By Cassidey Kavathas, News Editor
On the morning of March 1, the St. Bonaventure university campus paused as the news of President Dr. Dennis Deperro’s passing sat in everyone’s email inbox.
“I was sitting at my desk this morning when the news came from Dr. Zimmer and it was one of those days where I had just felt that something was off from the moment I woke up,” said Dean Whitcomb, the assistant director of admissions at the university. “I was in shock and deeply saddened to read the words on my screen.”
The news that the 21st president passed away after his battle with COVID-19 was delivered at 9:17 a.m. as students and faculty prepared for classes and work. DePerro was first admitted to a Syracuse hospital Dec. 29 after testing positive for COVID-19 on Christmas Eve. He was placed on a ventilator midJanuary. DePerro died at 4:30 a.m. on March 1, at the age of 62.
“This is devastating news for St. Bonaventure. Dr. DePerro was a remarkable leader for this institution,” said Aaron Chimbel, Dean of the Jandoli School of Communication. “He has put this school on a great path and will go down as one of St. Bonaventure’s most important leaders.”
In a press release, Dr. Joseph Zimmer, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs who was named acting president late last month while Dr. DePerro was in recovery – expressed his grief to the community.
“Words simply can’t convey the level of devastation our campus community feels right now,” said Zimmer. “I know when people die it’s become cliché to say things like, ‘He was a great leader, but an even better human being,’ and yet, that’s the absolute truth with Dennis. We are heartbroken.”
The university announced that throughout the month of March the university flag will fly at halfstaff in his honor. The men’s basketball team also honored DePerro in their game March 1st with patches on their jerseys and t-shirts.
“It’s hard to consider the many people and places he’s touched – honestly it’s almost impossible to do it. Everyone who knew him appreciated him on so many levels,” said Whitcomb.
The wake service for Deperro will be today at 4-7 p.m. at the Thomas J. Pirro Funeral Home and the funeral service will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Most Holy Rosary. Funeral services will be livestreamed for those who can not attend. The university is planning a virtual Memorial Mass for Dr. DePerro to be held in April.
My favorite memory of him is when he would come and talk to HEOP students,” said Priscilla Contreras, a senior journalism and English double major. “I thought he was going to be back on campus soon enough.”
In his short time with the university, DePerro touched the lives of many on campus. He assumed the presidency on June 1, 2017. In less than four years, he oversaw three of the largest incoming freshmen classes to the university. Under his leadership, the university saw a 329% growth in online graduate enrollment since 2017.
“We [the class of 2024 student government] will forever remember Dr. Dennis DePerro as a man who had a vision and was determined to embrace this university for the values in which it was founded and see the university student body succeed,” said Connor Raine, the class of 2024 senator.
Throughout his time as president, DePerro made many strides for the university. He reconstituted the Presidential Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to improve DEI efforts across campus. He launched a comprehensive capital campaign to build “A Bolder Bonaventure,” to help the university’s new School of Health Professions become a reality.
“We have begun to see real advances in the SBU community’s battle with COVID and Dr. DePerro deserves a lot of the credit for that,” said Aaron Gies,visiting professor of Theology & Franciscan Studies. “It is so tragic that, while protecting so many of us, he lost his personal struggle with the disease.”
Freshman students Rae Armbruster and Sophie Nix are regretful as they both did not get a chance to personally meet DePerro.
“I’m sad I will never meet him,” said Armbruster, a finance major. “His passing will deeply affect the St. Bonaventure community.”
“I’ve only seen him walking around campus and when I saw him he was always in good spirits,” said Nix, a special education major. “I could tell he truly loved the Bonaventure community as a whole.”
The stories that surround DePerro’s life and effect on Bonaventure are plentiful. Many say that he was more a friend than anything else.
“I will never forget getting a notification on my phone ‘Dennis DePerro has requested to be your friend’ on Facebook. I remember just smiling for a moment and being like, “Really? He really wants to be my friend?” He would ‘like,’ pictures I would post and comment on them!” said Whitcomb. “It sounds silly, but it was one of the first times I remember thinking that he was a regular person just like me.”
Many students can recall DePerro always saying ‘hi’ and asking how they were. Faculty and students can agree that he truly loved Bonaventure.
“I remember him telling me in order to be successful you must continue to be determined,” said Raine. “This is something I will never forget.”
According to Whitcomb, DePerro valued every faculty member and student no matter their title. His care for everyone in the community was immense.
“Through these [faculty] meetings, Dr. DePerro met with every employee—not just deans and department chairs,” said Christpher Hill, an assistant professor in the school of Arts and Sciences. “This reflected his caring nature and his profound dedication to the success of our university.”
Perhaps one of DePerro’s most notable characteristics was how he was able to connect with anyone including fellow faculty members.
“After the first major event I hosted as dean of the Jandoli School, the 2018 Hellinger Award luncheon, Dr. DePerro called me to apologize because he felt he should have made a bigger deal about me being new as dean and he wanted to properly welcome me,” said Chimbel. “I thought that showed great leadership and concern for a colleague. It was unnecessary, of course, but showed how much he valued others.”
While in high school, DePerro wished to attend St. Bonaventure University. Forty years later his wish was granted.
“He was just incredible and his impact on the university is immeasurable even in the short time he’s been here,” said Whitcomb. “He fit St. Bonaventure like a puzzle piece, when we needed it most and he will be sorely missed.”
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
