Alumni News

The University of Scranton will present the President’s Medal to Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss at the President’s Medal Gala Thursday, Oct. 1, at Pier Sixty, Manhattan’s largest waterfront event venue. Watch a short video message featuring Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announcing the University’s intent to honor Bob and Marilyn here.

The event is the premier annual fundraiser for the University, and proceeds from the dinner benefit the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships to incoming first-year students with outstanding high school records and notable community involvement. The University presents the President’s Medal to individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. All alumni, parents and friends of the University are welcome and encouraged to register here for this year’s event.

Scranton has held a special place in the hearts of Bob and Marilyn ever since they met at a “U Dance” at the Gunster Memorial Student Center in 1966. Their 2015 gift of $1.25 million resulted in the creation of the Robert and Marilyn Weiss Pediatric Low Vision Research and Training Suite, and their 2016 gift of $1 million established Robert and Marilyn Weiss Field as a first-class home for Scranton’s soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams. In 2024, their gift of $10.5 million, the largest single donation in the history of the University, blossomed into the four-story, 90,000 square-foot Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall. The building houses the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, the Department of Psychology, Student Health Services, the Center for Health, Education and Wellness, the Small Business Development Center, the University of Success, and the state-of-the-art IDEA Center, which features woodworking, 3D printing, laser engraving, sewing and audio recording capabilities.

A native of Lake Ariel, Bob became the first person in his family to attend college when he began studying accounting through the University’s ROTC program. As a U.S. Army Captain, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam. He became a certified public accountant and began working as an assistant corporate controller in 1977 at Cooper Laboratories Inc., which would eventually become The Cooper Companies, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and marketer of specialty healthcare products with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion.

Bob rose through the ranks at Cooper during a remarkable 41-year career, serving as corporate controller, treasurer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, president of Coopervision, and, ultimately, president and CEO. During Bob’s time at the company, Cooper had a number of industry-defining breakthroughs, including the development of intraocular lenses and Lasik surgery, two advancements that have helped millions see more clearly. Under Bob’s leadership, the company sought to address the approximately 50% of children and young adults aged 5-22 who are suffering from progressive myopia, a condition that often leads to eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular degeneration later in life, by developing MiSight, a soft contact lens that was ultimately approved by the FDA in 2019 for myopia management in children aged 8-12. Bob was named the “Most Admired CEO of 2012” by the San Francisco Business Times, and he was recognized with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017-2018. After retiring in 2018, he became the chair of Cooper’s board of directors through January of 2026, and he remains on its board today.

Bob was honored by the University with the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. As a University trustee, he became informally known as “the pizza guru” due to his unabashed love of and enthusiasm for the pizza of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He also sponsors the Pediatric Refractive Error Training Center, an eyecare clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam, that trains optometrists to fight the growing pandemic of myopia.

A native of South Scranton, Marilyn studied at the University through the Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing. She served as the head nurse at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York and as a pediatric nurse at Bayside Pediatrics in Pleasanton, California.

Bob and Marilyn are frequent sponsors of local charitable causes in the San Francisco East Bay area, including Goodness Village, which provides tiny homes and supportive services to the Tri-Valley’s formerly unhoused neighbors, Valley Humane Society, and the Bay Area Military Classic & The Joey Graves Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports Gold Star Families.

The couple are the proud parents of three children, Chris, Kim and Doug, and they are blessed with two grandchildren, Kylie and Jayden. They reside in Pleasanton, California.

An Ambitious Goal

At last year’s gala, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announced an ambitious University-wide effort to permanently endow the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund by raising an additional $7 million through the 2025 and 2026 President’s Medal Galas, which would bring its lifetime total up to $30 million.

“In 2002, The University of Scranton embarked upon a marathon endeavor when it held its first award dinner in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said Father Marina in a video announcing the initiative. “We are only $7 million away from securing the future of The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund and ensuring that our Presidential Scholars will continue to thrive at the University forever.

“Help us write the ending this 25-year marathon deserves.”

Visit this link to support Presidential Scholarships at The University of Scranton.

Registration and sponsorship information will be available soon. For more information on the President’s Medal Gala, contact Associate Vice President of Development Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu or Executive Director, Annual Giving & Campus Partnerships Brad Troy ’02 at bradley.troy@scranton.edu.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Jim Fritzinger ’76, Jim Helhowski ’76, Gino Garibaldi ’76 and Jim Carney ’76 reunited with former residents of The University of Scranton’s “White House” student housing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1976 graduation. Fourteen members of the group attended Reunion Weekend in June and received 50th Reunion Commemorative Medals. In August, nine members gathered in Fort Washington to present Jim Carney ’76, who was unable to attend Reunion Weekend, with his medal and a caricature of their 1976 White House photo, continuing the tradition of the White House “Band of Brothers.”

Thomas D. Giachetti ’81, Spring Lake, New Jersey, recently published "The Ladder (The Precarious Climb to Success)," a memoir reflecting on his journey as a nationally recognized lawyer and magazine columnist, and his eventual realization that professional success and personal fulfillment are not one and the same. Through a series of personal vignettes, Giachetti explores his career, family, faith and the lessons he learned throughout his life. The book also features his connection to The University of Scranton and his Catholic faith awakening.

Jenn Hunara '00, G'02, '02, Holy Springs, North Carolina, is the new chief administrative officer and vice chair for Administration for the Duke Department of Surgery. She began serving in this role in June 2026.

Celeste Gregory '01, Vienna, Virginia, is the Vienna (Virginia) Toastmasters Club president for the 2026-2027 year. Toastmasters International empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Within Toastmasters, Gregory has previously held vice president - Education and area director roles. Royals in Northern Virginia are welcome to visit the club on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Vienna Community Center.

Samuel J. Richards G'14, Bentleyville, head of high school social sciences at the International School of Kenya in Nairobi, co-authored "Popular Movements from 1750 CE: Case Studies from East and West Africa," which was published by the Aga Khan Academies for the 2026–2027 academic year. Written with Judah Bamigboye, the book is one of three curricular resources created by a team of International Baccalaureate (IB) history teachers from Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda to expand access to case studies on Africa for high school students in support of IB's newly revised history curriculum. The three resources are available free to teachers globally through the IB Exchange.

Matt Zimmerman G'19, Lancaster, has been named director of planning and inventory at Caracal Products & Services, a healthcare solutions, recycling services and distribution company based in Detroit. Zimmerman brings more than 15 years of supply chain experience across multiple industries.

MARRIAGES

Kiley Roberts ’22 to Jack Sylvester ’22

BIRTHS

A daughter, Angelina, to Benjamin and Dawnmarie Grella Valentina ’16, Piscataway, New Jersey

DEATHS

Arthur J. Kania, Esq. '53, H'89, Tequesta, Florida, and Newtown Square

Clement L. Valletta, Ph.D. '61, Kingston 

Col. Paul F. Bradican, USA (Ret.) '62, G'69, Springfield, Virginia

William J. Corcoran '64, Washington, D.C.

