| March 21, 2007 | Vol 8. No. 10 |
Canisius Community Mourns the Loss of Father Ruddick
Rev. James J. Ruddick, S.J., professor emeritus of physics at Canisius College and director of the college’s Braun Seismograph Station, died suddenly on Sunday, March 18 from natural causes. He was 83. Father Ruddick also served as associate vicar for religious for the Diocese of Buffalo. A wake will be held at St. Ann’s Church (Broadway at Emslie Street) on Thursday, March 22 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Friday, March 23 from 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Church. Burial services will be held at the Jesuit Cemetery in Auriesville, NY.
Born in Elmira, NY, Father Ruddick entered the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Novitiate in Poughkeepsie, NY, on September 7, 1940 and was ordained a priest in 1955 at Fordham University Chapel, Bronx, NY.
Father Ruddick taught at Canisius College for nearly four decades. He joined the Physics Department as an assistant professor in 1957 and served as chair of the Physics Department from 1959 – 1970. He was promoted to professor emeritus of physics in 1994. Father Ruddick also served as rector of the Canisius Jesuit community from 1971 – 1977 and as acting rector from 1986 – 1987 and 1996 – 1997. He was also a member of the college’s Board of Trustees from 1971-1977, and served as moderator of the Canisius College Scholarship Associates for 21 years.
“Father Ruddick was an enthusiastic, entertaining, and generous priest who was full of life and loved to be with people in good times and bad,” said Rev. Patrick J. Lynch, S.J., associate professor and chair of religious studies and theology, and rector of the Jesuit community. “He was a conversationalist without equal in the Jesuit community. There was hardly a jubilee, wake or funeral that he missed. He was always ready to help someone in need. If he had chosen another path in life, he would probably have been a politician.”
Father Ruddick was named associate vicar for religious for the Diocese of Buffalo in 1989, and in that capacity, was elected treasurer of the National Conference of Vicars for Religious.
Prior to his death, Father Ruddick assisted at St. Ann’s Church in Buffalo, where he lived in the parish residence. He served as a counselor and spiritual director to many priests, sisters and lay people. For many years, he served as the chaplain of the Korean Catholic Community of Western New York.
“Father Jim Ruddick was as holy a priest and as kind a man as I have ever known,” said Rev. James F. Joyce, S.J., pastor at St. Ann’s Church and superior of St. Ann’s Jesuit community. “He often directed people in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, who founded the Jesuits. Our parishioners here at St. Ann’s on the East Side of Buffalo were just enormously broken up when they heard of his leaving us, even though they all said they knew he was happy at home in heaven.”
A 1940 graduate of Elmira Catholic High School (now Notre Dame High School), Father Ruddick received AB and PhL degrees from Woodstock College in 1946 and 1947 respectively. He received a MS in 1950 and a PhD in 1952 from St. Louis University.
A long-time member of the National Catholic Council on Alcoholism (NCCA), Father Ruddick was elected to the Board of Directors of NCCA in 1992 and was named chairperson of the board in 1996. Father Ruddick was also a member of the national Catholic group on alcoholism, CALIX, where he served as treasurer. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Father Ruddick said that he was grateful to have been called to be a Jesuit priest, and grateful to have been a member of Al-Anon.
Seismic research was also an important part of Father Ruddick’s life. As director of the Canisius Braun Seismograph Station, he computerized the seismograph instruments to enable the college’s station to determine not only the distance but also the direction of earthquakes which occur within 900 km of Buffalo.
In addition to being a seismologist, Father Ruddick was also a genealogist, who traced his family’s history, and a necrologist, who recorded data on the Jesuits who had died from the three provinces – New York, New England and Maryland.
Father Ruddick is survived by three sisters, Helen Bentley (Arnold) of Corning, NY, Madeline Dailey (late Thomas) of Bethlehem, PA, Sr. Theresa Rutty, RSM, serving in Chile, one brother, John Ruddick (Joyce) of Wilmington, DE, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to John Ruddick, 305 Walden Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Father Ruddick to the charitable works of St. Ann’s Jesuit community, St. Ann’s Church, 501 Emslie Street, Buffalo, NY 14212.
