which involved the curved walkway and corridor in and around the Andrew L. Bouwhuis Library. “We just couldn’t have a square building next to a cylindrical-shaped tower,” he explains.

Sharrow returned to the faculty ranks in 1991 and in doing so stated, “My commitment and dedication to the college is constant. The way I carry that out is the only thing that will change.”

He certainly held true to that promise over the years.

Today, Sharrow is part of the college’s phased retirement program but all that means, he says, is that “I don’t have to come to the office on Sundays.”

At 72 years of age, Sharrow continues to teach, although his course-load is a wee-bit lighter. He also remains a staunch ambassador for Canisius College. Sharrow brings his show on-the-road to alumni events across the country, at which he gives his famed “History of Buffalo” presentation and re-lives a little history as well, with former students.

If Sharrow does have a date in mind for his official retirement, he won’t say. He will only concede that “my body says I’m pressing too hard but my heart and mind are telling me I’m in fine shape.”

Whenever he chooses to ride off into the sunset, Sharrow will do so with his wife and high school sweetheart, Mary Louise. The couple will most likely retreat to the United Kingdom, where their daughter, Margaret, resides.

But Sharrow’s legacy at Canisius College will remain. He recently established the Dr. Walter G. and Mary Louise Sharrow Endowment Fund at Canisius College. When endowed, the estate gift will provide scholarships to deserving students from the city of Buffalo. The gift, says Sharrow, is his way of giving back to an institution that has gifted so much to him.

“I have been so blessed here,” he says. “My students - male or female, black or white, whether they are from Western New York or Western Timbuktu- remind me every day that no one has all the answers but if we put our heads together, welcome diversity and not be afraid of serendipity, then good things are bound to happen.”

This is the essence of history. And the only way to wisely chart its course is to understand the people – with all their creative diversity – who led us to the present and will ultimately lead us into the future. “History tells the stories of who we are and why we are the way we are,” says Sharrow.

And how does he describe his own history? After a long pause, Sharrow grins his sizeable grin and says simply, “I have come a long way but have not gone very far.” n

teachingteachers


It’s 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 4. The bell rings, a door shuts and suddenly 25 high-spirited second and third graders scramble to their seats. Quickly, they settle in and focus their attention on Kaela Glenn ’10. It’s her first day as a student-teacher at Tapestry Charter School in Buffalo.

“Believe it or not, I wasn’t nervous at all,” says Glenn, a dual early childhood education and childhood education major. “I know everyone at the school. Everyone knows me. And I’m treated as if I’m one of their own. It’s just great and I believe it’s a direct result of the great relationship that Canisius College and Tapestry have together.”

Glenn’s is not a typical student-teaching experience. Nor was the way in which Canisius prepared her for it.

In 2008, the college’s School of Education and Human Services adopted a new lesson plan for the way it teaches teachers. The modernized program follows the professional development school (PDS) model, which emphasizes strategic educational partnerships between a collegiate education program and K-12 schools, to prepare better teachers.

“The idea is that the college and its partner schools combine their resources, their knowledge and their skills, to jointly meet the needs of teacher-candidates and improve student learning, overall,” explains margaret c. mccarthy mS ’87, phD, professor of education and former dean of the School of Education

and Human Services.

Teaching is a different job than it was 50 years ago. According to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), shrinking education budgets, overcrowded classrooms, and federally-mandated testing regulations introduced a variety of new concerns into the academic picture. Greater diversity among students and the tailored instruction

many of them need “make the clinical aspects of teacher preparation more important than ever,” states one recent NCATE report.

Canisius’ PDS initiative addresses exactly this.

It engages a few select K-12 schools.

“By promoting an intimate involvement with fewer schools, the college can better guarantee the quality of its teacher-candidate experiences,” explains Elizabeth

c. Brandjes, director of educational partnerships at Canisius.

In addition to Tapestry, Canisius maintains articulation agreements with Lindbergh Elementary School in Kenmore and Sweet Home Middle School in Amherst. An articulation agreement with Buffalo’s Charter School for Applied Technology is on the horizon.

S TO RY: AU D R E Y R . B ROW K A PH OTO S: E R I C F R I C K

Strategic educational partnerships are the core of a

new lesson plan that puts the School of Education

and Human Services at the head of its class.


“The idea is to keep the education relevant

so that the kids become more engaged in what

they’re learning.”

- K A E l A g l E n n ’10


The PDS model also ensures that teacher-candidates are not just arbitrarily placed in any classroom with any educator. Future teachers are paired with veteraneducators, who practice the most current teaching techniques. What’s more, teacher-candidates do not change schools between their pre-student teaching and student-teaching experiences.

“The consistency of staying at the same school for two semesters, working with the same students and the same teachers, really helped me grow as a teacher,” says Sarah E. healy ’09, a dual early child-hood education and childhood education graduate.

During this time, teacher-candidates are introduced to the school community. They observe and become active participants in how instruction is delivered. They also learn what the behavioral expectations are in the classroom and how children transition from one learning subject to another. Tapestry, in particular, is an expeditionary school so teachers – and student-teachers – are required to develop interdisciplinary lesson plans that incorporate art, music and movement, as well.

“The idea is to keep the education relevant so that the kids become more engaged in what they’re learning,” explains Glenn, who enlivened an other-wise uneventful geometry unit by teaching students geometry songs and dances, and having students work in groups to make geometric shapes with their bodies. “These types of lessons address all students in the classroom – the visual learners as well as the oratory learners,” says Glenn.

And when the children feel their individual learning styles are recognized, “They work better and do better,” says Joy Pepper, executive director and co-founder of Tapestry Charter School. “Our whole goal is to help teach these future teachers best practices so that they can go out into the field and do great things for the kids so that the kids can then go on to do great things.” Pepper explains that Tapestry teachers assess teacher-candidates according to the college’s standards and provide feedback to the School of Education and Human Services on how it can further improve its programs. “We really complement each other.”

In fact, one of the hallmarks of the PDS initiative is that it is not a one-sided relationship. Qualified high school students at PDS partner schools are enable to enroll in college-level classes at Canisius at a discounted tuition rate. Some high school classes are allowed access to the college’s library resources. Others receive academic guidance from Canisius professors.

“The ultimate goal of any PDS partnership is to improve student learning,” says Julie J. henry, phD, chair of the Education Depart-

ment. “So we are always asking our partner schools, ‘What do you need and how can we work with your teachers to achieve that.’”

Some of the initiatives are larger and more in-depth than others.

Last fall, Henry and her Canisius students embarked on a collaborative research project at Lindbergh Elementary School. Educators there were concerned that some of their high-achieving students were not being challenged enough. Canisius students collected, analyzed and assessed data, and then worked with Lindbergh teachers and Canisius faculty to jointly design a new curriculum for this population of students.

When administrators at Sweet Home Middle School outlined a plan for the early identification of at-risk students, they enlisted graduate students from the college’s counseling and human services program to help mentor at-risk children on a weekly basis.

But it is not only about the students. A key component of any PDS

new Partnerships Formed Via new Education Institute

The college’s PDS initiatives are just the beginning of a series of new educational partnerships that will be offered by the new Institute for Transformational Lead-ership in Education. Established with a generous grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation, the Institute will prepare leaders at the teacher, administrator and community levels, to meet the unique challenges in high-need urban, public, private and charter school settings.

