@stjohnsalumni: St. John’s Mourns the Passing of Jerome Belson, Alumnus, Benefactor, and Trustee Emeritushttp://t.co/Zt2gjbLgpL
RIP Jerome Belson
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
beast of the east
Active member
One of SJU's huge donors for a long time. He was Jewish, but embraced St. John's mission.
Strange that two replies mentioned Jerry's religion.
There are many of us non-Catholics who support SJU in many endeavors.
Jerry was one of a kind. He found it difficult to say no to any request from St. John's in any area.
His personality, loyalty, and humanitarian works will be missed by so many people and institutions. He was more than just a check, he cared.
There are many of us non-Catholics who support SJU in many endeavors.
Jerry was one of a kind. He found it difficult to say no to any request from St. John's in any area.
His personality, loyalty, and humanitarian works will be missed by so many people and institutions. He was more than just a check, he cared.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Mr. Belson was a one of a kind.
No one better or more loyal to my alma mater.
Would hope that The Torch would write a major, multi page story about him and his incredibly meaningful and outsized connection to SJU.
His legacy should be remembered and his story told to incoming freshman every year as part of orientation.
Few, if anyone, more loyal to the Vincentian mission.
He was as an important part of our university as anyone associated with St. John's
Needless to say, he will be sorely missed but not forgotten by those of us who knew him or those who knew of him.
God Bless him and his family.
He was an icon ! A truly unique individual whose outsized generosity knew no bounds.
No one better or more loyal to my alma mater.
Would hope that The Torch would write a major, multi page story about him and his incredibly meaningful and outsized connection to SJU.
His legacy should be remembered and his story told to incoming freshman every year as part of orientation.
Few, if anyone, more loyal to the Vincentian mission.
He was as an important part of our university as anyone associated with St. John's
Needless to say, he will be sorely missed but not forgotten by those of us who knew him or those who knew of him.
God Bless him and his family.
He was an icon ! A truly unique individual whose outsized generosity knew no bounds.
beast of the east
Active member
This may seem strange to you, but St. John's is a Catholic University. It has a long history of welcoming students of other faiths, historically to Jewish students in particular to their law school and pharmacy school. It isn't strange to note that a non-Catholic would be such an ardent supporter of the university - it's to his credit for being so generous to a university whose mission is most decidedly Catholic, and to the university for having such a long tradition of welcoming non-Catholics. Certainly, Belson's extreme generosity and demonstrated gratitude to St. John's is a model for all alumni, and as such his being non-Christian is certainly notable in supporting a Catholic University.
Why do I find this significant and inspirational? Several years ago while visiting Salt Lake City, I attended Sunday mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine. A few years before that the Cathedral was in disrepair, and a $10 million campaign to restore fell far short of the goal. The Mormon church stepped in and donated the difference to help the church meet its goal. At mass that Sunday, there was an astonishingly good children's choir. I learned that not only did the church has this wonderful choir that trained children, but they also welcomed many Mormon children to participate in the choir. Far beyond words and rhetoric and policy, this type of generosity and welcoming spirit goes much further to develop the type of relationships between different faiths. Belson's legacy of generosity to the university is a treasure that will endure for generations. As such the difference in his faith and ours - and yours as well, should be celebrated, and not muted.
