Contact
Fall 2004
Fall 2004
Vol. 6 No. 1
Contact is published by the Office of
University Advancement, St. Thomas
University, 16401 NW 37th Avenue,
Miami Gardens, FL 33054.
Tel: (305) 628-6660
Fax: (305) 628-6703.
Editor & Associate Director
Susan M. Smith
[email protected]
Assistant Editor
Eric B. Smith
[email protected]
Alumni Association Director
Jerry Bernfeld
[email protected]
Director of Annual Giving
Janine “Gigi” Laudisio
[email protected]
Vice President, Office of University
Advancement
Beverly S. Bachrach
[email protected]
President
Rev. Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale
For Class Notes we welcome alumni
news and photos, including career
changes, marriages, births, memberships and honors. Please send this information to Susan M. Smith by fax,
mail or e-mail ([email protected]).
Information Update
Please keep us informed of any change
in address, employment or contact information. Include the e-mail address
(either home or business) at which you
would like to receive news about St.
Thomas University. Please send by fax,
mail or e-mail to Carla Valeriani at
([email protected]). Thank you!
Contact
Newsletter for Alumni and Friends of St. Thomas University
Contact is also available on-line at www.stu.edu/alumni
Mayor Shirley Gibson
A Leader for Life
You may have noticed that STU has a new address and
that we are now in the city of Miami Gardens, located north of
Opa-Locka and east of Miami Lakes. Elected mayor of this
new city just over a year ago, Shirley Gibson, Class of 1981
and 2003, has definite ideas on what it takes to be a leader.
“Leaders are born, but I believe they are also made,”
declares Mayor Gibson. She says she has also learned that
you do not have to be designated a leader – if you see that
there’s a job that needs to be done “just go and do it.”
Her passion for the local community equals her persistence in reaching her goal. Her first effort to incorporate a
Mayor Shirley Gibson
city in northwest Miami-Dade was defeated in 1995. “For years
people thought the push for a new city was over, but I stayed engaged,” she explains. “I
attended community meetings all over the county and found out how successful leaders
accomplished their goals.”
Mayor Gibson wants to create a sense of place, a sense of community, for Miami Gardens.
continued on Page 6
Carnival Cruise Lines
Science and Technology Building
November 12 Groundbreaking Ceremony
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Carnival Cruise Lines
Science and Technology Building will take place at the construction site behind Kennedy Hall on November 12 at 11:30
a.m. Carnival Cruise Lines and Bob Dickinson, STU trustee
and Carnival’s CEO and President, have donated $1 million
towards the construction of the 32,000 square foot state-ofthe-art building which will house the Department of Natural
Sciences, a clinical laboratory for research projects by social
science majors and a 200-seat theatre/television studio for
Bob Dickinson
communications students. Everyone is welcome. Please
R.S.V.P. by November 5 by calling (305) 628-6660. A reception will immediately follow the
ceremony.
Page 1
Contact
Fall 2004
Class Notes
1975
Lilia Bustamante, B.A., Spanish, and
M.S., Education (1978) has published ten
new titles for children. Together with her
daughter and her granddaughter she has
opened the ABC Learning Center in
Broward County, FL.
1980
Sharon Dranetz, B.A., Liberal Arts, is
starting a new fundraising company after
working as an office manager for a chiropractor for the past 12 years. If anyone in
South Florida belongs to a team, PTA, or
church group, please contact her by email at STU Alumni Connections.
1981
Edilbert J. Diaz, B.A., Sociology, worked
for Eastern Airlines in Aruba until 1990
and has worked as a part-time instructor
at Aruba School of Hotel Technology from
1983-1993 teaching sociology, psychology, and business ethics. He is now the
manager of the Gianomar Learning Center
in Oranjestad, Aruba.
1982
Juan Alborna Salado, B.A., Spanish, is a
retired journalist, but continues to write.
