Distinguished Alumni

St. John's graduates are leaders in every field, from medicine and education to religious life, sports, business, technology, the military and many more.

We are proud to recognize our distinguished alumni with an award presented annually to a graduate whose life personifies the spirit and values St. John's seeks to instill in students. St. John's established the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1993 to honor individuals who demonstrate a commitment to faith, family and service; who have achieved professional success; and who have made significant contributions to society as volunteers, mentors or benefactors. We proudly list the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award by the year in which they were honored:

2020: Paul F. Niehaus, Ph.D. '00, Co-Founder of GiveDirectly and Segovia; Associate Professor at University of California in San Diego

2019: Thomas J. DeSimone '68, Executive Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee, WS Development

2018: John Peter Frates III '03, ALS Activist

2017: Bishop Robert Reed '77, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and President/CEO of the CatholicTV Network

2016: Mike Kennealy '86, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

2015: John A. Driscoll '90*, Educator

2014: David E. Monahan, MD '62, Physician, Chula Vista, California

2013: Bill O'Brien '88, Head Coach, Houston Texans

2012: Thomas W. Haas '74, Pilot, Flight Instructor, Trustee of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

2011: Jude A. Curtis '77, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP

2010: John L. Dunlop '84, Program Officer, United States Agency for International Development

2009: Samuel T. Byrne '83, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, CrossHarbor Capital Partners

2008: The Rev. Gerard Dorgan '50*, Pastor, St. Mary of the Annunciation Church in Danvers

2007: Peter R. Dolan '74, Board Chairman Tufts University, Allied Minds PLC, ChildObesity180

2006: The Rev. Leo B. Shea, M.M. '56, Director of Development, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

2005: The Rev. James J. Ronan '62, Pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Mary's Parishes, Charlestown, Massachusetts. Founder, Rostro de Cristo, Duran, Ecuador

2004: John C. Archer '68, President and CEO, Archer Insurance Agency, Inc.

2003: David W. Ives '75, Vice Chairman and CEO, Northshore International Insurance Services, Inc.

2002: Richard Iorio '77, Chief, Adult Reconstruction and Total Joint Arthroplasty Service, Brigham and Women's Hospital

2001: James M. Sears '81, Attorney, Sears & Sears

2000: Joseph R. Levis '60, Chief Executive Officer, Crusader Paper Company

1999: James C. Zampell '71, President, Zampell Companies

1998: John J. Studzinski '74, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Pimco

1997: David B. Perini '55, Retired Commissioner, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management

1996: Brother James M. Boyle, CFX '48*, Retired Superior General, Xaverian Brothers

1995: Joseph A. Milano '62, President, Union Oyster House and Honorary Consul General Thailand

1994: Paul L. Hennessey '52, Retired Partner, Boston Partners Asset Management

1993: Thomas M. Leonard '54*, President, Essex National Heritage Commission

*Denotes deceased