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The Loyal Sons & Daughters of Rutgers are comprised of individuals who have made a meaningful and long-standing contribution to the betterment of Rutgers by performing extraordinary volunteer service or by making a significant impact on university life and culture. Nominations are made by existing Loyal Sons & Daughters, and the finalists named by a special selection committee.
Denniston E. Bonadie, RC ’92, EJB ’01
Denniston graduated with a BA in Africana studies and history, and minors in mathematics and physics. He earned a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning in 2001. Inducted into the RAAA’s Hall of Fame in 2005 for his work as co-founder of the Global Literacy Project, he has since taken a lead role in planning the annual ceremony and his work over the past several years has resulted in record attendance. Since 2015, he has been the RAAA’s Digital Village Coordinator. He helped grow its Facebook group to over 2000 members while also giving them a very popular Instagram presence. He also increased visibility and participation for community outreach partners. As the RAAA Paul Robeson Plaza Campaign Co-Lead, he assisted the Class of 1971 Milestone Committee to build Robeson Plaza. As co-host of the Paul Robeson Footsteps walking tour, he and Class of ’71 Committee Chair Jim Savage were given the rare opportunity to ring the Old Queens Bell. In 2019 he was awarded the RAAA’s Keeper of the Legacy award which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the preservation and continuation of the RAAA legacy.
Dorothy W. Cantor, Psy.D., GSAPP ’76
A member of the first graduating class of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Dorothy has served her school and Rutgers University for over 44 years. She assisted in the development of a continuing education program for GSAPP and has been a mentor to countless psychology graduate students. As an active member of the GSAPP Alumni Organization, she co-chaired GSAPP’s 25th anniversary gala. Dorothy was appointed to the Rutgers Board of Trustees in 2009, and served as Chair from 2013-2014 where she was involved in the negotiations that resulted in the University gaining two medical schools while retaining the Camden campus. Her steady leadership through those turbulent times helped to shape Rutgers as we know it today.Dorothy is a member of the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni and since 2014 has sat on the Rutgers Board of Governors where she has served on numerous committees and currently serves as vice chair.
Alan M. Crosta, Jr., M.D., RC ’86, NJMS ’90
Alan Crosta, Jr. graduated from Rutgers College with Highest Honors in 1986, earning a degree in Chemistry. He was a Henry Rutgers Scholar and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He was an active member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and was named National Top Teke in 1986. Alan graduated from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 1990, earning the Faculty Organization Award at graduation. He was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Medical School Honor Society and served as its president from 1989-1990. He completed his Anesthesia Residency at Harvard Medical School – Beth Israel Hospital in 1994. He is Immediate Past Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and a member of the Emeritus Staff at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ. Alan has been a member of the Medical Staff By-Laws Committee since 2007. Alan served as a member of the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Directors from 2009 to 2021, and was named as a Director Emeritus in June. Alan has been a member of the Rutgers University Board of Trustees since 2013 and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. Alan served on the Board of Trustees Nominating Committee for three years, including one term as Chair. He has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees Task Force on Assessment. He has served on the Rutgers Research and Educational Foundation. Alan is currently a member of the Rutgers University Board of Trustees Committee on Philanthropy and the Rutgers University Board of Governors Committee on Audit. He previously served on the Board of Governors Committee on Finance and Facilities, Intercollegiate Athletics, Academic & Student Affairs, and Health Affairs. Alan is an avid Rutgers sports fan; he has been a season ticket holder to football and men’s basketball for over 25 years. Alan is a life-long donor to Rutgers University. Alan and his wife, Mary-Lynn, are members of the President’s Council – Hardenberg Circle, the Society of 1766, and the Rutgers Loyalty Society.
Ronald V. Ghilino, RC ’80
Ron has been an active member of the RAA, serving as a member of Grants and Gifts, Homecoming/Reunion and the Communications committees. He then took on leadership roles as chair, co-chair and tri-chair of these same committees. He has also served as RC’80 Class Correspondent, Class President and 35th Class Reunion Campaign Committee. With the RU Foundation he has helped raise one million dollars. Ron’s love for Rutgers has been a “family affair” through the years, having married a DC ’80 alumna and all 3 of his children are Rutgers graduates, too (SAS ‘11, SAS ’14 and SAS ’15).
Debra Ann Lynch, Ph.D., DC ’79
Debra Ann Lynch has been an active alumna for decades. In 2005 she became a member of the Board of Directors of the Associate Alumna of Douglass College (AADC) and ascended to leadership positions within the organization serving first as Vice President of Programs. Currently, Debra serves as first Vice President of the newly created Alumni Relations Department which seeks to cultivate alumnae volunteers. In addition to her leadership roles with the AADC, Debra is in her second term on the Rutgers University Board of Trustees where she has served on the Rutgers University Board of Governors Audit Committee, the Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee, the Rutgers Research Education Foundation and is presently serving as the chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Debra also participated on the initial Trustee Task Force on Assessment which measured the effectiveness of the Board in achieving its stated objectives. The AADC recognized Debra with the Margaret T. Corwin Award for Alumnae Service.
James C. Savage, Sr., CAES ’71
Jim has provided service and leadership since 1981 to the Cook Alumni Association: as Executive Board member, Chair of the Kilmer Oak Project, and member of the Golf Outing, Earth Day and AG Field Day Committees. Jim served as Class Agent for the Class of ’71, Career Mentor, volunteer with the Annual Phonathon Campaign, Homecoming, Run for RAH, and Reunion Planning Committees. A true champion of Rutgers, his service also includes the Rutgers Class of 1971 and the Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance He is the recipient of: the 62nd Annual Ashmead Leadership Award for establishing the Class ‘71 Merit Scholarship (1998); RUAA Block R Award for endowing the Dr. Jean Wilson Day Memorial Scholarship, in honor of one of the few female professors at a time when Rutgers was all-male (2011); and the RUAA Excellence in Alumni Leadership Volunteer of the Year Award (2017) for envisioning the Class Gift for its 45th Anniversary—to build the Paul Robeson Plaza on College Avenue.
Brian N. Tobin, RC ’96, GSN ’17
Brian has been involved with the RAA for 20+ years. He has served in many capacities, including Class Correspondent and on the Communications Committee as a member, writer, and tri-chair. He has served on the Long-Range Planning Committee as well as Grants and Gifts. He now serves on the RAA Executive Committee as Vice President and has also served as Secretary. As a Liaison Officer to the Communications Committee, he was able to draw upon his previous experience to provide needed guidance to get 1766 magazine published again and help the committee regroup after losing its editor as well as its former designer. Brian has exhibited strong leadership skills and has been a positive influence over the committees he oversees.
To view a list of prior Loyal Sons & Daughters Award recipients, click here.
To view a list of prior Loyal Sons & Daughters Award recipients, click here.
The Rutgers Alumni Association’s Loyal Sons & Daughters Award is its highest recognition of service. Recipients are individuals who have made a meaningful and long-standing contribution to the betterment of Rutgers by performing extraordinary volunteer service or by making a significant impact on university life and culture. For more information about the award, click here.
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