Summer Celebration at the East End of Long Island
August 10, 2017
A day of admiring art, satisfying one’s food palette, and exploring a charming vineyard owned by a St. John’s University alumnus attracted more than 100 alumni to Long Island’s North and South Forks on August 3.
Members of The McCallen and Loughlin Societies joined GOLD alumni and friends attending the annual Summer Celebration event, which was organized by Susan M. Damiani ’87CBA, Director of The McCallen Society.
It was a two-part event featuring an afternoon excursion and an evening social, culminating with an overnight stay at Hotel Indigo in Riverhead, NY.
During the afternoon excursion, a group of 30 visited the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, NY. Marie C. Braccia ’76PD, ’81Ed.D., served as the docent.
Anna Maria Montouri ’68Ed, ’70GEd, ’82PD, a McCallen member, took advantage of the group’s special discounted rate and stayed at the Hotel Indigo accompanied by two friends. “I thought the day was very well-planned and flowed very nicely,” she said. “The fact that St. John’s provided transportation to and from the Hotel Indigo was great. In the Parrish Art Museum, it was interesting to have as a docent an alumna of the University, whom I had met long ago. It made it more personal.”
Following the museum, guests lunched at the Cowfish Restaurant in Hampton Bays, NY, where they got to choose from a selection of the “Hampton’s best” clam chowder, blackened fish sandwich, rotisserie chicken with spinach rice, the Cowfish burger with French fries, and a banana cream pie.
“The food at Cowfish was great, and it was nice to enjoy it with new and old friends of The McCallen Society,” Ms. Montouri added.
In the late afternoon, more than 70 guests made their way to the social at Clovis Point Vineyard and Winery in Jamesport, NY, which is owned by St. John’s alumnus Mark Misk ’91CBA and his father, Nasrallah Misk. Alumni were given a wine tutorial from Clovis Point staff, a wine tasting, and a tour of the vineyard.
Guests also enjoyed a buffet which included marinated grilled chicken skewers, barbecued baby back ribs, North Fork string beans, potato salad, and buttermilk corn on the cob. All the while, singer/songwriter Freddy Monday performed his music, which he described as “pop rock and country rock with melodic sensibility,” to add to the ambiance.
This was the first McCallen event for Andrew Persaud ’07CPS, a member of the board of directors of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business. “I like that we were at a St. John’s alumnus’ vineyard,” he said. “Everything was great here; the food was great and the camaraderie was excellent.”
GOLD alumna Morgan Wright ’14Ed, ’16GEd enjoys events hosted by The McCallen Society because they offer an opportunity to interact with a variety of alumni. “I’m usually surrounded by much younger alumni, so at these events I get to network with older alumni—and I think that’s a great benefit,” Ms. Wright said. “It is very helpful to be able to talk to them, pick their brain about career paths, and get advice on ways I can diversify myself.”
A warm sunset signaled the end of the event. Guests took home special St. John’s University gifts and discounted Clovis Point wine bottles.
McCallen member Kathleen Prager ’78C, ’81GEd and Veronica Loehle ’79CBA, ’92GEd said it was their sixth year attending the winery events, and it did not disappoint.
“It’s kind of like a mini-reunion. We would not miss it,” Ms. Prager said. “Every year it’s growing. I think seeing everybody is very joyful. The weather is great, and it’s very relaxing.”
Ms. Loehle added, “It’s just so nice to know that this vineyard belongs to a St. John’s alumnus; it makes us very proud. It’s a happy place. It’s a wonderful place.”
When asked why she enjoys being a member of The McCallen Society, Ms. Prager said, “When you’re many years out of St. John’s, maybe even within 10 years, you realize what a great mission St. John’s has, and how great the priests were. We now have lifelong friends. There’s nothing like St. John’s. The McCallen Society is very important—that’s why we try to spread the word.”