Rich Spencer '82

Rich Spencer said he was not really involved with Bishop Kearney after he graduated. He went to college, got married and raised four children with his wife, Kim. He built and ran a very successful business and led a full and busy life.Then, about 15 years ago, he ran into our own Carm Urzetta at Carm’s scholarship golf tournament. Carm recruited Rich to serve on the Board of Directors. Rich said “yes”, jumped in with both feet and never looked back. He joined the Board in 2014 and was made Chairman of the Board in 2015. He said his relationship with BK has been a lot of work and a lot of fun.

 

When Rich joined the Board, Bishop Kearney was struggling financially.There was a great need to find ways to keep the school viable and open.

 

At that time Tom O’Neil, BK’s former CFO and Board Member, was involved with the Rochester Americans hockey team and heard through the Rochester Tourism Board that Legacy Global Sports was looking to bring an elite girls hockey program to Rochester. Tom talked to Rich about the opportunity and that the former residences of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Irish Christian Brothers on the third floor of the school might be a possibility. Rich didn’t hesitate. He recruited Tom Golisano for a brainstorming meeting and, according to Rich, they worked out the initial details for the development on the back of a placemat at Timothy Patrick’s in Penfield.

 

Dorm construction began in 2015 and in October 2016, the first girls team of 20 full time resident student/players took to the ice. Another girls team followed in 2017. The internationally renowned and winning elite residence hockey program, called BK Selects, has grown to include four boys teams. Parents of these players understand the importance of elite hockey instruction and play, along with a first class education.

 

Rich Spencer was instrumental in bringing the BK Selects Hockey Program to Bishop Kearney and with it, an influx of financial support for the school. He has been a driving force and a staunch supporter of Bishop Kearney since 2014.

 

Rich shared, with a smile, that working with Bishop Kearney is the “lowest paying full time job” he has. We hope he never quits. We are so grateful for Rich’s determination and vision. Tony Soprano, another honoree tonight, will tell you that Rich Spencer is “The guy who never hears the word “no”. Rich will tell you that he is “honored to be the right person at the right time with the right group of people surrounding him.”