Women's Rowing Holds "Deantini" Shell Dedication
12/18/2019 3:00:00 PM | Women's Rowing
Tom Cornacchia ‘85CC donates gift to honor Columbia College dean
NEW YORK – The Columbia women's rowing program officially dedicated the "Deantini" in honor of Columbia College Dean James J. Valentini at the annual KCRA Banquet earlier this month. The boat was a generous gift donated by Tom Cornacchia '85CC, a longtime supporter of Columbia University and Columbia Rowing.
The "Deantini" will be the women's varsity eight racing shell this upcoming spring.
"I'm deeply honored to have my name on this magnificent shell," said Valentini at the event. "I am a huge supporter of Columbia athletics, which is synonymous with Columbia College. This really is part of the college experience. I'm deeply grateful for the commitment so many athletes make to Columbia on rowing and other sports, and so many alumni make to the both the College and the University, in part through their athletic experience."
The gift honors Columbia College Dean James J. Valentini. Affectionately called "Deantini" by Columbia undergraduates, Velentini has served as Dean of Columbia College and Vice President for Undergraduate Education since September of 2011. He has been a member of Columbia's faculty since 1990.
As the chief academic and executive officer of the College, Dean Valentini's central focus is to support and develop the College so that students and faculty have the greatest possible experience. The dean oversees the College curriculum, which includes the Core as well as the academic and programmatic services and policies that contribute to the undergraduate experience beyond the classroom. He frequently attends campus events and hosts meals with students to discuss their undergraduate experience.
"I think it's very fitting that this is the women's varsity eight boat," Valentini went on to say. "We have 300 people who work in Columbia College but there are eight people who happen to be the leaders of the college. They are the eight senior staff and every one of them is a woman. That's the varsity eight crew of Columbia College. Again, I'm deeply honored to have my name on this boat and I wish all of the rowers in it great success."
Tom Cornacchia and head coach Emerson Curry also spoke at the event. Cornacchia was a four-year letterwinner for Columbia's heavyweight rowing program during the 1980s under head coach Ted Bonanno. Cornacchia capped his career by rowing in the stroke seat, competing in straight and coxed fours at the 1985 Henley Regatta in England. He rowed alongside coxswain Phil Gold '87, Dave Silvera '86, Jim Hammond '86 and Colin Redhead '85.
"I'm a big supporter of all of our rowing programs, but I'm particularly supportive of our women's program at Columbia," said Cornacchia at the event. "Our women's program can bring a lot to this institution and the athletes that come to the table.
The Columbia women's rowing team's spring season begins March 28 at the Doc Hosea Invitational.
