Alice and Joe Torre

Allen Crowell

Distinguished honorees and speakers will highlight Rider University’s two commencements on Friday, May 12.

At its 9:30 a.m. ceremony on the Lawrenceville Campus Green, the University will confer honorary doctoral degrees on New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre and his wife, Alice, who is president of The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation.

The Westminster Choir College commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel will feature the commencement address by Anthony Tommasini, senior music critic for The New York Times, author and pianist, and the awarding of an honorary degree to Allen Crowell, the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor of Choral Music and director of choral studies at the University of Georgia and formerly a member of Westminster’s conducting faculty from 1985-1999.

“Rider takes great pleasure in recognizing these distinguished individuals,” said Rider President Mordechai Rozanski. “Each has made significant contributions in his or her field. We are proud to have them participate in our ceremonies.

“Joe Torre has distinguished himself through a long baseball career capped by his success as manager of the New York Yankees,” President Rozanski said. “He not only has brought much joy to many Yankee fans, but has also demonstrated strong leadership and exemplary integrity on and off the field. Ali Torre’s work as president of The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, which combats domestic violence and its devastating effect on children, provides our graduates a wonderful model of community engagement.”

President Rozanski said, “Anthony Tommasini is widely recognized for his excellent work as a journalist. I am certain that our students and guests will significantly benefit from his knowledge and perspective concerning the state of the arts in America today.”

About Allen Crowell, the president said, “Audiences around the world have been inspired by his performances as a soloist and as a conductor. The musicians who have studied with Allen Crowell have extended the impact of his extraordinary talent and commitment to musical excellence, exemplifying the role that Westminster plays in changing lives through music.”

Joe and Alice Torre

Joe Torre’s baseball career stretches over 46 years – 17 as a player and 29 as a manager. His managerial career began in 1977, but his fame and national visibility as a manager really magnified when he was named manager of the New York Yankees in November 1995. Since then, he has guided the Yankees to four World Series championships and 10 straight post season appearances.

Today, Torre is recognized for his strong leadership skills and successful management philosophy. His book, "Joe Torre’s Ground Rules for Winners," outlines12 keys to success that are directly applicable in business and in life. In the book, Torre shares his wisdom on the universal concerns of managers – handling tough bosses, dealing with setbacks and success, earning the trust and respect of your team players and bringing together a diverse group of individuals into a cohesive unit willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve goals.

Alice Torre, called Ali, and Joe married in 1987. Ali is a graduate of Georgia State University with a bachelor in business administration. The majority of her career has been as a community volunteer, with a focus on marketing and development. As a member of the Board of Directors, she chaired the Fundraising Committee for The Caring Program for Children. She has worked to provide health care for uninsured children and to prevent child abuse. When Joe was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999, Ali helped him through the ordeal. She has shared her experience publicly to help others facing similar challenges.

Ali Torre founded The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation along with her husband, Joe, in the spring of 2002. Established as a result of Joe’s own personal experience as a childhood survivor of domestic violence, the Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every child and every family have a safe environment to develop and grow. As president of the Board of Directors, Ali has improved the lives of others through her leadership and commitment of educating to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives. Ali is the ninth of 16 children and the mother of 10-year-old daughter, Andrea.

Anthony Tommasini

Tommasini is a highly respected music critic. His biography, "Virgil Thomson: Composer on the Aisle" focuses on the composer who was first to create an original American opera inspired by music that was created in the New World and not in Europe. Holding undergraduate and master degrees from Yale University and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University, Tommasini received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts that funded his performances of Thomson’s music heard on two Northeastern Records compact discs. The two CDs are entitled "Portraits and Self-Portraits," and "Mostly About Love: Songs and Vocal Works."

Allen Crowell

Crowell earned a bachelor’s degree from Westminster Choir College in 1959 and a master of music degree from The Catholic University of America. He was a member of Westminster’s conducting faculty from 1985-1999 and interim dean from 1992-1994. In 1999, he was appointed the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor of Choral Music and director of choral studies at the University of Georgia where he conducts the Concert Choir and the Men’s Glee Club, as well as teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. For five years he was a member of The United States Army Chorus, serving as bass soloist and enlisted leader. In 1964, he was appointed associate bandmaster of The United States Army Band and director of The United States Army Chorus, a position he held until 1979 when he retired as executive officer and a major.

As a vocal soloist, he has appeared with Washington’s National Symphony, the New Jersey Pops and the orchestras of Baltimore, Annapolis, Trenton and York, PA; as well as with the Paul Hill Chorale, Princeton Pro Musica and the Washington Cathedral Choral Society.