"…Saint Peter’s should be an important, active part of the community…The College has made a big difference to Jersey City."Joseph Panepinto ’66 and Frank Guarini H ’94
Donor Profile
It’s not hard to see why Joseph Panepinto ’66 and retired New Jersey Congressman Frank Guarini H ’94 are friends. Both were born on Neptune Avenue in Jersey City and were parishioners at Saint Paul’s. Their paths first crossed in 1971, when Panepinto went to work for Guarini’s firm after law school. Dedicated to improving their hometown, they teamed up through the years on Jersey City development projects.
Most of all, they are devoted to Saint Peter’s, the Jesuit institution that has provided opportunities for promising students like Panepinto, who was the first in his family to attend college. Now a member of the College’s Board of Trustees, Panepinto reflected, “I have fond memories of the College. I love the Jesuits. They are fantastic leaders and role models.”
Although Guarini did not attend Saint Peter’s, he grew up on Montgomery Street, directly across from the future site of the student center. While serving in Congress, he forged a friendship with the late Rev. Victor Yanitelli, S.J., president of the College from 1965 to 1978. “I’ve always had this close emotional and educational attachment to Saint Peter’s,” explained Guarini. “Fr. Vic thought that Saint Peter’s should be an important, active part of the community…The College has made a big difference to Jersey City.”
Now, Guarini and Panepinto are making a difference at Saint Peter’s, supporting Students at the Center. The student center will soon be the new home for the College’s Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership, which provides a non-partisan forum for the discussion of key public policy issues.
For Panepinto, president and chief executive officer of Jersey City-based Panepinto Properties, giving back to Saint Peter’s is natural. “I’ve always felt very fortunate,” he explained. “As I became more successful I’ve always felt that I should help people… I’ve always just felt better sharing than not sharing.”