1

Gerard Dahowski
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Transcribed by Ann Sandri
For the Marist College Archives and Special Collections






Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


2

Dahowski, Gerard






Transcript – Gerard Dahowski
Interviewee: Gerard Dahowski
Interviewer: Gus Nolan
Interview Date: November 22, 2010
Location: Marist Archives and Special Collections
Topic: Marist College History
See Also:


Subject Headings:
Dahowski, Gerard


Marist College Board of Trustees


Marist College History
Marist College (Poughkeepsie, New York)


Marist College Social Aspects





Summary: Gerard Dahowski reflects on his time growing up in Poughkeepsie, his role on the
board of trustees, and shares his thoughts on the future of Marist.














Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


3

00:25
GN: good after noon Gary let me just record one thing here today this November twenty
second
00:31
GD: never will forget this day
00:32
GN: the day remember the forgotten. And we’re in the Marist College library. And we
have the happy occasion to be talking to a member of the board of trustees Marist graduate
Gerard Dahowski. Good after noon Gary
00:47
GD: how are you Gus?
00:48
GN: Good Gary there’s like three parts to this before middle and ending. Before could you
just give us sort of a thumbnail Garry where you were born were you grew up grade school early
school. Before moving on.
01:07
GD: OK I'm an anomaly here Poughkeepsie native born and brought up in Poughkeepsie
went to grade school st Mary's finished up at Poughkeepsie high. I did three years. With the
Christian Brothers down at St Pat's. And then had no intention of going to college at all. And
then my father said we're going to do something so. He says you know he says you go into
service I said well I'm not eighteen he said I’ll sign in so I went through I had asthma so I
couldn't go so I ended up working for a bank. Poughkeepsie First National Bank Poughkeepsie
and our next door neighbor was Arthur Butts. Who was a legion in this time?
01:44
GN: oh first he’s the first graduate
01:47
GD: one of the first lay student
01:50
GN: alumni
01:51
GD: yup so he said Mr. Dahowski I was a teller in a bank he was the vice president he
says come the Marist I said I So I went to night school here. In fall for sixty and spring of sixty
one took a course with Brother Richard McCarthy history course. On the room next to Marian


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


4

next to the gym. They had classrooms on both sides Saturday morning course there and I took a
developmental reading with the great Dr. Schroeder. You know. And then I morphed into full
time in 1961 and I graduated in sixty five.
02:30
GN: Later I took that course with Bob Norman
02:33
GD: great guy
02:35
GN: with the speed reading right I reckon they had in those days so you're really working
while going to college
02:43
GD: Well Actually no I stopped working and I was a day hop so I was I was doing you
know part time work but I went full time but that time I remember seeing in fact I found it the
internet a couple of weeks ago it was a copy of the Reynard and it said attendance breaks a
thousand. I was a little note from Brother John Malachy who was on the register.
03:08
GN: I know him well
03:11
GD: back you know Donnelly hall was the dorms for the guys downstairs and the
classroom upstairs the library was as I was saying. Greystone
03:23
GN: I meet a fellow called Bill Moran
03:25
GD: bill was two year in front of me.
03:27
GN: Yeah. And he was one of the first to live in that That’s strange I had not seen him in
the fifty years. I see he was here for a football game
03:36
GD: I see him shows up to at Dennis's Christmas party down in New York. Bill the class
of sixty three.
03:45
GN: Yeah very good. Sidelines what else did you do. Besides work and school did you do
any athletics?
03:51
GD: Well back then we didn't. Did a couple years of crew but you know never on of the


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


5

full varsity boat. And had intermural because we had. They had a basketball team I was too short
and too slow to do that and then you know. It was touch football but we had the major sports
were, what was basketball that was it with Brother William Murphy as the ad.
04:18
GN: indeed Murphy and. Well I am just talking know crew was also just one of those
things
04:28
GD: Joe Catanzaro
04:31
GN: Mike Arteaga talks about that and. and. Chris Campilii I am saying Chris but.
04:40
GD: But Tony
04:41
GN: Tony his son is Chris. What was your major
04:46
GD: Business.
04:47
GN: You were a major in business
04:48
GD: labard said business
04:49
GN: You mention McCarthy as a teacher in history but in business was Kelly here.
04:55
GD: jack Kelly.
04:57
GN: Kilgariff.
04:58
GD: No I was before him. We had
05:02
GN: John Griffin.
05:04
GD: Before him also. The Summers was English.
05:07
GN: Oh yes.
05:08
GD: Dr George Hooper great guy he was biology and we had a brother Million on a Sister
Teresa. Doing Spanish they would Brother Million Was a Marist brother Sister Teresa was a
nun. And they would she would come up from Mount St Mary Spanish. Going through there guy
named Richard Thomas was the math teacher he had a short. Cup of coffee. Here. Statistics


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


6

05:40
GN: did he come from Manhattan Was he a part time.
05:45
GD: no he was a Southern guy. He came from the south or southwest and him and Kelly
came on around the same thing because Jack was here for the whole time that I was here. Eddie
O'Keefe was psychology
05:55
GN: Eddie O'Keefe I didn't think that he went back that far
05:58
GD: yeah he did.
06:00
GN: OK. What kind was there any campus life at all?
06:04
GD: A little bit I got to know. As a day hop I got to know the couple of could be friends
all my life. From the Bronx. Jimmy Zanni, Billy Gorman. Frank Nanits and you know I would
take them into Poughkeepsie our house you know my Irish grandmother could would make them
some food
06:24
GN: was the Brown Derby open yet
06:25
GD: Brown Derby Yeah. That was back there at 1960-61 Tony Balassone had the Derby
was there. And actually the big one was Frank. Franks across the street Franken McManese’s.
And then there was they still had the twon gown relationship I mean but not quite as bad as it is
now you know with the guys in town but these were guys from the Bronx’s they thought they
were cock a walk they realize still they got to know Poughkeepsie and were to go and not to go
you know.
07:02
GN: That's one part but what about the times was the war on was there draft and all that be
worry about
07:09
GD: No I like I say when I when I signed up. The Air Force and I went back to almost the
physical I found I had asthma. I got One Y but that was 1961 and all the way through until 65
when I graduated. I got a deferment by not asking for it because of asthma. So the war. You


