In addition to the generous donors featured in the “Family Philanthropy” story in the 2020 Fall issue of Saint Peter’s University magazine (pages 22-23), these families have also paid tribute to loved ones by establishing endowed scholarships that will enable deserving students to pursue their dream of a college education at Saint Peter’s University.
The Richard O. Scott ’57 Endowed Scholarship
Known to his friends as “Scotty”, Richard O. Scott ’57 grew up in Jersey City where his life was enriched by the lifelong friendships he formed at then Saint Peter’s College. Active in ROTC as a student, he went on to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. An enthusiastic member of the 50th Reunion Committee for his class, he was proud as a peacock to walk with members of the Class of 1957 at the Commencement for the Class of 2007. Scott instilled in his children a deep appreciation for the value of Catholic education. His daughter, Maryellen (Scott) Moran, followed in her father’s footsteps earning a B.S. in accounting from Saint Peter’s in 1988 and currently serves on the University’s Board of Regents.
Maryellen, along with her mother Annette and sister Sharon Scott, decided to establish the Richard O. Scott ’57 Endowed Scholarship because Saint Peter’s was such an important part of Scott’s life and providing scholarships to deserving students was a wonderful way to honor his memory. The family continues to support the Scott Endowed Scholarship through annual contributions, which are amplified by generous corporate matching gifts.
The Rose and Pietro DiNardo Scholarship
Over a century ago, Pietro DiNardo emigrated to this country from Italy, met and married his beloved Rose, and together they began a lifelong love story with Jersey City for themselves, their 20 children and their myriad of grandchildren who followed.
Donna DiNardo ’76 described how her grandfather was a produce peddler, with a horse and wagon, and later a wholesale banana distributor, “The Banana King.” Rose was a grandma to the neighborhood, always sharing what little she had with anyone she saw in need. Their generations of offspring went on to become integral weavers of the tapestry of Jersey City life, serving in the realms of politics, community outreach, education and law – directly giving back to their hometown. At least five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren are alumni of Saint Peter’s College, as it was named at the time.
Inspired by others who had endowed a scholarship in their family’s name, Donna established an endowed scholarship to honor her grandparents. As Donna explained, “My family’s story is one example of the American Dream come true. My hope is that the Rose and Pietro DiNardo Scholarship will make it possible for other students’ American Dreams to become a reality.”
For more information on how you and your family can pay tribute to a loved one or contribute to one of these scholarships, please contact Leah Leto, M.Ed. ’05, vice president for advancement and external affairs, at lleto@saintpeters.edu or (201) 761-6110.