The Kean University community mourns the loss of philanthropist and
longtime supporter, Mario A. Mesi, who died on November 29 at the
age of 77.
Following a career as a school teacher, Mesi continued to support
education by establishing scholarships at Kean University. Though not
an alumnus of Kean, he connected with the University and its mission. He
embraced the value of education through the Ratta Nursing Scholarship
and the New Horizons Scholarship, the latter having provided assistance
for Kean’s LGBT students.
All the while, he loved to track the progress of his scholarship recipients by
receiving letters and attending the annual scholarship reception.
His commitment to others could be seen in many facets of his life. From
1988 to 2015 he volunteered as a classical music host on Sundays at WMNR
Radio in Monroe, Conn.
One colleague at the radio station said, “He was always kind and soft
spoken but made his words count. He loved music, which is always an
excellent calling card, and he had high hopes for WMNR to evolve into a
great radio station. It’s people like him that remind us of what’s good in
humanity. He has been missed, and I will continue to miss him.”
Mesi also worked as an usher
at Munson-Lovetere Funeral
Homes for over 10 years in
Woodbury, Conn. where he
excelled because of his warm
nature and generous spirit.
The New York City native was
a longtime volunteer at the
Southbury Training School Thrift
Shop and at the Counseling
Center at New York’s St. Vincent
Hospital. He also served on
the Connecticut Choral Society Scholarship Committee and was an
enthusiastic volunteer for the choral group.
Mesi was predeceased by his partner Joel Kannengeiser, his sisters
Millicent Ratta and Janice Ratta Byrnes, and his niece Janice Binnes. He is
remembered by many longtime friends for his kind and gentle nature, as
well as for his love of gardening and birding at The Hearth, the assisted
living facility in Southbury, Conn., where he was the ‘go-to person’ for
residents needing advice on their plants.
Remembering
MARIOA. MESI
ALUMNI BY CLASS YEAR:
Henry Yam ’35
Joanna M. Mead ’41
Edith Horowitz Cohen ’45
Alice Mazzucco Maluso ’48
Russell S. DeLuca ’49
Margaret J. Smith ’51
Marlene Koenig Placzek ’56
Barbara Varona Jacobsen ’58 ’62 MA
Barbara Ann Zach ’60 ’64 MA
Helaine Hess ’66
Charlene Batt ’67 ’70 MA
John H. Rippetoe ’69 ’73 MA
Dorothy Latyn ’70
Gilda Cherensky ’71 ’81 MA
Loretta A Long ’72
Essie Kirkland Hendley ’74
Robert Szeles ’75
Thomas Ainsworth ’76
Arlene Keller ’76
Gloria Ziegler Childs ’77
Mariette Von Roesgen ’79
Jean Palmer Edler ’81
Fred Rappaport ’81
Joseph Knoth ’82
Joan Hornstein ’87 ’92 MA
Stephen G. Mroz ’87
Betty Littlejohn Wheeler ’88
Clifford J. Albertson ’89
Laura Price ’90
Matthew B. Linda ’01
Pamela Lynn Buttery ’03
Michelle G. White-Yates ’06 ’10 MSW
FACULTY:
Dr. Jon Erickson
Professor Dennis Santomauro
Deceased
in memoriam
KEANmag
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