Alumni Awards
Detroit Mercy Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards
Each year, University of Detroit Mercy chooses an alumnus from each of its Colleges or Schools to honor as someone who has excelled in his or her profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in work and devoted himself or herself in service to the larger community. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater.
2021 School of Dentistry Alumni Achievement Spirit Award Honoree
Richard Persiani, D.D.S. ’73, M.S.
Detroit Mercy Dentistry is pleased to announce Richard Persiani, D.D.S. ’73, M.S. as this year's Alumni Achievement Spirit Award Honoree.
Persiani has served on the Detroit Mercy Dental faculty for more than 45 years, and has served on the craniofacial surgical team at Providence and Beaumont hospitals. He also uses his skills to provide medical treatments to the community, both local and global.
He is the founder of the dental clinic at Vista Maria Community Services where he provides dental care for young women who have suffered the effects of abuse, neglect and trauma, as well as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who run the center. For 10 years, he was the co-director of the Children’s Tooth Fairy Foundation, providing dental care, financing, support and logistics for more than 2,000 underserved children in Wayne County.
He has participated in more than 30 mission trips with Operation Smile, providing surgical care for children with cleft lips or palates.
Closer to home, he and his wife, Penny, who he met while in dental school, also volunteer with the penguins and kangaroos at the Detroit Zoo and have the unique title of Distinguished Clowns in Detroit’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
To read a story about Persiani’s charity work and how he met his wife, click here.
Spirit Award Honorees
2019 – Allan J. Warnick, D.D.S. '642015 – Dr. William Knysz Jr., '75
2014 – Dr. John A. DiBiaggio, '58
Alumnus of the Year Awardees
| 1972 Dr. Joseph Syron, '54 | 1994 Dr. Rodney Hyduk, '74 |
| 1973 Dr. Richard Litt, '65 | 1995 Dr. Joseph Caurdy, '61 |
| 1974 Dr. William Quinn, '42 | 1996 Dr. John Hinterman, '69 |
| 1975 Dr. Henry Dziuba, '42 | 1997 Dr. George Bletsaas, '66 |
| 1976 N/A | 1998 Dr. Charles J. Cooper, '58 |
| 1977 N/A | 1999 Dr. William Berkowski, '74 |
| 1978 Dr. Stephen Weshale, '52 | 2000 N/A |
| 1979 Dr. Julius Chikos, '54 | 2001 Dr. Timothy F. Kosinski, '84 |
| 1980 Dr. Leo Shipkop, '51 | 2002 Dr. H. Robert Steinman, '73 |
| 1981 Dr. Edward Ribitsp, '45 | 2003 Dr. Richard J. Persiani, '73 |
| 1982 Dr. Donald Pokorny, '53 | 2004 Dr. Jonathan P. Wiens, '73 |
| 1983 Dr. Paul A. Jacobs, '58 | 2005 Dr. Donald Sherman, '63 |
| 1984 Dr. Stephen Baynai, '52 | 2006 Dr. John A. DiBiaggio, '58 |
