canisius college magazine spring 2010

Canisius College comes of age: A look at the presidency of Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.

HiS LEgACY OF LEAdERSHiP

CANISIUS COLLEGE MAGAZINE • SPRING 2010

president’sperspective REV. VINCENT M. COOKE, S.J .

PresidentJohn J. Hurley

Associate Vice President for Public Relations & Executive EditorDebra S. Park MS ’06

Managing EditorAudrey R. Browka

director of Creative Services & Layout EditorAndalyn Courtney

Contributing designersShaun M. Maciejewski

director of Alumni RelationsEileen L. Hudson ’83

Contributing WritersElizabeth M. Bohen ’74, MS ’76 Kristin E. Etu ’91 Laura B. Grinnen ’06 Erin H. Hartnett Eileen C. Herbert ’04 Eileen L. Hudson ’83Marion Mittler Kirsten L. Reppert MS ’07 Rachel Voerg

PhotographyEric Frick Shaun Maciejewski Tom Wolf ’86

To Contact UsWe are eager to hear your comments about Canisius College Magazine. Please send correspondence to:

Canisius College Magazine2001 Main Street, Lyons Hall Room 209, Buffalo, NY 14208Phone 716-888-2790Fax 716-888-2778

Canisius College Magazine is published four times a year (winter, spring, summer, fall) by Canisius College at: 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208

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Periodical postage paid at Buffalo, NY

Postmaster send change of address to: Canisius College, 2001 Main Street,Buffalo, NY 14208

As i retire from Canisius College, i can not help but reflect on the last

17 years. The job was rewarding on so many levels but the greatest

satisfaction came from the many remarkably talented and dedicated

individuals who devoted themselves to make Canisius College the

premier private institution that it is today.

Our accomplished faculty, and loyal Trustees, Regents, administrators

and staff, dedicate themselves, everyday, to provide Canisius students

with the best possible educations, support and guidance so that they

may reach their greatest potentials. The generous support from thou-

sands of proud Canisius alumni and donors enables the college to

enhance its presence in the lives of students and in the region it serves.

The government, business and community leaders, who recognize the

important role that Canisius plays in the economic future of the region,

are great champions for the college.

The efforts of all these individuals drive the success of Canisius College and i am grateful that they extended

to me the privilege to serve as president of this vibrant institution.

There is still much work to be done. i have great faith that John J. Hurley will further Canisius’ climb to become

among the top-ranked comprehensive colleges in the Northeast.

This fall, i will return to the New York Province for the Society of Jesus to serve as assistant to the provincial

for higher education. Canisius College will remain in my prayers. i will pray that every member of the

Canisius community lets god do his part in their lives. We live in a secularized age. Too many people do not

have the eyes to see or the ears to hear god in their lives but the Holy Spirit is there, leading us in the way

that we should be led.

As a teenager, i followed the Spirit that guided me to become a Jesuit and i’ve never regretted it. it gave me

a tremendous opportunity to spend my life trying to understand the mystery of Jesus Christ. it really does

take a lifetime and even now i can say it seems that it is just the beginning.

May god bless you and may god bless Canisius College.

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Canisius College Magazine

departments

4 BLUE & GOLD BRIEFS

CAMPUS NEWS AND NOTES

13 FacULty nOtES

fACUlTy NEWS AND UPDATES

20 a LEGacy OF LEaDERShIp

CAMPAigN NEWS AND UPDATES

22 canISIUS cOnnEctIOnS

AlUMNi NEWS AND NOTES

36 aS yOU WERE

STORiES fROM THE PAST

14

29

29 | Alumni ProfileRELIEF EFFORt

Robert M. Greene ’66 sets

out on a medical mission in the

wake of the Haitian earthquake.

10 | Faculty ProfileOF tWO mInDS

Associate Professor of Psychology

Susan K. Putnam ’95, PhD, embraces

diverse interests to educate

students in the sciences

14 | Cover Story hIS LEGacy OF LEaDERShIp

Canisius College comes of age:

A look at the presidency of

Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.

6 | Student Profile chEck yO What?

Canisius students create a clever

healthcare campaign to raise

testicular cancer awareness.

6 10

contents SPRING 2010

4 | C A N I S I U S C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 0

Kudos to the Canisius College Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), which came home with five national awards from the AMA’s International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, LA.

The AMA presented the Canisius chapter with its Outstanding Community Service Award and its Outstanding Professional Development Award. The chapter also received two first place awards in the exhibit competition: Best Use of Chapter Theme and the Students’ Choice Award. The group took home an Honorable Mention Award for its UNICEF Fund-Raising Challenge Competition.

The AMA is the largest marketing association in North America. It is a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, education and study of marketing. The Canisius AMA Chapter is comprised of 47 students, 17 of whom attended the inter-national conference.

canisius marketing chapter Wins Big on International Stage

ncatE Gives Re-accreditation nod to School of Education & human Services Michael J. Pardales, PhD, began work as the

new dean of the School of Education & Human Services on July 1. Pardales replaces Margaret C. McCarthy MS ’87, PhD, who stepped down from the position after seven years of service. She returns to the Department of Graduate Education faculty in the fall.

Pardales comes to Canisius from the University of Michigan-Flint, where he served as associate professor and chair of the Department of Education in the School of Education and Human Services. He also served as director of Graduate Education Programs (2008-2009) and assistant chair of the Department of Education (2006).

“Michael brings to Canisius a dedication to our core mission and a robust balance among student-focused teaching, applied research and a willingness to partner with others in the Western New York education community,” says Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president for academic affairs. “His energy and excitement toward the revitalization of urban education fits perfectly with the passion of our faculty and students.”

Pardales earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy, and his PhD in educational psychology from Michigan State University. He also earned a master of education degree in philosophy for children from Montclair State University.

pardales appointed new Dean, School of Education & human Services

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher

Education (NCATE) granted professional re-accreditation

to the college’s initial and advanced teacher preparation

programs, within the School of Education & Human

Services. NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department

of Education as a specialized accrediting body for schools,

colleges and departments of education.

“The re-accreditation decision indicates that the college’s

teacher preparation programs meet the rigorous standards

set forth by the professional education community,”

says Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, former interim dean of

the School of Education & Human Services. “We

are proud to be re-accredited by this highly-respected

national organization.”

NCATE is comprised of more than 30 professional

and policymaker organizations that represent mil-

lions of Americans committed to quality teaching.

The organization revises its standards every five years

to incorporate best practice and research in order to

ensure that its standards reflect a consensus about what

is important in teacher preparation today.

Michael J. Pardales, PhD

Pictured above are members of the current 2009-2010 Canisius AMA Executive Board (row 1) and the incoming 2010-2011 Canisius AMA Executive Board (row 2).

Row 1 (l-r): Richard Markiewicz ’10, vice president for communication & membership; Josephine Ossei-Anto ’12, president; Antonia Murray ’11, executive vice president and president; Megan Biondi ’12, vice president for professional development. Row 2 (l-r): Kaitlin Vienne ’13, vice president for communication & membership; Michelle Rykojc ’11, vice president for professional development; Eric Hawes ’11, executive vice president; Sarah Reif ’11, vice president for finance.

blue&goldbriefs

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Donna Shaffner named Dean of admissions

canisius Introduces majors for Our time

presidential honor Roll for Service

Donna L. Shaffner is the new dean of admissions at

Canisius College. Responsible for the recruitment of

graduate and undergraduate students, Shaffner will

work to fill the college’s existing academic programs,

and support the academic deans and faculty in their

efforts to develop new programs that address new

student demand.

Shaffner was dean of

admissions for Daemen

College, where she grew

the college’s enrollment

base by 22 percent and

reduced budget expen-

ditures by 13 percent.

She holds a bachelor’s

degree in fine arts from

Dickinson College.

Canisius College is among 22 Jesuit colleges and universities named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. It is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteerism, service-learning and civic engagement.

“Congratulations to Canisius College and its stu-dents for their dedication to service and commit-ment to improving their local schools,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award. “Our nation’s students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face.”

Canisius was recognized for its several service proj-ects organized by the Office of Campus Ministry, and for the college’s Office of Community-Based Learning, which collaborates with Canisius faculty on ways in which to integrate service-learning into their academic requirements.

Donna L. Shaffner

A major ‘breakthrough’ comes to Canisius in fall 2010 when the college introduces

three new academic programs.

“A hallmark of Jesuit education at Canisius is how we adapt our programs to the

needs of students in a particular place and at a particular time while maintaining

a strong foundation in the liberal arts,” says Scott A. Chadwick, PhD, vice president

for academic affairs. “These new academic programs advance our mission because

they provide integrated learning that is relevant to societal issues and teach students

how to advance social justice through the work they do and the lives they lead.”

A new master of science degree in forensic accounting (canisius.edu/mifa) prepares

students for work in one of the fastest-growing jobs in the accounting field. The

program enhances students’ accounting, auditing and investigative skills so that

they may analyze and interpret business and financial evidence. Coursework

includes fraud examination; detection and deterrence; financial statement fraud

and risk assessment; legal and regulatory environment of forensic accounting;

computer forensics; and white collar crime.

The MS in forensic accounting is for individuals who hold undergraduate degrees

in accounting or who have an accounting concentration.

As the journalism field undergoes rapid-fire communication and technology

changes, a new major in the area is poised to give Canisius students a competitive

advantage (canisius.edu/journalism). Housed in the Communication Studies

Department and aligned with the Digital Media Arts Program, the journalism

major educates students to become multimedia journalists, prepared for employment

in broadcast, print, and online media, as the lines that divide these fields virtually

disappear. Students study multimedia storytelling, digital media programming,

social media, blogging and design for mobile devices.

In addition, the journalism major is firmly grounded in the social responsibility

theory of the press, which promotes truthful, comprehensive and intelligent reporting

in a context that gives meaning, and encourages the exchange of comment and

criticism.

Poetry, prose and playwriting make up only a few of the writing-intensive courses

included in the college’s new creative writing major (canisius.edu/creative writing).

Students enrolled in the undergraduate program will study with award-winning

and published faculty in small, workshop classes to learn the fundamentals of how

to write, how to produce a polished portfolio, how to research markets for their

works, and how to prepare professional-quality submissions. Outside the class-

room, the Contemporary Writers Series brings nationally-known writers to meet

with Canisius students and to discuss their crafts in informal settings. The col-

lege’s literary magazine, The Quadrangle, offers students opportunities to publish

their own works and gain real-world publishing skills.

The program is the only creative writing bachelor’s degree offered in Western

New York.

student profile in leadership

A testicular cancer awareness campaign, developed by Canisius students, teaches young men that good health is within their reach

Story by Eileen C. Herbert ’04 • Photography by Tom Wolf ’86

Pictured (l-r): David Jackson ’09, Melissa B. Wanzer, EdD, professor of communication studies, and Sara B. LaBelle ’10 team up with Sammy the Squirrel to launch the

‘Check Yo Nutz’ testicular cancer awareness campaign.


ara B. LaBelle ’10 won’t forget her appointment at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) last fall. She was

there to meet with a team of urologists and tried not to let her nerves get the best of her. One hour later, LaBelle left the hospital in tears.

