February 16, 2010
On Saturday, February 6, 2010 alumni and friends braved biting
winds and the threat of snow to enjoy ice skating at Rockefeller
Center, a winter tradition that has been a classic part of the New
York scene for decades. The event was the first activity of
the Young Alumni Seasonal Socials Series, designed to offer St.
John's recent graduates an opportunity to take advantage of
season-specific recreational and social initiatives.
Photo gallery
Prior to stepping onto the ice, the group gathered to enjoy a hot
beverage and snack at the fabled Dean and Deluca Shop adjacent to
Rockefeller Center and within sighting distance of the glass
enclosed studio of The Today Show. The winter chill was made
a bit more bearable for the hearty skaters, who were grateful for
the complimentary fleece headband in traditional St. John's red
they received.
Skating to the music on the busy ice lent a festive feeling to the
late afternoon, reminding many of the skaters of the joys of
childhood winters from days gone by. A number of alumni noted
that they had not ice skated in years, and they enjoyed the
opportunity to lace up once again in the company of other members
of their St. John's family.
"I had not been ice skating since I was a kid, so I was a little
nervous to get out on the ice at Rockefeller Center," said Suzanne
D'Introno '99P, '02Pharm.D. "It turned out to be so much fun.
My friends and I had a blast."
"I thought it was a wonderful event," agreed Adelyn Ruiz '03CPS. "I
always wanted to skate at Rockefeller Center but never had the time
or the opportunity to do so. I'm so glad that St. John's
reaches out to the alumni and brings us together."
Ruiz was grateful for the opportunity to stay connected to the
University she loves. "My time at St. John's was probably the
best time in my life," she recalled. I love the life-long
friends that I made at St. John's, and the education that I
received along with the extra-curricular activities was
priceless. St. John's has always been about people.
It's always great to re-connect with friends at St. John's and I'm
very grateful that reunions and alumni events make this
possible."
Although not an alumnus, Doug Baily was happy to take advantage of
this fabled New York tradition that has delighted visitors from all
around the world. "As a guest, it was a great opportunity to
see Rockefeller Center as someone from another state," he
said. "I also had a really enjoyable experience interacting
with St. John's alumni."