鶹ý (AMU) mourns the loss of Joseph Canizaro, who passed away peacefully this past weekend. Mr. Canizaro’s enduring legacy profoundly shaped the University. Serving on the 鶹ýBoard of Trustees from 2009 to 2014 and as trustee emeritus thereafter, his legacy lives on in the Canizaro Library, where generations of students will continue to gather to study, pray, and socialize.
“The Canizaro Library is the heart of our academic community,” said Mark Middendorf, president of 鶹ý. “It serves as a vital resource for students and faculty, housing a wealth of knowledge, study spaces, and essential academic and administrative offices that support the University’s operations.”
Early supporters of 鶹ý’s mission, Mr. Canizaro and his wife, Sue Ellen, gave their first fiat to 鶹ýin the early 2000’s. Their generosity and dedication helped transform a tomato field in southwest Florida into a preeminent Catholic university, faithful to the Church and academically excellent.
President Middendorf added, “In Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Pope Saint John Paul II writes that ‘the basic mission of a university is a continuous quest for truth through its research, and the preservation and communication of knowledge for the good of society.’ The Canizaro Library embodies this mission—as did Joe Canizaro—by empowering students and faculty to pursue truth across every discipline taught at AMU.”
鶹ý reflects with deep gratitude on Mr. Canizaro’s life and gives thanks to God for blessing our community with his spirit of generosity—a legacy that will inspire generations of 鶹ýstudents, faculty, and staff.
