The Spectrum

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News

Actor and SHU alumnus, John Ratzenberger, is named to Board of Trustees.

Sacred Heart University has recently named the actor and former Sacred Heart student, John Ratzenberger, to its Board of Trustees.

Ratzenberger is best known for his role in the television show, "Cheers," in which he was twice nominated for an Emmy award in the "Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series" category.

During his college years, according to his official website, Ratzenberger was an English literature major and participated in the drama club at Sacred Heart.

"As an understudy placed in the lead at the last moment, he forgot his lines and entirely improvised the second and third act of Tennessee William's "Summer and Smoke," bringing the audience to a standing ovation. He continued with lead roles in subsequent plays," according to Ratzenberger.com.

He is affiliated with several humanitarian effort groups including the "Juvenile Diabetes Foundation" and "Nuts and Bolts foundation." He is very passionate about all types of groups that help children.

Last year he was seen as a celebrity contestant on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," in which he supplied many humorous moments throughout the show.

The Boston Globe reported that Ratzenberger is a successful screenwriter and director and has lent his distinctive voice to many feature films.

He has lent his voice to several Pixar films such as: "Ratatouille," "Cars," "Toy Story," and "A Bug's Life," just to name a few.

Juniors Nicole Gomes and Nicole Betz feel that the hiring of Ratzenberger says a lot for Sacred Heart and that the impact will be positive.

"I think the hiring of Ratzenberger is good for SHU and it will probably bring good publicity for the university. By being an alumnus, I'm sure he has seen how far Sacred Heart has come over the years. Hopefully he has a great vision to continue the growth," said Gomes.

Betz agrees with the idea that Ratzenberger will bring awareness to the Sacred Heart community.

"I think it's a big step to have someone in the public eye to be on the board of trustees. Hopefully SHU will gain more money from the publicity that he can bring," said Betz.

According to a Sacred Heart press release, Ratzenberger is very connected to his Bridgeport roots and he actively participates in local events.

Also, his latest television show, "John Ratzenberger's Made in America," will appear on The Travel Channel this April. Each episode includes a look at several American manufacturers and how daily items are made.

Ratzenberger helped to develop biodegradable and non-toxic recycled paper for alternative packaging products. His official website says, "John has since sold his creation, which is now sold in over 58 countries, and counting."

"I think that naming him as a Trustee is a wonderful idea," said Professor Laurence Weinstein, Walsh College of Business. "John is well known nationally, he is a great actor and also someone dedicated to conserving our environment."

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