47 Notable alumni of Canisius College
Updated: June 13, 2026 EliteDegrees
Canisius College is ranked #2,030 in the world and #504 in United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 47 notable alumni from Canisius College sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Canisius College won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Samuel J. Ramsperger
1862-1936 (aged 74)
politician
Samuel J. Ramsperger was an American politician from New York.
2. Herm Brunotte
1921-2010 (aged 89)
basketball player
Herman Henry "Herm" Brunotte was an American college and professional basketball player.
3. Dick Poillon
1920-1994 (aged 74)
American football player
Richard Charles Poillon was an American professional football halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He scored a career 247 points and was the Redskins' leading scorer for three years.
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4. Michael Uschold
1955-. (aged 71)
computer scientist
artificial intelligence researcher
Michael F. Uschold is an American computer scientist, Artificial Intelligence researcher, and consultant known for his work on knowledge representation and ontology.
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5. Michael Liebel, Jr
1870-1927 (aged 57)
politician
Michael Liebel Jr. was an early 20th-century American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania, from 1906 to 1911, and a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for one term from Pennsylvania, from 1915 to 1917.
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6. Paul G. Bulger
1913-2000 (aged 87)
Dr. Paul Grutzner Bulger was the third president of Buffalo State College (State University of New York, College at Buffalo), serving from July 1, 1959 until January 1, 1967.
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7. Alex De Carolis
1992-. (aged 34)
association football player
Alex De Carolis a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Swedish club IFK Eskilstuna.
8. Sean Jamieson
1989-. (aged 37)
baseball player
Sean Robert Jamieson is a Canadian former professional baseball infielder.
9. Sara Rún Hinriksdóttir
1996-. (aged 30)
basketball player
Sara Rún Hinriksdóttir is an Icelandic basketball player who currently plays for Keflavík and the Icelandic national basketball team. She played college basketball for Canisius in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. She is a five time Icelandic Female Basketball Player of the Year.
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10. Denise O'Donnell
politician
Denise O'Donnell is an attorney who served as director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, as New York State commissioner of criminal justice services, and assistant secretary to the Governor for Criminal Justice in the Cabinet of Governor David Paterson. She previously held the roles in the Cabinet of former Governor Eliot Spitzer.
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11. Frank Lazarus
1944-. (aged 82)
Francis M. "Frank" Lazarus is an American retired educator and higher education administrator. He served as the president of the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas, from 2004 to 2009, when he was honored by the board of trustees with the title of president emeritus.
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12. Paul Childress
powerlifter
Paul Childress was an American powerlifter. He holds the World Powerlifting Organization world record in the 308 lb. weight class with a squat of 1147.5 lb. and has the third best total in the world with 2662.1 lb. He was a major part of the fitness industry for over 25 years.
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13. Dennis Thomas Flynn
1861-1939 (aged 78)
lawyer
politician
Dennis Thomas Flynn was an American politician and a Delegate from Oklahoma Territory to the United States House of Representatives.
14. Edwin J. Roland
1905-1985 (aged 80)
military officer
Edwin John Roland, was a United States Coast Guard admiral and served as the twelfth Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1962 to 1966. During his tenure, Roland oversaw the replacement of many World War II era cutters under fleet modernization programs. He also assisted the U.S. Navy with operations in Vietnam by supplying crews and cutters for Operation Market...
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15. Dan Carnevale
1918-2005 (aged 87)
basketball player
baseball player
Daniel Joseph Carnevale was an American professional baseball shortstop, second baseman, manager, coach, and scout. Born in Buffalo, New York, Carnevale threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). Carnevale also played professional basketball for one season in the National Basketball League for the Buffalo Bisons.
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16. Tommy Colella
1918-1992 (aged 74)
American football player
Thomas Anthony Colella was an American professional football halfback, punter and safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) and All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Rams, the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills.
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17. John Thomas Curtin
1921-2017 (aged 96)
military officer
lawyer
judge
John Thomas Curtin was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York from 1967 to 2017 and its Chief Judge from 1974 to 1989.
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18. Walter J. Mahoney
1908-1982 (aged 74)
lawyer
judge
politician
Walter J. Mahoney was an American lawyer and politician.
19. Robin Schimminger
1947-. (aged 79)
politician
Robin Schimminger is an American politician from the state of New York. A Democrat, Schimminger represented District 140 in the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 2020.
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20. Molly Burhans
1989-. (aged 37)
cartographer
environmentalist
Molly Burhans is an American cartographer, data scientist, and environmental activist. She is the founder of GoodLands, an organization which aims to mobilize the Catholic Church to use its land for environmental and social justice purposes.
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21. John F. Marszalek
1939-. (aged 87)
historian
university teacher
John F. Marszalek is an American historian who served as Executive Director and Managing Editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association and The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant project from 2008 to 2022.
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22. Richard D. McCarthy
1927-1995 (aged 68)
politician
Richard Dean “Max” McCarthy was an American newspaperman and politician who served three terms as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York from 1965 to 1971.
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23. Charles Jordan
1954-2023 (aged 69)
basketball player
Charles C. Jordan was an American professional basketball player who played for one season for the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He then spent the remainder of his career overseas, including stops in France and Italy.
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24. James T. Molloy
1936-2011 (aged 75)
James Thomas Molloy was elected Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives during the 93rd Congress in 1974 and served through the 103rd Congress. As Doorkeeper, he introduced six Presidents, several heads of state and other dignitaries in joint sessions and other congressional events. Molloy was the last Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives.
