Ed and Rosemary Caffarella:
Spirit of Renewal Benefits from Deep Roots, Strong Foundations By Chris Gregor
For Ed CAffArELLA ’68 and roSEmAry CAffArELLA ’68, the trees on naismith Green destroyed by the June 1st tornado symbolized their deep-rooted connections with Springfield College. As they had so many times before, the couple sent a generous dona- tion, this time to the Spirit of Renewal fund to help with the planting of new saplings and the restoration of damaged trees. It all goes back to a botany class they took with a special professor. “As we looked at the fallen
Strong connections to Ed and Rosemary Caffarella
and broken trees, we thought of our days studying with Doc Brainerd,” wrote Ed in a recent letter to president Richard B. Flynn. “He was an excellent professor and taught us to understand the inter-relationships of everything. During freshman orientation week, Doc Brainerd arrived at a session for the 400+ of us with a tree in hand. He would be saddened by the loss of the beautiful trees.” The letter continues, “At the same time, however, he would see the tornado as a learning opportunity. I am certain he would have us studying the root structures of the upended trees to see the ‘hidden’ end of a tree.” Ed and Rosemary were married soon after
graduation and have been frequent donors since then, joining the president’s Council with their most recent gifts. Rosemary’s close friend- ship with Justine Cobb ’68 led to another giving opportunity: “Justine was a very special person as a friend, professional, mother, and teacher,” says Rosemary. Justine lost her life to cancer in 2006, and the Caffarellas have honored her with the Justine Cobb Winters Scholarship Fund they created in 2005. The Caffarellas have spent their professional lives as college
the College have provided the motivation for the Caffarellas giving. “Springfield College opened up possibilities and prepared us to adapt and grow. Leadership skills learned there have been essential throughout our careers, too. That foundation in our formative years made it important to give back to future students,” says Ed. “The Humanics philosophy sepa- rates Springfield from the other schools I attended and worked at. other colleges
continually search for an identity. With Springfield College, it’s always been clear—spirit, mind, body—we know who we are,” he continues. Rosemary concurs. “My foundations came from SC, too: my
“Springfield College opened up possibilities
husband, close friends, career, and the Humanics philosophy. There is a sense of things coming full circle. now I nurture my students as I was nurtured at Springfield College. There is not the same sense of connection with some of the graduate schools where we studied. SC is special; we owe it a lot,” says Rosemary. Ed and Rosemary keep in touch with a core
and prepared us to adapt and grow. Leadership
skills learned there have been essential through- out our careers, too. That foundation in our formative years made it
important to give back to future students”
professors. Ed specialized in educational technology. now retired, he most recently was dean of the School of Education at the State university of new York at Cortland. Rosemary is currently a researcher and professor of adult education in the Cornell university Department of Education. She spends time in Malaysia as part of a breast cancer education program for Cornell.
group of Springfield College friends and their spouses. Stuart Stevens ’68 and Sandy (Field) Stevens ‘68, Douglas Henderson ‘68 and nancy (Fisher) Henderson ‘68, Emily (Erikson) Hendricks ‘68 and husband David, and before her passing, Justine (Cobb) Winters ’68 and husband Charlie. “It is a diverse group, but we are close. over the years we vacationed together, went to children’s weddings and found other ways to get together in between five-year reunions,” says Rosemary. Ed and
Rosemary also enjoy spending time with their daughter Christy zaidi, her husband Ali, and grandchildren, Christian, 9, and Levi, 8. So, the couple that was inspired years ago by a wonderful
professor with a message about “inter-relationships”—and the College that was a foundation for life—now keep it all alive and growing with special acts of generosity.1
Office of Development, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, Mass. 01109 (413) 748-3124 or (800) 622-6072 TRIANGLE 1 Vol . 83, No. 1 17
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