Three Dedicated Employees

PATRICIA A. CRIMMINS

Patricia Crimmins came to Manhattan College via the Archdiocese of New York and LaSalle Provincialate.  As a senior in high school, naturally in St. Jean Baptiste in New York City, she worked part-time in the Archdiocesan Office of Education, and upon graduation started working full-time as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese.  Pat has literally worked for Catholic Education throughout her entire professional career.

After the birth of her children, Pat returned to the workplace part time in the Archdiocesan Office of Education.  Brother Christopher Dardis, then Supervisor of Schools, met Pat and had the good sense to ask her to come to work for him, one day a week, at his office in La Salle Provincialate.  Recognizing her unique talents – Pat is a wonderful typist and organizer, he successfully stole her away  from the Archdiocese and never regretted it.  Brother has said, “Pat could do more work in one day, than most could do in a week.”

When Brother Christopher came to Manhattan in 1970, once again he asked Pat to come with him and – so -- that is how Pat arrived here in 1970 -- working one day a week in the Education Department.

In 1979, Pat started working full-time as a Senior Secretary in the Graduate Education Division; in 1988 she moved to the Admissions Department, where she literally ran the Graduate Admissions Program.  Always dependable, hard working, diligent and responsible, she supervised the office with great care and concern.  In 1998, she assumed the title of Office Manager for Admissions, until 1999, when she was  appointed Administrative Assistant to the Vice Presidents of Finance/Facilities and Mission.  One must add that because of her marvelous skills, her knowledge, common sense, professionalism and her ever-willingness to help, she was always asked by the President and Vice Presidents to fill-in in their offices when needed.         
This wonderful lady, is the loving wife of Tom for forty-six years, the devoted and caring mother of twins:  Karen and Kevin, and son, Thomas, and doting grandmother to Kyle, Jack, Courtney, Gavin, Logan and McKenzie.  

Pat is always ready to listen; she is sympathetic to the needs of others.  A woman faithful to her Church and Community and most especially to Lasallian ideals and commitments.  She has given of her time and talents to the Lasallian Committee as a volunteer. The Committee agrees that Pat’s dedication and devotion to Manhattan College, her spirit of faith and community, and her genuinely self-effacing generosity, truly reflect the qualities worthy of the Lasallian Staff Award for 2009-2010.

 

DEBBIE DAMICO

If you go over to the second floor of Miguel Hall right next to the elevator, that is where you will find Debbie Damico’s office.  It is a small place but Debbie has a big heart.  You will always be greeted warmly and she is always willing to help. Oh, by the way, the word around is she has the best candy bowl on campus.  Debbie is a great neighbor. On numerous occasions she has extended herself to help Lois Harr set up an ESL Program and has been a lifesaver filling in to help Lois with students from time to time.  Lois told us for the last two years Debbie has organized the “Answer Desk” on the Quad for the first few days of school.  She coordinates the whole thing with volunteers, sets up a computerized reference desk and again, greets everyone with that warm winning Smile.  It is all done in a spirit of loving care for all our students, especially the newcomers.

Let’s talk about Debbie’s job as International Student Advisor.  Debbie came to us in March of 1984.  She immediately started to help students and show concern.  It did not take too long for the students to come to her and realize that she always had an open ear and an open heart.  She helps the international students with every aspect of their lives here at Manhattan College.  This included teaching English as a Second Language and helping with student’s immigration status before, during and after college. Debbie is an advocate for her students and helps them to express themselves about their various countries and cultures.  Debbie is responsible for organizing the very successful annual International Night Program.  She is our expert on campus when it comes to immigration issues.  We in the Human Resources office depend on her immigration knowledge and expertise.  As quiet as it has been kept, Debbie was the reason Manhattan College was able to have a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.  Having this program on our campus will facilitate our enrollment of exchange students and our employment of research scholars and visiting faculty.  Debbie did all the research and collected all the information on this program. She finally met with the immigration team and the results were the J-1 program being approved.  Did I mention that Debbie is also fluent in French and Spanish and has taught here as an adjunct professor.

On a personal note, Debbie is the loving daughter of Nick Damico and is a sister to Donna and a very cool Aunt to Stella who is 11 going on 21!  Debbie is a devoted member of St. Joseph’s Church in Lodi where she sings in the Choir and serves as a cantor. Debbie loves to travel and always looks forward to visiting with her family at their vacation home in Virginia.  Debbie is hoping to travel to France.  There is a consistent thread that runs through this profile.  Debbie Damico is a kind, warm, understanding person with a heart of gold.  She is family oriented.  She is a mentor and advisor to her students and a skilled and talented professional with a strong work ethic.
Debbie manages to be all and do all with style and grace. We congratulate you today, Debbie, on your 25 years here at Manhattan College.

