LOWELL (Nov. 23, 2013) – UMass Lowell honored four outstanding individuals Saturday at the 2013 Dream of Perfect Games Celebration of Sport at the University's Inn & Conference Center.

The third annual event honors athletic excellence as well as individuals and/or groups that have used the power and appeal of sports to improve lives and strengthen communities.
 
The evening included the presentation of the Family Lew Community Impact Award to Team Impact, an organization based in Quincy, Mass., which brings together children with life-threatening illnesses with college teams; as well as the James T. Smith Award, presented to an individual affiliated with the University for distinguished life achievement, to John Kennedy.
 
Prior to the awards presentation, the basketball floor at the Tsongas Center was dedicated to Kennedy and named the Kennedy Family Court. The UMass Lowell men's and women's basketball teams will play five games at the Tsongas Center.
 
Additionally, Bob Sheridan, former President and CEO of the Savings Bank Life Insurance Co., (SBLI), received the UMass Lowell Legacy Award, presented to individuals who have made game-changing contributions to create a better future for the University's athletic programs. Dr. Robert Gamache, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and International Relations and former Faculty Athletic Representative, accepted the Gary Mucica Award for outstanding service to UMass Lowell's athletic programs and student-athletes.
 
Additionally, UMass Lowell inducted four new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame. Headlining the Class of 2013 was former ice hockey coach Billy Riley, who coached from 1969-91; former lacrosse standout Joe McMahon '87; softball pitcher Kristen (Mahoney) Farrell '07; and track and field standout Esia (Johnson) Harper '06.
 
 
Family Lew Community Impact Award: Team Impact
 
UMass Lowell's partnership with Team Impact is in its third year and began with the softball team's 'drafting' of six-year-old Sicilia Campbell of Chelmsford, Mass. To date, five UMass Lowell teams are involved with Team Impact, which brings together children who battle chronic or life-threatening illnesses with college teams, encompassing the meaning of the Family Lew Community Impact Award.
 
"This is a great honor for Team Impact to be presented with the Family Lew Community Impact Award," said Brian McDavitt, Director of Outreach at Team Impact. "It has been a great pleasure to work with the athletic teams at UMass Lowell. We've had great success working with the student-athletes and we look forward to continuing that relationship with the University."
 
Established in 2010, Team Impact is involved with more than 120 colleges and universities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.
 
 
James T. Smith Award: John Kennedy
 
Gary Mucica's goal when he was named head golf coach in 2005 was to rebuild the program in a way that would produce consistently successful teams.  Golf had not yet earned an NCAA tournament berth when Mucica named longtime golf enthusiast and friend, John Kennedy, as his assistant coach.  Kennedy served as the assistant coach for the next four years and the team qualified for the NCAA championships each year - a tradition had been set. 
 
Mucica passed away suddenly in 2012 and Kennedy established a scholarship fund in his name.  He continues to support the program in his retirement, often meeting up with the team during NCAA competition.
 
Success in general wasn't new to John Kennedy. He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Lowell Technological Institute in 1970. He later went on to serve as president and chief financial officer of Nova Ventures, the holding company for Nova Analytics Corp. (NAC), founded in 2002, and Nova Technologies Corp. (NTC), later founded in 2005.  Work at NAC focused on analytical instrumentation while NTC was involved in environmental services. NAC and NTC were sold in 2010 and 2008, respectively.
 
Before his retirement in 2009, Kennedy kept close ties with the University by volunteering his time, participating on committees and teaching. For the last two years he served as an adjunct professor in the College of Management, teaching Entrepreneurial Finance to students eager to learn from the CPA and businessman with more than 30 years of financial and technology management experience.
 
His interest in science also led him to serve on the advisory board of the Nanotechnology Group and he is currently chair of the Sciences Advisory Board in the College of Sciences, and a member of the advisory board for the Center for High-Rate Nonmanufacturing.
 
Kennedy founded the Kennedy Foundation, which supports UMass Lowell as well as UMass Amherst, where he received a master's degree in accounting. He is also a top supporter of the Martin T. Meehan Educational Excellence Fund and his Kennedy Family Merit Scholarship Endowment consistently provides scholarship support for students enrolled in the College of Sciences. In addition, he established the William J. Kennedy Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of his brother to provide scholarships to undergraduate students at UMass Lowell.
 
When Kennedy has free time, he can be seen at alumni events and at University athletic competitions. His love of sports eventually led him to provide financial assistance to a number of the athletic teams. Most recently, Kennedy offered his support of the University's move to Division I and the America East Conference by purchasing a new basketball court for the Tsongas Center and providing a lead gift to construct a new hockey practice facility.
 
