ISSUE 4
THE BROSNAN ERA 1 9 9 0 - 2 0 2 0
MAY 2020
TEACHER PRINCIPAL PRESIDENT ROLE MODEL A LOOK INTO MR. BROSNAN'S 30-YEAR CAREER AT ARCHBISHOP MITTY HIGH SCHOOL
01
A LEGACY — of —
MONARCH PRIDE
1990
2020
As the new decade begins, Mitty’s Brosnan Era approaches its end. Asked for a quote he feels defined his philosophy, Mr. Brosnan responded with the words of Max De Pree:
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.”
By Kristie Park, Jenna Mollerus, Kayla Riggs, Nathan Chou, Hannah Chang & Claire Kim
This is a story of gratitude, innovation,
Two weeks ago, we sat down with
and ambition, the story of an individual
Mr.
who—though he hadn't even intended on
homes,
entering education in the first place—has
interview.
redefined
Mitty’s
reality
into
the
institution and community it is today.
Brosnan he
During last year’s graduation address,
beginning
that
final
genesis
of
of
Monarch
the
Madness,
unbroken
the
three-decade
unapologetic
streak of Kairos trips, the construction of a new campus, the establishment of a ethos
no,
centered
encouraged,
to
supportive,
of
a
optimism, where we have been allowed,
working,
place
office—for
our
in the monochromatic ink of newsprint: the
a
his
in
What resulted was the daunting task of
they had “walked on hallowed ground,” “is
in
more—we
capturing his story and enormous legacy
Mr. Brosnan told the class of 2019 that
Mitty
once
be
spirited,
hard-
faith-filled,
and
even silly.”
student
around culture
and
could
justice be
and
called
a
not
just a community, but a family.
As of right now, the hallways of this
Though
there
hallowed ground are silent, devoid of the
connecting
bustle
of
unmistakable
to
conveyed
a
gratitude
that
of
faith that
students
conversations
as
we
and
hubbub
instead
seek
embody these values at home. Yet one office on campus remains
us
but Mr.
sincerity sentiment words
capture.
open: Mr. Brosnan’s.
So without further ado, here is “A Legacy of Monarch Pride.”
was
with
phone
line
Brosnan,
a
the
in and
could
his
voice
sense never
of
fully
02
SECTION 1
THE EARLY YEARS
“I’ve never met a person more steadfast about a vision that he thinks matters for Catholic education. It has to do with presence... with being there and available and involved... with not compromising your standards once you understand them.”
—Mr. Keith Mathews—
T
a
small,
hough
it
may
be
difficult
to
imagine
an
Archbishop Mitty without a Tim Brosnan leading it, that nearly inconceivable place certainly existed for roughly three decades. Founded in 1964, Mitty was originally
all-male,
Catholic
high
school
under
the
administration of the Marianist Priests. Indeed, the Mitty we see
today
is
entirely
different
from
the
one
that
was
established nearly 60 years ago: presently, the school situated on 5000 Mitty Ave. prides itself on being a co-ed institution built
from
a
commitment
to
faith,
academic
distinction,
service, and extracurricular achievement. To put it simply, the individuals who helped create Mitty had a vision of excellence
for
the
school.
But
it
was
Mr.
Brosnan
who A
expanded that vision.
shot
from
the
1975
Bellarmine
yearbook.
The
description reads, “Tim Brosnan, the young frosh
Surprisingly enough, however, education was far from
coach, spoke enthusiasitcally about his squad...”
his initial career path—he started off studying law at the University of Notre Dame. “I didn’t have any intention of mindset
Yet, this all in, all the time mindset was not limited to
drastically changed when he received an important phone call
the court—it is an ethos that has been embedded into his
from someone who had been influential in his past: his high
teaching philosophy, and ultimately, his leadership. As Mr.
school principal. Having always believed Mr. Brosnan would
Mathews elaborates, “He doesn’t give in. He didn’t give in
make a good educator, his old principal wondered if he would
as a coach, and he doesn’t give in as a professional. He’s not
consider
belligerent,
being
a
teacher,”
returning
Mr.
to
Brosnan
his
alma
recalls.
mater
Such
to
a
teach.
