St. John’s Recognizes Exceptional Alumni

On Friday evening, May 21, St. John’s University acknowledged the outstanding achievements of 25 of its most notable alumni at the 29th Annual Alumni Convocation in St. Thomas More Church on the Queens campus.  The honored alumni and their awards included:

Honorary Degree
James Christmas ’70CBA
Samuel Lionel ’40L

Medal of Honor
Milton Mollen '50L, '78HON
Fioravante Perrotta '52C, '55L, '02HON

President’s Medal
Francis Looney ’39C, ’40L
Robert Orlich ’69CBA, ’75MBA

Pietas Medal
Vincent Alexander ’75L
Brian Breheny ’90CBA, ’96L
Richard Fielitz ’50P
Joseph Gagliano, Jr. ’82C, ’85L
John McInerney ’66UC, ’70L
Lawrence Ruisi ’70CBA, ’75MBA

Heritage Circle
Louis Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON
Gerard Fernandez, Jr. ’50L
Joseph Meighan ’60CBA, ’67MBA
Anita Rogers ’55UC

Alumni Outstanding Achievement Medal
Josephine Cuccia ’45L
Greg LaCasse ’80SVC
Anna Lukachik ’80Ed
Kevin McGovern ’75L
Thomas Quinlan ’90MBA
Mary Carole Schafenberg ’70Ed, ’80PD
Nancy Schleyer ’80Ed, ’06GEd
Mahendra Shah ’77GP, ’85Ph.D.
Vincent Tomasi ’85CBA

Photo Gallery

As they arrived on campus, the honorees and their guests had an opportunity to mingle and chat with one another at an exclusive cocktail reception in the Living Room of the D’Angelo Center, followed by dinner in the Ballroom. They were then escorted to the formal convocation in the church by students from the St. John’s University President’s Society.

The honorees were genuinely moved to be receiving an award from the University that has meant so much to them throughout their lives.

“I’m totally delighted to receive this award,” said Judge Mollen. “I was completely surprised when I got the letter [from St. John’s University President Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M.]. I’m very proud of it and I will treasure it forever. I find that I owe the University a lot, and I want to reciprocate for what St. John’s has done for me. The greatest joys of my life have been my commitment to public service and my connection to the University and to the Law School, and this award is the proverbial cherry on top of the cake.”

Joseph Sciame ’71Ed, Vice President, Community Relations, began the ceremony by welcoming the honorees. “This evening is an opportunity for the loyal graduates of  St. John’s to reflect on the impact that the University has had on our lives,” he said. “Your loyalty is a vital part of this institution and our pride in you knows no bounds.”

As the ceremony progressed a citation was read detailing the life and accomplishments of each honoree.  Following the reading of their citation, each honoree received his or her award from Fr. Harrington. 

Selected to deliver the Convocation Address on behalf of his fellow award recipients, Coach Carnesecca reflected on his life at St. John’s and the influence that “…the good Vincentian fathers” had on him for so many years. “Their lessons were precious,” he recalled, “and we are forever indebted to them for what they did for all of us.”

In his closing remarks, Fr. Harrington noted that, “The lives of our alumni tell the story of what St. John’s is all about. They exemplify the hard work and success that serve as the basis of the St. John’s ethic. Tonight we celebrate that, for 140 years, St. John’s has flourished as a university. Thank you, honorees, for allowing us to honor you, because in doing so, you allow us to proclaim the glory that is St. John’s.”