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25. Mary Wittenberg
1962-. (aged 64)
lawyer
marathon runner
Mary Wittenberg is an American sports executive who formerly served as president of professional women's soccer club NJ/NY Gotham FC. She was previously the president of the EF Education–EasyPost cycling team, and president and chief executive officer of New York Road Runners (NYRR) through May 18, 2015. Wittenberg oversaw the TCS New York City Marathon and several other races, events,...
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26. Frank A. Sedita
1907-1975 (aged 68)
politician
Frank Albert Sedita was an American attorney and politician who served as the 56th and 58th mayor of Buffalo, New York.
27. Lawrence J. Vilardo
1955-. (aged 71)
judge
Lawrence Joseph Vilardo is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.
28. Henry J. Nowak
1935-2024 (aged 89)
basketball player
lawyer
politician
Henry James Nowak was an American lawyer, politician, and a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York between 1975 and 1993.
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29. Satrio Budihardjo Joedono
1940-2017 (aged 77)
politician
economist
Satrio "Billy" Budihardjo Joedono was an Indonesian economist who served as Minister of Trade from 1993 to 1995. He graduated at the top level from Canisius College.
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30. John J. LaFalce
1939-2025 (aged 86)
lawyer
politician
John Joseph LaFalce was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of New York from 1975 to 2003. He retired in 2002 after his district was merged with that of a fellow Democrat.
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31. Shauna Green
1979-. (aged 47)
basketball coach
basketball player
Shauna Geronzin Green is an American basketball coach.
32. Donald Pinkel
1926-2022 (aged 96)
physician
Donald Paul Pinkel was an American physician who specialized in pediatric hematology and oncology. Pinkel made contributions to cures for several forms of childhood cancer, including leukemia.
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33. Michael P. Kearns
1969-. (aged 57)
politician
Michael P. "Mickey" Kearns is an American politician who serves as Clerk of Erie County, New York. Kearns previously represented the 142nd New York State Assembly District, which spans South Buffalo, half of the city of Lackawanna, West Seneca and Orchard Park, from 2012 to 2017; he has also served on the Buffalo Common Council. Kearns was elected Erie County...
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34. Johnny McCarthy
1934-2020 (aged 86)
basketball coach
basketball player
John Joseph McCarthy was an American basketball player and coach. A 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) point guard, he played college basketball and was an All-American at Canisius College. He was selected by the Rochester Royals in the 1956 NBA draft. He played a total of six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA)—two for the Royals, three for...
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35. Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami
1937-2006 (aged 69)
poet
Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, also known as Dr. Thoudam Damodara Singh and by the honorific Sripada (Śrīpāda), was a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader, chemist, writer about religion and science, and poet. In 1971 he received spiritual initiation from A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. A few years later he became one of the religious leaders of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness...
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36. Anthony Masiello
1947-. (aged 79)
basketball player
politician
Anthony M. Masiello is an American politician and former basketball player who served as Mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1994 to 2005. Prior to being mayor, he served as a member of the New York State Senate. He is currently president of Masiello, Martucci and Associates, a Buffalo-based lobbying firm.
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37. Robert Ortt
1979-. (aged 47)
politician
Robert Gary Ortt II is an American military veteran, treasurer, and politician who is a member of the New York State Senate. Ortt represents the 62nd district, which covers Niagara and Orleans counties. First elected in 2014, Ortt is a Republican.
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38. Mike Smrek
1962-. (aged 64)
basketball player
Michael Francis Smrek is a Canadian former professional basketball player. He was selected in the second round of the 1985 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, and played seven seasons in the league as a backup 7-foot (2.1 m) centre. He won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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39. Damon Young
1979-. (aged 47)
writer
Damon Young is an American writer and editor. He is the co-founder of the blog Very Smart Brothas. Young released his first book, What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker, in 2019 with HarperCollins.
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40. Kassius Robertson
1994-. (aged 32)
basketball player
Kassius Robertson is a Canadian professional basketball player for Dreamland Gran Canaria of the Liga ACB and Basketball Champions League (BCL). He played college basketball for the Canisius Golden Griffins and Missouri Tigers.
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41. Bill Paxon
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
lobbyist
Leon William Paxon is an American lobbyist and former member of the United States House of Representatives from New York. From 1989 to 1999, he served five terms in Congress.
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42. Cory Conacher
1989-. (aged 37)
ice hockey player
Cory Conacher is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Undrafted, Conacher played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, and the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).
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43. Chris Manhertz
1992-. (aged 34)
basketball player
American football player
Chris Manhertz is an American professional football tight end for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played college basketball for the Canisius Golden Griffins.
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44. Beth Phoenix
1980-. (aged 46)
professional wrestler
Elizabeth Copeland, better known as Beth Phoenix, is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in WWE, where she is a former WWE Divas Champion and a three-time WWE Women's Champion.
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45. Katie Arrington
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Katherine Elizabeth Arrington is an American politician who was in the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 94th district for a single term, from 2017 to 2019. In 2018, she defeated former South Carolina Governor and incumbent Congressman Mark Sanford in the Republican primary for South Carolina's 1st congressional district but lost to Democrat Joe Cunningham in the general...
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46. Nelson Baker
1841-1936 (aged 95)
Catholic priest
Nelson Henry Baker was an American Catholic monsignor in Lackawanna, New York, whom the Vatican has declared as venerable.
47. Anne Burrell
1969-2025 (aged 56)
television presenter
chef
Anne W. Burrell was an American chef, television personality, and instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. She hosted the Food Network show Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and was co-host of Worst Cooks in America. She was also one of Mario Batali's sous chefs in the Iron Chef America series and appeared on other programs on the network such...
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