Anthony J., ’66, and Ruth (Jeranek) Nocella’s belief in giving back led to one of the largest donations La Salle University has received in recent years.

For Anthony (Tony) J., ’66, and Ruth (Jeranek) Nocella, giving back and acknowledging those that have helped you along the way is important.

“What goes around comes around,” Tony said. “We’re put on this earth to do something for people, and I became able to do so.”

For the Nocellas, La Salle University is one of the places that affected their lives greatly. And that ethos led to one of the largest donations the University has received in recent years.

Tony didn’t think he would go to college. He graduated from Bishop Neumann High School in 1959 thinking his only option was to get a job. However, a conversation with a friend during a game of basketball opened his eyes to the idea of La Salle and its night programs.

Tony applied, was accepted, and started studying at 20th and Olney, taking three evening classes a week in tandem with working full time and starting his career.

After his first year, which he spent majoring in physics and mathematics, Tony spoke to Brother Emery Mollenhauer, FSC, dean of the evening division at the time, about how the course work wasn’t what he hoped it would be. Br. Emery suggested the newly emerging computer science field might be a better fit for Tony to study.

“The Brothers knew who I was, they knew my situation, they knew I liked math, they knew I liked science,” Tony said. “They sort of pushed me into the computer science world.”

This conversation, one that really started the trajectory his career would take, is one of Tony’s favorite memories when he looks back at his time at 20th and Olney.

Tony continued taking evening classes while working during the day, until 1961, when he joined the U.S. Air Force, and trained as a medic.

After he returned to Philadelphia from active duty, Tony re-enrolled at La Salle, this time majoring in computer science and accounting, and continued to work while going to class. While at La Salle for the second time, Tony worked at a CPA firm. He also remained in the Air Force Reserves.

Tony took the CPA exam in May of 1966 and graduated from La Salle in June, receiving the Michael A. DeAngelis award at graduation. He also received the award in 1985, this time as a graduate leader.

“He got his bachelor’s degree – while working 40 hours or more a week and staying in the Air Force – in six years,” Ruth said. “Which I think is pretty remarkable.”

Ruth earned her undergraduate degree from Temple University financed by a Philadelphia City Scholarship for grades and financial need. Unlike La Salle at the time, Temple was coed, but Tony often brought her to 20th and Olney while they were dating to watch some of the plays.

“They were great, the drama plays,” she recalled. “It was lovely.”

The couple both got their master’s degrees from Temple, graduating together in 1971.

Ruth’s appreciation for La Salle and the Explorer community extends much further than theatre, though.

“La Salle fulfilled his needs,” she said. “His love of La Salle was just outstanding, and the people we met, Tony just loved and felt so much for.”

After graduating, Tony had a long and illustrious career with jobs in both Pennsylvania and Texas, where the Nocellas now live. First, he moved from the CPA firm to KPMG. The next stop in his career was American Medicorp, known now as Humana. From there, he went to the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS), the largest bank in the country at the time, and the place he credits with making him a banker. After 14 years at PSFS, Tony headed to Wall Street, where he started several banks.

In 1970, Ruth and Tony got married, and went on to have two daughters and a son.

His time in the workforce was often intertwined with people and lessons he learned at La Salle.

“La Salle didn’t make it just a one course education; they made it a wellrounded education,” he said. “And we talked about what was right and wrong first, and secondly what was the most effective.”

Even while climbing the career ladder, Tony continued to be involved with his alma mater.

He has served as a member of the Council of President’s Associates and the University Board of Trustees, retiring recently for health reasons.

As well as offering his time, the Nocellas’ have been making financial contributions to La Salle for decades. They’ve been loyal donors to the School of Business, the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign, Day of Giving Campaigns, and much more.

“The reason I contribute to La Salle is because I believe in their mission and morals,” Tony said.

In 2008, they established the Anthony J., ’66, and Ruth Nocella Endowed Scholarship, through which more than 50 scholarship awards have been given to La Salle students. As of 2025, the Nocella Endowed Scholarship was valued at nearly $2 million.

The Nocella Endowed Scholarship will be modified to align with their newest act of generosity: The Anthony J., ’66, and Ruth Nocella Student Success Initiative.

Established in 2025, and starting in the fall of the same year, the Nocella Student Success Fund is funded through a $1,250,000 gift
from the Nocellas.

Tony said that there were two main drivers for giving so generously.

The first goes back to the idea he’s always lived by; you should give back to those who give to you.

“Now was the time for me to give back to La Salle,” he gave as the second reason. “I didn’t want to wait around.”

To qualify for assistance, students must be undergraduates taking a minimum of nine credits per semester, maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA, demonstrate unmet financial need determined by Student Financial Services, and be residents of Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, or Chester County.

With a nod to Tony’s time at La Salle, priority will be given to students who are working in either a job or an internship while they pursue their degree.

“I think it’s going to help by keeping the students that go to La Salle to continue to go there,” Tony said. “I’m excited about the idea that we’re going to emphasize a local geographic area, and we’re going to look at people that are going to be working, showing that they need the money too.”

La Salle is not the only place that has benefitted from the Nocellas’ generosity. Tony and Ruth have been involved with over 30 nonprofits throughout their lives, both in Philadelphia and Houston.

While the Nocellas’ generosity will continue to help students financially, Tony also shared wisdom from his own life experiences.

“Your education should tie into what you think you might do for the rest of your life, and you find that out by trying to do things,” he said. “And make sure you embrace change, and that will teach you just as much as La Salle does.”

-Naomi Thomas