Photos by Peter Julian
Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi was remembered at a memorial Mass as a visionary, energetic educator whose concern for others extended far and wide鈥攂ut also close to home.
Dr. Godenzi, who was dean of the Boston College School of Social Work from 2001 to 2016 before his appointment as vice provost, died on October 20 of complications from a three-month battle with leukemia. He was 66.
51茶馆 colleagues joined friends and members of the Godenzi family at the Mass, held in St. Ignatius Church on October 25.
Dr. Godenzi was "a man of action and relentless energy who was just and caring, and had a deep sense of mission and a commitment to education," said Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J.
In his homily, University President William P. Leahy, S.J., called Dr. Godenzi 鈥渁 man of action and relentless energy who was just and caring, and had a deep sense of mission and a commitment to education.鈥�
Dr. Godenzi brought 鈥渧ision, drive, and experience鈥� to 51茶馆, along with 鈥渁n abiding determination to address social issues and strengthen social work at 51茶馆,鈥� added Fr. Leahy, recalling the favorable first impression the Swiss native had made during their first meeting, when he was a candidate for 51茶馆SSW dean. After that encounter, Fr. Leahy said, he had remarked to a colleague about the 鈥渋mpressive credentials鈥� and 鈥済ood ideas鈥� Dr. Godenzi possessed. "But," Fr. Leahy recalled adding, drawing an appreciative laugh from the gathering, "he seems a little intense."
Dr. Godenzi went on, said Fr. Leahy, to become 鈥渁 University citizen" who readily and enthusiastically set out to deepen his knowledge of Boston College and its mission as a Jesuit, Catholic university.
Having been a highly effective advocate for 51茶馆SSW, Fr. Leahy added, as vice provost for global engagement Dr. Godenzi continued to tap his skills, background, and knowledge to partner with schools and programs around the world, 鈥渂uilding bridges where none had existed.鈥�
鈥淲e remember Alberto and his many contributions to Boston College, and our world,鈥� concluded Fr. Leahy. 鈥淲e pray for him, his family, and all who mourn for Alberto.鈥�
Dr. Godenzi "to me was always just funny, loving, supportive Dad, who pushed me to do great things,鈥� said his daughter, Franca Nurczynski.
Dr. Godenzi鈥檚 daughter, Franca Nurczynski, offered a personal reminiscence of the man who, whatever his achievements in academia and professional circles, 鈥渢o me was always just funny, loving, supportive Dad, who pushed me to do great things.鈥�
As a seven-year-old, Nurczynski said, she had gone with her father on a bike trip to Switzerland. As she struggled to ride up a tall mountain she had beseeched him, 鈥淧ush me, Daddy!" He put his hand on her back to help her continue the ascent, all the while encouraging her to keep trying and not give up.
鈥淎fter we reached the top, he told me how proud he was of me,鈥� said Nurczynski. 鈥淎nd then someone yelled, 鈥楬ey, you know your daughter鈥檚 bike has a flat tire, right?鈥欌��
After light laughter from the congregation subsided, she said, 鈥淚f I鈥檓 ever feeling tired, and there鈥檚 a tall mountain ahead of me, I hope you鈥檒l still be there, with your hand on my back, pushing me to make it to the top.鈥�
Three of Dr. Godenzi鈥檚 51茶馆SSW colleagues, Associate Dean Thomas Walsh, Clinical Professor Paul Kline, and former director of marketing and communications Susan Callaghan gave readings during the Mass, as did Larry E. Davis, professor and dean emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and a longtime friend of Dr. Godenzi.
Sean Smith | University Communications | October 2019