Welcome to
Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner and Ceremony
SAINT PETER’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL PRESENTS
Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner and Ceremony HONORING Mr. Gerry Bellotti, P’88 Mr. John J. Bergin, ‘50 Mr. Laurence T. Fell, ‘54 Mr. John J. “Jack” Finn, ‘52, P’81,’82,’85,’87,’94 (Posthumously) Mr. Richard F. Gronda, ‘59, P’86,’89,’90 Mr. Bernard M. Hartnett, ‘47, P’78 Mr. Francis J. Mertz, ‘54
Saturday, November 12, 2005 Mayfair Farms West Orange, New Jersey
PROGRAM WELCOME John R. Raslowsky, II, ‘79 Master of Ceremonies INVOCATION AND WELCOME Fr. James F. Keenan, S.J. President SPECIAL INTRODUCTIONS James C. Horan, ‘70 Vice President for Planning and External Affairs MUSICAL INTERLUDES Jonathan Treble, ‘06 & Daniel Brennan, ‘07 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Gerry Bellotti, P’88 presented by Joan Marie Bellotti John J. Bergin, ‘50 presented by Lou Cella, ‘50 Laurence T. Fell, ‘54 presented by John Fell and Mary Jean Fell-Casler John J. “Jack” Finn, ‘52, P’81,’82,’85,’87,’94 presented & accepted by Dave Finn, ‘82 and Tom Finn, ‘87 Richard F. Gronda, ‘59, P’86,’89,’90 presented by Jim Bambrick, ‘60 Bernard M. Hartnett, ‘47, P’78 presented by Fr. Ed Heavey, S.J., ‘47 Francis J. Mertz, ‘54 presented by Bishop John Flesey, ‘60 “PRIDE & GLORY” Jimmy Byrne, ‘54
– LEGENDS OF PREP – Gerry Bellotti, P’88 When Gerry Bellotti walks into a room, you know it immediately. You feel it; the atmosphere changes. It is the same understated but dynamic energy that he brings to every endeavor, and the results speak for themselves. Gerry made his mark at St. Peter’s Prep during the 1980’s, serving as the alumni and development director, athletic director and head football coach—having a profound impact in all three areas. As alumni and development director, he laid the foundation for much of Prep’s current strength in its external outreach, including a significant expansion of reunions and other alumni-related events. He added both structure and sophistication to the fund-raising program, including instituting the first Prep phonathon. As a result, the Annual Fund grew dramatically during his tenure, from $37,000 to $700,000 annually, including large increases in the number of donors at leadership levels. As athletic director, Gerry oversaw the rebirth of Prep’s athletic program, including the hiring of new coaching staffs and the creation of what he referred to as “a new image” for the school’s many athletic teams. As a result, by the mid-1980’s the school’s athletic program, as a whole, had regained its position of prominence in Hudson County and northern New Jersey. Athletically, his most visible impact was on the football field. He inherited a team in 1980 that was in the midst of a 0-20 losing streak, accompanied by rumors that the sport may be dropped from the athletic program. Within five years, Gerry had them playing in the Parochial A state finals, setting the stage for the success that continues to this day. A former All-American quarterback during his playing days at St. Joseph’s H.S. (WNY) and a record-setting quarterback at Villanova University, Gerry has been inducted into the Hudson County Hall of Fame, the St. Peter’s Prep Athletic Hall of Fame, and the St. Joseph’s H.S. Hall of Fame. Currently, he serves as vice president of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey, which supports the state’s 14 private colleges and universities. Previously, he served as director of alumni affairs at Manhattan College, and as director of alumni relations and director of major gifts at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Gerry and his wife, Joan Marie, are the proud parents of three daughters and a son, Greg, Prep class of ‘88, who have blessed them with five grandchildren. A gentleman and a role model for his players and colleagues alike, Gerry’s leadership skills are perfectly balanced by his warm sense of humor, his humanity, and a deep spirituality. His work is characterized by his personal philosophy: Commitment, consistency, and class. At Grand & Warren, it is a legacy that is truly legendary.