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


7

know. Hadn't really near anywhere near the strength
07:36
GN: will it to come later in the 68, 69
07:39
GD: Well actually but. Johnson in sixty five he’s the one who sent about. You know we
didn't end up putting three, four thousand troops over there.
07:49
GN: employment opportunities well you did you have the job at the bank on the side
07:52
GD: No I was now I was just to doing part time jobs. What I did was a couple my friends
went to I.B.M. And others went on Walle Virsomny was a classmate went to law school Paul
Mare also went to law school. I took a couple I took a federal entrance exam which gives you an
opening to all the civil jobs in the in the federal government. And I went with the F.D.A.I.C. with
I have some banking background so it was sort of the serendipity got there became a bank
examiner for a couple years went back to a bank locally got married then Finally got into
banking for good here in Poughkeepsie the old duchess bank. That's right. That’s where I was for
twenty years and then at that time I got a little involved with Marist Jeremiah Sheehan was my
classmate was on the alumni board and Don Murphy. Was the was the first alumni director. Part
time so that how I got involved with that for a while we had a Super Bowl. Raffle every year.
Because if you remember. Walt Maxwell who was a couple years old or younger than me his
first step father owned the radio station in Kingston WGHQ And he was part owner of the
Philadelphia Eagles in the nfl he would get tickets. And we would raffle them off and the tickets
for the Super Bowl then the first time we did it was like super bowl two or three or four. They
were fifteen dollars apiece. You know and then we ran the Super Bowl
09:28
GN: you have a picture of that
09:30
GD: and we would actually ran a raffle the alumni ran a raffle we were mailed out you
know and we were working. Ronnie Peck’s wife Marianne was working for the alumni in St


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


8

Peter's a little back there because we still didn’t have a lot of buildings here.
09:47
GN: Yeah. I'm just trying to think in terms of St Peters in terms of the it's building over
here. Well you pointed up north I got disoriented I am say. Well that moved up they were still
down here in town
10:02
GD: no opposite the pool.
10:04
GN: Oh I know that very well. Fast forward a little bit how did you come on board? In
terms of the board of trusties here what’s the genius
10:16
GD: Interesting there's a couple people who have been very influential in my life one was
Jack McEnroe who was the president of Duchess bank he was on the board here. And on our
bank in Poughkeepsie Linus. Richard Foy Linus always will be Linus to me. Was on our board
of directors down here. And in 78. I was evolved a little bit long live but not much you would
come to homecoming. Linus took me out for lunch. Says you know this is Walter barysonic is
resigning he lives in Jersey can’t make it would you like to go on the board I said Yeah I said
you're not going to get a lot of money out of me he says no we said maybe we could use. You
know your financial background cause he saw what I was doing at the bank and. That was
November 78 and. I was Linus's last appointee. then. Sub the next couple of months. Linus said
You know I'm leaving and then. The search for Dennis and was sort of the you know and.
Dennis came but six months after me.
11:17
GN: were you involved in any way with that.
11:19
GD: I wasn't on the search committee but finally
11:22
GN: your board members
11:23
GD: oh yeah we've had a vote on it you know it was interesting to see as an aside. As in a
side when they were looking at Dennis had said never been to the east coast before and when



Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


9

they came back. They did a visit in. Well he was at Whittier and the only reason he couldn't get
the job at Whittier he wasn’t a Quaker. So we know that was.
11:44
GN: dead end there
11:45
GD: So I remember talking when you know when he came over for a visit he when he
came on And the board members we speak at executive session or just B.S. And. You know they
said if we keep him for five years that be good. And Dennis came and he changed. Well it was
interesting I consider Marist one of the biggest shaping events in my life it has been a continual.
But we sat down and you know. I was on the Finance Committee but the first year on here the.
The budget was eight million dollars and it was we were at a deficit. And we had deficit for the
two years before that. Yeah. And I remember Jack McEnroe saying to me Jack said if they were
of business corporation we'd be out of business technically bankrupt. And Dennis sat down with
me were close age I am few years older then Dennis. And he says well. We've got to do
something about. You know budgeting. Budgeting for some reserves to build up because we had
no. We had no endowment we had nothing in to for depreciation. so we set down there and I
considered that my biggest contribution. Just being on a finance committee and having be part of
thirty two.
12:57
GN: How much time is there between your first deployment and coming and. Dennis is
arrival. Is there a year.
13:02
GD: five months no well. I came in in November of seventy eight and then Dennis within
the next year. And like I say. I guess he's finishing his 31
st
, 32
nd
year. But we've had 32 budgets
in a row that were balanced. We’ve had just bricks and mortars is just unbelievable What we've
built here.
13:29
GN: I want to get this is a little bit of that now So it's really you were correct to say that


