October 04, 2010
For Lewis Avenue alumni, their connection to St. John’s University
is as much historical as it is personal. It was on Lewis Avenue
that St. John’s welcomed its first students in 1870, and during the
intervening years graduates of that original location have
distinguished themselves in nearly every aspect of business and the
professions in true St. John’s fashion.
Photo Gallery
And
so it was not surprising that when over 100 alumni and their
families gathered on the Queens campus for the 53rd Annual Lewis
Avenue Reunion on Sunday, October 3, 2010, the smiles and laughter
were tinged with just a touch of nostalgia for days gone by.
The day began with Mass in St. Thomas More Church, during which
principal celebrant Rev. John A. Kettelberger, C.M., Director of
Residence Ministry, expressed the appreciation of the St. John’s
community for the outstanding dedication and loyalty of the Lewis
Avenue alumni, noting their important role in the history of the
University. Following Mass the attendees gathered for brunch in the
D’Angelo Center, where they enjoyed a slide show featuring
memorable photos from a collection of Lewis Avenue yearbooks. as
well as images of some notable alumni from that campus.
“Our Lewis Avenue alumni hold a special place in the St. John’s
University family,” noted William G. Schaeffer ’73CBA, Director,
Office of Alumni Relations. “They are among our most loyal
supporters, and it’s great to see them coming back every year to
share a few laughs, tell a few stories and take part in this
wonderful event. As our most senior graduates, they’re the real
foundation of our alumni base.”
A highlight of the reunion was the inaugural presentation
of the Lewis Avenue Alumni Legacy Award to Robert J. Bohner ’56C,
’58L and Matilda Raffa Cuomo ’54Ed, both of whom were honored
for their outstanding service to St. John’s University and the
community-at-large.
Robert J. Bohner was an all-star outfielder, the first varsity
captain of the St. John’s baseball team and went on to play
professional baseball in the Baltimore Oriole organization. After
graduating from St. John’s School of Law he became a practicing
attorney. He is Past President of the Queens County Bar
Association, former Vice President of the New York State Bar
Association and Past President of the New York City Chapter of the
American Board of Trial Advocates.
Matilda Raffa Cuomo is the founder of Mentoring USA, a structured,
site-based organization that has provided mentors for more than
5,000 children ages 7 – 21 nationally and internationally. Its
mission is to create positive and supportive mentor relationships
by providing the presence of a caring adult in a young person's
life to increase self-esteem, strengthen relationships with peers
and adults, improve academic performance and help to combat school
drop-out.
“Today was very special as we honored an alumna with the Lewis
Avenue Legacy Award for the first time,” noted George E. Devine,
Esq. ’52C, ’55L. “The event was wonderful, and it was great to be
able to get everyone together in this new venue. The D’Angelo
Center is a beautiful new building!”
“I
thought it was a fantastic event, and this year it was even more
special as we honored a University alumna,” agreed Patricia Moane
Dwyer ’51Ed, ’68GEd. “It was great to be here for it and I
was glad that so many others were able to be here as well.”
The friendships that many alumni made while students at Lewis
Avenue have remained strong for nearly six decades, and the chance
to reconnect with former classmates at the University that has
played such an important part in each of their lives was an
opportunity not to be missed.
“This year’s event was very successful, objectively, as everyone
seemed to be having a good time,” said Bernard Babb ’53C, ’58L.
“Personally, it’s an extremely enjoyable experience to be able to
see so many friends and classmates. Some of my oldest friends are
here, and it’s wonderful to be able to reminisce.”
For Joseph S. Longo ’51C, ’54G, the Lewis Avenue Reunion was as
much about meeting other, previously unknown alumni who share his
enduring connection to Lewis Avenue as it was a chance to reconnect
with the former students with whom he actually went to class. “This
annual event is one of the most delightful experiences of my life,”
he said. “I look forward to it greatly each year. It’s always such
a joy to see old friends and classmates that I’ve known forever,
but also to see new friends [that I’ve] made recently.”
For information about events of interest to Lewis Avenue alumni,
please call Susan Damiani ’87CBA, Director, Office of Gift
Planning, at (718) 990-7562 or e-mail damianis@stjohns.edu.
For information about events of interest to alumni in general,
please call Mark Andrews, Associate Director, Office of Alumni
relations at (718) 990-5897 or e-mail andrewsm@stjohns.edu.