According to Director of Athletics, Dana Skinner, Kennedy was an obvious choice to receive the prestigious Smitty Award – the top award presented to a former member of the UMass Lowell athletic community.  "Between his coaching tenure, his years teaching, his many charitable initiatives, and the advice and council he provides to so many students, it's hard to imagine someone impacting more people than John."
 
After retiring in 2009, Kennedy moved to Naples, Fla., where he stays active in the community. He periodically returns to Lowell for board meetings and other events.
 
"Each time I return to campus I see something new," says Kennedy. "There's constant growth here both physically and academically, and the streets are alive with energetic students dedicated to learning. It's a great source of pride for me to be a part of this movement. Knowing that the support I give directly impacts these students and the goals of the University is very satisfying."
 
2013 UMass Lowell Legacy Award: Bob Sheridan
 
Bob Sheridan retired as the President & CEO of the Savings Bank Life Insurance Company in 2012. He was a committed advocate for public higher education, and a generous philanthropist whose charitable contributions span a wide range of organizations.
 
SBLI prospered financially under Sheridan's leadership. Assets nearly tripled from $900 million in 1992 to $2.4 billion in 2011, and life insurance in force increased almost tenfold, from $12 billion to $114 billion. The Company also recorded a total of $146 million in net income and consistently maintained an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best over the 20-year period.
 
In addition to his well-recognized corporate success, Sheridan has been known for his civic and professional involvement and his support of numerous charitable organizations.
 
Boston Mayor, Thomas Menino, called Sheridan "a great businessman who epitomizes corporate responsibility." "When SBLI is involved in a project," said Menino, "that means boots on the ground and hands helping out, and you can always be sure that Bob himself is among those physically at different events and initiatives taking part."
 
Examples of Sheridan's and SBLI's involvement in community organizations include work with the Franciscan Hospital for Children and the New England Center for Children.  Through SBLI's Sunday Sluggers, children and their families at the Franciscan Hospital attended Red Sox games, and Sheridan organized holiday gift drives whereby SBLI employees collected toys and handed them out while visiting and playing with our children. Sheridan even brought special visitors like Shaquille O'Neal and Vince Wilfork to the hospital to tour and visit with the children.
 
Sheridan was a member of many professional and civic associations including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority. He formerly served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Massachusetts. In 2007, Sheridan chaired an Ad Hoc Committee established by UMass President Jack Wilson to study ways to enhance the UMass Lowell hockey program.  The Committee's recommendations strengthened the University's relationship with the City of Lowell at the Tsongas Arena, started the process that led to the University purchasing the Arena and transforming it into the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, and played a key role in elevating the River Hawks hockey team into the national power that it has become.
 
In addition to his involvement with Franciscan Hospital for Children and the University of Massachusetts, Sheridan is a member of the Board of Directors of the New England Center for Children, a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the New England Council, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a member of the Board of Trustees of Suffolk University, and a member of the Chief Executives' Club of Boston. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Life Insurance Association of Massachusetts.
 
Mr. Sheridan has received numerous awards and honors including: the Grand Bostonian Award in 2004, the 2005 Medal of Hope Award from the Organization for a New Equality, the 2005 Progress and Promise Award from the American Liver Foundation, and the 2007 Children of Promise Award from the New England Center for Children. He has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association since 1977. He earned his B.A. at Boston College and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School.
 
 
Gary Mucica Award: Dr. Robert Gamache
 
Dr. Robert Gamache is currently the Associate Vice-President, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and International Relations for the University of Massachusetts and a Professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. He was the Dean of the University of Massachusetts School of Marine Sciences from 2005-2012. He has been a member of the UMass Lowell faculty since 1978 where he has served as an active researcher, teacher and an administrator for the Center for Atmospheric Research.

Dr. Gamache has presented 189 papers at professional conferences, published 115 articles in peer-reviewed journals, published over 40 scientific reports, and has presented numerous invited lectures in the United States, East and West Europe, Russia, and Africa. Of the list of the ten most cited publications by UMass Lowell faculty compiled in 2011, he was a co-author on five of the 10, including the top three papers.


Dr. Gamache's service to the Athletic Programs at UMass Lowell has been long and impactful.  He served as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) from 2002-2012. The FAR's primary purposes are to promote academic integrity, facilitate the integration of the athletics and academic components of the collegiate community, and to enhance the student-athlete experience.  In addition, Bob has served for many years as the scoreboard operator for the ice hockey team.
 
Prof. Gamache is married to Suzanne and has two children: Justinne and Peter.