Initiatives within the Institute include the Ignatian Urban Scholars program, which “teaches teacher-candidates how to educate from a social justice perspective,” explains michelle a. marable, phD, associate professor of education and director of the Ignatian Urban Scholars program. Candidates are placed in high-needs, urban educational settings for both their field and student-teaching experiences, complete coursework on the specific needs of the urban classroom environment, are schooled in Ignatian strategy and styles of instruction, and receive spiritual advisement. Upon graduation, students earn an Urban Teacher Certificate.

The Institute will also create a Catholic Educators Certificate. Open to Canisius teacher-candidates, as well as teachers and administrators, the certificate course will concentrate on the specific needs of Catholic schools through newly designed coursework and field experiences.

“Today’s Catholic school leaders are essentially running non-profit organizations,” explains anne marie tryjankowski ’86, mSED ’90, EdD, assistant professor of graduate education and leadership and Institute coordinator. “They need to have marketing and management experience, as well as knowledge of public relations, fund-raising and grant writing, in addition to their education backgrounds.”

Graduates will leave Canisius prepared to think and act collaboratively so that they may help affect policy and practices within regional and national educational communities.

“As a Jesuit institution, Canisius has a particular responsibility to prepare our graduates to be part of the solution,” says Tryjankowski.

PHOTO, LEFT: Teaching-candidate Kaela Glenn ’10 is one of several Canisius education students who participates in the college’s PDS initiative with Tapestry Charter School.


Partnerships to Improve Science Education Science education will improve as a result of newly-forged partnerships between Canisius and several local high schools. The collaboration is part of the college’s new Chemistry Education Leadership (CEL) program, established with a more than $1 million, three-year grant from the Verizon Foundation. The program’s primary purpose is to help science teach-ers develop and implement inquiry-based labs into the classroom, but to also provide innovative, pre-service science education training for undergraduate and graduate students and better prepare high school students for college courses and possible careers. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of high school students go on to pursue science professions.

Inquiry-based labs are supported by the American Chemical Society, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association. The labs rely on substantially increased student involvement to enhance the learning process. Students are provided with a set of circumstances and must then design their own experiments, and collect and analyze data to reach conclusions – much like real scientists.

“Students learn life skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving,” says Roberto m. Gregorius, phD, associate professor of adolescence education at Canisius and director of the Chemistry Education Leadership program. “In the process, they better understand how science works and become more interested in it because they are active participants.”

With support from the Verizon Foundation grant, Gregorius recruited 12 science educators from nine local high schools to participate in a professional development collaborative to create four dif-ferent blueprints for inquiry-based labs. Teachers worked throughout the fall to develop these new labs and this spring, 24 Canisius undergraduate students, enrolled in introductory chemistry courses, are testing the inquiry labs. Science teachers will modify the labs based on feedback from the Canisius students.

Upon completion of the final labs, the Verizon Foundation will post them at Verizon Thinkfinity,www.thinkfinity.org. Verizon Thinkfinity is a free educational Web site that provides thousands of high-quality, standard-based K-12 lesson plans, interactive educational activities, videos and podcasts for use by teachers, students, parents and afterschool programs.

“High school science teachers from across the country will be able to access and incorporate our model for inquiry-based labs into their classrooms, thereby improving the quality of science education,” says Gregorius.

PHOTO: Ignatian Urban Scholar Justin C. Scibetta ’10 works with an elementary student at St. Joseph's University Heights School.

PHOTO,INSET: Jacob M. Castiglia ’12 tests one of several inquiry labs developed by local science educators, as part of the college’s new Chemistry Education Leadership program.

initiative is to provide professional development for teachers. That’s where peter J. heffley comes in. Heffley is the coordinating supervisor in the college’s Office of Field Experiences but it’s his 35-years of expe-rience as an educator in the Sweet Home district that makes him such a valuable resource. Throughout his tenure, Heffley has initiated a va-riety of enrichment programs for educators. The most recent include a diversity book club and the creation of a student-teacher mentoring program that is designed to help ease the transition for students who transfer to the suburban school from an urban setting.

“The PDS partnerships continue to evolve as we identify new ways to meet the learning needs of both our Canisius students and the educa-tors in the classroom,” says Heffley.

Although the PDS initiative is in its infancy – both at Canisius and across the nation – it’s already earning high marks. “The PDS model has been found to reduce attrition rates among educators in their first five years, when the nine essential standards are followed,” explains nancy v. Wallace, phD. An associate professor of teacher education, Wallace spearheaded the PDS initiative at Canisius. She continues, “During the reaccreditation process, NCATE identified the School’s commitment to the PDS model as a real area of strength for us.”

But perhaps the greatest accolades come from teacher-candidates, such as Kaela Glenn, who are among the early class of education stu-dents to be indoctrinated by the PDS initiative.

“I learned firsthand how to be a teacher through the college’s PDS partnership with Tapestry and now I have the ability and the confidence to apply all of that in a real-world setting,” says Glenn.

High marks such as these are enough to earn Canisius College a place at the head of the class.

It Takes a Village to Teach Future Teachers Several Canisius College professors are involved in the PDS initiative at Canisius:

tapestry charter School Nancy V. Wallace, PhD Associate Professor, Education

Corinne M. Kindzierski, PhD Assistant Professor, Education

Lindbergh Elementary School Julie J. Henry, PhD Chair, Education Department

Sweet home middle School Peter J. Heffley Coordinating Supervisor, Office of Field Experiences

Nancy M. Bailey, PhD Assistant Professor, Adolescence Education

charter School for applied technology Anne Marie Tryjankowski, EdD Assistant Professor, Graduate Education & Leadership


A single-fAmily home renovAtion becomes A fix for An entire inner-city neighborhood, under the leAdership of dAvid m. stApleton ’87. story by Audrey r. browka photography by dylan buyskus and Joe cascio.


A single-fAmily home renovAtion becomes A fix for An entire inner-city neighborhood, under the leAdership of dAvid m. stApleton ’87. story by Audrey r. browka photography by dylan buyskus and Joe cascio.


there were no boundaries between the city of buffalo and its suburbs. instead, an entire community converged on the lower West side to reclaim a previously disregarded and dilapidated neighborhood. today, the momentum ignited in that small corner of the city endures and the man responsible has redefined what it means to be a city of good neighbors.

“i’ve learned that if given the chance to make a difference, the people of Western new york can change this community,” says David M. Stapleton ’87, president and founder of david homes, which designs and builds custom residences and neighborhoods.

stapleton received his chance when the producers of Abc-tv’s “extreme makeover: home edition,” invited him to donate a home to a family-in-need. “initially, i thought my friends were playing a joke and signed me up for an extreme personal makeover,” laughs stapleton, a self-proclaimed prankster.

but it was no joke stapleton accepted the invitation to build a home for dolores powell, 49, and her four children. powell moved to the united states from Jamaica 22 years ago. she purchased a six-bedroom ‘fixer-upper’ at 228 massachusetts Avenue, only to later learn that the seller failed to disclose that the house was on the city’s demolition list.

