FairfieldNow
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F FA I R F I E L D U N I V E R S I T Y / FA L L 2 0 0 9
A LIFE IN secrets
Richard C. Proto ’62 was one of the nation’s top
code breakers. Most of his work remains a mystery outside the
secret world of the National Security Agency.
John Tartaglio ’09 training for the New York City marathon.
“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
Saint Irenaeus (c.120-202)
contents
Cover story
Top-Secret Famous
FairfieldNow
The Magazine of Fairfield University
By Larry Reilly Fall 2009 • Volume 32 • Number 2
A.M.D.G.
Richard C. Proto ’62 was one of the
nation’s top code breakers. Most of his
work remains a mystery outside the secret Editor
world of the National Security Agency. Alistair Highet
Designer
Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91
University Photojournalist
Jean Santopatre, M.A.’09
Commencement 2009 Gateways University News Editor
By Meg McCaffrey By Nina M. Riccio, M.A.’09 Meredith Guinness
New teaching methods in English will Alumni Notes Editor
From Tragedy to Triumph build bridges across cultures. Colleen McGinn
By Virginia Weir Vice President for
John Tartaglio ’09 lost his legs. Now he Marketing and Communications
prepares to run the New York City Rama Sudhakar
Marathon.
Fairfield Now, the Fairfield University
Once Upon a Time magazine, is published four times
in South Dakota (November, March, June, September)
By Meredith Guinness during the year by Fairfield University.
Editorial offices are located in:
Fairfield’s film program shoots its first Transforming the World &
feature length movie. Being Transformed ine
B e l l a rm Hall, Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
By Carolyn Arnold (203) 254-4000, ext. 2526
Fairfield hosted the AJCU’s 2009 Jesuit e-mail: magazine@fairfield.edu
Justice Conference. Printed at The Lane Press
Burlington, Vermont
The Pursuit of Excellence
By John Torsiello
PHOTO CREDITS:
Athletics Director Gene Doris led
Fairfield to the 2008-09 MAAC All photos by Jean Santopatre except:
Commissioner’s Cup. B.K. Angeletti: page 13 (all but top left
and middle right), page 31 (bottom right)
Bob Winkler: page 30, page 31
Alumni Notes (all but bottom right)
Susan B. Dunn ’74 Courtesy crew of Dawn of Conviction:
pages 18-21
Paul and Leslie Tuttle ’85 Submitted photos:
Steve Shannon ’93 pages 23, 24, 25, 26, 39, 41, 43, 45
www.fairfield.edu
12 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
COMMENCEMENT 2009
BY M E G M C CA F F RE Y
F or the first time in its history, Fairfield University held separate
59th Commencement exercises on May 17 for undergraduate
seniors and graduate students.
Speaking at the undergraduate ceremony in the morning was Dr. Peter
J. Pronovost, a native of Waterbury, Conn., and a 1987 graduate of
Fairfield University who was awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant this
year for creating a checklist system for critical care teams that has
resulted in thousands of lives saved each year. 1
A critical care physician at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, his protocols
have been adopted by several states and the United Kingdom and Spain.
The University conferred on Dr. Pronovost an honorary Doctor of
Science degree. He told the 940 graduates: “You are entering a world in
the throes of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, a
world with conflicted values and responsibilities. You are entering a
world that hungers for great leadership.”
Among the many outstanding graduates of Fairfield’s graduate programs
to receive degrees in the afternoon was the inaugural class of the Fairfield
University School of Nursing and the Bridgeport Hospital Nurse
Anesthesia Program. This select group began the program in January of
2007, all with critical care experience in nursing from top hospitals
throughout the country. It is the only nurse anesthesia program in 4
Connecticut to offer the Master of Science in Nursing to its students.
Speaking at the graduate student ceremony was Mathy Mezey, Ed.D.,
RN, FAAN, a leader in geriatric care whose career has been dedicated to
improving healthcare for older adults.
Dr. Mezey, director of The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing in
the New York University College of Nursing, encouraged the 358 graduates
to live lives fulfilled by community service. “You have been fortunate to
experience the nearly 500-year Jesuit vision of not only integrating the
intellectual and spiritual, but also of the awareness that academic
achievement brings with it a responsibility to serve,” she said.
7
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 13
2 3
5 6
From top left:
1. Dr. Peter Pronovost ’87 gave the Commencement address to the
2009 undergradutes. 2. Grad Ed student, Gislene Maria Alves De
Santanna takes a photo of the platform party as she processes in with her
class. 3. Fr. von Arx gives the Bellarmine Medal to Noah Benjamin ’09.
4. Business graduates tossed their hats in the air after they received
their diplomas. 5. Fr. von Arx, the Rev. Thomas Regan, S.J., Dr. Peter
Pronovost ’87, and Dr. Glen Sauer before Commencement. 6. At the
afternoon graduate ceremony, Nina Riccio is all smiles as she receives
her Masters in American Studies. 7. Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka hugs one of
her students, Connie Gibilaro ’09. 8. Graduate Commencement speak -
er, Dr. Mathy Mezey, receives her hood and honorary degree from Fr.
von Arx with assistance from Academic Vice President Orin Grossman.
8
From
John Tartaglio '09 trains at the Platt Technical High School track in Milford, Conn.
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 15
Tragedy to Triumph
John Tartaglio ’09 lost his legs. Now he
prepares to run the New York City Marathon.
BY V I R G I NI A W EI R
T
he date that John Tartaglio ’09 people — which I couldn’t accept as
lost both of his legs and part an option.”
of his bicep to a rare bacterial During the summer before his senior
infection is tattooed onto his right year in high school in Milford, Conn.,
shoulder: 8/22/04, along with the Tartaglio, who played football, had
words From Tragedy to Triumph. been feeling sick for about a month
The motto expresses both his feelings and woke up one morning with severe
about a near-death experience and the pain in both legs. Doctors at the hospital
determined, independent attitude that discovered Clostridium septicum, a rare
motivated him through four years at infection that only 34 people in medical
Fairfield. This May, Tartaglio crossed history have had. Both legs had to be
the terrace at Bellarmine Hall to receive amputated at the hip; Tartaglio was
his bachelor’s degree in biology. given a 20 percent chance of survival.
