Check out the sights and scenes from Saint Leo University alumni gatherings.
Homecoming & Alumni Reunion Weekend
More than 400 alumni, current students, and their families gathered for a memorable 2022 Homecoming & Family Weekend, October 21-23. The weekend included Brunch with the President, the Lions Rally, and Brews & Bites. The Class of 1972 also celebrated its 50th reunion with several engaging events.
(Select a photo to view caption)
ZooTampa Chapter Event
On December 18, the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter hosted its annual holiday party at ZooTampa. More than 60 alumni enjoyed an evening filled with the spirit of the holiday season.
Lacrosse Alumni Weekend
Men’s and women’s lacrosse alumni returned to Turf Stadium on January 14 for their annual alumni lacrosse games. Former players enjoyed a great day of competition against the current lacrosse teams.
Basketball Games
Saint Leo alumni came out on January 21 to support the women’s and men’s basketball teams as they took on Barry University.
Buccaneers Training Facility Tour
Saint Leo alumni, friends, and families gathered on March 15 at the AdventHealth Training Center, the practice and training facility for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for a guided tour and reception.
Dr. Kirk Book Signing
The Saint Leo Alumni Association hosted Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr., Saint Leo University president emeritus, for a special book signing event on March 25 in honor of his recently published book, Sometimes Wrong But Never in Doubt (That I Was Right).
Paint Your Heart Out
On April 22, alumni came out for Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, a one-day volunteer effort to paint the homes of low income, elderly residents in Tampa.
Get Involved
We would love to see you at our next alumni event! Visit your.saintleo.edu/events to see a calendar of all of the fun upcoming events.
Dr. Douglas M. “Doug” Astolfi, professor emeritus of history, passed away on June 14, 2018, at his home. He was 75 and had been ill with kidney cancer. He joined Saint Leo in 1997 as vice president of academic affairs, following a progression of administrative and teaching positions at other institutions.
Countless young people first heard of Saint Leo University because of the work of Mike Macekura. He worked as an associate director of admissions and often traveled to college fairs representing Saint Leo. He liked to place a palm tree on the Saint Leo display table. It was a conversation starter when he was chatting with families in the Northeast and explaining the advantages their students would enjoy if they attended college at University Campus in Florida. His daughter Vanessa ’11 followed that advice and proved him right.
My darling wife, your spirit is with me as I see your name
Several members of Sigma Beta attended a reunion in December at the New York Athletic Club. Those in attendance included Bob Tenneyson ’72, Joe Mullane ’71, Eugene Wendelken ’70, Dickie Palazzo ’72, Mickey Neenan ’71, Billy Burns ’73, Doug Smith ’71, Bobby Sheridan ’73, Frank O’Keefe ’74, Bill Tully ’73, Jeff McCarthy ’71, Vic Hogan ’72, and (seated) Carl Miranda ’71.
Alex “Pancho” Carrera, a junior at University Campus, passed away on September 11, 2016. A graduate of Fort Pierce Central High School, he was born in Guerrero, Mexico. Fellow students remember him for his “huge smile and contagious happiness.”
Brother Benedict Cooper of Saint Leo Abbey passed away on December 30, 2016. He lived on the Abbey grounds following the death of his wife, and he made his oblation in 2011. The monks of Saint Leo Abbey remember him for his smile and happy demeanor. He dutifully worked in the sacristy, keeping everything orderly and clean, and he prided himself on being a singer in the St. Petersburg cathedral choir.
Nicholas Cusson-Ducharme (aka Nickk Cusson) passed away on December 31, 2016 near his home in Winooski, VT. A senior majoring in accounting, Nickk took classes at University Campus and online. He was active in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Clarence H. Johnson, an MBA student at the Tampa Education Center, passed away on October 31, 2016. He was a resident of Temple Terrace, FL. Before enrolling at Saint Leo, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Florida. An enthusiastic traveler, he found joy in music, food, and art.
Griffin Clark, 21, a sophomore criminal justice major and member of the men’s golf team, passed away on July 4. He was involved in a car accident near his home in Chesterfield County, VA. Griffin helped lead the golf team to its recent NCAA Division II National Championship, in Denver, CO, playing in the final match-play pairing against Chico State (CA) and winning by three strokes.
Frederick “Fred” William Colby Sr. ’84, registrar emeritus, passed away on July 7. A decorated veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served from 1952 to 1979, including tours of duty in Singapore and Tokyo, as a Naval intelligence specialist. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo College and was a member of the Saint Leo staff for 24 years, retiring as registrar.
Dr. Diane Johnson passed away on May 10. She was an assistant director of the Center for Online Learning from 2005 to 2014. After retiring from that administrative role, she continued to teach as an online adjunct professor. She is remembered for being supportive of Saint Leo’s students and guiding them through their educational development.
On May 20, Dr. Kurt Van Wilt passed away at his home. A humble and devoted English professor, he dedicated his life to the education of Saint Leo University’s students, to their spiritual and intellectual growth and development. A respected poet, he was the master of the sonnet, a form that appeals to the kind of artisan who enjoys the rigor of structure, the triumphs achieved through simplicity. An expert in comparative mysticism and Native American literature, he authored three critically praised books for Millichap Books. He was also a co-founder of The Sandhill Review literary arts magazine, The Lightning Key Review electronic journal, and The Green Rabbit chapbook series.