Seton Hall has received a $10 million gift from the estate of an alumnus to establish a professorship and support research and strategic priorities within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the university announced on Thursday.
The Thomas Tencza, Ph.D. Endowed Professorship was a gift from the late Thomas Tencza and his wife, Sylvia Tlusty Tencza. Thomas Tencza is a SHU 1964 Master of Science alumnus and a 1966 Doctor of Philosophy in chemistry alumnus. He was among the first graduates from SHU’s chemistry Ph.D. program. This endowed professorship, from the couple, is the first for the department.
Dr. Jonathan Farina, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said endowed faculty attracts graduate students who want to learn from and collaborate with scholars of the highest caliber.
"This extraordinary gift will ensure that Seton Hall’s chemistry and biochemistry programs continue to thrive, particularly the Ph.D. program where grant-funded research and publication are key to student success,” Farina said. “Gifts like this enable Seton Hall to offer sustainable, affordable, hands-on learning, meaningful research, and mentorship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students."
Jon Paparsenos, vice president of University Advancement, said Tencza and his wife’s legacy will strengthen faculty excellence and support the next generation of scientists at SHU.
“We look forward to honoring their legacy, empowering students to discover their passions and purpose, and advancing the university’s research mission for years to come,” Paparsenos said in an email to the university community.
Thomas Tencza, a resident of Wallington, passed away on Oct. 9, 2012. Following his graduation from SHU, Tencza served in the US Army during the Korean War. According to his obituary, he built a career at Bristol Myers Squibb in Hillside as the Senior Director of Product Development. He retired in 1994. Tenecza was a parishioner of Holy Rosary R.C. Church in Passaic and a member of the American Pharmaceutical Association (APA) and the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Sylvia Tencza, also a resident of Wallington, passed away on Sept. 10, 2024. In 1956, she and her husband began their courtship, which led to a 53 year marriage. According to her obituary, Tencza earned her degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and worked as an executive secretary at Becton Dickinson & Co. in Rutherford.
Since her husband’s passing, she has increased her involvement with SHU’s Department of Chemistry. She supplemented gifts to the Pope St. John Paul II Initiative at SHU’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations. In 2017, SHU presented Tencza with an honorary doctorate.
Msgr. Joseph Reilly, president of SHU, said Tencza’s generosity will enrich the student experience and further strengthen the academic excellence that Seton Hall has always been known.
"By helping us to expand our educational offerings, this gift and others like it are allowing the entirety of the Seton Hall community from students to faculty to explore the totality of their God-given talents," Msgr. Reilly said.
Dominique Mercadante is the Editor in Chief of The Setonian. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
