The 2016 Awardees

Martha Montag Brown

BSLA 1978
La Canada Flintridge, CA

Martha Montag Brown, a business executive and alumni leader, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

A 1978 graduate of the School of Languages & Linguistics, Martha held leadership positions at the United Way and Levi Strauss and Company before founding a successful executive search firm focusing on philanthropic and foundation clients.

A member of the Board of Regents, Martha was a state co-chair for the University's For Generations to Come executive council and served in leadership roles at the 2015 and 2016 John Carroll Weekend events.

Julia Farr Connolly

AB 1988
Bethesda, MD

Julia Farr Connolly, a past president of the Georgetown University Alumni Association from 2010 to 2012, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

A sixth generation Washingtonian and a third generation Hoya, Julia literally grew up in the environs of Alumni House, where her mother, Joyce (G'71) worked there. The Farr children helped stuff envelopes and drive golf carts at Reunion weekends. She received her bachelor's degree in 1988 and worked as a regional alumni officer in the years leading up to her law degree from Catholic University in 1993.

After 17 years in corporate law, she founded the boutique that bears her name. The Julia Farr clothing line has won widespread acclaim among women's fashion circles and is a regular name among Washington media and political figures.

A member of the Board of Governors of the Alumni Association since 2000, Julia served as its president from 2010-12, helping expand alumni programming for alumnae and build the Association's career networking efforts. In 2019, she was named executive director of the Georgetown University Alumni Association.

Hon. Arthur J. Gajarsa

JD, 1967, Honorary degree, 2012
Holderness, NH

Arthur J. Gajarsa, who served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from 1997 through 2012, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

Born in Italy, Gajarsa's family emigrated to the United States and settled in Boston. Following a BS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MA from Catholic University, he received a degree from the Law Center in 1967, beginning a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors.

A former counsel in the Interior, Commerce, and Defense Departments, Judge Gajarsa served in private practice for nine years before being named to the Court of Appeals by President Clinton in 1995, where he served for 17 years before retiring from bench and returning to private practice in civil litigation and intellectual property law.

A past member of the board of directors at Georgetown, Judge Gajarsa received the Paul R. Dean Award in 1999, the Law Center's Outstanding Public Service Award in 2011, and an honorary degree from the University in 2012.

Dr. Alan B. Leahey, M.D.

AB 1982, MD 1987
Greenville, SC

Alan Leahey, a nationally recognized opthomologist and dedicated alumni volunteer, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

A 1982 graduate of the College, Dr. Leahey received his medical degree from Georgetown in 1987 before beginning a 22 year career in ophthalmology in Allentown, PA. In 2012, he relocated to South Carolina, where he served as chief of ophthalmology at the Greenville Health System and as associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Dr. Leahey has held numerous volunteer leadership positions at the University, including co-chair of his class' 25th reunion, the Alumni Admissions Program Board of Advisors, and the executive commitree of the Board of regents. He is a 2012 recipient of the Association's William Gaston Award, recognizing outstanding alumni volunteer service.

Dr. Francis M. Palumbo III, M.D.

AB 1968, MD 1972
Arlington, VA

Dr. Francis Palumbo, a physician, professor, and alumni volunteer, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

Dr. Palumbo grew up in Fairfield County, CT, where he met a lifelong friend in fellow 1968 alumnus and John Carroll awardee Bill Licamele (C'68, M'72). Both attended classes from first grade through high school at Fairfield Prep, both went on to Georgetown's class of 1968 and both received medical degrees from the University in 1972. Dr. Palumbo helped launch the University's program in Children and Youth Ambulatory Services and served as its director. Now in private practice, he serves as an associate professor of pediatrics at the University.

Dr. Palumbo has been the recipient of numerous awards for his care and commitment to others, with recognition including the Pediatric Teacher of the Year, the Alumni Association's Founders Award, and the Medical School's Preceptor Award. He has served on the Medical Alumni Board and the Alumni Association Board of Governors, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Hon. Lawrence F. Rooney III

AB 1975, JD 1978
Naples, FL

L. Francis Rooney, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, received the John Carroll Award in ceremonies held at the at Ospedale di Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy, on April 16, 2016.

The grandson of an Iowa builder who emigrated to Oklahoma Territory in 1896 and founded the Tulsa-based Manhattan Construction Company, Francis grew up in Muskogee, OK but was sent to Georgetown Prep for high school. He stayed in Washington, receiving his degree from the College in 1975 and a degree from the Law Center in 1978.

Rooney had intended to become a lawyer but the death of his father in 1980 changed his career trajectory. With the company faltering, the 26 year old bought out the business interests of his uncle John Rooney (a former president of the Alumni Association and 1977 John Carroll Award recipient) and his brother Tim to keep the company in family hands. Manhattan Construction survived the downturn and is again one of the nation's leading construction companies, with recent projects ranging from the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center to AT&T Stadium.

In 2005, Rooney was named the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bush, serving three years as the U.S representative during the pontificate of Benedict XVI. In 2012, Rooney and his wife Kathleen (F'77) made a leadership gift to renovate Dahlgren Chapel. In 2016 he was elected to Congress from the 19th Congressional District in Florida, serving two terms before retiring after the 2020 elections.