Dr. Bernard J. Cassidy, who recently retired as Associate
Professor of Classical Studies, has so far devoted 42 years of his
professional life to serving his beloved alma mater, St. John’s
University. Dr. Cassidy’s links with St. John’s University go back
to his youth. In 1955 Dr. Cassidy graduated from St. John’s
Prep on Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, the original site of St. John’s
University. He entered the St. John’s University in 1957,
graduating summa cum laude in Classical Studies in
1960. After obtaining his PhD at Fordham University, he
returned to St. John’s University where he generously served the
university community as a full-time administrator. He was Associate
Dean of St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dean of
the School of Education, Dean of Admissions, and Registrar, besides
later on in his career serving as Faculty Athletics Representative
and Assistant Chair of the Department of Languages &
Literatures.
After a career at St. John’s University working as an outstanding
administrator, Dr. Cassidy requested to return to full-time
teaching status in 1987. This he could easily do because even when
he was a full-time administrator, Dr. Cassidy had been acknowledged
by his colleagues as the resident expert in Classical
Studies. It was at this point in his remarkable career that
he started new courses in Latin and in Greek, thus strengthening
the program in Classical Studies. In addition to this, he taught
courses on Ancient Greek and Roman History, Classical Archeology,
Classical Mythology, Roman Law and Society, and the Classical
Tradition. After he assumed the role of full-time faculty member,
his scholarly reputation became better known and he received many
invitations throughout the University community to give
presentations in a cross-disciplinary mode, integrating classical
ideas with contemporary academic disciplines. He quickly proved
himself to be a teacher who could motivate his students by the
depth of his erudition and the clarity of his presentations.
Dr. Cassidy is one of the finest teachers that St. John’s
University has ever produced. It is a great honor that we
will continue to have of remarkable services this son of St. John’s
University as he takes up the role of Professor Emeritus in the
Department of Languages and Literatures.