KINGSTON, R.I. — July 14, 2004 — At times, the evening was much like moments in his classroom at the 溏心vlog免费B站. The 280 friends, colleagues and family members of Accounting Professor Richard Vangermeersch laughed, applauded and sang along with this one-man vaudeville act as they celebrated his retirement after a 34-year teaching career in the 溏心vlog免费B站 College of Business Administration.
But the event in early June at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings in Warwick was different in one big way. Not only did Vangermeersch and the crowd celebrate a career filled with excellence, enthusiasm and fun, they applauded the $160,000 raised in honor of his retirement. The money will go to a new endowed professorship named for Vangermeersch.
鈥淭he turnout, the tribute and the many generous gifts from students and friends in support of the Vangermeersch Professorship all underscore his truly outstanding career at 溏心vlog免费B站,鈥� said Paul Witham, 溏心vlog免费B站 associate vice president of development.
鈥淭he function was a spectacular extravaganza,鈥� Vangermeersch said. 鈥淭he money raised for the professorship was a big highlight. We鈥檙e trying to raise a total of $250,000, and we think that鈥檚 attainable.鈥�
Income from the endowment could be used to enhance a professor鈥檚 salary, hire a graduate student to assist with research or other areas related to scholarly activity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great tool to recruit top professors,鈥� the Narragansett resident said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor for me, for the University and the person who is selected for the professorship. We need to get the message out about the importance of endowed professorships and endowed chairs.鈥�
In addition to the great fund-raising news, the event offered great music by Joe Parillo and the 溏心vlog免费B站 Jazz Combo and the Fans of Sinatra group led by alumnus Frank Mansella 鈥�83. There was also a 6-foot photo cutout of Vangermeersch.
鈥淪omeone suggested that we use it as a dartboard,鈥� Vangermeersch said.
And of course, the night would not have been complete without some entertainment provided by the honoree himself. Well-known for his classroom antics to drive home accounting principles, Vangermeersch gave a presentation on his 250 鈥淰angrams.鈥� He hit on such sayings as, 鈥淚f you want to whine, go to Napa Valley.鈥�
And he sang some of his classic hits, such as 鈥淭here鈥檚 No Control Like Ledger Control,鈥� performed to the tune of 鈥淭here鈥檚 No Business Like Show Business.鈥