His novel El Oro de Manny Plaza was
one of the finalists in a literary contest of
Instituto Vargas Llosa which can be found
at:www.librosenred.com/
elorodemannplaza.asp.
Cathy Pallavicini Whitt, B.A., English and
Communications, has worked for the Memorial Healthcare System for the past ten
years in the fitness department. She recently received a promotion and is now
the Broward County Coordinator for the
Schools of Wellness Initiative, a grantfunded program. Cathy is married to John
Whitt and they have two sons, Guy, a student at the University of Central Florida,
majoring in International Relations and in
the Air Force ROTC, and Joey, a fifth grader
at Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary.
1985
Jackie Gardner, M.S., Healthcare Management, is a hospital homebound teacher at
the Merrick Education Center in Coral
Gables. He received his Ph.D. in Philosophy
in Education from the Union Institute &University. He says he credits much of his success in obtaining his Doctorate to his successful academic experiences at STU.
1986
Karen B. Lindsey, B.A., Business, has
worked for the U.S. General Accounting Office for 13 years, and for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General for four years. She is married,
has two grandsons and lives in
Lawrenceville, GA.
Michael J. Marcil, M.S., Sports Administration, has been named Commissioner for the
Sunshine State Conference after serving the
past seven years as
Commissioner of the
North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Sunshine
State Conference is an
NCAA Division II
sanctioned intercollegiate athletic conferMichael J. Marcil
ence located in Florida.
Alice Smith, B.A., English, returned home
to her native Belize after graduation where
she worked as a registrar for the University
College of Belize. In 1988 she migrated to
New York City where she worked for Bantam/Doubleday/Dell Publishers and Access
America. Alice returned to Belize from 19901994 where she worked simultaneously with
the National Chamber of Commerce as Public Affairs, Communications and Membership
Development Officer and as a TV news anchor. In 1994, she returned to Miami to complete her Master’s in Adult Education at
Florida International University and now
teaches English Language and Creative Writing at Parkway Middle Community School
in Carol City.
Page 2
1987
Fozan H. AL-Fozan , B.A., Computer
Science, is Manager of Defense & Aviation Systems for International Systems Engineering in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1988
Lora Hoggard Schmidt, M.A., Pastoral
Ministries, married Mark Schmidt on June
18, 2004. The couple bought a 68 year-old
house in Columbus, GA. Lora has served
as a youth
minister and
has completed seven
units
of
Clinical Pastoral Education at Carolinas Medical Center; a
Mark and Lora Schmidt
level one
trauma center. Since then, she has been working as a
hospital chaplain in Catholic Healthcare
for 12 years.
1993
Dorothy E. Groves, M.A., Pastoral Ministries. As an ordained minister she was
asked to start a new church for the Hope
Christian Disciples of Christ Church and
in a year and a half the new church has
grown from 5 to 57 members. Dorothy just
started a six-year term as Chair of the Commission on Ministry for the Christian
Church in Florida.
1995
Gaston Moulin, B.A., Communication Arts,
has worked for Memphis Light, Gas, and
Water Division as a Bilingual Communications Specialist for four years. He has also
worked as a Senior Editor of Apparel Industry International, a trade magazine distributed throughout Latin America, and as
Editor of Textiles Paramericanos which is
also a trade magazine in Spanish distributed in 19 countries. Gaston was also a
manager of a translation company located
in Atlanta, GA.
Contact
Fall 2004
Class Notes
Hortensia Ullivarri, B.A., Sociology, and
M.S., Management (2000), and her husband Flavio Ullivarri are pleased to
announce the birth of their daughter
Gabriella on September 26, 2003 in Miami.
1996
Glenn A. Bowen, B.A., Communication
Arts, and MBA, International Business
specialization (1998), was appointed Director of Service
Learning at Western Carolina University located in
Cullowhee, North
Carolina. His primary responsibilities with this position include the inGlenn Bowen
tegration of service learning into the
university’s curriculum and management
of community service and volunteer activities. Dr. Bowen (Ph.D., Social Welfare,
Florida International University) also
serves as a department head in the Division of Student Affairs at Western.