“I came to accept what happened to Tartaglio’s story prompted an out-
me because I had no choice,” he said. pouring of support from his hometown
“It was either learning how to adapt to and beyond. “I was able to keep going
a new lifestyle and be independent or and get through tough times because
live a life depending solely on other of the support that I had from family,
16 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
friends, and strangers,” he said. “I rehabilitation, Tartaglio became the first gone through this life-changing experi-
literally had family and friends by my bilateral hip disarticulate to be fitted ence, so between Fairfield being conven-
side every day, on top of thousands of with both a walking and a running ient and having a solid science program,
letters from people that I didn’t know, prosthesis. About three months after his it was a fairly easy choice,” he said. “I
telling me to stay strong and positive.” operation, he walked his first quarter- remember driving onto the campus and
Doctors told him that most individ- mile on his C-legs (specialized artificial really liking the look of Fairfield.”
uals at his level of amputation never legs, complete with a microprocessor “Fairfield also did a good job in
walk again. But after three weeks in the knee to scan terrain ahead for accommodating me,” he added. The
in the hospital and six weeks in maximum stabilization) and was able University built an accessible shower
to graduate with his high school class and bathroom for Tartaglio’s residence
Several times a week Tartaglio meets his work - in 2005. halls for the three years he lived on
out partner at the gym for an “endurance day” Tartaglio had his sights on pre-med campus. “They also did a pretty good
routine of free weights, pushups, and bench and looked at a few other colleges before job at shoveling when it snowed so I
presses. choosing Fairfield. “I had just recently could get around campus.”
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 17
young adults with limb loss get back
to an active, healthy lifestyle.
It won’t be the first NYC Marathon
for Tartaglio. As a sophomore in 2006,
he competed in the hand-cycling
division and came in 30th out of
S
cience was Tartaglio’s focus and 101 participants. In the upcoming
steady passion throughout his marathon in November, Tartaglio will
time at Fairfield. He worked be the first individual with bilateral
closely with Dr. Shelley Phelan, associate hip disarticulation to compete in the
professor of biology, on a three-year history of the race. Intense upper body
research grant from the National training is crucial, as he will propel
Institutes of Health to study antioxidant himself with special titanium lofstrand
genes in breast cancer cells. “Shelley crutches, and will use his specially
definitely had a big influence on me,” designed Flex Foot running leg, which
Tartaglio said. “She is brilliant and weighs approximately 15 pounds. “My
knows how to break down complex prosthetist says it will definitely be a
material in a more easily understood marathon record for a long, long
way.” time,” Tartaglio said.
“John is a truly unique individual,” With the MCATs out of the way,
Dr. Phelan noted. “He exudes happiness Tartaglio has “amped-up” his training
and an incredible zest for life, and I regime. “I’ll be working in more hill
don’t believe there is any challenge training, speed work, and distance
that could intimidate him. He was the runs.” That regime is rigorous: weight-
first student ever to approach me in lifting at least four times a week; long
his freshman year with an idea for his swims twice weekly; and practice ru n s
own research project. I believe he on different courses, for a total of
approached his research with me in about 25 training hours per week.
the same way he approaches most Tartaglio is often asked to speak
things — with hard work that appears about his experience to youth groups
effortless. He is an inspiration.” and business organizations, and he
Tartaglio is hoping some of that centers his motivational talks around In the upcoming New York
hard work in the academic arena the maxim: “How far you fall doesn’t City Marathon in November,
would pay off as he took his MCATs determine who you are. It’s how hard
over the summer to get into medical you work to get back up.”
Tartaglio will be the first
school. He remains “open-minded” If Tartaglio strains to make his life individual with bilateral hip
seem normal, it doesn’t show; after a
about the area of medicine he will disarticulation to compete in
study. “I’d like to go to med school in short time spent in his company, he
the New England area, but right now seemed like any other handsome, hip, the history of the race…“My
I’d be happy just to get in somewhere,” recent Fairfield graduate with plans prosthetist says it will definitely
he said, matter-of-fact. and dreams. “It’s every day, you know,”
be a marathon record for a
His other aspiration right now is to he said, lifting his prosthetic legs into
run in the New York City Marathon his sleek black Volvo, “Just an every- long, long time,” he said.
this fall, and in doing so raise funds for day thing.”
Aspire, a New York-based non-profit
organization that helps children and
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 19
Once Upon a Time in
SOUTH DAKOTA
Fairfield’s film program shoots its first feature-length movie
B Y ME R ED I T H G UI N NE SS
IT WAS 2 A.M. ON THE STILL SOUTH DAKOTA PRAIRIE. The cast
and crew of Dawn of Conviction had just wrapped up another long day
of shooting the first full-length feature produced by Fairfield University
students. Exhausted, they looked at the next day’s shooting schedule
hoping for a break. They weren’t going to get one.
The train ro b b e ry scene: A mere three-and-a-half hours later they
would have to create the most complex and expensive scene in this
four-part film and they only had one chance to get it right. After all, it’s
not like you would want to rent a steam locomotive for a second day.
But by dawn they were ready.
Producer Bridget Lake ‘04 stood to the side of the tracks as actor Brad
Martocello ’07, a Colt .45 Peacemaker hanging lazily at his side, prepared
to confront the train as it rolled toward him. Patrick Hendrickson ’10,
one of the film’s four directors, guided the crew maneuvering a 30-foot
jib that held the camera aloft. At the same time, miles away Matt
Petterson ’10 directed actors on the train for an interior shot.
At left: Patrick Ginnetty ‘07 (middle) and Patrick Hendrickson ‘10 (right) line up a pivotal shot of
actor Brad Martocello ‘07 (left).
20 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
Executive Producer, the Rev. James who raised funds from friends and sup-
Mayzik, S.J., director of New Media Film, porting benefactors. “This is the fulfillment
Television, and Radio at Fairfield, sat in of a dream, and the inauguration of an
the driver’s seat of a Chevy Suburban, annual feature production at Fairfield.”
while Dennis Donovan ’10 popped out of In March, Lake and Fr. Mayzik went to
the sunroof, with yet another camera in South Dakota to scout locations and cast
his hand. These two would race ahead of local actors. With help from the South
the train, filming the action, bouncing Dakota Film Commission, they found a
along a road that crisscrossed over the host of free locations, including a sprawl-
tracks. Meanwhile Bob Cammisa ’10, ing horse sanctuary and a recreated
another director, stood at the edge of a Old West town. A man who ran a camp
puddle under a trestle, with another cam- offered the cast and crew a place to stay in
era aimed at the tracks. Something in the June. Two actors who owned a Wyoming
water caught his eye: A snake slithered ranch let them film there for a week.
lazily near his leg. He hoped it wasn’t Local horse wrangler Robert “Cowboy”
poisonous and looked back up, waiting. Culbertson gave the crew a cut rate on
“I
the six horses he provided and taught
t rained for most of the time we the actors how to ride convincingly.
were out there,” said Fr. Mayzik “In one shot they rode off into the
of the 20-day shoot this summer. sunset,” Lake remembered, “and I said
“We had an actor who had a concussion, to Cowboy, ‘You just made New York
The Rev. James Mayzik, S.J.
so we had to recast. The horse wrangler actors look like they know how to ride
broke his jaw. There was this incredibly horses.’”
complex train scene. We were dealing
with crisis the whole time,” he shrugged.