New Peter Canisius Distinguished Professorships Awarded
Autism disorders and African American history are the latest areas of study to be supported by the Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship Program. The three-year grants, which begin June 2007, provide the college's best faculty with the resources to create innovative programs that enhance undergraduate teaching through interdisciplinary projects, scholarly travel, experiential courses and the incorporation of technology in the classroom.
The 2007 recipients of a Peter Canisius Distinguished Teaching Professorship are: Robert E. Nida, PhD, associate professor of education, and Susan Putnam, PhD, associate professor of psychology. Together, they will create the Canisius College Center for the Study of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The center will provide Canisius students with instruction, clinical training and hands-on, graduate-level research experiences in the field of autism and related clinical disorders. Moreover, the center will establish Canisius as an innovative leader in the pursuit of biological and psychological underpinnings related to ASD-associated behaviors. 
Bruce J. Dierenfield, PhD, professor of history and director of the All-College Honors Program, will use his Peter Canisius Professorship to continue The Canisius College Program in the African American Experience. First established through a Peter Canisius Professorship in 2002, the program provides unique learning opportunities about African American history to Canisius students, area educators and the larger Buffalo community. New to this professorship will be a trip to West Africa. Formal lectures will also be supplemented by musical and theatrical performances, story telling, presentations by leading scholars and civil rights activists, films by and about African Americans and visits to Harlem, NY and Mississippi. Peter Canisius Professors are chosen through a competitive grant process that focuses on creativity and the extent to which their proposals will advance the college's vision.
Celebration of Service to Recognize Canisius Employees
The service milestones of more than 50 Canisius employees will be recognized at the Celebration of Service on Friday, April 20 at 3 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. Those who have reached 20 or more years of service, as well as those who will retire from the college this year, will be honored. Everyone is welcome to attend and congratulate their Canisius colleagues.
Latest Issue of Connections Now On-line
The latest issue of Connections, the on-line newsletter of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) is now on-line. To read, click here. "Diversity Initiatives at Jesuit Institutions" is the theme of this month's issue.
College Closed for Good Friday
The college will be closed, except for essential operating personnel, on Friday, April 6 in observance of Good Friday.
CANISIUS EVENTS
Canisius CAC Program Presents “Wild Places”
The Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation (CAC) will present the premiere of their latest video production on Wednesday, March 21 at 4 p.m. in Regis South.
“Wild Places” presents the story of the Canisius Ambassadors for Conservation and their exploration of the US National Wildlife Refuge System. The story begins in fresh water marshes along the East coast and ends with the team’s encounter with a polar bear in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The video was directed by independent filmmaker, Michele DeLuca.
IU Soul Revue to Perform March 22
Back by popular demand, the IU Soul Revue will perform at Canisius on Thursday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. The performance is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.
The IU Soul Revue, part of the Indiana University African American Arts Institute, delivers the sounds of timeless R&B, soul, funk and contemporary urban black popular music. Performances feature original compositions, along with arrangements by Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti Labelle, Kelly Price, D’Angelo and Mary J. Blige.
For more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Programs at Ext. 2787.
Steps to Wellness Lunch Series Features Seminar on the “DASH” Diet
On Wednesday, March 29 at 12 p.m. and again at 1 pm. in the Regis Room South, Independent Health will discuss “Make the DASH,” a presentation on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Chartwells will offer the following balanced lunch options for $3: blackened chicken and berry salad or grilled portabello mushroom sandwich with fruit kebab with lemon lime dip and bottled water. Lunch must be pre-ordered and pre-paid by March 26 with Pat Brawn in the Office of Student Affairs (OM 102). The lunchtime lecture is part of the Steps to Wellness brown bag lunch series presented by the college’s STEPS committee, in conjunction with the Department of Athletics, Chartwells and Human Resources. For more information, contact Diane Wolfe at Ext. 2475.