Wesley Derey, B.A., Criminal Justice, resides in Palm Beach County and is in the
process of starting a business that will provide support service to law enforcement
personnel who have problems with substance abuse. He enjoys spending time
with his 7 year-old granddaughter Destini
who lives in Miami. He said St. Thomas
taught him the importance of giving back,
and for that he is very grateful.
Nick Lazazzara, B.A. Sports Administration, is the Athletic Supervisor for the City
of Pompano Beach, FL. He is married with
two children, ages 4 and 2.
1997
Andres Arenas, M.B.A., has also obtained
a degree in Mass Communications from
the University of Georgia. He owns a small
newspaper in Venezuela and travels often
to Miami. Andres was married in January
2004 in Venezuela.
Kelli (Lloyd) Barrios, B.A., Elementary Education, and Arquimedes “Archie” Barrios,
B.A. Humanities (1998), welcomed their son
Arquimedes “AJ” Barrios V into their family
on July 9, 2004. Archie and Kelli are already
the proud parents of daughters Gabriela, 9,
and Chloe, 4. Archie is a Job Coach and Baseball Coach for the Broward County School
Board. Kelli has worked as an elementary
school teacher for the past seven years with
the Broward County School Board.
1998
Linda F. Caballero-Sandoval, M.S., Mental
Health Counseling, is presently serving in
the U.S. Army and is stationed in Vicenza,
Italy.
JoAnn Landers, B.A., Psychology, is the
Director of the Tobacco Control Program for
the Boston Public Health Commission. Her
work at the Commission involves overseeing the largest urban tobacco control program within the state of Massachusetts. Her
responsibilities include supervision of a team
of inspectors who insure that tobacco products are not being sold to minors. She has
also overseen the implementation of one of
the strongest 100% smoke-free workplace
tobacco control regulations in the United
States. JoAnn married Kevin Brown, a high
school classmate, August 14, 2004 in Boston.
2000
Rawle J. Annandsingh, B.B.A., Tourism and
Hospitality Management, is the co-founder,
co-owner, and director of Jet Express
Trinidad Ltd. (www.jetexpresstt.com).
Tony Sanchez, M.S., Management, was recently elected president of the Miami Lakes
Civic Association. Tony serves as a regional
administrator for the Florida Department of
Financial Service Bureau of Investigation and
is a Commander for the Biscayne Park Police
Department’s Investigation Unit. He also
teaches Criminology part-time at STU.
Page 3
2001
David Chirinos, M.B.A, Sports Administration, was married May 14, 2004 to Christina Cabrera in Miami Lakes. David works
as a Personal Vacation Planner for Carnival
Cruise Lines and the couple lives in Davie.
2002
Gabriele I. Becker,
B.B.A., Tourism and
Hospitality Management, and her husband Wilhem Vilbon
are pleased to announce the birth of
their daughter Kristina
Altagracia Vilbon on
July 11, 2004 in Naples,
FL.
Kristina Altagracia
Lynsi House, B.A.,
Sports Administration, the General
Manager of the
Greenville Astros
Baseball Club has
been named Appalachian League Executive of the Year
Lynsi House
for 2004. Lynsi
earned this honor in her first year at this
position and in the club’s first year in
Greenville, TN. She was named to her current position in January after spending the
past two seasons as Assistant General
Manager with the Martinsville Astros until
the team moved to Greenville.
2003
Brother Herman E.
Zaccarelli, M.S.,
Business Administration, has published a new edition
of his book entitled:
Training Managers
to Train – Developing Diverse Talents.
He is presently the Director of Special
Projects at Stonehill College in Easton, MA.
