The 2003 Awardees
Joseph F. Baczko
BSFS 1967McLean, VA
Joseph Baczko, former president of Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation and dean of the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, PR on May 6, 2003.
A German-born Hungarian raised in France, Baczko's international experiences were well suited to studying international affairs, and following his family's emigration to the United States in the 1950's, Baczko enrolled at Georgetown in 1963. He earned his bachelor's degree in foreign service in 1967 and then joined the U.S. Marines for military service in Vietnam. Following his service, Baczko earned an MBA from Harvard.
Baczko became a rising name in international business circles. He was named a vice president at W.R. Grace Company by the age of 31 and was named CEO of Max Factor's European division by the age of 34.
In 1983, Baczko was named the founding president for international operations of Toys-R-Us, where the firm generated sales of $1.2 billion within eight years. In 1991, he became president and COO of Blockbuster, which at its peak in the early 1990's generated over $2 billion from videotape rentals. In 1997, he took the chairman's position at Frank's Nurseries and Crafts, a $500 million home and garden company, and from 2005 to 2010, he served as dean of the business school at Pace University.
Baczko's ties to the University remain strong. He met Kathy Adams (I'68, a 1999 John Carroll awardee) while in college and were married the day after his graduation; together, they are the first husband and wife to have both received the John Carroll Award. Joe has served on the Board of Regents and chaired the Board of Visitors at the McDonough School of Business. He is a longtime member of the Wall Street Alliance and served on committees for each of the last two capital campaigns for the University.
Ishmael Herrero III
BSBA 1982, JD 1985San Juan, PR
Ishmael Herrero, a San Juan attorney and co-chair of the 2003 John Carroll Awards committee, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, PR on May 6, 2003.
A second generation John Carroll recipient, Herrero follows in the footsteps of his father and namesake, Ishmael Herrero Jr. (C'55), a 1985 awardee, in extraordinary service to Georgetown in his native Puerto Rico. Herrero, an attorney in private practice in San Juan, has been an admissions interviewer for over 20 years and is an advocate for the development of many of Georgetown's sons and daughters from the island.
A member of the Alumni Senate of the Georgetown University Alumni Association and a member of the University's Board of Regents, Hererro was a co-chair of this year's awards weekend.
Dr. Patrick M. Kildea D.D.S.
(1943-2021)
DDS 1973Washington, DC
Dr. Patrick M. Kildea, a Washington area dentist and former president of the Georgetown Club of Metropolitan Washington DC, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, PR on May 6, 2003.
Dr. Kildea has been an active volunteer to the University for 30 years, serving as a former lecturer in the School of Nursing & Health Studies and a member of the Dental School's Dean's Council from 1985 through 1988.
Patrick Kildea died in April 2021 from complications related to COVID-19.
Robert M. Wagner
(1928-2018)
BSFS 1948Las Vegas, NV
Robert Wagner, an entrepreneur and benefactor to Georgetown University, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, PR on May 6, 2003.
A 1948 graduate of the School of Foreign Service, Wagner was an internationally recognized wine merchant for 32 years. Upon his retirement in 1980, he has been a part of a number of philanthropic activities.
"Wagner's deep love for Georgetown also has manifested itself in many volunteer activities,' reads a Georgetown Release. "He was a founder of the Georgetown Club of Southern California, and served as its president. In 1998, he chaired the 50th Reunion fund for the Class of 1948 and led the class to new records in alumni participation and dollars raised. Most recently, he provided the lead gift in support of the renovation of the Georgetown University Alumni House. He and Bernice are members of the Blue & Gray Society, the Legacy Society, and the 1789 Society. In addition, Wagner has provided the "Georgetown Family of Wines" for many of the university's events.
Robert Wagner died in 2018 at the age of 90.
Vincent A. Wolfington
AB 1962Washington DC
Vincent A. ("Vince") Wolfington, a travel industry executive, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, PR on May 6, 2003.
A 1962 graduate of the College, Wolfington was a three year basketball letterman and President of the Yard as a senior. Following work at Chase Manhattan Bank, Wolfington joined Carey Transportation, the nation's largest chauffeured vehicle corporation in 1969, serving as its CEO for over 30 years. Following his retirement from Carey, he served as chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council, and was a founder and managing partner of Global Ambassador Concierge, providing concierge service to business and diplomatic travelers in China.
A former member of the Board of Directors, Wolfington made a major gift to Georgetown to support the creation of a new home for the Jesuit Community at the University, following nearly 150 years in the aging Gervase and Mulledy buildings in the Quadrangle. The new facility was named Wolfington Hall in 2003 in recognition of his care and generosity to alma mater.