Five Alumni to Receive 2024 Awards from Alumni Executive Council
St. Lawrence University’s Alumni Executive Council has announced that Patricia “Pat” Romeo-Gilbert ’74, P’09, Dr. Kathleen “KB” J. Brown ’79, Henry “Hank” A. Ashforth III ’80, and M. Keefe Gorman ’84, P’21 will receive Alumni Citations for their dedication and service to the Laurentian Community, while Eric “Rick” P. Ankerud ’78 will receive the Sol Feinstone Award for Humanitarian Service.
These honors, along with the 2024 Atwood ’16 and Alice Manley ’17, P’45 Achievement Award, will be presented during Reunion Weekend on June 1, 2024.
Alumni Citation Recipients
Alumni Citations are awarded to graduates of the University for long-term and exemplary service to the University or for exemplary professional accomplishment or community volunteer activities.
Patricia “Pat” Romeo-Gilbert ’74, P’09
Patricia “Pat” Romeo-Gilbert is unwavering in her support of St. Lawrence and is one of the most devoted advocates of Reunion Weekend in our community. As an undergraduate, she earned induction into both Omicron Delta Kappa and Psi Chi, the psychology honorary, and studied abroad in Norway. Pat, who majored in psychology, was a Dean’s List student and participated in both the Thelomathesian Society and the Gridiron.
Pat has her own Laurentian love story, having met her late husband of over 42 years, Paul Gilbert ’72, P’09, at their 5th Reunion in 1978. The duo married two years later and built a life of support and impact, raising their four children including two who followed in their footsteps: Becca graduated from St. Lawrence in 2009 with a degree in mathematics, while Jeff participated in the University’s Adirondack Semester in 2011. The family remains philanthropic and serves the community in a variety of ways. Professionally, Pat worked in Quality Assurance for the FAA, and then Digital Equipment Corporation, and has most recently served for 16 years as the treasurer of Tetlow Realty Associates, Inc., managing Boston properties around Fenway, since 2008.
It's in Pat’s nature to strengthen her surroundings. She serves on the board of advisors for both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the American Repertory Theater, and she was on the board of Girl Scouts of Northeastern Massachusetts having been involved with the organization since she was a child, continuing to serve on its finance committee. Pat has also volunteered for the University of Wisconsin (Paul’s graduate school), the Catholic Community of Lexington, and St. Cecilia's Parish in Boston. More recently, she has become involved with Community Servings and the Women's Lunch Place, supporting the needs of those with food insecurity.
Amidst her numerous commitments, Pat has always kept her service to St. Lawrence as a priority in her life. She has served on the University’s Alumni Executive Council, Leadership Gifts Committee, and Parents Committee, and she has offered her time to Admissions to recruit future Laurentians and the Center for Career Excellence to support students’ career exploration. Meanwhile, Pat has worked hard alongside University Advancement to strengthen both engagement and fundraising efforts, having hosted local presidential and regional events, while serving as a Reunion Weekend co-chair six times—including this year.
With Paul at her side, Pat has helped shape St. Lawrence’s future by strengthening its foundation. Her philanthropy supporting international travel, musical performance, Public Health experiential learning, and North Country student scholarship. Pat and Paul were true advocates for planned giving and were named the winners of St. Lawrence’s achievement award for their thoughtful preparations in 2014. Pat continues to visit the University’s Camp Canaras each summer during Week 4, and she has been supportive of improvements there as well.
Dr. Kathleen “KB” J. Brown ’79
Dr. Kathleen Brown has earned the admiration of both the Laurentian community and those in the field of education thanks to her devotion to children’s reading abilities and educators’ abilities to teach children to read. A government major who graduated magna cum laude from St. Lawrence, she earned induction into both Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa, studied abroad in Kenya, and served on the Thelomathesian Society.
During the 1980s in Southern Idaho, Kathleen taught every grade except kindergarten and 12th, working with multi-lingual learners during the school year and migrant students during summers. Hellbent to help children of poverty become excellent readers, she earned her doctorate in Learning & Instruction from the University of Utah, and has remained dedicated to this mission throughout her career. In 1997, she received the University of Utah Graduate School of Education Teaching Award in recognition of her contribution to university teaching. Her work has been published in several scholarly journals, including Reading Research Quarterly, The Elementary School Journal, The Journal of Literacy Research, and The Reading Teacher.
In 1998, Kathleen, her department chair, and a freshman representative in the Utah Legislature crafted a bill to create a reading clinic for Utah students struggling with reading difficulties and their parents and teachers. The following year, the legislature created the University of Utah Reading Center (UURC) to provide assessment and intervention on-site, on-line, and in schools for thousands of Utah children in grades K-12. While the program was originally funded for only one year, Kathleen and her colleagues augmented ongoing state funding for over 25 subsequent years using philanthropic donations and federal grant awards of $10 million. The original staff of five now includes 20 full-time reading specialists and 35 part-time reading tutors. Over twenty years of data demonstrate that children who receive UURC intervention improve at least one grade level after an average of 45 lessons.
