C1v1NG BAck
On my sojourns around Manhattan , I sometimes walk by my alma mater ( its name shall not pass my lips-well , OK , Regis ) Inevitably on those occasions a flood of nostalgia rushes over me as I fondly recall the faces and hear the voices of my teachers there , those men who helped make a man of me , whose devotion and passion and knowledge shaped and transformed me for life .
When I think now of the students , past and present , at Saint Peter's Prep , I hope that now and in the years to come they will have the same warm feelings about their time here , that they are imbued with the strong and deep affection that I have for my high school days
And how could they not ? The generosity of the teachers and staff at Prep is contagious. The men and women I have known over my many years here are marked by enormous contributions of time , talent and caring . The glow from their fire has lit , if not the world , at least a part of it.
I hope what most characterizes us is the desire to give back , the recognition that we are what we are because of those who came before Inspired by their influence , we strive every day to better the lives entrusted to us , "to give and not to count the cost ." It's a wonderful way to spend one 's life !
I was recently on the receiving end of this generosity While conversing with a former student , I happened to mention that my AP students were reading the play Equus , and that the high ticket prices made it difficult to take the class to see the then-current Broadway production. Several days later, this grad offered to pick up a large portion of the bill, enabling thirty of us to attend the show. He told me that Prep had been very good to him and that he was happy to help others experience the same joys during their time here as he did.
Finally, as everyone knows by now , an heroic deed has been in the news recently When asked if he had any regrets about his accident at the helm of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, Captain Chesley "Sully " Sullenberger said of the miraculous rescue , "I fear I may owe a debt of gratitude that I'll never be able to repay ." It is my hope that all of us connected with Prep exhibit the same humble thanks to others by giving fully of our bounty, by acknowledging the obligation we owe to our school , a debt that is really synonymous with love
Such generosity has long been the lifeblood of our school , proof of its powerful and enduring influence on our lives. Long may it continue !
PREP
M A C A Z N E
VO LUME 19 NUMBER 2
Francesca Lanning, P't0
Editor
Michael J. Jiran, '03
Managing Editor
Raymond D. Aumack, '55
Jane Bleasdale
Christopher Casazza , '97
Ryan Heff erna n
James C. Horan , ' 70
John Irvine , '83, P' t 1
Richard L. Kennedy
Joseph Livi , '09
Ginny Needham-Doyle , P'07
Contributors
Mary T. Massaro Design
Mark Wyville, '76
Photography
Joseph Villanella , '79
CD Graphics
Printing
Robert E Reiser, SJ President
James C. DeAngelo , '85
Principal
Francesca Lanning, P' 10
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Robert W Nodine, '67
Vice President for Finance
James C. Horan , '70 Vice President for Planning & Principal Giving
John Irvine, '83, P'l 1 Director of Admi ss ions
C hristopher Casazza , '97 Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving
Ginny Ne edh am -Doy le , P'07
Director of Special Events
Michael J. Jiran , '03
Communications Manager
Prep Magazine is published by the Advancem e nt Office of Saint Pet e r's Pre paratory Sc h oo l, Jersey C ity, NJ , and is distributed free of charge to Prep a lumni, faculty , staff and parents. The offices a re loc ated in Shalloe Hall , 144 Grand Street , Jersey City, NJ, 07302.
Copy ri ght © 2009 , Saint Peter's Pr e p All publi ca t io n right s re served Visit Prep on th e web a t www spprep.org. E-mail the Office of Alumni Rela t ion s at a lu m ni @sp prep.org, or ca ll 201-547-64 13.
TAbLE OF CONTENTS
8 IT'S ALL RELATIVE
A glimpse at thre e families within the Prep family reveals some striking similarities .
12 14 LIGHTS . . . CAMERA ... FASHION!
The PPA Fashion Show mi xes two parts Grand & Warren with one part Hollywood & Vine
H
EAds OF THE CLASS( ES)
The Alumni Board continues to shape the relationship between Prep and Prep men
DEPARTMENTS
2
12
16 18 l 4 4 C RA Nd Annapolis-bound senior mak es a splash; student archivist talks treasures ; Imagine fund gains momentum ; history teacher sounds off with the Prep band ; faculty formation program takes shape. Page 17 Page 21
SpORTS Football shows resilience, defends county title; Soccer enters the post - Irvine era with three All-State performances; Cross Count1y takes second in two county meets .
