A Giant V for Villanova

by Bernard McCormick Monday, May 12, 2025 4 Comment(s)

We used to have a standard joke whenever the name Villanova came up, usually in a sports context. "Villanova's not a very good school," we would say, "two of my brothers got in there."

With the recent news that the new Pope attended Villanova, we have to modify that old line, for this new distinction is right up there with Villanova's NCAA basketball championships. The truth is that our family's connection to Villanova is strong, not unusual for a former Philadelphian. Villanova is just west of that city, an early stop on the famed Main Line. And the family connection is overwhelmingly positive. Two of our brothers attended Villanova on Navy ROTC scholarships, and both went on to earn doctorates, John (better known as Mike) in engineering from Columbia and Frank, from the University of California in Berkley. Both had interesting careers in their respective choices. Frank was honored by Villanova as a distinguished alum.

Frank McCormick, Ph.D., was honored as a distinguished alumnus by Villanova in 1984. He is flanked by Rev. John Driscoll, president of Villanova, our mother Sara Sweeney McCormick, and our cousin Margaret Sweeney Schneider and her husband Jack. At the time Frank was vice president and director of economic research for Bank of America. Margaret Schneider spent 40 years with the Villanova alumni office.

There is more. Our cousin Margaret worked in the alumni office for 40 years, and just last year grandson Tommy McCormick graduated with a major in economics. In recent years, helped by its basketball prowess, Villanova has enhanced its national reputation. Increasingly Catholic high school students in Florida consider acceptance to Villanova a real achievement, up there with Notre Dame and a handful of long-respected schools.

The addition of a Pope to its roster of graduates is a further distinction - a different kind of V for Villanova.