Terrier Volume 78, Number 1 - Spring 2014 | Page 13

Giving at the Heart The Firefighter Edward Day Memorial Scholarship By Danielle Adone ’13 When Elizabeth (Liz) Mindlin ’81 decided to return to college to study business management, she found 180 Remsen Street to be the perfect place to call home. Liz, living on Staten Island at the time, knew that the commute would not be easy but the experience was exactly what she needed to get ahead in her career. L ike many learning new things. professionals, When it came time to she attended renovate something “ thought of my experiences at St. Francis I St. Francis part-time, around the house or and the school’s focus on everyday while working full-time fix his motorcycle he on Wall Street. It took would simply read a New Yorkers who are trying to better a bit longer than most, few books and then themselves and their families... It would but Ms. Mindlin, gear up to begin a attired in her cap and new project. be a way for Eddie to continue to help gown nine years after Sadly, Eddie lost people for a long time to come.” — Liz Mindlin she began, earned his life on 9/11. He her well-deserved loved his job helping bachelor’s degree. people as a New York Liz Mindlin ’81 says the down to earth feel at St. Francis is part of why she choose to honor her “I think the small City Fireman. brother Edward Day at the College. classes were “Eddie was a important — I could happy-go-lucky, get to know the professors and they could get to know me,” said Ms. down-to-earth guy. He was a very caring person and that is one of the Mindlin. “Although I was a Management major, the broad liberal arts reasons he joined the FDNY. He loved his wife and family, he loved his requirements exposed me to things I probably wouldn’t have explored job, he loved the camaraderie with his colleagues and he loved helping on my own — art, music, philosophy.” people,” said Ms. Mindlin. Ms. Mindlin immediately incorporated Before Eddie passed away, he worked what she learned from her classes into at Engine 28 / Ladder 11 on the Lower East her professional career. After SFC, she Side. Liz recalls that while most people went on to receive her MBA from NYU thought Alphabet City was dangerous, and recently retired from the Federal Eddie saw the residents for what they Reserve Bank of New York. were — just people trying to get along While at the college, Ms. Mindlin had each day without the opportunities or luck strong support from her family including that many of us enjoyed. her brother Eddie Day, a firefighter, and Brigitte and Liz decided to establish a his wife Brigitte. Eddie always joked scholarship at St. Francis College to honor around saying she was “slow” because Eddie’s memory. “I thought of my experiit was taking her so long to finish her ences at St. Francis and the school’s focus degree but Liz always knew her brother on everyday New Yorkers who are trying to meant it in a loving and caring way. better themselves and their families,” said Eddie didn’t go to college himself Liz. “It would be a way for Eddie to continue Brigitte and Edward Day were married for almost 20 years but he always had a strong appetite for to help people for a long time to come.” ● Insurance Professionals! Are you in the Insurance field? If so, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. Attention Veterans! Have you served our nation? If so, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. ST. FR ANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | SPRING 2014 | 11