Honorees

Doherty Enterprises was established in 1985 when Edward Doherty ’68CBA, ’72MBA acquired 19 Roy Rogers restaurants from Marriott Corporation, where he worked for 10 years, rising through the executive ranks.

In 1991, Mr. Doherty repositioned his company by obtaining franchise rights to Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, converting six of his Roy Rogers to Wendy’s, and selling the remaining Roy Rogers. 

Today, Doherty Enterprises operates more than 150 franchise restaurants and is the 27th largest restaurant franchisee in the US. Under Mr. Doherty’s leadership, they are involved in scores of philanthropic activities, both within the company and with outside agencies such as Toys for Tots and the American Cancer Society, among many others.

Steven J. Gartner, a current member of the St. John’s University Board of Trustees, served as Chairman of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP from 2010 through 2020. He also served on the firm’s Executive Committee for 21 years and has been a partner of the firm since 1993.

Mr. Gartner earned his J.D. from St. John’s University’s School of Law, where he was a member of the St. John’s Law Review. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Georgetown University.

Under Mr. Gartner’s leadership, the firm expanded its business significantly with the growth of its office in London, England, and the eventual launch of four new offices in Houston, TX; Palo Alto and San Francisco, CA; and Chicago, IL. In 2018, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity honored Mr. Gartner and the firm with a Compass Award in recognition of Willkie’s successful participation in programs designed to attract, inspire, and nurture diverse talent.

Thomas K. Rudzewick is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maspeth Federal Savings and Loan Association, based in Maspeth, NY, with seven retail locations, including one on Long Island. He joined Maspeth Federal Savings as Vice President and Chief Lending Officer in 2000, and became the President and Chief Executive Officer in 2016.

Mr. Rudzewick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Iona University and graduated with honors from the National School of Banking. He has achieved the Certified State Appraiser Generalist (CSA-G) designation from the Columbia Society of Real Estate Appraisers and is a New York State-licensed real-estate appraiser.   

Involved in many community organizations, Mr. Rudzewick is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Maspeth and past board member of the Queens Museum.

Pamela G. Shea-Byrnes, who served as Vice President for University Ministry and University Events, was the compassionate face of St. John’s. 

One of the initiatives closest to her heart was the Vincentian Initiative to Advance Leadership, a program that helps undergraduate students during all four years of their collegiate experience to develop spiritual values, Vincentian leadership skills, and a lifelong commitment to serving God’s poor.

Dr. Shea-Byrnes, renowned for her embodiment of Vincentian values, was instrumental in the planning and design of St. Thomas More Church, coordinated the work of the President’s Society, taught theology, and helped to formulate and implement the Catholic Scholars program. Only available at St. John’s, this four-year program works to build faith-inspired Catholic leaders for life.

The Pamela Shea-Byrnes Catholic Scholars Endowed Scholarship Fund, which bears her name and was created in her honor, is a four-year grant awarded to students who commit themselves to faith-based leadership training, service, and prayer, and formation of a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader inspired by the Catholic tradition.

• Christopher R. Concannon '92MBA
• Donna ’82CBA and Robert Drummond ’82CBA
• Frank DellaFera '81P
• Daniel J. Finnegan '84CBA

John R. Bender ’87CBA 

Mary Jane Helenek ’82P, ’84GP, ’87MBA

Michael X. Mattone ’91L 

Solly Walker ’57CBA, ’94HON

Nickolas Davatzes ’62C, ’64G, ’95HON (posthumously), President and Chief Executive Officer of Arts and Entertainment Networks

Robert E. Evanson ’58CBA, retired President of McGraw Hill Education and former Chairman and CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment

Anita Gomez-Palacio ’65Ed, ’89PD, Retired Executive Director of Operations, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
Member, St. John’s University Board of Trustees

Rev. Bernard M. Tracey, C.M. ’70C, Executive Vice President for Mission, St. John’s University

Thomas J. Cox ’82CBA, Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Group, LLC

Thomas J. Donohue ’63C, ’85HON, Advisor and Former Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Michael Roemer ’84CBA, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Discover Financial Services

Paul C. Wirth ’79CBA, Retired Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Morgan Stanley

**Held a virtual dinner due to COVID-19

Gregory S. Hendrick ’87C
Susan Hendrick ’87C
Mark Kritzman ’73CBA
Joan Lacagnina ’88CBA
Richard C. Vetter, Sr. (posthumously)
Virginia Nash Vetter ’90SVC (posthumously)

Yvette E. DeGannes '86CBA
Pascal Desroches, M.B.A., C.P.A. '86CBA
GLOBE
Anmarie C. Galowski
James E. Galowski '85CBA
Robert A. Mangione '77P, '79GP, '93PD, '99Ed.D.

