St. Joseph’s University mourns the sudden passing of Mary Jo Burke Chiara ’69. A loyal and dedicated member of the SJNY family, Chiara left an indelible mark on the University’s community of more than 48,000 alumni and friends. Responsible for uniting generations of SJNY alumni at events across the nation, Mary Jo was an active member of the Brooklyn Alumni Board for more than a decade.
An avid volunteer, Chiara served as chair and committee member for numerous reunions and events over the years, including Spring Reunion, and most recently as honorary chair of the Class of 1969’s 55th reunion. She helped spearhead the Class of 1969 Endowed Scholarship along with her classmates, which supports female students on the SJNY Brooklyn Campus and has garnered more than $350,000 to date.
“Mary Jo lit up a room and could make anyone feel welcome … she was the ultimate people person,” said SJNY Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rory Shaffer-Walsh. “Her years of work in the alumni office brought generations of SJNY graduates together to celebrate their alma mater — the alma mater that she loved so deeply. She will be missed, but her spirit will live on forever at SJNY.”
Prior to her many years of volunteerism at SJNY, Chiara worked for the University for 16 years in the Office of Institutional Advancement and served in the role of associate vice president of alumni relations and stewardship before she retired. During this time, she also moderated the Gaelic Society at St. Joe’s. Prior to her employment at SJNY, Chiara taught social studies at Bay Shore High School and dedicated many years of her life to volunteering at her local parish and hospital board, as well as the PTA and school board. She was also a Eucharistic Minister.
“Mary Jo was a wonderful friend and colleague,” said S. Elizabeth Hill ’64, CSJ, J.D., former president of SJNY. “She was warm, funny, gracious and generous … and also smart, efficient, organized and effective. I have so many happy memories of times with her, especially our trips to visit alumni in Florida and other places. It was a privilege and joy to know her, and I will miss her dearly.”
A proud graduate of St. Joseph’s College for Women, Chiara followed in her mother’s footsteps, Mary Bennett Burke ’44, and graduated in 1969 with a B.A. in History and Social Science. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was actively involved on campus with the National Students Association, the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee, and the
International Relations Club, and she was recognized by Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She pursued a master’s degree in American History at Stony Brook University.
Fondly remembered by SJNY Board of Trustee, former classmate and longtime friend Mary Butz ’69, Chiara was described as a “truly beautiful person, both inside and out.”
Butz added, “She was kind, vibrant and fun to be with. She had a deep sense of faith, which informed her every action. She dressed to perfection, making sure that everything matched — from her nail polish to her impeccably pressed outfits. She was the most beloved member of our class. It will be painful for us to gather without her in our midst. Mary Jo was one in a million … a gift from God. She was the most joyful person who I was lucky to call a friend.”
The matriarch of her family, Chiara was beloved by her three adoring children — Margaret, Nicholas and John — and five grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Nicholas Chiara.
