February 08, 2008
The Alumni Association Luncheon, attended by more than 275
alumni, students, and friends of the School of Law on February 1
proved to be an event marked by poignant messages and interspersed
with humorous anecdotes.
The program began with Alumni Association President Mary Kay
Vyskocil ’83, who extended thanks to both Dean Mary C.
Daly for her personal support and the Dean’s support of the
Association. She also expressed appreciation to the Luncheon Chair
Richard F. Hans ’93 for all his hard work and to our luncheon
sponsor, Speiser Krause Nolan & Granito and the two awards
sponsors Robert J. DeBoissiere ’59 and William A. Gallina ’67.
This year’s recipients of awards included Ms. Donna Aldea ’98,
who was recently named Counsel for Special Litigation in the Queens
County District Attorney’s Office, who received the Recent Graduate
Service Award; Mr. Terence Winter ’88, a four-time Emmy winning
writer and former Executive Producer of “The Sopranos” who was
awarded the Dean Harold McNiece Award; and the Dean John J. Murphy
award was bestowed upon Associate Academic Dean Andrew J. Simons
’65.
The Dean Harold McNiece Award, given to a graduate in
recognition of an outstanding career in a non-law related field,
was presented by Dennis P. Orr ’78 to Terence Winter ’88. During
his introduction, Mr. Orr shared his “Soprano’s experience”
describing how he was an extra in an episode playing the part of a
gambler in Atlantic City, most of which ended up on the cutting
room floor. In his acceptance speech, Winter cited Professor
Margaret V. Turano ’77, who spurred on his writing career and
facilitated his first law job. He cited the film Kramer vs. Kramer
as the impetus for changing his direction from auto mechanic to the
law. After practicing briefly in New York City, Mr. Winter headed
to Los Angeles to embark on a television writing career. One of the
many uproarious anecdotes shared by Mr. Winter involved a fellow
St. John’s Law alum with whom he created a nearly fictitious talent
agency, where Winter acted as principal, writer and messenger, to
gain entrance into the often impenetrable world of Hollywood. As he
closed, Mr.Winter remarked that the skills he learned at St. John’s
have helped him throughout his career.
The Charles M. Sparacio Professor of Law, Vincent C. Alexander
’75, introduced the Dean John J. Murphy Award recipient, Associate
Academic Dean Andrew J. Simons ’65. But introduce is hardly the
right word for a presentation that included a reworking of the 1967
song by the Association, “Windy” (re-titled “Andy”), which included
the verse: First, there was Murphy, then Bellacosa / Now Daly also
wants him to serve / Who do our Deans want as their Enforcer? /
Everyone knows it’s Andy! Beginning as a student of Andrew Simons,
Professor Alexander described how Dean Simons learned his trade
from the “Jedi Master” Professor Edward T. Fagan, Jr. but had
mellowed into a beloved leader at the School of Law. The Dean John
J. Murphy Award, bestowed in recognition of distinguished service
to the public, the profession and the Rule of Law, has cherished
meaning to Dean Simons, who cited Dean Murphy’s influence on his
career path. He fondly referred to Dean Murphy as his employer, his
mentor, his colleague, and his friend – someone with whom he spent
many wonderful times. Dean Simons also took pride in introducing
members of the newly established Military Law Students Society. In
his concluding remarks, he stated, “My only mission in life is to
make St. John’s the best it can be and I will be loyal to that
mission forever.”
The Recent Graduate Service Award, conferred for outstanding
service to St. John’s University School of Law and the Alumni
Association, was presented to Donna Aldea ’98, who recently became
the Counsel for Special Litigation in the Legal Affairs Division at
the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. When asked what this
award means to her, Ms. Aldea stated, “It is a great honor to have
the privilege to shape the future of St. John’s successes, and an
even greater honor still to be recognized for that.” In ten short
years, Aldea has briefed and argued more than 150 criminal appeals
and federal habeas corpus cases. She was most recently assigned by
Queens D.A. Richard A. Brown to brief and argue People v. John
Taylor before the New York Court of Appeals, a landmark case
addressing the constitutionality of capital punishment.