Ron Panepinto Jewelers 700 Sansom St. 215-923-1980
www.PanepintoJewelers.com We Buy Gold & Diamonds
Vol. II No. 37 (Issue 49)
“Reporting South Philadelphia the way it deserves”
Value 50¢
September 11, 2008
St. Gabriel’s School Hits Century Mark - Justin Cardinal Rigali Will Lead 100 Year Celebration by Rory McGlasson and Maria Merlino St. Gabriel’s Catholic School has long been called the pride of the Grays Ferry community. This week the school celebrated its 100th anniversary. There have been a lot of changes in a century, but at “St. Gabe’s”, as it is known to locals, the school acts as the heartbeat of an area that has seen both good and bad days. St Gabe’s, which sits at 29th & Dickinson Streets, became a centenarian on Monday, and the coming months will see a plethora of activities. A day of celebration will begin on Sunday with a Mass that includes celebrant Cardinal Justin Rigali, Abbott Ronald Rossi, 12 priests, 70 nuns, Council President Anna Verna, alumni, and more than 500 friends and supporters. A tour of the school and a luncheon will follow. One hundred years ago, the entire student body ...St. Gabriel’s Catholic School in Grays Ferry (Cont. Page 2) turned 100 years-old on Monday.
Officer Remembered ...Page 20
St. Gabe’s Principal Sister Noreen James Friel IHM, Peggy Clinton (1946 alumni), Mary Magee (1944), Mary Walter (1948), Barbara Gillespie (1967) and Sister St. James IMH discuss 100-year celebrations at St. Gabe’s School in Grays Ferry.
9/11 Observed ...Page 17
Big Mac And Reduced Fees Boxing Community For 2 Lucky College Students Loses Two Legends Two South Philadelphia college kids will be making it large as they begin their freshman year this week. Southern HS graduates Xiao Juan Ke and Phung Nim each received a scholarship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The pair joined 60 citywide scholars who each got a scholarship from the McDonald's Owner/Operators of the Greater Philadelphia. Each Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship winner will be attending the higher-education institution of their choice this fall. Miss Ke will attend Temple University and pursue a degree in Finance, while Miss Nim will also attend Temple University to major (Cont. Page 2)
AT A RECENT PHILLIES baseball game Xiao Juan Ke and Phung Nim each received a college scholarship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Both Southern High graduates will attend Temple University.
The boxing world recently lost two of its greats with the passing of Adolph Ritacco and Joey Giardello. South Philly’s Adolph Ritacco was one of the nation’s top 112-lb. amateurs, compiling a 91-1 record. He turned professional under the management of restaurateur Frank Palumbo and although the paydays for flyweights were small in those days, Adolph said, “I certainly did eat well.” Ritacco won his first 18 professional fights until World War II ended his boxing career. Returning to boxing as a trainer and cut man, he
worked with Dan Bucceroni, Kitten Hayward,
...Joey Giardello Matthew Saad Muhammad and many others along the way. Joey Giardello was
born in Brooklyn, but moved to South Philly at a young age and quickly became its adopted son. Giardello produced a 100-25-8 record from 1948 to 1967. On Apr. 20, 1960, he got his first crack at the middleweight title against Gene Fullmer. Although most observers believed Giardello had won the fight, the judges declared the fight a draw. Joey went on to fight all the top middleweights over the next 3½ years until Dec. 7, 1963 when he finally got his second shot at the title. Now 33 years old and a 4-1 underdog, (Cont. Page 2)
Labor Day Photos! ...Pages 12 and 13
Waffleman ....Page 9