By Owen Robertson, Co-Editor in Chief
On July 25, the campus email lit up with a message from the office of the president of Saint Leo University to all Saint Leo employees. That message contained the news that Frank Mezzanini, vice president of Business Affairs and chief financial officer, had announced his retirement.
The legacy of Mezzanini, who originally grew up in Utica, New York, will not be measured in the building projects he oversaw, the good and bad financial times through which he guided the University, nor by his personal accomplishments; his legacy is in the lives of those he touched over his 15 years of service to Saint Leo.
One can hardly walk on campus and not see the focus he has had on the master plan, which he will gladly show anyone who asks, for the growth and expansion of Saint Leo. Any visitor who comes to Saint Leo can see the master plan at work in the new residence halls, parking garage, turf stadium field, and soon the new intramural fields; but there is more to him.
When asked about what he wanted to be remembered for, he said, “That I care.”
When asked about his retirement, his closest friends and colleagues had only good things to say.
“Ambivalent is the word that comes to mind,” Dr. Arthur Kirk, president of Saint Leo University said.
“He will be a tough act to follow, but we wish him well in his new role,” Les Lloyd, chief information officer and associate vice president of University Technological Services said.
“Bittersweet,” said Jose Caban, director of plant operations. “[We spent] six years working together on numerous construction projects. He is a passionate individual with whom the students have always come first. I’m happy for him and [his wife]Phyllis for his retirement, but I will certainly miss him.”
Having accomplished so much in his tenure as CFO, seemingly at the top of his career, why would now seem like the right time for retirement?
“I’m retiring now because I’m healthy,” Mezzanini said. “I feel good and I want to enjoy my retirement, to enjoy life. I want to slow down, but never stop. “I’ve been planning this since 1981.”
The challenges of being CFO are tremendous, especially for a non-profit educational institution.
“My greatest challenge as CFO was trust, getting people to adjust from a mindset of distrust to trust. I think I’ve gotten everyone to believe that together, we can do it.”
Establishing trust has been a hallmark of his career. That trust has linked the gap between faculty, administration, and the student body.
“My greatest achievement has been building the bridge between faculty and finance. They know I’m here for them to deliver our educational product for the students.”
What resonates about Mezzanini is his passion for the students.
“Frank is always about someone else’s best interest,” Caban said. “It’s never about recognition or the pat on the back. What’s best for the University and what’s best for the students.”
“Frank has a true servant’s heart,” Kirk said. “An incredible, sincere commitment to serve everyone here. Frank says our job, his department, is to help all the rest of you be successful.”“His heart is in the right place and it’s student-focused,” Kenneth Posner, vice president of Student Services said.
“He thrives on anything that will make the students’ lives better,” Connie Bolden, executive assistant to Mezzanini in Business Affairs, said.
“I hope people will know that he is compassionate and caring; that, University-wide, the students are his main focus and concern. He is always looking ahead at ways to make life better for them.”
It is clear that everyone felt a special way towards Mezzanini. He had a different relationship with each colleague.
“He is the embodiment of the mission and the core values of the University,” Kirk said.
“It’s fun to watch Frank in his element as he tries to find creative solutions that embrace our core values, especially responsible stewardship,” Posner said.
“To whomever sits in the chair behind me: I can only say live those core values and learn to balance that and plan ahead always,” Mezzanini said.
It is the core values of Saint Leo that have defined Mezzanini’s stewardship as CFO. It has not always been an easy road, but certainly one well worth traveling.
“The most difficult core values for me have been excellence and stewardship, they often butt heads,” Mezzanini said. “We want it better, but that costs more.”
Despite the struggle between values, Mezzanini has tried to find ways to find “win-win solutions” for the school. He said, “I’m very proud that we have established a living wage at the University.”
With the hard work for Mezzanini coming to a close and a new chapter beginning, making the transition into retirement will bring new challenges.
“I’ll miss everybody on a day to day basis,” he said. “I’ve become friends with so many, that’s the reason why I’m slowing down and not leaving.”
His actual plan is retirement from the role of CFO. He plans to continue working for the next two years until he is ready for full retirement. Knowing that he is in a slowing down period at the University, it is easy to understand that he may feel the need to reminisce about the past.
“Over the past 12 years, we’ve changed the lives of thousands,” Mezzanini said. “It’s hard for a CFO to see revenue walk across the stage, but it’s outweighed by the wonderful feeling to see the changed lives of the students and people who cross that stage.”
No one leaves only a legacy of their work when they retire. As CFO, Mezzanini has worked very closely with many at Saint Leo and many remember more than just his accomplishments.
“One of my favorite memories of Frank is from 2004,” Kirk said. “While under the threat of multiple hurricanes, Frank was the key contact for our hurricane preparedness. He would sleep on campus on an air mattress in his office. I have this image of him in yellow boots and a yellow rain suit, the kind I had when I was in third grade that kept you dry and so very warm.”
Many of his colleagues have expressed how they would not be able to forget his quirky behaviors.
“Thinking outside the box,” Caban said. “But he does it out loud. That resonates with me and with what we do for the University.”
“Thinking out loud; Frank tends to think out loud,” Lloyd said. “And to someone not familiar with this is, it sounds like he’s providing answers to questions, but he’s really only talking it through.” “It took me a couple of years to get used to that and not to act on things he was saying when thinking out loud.”
And then there are the little things that only a very few know about Mezzanini.
“Frank is the antithesis of a jock, but he is absolutely comfortable in his own skin,” Kirk said. “He’s happily nerdy. He is much more of a renaissance man than we give him credit for.”
“Frank has a lot of experience working an ice cream truck,:” Lloyd said. “His dad owned it.”
“On his first date with his wife, he picked her up in an ice cream truck,” Kirk said.
It is these little insights into Mezzanini which help define him and what he has done for and at Saint Leo University.
“Frank has been a tremendous asset to the University,” Kirk said. “We all have reason to be grateful to his commitment, his competence, his passion… all of those things he brought to the table for all those years. He was a blessing.”
“He is much more than a number cruncher, he truly cares for this University,” Posner said.
“Your typical CFO is numbers focused, but Frank is hands on,” Caban said. “He wants to know how things work and why. That’s what sets him apart.”
“He doesn’t aspire to a legacy about how many buildings we built or how much we saved; but to see how much we grew the University as an educational tool, how we took it forward,” Bolden said.
So what more can be said but to wish this man with great compassion for service and stewardship the very best?
“I wish him fun without all the stress,” Kirk said. “Nothing but health and happiness for him and Phyllis.”
“Happy for him and Phyllis for his retirement, but I will certainly miss him,” Caban said.
“I have always enjoyed working with him,” Bolden said. “I’ve never had a hard or irritating day with him. He has always been so pleasant to be around and to work with. “I hope he finds something that brings him more pleasure than he’s found here.”
“Happiness with his wife Phyllis, enjoying his grandchildren, singing, and all the other things he loves to do,” Lloyd said.
“I hope he gets to be the grandpa he wants to be,” Posner said.
Mezzanini has served Saint Leo University since 1998 and has committed 15 years of true service to the community. If anyone sees him before he retires, take a moment to say “thank you” for his stewardship, his service, his humor, and his humanity.
“We will fill the chair, but we will never replace him,” Bolden said.
