PROFILE FOR UMR THE KETTLE
Jim and Connie Messina share a lifelong passion and commitment to education.
Seeing this same passion and commitment reflected in the philosophy of UMR and its students inspired the Messinas to endow a scholarship fund for students. Surprisingly, the Messinas had no real connection to UMR prior to coming to Rochester three years ago for a health crisis.
“We have been completely awed by the intellect and maturity of the UMR students we have met and strongly believe in the philosophy and mission of UMR,” said Jim.
In October 2021, Jim awoke in the couple’s Florida home out of breath, with a severe bloody nose, extreme dizziness, and unable to hear out of his right ear. He was very frightened. While he sought immediate medical attention nearby, Jim knew he needed to take action: not just in the short term, but in a long-term commitment to health.
Jim and Connie decided to move from their Florida home to Rochester, Minnesota, where their son Steven works as a neuroradiologist at Mayo and lives with his wife Sara and their three children.
Earlier that summer, Steven and Sara had asked Jim and Connie to consider moving closer to them. “At the time, Connie and I said no way, way too cold for us,” Jim later related on his blog. But all that changed in the face of health challenges. “The major issue was to get the optimal medical care at Mayo and family close at hand in case I passed. We called Steve and Sara … and they agreed.”
Jim resigned from his work as a psychologist in nursing homes. “I hated to stop this work, but it was clear the stress of the work had impacted my health.”
By the end of November, they were in their new condo near Mayo in downtown Rochester. A month later, while still on medications prescribed by his Florida physicians, he was seen by Dr. Diego Suarez and his team who ordered a chest x-ray and an electrocardiogram that sent Jim immediately to St. Marys Hospital and immediate surgery to receive a pacemaker.
In early 2022, Jim wrote about his gratitude for the team at Mayo: “I would not be experiencing this new year if it were not for their support and interventions.”
As part of his cardiac rehabilitation program, Jim began spending more time with his grandchildren and volunteering. He wanted to volunteer at Mayo to encourage patients and be with them during difficult times; in just eight months, he contributed 271 hours to his effort. His commitment as a volunteer was honored at the Mayo Clinic Volunteer Appreciation Gala in 2022 with the Most Hours in First Year of Service award.
He also began volunteering around their new community at High Point Condominium and it was here that the Messinas first learned of UMR. One of their fellow condo residents, Marilyn Stewart, held an information session in her home about the college, its students, and its outstanding healthcare education. The Messinas met Chancellor Carroll and four UMR students who shared their journeys. “It was an extremely moving experience due to the incredible quality of the students who spoke at that session,” Jim said.
“We had no idea that UMR existed until that fateful night at Marilyn’s condo,” he continued, “and then we both decided to pursue supporting UMR, given its fantastic student body and connection to Mayo Clinic which was responsible for saving my life in December 2021. We believe that UMR was a wonderful jumping off place for future health care professionals.”
Discerning the gift was a “no-brainer,” Connie said. “We were both turned on to it immediately –”
“–by the students who showed up at Marilyn’s apartment to give the talk,” Jim said.
“The other thing that really excites us about UMR is that there are so many people in this community who support it,” he continued. “I never saw such openness with a university and the public and students. Whenever we’re around the galleria, we are just floored by the number of students who are there working continuously. It’s really impressive being there. I know hardworking students and these students are amazing. We’re more than impressed.”
This summer they fully funded their scholarship, and have committed to continue making a significant contribution each year moving forward.
The scholarship is open to all students at UMR. “We felt that no matter who benefited from these funds, they would strengthen the quality of the student body and history of UMR,” Jim said.
Their generous donation does more than express their deep gratitude for the excellent care they received; it upholds their lifelong commitment to value of education.
“As a 40-year teacher, you can bet your tootsies that I would always support some form of education,” said Connie. She graduated with a BA from Buffalo State University, earned her first master’s degree at Temple University, her second masters at Johns Hopkins, and a PhD at University of South Florida. Connie was originally an elementary school reading teacher in Hamburg N.Y. and went on to be a special education teacher in Tampa, Florida until her retirement.
Jim graduated with a BA from Catholic University in Washington D.C., then went on to earn his Masters and Doctorate degrees from SUNY at Buffalo. He was a school counselor in Hamburg, N.Y., completed a one-year NIMH sponsored post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Florida, then worked in community mental health in Pensacola. He also worked with Johns Hopkins University and the Florida Mental Health Institute. He maintained a 20-year private practice in Tampa followed after retirement by his work in hospitals and older adult treatment centers. He completed his active career serving 10 years at Troy University’s Tampa Campus and retired from Troy in June 2021.
The couple married on August 3, 1973. They have two adult children, both of whom are married, and five grandchildren. In 2023, Jim and Connie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in their new “hometown” of Rochester.
They emphasize their gratitude to be able to sponsor students at UMR, “Because it is ideally located near Mayo Clinic, and it is a fantastic source of some of the most educated and talented students we have ever met. We want to assist UMR to become as strong as it can become in the future to have a lasting impact on the medical community in this community, state, and country,” said Jim.
“When you give to UMR, you can see the students, you can see your money is not going to anything else but the students. That’s what determined for us how we would give,” said Connie.
The Messinas have not designated a specific name for their award, nor do they want a role in the student selection process. “The fact that they’re going to pick these students is fine with us,” said Connie.
“It’s just not really important for us to be part of the selection process,” said Jim. “We trust UMR.”
“Oh, do we,” added Connie.
“We didn’t do this for recognition. We did this to support people and their mission,” said Jim. “We recognize UMR’s focus on health science. If our grandkids are interested in health science, there is no better school for them to go to. They don’t need a huge university. That’s what we like about UMR – education is primary, and everything else is secondary. You go to higher education to serve people: and that’s what the UMR philosophy is: People first, and I love it.”
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Felicia Schneiderhan