A dozen students, a handful “That’s what filmmaking is.”
of faculty and staff, and a But they did it. In less than a month,
a dozen students, a handful of faculty
band of professional actors
and staff, and a band of professional
and crew culled from New actors and crew culled from New York
York City to the Black Hills City to the Black Hills filmed the mak-
ings of a Western that may be ready for
filmed the makings of a film festivals and national distribution
Western that, once edited and by early 2010.
Planning on the Western began in
scored, may be ready for film September 2008. The department had
festivals and national distribu- never delved into the genre, but a core
group from the New Media program
tion by early 2010. who had worked together on an earlier “I think it all hangs together well. We
miniseries called Echo’s Wayward started got the shots we wanted,” said Fr. Mayzik.
writing the Western script under the “We have a film. We really do have a film.”
Y
direction of Fr. Mayzik in January.
Together, they crafted an epic-yet-intimate ou could say the film began
story of three brothers who travel from three years ago, when a few key
Minnesota to South Dakota in search of players, strangers to each other
gold and the power struggles that ensue then, decided to take courses in New
between them, the native Americans, and Media. Take Petterson, who directed one
others they meet along the way. “Since I of the film’s four parts and wrote another.
arrived at Fairfield I’ve wanted to work Dabbling in digital media in high school,
with passionate, gifted students to do a he wanted to delve deeper in college.
feature project like this,” said Fr. Mayzik, Donovan, another director/writer, did
the same, inspired while in high school all going to help work on each others’,”
by watching The Making of the Lord of said Cammisa.
the Rings. These newly-arrived freshmen The potent blend of camaraderie and Above: Tom Soporito ‘12 (middle) and
became part of a group that spent a good professionalism that went into the Echo Dennis Donovan ‘10 (right) film horse wran -
bit of their time at the Media Center, a projects and the We s t e rn is becoming gler-turned-extra Paul Williams
basement treasure trove for film buffs typical in the New Media program, said
Below: Producer Bridget Lake ‘04
that is outfitted with state-of-the-art Lake, who minored in New Media before
equipment available for student use. it was a full major. Coming back to
They started making films right away. teach and work in the Media Center, she
The students became fast friends and was amazed by the program’s popularity
were soon working on their first project, — there are now more than 90 students
a three-part sci-fi miniseries called Echo’s who major in new media.
Wayward. The students wrote, directed, Fr. Mayzik noted that few, if any, film
cast, and shot it, with production advice programs in the country offer students
and expertise from Media Center staff. the opportunity to work on a feature
Like the Western, Echo’s Wayward was film, making Fairfield’s program a
created for experience, not course credit. stand-out in the field.
Donovan is now at work on his senior Petterson agreed. “With a project like
capstone project, a prequel to that film this you’re stepping outside yourself and
called Echo 49, enlisting many colleagues you realize what you can accomplish,”
in the group’s newly-formed independent he said. “Sometimes you even surprise
production company, Companion Pictures yourself.”
(www.companionpictures.com). “We
wanted to do a joint capstone, but we’re
TOP-SECRET
FAMOUS
Richard C. Proto ’62 was one of the nation’s top code break-
ers. Most of his work remains a mystery outside the secret
world of the National Security Agency.
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 23
B Y L A RRY RE I L LY
Within the United States security and intelligence agencies, thousands of employees work in
almost complete anonymity on behalf of all U.S. citizens. On rare occasions, stories surface to
reveal some astounding contributions by dedicated individuals. Here is one such story from
the Fairfield University community.
O n May 18, 2009, a ceremony was
held on the gleaming campus
of the National Security Agency
(NSA) at Fort George Meade, Md.
simply cannot be discussed in detail. Yet.
Proto’s brother Neil recalls a tour of
the National Cryptologic Museum
some years ago, when Dr. Schatz
For one of America’s most secretive acknowledged, with a chuckle, the
agencies, it was a semi-public moment absence of Proto inventions noted or
— the dedication of its impressive on display.
Symposium Center in memory of “We haven’t been able to declassify
Richard Proto’s official NSA photograph. On
Richard C. Proto ’62, a past director of anything of Richard’s yet; most of them
the cover of the magazine is Proto’s 1962
NSA Research, and a proud alumnus are still in use,” Dr. Schatz told Proto’s
Fairfield University Yearbook photograph, and
of Fairfield University. He received his brother. a Cray computer used for code breaking dur -
B.S. in mathematics from Fairfield in It may be several decades before we ing Proto’s time at the NSA.
1962. Proto died in July 2008. learn how profoundly Richard Proto
Dr. James R. Schatz, Proto’s succes- shaped cryptology — the development
sor as director of NSA Research, and deciphering of coded messages.
Daughter Elissa notes that the
offered this tribute: “Richard Proto’s Nor will we know how his work may
life was a celebration of intellectual have shaped the course of American influence of Fairfield on her
power dedicated to the service of his history during his watch. The full father was profound. “Dad felt
.
c o u n t ry He was an exemplary story may never be told.
the education he received
American, a wonderful friend and This article is pieced together from
mentor to a generation of NSA a range of interviews with family and from the Jesuits at Fairfield
employees. NSA and the nation owe friends who knew Richard Proto well prepared him for everything
him a tremendous debt of gratitude.” and are thrilled he is being remem-
he faced in life. The philosophi-
Chronicling the accomplishments of bered in his alumni magazine as a
such an American hero might appear giant of the NSA, despite the fact that cal approach remained with Dad
to be a straightforw a rd exercise, but the scale and nature of his work and was reinforced in the way
the highly classified nature of Proto’s remains largely a mystery.
he worked.”
work makes it an uncertain endeavor. His daughter, Elissa, now a division
Even after a 35-year career followed by chief at NSA herself who knows some-
a long stint as a distinguished advisory thing of the agency’s understated ways,
consultant, many of Richard Proto’s said, “Hey, they actually named a
major contributions to intelligence building after him. That’s amazing.”
technology and the agency he loved
24 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
Math, Logic, and History each night was not uncommon. prepared him for everything he faced
R
“Richard was really something of a in life. The philosophical approach
ichard Proto was raised in a
loner in school. Quiet. Very reserved,” remained with him and was reinforced
working-class neighborhood in
said Stephen Csontos ’62, a Fairfield in the way he worked and raised his
New Haven, Conn., one of three
classmate, friend, and basketball buddy. three children.”
children, and one of literally dozens of
“Those of us who knew him then knew Ellen Rabe, Richard’s partner for
cousins in an extended but close-knit
he was a bright and talented individual, many years and colleague at the NSA
Italian family.