Carol D. Nogi G'69, Clarks Summit

Michael J. Kilcullen, M.D. '71, Woodstock, Vermont   

John David Auger G'73, Carlisle

David A. Mason '73, Peckville 

James J. Blazejewski G'75, Wilkes-Barre

Vincent J. Marmo, D.O. '87, West Chester

David M. Brownell '02, Carbondale

Patrick T. Barrett '12, Wyomissing

Trey S. Cowman G'21, Kingston

The University of Scranton is pleased to partner with Orbridge to offer alumni exceptional travel opportunities. Each trip combines unique itineraries, deluxe properties or ships, knowledgeable expedition leaders and the fellowship of other Royals. With special features and unparalleled access to distinguished locations, you’ll discover unforgettable places, people and cultures while enriching your understanding of our diverse and wonderful world.

Upcoming alumni travel opportunities include:

Flavors of Northern Italy
Sept. 11-19, 2026 | 9 days

Australia and New Zealand
Feb. 13-March 3, 2027 | 19 days

Flavors of Tuscany
May 27-June 4, 2027 | 9 days

Southeast Alaska by Small Ship
July 11-18, 2027 | 8 days

Civil War Battlefields
Sept. 12-16, 2027 | 5 days

Holiday Markets Along the Danube
Dec. 12-20, 2027 | 9 days

Whether close to home or far away, on land or by sea, your next adventure is waiting. Join fellow Royals and make your reservation today at this link!

Alumni are invited to return to campus on Saturday, Nov. 14, for Living the Mission: A Day of Faith and Connection, a special opportunity to reflect, reconnect and explore the enduring impact of a Jesuit education.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., participants will gather for a day centered on faith, conversation and community. Through discussions with current students and fellow alumni, attendees will explore how Jesuit values continue to shape lives of service, leadership and purpose.

The event offers alumni an opportunity to strengthen their connection to The University of Scranton community while reflecting on the mission that continues to inspire Royals long after graduation.

Registration will open in late September.

Incoming first-year students of University of Scranton alumni gathered together with their families and the Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, Aug. 29 for the Class of 2030 Legacy Families Reception.

Visit this link to see the photographs from this year's reception. 

Over the years, the Legacy Families Reception and Photo has become a University tradition. Prior to Convocation each year, incoming legacy students and their families gather together for a photograph with the University's president to mark the outset of their collegiate odyssey. Four years later, prior to commencement, the same families gather together with the University's president to mark the beginning of their journey as men and women for and with others beyond Scranton's borders.

The University of Scranton’s fifth annual Alumni-Student Golf Outing will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor. The event offers alumni and students an opportunity to enjoy 18 holes of golf while connecting with fellow Royals.

The outing will begin with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start and will feature scramble play. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, dinner and prizes.

To be eligible for prizes, foursomes must consist of two current students and two alumni. Alumni registration is $80 per person.

Space is limited, so alumni are encouraged to register now at this link and gather their foursome for an afternoon on the course.

* Look back at 25 years of The President's Medal Celebrations and find out where it all began.

 

* Hear how generations of Presidential Scholars deliver immeasurable value and develop a culture of gratitude. 



* Identify the pup with the 1971 Presidential Scholars shown below. View a timeline that captures five decades of milestone moments.

 

Read all this and more in the fall issue of The Scranton Journal online at journal.scranton.edu

Alumni are invited to return to campus on Saturday, Nov. 14, for Living the Mission: A Day of Faith and Connection, a special opportunity to reflect, reconnect and explore the enduring impact of a Jesuit education.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., participants will gather for a day centered on faith, conversation and community. Through discussions with current students and fellow alumni, attendees will explore how Jesuit values continue to shape lives of service, leadership and purpose.

The event offers alumni an opportunity to strengthen their connection to The University of Scranton community while reflecting on the mission that continues to inspire Royals long after graduation.

Registration will open in late September.

EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. PLEASE CHECK FUTURE EDITIONS OF ROYAL NEWS FOR UPDATES. THANK YOU.

The University’s Department of Communication and Media will present the inaugural Hall of Fame award to John A. Walsh ’66, Susan Swain ’76, Mike Bonner ’95, Kate Groark Shields ’97 and Nicole Young ’01 on Saturday, Sept. 19, on campus. The award was established to recognize the achievements of alumni, to bring alumni and students together, and to provide funding for the Department’s equipment and student career development needs. All alumni, parents, friends, students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

A student-focused panel will kick off the event, followed by an induction ceremony. Registration, details and sponsorship information will be available soon. For more information on the Communication and Media Hall of Fame, contact Department Chairperson Stacy Smulowitz at stacy.smulowitz@scranton.edu.

The deadline for submissions for the 2027 Communication and Media Hall of Fame awards is March 30, 2027. Nominations for the 2027 event will open on Sept. 19.

The University of Scranton Communication and Media Department Hall of Fame honors distinguished alumni, living or deceased, who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions at the highest levels of public service, industry, the military or academia for at least 20 years. Eligible nominees do not need to be retired professionals. All graduates of the University, no matter their degree at the time of their graduation, are eligible for nomination.

Hall of Fame Criteria  

To be considered a Hall of Fame candidate, an individual’s nomination should clearly demonstrate the following:

• Superior service and achievement in the nominee’s respective field(s); nominations should highlight merits of accomplishment and may also highlight previous awards and honors

• Significant impact of professional contributions at the organizational, local, regional, national or international levels

• Outstanding leadership, character, values and ethical conduct

• Jesuit model of being men and women for and with others

Fields for Consideration 

Any area of the communication arts will be considered for this honor.  Examples include communications planning, social media, media relations, marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism, business communication, broadcasting, video and audio production and graphic arts.

What to Include in a Nomination Packet

All packets should include the following:

• A two-page narrative of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for receiving the award

• The candidate’s resume

• A list of any awards received

Also, packets may include letters of support, endorsement or recommendation.

Need Additional Information?

Questions can be directed to Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Communication and Media, at stacy.smulowitz@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton will present the President’s Medal to Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss at the President’s Medal Gala Thursday, Oct. 1, at Pier Sixty, Manhattan’s largest waterfront event venue. Watch a short video message featuring Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announcing the University’s intent to honor Bob and Marilyn here.

The event is the premier annual fundraiser for the University, and proceeds from the dinner benefit the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships to incoming first-year students with outstanding high school records and notable community involvement. The University presents the President’s Medal to individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. All alumni, parents and friends of the University are welcome and encouraged to register here for this year’s event.

Scranton has held a special place in the hearts of Bob and Marilyn ever since they met at a “U Dance” at the Gunster Memorial Student Center in 1966. Their 2015 gift of $1.25 million resulted in the creation of the Robert and Marilyn Weiss Pediatric Low Vision Research and Training Suite, and their 2016 gift of $1 million established Robert and Marilyn Weiss Field as a first-class home for Scranton’s soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams. In 2024, their gift of $10.5 million, the largest single donation in the history of the University, blossomed into the four-story, 90,000 square-foot Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall. The building houses the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, the Department of Psychology, Student Health Services, the Center for Health, Education and Wellness, the Small Business Development Center, the University of Success, and the state-of-the-art IDEA Center, which features woodworking, 3D printing, laser engraving, sewing and audio recording capabilities.

A native of Lake Ariel, Bob became the first person in his family to attend college when he began studying accounting through the University’s ROTC program. As a U.S. Army Captain, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam. He became a certified public accountant and began working as an assistant corporate controller in 1977 at Cooper Laboratories Inc., which would eventually become The Cooper Companies, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and marketer of specialty healthcare products with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion.