“one of the first things we look for in selecting a builder is a reputable, community-minded company whose owner is the face of the company,” explains brady connell, executive producer.

certainly, stapleton fit that mold. in the 16 years since he founded david homes, the company has grown to become one of Western new york’s most well-regarded custom designers and builders and a quiet exemplar of corporate citizenship. david homes supports dozens of local not-for-profits, athletic teams and community events. early last fall, the company donated a 35-by-45 square foot dairy barn to the buffalo Zoological gardens. the barn came from a former farm in north tonawanda, which david homes recently pur-

chased for residential development. it will serve as the centerpiece of the new children’s zoo.

still, stapleton seemed an unlikely choice for an inner-city home makeover. he lives in hamburg with his wife, lisa, and their three children: five-year old Jillian, seven-year old ben, and 10-year old grace. his company is based in Amherst and specializes in the development of suburban subdivisions, as well as green, energy-efficient homes.

“dave recognizes that his business impacts the environment and because of that he’s built a company that is committed to leaving the space better than when they found it,” adds connell.

stapleton is particularly proud to note that david homes built Western new york’s first energy star home in the late 1990s and new york state’s first green-certified home in 2008, under the national Association of home builders. he explains that every project his company embarks on includes the creation of green space, tree planting, even hiking trails and natural wildlife habitats.

“i think the seed was planted back when i was in elementary school,” says stapleton of his interest in green space and energy efficiency. “i grew up during the energy crisis of the 1970s and learned early to protect our natural resources and to not be wasteful.”

stapleton set the standard in energy star rated homes in Western new york and his leadership in this area has not gone unnoticed. the buffalo niagara builders Association and the buffalo niagara Association of realtors both recognized david homes with its builder of the year and community realtor of the year awards, respectively.

such endorsements do more to bolster david homes’ reputation than any hollywood hype or hoopla. if anything, the spotlight would take stapleton’s attention away from his priority of building homes.

so why take the risk?

for one Week in november,


“i WAnt this home to be A model for WhAt We cAn do in buffAlo. through this proJect And more like it, buffAlo cAn become knoWn As the region thAt builds And restores the most innovAtive homes in the nAtion.” -dAvid stApleton ’87


“i realized at the time there was a reason i was called and a reason i needed to step up,” says stapleton. “but i had no idea what i was getting into.”

stapleton and his team had just five days to complete a project that typically takes four to five months. And they had to do it all with donated labor and materials.

none of this deterred stapleton because he knew the home at 228 massachusetts Avenue would serve as the catalyst for something even greater.

“i just couldn’t come to grips with the show’s premise of doing so much for one family when so many homes in that neighborhood needed help,” says stapleton, who maintains that a home’s value depends in large measure on the condition of the houses around it. “so i only agreed to build a new home, as long as i could also renovate the other homes in the neighborhood.”

What resulted was an extreme neighborhood makeover.

stapleton recruited more than 1,400 skilled trades-people from competing companies who arrived on-site with hammers and hard hats in hand. he convinced local home building suppliers to donate everything from the foundation forms right up to the roofing shingles. And he appealed to restaurants and food vendors, which contributed a buffet of meals, morning, noon and night. stapleton also invited canisius to support the project. the college responded with a force of student volunteers, and the gift of scholarships for the five members of the powell family (Canisius College Magazine, fall 2009).

“it was a truly unique experience to see canisius students come together on behalf of canisius alumnus david stapleton, and to serve on a local project with a national audience,” says Mark Tortelli ’10, president of the undergraduate student Association.

“As a student at a Jesuit institution, i have come to cherish the idea of service with and for others,” adds Allyson Matlock ’10. “i was moved by the thousands of buffalo citizens who took time out of their busy schedules to help build up a part of our community that was in need of some loving attention.”

in all, a record 6,300 volunteers converged upon the city’s West side neighborhood. stapleton and his team worked 20-hour days on the home, which they completed in an unrivaled 99 hours. the remain-ing volunteers mobilized to refurbish some 160 surrounding homes. grateful neighbors received new porches, roofs, gutters, as well as fresh coats of paint on their homes. they also saw the installation of new sidewalks, community gardens and murals.

“my team and myself, we know how to build. that’s what we do so that was the easy part. but inspiring other people to do good when they’re already down, which so many people are nowadays, i just didn’t know if it would be possible,” says stapleton. “We had multi-millionaires volunteering alongside unemployed workers in a neighborhood that they didn’t live in and working on the homes of people that they didn’t know. that told me we have a community of people who love their city and want to save it.”

A north tonawanda native, stapleton’s first introduction to buffalo came when he was a small boy. his father, edward, owned small

volunteer effort 4,053 community volunteers1,428 skills & trades volunteers855 food drive volunteers

6,336 total volunteers

53,544 volunteer hours served 164 homes refurbished 412 community residents served

value of in-kind volunteer service = $1,516,511

* Information provided by Western New York AmeriCorps Community Report

grocery stores throughout the city and he often accompanied his dad to work. stapleton later developed an affinity for the diverse architecture of the city’s homes and buildings, during his commutes to and from canisius. he capitalized on this interest and sold city real estate to help pay his college tuition. stapleton found the work interesting because he was able to apply what he learned in the classroom - finance, accounting and urban studies – to what he experienced in the ‘real world.’ but even as a college student, stapleton recognized the sad juxtaposition between the city’s great historic architecture and its deteriorating housing stock.

As a leader in the home building business, stapleton now works to advance efforts to revitalize and restore buffalo’s housing stock rather than demolish it. he is a member of the buffalo niagara builders Association and the new york state energy research and development Authority (green building program). but it was his most recent leadership role that enabled stapleton to showcase the possibilities of buffalo’s housing stock.

rather than demolish the 100-year old home on massachusetts, stapleton and his team deconstructed the home piece-by-piece. the materials were then recycled and reused to refurbish the neighboring homes.

“i want this home to be a model for what we can do in buffalo,” says stapleton. “through this project and more like it, buffalo can become known as the region that builds and restores the most innovative homes in the nation.”

stapleton plans to keep david homes in front of the green and energy movement. he added a new division to the company that now offers expertise and services related to green building and energy efficiency to existing home owners, businesses and municipal applications.

stapleton is also working with private business owners to organize a second neighborhood makeover in summer 2010. there won’t be any hollywood-types this time but stapleton can guarantee star-power. he notes, “my role now is to provide guidance to groups who want to continue doing renovations such as we did but it’s the skilled-trades people and the volunteers who are the real heroes in all of this.”

As for stapleton, personally, he has a renewed sense of responsibility to the community in which he lives and does business. he believes that what transpired on buffalo’s West side was less about a physical transformation and more about the hope and inspiration that shown down on an entire community.

“the one thing this whole experience taught me is that there is so much power and strength in the human spirit. people genuinely want to come together to help others,” says stapleton. “the volunteers are out there, they want to help and when they help we can bring about change. We have to keep that momentum moving forward and i am going to do whatever i can to make sure that happens.” n


Due to an overwhelming response from supporters and sponsors, the Canisius College Board of Regents Scholarship Ball: A Tribute to Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. is nearly sold out. Father Cooke will receive the 2010 Regents Distinguished Citizen Award at the event, which will be the only community tribute to Father Cooke hosted by the college. The 44th annual Regents Scholarship Ball takes place on Saturday, May 8 at the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo.

The evening features a number of special tributes to Father Cooke. In addition, guests will enjoy a gourmet meal, live entertainment by The Party Squad, and an array of raffle packages. All proceeds from the evening will be directed towards one of Father Cooke’s major priorities: scholarship assistance for students.

“Father Cooke’s leadership and vision awakened a whole commu-nity as to what is possible if we believe in ourselves,” says Vincent J.