ALUMNI Presidential medal for one alumnus , gubernatorial appointment for another; golden weekend for Class of '58; hardwood heroes honored at Finn Classic; remembering Bob Cregan, SJ, ' 52
Path of Service Runs Through Annapolis
by Joseph Livi, '09
I have always wanted to serve my country as an officer. Over the years my goal developed into that of being a Navy SEAL, and with both my mother and father being graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, a federal service academy was clearly the best route. This past summer, I attended the U.S. Naval Academy Summ er Seminar and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy "Academy Introduction Mission" (AIM ). These weeklong programs give high school students entering their sen ior year the chance to experience life at the academy and decide if it is right for them. We had physical training every morning , wore the same uniform , and had to keep our quarters pristine. I was challenged both physically and mentally, and by the end of the week, I was really motivated to do my best to earn the right to attend the institution.
I applied to USNA, USMMA and USCCA , as well as the Navy ROTC scholarship program. All of the federal service academies except the USCCA require that one have a nomination from their Senator, Representative , or the Vice President. Applying for the nomination is very simi lar to applying
Seniors Joseph Candela , Sebastian Garcia ,
to college-transcripts, essays, letters of reco mmendation , and so forth. An interview before the Senator or Representative 's board is also required The application for the schools themselves is as rigorous as any co ll ege; they want to see excellent grades, high SAT scores , athletic accomplishment, and leadership throughout your life. Also , one must pass the Department of Defense
Eleven Prep Seniors named Blaustein Scholars
William Kender, Daniel Londono , Bryan Mc Tiernan , James Murduca , Swetal Patel , Philip Reynolds , Craig Styles , Louis Sullivan andJonathan Wong were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars by the New Jersey Higher Education
Student Assistance Authority in
December.
This award recognizes students in the top ten percent of their class who achieve a combined score of 1260 or higher on the SAT math and cr itical reading tests , and provides a $1000 annual scholarship for any New Jersey college or university
Medical Evaluation and Review Board to ensure one is in appropriate health for duty and pass the Candidate Fitness Assessment to measure how physically fit one is. To help with this process every candidate is assigned a "Blue and Co ld Officer," a graduate who is there to coach and guide you as well as provide his or her own evaluation based on an intervi e w. Luckily for me , 1 was assigned a Prep graduate, Len Mrozak , '63
Ultimately, 1 was accepted into the Naval Academy, the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy, found medically qualified on all counts, offered a Navy ROTC scholarship to Georgetown University, and received a nomination to USNA from Congressman Steve Rothman. Even among so many choices , I knew the choice was clear. I w ill be joining the class of 2013 at the United States Naval Academy
Jo e Livi , '09 was the student speaker at this year's Pr es ident's Dinner The cap tai n of the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track t eams, an Emmau s ret reat leade r and an Eagle Scout, he has chosen to attend the United States Na val Academy.
QUESTIONS
During his junior year, with the help of Bob Reiser, SJ, Prep's president, David Sambade organized and established Prep 's first official archive. Now a senior, he sat down with Prep Magazine to talk about the collection, the process of acquiring and cataloging nearly 14 decades ' worth of artifacts of Prep's rich history, and his hopes for the archive's future after his graduation.
Prep Magazine: What led you to get involved with the project of archiving Prep's historic artifacts?
David Sambade:
When I was with the Petroc, we were doing a column called , "Blast from the Past," but we started running out of ideas fairly quickly. I asked Fr. Reiser and it turned out there were some old Petrocs around [but not
with David Sambade, '09, founder of Prep's School Archive
[ over Christmas break], in a sort of time capsule hidden away inside the counter. Otherwise , my favorite items would probably be the football programs from the 1950s that were donated.
PM: Are you getting a lot of donations, or is it still mainly a process of finding items around the school?
OS: At this point it's mostly things around the school , though since we put up a web page there have been some donations. I' m hoping this article will help!
PM: Is there anyone who usually helps with organizing and cataloging the items you get?
faculty &Staff
David Sambade, '09, founder of Prep's Schoo l Arch ive
collected in one place ]. Some other items turned up-old yearbooks and literary magazines started coming to me , so I thought , "why don't we create a room [ for these items]?"
PM : If you had to choose one favorite artifact from the collection so far, what would it be?
OS: My new potential favorite is the annual catalogs [akin to today's student handbooks] from 1878 through 1956they list graduation awards, the faculty for that year, class lists ... They Just found them when they took the counter out of the principal's office
OS: People stop by to help from time to time. [ Fellow senior]
Matt Bender stops by for instance. But that's about it at this stage.
PM: You're a senior, obviously. Do you have someone in mind to take the reins when you graduate?
DS: I have some plans Shortly, we 'll be starting an application process, reviewing and interviewing people. I've done whatever I could up to this point to ensure that it goes on after I graduate. Ultimately, it will be Fr Reiser's decision as moderator.
