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MCC Daily Tribune

Passing of Monroe Community College President Emeritus Dr. Peter A. Spina

With great sadness, I announce the passing of Dr. Peter A. Spina, Monroe Community College's third and longest-serving president. President Emeritus Spina led the College from January 1, 1982 to November 1, 1999. In recognition of his exceptional career, the Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to rename Building 1 the Peter A. Spina Administration Building in 2007.

President Emeritus Spina’s accomplishments contributed to MCC being regarded as one of the finest community colleges in the nation. Some of his notable achievements include:

  • Record enrollment growth, with minority students increasing to 24% of the student body.
  • Establishing the Monroe Community College Foundation in 1983.
  • Launching the 2+2 Dual Admission Degree Programs in 1985.
  • The opening of the Richard M. Guon Child Care Center in 1991 and the Applied Technologies Center in 1997.
  • Opening the Damon City Campus in 1992. The downtown campus would become home to a number of academic programs, including Law/Criminal Justice, Education, and Human Services.

Under Dr. Spina’s leadership, MCC achieved induction into the League for Innovation in the Community College, the most prestigious organization of community colleges in the nation. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the League and as Commissioner and an Executive Committee Member for the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In 1994, Dr. Spina chaired the Rochester Area Colleges organization, providing leadership to an advocacy agency representing 17 colleges in the Greater Rochester area.

He served on many professional, community, and corporate boards and was named one of the fifty top transformational leaders at American community colleges. He received the Association of Community College Trustees’ Thomas Peters Leadership Award in 1994 and was named Outstanding CEO in 1998.

President Emeritus Spina is survived by his brothers, David (Stephanie) and Mark (Roberto Martinez); sisters, Ann Hyman (Larry) and Rosemary (Kevin Melton); stepson William Balderston V; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

At Dr. Spina’s request, there will be no formal service in his memory. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Monroe Community College Foundation, 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623, in his memory.

Dr. Spina’s legacy lives on in the values, programs, and aspirations that continue to guide our institution. We are grateful for his profound contributions to Monroe Community College and to the countless lives he touched.

DeAnna Burt-Nanna
Office of the President
12/01/2025