We would like to nominate Mrs. Mary Jo Armstrong Johnson, Class of 1958 to
be inducted in the Greek Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Johnson served on Alpha Kappa Phi Incorporated as Sorority Advisor for
14 years straight! Her role was to advise the sisters and take care of our
House at 26 Wadsworth Street from 1985 to 1999.
Being the sorority advisor involved attending sorority meeting every week
of each semester. Mrs. Johnson would advise the girls on whatever necessary
– getting along with neighbors, matters having to do with the college
community, counseling the sisters on personal matters, reminding them not
to go on the roof, and even making sure the girls knew not to flush certain
things down the toilets! We have received word from many alumni who were sisters
from 1985 to 1999 that she never missed a single meeting! She made a huge
commitment to make sure the well being of the sisters and their time at Geneseo
was positive. She acted as both a role model and mother figure for the sisters.
For example, during the ice storm of 1991 she drove all the way down roads
that were closed to traffic to check on the girls. She wanted to make sure
they were OK and had enough food. She cared down to her core about each and
every one of us - as Ago's and as her girls. She always stressed the important
reasons for becoming a sister and developing new friendships, investing time
with charities and made sure the sisters were actively giving back to the
Geneseo community. Mary Jo had seemingly endless patience and always had our
best interests at heart. She never seemed put off by or annoyed with her duties
as advisor, and the sisters knew she was ALWAYS there for them, no matter
what it was or what time of day. Even after her retirement she still calls
the infamous payphone in our foyer once a year to see how everything is going.
She also comes back to the House periodically, most recently at our 120th
Anniversary Celebration in Fall 2005.
Mrs. Johnson was also in charge of taking care of our House and the day to
day maintenance during her tenure as Advisor. She made huge contributions
to make sure our house was maintained and safe. Not only was Mrs. Johnson
involved in making repairs, but also every summer she delegated and selected
new home improvements from painting rooms, redoing flooring, roofing, and
backyard maintenance. She (and her husband!) did everything from hiring contractors
to mowing the lawn themselves. She and her husband were always working around
the house, and made the sisters a part of their extended family. We even heard
once that the colors at her wedding were blue, gold and white (the Ago colors)!
And they even came to the Christmas Formal every year. Mrs. Johnson did all
of this with a family and a career. We know that she ran a daycare out of
her home for many years.
Mrs. Johnson has also made financial donations to SUNY Geneseo through the
Alpha Kappa Phi Scholarship.
Her dedication to our history and traditions will leave an impact on Alpha
Kappa Phi forever. Upon her retirement in 1999 we began an award in her honor.
The award, presented every year at Senior Banquet, recognizes an outstanding
Ago senior relic who possesses superior leadership skills, best balances individual
and sorority goals, and is committed to the values, beliefs, and continued
existence of Alpha Kappa Phi.
Mary Jo is an all around sweet woman; and someone we are very proud to hold
up as an example of what it means to be an AGO. We hope Mrs. Johnson will
be inducted to the Hall of Fame because she is truly a role model for all
students and alumni.
Sincerely,
Alison Van Houten Knauf ’91, Michele Sheridan ‘92, Mary Tsikilakis
Bistrovich ’93, Chellee Thomas Smith ‘94, Kelly Newberry ‘97,
Kara Thomas ‘97, Elizabeth Clark ’99, Talya Branca ’00,
Stephanie Brown ’04
Kristen Sweeney '07 was
recognized with the 2007 Outstanding Sorority Woman of the Year Award. The award
was presented at the Annual Leadership Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April
24, 2007. The recipient is chosen by the IGC Executive Board and is based on:
academic merit, contribution to sorority, contribution to IGC, campus involvement
and service to Geneseo and surrounding communities. Kristen shared this honor
with a sister from Lambda Pi Upsilon.