Now Director Emeritus of the UURC and living in Salt Lake City with her spouse Michael Gorrell, Kathleen has managed to stay connected to St. Lawrence despite a distance of over 2,000 miles, two children, and her demanding career. She attends local SLU get-togethers has been a volunteer for several Reunions, attending her 35th and 40th on campus in 2013 and 2019.
Kathleen is a longtime Sustaining Saint, having supported the University for 16 consecutive years. She’s been an ardent supporter of the St. Lawrence Fund, while also supporting additional University priorities including Sustainability Initiatives and Health & Wellness.
Henry “Hank” A. Ashforth III ’80
Hank Ashforth has built an impressive professional and personal resume thanks to his investment in people and places. As a student at St. Lawrence, he earned honors in history, studied abroad in Spain, and was a member of the men’s lacrosse team, the Outing Club and Student Environmental Association.
Following his Commencement in the spring of 1980, Hank began working for The Ashforth Company, a diversified real estate operating company that owns, develops, and invests in commercial and multifamily assets on the East and West Coasts. The company also provides third-party services including asset and property management, general contracting, and construction management. He’s held many positions within the company, now serving as the Executive Vice President, concentrating on providing strategic direction and sales for The Ashforth Company’s third-party service subsidiaries and serves on the company’s Investment Committee.
Prior to his current position, Hank was Chairman and CEO of Ashforth Pacific, Inc., the West Coast affiliate of The Ashforth Company located in Portland, Oregon. In this position, Hank grew the company’s office portfolio from 600,000 square feet to over 3 million in the Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle markets. He also led the development of the 3.3- mile extension of The Portland Streetcar into Portland's Lloyd District and Central Eastside neighborhoods. In addition, he spearheaded the creation of and is the current Chairman of the Lloyd Enhanced Services District, a public/private partnership, that focuses on economic growth through sustainable practices, and transportation and security issues in Portland’s Lloyd neighborhood.
While his career is certainly impressive and showcases his tireless work ethic, Hank still finds time to serve both local and national organizations and St. Lawrence University communities. He is on the boards of several local organizations including Columbia Green Technologies, a national leader in green roof technologies. He is a past Chair and current board member of The Freshwater Trust, whose mission is preserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Library and is a member of the Urban Land Institute. Hank has also answered the call for his alma mater and its students, having offered meaningful career advice and mentorship, as well as support for Admissions. Hank and his wife Francie have also co-hosted St. Lawrence presidential events in Greenwich, Connecticut. They have also supported the University financially by endowing a family scholarship for students with financial need and have made several gifts to Saints athletics.
M. Keefe Gorman ’84, P’21
Keefe Gorman epitomizes the essence of a true Laurentian. He habitually embraces diligent work and brings powerful energy to help others, especially his SLU family. As a distinguished Vilas Scholar, Keefe earned a B.A. in Economics. He was social chairman of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, DJ on KSLU Radio, a SLU orientation leader and ski raced all four years. His experiences extended beyond campus borders to Madrid, Spain, where he broadened his horizons through immersive study abroad.
Keefe's passion for skiing propelled him to represent St. Lawrence in the NCAA Skiing championships, leaving an indelible mark on the Saints Alpine Ski Team. Post-graduation, Keefe's dedication to the ski community continued. He has spent decades as a professional competitor on the World Pro Ski Racing Tour and the World Pro Mogul Tour. Keefe coached the Cornell University Ski Team, Central New York junior ski racers, and the Skaneateles High School Ski Team.
Keefe began his 37-year financial career at Merrill Lynch culminating in the esteemed position of managing director until his retirement last year. As a member of the Merrill Lynch Circle of Champions, Keefe belonged to the exclusive group of top advisers among approximately 16,000 brokers in the company. He earned recognition from several institutions for his excellence in financial services and has been named one of America’s Top Financial Planners by the Consumer’s Research Council of America. Keefe ranked as one of America’s Top 100 Brokers on multiple occasions by Barron’s, a weekly publication printed by Dow Jones & Company.
In addition to his impressive career, Keefe has served over 30 years for Rotary International, currently serves as an Ambassador for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), belongs to the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), and served as board director of Foodnet Meals on Wheels.