They were tears of joy.

LaBelle met with RPCI urologists to pitch ‘Check Yo Nutz.’ Developed by LaBelle and four Canisius classmates, this cheeky but informative health awareness campaign tackles the taboo topic of testicular cancer. The RPCI medical and marketing teams liked the campaign so much, they adopted it.

“I knew our campaign was great but I never dreamed it would go this far,” said LaBelle.

Since that meeting, RPCI incorporated the ‘Check Yo Nutz’ awareness campaign into its Yroswell initiative. Yroswell is the youth-oriented arm of RPCI that supports and encourages Generation Y members (those between the ages of 12 and 26) to create a world without cancer.

“To be as young as these students are and attempt to tackle the tactics that it takes to change people’s behaviors and perceptions about their health is very encouraging,” said Laurel A. DiBrog, vice president of marketing, planning and public affairs at RPCI. Canisius students initially presented their testicular campaign awareness idea to DiBrog.

The idea for ‘Check Yo Nutz’ began during a spring 2009 persuasion course taught by Communication Studies Professor melissa B. Wanzer, EdD. Wanzer asked students to develop a persuasive campaign. Sara LaBelle ’10, Ja’nay carswell ’09, David Jackson ’09, Elyse krezmien ’09 and meagan tremblay ’10 settled on the taboo subject of testicular cancer.

“Testicular cancer in men is somewhat comparable to breast cancer in women,” said Krezmien, who suggested the idea of the research project. “Yet there is almost no public awareness of testicular cancer, certainly not to the extent of breast cancer awareness.”

Testicular cancer is most prevalent in men between the ages of 15 and 34. But when Wanzer’s students surveyed the target demographic, they found this group to be virtually unaware of the disease. In addition, the Canisius research team discovered that this same group knew very little about testicular cancer symptoms and were unin-formed about how to perform self-examinations. Nearly 8,400 men were diagnosed with testicular cancer in the United States in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 380 men died of it that same year.

Based on their findings, the Canisius students developed several goals for its awareness campaign. Members first want to communicate – loud and clear – that young men are at the greatest risk for testicular

cancer. The team also wants to educate that target group of men about the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer. These can include a painless lump; swelling, pain or discomfort in a testicle; or a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back or groin. A third goal of the health awareness campaign is to provide accurate instructions on how to perform testicular self-examinations (TSE). Since the best time to do a TSE is during or after a shower, the Canisius team created laminated shower cards with step-by-step instructions. Students hung them in most of the men’s showers at the college.

“Detection of testicular cancer at an early stage means a cure is possible with less aggressive treatment, and that means fewer side effects and an improved quality of life,” explained Donald L. Trump, MD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. “The students at Canisius College are to be commended for raising cancer awareness among young people both on campus and in our community.”

A fourth and final goal of the awareness campaign is to reduce the stigma associated with testicular cancer. To achieve this, David Jackson – the only male in the group – suggested the Canisius team incorporate humor into its message.

“David suggested that men his age are generally uncomfortable with the word ‘testicle’ and so a humorous message might be one of the best ways to approach the topic,’” said Wanzer, whose academic research examines the effects of humor in healthcare, the workforce and in the classroom. “Humor is a rhetorical strategy that is often used to get people to pay attention to a message.”

Jackson created Sammy the Squirrel, a mascot for the awareness campaign. “Many of the young men in the target group are sports fans who can relate to a mascot,” said the digital media arts alumnus. He explained, “The idea is that Sammy takes his acorns to the doctor for a checkup.” The campaign name, ‘Check Yo Nutz,’ soon followed. “This helped alleviate the need to use the word ‘testicles’ in every other sentence and desensitized the subject of testicular cancer so that men my age feel open to talk about it and to receive information about it,” added Jackson.

Canisius College and RPCI formally launched the ‘Check Yo Nutz’ campaign in March 2010. It is the first comprehensive testicular

cancer awareness campaign on a Western New York college campus and the culmination of a year-long effort that

included the introduction of a new course, entitled Health Campaigns.

Team-taught by Wanzer and catherine Foster, phD, assistant professor of com-munication studies, 36 students from across academic disciplines worked collaboratively with RPCI to plan, develop and implement the health

communication campaign. The initiative targeted traditional, social and web media,

and also included such print materials as brochures, signs and tip sheets. Students also organized a series of clever events to further promote testicular cancer

awareness on campus. During the “Don’t Forget


Your Buddies” event, students involved with the awareness campaign handed out free Nutty Buddy ice cream cones, along with informational materials about testicular cancer. Students, faculty and staff participated in “Dodge These Balls, Not Yours,” a dodge-ball tournament to support the campaign. And the “Check Now Luau,” sponsored by Main Urology Associates, invited the campus community to a luau-themed event in the Koessler Athletic Center.

“Drs. Wanzer and Foster are representative of our Canisius faculty members who challenge our students to reach their greatest potentials through leadership opportunities such as this one with Roswell Park Cancer Institute,” said John J. hurley, president of Canisus College. “With Canisius College and one of the nation’s foremost cancer institutes teamed up to promote this campaign, the results can only be great.”

They already are. The public launch of the testicular awareness initiative drew coverage from several local television and radio outlets. Hits to the website (www.checkyonutz.org) are at 2,000 and most of the traffic appears on the self-examination page. In addition, nearly 2,200 people currently follow Sammy the Squirrel on Facebook and Twitter, and that

number continues to climb. The University at Buffalo student newspa-per, The Spectrum, published a story on ‘Check Yo Nutz’ in its April issue and “the hope is that colleges and universi-

ties across the country follow suit and adopt the campaign,” said LaBelle.

‘Check Yo Nutz’ certainly grabs attention – but that is precisely the point.

Knowledge is always power when it comes to an individual’s health. But Canisius

students proved that a healthy dose of humor can go a long way in the chal-

lenge to educate young men about a highly-treatable disease.

“You may think we’re Nutz,” reads their campaign mission statement, “but we think we’re saving lives.”

Susan K. Putnam ’95, PhD, is a woman of two minds. Much like renowned physicist Albert Einstein who was also an accomplished violinist, and Russian composer Alexander Borodin, who was a respected organic chemist, Putnam steps in and out of the worlds of logic and intuitiveness with ease. She is esteemed for her scholarship in behavioral neuroscience. She is also a gifted musician.

“People generally fall on one side of the pie or the other,” says the associate professor of psychology. “I’ve always been pretty even,” she adds with a laugh.

Putnam refers to popular psychology, which plays with the theory that people think and learn according to the most dominate hemisphere of their brains. Left-brain individuals are said to be logical, analytical and objective. Right-brain people are intuitive, visual and subjective.

“I used to think it was a shortcoming of mine, to have such diverse interests in arts and sciences,” says Putnam. “I’ve come to realize that my experiences play roles in ways I never could have anticipated.”

Putnam’s musical beginnings date back to her high school years, when she taught herself to play the piano. As a young college student, she pursued a degree in music performance, with a voice major and piano minor. But just as Putnam began to fine-tune her talents, a family illness changed the course of her life.

“When my father was diagnosed with terminal Hodgkin’s disease, I left school to be with my family full-time,” recalls Putnam. Her father’s illness and subsequent death were the catalysts for her later pursuits in the life sciences. “I began to wonder, ‘What does it mean to the organism, if things don’t go quite right,’” recalls Putnam.

She didn’t forfeit her music ambitions. In many ways, she fulfilled them. After Putnam married her late husband, John, she found work as a part-time pianist, organist and choir director at her church. She taught private piano lessons and even started the faith-based musical group Surrender. The work not only provided an outlet for her interests in music and performance but gave her the f lexibility to be home to raise her two children.

Music remains an important part of Putnam’s life. She continues to serve as choir director and perform with Surrender. She also plays the guitar and the violin. But her day job is in the Psychology Department at Canisius, where she was a student just 15 years ago.

Putnam waited until her children were grown before she went back to school. When she did, she became fascinated by the nervous system and toiled in such courses as anatomy and physiology. “They were difficult topics but I loved the challenge,” she says.

Putnam studied at two different institutions before she transferred to Canisius. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology in 1995. Four years later, Putnam obtained her PhD in behavioral neuroscience, or the intersection of biology and behavior, from SUNY at Buffalo. She joined the Canisius faculty in 2001.

Putnam teaches courses in experimental psychology, the neurobiology of mental disorders and the biopsychology of stress. Her research involves the stress response in humans, with a particular focus on cortisol and testosterone, and how these hormones react when presented with different factors. And although her study of science appears completely unrelated to her musical interests, Putnam believes they’re similar art forms in that they require creativity and curiosity. She possesses a plentiful supply of both and her students are the privileged beneficiaries.

“Every good teacher should be dedicated to increasing students’ knowledge,” says Dewey J. Bayer, PhD, chair and professor of psychology, and Putnam’s former professor. “But every good teacher should also gain something from that interaction with the students. That is Sue. She loves the students’ enthusiasm and delights in their learning.”

The subject matter may be serious but Putnam keeps her classroom informal to encourage student participation, discussion and questions. “You can be honest with her, tell her if you don’t understand something, and she will sit with you until she is sure you understand the problem,” says Jilynn M. Werth ’11, a biology/psychology major.

Putnam’s uncanny ability to harness her collective brain power (i.e. her right and left brain) enables her to teach very complex concepts in exceptionally relevant ways. She doesn’t use textbooks in her classes. “I do all my own research, come up with my own class material and present it in my own way,” explains Putnam, who is reputed amongst students for her use of analogies, metaphors and personal bloopers to bring learning to life. A popular Putnam anecdote is the bar room scene she creates to demonstrate the ‘resting membrane potential.’ Each ion represents a different group of patrons in the bar, including

Story by KriStin E. Etu ’91 ∙ PhotograPhy by tom Wolf ’86

faculty profile in leadership


potassium (legal patrons) and sodium (underage people). The bouncer is a sodium potassium pump, which throws some people (ions) out and lets others in.

“Her examples all relate to life situations and that not only makes the material more interesting but easier to learn and remember,” adds Werth.

Though her colleagues are relentless in their attempts to lure Putnam to become department chair, she is steadfast in her refusals.

“They tell me I’ll get a course reduction and I say, ‘Punish me more why don’t you,’” laughs Putnam. “I love teaching. I love being in the classroom.”

If Putnam’s classroom is the incubator where students formulate ideas, then her research lab is the training ground on which they test those ideas. Students work alongside Putnam to research how the body reacts to cortisol, the primary stress hormone excreted by the adrenal gland. Cortisol is important for such functions as glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation and immune system function. Small doses are beneficial because cortisol increases energy levels and memory functions. Too much cortisol over prolonged periods (typically the result of chronic stress) can suppress the body’s thyroid functions or trigger high blood pressure. Putnam carries out her cortisol research through the collection of human saliva samples.

“Dr. Putnam introduced me to the field of psychology and research,” says Justin M. Carré ’03, MS ’05, a PhD candidate at Brock

University in St. Catharines, Ontario. “She is a mentor, a friend and a collaborator, and I owe her a lot.”

