Senate Resolution No. 1761
BY: Senator ROLISON
MOURNING the death of Sister Ann Sakac, OP,
devoted member of her community, and longest-serving
president of Mount Saint Mary College
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Sister Ann Sakac of Newburgh, New York, died on Wednesday,
January 24, 2024, at the age of 91; and
WHEREAS, Sister Ann Sakac distinguished herself in her profession
and by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of her community; and
WHEREAS, Serving as president of the college for 32 years beginning
in 1976, Sister Ann Sakac was part of the college community since 1969
as a professor of English and assistant dean of students; and
WHEREAS, She stepped down from her role as president in 2008, but
continued to be a part of the college community for the next 15 years;
and
WHEREAS, Sister Ann Sakac's commitment to excellence, and her spirit
of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise, including
charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Under her 32-year leadership at the college, Sister Ann
Sakac oversaw much of the college's expansion from a fledgling
institution to a pillar of the community; some of the highlights of
Sister Ann Sakac's tenure as Mount president include the development of
the college's first master's degree program; a new residence hall called
Sakac Hall and renovations to Guzman Hall; and the renovation and
development of the Mathematics, Science and Technology Center in Aquinas
Hall; and
WHEREAS, Under her leadership, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall
Hospital began accepting Mount Nursing students for fieldwork, and local
companies like IBM in Poughkeepsie and Affron Fuel Oil Inc. in New
Windsor helped the college to develop and thrive in the 1970s and 1980s;
and
WHEREAS, Through her connections to generous local businesspersons
of the community, Sister Ann Sakac was able to secure funding to make
improvements to the campus under her purview; the improvements included
the Elaine and William Kaplan Recreation Center; the Kaplan Family
Library and Learning Center; The Kaplan Field; and more; and
WHEREAS, The Sister Ann Memorial Endowed Scholarship which supports
incoming students who have financial need and the academic aptitude to
succeed at the college was established in December 2023, thanks to a
gift from Penny Ducker, Class of 1973, serving as an admirable tribute
to the legacy of the former president; and
WHEREAS, A wish of Sister Ann Sakac's was for all Mount Saint Mary
students, past and present, to embody the ideals of service, spreading
the importance and impact of such service far beyond the borders of the
college; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Sister Ann Sakac leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Sister Ann Sakac, OP, devoted member of her
community, and longest-serving president of Mount Saint Mary College;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Sister Ann Sakac.
