John R. Connolly ’72 and Deborah A. DiMatteo MBA ’88 are the 2019 recipients of the LaSalle Medal. Conferred by the Canisius University Alumni Association during undergraduate ceremonies in May, the LaSalle Medal recognizes outstanding alumni whose contributions to the college have, over time, advanced the interests and the mission of alma mater.
Always ready to lend support to Canisius, John Connolly is a four-term member and current vice chair of the college’s Board of Trustees, which advises and recommends policy to President John J. Hurley. The accounting alumnus is a loyal contributor to the Canisius Fund at the Leadership Society level. In 1999, he established the Patricia Ziegler Connolly ’74 Scholarship, in his wife’s name, to support students in financial need. Connolly hosts the annual Boston, MA alumni gathering and helps plan the yearly alumni event in Naples, FL.
A Buffalo native, Connolly is executive vice president and chief financial officer for Massachusetts-based Tecomet Inc., the world’s largest contract medical device manufacturer.
Deborah DiMatteo’s relationship with Canisius began when she enrolled in the college’s MBA program. More than three decades later, that bond is still going strong.
A staunch advocate for alumnae, DiMatteo is among the founding members of Women of Canisius, which offers personal and professional support to female graduates so they may assume leadership roles in their chosen fields and communities. DiMatteo provided similar mentoring to alumni and students via her various leadership roles with the MBA Alumni Association. During her two terms on the Board of Regents, including one year as chair, DiMatteo led the group in its advisory capacity to President Hurley and the Board of Trustees, and co-chaired the Regents Scholarship Ball, the primary fundraiser for the Board of Regents Endowed Scholarship Fund.
DiMatteo is vice president and relationship manager of business banking for M&T Bank.
