In 1980, a young man named John K. Bingham graduated St. John's University in New York, and was awarded its highest honor at commencement as the outstanding graduate of his class, the prestigious President's medal for his academic achievements and service to the student community. A brilliant student, two-time student government president, beloved fraternity brother and too many volunteer endeavors to list here, the sky was the limit.
After SJU, he attained a law degree from Fordham, and began a rapid ascent up the corporate ladder in the legal department of a wall street investment firm.
The Vincentians at St. John's stress a ministry to the poor. The Jesuits at Fordham live by the motto "Men and Women for others." A man with deep faith, John was influenced by both Catholic orders.
The gospels tell us that we cannot serve both God and money. One day John walked into his manager's office and abruptly resigned. He gave away his business suits, and volunteered to serve in the Cambodian camps in Thailand, where 250,000 refugees fleeing the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime.
One year of service became two, then four became eight. He taught law to groups of refugees, who made an indelible imprint on his heart. God blessed him with a wife, Agnes, also a passionate volunteer from France. They settled on Long Island, and despite the economic pressures of raising 4 boys, shunned resuming a mercurial corporate career to work for eight years as a Director of Immigration and Legal services for Catholic Charities, ministering to migrants from around the globe. A man who loved God and country, he also loved his wife dearly and they decided to return to her native France, where he worked 13 years as Head of Policy for ICMC in Geneva. One colleague noted that in his tenure every single piece of important migrant policy had John's fingerprints on them, as he advocated for change in remote countries, Washington DC, and the United Nations, still finding time to open the doors of his own home to homeless migrants from time to time.
St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits instructed his followers to go "set the world on fire" in word and deed. In his life John did exactly that, giving every ounce of his energy and attention to his mission and to his large extended family.
John was abruptly called home to God peacefully in his sleep on July 26, 2022 in France where he was waked and buried. His family invites all friends, former colleagues, SJU and Fordham alumni, students and administration, and anyone needing inspiration, to a celebration of John's life on July 25th, 2023 and a memorial anniversary mass on July 26th at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY.
Knowing John was a joy, and being influenced by his life a blessing. I experienced both, and am a better person for it. Please see the attached invitations and information.
#Sju #fordham #christian #saintly #jesuits #vincentian #migrants #refugees #icmc #unitednations #catholic
After SJU, he attained a law degree from Fordham, and began a rapid ascent up the corporate ladder in the legal department of a wall street investment firm.
The Vincentians at St. John's stress a ministry to the poor. The Jesuits at Fordham live by the motto "Men and Women for others." A man with deep faith, John was influenced by both Catholic orders.
The gospels tell us that we cannot serve both God and money. One day John walked into his manager's office and abruptly resigned. He gave away his business suits, and volunteered to serve in the Cambodian camps in Thailand, where 250,000 refugees fleeing the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime.
One year of service became two, then four became eight. He taught law to groups of refugees, who made an indelible imprint on his heart. God blessed him with a wife, Agnes, also a passionate volunteer from France. They settled on Long Island, and despite the economic pressures of raising 4 boys, shunned resuming a mercurial corporate career to work for eight years as a Director of Immigration and Legal services for Catholic Charities, ministering to migrants from around the globe. A man who loved God and country, he also loved his wife dearly and they decided to return to her native France, where he worked 13 years as Head of Policy for ICMC in Geneva. One colleague noted that in his tenure every single piece of important migrant policy had John's fingerprints on them, as he advocated for change in remote countries, Washington DC, and the United Nations, still finding time to open the doors of his own home to homeless migrants from time to time.
St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits instructed his followers to go "set the world on fire" in word and deed. In his life John did exactly that, giving every ounce of his energy and attention to his mission and to his large extended family.
John was abruptly called home to God peacefully in his sleep on July 26, 2022 in France where he was waked and buried. His family invites all friends, former colleagues, SJU and Fordham alumni, students and administration, and anyone needing inspiration, to a celebration of John's life on July 25th, 2023 and a memorial anniversary mass on July 26th at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY.
Knowing John was a joy, and being influenced by his life a blessing. I experienced both, and am a better person for it. Please see the attached invitations and information.
#Sju #fordham #christian #saintly #jesuits #vincentian #migrants #refugees #icmc #unitednations #catholic
