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Farewell Letters to the Wildcats, from 5/25/95 [This writer's notes -- the first letter is one that I sent to my colleagues and acquaintances at Villanova University when I left the Main Line school in May, 1995. The second letter was sent to former student assistants and interns that worked with me during that time; the final letter, a more personal note, was sent to a group of friends that gave me a surprise farewell party. I had not seen these letters in a while; they bring back both good and bad memories.] Letter #1 began, Dear Friends: After 15 years of association with Villanova University, and specifically the Wildcat Athletic programs, I am leaving my most recent position as Director of Media Relations on May 31. At this date, I do not have my next position finalized; however, when I do, I will notify you. I have truly enjoyed the variety of experiences that I have been afforded at Villanova University, first as a student, then as a full-time employee. The past five years as Sports Information Director have been truly memorable, and there are a great many friends and colleagues who I will never forget. There are certain individuals to whom I must express a great many thanks, for without them I would not have enjoyed my life at Villanova University. They include many people, past and present: Ted Aceto, Craig Miller, Ted Wolff, Dan Unger, Bob Lambert, Paul Cornely, Jim Murray, Jim Haughton, Joan McGuckin, Mary Anne Gabuzda, and Fran Raggazino. In the media, I would especially like to acknowledge Jack Scheuer and the members of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, and the beat writers I have worked with: Mike Kern, Tim Pannaccio, Diane Pucin, Gwen Knapp, Mike Jensen, Ron Reid, Mel Greenberg and John Smallwood. In local and national television, I should acknowledge Lou Tilley, Gary Papa, Jack Braboy, Scott Palmer, Al Meltzer and Bill Werndl, Mike Gorman, Terri Schindler, Bill Raftery and Ron Perry. My colleagues in the College Sports Information Directors of America are also to be thanked, especially John Wooding, Ed Carpenter, Bill Shapland, Larry Kimball, Dick Kelley, and Bernadette Caffarelli. I have been fortunate during the past five years to be able to draw on the support of not only eight of my 11 predecessors in the position of Villanova University SID, but also a strong and caring student staff of over 40 during my tenure as director. My staff has been efficient, hard-working, and loyal during that time, and I must publicly thank Bill Dyer, Darla Krikorian, Dean Kenefick, Jennifer Brotschul and especially Mike Blimm for their support and friendship. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the continuing support of my mother and father, who have not missed a home game in football or basketball for the past 15 years, and who have stuck by me in good times and bad. I hope that I will see you somewhere, someday, down the road. My best wishes to each of you, and thank you for putting up with me. Letter #2 begins, To all my friends from the Villanova Sports Information Office: After 15 years of association with Villanova University, and specifically the Wildcat Athletic programs, I am leaving my most recent position as Director of Media Relations on May 31. At this date, I do not have my next position finalized; however, when I do, I will notify you. I want to thank each and every one of you who has passed through the doors of the Sports Information Office during the past five years that I was SID. In your time as either a student assistant or an intern, or a full-time employee, I treasured my moments with each of you. I always looked at our little group as friends, not workers. I hope I wasn't too difficult to get along with, but please know that you are my most special friends from Villanova, and I would do anything I could to help you at any time. Don't ever forget that. One of the most recent student staff members of this office recently told me not to forget that I had touched a number of lives during my time at Villanova, in a positive way. If I ever had any doubts about my success at Villanova University, they were dispelled on the evening of May 23, when over 40 of my closest friends gathered at Ed Sfida's house. That night was one of the best in my life. Each one of you has affected me in a wonderful way, and I will never forget the laughs and good times we shared in our little corner of the Wide World of Sports. I'll be moving to a new apartment sometime this summer; in the meantime, you can reach me at the above address. I promise that I will let you know where I end up. I hope that when you are in the area (or wherever I finally end up), you will call me and maybe we can get together for lunch or dinner. And the final letter began like this... "...When something goes wrong I'm the first to admit it, I'm the first to admit and the last one to know; when something goes right, it's likely to lose me, it's apt to confuse me, it's such an unusual sight; I can't get used to something so right..." ---Paul Simon
May 24, 1995 First of all, I am proud to call each of you my friend, and love all of you a great deal. One year ago, I felt truly alone in the world. I reached my lowest point in mid-August, just before I resigned. What I have learned since then is that I have more friends than I ever imagined. For that singular achievement, I can now leave Villanova University with the true knowledge that I have been a success -- your presence at The Sfida's home last night made that very clear to me. You are also the best liars I've ever met, or else I'm extremely stupid. I had no clue -- I don't know how Mike Blimm, Christy Foster, Dean Kenefick and Ed Sfida pulled it off, but I'm happy that they did. I thank God for you people. Thank you for making my life a lot happier. I'll see all of you again very soon.
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