Though
he’s
not
argumentative,
he
doesn’t
get
any
hesitant at first, Mr. Brosnan eventually agreed to give it a
technical fouls in board meetings nowadays, but he doesn’t
try. He never looked back.
bend in terms of what’s important.” After working alongside Mr. Brosnan for most of his
A few years after accepting the proposal to teach, Mr. College
own career, Mr. Mathews offers further explanation as to
Preparatory not only as a teacher, but also as a basketball
why experiences such as those have allowed him to stay
coach. It was at Bellarmine where Mr. Brosnan met and
motivated and inspired by Mr. Brosnan throughout much of
quickly became friends with now-Associate Principal Mr.
his professional life: “The reason I keep working with him is
Mathews, who was coaching the JV team at the time. And it
because I’ve never met a person more steadfast about a
was there that the coaches kept a running wager: whichever
vision that he thinks matters for Catholic education. It has to
coach received a technical foul would buy the other coaches
do with presence. It has to do with being there and available
drinks after the game. To put it bluntly, Mr. Brosnan lost this
and involved. It has to do with not compromising your
bet more times than he won it. “He was animated and an
standards once you understand them.”
Brosnan
found
himself
working
at
Bellarmine
From his time spent teaching and coaching at Bell and
advocate for his teams,” Mr. Mathews explains, “a very involved coach who cared deeply for his kids and was going
St.
Martin’s,
to defend them against any poor referee’s call.”
enamored by the field of education. He notes that "the
Mr.
Brosnan
found
himself
completely
03 community, the sense of family, the great sense of hospitality, and, especially at Mitty, the joyfulness of the events and the sense of togetherness” was what truly made him fall in love with the career he had never planned on pursuing. As Mr. Brosnan states, “You’re not going to make a fortune doing education, but you can certainly live a very fulfilling life.” Fast forward to 1990: the Marianist Priests were struggling to find enough staff to support the two high schools they were managing––Archbishop Mitty and Riordan––and Mr. Brosnan was placed on the committee to search for a new principal. Instead, he applied for the position himself, and was later hired. Mr. Brosnan entered the Mitty administration with an optimistic mindset: “I considered it [Mitty] a place with great potential that hadn’t been fully realized.” Equipped with the same unwavering passion and determination he showed in his teaching and basketball coaching, Mr. Brosnan set forth to shape Mitty into what we know it as today. As he says himself, “My goal was a phrase I’ve used many times over the last thirty years: to be the best Catholic college prep high school imaginable… that’s the vision I entered Mitty with.”
SECTION 2
A SENSE OF SOMETHING GREATER “If you know me well you know that I don't settle for second best,” Mr. Brosnan emphasized. “I think if you are going to do something you should do it to the best of your ability, and do it collaboratively and collegially. I think that is one of the reasons that Mitty is so special.”
I
t has been thirty years now since Mr. Brosnan first
joined
the
Mitty
community:
thirty
years
during which he helped to transform the school so that
every
Monarch
today
can
feel
that
there
continues to be something special here.
As Ms. Caputo says, “things are a little different at
Mitty.” You see it in the banners in the gym, in the dozens of seniors who give up their time to write personalized birthday cards to
students, and in the thousands of joined
To be the best high school imaginable, more than anything, is to be a school where students take pride in being part of something greater than themselves. It is this fierce communal
orientation screaming
identity
leaders
clad
“WELCOME
that’s in
manifested bright
in
yellow
FRESHMEN!”
or
the
sea
shirts in
morning prayer where for a few minutes everything on
Whatever it is, there’s a sense of something that is undeniably
present.
And
it
is
that
something
that
Mr.
Brosnan has nurtured into tangible greatness, instilling it within every member of the student body. It has become an identity and source of pride that Brosnan’s Mitty urges students to not only embrace, but also pass on year after year,
ensuring
that
every
new
class
of
Monarchs
understands the significance of that title.
hands which come together at the end of each assembly.
and
campus comes to a stand still.
of
and the
“We made a push to change the way we do welcome night,” Ms. Caputo explains, “because we wanted the senior class to tell the freshmen, 'Understand what we did, because it's your turn to pick up the torch and run with it. You are the next generation of Mitty.’ That type of community building, that type of
legacy—that
comes
from Mr. Bros-
nan and his commitment to…making sure every student
04 and
every
employee
understands
that
we
are
part
of
something much bigger than ourselves.” From writing an Alma Mater under which the Monarch community stands “united by God’s call” in “loyalty and pride,” to coming together to sing this anthem “more times than any other high school
of
our
size,”
(according
to
Mr.
