Alumni in Action
1950s
Dr. Ronald W. Busuttil ’63 was awarded
the Honorary Degree in Medicine and
Surgery from the University of Udine
in Italy.
22 JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2017-18
George Franklin ’69 announced his
candidacy for Michigan’s 6th
congressional district.
Barry Karpay ’72 has been appointed
Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s
Tampa Bay District Council for 2017-19.
1960s
1970s
Hon. Thomas Gallen ’50 has retired
from his senior judge position with
the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court
of Florida after 48 years of public
service.
Dr. Sam Martino ’63 recently
retired from his family medicine
practice in Riverview, outside of
Tampa, after 42 years. He was
featured in an interview in the
Tampa Bay Times, saying he
wanted to do more sailing and
spend more time with his
grandchildren: “I really believe
that the most important thing
that you can have is kindness
and generosity and a good
‘bedside manner.”
Msgr. Robert C. Gibbons ’67
offi ciated the baptism of Lauren
Palmer Kennedy, daughter of
Stephen Kennedy ’97 and his wife,
Lisette, on Dec. 31 at St. Paul’s
Church, in St. Petersburg. Also
pictured are the godfather, Chris
Newcom ’97, and his wife, Lori.
Stephen and Lisette Kennedy
were married at St. Paul’s by
Msgr. Gibbons in 2009. They
now live in West Palm Beach.
1980s
Gilbert Casellas ’70 received the
Alumni Award of Merit from the
University of Pennsylvania, the
highest award for outstanding alumni
achievement and dedication. A 1977
graduate of the Law School, Casellas
has served as a Trustee of the
University since 1996.
Rich McKay ’77 Hosted Jesuit’s
Regional Alumni Reunion on Dec.
28 at Atlanta’s new Mercedes-Benz
Stadium. McKay is the president and
CEO of the Atlanta Falcons.
Mike Petters ’77 and his wife, Nancy,
were the 2017 recipients of the
Virginia Peninsula’s Chamber of
Commerce Distinguished Citizens
Award. Petters recently became a
member of the Board of Directors
for the National Association of
Manufacturers.
Michael Valdes ’81 was named to
Forbes’ annual “America’s Top Wealth
Advisors” list in 2017 for the second
consecutive year.
Andrew Diaz ’82 secured $35.7 million
in compensation for his client from the
Florida Department of Transportation,
one of the largest acquisitions by FDOT
in the Tampa Bay area.
Richard Hermes ’85 was recently
promoted to Enterprise Service
Delivery Manager for Spectrum
Enterprise covering Pinellas and
Manatee County.
Brett McGill ’87 has been promoted by
the board of directors at MarineMax,
Inc. to President and Chief Operating
Offi cer.