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – John J. Bergin, ‘50 Prep’s viewbook states: “It is not simply Prep for four years…it is Prep for life.” This statement imbues John Bergin, and it represents the support and service he continues to provide to his alma mater and many other institutions. While attending Prep on an academic scholarship, John participated in many cocurricular activities that would foreshadow the leadership he would demonstrate beyond Grand & Warren. Perhaps it was his years in Sodality, KBS, or as a class officer that led him to incorporate service into his daily life. Surely, his time spent as a member of the Petroc staff provided him with the ability to get to the heart of the matter, and to help others to see the full story. After graduation, John continued his Jesuit education at Saint Peter’s College, serving as student council vice-president and president of the Spur Society, the Honor Society for the School of Business. He also earned a master’s degree from Rutgers University’s School of Management. After serving as an officer in the Army for two years, John began his business career with IBM, where he held sales and marketing management positions in support of the New York Metro and New England areas. In 1974, he left IBM and served as vice president and general manager of national and international marketing and operations at Control Data Corporation. In 1992, he became president and CEO of Bidwell Associates Incorporated, a management consulting firm. John has been a consistent member of Prep’s President’s Council, was a major supporter of both the Carpe Diem and the Keys to the Future capital campaigns, and is one of the school’s most effective class chairmen. In 2000, he co-chaired his class’s 50th reunion celebration, during which he and his fellow committee members established a new standard that every subsequent golden anniversary class has adopted. He currently serves on the Prep Alumni Board, where his experience, guidance and enthusiastic support are consistently provided to, and most welcomed by, his fellow board members. He is also co-founder of Prep’s First Friday Club, which gathers each month to enjoy Prep fellowship over lunch. Prep is not the only recipient of John’s dedication to Christian service. He is a member of the board of trustees and the executive committee for Catholic Charities in New Jersey; serves on the board of Loyola Retreat House in Morristown; and is a founding member of the Social Concerns Committee of St. Catharine & St. Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, N.J. A Brielle resident, John and his wife Mary consider their finest accomplishment their eight children, eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. “Prep for Life” and John Bergin: one defines the other.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – Laurence T. Fell, ‘54 Whenever the topic of conversation involves schools, Larry Fell eagerly expresses his deep, abiding belief in the value of a Catholic education—and with good reason: His education was the springboard to a professional career marked by integrity and achievement at every level. And along the way, he has never forgotten the institutions that inspired this success. Raised in North Bergen, Larry is a selfproclaimed “sports nut.” Spending 17 summers at his uncle’s sports camp reinforced this passion, which continued during his years at Prep as a member of the varsity basketball team. (He played alongside fellow Prep “Legend” Ken Kunzman.) Today, he brings the same enthusiasm to his avid, regular tennis competitions. Following graduation from Saint Peter’s College, Larry entered the world of finance, starting at Stern, Lauer, & Co. in New York City in 1959. Subsequently, he held executive positions at several of the largest securities firms on Wall Street, including managing director of Fixed Income Trading at Lehman Brothers, and executive vice president at Smith Barney. He earned an MBA in finance from NYU and attended the prestigious Investment Banking Institute at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Larry’s professional affiliations include The Bond Club of New York, The Municipal Bond Club, and The Investment Association. He also is a Knight of Malta, an honor bestowed on “Catholics enlivened by altruistic nobleness of spirit and behavior.” For over 50 years, Larry has remained loyal to his alma mater, serving two terms on Prep’s board of trustees and providing continuous support to numerous initiatives. Not surprisingly, during his tenure as chairman of Prep’s development committee, the Annual Fund increased substantially. A member of the President’s Council for over twenty-five years, Larry has been a lead donor to both the Keys to the Future and Carpe Diem