Robert J. Lamendola

Robert J. Lamendola, ’72, credits Buffalo State College with much of his success. Raised on Buffalo’s west side, his family moved to the Town of Tonawanda when he was 13. Following his graduation from Kenmore East High School, Mr. Lamendola served in the Air Force during the Vietnam conflict.

When he first came to Buffalo State, Mr. Lamendola was more interested in athletics than academics, but quickly established himself as a dedicated student. His academic achievement was recognized by the sociology department in 1971 when he was named the first recipient of the Neumann-Clement Memorial Award. He completed his degree in sociology in 2½ years, graduating summa cum laude.

While his career has taken him far from Western New York, he continues to support Buffalo State as a member of the Buffalo State College Foundation board of directors. In appreciation of his ongoing dedication to the students at Buffalo State, Mr. Lamendola received the Distinguished Alumni Award (2003), the President’s Circle Individual Philanthropic Leadership Award (2006), and the Buffalo State College Foundation’s Chair Recognition Award (2009).