Throughout his endeavors, Keefe has remained an advocate for St. Lawrence, embodying the spirit of giving back. He has remained engaged as a career volunteer, spreading Laurentian impact through his mentorship and deep connections. Keefe and his wife Susan served on the Parents Committee and frequently opened their home to fellow Laurentian families for local admissions events while their daughter Makena ’21 attended SLU. As an alumni Vilas Scholar, Keefe has hosted the annual Vilas Scholar trip in New York City since graduating, and he established an endowment to ensure the trip will exist well into the future. Keefe initiated the on-campus building project that led to the creation of the Saddlemire Ski Suite, enriching the experiences of future generations of student-athletes.
In 2014, Keefe and Susan founded Nest 58, a boutique retail store located in Skaneateles. Together they enjoy worldwide buying trips to bring unique items to Central New York.
Beyond his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Keefe cherishes his role as a family man. Alongside his wife Susan of 34 years, they raised their four children in Skaneateles, NY.
Sol Feinstone Humanitarian Award
The Feinstone Award is presented to a graduate who, through devotion of his or her resources or personal effort, has demonstrated deep commitment to the advancement of the freedom of people to pursue and attain personal, professional and economic freedom.
Eric “Rick” P. Ankerud ’78
Rick Ankerud has dedicated his personal and professional energies to providing improved health and wellness opportunities to others. A 1978 graduate of St. Lawrence, he earned honors while majoring in economics, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honorary. Following his time in Canton, he earned a law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
The Hollis, NH native has since built an impactful career of more than 30 years in pharmaceutical and medical device innovation to keep patient wellness at the forefront. He served as Executive Vice President at medical technology incubator Incept, LLC, before founding his own biotechnology consulting company, Anchor BioTech Consulting, to continue to pave the path of progress in healthcare.
However, the story of Rick’s passion for wellness began with a life-changing chapter in 1985 when he married Lori. She was born with a complex, congenital heart defect (CHD) at a time when most babies did not survive past the first year. CHD is a serious, life-long medical condition for which there is no cure, but in 2019, the Ankerud’s established the charity, Heartfelt Dreams Foundation and have been tireless in their support of CHD patients ever since. The foundation provides access to appropriate treatment and care, regardless of a person’s location or ability to pay, and it is the only charitable organization in the country dedicated to the dual mission of improving the CHD treatment experience for patients and families while advancing education within the medical community.
Through the Ankeruds, the Heartfelt Dreams Foundation offers emotional support, education, and financial assistance, including free transportation and hotel accommodations, to CHD patients. Through a nursing scholarship program, the foundation provides financial assistance to deserving cardiac nurses as they pursue advancing their careers to better serve CHD patients. Similarly, the foundation provides financial grants to advanced CHD fellows as they are rising stars in the care of CHD patients.
While Rick and Lori continue to support their foundation, they also prioritize St. Lawrence. Rick has been a career mentor for students and the couple funded the Ankerud Alumni Lounge as part of the Appleton Arena renovations, providing a modernized gathering space for hockey alumni to connect and for coaches to highlight in recruiting. Hockey has played a major role in Rick’s life, both as a player and coach, and he and Lori regularly don the Scarlet and Brown in support of the Skating Saints.
Atwood ’16 and Alice Manley ’17, P’45 Achievement Award
Richard G. ’83 and Karen Follett Taggart ’83, P’1
The Atwood '16 and Alice Manley '17 P'45 Achievement Award was established in 1998 to recognize individuals dedicated to St. Lawrence University through involvement in the Manley Society, the University’s legacy giving society. This year, the award will be presented to Richard G. Taggart ’83 and Karen Follett Taggart ’83, P'15 by President Kathryn A. Morris, honoring their long-standing commitment to the University.
The Taggarts are loyal donors to the St. Lawrence Fund, established an endowed scholarship during The Campaign for Every Laurentian, and have provided for St. Lawrence in their estate by naming the University as a charitable beneficiary. They intentionally designated this gift as "unrestricted," allowing the funds to be used for the University’s highest priorities.
Beyond philanthropy, the Taggarts are active alumni, participating in alumni events and programming, and are former members of the Parents Committee. Dick has been a key volunteer for the Center for Career Excellence.
As students, Dick majored in mathematics and was involved in Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Outing Club, while Karen earned a bachelor’s in English and was active in Kappa Delta Sigma and the Ski Club. Both studied abroad. Their son, Charlie '15, married Caroline Winslow Taggart '15 in 2022.
Dick earned a master’s in industrial engineering from Columbia University, he now advises FinTech firms, is acting CEO of L4S Corp., and serves Trustees of Reservations on their Advisory Board. Karen has been a lifelong community volunteer: active on library boards, conservation, and food sustainability organizations, as well as the League of Women Voters.
Dick's parents, Hugh and Monica, both 1960 alums, were also a St. Lawrence love story. The Taggarts' nephew, Emmett Follett ’25, is a rising senior at the University. The Taggarts inspire peers to support their alma mater. Karen aims to help others experience the "something special" at St. Lawrence by assisting the University in thriving and remaining vibrant.