October 27, 2009
On Sunday, October 25, 2009 over 100 alumni who attended the
Schermerhorn Street campus of St. John’s University gathered at
Pete’s Restaurant in downtown Brooklyn for the 3rd Annual
Schermerhorn Street Reunion. Guests enjoyed a delicious lunch
while reminiscing about their student days on the campus located
just a few blocks from the site of the reunion.
Photo Gallery
“We used to walk along over here and go out for dinner and walk
down to the promenade,” remembered Arlene V. Acosta ’70UC.
“For a sorority function we had to take a picture on the Brooklyn
Bridge with a teepee because we were the Squaw Society. That
was a long time ago!”
The fact that the Schermerhorn Street campus was primarily located
in single building contributed to the sense of closeness among
students, a bond which is still apparent when alumni from that
historic location come together. “Because we were all
basically in one building, except for the College of Pharmacy which
was located in a building just a little bit down the block, it was
like one big community that had the ability to bring everyone
together,” said Bernardette Vaskas ’57UC. “Sometimes you
don’t have that in a very large school that’s separated into
different categories.”
Rose V. Sapelli, Esq. ’57UC, ’84L was grateful for the chance to
share her special memories with others who enjoy a similar
affiliation for the campus that has played such a memorable role in
the history of alma mater. “It’s just kind of nice to have
Schermerhorn people come together,’ she said. “Even though
that campus doesn’t exist anymore, for those of us who went to
school at Schermerhorn Street it was a very special time in our
lives. Brooklyn is a very special place and it’s nice that
St. John’s is doing this for us.”
While most of the Schermerhorn Street alumni reside within the
greater New York metropolitan area, it is not surprising to see
alumni from across the country returning for what has become an
extremely popular annual event. “I came all the way from
California to be with my wonderful friends from St. John’s,” said
Marion Sartalamacchia Dahlman ’60UC. “I’m also bringing
greetings from the Northern California Alumni Chapter.”
“I have a big group of friends that have been in touch with each
other for over 40 years,” concurred John E. Lazar ’71Ed. “I’m
in Washington, DC, others are in Brooklyn and New Jersey, but we
all get together regularly, even though we all live in different
places.”
The Schermerhorn Street campus welcomed its first students in 1929,
and remained a vibrant educational center until it was closed by
the University in 1972. The thousands of students who first
became part of the St. John’s family during those years have gone
on to distinguish themselves as leaders in nearly every profession,
including education, pharmacy, business, politics and law,
establishing a legacy of which the University is justifiably
proud.
“Our Schermerhorn Street alumni are very special people,” noted
William G. Schaeffer ’73CBA, Director, Office of Alumni Relations,
“and their loyalty to St. John’s has remained strong over these
many years. It’s wonderful to see that so many have chosen to
stay in touch with each other and to come back for this great
event.”
The opportunity to get together with old friends was the common
theme of nearly everyone’s conversations, and the overwhelming
reason that was given for their participation in this event.
“The ability to get together with everyone is just fantastic,” said
Henry J. Boitel ’61UC. “I haven’t seen some of these people
in 48 years and I’m going to see them again today. All of my
memories of St. John’s are fond, and it’s really a joy to think
back to those days. They were much more carefree, and they
were good times!”