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The Madonna on the Third Floor: A Gift from Alumnus Alan Fischer

by Alice Bampton

Have you noticed the small statue of a woman, her hands held together in prayer, standing inconspicuously in a niche on the third floor of Falvey? Who is she and why is she in the Library? Is she a patron saint of students or libraries? She is the only statue in Falvey; she must be important.

A closer look at the figure shows a plaque on the base of the sculpture: “Dedicated May 16, 1968, in honor of Mr. & [sic] Mrs. Albert K. Fischer on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary. For those I love so much in a place I love. Alan ‘68”   This tells us the first name of the person who donated the statue and the occasion, but there is more to discover.

With the help of the Alumni Office, this writer was able to contact Alan Fischer ’68, who generously shared the following information: “I have always had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother and a deep love for my parents. Consequently I saved for four years at Villanova to purchase the statue as a way to thank them all for the help I received to get through Villanova.” Fischer’s graduation from Villanova University coincided with his parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, and they are the Mr. and Mrs. Albert K. Fischer named on the plaque at the base of the figure.

Alan Fischer '68

To have the statue made and then donated to the Library, Fischer first contacted the Rev. Richard Appicci (1928-2007), OSA, a professor of religious education and, from 1965 until 1967, the Vice President of Student Affairs. Father Appicci put Fischer in touch with the Rev. Henry Syvinski (1919-1999), OSA, artist, faculty member and adviser to various student organizations. Father Syvinski sent Fischer to the Rev. Louis A. Rongione (1912-1980), OSA, who was library director at the time.

Father Rongione had the statue hand carved in Italy and found the marble pedestal in a campus basement. The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes arrived at Villanova University after Fischer had graduated, so his parents, who lived in Bethlehem, Pa., saw her before he did. They “fell in love with it.”

Fischer joined the United States Navy upon graduation and, as a pilot, flew 170 missions over North Vietnam. He says, “I feel that the Blessed Mother helped me survive.” After leaving the Navy, he became a pilot for American Airlines, retiring after 32 years. Married for 28 years and the father of four children, he lives in Carlsbad, Calif., and says, “Life is good.”

The Falvey statue of Our Lady of Lourdes is a small (approximately three feet tall) painted wood version of the large statue which stands in a niche at Lourdes, France. She wears a white robe with a blue sash and a long white veil. A golden rosary hangs from her right arm and a golden rose adorns each foot, just as we see on the original statue at Lourdes.

In 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous near the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. The Virgin told Bernadette that people should come to the site and that a chapel should be built. The Virgin also told Bernadette, “I am the Immaculate Conception,” a dogma Pope Pius IX defined in December 1854. (More information about Our Lady of Lourdes.)

Photograph by Alice Bampton


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2 Comments »

  1. Comment by Stephen Liquori — August 23, 2022 @ 6:19 PM

    I remember Alan coming to our Cedar Grove NJ home as he was helping to recruit my brother to Villanova. That is where I first hear of the G-Force upon take off from a carrier. What a life.

  2. Comment by Shawn Proctor — August 25, 2022 @ 1:23 PM

    Thank you, Stephen! That’s a great memory to share!

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Last Modified: April 4, 2012

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