Bob rose through the ranks at Cooper during a remarkable 41-year career, serving as corporate controller, treasurer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, president of Coopervision, and, ultimately, president and CEO. During Bob’s time at the company, Cooper had a number of industry-defining breakthroughs, including the development of intraocular lenses and Lasik surgery, two advancements that have helped millions see more clearly. Under Bob’s leadership, the company sought to address the approximately 50% of children and young adults aged 5-22 who are suffering from progressive myopia, a condition that often leads to eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular degeneration later in life, by developing MiSight, a soft contact lens that was ultimately approved by the FDA in 2019 for myopia management in children aged 8-12. Bob was named the “Most Admired CEO of 2012” by the San Francisco Business Times, and he was recognized with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017-2018. After retiring in 2018, he became the chair of Cooper’s board of directors through January of 2026, and he remains on its board today.

Bob was honored by the University with the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. As a University trustee, he became informally known as “the pizza guru” due to his unabashed love of and enthusiasm for the pizza of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He also sponsors the Pediatric Refractive Error Training Center, an eyecare clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam, that trains optometrists to fight the growing pandemic of myopia.

A native of South Scranton, Marilyn studied at the University through the Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing. She served as the head nurse at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York and as a pediatric nurse at Bayside Pediatrics in Pleasanton, California.

Bob and Marilyn are frequent sponsors of local charitable causes in the San Francisco East Bay area, including Goodness Village, which provides tiny homes and supportive services to the Tri-Valley’s formerly unhoused neighbors, Valley Humane Society, and the Bay Area Military Classic & The Joey Graves Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports Gold Star Families.

The couple are the proud parents of three children, Chris, Kim and Doug, and they are blessed with two grandchildren, Kylie and Jayden. They reside in Pleasanton, California.

An Ambitious Goal

At last year’s gala, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announced an ambitious University-wide effort to permanently endow the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund by raising an additional $7 million through the 2025 and 2026 President’s Medal Galas, which would bring its lifetime total up to $30 million.

“In 2002, The University of Scranton embarked upon a marathon endeavor when it held its first award dinner in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said Father Marina in a video announcing the initiative. “We are only $7 million away from securing the future of The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund and ensuring that our Presidential Scholars will continue to thrive at the University forever.

“Help us write the ending this 25-year marathon deserves.”

Visit this link to support Presidential Scholarships at The University of Scranton.

For more information on the President’s Medal Gala, contact Associate Vice President of Development Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu or Executive Director, Annual Giving & Campus Partnerships Brad Troy ’02 at bradley.troy@scranton.edu.

The University of Scranton will host its fifth annual Alumni-Student Golf Outing on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Pine Hills Country Club in Taylor.

The outing will feature a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start in a scramble format, followed by a buffet dinner. The event provides alumni and students with an opportunity to connect, enjoy a day on the course and strengthen the Royal network.

Registration will open in late August. Be sure to save the date, and stay tuned for additional details.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Lawrence J. Spegar ’84, Jessup, continues to be a leading sports influencer in the United States. He recently attended his 29th consecutive Super Bowl (Super Bowl LX) and his 26th consecutive College Football National Championship Game. Attorney Spegar was an entertainment writer for The Aquinas while at The University of Scranton and served as a three-year officer of the Pre-Law Society.

Members of the Centennial Class of 1988 celebrated their 60th birthdays during a stay at a beautiful villa in Tuscany. The group included Anne Dubon Murphy ’88, Mary Haumacher ’88, Christine Lawless Clayton ’88, Jeannie Martin Petrucci ’88, Kathy Waszak Rossi ’88 and Kelly McDonnell Mulroy ’88.

Daniel W. Munley ’90, Waverly, of Munley Law, has been selected to the 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Lawyers” list.

Ailish M. Farragher ’95, Dublin, Ireland, a Redington Scholar, recently co-authored the peer-reviewed publication, Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacist Prescribing: A Systematic Review, published in BMJ Open (2026).

Jason Pierce ’14, Bala Cynwyd, was named No. 109 in Pennsylvania on the 2026 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list (Philadelphia Area – High Net Worth category). A partner at Bala Cynwyd-based Nottingham, Walsh, Goodman, Pierce & Associates at Merrill, Pierce joined the firm in 2014 and holds the CFA® and CFP® certifications. He specializes in wealth management for affluent individuals and families, with expertise in investment analysis and estate planning. Pierce lives in Berwyn, where, outside of work, he coaches high school and grade school basketball in the Main Line communities and is active with the Chestnut Hill Community Association.

MARRIAGES

Patrick Nancoz ’21 to Gina Garatino Nancoz ’21, DPT ’24

Sean McTiernan ’20, G’21 to Amanda Pecora McTiernan ’20, G’21 

DEATHS

John Abda, M.D. ’59, Clarks Summit 

Francis J. Houston ’59, Pittston 

William P. Kuehner ’63, Whippany, New Jersey

James J. Barrett ’67, Washington Crossing

Chester J. Banull ’72, Scranton

Michaeline A. Kmush G’74, Dallas

Jeffrey D. Freid, M.D. ’75, Lower Gwynedd

Paul C. Asman ’77, Throop

Daniel C. Cummings ’90, Falls Church, Virginia

Virgilio Sebastianelli ’90, Scranton

Laurel Ann Carroll ’91, Fort Worth, Texas

G. Michael Frazier ’95, Olyphant

Patricia Gribbin McGeehan G’95, Scranton

The University of Scranton will present the President’s Medal to Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss at the President’s Medal Gala Thursday, Oct. 1, at Pier Sixty, Manhattan’s largest waterfront event venue. Watch a short video message featuring Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announcing the University’s intent to honor Bob and Marilyn here.

The event is the premier annual fundraiser for the University, and proceeds from the dinner benefit the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which awards four-year, full-tuition scholarships to incoming first-year students with outstanding high school records and notable community involvement. The University presents the President’s Medal to individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. All alumni, parents and friends of the University are welcome and encouraged to register here for this year’s event.

Scranton has held a special place in the hearts of Bob and Marilyn ever since they met at a “U Dance” at the Gunster Memorial Student Center in 1966. Their 2015 gift of $1.25 million resulted in the creation of the Robert and Marilyn Weiss Pediatric Low Vision Research and Training Suite, and their 2016 gift of $1 million established Robert and Marilyn Weiss Field as a first-class home for Scranton’s soccer, lacrosse and field hockey teams. In 2024, their gift of $10.5 million, the largest single donation in the history of the University, blossomed into the four-story, 90,000 square-foot Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall. The building houses the University’s Department of Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Sociology, the Department of Psychology, Student Health Services, the Center for Health, Education and Wellness, the Small Business Development Center, the University of Success, and the state-of-the-art IDEA Center, which features woodworking, 3D printing, laser engraving, sewing and audio recording capabilities.

A native of Lake Ariel, Bob became the first person in his family to attend college when he began studying accounting through the University’s ROTC program. As a U.S. Army Captain, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam. He became a certified public accountant and began working as an assistant corporate controller in 1977 at Cooper Laboratories Inc., which would eventually become The Cooper Companies, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and marketer of specialty healthcare products with annual revenues exceeding $4 billion.