Mancuso Sr. ’68, MBA ’77, co-chair of this year’s ball. “His legacy and contributions to Canisius will be felt for decades to come.”

For the second consecutive year, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York will serve as the Regents Scholarship Ball presenting sponsor.

“BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York is honored to sponsor the 2010 Scholarship Gala in support of the college’s students and, this year in particular, to honor Father Cooke’s many contributions to the college, its neighborhood, and our city and region,” says Alphonso O’Neil-White, president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield.

A retirement memory book is being created for Father Cooke. To purchase a page, contact Erin Lawless, assistant director of donor relations and special events at 716-888-8228 or [email protected]. Submissions are due April 1.

Rev. vincent m. cooke, S.J., Endowed chair in Ethics Established

Record attendance Expected at Regents Ball

A more vibrant dialogue on ethics will be fostered across campus through the newly-created Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., Endowed Chair in Ethics. Established with a generous lead gift from John K. Castle HON ’04, the chair was named for Father Cooke, who will retire at the end of this academic year, following 17 years as president of Canisius.

“I am tremendously grateful for John’s friendship and support of Canisius College,” says Father Cooke, who is also a well-regarded scholar of philosophy. “His investment in our faculty through the creation of this endowed chair will pay dividends many times over.”

Canisius College seeks to fully endow the Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., Chair in Ethics with contributions that total $2 million. Once fully funded, Canisius will begin a search for a nationally or internationally-renowned scholar whose research and teaching will promote the robust examination of ethics and its theological, philosophical and applied perspectives. The recipient will actively contribute to the academic community through scholarship and publications. He or she will also help guide the teaching of ethics to students, and develop programs on ethics for the greater community, through public lectures and other activities.

For information or to make a contribution to the Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., Endoweed Chair in Ethics, contact Marion A. Mittler, director of donor relations and special events, at 716-888-8217 or [email protected].


The $1 million Jesuit Community Challenge is closer to achieving its goal. Now in its

second and final year, the Jesuit Challenge has secured nearly $600,000 in new and

increased pledges to the college’s annual fund. To date, more than 1,800 people

responded to the challenge, with increased gifts or first-time gifts to the fund.

“The underlying message in this challenge is a distinctly Jesuit one: we are greater

together,” says Kirsten L. Reppert mS ’07, director of the annual fund. She notes

that the Jesuit Community Challenge gift was made possible because the Jesuits

pooled their funds into one very generous gift. “When alumni and friends give to

the annual fund, it is precisely the same idea: thousands of people contribute what

they can, from $5 to $50,000, to provide Canisius students with superior educa-

tions. This requires support from everyone.”

The goals of the challenge are to not only meet and surpass $1 million in new and

increased gifts, but to also increase the number of donors to the fund. Donor

participation is a factor in the college’s ranking in sources like U.S. News and World

Report, which helps to attract quality faculty, students and even additional corporate

and foundation support.

The deadline for the Jesuit Challenge coincides with

the conclusion of the annual fund campaign on

May 31, 2010. Once the challenge is com-

pleted, the Jesuit community gift por-

tion will support the Jesuits of Loyola

Hall Scholarship Fund and the

college’s Urban Leadership Learning

Community Program.

To learn more about the Jesuit

Challenge or to make a new or

increased gift, visit www.canisius.

edu/support/challenge.asp.

a mother’s Inspirationalumni and Friends Rise to the challenge Jennie Shaw O’Keefe and her late husband, John, always placed a high value on a college educa-tion. She was a registered nurse and he a bank examiner. Still, their combined salaries were not enough to put their nine children through college.

“We were very thrifty and encouraged the children to save most of their earnings from paper routes and odd jobs,” recalls O’Keefe. But it was the financial assistance the family received from New York State and Canisius College that enabled the O’Keefes to provide college educations for their children.

To show her appreciation, O’Keefe established the John J. & Jennie O’Keefe Family Scholarship in 2007. She then asked her adult children to support the scholarship, in a compelling letter. O’Keefe wrote: … Help came to us from New YorkState Regents Scholarships, private scholarships such as the Schoellkopf Family Scholarship and work study programs. Therefore it seems appropriate

that we extend help to a worthy college student … Please consider how your educations at

Canisius College have enriched your lives and furthered your chosen careers ...

O’Keefe’s children responded to their mother’s request.

“At Canisius College, our children were prepared for future careers through good mentors and enrich-ment opportunities,” says O’Keefe.

“Once they were grown, we saved money a little at a time so that we could

extend help through this scholarship to other motivated students and inspire more

families to do the same.”

For more information on how to establish an endowed scholarship in your family’s name or the name of a loved one, contact Dianna Civello, interim associate vice president for development, at 717-888-8220, or via E-mail at [email protected].

campaign Update

As of February 22, Canisius College has secured

$72 million in commitments toward its $90 million goal for A Legacy of Leadership:

The Campaign for Canisius College. To learn more about A Legacy of Leadership,

visit www.canisius.edu/campaign.


Ceremonies were held on January 24 to induct the college’s new members of the Sports Hall of Fame. The new members are (pictured above, l-r): Keith Applegate ’94, MBA ’98; members of the 1948 football team: Jacque Austin ’50, Donald MacKinnon ’50, Matt Wagner ’50, Leo Swistak ’50, Ed McMahon ’50, MS ’67, Jim McNally (brother of team member Richard Hutton ’51), Ray Jacobi ’50, and Bob Jerussi ’50, PhD; and Michael Rappl ’77, MS ‘80.

ChiCago alumni Chapter

Canisius alumni and friends in Chicago cheered on the men’s basketball team as it opened its season against Loyola. More than 75 guests attended a pre-game rally, which the Golden Griffins dedicated to Phil Skilnik ’62 and Jerry Murray ’68, both of whom passed away last year. Prior to the game, the Golden Griffins presented the Skilnik and Murray families with basketballs signed by the team.

Pictured (l-r): Phil Skilnik’s family: Sean, Libby and Chris Skilnik and Paula Edwards with Jerry Murray’s family: Joanne, Michael and Megan Murray.

Buffalo niagara alumni Chapter

More than 60 Canisius alumni and their guests gathered at the Saturn Club in December to celebrate the Christmas season.

Pictured l-r: Leanne Khoury ’09 and Cheryl Petronio ’09

canisiusconnections


HEy SAy ‘yOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN’ BUT THAT statement doesn’t apply to the 114 Canisius alumni who graduated from the college and later returned to alma mater

as full-time employees. These individuals make up 11 percent of the college’s 1,042 faculty and staff. Another 25 percent work in adjunct or part-time positions.

“We are fortunate that so many of the college’s employees have a long and loyal history with Canisius,” says Eileen hudson ’83, who returned to Canisius in 2007 to become director of alumni relations. “They remember what it was like to be a Canisius student. They know what it means to be a Canisius alumnus. And therefore they help ensure that the Canisius tradition endures.”

John J. hurley ’78, executive vice president and vice president for college relations, is the most prominent name on the alumni-employee roster. He becomes the 24th president of Canisius College on July 1 and is the third Canisius alumnus to be appointed president (Canisius Magazine, fall 2009) George m. martin ’42 began working for Canisius soon after graduation and currently serves as special counsel to the college president.

The alumni paths back to Canisius differ.

