Caldwell Alumna’s Passion for American History Leads to Golden Eagle Award

Denise Doychak
Advice for students: Save your money for retirement.
Life passion: Travel. I have traveled extensively and drove cross-country seven times.
Favorite Caldwell memory: Father Perotta wearing bright red shirts with his white robes!

Denise Doychak’s ’62 parents, Andrew and Elsie Doychak, had supported the University through the Friends of Caldwell while their daughter was an undergraduate. Inspired by her parents' philanthropic support, Denise decided to make a gift to establish an endowment in her parents’ memory after they passed away in 2005. This endowment underwrites The Golden Eagle Award for Excellence in American History, which is presented annually to a graduating senior studying American history. In addition to this endowed award, Denise has included Caldwell University in her estate plans.

While we think that this accomplished Caldwell alumna deserves a lot more credit for her achievements, there is no denying that her life path has taken more than a few unexpected turns.

“Everything in my life happens by accident!” Denise says with a chuckle.

For example, Denise’s academic career began at Saint Mary’s College, the women’s liberal arts college at Notre Dame. She has fond memories of sharing a dorm room overlooking the avenue entrance to St. Mary’s—so much so that she has remained in touch with her Saint Mary’s roommates since that time.

Before her freshman year was over, however, her father became ill and was unable to work. “Finances were tight and I could no longer afford to live away from home while attending college.”

Caldwell was both reasonably priced and close to home. “The tuition fee at the time was $200 per semester,” she recalls. “And, Caldwell didn’t limit the number of credits you could take for that amount. I often enrolled for as many as 22 credits per semester, to make sure I got my money’s worth.”

In addition, Denise worked part-time at a local supermarket.

Denise inherited her work ethic from her hard-working parents. “In those days, we shared a single car. I would drive my father to work and then take the car to school. My mother would ride with a neighbor to her job at Betmar Hats, Inc. in Passaic. Since the neighbor’s shift started earlier than my mother’s, my mom would spend the extra half-hour volunteering at the St. Stephen’s School cafeteria, which was down the street. In the afternoon, I would pick up my father; he would drop me off at the supermarket where I worked and then go get my mom in Passaic.”

Art had been Denise’s major at Saint Mary’s, but at the time Caldwell only offered art as a minor course of study. By this time, Denise had also developed an interest in history—particularly the Colonial era and the American Revolution—sparked by the historical novels of Kenneth Roberts. “I just loved Northwest Passage,” she notes.

She chose social studies as her major at Caldwell and added a minor in secondary education at her mother’s urging. “She kept encouraging me to give education a try,” Denise remembers.

Although her work-school schedule allowed for little in the way of extracurricular activities while at Caldwell, several of Denise’s professors hold a special place in her memory. “Father Perotta, my philosophy professor, was quite a character!” She also remembers studying economics with Sister Mary Robert, art with Sister Julia Marie and social studies with Sisters Loretta Claire and Regina.

Denise had no interest in becoming a teacher but again, her mother urged her to keep an open mind. “She kept telling me to just try it for a year,” Denise recalls. “So, I accepted a practicum post at Clifton High School.”

The school’s principal was launching an exciting new program of cooperative interdepartmental teaching using the block system. Denise joined the faculty and went on to teach there for 27 years. During that time she completed a master’s degree in history at Seton Hall University, followed by two years of post-master’s study at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Over the years, Caldwell would figure prominently in her family history. Her uncle, Father Alfred Arvay, was a Chaplain at Caldwell and her cousin, Marge Jaros, is a Dominican Sister at Caldwell. Two of her cousins graduated from Caldwell as well, in 1966 and 1968. Caldwell College twice helped family members acquire student visas to study here.

When asked what motivated Denise to make a gift in support of Caldwell University, she responded by saying, “It is a good investment.” She adds, “Even as the University grew, I always felt that the Caldwell community would be there for me if I needed them.”

There are many ways you can support Caldwell University with a planned gift, like Denise has. Contact Lori Funicello at lfunicello@caldwell.edu or 973-618-3226 to learn more.

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