Putnam and Carré collaborated on several studies that examined how hormone fluctuations relate to athletic performance. In 2006, they examined cortisol levels in Canisius hockey players and determined they had higher testosterone levels when they played on home ice, compared to when they played away. In 2009, the two measured testosterone levels in hockey players who watched game videos.

Putnam and Carré found players’ levels rose when they watched videos of games they won; levels remained the same when they watched videos of games lost.

“Coaches want to gain any slight advantage on their opposition and one strategy may be to identify the triggers that lead to natural increases in testosterone,” explains Carré. But there are additional benefits to the research. “Unfortunately, there are issues of drug abuse, eating disorders and anxiety in sports,” adds Putnam, who also serves as co-advisor for the sports psychology minor at Canisius. “For psychology students who go on to practice counseling, this type of research can help them serve a particular population – athletes - in a way that no one else can.”

Putnam’s next research project marries her interests in science and music. She will try to determine “whether music has a therapeutic value for children who have high-functioning autism,” says Putnam, a researcher for the college’s Institute for Autism Research. She explains that individuals with autism are unable to read emotional expressions on peoples’ faces. “We will investigate whether they can detect emotion in music.”

Putnam’s interest in childhood disorders extends beyond her research lab. She founded Western New York SibShop at Canisius. The international organization supports the common concerns and challenges faced by siblings of individuals with developmental disorders.

Putnam’s students were her biggest support group when her husband passed away in 2008, after a year-long battle with cancer.

“I worked the entire time and I was so grateful for my job,” recalls Putnam. “My students keep me going and keep me strong.”

Putnam’s enthusiasm for her students and scholarship is evidence that she truly is the sum of all her multidisciplinary parts. Perhaps one day, someone will map the different brain regions to explain her unique ability to seamlessly blend left-brain logic with right-brain intuitiveness. But it will probably take a scientist with musical aptitude or a musician with scientific adeptness to investigate this. It will most likely be someone much like Sue Putnam.

“SUE LOvES THE STUDENTS’ ENTHUSIASM AND DELIgHTS IN THEIR LEARNINg.”

Dewey J. Bayer, PhD, chair and professor of psychology

Photo, top: Susan Putnam, PhD, oversees a lab experiment conducted by Alison N. Brown ’11, a psychology major, and Jilynn M. Werth ’11, a dual major in biology and psychology.

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facultynotes

Canisius College Professor of Religious Studies and Theology Timothy H. Wadkins, PhD, is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California (USC) and the John Templeton Foundation. Wadkins, who also serves as director of the college’s Institute for the Global Studies of Religion, is using the grant to research the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement in El Salvador.

“In El Salvador, Pentecostalism has grown so rapidly over the past three decades that it has completely overturned any assumptions about Catholic dominance,” explains Wadkins, who will travel to El Salvador regularly from June - December 2010. “What is taking place in El Salvador is a micro- example of what is taking place throughout the world. A new reformation seems to be underway and it is rapidly shifting the center of gravity in Christianity from the West to the global South.”

Wadkins’ research focuses on the role of encroaching modernity; the perception and experience of spiritual power; the function of scripture; and the Pentecostal experience of and response to El Salvador’s social reality. The project will culminate in a book, entitled The Preferential Option for the Spirit: Pentecostalism and Culture in Modern El Salvador.

Wadkins is conducting the research project with Michael J. Gent, PhD, professor of management/marketing, and Patricia B. Christian, PhD, associate professor of sociology at Canisius College, as well as several Salvadoran scholars.

continued Support for autism ResearchThe Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) awarded a $75,000 grant to the Canisius College Institute for Autism Research (IAR) and Summit Educational Resources, for a third consecutive year. The grant will support training programs for school and community professionals, and parents. These efforts will increase understanding of autism spectrum disorders, as well as interventions and treatments. Funding will also be used to assess the trainings and identify statewide autism-related needs.

Christopher J. Lopata, PsyD, co-director of IAR, and Stephen Anderson, PhD, chief executive officer at Summit, are co-principle investigators of the grant. Marcus L. Thomeer, PhD, co-director of IAR, is a co-investigator on the project.

The Institute for Autism Research was created at Canisius to continue leading-edge research on autism spectrum disorders. It provides researchers and affiliated faculty the facilities necessary to study and treat autism spectrum disorders in a collaborative manner.

The Canisius College Alumni Association presented Mariusz M. Kozik, PhD, with its 2010 Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Faculty Award. The award annually recognizes one faculty member for teaching excellence and outstanding contributions to the academic world.

Currently in his third term as chair of the Department of Chemistry, Kozik’s teaching excellence is defined by the improvement in the quality of chemistry instruction and increased student retention in general chemistry courses,

through innovative group-learning techniques. Kozik’s undergraduate stu-dents are integral contributors to his research program, which focuses on complex inorganic compounds. Many of the world’s most prestigious chemistry journals publish their findings.

A two-time recipient of the Peter Canisius Distinguished Professorship, Kozik is also a recipient of more than $340,000 in grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and other federal and private organizations. As coordi-

nator of the Western New York Chemistry Olympiad, he facilitated sponsorship of the program through the Honeywell Research Laboratory in Buffalo. Administered under the auspices of the American Chemical Society at Canisius College, the Olympiad fosters increased interest in chemical sciences among high school students.

Kozik earned his MS in chemistry from Jagiellonian University in Krakow and his PhD from Georgetown University.

Canisius College is saddened by the passing of J. David Valaik, PhD, an emeritus professor of history. Valaik died on Friday, June 4. He was 74.

Valaik retired from Canisius in 2004, following 44 years of service to the college. During his tenure, he taught such courses as the Progressive Era, military history, the Civil War and Theodore Roosevelt. He also served as dean of continuing studies, for a period of time and directed the Canisius College ROTC Band.

Considered one of Western New York’s foremost authorities on Theodore Roosevelt’s life and times, Valaik authored numerous scholarly articles about the late president and a book, entitled Theodore Roosevelt: An American Hero in Caricature.

Memorials may be made to the Dr. J. David Valaik Scholarship fund at Canisius College.

Wadkins Studies Religious movement in El Salvador

kozik is Distinguished Faculty Winner

Timothy H. Wadkins, PhD

J. David Valaik, PhD

Mariusz M. Kozik, PhD

HIS LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

incent M. Cooke likes to say that he is a just a kid

from Hoboken. He learned to fish at Palisades

Park, where his father taught him to angle the

Hudson River for baby cod. And he enjoyed the

occasional movie at the U.S. Theater, located

across from his Washington Street home.

Back then, Hoboken, NJ was a hotbed of industries, which created

such products as Lipton Tea, Maxwell House Coffee, Hostess Cakes

and even the chairman of the board, Frank Sinatra. Factories and

shipyards drove the region’s economy. Jobs were plentiful for

interested high school graduates.

Only Vincent M. Cooke wasn’t interested in any of that. He had

a different destiny in mind. He wanted to become a Jesuit priest.

Canisius College comes of age under President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.S TO RY BY AU D R E Y R . B ROW K A • PH OTO G R A PH Y BY E R I C F R I C K


Father Cooke at Calver Lake, N.J,. first fish c. 1948

FaIth anD FORtItUDE

orn in 1936 on New York City’s West 11th Street, Father Cooke is the only child of the late Pauline and Vincent G. Cooke. The family lived in the West Village until their son turned five. They then moved to 604 Washington Street, in Hoboken, NJ, where they owned and operated a stationery store. Their high-spirited son

would work behind the counter.

“Like all little kids, I thought I knew everything better than everyone else and so when customers said things that I didn’t agree with, I told them,” laughs Father Cooke. “My mother always took me aside. She would say, ‘Vincent, you must remember the customer is always right.’”

Pauline Cooke taught her son many lessons. Chief among them was the meaning of faith. “My mother taught me how to pray,” recalls Father Cooke.

His Catholic grammar school teachers reinforced these lessons. The Jesuits at New York City’s Xavier High School influenced him even more. By senior year, Father Cooke knew he wanted to enter the Society of Jesus. His guidance counselor advised against it.

“He put me through all sorts of tests and at the end pro-claimed - almost triumphantly - ‘All the tests show that you should become an investment banker,’” states Father Cooke. Although he was flattered, “because investment bankers had pretty good reputations back then,” Father Cooke chose to “follow the Spirit” that guided him.

It led him to Canisius College.

1993

Canisius inaugurates its 23rd president, Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J.

1995 Construction begins on Village Townhouse residence facilities

Canisius introduces two new graduate programs: organizational

communication & development, and sport administration

1996 Renovation work begins on

Bosch and Frisch residence halls

Village Townhouses open to students

Renovation of Frisch Hall completed

1997 Canisius embarks on historic Imagine Canisius campaign

Renovation of Bosch Hall completed

1998 Average SAT score among incoming

freshmen climbs to 1099

Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship introduced

Canisius introduces new graduate major in telecommunications

management

1999 Renovation work begins on Lyons Hall

2000 Imagine Canisius campaign

concludes with $38.8 million raised

Renovation work begins on Old Main

Construction begins on Delavan Townhouses

Canisius introduces new undergraduate major in

digital media arts

Dedication of Lyons Hall

Dedication of Montante Cultural Center

2001 Phase I of Delavan Townhouse

project completed


pRIDE anD pURpOSE

Father Cooke came to Canisius in 1993 with a reverence for the college’s tradition and strength of its people. He also arrived with a focused ap-proach on discipline, drive and quality.

Quickly, word from the corner office at Bagen Hall spoke of “a new Canisius” – one that attracted higher-quality students, housed state-of-the-art living and learning halls, and became a prominent player in the Western New York community. This new Canisius also aspired to be among the premier regional colleges in the Northeast.

“We set that goal because, frankly, it was a stretch goal,” says Father Cooke. “It was not something that could be easily accomplished. There were a number of pieces that needed to be put in place – big pieces.”

Father Cooke first built the faculty in stature and pride.

“I always said that education must come a thousand times before anything else because this is what we do; we educate students,” adds Father Cooke.

He provided Canisius’ best educators with the resources necessary to focus on scholarship and creative teaching initiatives. He supported the recruitment of the best young graduate students from the top graduate schools in the country. These fresh young faces introduced new undergraduate and graduate majors in such emerging fields as digital media arts, in-ternational business and bioinformatics. They also enabled Canisius to increase the percent of courses taught by full-time faculty and low-ered the student-faculty ratio to 11:1.

Next, Father Cooke turned his attention to ad-mission standards.

“He said, ‘We’re going to raise admission stan-dards, we’re not going to admit students who we don’t believe can benefit from a Canisius education, and we are going to work hard to retain as many of those students and get them through to a degree,” explains John J. hurley, president of Canisius College.

Tangible results became apparent within a short period of time.

The number of students with high school averages of 90 or above climbed from 20 percent of the class to more than 50 percent of the class today. SAT scores similarly rose. The average score for the fall 2009 entering class hit 1118; up from 958 in Father Cooke’s first year at Canisius.

