Lewis Avenue Alumni
October 9, 2017
Alumni from the original St. John's University campus gathered for the 60th Annual Lewis Avenue Reunion on October 1. Highlights included the presentation of Legacy Awards to Patrick R. Vecchio ’52C and Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain, J.D. ’57C for their achievements and commitment to the University.
The Lewis Avenue School was started in 1870 in Brooklyn. Rev. Bernard M. Tracey, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission, spoke warmly of the Lewis Avenue alumni who benefitted from the school’s Vincentian mission and eventual relocation in 1955 to the present Queens campus, at a Mass in St. Thomas More Church.
The Mass, which also acknowledged alumni who passed in the past year, started the day’s agenda, which included a trolley tour of the grounds before brunch, University updates, and entertainment in the D’Angelo Center.
Presiding at the awards ceremony was Jeffrey Fagen, Ph.D., Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, who gave a report on the University’s progress and showed a video featuring the new Master of Arts program in Museum Administration. Dr. Fagen then cited the histories of the honorees before presenting them with their awards.
Mr. Vecchio has a long history of public service, first starting as a police officer in New York and retiring after 20 years as a detective sergeant. He then entered politics and recently completed a record 40-year career as Town Supervisor of Smithtown, NY.
Mr. O’Scannlain’s St. John’s history spans the two campuses; his first two years were spent at Lewis Avenue and then he attended the Queens campus. He fondly recalled his college days, mentioning many classmates and his fraternity.
Mr. O’Scannlain, who has served for more than 30 years on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, earned his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1963 and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992. He was successfully nominated to the Court in 1986 by former US President Ronald Reagan. Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the order of St. Gregory the Great on him and his wife, Maura, in 2007.
“Receiving the Legacy Award is very special and gratifying,” he said. “It is great that I have been able to stay in touch, and especially wonderful that I am able to come back for this special occasion.”
Last year Judge O’Scannlain achieved senior status on the bench in recognition of his length of service. He continues to teach, among other endeavors. He and his wife have eight children and 19 grandchildren.
To set the tone of the event, many yearbooks from “the old days” and slide presentations were available. The vintage singing group the New York Nightingales performed covers of classic songs such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “The Sound of Music” (the most popular song was the St. John’s “Alma Mater”). The reunion ended with dessert, which featured a cake with a photo of the Lewis Avenue building.
Coach Lou Carnesseca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON reconnected with Mr. Vecchio. When asked how it felt to be a recipient of the Legacy Award, Mr. Vecchio responded, “It is absolutely wonderful and surprising.” He acknowledged that although it is not quite the same campus he was used to, it was good to be back with Coach Carnesecca, his former teammate.
Coach Carnesecca, a longtime member of The McCallen Society, was all smiles when asked about the reunion, insisting that he never left. “My office was across from what is now called Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall—and I just took stuff out last week. I never left St. John’s,” he said.
He also noted that he always felt it was important to give back because of the impact the University had on his life. “St. John’s has been very good to me,” he reflected. “They put the steak and potatoes on the table for many years for me and my family. It is a wonderful organization, and when you think about all the good it does for others, what else is there?”