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Two Notre Dame Alumni Make a Difference in Romania, with Enhanced Images: Aiding Romanians to Recover From a Dictatorship

This book memorializes the collaboration of two alumni from the University of NotreDame (ND) in the United States, American Frank J. Ponzio Jr. and Romanian George Arghir, to help the people of Romania, a former Iron Curtain country, to recover from 45 years of living and working under a dictatorship to transition to living and working in a free democratic society. The common respect, trust, and values of these ND alumni and their commitment to achieve results are reflected in this unique and inspiring story. Theircommitment was exemplified by educating people in Romania how to apply their academic knowledge to expand educational opportunities for themselves and otherRomanians, build their own careers, and build and attract new businesses. The authors leveraged 25 years of information technology (IT) expertise, resources, and the relationships of Ponzio’s company Symbolic Systems Inc. and Arghir’s knowledge of Romanian culture, customs, and position in higher education to bring their ambitious plans to fruition. Assistance from leaders such as Baroness Margaret Thatcher, King Michael of Romania, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Society of General Surveillance, and the Activity for Innovation and Economic Growth’s George Handy was instrumental to the success of the project. The authors’ efforts also attracted the broad support of the people of Romania, president of Notre Dame University Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, Princess Margareta of Romania, the presidents of Romania, the International Monetary Fund, ambassadors from both countries, US businesses, the Romanian community in Cluj-Napoca, and the Romanian Diaspora in the United States.