“He made it clear to high school students, counselors and the marketplace, at-large, that Canisius stands for academic quality,” adds Hurley.

At the same time, Father Cooke recognized that private higher education could no longer prosper in an environment where it was offered primarily to commuter students. The college would still serve its commuter population but “Canisius needs to attract residential students from wide areas if it is to really grow,” explains Father Cooke.

Canisius completed a total of 24 capital projects at a price-tag of nearly $150 million during Father Cooke’s tenure. Nearly half of that investment included the renovation or construction of eight major, modern-day residence

hall projects. Canisius also restored and renovated Old Main, Lyons Hall, the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center, and the award-winning Montante Cultural Center. A $22 million technology upgrade created more than 50 state-of-the-art classrooms and computer labs.

“We have a fabulous, fabulous campus and along with that a very progressive college physically and academically,” says nancy W. Ware ’78, mBa ’85, president of EduKids Inc. and a member of the Canisius College Board of Trustees. “We have everything from soup to nuts – and we have parking,” she laughs.

The physical transformation of Canisius may be dramatic but it is paralleled - albeit elusively- by a spiritual rebirth.

“Father Cooke emerged as a leader among Jesuit university presidents when he began an honest dialogue about what it means to be an American, Catholic, Jesuit university in 21st century America,” says Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University.

Father Cooke made clear that the college’s allegiance to its Catholic and Jesuit identity will not come at the expense of its mission as an American university. The search for truth goes on at Canisius but it goes on within the context of a college that is authentically Catholic and authentically Jesuit.

That search for truth is fostered in many ways. The Institute for the Global Study of Religion promotes the study and practice of religion on campus and throughout greater Western New York. A minor in peace and justice studies prepares students for local and global leadership. A new initiative, which enhances peoples’ faiths through the Spiritual Exercises, enlivens the spiritual health of the entire campus community.

“Father Cooke’s vision and implementation makes Canisius a truly well-rounded insti-tution,” says Emma Fabian ’10, a sociology major, and vice president of business and finance for the Undergraduate Student Association. “His commitment to quality

spans across all areas of campus and makes students feel like a valued part of a real community. We know the institution cares about our success because it provides us with the best.”

thE canISIUS Way

Quality became a way of life at Canisius, under Father Cooke. He set the tone early in his tenure after a trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports for a MAAC athletic championship.

“The park impressed me very much,” he recalls. “Everything is so neat, so clean, the colors are bright and the employees are all polite.”

Ironically, a burned-out light bulb led to an ‘ah-ha’ moment for the Canisius president.

“I casually pointed it out to the alumnus with whom I was sitting and he said, ‘That’s terrible. That’s not the Disney way.’ He wrote a note to have it fixed,” recalls Father Cooke. The Canisius president made his own mental note and upon his return to the college decreed ‘The Canisius Way.’

Father Cooke after his first vows c.1956


“Whether it concerns our students, our academic programs, our relationships with the community or the college’s physical plant, everything we do at Canisius needs to be done in a quality way,” says Father Cooke.

He repeated this message over and over again. He also demonstrated that he meant what he said to the Canisius community. During Father Cooke’s daily walks, he surveyed everything from the state of the campus gardens to the paint on college signs. His walks often resulted in ‘to-do’ lists for various college departments.

“He’s the greatest property manager in the world,” laughs carl J. montante ’64, hOn ’04, president and managing director of Uniland Development Company. “At a very fundamental level, Father Cooke’s walks around the neighborhood show just how committed he is to the pursuit of quality.”

BUFFaLO’S GOOD nEIGhBOR

Father Cooke’s commitment to qual-ity became a point of distinction for Canisius and its leader many times over. The Buffalo News ranked Father Cooke the second most influential civic leader in Western New York and recognized him as one of the region’s Outstanding Citizens. The News also named Canisius College the second most influential institution, overall, in terms of its positive impact on the community.

The recognitions are well-deserved.

“When I came here I remembered what my mother taught me about the customer always being right,” says Father Cooke. “The neighbors may not be our customers but they are our partners, and what is good for Canisius should also be good for them.”

It took several years for Father Cooke to build trust between Canisius and its neighbors. He met regularly with block club leadership. He designated a campus representative whom neighbors can call with concerns. Father Cooke enlisted public safety officers to serve as ambassadors for the college. He also promised that Canisius would no longer buy homes in the neighborhood but rather concentrate on available parcels along Main Street.

“He took all that on himself,” recalls Joseph J. castiglia ’55, hOn ’94, an emeritus member of the Board of Trustees. “He went out into the community, met the people, listened to them respectfully, worked to understand their concerns and then participated fully.”

To further demonstrate the college’s commitment to its neighboring community, Canisius initiated the Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) program. EAH provides incentives to employees who purchase homes in the city of Buffalo, preferably in the Hamlin Park or Parkside neighborhoods.

“The neighborhood is a really vibrant, alive community thanks to Canisius and the leadership of Father Cooke,” says Alphonso O’Neil-White, president and chief executive officer of BlueCross BlueShield. “There is a great dynamic now between the college and the families in the neighborhood.”

hIS LEGacy OF LEaDERShIp

Father Cooke never doubted Canisius would achieve the goals he outlined. Other people did.

“When I first arrived here, there was a survival mentality: what can we do to avoid defeat,” recalls Father Cooke. “Well, if you’re concerned

about being defeated, you will be defeated. If you are concerned about being the best, you will be the best.”

Father Cooke planned to be the best. To get there, he set a multi-million dollar goal for the college’s Imagine Canisius campaign. People told him it couldn’t be done.

“Quite frankly, I was one of them,” says Montante. “The college had all these issues and then on top of it, this new fellow - Father Cooke - was going to attempt to raise $30 million.”

The campaign not only achieved its goal but surpassed it by $8.8 million. The college’s current campaign, A Leg-acy of Leadership, stands at $73 million.

Father Cooke with his mother, Pauline c. 1956

“Father Cooke taught us a great lesson,” says Castiglia. “He taught us that it is okay to think in big terms; that Canisius no longer has to manage to avoid failure but can plan for success.”

And therein lies Father Cooke’s greatest legacy at Canisius.

Alumni and students, faculty and staff, family and friends now look at Canisius in a brand new way. They view Canisius as a residential institution, not a commuter school. They consider Canisius a regional school, not a local school. And they see Canisius as an increasingly selective institution, not one open to everyone.

“The Greeks use the word ‘metanoia,’ which refers to a fundamental change in the mind,” explains Hurley. “Canisius College experienced a metanoia under the leadership of Father Cooke.”

aD maIOREm DEI GLORIam

Life comes full circle for Father Cooke when he returns to the

New York Province of the Society of Jesus to serve as assistant to the provincial for higher education.

“Over the next four years, the New York Province will merge with the Maryland and New England prov-inces,” explains Father Cooke. “The provincial felt he needed someone with higher education experience to give advice to the leadership on how to proceed.”

Father Cooke brings to his new role all the qualities which endeared him to Canisius: a no-nonsense approach steadied by a refreshingly low-key confidence and a towering intellect curtailed by an inclusive leadership approach. And although Father Cooke’s vision for Canisius College is now an impressive reality, he remains understated in every way.

“The most impressive thing about Vincent Cooke is that he sees what he has done at Canisius as his con-tribution to the building up of the kingdom of God,” concludes Father McShane. “Everything he does, he does not for himself but for the greater glory of God.”

Father Cooke will pray that the Canisius community does the same, when he leaves 2001 Main Street.

“My prayer will be that all members of the Canisius community find God in their lives and that they follow the inspiration of the Spirit that is given to them,” says Father Cooke.

He followed the Spirit. It led him to Canisius and the college community will always be grateful for that.

2001 Canisius introduces new undergraduate majors in accounting information systems and bio-informatics, and new graduate program in health and human performance

Re-dedication of Old Main

2002 Phase II of Delavan Townhouse project completed

Renovated Economou Dining Hall opens to students

2003 Canisius introduces new under-graduate majors in international business and music

A fully-renovated Campion Hall reopens as the new housing facility for 48 international students

2004 Health Science Center renovation provides classrooms and laboratories for Biology and Psychology departments

2005 Dugan Hall opens to 270 resident students

Canisius acquires Mt. St. Joseph Academy property adjacent to Lyons Hall and creates 5.5 acres of green space

2007 Canisius receives $5.1 million gift from the family of Carl ’64 and Carol Montante

Canisius launches A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College

2008 Canisius acquires BlueCross BlueShield complex; develops plan to create interdisciplinary science center

Canisius recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education among “Great Colleges to Work For”

2009 Opening of Tim Horton’s coffee shop within the college’s Bouwhuis Library


Tsitsi Paradzai ’11 will never forget the day she opened her acceptance letter from Canisius College. “I knew that my Canisius education would open doors for me that I never thought possible,” she recalls. “Once I was accepted to Canisius, I no longer felt trapped by my surroundings.”

Born in Zimbabwe, Africa, Paradzai moved to Buffalo in 1998 with her mother and sister, and grew up on the West Side of Buffalo. She is able to attend Canisius because of the overwhelming alumni support to the annual fund.

“Perhaps the most significant impact annual fund gifts have is in the form of financial aid and scholarships,” explains Kirsten L. Reppert MS ’07, director of the annual fund. “Ninety-two percent of the money raised in the annual fund is allocated toward these every year.”

An education major, Paradzai is a member of the Urban Leadership Learning Community and the All-College Honors Program. She wants to become a teacher in the Buffalo School District, so that she may inspire the next generation of young people.

“My appreciation for the men and women who contribute to Canisius every year compels me to thank them, not in words but by my actions,” she says. “People invested in me and I want to show them that their gifts really do make a difference.”

Nearly 96 percent of Canisius students receive financial aid and scholarships, which enables the college to maintain its affordability and its reputation for academic excellence. Because the cost for tuition does not cover the cost of a Canisius education, a strong annual fund ensures that students – regardless of their financial circumstances – can have a superior educational experience.

Jonathan McDonald ’12 knows how much the little things add up. A cross-country runner, he built a weekly-training regimen that reaches up to 77 miles. McDonald and two of his Canisius teammates recently placed first in the 24th Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club Marathon Relay in Albany, NY.

“The dedication and consistency of annual fund donors enables me to do what I love every day at Canisius,” says McDonald, an accounting major from Clifton Park, NY. McDonald is enrolled in the five-year MBA program, and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Accounting Society. “Like any team, we need everyone to be involved and focused on the goal because when everyone comes together and supports the annual fund, great things can be accomplished.”

If you would like to give to the annual fund, please call the Annual Fund Office at 1-800-201-4952 or give online at canisius.edu/gift.

the Impact of annual Fund Gifts

Photo, right: Jonathan McDonald ’12 with Tsitsi Paradzai ’11

The S.J. Rosica Family Foundation made an $825,000 commitment to A

Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for

Canisius College. Established by the late Sebastian (“Red”) J. ’48, HON

’06 and the late Lenore (“Lee”) M.