For more information on the Saint Peter's Prep archive room, visit www.spprep.org / archives
Carl Delorenzo, '67 appeared as a presidential historian on a Fox News panel during the coverage of January's inauguration proceedings. The panel also included his former student, David Webb, '80 His busy schedule continues this summer, when he will lecture at the Army War College on Middle Eastern history Ella Glazer received a grant from the National Science Foundation to attend a week-long workshop on "How to Design Programs in Scheme and Java" at Northeastern University Ryan Heffernan and John Irvine, '83, P'11 organized and helped direct a Student Leadership Conference for the seven high schools in the New York Province The conference, wh ich ran from February 15-17 was designed to help prospective leaders recognize their talents and to appreciate what it means to be a student leader in a Jesuit school. Dominic Scibilia, along with 2007 Prep graduates Mike Rogers and Pat Giamario, published a paper entitled, "Learned Piety: Education for Justice and the Common Good in Jesuit Secondary Education ," in the January issue of the academic journal Peace & Change Hilda Doris Suarez attended the Honeywell Institute for Ecosystems Education, a field study program conducted in the Hackensack River watershed by the New Jersey Audubon Society The weeklong program seeks to help sc ience and social studies teachers show their students the connections between the classroom and the outside world and encourage them to take an active role in the environmental well-be i ng of their commun ities First-year class ics teacher Vytas Vaznelis and his Greek students hosted Bill Higgins, '62 (featured in Prep Magazine's Fall 2008 issue) for lunch on February 12 Higgins, who credits his exposure to the classics at Prep with shaping a career that has brought him success both in academia and in business, enjoyed a lively conversation with his fellow Greek scholars
Arts I::ntertainment
A "Heavenly" Production
Prep Dramatics presented the 20th century comedy Heaven Can Wait at the Saint Peter's College Roy Irving Theatre in January. According to director Jack Campion, the cast's enthusiasm made the play a pleasure to
direct. "The repartee that existed among the actors and me was absolutely brilliant," he said. "Because of this banter and th e actors' reception to my direction , I looked forward to the rehearsals every day. "
In keeping with tradition , the opening night performance was followed immediately by a reception
Christmas Cafe Concert Showcases Seasonal Sounds
Christmas came early to the Prep cafeteria , as the Prep Band played its annual Christmas Cafe Concert on December 14th. Following the lead of band director Steve Caslowitz and chorus director Bill Richert , the Concert Band , Jazz Band and chorus, along with several soloists, filled Burke Hall with music and filled listeners' hearts with holiday cheer. The program ranged from traditional Latin chant to R & B, covering every imaginable style in between - all with an appropriate Christmas theme, of course!
Sophomore Patrick Panageas and senior Louis Sullivan performed piano solos , while freshman Dante Carrasco and senior Rashad Davis (accom panied by classmate Wesley Davis on piano) showed off their impressive vocal talents. Th e Jaz z Band and Concert Band, meanwhile , gained an honorary member, as Prep faculty member and band alumnus James Coviello, '99 sat in with his trumpet
The concert ended with a sing-
Jazz Band Jams
Jointly With Jesuit Counterparts
The musicians of Prep 's Jazz Ensemble joined their co unterpart s from Xavier and McOuaid for a joint concert at Xav ier in January Ea ch band performed on its own before combi ning to perform several pieces as one large ensemble
for Prep Dramatics alumni About 40 past cast and crew gathered in the McIntyre Lounge to catch up with castmates, share memories of Prep plays past, and talk about this year's production. S.
To see more photos, visit www.spprep.org and click the "Photo Album" tab
Prep history t eache r James Cov ie llo , '99 (fo regroun d) stepped bac k in time during the Chr istmas Cafe Concert, rejoin ing the Prep Jazz Band on trumpet after a decade's absence.
along of favorite Christmas songs, giving audience members the opportunity to participate in the musical merriment. Throughout the afternoon, Christmas gift packages were raffled to help ensure all band members could afford to join in the annual Spring Band Trip. And of course, it wouldn't have been the "Christmas Cafe" setting for the concert without the culinary contributions of the Band parents, who provided Christmas cookies, pastries and other holiday refreshments to help set the mood. S.
The cast of Heaven Can Wait after the opening night perfo rmance.
Master Planning Effort Gains Momentum, With Focus on Achieving Strategic Goals
As an offshoot of Prep's 2006 strategic planning document, the current master planning process is proving to be an invaluable resource as the school moves toward achieving its strategic goalsparticularly those dealing with the physical plant.
"The strategic plan is the blueprint,"
•explained Prep president Bob Reiser, S.). "In essence, it provides the context for the various physical plant improvements-both major and minor-that are currently being considered in the master plan. Thus, the master planning process has the luxury of focusing exclusively on matching up our strategic needs with our physical plant realities."