but could not have imagined his impact for even more, described him this way:
He was part of a generation descended
on the NSA and the nation.” “He had a natural interest in many
from European immigrants who faced
Neil Proto distinctly remembers aspects of life and learning. The inter-
the social challenges of minorities in
Richard’s Fairfield experience: “The ests he passionately pursued in his
their day, and who, according to
Jesuits…insist on an intellectual disci- research-focused career were natural
Richard’s brother Neil, “worked hard
pline and inquisitiveness — an ability extensions to his early interests and
to establish themselves as Americans
to probe deeply and with a powerful were always from the heart.”
on their own terms.”
logic — without fear of where it might Those interests included his love of
A member of the Wilbur Cross
lead. What emerged for him was a h i s t o ry; he read about the Greeks, the
High School basketball team that won
confidence in his insightfulness into Romans, and the Bible many times
the New England championship, Proto
people, an ability to reason.” over. He also pursued music, from
was among the first in his family to go
Daughter Elissa noted that the opera librettos in several languages to
to college. He attended Fairfield as a
influence of Fairfield on her father was a long list of folk songs, which he
“day-hop” from 1958 to 1962, when
profound. “Dad felt the education he taught himself to play on the guitar.
commuting to campus and back home
received from the Jesuits at Fairfield
NSA: An aerial view of the NSA
headquarters in Maryland
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 25
Proto playing basketball for Wilbur Cross High of abstract algebra, number theory, and
School. computational analysis and include
“Proto’s Algorithm,” still a state-of-the-
public service to be the highest calling art tool for analyzing and developing
— a duty,” complemented by the code. Proto was responsible for several
Jesuit tradition of service to others, other patented inventions as well.
Richard Proto evidently saw his path. He rose quickly to become chief of
When an American U-2 reconnais- the Office of Cryptomathematics, and
sance plane piloted by Francis Gary eventually became the director of NSA
Powers was shot down over the Soviet Research. With Proto leading, NSA
Union in May of 1960, international Research earned recognition as the
tensions heated up, followed by the premier organization of its kind within
Cuban Missile Crisis in the fall of 1962. the Department of Defense.
Again America showed its vulnerability. Proto was an original thinker and
Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) provided an instigator. His efforts to facilitate
no warning of nuclear-armed Soviet i n f o rmation-sharing across the military
ballistic missiles in Cuba before their intelligence community evolved into
discovery by another U-2 aircraft. IARPA, the Intelligence Advanced
Clearly, in the field of national security, Research Projects Activity, recently
there was a need for top-echelon elevated in status by Congress as a key
mathematics talent like Richard Proto.
And he answered the call.
A Leader Of America’s Top What is the NSA?
Strategic Thinkers
The missions of the National Security
P
roto continued his education Agency (NSA) and its sister agency, Central
Inspired By Sputnik with a master’s degree from Security Service (CSS), are “to protect U.S.
O
Boston College, and then national security systems and to produce
n October 4, 1957, the Soviet
joined the elite cryptologists of the
Union launched the world’s foreign signals intelligence information.”
NSA in the fall of 1964. (Cryptologists
first artificial satellite, Sputnik I. The Information Assurance mission con-
are teams of mathematicians, computer
The size of a beach ball and weighing fronts the formidable challenge of prevent-
scientists, and engineers who study
just over 180 pounds, Sputnik took ing foreign adversaries from gaining access
methods to decipher encrypted infor-
about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth. to sensitive or classified national security
mation by discovering the required
The launch manifested a frightening information. The Signals Intelligence mission
secret key, and thus “crack the code.”)
new Soviet threat. A moderately chilly collects, processes, and disseminates intelli-
Years later, Proto recalled how an
Cold War between the Soviet Union
early supervisor set him straight about gence information from foreign signals for
and the United States suddenly changed.
his career potential at the agency. intelligence and counterintelligence purpos-
One thing was certain: the U.S.–U.S.S.R.
Though he would never be permitted es and to support military operations. T h i s
space race was on.
to publish his work, the NSA would Agency also enables Network Warfare
Proto recalled later that Sputnik was
give him full opportunity to become operations to defeat terrorists and their
a career-inspiring event for him. An
“top-secret famous.” Proto did just organizations at home and abroad,
amateur astronomer since boyhood, he
that, flourishing among the nation’s
knew that America would need superior consistent with U.S. laws and the protection
most gifted creative thinkers and
scientists to stake out a safe future in of privacy and civil liberties.”
problem solvers.
the new space age. With a deep sense
We know that some of his mathe- — From the NSA/CSS Web site
of civic duty instilled by his parents,
matical contributions built on his study www.nsa.gov/about/mission
who, according to Neil Proto, “believed
26 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
unit within the Office of the Director A True Visionary relentless. Famous Cray supercomputers
P
of National Intelligence. of that era advanced from processing
roto was “universally regarded
Proto brought not only a keen mind 420 million operations per second to
as one of the Agency’s most
to his work, but the warm encourage- 2.67 billion operations per second. It
visionary thinkers,” wrote
ment of a born mentor, too, earning the was all new, uncharted terr i t o ry .
Dr. Schatz. “Nearly two decades ago,
honorary moniker of the benevolent Richard Proto was among those cre-
when large scale [computer] network-
“godfather” of the NSA’s mathematics ative problems solvers who, in service
ing was in its infancy, Richard antici-
community. to their country, helped bring cyber-
pated the emergence of cyberspace as
Dickie George, a senior NSA col- space to life, while working to ensure
a battleground for national defense.
league of Proto’s, offered this written that the boundaries of this new land-
He championed efforts to understand
reflection: “All my memories of him scape remained secure.
emerging threats and to develop strate-
bring a smile to my face. Rick was a Proto and colleagues toiled in secret
gies for dealing with them.”
fabulous teacher — not a classroom at the edge of a frontier that few of us
According to its Web site, the NSA
teacher… but a life teacher… We can conceive. Their vision has changed
has been a leader in computer develop-
worked on things for 10 years and I the nature of warfare, contributing to the
ment throughout its history. Some
thought I knew the matter inside and continuing supremacy of U.S. military
of the earliest supercomputers were
out — yet every time I talked to Rick capabilities and the safety of our troops.
designed and built for the National
he explained nuances that I hadn’t Proto retired in 1999, but consulted for
Security Agency. Today, NSA has the
realized. He was always a little deeper the rest of his life.
world’s largest supercomputing facility
and more thoughtful than the rest of They and their successors have
on its campus.
us. He’d start smiling and gently shak- responded in unknown ways to the
In the 1980s and 1990s, during the
ing his head saying, ‘Dick, Dick, Dick, unprecedented threats of international
apex of Richard Proto’s career, personal
Dick…’ (and I knew something was terrorism. As recently as June 2009,
computing and global networks took
wrong). Every conversation was a President Barack Obama alerted the
center stage. The expansion of techno-
learning experience.” c o u n t ry to the possibility of a cata-
logical capabilities was dizzying and
strophic computer attack — a cyberwar
— and declared that protecting our
digital networking infrastructure must
be a national security priority.