CSW Dessert and Conversation
The Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) welcomes all men and women to join them for Dessert and Conversation on Wednesday, April 3 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lyons Hall Conference Room (118). Bring your own lunch. Dessert and beverages are provided. Each month features a different theme and you can enter to win great prizes. For more information, contact Claudia Hojnacki at Ext. 2181.
2007 Shoes for Shelter is April 15
It’s time to hit the ground running (or walking)! Independent Health and Canisius College host the 2007 Shoes for Shelter event on Sunday, April 15 in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Canisius College Patrick Lee Center. The one-mile fun walk starts at 11:30 a.m.; and the 5k race begins at noon. Bring an extra pair of sneakers or shoes to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Last year more than 1,100 pairs of shoes were collected.
The first 400 registered participants will receive a long-sleeved t-shirt. Prizes will be awarded to the first place male and female finishers, the top three finishers in each age category, and to the top finishers from Canisius students, faculty, staff and alumni. The cost to register is $18 for adults; $15 for Canisius faculty and staff ($20 the day of the race); $10 for children 14 and under, Canisius students or Independent Health employees ($14 the day of the race).
For more information, contact John Maddock, associate director of athletics for external affairs, at Ext. 2977. To fill out an on-line application, click here.
Contemporary Writers Series Welcomes Author of American Girls Series
Canisius welcomes Lackawanna native and novelist Connie Porter to the Grupp Fireside Lounge on Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. The second youngest of eight siblings, Porter graduated from Buffalo’s City Honors High School. She earned an undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany and an MFA in creative writing from Louisiana State University. Following the publication of her critically acclaimed first novel, All-Bright Court, she was named a regional winner in Granta’s Best Young American Novelists competition. Porter is the author of a second novel, Imani All Mine, and the best-selling Addy books in the American Girls series.
For more information, contact Mick Cochrane, professor of English, at Ext. 2662 or visit the Web site here.
Canisius Community Day is April 21
Canisius faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the college’s spring Community Day event. Volunteers will assist local non-profit organizations with various projects at meal programs, food banks, shelters, agencies that work with refugees and Habitat for Humanity.
A free barbeque lunch will follow in the Palisano Pavilion courtesy of Chartwells. For more information or to register, contact Joe Van Volkenburg in the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 2875 or vanvolkj@canisius.edu.
Campus Ministry Alternative Spring Break
Rev. John Bucki, S.J., director of campus ministry; Sarah Signorino ’04, associate campus minister and Joe Van Volkenburg, assistant to the director, campus ministry on the bus ride to this year’s ASB.
Fifty Canisius College students and seven staff members took part in Campus Ministry’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) trip from March 11-17. Participants traveled to sites in rural Appalachia in Kentucky and West Virginia to work on construction projects, and gained a valuable perspective on the power of service. Petrea “Peach” Anderson, assistant director, COPE and Joe Van Volkenburg, assistant to the director, campus ministry volunteered at the Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity site in Cherry Grove, WV; Jose D. Valdez, Jr., officer for public safety and Sarah E. Signorino ’04, associate campus minister worked at Christian Appalachian Project in Flat Gap, KY; Rev. John P. Bucki, S.J., director of campus ministry, volunteered at the Christian Appalachian Project in McKee, KY; and Rev. Tom Colgan, S.J., worked at Nazareth Farm, Centerpoint, WV. ASB was established 16 years ago.
Luanne Tunmore (far left), associate campus minister, along with a group of Canisius students, gets suited up to work on a home in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. The group participated in a weekend-long Ignatian Family Teach-in on racism and poverty with other Jesuit colleges, high schools, and parishes before embarking on their service project.
