Alumnus Gains Friendship and Saves Thousands

Across colleges, many can’t say they keep in touch with alumni from their alma mater. That’s not the case for St. John’s University.

Alumnus Marshall Kaufman ’12L developed a lifelong friendship with Alumnus Darren Kiley ’88SVC after relocating to Florida for work. Both New York natives, they found a lot in common after meeting at one of the alumni events.

“We had an instant friendship being that we’re both from St. John’s and New York. We’re about 20 years apart,” Kiley expressed.

Kaufman recounts it was not only hard to make friends, but also to find people who share commonalities. He talks fondly of Kiley, who he learned had experience with impact windows and doors, which were ideal for hurricane protection.

“It’s great to meet people who you have so much in common with...that I can also call for advice,” Kaufman said. “[Darren] helped me do impact windows on my house.”

At the time, Kaufman was buying a new home and Kiley was the one alumnus he called for advice.

“He really did me a huge favor and it was great having someone I knew from outside of just having a contractor that I could trust for that kind of job,” Kaufman said.

Thanks to their connection, he was able to save $15,000 on hurricane protection for his new home.

“He bought a new home...he called me and he said you need to help me,” Kiley recounts. “I said alright give me some time...I’ll measure and I’ll give you a quota, [just] get a couple of quotes from [different businesses].”

Kiley, however, said he was apprehensive about working with a friend at first.

“I said to him sometimes when you do business, people are not good friends at the end of the day,” Kiley said. “I’m going to let you tell me how much you’re going to pay me for the job so the friendship will be in tact moving forward.”

Though he doesn’t do impact windows and doors full time, he continues to freelance. He now owns One Price Cleaners in Boynton Beach, Florida.

“He’s just a good guy,” Kiley said. “Marshall is a kind customer at the dry cleaner and continues to get great deals.”

Kaufman acknowledges that thanks to the University’s gatherings, a great friendship flourished where it perhaps wouldn’t have normally.

“I thank St. John’s for putting us together, and now we have a lifelong friendship,” Kaufman said.

Kiley is thankful for Director of Alumni Relations, Mark Andrews, and Director of the Office of Gift Planning, Susan M. Damiani ’87CBA, for everything they do to get alumni together.

“Without their support we wouldn’t be able to do it,” Kiley said. “I think the chapter is vibrant now and more active than it’s ever been ... At the end of the day we are St. John’s.”