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


10

from the beginning. You were moving into the financial aspect of the running of the board
13:39
GD: I was on the Finance Committee from day one. OK and then. I had working with
Dennis and you know. And also Rob Dyson who was other Very important part.
13:50
GN: Good name. What does Dyson come on board
13:54
GD: Dyson There's two other trustees that have more time than I do. It's rob brother.
Kearney Jim. Jim came on in 71 Rob came on maybe at 75 or 76 and I came on maybe 78.
14:08
GN: I didn’t know Rob Dyson was on that long. I remember we talk about the
communications center Dr. Lannging was here having a discussion with him to the board kind of
things. Goals and objectives one thing was to get the budget balanced and then try to start saving
things and so What were the strategy how were you going to do this.
14:37
GD: Well part of it. It's interesting you know. I didn't have that much experience you
know in college and. what major issues. You should have but I could basically part of the college
is running a business you know you've got to. You know unless you've got a balanced budget
doesn't matter what you're selling if you don't know if you spend more in you taking in
eventually going to run out. So we try to. Look at look at our physical plant. What do we need of
say the roof fell off Donnelly Starting putting something away into a reserve there. And then
trying to build up the endowment we had probably. If we had one hundred thousand dollars in
endowment and we had a lot we were a very small school and there was not many lay alumni
there. But it was working and Dennis worked very closely with. You know the board with the
other committees and also with the faculty and with the ministration to get them get their mind in
set to say hey we've got a budget you know we've got a week. And we started with the five year
plans they weren't quite as formal I don't think as they are now but we'd instead of just looking
from year to year saying. Where do you want to be. What do we want to be. You know when. I


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


11

remember the first. Well. Knocking down St Peter's and you know. I'm trying to keep all the
construction and Destruction in mind and I think I will lose some of the chronology.
15:54
GN: but even before the construction We’re pretty much a tuition driven intuition
15:57
GD: I always will be I think
16:01
GN: How do you. Is it just by increasing tuition or is there government grants or things
that begin to flow into this.
16:09
GD: coolest part the alumni went out. You know. I think the marriage with I.B.M. with the
grants was a big plus. And we had some I.B.M. Was on a board but also our computer
technology I think was for a small school. You know was the head of its time. Dennis is a very
forward thinker. You know and he but he doesn't. Which I always like he says we can't forget
our heritage to even we’re real bored. It's still you guys
16:38
GN: Marist spirt behind
16:39
GD: exactly. You know As we went to a long we had some. First Chairman I worked with
was Cliff Wilson remarkable guy. He was the president of Central Hudson. And he was. There
was some problems I don't know if you remember. Linus last year the faculty was you know was
thinking of striking
17:07
GN: there were tensions
17:08
GD: At graduation and Cliff got through in fact I guess I didn't go but he actually
addressed the faculty at a commencement or one of their meetings and he could sort of kept a lid
on things. Till Dennis got in and then it was a learning curve with Dennis I mean I don't think
you know I don't. I can't really speak to what the faculty thought. Because I didn't. I knew a few
of we didn't talk about it. And I think Dennis might have been a honeymoon. But I think after
Dennis started going there I think people realized in also he was a good spokesman. To the


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


12

outside community
17:43
GN: that’s right
17:45
GD: And always like I say we. the underlying thing was whatever it was going to be it was
going to be under a balanced budget. You know we try to contain the rate of increase but as you
say we are you know tuition driven. But you know we're not exorbitant. You know we try to be
all things to all people it's hard to do
18:05
GN: Right. There's a kind of an interesting parallel and symbolic. Really about for a while
we use to have a wall around.
18:15
GD: Oh. It was here when I was here.
18:18
GN: Yeah we were kind of keep the world out as a where and we were supposed to live
hidden and unknown to the world that’s the Marist sprit you know but then it actually stated with
Nilus and Linus there was some crack in the wall and Nilus said decisions were made pretty
much. On the go but there’s not a lot of discussions. Take the wall down let the world see what
we're doing here.
18:41
GD: I remember that because I was early 60’s
18:45
GN: Yeah that whole process of. now from that Dennis being the spokesperson to the
outside community and the relationship between the college and that. So that kind of moves in to
the the first successes. Might be that. Grants, I.B.M. would be one to help support what we were
going to be doing
19:07
GD: And nobody could ever forget the McCann foundation. With Jack Gartland who’s
history goes back I guess to. Brother Paul Ambrose not Stokes
19:21
GN: there’s a difference. Oh yes there is but so Jack you know was McCann has been you
know. There's no doubt about it quite a very generous donor to the school.


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


13

19:32
GN: Yeah I mean we have so much to be great full for Jack because St. Francis Hospital is
sitting up there on the Hill as well you know
19:39
GD: exactly that’s where I was born.
19:41
GN: The community. Grant is for the community it really that is His function. What were
maybe a setback along the way? In terms of this forward. You know the. I don't know if any
problems with the well we've mentioned one that will resolve in the faculty tension would be one
thing.
20:03
GD: But there's always that. What we were going to be and also the upper most did we
step up. You know. Little by little now it's just remarkable the last few years or less ten fifteen
years. Are step up in grade so to speak you know we were in the N.A.C. going around their
sports is one analogy but also the class. The type of students we’re attracting now. when I came
it was open to the mission. As side sitting at the board the other day and Jimmy Barnes and.
Brendan Birkin Dan Hickey I was sitting around the corner and somebody was talking about the
S.A.T.'s and not doing the S.A.T.'s and it's tougher to get in we said yeah none of use would have
gotten in under today’s admissions you know sort of. But as it was always the fine line between
what how much we want to step up and. We do a survey. When we look at tuition And we have
what we call our peer group you know. And then also our competition. It's interesting to see over
the years how the competition has increased you know we look at schools now we would look at
before you know us. Specifically I'd have to go back and look at it but it's it. A great bitter pride
say hey were up at this league we’re taking it. Even in the city of Poughkeepsie the area with
Vassar this is in the side in the last couple years we picked up. Financial Executives from there.
And who'da thunk it that there going outside of town. and another thing I think that everbody
should be happy with we have not had a layoff. We have not had paid Cuts. You know maybe


