FOREVER FIREBIRDS

FOREVER FIREBIRDS

Tara (Powers) ’05 & PaTrick cunnane ’05

Tara and Patrick reside in Rockville Centre with their daughter, Kelly (2). Tara has spent the past seven years as a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Malverne. She currently teaches second grade where she shares her experiences from Kellenberg to spread the Catholic faith. Patrick is a VP at BNP Paribas, where he works with financial institutions to achieve their financial and strategic needs. They continue to practice their Catholic faith together as a family at St. Agnes Parish.

When and how did you meet? We met as incoming freshmen when we happened to have several classes together. Patrick was a member of the football team for all four years, and I was a member of the cheerleading team for all four years. We wish we could say our love story started way back in freshman year, but we did not actually begin dating until after our Senior Trip to Disney!

When and where you married? We were married on June 25, 2016, at St. Rose of Lima, my home parish in Massapequa. Our bridal parties consisted of our best friends from Kellenberg! Our wedding day was filled with Firebird love from former football players, dance team members, and, of course, the entire cheerleading staff. What is one of the best lessons you each learned during your time at Kellenberg? We have both learned many lessons during our time at Kellenberg. These lessons include being on time for class, always tuck your shirt in, and take pride in knowing how to properly tie your tie! Our years at Kellenberg helped us find exactly who we were as young adults. We were both a little shy and unsure of our strengths as freshmen. Kellenberg provided us with a platform to grow and make the most of ourselves during our high school years. We both left feeling thankful for everything we learned and the people we met.

I actually loved Kellenberg so much that I never really left! Shortly after graduating, I joined the cheerleading coaching staff. I had the pleasure of coaching the JV and Varsity teams before leaving in 2018 after our daughter, Kelly, was born. The years I spent coaching brought me so many memories and friendships that I will cherish forever!

There are many Firebird alumni who have entered into the covenant of marriage together. What about your time at Kellenberg helped prepare you to make and keep the promise of being “true to your spouse in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health?” Kellenberg taught us our faith is an important building block in having a strong marriage. Life is full of ups and downs but having faith and a supportive spouse will always help you persevere.