Joseph Consentino ’57C arrived at St. John’s University in 1954
with a baseball athletic scholarship and a goal of playing
professional baseball and left with a new appreciation for writing
and journalism: “The St. John’s baseball scholarship was my main
motivation for coming to St. John’s, but I was very impressed with
the broad liberal arts program that I encountered there. The English
program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences opened up
the academic curiosity which I always had as a student/athlete, but
that was not being addressed as much as my athletic interests. St.
John's taught me that there was plenty of room for growth in both
areas and not to be afraid to aspire to excellence in either
pursuit.
As the winner of three Emmy awards for his network and cable
television documentaries, Joseph is pursuing his passion for film
documentary as a television producer, director and cameraman.
Baghdad Diary---the latest film by Joseph and his
filmmaking partner and wife, Sandra---has appeared on the History
Channel and is currently being screened at film festivals across
the country. Joseph doesn’t look at his film career as a way to
support his family, but as a vehicle to inspire others: “I hope to
continue to make television documentaries and inspire young people
to look at this career not only as a way to make a livelihood, but
also as a way to learn about life and the pursuit of intellectual
experiences that can enrich one's mind and soul.”
Joseph hasn’t abandoned his love of baseball and continues to
inspire younger players to pursue their dreams of making it into
the big leagues. In 1994, Joseph created the New England Collegiate
Baseball League (NECBL). In 2008, the NECBL sent 22 of its members
to the professional Major Leagues and over 400 have gone onto play
in the Minor Leagues: “It’s a personal reward when teenagers come
up to me at different New England franchises in the NECBL, shake my
hand and sincerely thank me for founding a league that created an
opportunity for them to be showcased to Major League scouts.”
Joseph says he will continue to inspire others with his films
and says he gets most of his inspiration from his family members
and St. John’s professors with whom he still keeps in contact: One
professor in particular which he says has remained a motivating
force in his life is Jack Kaiser, former St. John’s baseball coach
and Athletic Director: “I have worked with some of America's most
famous individuals in sports, politics and in the entertainment
business and no one has ever had a more positive effect on my life
and career than Jack. I value his friendship and counsel now as
much as I did as a St. John’s student. If you go to St. John’s, you
too will be inspired by outstanding faculty, some of whom will
remain friends with you for a lifetime.”