2009 Award Winners

Each John Carroll Weekend culminates with a banquet celebrating the John Carroll and Patrick Healy Award winners and their distinguished service to Georgetown and their communities, their lifetime achievement and dedication to advancing Georgetown's mission of distinguished service and leadership.

The John Carroll Award

The John Carroll Award was established by the Georgetown University Alumni Association in 1951 to honor alumni whose achievements exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown University and its founder, Archbishop John Carroll. The John Carroll Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association. All recipients have distinguished themselves through lifetime achievement and outstanding service to their alma mater. Five John Carroll Awards are presented each year.

2009 John Carroll Award Recipients

• M. William Benedetto (C'62)
• Jules B. Kroll (L'66)
• Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Ph.D. (C'81)
• Joan Burggraf Riley (N'76, G'97)
• Edmond D. Villani, Ph.D. (C'68)

The Patrick Healy Award

The Patrick Healy Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association upon distinguished individuals who are not alumni. Established in 1969 and named for Rev. Patrick Healy, S.J., the first black president of a major American university and Georgetown’s "second founder," the Patrick Healy Award symbolizes the deep admiration that the university holds for these unique individuals and special friends of Georgetown. The Alumni Association presents one Patrick Healy Award each year.

2009 Patrick Healy Award Recipient

• Brian P. Hehir (Parent: '02, '04, '06, '07)

Nomination Process

Awardee Biographies

M. William Benedetto (C’62) New York, New York

As a student of philosophy and a thoughtful businessman, Bill Benedetto has infused every dimension of his life with a steady commitment to values and education.

 After leading Georgetown’s student body as cadet colonel of the Air Force ROTC, Bill served in Vietnam as a captain with the U.S. Air Force before beginning his ascent in the financial world. Starting in the professional development training program at Chase Manhattan Bank, he worked his way up through Salomon Brothers, Blyth Eastman Dillon and Warburg Paribas Becker before becoming executive vice president, director and manager of Dean Witter’s investment banking division. He also served as financial advisor to the City of Chicago before co-founding Benedetto, Gartland & Co., which specializes in raising institutional private equity.
Bill’s business savvy facilitated his vision for the original School of Medicine Board of Visitors and his guidance of the board’s development as chairman. Respected for his attentive, active and transformational leadership, Bill subsequently chaired the Medical Affairs Committee of the Board of Regents and now serves as chairman of the board.

“There are so many talented people doing great things for Georgetown,” he says of the Regents. “Helping them really helps the university far more than I could do by myself.”

As a member of Georgetown’s board of directors, Bill contributes particular attention to medical education and research—interests he adopted from his family’s connections to medicine. His alumni service has also included roles as an Alumni Admissions Program interviewer and a participant on class committees.

Outside of Georgetown, Bill’s board memberships include FidelisCare, Global Brands Acquisition Corp. and, formerly, Saint David’s School. A man of many talents, he co-authored Initial Public Offerings: A Strategic Planner for Raising Equity Capital and is an avid fly-fisherman and pilot.

Bill’s wife, Lois, is a longtime member of Georgetown’s Office of Advancement. The Benedetto children, Michael (C’93) and Bill (C’96, M’00), both share the Georgetown bond and have provided four future Hoyas to the family.

Jules B. Kroll (L’66) Rye, New York

From his early roles in politics and public defense to his innovative entrepreneurship in the investigations business, Jules Kroll has dedicated himself to social justice and service to the community.

He initiated his public interest work during law school, when he served as a junior aide to Robert Kennedy. After his post-graduate positions in the U.S. Coast Guard and as an assistant district attorney in New York, he founded Kroll, Inc., which is renowned as the leading risk consulting company worldwide. Acknowledged as the founder of the modern investigations, intelligence and security industry, Jules has led his firm’s success in searching for assets hidden by Saddam Hussein, Jean-Claude Duvalier and Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.

