16 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2024 alumni news spotlights On September 29, 2024, during Alumni Reunion Weekend, we will induct a group of exceptional individuals into the Aquinas Institute Hall of Fame. is year’s honorees exemplify the values and spirit of Aquinas through their extraordinary achievements and contributions to the community. Join us in celebrating their remarkable journeys and the lasting impact they have made, both within our Aquinas family and beyond. eir stories serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of Aquinas students. Congratulations to our inductees, and thank you for exemplifying the Basilian tradition of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. 2024 INDUCTEES DR. ANTHONY L. BARBATO ’62 Distinguished Career (posthumously) Anthony L Barbato, M.D., graduated from Aquinas in 1962, a place where he cultivated the values and friendships that would shape his exemplary career and life. Tony, as he was a ectionately known, embraced the Aquinas community and formed a core group of friends who remained integral to his life. Tony attended the University of Windsor on a scholarship, the result of a pivotal moment when a priest at Aquinas tossed an application on his desk, setting him on a path that would de ne his professional and personal endeavors. Tony’s career was marked by his dedication to medicine and education. He played a pivotal role in transforming Loyola University Medical Center from its modest beginnings into a substantial and well-regarded medical center. Under his leadership, Loyola became known not only for its clinical excellence but also for its commitment to treating the human spirit, a mantra that became embedded in the institution’s culture. Tony served in various leadership roles at Loyola, culminating in his position as President. Despite his administrative responsibilities, he remained deeply connected to patient care, continuing to see patients for half a day each week. Tony’s ability to distill complex medical issues into comprehensible terms made him a beloved physician and teacher. He mentored countless medical students and residents, emphasizing the importance of empathy and clear communication in healthcare. In addition to his work at Loyola, Tony was actively involved in the community. He served on multiple boards and provided medical advice to a wide network of family, friends, and neighbors. His commitment to community service was evident in his willingness to help anyone who sought his expertise, re ecting his belief in the importance of giving back. A er retiring from Loyola, Tony transitioned to a role in Executive Search, working with Witt/Kie er to place skilled individuals into leadership positions in hospitals. He valued the opportunity to impact healthcare positively by ensuring that compassionate and competent leaders were at the helm of medical institutions. Tony’s personal life was rich and ful lling. He was a devoted husband and father, rst to Mary Gearen, with whom he had six children (Mary passed away a er a three-year battle with cancer). Later, Tony married his second wife, Jean, with whom he had a son. Aquinas’ in uence on Tony was profound. It was there that he was inspired by his brother Ralph ‘52, who lived with the a ermath of polio, and by his own motorcycle accident, which deepened Tony’s resolve to pursue medicine. ese experiences, coupled with the support and camaraderie of his AQ friends, reinforced the values of modesty, wisdom, and compassion that guided his life. Tony’s legacy is one of dedication, humility, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. His life story and his contributions to medicine and the community will be remembered and celebrated by all who knew him. MR. RICHARD M. COACHYS ’61 Athletics Richard Coachys graduated from Aquinas in 1961. During his time at AQ, Rich was a member of both the Varsity Football and Baseball teams and participated in the Varsity Club and Student Council. In 1960, he won the Touchdown Club of Rochester’s Outstanding Player Award. A er graduating from Aquinas, Rich attended Indiana University, where he earned a B.S. in Business Management. As a Varsity Football Letterman for the Hoosiers from 1962 to 1964, he played both quarterback and safety. He graduated in 1966 and then later earned his MBA in Marketing from IU’s Kelley School of Business in 1971. Between his undergraduate degree and MBA, Rich served active duty for four years in the US Army, becoming a Vietnam Veteran. He then served a total of 31 years in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of colonel. During his service to our country, he earned the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, combat infantry badge and the National Infantry Association’s Order of St. Maurice “Primicerius” Award. A er his active duty service in the Army, Rich continued his football career, however this time on the sidelines at Tennessee, Indiana, Southern Mississippi, and Duke in the collegiate ranks, as well as for the Birmingham Stallions of the old USFL. In 2000, Rich founded Coachys & Associates, LLC, a Consulting and Manufacturing Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business specializing in government manufacturing contracts. His company received multiple contract awards, including establishing stainless-steel frames for 2024 HALL OF FAME
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