Sandra Rogers ‘69GEd, ‘75PD

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As one of the first women in STEM, Sandra Rogers ‘69GEd, ‘75PD was a pioneer...without even realizing it at the time! "For women in the 60s, it was unusual, and even frowned upon, but I always had a love of mathematics, and knew it was right for me."

Sandra credits St. John's for thoroughly preparing her for her career of teaching, supervising, and developing math curriculum, and wants to return the favor. "I would give a substantial gift every year, then found out about planned gifts and The McCallen Society," she recalls. "It was very easy to include St. John's in my will."

While Sandra's plan is to designate a portion of her gift to provide a math center at the University, she recognizes that others may have programs that are important to them, and encourages them to make their intentions known: "You declare any amount you want, and indicate how you want it to be designated."

When you include us in your will, or make St. John's a beneficiary, you can plan a gift to us that not only honors your experience at St. John's, but leads the way for future STUDENTs. Let's talk about the gift that best matches your intentions.

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Jo Ann T. Sicignano-Howard '74NDC

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St. John's University was the first choice for Jo Ann T. Sicignano-Howard '74NDC when she was exploring colleges, and it's still at the top of her list. "It was a great experience," she says, citing a connection between alumni, "I'm still in contact with professors, sorority sisters, and many other friends and classmates."

Jo Ann has established a legacy in honor of her own time at St. John's, and that of her late first husband who she met at St. John's, who later died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. "Joe once said, 'There's always scholarships for the students with the highest grades; what about those who work really hard but don't get straight As'" she recalls. "He believed you shouldn't need straight As to deserve a scholarship." So Jo Ann created the Joseph L. Howard Scholarship Fund in his memory, to benefit all deserving students in financial need.

"I gave because of my husband, but everyone has their own personal reason," says Jo Ann. We want to hear your reason. What type of legacy do you want to leave? Let's talk about the gift that best matches your intentions.

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Elizabeth F. De Feis '56UC, '58L, '84HON

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Elizabeth F. De Feis '56UC, '58L, '84HON earned her undergraduate and law degrees from St. John's, and calls those years a "very significant time" in her life. "College shapes the arc of your life. Those are your formative years, and the values you learn stay with you. They certainly did for me," she says.

Elizabeth is thankful for the scholarship she received at St. John's, and has decided to make a planned gift in support of a scholarship as a way of not only paying it back, but also paying it forward. "It's a great way to give back, and a great way to keep in touch!" she remarks. "There are so many ways to give, and a planned gift is both significant and adaptable."

She's right. There are many ways you can support St. John's without affecting your current lifesyle. Gifts of all types and sizes combine to allow us to continue to offer another 150 years of academic excellence. Let's talk about the gift that best matches your intentions.

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John-Emery Konecsni, Ph.D. '67C, '68G

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St. John's University is almost family to John-Emery Konecsni, Ph.D. '67C, '68G. Aside from his own time at St. John's, countless family members are also treasured alumni. He always supported the University, but over the past few years he has decided to include St. John's in his estate plans.

John-Emery created a gift that endows a scholarship for students in the physician's assistant program, with last year's contribution earmarked for personal protective equipment (PPE) for pharmacy and health assistant students. "It's nice to be able to target where money goes," he says, "to see a specific impact."

As you consider what kind of legacy you want to leave, know that your gift to St. John's University can be directed to support an area or program that is important to you: A gift in the name of a loved one, to provide scholarship or financial assistance, or in support of a particular program.

An easy and powerful way to do this is by designating St. John's University as the partial or full beneficiary of your will or trust. When you do, you create a meaningful legacy of education and advancement. Let's talk about the gift that best matches your intentions.