Extending his firm’s advisory expertise, Jules has provided exceptional counsel to Georgetown as chairman of the Law Center’s Board of Visitors and a member of the Board of Regents. He and his wife, Lynn, have also been loyal supporters of the Jewish chaplaincy at the Law Center and on Georgetown’s main campus.

“Georgetown is an institution that provides a spiritual and intellectual beacon,” says Jules. “My mission is to give students opportunities to broaden their perspective and be responsible citizens.”

Thanks to his vision and support, almost 100 first-year law students each year have the opportunity to work abroad through the International Internship Program. Jules also established the Kroll Family Human Rights Fellowships, which enable recent Law Center graduates to work full-time at human rights organizations.

The recipient of several awards for entrepreneurship, Jules has been a member of the board of trustees of Cornell University, his alma mater, and is currently chairman of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Foundation.

Jules and Lynn have four children, Jeremy (C’94), Nick (C’01), Vanessa Bennett and Dana Carlos.

Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Ph.D. (C’81) Scranton, Pennsylvania

As a priest, professor and university administrator, Scott Pilarz has lived a deep and comprehensive commitment to the mission of Jesuit higher education.

After an active undergraduate life at Georgetown filled with Mask & Bauble, The Hoya and tutoring at Sursum Corda, Scott entered the Jesuits and began teaching during his years of Jesuit formation and education. Upon completing his Ph.D. in English at the City University of New York, he followed his love of teaching back to Georgetown and joined the faculty as assistant professor of English.

His additional role as a Jesuit-in-residence in New South strengthened Scott’s cherished close connection to students. Always immersed in the dynamic life of the university community, he participated in student retreats, served as the Jesuit representative to the Alumni Association Board of Governors and directed campus ministry efforts on Georgetown’s three campuses as interim university chaplain.

“Georgetown opened up my mind to the shape of the world and my place in it,” he says. “I wouldn’t be who I am or what I am if it weren’t for Georgetown.”

As president of the University of Scranton since 2003, Scott has been praised for his inspirational leadership, engagement with students and transformational vision that has expanded Scranton’s physical plant and achieved an unprecedented level of fundraising. He continues to live in a freshman dorm, following the example he set at Georgetown.

Close to his class, fellow alumni and former students, Scott has chaired several class reunions and led the organization of Georgetown Theatre Alumni.

Among his many distinctions, he received the Edward B. Bunn, S.J., Award for Faculty Excellence chosen by Georgetown’s graduating class of 1999 and the Alumni Association’s William Gaston Award for Outstanding Service in 2002.

Scott chairs the board of Camden Catholic High School, serves on the boards of Boston College and Scranton Preparatory School and belongs to many organizations celebrating Medieval Renaissance literature.

Scott has officiated at dozens of Georgetown weddings and baptisms and is the father of Jack the Bulldog.

Joan Burggraf Riley (N’76, G’97) Potomac, Maryland

Since her undergraduate days at Georgetown working as a tutor and resident assistant, Joan Riley has pursued her passion for service and devotion to cura personalis, care of the whole person.

Beginning with her first position at Georgetown Hospital just after graduation, she has enlivened the university community for over 35 years—even continuing to work at Georgetown while she pursued two master’s degrees in nursing. As assistant professor of human science and nursing at the School of Nursing & Health Studies and as a family nurse practitioner at the Student Health Center, Joan teaches health promotion and disease prevention and works to integrate mental health and wellness topics across academic departments through her leadership on the Bringing Theory to Practice project.

Admired for her compassion and involvement inside and outside the classroom, Joan serves as the faculty adviser to Best Buddies, an organization that fosters friendships between students and people with intellectual disabilities, and hosts student dinners at her home every month. 

“The notion of men and women for others and cura personalis—those principles guide how I live,” she says. “It’s what I hope I model for my students: That they can do something outside of themselves and benefit as much as the people they serve.”

Honored by Georgetown undergraduates with the 2007 Dorothy Brown Award, Joan has received numerous Outstanding Service, Excellence in Teaching Innovation and Excellence in Practice awards.