English Professor Kenneth m. Sroka ’65, phD, thought his early days as a teacher in the Canisius classroom would be a stepping-stone to a larger institution. He describes his younger self as a “new, hotshot PhD, headed for the big-time.” Forty years later, Sroka says Canisius provided him with a career he never imagined. “The college gives you the opportunity to put teaching and the classroom first, yet also gives you the chance to do research and publication.” Sroka is proud that both his children, Scott ’94 and Robin ’00, are also alumni of the college.

Other alumni, such as mollie a. Strasser ’01, mS ’07, built careers else-where before making the decision to return to alma mater. “My heart

has always been at Canisius,” says Strasser, who left her job at Medaille College to become assistant director of admissions at Canisius in 2004. She notes that her student experiences, as a resident assistant and admissions guide at Canisius, led her to pursue a career in college-student personnel. “I was surrounded by an amazing staff that encouraged and mentored me. They were young, successful people who loved their jobs and the students, and that was contagious.”

No matter what paths lead alumni back to Canisius, most agree that their ties with alma mater were forged during the undergraduate years. “There was always something happening here; something to do or of which to be a part,” says michael R. George ’85, director of graduate enrollment communication technology.

It’s that same dynamic that often lures alumni back to Canisius. “The students bring so much energy to campus and make this an intellec-tually challenging environment,” says michael J. Eadie ’78, associate vice president of finance and controller, whose son, alex, is a junior at Canisius.

In fact, it is the students who motivate so many alumni employees at Canisius. These graduates know the value of a Canisius education. They experienced it. They live it. And now they work, everyday, to ensure that today’s students experience the same as they did at Canisius – if not better.

“One of the most rewarding parts about working at alma mater is watching it evolve before your very eyes and knowing that you had a hand in it,” says George. He notes that as a student, Canisius served as his home-away-from home. Twenty-five years later, George – and many more alumni employees like him – are proof that you really can come home again.

Photo (l-r): Michael R. George ’85, Michael J. Eadie ’78, Mollie A. Strasser ’01, MS’07 and Kenneth M. Sroka ’65, PhD

t

homecoming: making Alma Mater matter

GaRy m. cROSBy ’75 Executive Vice President/CAO | First Niagara Financial Group

Gary Crosby left an early retirement to join the Buffalo School District at its most dire time of financial uncertainty. In doing so, he not only closed the district’s projected $25 million dollar budget gap but in four short years, his relentless efforts resulted in a budget surplus of more than $120 million dollars for the district. When Crosby recently stepped down, the Buffalo School District was ranked in the top three urban school districts in the nation for financial management.

Now executive vice president and chief administrative officer at First Niagara Financial Group, Crosby is responsible for operational and corporate support functions, credit risk management, corporate initiatives, IT, and marketing and communications.

chRIStInE LIcata-cULhanE ’67, mS ’71, EDDSenior Associate Provost | Rochester Institute of Technology

Christine Licata-Culhane is the senior associate provost at Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the nation’s largest private universities. In this role, she coordinates and manages the curriculum, assessment and accreditation, and student learning outcomes.

At the same time, Licata-Culhane serves as a national expert on post-tenured faculty review. The subject was the focus of her doctoral research, which she later put to use nationally for the American Association of Higher Education. Over the course of six years, Licata-Culhane worked with 100 public universities to assure that tenured faculty on state campuses would remain productive and vital until their retirement.

Her efforts resulted in a series of best practices that continue to be followed today. In addition, the work provided the inspiration for Licata-Culhane to co-author three books on the topic.

ROBERt h. maLOnEy ’71 Founder & Principal | Maloney Government Relations

Robert H. Maloney is founder and principal of Maloney Government Relations. He provides strategic legislative advice on such key issues as child protection laws, small business development and affordable housing. Maloney’s clients include some of the nation’s most influential lawmakers and Fortune 500 executives.

A tireless champion for affordable housing, Maloney spent several years representing the Federal National Mortgage Association. In this role, he worked to provide financial products and services for low, moderate and middle-income families, so they could achieve the American dream of homeownership.

In 2007, Maloney’s efforts were recognized by the Congressional Black Caucus of the 110th Congress, which honored him for his lifelong service of helping to create affordable housing opportunities to those in need.

Canisius College honored six graduates with its Distinguished Alumni Award.

Presented annually, the award recognizes alumni who have distinguished

themselves as leaders in their chosen professions. The 2009 recipients are:

DIStInGUIShED aLUmnI 2009


DavID naLEWaJEK ’74, phDSenior Principal Scientist | Honeywell International Inc.

As the senior principal scientist at Honeywell International, David Nalewajek’s research influences everything from household appliances to space shuttles and global warming. In addition, his contributions to chemistry extend beyond the laboratory and into countless Western New york classrooms.

Nalewajek is the architect of “Science in the Classroom,” a hands-on, educational program that focuses on the importance of chemistry in everyday life. He initiated an after-school science club for at-risk and inner-city youth within the Buffalo School District. And a weekend chemistry program that Nalewajek started at the Buffalo Museum of Science is now a month-long event that attracts upwards of 3,000 students each fall.

At Canisius, Nalewajek helps secure funding from Honeywell International to support the local Chemistry Olympiad. The compe-tition, which tests high school students’ chemistry knowledge and skills, helps Canisius attract the best and brightest students.

maRy ELIzaBEth ROEhmhOLDt ’71, mDNeurologist

Mary Elizabeth Roehmholdt is a board-certified neurologist who maintains a private practice and is a clinical assistant professor of neurology at SUNy Buffalo.

The most meaningful moment of her career came in the 1980s, when the Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo asked her to serve as the examining neurologist on a Dunkirk woman who claimed her prayers to the Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska were answered. The woman was miraculously cured of pain, which she endured as a result of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Roehmholdt’s consultation, examination and testimony proved crucial in eventually leading to the beatification of the Blessed Mary Angela. Her written testimony is now housed in the Vatican library.

maRy ROBERtSOn WIttEnBERG ’84 President/CEO | New york Road Runners

Mary Robertson Wittenberg is the first female president and CEO of the New york Road Runners, the world’s foremost running organi-zation. She is responsible for more than 50 road races, including the New york City Marathon, which annually attracts 100,000 applicants a year, many of whom are world-class, professional athletes.

Wittenberg also oversees the organization’s four Web sites, New YorkRunner magazine and the New york Road Runners Foundation, which provides free fitness programs to children in underserved communities.

Included among her many accomplishments are the creation of the World Marathon Majors, the U.S.A. Cross Country Championships, and the inaugural New york City Half-Marathon. Wittenberg also established several community programs that introduce running to underprivileged children.

Capital DistriCt alumni Chapter

Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., was the guest of honor during a January reception at the National Press Club. Hosted by the Capital District Alumni Chapter, the reception drew nearly 45 Canisius alumni and friends from the Washington, D.C. area.

Pictured l-r: Scott Sroka ’94, Wesley Reppert ’09, Dan Smeragliuolo ’78, and Natalie Fike ‘07

Central new York alumni Chapter

The Bellevue Country Club was the setting for Canisius alumni in Central New york who celebrated the Christmas season and also paid tribute to guest-of-honor Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.

Pictured l-r: Kathlyn Schofield, James P. Schofield MS ’73, Kristen Campbell Eichhorn ’99, PhD and Amy Stanton Vergamini ’99.

canisiusconnections


a l u m n i s p o t l i g h t

hOmaS BaRnEtt’S FAVORITE CHILDHOOD memories include the backyard hockey games played on the ice rink his father, Donald Barnett ’50, built

each winter.

