The John Cabot University community is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Portia Anne Prebys, Vice Chair of the JCU Board of Trustees, on October 16, 2026, at the age of 82.
A Trustee of the University since 1996, Dr. Prebys became Vice Chair of the Board in 2017 and chaired the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee for many years. For four decades, she was a devoted advocate for JCU and its students.
Originally from South Bend, Indiana, Dr. Prebys came to Italy in the fall of 1966 on a Fulbright scholarship to study Renaissance history, after graduating from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She later earned a doctorate in Italian from the University of Sassari. From 1970, she directed the Saint Mary’s Rome Program, and she served as President of the Association of American Colleges and University Programs in Italy (AACUPI) for many years, and later as Secretary-Treasurer. A firm advocate of the liberal arts and international education, her career was devoted to fostering study abroad opportunities for US students, and to the promotion of American higher education overseas.
From 1977 until his death in 2000, Dr. Prebys was the companion of the celebrated Italian novelist, poet, essayist, and editor Giorgio Bassani. In 2014, she donated Bassani’s bequest to the city of Ferrara: roughly 5,000 books and 9,000 documents, along with articles and works of art. This gift led to the creation of the city’s Center for Bassani Studies (Centro Studi Bassaniani), of which she was the curator. In 2019, the City of Ferrara awarded her the Ippogrifo d’oro, the “Città di Ferrara” prize, in recognition of her generosity.
Dr. Prebys received many honors for her contributions to education and culture. In 2003, John Cabot University awarded her an honorary degree in Humane Letters. In 2004, Saint Mary’s College presented her with the President’s Medal. In 2010, then President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano named her Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for her contribution to international education. In March 2024, the Forum on Education Abroad presented her with its Peter A. Wollitzer Advocacy Award, which recognizes exceptional service in promoting the benefits of education abroad.
On the occasion of JCU’s 50th anniversary in 2022, Dr. Prebys said it had been “a true honor” to serve JCU and its students for four decades. She described the University as “a precious, fully-rigged sailing vessel in constant navigation forward, advancing ever onward to provide excellent international academic experiences that intensify creativity, reduce intergroup bias, and promote lifelong career success for its multinational student body.”
JCU President Antonia Maioni reflected on Dr. Prebys’s passing, stating, “Portia was a cherished member of the John Cabot University family. Her love for the University and dedication to its mission helped shape JCU into the institution it is today.”
Salvatore Salibello, Chair of the JCU Board of Trustees, said, “Portia brought wisdom, generosity, and a larger-than-life presence to every discussion. She cared deeply about JCU and never hesitated to lend her voice and support when the University needed it most.”