campaigns. His generosity and his belief in Catholic education are witnessed by memberships in the President’s Club of Saint Peter’s College, College of the Holy Cross, Rosemont College, and Villanova University, as well. But it is Prep that has always been, and will remain, his Pride and Glory. Three generations of the Fell family have a connection to Prep: His mother, Mary Cullum Fell, counts five brothers and four family members as graduates; Larry’s father-inlaw, Leo Sullivan, ‘22, taught at Prep in the 1920’s; and son-in-law Lt. Commander Jeffrey Casler is an ’86 graduate. Now that Larry has retired, he and his wife, Eileen, are able to enjoy their nine children and their families. Whether in Manhattan, Spring Lake or Florida, he still enjoys sports—and always makes time for St. Peter’s Prep.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – John J. “Jack” Finn, ‘52, P’81,’82,’85,’87,’94 Jersey City, St. Peter’s Prep and Jack Finn. These three entities are eternally bound to one another, having grown together and, indeed, prospered together for more than half a century. In May 2004, on the occasion of Jack’s passing, a local newspaper wrote of Jack that he was a true Jersey City character. It was a typical Hudson County compliment—and, typically, it made those who knew him well smile in appreciation. It was often said that Jack was born into a natural position of leadership, the oldest of 10 children and the first of four Finn brothers to attend Prep. Staying with the Jesuit tradition, he attended Saint Peter’s College, earning an A.B. in mathematics in 1956. Returning home after two years of active duty in Japan with the U.S. Army, he received a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Maine in 1960, and a P.M.D. from the Harvard Business School in 1968. A valued “company man,” Jack worked for 37 years within the former Bell System, including Bellcore, AT&T, and New York Telephone, before retiring in 1997. “Retirement” never meant idle time for Jack; it simply meant more time to dedicate to his three great loves: his family, his alma mater and his city. When it came to starting his own family, Jack and his wife, Mary (nee McNally), knew that Jersey City was their home. They were very intent that their sons would live in the city and experience everything it had to offer, and the family thrived, around the corner from his boyhood home. It was his love for, and dedication to, his home town that led him to volunteer for many civic roles, including serving as a member of the board of managers for the Jersey City Medical Center, as well as the Jersey City Board of Education. A founding member of the Community Action Council, Jack helped transform the Jersey City political process: He was determined in his loyalty to the city and knew that even though it may have gone through some tough periods, it would rebound from adversity. A proud member of the Class of ‘52, a Prep parent five times over, and now a Prep grandparent of two, Jack Finn is as much a part of St. Peter’s Prep as the bricks and mortar. A member of the President’s Council, a class chairman, and the co-chair for his 50th reunion, he was never more than a phone call away. As his grandsons join the ranks of the third generation of Finn men to spend their years at Grand & Warren, they do so knowing that their grandfather is among the true Prep legends.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – Richard F. Gronda, ‘59, P’86,’89,’90 When mentioning the name Gronda around St. Peter’s Prep, you have to be specific as to whom you are referring. For the younger alumni it could mean Doug, ‘86, Rick, ’89 or Dan ’90, each of whom ranked among the outstanding student-athletes of their era. But if you were referring to the Gronda who has cast a giant shadow at Grand & Warren for five decades, then, of course, the answer is their father, Rich, ’59. It is unlikely that you will ever meet an alumnus who “bleeds maroon and white” more than Rich, and, as the ultimate testament, his name is familiar to literally thousands of Prep alumni who have never met him. For most of them, Rich will be forever connected to the Prep football program. After all, he was a marquee member of what may be the greatest single team in Prep’s athletic history—the ’58 squad that went undefeated while outscoring opponents 337-26 and ranking third in the nation. Actually, it began in the fall of 1955 when Rich joined a Prep football program under coaches Cochrane and Zucconi. Following an outstanding freshman year, he started at offensive and defensive tackle for the varsity as a sophomore—an extremely rare occurrence at the time. As a junior he was named First Team All-County and First Team All-Metropolitan. The next year, he was named First Team All-State, All-Metropolitan and All-County and was voted to the Sporting News All-American team. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by injuries sustained while at Villanova University. Rich has never lost contact with his alma mater, and throughout his adult life he has been one of the school’s most consistently loyal supporters. A two-term member of Prep’s board of trustees, he was a vocal advocate of improving the physical plant and increasing the school’s out-of-county student recruitment efforts. And as always, he led by example, making a leadership gift to the Keys to the Future capital campaign in support of the science labs and the new weight room. As for Prep’s outreach to the suburbs, Rich knew the possibilities: After all, his three sons had commuted by train to Prep from Pompton Plains. His message was consistent to his sons, his fellow alumni, and his colleagues on the board: Prep was worth the effort. In 2000, Rich retired as president/CEO of Farrell Lines, an international shipping company, and he continues to be a constant presence at various Prep athletic events. In many ways he is a cornerstone of the institution. A devoted family man to his wife Marilyn, the boys and their sister, he is an original, with all the makings of a true Prep legend.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – Bernard M. Hartnett, ‘47, P’78 In the second floor of Shalloe Hall, outside the Office of the President, hangs a 1918 diploma from the “High School Department of Saint Peter’s College.” The recipient of that parchment almost nine decades earlier was Bernard Michael Hartnett, who could not possibly have imagined that 86 years later, his great-grandson Eamon Markey Hartnett, ‘08 would be the fourth generation of Hartnett men to attend Prep. And now, on this evening, his own son, Bernie, Jr., is receiving the school’s highest honor. Taken together, it tells the story of one of the truly legendary Prep families. Loyalty and service must be the tenets of the Hartnett family, as Bernie has spent most of his adult life serving both his alma maters and his community. A longtime member of the Prep’s President’s Council, most recently he provided valuable counsel during the Carpe Diem capital campaign. A 1951 graduate of Saint Peter’s College, he later served as chairman of the College’s board of trustees and board of regents. The recipient of a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, he served as an adjunct professor there, teaching labor law courses from 1963 to 1975. Bernie has received Distinguished Alumnus awards from both schools, in addition to the St. Thomas Moore Medal from the Archdiocese of Newark, and he has been named a Knight of St. Gregory for meritorious service to the Church. His hometown, county and state are also the beneficiaries of this exemplary life of service, notably in 2001, when he was chosen to serve as interim Hudson County Executive for a 13-month period. Bernie has served as chairman of the Garden State Cancer Center; chairman of the Jersey City and the Hudson County Democratic committees; and chairman of the Friends of Channel 13. In addition, he has received appointments to various state boards and commissions from Governors Hughes, Cahill, Byrne, Kean and Florio. Recently, Bernie was named a charter member of the board of visitors of Seton Hall Law School. Professionally, Bernie serves as counsel to Connell Foley, LLP, Jersey City. Previously, he was a partner with the firm of Schiller, Squeo & Hartnett, and was vice president, general counsel, and secretary of New Jersey Bell. To see Bernie beam with pride, you only have to ask him about his family. He has been married for 54 years to Eleanor Kelly of Jersey City, and they have four children (one deceased), seven grandchildren and a great-grandson. And Prep connections abound: The wife of son Ed, ‘78 is also the daughter, niece and granddaughter of Prep alumni; Bernie’s daughter and sister are married to Prep grads, and his brothers Ken and Jude Michael are members of the Prep classes of ‘52 and ‘58, respectively. Like the school itself, Bernie remains a Jersey City institution, and the community is all the better for it.