CANISIUS KUDOS
I. Joan Lorch Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2006-2007 I. Joan Lorch Award winners, who were honored at this year's Women's Studies Luncheon on Friday, March 9. Pictured from left to right are: Susan A. Fischer, associate campus minister and coordinator of retreats, recipient of the administrator award; Jane E. Fisher, PhD, director, women's studies and associate professor of English, recipient of the faculty award; Shirley Sackey '07, recipient of the student award and Veronica A. Serwacki, secretary, dean of arts & sciences, recipient of the staff award.
Hurley Participates In CEPA's Visions of Greater Buffalo 2007
A photograph taken by John J. Hurley, executive vice president and vice president for college relations, is part of the CEPA Gallery's Visions of Greater Buffalo 2007 exhibit, an amateur photography exhibit by the area's most interesting and influential people. Photographs were also taken by 80 "VIPs" including Buffalo Sabres players Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly and Ryan Miller; Mayor Byron Brown; BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta and boxer Joe Mesi. The photographs, which are on display at CEPA's gallery at the Market Arcade, 617 Main St., will be auctioned off on March 24 to benefit CEPA's internationally recognized visual arts and youth education programs. For more information, click here.Anthony "Cuts it All Off" for Locks of Love
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Believe it or not, it took three and a half years to grow it to the right length (minimum 10 inches), but Gordon Anthony, director of athletic facilities and director of summer conferencing says it was well worth it. On Friday, March 2, Anthony finally had his hair cut for donation to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Anthony says he just wanted to help children "in some small way." Great job, Gordon! For more information about Locks of Love, click here. | ||||
Biology Student Wins National Award
Michael Galante '08, a junior biology major, received a 2006-07 undergraduate research fellowship from the American Society of Plant Biology (ASPB). Galante was awarded the fellowship based upon his written description of his past research accomplishments and future research plans conducted under the guidance of Robert J. Grebenok, PhD, professor of biology.
The fellowship includes a $3,000 research stipend, a $500 research budget and a one-year membership to ASPB. The award also includes an invitation to give an honored student presentation at the 2007 international meeting, which will be held this summer in Chicago, IL.
Mock Trial Team Places Third in National Competition
The Canisius College Mock Trial team, coached by Marie P. Grisanti '89, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of New York, placed third in the national pre-law mock trial competition sponsored by the international law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta (PAD). Robert A. Klump, adjunct professor of political science and assistant director of the Raichle Pre-law Center serves as PAD advisor.
The Canisius team included Larissa Thompson '07, Daniel Wielgas '10, William Lorenz Jr. '09 and Cathleen Roemer '10. More than 20 teams representing pre-law chapters from throughout the U.S. participated in the 2006 mock trial competition held in conjunction with PAD's national conference in Washington, D.C. last November. The Canisius team recently sponsored a mock trial scrimmage with Bennett High School, presided over by New York State Supreme Court Justice Gerald J. Whalen '79.
Women’s Business Center Gets Univera Grant
Univera Healthcare has awarded a four-year, $180,000 grant to the Canisius College Women’s Business Center (WBC). The funding will be used to enhance services to area women business owners and entrepreneurs.
“We are very grateful to Univera Healthcare for its generous commitment in support of this important community-based initiative,” said Melinda Rath Sanderson, WBC executive director “The additional services funded by the Univera healthcare grant will enhance the impact of the WBC and help us reach our long-term sustainability goals.”
Founded in 2003, with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Canisius College Women’s Business Center has served thousands of women business owners. The WBC provides training, counseling, coaching, networking and support services to help women (and men) succeed at their own businesses or within the businesses where they work.
Taylor to Publish Paper
A paper written by Ed Taylor, adjunct professor of English, entitled, "No Place/Like Home: Terry Gilliam's '1984 1/2' Brazil" will be published in West Virginia University Philological Papers, Vol. 53, 2007. The paper, a result of his 2005 Center for Teaching Excellence Teaching/Learning Incentive Award, supported research related to teaching the theme of "Imaginary Worlds."