Contact
Fall 2004
Honor Roll of Donors
to 2003-2004 Annual Fund Campaign
STU’s Office of University Advancement and Alumni Association are grateful to those who have donated to the 2003/2004 Annual
Fund. The funds provide much needed financial assistance to our students, bridging the gap between financial aid, loans and each
family’s contribution. Thank you for your support. This list includes donors of $25 and above.
President’s Council ($5,000 and
above)
Beverly S. Bachrach
Colson Hicks Eidson
Coral Gardens Mansions
Jorge DeCespedes, Pharmed Group
Delant Construction Corp.
Docutek Imaging Solutions, Inc.
Peter Dolara, American Airlines
John Dooner,’70
Andrew M. Elisburg,’89
Donald & Nancy Elisburg
George & Evelyn Goldbloom
Ervin Gonzalez,’82
Janice Gonzalez, JBG Communications
The Heat Group, Inc
The Heat Foundation
Robert Hudson, AvMed Health Plan
Interpublic Group of Companies
Jennie P. Janulin
Cyrus M. Jollivette, Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Florida
Joseph & Suzanne Lacher
Gus Machado
Raul Martinez, Caribe Group Investments
Raul & Teresa Masvidal
MBNA America Bank, N.A.
Uriel Mendieta, TerraBank, N.A.
Hutzler Charitable Trust
Emmanuel & Naomi Nwadike
Paul & Sharon Philip
Alicio & Nirma Piña
Ryder System, Inc.
Gregory & JoAnn Swienton
Mario Trueba, ’80, Mellon Bank
Joseph & Carmen Unanue
Manolo & Carmen Villamañan
Frank E. Walsh Jr., Sandy Hill Foundation
Chairman’s Circle ($2,500 $4,999)
American Home Products
Meg Garza, Calder Race Course
Robert A. Moe
Barry Givner, SunTrust Banks, Inc.
Steve & Blanca Putman
Raymond D. Trevino
United Parcel Service Foundation
Ed & Carol Williamson
Wyeth Ayerst Labs Research
Cornerstone Society ($1,000 - $2,499)
Abadin Jaramillo & Cook
Carl Buccellato
Guillermo G. Castillo, Bank of America
Ben H. Chen
Craig T. Chindemi,’82
Joseph O. Coste, Fidelity Title Insurance
Herbert Cousins Jr.
Pedro G. Cruz-Sanchez,’82
Eric Davidson, ’95
Patricia Delinois, Coldwell Banker
Premier Realty
Dr. Maria Dolores Espino
John D. Finkin, Gold’s Gym
Anna Firpi
Arthur J. Furia, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.
Paul A. Garcia, Paul Garcia, P.A.
Gibraltar Bank
Ronald E. Glass
David Hannett Sr.,’68
Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies
Kent C. Jurney, Security Services of America
Isabelle L. Kirchner
Fernando & Christina Leite
Danielle S. Lopata,’90
Jorge Luis Lopez, ’83
Ann P. Machado
Ed & Joselyn Miller
Robert McKee, ’87
Daniel Morrissey, ’87
Carl Nelson, Mystik Radio
Agueda Ogazon, ’97 and Tomas J. Ogazon
(Antiguos Alumnos)
Ramon Oyarzun, ’73
Carlos & Ivette Planas
Page 4
Michele Principe
Jeanne A. Revene
Maria Schlafke, ’88
Shamrock Society, Inc.
Sarah E. Shumate
Stanley G. Tate
Sam Walthour, ’96
John Zarrella, ’76
Joseph Zumpano, Zumpano Patricios &
Winkler
Charles J. Zwick
Dean’s Society ($500 - $999)
Jack & Audrey Bernstein
Norman A. Blair
Philip Crowley
Victor & Geraldine DeBianchi
Fred & Rosaria Federici
Jose K. Fuentes,’90
Dr. Helen Jacobstein
JordenBurt Boros Cicchetti Berenson &
Johnson LLP
Howard Kane
Keith & Doreen Koenig
James Lake, ’88
David Lawrence Jr., Early Childhood
Initiative Foundation
Dr. Paul D. Maxwell
Brian & Jane McAuley
Daniel & Mary O’Brien
Carlos Padial Sr. (Antiguos Alumnos)
Prof. Richard Raleigh
Jose Sierra, Seaboard Marine Ltd.