Bob rose through the ranks at Cooper during a remarkable 41-year career, serving as corporate controller, treasurer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, president of Coopervision, and, ultimately, president and CEO. During Bob’s time at the company, Cooper had a number of industry-defining breakthroughs, including the development of intraocular lenses and Lasik surgery, two advancements that have helped millions see more clearly. Under Bob’s leadership, the company sought to address the approximately 50% of children and young adults aged 5-22 who are suffering from progressive myopia, a condition that often leads to eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment and macular degeneration later in life, by developing MiSight, a soft contact lens that was ultimately approved by the FDA in 2019 for myopia management in children aged 8-12. Bob was named the “Most Admired CEO of 2012” by the San Francisco Business Times, and he was recognized with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017-2018. After retiring in 2018, he became the chair of Cooper’s board of directors through January of 2026, and he remains on its board today.

Bob was honored by the University with the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008. As a University trustee, he became informally known as “the pizza guru” due to his unabashed love of and enthusiasm for the pizza of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He also sponsors the Pediatric Refractive Error Training Center, an eyecare clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam, that trains optometrists to fight the growing pandemic of myopia.

A native of South Scranton, Marilyn studied at the University through the Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing. She served as the head nurse at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York and as a pediatric nurse at Bayside Pediatrics in Pleasanton, California.

Bob and Marilyn are frequent sponsors of local charitable causes in the San Francisco East Bay area, including Goodness Village, which provides tiny homes and supportive services to the Tri-Valley’s formerly unhoused neighbors, Valley Humane Society, and the Bay Area Military Classic & The Joey Graves Memorial Golf Tournament, which supports Gold Star Families.

The couple are the proud parents of three children, Chris, Kim and Doug, and they are blessed with two grandchildren, Kylie and Jayden. They reside in Pleasanton, California.

An Ambitious Goal

At last year’s gala, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, announced an ambitious University-wide effort to permanently endow the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund by raising an additional $7 million through the 2025 and 2026 President’s Medal Galas, which would bring its lifetime total up to $30 million.

“In 2002, The University of Scranton embarked upon a marathon endeavor when it held its first award dinner in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said Father Marina in a video announcing the initiative. “We are only $7 million away from securing the future of The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund and ensuring that our Presidential Scholars will continue to thrive at the University forever.

“Help us write the ending this 25-year marathon deserves.”

Visit this link to support Presidential Scholarships at The University of Scranton.

For more information on the President’s Medal Gala, contact Associate Vice President of Development Eric Eckenrode at eric.eckenrode@scranton.edu or Executive Director, Annual Giving & Campus Partnerships Brad Troy ’02 at bradley.troy@scranton.edu.

On June 15, the University honored Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J. H’98, dean of admissions emeritus at The University of Scranton, with the 2026 Peter A. Carlesimo Award at the Carlesimo Golf Tournament and Award Dinner.

Nearly 300 alumni, parents and friends of the University raised more than $125,000 for Scranton Athletics at the event, which was held at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Executive Director of Athletics Dave Martin, who acted as master of ceremonies at the event. “Thanks to the incredible support of everyone in this room, we’re thrilled that we were able to again exceed our expectations.”

Father McIlhenny, known to many as “Father Mac,” arrived in Scranton in 1958 to serve as headmaster of Scranton Preparatory School, which was owned by the University at the time. He was appointed dean of admissions at the University in 1966 and admitted more than two-thirds of Scranton’s living alumni over the next 31 years. His work expanded the University’s regional reach and paved the way for Scranton to attract students from around the nation, which helped the University become one of the top NCAA Division III schools in the country. He retired from admissions in 1997; the University dedicated the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J. Ballroom in The DeNaples Center in his honor, and it honored him with the President’s Medal in 2016.

While accepting the award, Father Mac reflected on his decades of friendship with the Carlesimo Family and cited the Jesuit order’s emphasis on serving others before expressing his gratitude.

“I’m honored, really, to receive this Carlesimo Award,” he said. “I’m very proud of it.”

The University also honored basketball and broadcasting legend P.J. Carlesimo, the son of the event's namesake, the late Peter A. Carlesimo, who served the University for nearly 25 years as a coach and athletic director, with an honorary degree at the event.

“The University has been a great, great place, and my parents would be so proud,” he said.

For more information, visit scranton.edu/carlesimoaward.

The University recently launched “Royals Remember 9/11,” a new initiative that will mark the 25^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

As part of the project, the University will reintroduce “Making Meaning of 9/11,” a first-year seminar taught by Teresa Grettano, Ph. D., associate professor in the Department of English and Theatre, to assist current students’ efforts to understand the multi-faceted legacy of 9/11.

“Most of today’s students were born after 2001 and know 9/11 only as history,” Dr. Grettano said. “Through both academic programming and broader campus initiatives, we hope to help students understand not only the events of that day, but also the profound ways they shaped our nation, our communities and our lives.”

Plans for the project include taking students to the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York and hosting the FealGood Foundation, an organization that assists emergency personnel and educates elected officials and private entities on the issues faced by first responders, on campus.

Given the focus of the project, Alumni Society Advisory Board Chair Christopher Neumann, Esq. ’87, P ’24, ’27 is hopeful that the Scranton alumni community will support the initiative.

“This is a meaningful opportunity for our alumni community to help preserve the memory of 9/11 while supporting student learning and reflection,” he said. “As someone who was deeply affected by 9/11, remembering that day, and the service opportunities that now arise from it, are extremely important to me.”

Support “Royals Remember 9/11” here.

Adventure is calling! Join fellow Scranton alumni on unforgettable trips through the University's travel program with Orbridge. From exciting destinations to expertly curated experiences, your next journey is just around the corner.

View upcoming trips and book your next adventure now!

The University of Scranton and the Alumni Society are accepting nominations for the 2027 Frank J. O'Hara Distinguished Alumni Awards through Saturday, Aug. 1. The award is the highest honor jointly presented by the University and the Alumni Society, and it recognizes alumni who exemplify Scranton's Catholic and Jesuit mission through outstanding professional achievement, personal accomplishment and commitment to Ignatian values.

This year's awards will honor alumni from class years ending in "2" or "7." Recipients will be recognized during Reunion Weekend, June 4–6, 2027.

To submit a nomination, complete the online nomination form or email the nominee's information to alumni@scranton.edu.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

Marion Munley '83, Moosic, has been selected to the 2026 Lawdragon Hall of Fame and the Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Lawyers list. The Lawdragon Hall of Fame recognizes lawyers for their long and impactful careers, considering their contributions, leadership and relationships over decades. This process involves extensive tracking and evaluation beyond recent achievements. Munley, of Munley Law, has also been selected for the Top 10 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, the Top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and the Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers lists in the 2026 edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. 

MARRIAGES

Nicole Reale '13, G’16 married Dylan Desaulniers

DEATHS

Cyrus L. Mineo, M.D. '58, Phoenixville 

Donald G. Myers, Ed.D. '60, Honesdale

Thomas A. Artabane, M.D. '63, South Abington Township

Ronald Troy '65, Margate Florida 

James Walsh, Esq. '69, Camp Hill

Andrew A. Kettel '75, Clarks Summit 

Gregory P. Korgeski, Ph.D. '76, Saxtons River, Vermont

Mary Kilgallon Berezinsky '77, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Connie Shershenovich ’84, Estero, Florida

Thomas S. Zayac G'87, Endicott, New York 

Neil F. MacDonald '88, Dunmore 

Richard J. Burns Jr., D.O. '89, Moosic

Edward A. Gable '94, Scranton 

Lisa M. Sohara G'98, Old Forge

Karyn Yorke Montano '00, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey  

Sharifa Esi Mtingwa G'10, Hillsborough, North Carolina

Enjoy a summer evening with fellow Royals at Pier 13 in Hoboken on Thursday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. Your $30 registration includes two drink tickets, and you'll be entered for a chance to win a Scranton swag basket. The first 25 alumni to register will also receive a complimentary Scranton alumni T-shirt (sizes not guaranteed). Food trucks and an ATM will be available on site. A rain date is scheduled for Friday, July 24.