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


14

the raises aren’t always What. You know the other side would want that’s human nature but
we've always been fair. And I mean you look at some even Vassar they lay people off they didn’t
fill some spots you know
22:03
GN: oh I know I'm involved with the retired faculty here as the woman next to me who
retired professor from Vassar What do you do for retirement it doesn’t exist. You know there's
no such thing as retired Faculty Association over there. And you know it's
22:18
GD: Our benefits are good I mean as I knows. It's been at times when I look at it To see
the benefits. The insurance is one. I mean it's great I mean. And at times there's been close to
open not warfare but it always hasn’t been the happiest between administration and faculty but
maybe it shouldn't be all the time either you know. But. I think the board has always had
uppermost the school. And also the reputation and keeping us solvent and I think that's it I mean
you look around I think we almost have two hundred million dollars’ worth of buildings now
that we didn't have 15 years ago. I mean that’s remarkable.
23:00
GN: Continue on that line now. I mean the streams of income that have developed you
know in terms of. I mean when I read Dennis report on the contributions that I made to the
college. I don't understand the language sometimes were the grants are coming from you know.
23:19
GD: That's remarkable and also when you look at. We have. Branches in Italy It's just .
How many kids go abroad I mean is a good percentage every year I mean are name is out there
which is which is helps too because now we've got people in organizations not even counting
O'Reilly You know who can afford to write a check. You know or which is good in a way to be a
funnel or be a door opener for our grads when they need a job or at least an opening I think that's
the one that doesn't get a lot of play but we've got people out there and Marist is a known name
now. it's not. It was not the guy who hit the home runs I said no


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


15

24:05
GN: know what’s interesting is that. Bucknell use to be a name that how far away from
Bucknell that we beat them this year in football You know after six failures you know was kind
of another check on the list
24:18
GD: and us even moving up to that Pioneer League we're playing a better class of colleges
not just of football team to getting our name out. You know.
24:27
GN: Yeah and nearly beating Daytona
24:28
GD: that was something holding them
24:30
GN: to the last play really so that part. the success of Marist is a probably multi-phase part
of it would be No doubt. The location. You know the fact that we are situated where we are and I
guess there is a traditional We had some high schools in New York that. We used to have most
of our students came from the island
25:59
GD: exactly Right
25:01
GN: now more than half are outside New York state.
25:04
GD: Which is great.
25:06
GN: So that concept you mentioned before it's become a widespread well know factor
25:13
GD: And a lot of that MIPO has helped it the girls’ basketball team has helped it you can't
buy that type of when they went to the Sweet sixteen you know.
25:24
GN: who is this school Marist And of course. I was not it was not a high priority on my
list. To put at the stadium. You know when the words came around about the development where
should we be going extra now that its up that we would play places like San Diego. We go across
the country.
25:46
GD: And Davis, Valparaiaso
25:50
GN: And Jacksonville. If you don’t go there they don’t know that you exist


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


16

25:54
GD: And it's not over the top hearing that was thanks to Tim who Very generous trusty
But it's not like it's you know we'll never will never have. I don't think football as a scholarship
sport we can't really afford it but it's not bad I remember when they started football Bobby Fin
and was the club manager when in 1965 it started as a club sport and they use to play Riverview
field. So it's moved on from there Ronnie Levine is the coach
26:26
GN: I interviewed Ronnie last year. And he was talking about. We were getting their first
guys together. They said they had played before they couldn’t even put the uniforms on they did
now where the shoulder pads went away or reversed it was basic to start with that lets I talk
about the buildings that you mentioned there two hundred million probably poured into the
grounded in the concrete. How do you explain that.
26:53
GD: Well. I’d tell you if you remember when they expanded Donnelly
26:58
GN: put the frame around it
27:00
GD: right. Well that was the hub of the school. When you were here and I was here right I
mean and you know. Dorms downstairs used to be the cafeteria then they moved it out
27:11
GN: you said in fact it use to be the dorms down there before
27:13
GD: exact upstairs and out stairs there
27:16
GN: the murphy beds
27:18
GD: I well. I don't really just I'm trying to do a chronologically the gym. But you had the
dorms is really the first when we started building dorms.
27:32
GN: Now you talk about Champagnet
27:35
GD: No well my last year Champagnet was open in 65 but I'm talking about the ones.
27:40
GN: Foy, Gartland
27:41
GD: yup across the way. Every time we built a dorm We would do. Run through my


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


17

committee. It would have to pay for itself over a period time. It had to be self-amortizing. You
know where a library is. A classroom building isn't when I say self-amortizing there’s certain
things you have to have but what if you build up if you build a dorm. You can you know you're
going, you've got a bond and you're going to pay so much. And you can do a pro former which
Tony would do Tony work closely with me and with him y we were with him. Every time we put
up a dorm. We knew that if we kept it full or. You know it would pay for itself. But you know
the interesting thing is that the early dorms. Garland was a good example. To show you how you
remember that at times. We didn't have doors weren’t full we were renting out to culinary kids
28:34
GN: IBM
28:35
GD: culinary kids. So when we started building. Some of those townhouses up there. They
were adaptable to be if we had a downturn to make them into apartments to rent. That's why they
had common kitchen stuff like that it wasn’t the regular gang one, two you know like a prison
28:52
GN: a floor of forty
28:53
GD: Yeah right. So that was part of our plan too so we always build in contingencies.
Yeah. And we try to build up enough reserves and that was Dennis was saying there's no way
we're going to budget. That isn't balanced. You know so that. And that was part of the discipline
that he had in Finance Committee had. And the board adhered to it here too. Saying if we're
going to do stuff. And now. Every one of those things going across the road that's a big jump.
29:20
GN: But even before that who does the footwork. How do you get a bond
29:26
GD: first time around there's an organization New York State dormitories authority you
apply just like you would for a mortgage I mean oh there's a thing. You say here. We want they
would do a credit run on you. You know when we have now we have a decent rating. But back
then in a couple of them the finances weren't that strong. So we had to go out and borrow at a


