September 25, 2003
Grymes Hill, NY - St. John's University Staten Island campus will host its annual Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, November 6, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. at S.I. Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island, New York. This evening of dinner and dancing will mark the 26th year the University has joined with the Staten Island community to raise funds for St. John's Staten Island Scholarship Fund, awarded annually to students in need on the University's Staten Island campus.
Honorees for the evening are:
- Rev. Msgr. James J. Dorney will receive the President's Medal, given to an individual who has achieved exceptional personal and professional success, and/or rendered outstanding service to the University or society. Msgr. Dorney, who was ordained in May of 1958, is the Regional Vicar for Staten Island and the Pastor for St. Peter's Church. He serves as Chaplain for the USCG Activities New York and the New York City Police Department, Patrol Borough Staten Island. Msgr. Dorney is active in the Knights of Columbus, Richmond Division of the Holy Name Society, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and an honorary member of the Notre Dame Club of Staten Island.
- Andrew J. Passeri, Ph.D. and Nancy Passeri, will each receive the President's Medal, given to an individual who has achieved exceptional personal and professional success, and/or rendered outstanding service to the University or society. Mr. Passeri, Ph.D., FACHE, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, recently retired as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Staten Island University Hospital, a 803 bed, multi-site facility. His healthcare career has spanned more than 30 years, beginning in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) as a pharmacist and ending after 21 years as the Executive Officer and Deputy Commander of a USPHS teaching Hospital, Dr. Passeri retired with the rank of Captain. Mrs. Passeri is a former oncology nurse with more than 25 years in the nursing profession. She is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Staten Island University Hospital Rainbow Association, the Advisory Board of University Hospice and the Staten Island University Hospital Auxiliary. She has volunteered her time to both Project Hospitality and University Hospice and was recently honored by the Borough President's Office. Mrs. Passeri is also a Board Member of CASC and Gift of Limbs. Dr. Passeri and his wife, Nancy, life in the Todt Hill section of Staten Island.
- John Walsh will receive the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Medal, given to an individual who has made significant contributions in the development and growth of the Staten Island campus. A graduate of the Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, MD, he currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Walsh was a partner in the Lord Abbett Investment firm and retired in 2001. Since 1994, he has been on the Sisters of Charity Advancement Committee, New York and is on the St. John's University Staten Island campus Options Advisory Board. In 1996, he initiated the Sister Julia Heslin, Sister of Charity Scholarship endowment for the Staten Island Options students, a fund which has grown to more $82,000.
"Were it not for the funds raised at this dinner through the generosity of our supporters over the last 25 years, many students would not have achieved their goal of a St. John's education," said Larry Arann, Ph.D., Vice President for Behavioral Science at Staten Island University Hospital and Chairman of the Scholarship Dinner. More than 40 alumni and friends of the University join Dr. Arann in planning the event.
Black Tie preferred. Cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Presentation of awards at 7:30 p.m. Dinner and dancing from 8 p.m. Valet Parking available. Tickets are $150 per person, with a donation value of $85 per ticket. Journal ad space is available.
For more information, please contact Kristine Albano Garlisi at 718-448-2272, fax (718) 448-6886 or email garlisik@stjohns.edu.
To arrange media coverage, please contact Jody Fisher, Director of Media Relations, at 718-990-6185 or at fisherjo@stjohns.edu.