Register Here!

The University recently released the 2025 edition of its Royal Ornament Collection featuring the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library. 

The Weinberg Memorial library is a campus favorite that has been shaping minds and serving the Scranton community for the past three decades. The second entry in the Royal Ornament Collection, it measures 2.5 inches in diameter, and its red ribbon helps to ensure its place as the perfect stocking stuffer for Royals this season. When you make a gift of $35 or more to The Magis Fund, a new fund designed to provide current-year scholarships and financial aid to students to ensure that every Royal can access a Scranton education, you'll receive this exclusive Scranton ornament in recognition of your generosity. Make your donation to receive the 2025 ornament here.

The Royal Ornament Collection debuted in 2024 with an ornamental representation of the Estate. In case you missed last year's inaugural edition, you can still order the Estate ornament by making a gift of $35 or more to The Magis Fund here.

Please note: one ornament per transaction, and shipping is included. 

On Dec. 2, more than 500 members of The University of Scranton community celebrated Giving Tuesday 2025 by raising more than $96,000 for campus programs and priorities in a wonderful start to the Christmas season.

"Once again, your generosity has made this year's Giving Tuesday celebration a great success here at The University of Scranton," said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University president, in a "Thank You" video message to those who donated. "Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our beloved University." 

This year's celebration focused upon two University causes: The Magis Fund, a new fund designed to provide current-year scholarships and financial aid to students to ensure that every Royal can access a Scranton education, and the Scranton Athletics Fund, which helps provide invaluable travel, team-building and leadership development opportunities to the nearly 600 student-athletes at the University.

The University will hold a reception with Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., University President, Jan. 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Basking Ridge Country Club, 185 Madisonville Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Register here for the event.

The University of Scranton invites alumni, parents and friends to a Day of Prayer and Reflection on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Retreat Center at Chapman Lake, 287 Chapman Lake Road, Jermyn.

This annual tradition offers participants a chance to pause, reflect and reconnect with their faith and with one another in a serene lakeside setting.

Register for this event here.

What's new with you? To submit a Class Note, visit the Class Notes Submission Page.

John Lyons ’64 and Connie Ruscik Lyons, Marywood ’62, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a party at their home in Jenkintown. The couple was married on October 16,1965, at Sacred Heart Church, Scranton, by Rev. John Albosta. They have two children: John Scott, retired from the FDNY, and Kimberly Ann, of Boise, Idaho, as well as one granddaughter, Kaia, of New York City.

A group of Scranton alumni continued their annual tradition of gathering for a mini reunion in Cape May, New Jersey, enjoying several days of dinner, drinks and music. The special friends who reunited in October 2025 were Gary Beilman ’76, Andrea (Rygiel) Beilman ’76, Roe (Bunting) Murphy ’76, Jim Helhowski ’76, Rose (Lally) Doyle ’76, Donna (Lange) Helhowski ’76, John O’Boyle ’74, Lucy (Burke) O’Boyle ’76 and Wayne Wilhelm ’76.

Ed Burnetta, M.D. '84, Villanova, is delighted that his son, Chris Burnetta, has committed to the admissions process at Harvard as a member of the 2027 Men's Lacrosse recruit group. He will graduate from Haverford School in 2027. Chris will be joining his three older sisters as an Ivy attendee. His oldest sister Isabelle graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013, Kristin graduated from Harvard in 2020, and the youngest sister Sabrina is a junior at Cornell.

Christopher J. Kane '86, Jupiter, Florida, startup co-founder of 3PL-RX, announced a merger with the American Chain of Warehouses, a nonprofit organization founded in 1911. American Chain provides sales and marketing strategies and services for Warehouse Logistics members across the U.S. and Canada. Christopher J. Kane will become president; his son, Zach Kane, will be vice president of Administration and Technology. American Chain is one of the oldest Warehouse organizations whose members are long-established family businesses.

Richard W. Peuser '86, G'87, Brookfield, Maryland, retired on October 31, 2025, from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) after 37.5 years in public service. His final position was director of the Processing and Release Division, National Declassification Center. As branch chief of the Textual Reference Unit, he assisted thousands of researchers, both at the Washington, D.C., building and at the College Park, Maryland, facility. One of the highlights of his career was assisting the late David McCullough on his book, "1776." “It was truly an honor and privilege working at this incredible institution,” he said.

Margot Royer-Johnson ’95, East Providence, Rhode Island, celebrated her 25th year as head coach of the NCAA Division I Providence College volleyball program in August.

Christine Royce, Ed.D. G’95, Newburg, is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to teach and study in Cairo, Egypt, for the spring 2026 semester while on sabbatical from Shippensburg University. As part of this Fulbright, Royce will be teaching at Ain Shams University in Cairo, where her focus will be on the preparation of teachers, specifically in the STEM areas.

Joseph D. Ward '95, Coral Gables, Florida, has been named president and chief operating officer at Quirch Foods.

Glynnis Jones, OTD, OTR/L '02, G'03, Albrightsville, recently authored a peer-reviewed publication in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy: Jones, G., Helsley, S., Fox, R., Tumminello, A., Grasso, A., Potter, A., Wynarczuk, K., Reinson, C. (2025) titled "Parent Perspectives: Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene Management for Autistic Daughters."

John P. Gray '00, Ewing, New Jersey, has joined the firm Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP as a partner in the Environmental and Energy and Renewable Resources practice areas.

Nicole E. Negowetti ’02, Melrose, Massachusetts, published a new book, "Feeding the Future," which offers a radical reframing of the global food system to address injustices and existential threats.

Five Scranton graduates proudly serve as board or committee members at Lincroft Elementary School in Lincroft, New Jersey: Alexandra (Parlamas) Russomanno ’11, G’12; Lauren (Zumbo) Netksa ’02; Lindsey (Pachuta) Miceli ’08; Danielle (Attanasio) Lemish ’05; and Annemarie (Craft) Champagne ’06, G’07.

Katelyn Mertz '12, Harrisburg, graduated with her MSN in May 2022 and her MBA in December 2024 from Pennsylvania Western University and will start her DNP in the summer of 2026. Mertz recently presented nationally at the International Magnet and Magnet Pathway Conference in October 2025 and will present at the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) Global Surgical Conference and Expo in April 2026 on her work “Safety Coach Simulation Training: Empowering Nurses to Speak Up in the Operating Room.” Mertz has been the manager of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s 39 Level 1 operating rooms since 2022.

Will Craven '19, Scranton, has joined Moses Taylor Foundation, a private foundation with a mission to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, as its operations and grants officer. In this role, he will support the Foundation’s grant management system, lead internal operations, and coordinate organizational initiatives and events.