– LEGENDS OF PREP – Francis J. Mertz, ‘54 It has been said that some individuals were born to enter their chosen profession. It is difficult to find someone who has fit more seamlessly into the field of higher education than Frank Mertz. As a student at Grand & Warren, Frank excelled academically and was a formidable debater, earning a full scholarship to Saint Peter’s College, where he would lead the Gannon Debating Society. He then went on to earn a law degree from NYU. In 1961, Frank began his teaching career by returning to his alma mater to join the Prep faculty as an algebra and speech teacher. This would begin a long history of service to Prep that would later include serving as a two-term member of the board of trustees. In 1962, he returned to Saint Peter’s College, where he helped guide the College through a period of expansion, holding leadership positions that included executive vice-president, assistant to the president, vice president of finance and development, and registrar. Frank continued his professional leadership by becoming vice president and chief financial officer of New York Medical College. In 1981, he became president of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey, which supports the state’s private colleges and universities. Soon thereafter, he concurrently became president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey. In 1990, Frank became president of Fairleigh Dickinson University and in 1999 was named president emeritus. He addressed many of the challenges that have greatly strengthened the university, helping to increase its prominence as a regional center of learning. During his tenure in higher education, Frank participated in numerous licensure visits and chaired ten Middle States Association accrediting teams. He also served on the New Jersey Council of Presidents, where he provided leadership for a number of its committees; was a director of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce; and has served on the boards of several corporations. Currently, Frank serves as chair of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and is a board member both of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority and the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. He also serves as chair of the Cusack Care Center (St. Joseph’s Home for the Blind). Frank holds honorary degrees from Felician College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Kyungnam University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the College of Saint Elizabeth. In addition to his service as a Prep trustee, Frank, his wife, Gail, and their family have long supported the school through an endowed scholarship. Given his extraordinary intellect and his devotion to the Ignatian tradition of service to others, it is most fitting that the Prep student body annually includes a “Mertz Scholar.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Please join us in thanking the following alumni who so generously donated their services to this event: Charles F.X. Poggi, ‘49 President, Poggi Press (Printing of invitations)
Joseph Villanella, ‘79 President, CD Graphics (Printing of tonight’s program)
Mary T. Massaro Joseph Massarelli, ‘80 (Design of printed materials) (Audio/Visual Presentation)
Mark Wyville, ‘76 (Photography)
Tuxedos for this evening’s student ushers have been provided, with our gratitude, by Roseann & Dennis Vallone, P’99,’02, of Tuxedos by Rose, North Bergen, NJ.
A very special thanks to: Lou Vega, ‘95, Prep’s Director of Alumni Relations, for coordinating the many aspects of tonight’s event. Ginny Needham-Doyle, P’07, Prep’s Director of Communications, for her creative support of tonight’s event. We also acknowledge the behind-the-scenes logistical support from the following: Fr. Jim Keenan, S.J. President