Those at NSA who carry on, shoul-
dering the awesome responsibility
Richard Proto did, can’t tell us much.
But they have told us unequivocally
how much they respect and honor
Proto, and how profoundly he serv e d
his country.
“Rick was one of the greatest leaders
the National Security Agency has ever
had,” concluded George. “Always t e a c h-
ing, always giving; every conversation
was a treasure. We will always miss
him and never forget the person and
what he did for us.”
Christmas 2000, with Richard Proto, Ellen Rabe
(his partner), daughter Elissa Proto Carter (eld -
est), son Christopher in back (middle), daughter
Vanessa, Christopher’s wife Lisa LeMair, and
son-in-law David Carter
Gateways
New teaching methods in English will build bridges across cultures
BY N I NA R I CC I O, M. A.’ 0 9
O ne would be hard-pressed to find a college
student who didn’t know something about
the 18th-century slave trade involving Great Britain,
Africa, and the Americas, but how many have
studied it while listening to NourbeSe Philips’
hypnotic poem Zong, a reminder of the shocking
1781 incident in which slaves were thrown into
the Atlantic in order to collect insurance money?
Or understand the connection between the bur-
geoning slave trade and the regular appearance of
coffee and sugar as staples in a British household?
Above: Professors Sally O’Driscoll (left), Gita Rajan, Edrik Lopez, and
Kim Bridgford offer students a more global approach to literature.
28 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
And how many have thought to groups led by one of four professors.
trace Odysseus’ journey through the “‘Gateway’ is a metaphor that can
ancient world — or perhaps the route signal meaning at so many different
of Chaucer’s pilgrim 2,000 years later levels,” explained Dr. Gita Rajan. “It is
— on a historical map with hyperlinks a gateway to opening students’ minds
that show the changing political to literature, in all its cultural richness.
boundaries and fluctuating demo- The idea of gateway fits nicely with the
This September marks the graphics of the era? University’s mission of core integration:
This September marks the dawn of Reading becomes a way of deciphering
dawn of an ambitious new
an ambitious new project in the English how history, politics, geography, and
project in the English department: a team-taught class that culture are encoded into literary texts
department: a team-taught infuses literature from around the world to infuse a context-specific view of the
class that infuses literature with a variety of media — interactive globe.”
maps with hyperlinks, poetry, film,
from around the world with a
T
lectures, and theatre — to ensure that he Gateway professors will take
variety of media to ensure that students walk away understanding turns introducing the day’s
students understand what they what they have read in the broader material, each speaking to his
context of what was happening in the or her area of specialty.
have read in the broader con-
world at the time it was written. For Dr. Rajan, that’s the literature of
text of what was happening in “We wanted to develop a pilot course the South Asian diaspora as well as
the world at the time for students that introduces them to gender studies and globalization theory.
themes and a range of literature from Dr. Sally O’Driscoll will focus on
all over the world,” explained Dr. Kim 18th-century European women writers
Bridgford, a poet and one of the four and sexuality and gender studies, while
professors spearheading the course. Dr. Edrik Lopez, a poet, will bring his
The result, “Gateways: Mapping expertise in Latina literature and 20th-
Literary Texts across a Global c e n t u ry American poetry to the mix.
Continuum,” will be a class of 60, quite The class was filled shortly after
large by Fairfield standards, and will sophomore registration opened last
meet as a group twice each week before spring, but it seems that students are
breaking down into smaller discussion not the only ones excited about
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 29
Gateway’s global focus.
“We’re all thrilled” with the scope of
the project, noted Dr. Bridgford. She
added that invited speakers this semester
include Khaled Hosseini of The Kite
Runner fame, and Junot Díaz, author of
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,
both of whom will visit the class itself
in addition to making an appearance at
the Quick Center. Films and theatre
performances, as well as lectures at
New York’s 92nd St. Y, are also on the
schedule.
“This semester’s theme will be ‘jour-
ney and self’, and we’ll examine the
literature chosen with that in mind,”
explained Dr. Bridgford. As an example,
she cited Shakespeare’s The Tempest as
one text that will be explored and
notes that students will trace Alonso’s
journey from North Africa to Naples,
speculating on the location of the
mythical island on which he lands while Students sample literature from a range of cultures and analyze them in the
context of the time they were written.
exploring historical accounts of 16th-
c e n t u ry shipwrecks that were likely to
have filtered back to Shakespeare’s
London. she said by way of explanation.) While high school teachers in neighboring
One of the first to register for the she’s eager to dive into the reading list Bridgeport, so that schools with great
course was Stefania Cambanis ’11, who and to meet Hosseini, the course is need yet few resources can have access
is majoring in both accounting and lit- most appealing for another reason. to the materials developed. Ultimately,
erature. (“They both involve analysis,” “I like the idea of a large class it may be possible to make the com-
where everyone is there because they pleted Gateway website available to
love literature. We’ll be comparing and s t ruggling community colleges as well.
analyzing texts from different nations, “I feel confident that our students
and I think it will be a very motivating are ready for this wonderfully rich
experience.” course because, frankly, every student
The Gateway team has been accepted I’ve had has loved the challenge of
this September at Soul Mountain, the performing at a superior level,” said
Connecticut writers’ retreat. At the Dr. Rajan.
retreat, they will discuss their roles as
both teachers and as resources as they
work toward their next step in the
project: an educational workshop for
30 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
TRANSFORMING THE WORLD
& BEING TRANSFORMED
Fairfield hosted the AJCU’s 2009 Jesuit Justice Conference
BY C A R OLY N A RN OL D tradition of social justice — the hall-
I
mark of a Jesuit education.
n response to a mission given to “This year’s meeting was particu-
the Association of Jesuit Colleges larly meaningful because we had
and Universities (AJCU) in 2000 by representatives from several South and
the Rev. Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., then Central American colleges, who present-
the secretary general of the Society of ed the issues from their perspective,”
Jesus, educators recently gathered at said Dr. Winston Tellis, who represented
Fairfield University to discuss the pro- Fairfield University on the National
motion of justice in higher education. Steering Committee.
.