Mathews),
Mr.
Brosnan’s administration has continuously sought to ensure that
every
student
can
take
pride
in
the
fruits
of
our
excellence and hospitality. It’s been a successful pursuit— that much is evident in the sea of school swag flooding the hallways—yet the work is still not over, for as long as we continue to imagine, there’s no limit to what the best high school imaginable can be.
Equipped with a casual AMHS hoodie, a cross, and his signature hat, Mr, Brosnan shares a conversation with two Monarchs.
SECTION 3
NEVER SETTLE When asked about the school’s direction, Ms. Caputo
musicians
have
woven
together
countless
stories
of
oppression, liberation, and redemption. Sports teams have been sweeping up victories left and right—so many that, in Mr. Brosnan’s words, “it is no wonder that the banners in the rafters have begun to block out the light in the gym.” The Speech and Debate Team has achieved an unbroken streak of state championship wins as well as a national championship. MAP students have traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with national legislators and have had their voices represented in the laws that govern our country. But with a principal turned president who said “never
pinpointed the key questions that Mr. Brosnan would
get complacent,” it truly is no wonder that we’ve been
ask: “What more can we do? How do we make this
“unable to settle for mediocrity” — resilience has become
better? What are we doing next?”
a matter of both school and personal pride.
I
“If you know me well you know that I don't settle for t is this theme of limitless potential that has become
second best,” Mr. Brosnan emphasized. “I think if you
the heart of the Mitty mindset. The determination of
are going to do something you should do it to the best of
students to reach beyond what they first believe is
your ability, and do it collaboratively and collegially. I
possible is an
think that is one of the reasons that Mitty is so special.”
embodiment
of
Mitty's.
creativity
and growth. Asked
about
At the very heart of this commitment to excellence is the
school’s
direction,
Ms.
Caputo
the Mitty staff that Mr. Brosnan has led throughout his
pinpointed the key questions that Mr. Brosnan has always
career. Ms. Caputo explains how this formation of a
considered: “What more can we do? How do we make this
“dream
better? What are we doing next?”
passionate people with differing strengths but a universal
This desire to always do more has influenced students to
team”
occurred:
through
selecting
the
most
desire to better Mitty’s campus.
follow in his footsteps. He has taught Mitty that being a
Determined speech and debate coaches, creative
Monarch is concurrent with excellence—excellence in the
performing arts directors, enthusiastic athletics coaches,
classroom, on the field or stage, and most importantly, in the
knowledgeable
ways we support one another. And without Mr. Brosnan’s
individuals brought together by Mr. Brosnan’s search for
efforts, this simply would not have been feasible.
excellence have carved the remarkable history of Mitty
In Performing Arts amid the power ballads, hilarious interludes and heartwarming dialogue, student actors and
teachers,
and
so
many
more;
these
by his side, producing next level students along the way.
05 Because of this, Mr. Brosnan’s dedication to always striving for more will remain a fixture of Mitty’s character. As Ms. Caputo says, one of Brosnan’s greatest accomplishments is that “he has successfully hired the right people to lead Mitty into the future.” Mr. Eagleson concludes, “He invigorated the staff by giving them the freedom to create. He empowered people to lead in new ways. We all felt a part of the building process—we were creating a new identity from an already proud community.”
SECTION 4
PROUD TO BE ONE OF US “I have vivid recollections of him working alongside us to build a balloon arch late into the night on the evening before Homecoming. That was the big thing, to me, as a student. He wasn't just a bystander...he was part of everything.” —Mr. Brian Eagleson—
A
sk anyone on campus if they’ve been to
wasn't just a bystander, he was part of everything.”
every single Monarch Madness and only one
person
will
be
able
to
respond
affirmatively: Mr. Brosnan. From dancing in a pair of jeans and bandana to throwing
the showdown pitch across the Civic Center, Mr. Brosnan has attended and been a part of twenty-nine Monarch Madnesses —every single year since the night’s debut in 1992. Yet the dance floor is not the only place you can find him—he’s at the football games; he's on at least one Kairos a year; and he's leading Exodus or in the audience for musical productions. Perhaps you’ll see him in the hallway, walking amongst the students offering a wave here, a smile there. He didn't just build a community—he became a part of
This willingness and excitement Mr. Brosnan has to embrace all things Mitty is, at its core, rooted in love. It has almost never felt like a job to him, and never has he called campus “work.” If we students, who spend four years at Mitty, feel like this school has become our home, we can only imagine what it has become to the man who has poured nearly
half
his
lifetime
into
Mitty
is
extraordinarily
precious
deeply in his heart.”
