March 18 , 2005 Print this page

La Salle University Honors Alum William Sasso, Esq.
with its Charter Award for Helping Others to Receive an Education

This was one recognition ceremony that William Sasso, Esq. couldn’t pass up.

Well-known for his philanthropic works in health care and education, Sasso’s typical practice was to decline invitations to be honored by the organizations he’s helped, but he couldn’t say no when La Salle University, his alma mater, wanted to present him with its Charter Award, given for civic contributions.

“I’ve been asked by a number of institutions to be an honoree, and I’ve always passed,” says Sasso, who is a member of La Salle’s Board of Trustees. “I’d much rather support an event honoring someone else, usually a friend, but I think in this particular case, La Salle has done so much for me, I felt I should accept. It’s just a question of paying back an institution that has had such a positive influence in my life.”

A 1969 graduate of La Salle, Sasso is a partner and chairman of the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young. He also serves as Chairman, Board of Trustees, of the Holy Redeemer Health System; was appointed by Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street to serve on the Children’s Commission Advisory Committee; is a trustee of the Leo Niessen Jr. Charitable Foundation, which benefits inner-city youth and working women in need, and received a papal knighthood as a Knight of St. Gregory from
Pope John Paul II.

Sasso served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2003-2004). In this role, he oversaw the Chamber’s Executive Committee and its Board of Directors, which included advancing the business community’s agenda. He continues to serve on the Chamber’s Board and Executive Committee, and he is also a member of the Paradigm Award Committee which honors the outstanding business woman of the year. He also serves on the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Board and Executive Committee.

"I have become a great admirer of Bill Sasso and am grateful that La Salle has recognized him with the Leadership Award. As a fellow lawyer, I have watched his strong and calm leadership style as he works to make La Salle a better place,” said William Mathews, Esq., President of La Salle’s Alumni Association. “Bill never seeks the limelight. He is someone I try to emulate in my personal and professional life."

Sasso grew up a few blocks from the La Salle’s campus. He majored in economics at La Salle, and took courses with two legendary teachers in that department, Joseph Flubacher and Joseph Cairo.

“Professor Flubacher was a tremendous, positive influence on my life, and also a kind, gentle man,” said Sasso. “He had a real gift for education and was incredibly patient, compassionate, and enthusiastic. That came through in class each and every day.”

As for Cairo, “I admired his creativity and uniqueness,” recalled Sasso. “He was the reason I became interested in film. He was an incredible film buff, especially foreign films, and he developed analogies in the classroom to different films that he loved, some of Truffaut’s films, Fellini’s films. He was a very creative, imaginative guy.”

Sasso knew he always wanted to be a lawyer (and was involved in the school’s pre-law society), and majored in economics. After classes he’d ride a bus to a General Electric supply company and worked on administering government contracts.

“It was the best job I had growing up,” he says. “I obtained it through La Salle’s placement office. My boss was a fellow who never went to college, who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, and he wanted to provide a work environment for college students. He arranged a flexible schedule for us so the job wouldn’t intrude on our schoolwork."

He says it was his experiences at La Salle, and working at the GE office, that he realized the value of helping others achieve their dreams of a college education.

“I find it personally rewarding, especially given my background. I’ve always been interested in helping inner city kids, and the special education field,” he says. “I’ve tried to focus, to the best of my ability, to help students get a good education.”