Rev. Michael J. Carroll, C.M. ’09HON
Sharon F. Hajjar ’79SVC, ’86P
John H. Hajjar, M.D., FACS ’77C
Francesca M. Kurre
Frank L. Kurre ’84CBA
Synchrony Financial

Brother Alfred J. Smith, C.M.
Valerie L. Sodano, Ph.D. ’49CBA (posthumously)
Gerard A. Sodano ’49CBA (posthumously)
Eileen A. Tarantino ’80CBA
Joseph A. Tarantino ’80CBA
UnitedHealthcare, Inc.

Lesley H. Collins ’83SVC
William L. Collins ’76C, ’12HON
Rev. Pedro Pablo Opeka, C.M.
Anissa Mitrano Shannon ’89SVC, ’91Ed
James J. Shannon ’87CBA

Anthony Butler
Kevin F. Reed ’75C
James P. Riley, Jr. ’74CBA, ’75MBA, ’03HON

John P. Clarke, Esq. ’55CBA, ’57L
Robert Kalenka ’84CBA, ’91MBA
William J. Montgoris ’67CBA, ’88HON
Margaret A. Montgoris ’68Ed

Robert B. Catell
Christie de Nicola
Anthony J. de Nicola
Lewis S. Ranieri ’86C, ’87HON

Margaret LaRosa D’Angelo ’70Ed
Peter P. D’Angelo ’78MBA, ’06HON
William J. Janetschek ’84CBA, ’17HON
James P. Pellow, Ed.D.

Paul J. Evanson ’63CBA, ’10HON
Hon. Raymond W. Kelly ’71L, ’98HON
Mary Ann Mattone

Carol A. Kelleher
Denis P. Kelleher ’65CBA, ’91HON
Frank J. Sciame

Mary Carnesecca
Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON
George T. McDonald
Maria C. Schwartz
Joseph H. Schwartz ’70C, ’72MBA, ’09HON

Elizabeth Mirante
Arthur J. Mirante II, Esq. ’68L, ’98HON
Patricia M. Shea ’83C
Brian T. Shea ’83CBA, ’16HON
Eleanor B. Taffner ’94HON^†
Donald L. Taffner ’53C, ’89HON^†

^†Deceased

Kathleen M. Foley, M.D. ’65UC, ’92HON
Jeffrey R. Holzschuh
Salvatore J. Zizza ’67UC, ’72MBA, ’07HON

Richard DeZego ’06HON
Paula C. McInerney
Thomas E. McInerney ’64UC, ’01HON
Mary P. Tobin ’00HON^†

^†Deceased

Richard F. Chapdelaine ’84HON
Sr. Judy Garson, R.S.C.J. ’07HON
Joseph M. Mattone, Sr., Esq. ’53C, ’55L, ’94HON

Bernard D. Kennedy, Esq. ’54CBA, ’58L, ’99HON
Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, D.C. ’82HON^†
Linda S. Sanford ’74Ed, ’98HON

^†Deceased

Hon. Joseph W. Bellacosa ’59C, ’61L, ’87HON
Raymond F. Kennedy, Esq. ’63CBA^†
Frederic V. Salerno ’95HON
James J. Schiro ’67CBA, ’95HON^†

^†Deceased

*Did not host dinner due to the tragic events on 9/11.

Nina Aversano ’66Ed
Hon. Hugh L. Carey ’42C, ’51L, ’67HON^†
John F. McGillicuddy ’79HON^†

^†Deceased

Edward D. Miller
Charles R. Walsh ’66MBA, ’85HON
Jayson S. Williams ’90SVC

Peter J. Tobin ’65CBA, ’96HON