The Rev. Jeffrey P von Arx, S.J., Fr. Kolvenbach asked Jesuit insti-
president of Fairfield University said, tutions to “raise our Jesuit educational
“We have a rare opportunity to reflect standard to educate the whole person
upon how far we have come in the in solidarity for the real world.”
s e rvice of this mission,” in his opening Keeping this idea in mind, Fr. von Arx
remarks on June 18. He added that stated that a priority among AJCU
The Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J. promoting justice is not something institutions must be to enable students
Jesuit universities can split from “our from low-income families to attend
obligation to serve the faith; it is rather colleges despite increasing tuition
“Justice is a virtue — something we are called to do as a costs. Higher education that is just for
consequence of our faith.”
meaning it is a habit acquired
Nine years ago, Fr. Kolvenbach
through practice,” said charged the 28 Jesuit colleges and
Clockwise from top, left:
1. The Rev. Charles Currie, S.J., president of AJCU
Fr. Ryscavage. “It has to universities in the U.S. to make justice
speaks with the Rev. James Bowler, S.J., Fairfield’s
become a habit of the heart and issues around the world a priority. Facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and
In response, a permanent National Identity. 2. The Rev. Charles Onyango-Oduke, S.J.,
mind.” Committee on Justice in Jesuit Higher keynote speaker from Boston College and Dr.
Education was created which is com- Winston Tellis, Fairfield University. 3. Kathleen
Orange of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
mitted to meeting every few years.
addressed the group.
“Transforming the World and Being
4. Kelly Orbic of Creighton University in Omaha,
Transformed,” the third conference Mary Elsbernd of Loyola University in Chicago, and
since its inception in 2000, focused Ken Reed-Bouley of the Creighton University
on working together to strengthen the Center for Service and Justice.
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 31
32 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
the wealthy is an injustice that must be African formally trained in both Western at Fairfield University, spoke about the
addressed “because our American Jesuit and Indian philosophical traditions. long history of Catholic social teaching
Universities were originally founded to Fr. Oduke spoke about the impor- and the Jesuit promotion of justice.
s e rve the educational and religious tance of teaching students about social “Justice is a virtue — meaning it is a
needs of poor immigrant populations.” justice while having them experience it habit acquired through practice,” said
He suggested that higher education firsthand. “The Jesuit mission does not Fr. Ryscavage. “It has to become a
institutions consider shifting their finan- take place in a vacuum, but in the habit of the heart and mind.”
cial aid away from “merit-based” aid human experience,” he noted. Fr. Ryscavage also noted the
towards “need-based” aid to alleviate the When asked about the “brain drain” importance of spirituality while doing
disadvantage to lower-income families. that results when skilled students and good works. “Community service is not
P
workers from the developing world enough,” he said. “Religion matters!”
articipants were eager to hear leave for opportunities in the United After three days of sharing ideas,
from those with different world States, Fr. Oduke responded that it is attendees left with new perspectives and
experiences, such as the Rev. necessary for a “true exchange” among partnerships for the future. The next
Charles Onyangu-Oduke, S.J., assistant people in Africa and other institutions conference, scheduled for 2013 at
professor of philosophy at Boston for growth on both sides to occur. Creighton University, will continue the
College. Fr. Oduke is a Luo-Kenyan- “That’s the proof that we live in a global discussion. Fr. von Arx noted that the
world.” He also said that he sees the path for AJCU schools and its partners
British Robinson, director of Public Private exchange as an eventual “brain gain” was clear: “The service of faith and pro-
Partnerships in the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS due to the fact that many who emigrate motion of justice is the road that we are
Coordinator at the U.S. Department of State and an often return to their home countries called to follow as Jesuit institutions.”
advisory board member of Fairfield’s Center for with new skills and ideas.
Faith and Public Life, gave suggestions on how To learn more about the conference and
Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., director
higher education institutes can help developing to listen to a selection of the presentations,
countries emerge.
of the Center for Faith and Public Life
visit www.fairfield.edu/justiceconference.
39
alumni notes
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
S P E C I A L ALUMNI FEAT U R E :
Reunion 2009
A lumni from classes of every five years from 1964 to 2004 turned out in great
numbers for a gorgeous Reunion Weekend on June 6-7. More than 1,600 alumni
and their families attended “classes,” toured campus, and reconnected with friends
and classmates they hadn’t seen in years.
Fairfield University basketball player
Jamal Turner ’12 gives pointers on
Dancing in the tent under a moonlit sky on Bellarmine lawn. Alumni crowd the basketball to Brendan Sweeney, son
dance floor grooving to the sounds of Smokin’ Section. of Dale Sweeney ’74.
Lindsey Williams, Vincent Caruso, Brian Mello, Kevin DeVinney, Steve
Rob Keder ‘04 and Jess Michaels ’04 reunite five years Criso, and Erin DeVinney from the class of 1999 catch up with each
after their Commencement. other and exchange new phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., greets Christopher Quick ’79 Alumni register at the John A. Barone Campus Center and
and Dave Repetta ’79 at their 30th Reunion reception. congregate under the welcome sign.
34 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 35
THE PURSUIT OF
Excellence
Athletics Director Gene Doris led Fairfield to
the 2008-09 MAAC Commissioner’s Cup
B Y JO H N T OR SI E L LO
F
airfield University Athletics Director won MAAC regular season titles during
Gene Doris sits in a room specially the campaign.
T
designed to allow coaches, recruits,
and their families a bit of privacy amidst aking home the Commissioner’s
what is usually a swirl of activity in the Cup is a tangible demonstration
campus’ Athletics offices. that the University’s five-year
A tallish 60-year-old with a shock of athletics strategic plan is on the right
white hair and a quick smile, Doris has path and bearing fruit.
overseen the Fairfield Athletics program Two years ago, Fairfield embarked on
for 15 years, helping build the Stags a mission to provide greater funding for
into one of the most competitive and varsity and club sports, awarding addi-
respected programs in the Metro Atlantic tional grants-in-aid to student-athletes,
Athletic Conference (MAAC). and bringing athletic accomplishments in
Emblematic of Fairfield’s success was line with the high academic standards for
the winning of the league’s highest which Fairfield is known.
honor this spring, the MAAC 2008-09 All the while, the teams continue to
Commissioner’s Cup. In addition to the reflect the Jesuit teachings aimed at
overall championship, Fairfield also developing fully integrated lives for stu-
won the Conference’s Women’s Crown. dents — lives that are refined and made
The Commissioner’s Cup is awarded real within the context of community.
to a school for overall excellence in the Doris believes Fairfield’s strategic plan
24 championship athletic events con- for athletics and the Jesuit approach mesh
ducted within the MAAC. Each institu- to create a vibrant, relevant, and impor-
tion is scored in all areas that it fields a tant aspect of life for many students.
