September 04, 2009
It was a picture-perfect evening for tennis as alumni and
friends of St. John’s University attended a special reception
during the US Open at Flushing-Meadow Corona Park in New York on
Thursday, September 3, 2009. The crowd of more than 170 consisted
of members of The Loughlin Society, St. John’s premier giving
society, and the Red White Club, donors to the University’s
Athletics programs.
Photo Gallery
The
successful reception, which was held in the East Gate Hospitality
Pavilion, was alive with conversation and the tangible excitement
of being part of an event recognized all over the world. Live feeds
of the action were shown on large flat screen televisions
throughout the elegantly decorated room as enthusiastic attendees
enjoyed good conversation, drinks and great food.
“I thought this was a great way to see other St. John’s alumni
and get to know them,” said Kasra Hafezi '05CPS. Like many others,
he was pleased with the atmosphere and looked forward to the
evening’s matches that they would later see in Arthur Ashe
Stadium.
“I hope everyone has a great night and enjoys the tennis,” said
Harry Beeth '67CBA, '70MBA, Chief Financial Officer, United States
Tennis Association (USTA). Grateful for the career opportunities
St. John’s helped open to him, Beeth helped St. John’s conceive of
the idea for the reception and then make it a reality. “St. John’s
got me started on my career and I will forever be in their debt,”
he says. He also shared that, similar to the good work for which
St. John’s is known, the USTA helps underserved inner city young
people learn to play tennis, promoting health and opening doors of
opportunity that may otherwise be closed to
them.
Marilyn
Price, who established a scholarship in memory of her husband
Thomas Price '58CBA, came with her children to the event. “We all
love tennis and we love St. John’s,” she explained. They remain
grateful to the University community for the role St. John’s played
in her husband’s experience as a student and subsequent successful
career.
Kevin Hall '81CBA traveled from Colorado to attend and “catch up
with other alumni.” He too recalls the many ways that St. John’s
gave him “a chance when nobody else would.”
Alumni and friends of all ages, even some from as far away as
California, came to watch the world-renowned athletes and reconnect
with alma mater. They were more than proud to take
advantage of this unique opportunity to attend the US Open with
former classmates and others who hold the University dear.