St. John's News

Staten Island BBQ A Blast!

June 24, 2008

Smiles abounded on June 21 as St. John’s University hosted its Staten Island Summer Barbeque at the Staten Island campus.

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The event, sponsored by the Durso Financial Group of Wachovia Securities and Clem Snacks, Inc., attracted 125 people to the family event. The alumni gathered ranged from those who graduated in 1972, the first graduating class of the Staten Island campus, to the more recent graduates from the class of 2008. Tom Joyce ’73CBA, ’77MBA proclaimed “This was one of the best picnics I have attended at St.  John’s and the thing that made it special was the fact that you had alumni that were just out of school and alumni that graduated a number of years ago and everyone mingled well.”

The barbeque was held in Spellman Courtyard which was lined with picnic tables covered in red and white linens and bearing sugar-filled centerpieces to delight the sweet tooth. The menu consisted of traditional, all-you-can-eat BBQ items along with ice cold refreshments. The great lawn offered recreation for all ages along with face-painting, temporary tattoos, sandy candy, a bouncer and a special magic show for the smallest St. John’s guests. Deejay services, donated by Unlimited Entertainment, kept the crowd entertained while tours of the campus were provided throughout the day by St. John’s Future Alumni Association members.

Larry Durso’75NDC loved returning to the campus. “It’s great to have an event on Staten Island again,” he said. “This is a great start that we must continue to build. It was great to catch up with some old friends.”