MARRIAGES

Jaclyn Potapchuk '05 to James D. Vaughan '09

William D. Orasin ’09 to Brittany Strausser

Brenna Anderson ’15 to Francis Degnan ’16

Allison Smith '16, G'18 to Evan DeGraw

Jessica Nickel '16, G'17 to Mitchell Prescott

BIRTHS

A daughter, Maisy Lane, to Matt and Erin Fetsko Johnson '16, Syracuse, New York, and a granddaughter of Frank Fetsko ‘86

DEATHS

James P. McDonnell Jr. '52, Scranton

Vincent J. Mondelli '61, Endicott, New York

Richard J. Flynn, M.D. '63 Bradenton, Florida

Michael J. Mitchko '63, Bluffton, South Carolina

Roman S. Misorek '67, Duryea 

Joseph V. Grega '69, Opelika, Alabama

Hon. David J. Wenzel '69, Scranton

Yamini C. Desai '72, Bloomfield, Connecticut

Gardner W. Smith '74, Mechanicsburg

Arnold L. Ligi, Jr. '78, Dayton Beach, Florida

Linda S. Mainwaring G'79, Mountaintop

Susan Brown Otto '79, Bethel, New York

Nadia C. Burns '81, Norfolk, Virginia

Martin J. Barrett G'85, Hollisterville

William H. McDonald '90, Springville, New York 

Lauren R. Propst '05, Honesdale

Jennifer L. Murphy '09, Floral Park, New York

FRIENDS/FAMILY DEATHS

Harrison O. Bush Jr., father of Peter Bush '79

Jennifer Quattrocchi, wife of Joseph Quattrocchi ’02

Pop quiz, hotshot: You’re a public accountant hired at a Big 4 firm fresh out of Scranton, and the managing partner of your office calls you into a private meeting to tell you the firm loves your work, which means you’re going to move up the ladder quickly. There’s just one problem: You spend your off time fighting fires, literally risking your life by running into burning buildings, and the firm is “concerned” that the amount of time, effort and money it will be investing into your career could be canceled out the next time the alarm bell rings at the firehouse. In short, you’re being asked to extinguish your passion so that your profession can thrive. What do you do? What do you do?

If you’re Matt DiLiberto ’96, the alarm bell in your head begins to ring, and you quickly decide you’re going to keep fighting fires and find yourself a new job.

“That was my indication I had to leave,” said DiLiberto nearly 30 years later. “To look at somebody who’s putting their life on the line for the sake of others and tell them, ‘We frown upon that,’ is not a place I want to work.”

DiLiberto shares this story on a call taken in his office at SL Green Realty Corp, New York City’s largest office landlord, where he has worked for the last 21 years; he’s also remained an active firefighter since that fateful meeting all those years ago. As SL Green’s chief financial officer, a position he’s held since 2015, he not only handles its accounting, finance, and cash management, which he describes as “typical CFO responsibilities,” but he also handles its corporate capital market functions and investor relations, something that takes up the majority of his time on the clock by choice.

“I enjoy hearing directly from our shareholders,” he said. “It’s very helpful for me in my role … to be talking to them directly. I know a lot of people might say, ‘Wow, that seems like way too much extra work,’ but I enjoy it, and I enjoy the people.”

While overseeing the financial destiny of a $15 billion company would keep most people busy enough for two lifetimes, DiLiberto, 51, somehow also finds the time to act as the chairman of the FDNY Foundation, the official non-profit of the New York City Fire Department, where, among other duties, he recently oversaw a gala dinner that raised a record-breaking $4.2 million for the foundation.  

“We have a very simple directive as the official charity of the FDNY – raise as much money as possible to support the needs of the department,” he said. “It’s incredibly fulfilling, and I’m in awe of the department and the people that work there.”

Factor in the domestic demands of his Rumson, New Jersey household, which he shares with his wife, Amanda, and their three young children, and one might suspect that DiLiberto must have access to a time machine to be able to keep up with everything (he does – it’s called an alarm clock, and we’ll explain more about how he optimizes its functionality later). How does he juggle it all and continue to excel at the highest levels of real estate and philanthropy? The answer, it turns out, is both refreshingly simple to state and notoriously difficult to execute: Matt DiLiberto is unapologetically himself whether he’s in the board room or the firehouse, and he’s been that way his entire adult life.

“I’m more direct … than most CFOs,” DiLiberto said. “They get me, they don’t get somebody else. They don’t get the ‘work me,’ they get me. I am me here in the office, and I’m me at the firehouse.

I speak boldly.”

‘I love the vibe here.’

DiLiberto was born in Binghamton, New York, and spent time in the Syracuse area and on Long Island before his family settled in Whitesboro, a suburb of Utica, for the bulk of his youth. When he was about five years old, his father became a firefighter in Moyer’s Corners outside of Syracuse, and the young DiLiberto began his lifelong love affair with the culture of firefighting.

“I was at the firehouse all the time hanging out in the trucks, hanging out with the guys, eating popcorn,” he said. “It just got in my head at an early age.”

When the time came to look at colleges, DiLiberto had it all figured out: he wanted to go to Penn State. So, he submitted his application, received an early acceptance notice, sent in his paperwork, and figured he was good to go. His mother, however, insisted that he visit a few more schools she thought might be a good fit for him, which is how he found himself stepping onto the University’s campus for the first time. After taking a tour of campus, he was impressed enough to apply to Scranton.

Shortly after, DiLiberto, who played lacrosse in high school, received a call from the University’s lacrosse coach, who invited him to spend some time with the team, and it was that experience that convinced him that Scranton was the right place for him. And, although he never ended up playing lacrosse at Scranton, he credits it with convincing him to become a Royal.

“I had the best time,” DiLiberto said of the experience. “I liked the size of the school, the nature of the people.

“It was a vibe. I love the vibe here.”

Lessons learned

Growing up, DiLiberto said he’d always had the “financial mindset” where he loved the concept of making and managing his own money. After taking a few accounting classes in high school and realizing that accounting was an in-demand, high-paying field, he decided to major in accounting and minor in management information systems and history.

“I like numbers and money, so I was like, ‘This seems like the right combination,’” he said with a laugh.

Although his parents paid 100 percent of his tuition and gave him a generous allowance while attending Scranton, DiLiberto worked a variety of odd jobs during his student days, including delivering pizzas, clerking at a grocery store and working at Bank of America.

“I liked to work,” he said. “I didn’t have to build into my work ethic, I kind of always had it, which was helpful.”

On campus, DiLiberto joined the Accounting Society and became its president during his senior year. He also made a point of developing relationships with his professors, especially with Michael Mensah, Ph.D., who was his favorite accounting professor and who would later become dean and dean emeritus of the Kania School of Management. Through his friendship with Mensah and his experiences with his other professors, DiLiberto learned the importance of forging personal relationships, the first of two critical lessons he internalized at the University.

“Don’t just sit at a desk and attend to what you’ve been told to attend to,” he said. “Get up. Move around. Make your own path. Make your own relationships. Learn from those who have been here, and that started at Scranton.”

DiLiberto stumbled upon the other critical lesson when he realized how much work he could get done by combining the serenity of a quiet place with his most productive time of day, which was the morning.

“I’ve always been a morning person,” he said. “I had a corner of the library that probably most people didn’t know even existed, and that’s where I got work done. And so, I encourage people to find a quiet place at the right time of day when they’re most productive to get stuff done.”