Verizon Foundation
Joseph Serota, Weiss Serota Helfman
Pastoriza Guedes Cole & Boniske, PA
Scholar’s Society ($250 - $499)
Dr. Susan Angulo
Lorenze E. Arce, ’81
Dr. James Conley
Margaret Elliston
Nancy A. Fowles, ’92
Contact
Fall 2004
Honor Roll of Donors (continued)
Scholars Society, continued
Gandara Lock Key Service
Brian L. Gevry, Boyd Watterson Asset
Management, LLC
Gregory Glenn
Dr. Nicole Grandmont-Gariboldi
Jose M. Iturrey, ’73
Rick Del Mastro
New York Outdoor Inc.
Dr. Josefina G. Rolando
Susan M. Smith
Brian & Maryanne Wade
Collegiate Club ($100 - $249)
Ted & Cheryl Abernethy, ’92
Guerdy & Russell Abraira, ’00
Paul & Antonette Alongi
Dr. Jan Bell
Robert L. Boyle
Thomas Bresnahan, ’80
Dr. Barbara Buzzi, ’84
Joseph T. Cooney, ’68
Dr. Bryan Cooper
Kevin Corcoran, ’81
Alfonso Cortez
Maureen Davis
Thomas & Helen Dougherty
Donald E. Dresback ‘69
Michael E. Dutko ‘78
Maria V. Errickson ‘88
Katherine Ezell
Dr. Gary Feinberg
Dr. Antonio Fernandez
John & Mary Flannery
Dominick & Phyllis Ferrara III
Archbishop Peter L. Gerety
John E. Gilger, ’94
Dr. Isabel Gomez-Wilson
Marta Gutierrez
Robert P. Hahs, ’95
Dennis J. Hartnett, ’79
Robert P. Johnson Jr., ’85
James M. Keenan
Richard J. Kelch, ’78
Dr. Elliot Kleiman
Benjamin Kudari, ’92
Charles G. Larkin, ’68
Pam Loconto
Mrs. Peter G. Lordi
Kathleen Lowe
Henry F. Lubben
Joan R. Lyons,’95
MaryJo D. Macro, ’93
Manny Mantrana, ’97
Sheldon W. McCartney, ’73
Isabel Medina-Pascu
Joseph & Linda Melchiorre
Howard R. Miller, Miller Communications
Mary Monaco
Richard E. Murray, ’70
Rev. Joseph W. Nealon
David A. Paitson,’82
Gary L. Richter, ’86
Steven R. Ripley, ’79
Robert & Elaine Robertazzi
Tony J. Rodriguez ‘86
Prof. Raymond Rufo
Theodore G. Seaman, ’85
Sandra Secord, ’01
Robin E. Smith, ’01
Wendy Yonfa Thomson ‘95
Dr. Lanetta Thorpe
Thomas F. Toscani, ’70
Lillian Verduin
Dr. Adrienne Vynne
Dr. Jerry Weinberg
Helen L. Woods, ’80
Ronald J. Ziccardi, ’81
Vanguard Club ($25 - $99)
Jessica Antelo
Allan Atherton
Jason A. Bulger, ’98
Yolanda Calzado
Thomas P. Casey, ’70
Bruno Catrambone Jr., ’77
Anthony & Deborah Ciel
John & Dora Cieply, ’76
Sheila A. Costello, ’95
Ely Dantin
Eleanor A. DeAsis, ’02
John W. December, ’92
Marta De LaPortilla (Antiguos Alumnos)
Tim DePalma
Jackeline Diaz, ’02
Anthony Digiorgio, ’02
Lee N. Dixon-Armstrong, ’03
Teresita E. Dominguez, ’95
Richard J. Elliston, ’80
Richard & Beatrice Farrell
Kathryn A. Fedina, ’79
Page 5
Pedro Figueredo
Sean M. Flynn, ’96
David E. Funes ‘95
Robert M. Golson Jr., ’98
Idalia M. Gonzalez, ’98
Thomas A. Grey, ’86
Edward Halsey, ’90
Arthur Hertz
ITT Industries
Richard L. Jarvis, ’82
Juan E. Jimenez, ’74
Dr. Delores Kory
Angela M. LaVilla, ’98
Connie H. Locke, ’82
Antonio M. Lopez, ’02
David G. Luchetti, ’86
Fr. James MacDougall
Rosendo Marco, ’03
