Play Ball: The Game That Changed Their Lives
In October 1976, when they agreed to play in a game of softball on Villanova’s front lawn, senior Ed Kicak and sophomore Elaine DiGiallorenzo couldn’t have realized that it would be a life-changing moment. Elaine, playing right field for her sorority, Delta Kappa Nu, struck up a conversation with Ed, which led to definite interest, a first date at the Sly Fox bar in Ardmore and, eventually, a lifelong commitment—to each other and to Villanova.
Coming from Radnor, Elaine was well-acquainted with the campus, as it was simply a part of her community growing up. Besides being comfortable and close, Villanova was also Catholic and Augustinian, which was critically important to Elaine when she was selecting a college. There was no need to look further. In the mid-1970s, Villanova was much more of a commuter-student school than it is now, and Elaine was happily able to live at home while pursuing her degree.
For Ed, who grew up in Roxborough, choosing Villanova was a practical decision. He had been raised in a loving family with solid working-class values instilled by parents who had emigrated from Slovakia. Ed knew that in addition to carrying an academic load in college, he would need to work to pay part of the costs. He had been considering a career in law and thought that having an accounting background would be solid preparation. Villanova’s outstanding business school met his needs.
Elaine had been interested in exploring a career as a paralegal, which led to a major in English in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her class on 17th- century poet John Milton remains her most memorable experience, especially for the epic Paradise Lost. At the School of Business, Ed concedes that it was difficult to bring accounting to life, but Professor Jerry Dougherty managed to do just that. Ed credits his success in the business world directly to the education, mentoring and relationships he received from Villanova.
As a commuting student, Ed remembers being on campus for classes, working and returning to campus to study and socialize with other students. Spending evenings in Tolentine Hall helped connect with the larger Villanova community. Elaine agrees with this assessment and echoes Ed’s memories that the sense of community at Villanova was, and is, genuine.
Their deep sense of faith is also genuine for both Elaine and Ed. Faith, for Elaine, is No. 1 in her life. Ed was doubly blessed, as he believes he found his faith during his years at St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia with the Jesuits, and then developed the values he has carried throughout his life at Villanova with the Augustinians. Ed is grateful that throughout their marriage, with her very strong commitment, Elaine has further led and strengthened him in his own faith.
Being part of an Augustinian community was a large component of what shaped Elaine during her years at Villanova and one way she expressed this was through attending Mass at Corr Chapel. For Ed, the Augustinian charism of “Caritas,” always emphasized by Fr. Peter, has made a lasting impact on his life and on how he deals with people.
In 1980, the couple married at Elaine’s parish, St. Katherine of Siena, in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Many of their classmates were there to share their day, including Tony Massa’77 VSB, Mark Mulgrew ’77 VSB. Also attending were Kathy Delcollo ’77 CLAS and Bill Weber ’77 CLAS, who later themselves married.
The Kicak Villanova tradition continued when daughter Jennifer graduated from the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing in 2013. Ed and Elaine were so impressed with the education that Jennifer received, and with the reputation for excellence that Villanova nurses hold in the health care world, that they immediately became loyal donors to the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. Ed even had the privilege of serving as a member of the Board of Consultors for the College of Nursing, which provides the dean with advice as well as an external perspective on matters impacting the nursing profession as a whole and the college as well.
These days, Villanova is no longer primarily a commuter school. Ed and Elaine marvel at the changes on campus and in how the university is perceived by the world. Ed remarks that Villanova’s stature has risen as it is now a leading national university. Ed and Elaine maintain their support for Villanova by frequently attending on-campus events. Although their son, Michael, and daughter Lauren did not attend Villanova, they, along with the rest of the family, come out for men’s basketball at the Pavilion and take part in other campus activities. Ed and Elaine also continue their Villanova friendships, and a large part of that is found in golfing with their college crowd at Overbrook Golf Club.
The Kicaks support their Villanova passion with their time, talent and treasure. Elaine credits Villanova with having given her and Ed so much—an education, a deepened faith, a partner for life. They regularly give to the Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, to support the special people there who have the passion to become nurses. In addition, the Kicaks have made a planned gift to Villanova through an insurance policy.
If you are passionate about an area or program at Villanova, consider making a planned gift from your estate. To learn about the many ways you can make an estate gift to benefit the area that matters to you, contact Tim McKinley at 215-240-0812 or timothy.mckinley@villanova.edu.