| 1985 Dr. Donald S. Rumon, '52 | 2007 Dr. Carl Misch, '73 |
| 1986 Dr. Richard N.DiLaura, '56 | 2008 N/A |
| 1987 Dr. Leo Shipko, '51 | 2009 Dr. Paul H. Pokorny, '78 |
| 1989 Dr. Leonard W. Wades, '54 | 2010 Dr. Richard Kulbersh, '75 |
| 1990 Dr. Daniel Goodman, '46 | 2011 Dr. Nicholas Fontana, '72 |
| 1991 Dr. Paul J. Mentag, '47 | 2012 Dr. Michael Maihofer, '74 |
| 1992 Dr. Robert Moseley, '51 | 2013 Dr. Robert Legel, '54 |
| 1993 Dr. William R. Chase, '72 |
Allied Dental Alumnus of the Year Awardees
| 1988 Ms. Pauline Schmidt, '55 | 2001 Dr. Joah M. McGowan, '62 |
| 1989 Ms. Mary Ann Hashimi, '71& | 2002 Ms. Jane M. York, '73 |
| 1990 Ms. Irene Woodall, '65 | 2003 Mr. Edward L. Cleland, '74 |
| 1991 Ms. Linda Popp, '72 | 2004 Ms. Barbara Posler, '70 |
| 1992 Ms. M. Elaine Parker, '64 | 2005 Ms. Karen McGuire Trompete, '74 |
| 1993 Ms. Janiece Popowich, '71 | 2006 Ms. Kathi R. Shepherd, '82 |
| 1994 Ms. Sherryl Harfst, '67 | 2007 Ms. Margie Coleman, '74 |
| 1995 Ms. Barbara Nelson, '59 | 2008 N/A |
| 1996 Ms. Linda Borowski, '59 | 2009 N/A |
| 1987 Ms. Annamae Manning, '52 | 2010 Ms. Judy Luxmore, '69 |
| 1997 Ms. Jacqueline Oliver '66 | 2011 Ms. Rene Louchart, '85 |
| 1998 Ms. Janet A. Newman-Graham, '73 | 2012 Ms. Brenda Marriott, '74 |
| 1999 Ms. Barbara Purifoy-Seldon, '70 | 2013 Ms. Colleen Kuxhaus, '73 |
| 2000 N/A |
Honorary Alumni of the Year Recipients
| Dr. Chester K. Perry | 1985 N/A |
| Dr. Stephen Applegate | 1986 Mr. Gerald J Zedan |
| Dr. Anthony Cadaretter | 1987 Dr. Charles J. King |
| Dr. Joseph L. Champagne | 1988 Dr. Anna Ettinger |
| Dr. Albert H. Dredge | 1989 Ms. Shirley Ann Wilson |
| Dr. Kenneth Gibson | 1990 Prof. Pamela Zarkowski |
| Dr. Chauncy Hall | 1991 Dr. Robert Bruce MacIntosh |
| Mr. Benjamin Levinson | 1992 Dr. Virginia Merchant |
| Dr. P.C. Lowery | 1993 Ms. Patricia Harris |
| Dr. Walter McBride | 1994 N/A |
| Dr. A. Alfred Nelson | 1995 Dr. Lloyd W. Lariscy, Jr. |
| Dr. Rene Rochon | 1996 Mr. Eric Jacobs |
| Dr. Alfred E. Seyler | 1997 Dr. Maureen A Fay, O.P. |
| The Very Rev. C.J. Steiner, S.J. | 1998 Ms. M. Agnes Shoup |
| The Rev. Charles Wideman, S.J. | 1999 Dr. Bruce S. Graham |
| Dr. William Fred Longe | 2000 N/A |
| Mr. Victor De Schryver | 2001 Dr. Edward O. Blews, Jr. |
| 1973 Dr. Martin Naimark | 2002 Mr. David P. Hafst |
| 1974 N/A | 2003 Dr. Leon Herschfus |
| 1975 N/A | 2004 Dr. Mert Aksu |
| 1976 N/A | 2005 Dr. George Goodis |
| 1977 N/A | 2006 Dr. S. Pamela Herrera |
| 1978 Dr. William Travis | 2007 Ms. Gerry Cherney, CAE |
| 1979 Mr. Edward Hoban | 2008 Fr. R. Gerald Albright, S.J. |
| 1980 Mr. Peter Morgano | 2009 Dr. Larry Anderson |
| 1981 Mr. Robert Miller | 2010 Dr. James Winkler |
| 1982 Dr. Theodore G. Mahaz | 2011 Dr. Daman Thanik |
| 1983 Mr. Frank Schumacher | 2012 Dr. Gary Jeffers |
| 1984 Dr. John Molinari | 2013 Dr. Sherif Badr |