Mr. Eagleson, who was a Mitty student when Mr.
his
vision,
and
his
with
presence. He was at
everything. He was at every game, he helped decorate for dances, and he was a willing participant in rallies. I have vivid recollections of him working alongside us to build a balloon
arch
late
into
the
night,
the
evening
before
Homecoming. That was the big thing to me as a student. He
In
Ms.
want to say that Mitty is one of his children, but I also know
sentiments that linger years after graduation.
energy,
flourish.
know, and I think he feels that way about Mitty too. I don't
gifted his energy, his passion, his love for all things Mitty—
his
it
Caputo’s words, “This man is the proudest grandfather I
it. And to every student that’s been part of it as well, he’s
Brosnan first arrived, reflects, “He infused the school
seeing
Mr. Brosnan in the Monarch Madness Mindset, dancing the night away.
to
him.
It
is
embedded
06
SECTION 5
GROUNDED IN GRATITUDE Of all the things that have made Mr. Brosnan’s job fulfilling, one stands out more than the rest: “seeing students evolve...and embrace the idea that justice is a critical component of living a complete life.”
I
ndeed,
are
“The overwhelming feeling I have, after being here so
meaningless without heart. Of all that exemplifies
innovation,
ambition,
success—all
long, and having the honor of being the lead administrator,”
Mitty, none is more integral than the hearts of its
Mr Brosnan says, “is gratitude.”
students; hearts, one could say, “on fire."
After a long conversation revisiting his 30-year career at
Education, success, self-betterment—all of these hold
significance only in the context of the people we become. We,
the
Mitty
community,
accomplishments, but
thrive
because
not
because
thankfulness
has
of
our
been in-
terwoven into our journey. In Mr. Brosnan’s words, “start
Mitty, a moment of silence settles over us as the meaning of all this soaks in. “Gratitude,” Mr. Brosnan eventually repeats. The weight of that emotion rings clear in his voice. It is a sentiment echoed back to him by every student, teacher and alumni that this school has touched, and one that sits heavily with us now
and end with gratitude.” “I honestly believe that even if you go through Mitty and have a 4.9 GPA and have taken every AP course in the world and get accepted to an elite institution,” Mr. Brosnan says, "your journey is not complete until you have a sense of all these gifts being given to you and are a person for the
as we prepare to issue our own final thank you to the man and leader who has created the stepping stones for us to write our own stories. How can one not feel honored to play a role in a place as great as this?
common good.” This desire to build character has defined the very mission of Mitty: to build people that are not only intellectual but also just—not simply leaders but ones filled with faith. These are the principles that have guided Mitty as
it
built
one
programs,
an
manifested
of
nation’s
advocacy
in
approaches
the
team
legislation,
the
concept
most
whose
and of
a
robust voices
student
justice
with
immersion have body
been that
creativity,
innovation, tenacity, and a willingness to expand one’s perspective. Of all the things that have made Mr. Brosnan’s job fulfilling,
one
stands
out
more
than
the
rest:
“seeing
students evolve...and embrace the idea that justice is a critical
component
of
living
a
complete
life.”
This
compassionate outlook of thankfulness is a philosophy that he has not only sought to instill, but also embrace. As the interview approached an end, we asked him if he had any final thoughts he wanted to voice.
'The overwhelming feeling I have, after being here so long, and having the honor of being the lead administrator,' Mr Brosnan says, 'is gratitude.'
07
SECTION 6
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY “I don’t think I’ll ever fully leave Mitty; I’ll always be a Monarch at heart.”
M
itty, under Mr. Brosnan’s guidance, has become a school that places community first. More than anything else, the sense of solidarity is palpable at every event: Monarch Madness, rallies, and liturgies, just to name a few. As Mr. Mathews puts it, “All-campus events are not typical in every high school. Mitty does it to not only have fun but also to build community.”
It is this culture of community that might be Mr. Brosnan’s biggest gift to Mitty. Even beyond just celebrating the good times together, we support one another during times of loss and grief—in Mr.
