ATHENS, Ohio -- John Cassese of New York City has given artwork valued at nearly $75,000 to Ohio University, with the majority of the paintings now housed in the College of Communication. Cassese -- who specializes in the creative development and production of meetings, events, videos, environments, digital media and learning programs -- is the co-founder of Concentric Communications, a division of the global public relations firm Ketchum.
He earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Ohio University in 1976 and his master's degree in organizational communications in 1979. He now serves on the Alumni Association's Board of Directors and the College of Communication Dean's Advisory Council, and returns to campus each spring to teach a special one-week seminar in business communications.
The donated paintings were part of Cassese's collection, which had grown to more than 50 abstract and conceptual works by primarily contemporary artists. Cassese began to appreciate art at a young age on regular trips to the Cleveland Museum of Art with his father. The senior Cassese created altars and other works in marble and tile in churches throughout the Cleveland area.
In 1980, shortly after moving to New York, Cassese purchased his first "really good" piece -- a photo of Marilyn Monroe from Bert Stern's famous "Last Sitting," taken just six weeks before Monroe's death in 1962. He began seriously collecting art in 1988 and now consistently travels to international art exhibitions -- such as the Venice Biennale -- to witness new and emerging talent. Several pieces in Cassese's collection have been on loan to museums in the United States and in Europe.
Several of Cassese's pieces, many of them monographs and multiples, were in storage when Ohio University President Robert Glidden visited him in New York. "[Glidden] looked around the apartment and said jokingly 'if you ever have any pieces you don't want, we'd be happy to take them,'" said Cassese. "At that time I had some pieces in the collection that I knew I'd never hang again... pieces I had grown out of. They weren't doing me any good in storage. I wanted them to be out where everyone could enjoy them."
Since that visit, 27 of the works carefully collected by Cassese have come to grace the walls of a number of Ohio University offices, from those of College of Communication Dean Kathy Krendl and School of Interpersonal Communication Director Greg Shepherd, to those of Executive Director of Alumni Relations Ralph Amos and Glidden.
"The presence of John's contributions throughout our offices sends a strong message to visitors regarding alumni support of our programs," said Krendl. "His generosity and commitment are clearly visible to everyone."
"I never would have thought as an undergraduate that I'd be in the position to give anything back to the university," said Cassese. "I look at the name plate 'donated by John Cassese '76' and it makes me smile. It's wonderful to share with the university something that's important to me, and to see how much the people there appreciate it."
In addition to sharing his collection, Cassese has given generously to scholarships and other funds that support the College of Communication, the School of Interpersonal Communication, and the Division of Student Affairs. He also has been generous with his time, serving on a variety of boards and sharing his experiences with students. He is active with his college fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, as a member of the Board of Directors and was recently asked to join the Greek Leadership Advisory Council.
Cassese's passion for art led to a unique gift for Ohio University. Gifts-in-kind are just one way alumni and friends can support the university's Bicentennial Campaign, which has raised more than $146 million toward its goal of raising $200 million in time for the university's bicentennial in 2004. The campaign will provide resources for scholarships, endowed professorships, technological enhancements, innovative programs, and selected capital improvements. To learn more about making a gift of personal property to Ohio University, call toll-free 1-800-592-FUND.
