July 25, 2006
St. John’s University President, Rev. Donald J.
Harrington, C.M., conferred honorary degrees recently in
Bermuda to prominent insurance industry leaders Brian Duperreault,
Brian O’Hara and Joseph Smetana. The historic occasion marked the
first time ever honorary degrees have been given by a university in
Bermuda (the UK’s oldest colony dating back to the 1600’s).
Hosted by Lord John Vereker, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of
Bermuda, and Lady Vereker held at the Government House, the event
was attended by all of the major insurance leaders on the Island.
Lord and Lady Vereker are appointed by Tony Blair and are the
Queens representatives in Bermuda.
Mr. Smetana, retired vice president of American International
Group, Inc., serves on the St. John’s University Board of Governors
and on the Executive Advisory Council of the School of Risk
Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science (SRM), Mr. O’Hara,
president and chief executive officer of XL Capital LTD. and
Chairman of XL Insurance (Bermuda) LTD and Mr. Duperreault,
Chairman of ACE Limited, are all members of the St. John’s
University Board of Overseers of SRM.
View the
photo gallery.
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media
Relations, St. John’s University at 718-990-6185 or email inquiries
to sciannad@stjohns.edu.