varsity team. Four Fairfield teams won “Certainly, the values that I believe
MAAC championships and advanced to in — the complete person and service
the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09: to the community — are at the very
men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s center of the Jesuit teachings,” he said,
lacrosse, and women’s tennis. sitting back in a chair and looking for
The volleyball, women’s lacrosse, all the world like he could return to
softball, and men’s tennis squads all the basketball court and begin shouting
directions like he did for 11 years at
Gene Doris celebrates his 15th year as direc - Archbishop Stepinac High School
tor of athletics as the man behind the winning in White Plains, N.Y. “Winning the
of the MAAC Commissioner’s Cup. Commissioner’s Cup is a credit to all the
36 FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
coaches, administrators, and student- programs over the years and under- One of Doris’ goals is to make
athletes at Fairfield.” taken a number of initiatives that help Fairfield the preeminent mid-major
“Winning the Commissioner’s Cup is distinguish us from our peers. Perhaps sports university in Connecticut.
a great indication that all of our teams known to too few is that Gene is as “Let’s face it, UConn is on another
were able to compete at a good to high committed to Fairfield’s Jesuit and level. But we can be the best of the
level for which they are capable,” said Catholic mission and the role that mid-majors in the state. You can reach
Mark Reed, vice president for adminis- athletics plays in student development that goal by having successful teams
trative and student affairs. “Winning as anyone I know.” and drawing attention from the media,
the Cup this year, coupled with a num- Prior to his arrival at Fairfield, Doris fans, and student-athletes.
ber of conference championships and was athletic director at Marist College “The one sport we really need to
NCAA tournament appearances, is a for five years and was associate athletics become consistently better at is basket-
clear indication that we’re moving in director at Fordham University, his alma ball,” he continued, “and that just hasn’t
the right direction. mater, for five years before taking the happened here yet, much to my dismay
“Gene Doris has been a major factor athletic director’s job at Marist. as an old basketball coach.
in the successes of Fairfield Athletics He began coaching basketball as a “Basketball is the glamour college
throughout his tenure,” Reed continued. graduate assistant at Fordham, learning sport and gets the most attention in this
“He does not seek — and in fact, the ropes from none other than the region and nationally. Many schools
deflects — credit, but he has made a legendary Richard “Digger” Phelps, who build down from success at the glamour
number of very good coaching hiring went on to coach at the University of sport level. Here, we have sort of built
decisions across our myriad varsity Notre Dame and is now a respected upward, achieving great success in a
basketball analyst. number of sports but not yet attaining
After a successful run as hoops coach that level of continued success in bas-
at Archbishop Stepinac, the Queens native ketball. The success of our basketball
made the switch from the sidelines to the teams is a priority.”
office. He says his career in coaching has
D
made him suited to understand the oris views himself as an adminis-
challenges coaches face on a daily basis. trator who empowers his staff
“I guess to a fault, especially in the and coaches by delegating
beginning, I was sympathetic to the responsibility. Julie Brzezinski, the
wants of my coaches and athletes. I’ve school’s softball coach, has worked with
l e a rned to be more of a businessman Doris for 13 years.
now because that is a big part of the job “Gene instills a pride in what we are
these days. We have to be results-based, doing and is the person who gets and
while keeping to our Jesuit tradition keeps us all going. It’s not just the
and teachings. It’s something you have winning that he preaches, but building
to balance and sometimes there are hard character and making better student-
decisions to be made about coaches. athletes. All the coaches view winning
Perhaps the situation at Fairfield just the Commissioner’s Cup as extremely
isn’t the right fit for them. It doesn’t mean important.”
they can’t be good coaches elsewhere.” At 60, Doris has no thought of retiring.
He’s very comfortable living in a quiet
neighborhood of Fairfield, where he
Above: Joe Michalisin, the 2009 MAAC Rookie spends some of his free time walking
and Player of the Year, helped Fairfield to an his dogs several miles to the beach or to
18-2 overall record, a the center of town.
MAAC Regular Season Championship, and a “Now that I’m 60, I’m looking forward
spot in the MAAC Championship final. to the next five-year span. I’ll be 65
Below: Ahna Johnson, the MAAC Female then and I’ll reassess things. I still have
Athlete of the Year, led the Stags to their the fire in the belly and as long as my
second MAAC Championship and NCAA
health stands up I’ll keep going. I know
Tournament appearance in four years.
one thing, I’ll never stop working.”
41
alumni notes
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
CLASS OF ’74 PROFILE:
Susan B. Dunn: Raising the bottom line
B Y C A R O LY N A R N O L D
S usan B. Dunn ’74, president and
chief executive officer of United
Way of Central and Northeastern
when Dunn was senior vice president,
the Board of Directors named her
president and CEO following the
Connecticut (UWCNCT), feels sudden death of her friend and
“incredibly blessed” to be able to draw mentor George Bahamonde.
on her Fairfield education to lead an Since then she’s been busy: In
institution that helps so many people. 2008 she was named as one of Greater
As one of the first 200 women who Hartford’s “50 Most Influential People”
came to Fairfield University in 1970, and the Hartford Business Journal
and one of the only female business awarded her the 2008 Nonprofit
school students, Dunn’s college expe- Executive of the Year award. Recently,
rience was unique — especially after United Way of America recognized the
coming from an all girls’ high school! success of one of UWCNCT’s newest
“I chose Fairfield because it had the programs, “Budget Coaching,” which
major I was interested in (marketing) matches community volunteers with
and because I could combine a liberal lower-income working individuals to
arts education with my interest in help them gain a better understanding
business,” she explained. Susan B. Dunn ’74 of personal finances.
The combination worked well for The program is one of many that
her career pursuits. After graduating to school to become a teacher. In 1990 help move families towards sustain-
she married Ned Dunn, a Fairfield UWCNCT offered her a position in ability and stability. UWCNCT also
alum from the class of ’72, whom she the communications office, which she provides resources for services such
had met on her first day as a new happily accepted. as food pantries and shelters, but
student. “He was volunteering as a United Way, a nonprofit organiza- they focus on long-term solutions.
‘greeter’ for orientation and was the tion that meets human care needs, “Ultimately we want to raise the bottom
first person to officially welcome us serves as a network of partner agencies, line for all community members,”
to the campus,” said Dunn. volunteers, and community leaders to Dunn said.