Two careers, one mindset

At Scranton, DiLiberto set his efforts toward achieving two goals: securing a position at a Big 4 firm and serving his community as a firefighter. He achieved the first goal before graduation when he was hired as a business assurance associate at that Big 4 firm’s Parsippany, New Jersey, office, and, after relocating to Nutley, New Jersey, for the job, he began working toward becoming a firefighter with the Nutley Fire Department. There was just one problem: the department required all applicants to have established residency for at least a year. While many of us might have sat upon that knowledge and waited a year to begin helping our communities, DiLiberto instead went to plan b and went through the Bergen County Emergency Medical Services Academy to become an Emergency Medical Technician with the Nutley Rescue Squad. Once he’d established residency, he went back to the Bergen County Fire Academy and joined the Nutley Fire Department.  

“The most gratifying thing, short of my kids, that I’ve done in my life is all of my firefighting and EMS work,” DiLiberto said.

After deciding to leave that Big 4 firm, DiLiberto began working as a senior financial analyst at Vornado Realty Trust, which gave him a front-row seat to the corporate and public company aspects of a real estate company. He then put in a four-year stint at Chelsea Property Group as controller and director of information management before joining SL Green Realty as a controller and beginning his rapid ascent to the executive level. All the while, he continued to serve various communities as a firefighter and EMT without causing any of the “concern” from his superiors he encountered at the outset of his career.

Which brings us back to that time machine.

Time machine

Given the various demands of his positions, no two days are alike for DiLiberto.

“It’s 50 percent investor relations, 50 percent everything else as CFO, and then 50 percent FDNY – that’s my professional life,” he said. “Today, I’m working on a deal that’s different than the deal I was working on yesterday and could be different than the deal I’m working on tomorrow because (SL Green is) not good at sitting around and enjoying the fruits of past labors – it’s all about what’s next on the horizon.”

In case you missed it, DiLiberto casually mentioned that he utilizes 150 percent of his time, which should be impossible; he does this by setting his “time machine,” aka, his internal alarm clock, to 3:45 a.m. each day and taking full advantage of the quiet time of the morning to get ahead of the curve while most of the world is still asleep. By 5:20 a.m., he’s already out of the house to catch a 5:50 a.m. boat into the city, and he generally arrives at SL Green’s headquarters by 7 a.m. He then leaves the office in time to see his kids before their 7:30 p.m.-ish bedtime, and he’s back up at 3:45 a.m. to do it all over again the next day.

“We’re the opposite of 9-5,” he said. “We are 24/7 and in the office five days a week, so it’s a very stressful but adrenaline-filled and rewarding place to work. You have to have a certain personality for it.”

A man for and with others

Given the prestige of his position, readers would be forgiven for thinking he must sit in a spectacular office with a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Manhattan skyline; instead, DiLiberto occupies the same small, interior office he occupied before becoming CFO, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I like being around everybody who is doing the job,” he said. “I don’t believe there needs to be this separation between the most senior levels of management and the most junior levels of the employee base. I enjoy those interactions.”

That belief was confirmed this past summer when Rebecca Boyle ’27, a business administration major interning at SL Green on the operations team, reached out to DiLiberto via email to see if she could meet with him, which he charmingly referred to as “bold move number one.”

“Rebecca, to me, is exactly what I look for in young personnel,” he said. “She is whip smart, and, above all else, could have a conversation with me.”

“When I interview people these days … I don’t need to read a resume. Let’s just see if we can have a conversation. She could, in spades.”

Given the amount of time DiLiberto devotes to speaking with his investors and his staff, it’s clear that he enjoys connecting with others, a skill that serves him well in his role as chairman of the FDNY Foundation.

“The gala is our biggest (fundraiser), but we raise money all year long,” DiLiberto said. “I will meet with the fire commissioner and his administration to understand their needs, and I will attend events to represent the foundation.

“There are 17,000 people that work there, so if I can in any way help their efforts, it’s a great pleasure for me.”

And, when asked if he had any advice for current students, DiLiberto was quick to put his mouth where his money is by stressing the importance of financial literacy.

“Take an accounting class,” he said. “The benefits it can have on the rest of your life are immeasurable. Everybody should know the basics of accounting for their own personal financial wellbeing.”

He also advocated boldly pursuing one’s goals today, tomorrow, and the day after that, a bit of preaching he’s practiced since his Scranton days.  

“If you want something, whether it’s accounting or real estate, get yourself involved in it,” he said. “If you want to achieve your ultimate goal, you have to get after it yourself. You can’t rely on it finding you.”

The University of Scranton invites alumni, parents and friends to celebrate the holiday season at a series of joyful regional events. Reconnect with your Scranton community, share in the spirit of the season and enjoy evenings filled with good company, conversation and Scranton cheer.

• Dec. 4, 2025: New York Christmas Reception
  6 - 8 p.m.
  Stout NYC Bryant Park
  109 West 39th St.
  New York, NY
  Register Here

 

• Dec. 8, 2025: Los Angeles Presidential Christmas Reception
  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
  The Jonathan Club
  545 South Figueroa St.
  Los Angeles, California
  Register Here

 

• December 12, 2025: Lehigh Valley
  Illumination at Coca-Cola Park
  6 - 8:30 p.m.
  Coca-Cola Park
  1050 IronPigs Way
  Allentown
  Register Here
   

• December 17, 2025: Washington, D.C., Presidential Christmas Reception
  6 - 8 p.m.
  The Army and Navy Club
  901 17th St NW
  Washington, D.C.
  Register Here
  
  
• December 18, 2025: Philadelphia Presidential Christmas Reception
  6 - 8 p.m.
  The Kimpton Palomar Hotel
  117 S 17th St
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  
  Register Here
  
  
• January 21, 2026:  New Jersey Presidential Reception
  6 - 8 p.m.
  Basking Ridge Country Club
  185 Madisonville Road
  Basking Ridge, New Jersey
  Register Here

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with your Royal family!

The University recently launched The Magis Fund, a new fund designed to provide current-year scholarships and financial aid to students to ensure that every Royal can access a Scranton education rooted in faith, excellence and service.

"During your years at Scranton, whether that was in the 1970s or in the 2020s, you no doubt learned the meaning of the Jesuit word magis, a call to excellence and to the greater good," said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton. "It's an approach to the future that keeps us moving forward. The magis turns setbacks into opportunities. It calls distinction out of mediocrity.

“To learn more, to love more, to become more, to do more good throughout your lives, all with the strength of God's love and grace. The magis finds its expression in wondrous ways."

Each gift to The Magis Fund directly supports current-year scholarships and financial aid distributed within the same fiscal year.

"The purpose of this fund is to help support students who need it most," said Bobby Davis '03, vice president for University Advancement. "This fund’s goal is to help ensure that students who want to come to Scranton can come here no matter their financial situation.”

The fund helps remove financial barriers so students can focus on learning, growing and reaching their fullest potential. Gifts to the fund provide essential aid for students as they begin and continue their Scranton journeys, empowering them to become men and women for and with others.

"Going to Scranton, you're going to realize that the people here really do care about you," said Daniel Bohenek '26. "They're looking after you, and they want you to succeed in life. And these scholarships make all of that happen."

"It made the transition into college life a little bit easier," said Saige Sweeney ’26, G’26. "It really academically and financially helped me to achieve my goals."