Brosnan’s words, “proving what generosity and compassion truly is through these hard moments.” As we support each other, we find the strength to grapple with loss. Whether it’s coming together for a mass in honor of someone we have lost or comforting one’s peers through small acts of kindness, the Mitty community displays remarkable unity in times of sorrow. Ms. Caputo also touches upon this ethos: “We celebrate together, and we mourn together. That is our commitment to our community.” Mr. Brosnan's vision has largely defined this school for the past three decades. His contributions to all things Mitty are innumerable; he has established the very concept of what it means to be a Monarch, and it is impossible to forget the everlasting mark he will leave behind. His care for both the Mitty students and Mitty faculty has touched the hearts of all and transcends beyond a physical presence on campus. For all he has done, Ms. Caputo says, “Thank you for making Mitty a place that we all love and enjoy”—a sentiment surely shared by every individual on the Mitty campus. Despite the fact that the Brosnan Era now comes to a bittersweet end, Mr. Brosnan will remain an integral part of Mitty forever. As he tells us, “I don’t think I’ll ever fully leave Mitty; I’ll always be a Monarch at heart.”
08
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Mr. Brosnan has been an integral member of not only the Mitty student community, but of the faculty community as well. We asked teachers to share their most memorable experiences with or of Mr. Brosnan.
01
that
MRS. SALLY
one
going
BROSNAN
to
day be
Mitty
students
transformed
by
were their
adventures there. I learned so much
Looking back over the past 30
from Mr. Brosnan as a mentor about
plus years at AMHS and within the
the level of commitment it takes to
Diocese
build
of
San
Jose,
Mr.
Brosnan
a
community
and
I
hope
I
as can
strong use
as
and I have enjoyed participating in
Mitty,
the growth and legacy of AMHS. It
lessons to continue making Mitty a
has been a wonderful journey—when
great place even when he has retired.
this journey began, our own children were
the
ages
of
our
and
so
many
grandchildren
others:
from
of Tours and Miss Caputo joining the ranks and Mrs. Prescott, the list goes on
and
on—a
true
establishment. I tell my students
that
from
my
family
sophomore
years
in
the
Mitty community, I know it is a very strong probability that you will be in or attending
the weddings of your
current
classmates;
relationships
will
be
these
embedded
in
your history as well as ours. As they say in the movie Parenthood, "Enjoy
As community, fun
and
part
of
there
have
creating been
faculty
a
lot
of
games over the years under
Tim Brosnan's helm. Tim Brosnan is a FIERCE competitor. I can still see my boss
red-faced
and
game
of
intense
over
charades
on
a
our
faculty retreat as if the fate of the school was on the line over the outcome of that
Mr.
Anderson joining from Saint Martin
SALMON
cutthroat
today. Mitty has become a family to us
those
03
MS. JENNIFER
round.
His drive to be the best has created exactly what he set out to build as a young educator: 'the best Catholic high school imaginable.'
Mr.
Brosnan
plays
to
win.
Always. His competitive nature has been the backbone of Mitty success over the years.
His
drive
to
be
the
best
has
created exactly what he set out to build as a young educator: “The best Catholic high
school
commitment created
a
nation.
Our
to
imaginable.” Campus
program
Ministry
unsurpassed
athletic
His
teams
win
has
in
the
state
titles. Our campus facilities are the envy of all the schools around. Tim Brosnan's team is always the team to be on.
the Ride!"
02
MR. TIM WESMILLER
Mr. Brosnan's passion for making Mitty
the
best
imaginable
is
Catholic
palpable.
School
He
doesn't
just sit in his office all day making decisions; he gets into the mix to be involved like a great coach or teacher —so
much
so
that
he's
willing
to
travel to India to scout out a future immersion privilege
trip.
of
In
2008,
traveling
to
I
had
India
the with
him before starting ECJ: India. I was in
awe
seeing
him
at
work,
asking
hundreds of questions at every stop to inquire
about
how
to
make
each
experience for the students the best possible. He got energized knowing
Mr. Brosnan in India, 2008, mapping out the ECJ India Program.
