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Week Two: TCU Chancellor Michael Ferrari's House
Anyway, Boschini is much younger than Ferrari, who's about 60 I think. He has four kids, ranging in age from 7 to 15, so to accommodate such a large family, TCU is adding onto the house on Bellaire Circle. Boschini comes to TCU from Illinois State Unviersity, where he was president for the past three years, and another position before that. Chicago mob ties, I swear. TCU's satirical newspaper, The Sniff, thinks Boschini bears resemblance to John Malkovich. Whenever they write stories about the new chancellor, they call him Malkovich. I see the similarity, but I think Boschini looks more like a 40-something Scottie Godley.
Toward the back, there's a poolhouse and a guest house, plus a large swimming pool and diving board. Large oak trees dot the landscape, and there are some pine trees in the backyard, too.
In this picture at left, you can barely see Chancellor Ferrari talking with Brian Casebolt at the far end of the lawn, in front of the big oak. Above is the poolhouse at left and the guest house at right. The wrought-iron & brick fence encloses the pool. As you can see, the lawn is carefully manicured, and the slate walkway is edged beautifully. Ferrari doesn't do this himself of course. Below is a closer shot of the pool.
Brooke is very happy that she was invited to the barbecue. Student Foundation represents the top 1% of campus, so she knows that not everybody gets to party down with Chancellor Ferrari. Hence, her wide smile.
Here I am, sitting on the fountain's edge. Just behind the spurting fountain is a granite frog that perches on the ledge. It's TCU, of course there has to be some frog relics here and there. Well that was the tour! Most TCU students never get a chance to visit the chancellor's house, so I consider myself very lucky. Plus it's my duty as a webmaster to get you as close to the action as possible, so digital pictures will have to do. |
THE
VOORN PROJECT |
The
head of Texas Christian University is the Chancellor, Dr. Michael Ferrari
(left). He lives in a house southwest of campus in a beautiful
old neighborhood. The house itself is actually owned by TCU, it
was purchased just before Ferrari became chancellor in 1998. It's
on a big street with a circular driveway and plenty of backyard room for
entertaining. A few weeks ago, Dr. Ferrari invited TCU's Student
Foundation to his house for a barbecue. I, of course, came with
camera in hand.
This
is Dr. Ferrari's last year at TCU. In May he is retiring and moving
to Chicago where his family lives. On June 1, TCU's new chancellor,
Don Vittorio Boschini will take over. His name isn't really Don
Vittorio, it's Victor Boschini. I swear TCU has connections to the
Italian Mafia...Ferrari...Boschini...
The
house has a huge front lawn, and it's dark red brick with navy blue trim.
A purple TCU flag always flies from the front. The kitchen was remodeled
when the Ferraris moved in, to be extra large with a huge refrigerator
for benefit parties and stuff chancellors have to do. There's a
baby grand piano in the rear salon that looks out to the backyard.
A large fountain adorns the center of the backyard, and when there are
parties, TCU dining services employees come to set up tables on the lawn.
For
the Student Foundation barbecue, they set up tables and served hamburgers
and roast chicken sandwiches, which of course, I opted for. I ate
with John-Mark Day, John Billingsley, and Brooke Vining, all seniors who
are not required to be at meetings, but couldn't pass up an opportunity
for a barbecue at Ferrari's. Another woman whose primary job at
TCU is to cater to the needs of Dr. and Mrs. Ferrari sat with us briefly.
Her job is sort of like a social secretary for events at the house and
other alumni/fundraising events that the Ferraris go to. She gave
us the lowdown on the house, what was renovated, and what will be renovated
when the Boschinis move in. She does things like set up appointments
for the Boschinis at area private schools, to see where they want their
kids to attend school. Probably Trinity Valley or Country Day, she
said.