(McGowan) HON ’06 Rosica, the foundation supports education, human services and religious causes. The gift will expand the Sebastian J. ’48 and Lenore M. Rosica Endowment at Canisius, which was established to support the college’s Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) with scholarships and other resources. The foundation gift brings the value of the Canisius endowment fund to $930,000.

Red and Lee Rosica were the driving force behind the development and funding of the ULLC when it was established in 2000. The program provides full and partial scholarships to the best and brightest Buffalo

students, who come from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The goal is to develop their academic and leadership potential to create a new generation of leaders in the city.

John “Jack” Zaidel ’57 wanted to establish a scholarship in honor of his mother, Rose. But he didn’t know what expenses lay ahead for him and had concerns about an outright gift to alma mater. A charitable gift annuity enabled Zaidel to make his philanthropic vision a reality.

Since he established a charitable gift annuity, Zaidel now receives a steady stream of

fixed income for the rest of his life. After his lifetime, the remaining funds will

be used to establish the John n. Zaidel ’57 & Rose c. Zaidel Scholarship.

To learn more about charitable gift annuities at Canisius College, or

establish one in your or a loved one’s name, contact Dianna civello,

interim associate vice president for development, at 716-888-8220

or via E-mail at [email protected].

Rosica Family continues Legacy at canisius

The Gift of a Lifetime

Mark and Kathy Rosica, of the S.J. Rosica Family Foundation, visited campus on May 11 to announce the foundation’s gift to A Legacy of Leadership. Pictured (l-r) are: E. Roger Stephenson, PhD, professor of English and co-creator of the Urban Leadership Learning Community; Essence Porter ’12, Taryn Spencer ’12, Bennie Williams ’11, ULLC students; Mark and Kathy Rosica; Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., president of Canisius; and John J. Hurley ’78, executive vice president and vice president for college relations.


campaign Update As of July 1, Canisius College has secured $73 million in commitments toward its $90 million goal for A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College. To learn more about A Legacy of Leadership, visit www.canisius.edu/campaign.


ILEEn m. (SUchyna) nOSEk’S LIFE CALLING IS TO improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Her calling came after the birth of her third son, Billy,

in 1987.

“Billy opened up a whole new world to all of us when we learned he had Down Syndrome,” says Nosek, referring to her husband, Steve ’76, and their sons, Robert and A.J.

Nosek is an educational evaluator at Summit Educational Resources, where she “tests children, from infancy through age five, to determine if they need special education services.” Nosek’s work at Summit is a culmination of her countless efforts on behalf of families similar to hers.

“I was unprepared for what it meant to be a parent of a child with special needs, when Billy was born,” recalls Nosek. She found support at a local Down Syndrome parent group and later initiated a similar support group when Billy began pre-school at the Heritage Education Program. Organization of Parents and Teachers (OPT) was the school’s first such group, which continues to operate today.

When Billy went to school full-time, Nosek returned to alma mater to become certified in special education. At the same time, she worked as a special education substitute teacher in the Depew School District. Nosek stood out for her finely-honed insight and temperate demeanor, and before long school districts and community organizations reached out for her expertise.

The Lancaster School District invited Nosek to become an original member of its Committee for Pre-School Education (CPSE), a federally mandated board for all public schools. She is a volunteer with SABAH (Skating Athletes Bold at Heart) and the Lancaster Special Olympics, and serves on the Aspire Board of Directors. Aspire assists individuals with developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible.

But Nosek now devotes most of her time to Touching Bases (www.touchingbases.org), a summer softball program for adults with disabilities, which she established four years ago.

“I dreamed of a baseball league where Billy could play with his peers,” says Nosek. “It needed to be a supportive yet competitive environment for adults with disabilities.”

Touching Bases started with 48 athletes in 2005. The league is now comprised of more than 180 athletes.

“Billy is the best thing that ever happened to us,” says Nosek. “He is the reason that everyone in our entire family is sensitive to people with disabilities.”

He is also the reason that Nosek dedicates her life to doing the same for others.

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T

Eileen m. (Suchyna) nosek ‘77: touching Lives

canisiusconnections

The Canisius College Alumni Association conferred its LaSalle Medal upon Joseph F. Bieron ’59, MS ’61, PhD and Thomas C. Mack ’61, during undergraduate com-mencement ceremonies on May 22. The LaSalle Medal is the Alumni Association’s most distinguished award and is presented to individuals who have made substantial contributions to advance the interests of alma mater.

Bieron is professor emeritus of chemistry at Canisius College. He joined the faculty in 1966 as an assistant professor and quickly climbed the ranks to become a full professor in 1977. During his tenure, Bieron served two terms as chair of the Chemistry Department, and also as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In this capacity, he established four major programs: medical technology, communication studies, urban studies and international relations; and implemented a faculty-student advisor system and an academic development program.

Bieron earned his BS and MS in chemistry from Canisius College, and his PhD from the University at Buffalo. He has since served as a volunteer for the college’s annual fund, and as a member of his class reunion and ROTC committees.

Thomas Mack is a partner in the firm of Mack & Pace Attorneys at Law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Canisius in 1961 and his juris doctorate degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 1964.

Mack is an ex-officio member of both the college’s Board of Trustees and Board of Regents, and past president of the Canisius College Alumni Board. He is a loyal volunteer for the college’s annual fund, and serves as a member of his class reunion committee. In 2004, he established the Thomas C. Mack ’61 Scholarship at Canisius College.

Bieron ’59, mS ’61 and mack ’61 Receive LaSalle medal

Joseph F. Bieron ’59, MS ’61, PhD Thomas C. Mack ’61

Canisius College inducted 11 new members into the DiGamma Honor Society. The prestigious society is made up of men and women who distinguish themselves in their service on behalf of students and alumni, and the advancement of the college.

Pictured are: Row 1: William J. Swierat ’72, , Anne (Driscoll) Gioia ’71, HON ’97, Debra S. Park MS ’06 Row 2: Rev. Michael F. Tunney, S.J., Robert M. Glaser ’68, LeRoi C. Johnson ’71, James E. Sherwood ’68, PhD Row 3: Thomas P. Dowd ’71, Alan C. West MBA ’98, John R. Connolly ’72, Patrick M. Gallivan ’82

DiGamma Inducts Eleven

Counter clockwise, from top right:

FLOrIdA WeST ALUMNI eveNT Nearly 40 alumni and friends attended a cocktail reception gener-ously sponsored by Charles Borzilleri ’55 and Dr. John Naples Jr. ’55 at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Tampa, FL. Pictured (l-r): Charles Borzilleri ’55, Barbara Borzilleri, Rev. Vincent M. Cooke HON ’10, S.J., Diane Arthur and John D. Naples Jr. ’55, MD.

FLOrIdA eAST ALUMNI eveNT Alumni and friends gathered for a reception at the Tower Club, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Pictured (l-r): John J. Hurley ’78 and James Celestino ’77.

BOSTON ALUMNI CHAPTer St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill, MA was the setting for an alumni Mass and reception in April. Rev. James Hederman ’76, S.J., MD, served as the main celebrant. Pictured (l-r): Craig Brandon ’89, Will Brandon, Sara Brandon, Joseph G. Marina, S.J.

WASHINGTON d.C. CHAPTer Political Science Professor Mike Haselswerdt, PhD, hosted a happy hour for political science alumni, at McFadden’s Restaurant & Saloon in Washington D.C. Pictured (l-r) are: Haselswerdt, Maeve Huggins ’09 and Kevin Fields ’08.

canisiusconnections


A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T

HAT DO BUBBLE GUM, THE BUFFALO BILLS and Southern apple pie have in common? They’re among the 75-plus premium ice cream flavors

produced by Perry’s Ice Cream, says Brian t. perry ’93, the company’s executive vice president and vice chairman.

Perry represents the fourth generation of the family business, which began in 1918. His great grandfather, H. Morton Perry, first made small batches of ice cream in his kitchen and delivered them in horse-drawn wagons. Nearly a century later, the Akron, NY ice cream maker employs approximately 275 people, and manufactures and distributes ice cream to supermarkets, restaurants and schools throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New England and Virginia.

Perry wasn’t obligated to be part of the family business. “I chose it,” he says. And he didn’t always hold his current leadership position. He earned it. “My dad taught us that you have to learn the business from the bottom up.”

Perry’s career began at age 14. He bagged and sold ice. Perry later helped on delivery routes. He stocked and straightened store shelves. Subsequent positions included manufacturing, purchasing, sales and logistics. Today, Perry’s work focuses on operations, new business and - of course - helping to bring everyone’s favorite flavors to life.

“People always ask how we come up with our ice cream flavors,” says Perry. Here’s the scoop, “There’s really no set way.” For example, the company developed its Coconut Lime Sherbet after Perry’s 15-year old daughter, Jenna, ate a piece of coconut and lime hard candy. “We all liked it so I took the candy down to our product manager to see what he could do with it.”

Sure, Perry’s job is cool (he has access to a never-ending supply of Mint-Ting-A-Ling ice cream, his personal favorite). But it’s his role as community liaison that most warms his heart.

“A major part of our philosophy is to give back to the community in which we do business.” Perry’s is the official ice cream of the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres. The company also sponsors the Buffalo Bisons, the Buffalo Zoo, Shea’s and Camp Good Days. Personally, Perry is a longtime member of the Lions Club. He sits on various town committees and chairs Akron's planning board. Perry also serves as a guest speaker for the college’s entrepreneurship and family business classes. “While the company’s values are rooted in creating the best quality products, it’s important for us to always keep in mind our humble beginnings.”

These old-fashioned values enable Perry to help lead the next generation of the family business.