09
04
the
MR. TOM MOTRONI
If you know Mr. Brosnan then you
to work, he works hard, and when it is time to play, he plays hard. every
experience
He
and
he
immerses himself into it completely. Mr. Brosnan is not a casual observer of things, he is a participant; he is a person of passion. I was Dean of Students during his first year at Mitty, and from the very beginning he stressed community. In fact
during
the
first
quarter
of
his
first year Mr. Brosnan, along with the vice
principal
at
the
time
Mr.
Robinson, and myself went into the actual
classrooms
basically
every
and
student
when
things
were
the
met who
with
was
people and anytime you get that many
personally
to
all
of
and
to
listen
typically
does
strong
beautifully,
that
foundation
community,
one
will
starting actually
the
the vision of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. That has always been at the
hardship. It is in those low moments
center of his work as principal and
when Tim has taken the lead and used
president—creating the best Catholic
his faith and passion as a comfort and
school imaginable in order to share
a place of refuge. And in doing so he
the liberating message of Jesus—that
has
we are all created in God’s image and
truly
of
loss,
constructed
death,
more
than
a
school – he has built a community.
likeness,
All in all he has had a great run and he has left more than a name on a library
–
he
has
left
a
legacy
of
community that is strong, vibrant and
in
people,
and
that
programs
we
are
and
called
to
love, serve and be in solidarity with our
neighbor,
whether
that
is
our
classmate, a widow in El Salvador, or a child in South Africa.
ready for the long run.
In addition to being a tremendous mentor, inspiring speaker, and strong leader,
Tim
is
a
dear
friend
and
source of support for our family. Tim and Sally have been there for us and stood with us. It is hard to imagine Mitty
High
School
without Tim at the helm. But I am also hopeful, because he has done such a tremendous job of creating
a
of
at
Tim is able to see potential and
it
never
definitely
and
occasions
the
without
are
top of the list.
tragic
took a lot of time and effort but Mr. realized
his
same time there are going to be those
at
and
but
spaces. His vision is also rooted in
Believe me that is not something a
Brosnan
so
Archbishop
principal
Tim,
and reasons for rejoicing, but at the
students.
new
about
excellence
the
to
miss
time there are going to be great joys
students and to take the time to take questions
will
people together over a long period of
Mitty. He took the time to introduce himself
and
vision, and his gift for articulating it
A High School is a large group of
know a person who, when it is time
takes
brightest
hardest.
a
legacy
that
will
last
for
years to come.
06
get to a real personal community.
MR. BILL KROENUNG
I have a distinct memory of being
Mr. Brosnan is not a casual observer of things, he is a participant…he is a person of passion.
Mr. and Mrs. Brosnan at the naming
in South Africa with Mr. Brosnan in
of the Timothy M. Brosnan Library.
the summer of 2004. We were on a research trip to see if
05
in
me
when
can
I
say
think with
of
Mr.
complete
confidence that he has always made decisions
that
enhance
the
students
and
he
truly
school people
believes
and who
will
serve work
the at
Archbishop Mitty High School. And as his tenure comes to a close I feel that his greatest accomplishment as a principal
and
as
the
school is that he shone
leader
of
the
and
Mitty:
the
such
immersion
a
amazing
trip
stunning
and
program
immersion
Campus
Johannesburg,
they
were
that the World Cup was to be held in
to
El
idea.
This
vision and Tim’s fingerprints are on every
the
South Africa, the first time it was to
lead
of
to
SCOTT
Salvador. It was thrilling for me to be part
trip
celebrating the recent announcement
asking me to teach the first ECJ class
I
immersion
MRS. BEA
vision was when he hired me in 1996,
To
future
country was feasible. When we were
My first glimpse of Tim Brosnan’s
Brosnan,
a
trips,
Ministry,
performing
we
have
at
ECJ
classes,
athletics,
Exodus
arts,
and
so
many
more, as well as our beautiful physical campus. There are so many things I admire
be held on the African continent. We went to a stadium packed with tens of thousands and welcomed the entrance of the World Cup trophy. The
crowd
remember other,
us
went just
thinking
wild,
and
looking "wow,
at this
I
each is
amazing." It spirit that
was a perfect and our
the
example of the
energy
students
of
would
for years to come.
the
people
experience
Because of his
vision, we would have an incredible immersion program there.
