John Robert Greene
Chittenango, N.Y.
Class of 1977 and 1978
Majors: History/History
My passion was discovered at Bona’s — I have pursued it for 31 years. Phil Eberl, an education professor at the time, saw something in me and suggested that pre-law, my goal at the time, wasn’t really for me.
He arranged to have me substitute teach one class — just one day — at Allegany High School.
He drove me there, stayed until I was done, and took me to the Rathskeller for dinner afterwards. He knew I would be hooked, and I was.
The next day I talked to the four men I respected most in the world — history professors Nick Amato, Pete Marron, Pat O’Dea, and Lou Leotta — and sought their advice.
Each of them said that Prof. Eberl was right. I changed my major as a second semester JUNIOR and never looked back.
With the help of Prof. Eberl and Prof. Marron, I was able to get my secondary teaching certification in one year. I was on to something and decided to stay at Bona’s for my master’s.
Dr. O’Dea took the ultimate chance on me and hired me with just a B.A. to teach a section of Western Civilization as a graduate teaching assistant. I got my one and only job one month after my 1978 graduation with my master’s, as a history professor at Cazenovia College.
Teaching is primary at Caz, as it was — and continues to be — at Bona’s. I have pursued my passion since Prof. Eberl helped me to find it in 1976 ... I am a teacher made at Bona’s, and I couldn’t be prouder.
