Campus Ministry Center Named in Honor of Fr. Trovato

During Alumni and Family Weekend, the Office of Campus Ministry, along with College officials, cut the ribbon on their newly named space, honoring a stalwart member of the St. John Fisher College community.

The College dedicated the Fr. Joseph A. Trovato, CSB Campus Ministry Center during Sunday Mass, in honor of Fr. Trovato, Fisher’s longest-serving campus minister. The naming of the campus ministry space was thanks to a $250,000 gift from the Theodore and Cashmere M. Mendick Foundation. Long-time benefactors of the College, the Narthex in the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great is named for the Mendick family, and they established a scholarship at Fisher in 1989.  The Mendicks have also been long-time title sponsors of the Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament in memory of Fr. Dorsey and Fr. Lavery.

“Fr. Trovato has impacted the lives of literally thousands of Fisher students, and continues to do so today. He has married countless Fisher alumni, and baptized countless future Cardinals. His humble service reached so many, and he has spread much goodness, discipline, and knowledge,” said President Gerard J. Rooney. “We are so grateful to you, Fr. Trovato, for your service to Fisher, and we are grateful to the Mendick Family for their continued support of the College.”

Sunday Mass was presided over by Fr. Ted Baezinger, CSB ’69, and concelebrants Fr. Joe Trovato, CSB; Fr. Kevin Mannara, CSB, director of campus ministry at Fisher; Fr. Jim Murphy, CSB ’94; Fr. Al Cylwicki, CSB; Fr. Norm Tanck, CSB ’68; Fr. Dennis Noelke, CSB; Fr. Paul Alciati ’73; Fr. Edward Heidt, CSB; and Deacon Mike Piehler ’69. Following Mass, nearly 150 alumni, Basilian fathers, students, and community members gathered in the Donald E. Bain Campus Center for the blessing of the Fr. Joseph A. Trovato, CSB Campus Ministry Center.