St. Joseph’s University, New York, celebrated its fifth annual Esse Non Videri Gala Awards Dinner on Oct. 17 — a glittering black-tie-optional evening that honored six distinguished alumni and raised nearly $200,000 for student scholarships.
Held at the Garden City Hotel before a crowd of more than 200 guests, the event brought together members, alumni and friends of the University community from Brooklyn, Long Island and beyond to toast the best of St. Joseph’s — alumni shaping their fields through service, leadership and innovation.
“What strikes me most about this year’s honorees is how they lead through authentic action rather than performative gestures,” said St. Joseph’s President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. “They exemplify our founding principle: Esse non videri — ‘To be, not to seem.’”
This year’s honorees included Roger A. Delisle, Jr. ’94, MBA, managing director and commercial broker for Island Associates Real Estate, Inc., recipient of the President’s Esse Non Videri Award; and Holly O’Grady Cook ’84, Esq., senior associate executive director of the American Bar Association’s Governmental Affairs Office and the Center for Public Interest Law, who received the Lifetime of Leading Award.
Also recognized were John Melandro ’17, a fifth-grade teacher and Milken Educator Award winner, who received the St. Joseph’s Alumni Excellence Award; Sashoy Milton ’20 and Yesenny Fernández ’19, both presented with the Rising Star Award; and Julia Cuttino Bennett ’78, R.N. who was posthumously honored with the Legacy of Service to Society Award for her years of work and service as a nurse and supervisor at the Harlem Hospital Center.
The honorees were each introduced by a current St. Joseph’s student and scholarship recipient, highlighting the pivotal role fundraising for scholarships plays in fostering the next generation of leaders. Among the student presenters were Christopher Armstrong ’28, Grazia Mazza ’28, Bryan Frascogna ’28, Damita Smith ’27, Emma Sasso ’26, Jamie Guttadauro ’23, ’26 and Andrianirina “Yuki” Yukishinko ’28, who helped bring each story of excellence to life.
Following remarks by President Boomgaarden, Mr. Delisle, Ms. Cook and Mr. Jared Bennett, the grandson of honoree Julia Cuttino Bennett, offered reflections of gratitude and inspiration before the evening concluded with renewed enthusiasm for St. Joseph’s mission — and for the bright future of its students and alumni.
The Evening’s Honorees:
PRESIDENT’S ESSE NON VIDERI AWARD
Roger A. Delisle, Jr. ’94, MBA
Island Associates Real Estate, Inc.
Managing Director & Commercial Broker
Roger A. Delisle, Jr. ’94, MBA is Managing Director and Commercial Broker of Island Associates Real Estate, Inc., where he has built a twenty-year career specializing in national retail leasing and commercial investment sales. A CCIM Designee, he earned his B.A. from St. Joseph’s University, New York, in 1994, later completing his MBA at Southern New Hampshire University and advanced certification at New York University.
“Failure is not the opposite of success,” Delisle said while addressing the evening’s guests, “It is an essential part. Every challenge has a benefit. Every failure is a lesson. We live in a culture that often celebrates the outcome, but ignores the process.”
Known for his expertise and leadership in the industry, Delisle also oversees property management operations while guiding clients through complex real estate transactions.
“Living by Esse Non Videri is not always easy,” he continued. “It means resisting temptation and embracing delayed gratification. It means standing firm when others are watching for you to fall… Embrace adversity, embrace challenges and embrace obstacles to overcome and excel and always welcome the opportunity to learn.”
LEGACY OF SERVICE TO SOCIETY AWARD
Julia Cuttino Bennett ’78, R.N.
Posthumous
Harlem Hospital Center
Head Nurse and Nursing Supervisor
Julia Cuttino Bennett ’78, R.N., devoted 39 years of service to Harlem Hospital Center, commuting an hour each way by subway, where she started as a Nurses’ Aide and progressed to Licensed Practical Nurse, Staff Nurse, Assistant Head Nurse, Head Nurse and Nursing Supervisor. After becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse at Central School for Practical Nursing, she continued her education at New York City Community College and City College of New York before graduating from St. Joseph’s University, New York (then St. Joseph’s College) in 1978. Throughout her career, Bennett was known as a dedicated leader and mentor who guided nurses with patience and care while ensuring the highest standards of service.
In 2024, the Julia Cuttino Bennett Foundation was established to honor her remarkable legacy. The Foundation carries forward Bennett’s impactful work, honoring the vital role of nurses in healthcare and inspiring future generations. The Foundation strives to provide opportunities for students who aspire to pursue nursing careers, fostering a spirit of excellence, commitment and service.
JOSEPH’S ALUMNI EXCELLENCE AWARD
John Melandro ’17
5th Grade Teacher, Tangier Smith Elementary
Milken Educator Award Winner (NY ’24)
John Melandro ’17, a dedicated third- and fifth-grade teacher at Tangier Smith Elementary School in Mastic Beach, received his B.A. in Child Study from St. Joseph’s University, New York, in 2017. In 2024, he was honored with the prestigious Milken Educator Award, often referred to as the “Oscars of Teaching,” recognizing his excellence, innovation and impact in the classroom.
“No matter how the world is spinning, it’s your responsibility to come into the classroom and put that aside, and put your best foot forward every day,” said Melandro on the importance of teaching.
