Freddie Crawford, ’64, a basketball legend at St. Bonaventure whose decades of community leadership in New York City have made a profound impact, will be honored at the university’s 166th undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.
Freddie Crawford, ’64, a basketball legend at St. Bonaventure whose decades of community leadership in New York City have made a profound impact, will be honored at the university’s 166th undergraduate Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17.
Crystal Crawford will join her father on stage for the keynote address. A graduate of Dartmouth and NYU Law School, Crystal is the senior director of strategic partnerships at the Weingart Foundation, a California organization working to advance racial justice and equity through grantmaking and mission-related investing.
Because of the rapid growth of SBU’s graduate programs, St. Bonaventure will conduct a Graduate Studies Commencement ceremony for the first time in university history.
The celebration at noon Saturday, May 16, will feature an address by Kate Broderick, ’90 and ’93, who will be honored with the university’s inaugural Distinguished Graduate Alumnus Award for her tireless advocacy for students during her time as first lady at Old Dominion University.
Freddie Crawford is one of four distinguished people who will receive honorary degrees during the undergraduate ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. May 17 in the Reilly Center Arena.
Joining Crawford as honorary degree recipients are John Broderick, retired president of Old Dominion University, and Olean’s Jim and Carol Stitt, longtime benefactors and civic leaders.
Frederick Russell Crawford Sr.
Crawford is one of the most accomplished student-athletes in St. Bonaventure history. He helped lead the Bonnies to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1961, was inducted into the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970, and was named to the 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. Crawford went on to play for five NBA teams (1966-1971).
Off the court, his impact is woven into the culture of the game, especially in Harlem. He is closely associated with the storied summer circuit at Holcombe Rucker Park and was honored there in 2025 for his decades-long contribution to the game in New York and his role in nurturing the next generation of players and fans.
Crawford has an impressive portfolio of civic leadership in Harlem. He served as a supervisor with the Visiting Nurses’ Service Intensive Case Management Services; owned and operated Appletown Sporting Goods; was elected president of Community School Board 10; and served as Central Harlem Chairman for Housing.
Crawford serves on the Board of Directors of the Harlem Gallery of Science, a nonprofit committed to increasing representation of young people of color in STEAM fields (ages 15–25).
John Ryan Broderick
Broderick, ’87 (MSEd), served more than a decade as president of Old Dominion University (2008-2021), where he focused on student success, diversity and institutional growth.
During his tenure, he led efforts to create academic and research initiatives in cybersecurity, coastal flooding, public health and STEM-related programs. He and his wife, Kate, had a new dining commons named after them in 2016 after student leaders asked the board to honor the Brodericks for their commitment to student success and creating a welcoming environment.
Under his leadership, Old Dominion achieved record graduation rates and increased diversity, with students of color making up 48% of enrollment. The university also rose in national rankings for social mobility, reflecting its success in helping students graduate and advance economically.
Broderick helped secure more than $860 million in funding to support academic and research initiatives. His honors include the NASPA President’s Award and several recognitions for leadership and community impact.
Broderick earned his master’s degree in Education from St. Bonaventure in 1987 and served as the university’s director of Public Relations from 1984 to 1989.
Carol and Jim Stitt Sr.
The Stitts have been longtime civic and philanthropic leaders in the Olean area, supporting a wide range of community organizations and initiatives, including St. Bonaventure. Their work has focused on strengthening local institutions and expanding opportunities for residents across Cattaraugus County.
The executive chair of Olean’s Cutco Corp., Jim Stitt was an SBU trustee from 2011-2020, a Jamestown Community College trustee from 1999-2008, and has served on numerous local and regional boards. He also served as director of the Olean Business Development Corp. and helped form, with Carol, the Entrepreneurship Center at St. Bonaventure in 2018.
Carol Stitt served as the first executive director of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, helping grow the organization from three funds totaling $75,000 to more than 50 funds with $9 million in assets. She later served on its board of directors and as board president.
The Stitts have supported numerous organizations, including the YMCA, education programs and nonprofit boards. Their combined efforts reflect decades of service to the region and a sustained commitment to community development.
Kate Evon Broderick (Distinguished Graduate Alumnus Award)
Kate Broderick, ’90 and ’93, has built a career spanning nursing, education and higher education administration. She began her professional life as a nurse before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education from St. Bonaventure and teaching at the elementary level, where she was recognized for her work in literacy instruction.
She later served in leadership roles in the Office of Educational Accessibility at Old Dominion, overseeing services for hundreds of students with disabilities. She was appointed to Virginia’s Disability Services Commission and became known for her advocacy on behalf of students requiring accommodations.
For 13 years at Old Dominion, Broderick supported student success initiatives and co-founded the Women’s Initiative Network, which provides mentoring for first-generation female students. She has received several honors for her work and, in retirement, is now pursuing writing, with a children’s book scheduled for publication in May.
Commencement Weekend activities include a series of events celebrating the Class of 2026.
The weekend begins Friday, May 15, with the Physician Assistant Studies White Coat Ceremony at 3 p.m. in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, followed by the Honors and Awards Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Reilly Center Arena.
A Graduate Student Alumni Launch Party will take place at 7 p.m. in the Rathskeller, leading into the annual Candlelight Alumni Induction Ceremony and fireworks on the Plassmann/Swan Quad at 8:45 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, features a full slate of events, including a University Ministries Prayer Recognition and Reception at 10 a.m. in the University Chapel. The Graduate Studies Commencement Ceremony will be held at noon in the Reilly Center Arena, followed by a Stole Ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Quick Center and the Baccalaureate Mass at 4 p.m. in the Reilly Center.
Commencement Weekend culminates Sunday, May 17, with the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Reilly Center Arena, where Crawford will deliver the keynote address and honorary degrees will be conferred. Later in the day, the ROTC Military Science Commissioning Ceremony will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Quick Center.
The university will livestream both graduate and undergraduate ceremonies, allowing family members and friends unable to attend in person to share in the celebration.
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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).