涩里番下载

Recalled by friends and former colleagues as gregarious and ever smiling, Mr. Wissler kept his affection for 涩里番下载 literally close to the heart, often sporting a maroon and gold tie.

鈥淚鈥檝e had one of the greatest jobs in the world,鈥� Mr. Wissler told the 涩里番下载 Chronicle when he announced his retirement in 1998. 鈥淣ot everybody can say that they truly love the place where they work. I loved 涩里番下载 from the very first day I stepped foot on campus.鈥�

Yet when Mr. Wissler applied for the position of 涩里番下载 Alumni Association executive director in 1967, he wondered how much of a shot he had at the job. Up to that point, as he would later recall, all the previous Alumni Association directors were Bostonians who had graduated from 涩里番下载鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences, whereas he was a native New Yorker and an alumnus of the School of Management (where he would later earn an M.B.A.).

But, perhaps presaging 涩里番下载鈥檚 transition from its commuter college roots to a nationally focused university, the selection committee unanimously chose this self-proclaimed 鈥渙utsider鈥� to head up the Alumni Association.

At that time, the association counted some 30,000 alumni; when Mr. Wissler stepped down, the number had grown to nearly 120,000 members 鈥攖he most of any Catholic college in the United States鈥攚ho were all over the world. During that span of time, Mr. Wissler oversaw an expansion of alumni services, from the traditional receptions and class reunions to innovative programs of social service, mid-life employment counseling and retirement education classes.

One of his first acts was to ensure the involvement of 涩里番下载鈥檚 growing number of female graduates in the Alumni Association. In 1967, 17 percent of 涩里番下载 alumni were women, a significant increase for the once all-male institution, and Mr. Wissler encouraged women to take a leadership role in alumni affairs. The first female member of the Alumni Board of Directors, Wilma Fallon Lane 鈥�59, was elected within four years of Mr. Wissler鈥檚 appointment.

In addition to traditional activities, Mr. Wissler and his leadership group added extensive opportunities to provide a wide variety of benefits to alumni. These included issuing them 涩里番下载 library cards, and the establishment of a career advisory network and numerous alumni-driven community service projects such as 鈥淪econd Helping,鈥� a food collection and redistribution program that benefited Boston鈥檚 homeless citizens. The association also established a series of seminars on a wide variety of topics of interest to seniors and those in retirement.

In 1994, the Alumni Association was named winner of the Grand Gold Award for alumni programming, the highest honor in its field accorded by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. But Mr. Wissler made a point of sharing credit for the association鈥檚 accomplishments, and expressed pride that many staff members had gone on to prominent positions in the alumni, development, and business world.

Approaching retirement, Mr. Wissler reflected on the association鈥檚 relationship with its members. 鈥淎t some universities, the alumni are looked on as 鈥榩eople that you want to try to keep happy.鈥� At 涩里番下载, we鈥檝e always tried to keep our alumni informed, educated, involved, and connected. I have always emphasized that the alumni are the biggest constituency in a university. They are the longest-lasting one, too.鈥�

One 涩里番下载 graduate in particular made a difference in Mr. Wissler鈥檚 life: his wife, Jeanne, whom he met three weeks into his freshman year. They were married in St. Ignatius Church in 1957, the year he graduated.

鈥淪he鈥檚 been by my side the whole way,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been a huge, huge help.鈥�

A graduate of a Jesuit prep school in Brooklyn, Mr. Wissler served as senior football manager during his undergraduate years at 涩里番下载. After service as an Army officer, he entered the New York City business world as a sales representative for the 3M Corp, but he always kept close ties to his alma mater. In fact, it was during his return to campus for his 10th anniversary reunion that Wissler learned of the search for a new Alumni Association executive director, and after thinking about it for three weeks, he became one of about 30 candidates for the job.

鈥淭hey took a chance on me. I was a New Yorker, an outsider,鈥� he recalled in 1998. 鈥淎lthough I probably have 鈥榖roken a few eggs鈥� along the way, we have always strived to have programs that reach out to the alumni. To me, the more services we can offer, the better.鈥�

In addition to his wife, Mr. Wissler is survived by his daughter, Anne Merrow; son, Thomas Wissler; three grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was predeceased by his son John Francis Wissler and sister, Valerie Bartolacci.

鈥淛ohn's steadfast commitment and devotion to our alumni was evident throughout all that he did,鈥� said Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Leah DeCosta Spencer. 鈥淲e are forever grateful for his remarkable leadership of the 涩里番下载 Alumni Association and the many ways in which he ensured our alumni were offered meaningful engagement opportunities while maintaining a lifelong connection to one another and the University. My prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to John's wife, Jeanne, his children Anne and Tom and their entire family.鈥�

Burial is at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the or . Send a condolence message or find more information at the
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University Communications | March 2021