Brian t. perry ’93: here’s the Scoop

nicolas J. toth ’41 March 13, 2010

henry E. Bembenista ’43, DDS December 15, 2009

John c. tynan ’44 November 21, 2009

John J. cotter ’49 December 11, 2009

Robert p. hueber ’49, mS ’52 November 10, 2009

hon. theodore S. kasler ’49 December 6, 2009

Leonard p. markert Jr. ’49 January 28, 2010

Richard c. mcDonough ’49 December 9, 2009

Jerry W. O’neill ‘49 October 3, 2009

Robert E. Wiedemann ’49 November 19, 2009

kenneth J. Jackson ’50 January 17, 2010

hon. paul B. kelly ’50 November 25, 2009

Robert a. Randaccio ’50 December 24, 2009

kenneth J. Wopperer ’50 December 9, 2009

Dominic S. Bellanti Jr. ’51 December 26, 2009

arthur J. Freitas ’51 June 20, 2009

Vincent R. Sheelar ’51 february 21, 2010

Robert c. Biers ’52 December 18, 2009

a. Vincent Fichera ’55 October 31, 2009

Francis a. Stalteri mS ’57 November 30, 2009

Richard m. Lamendola ’60 January 8, 2010

Joseph a. maiorana ’61 January 3, 2010

kenneth R. Durkin ’62, ma ’66 December 10, 2009

Joseph a. caligiuri mS ’64 December 27, 2009

David p. Verostko ’64 December 22, 2009

Ronald L. hefner ’65, mS ’68 January 20, 2010

carl a. puehn mS ’65 December 29, 2009

William h. harmon ’66 November 6, 2009

Sr. mary Victorine V. Deley mS ’68 January 14, 2010

Brian J. Unger ’68 November 10, 2009

Dorothy (Ellis) parson mS ’69 January 17, 2010

craig R. chesbro mS ’71 January 20, 2010

William E. Leising ’72 January 6, 2010

peter W. Broda ’73 December 8, 2009

marjorie L. (Sara) Quinlan ’74 January 21, 2010

Sr. m. Beatrice Dunn mS ’75 December 5, 2009

Donna S. Becker ’79 December 3, 2009

alan p. paolini ’80 December 31, 2009

Jean m. (Donovan) tompkins ’83 December 4, 2009

Ronald m. Gozdecki ’84 December 25, 2009

michael Budd ’95 September 6, 2009

William p. heyden ’03 January 25, 2010

Donald p. corsalini mBapa ’06 November 22, 2009

nicole J. (chaika) Barker ’00 and Jason k. Barker ’00, mD, a son, Ryan keith, born October 28, 2009

maureen c. (Delplato) Braunscheidel ’01 and Michael P. Braunscheidel, a daughter, molly Elizabeth, born July 20, 2009

karen a. Wailand conrad ’00, pharmD and Shawn Conrad, a son, Riley Jason, born January 8, 2010

Gerald E. Dix ’00 and Shanna Houghtaling, a son, ayden Lee, born December 20, 2009

melissa a. Doyle ’95 and Joseph capilli Jr. ’92, a daughter, Gray Doyle, born September 7, 2009

Julie m. (przepiora) Fisher ’99, mSED ’02 and arron J. Fisher mSED ’01, a daughter, Genevieve Julie, born May 29, 2009

Julie J. (Schmitt) householder ’95, mS ’97 and fred A. Householder, a daughter, Samantha nicole, born May 5, 2009

Jennifer a. (Gorczyca) macgregor ’97 and Rob Macgregor, a son, Jackson Daniel, born October 12, 2009

tracy m. Schutt ’97, mSED’ 01 and Matthew R. Skuse, a daughter, Eryka ava, born November 14, 2009

Jason J. Shurmatz ’99 and Julie A. Shurmatz, a daughter, Ella Grace, born November 17, 2009

Elizabeth m. (Wahler) Stark ’04 and Michael Stark, a daughter, Emma ann, born November 2, 2009

think your baby ought to be in pictures? Send us a photo of your newborn with his/her name and date of birth. Each issue, we will draw from the entries. if your child’s picture is chosen, he/she will be featured as the next “Baby griff.” Send photos to: Canisius College Magazine Baby Pictures; 2001 Main Street, lyons Hall 209; Buffalo, Ny 14208 or E-mail a high resolution photo to [email protected]. aLL Baby Griff photos submitted can be viewed on the college’s alumni site at www.canisius.edu/alumni/wedding_births.asp. Photos will be returned if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

T H I S I S S U E ’ S F E A T U R E D B A B Y G R I F F

Meredith Margaretborn to audrey m. (Dolan) Winkowski ‘00, pharmD

and her husband, anthony J. ’00, mD | September 26, 2009

I N M E M O R I A M

Weddings

Louis p. Bordonaro ’05 and Heather O’Neill on October 10, 2009

melanie J. mierzwa ’00 and Matthew R. Vold on August 29, 2009

alison J. nisco ’04, mBa ’08 and paul R. Delmonte ’04 on August 22, 2009

michael L. Roof ’94 and lori l. Sova on October 24, 2009

*Jeffrey W. Shepard ’06 and Chelsey Missico on December 5, 2009

michelle E. Slocum ’05 and george R. Michaels on October 3, 2009

Dana m. tinter ’06, mBa ’08 and Justin S. Bennett ’07 on May 24, 2010

new job? newly married? new arrival to the family?Simply E-mail your news and notes to [email protected]. The editors will share your accomplishments in a future issue of Canisius College Magazine.

Just remember to indicate Alumni Note, Alumni Wedding or Baby griff in the subject field of your E-mail.

canisiusconnections

*Indicates married at Christ the King Chapel.


class notes1940s’49 BS William Weyand Turner authored a new non-fiction book entitled Hockey Mom: Sarah Palin’s Shot at Glory.

1950s’52 BS Jerome E. Deinzer, retired insurance claims adjuster for One Beacon Insurance, was elected grand advocate for the Cordova Caravan No. 26 of the Order of Alhambra Grand Divan, a fraternal organization of Catholic men dedicated to assisting the developmentally disabled.

’55 BA Anthony J. Colucci Jr. has become of counsel to the firm Colucci & Gallaher PC. He previously served as a senior attorney. In addition, Martindale Hubbell, an internationally renowned legal resource, recently conferred on Colucci its highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards.

’57 BS Stephen G. DiPasquale retired from his position as senior medical representative for Pfizer Inc. after a 16-year career with the company.

’59 MS Marie (Gerace) Zafron, a retired teacher, leads a Tai Chi group at the Amherst Senior Center, and is a member of the Western Zone of the New York State Retired Teachers Association Board of Directors.

1960s’61 MS Gerald L. Ognibene, PhD, retired as professor of counselor education at Rowan University in New Jersey, after a 35-year career. In addition to teaching, he served as the graduate program coordinator for the university’s school counseling program.

’62 BS Paul M. Hassett Jr., senior managing partner at Brown & Kelly LLP, received the Super Lawyer designation in the 2009 Upstate New York Edition of Super Lawyers.

’63 BA Andrew D. Merrick, partner at Brown & Kelly LLP, received the Super Lawyer designation in the 2009 Upstate New York Edition of Super Lawyers. He was also recognized as a 2009 Super Lawyer in the Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers.

’66 BA Donald A. Alessi, an attorney with Alessi Law Firm, was named chairman of the Erie County Naval & Military Park, where he has been involved for 33 years.

’69 BS Peter M. Mueller announced his semi-retirement as owner of Peter M. Mueller Tax Service.

’69 BA Joanne M. Schwartzott, retired manager of Corporate Employee Relations at National Grid, received the 2009 Spirit of Mercy Award from Mt. Mercy Academy.

1970s’70 BS Michael F. Kennedy, PhD, was promoted to technical judge for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He previously served as principal scientist.

’70 BA Walter R. Pacer Jr., trial attorney at Hartford Insurance Group, was named secretary of the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York.

’71 BA James P. Burgio, attorney Burgio Kita & Curvin LLP, received the Robert M. Kiebala Memorial Award and was recognized as the Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York.

’72 BA, ’84 BA Barbara (Moesch) Harder was named to the Graycliff Conservancy Board of Directors.

’72 BA Stanton H. Hudson Jr., APR, chief development and communications fficer for the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, was elected second vice president of The Graycliff Conservancy.

’73 BS William C. Thuman is the new senior vice president at RBC Wealth Management. He previously served as vice president at Smith Barney Inc.

’74 BA Ann E. (Marchese) Celani, chief financial officer at Spearhead Transportation Services Inc., was named community chair for the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal 2010.

’74 BA Rev. James B. Cunningham Jr. is the new pastor at St. Teresa of Avila in South Buffalo. He previously served as administrator of Holy Family Parish.

’74 BA Dennis D. Ford is the new interim superintendent for the Depew Union Free School District. He previously served as director of the Educational Administration and Supervision Program at Canisius College.

’74 BA Christopher A. Head, an attorney in the city of Buffalo, was elected to the Niagara Corporate Counsel Association Board of Directors.

’74 BA, MBA ’91 Kenneth A. O’Donnell, senior vice president and consumer bank market executive of Bank of America in Lee/Collier Counties, FL, was named chairman of The Foundation for Lee

County Public Schools Inc. He was also named chairman of the Fort Myers/Lee County Enterprise Zone.

’75 BS Robert C. Caffarelli was promoted to vice president of finance and adminis-tration at Buffalo Hotel Supply Company Inc. He joined the company in 2001 and most recently served as controller.

’75 BS Gary M. Crosby was promoted to the newly-created position of chief operating officer at First Niagara Financial Group. Crosby joined the company in July 2009 as chief administrative officer.

’76 MS Dennis M. Kane was promoted to superintendent of the Cheektowaga Central School District. He previously served as assistant superintendent.

’76 MBA Lester Rickard, retired senior process engineer for Buffalo China Inc., was elected to the Graycliff Conservancy Board of Directors.

’77 BA Thomas J. Foels, MD, MMM, chief medical officer at Independent Health, was named to the National Committee for Quality Assurance Physician Practice Connections-Patient Centered Medical Home Advisory Committee.

’77 MS Mary Ellen (Baer) Mulvey, senior director of instructional support & community partnership at Medaille College, was named to The Arts in Education Institute Board of Directors.

’78 BA Diane M. Cairone-Cortese, volunteer mentor coordinator at Clarence Central School District, received the Community Leader Family Award from the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York.

’78 BA Domenic V. Cortese, president and chief executive officer of Cortese Brothers Construction Co. Inc., received the Community Leader Family Award from the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York.

’78 MBA James W. Ingham, vice president and chief financial officer at Mentholatum Company Inc., was named to The Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board of Trustees.

’79 BS David J. Nasca, president and chief executive officer at Evans Bank NA, was named corporate chair of the Catholic Charities Appeal 2010.

’79 BS James S. Smyczynski, chief auditor at National Fuel Gas Corporation, was re-elected to the executive board and appointed vice president of the Boy Scouts of America Greater Niagara Frontier Council.

1980s’80 BA Mary V. (Travers) Murphy is the new executive director for The Family Justice Center of Erie County. She previously served as supervisor for the Town of Orchard Park.

’80 MS Robert E. Zimmerman Sr. is the new interim superintendent for Lackawanna City School District. He previously served as superintendent of the Eden School District.

’81 BS Robert T. Mayer was promoted to chief financial officer at the Weinberg Campus. He previously served as vice president of finance. Mayer was also selected as a fellow of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

’81 BA Jeffrey J. McConnell, PhD, professor of computer science at Canisius College, recently had his book, Analysis of Algorithms: An Active Learning Approach, translated into Russian.

’82 BA Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, president and chief executive officer at The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, was appointed to the New York State Advisory Council on Lead Poisoning Prevention.

’82 BS Thomas C. Lillis, former vice president of HSBC Bank USA, was named to The Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board of Trustees. ’82 MBA Robert E. Martin retired from his position as manager of field engineering at New York State Electric & Gas Corp (NYSEG) after 35 years with the company. He now practices consulting engineering.

’83 BS Gregory M. Michalek was promoted to chief operating officer at CB Richard Ellis, which he joined in 2008. He will continue to serve as a senior vice president, in addition to his new responsibilities.

’84 BS James R. Deuschle, CPA, execu-tive vice president and chief financial officer at Rich Products Corporation, was named to the Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Advisory Board.

’84 BA, MS ’01 Patricia G. Duffy was re-elected treasurer of the Democratic Women's Club of Lee County, FL.

