Welcome to The Legacy Family Spotlight, a monthly feature highlighting the proud tradition of attending Siena where green and gold runs through the generations. January’s edition showcases the heartwarming story of the Papa family, whose deep-rooted connection to Siena spans not just generations, but centuries.
When asked to share why Siena held such a special place in the hearts and memories of the Papa family, Deb (Papa) Bouchard ’80, the family’s unofficial historian, started to share the ties between Siena and their household. Growing up in a Sicilian household, the concept of "famiglia" always held immense significance for the Papa family. It symbolized inclusion, community, belonging, and shared values. These characteristics also radiate through Siena’s campus and mission. When their grandparents arrived in the United States in 1914, the Papa’s grew to understand the power of education and connected with Siena’s core mission of being a learning community rooted in its identity as a Franciscan and Catholic institution. It was these values that drew three generations and 35 members of the Papa family to choose Siena as their home for their undergraduate education experience.
The family's commitment to education has led to the establishment of two scholarships, the Salvatore, Josephine, and Melissa Papa Scholarship, and the John Papa Scholarship. These scholarships reflect their appreciation for Siena's values and their desire to give back to the community that means so much to them.
However, the Papa family's passion for Siena is not just for the exceptional education and value system, it is also for Siena basketball! Deb was a leader in the creation of the College’s first ever co-ed cheer team. One notable experience happened during the 1988-89 NCAA tournament, when alumni flew to Greensboro to support the team during the “measles year”, a year where fans were not allowed to attend games due to an outbreak of the disease. As spirit teams do, the Papa family, with Jack Mulvey ’65 coordinated live music marching into the arena. Their trips also included cheering on the Siena Saints in numerous NCAA tournament appearances, like the thrilling victory over Ohio State in 2009. The trip in 2009 was highlighted by a pre-game mass in a hotel room presided over by Father Kevin Mullen ’75 O.F.M. These Siena memories and many more have been shared through generations at the family dinner table which has inspired multiple generations of Papas to enroll at Siena College.
Jessica Bouchard ’16 still uses her parents Deb ’80 and Terry ’78 Bouchard’s season tickets who currently live in Florida. While Madelyn Papa ’24, the most recent Siena Saint carries on the family legacy majoring in Software Development. Her father John Papa ’95 is a partner at Cloud Advocate for Microsoft, and has returned to Siena to teach as an adjunct professor .
Siena College holds a special place in the hearts of the Papa family. The values, traditions, and the sense of community at Siena are deeply ingrained in their family history. Through scholarships, career success, and unforgettable moments of supporting the Siena basketball team, the Papa family epitomizes the spirit of Siena, where the past, present, and future intersect in a legacy of pride, success, and devotion.