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James Spero '69C, '71G

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AFTER FIFTY YEARS, A LOYAL ALUMNUS COMES BACK HOME

When James Spero '69C, '71G first arrived on the campus of St. John's University in 1965, it was as a student in what was then known as the Junior College. Little did he know that more than a half century later, he would reconnect to the University that gave him his initial entry into the world of higher education. "I've always been grateful to St. John's for offering me that exceptional opportunity to begin my college career," he remarked. "I earned my two-year Associate's degree, then went on to the four-year program, after which I continued on to my Master's degree. I still talk about that, because it was a great opportunity for me, and for so many others like me." There were many aspects of St. John's that appealed to this intelligent and energetic young man right from the start. He was captivated by what he learned in the classroom, but it was the people at the University who really made a difference in his life. "Everyone at St. John's, whether student, staff member or professor, was very genuine. They were also sincerely religious, and worked hard to instill a moral compass into the students. I thought that was important back then, and I still think so today. It's one of the things that makes St. John's so unique." After graduation Spero spent nearly three decades in county government in Suffolk County on Long Island. He worked in the Office of the County Executive, then initiated the county's Child Support Enforcement Bureau and moved on to the Office of Budget Review for the county legislature, ultimately becoming its director. A number of years ago Spero decided that it was time for him to focus on his estate plans. It wasn't something that he took lightly, he finally made some decisions that he felt best represented his affiliations and interests, for today and for the future. Touring campus for the first time after graduating 50 years ago, he was amazed at how the University had changed. What was an entirely commuter school when he was a student was now a world class university, with more than 3,000 students from more than 100 countries living on campus. That dynamism was something that this loyal alumnus wanted to be a part of. "I wanted to do something positive with my assets, and decided that I wanted to give back to St. John's. My wife and I set up an endowment in which half of the assets will go to needy students and the other half will go to support capital projects. It was a way for me to help kids and help the University as well." By making a difference for those in need, Spero is the embodiment of the Vincentian mission and values. He believes that St. John's fills an important need by providing educational opportunities for working class students. It's a philosophy that he embraces and strongly wants to be a part of. "The University's mission is as strong today as it was on its first day in 1870," he noted. " I came back to St. John's after 50 years, and immediately felt right at home. I'm both happy and grateful for the chance to be a part of something so special."

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John Bleimaier '75L

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John Bleimaier ’75L graduated from St. John’s University’s School of Law in 1975 and passed the bar examination immediately. He credits his education for not only preparing him well, but for also instilling the self-confidence he needed to begin—and sustain—a successful career.

“It was a great introduction to my profession,” he said. “I would like to help others in the future get the benefit of the same level of education that I received.”

With gratitude, John has included St. John’s in his will. “The concept of being supportive is a nice feeling,” he said. “If you feel that you are grateful, deliver on that gratitude.”

When you include St. John’s in your will, you deliver on your gratitude, and create a legacy—without spending anything now. As John said, “You can be extremely generous, but you don’t have to write the check!”

It’s the generosity and forethought of donors like John that enables St. John’s to continue to grow and evolve. “We all recognize that the world has changed, but St. John’s has been flexible in staying up to date,” John said.

Planned gifts allow the University to plan ahead, expand educational offerings, seize arising opportunities, and offer assistance to our students. When you plan for the future, we hope you remember St. John’s. For the language you need to include St. John’s in your will, visit mystjohnslegacy.org/give.

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Thekla Manganelli

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Thekla Manganelli didn’t attend St. John’s, but she loves being a McCallen Society member.

Her husband, Ralph, was a St. John’s alum who went on to become an oral surgeon in Brooklyn. He always kept St. John’s in mind, wanting to leave money to the university when he passed away—and Thekla carried that promise through for him.

“I just picked up where he left off,” she says. In honor of her late husband, Thekla created the Dr. Ralph and Thekla Manganelli Scholarship Fund, benefitting St. John’s students. By planning ahead and letting St. John’s know of their intentions, she was able to not only create a gift that fulfills Ralph’s wishes, but also to find her own place at St. John’s.

“Making this gift made me eligible to join the McCallens [St. John’s legacy society], and it’s the best thing I ever did! Ralph would have loved it,” she says.

Thekla says that even though she is not a St. John’s graduate, she feels a true sense of belonging. “I’ve met so many wonderful people and made close friends, and go to so many events. I have learned so much, and really feel like I’m a part of it.”

When you plan for the future, we hope you remember St. John’s. For the language you need to include St. John’s in your will, or to explore other ways to give, visit mystjohnslegacy.org/give.

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Phyllisann (Polizzi) Kalenka ’87C ’90L

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Phyllisann (Polizzi) Kalenka ’87C ’90L met her late husband, Jeff, when they each received partial scholarships and admission into the St. John’s College Honors Program. It was there that they met the people who became their closest friends, and shared what Phyllisann calls some of the best years of their lives.

“Those same friends walked with us through our lives—we worked through college and graduate and professional schools, stayed in touch, participated in each others’ weddings, and they supported me through my husband’s passing of Covid,” she shares.

Phyllisann wanted to do something that honored Jeff and all of their shared memories, and St. John’s came immediately to mind.

By making a minimum donation, she established an endowed scholarship benefitting a student of St. John’s College Honors Program. Her monthly contributions will leave the scholarship fully funded, and by including the fund in her estate plans, it will provide support to future students for years to come. “This type of gift seemed insurmountable,” says Phyllisann, “but I realized it wasn’t out of reach.” She hopes the scholarship will afford the opportunity for future students to experience a wonderful education and make lifelong friends, as she and Jeff did.

Life changes quickly. And while we can’t predict the future, we can help you plan for it. To discuss how you can create a gift that matches your plan for your family’s future and your charitable intentions for St. John’s, contact me or visit mystjohnslegacy.org/give.

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