Jim Horan, ‘ 70 Vice President for External Affairs
and External Affairs Department members Marge Baker, Nancy Cunningham, P’99,’01, Lani Franco, John Irvine, ‘83, Maryphyllis Locricchio, P’95,’96, and Liz Walsh. Finally, a very special thanks to the Prep Alumni Board, who once again helped ensure the success of this event: Lou Castelli, ‘66, President John Feeney, ‘80, Vice President Steve Hudik, ‘85, Secretary Markis Abraham, ‘97 Ray Aumack, ‘55 John Bergin, ‘50 Gene Boyle, ‘56 Joe Casazza, Jr., ‘95 Jack Caulfield, ‘71 Lou Cella, ‘50 Bob Colacurcio, ‘73 Tom Crowley, Jr., ‘65 Len De Pinto, ‘76 Sam DiFeo, ‘66
Ralph Diverio, ‘46 Gabe Doria, ‘81 Dave Finn, ‘82 John Gibney, Jr., ‘81 Joe Giglio, ‘87 Dan Gronda, ‘90 Joe Guarino, ‘86 Rich Hamilton, ‘90 Jim Hollywood, ‘66 Jim Hardiman, ‘47 Jerry Lally, ‘56
Ed Marley, ‘44 Joe Massarelli, ‘80 Phil McGovern, Jr., ‘76 Bob McNamara, ‘51 Jim Ryan, Jr., ‘66 Jack Savage, ‘57 Paul Schaetzle, ‘71 Charlie Sciarra, ‘87 T.J. Sullivan, Jr., ‘93 Jim Supple, ‘65
SPONSORS AND DONORS We are grateful for this evening’s sponsors, who have given so generously. Their donations will assist in the creation of several scholarships honoring tonight’s “Legends.” The Braddock Family (Joseph V. Braddock, ‘47) has helped to sponsor tonight’s event at the Arrupe’s Sentries level. The following have helped to sponsor tonight’s event at the Sons and Daughters of St. Peter level: The Bergin Family; Mary Jean Fell-Casler & Jeff Casler; Ken Kunzman, ‘54; Mr. & Mrs. James McQuade; Barbara & Farley Moran; William Wojciechowski, ‘52 The following have sponsored a Jesuit or Special Guest: Bill Bate, ‘51, P’84 Kurt Borowsky Joanne & Lou Castelli, ‘66, P’01 Mary Beth & Jack Caulfield, ‘71, P’00,’03 Joan & Lou Cella, ‘50 Frank Clancey Joe Cooney, ‘68 Jack Curley, ‘66 Arthur Fabian, ‘59 Stephanie Fell & Phil McCombs Dave Figur, ‘95 Don Finn, ‘50 Tom Flaherty, ‘46 Don Hagan, ‘50 Catherine Halligan Maryann & Ken MacAlpine
Catherine Malloy Frank Mertz, ‘54 Lynn Marie Mertz Barbara & Farley Moran Margaret & Joseph O’Connor Dave Quinn, ‘54 Ed Riedlinger, ‘67 Conrad Romanick, ‘52 Saint Peter’s College Ralph Sarkisian, ‘73 Beth & Jack Savage, ‘57 Paul Schaetzle, ‘71 Bob Schwarze, ‘54 Jerome St. John Charlie Waldron, ‘50 William Wojciechowski, ‘52
PREVIOUS “LEGENDS” HONOREES 2003 Mr. Ernest J. Baker, ‘38, P’67,’71; Mr. Kevin J. Collins, ‘57; Mr. Sam C. DiFeo, ‘32, P’63,’66; Mr. Hubert J. O’Toole, ‘51; Mr. Charles F.X. Poggi, ‘49
2001 Vincent P. Butler, Jr., M.D., ‘45; Mr. John J. Casey III; Mr. Joseph M. Cooney, ‘45, P’68,’76; Mr. Robert P. Howard, ‘41, P’67; Mr. Kenneth F. Kunzman, ‘54; Mr. Robert A. McGuinness, P’69,’73,’80; Mr. Robert F. Mulvihill
1999 Fr. Raymond J. Balduf, S.J.; Fr. Francis J. Hamill, S.J., ‘46; Coach Roy H. Leenig; Mr. Donald P. Moriarty, ‘48; Mr. Louis J. Parisi, ‘44, P’70; Mr. Joseph W. Sinnott, ‘17, P’57; Mr. Thomas J. Sullivan, ‘53, P’93; Fr. Raymond York, S.J.
1997 Joseph V. Braddock, Ph.D., ‘47; Coach William “Bill” Cochrane; Ms. Catherine J. Collins; Msgr. William J. Linder, ‘54; Fr. Joseph P. Parkes, S.J., ‘62; Prep’s Nine Founding Jesuits
1995 Fr. John E. Browning, S.J., ‘46; Coach Jerome T. “Jerry” Halligan; Fr. Francis J. Shalloe, S.J.
1993 Fr. Charles F.X. Dolan, S.J., ‘32; Fr. Earle L. Markey, S.J., ‘49; Mr. Clement C. O’Sullivan, ‘23; Mr. Charles J. Rooney, P’67,’69
“PRIDE & GLORY” It is our Pride and our Glory, old in song and in story; and we cherish your name and we love your fair fame for the days of long ago. And we your sons will be loyal to St. Peter’s so royal. May your banners still guide us wherever we go! It is a story of gladness, with no shadow of sadness; our years spent with you, St. Peter’s so true, and you hold our hearts’ love yet. And through the years we will treasure with a joy beyond measure, the gifts you have given. We shall never forget.