Reception Honors John and Priscilla Costello

On April 25, 2009, members of the Marymount Manhattan Community gathered for a reception on The Lowerre Family Terrace to honor John and Priscilla Costello for their many years of dedicated service to the College. The event marked the establishment of the John & Priscilla Costello Fund which will provide resources to MMC's English Department as it continues in the tradition of encouraging academic excellence.

Guests included President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., Vice President for Institutional Advancement Betty Heinig, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty David Podell, Campaign Director Jean Wilhelm, B.A., Dean Peter Baker, MMC President Emertius Regina Peruggi, Ph.D. , Former Trustee Gerald McCallion, Mary '86 and Edward Greason, Marsha '67 and Carl Hewitt, Eleanor Maella '68 and Pascal James Imperato, Nanette '94 and Robert Purcigliotti, J. William Bordeau Ph.D, Odette Muskin '01, Florence Castellano '86, Coleen Cariello '03 and Marilyn Burman '98 . Faculty members in attendance included Carol Camper, Ph.D., Peter Naccarato, Ph.D., David Mold, M.F.A., Alister Sanderson, Ph.D., Katie LeBesco, Ph.D, David Linton, Ph.D. and Julie Huntington, Ph.D.

Contributions, including multi-year pledges, to the Costello Fund will also support This is the Day, the campaign for Marymount Manhattan and count toward the Kresge Challenge. Contributions to the fund will:

Support the existing Priscilla H. Costello Award for Essay Writing and establish a new award in John Costello's name.
Establish The John and Priscilla Costello Speakers Series, which would invite literary scholars and creative writers to the College.
Help develop outings to some of New York City's literary landmarks and events in an effort to provide our majors with a rich academic experience that allows them to benefit from the many resources offered by New York City.
Promote a sense of community and collegiality among English majors and faculty through social functions and gatherings.

For more information about the John & Priscilla Costello Fund, please contact Peter Naccarato, Ph.D. at (212) 517-0603 / pnaccarato@mmm.edu or Jean Wilhelm, Campaign Director at (212) 517-0460 / jwilhelm@mmm.edu.

John Costello (center) is greeted by guests during the reception on The Lowerre Family Terrace.

Standing (L-R) Prill Costello, Evelyn McKinnon, Don McKinnon, John Driscoll, Barbara Driscoll and Jack Driscoll. Sitting (L-R) Kathleen Leckband and Mona Cutolo.

Associate Professor of English John Costello, M.A. greets his former student Odette Muskin '01.

(L-R) Marilyn Burman '98, Priscilla Costello and Florence Castellano '86.

Peter Naccarato, Ph.D., Chair of the Humanities Division (center) is joined by other members of the MMC community who attended the reception.

Associate Professor of English John Costello, M.A. shares a moment with MMC President Judson R. Shaver, Ph.D., during the April 25th reception.

(L-R) Katie LeBesco, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Communication Arts and Colleen Cariello '03.

(L-R) Randy Tupper, Pascal James Imperato, Jean Wilhelm, B.A., Campaign Director; J. William Bordeau, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus; Eleanor Maella Imperato '68, David Linton, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Arts and David Mold, M.F.A., Associate Professor of Theatre Arts.

(L-R) John Costello, Carl Hewitt and Marsha Hewitt '67.

(L-R) Trustee Mary Greason '86, Edward Greason, and Donna Cribari.