’84 BS Margaret (Prebis) King, chief financial officer at Buffalo Hospital Supply Company Inc., was elected treasurer of the Everywoman Opportunity Center Inc. Board of Directors.


To see what Alumni events are happening in your area, visit the

Alumni Calendar of Events at www.canisius.edu/alumni.


class notes’84 BS Norman J. Orlowski Jr., vice president and treasurer of the Erie & Niagara Insurance Association, was named treasurer of The Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

’85 BA Marie L. (Ricchiazzi) Battaglia, owner of Battaglia & Associates, was named Protégé of the Year by The Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs Program.

’85 BS Michael J. Faso, senior vice president of finance and ancillary services at Independent Health, was named to the Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Advisory Board.

’85 BS Steven J. Longo, chief operating officer at Benchmark Group, was named to The Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board of Trustees.

’85 BS Gregory P. Maher, former president of Great Lakes MDF, was named vice chair of the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal 2010.

’85 BS Richard C. Slisz recently opened The Law Office of Richard C. Slisz in Buffalo. He previously served as a partner with Offermann, Cassano, Greco, Slisz & Adams.

’86 BA Daniel K. Conley, vice president of claims administration and risk management at First Niagara Risk Management Inc., was named chairman of Leadership Niagara for 2010.

’86 BA Joseph G. Goergen, senior attorney at Hanover Insurance Company, was named a member of the Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York Board of Directors.

’87 BA, MBA ’89 Sharon Angelino, partner at Goldberg & Segalla LLP, was named a member of The Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York Board of Directors.

’88 BA Randy C. Rucinski, senior counsel at National Fuel Gas Corp., was elected secretary of The Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association.

’88 BS Stephen M. Ulrich, owner of Granite Spine LLC, was named parish chair for the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal 2010.

’88 BS Diane C. (Piotrowski) Zarlock, legal counsel for GE Consumer Finance, was elected to The Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association.

’89 BA Paul A. Marasco, attorney at The Marasco Law Firm, was elected

to the Town Board of Irondequoit and appointed deputy town supervisor.

’89 BS Russell J. Matuszak, legal counsel at HealthNow New York Inc., was elected to The Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association Board of Directors.

’89 BA Michael R. Mendola, senior counsel at HSBC Bank USA, was elected to The Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association Board of Directors.

1990s’92 BA Joseph A. Blatz, vice president and treasurer for the Buffalo Religious Arts Center, was elected to the Graycliff Conservancy Board of Directors.

’92 BS Jennifer (Gray) Bojdak was promoted to supply chain director-North American Distribution at Energizer Holdings Inc. She previously served as supply chain leader – U.S. Distribution.

’92 MPA, MBA ’98 Ellen R. Christy, manager of Upstate NY West Security at National Grid, was elected chair of the Western Division Federal Credit Union Board of Directors.

’94 MS Elizabeth (Olson) DeFazio was promoted to chief operating officer of Instant Technology in Chicago, IL, where she previously served as vice president of sales and operations. DeFazio was also recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for her dedication, leadership and excellence in business management.

’94 BA Michael A. Whipple, vice president of business banking at M&T Bank Corporation, was named chair of the Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal 2010.

’95 BA Bridget E. (Griffin) Russo is the new leader of the human resources consulting and member services practice group at RT Dee & Associates. She previously served as human resource specialist at Computer Task Group Inc.

’96 BS Craig M. Horbinski, MD, PhD, is the new neuropathologist at the University of Kentucky, where he specializes in molecular diagnostics and brain tumor research. He completed his residency at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

’96 BA Kaia (Willikens) Forget, program manager at the Rollins College Philanthropy & Non-profit Leadership Center, was named to the Orlando Business Journal Forty Under 40 list for 2009, in recognition of her professional success and community involvement.

’97 BS John K. Grandy is the new physician’s assistant at Lee Medical Associates in Dunkirk, NY. He previously served as a physician’s assistant for the Erie County Health Department. He also wrote a chapter on DNA and genetic engineering, which will be published by Sage Publications in a two-volume reference entitled “21st Century Anthropology.”

’97 BA Stephen W. Kelkenberg was named partner at Hodgson Russ LLP. He previously served as an associate attorney at the firm and focused on commercial disputes.

’99 MBA Susan (Manley) Swarts, corporate trainer at Evans Banks, was named president of the Arts in Education Institute Board of Directors for 2009 - 2010.

2000s’00 MBA Andrew A. Attea was promoted to vice president of client operations at Synacor. He previously served as director of client releases.

’00 MBA Anthony J. Delmonte Jr. is the new senior vice president and chief credit officer at The Bank of Akron. He previously served as vice president-relationship manager at M&T Bank.

’00 BS Sean M. Govern, manager at Freed Maxick & Battaglia PC, was named to the Western & Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board of Trustees.

’00 MBA Lisa A. (Koch) Mrkall was promoted to supervising senior accountant at Tronconi Sagarra & Associates. She joined the firm in 2006 and most recently served as a senior accountant.

’00 MBA Philip L. Otminski is the new IT manager at Curbell Inc. He previously served as program manager at Rich Products Corporation.

’01 MSED Julie A. Kaczor is the new principal of Holy Angels Academy. She previously served as an assistant principal in the Orchard Park School District.

’01 BA Jennifer A. Toomey Starr, PhD, was promoted to coordinator of research and program evaluation at Summit Educational Resources. She previously served as research coordinator.

’02 MBA Charles T.G. Ambrus is the new executive director of the International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance in Reston, VA. He previously served as capital management associate at Capital Management Services Inc.

’02 BS Christopher J. Spadafora is the new career agent at the Buffalo Agency Of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. He previously served as a financial representative at The Compass Group.

’04 BS, MBA ’05 Sean D. Penner was promoted to supervising senior accountant at Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP. He previously served as a senior accountant.

’05 BA John F. Pitts was promoted to investor relations account manager at Travers Collins & Company. He joined the agency in 2008 and most recently served as an investor relations analyst accountant coordinator.

’05 BS Matthew M. Vinc, goaltender for the Orlando Titans in the National Lacrosse League, was named a member of Team Canada for the 2010 Men’s Lacrosse World Championships.

’06 MS Debra S. Park, associate vice president of public relations at Canisius College, was named vice chair of the NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo Board of Trustees.

’07 BA Angus W. Dineley, a member of the Norwood Nitro Lacrosse Team with the Senior Lacrosse Team, was named a member of Team Canada for the 2010 Men’s Lacrosse World Championships.

’07 BS David J. Lever was promoted to senior accountant at Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP. He previously served as staff accountant.

’07 BS Kevin W. Ross, a buyer for SNC - Lavalin Profac, was named a member of Team Canada for the 2010 Men’s Lacrosse World Championships.

’07 BA, MBA ’09 Ashley A. Smigelski is a new staff accountant at Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP.

’08 BS, MBA ’09 Alex M. Brehm is a new staff accountant at Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner.

’08 BS Shawn J. Nowicki is the new director of health policy for the New York Business Group on Health in New York, NY. He graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in public health in health policy.

’09 MBA Anthony Donnelly is a new staff accountant at Gaines Kriner Elliot LLP.

Relief Effort

Robert M. Greene ’66 sets out on a medical

mission in the wake of the Haitian earthquake


I now know what hell is. I have seen it, smelled it and heard it. It is called Haiti.

In February, I participated in a medical mission to Port-au-Prince sponsored

by Medicines For Humanity Inc. A little history may help explain my trip.

I made my first trip to Haiti in November 2001 as the “go for” for a medical

mission through Buffalo’s Catholic Health System. Since then, I have returned

to Haiti 14 times either on similar missions or to do assessments of possible

clinic sites.

One of the clinics is connected to an orphanage, Notre Dame de Lourdes,

which was the home for 70 girls until the earthquake on January 12. Over

the years, we tried to focus on improving conditions, such as upgrading the

clinic, purchasing a van and installing a water purification system. This year

the plan was to build a play area for the girls. They had none. Now they have

nothing and are forced to live outside.

Before the earthquake, there were an estimated 350,000-380,000 orphans

in Haiti and not enough orphanages. The children who lived on the street

were easy targets for those trafficking in illegal adoptions, the sex trade and

domestic slavery, all for markets in foreign countries.

I went to Haiti in February to see what could be done to put the clinic back in

operation. My heart was there because of 70 little girls. What follows is my

journal of this journey. I apologize if it reads like a poorly-written Russian

novel. I wear my heart on my sleeve (I’m Irish!) so my emotions were raw. They

still are.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The team arrived in Port-au-Price. Hospice St. Joseph is gone. It col-lapsed into a giant mound of broken concrete, furniture and people’s personal property. We pitched our tents in the courtyard on concrete slabs. There was no food for us, which we expected, but we were too tired to bother to prepare anything that we brought with us. We just ate an unhealthy combination of munchies and candy. We set up our supplies to see patients in the morning. I unpacked and I was in my tent ready to sleep by 8:30 p.m.

Monday, February 15, 2010

We started to see patients at 8:30 a.m. Our patients were all children with the occasional parent or grandparent thrown in. My job was to create breathing masks from empty water bottles for children who must use inhalers, or “puffers” as we call them at home. With all the cement dust created by the collapsing buildings, there are many respi-ratory problems. There were many little people who were dehydrated, some severely so. Water is still not easily obtained. Also some children appeared to be in shock or PTS, not eating or drinking and zombie-like.

The most difficult cases for me, however, were the amputees; children who lost limbs and were coming to have their dressings changed or because there was evidence of infection. I have never heard anyone scream with pain as one eight-year-old boy who lost his foot. Any doubts about it being pure drama were dismissed by the look on the doctor’s face.


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

I was up at 6:00 a.m. Normally by 6:00 a.m. the streets would be busy with vendors and slow moving traffic. Both were missing this morning.

There were 55 people waiting to be seen by 7:30 a.m., although they knew we did not open until 8:30 a.m. We would have start-ed earlier but needed the interpreters since no team members’ Creole or French was trustworthy enough to treat patients.

This afternoon I made it over to the orphanage for the first time. It was a trip of mixed emotions. Three of the girls were killed on January 12. Sixty-seven now live in tents across the street. It is a terrible set up in terms of the living conditions. Mdme. Paula Thybulle, the founder and executive director of Notre Dame de Lourdes, is determined to rebuild. She picked a site just outside the City of Port-au-Prince and wants to move the girls there to live in tents while construction is going on. I am worried she will not be able to achieve her goal because of a combination of her age, her poor health and her lack of experi-ence in undertaking such a major project. It would be preferable if she arranged for a turnkey project in which she only approves designs and pays the bills.

I think my job has just been defined: I will help raise the money and find an organization that will build the new orphanage. I will go visit the new site with Paula on Thursday.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A crowd of Haitians joined us for Ash Wednesday Mass. Haiti is a very religious country. Sometimes religion is the only thing the people have. It shows up in some funny ways as well. My two favorites are the “Sts. Philip & Augustine Gas Station” and the “Sacred Heart Tap Tap” (bus).

