Terrier Volume 78, Number 1 - Spring 2014 | страница 13
Giving at the Heart
The Firefighter Edward Day Memorial Scholarship
By Danielle Adone ’13
When Elizabeth (Liz) Mindlin ’81 decided to return to college to study business
management, she found 180 Remsen Street to be the perfect place to call home.
Liz, living on Staten Island at the time, knew that the commute would not be easy
but the experience was exactly what she needed to get ahead in her career.
L
ike many
learning new things.
professionals,
When it came time to
she attended
renovate something
“ thought of my experiences at St. Francis
I
St. Francis part-time,
around the house or
and the school’s focus on everyday
while working full-time
fix his motorcycle he
on Wall Street. It took
would simply read a
New Yorkers who are trying to better
a bit longer than most,
few books and then
themselves and their families... It would
but Ms. Mindlin,
gear up to begin a
attired in her cap and
new project.
be a way for Eddie to continue to help
gown nine years after
Sadly, Eddie lost
people for a long time to come.” — Liz Mindlin
she began, earned
his life on 9/11. He
her well-deserved
loved his job helping
bachelor’s degree.
people as a New York
Liz Mindlin ’81 says the down to earth feel at St. Francis is part of why she choose to honor her
“I think the small
City Fireman.
brother Edward Day at the College.
classes were
“Eddie was a
important — I could
happy-go-lucky,
get to know the professors and they could get to know me,” said Ms.
down-to-earth guy. He was a very caring person and that is one of the
Mindlin. “Although I was a Management major, the broad liberal arts
reasons he joined the FDNY. He loved his wife and family, he loved his
requirements exposed me to things I probably wouldn’t have explored
job, he loved the camaraderie with his colleagues and he loved helping
on my own — art, music, philosophy.”
people,” said Ms. Mindlin.
Ms. Mindlin immediately incorporated
Before Eddie passed away, he worked
what she learned from her classes into
at Engine 28 / Ladder 11 on the Lower East
her professional career. After SFC, she
Side. Liz recalls that while most people
went on to receive her MBA from NYU
thought Alphabet City was dangerous,
and recently retired from the Federal
Eddie saw the residents for what they
Reserve Bank of New York.
were — just people trying to get along
While at the college, Ms. Mindlin had
each day without the opportunities or luck
strong support from her family including
that many of us enjoyed.
her brother Eddie Day, a firefighter, and
Brigitte and Liz decided to establish a
his wife Brigitte. Eddie always joked
scholarship at St. Francis College to honor
around saying she was “slow” because
Eddie’s memory. “I thought of my experiit was taking her so long to finish her
ences at St. Francis and the school’s focus
degree but Liz always knew her brother
on everyday New Yorkers who are trying to
meant it in a loving and caring way.
better themselves and their families,” said
Eddie didn’t go to college himself
Liz. “It would be a way for Eddie to continue
Brigitte and Edward Day were married for almost 20 years
but he always had a strong appetite for
to help people for a long time to come.” ●
Insurance Professionals!
Are you in the Insurance field? If so, please let us know by
emailing [email protected].
Attention Veterans!
Have you served our nation? If so, please let us know by emailing
[email protected].
ST. FR ANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | SPRING 2014 | 11