December 17, 2018
The McCallen and Loughlin Societies kicked off the Christmas season with a spectacular dinner and music at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola for their annual holiday event at the Time Warner Center on Thursday, November 28.
More than 80 Society members, alumni, and friends joined Susan M. Damiani ’87CBA, Director of the Office of Gift Planning, and her team to socialize in an exclusive room in the Time Warner building.
Ms. Damiani wanted to bring St. John’s alumni to Dizzy’s Club so they could enjoy the jazz experience. “My friend brought me here one night, and I said, ‘I love this place. I want to have a party here for St. John’s.’ I am always thinking about our society members, even when I am not working.”
Alumni and guests enjoyed impressive views of the midtown Manhattan skyline while partaking in an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. After the social, guests had a gourmet three-course meal of glazed beet salad; herb, pan-seared salmon or bourbon-glazed, braised short rib; and desserts.
However, the evening’s main focus was on great jazz, and the David Berger Orchestra with Harry Allen did not disappoint. They bought back the sounds of the Four Brothers: Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, and Gerry Mulligan—to the crowd’s delight.
The importance of these gatherings was cited by Denise Sullivan Sturm ’68Ed, who reached out to classmates when the University celebrated their 25th class anniversary; she was touched by their reaction. “Since it was a commuter school, you would think there would not be such a bond, but many people still live locally. It brought me back to my youth. I remembered the wonderful times that I had at St. John’s—and the careers that resulted due to the excellent education my classmates and I received.”
Longtime McCallen Society member Robert E. Evanson ’58CBA was happy to join his fellow Society members and classmates for the jazz event. “I am very supportive of St. John’s proud heritage. Through their planned gifts, members of The McCallen Society help students accomplish their objectives.”
View full Flickr gallery here.