Together with her husband, Steve (F’76), Joan has served countless volunteer roles including Alumni Admissions Program interviewer, class chair for her fifth through 25th reunions, supporter of financial aid and member of two capital campaign committees and the Board of Governors.
Active in her local community, she founded Potomac Community Resources, Inc. that supports individuals with disabilities and their families. She has served on the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities, and is active in many professional associations.

Joan and Steve have two children, Kate and Annie.

Edmond D. Villani, Ph.D. (C’68) Mamaroneck, New York

Beginning with his economics electives at Georgetown, Ed Villani has developed his constant curiosity into a lifetime of learning and leadership.
Ed started his professional career as an economist for Exxon Corp. after receiving his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. As his interest expanded to finance, he joined the investment management firm Scudder, Stevens & Clark, where he spent the majority of his career. Rising from senior economist to president and chief investment officer and, subsequently, chief executive officer, Ed concluded his tenure as CEO of then-Zurich Scudder Investments before its acquisition by Deutsche Bank. He subsequently served as vice chairman of Deutsche Asset Management, North America, and now serves as general partner with Intana Capital Management LLC.

To Georgetown’s board of directors, Ed contributes his unique combination of natural business acumen and strong appreciation for scholarship and research. Concluding his tenure as chairman of the board this July, he has been known for his enthusiasm and balanced engagement with all aspects of the university.

“Being involved with the university—there’s nothing like it,” he says. “Surrounded by people who are smart and principled, the students and wonderful faculty—who wouldn’t want to be part of all that?”

Ed honored the memory of his father with the Edmond V. Villani Chair in Economics, part of a gift to Georgetown College that also included support for the sciences. In 2006, Ed received the Wall Street Alliance Award in recognition of his contributions to the financial community and to Georgetown.

Today he serves on the boards of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Cohen & Steers, Inc. and Crescent Asset Management and on the investment committee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, where for nine years he previously served as trustee and chair of the finance committee. He lives part time in Tuscany, working in his vineyard and olive groves.

Ed and his wife, Cynthia, have one daughter, Adrienne (C’06).

Patrick Healy Award Recipient

The Patrick Healy Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Association upon distinguished individuals who are not alumni. Established in 1969 and named for Patrick Healy, S.J., the first black president of a major American university and Georgetown’s “second founder,” the Patrick Healy Award symbolizes the deep admiration that the university holds for these unique individuals and special friends of Georgetown.

Brian P. Hehir Port Washington, New York

Throughout his tenure at the School of Nursing & Health Studies, Brian Hehir has exemplified the Jesuit ideals that have nurtured his family for 38 years.

First introduced to Georgetown in 1972, while visiting his now-wife—then a sophomore at NHS—Brian has since spent enough time on campus as a Georgetown spouse, parent and volunteer, he jokes, to qualify for a Georgetown degree. While he remains devoted to his alma mater, Harvard, “There’s no denying that a Jesuit, Georgetown education is a fantastic opportunity,” he says. “When we talk about institutions that shape our lives and form the core of who we are, Georgetown is an enormous part of that.”

Brian has embraced his family’s connections to the health care profession and Jesuit education as his own. His service to Georgetown began when he and his wife, Janet (N’75), co-chaired Georgetown’s Third Century Campaign for NHS and established the Robert and Kathleen Scanlon Chair in Values Based Health Care in memory of Janet’s parents.   
As a member and former chair of the NHS Board of Visitors, Brian has led the school’s fundraising and board activities and advised the direction of its teaching and scholarship.

Brian’s reputation as an admired role model and a driven, insightful leader extends from his 30-year career in the securities industry, primarily in equity capital markets and investment banking with Merrill Lynch. He currently serves on the boards of Wabtec Corporation, University of Connecticut Health Center, US Lacrosse Foundation and Harvard Varsity Club. Captain of Harvard’s 1974 football team, Brian now serves as president of Friends of Harvard Football.

Brian and Janet have four children, Courtney, Colleen, Brian Jr. and Jacqueline.