“We would break a few picket fences or knock out a couple windows with the pucks,” laughs Barnett, who operates Tom Barnett Custom Tailored Clothing. “But really, it was all about friendships, fun and the love of the game.”

Those things were lacking when Barnett’s four-year old son, Oliver, joined a youth hockey organization. The experience prompted Barnett to establish the Buffalo Shamrocks Hockey Club in 2001.

“We decided the platform for our program was going to be sportsmanship, team-play and personal responsibility,” says Barnett, who founded the program with help from friends he played hockey with – and against – in his youth.

What began with just 30 players and a few coaches is now an organization that boasts more than 300 players and 47 coaches. Barnett, a former Ice Griff, has two Canisius hockey players on his coaching staff: cory conacher ’11 and Ryan Klusendorf ’10. Barnett attributes the program’s growth purely to word-of-mouth.

“We’re not a win-at-all-costs program,” he says. “We’re an education-based, family-focused hockey program, and we hand-select our opponents so we can play those teams that have similar beliefs as ours.”

The Shamrocks’ season is shorter than that of other leagues. It runs from October through St. Patrick’s Day. Team spirit is sown into the off season. The Shamrocks tend to a vegetable garden at the Buffalo Zoo. The crops are used to feed the animals. The project, says Barnett, “teaches players about the importance of giving back to the community.”

In June 2009, Barnett became the inaugural recipient of the Bridgestone Mark Messier youth Leadership Award. The award recognizes youth hockey players or mentors for their leadership contributions to youth sports or education. Barnett was hand-picked for the award by the Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, and selected from more than 70 U.S. and Canadian nominees.

“Coach Barnett is an educator on skates who not only teaches young players how to be better players and teammates, he teaches them to be leaders on and off the ice,” said Messier as he presented Barnett with the award.

A humbled Barnett credits the instructors and coaches who “make this program happen.”

But the greatest reward, adds Barnett: “Even if the kid doesn’t become a hockey superstar, he’s going to be part of a leadership program and part of a team. In our program, we strive for excellence and that in itself is its own reward.”

tthomas Barnett ’79: Shoots and Scores

class notes


1940s’41 BS Henry J. Baker, retired professionalsafety engineer with the united states department of labor, founded the mission of the holy spirit house of prayer, wherehe and his wife, Josephine, lead bible study and prayer groups, and counsel members of the community.

’41 Frederick A. Keller, a former producer and director at Wben, authored a book, entitled Spearing the Wild BlueBoar, which is a defense of William shakespeare as author of his plays.

1950s’58 BS John P. Courtney, retired president of virtual consulting inc., was inducted into the John timon society at bishop timon-st. Jude high school, in recognition of his distinguished career, and contri-butions to his church and community.

1960s’66 BA Donald A. Alessi, attorney atAlessi law firm, was elected chairman of the buffalo & erie county naval and military park board of directors.

’68 BS, MS ’97 James E. McNicholas Jr., Jrotc project administrator for the buffalo public schools, was elected vice chairman of the buffalo & erie county naval and military park board of directors.

’68 MS Robert E. Nesslin was promoted to associate professor in the school of Adult and graduate

education at medaille college. he previously served as assistant professor. nesslin was also re-elected chair of the institution’s faculty council for a sixth term.

’68 BA Denise E. (Beiter) O’ Donnell was recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of the 2009 Women of influence in the public policy category. she was also the recipient of the lifetime Achievement Award from the national center for Women and policing.

’69 BA Paul A. Battaglia, partner and attorney at Jaeckle fleischmann & mugel llp, was named to the Woodward White list of Best Lawyers in America 2010.

’69 BS, MBA ’73 Paul J. Harder, chief executive at cliffstar corp., received the commitment to excellence Award from the Amherst chamber of commerce.

’69 BA Harry F. Mooney, partner at hurwitz & fine pc, was named to the 2009 New York Super Lawyers upstate edition list of top lawyers.

’69 BA Bert C. Rizzo retired from hisposition as special assistant of immigration and naturalization services for the department of homeland security after a 39-year career. he continues to stay active as a soccer referee.

1970s’70 BS Anthony W. Bylewski, business officer at the Western new york children’s psychiatric center, was appointed first vice chairman of the central terminal restoration corp. board of directors.

’73 BA Joseph F. Saeli Jr., partner at saeli & tollner pc, was named to the 2009 New York Super Lawyers upstate edition list of top lawyers.

’74 BS Richard G. Schott, associatevice president of finance at erie community college, was named to the financial executives international buffalo chapter board of directors.

’75 BS Mary R. (Santercole) Platt, senior vice president and deposit industries manager at union bank, participated in the national easter seals convention in Washington d.c., where she, along with hundreds of supporters and volunteers, encouraged congress to highlight the urgency of health coverage for people with disabilities.

’76 BA John J. Lipuma, MD, professorof pediatrics at the university of michigan, was the co-chair of the north American cystic fibrosis conference in minneapolis, where he received the richard c. talamo distinguished clinical Achievement Award. he also received a $1 million challenge grant from the national institute of health.

’76 BS David L. Noto is the new vicepresident of m&t insurance personal and special business division. he previously served as president of Joseph l. noto Agency inc.

’76 BA Maria B. Scrivani, author and former Buffalo News reporter, recently wrote Brighter Buffalo: Renewing a City. the book highlights civic preservation projects that have maintained the city of buffalo’s architectural integrity and character.

’76 MBA Thomas C. Sheedy is the new vice president of investments at sage investment group. he previously served as a financial consultant at trubee collins & company inc.

’77 MS Gayle L. Eagan, partner at Jaeckle fleischmann & mugel llp, was named to the Woodward White list of Best Lawyers in America 2010.

’77 BA Thomas J. Foels, MD, was promoted to chief medical officer at independent health. he previously served as medical director.

’77 BA, MS ’80 Donna J. (Billings) Luh, owner of luh consulting services, was inducted into the national transportation Women’s hall of fame.

’77 MS Rev. Thomas J. Quinlivan, a priest with the diocese of buffalo, was appointed episcopal vicar of eastern erie for a term of three years, by bishop edward v. kmiec.

’78 BS Mark A. Smith is the new chief operating officer at liazon. he previously served as managed care director at new directions youth & family services.

’79 BA Martin J. Berardi, president of the medical devices group at moog inc., was elected to the park school of buffalo board of trustees.

’79 BA Paul J. Cienki, vice president ofgovernment Accounting at honeywell international, was named chair of the financial executives international (fei) committee on government business and a member of fei’s national board of directors.

From class reunions to regional chapter events, Canisius alumni activities take place year round.

To see what is happening in your area, visit the Alumni

Calendar of Events at www.canisius.edu/alumni.

new job? newly married?new arrival to the family?Simply E-mail your news and notes to [email protected]. The editors will share your accomplishments in a future issue of Canisius College Magazine.

Just remember to indicate Alumni Note, Alumni Wedding or Baby Griff in the subject field or your E-mail.

Erratum: The fall 2009 issue of Canisius College Magazine erroneously identified Philip J. Aliotta ’76 as a PhD when in fact he is an MD. Canisius College Magazine apologizes for the error.

’79 BA Kerry M. Langan, a self-employed writer, authored a book entitled Only Beautiful and Other Stories.