10
07
MRS. AMANDA FOLENA
In the late '90s, Mr. Brosnan asked a fiery,
determined,
and
booming,
red-
headed underclassman if she would like to be a part of a rock band that would perform
at
liturgies
the
following
school year. She said yes–excited for the
opportunity–but
was
not
overly
enthusiastic, for dance show rehearsals were
in
full
swing
and
seemingly
a
more pressing matter at the time. However, little did that young girl know that such a venture into music and
liturgical
performance
would
conceive some of the most impactful and
memorable
experiences
of
her
Mitty career. That young girl was me: Mrs. Folena.
Being
humble
leadership
deepened
in
my
Exodus, of
faith
under
Mr.
and
the
Brosnan,
merged
my
creative talents with a greater purpose. He saw potential in me to do more and be more. He knew that I yearned for fulfillment endeavors, Brosnan
beyond and
that
it I
just is
my
artistic
because
am
of
Mr.
whole-heartedly
fulfilled as a teacher, working at the same school that stirred my awareness and need to always give back. Simply put, Mr. Brosnan has influenced my life and made me a better person. I will never be able to thank him enough for all that he has done. His legacy
will
forever
inspire
us
to
continue what he started.
08
Mr. Brosnan working with Exodus.
of
MR. BRENDON
life.
Mitty
LAVELLE
has
In
the
intervening
suffered
through
years, its
fair
share of loss, whether it was faculty
I have long respected Tim for his leadership at Mitty, his dedication to
members, parents, or students. Always, I have looked to Tim for
the
visible guidance as to the appropriate
charisma and candor he displays when
response and have found it. His wise
interacting with all of Mitty’s various
leadership will be greatly missed.
our
various
groups:
programs,
students,
and
parents,
most
appreciate
stewardship have
through
affected
particularly
Tim the
our
death.
for crises
his that
community,
When
I
first
arrived at Mitty in 2008, the school was
reeling
from
the
death
of
two
faculty members. I recall even early on
how
Tim’s
words
and
presence
were calming and cast the appropriate tone of grief, understanding, and even celebration
months
of
conversations
and
planning, Tim (and his newly formed administration) began to navigate the school
through
the
necessary
academic and financial upgrades. The
result
of
this
period
of
change is the Archbishop Mitty High
faculty,
alumni, and more. With that said, I
With a great deal of patience and many
09
School we see today. One of the most respected schools in the country. A
MR. RON NICOLETTI
Tim Brosnan was brought in as Principal
to
transition
Archbishop
leader
in
activities.
academics, It
is
a
athletics,
school
that
and
other
schools attempt to emulate....and this success
is
due
to
Tim
Brosnan’s
Mitty from a religious administration
leadership and vision. We have been
to a lay administration. This was no
blessed
easy feat. He had to get the feel of the faculty and staff, the parents and the students on the pending changes.
to
have
had
Tim
on
our
campus for over 30 years and we will all miss him dearly.
11
10
MR. PAUL SAMPSON The
triumph
of
always
single, Mr.
treasure
most
Brosnan in
my
It is because of Mr. Brosnan that I am whole-heartedly fulfilled as a teacher.
memorable that
I
heart
is
will his
address every year to the graduating class. In
what
is
now
considered
a
characteristic style all his own, Mr. Brosnan
takes
us
on
a
personalized
journey down memory lane pointing out
how
having
blessed
graduates
cultivated
common
are
for
ground
with one another through faith, hope
11
In the end, with reference to our character
strengths
hearts
and
minds
of
graduates
towards the real prize in our world today. He addresses profound human needs
inspired
belief
that
image
and
blessing indeed
"we
this
are
likeness
for
our
by
our
community’s
all of
made
in
God."
graduates,
community,
will
Archbishop Mitty. Under Mr. Brosnan’s leadership,
and
values as humans, Mr. Brosnan turns the
PHILLIPS
Mr. Brosnan had a visionmfor
and love.
greatest
MRS. SUE
AMHS
achieved
and
remain
scholarship unsurpassed
achievements,
and
finalists, co-curricular
built
numerous
Mr. Brosnan participating as a referee for Mitty's annual Spirit Bowl games.
state-of-the-art facilities. Mr. Brosnan had a goal to “create
the His
notched record numbers of
national
the
best
Catholic
high
school
imaginable.” Kudos to Mr. Brosnan on a job VERY well done.
with us all forever!
Thank you, Mr. Brosnan. Sincerely, Archbishop Mitty High School