"MCLA’s location provided me with endless opportunities to gain professional experience in the arts. I had a lot of fun working as a tour guide at MASS MoCA and in the education department at the Berkshire Museum, which allowed me to figure out what kinds of jobs I would like and to meet a lot of interesting arts professionals along the way. MCLA’s small size helped me develop close working relationships with my favorite professors who always took time to advise me on academic and professional concerns. I really felt like they were with me all the way."
Monica Henry ’07 Education Coordinator, Clark Art Institute
News & Press Releases
May 9, 2008
NORTH ADAMS, MA – The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Alumni Association will honor three local alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Award for Outstanding Service to MCLA, and the Humanitarian Award at its annual alumni award ceremony and luncheon on Friday, May 16, at noon in Murdock Hall room 218.
This year’s honorees will be the Honorable Paul E. Perachi ’63, M.Ed. ’70 of Pittsfield, Joseph Zavattaro ’61, M.Ed. ’63 of Adams and Daniel Dillon ’63 of Pittsfield.
Perachi, who serves as the First Justice of the Berkshire Trial Court, will receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award. He is the co-founder of the Shakespeare in the Schools program and the founder of the internationally acclaimed, Shakespeare in the Courts, a collaboration between Berkshire Juvenile Court and the Lenox-based Shakespeare and Company. Shakespeare in the Courts was one of 17 cultural arts programs from across the nation chosen to receive a “Coming up Taller Award” in January 2007.
The awards were presented by First Lady Laura Bush at the White House.
Among other community involvement activities, Perachi has served on the Berkshire United Way Steering Committee; has been a corporator of the Boy’s and Girl’s Club and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and a member of the Willie Ross School for the Deaf Board of Trustees. Perachi received the Massachusetts Judge’s Award for Judicial Excellence in 1992 and also was inducted into the MCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2005, he received an honorary degree from MCLA. Perachi received his JD from Western New England College in 1982.
Zavattaro will receive the Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to MCLA. The name Joe Zavattaro, or “Coach Zav” as he is known to most, has become synonymous with athletics at the College. A pioneer of the College Athletics program, Zavattaro played the first sports, baseball and basketball offered at the College and went on to coach and finally lead the department as its athletic director.
As the baseball coach, Zavattaro instructed countless numbers of All-MASCAC, All-New England, and All-American players. His teams won 11 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) titles. His final season at the College was capped with the MASCAC title and an invitation to the NCAA tournament; to top off a career at his alma mater that ended with 493 wins.
Dillon, who served as president and chief professional officer of the Berkshire United Way from 1993 to 2005, will receive the Alumni Humanitarian Award. Under his leadership, the Berkshire United Way evolved into a major community partner for all organizations inside and outside the human service agency community.
Dillon serves as co-chair with Senator Ben Downing of the Berkshire County Leadership Council, whose mission is to write and implement a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness and housing instability in Berkshire County.
He also has been co-chair, co-producer and master of ceremonies for the annual Cerebral Palsy telethon, and served as vice president of both the Irish American Organization and the Irish Sister City Committee.
In 2005, in recognition of his longtime commitment to human services in the Berkshires, Dillon was awarded the Francis X. Doyle Award by the Berkshire Health Systems Board of Trustees.
The award ceremony and luncheon is open to the public. For information, to purchase tickets, or to make a reservation, call the Alumni Office at 888-677-6252, or send a check for $30, payable to MCLA Foundation, 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247.
For more information about the MCLA Alumni Association, go to www.mcla.edu/Alumni .