1980s’81 BA Jean M. Wactawski-Wende, PhD, professor and associate chairin the department of social and preventive medicine at the university at buffalo, was appointed vice provost for strategic initiatives at the university.

’83 BA, MBA ’84 Michael P. Lillis Sr., PhD, was promoted to professor and chair of the medaille college business department. he previously served as an associate professor.

’83 MBA Mary S. (Muraca) Martino,member of the Automobile Association of America board, was inducted into the national transportation Women’s hall of fame.

’83 BS Alan E. Runkel, branch manager at Wrp investments inc., was the recipient of the 2009 five stAr best in client satisfaction Wealth manager Award.

’84 BS John S. Eagleton is the new vice president of commercial lending at evans bank. he previously served as vice president of gmAc mortgage corporation.

’84 BS Patrick L. Emmerling, partner at Jaeckle fleischmann & mugel llp, was named to the Woodward White list of Best Lawyers in America 2010.

’84 BA Steven J. Hietanen, DDS, anorthodontist at orthodontists Associates of Wny pc, was inducted into the John timon society at bishop timon-st. Judehigh school, in recognition of his dis-tinguished career, and contributions to his church and community.

’84 BS, MBA ’92 William J. Maggio was promoted to chief executive officer and president of immco diagnostics inc. he previously served as a chief operating officer and partner.

’85 BS Michael A. Lacono is a new associate at siegel kelleher & kahn. he previously served as an attorney at carlisi & iacono.

’88 BS, MBA ’94 Mary M. Bagley, senior systems analyst at rich products corp., recently celebrated 15 years with the company. she was also named director of member services for the buffalo chapter of the project management institute.

’88 BA Sean P. Beiter, partner at Jaeckle fleischmann & mugel llp, was named to the Woodward White list of Best Lawyers in America 2010.

’88 BS, MSED ’06 Marlene L. Davis is a new investigator for the food and

drug Administration. she previously served as a chemist at praxair inc.

’89 BS Gregory E. Agoston, PhD, is thenew reference materials acquisition manager at pharmacopeia in rockville, md. he previously served as a senior research scientist at entremed inc.

1990s’90 MS Richard L. Jacob, PhD, was promoted to associate professor in the business department at medaille college. he previously served as an assistant professor.

’91 BS Karen M. (Rybarczyk) Braun, PhD, color scientist at xerox corporation, served as general co-chair of the is&t/sid 17th color imaging conference in Albuquerque, nm.

’92 BS Louis A. DiLeo, manager of financial control and support for the Western new york district u.s. postal service, earned his second black belt in lean six sigma.

’92 BA Alisa A. Lukasiewicz is a new special counsel at phillips lytle llp. she previously served as corporation counsel for the city of buffalo.

’92 BA Rev. Arthur E. Mattulke, a pastor for the diocese of buffalo, was appointed episcopal vicar of genesee- Wyoming for a three- year term.

’92 BA Michael C. Straeck, presidentand chief executive officer of buffalo ultrasound inc., was elected to a one-year term as regional director of the national Association of portable x-ray providers.

’94 BS, MBA ’98 Kim M. Sardina Smith is the new director of human resources at fidelis care new york. she previously served as the talent management manager at rich products corporation.

’94 BA Ian M. Sullivan, branch chief atthe national counterterrorism center (nctc) in Washington, d.c., received the organization’s director’s Award, the highest award for excellence.

’95 BA John T. Hoskins was promoted to executive vice president at curtis screw company. he previously served as the sales and marketing director.

’95 BS Brian M. Murphy, partner at lawley insurance, was elected to the big brothers big sisters of erie county board of directors.

’96 MSED Theresa A. Schuta is the new principal at south park high school. she previously served as principal of southside elementary.

’97 BS Brian M. Culligan is the new general manager of northtown porsche, land rover and volvo. he previously served as vice president of culligan Auto place.

’98 BS Sarah L. Clare was promoted to senior manager at dopkins & company llp. she previously served as manager of auditing.

’98 BS Edward M. Tunmore was promoted to managing associate at new england financial, in the firm’s Williamsville office. he previously served as assistant managing associate.

’99 BA Carlos Bonafonte is the new senior manager of export operations at Alliant techsystems in Arlington, vA. he previously served as a corporate import export officer for smith groups.

’99 BS, MBA ’00 Rebecca A. Young was recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of the 2009 Women of influence in the nonprofit leadership category.

2000s’00 MBA Andrew A. Attea was promoted to vice president of client operations at synacor inc. he previously served as director of client releases.

’00 MS Judith Garnham MacDonald, principal at southtowns catholic school, was honored by immaculata Academy at the Annual mater christi Awards gala, in recognition of her community service.

’00 BA Seth A. Trego, an addictioncounselor at unity health system, earned the certification of credentialed Alcohol and substance Abuse counselor.

’02 BS Kathryn A. Grinnen, DO, is the new internal medicine physician for the beebe physician network at beebe medical center in lewes, de. she completed her residency at metrohealth medical center in cleveland, oh.

’02 MBA Kathryn J. Robilotto was promoted to associate marketing manager at mentholatum. she previously served as assistant marketing manager.

’03 MPA Rhonda A. Frederick, chief operating officer at people inc., was recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of the 2009 Women of influence in the nonprofit leadership category.

’03 BS Heather F. Hannon was promoted to assistant project manager at urs corporation. she previously served as project administrator.

’04 BS Daniel M. Hogan was named director of industrial relations for the Association of union constructors (tAuc). most recently, he served as associate director with the construction industry employers Association (cieA).

’04 BS Timothy M. Korn was promoted to supervisor at dopkins & company llp. he previously served as senior accountant.

’05 MSED Mary Alice (Olson) Bagwell is the new principal of mary Queen of Angels catholic school in cheektowaga. she previously served as a second grade teacher at st. benedict school.

’05 MBA Laura M. (Stoll) Baumann, marketing manager at united silicone, was recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of the 2009 Women of influence in the creativity category.

’06 MS David M. Dahlberg, complex director at the university at buffalo, earned a second master’s degree from the university in exercise science and physical education.

’06 BA, MBA ’09 Amy E. Popadick is the new director of admissions and marketing at holy Angles Academy. she previously served as associate director of admissions at buffalo seminary.

’06 BA Teresa M. Rosetti received her master’s degree in community mental health counseling and is now pursuing a psyd degree at the california institute of integral studies in san francisco, cA.

’07 BA, MBAPA ’09 Melissa R. Clingersmith is a new auditor in the general services department at dopkins & company llp. she previously served as staff accountant at lpciminelli inc.

’07 BS Joseph M. Roche is a new applications engineer at lutron electronics company inc.

’08 MS Samantha E. Gabel is a new residence director at ithaca college.

’08 BS, MBAACC ’09 Jennifer M. Steele is a new staff accountant at lumsden & mccormick llp.

’09 MSED Jennifer L. Basile is the new visiting professor in the business department at medaille college. she previously served as an mis manager at blue cross blue shield of Wny.

’09 BS Katherine E. Hokenson is a new staff accountant at brock schechter & polakoff.