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


18

higher rate than we would of now. But right now. When you have to do it you go to dormitory
authority. And you say we want to put up one hundred bed. Dorm. You know you got to the first
time around but every time but we have a better history after that but we say. Here's what we
plan to do we have it here. Here's the projected income based on and. You know room and board
for it for this one here. We can make a payback we have so much reserves so they would look at
us they would look at our credit. And then they would go out to the market. And either sell
through. Sometimes a private place with a bond fund or the a bond. Somebody would buy it and
then resell the bond to the public. You know. But they're basically buying our credit. And then
what happens to is that they take a mortgage of god forbid. You have mortgage you have
insurance on it too but that's only as good as the insurers well before all this. the problem. But
they look at it and they say OK we're going to. Now. Marist says. That should get a six percent.
If the. Maybe if the normal. Credit that time for a thirty year bond was five percent they would.
We might be paying a little bit more because we're an unknown or our credit isn’t that great.
right now we're an A one credit. And we don't what you would do is you go out you'd buy
insurance. Letter a credit to back it so that the you as the Investor. Sure you getting your money
some insurance companies do it but I've seen more from being a fairly risky credit to being a
good credit people want us now. But excuse me I’ll tell you when Tony. Was Here. It was here
through a lot of them Tony Campion The building and grounds committee at that time was under
Garland. So they did a lot of it. And then later towards Tony's end and then we had Paul for a
while Paul buton for two or three years. And then. And Mike Duffy on the building and ground.
They would come up with the idea or say hey we want to build one here. And then the. He would
do some feasibility studies and then they run it through my committee. So we’re like the you
know it's almost like that we're like the House Representatives we pass on an all income you


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


19

know taxes
32:15
GN: it can go forward if you say so
32:17
GD: but we look around and then we pass it on to the board. But that's how it works there
and I actually another thing I'm just thinking of it now is Dennis has been very stout in selecting
trustees. There is some. You know maybe we have ten or twelve. Alumni but not just there for
alumni seat all contribute in different ways and also from when he went outside I mean he had
some. And its not a rubber stamp for it either. if you talk to any of your. Faculty and there is back
and forth I mean you know
32:52
GN: discussion just because he likes it .
32:55
GD: and I will tell you one thing one Guy who has been really also very instrumental in
the last sixteen years is Rob Dyson. Very down to earth he's not showy
33:09
GN: I've met him at all sports we were on the same treadmill. Yeah. I have seen recently
good honest. Move away from the dormitory’s a little bit about the rest of the building program.
33:25
GD: Well there was always Franny Reese if you remember god rest her sole she was
always saying we've got to have a library and then you know but a library is. Again as I said self-
amortizing thing so we have to go out and get funding for that gifts if we can it took while but
33:45
GN: cannavino three million. Or five whatever it was is a good base But where did you
get the other six
33:52
GD: Well Part. Fundraising. And then also if you have we could fund some ourselves we
hope not to finance that on a long term bond bases but with our own cash flow we can do short
term and then. We have a had a capital campaign. The same thing with Hancock Ellen gave us
seed money. Yeah. You know. But again that's non advertising to because there's no direct
income from the library or a classroom. But you're not going to college without a library or


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


20

classroom. Right. So we need that you know.
34:28
GN: step backward. How did the decision come about for the stadium.
34:35
GD: You know I'll try to remember I don't. I know there’s talk about it. They wanted to do
you know maybe fix field a little bit put in the artificial turf on and it just sort grew
34:45
GN: grew by itself
34:46
GD: remember put the lights on we had temporary lights once and a while then they put
the lights on and time just stepped up and gave a good portion of it but it was like I say here’s
another good pic by Dennis. Tim had no connection with the Marist lives down in Westchester
County has a
35:03
GN: Pepsi place
35:04
GD: in Newburgh you know. But again here somebody comes on and. You know really
has been helpful. J. Ralyson god rest his sole he had no direct tie with. But him and Jack
McEnroe were very good friends but Jay was a very good. Board member. You know so he's
unique Like I said Betty Wolf she filled Another great. She’s old Poughkeepsie. And she's a
myload
35:32
GN: and Jack
35:35
GD: John Mac when he was here you know so you go around that board.
35:39
GN: Are there outside consultants that come to the board for. I mean do you get advice to
as where you might go for grants or.
35:49
GD: Actually that I that I wouldn't know that much about I assume there is but I know that
we have we have advisors for our portfolio and for investing in our plant fund and our
endowment. But that’s they recommend possible investment. run through the Finance
Committee. They don't have complete control but you know. We use an outside. You know. A


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


21

gatekeeper who goes out and searches. Different investment advisors and they come back and
then we set the final yea or nay we use it on a financial side to answer your question I really don't
know. I don't know.
36:31
GN: I don't even have such things exist
36:23
GD: I don't either
36:32
GN: It just seems like that. There would be people you know. Would advised to be able to
do that.
36:42
GD: But I think part of it is maybe it’s what the other churches are doing you know. A lot
of time you know when the business development officers start working or going playing golf or
something. they're not going to give away.
36:56
GN: there list.
36:58
GD: Right it's like Jack Doherty we need him back remember Jack.
37:04
GN: the building of course is Fontaine how did that get up that’s the one over by.
37:11
GD: well lets see how did that come in after Dyson after Lowell Thomas
37:16
GN: of course they’re taking one down here they’re taking down the Fontaine building.
You know was part of the library.
37:22
GD: exactly. Well we knew there were office up in fontaine. Right were we are the back
end of the church that came about again we knew. You know we keep growing and then the
academic Affairs Committee. three good chairmen Jack Macro is there followed by J. Now
brother Jim So the students You know the academic life of the students are you know saying hey
if we're going to keep building dorms. Where we going to teach them the faculty are doubled up
and sharing a room and same way with the kids, you know how many triples. one pushes the
other you know it's like that. You know if you go here this comes out but the overall you've got