Robert McCabe
Elizabeth T. Melvin, ’88
Helen Connelly Montroni
Nick L. Nicholas
Robert A. Nicholas, ’88
Nancy J. Olson, ’81
Physical Plant Department (STU)
Jaye Lynn Piselli
Byron S. Plummer, ’90
Daniel Pradilla, ’01
Dania B. Primiano, ’02
Laureano J. Pujol, ’88
Dr. David Quesada
Dr. Philip Reckford
Dr. Beatriz Robinson
Marie Rozier
The Russillo Family
Dr. Tom Ryan
Armado Salas-Amaro, ’03
Edward Sallie, ’71
Smith Cooper & Liberman Accounting
Service
Stephen & Barbara St. Hilaire
Arturo R. Tigera, ’80
Michael H. Toomey, ’80
Peter Valley, ’86
Betsy Vargas, ’04
Simon N. Vaz, ’83
Helen L. Woods, ’80
Deacon Stephen E. Wulf, ’71
Roxanna Zenck
Thank you to all Alumni & Friends who
purchased STU License Plates.
Contact
Campus News
STU Mourns Loss of
Beloved Professor
Rev. Jorge A. Sardiñas, STU Art Professor and curator of the Atrium Gallery
since 1992, died tragically in a house fire
on September 14,
2004. One
of
the
most energetic and
enthusiastic faculty members on
campus,Fr.
Sardiñas
was a favorite
teacher
Rev. Jorge Sardiñas
among
students
and the entire STU community.
More than 3,000 mourners attended the
various services held for Fr. Sardiñas at the
Chapel of Saint Anthony, which was filled
with his beautiful art.
The funeral service at Our Lady of
the Lakes Catholic Church in Miami Lakes,
where he also served as a priest, attracted
an equal number of mourners.
STU President Rev. Msgr. Franklyn
Casale said: “Fr. Sardiñas had a love and
passion for the arts. He was devoted to,
and intimately, engaged with works of art.
The Chapel of Saint Anthony, at the heart
of our campus, stands as the pinnacle of
his life’s achievement as an artist and priest.
He was a humanist who believed that
through studying art was essential to a
good and meaningful life, and through his
teachings he taught us new ways of looking at the universe. We will greatly miss
this kind, gentle, and generous colleague
and friend. It is hard to imagine St. Thomas
without him.”
A Chapel Memorial Fund has been created in memory of Fr. Sardiñas. Donations
may be sent to the Office of Campus Ministry. Checks should be made to St.
Thomas University/Fr. Sardiñas Memorial
Fund.
Fall 2004
Mayor Shirley Gibson
continued from Page 1
Her first goal is the beautification of the city.
Eventually the city will choose a location
and, by means of charrettes, choose a design for a city center. It will be a place to
shop, for entertainment and a gathering
place.
She also intends to broker sustainable
partnerships with small businesses, corporations, non-profits, schools, and colleges
and universities. STU will be an invaluable
partner for the new city; the city will host
interns and speak to classes on public administration while STU will provide academic
input and students to carry out research.
