Marywood University to Host Third Annual Community Leadership Celebration
SCRANTON, PA (March 21, 2016)-Marywood University will host its Third Annual Community Leadership Celebration on Thursday, May 5, 2016, in the Center for Athletics and Wellness on Marywood’s campus. The event will honor Northeastern Pennsylvania natives Gerard and Marie Terotta Roche, currently of Chappaqua, N.Y., with Marywood’s Lead On Award.
Gerard Roche, a graduate of The University of Scranton, is a former Marywood Trustee and Chairman Emeritus at Heidrick & Struggles, a worldwide executive search firm. With more than 40 years as an executive recruiter, Mr. Roche has worked with hundreds of corporations and their boards, identifying top executives throughout the world in almost every function and industry, and placing more CEOs than any other recruiter. He joined Heidrick & Struggles in 1964, quickly rose to become President and CEO of the company in 1977, and, ultimately, moved into the Chairman’s role in 1981 to permit greater time for the high-level search work for which he is internationally known. In 1999, Mr. Roche was named “Recruiter of the Century” in a Hunt Scanlon poll of several thousand industry peers, and, throughout his career, he earned the respect of candidates and clients alike.
Marie Roche, a Marywood graduate, has led her own successful career in the arts as a critically-acclaimed singer, actor, dancer, and radio personality. She began singing with her late sister, Joan Terotta Costa, as the “Terotta Sisters.” They performed nationally as featured vocalists, took part in countless radio programs, and even starred in their own TV show. Currently, Mrs. Roche directs The Chappaqua Singers of northern Westchester County, N.Y., an ensemble of female singers she founded 30 years ago. The group has performed in Romania under the auspices of the Romanian Government and the Friendship Ambassadors Organization. They have also sung in Washington, D.C., by special invitation during national celebrations and during the September 11th observances in New York, N.Y. For the past 17 years, Mrs. Roche has also directed the Loblolly Singers of Hobe Sound.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support Marywood University students through scholarships and programs that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition. Hundreds of business professionals, community leaders, and friends of Marywood University will come together to help make a difference in the name of Marywood. In its first two years, the Community Leadership Celebration has helped the University secure more than $700,000 toward enhanced learning opportunities for students.
“The response from the community has been terrific, and we are excited to honor such true servant leaders in the Roches,” said Sister Anne Munley IHM, Ph. D., president of Marywood University. “The community continues to step forward in the name of Marywood to help deserving students realize their full potential.”
For additional information on the Third Annual Community Leadership Celebration at Marywood University, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, purchase a table, or buy tickets to the event, please visit 100.marywood.edu/community, or call (570) 348-6238.