John A. Lamy ’41 August 21, 2009

Norbert J. Ketzer ’43 October 23, 2009

Stuart M. Schmucker ’48 July 15, 2009

Salvatore P. Noto ’50 November 9, 2009

Fred J. Piasecki ’50 August 27, 2009

John C. Reed ’50 October 11, 2009

Raymond E. Sinclair ’50, MS ’52 October 27, 2009

Robert J. Maghran ’51 November 18, 2009

Arthur J. Raynor Jr. ’51 October 6, 2009

Dorothy M. Suchan ’52 October 14, 2009

Leo R. Gainey ’53 September 25, 2009

John E. Eagleton ’55October 20, 2009

Edward H. Culliton III ’56 November 5, 2009

Robert T. Kelly ’56 October 25, 2009

Raymond V. Niezgoda ’56 September 2, 2009

Robert D. Gunderman ’59October 9, 2009

Msgr. John C. Weimer MA ’62 October 1, 2009

Ronald E. Sikorski ’63 September 24, 2009

Henry P. Zimmer ’63 September 26, 2009

James F. Lyons ’66 November 3, 2009

Patrick J. Quinlan ’66 July 23, 2009

Joseph A. Trawinski ’66 September 25, 2009

Rose M. (Maguire) Alfieri MS ’68 August 24, 2009

Barbara E. Zarzycki ’72 February 12, 2009

Joseph Hogan MS ’73 October 30, 2009

Mary C. Fritz ’76 June 2, 2009

Laura (Fusco) Kose MS ’85October 15, 2009

Sophronia G. Wuertzer MS ’85 November 9, 2009

Patrick J. Letourneau MS ’87 October 10, 2009

Maureen T. (McMahon) McHugh MBA ’88 October 10, 2009

Joann P. Streit MS ’88 November 1, 2009

Albert O. Diminuco MS ’91September 13, 2009

Lisa M. (Raiber) Alister ’01, DO and James C. Alister, a son, Nicholas Jacob, born December 23, 2008

Kimberly A. (Gallo) Allen ’06 and Shane Allen, a daughter, Graciana Rose Marie, born December 31, 2008

Elizabeth A. (Schmitt) Arcara ’02 and David A. Arcara ’92, a son, Matthew Joseph, born July 30, 2009

Sarah M. (Alibozek) Barroso ’02 and Miguel Barroso, a son, Syler Joseph, born August 2, 2009

Randal R. Boivin ’95, DC and Stephanie J. Boivin, a daughter, Mallory Claire, born September 10, 2009

Adam M. Budny ’00, MD and Karissa M. Budny, a daughter, Kynlee Grace, born October 17, 2009

Gail A. (Brade) Butler ’89, PhD and Eric R. Butler, a daughter, Emma Katherine, born October 26, 2009

Rebecca L. (Glor) Cavarello ’98 and Bradley F. Cavarello ’98, a daughter, Ava Rose, born June 7, 2009

Melissa A. (Russo) Eberz ’01, MS ’08 and John Eberz, DDS, a daughter, Grace Ann, born September 14, 2009

Rachel M. (Rayome) Garra ’06 and Jonathan P. Garra ’06, a son, Patrick Robert, born October 14, 2009

Keryn E. (Priset) Gauch ’01 and Christopher C. Gauch ’01, a son, Nathan Robert, born June 2, 2009

Kevin J. Gilbert ’98 and Jessica A. Gilbert, a son, Dylan Daniel, born July 25, 2009

David P. Hilbert ’98 and Kristen A. Hilbert, a daughter, Kylie Grace, born October 9, 2009

Amanda M. Larracuente ’03 and Mark R. Huefner ’98, a son, Quinn Larracuente, born April 12, 2009

Patricia A. (Terian) Mancabelli ’92 and Charles R. Mancabelli Jr. ’95, a son, Maximilian Donald, born June 4, 2009

Larry E. Manth ’87 and Julie M. Manth, a daughter, Katherine Michelle, born September 9, 2009

Lisa M. (Papaj) Marong ’03 and Michael A. Marong Jr. ’00, a son, Tyler Michael, born March 24, 2009

Barry J. Matto ’98 and Michelle Matto, a son, Harrison Owen, born March 4, 2009

Christine M. (DiLaura) McWilliams ’97 and Henry W. McWilliams ’94, a son, Patrick Henry, born May 29, 2009

Lisa N. (Head) Melohusky ’98 and Alan J. Melohusky, a son, Patrick Walter, born April 7, 2009

Margaret E. (Hunter) Morrissey ’97 and Patrick M. Morrissey, a son, Daniel Jeremiah, born January 12, 2009

J. Matthew Propis ’96 and Laura Propis, a daughter, Caroline Therese, born September 5, 2009

Daniel Simone III ’03 and Samantha Simone, a daughter, Gabriella Marie, born September 30, 2009

Lauren J. (Koppmann) Streit ’02 and Peter T. Streit, a son, Peter James, born October 20, 2009

Deborah K. (Pofi) Talbot ’00 and Kevin R. Talbot ’98, a daughter, Ella Grace, born May 1, 2009

think your baby ought to be in pictures? Send us a photo of your newborn with his/her name and date of birth. Each issue, we will draw from the entries. If your child’s picture is chosen, he/she will be featured as the next “Baby Griff.” Send photos to: Canisius College Magazine Baby Pictures; 2001 Main Street, Lyons Hall 209; Buffalo, NY 14208 or E-mail a high resolution photo to [email protected]. ALL Baby Griff photos submitted can be viewed on the college’s alumni site at www.canisius.edu/alumni/wedding_births.asp. Photos will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

T H I S I S S U E ’ S F E A T U R E D b A b Y G R I F F

Konrad Johnborn to Angela C. Monheim Zollitsch ’03, MSED ’05

and her husband, Kenneth C. | April 7, 2009

In Memoriam

Weddings

* Katherine A. Battaglia ’02, MS ’09 and Daniel Pogorzelski on October 10, 2009

Jamie F. Cercone ’05, DO, and Nathaniel P. Streicher ’05 on October 10, 2009

* Courtney L. Derner MS ’07 and Lem Mogtazero Jr. on October 10, 2009

Carolyn M. Dudek ’93, PhD and Mark L. Nowak ’92, PhD on July 3, 2009

* Jason J. Evchich ’00 and Jennifer Pulaski on October 24, 2009

Kathryn A. Grinnen ’02, DO and Jeffrey A. Calloway, on November 12, 2009

Laura D. Gugino ’04 and Daniel P. Drees on May 30, 2009

* Jonathan J. Hoepfinger ’03 and Rebecca Wagner on October 3, 2009

* Matthew J. Jaworski ’06 and Audrey Crimmen on October 17, 2009

* Kelly K. Kalinka ’06 and Stephen J. Evers ’07 on October 3, 2009

Paul A. Marko ’87 and Jamie E. Gabrini on August 1, 2009

Alison J. Nisco ’04, MBA ’08 and Paul R. Delmonte ’04 on August 22, 2009

* Marie J. Pieczynski ’02 and Greg Thornton on November 28, 2009

Michael L. Roof ’94 and Lori L. Sova on October 24, 2009

* Caitlin C. Waas ’03 and William Zulewski on October 24, 2009

* Derek A. Weibel ’05, MSED ’07 and Kelly Wright on October 17, 2009

*Indicates married at Christ the King Chapel



2001 Main Street | Buffalo NY 14208 | www.canisius.edu

Freshly fallen snow blankets the Canisius campus in this impressive winter view of Old Main. It’s estimated the photo was taken in the mid-1940s. PHOTO COURTESY OF CANISIUS COLLEGE ARCHIVES

Documents

Canisius College Magazine Winter 2010