I went to work on the issue of finding an engineer to evaluate the orphanage. Sister Betty Scanlon, RSM, the chief operating officer for Medicines For Humanity Inc., and I met with the leadership in Haiti of the International Medical Corps (IMC) to discuss how the clinic can be supported. I managed to sneak discussion of the orphanage in as well with a happy result. IMC has a nutrition program and will do a site visit at Notre Dame de Lourdes. They also invited us to come to their warehouse tomorrow morning to see if there are supplies that will help. They didn’t have to ask twice.

Photos, left page:

(top) A primary and secondary school ruined by the earthquake. (bottom)

The eight-year old boy whose foot had to be amputated.

Photos, right page:

(top) This hillside photo of Port-au-Prince captures only a portion of the

damage done by the earthquake.

(center) A booth at the Haiti/Dominican Republic border, where supplies

for Haiti were assembled.

(bottom) An American doctor examines a small child at a make-shift clinic.


Thursday, February 18, 2010

Sister Betty and I were off early to the IMC warehouse with a truck. Everything given to us was for the clinic and its nutrition program. I found

tents and shelter boxes donated by Rotary. IMC couldn’t give us any shelter boxes because they were committed. So, as soon as we were on our way

back to Hospice, I fired off an E-mail to my two favorite Buffalo rotarians, paul hurley ’66 and Bill Keefer. I asked them to find a dozen or so shelter boxes

for us. Each box will hold six to eight children.

This afternoon I went with Paula to see the proposed site for a new orphanage. It was in Croix-des-Bouquets, about 40 minutes from central Port-au-Prince. While the road

into the site is a mess, the property is quite appealing with mature trees, a perimeter well that needs repair and two wells. There is a high school within walking distance.

Paula and I discussed the distance between the clinic and the orphanage as a man-agement issue. It will be tough for her to accept that but she did finally concede

that she would be willing to turn the clinic over to another charitable institution and just operate the orphanage. I suspect that will be easier said than done.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

I spent part of the day delivering medications for Medicines for Humanity to the agencies with which it collaborates. We went to the General

Hospital to see the International Medical Corps. The facility is a mass of tents set up side-by-side and run by a United Nations of caregivers.

Large and small countries were there, and it all seemed to be well coordinated. There were plenty of our GIs around providing

support services as well as security. I felt badly for them because they were in fatigues, boots, etc. not with standing the 90°+F

and lack of any shade. But I also smiled with pride when these shiny-faced kids did the “yes, sir” and “no, mam” as

they tried to help everyone.

Our next stop was very hard. We stopped at Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity. Their facility,

Sonfil, was at capacity with children and elderly who are dying. The big eyes staring from the sad

faces of the children were difficult for me. Sure, we all see much of the same on televised

appeals for various children’s relief orga-nizations. Standing by their bedsides,

however, with the sounds and odors of impending death is an emotional

nightmare.


Photo, left page:

A child looks out from a tent in one of the

"tent cities."

Photos, right page:

(above) Kids scavenge through the ruins

of the Haitian Treasury Department. The

boy in front came out of the wreckage

with a computer keyboard. A second boy

is backing out of the building, about half

way up.

(right) UNICEF agreed to provide two

large tents for Notre Dame de Lourdes’

make-shift orphanage, which can be used

for a dining area, recreation area and

classroom space.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Sister Scanlon and I left Hospice shortly after the medical team did. The collapsed building seems to be creeping down the hillside towards our camp site. So we were happy to leave.

Paula was not feeling well so we could not go to the orphanage. We took advantage of the found time to map out plans for what remains to be done before we leave on Wednesday, in order to move the orphanage.

Tents and toilet facilities are the major issues. Megan (my daughter) and Tony (her boyfriend), did research that produced several alternatives. I appointed them to be my “R&D” Department. They are really into it, and sent me a report with drawings.

We had dinner tonight with Paula. She was receptive to our plans but added a very happy twist: UNICEF can guarantee two large tents, which can be used for a dining area, recreation, classroom, etc. I will still go forward in trying to locate the shelter boxes in which the girls can live.

Once we have the girls on site, then there is the big task of building a permanent facility. This will include raising the money to pay for it. The orphanage has no resources. It doesn’t even have a fund-raising program. It survives on the donations of a few regular donors in the U.S., plus what visitors frequently give when seeing the orphanage in operation.

It really is a remarkable operation with girls ranging from about three to 16 years of age. Before January 12, they lived in two large dormitories using bunk beds and ate in one large dining area. There were classrooms for the elementary school children but the older ones attended a nearby private high school. There were also training areas for teaching baking, sewing and cosmetology. Every girl had a job albeit doing laundry by hand, sweeping, filling water bottles, washing dishes, washing floors, etc. The assignments for the older girls included caring for the little ones.

Monday, February 22, 2010

The beginning of the day was by far the best part. I went to the orphanage to distribute the gifts to the girls provided by Aimee Gomlak from the Catholic Health System and her daughter, Julia. I blew bubbles and played with finger puppets. The girls would touch my beard because a Caucasian’s hair is so different. My favorite was Daphne whom I met in August for the first time. She is a ferocious three-year old who closes one eye when blowing bubbles.

We drove to Croix-des-Bouquets for a second look at the site. Murphy Souverain, who is Medicines for Humanity’s director in Haiti, agreed to help Paula plan the move of the orphanage. That will be a big assist. I am even more convinced that this is an excellent location. However, it will take effort and money.

I was stunned this afternoon by the enormity and efficiency of the UN Compound. Non-UN vehicles are not permitted so we had to hike in when looking for the Shelter Box offices. The place was a beehive with people and goods moving fast in all directions, helicopters taking off and landing, and a large number of UN troops and vehicles. It was a city unto itself.

The engineers are coming to Croix-des-Bouquets on Wednes-day and the existing orphanage on Thursday or Friday. I wish I could be here to follow through but I am sure if I stayed, the appointments would be delayed yet again. So I have one day left to arrange for the tents and make the contacts to get the information I need to continue making arrangements from Buffalo for the new orphanage. I really wonder if I have accomplished anything these past 10 days.


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

At 1:30 a.m. we had an aftershock which lasted 10 seconds and registered 4.7. A milder one followed about 2:00 a.m. People rushed out of buildings, many in a panic. There was lots of noise . . . and i slept through it all.

We met with Paula early this morning at the orphanage. We mapped out the details of the move to the new location in Croix-des-Bouquets, first on a temporary basis in tents and then to build a permanent facility. i prepared notes and then a memo assigning tasks and deadlines. My responsibilities include the tents, the engineers’ reports (both of which are hopefully lined up) and then the fund raising.

Actually i have identified enough in gifts from family and friends to cover the costs of the initial move in tents, the repairs needed to put the site in order and the ac-quisition cost. But then comes the hard part: building a new facility. i have a Buffalo architect in mind who could prepare plans and drawings for the new orphanage. i just have to convince him that he has been waiting for this opportunity to donate his professional services.

i tried to check on the Shelter Boxes next, arrived at the UN compound, found their site but no one was there. i waited about one hour but finally after being sufficiently fried by the sun, had to leave a note. No sooner had i left the UN compound than i received an E-mail message from the man i was trying to find. He was not giving any more tents without “assessing the situation,” something else that has to happen after i leave Haiti. This string that must not break gets longer and longer.

The trip back to our digs was poignant. Murphy stopped at the site of his family home. it was a huge pile of broken concrete. His sister and niece died when the house collapsed. They could be heard praying and asking for help for the first day but there was no way to reach them. After four days, his brother was found alive but his right arm had to be amputated. “Medecins Sans Frontieres” is caring for him. Murphy’s father was also buried and is still in the general Hospital.

As we stood looking at the remains of the house, Murphy’s surviving sister and two brothers emerged. They had been shifting through the rubble trying to find what was usable, as well as family mementoes. They gave a tentative wave but did not seem inclined to visit rather returning to their poking at the piles that surrounded them. Murphy said they were finding very little because they could not move the larger pieces of concrete. As we returned to the van, Murphy was crying.

i think it was Stalin who said something to the effect that the death of a few is a tragedy but the death of millions is a statistic. i think that concept came home to me this afternoon.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

i started my trip home this afternoon. Flights have resumed from Port-au-Prince to Miami. it will take about 30 hours door-to-door if everything is on schedule. i used the time to write a description of the proposed construction and our assignment sheet for everything Paula, Sister Betty, Murphy and i must accomplish in order to move the kids to Croix-des-Bouquets. Home will look good.

i do not know if i accomplished anything on this trip. i was some help in the clinic because they had to find something for me to do. (There is now a year’s supply of breathing masks made from water bottles for people using inhalers.) i helped deliver some medications. But when it came to actually getting the children at the orphanage to a safe, clean environment, i got nowhere. Tents are still uncertain. The engineers still have to arrive. All i really have is a plan and an assignment sheet.

The strange thing, however, is that the Haitians seem pleased with just that. Perhaps it is because the small group of us tried to paint some form of a better future for one very small corner of their world. if i am right, then the obligation to produce that result will hang heavy.

- Bob Greene ’66* Robert M. Greene is a partner in the Buffalo law office of Phillips Lytle LLP

For more information or to make a donation to the Notre Dame de Lourdes orphanage, visit www.haitianorphanagefund.com

Photo, left page:

(top) Bob Greene with the girls from the Notre Dame de Lourdes orphanage.

(bottom) Girls from the Notre Dame de Lourdes orphanage blow bubbles.

Photo, right page:

Bob Greene visits with the girls from the Notre Dame de Lourdes orphanage.

They touch his beard “because a Caucasian’s hair is so different,” he says.

Canisius College Magazine

2001 Main Street | Buffalo NY 14208 | www.canisius.edu

Canisius College installed Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., as its 23rd president on Saturday, April 30, 1994. The installation ceremony is comprised of tradition and protocol, and is the heart of the inaugural celebration. At this ceremony, it is customary for representatives of the college’s major constituencies to instruct the new president in their expectations for him during his tenure.

Pictured above are those individuals who charged Father Cooke upon his installation as president.

Row 1 (l-r): Rev. James M. Demske ’47, HON ’76, S.J., 22nd president of Canisius College and chancellor; Sr. Marlene Butler, GNSH, director of campus ministry; Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., HON ’10, S.J., 23rd president of Canisius College; Joan Connell, PhD, vice president for academic affairs; Anne Sullivan Polino ’83, MBA ’06, president of the Alumnae Association; Herbert J. Nelson, PhD, professor of philosophy and chair of the Faculty Senate.

Row 2 (l-r): Robert M. Greene ’66, HON ’05, chair of the Canisius College Board of Trustees; Carlos Carballada ’56, HON ’81, chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents; Hon. Robert B. MacKenzie, Canadian Consul General at Buffalo; Thomas C. Mack ’61, HON ’10, president of the Alumni Association; Anthony Masiello ’69, HON ’96, mayor of the city of Buffalo; Rev. Edward D. Head HON ’74, Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo; Rev. Joseph Parkes, S.J., Provincial for New York Society of Jesus; Steven Siffringer ’94, president of the Canisius College Undergraduate Student Association. PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM WOLF ’86

canisius college magazine spring 2010

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