RETIRED PRESIDENT WILLIAM P. GARVEY DIES Mercyhurst University’s ninth and longest-serving president, Dr. William P. Garvey, 81, died Aug. 9. Dr. Garvey had been sufering from ill health in recent years. Mercyhurst President Michael T. Victor described Dr. Garvey as a “visionary leader whose 25-year tenure (1980-2005) as Mercyhurst president was marked by a period of tremendous growth and dynamism.” Widely regarded as an educator, historian and civic leader, Dr. Garvey strengthened the college’s commitment to academic distinction while overseeing more than $45 million in new buildings and renovations to the Erie campus. He also was largely responsible for the opening of Mercyhurst North East 25 years ago. He founded the Research Intelligence Analyst Program (RIAP), which later emerged as the university’s premier academic program in Intelligence Studies. He also instituted the D’Angelo Young Artist Competition, which ran for 25 years, and was responsible for the construction of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center as a regional arts and culture asset for the Erie area. During his early years at Mercyhurst, he was chair of the social sciences and education departments. He was then named dean of the college and later vice president of academic services, both appointments under the administration of Sister Carolyn Herrmann. He put his scholarship as a historian to practice as an unpaid consultant when Erie County pursued adoption of a Home Rule Charter, and he took a leave of absence from Mercyhurst in 1977 to serve as director of administration for Russell Robison, the frst Erie County executive. He returned to the college as director of Mercyhurst’s frst graduate program in criminal justice before being elected president in July 1980. In his later years, Dr. Garvey founded the Jeferson Educational Society, a think tank devoted to civic enlightenment and community progress for the Erie region. His crowning achievement as a historian and writer came just this year with the publishing in April of his book, “Erie, Pennsylvania MAYORS: 150 Years of Political History.” 15
with—of all people—Tim NeCastro. Since 1994, she has worked at Erie Insurance, working her way up from corporate accountant to the vital community position she holds today. Erie is her forever home, and she wants it to be home to her sons as well. She and husband Robert have three boys, RJ, 20, Noah, 19, and Luke, 14. Like most parents, they want to keep their family close, but that means creating an Erie that their children will want to return to after college. “What we are trying to do for the millennial, or entrepreneurial generation, is to give them what they want: walkability, shared ideas in shared spaces, housing and entertainment all within reach,” she said. “We are building for the future, but also for the needs of today.” Marsh said the Mercy charism isn’t far from her thoughts when doing the work she does. “I do feel, when we do this work in the community, that we are keeping a compassionate eye on our community members,” she said. “I think that is something I learned from being at Mercyhurst. Having a servant heart guides me in the diverse experiences I’ve had in my career, and in life.”
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