North End Housing Building Dedicated to Alumnus
Alumnus Patrick Lavelle stands outside newly-named Lavelle Hall in North Campus Housing Complex. Photo by Anthony Cabral.
By Aliyah Wilson, Contributor
On Sept. 7, 2018, Lavelle Hall was dedicated to honor Patrick Lavelle, a Marist alum class of 69’, and his family.
Lavelle Hall is the second building of the North End Housing Complex to be dedicated by an alumnus through philanthropy. At 68,000 square feet, it provides suites for 175 students, in addition to study lounges throughout the building.
“Marist is a place where not only [do] we got a superior education, but [it’s] also where we learned the politics of inclusion long before it was fashionable,” Lavelle said in a ceremony last week.
Lavelle has served as the president and CEO of Voxx International Corporation since May 2005. In 1993, he was elected to the Voxx board of directors, where he currently serves as the director of the company’s operating subsidiaries. His contribution to the Voxx has helped the company expand its mobile electronics category, leading it to become a dominant manufacturer of automotive entertainment and security systems.
In addition to his professional success, Lavelle has served on the Marist board of trustees for over 13 years.
Ross Murray, an alumnus of Marist and Lavelle’s friend, praised Lavelle as well-rounded, intelligent, and kind-hearted.
“Pat brings diligence, focus, [and] keen insight to the board’s deliberation on a very wide range of topics and issues, [and] as the leader of a large complex international corporation and a dedicated alumnus, the perspective he brings is absolutely invaluable,” Murray said.
Ted Dolce, the president of the Student Government Association and past resident of the multicultural floor in the Lavelle Hall complex, speaks confidently in the importance of being uncomfortable.
“I, along with many of my peers, find ourselves intrigued at the culture exchange and openness that the floor created,” said Dolce. “It is in this building that many of us have willingly chosen to be uncomfortable as we tackle controversial issues. This uncomfortable feeling allows us to grow, to widen our perspectives and embrace our differences as much as our similarities.”
As Marist President David Yellen introduced Lavelle, he invoked a laugh from the audience. “Don't expect to live this well when you get out of here, unless you work as hard as Pat does,” Yellen said.
Lavelle concluded on a sentimental note.
“It is my fond hope that as tomorrow's leaders walk the halls of the building that bears my family's name, they will form the lasting friendships that will follow them for life. I have had that good fortune and I wish it for all my Marist brothers and sisters. I must say that I am quite humbled and honored to be here today, but most of all I am happy to be home,” he said.
As a final note on Marist’s influence on him, Lavelle included a personal message to students on the dedication plaque in Lavelle Hall:
“To all the students who walk these halls:
Your lives will be enriched by those you meet here.
Cherish the friendships made; they will be lifelong.”