Mayor Gibson credits two national leaders with inspiring her — the late Barbara
Jordan, US Congresswoman from Texas, and
Shirley Franklin, Atlanta’s first woman mayor.
Locally she had the support of Commissioner
Betty Ferguson, who acted as a conduit to
county leaders.
In her path to mayor, however, she says
she learned most by listening to the common people, learning what was important to
them, what would work and what wouldn’t
work.
Born in Georgia, Mayor Gibson came to
Miami in the late 1950s and graduated from
North Dade Junior/Senior High (now North
Dade Middle School). A Miami-Dade police
officer for sixteen years, in 1981 she graduated from Biscayne College (presently STU)
with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. Then,
as now, the majority of police officers in
South Florida attended STU for their higher
education in the field. Even then, she explained, when it was less common for students to juggle work and school, STU understood the issues of students who were
working mothers . “Classes were held at night
and faculty worked with us; they wanted us
to succeed,” she remembers.
Her interest in community work began
when she became involved in her children’s
schools and eventually became president of
the Parent Teachers Organization at Norland
High School. In 1996 she was elected to the
public offices of Miami-Dade Community
Council #3 and Miami-Dade’s Democratic
Party Executive Committee.
By the late 1990s she had become involved with the Campus and Community
Alliance, headed by STU campus minister
Page 6
Rev. Ed Blackwell, through which STU and
Florida Memorial College work with local
non-profits and businesses on projects
benefiting the community. She learned the
importance of forming relationships and
solving problems by using the people and
resources already at the table without needing more money. “The human will is all
important,” she declares.
This led Mayor Gibson to pursue her
master’s in Pastoral Ministries at STU. She
says she will never forget a defining moment in one of her classes when Dr.
Mercedes Iannone asked students to do
some soul searching – to find out who they
were and what it was they wanted to do.
The precise question was: what is your ministry? It was then she realized that her community work is her ministry; it was an important job even though it was a ministry
outside the church. Until then community
activities had just been fun.
“It was as if a burden had been lifted.
This revelation validated my work for me,”
she reflects.
Because of the direct connection between religion and community she urges
members of the various church congregations in Miami Gardens to attend city meetings to help them find the answers to many
of their problems and the resources to deal
with them.
A widow, Mayor Gibson has two children, a son in Georgia who is a social worker
and a daughter who teaches second grade
in a Miami-Dade public school. She is also
the proud grandmother of a 12 year-old
granddaughter.
To become a leader, Mayor Gibson offers this advice: “Find out who you are and
why you do what you do. And instead of
saying ‘Why me?’ you can start saying
‘Why not me?’ ”
Help Find Lost Alumni
STU Alumni Association is trying to find
alumni who have lost contact with their
alma mater. If you know any fellow
alumni who have not stayed in touch with
STU, please urge them to contact STU
Alumni Association Director Jerry
Bernfeld at (305) 474-6857 or through
e-mail at [email protected].
Fall 2004
Alumni News
STU Alumni Night at the Marlins
Jim Cox, ’77
and ’81, Director of Athletics
at
Miami
Dade College
is pictured
here with STU
President
Msgr. Casale at STU Alumni Night at the
August 11Florida Marlins Game.
STU Ambassador Attends
Presidential Inauguration
Eric Davidson, ’95,
represented STU at
the innauguration of
Universityof Florida
President Dr. J. Bernard Machen on
September 10 in
Gainesville. Eric was
Eric Davidson
recently appointed
to the position of
Assistant Controller for University Tax Services at the University of Florida. He was
formerly Assistant Controller at Florida International University and a member of St.
Thomas University President’s Board of
Advisors.
Alumni Attend Mamma Mia!
A group of 20 alumni and friends enjoyed a spectacular performance of
Mamma Mia! at the Broward Center for
the Performing Arts on September 14.
Alumni will be getting together again in
March 2005 to see The Producers at Jackie
Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts.