DEBRA DAMICO - LASALLIAN STAFF AWARD

No matter how early you come on campus. There is always a light burning in Debbie Damico’s office. Debbie came to us in 1984, prior to working at Manhattan College Debbie taught at St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City, New Jersey and worked as the Director of the Reading Laboratory at Montclair State College in Montclair, New Jersey.
Fortunately for us Debbie decided to brave the GWB and took on the role of International Advisor. Debbie has been a one women show ever since. Debbie touches the hearts and minds of her students every day, profoundly changing their lives as she helps them maneuver through the complexities of life in this country. She is one of the first people to welcome the international students to the Manhattan College community and she is a true advocate for her students always working to help and empower them. Debbie assists the students with International Student Night and it has become an event everyone looks forward to annually. Debbie donates hours upon hours of time making red ribbons in support of AIDS awareness week.    

If you want to know what is going on in NYC just ask Debbie because she works tirelessly compiling the weekly “What’s Happening in NYC” Information for anyone to pick up outside her office. Debbie is a wonderful colleague, she is always willing to pitch in and help and she brings her many talents to the table which includes speaking French. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Modern Languages Department and has taught many ESL (English as a Second Language) Courses.

Debbie is a valued member of her Parish, she has a beautiful voice and love to sing at her church. Debbie is loved by her family and her Manhattan College family. Debbie embodies all of the characteristics of a Distinguished Lasallian Administrator.  Congratulations Debbie.

ARISTEA FRANTZALAKIS

Aristea Frantzalakis was born in the village of Prina, Crete, Greece, a beautiful wooded area of pines, olives and a paradise for orchid lovers – they grow wild all along the villages.  She grew up there with her three sisters, Maria, Desponia and Helen. She met her husband, Nikolas, in Prina and they were married on October 22, 1961 and just celebrated their 48thwedding anniversary.  They have three caring sons, George, Emmanuel and Marino.
George and his wife, Elefteka, have a daughter, Aristea who is 26 and a son, Nikolas, 22.  Nikolas is married and has a son, George, Aristea’s first great-grandson. Emmanuel and his wife, Maria, have three children, Christina, 13, Nikolas, 9, and Costas, 7. Both George and Emmanuel live in Greece.  Marino lives in New York City.  He is a proud graduate of Manhattan College, class of 2004 and now works in the construction industry.

For a period of time between 1964 and 1975 when jobs were in short supply in Greece, her husband, Nikolas, went back and forth to work in Germany in the automobile industry to support the family. Her husband came to the United States, along with his sister, Mary Levesanos, in 1975 and in 1978 he sent for the family and they settled in New York City.  Today, Aristea’s husband is working as a chef in the city. Aristea started working at Manhattan College in 1979 as a housekeeper in the Residence Life Department on the West Hill Campus under the supervision of her friend, Kay Conran.  Kay and Aristea became good friends over the years and were able to celebrate Kay’s 80th birthday together.  Aristea enjoys the comradery with her fellow workers.  Her sister-in-law, Mary Levesanos, also works at the College in Horan Hall.  When the West Hill Campus was closed in 1989, Aristea went to work at Overlook under the supervision of Pat Hunt.  Pat has the highest praise for Aristea.  She is a very hard worker and is very dedicated to Manhattan College and the students.

You can imagine how many funny and strange incidents the housekeepers experience over the years, some we cannot even talk about.  Once, while doing a really thorough cleaning at the end of the school year, the staff came across an unwelcome visitor – it was a small grey creature with a long tail.  Some might be afraid, but not our Aristea – she leapt into action and with her trusty broom, hit that critter until it was dead.  Then she swept it up with the same broom and gave it a proper burial. One year, Aristea found a really good suit that must have been left by a student.  They couldn’t find the owner but Aristea put it away for safe keeping.  One year later, a student came back asking if anyone had ever found a suit and Aristea had it all ready for him.  She even got a call from the student’s mom thanking her for holding it. 

Aristea loves to crochet beautiful tablecloths and lovely crochet cloths for the altar at San Padros Greek Church.  She is also a fabulous baker, bringing many kinds of Greek cookies to be sampled by her friends and co-workers. Aristea has lived in the United States for thirty years and loves this country.  However, when she retires, she plans to return to Greece to be near her sons, grandchildren and great-grandchild and to walk among the pines, olive trees and the beautiful orchids.  Thank you, Aristea, for twenty five years of hard work and dedication to Manhattan College.