After graduating she worked in improve the lives of those in the com- Despite a tight economic period,
insurance. It was a field she wasn’t munities they serve. UWCNCT is the Dunn is confident that people will
interested in pursuing, but she was largest in Connecticut (each United “step up and help folks.” She explained
grateful for the experience. “In hind- Way organization is a separate and that today more people are in need of
sight, things worked out for the best,” autonomous non-profit) and 29th services, but with federal and state cuts,
Dunn reflected. The position taught largest of the more than 1,200 United fewer resources are available. “We have
her how to analyze data and numbers, Ways in the nation. to be creative in the future and look at
a skill that would prove invaluable. Dunn’s workdays are never pre- new ways to work together including
Dunn left the work force in the dictable. “When you work in a non- mergers and collaborations,” she said.
early 80s to raise her family. Later she profit you wear a lot of different With Dunn and UWCNCT’s determi-
worked part-time and began volun- hats,” she laughed. During her time nation to provide these services, along
teering as a community organizer. She at UWCNCT, she has helped exceed with the generosity of the people living
began looking for a full-time job once fundraising targets year after year, and in central Connecticut, the community
her three children were older and served as the communications director, will continue to grow and thrive.
because her husband was going back among many other duties. In 2006,
43
alumni notes
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9
CLASS OF ’85 PROFILE:
Paul and Leslie Tuttle: Living the Green Dream
BY MEREDITH GUINNESS
F or the first week they had
them, Paul “Chip” Tuttle
’85 didn’t even notice the small
said he was a bit surprised to
see his wife, a finance major,
become so passionate about the
birds milling around his Salem, environment. “I never saw this
Mass., home. The “birds” were coming,” he said, with a laugh.
chickens — his chickens. “The chickens took a little
The tiny hatchlings, which getting used to. But even I’ve
have since grown into a brood warmed up to them.”
of four silver-laced Wyandottes And so have the neighbors.
foraging for bugs in the back- The family had to go before the
yard garden, are one of the most city zoning board of appeals
noticeable additions to the when a neighbor complained
family’s modern green lifestyle. about the birds. But other
In the past few years, Tuttle, The Tuttle children with their neighbors rallied and the Tuttle
his wife Leslie Tuttle ’85, and their Wyandotte chickens children did research and spoke before
three children — Libby, 15, Annie, 13, the board, convincing them that the
and William, 11 — have made done that I need to do,” Leslie said. chickens were simply “pets with
changes big and small in an effort to Three years ago, she was part of a eggs,” said Leslie.
live a more sustainable urban life. group of women who lobbied for Environmental awareness even
“I was kind of oblivious to the community gardens in Salem. Once creeps into Chip’s career. His firm
whole thing back then,” Leslie Tuttle, approved, they bought fencing and recently did some work for Clean
an interior designer, said of her days manure and tilled the soil in part of a Power Now, a company creating wind
at Fairfield. “But then you see An city park. The first year, 60 families had farms on the east coast. “It’s times like
Inconvenient Truth and read (Michael garden plots they might not have had that when the kids think what I do is
Pollan’s) Omnivore’s Dilemma and other room for at home. This year, there are cool,” he said.
things and you realize how important 160 plots in two parks and a waiting In the end, the kids are the reason
thinking about the environment is. I list of 30 gardeners. for much of what the Tuttles are doing.
likened it to smoking: We didn’t know The family also does lots of small “One of the benefits of a Jesuit educa-
we were doing something stupid. things at home to protect the environ- tion is it certainly gives you an open
Now we know. So what can we do ment. They compost, and the chickens mind,” said Chip, who is a member of
to fix that?” eat much of the kitchen waste that Fairfield’s Trustees Advisory Council.
Just living in a small city is part of would go into the trash stream. They “When all these ideas were proposed
their plan. The family uses public buy fluorescent bulbs and green in the household, I think there was a
transportation whenever possible, the cleaning supplies and don’t use plastic sense that part of what we’re doing is
kids walk to school, and they shop at bags. Milk and vegetables come from educating our kids. I think that’s
locally owned stores. “When I’m being local farms. consistent with what we learned at
good — which is not all the time — I Chip Tuttle, a partner in an adver- Fairfield.”
can spend a couple of days without tising firm that counts the Red Sox
getting into the car and get everything and New Balance among its clients,
FA I R F I E L D N O W FA L L 2 0 0 9 45
alumni notes
CLASS OF ’93 PROFILE:
Steve Shannon: A Legislator, and Leader at Fairfield
BY NINA M. RICCIO
L ike every other Fairfield student,
Steve Shannon ’93 spent the first
weeks of December 1992 gearing up
the AMBER Alert system to Virginia.
“My wife Abby worked with the
National Center for Missing and
for exams and looking forward to the Exploited Children, and had heard
month-long Christmas break. But that about the AMBER Alert [a broadcast
was before Mother Nature decided to system to alert the police and public
mess things up with a mid-month ice when a child is missing] when it was
s t o rm that flooded beach homes, first developed in Texas. It took two
downed electric wires, and swallowed years, but we were able to create the
student cars; the National Guard had first AMBER Alert program in Virginia,”
to be called out to rescue beach resi- he said proudly.
dents stranded in their homes. “One thing about politics is that
“This wasn’t just a question of people are constantly popping into
students fording through a few feet of your life,” Shannon continued. “When
cold water,” said Shannon, who was I won the election, one of the first
then living at the beach with 500 people to call me was Dr. John Orman,
other juniors and seniors. “There were my former faculty advisor, who called
power lines exposed in the water.” Steve Shannon ’93 to say how proud he was. There were
Fortunately for the students affect- so many people from Fairfield who
ed, Shannon was FUSA president. “He crisis. I think that it actually made the really affected me — Dr. Alan Katz
was so well respected and trusted, and University stronger.” was influential in my desire to go into
he represented the students in a way With his tumultuous senior year public policy. I went on a mission trip
that brought out the best in a student behind him, Shannon could be forgiven to Jamaica with Fr. Michael Boughton
leader,” said Jim Fitzpatrick ’70, assis- for taking it a little easy that summer; and did the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
tant vice president for student affairs, instead, he opted for a year of teaching with Fr. Paul Carrier. Through my time
advisor to FUSA, and an acknowledged English in Hiroshima. as FUSA president, I developed a great
admirer of Shannon’s. Because students “I was an Asian Studies minor,” he friendship with Fr. Aloysius Kelley.
lost books and notes, and in some cases explained. In the years since, he earned Jim Fitzpatrick was a true mentor, and
couldn’t get back into their homes for a master’s degree in public policy Jeanne DiMuzio’s commitment to
weeks, negotiating with the academic from Georgetown, a law degree from helping students mature through their
vice president over the exam schedule the University of Virginia, and worked involvement with student activities
was a top priority. “Steve was so artic- as a local prosecutor in Fairfax County, was exceptional.”
ulate and organized, and when he went Virginia. In 2003, he won a seat as a Now, after six years in the House of
in to see [Academic Vice President] member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Shannon is ready for a new
Dr. Wall, he made it very easy for him Delegates. “My time at Fairfield really challenge: He’s running for attorney
to accept all Steve’s suggestions.” cemented my desire to be in public general this November. “Fairfield is a
For his part, Shannon maintains service, and if there’s one thing I learned really special place and the lessons I
that the Nor’easter “was a wonderful from Fairfield it’s that there’s always an learned there have stuck with me. It’s
example of the University and the opportunity to serve in some capacity.” had a profound influence on my life,
greater Fairfield community coming One of Shannon’s initiatives in his and I try to serve the community as I
together to deal with an unforeseen time in the House has been to bring did at Fairfield.”