Embracing What Is Good

Anita and James B. Ventantonio

James B. "Jim" Ventantonio '64 loved being a lawyer and the many roles it allowed him to pursue in life: attorney, prosecutor, judge, professor and even interim president of a community college. More than his professorial success, however, it was recognizing what is good in life and giving back that were central to him. His wife and childhood sweetheart, Anita – they met in eighth-grade homeroom – shared that passion.

"It was important to him that if you found something positive in your education, job or town that you should give back," recalls his daughter, Lisa Castano.

Toward that end, Jim, who also earned his bachelor's degree from Seton Hall University, and Anita, who earned her master's degree there, provided a $150,000 estate gift for three initiatives at the Law School. Those funds are supporting the James B. and Anita L. Ventantonio Endowed Scholarship, the designation of three faculty members as the James and Anita Ventantonio Board of Visitors Research Scholars, and faculty research, scholarship and professional development. Additional funds also were allocated by the couple to the James and Anita Ventantonio Endowed Scholarship for undergraduate students in the university's College of Education and Human Services, Anita's field of study.

After earning his J.D., Jim went on to serve in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Army. Next, he worked as a corporate lawyer at New Jersey Bell, then formed his own law firm before becoming the municipal prosecutor, and then judge, in Bridgewater.

He also played a significant role in the life of the Law School. He began as an adjunct professor, teaching professional responsibility, then became a tenured associate professor and director of clinical education programs, and later served on the Board of Visitors.

Recognizing the critical role education plays in changing lives, he also served on the Board of Trustees at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), where he later became interim president. He refused, however, for the college to be a "placeholder" and worked with several four-year institutions as president to ensure RVCC students could easily transfer their credits to earn a bachelor's degree.

Recalling her father's time at Seton Hall Law, Lisa says, "He really looked forward to going to work there. It meant so much more than a job. He really loved working with people."

Her parents, she adds, "Both made it look and sound like you could really make a difference. I believe they did."

You, too, can make a difference for Seton Hall students through an estate gift. To learn more, please contact Stephanie Silvestri at 973-642-8818 or stephanie.silvestri@shu.edu.