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


22

to say. What are we going to do and can we afford to do it and are we letting growth lead us in
which I don't think we try not.
38:22
GN: Yeah. I suppose part of that argument for the dormitory is that religion is that people
are living off campus you had triples were in the hotel down in town. So we have the students we
need to house them.
38:35
GD: But again. I've said this. This is my three years. We can just fit so many people on
this campus with parking. And all the auxiliary. Services they need. You know we need. Office
we need. Need. Room for the
38:55
GN: teaching conferences
38:56
GD: also the music
38:59
GN: oh art.
39:00
GD: for the clubs. You know yeah. Right.
39:03
GN: I heard this I don’t know if this is true of not But the Hancock will not provide for
any additional students. It's going to provide for a place to be able to do. Well we hope we were
doing. Like offices for faculty. Conference rooms. Place to go where discussions can continue.
But it was not increasing student body.
39:26
GD: Well you know I said I don't I think that it's a guess right because we needed to give
the services to our existing core to the faculty, to the students. You know. No I don't think I've
never heard it say that we got Hancock open now let's put another five hundred. Because we're
going to put them. this is strictly MIPO office its offices for you know faculty You know but that
was really a service building like I say. And that was. We paid for that. Out of operations and
donations that. Again. There was no bonding for that so that's a thirty five to forty whatever the
total number comes in that is not part of our bonded debt. Because we didn't. It's not going to


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


23

bring anything in directly. And that's been an important part of our mindset.
40:21
GN: Nothings directly but it is part the attraction.
40:23
GD: Well you need it that’s I am say it but you know if you're going to do it to borrow a
bond. Yeah. In our mind we're saying we're not going to do a twenty or thirty year bond to put it
up. Let's pay it out of operations for a year or two and let's get it from donors. Yeah that's what I
am saying it’s an intrical part you've got to have that and you've got to have a library or you're
not going to worry about dorms. Your not going to have nobody showing up anybody showing
up
40:49
GN: one graduation here there was a labor problem and people were protesting out there
Did that ever impact. Building here on the where there union problems for say
41:02
GD: Well there was one here a couple weeks ago they were out there and we're And again
this is I'm not that conversed with all the labor laws but you know I guess. We bid it out And we
take the best bid for us so we do have union we’re not strictly non it's the best that we can get.
Yeah you know I guess there had been times over the years yeah a few times I am trying to
remembers there was picketing out there here right. But we try to be. You know the unions want.
All their jobs to be union. you know and here we don’t have to in we again we. This is a policy.
We bid a job. And we take the low bidder after we vet them that they are able
41:50
GN: to do the
41:51
GD: Exactly. You know. And that's worked out very well way I mean you can take a look
at since all the buildings we've done here.
42:00
GN: looking back what were some of the more difficult decisions that you would say. The
board had to make made or. You know. Should you go this way or that way you know. Was
there a hesitant about putting up the library about putting up Hancock or when to put it up.


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


24

42:22
GD: Well we've always have the glass is half full side and half empty. I think we look at I
don't think its and one dirconing thing oh gee we shouldn't do it but I think when you put it all
together little by little if we went back and looked if somebody told us fifteen years ago we're
going to put up. Seventy five million or one hundred million dollars worth of bonds debt. We say
oh no no we’re not so we sort of place it in we have a five year plan. And if we're in our
parameters I think there's no. I can't remember. Of any thing or any issue that the board. Was
very divided on or really showed when a lot of acrimony decided you know. No the board works
well with committees, committees are very strong here. Because based on if you look at were our
trustees come from a lot of them aren’t you know in Hyde Park or Poughkeepsie some of them
they come up and they try do things now which is good they have Friday night meetings before
the Saturday board meetings a lot of them have to fly like Brendan Burk down in Carolina now
or yes South Carolina. The guys are in Florida so. But we do a lot of on the phone or are you
know. Conferences doing so a lot of the student life is Stain Harris now who's an alum before
that it was frany resss They are real watchdogs. On the side of the student because again There
are users. And they are our clients so you try to. This is the thing I've learned over the years like I
say I never really any help id do is on the finance sided but you can't help but learn a little bit
about building and. You know academics and student life. We merge it all fairly well together
just by looking at our history. You know of. The kids.
44:28
GN: How about this other problem. Not a problem but It's something that has to be dealt
with in terms of admissions. And minoritys You know you have to be fair in given chances and
scholarships grants and aid it is does Sean Kaylor come to the board and say Here is the story.
44:50
GD: And we watch very closely the what we call the discounted rate and we look at our
peers. And we look at. You know to try to get some. I think we're fair and out and but you know


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


25

this is not an easy school to get into. so again you know So again. You know what I would say.
Again I'm not I've never sat on the student life or the missions Committee. But an application is
color blind and we don't ask them to send a picture. So you look but you do try to reach out to
you not talking athletic scholarships you're talking academic
45:25
GN: well more like grants and aid
45:26
GD: grants and aid so I am saying Well here I don't know how many how many millions it
is ten eleven twelve I mean when you look at the total things. Even X. Out your scholarships. we
give a lot we give twenty five percent of our total tuitions back. But that we watch a very closely
too because we look at what are the other churches are doing sort of speak and sometimes it's
you know. That's the lot of them are getting Given the house or you know. You know.
45:55
GN: Well. See what. What I struck by this is I myself and Linuse foy have friends and
they would come and say you know can you get so and so in. it’s the story shawan will come
bake and say well you know. We could take him but he's going to fail in the first year. You
know. it had better that he goes someplace else. And prove that he can do it. And then take him
in the second year I have a second here.
46:21
GD: I think that's a big plus. no really
46:24
GN: that saves you a lot of problem and them a lot of problem
46:26
GD: and a lot of money
46:28
GN: and to come here and to stay in the dormitory’s you can't go to class I don’t know
what is going on that inviting disaster
46:36
GD: Well put just mention Linus and I remember when I was a senior. Maybe a junior.
Linus sent a letter home to parents. My parents. I think I was paying three hundred dollars a
semester as tuition as a dayhop. He says we had to raise it up to three hundred or something and.