Known as the “Magic Man,” Melandro inspires curiosity and confidence through creative hands-on learning experiences that build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. A mentor to fellow teachers and an active voice in parent and community engagement, he has helped implement a new Character Education program in the school and created online learning opportunities as a NYS assessment prep resource for his colleagues.
LIFETIME OF LEADING AWARD
Holly O’Grady Cook ’84, Esq.
American Bar Association
Senior Associate Executive Director
Governmental Affairs & Center for Public Interest Law
Holly O’Grady Cook ’84, U.S. Army (Ret.), has built a distinguished 38-year career as a civilian and military attorney, lobbyist and strategic leader. She has extensive experience in diverse areas of law, legislative affairs, resource management, strategic planning and policy development.
“I may never be able to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my education or my career, but I do try to pay forward the time, the financial investment, the training and the professional courtesies that I have received since I graduated from St. Joseph’s almost four decades ago,” said Cook during her award acceptance speech.
Cook currently serves as Senior Associate Executive Director of the Governmental Affairs & Center for Public Interest Law at the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. Cook earned her B.A. in Social Sciences from St. Joseph’s University, New York, in 1984, her J.D. from Albany Law School, and advanced degrees from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and The National Defense University.
RISING STAR AWARD
Yesenny Fernandez ’19
Associate Director of Data Management/ECM, Mayor’s Office of Ethnic and Community Media
Yesenny Fernandez ’19 combines her expertise in data analytics and art to advance equity by ensuring minority communities receive accurate information about New York City’s programs and services in their own languages through local ethnic media outlets. In less than two years with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, she has developed innovative strategies for collecting financial and media placement data from city agencies, media placement vendors and outlets, which have been proven comprehensive and successful.
She manages the annual citywide marketing spend aggregate dataset, encompassing tens of thousands of data points. Her work strengthens outreach efforts in partnership with the NYPD and many organizations across New York City dedicated to ending domestic violence.
“What receiving the Rising Star award from St. Joseph’s means to me is motivation to continue surpassing myself and to kind of look back at everything I did,” said Fernandez.
RISING STAR AWARD
Sashoy Milton ’20
Associate Health Scientist, Stantec
Sashoy Milton ’17 is a health scientist, certified Master in Environmental Management and LEED Green Associate, whose work evaluates toxicity and movement of chemicals to assess risks to human health. She has in-depth experience with projects that integrate quantitative exposure and risk assessments with sustainability, and serves as Stantec’s technical lead and technical manager for projects supporting the pulp and paper, and contributes to projects for global tire industries.
“Winning the Rising Star Award embodies the St. Joe’s motto, ‘To be, Not to Seem,’ so for me I really appreciate that because I am constantly evolving and constantly growing,” Milton said.
She is also director of the Caribbean Youth Development Institute, a virtual learning platform she created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide Jamaican primary students with curriculum-based resources and workshops. A graduate of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Milton advised on the Associate Dean’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board where she brought her expertise in predictive modeling to trace chemicals to understand their health impacts.
Photos from the evening
Past Honorees
In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Gala, SJNY also recognizes its past honorees.
2024
Steve Somers ’82
President’s Esse Non Videri Award
Dr. Mary B. Mulvihill ’64
President’s Award: Legacy of Change
Glenn Kubik ’99
Lifetime of Leading Award
Noeline Maldonado ’05
Excellence in Social Impact Award
Dylan Larkin ’16
Rising Star Award
Madeline Romano ’09 and Mary Vitale ’10
Rising Star Award
2023
Tom Harris ’91
Lifetime of Leading Award
Elyse Deublein Harney ’52
President’s Award for Distinguished Alumni
Retha Fernandez ’16
Leadership in Purpose and Social Impact Award
Catrina Rhatigan ’04
Leadership in Social Responsibility Award
Gianna Gulli Elliot ’15, Esq.
Rising Star Award
Kyle Harnig ’21
Rising Star Award
2022
Sandra Lindsay ’99, DHSc, MS, MBA, RN, CCRN-K, NE-BC
President’s Award for Public Service
Richard T. Margulis ’85
Excellence in Community Impact and Service
Ingrid Walker-Descartes ’18, MBA, MD, MPH, FAAP
Healthcare Professional of the Year Award
David Conway ’10, PA
Distinguished Achievement in Patient Care and Innovation Award
Kimberly Fitzpatrick Biegasiewicz ’08, RN MHA
Compassionate Leadership Award
Katelynn Doyle ’20, RN
Rising Star Award
2021
Julianna Bove ’82
Educator of the Year Award
Kim Redgrave ’91
Distinguished Administrator Award
Joanna Bis ’16, M.A. ’18
COVID-19 Pandemic Educator Award
Joseph M. Lewinger ’00
Legacy in Education Award
Leah Hebert Olivo ’06
Excellence in Teaching Primary and Early Education Award
Christina Quintana ’14, M.A. ’16
Excellence in Teaching Secondary Education Award
Jennifer Silberberg ’19, M.A. ’21
COVID-19 Pandemic Educator Award
Jade Lawrence ’20
Rising Star Award
Dr. Latoya O’Gere ’11, M.S. ’18
Rising Star Award
Andria Onorato ’16, M.A. ’19
Rising Star Award