"The scholarship that I received took a burden off my family and myself," said Kaci Kranson '26. "What really drew me here, besides the family aspect and the community aspect of The University of Scranton, was the scholarship that I received."

"The scholarship helped my family tremendously," said Tyler Hutchins '28. "It gave us peace of mind knowing school would be affordable.”

Visit this link to make a gift to The Magis Fund and learn more about how your donation will impact current and future Scranton students.

Get a preview of the 2025 fall issue of The Scranton Journal !

The cover story of the University alumni magazine's fall issue reflects on the promise and progress at Robert S. ’68 and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall, the University's newest architectural gem with community at its foundation, and collaboration at its core. 

What else is inside this issue?

New for fall 2025: View a time capsule of notable visitors and events on campus that occurred during the academic year of the Class of 1976. Royals from the Class of 1976 will celebrate their 50th reunion this year.

Also, features, alumni profiles, photo collections from signature events, campus news On the Panuska Commons, including:

• Scranton fulfills a growing need by expanding its commitment to mental health training and preparing the healers for whole-person care.
  
  
• How Scranton shaped a Big Four CEO.
  
  
• “A Fire That Kindles Other Fires: The Campaign To Support Mission, Access, and Excellence,” exceeds goal by a wide margin, raising $155.7 million for University causes. 
  
  
• Men's and women's lacrosse teams wrap undefeated seasons.
  
  
• A multi-event athlete shatters Landmark and school records.
  
  
• Young alumni in communications professions offer a playbook for success in global sports content, and share "whoa moments" made while shaping celebrity stories for the New York Post.
  
  
• One family with three generations of Scranton alumni bequeaths an everlasting gift of opportunity to future Royals.

 
And, don't forget about Class Notes and online exclusives, including Alumni Photo Central.

Read all this and more in the fall issue of The Scranton Journal online at scranton.edu/journal .

The University of Scranton honored Harry T. Rose ’65 with its President’s Medal Oct. 2 at the President’s Medal Gala amidst a crowd of hundreds of alumni, parents and friends that contained three stars of the small screen. Proceeds from the gala support the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides full-tuition, merit-based scholarships to incoming first-year students.

Rose, a former University trustee, is the founder and chairman of The Rose Group, one of the largest restaurant franchise companies in the United States. Rose received the Frank J. O’Hara Distinguished Alumni Award from the University in 2000, and, during his time as a trustee, he was a member of the Pride, Passion, Promise Executive Committee and a member of the President’s Business Council. In 2008, the University recognized Rose’s generous leadership and philanthropy by establishing the Rose Room in Brennan Hall, an event space that never fails to make its occupants feel welcome.

“As Harry puts it, his time (at Scranton) opened his eyes to opportunities that he had never considered,” said Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton. “Much of that clarity, he said, happened through the relationships that he established and built during his time on campus.

“Thanks to Harry and so many others, Scranton is continuing to move into the future and into becoming what God has always hoped for it.”

The University presents the President’s Medal to individuals who have achieved excellence in their fields and who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion for others. Upon accepting the award at Pier Sixty, Manhattan’s premier waterfront event venue, Rose credited his success to his work ethic and the “incredible staff of people” who have worked at The Rose Group over the last 40 years.

“I loved going to the University because I loved the independence,” Rose said. “I made a commitment to myself that I was not going to let anything get in the way of my success.

“When people ask me, and they say, ‘Where did you go to college?’ I am very proud to say I went to The University of Scranton.”

A Truly Scrantastic Evening

Prior to the event’s cocktail hour, table sponsors and their guests were treated to an exclusive VIP yacht excursion around New York Harbor with Father Marina, Rose, and Brian Baumgartner, Andy Buckley and Kate Flannery, aka Kevin, David and Meredith from “The Office.” After the conclusion of the voyage, Buckley as David kicked off the event’s program with the help of Baumgartner and Flannery.

After the high energy opening, the event’s attendees enjoyed comments from master of ceremonies Bobby Davis ’03, vice president for University Advancement, University Trustee and President’s Business Council Chair Elizabeth A. Madden ’96, and Presidential Scholar Michael Redmond ’26, a mathematics and mechanical engineering double major who received a special introduction from Presidential Scholar Alumna Colleen Rohr ’20. 

“Presidential Scholars aren’t simply students with good grades,” said Redmond, who is also the president of the club Hockey Team and the treasurer of the University’s chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. “We’re leaders, athletes, collaborators, volunteers, club leaders and speakers. We chase ambitious goals and help others chase theirs. And one day, we’ll plan to do exactly what so many of you have done for us – turn around and pull the next student forward.

“That’s where Scranton stands apart from other institutions: This is a place where alumni will literally do anything they can to help one another.”

A New Goal

After an invocation by Presidential Scholar Rebecca Doyle ’26 and a first-class dinner, Davis announced an ambitious new University-wide effort to permanently endow the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund by raising an additional $7 million for the fund by the 2026 President’s Medal Gala, which would bring its lifetime total up to $30 million.

“In 2002, The University of Scranton embarked upon a marathon endeavor when it held its first award dinner in support of the Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund,” said Father Marina in a video announcing the initiative. “We are only $7 million away from securing the future of The Presidential Scholarship Endowment Fund and ensuring that our Presidential Scholars will continue to thrive at the University forever.

“Help us write the ending this 25-year marathon deserves.”

Thanks to the generosity of the fund’s supporters, the University has currently raised $2.7 million in gifts and commitments toward that goal. To support Presidential Scholarships at the University, visit this link.

After remarking upon the impact Rose has had upon Scranton, Marina spoke of the University’s past, present and future.

“Our University exists and advances because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” he said. “It is that simple, it is that profound. We are in the business of changing lives through a model of education that we very proudly and with no apology call ‘Catholic and Jesuit,’ and nothing will ever distract us from our noble mission of forming men and women for others.”

About the Honoree

A native of Minersville, Rose dreamed of owning a restaurant at a young age. He began his career by driving a beer truck for his father’s beer distributorship and graduated from the University in 1965 with a bachelor’s in accounting.

After graduating, Rose joined Marriott Corporation’s finance training program and went on to build a 20-year career with the company. He held key roles in property management, legal, real estate and finance, ultimately serving as chief financial officer of Roy Rogers, the fast-food chain Marriott launched in 1968. Rose was later promoted to vice president of the Mid-Atlantic region, where he spearheaded the growth of Roy Rogers from 27 to 156 locations in less than two and a half years.

In 1985, Rose founded H.T. Rose Enterprises, Inc. and never looked back. The Rose Group became a restaurant management company that encompasses all the restaurant concepts he has owned and operated over the course of his franchising career, including Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, Boston Market, Corner Bakery Café, The Shannon Rose, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant and Roy Rogers. The Rose Group currently owns and operates 55 Applebee’s Grill + Bar Restaurants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. In 2024, the Restaurant Finance Monitor ranked The Rose Group as the 109^th largest restaurant franchise company in the United States, and the company currently has more than 3,000 active employees.

To see more photos from the event, visit this link.

The University of Scranton is pleased to partner with Orbridge to offer alumni exceptional travel opportunities. Each trip combines unique itineraries, deluxe properties or ships, knowledgeable expedition leaders and the fellowship of other Royals. With special features and unparalleled access to distinguished locations, you’ll discover unforgettable places, people and cultures while enriching your understanding of our diverse and wonderful world.

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