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


26

He said but I promise. This letter went out to everybody that there will be no more tuition
increases. As long as you're in school so they also went to the incoming sophomores put in
perspective I was paying six hundred a year as a day hop in 1962-63
47:15
GN: Gas was twenty cent a gallon
47:17
GD: but its remarkable we sensitive to that we're trying to. You got a price the product I
shouldn’t say it but it is a product in a way It is a business it's an education business and I think
it's. It's been prejudice handled well because we are aware of. You know all the nuances out there
you know.
47:39
GN: You are certainly in a position to say what has god brought as you come on to this I
mean in terms of. As the buildings that. The whole grounds and the operations is just that it's
meticulously kept you know. I have no idea what the budget is on that but that's it's worth.
keeping it. Neat and clean
48:02
GD: Exactly especially when I'm walking in today had to be a student guide walking
backwards he had about twenty kids. And you know that mean a lot to the parents to come up
and I think that an important thing is that the strict way we are with alcohol. Everybody boo hoos
it I said No I said We took the bar away you know even remember was moved from eighteen to
twenty one we had the bar in the rat cellar know it's you know it's enough problems
48:36
GN: Even a refinement river day.
48:39
GD: Oh God the original river day.
48:45
GN: little tuff
48:46
GD: oh they were
48:47
GN: But yeah. I remember talking to Dennis once about it. He's determined you know
where that was going to put some caps on this you know because people who get hurt


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


27

48:59
GD: Some body’s going to get killed.
49:00
GN: with that train down here, could be any kind of problem. Well moving have maybe a
good ten minutes left. I suppose that part of the satisfying. Feel you have about being on the
board to have been part of this. This development to see what has developed here.
49:23
GD: Well some. Sometimes you're so close to it you don't realize it you got to step back.
My daughter just move back from Scotland she married a Brit and they live in Red Hook which
is great, so my son in law Said asking some questions what’s that building there what’s the
around I said tell you what John we’ll go down one day and I will give you a tour. You know I
don't know which building he was talking about he's talking about the little gate house I said no
that's was there that use to be the only entrance remembered
49:57
GN: Now that was the entrance and of course St Peters is you talk about right, grey stone.
Even Dennis own office I mean that that has a history of to all its self that it was a laundry in the
basement of that at earlier time and so on
50:17
GD: but no It's been a bit of various sentimental part of my life and when I sit back
because of association that I received relationships with board members that I wouldn't have
normally got interesting.. I consider. Jack McEnroe who got Rob. Dyson on the board and Rob
When I first met him. Out of a meeting in a Saturday when over to McManeses Drank beer for a
couple hours you know and talk and I didn't know he was then multimillionaire you know he just
took a love for the school and really has helped us he very calm. But you know that he was when
the made his mind up he did it but it was a great. Dennis's you look back on the chairman that
Dennis has had he's a good picker he’s a good politician in that Good sense.
51:14
GN: Is the process he nominate somebody.
51:17
GD: Well actually there's a nominating committee former chairman that. Like every year.


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


28

A third of the Board are up for renewal if they want And in fact this year after sixteen years I'd
probably has been announced Rob is going to step down as chairman and. Ellen is the new Chair.
Person. You know. But Rob still going to stay on the board but was unique. Up until Rob's less.
The sixteen year tenure. Everybody only stayed on for two But he stayed through the. Well there
is another one you forget buildings you know Dyson.
51:54
GN: His own building
51:55
GD: for his father and mother. Yeah. You know. Remarkable. You know Lowell Thomas
is another one Dennis reached and now we forgot to mention the small thing the Rich. Yeah.
You know your old Brothers thing over there. Dennis was. I remember talking over there Rich
had given us a sizable
52:15
GN: conurbation, scholarships. The Rancourt
52:21
GD: before, but Dennis says there’s a lot more there and he. He stayed with him We got it
I mean that's unbelievable you know they got that piece of land
52:31
GN: I know it well I lived there for ten years
52:36
GD: We can make that Institute I could be another good hook for the school when I say
whatever we do over there. Yeah you know. It will be done with class it will be done also Rich
left use ten million dollars for up keep.
52:53
GN: OK let's focus a little bit towards the future. What is marist going to have to do.
You've been here for thirty years. Doing this kind of a not on the board for thirty between school
53:05
GD: yeah I’ve be on the board for thirty two
53:07
GN: Oh that's true. my mathematics slipped me. Sixty you came here
53:11
GD: I’d been fifty
53:12
GN: that’s forth and then another ten years


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


29

53:15
GD: I've been fifty
53:16
GN: OK let's thirty years down the line I mean just turn around. Your position.
53:20
GD: I can look down and see maybe see a sign Marist University to move it up there.
within the confines we will never going to be a you know at how much more. I don't know really
what you need for university Fairfield has a university do you need certain. You have to be a Ph
D. granting.
53:38
GN: I guess the doctorate, but I don't think Fairfield gives doctorates and St John's
Universe in Colorado doesn't give doctorates.
53:49
GD: I am just wondering would that help us in our branding so to speaking. we are
physically limited there really isn't too much. I mean we have some more room but we can never
have a ten thousand Student body no you know. So you stay with the girl you brought to the
dance in but just make it better.
54:05
GN: and become the prime institution. Where people would like to go and exactly Good
show going on here.
54:11
GD: well we saw it with Vassar college they're not as big as we are Bard I just see is
having there hundred fiftieth anniversary. Now there are two different and unique things
America could find a niche there and we don't have to be that big. And we can't forget the
tradition of, that I don't think we ever well.
54:33
GN: Yeah that's a kind of unique thing hard to define. you know it when you see it. kids
here I just can't get over them. they kind of bring each other in you know. They still hold the
doors a few place in the world were youngsters are
54:50
GD: actually have manners.
54:52
GN: manners I go over to the McCann center occasionally and there so cheerful. I was


