JERALD J. RACHFAL ’60

Jerald Rachfal can be called true blue … and gold. Though not a native of Cleveland, nor a resident of the region, he still returns every year for John Carroll’s Homecoming Weekend, and he never misses a class reunion.

 While many parents dream about having their progeny attend their alma mater, Jerry, a.k.a. “Falls” to his friends, hit a triple in that regard. All three of his children graduated from John Carroll – Jay ’85, Pamela ’87 and Elizabeth ’97.
 
Over the years, Jerry has remained involved with JCU in many ways. He has served on the President’s Council and the Leadership Council, as a board member for the John M. and Mary Jo Boler School of Business Advisory Committee, on reunion committees, and other activities Jerry also is a member of the Magis Legacy Society and has been active in alumni outreach activities in Western New York.

He has done this while enjoying a long and productive career, working for Xerox for 31 years, and becoming very active in his community and church, where he served as parish council president and is a Eucharistic minister. He is also involved in a refugee resettlement program that helps relocate families to the Greater Rochester area.

“I met wonderful people and lifelong friends when I was at John Carroll,” Jerry says. “The Jesuits had an impact on me as they taught me about ethics, life and how to think with an open mind. The business world as we know it today isn’t always concerned about ethics. I feel better and I can sleep at night knowing I was ethical in business.”

While now retired from Xerox, Jerry is still actively involved with a major publishing company: one of his projects is the production of a series of books called The Lives of the Jesuits.

For his past and present involvement in and dedication to the University, his outstanding professional leadership, and for his longtime commitment to his church and his community, The John Carroll Alumni Association is pleased to award Jerald J. Rachfal our 2009 Alumni Medal.