L-R: Vicki Raele, Chuck Raele’89, Alumni
Association Director Jerry Bernfeld ’84, Alice
Smith’86, Jean Duda’89 and Norbert Duda.
Contact
STU Alumni Association
New Jersey Chapter
There were
lots of smiles,
hugs and pats on
the back when
former Biscayne
College/St. Thomas University
graduates saw
each other October 15 at the Suburban Golf Club in
Union, New Jer- L-R: Robert Core’73, Bill Delfinis’73, John Mertz ’85, Muriel Menaged
’91, Kevin Fritz ’70, Dennis Fitzgerald ’73, Peter Davis ’73, Bill Fetky’74
sey. Many hadn’t
seen each other for years. Others had remained good friends from their college days.
On that evening, more than 20 graduates, ranging from the classes of 1970 to 2000,
gathered to start the first St. Thomas University Alumni Association chapter in the
nation. Many were from the class of
1973, including members of the basketball team. Peter Davis, Class of 1973,
hosted the reception.
Today, they are lawyers, real
estate developers, and bankers. They
have done well in life and they credit
their time in Miami for helping them
set their goals and starting them off in
life.
They listened intently to Msgr.
L-R: Bill Fetky ’74, Peter Davis ’73, Mark
Casale’s talk on plans for the future of
Bratus ’73, Msgr. Casale, President, and
the university. He detailed the changes
Beverly S. Bachrach, VP for University
since they left and showed them plans
Advancement
for future buildings.
Jerry Bernfeld, Alumni Association Director, talked about his plans to get alumni
more involved in the university. The university hopes to build on the success of this
first event by starting chapters in New York, Pennsylvania and the Washington/Virginia/Maryland area.
L-R: Jeannie Sands, Sean Perry ’97, John
Mertz ’85
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L-R: Mark Bratus ’73, and Michael Deitche ’77
Contact
Fall 2004
Support STU
Upcoming Events
Get Your STU Credit Card Today
STU School of Law
Distinguished Speaker Series
February 24, 2005 at noon
Angela P. Harris, Professor of Law at the University of California-Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law, will speak on
“Teaching and Social Justice.”
Alumni Association Theatre Series
March 29, 2005 at 8 pm
St. Thomas University alumni can now get the STU Master Card
provided by MBNA. You can download an application from
www.stu.edu/alumni. A percentage of each purchase you make
will go towards scholarships for STU students.
Join fellow STU alumni for an exclusive theatrical perfomance of
The Producers at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing
Arts on Miami Beach. Ticket prices are $60.00 for Orchestra seats.
Reserve your seats today by e-mailing the alumni association at
[email protected] or calling (305) 474-6857.
Help Fund Scholarships for STU Students
“Caribbean Carnivale”
As we crawl along Miami’s expressways, sightings of STU
license plates are becoming increasingly common. Don’t forget — next time you renew your
tag, help fund scholarships for
STU students by purchasing the STU tag. For every tag purchased, the University receives $25.00 for scholarships for STU
students. To order your own STU specialty license plate please
go to the STU alumni web site at: http://www.stu.edu/alumni to
find the telephone number of your local tag agency. We have
listed the number for you to call for each county in the state or call
STU Alumni Association Director Jerry Bernfeld at (305)474-6857or
e-mail him at [email protected].
Friday, May 13, 2005
The second “Leaders for Life Alumni Award” will be presented at
a Fundraising Gala to be held May 13 in Miami. Look for details
about this fun-filled tropical evening on the STU alumni website
at www.stu.edu/alumni and in STU E-News, the alumni e-mail
monthly update.
STU Alumni Connections
Since June, more than 2,000 alumni have signed up for STU
Alumni Connections... HAVE YOU?
Simply log on to www.stu.edu/alumni and click on STU Alumni
Connections to register. Catch up with your classmates and
submit class notes. Keep track of the latest information on
alumni events, learn about class reunions, new alumni chapters around the country. What are you waiting for?
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