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


30

going to ask dennis for a job just to sweep the floors to be involved in the operation as it goes.
But to stay in the ball game you need some I like dennis dennis is probably is going to see the
end of the road for him decided you know he can get burned out after thirty years here.
55:21
GD: that's our biggest. I feel. I've said this publicly and privately. That will be the biggest
decision the board makes in the next few years whether you know. Well we've got. I reckon it to
a Major League team that loses. Three of the starters in the fourth one you know is going to retire
because you had Roy Merolli is on his way out Jeff what I've seen of him that looks like a good
fit. Yeah. We got a new finance person. He seems well and then what we’ll need. Bob Ross
replacement but you still got your number one starter you got your receiver your full back but
you need. whoever replaces dennis Well have to be up to speed on our were we where and where
we are but where we're going and to follow in same way because we don't need a reversal. I
think the board will be then it will really be in the boards hands to make sure we carry forward
with our looking at the Five Year Plans. The mission statement as long as Jim Coney is on the
board we're not going to forget. Our mission statement. And he brings a back. It's there but you
know. Jim is doesn't speak much when he does you listen. Because he speaks so elegant. And so
from his heart.
56:35
GN: Yeah it's clear view to and he's got a wide range of experience of colleges
56:41
GD: now. We've got the new brother who I just heard of
56:45
GN: Sean Sammon
56:46
GD: he’s a heavy hitter.
56:49
GN: He has come from a much wider experience to from the world, Rome
56:53
GD: But he came from here though.
56:54
GN: oh yeah he’s one of our own


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


31

56:55
GD: so that’s what I'm saying it's yeah. Again it's Dennis’s picking He's a good picker
57:02
GN: To pick that one. There’s going to be changes on campus to in the next year or two in
terms of the entrances and exits
57:08
GD: the tunnel finally
57:09
GN: the tunnel going in So how does or does the board react to such things as some one or
two of the staff was talking about the hesitancy of it becoming a kind of a conference center.
People would love to come here to have their conferences. Do you do you get in to that.
57:35
GD: Well partly you for the non academic year use I know they're saying this year we
cann’t have the camps because it's going to be you know. The construction mad housing what
when they are doing it putting the tunnel in. But that's you know an integral if we could do that
that's a nice niche because you're always looking the way to increase
57:55
GN: keep the place active exactly for twelve months.
57:57
GD: exactly you know we pay the bills for twelve
58:00
GN: yeah that’s true water running
58:02
GD: as long as it doesn’t take way from the from your not having you know your not
having a you know having a porn film operator convention or something.
58:11
GN: or even that might bring attention.
58:13
GD: But I am saying the right use of the, and also some of the staff maybe we could
supply some them with part time jobs or summer jobs. I think we're very lucky to with the staff
that we do have I'm talking about maintenance security you know usually they come and they
stay here because we’re a good employer.
58:40
GN: I do this, the twenty year thing that Dennis has ever year
58:00
GD: oh that was great this year wasn’t it


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


32

58:44
GD: it's incredible. I mean the number of people that are here. They came as kind of a
simple position. And they move right on up and then they stay with it.
58:55
GD: What's great about that is the maintenance guy comes in. bib comes over for lunch
but Dennis's. That's a great idea to
59:05
GN: Have that twenty year thing
59:07
GD: That's what I told Darty I said I want your twenty years when you get off the job,
cops twenty years don't make this a habit John.
59:15
GN: one of the classic example of stories I remember there's a guy here Tom He's a
painter. He came with Dennis the same year. So then they both had their twentieth anniversary.
Tom was given they both applied and he got the job. And hes said dennis couln’t. We’re pretty
through give me a farewell is something we did say that you would like to have add to it.
59:44
GD: I am just trying to think about not really I think we hit it but I like to say I just thank
you for the opportunity of. Speaking my little bit like I say I really. I did hear a couple of names
that. Well we mentioned them all Brother John Maliki, Richard McCarthy, Dr Schroeder. And
who could forget maybe it's the way to stop it is Paul Stokes he was
01:00:17
GN: he was the local sheriff.
01:00:19
GD: he epitomizes him and I didn't always get along he was he was something else talk
about some of the guys I went there then couldn't get in now I think Paul would leave right
01:00:33
GN: one of the reasons he didn’t come back is because
01:00:37
GD: Vietnam War, long hair and stuff
01:00:39
GN: no the way he was going to run the ship. an another thing that I was faculty
member with him we use to have this thing three attendances miss three, absences
01:00:52
GD: three cuts And


Dahowski, Gerard, 22 November 2010


33

01:00:55
GN: While he. They were like legal papers. Yellow paper. And he had like five sheets.
Single line of guys who had passed. Said this can’t go on they beat us we can’t do this anymore.
So we have to have a thing called responsible attendance
01:01:14
GD: oh if he wanted to get you he would get you I remember. One time I did
something. He says I was taking an exam something we had midterm or some. Maybe it was
over at the gym he comes over Dahowski you keep your car off of the parking lot that's your
second warning. I said third time take away my shoes brother see I would be as smart ass he
would be could But then he could be nice as anything if he wanted. He put a big, his heart was
lot.
01:01:44
GN: the front was really. Small little I mean he would scare the shit out of
01:01:48
GD: Yeah. That's right no he was like a Joe pushy
01:01:52
GN: Well thanks very much Gary
01:01:53
GD: no problem
01:01:54
DN: it has been a wonderful opportunity. Down. You.