jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
http://www.stjohns.edu/pr_alu_131031.news_item@digest.stjohns.edu%2falumni%2fpr_alu_131031.xml?context_date=10/31/2013
President's Dinner
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
- Start date
Great time last night and a great event. Nathalie and I had a great time again as JSJ and his lovely wife Joann's guests. Also great to see Beast of the East there. The honorees kept the speeches short which was even better. Bruce Beck did a flat out fantastic job at the event and even though he is a rutgers guy he drools SJU enthusiasm
beast of the east
Active member
Agree 100% with what you wrote. I've been to about 1/2 a dozen of these now, and this was by far the best. Bruce Beck keeps getting better and better as MC, and his love for St. John's is real, heartfelt, and goes way beyond basketball. He shared a lot of himself and his family, and he shared how SJU has transformed their hearts - really wonderful job, and it was clear Beck put a lot of time in preparing for this night, and then quickly dashed off to the Garden I believe for the 11 PM news.
Father Levesque is such a breath of fresh air, and not just a lame-duck interim. His warm, gracious nature, and his awareness of SJU goals and community set a tone that was unlike any previous President's dinner. I'm fairly certain that nearly every one of the 1300 in attendance wish he were a little younger, and a candidate for the SJU job. Even so, at 75, and two very bad knees in need of surgery, he is already a presence on campus, engaging students, faculty, and administration. This is something we've never seen at SJU at least since Father Cahill took the reigns.
Both Bishop DiMarzio and Bishop Murphy were in attendance, with DiMarzio leading an opening prayer. It's amazing how clearly it was communicated all night long that SJU is a Catholic University. I believe it was Bishop DiMarzio who gave an informal biography on the life of St. Vincent de Paul, and how he was guided by his faith in Jesus, to serve the poor among us. It was the first time in all of these dinners that I heard the words Jesus uttered.
The award winners each gave succinct acceptance speeches, which were overall extremely good. One remarked on the unsustainability of tuition increases, and how St. John's ability to assist students was so important. One faculty recipient, Professor Clarke, spoke how, like many of us, there was no second option for college except St. John's. Due to the generosity of donors and SJU's ability in those days to keep tuition retail price very low, when he wrote a letter to St. John's inquiring about admission, they responded with an annual tuition of $100 - this was 60 years ago.
All and all an inspiring evening, and it was great to see JSJ, MJMaher, Kevin Barry, and meet their better halves.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
No he was not.
One thing that leaps off the page re Fr. Levesque is that you wouldn't find many leaders in academia or industry who are 75 yrs of age being as pro-active as he has been.
I would think many who are asked to be a "place holder" for a year would stay in their corner office, let the organization run itself, and mail it in.
We are extremely fortunate that Fr. Levesque is not one of those types.
He is extremely cordial, warm and welcoming and in many ways he is, if you will, The Pope Francis of St. John's.
Students, faculty and administrators have been singing his praises without exception.
If you have the time and inclination, may I suggest that you send him a short note welcoming him to our university.
One thing that leaps off the page re Fr. Levesque is that you wouldn't find many leaders in academia or industry who are 75 yrs of age being as pro-active as he has been.
I would think many who are asked to be a "place holder" for a year would stay in their corner office, let the organization run itself, and mail it in.
We are extremely fortunate that Fr. Levesque is not one of those types.
He is extremely cordial, warm and welcoming and in many ways he is, if you will, The Pope Francis of St. John's.
Students, faculty and administrators have been singing his praises without exception.
If you have the time and inclination, may I suggest that you send him a short note welcoming him to our university.
beast of the east
Active member
What is his email? Great suggestion.
