St. John's News

Some of the best and brightest were honored at the 26th Annual Alumni Convocation held the evening of June 8 at the Queens campus. Friends and family of the honorees gathered at the St. Thomas More Church for the event which celebrated 24 alumni who were recognized for their many achievements and accomplishments.

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The night began with a special dinner for recipients and their guests in Montgoris Dining Hall before the group proceeded to the church for the ceremony. After a processional, singing of the national anthem and invocation by Rev. James Maher, C.M. ’84C, vice president for student affairs, citations were read for each honoree. Recipients of the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award were: Ernest Dicker ’47CBA; Hon. Randall T. Eng ’72L; Steven J. Farella ’77SVC; Robert J. Fuentes, Pharm.D. ’77P; Joseph A. Garcia ’77MBA; Mansoor Ali Khan, R.Ph. ’92Ph.D.; Lina R. Merlino, M.D. ’52NDC; Michael J. Ricigliano, Esq. ’57C, ’60L; Jean M. Rossi ’77SVC; Michael P. Stafford, Esq. ’67Ed, ’72L; and Robert Andrew Wild, Esq. ’67L. Those receiving the Pietas Medal were: Natale P. Calamis ’72SVC; Erica B. Fine, Esq. ’82L; William A. Healy, Jr., M.D. ’57C; Richard E. Lapchick ’67C, ’01HON; and Dorothy E. McCabe, Esq. ’82L. John Colligas ’37P, ’38P was inducted in the Heritage Circle and Jack Curran ’52C; John P. Navarra ’67P; Joseph H. Schwartz ’70C, ’72MBA; and James P. Stuckey ’75NDC, ’77G received the President’s Medal. The honorary degree of Doctor of Commercial Science was conferred upon Salvatore J. Zizza ’67UC, ’72MBA and Robert L. Sheppard ’32C, ’00HON and James J. Schiro ’67CBA, ’95HON both received the Medal of Honor, the highest honor which can be bestowed upon an alumnus.

Mr. Schiro delivered the convocation address and noted that St. John’s University is an institution which has the ability “to allow people to fulfill and live their dreams.” “This is a university that is unheralded in terms of its accomplishments,” he said. “This is a great, great night and I hope that each of the honorees understands the value that their families gave helping them to achieve their goals and the value this great university has given all of us.” University President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. heralded the honorees for their continued fidelity to alma mater. “Each of these individuals, in one way or another, has distinguished himself or herself, but also has not forgotten St. John’s University and has maintained a tie with St. John’s University,” Harrington said. “I thank our honorees for allowing us to honor you because in honoring you it calls us once again back to what we are really about which is educating young people to make a difference in the world. You have all done that, you have made a difference in the world.”

All of the alumni honored were celebrating anniversaries, having graduated in a year ending in “2” or “7.” The evening concluded with a dessert reception held in Montgoris Dining Hall.