September 14, 2013
Children have specific memories of what their life was like when they were growing up. They remember their friends, vacations with their families, school activities and what was happening in their neighborhood that seemed so important at the time.
Looking back on her early years, Geraldine Ruggieri DiPersia '65Ed, '67GEd remembers all of those things about growing up in the Fresh Meadows area of Queens. She also recalls watching the transformation of the Hillcrest Golf Course into what would become the Queens campus of St. John's University. Little did she realize the important role that the University would play in her life for so many years.
"I was able to watch the progress of the Queens campus of St. John's being built in my neighborhood," she said. "We lived only a short distance away, and once the campus opened and students started arriving, my mother would always make it a point to drive by so that we could take a look and see what was going on there. She was impressed by how neat and studious the students looked, and felt that it was an indication that they were serious and ready to learn. I guess it's no surprise that I chose St. John's when it was time for me to go to college."
From her earliest days as an undergraduate she was committed to taking advantage of everything that the University had to offer. When not in class pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, she was a member of the Glee Club, an active participant on the yearbook staff and an officer in Delta Sigma Chi Sorority. Always a good student, after graduation she continued at St. John's to earn her master's degree, aided by a Graduate Assistantship at The School of Education.
The financial help that she received is just one of the reasons why DiPersia remains so appreciative of what the University did for her and continues to do for students like her today.
St. John's Provided a Way
"After I graduated with my advanced degree in 1967, I went to work at P.S. 100 in South Ozone Park, Queens. The Director of Student Teaching at St. John's was the person who set up my interview with the Principal of P.S. 100. The thing that got me my job was that the Principal loved St. John's. He had a lot of student teachers from St. John's. I found out that he always asked for St. John's student-teachers; he admired them because he knew that they had a great work ethic. I think the commitment to hard work is one of the things that make St. John's students and graduates so successful."
Di Persia spent her entire professional life in education, retiring after 28 years from P.S. 100, the same school where she began her teaching career. Over those years she had the opportunity to mentor a number of student teachers. In her opinion, those who came from St. John's stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Although more than five decades have passed since this loyal double alumna first came to St. John's, her love and support of the University has never wavered. She remains in touch with many of her sorority sisters and former classmates, and even though it involves significant travel time, has returned to campus for a variety of alumni events. She has served on the Board of the Alumnae Association and also supports St. John's as a member of both The Loughlin Society and The McCallen Society.
Continuing a Legacy
"I always wanted to give back to St. John's, and on the 25th Anniversary of my graduation I decided that this would be a great time for me to do something for the University. So I started then to give to the University and I've kept it up ever since. I know that there are so many students out there who really can't afford to go to St. John's with the price of education today unless they get help from people like us. I've also put the University in my will. It's a great way for me to continue my legacy, and I'm glad to be able to help people who believe in what St. John's stands for, and who want to be a part of all that the University has to offer. My membership in The Loughlin Society allows me to help St. John's right now, and being a part of The McCallen Society gives me an opportunity to help it in the future."
Di Persia strongly believes that the combination of St. John's superior academic education and commitment to service simply doesn't exist at other universities. It's something that she valued as a student, and has come to appreciate even more with the passage of time.
"Catholicism was a natural part of the St. John's experience," she recalled, "and it was just as important as what we learned in the classroom. It wasn't that the Catholic and Vincentian values were explicitly taught to us. We simply picked them up naturally, because they were all around us and such a part of everything that went on. St. John's was always willing to reach out to the people who needed help the most, and that's one of the things that made it so special. I know that it's still that way today, and I'm happy to do whatever I can to be a part of it."
Just a Few Words in Your Will Can Help
Learn how you can leave your mark at the University you love with a bequest in your will, by clicking here.