By Pat Desmond
Times Staff
5/19/11
Curry College celebrated its 131st commencement May 15 honoring two people who have made it a point to help others find career opportunities.

State Treasurer Steven Grossman and Ruth Fitch, CEO of Boston’s Dimock Center, were granted honorary doctorates in humanities. They were honored for their successful careers and generous values.

Grossman is the grandson of a Jewish immigrant who never went beyond the sixth grade. His own father delayed his college education until midlife and earned a degree through Harvard Extension.

He said his father, who died 12 years ago, was surely looking down and smiling at the commencement. Of the 874 undergraduates and graduates receiving degrees, 40 percent were earned through continuing education.

Grossman told the class that educational leadership has the power to transform lives.

He said his father wanted to be a role model and he wanted to know more about culture and history.

He gave the graduates a piece of advice handed down in his family: Listen.

He pointed out that you never learn anything when you are talking – only when you are listening.

He spoke of communities of faith coming together to help the less fortunate and pointed out the graduation itself was a lesson in faith.

Quoting the school’s own mission statement, he said tolerance and diversity are important goals.

As state treasurer, he said, he is already working to open opportunities to women and minorities by creating partnerships with small banks.

Kenneth Quigley Jr., Curry president, told the overflow crowd that they continue a tradition of excellence in education.

Members of the graduating class came from eight countries, 21 states and Puerto Rico. Of the 711 undergraduate degree recipients, 408 are graduates of the traditional day program and 303 are graduates of the continuing education program.

There were 489 undergraduates receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees, and 222 received Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing or health. Of the master’s degree graduates, 55 received a Master in Education, 32 received a Master of Arts in criminal justice, 59 received a Master of Business Administration, and 17 received a Master of Science in nursing. This was the first class to include graduates with an M.S. in nursing.