Under the guidance of the Manhattan architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle , for the past 22 months the Prep administration has worked closely with the master planning committee of the board of trustees to produce a comprehensive campus master plan that is aggressive and farreaching , while also being grounded in reality. The master planning committee is headed by Prep trustee Jim Ryan, 166, P'04, and in addition to members of the Prep administration it includes alumni and others with experience in property development , construction , and related legal and planning issues.
"More than anything else, we are striving for the 'smart' achievement of our strategic goals," said Fr. Reiser. "It has been a very methodical and thoughtful process, and we are now in a
position to begin looking at potential budgets and schedules, and then sharing this information with the school's alumni, parents and friends in the coming months."
Jim Horan , '70, vice president for planning & principal giving, is coordinating the review and fine-tuning
T H E FUND FOR SAINT PET ER'S PREP
Beyer Blinder Belle's most recent version of the master planning document , with an eye toward completing this latest phase of the planning process by late spring 2009.
"In addition to the guidance we are receiving from our advisors on the committee, we also have been receiving very insightful feedback from every academic and administrative department within the school," said Horan. 'The amalgam of input and viewpoints from these various constituencies has been invaluable, helping ensure that we produce a definitive plan for both our near- and long-term projects." Projects under consideration include a new multi-purpose pavilion that would include a new student cafeteria ; a new academic building ; and the deep renovation of all existing buildings across the campus, beginning with those on the west side of Warren Street.
Parallel to this process has been the development of a new fundraising strategy, with the goal of providing ongoing funding for special capital projects, endowment growth, etc., that help fulfill the goals of the strategic plan. This new initiative will be entitled "Imagine: The Fund for Saint Peter's
Prep," and it will be comprised of special gifts that are not restricted toward supporting the school's annual operating budget.
Early gifts to the new "Imagine" fund total just under $4 million from 43 donors, including a few bequests. These include the first million-dollar gift in the school's history, from Bill Bell, '57; a half-million gift from Mark Hogan, '83; a special $400,000 endowed fund from Don Moriarty, '48 to support ongoing facilities management; and six-figure gifts to the scholarship endowment from individuals and reunion classes.
Horan noted, "For every non-profit institution, these are extraordinarily challenging times in which to raise funds And yet, Fr. Reiser and I have been getting a very positive response from those with whom we have met regarding this new effort. Everyone seems to agree that a first-class school such as Prep must have a physical plant that absolutely meets the needs of our talented students and faculty. And , they realize that it is unreasonable to expect
"f veryone seems to agree that afirst-class school such as Preo must have a physical plant that absolutely meets the needs of our . talented students and faculty."
tuition payments to fund extraordinary projects beyond the annual operating budget. They also understand that we must keep growing our endowment in order to make sure that Prep remains affordable. Given the early returns, we remain cautiously optimistic moving forward . " ~
Forming the Faculty
Prep 's efforts at developing and maintaining its Jesuit identity and mission in a time wh e n fewer Jesuits ar e available to involve themselves directly in the day-to-day operation of Jesuit schools continue to flourish. The ongoing development of Campus Ministry under lay leadership ("A New Tak e on Prep 's Jesuit Mission , Prep Magazine , Spring 2008 ) is just the beginning While the Office of Campus Ministry has planned and implemented a comprehensive fouryear pro g ram of retreats and Christian Service activities for students , a parallel lgnatian identity program for Prep 's faculty and staff has taken shape.
Thanks in part to a grant from the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities , Prep has launched a "Teacher Faith Formation Program for Mission. " Jane Bleasdale , a member of Pr e p 's Religious Studies Department and a veteran teacher and administrator in Cath o lic schools , has been appointed Director of Faculty Formation , while Faculty Chaplain Jim Dinneen , SJ - a former staff member at the Saint Ignatius Retreat House on
2009 Senior Gift:
No "lounging Around" Here!
At the end of Bur ke Hall's ba sement ha ll way lies a large room that has served several purposes over the years Room B016 is currently a stude nt 's least favorite place to vis it: the JUG room, and other recent iterations have included study hall and practice room for the wrestling team. But that's about to change again , giving the room a new lease on life and a not- sonew purpose
Long Island , who has also regularly directed the 30-day Spiritual Ex e rcises at El Retiro de San Ignacio in California-finds himself in a familiar role as a spiritual director.
Through faculty retreats, mission workshops , reading assignm e nts , and fellowship opportunities , Prep's faculty and staff are exploring the meaning
Jane Bleasda le was appionted Director of Faculty Fo rmation last
reflections upon the Jesuit Secondary Education Association 's documents What Make s a Jesuit School Jesuit"? and the Profile of a Jesuit High School Graduate at the Time of Graduation.
Taken as a whole , these programs represent Prep's multifaceted response to the greatest chall e nge facing all Jesuit schools in the 21st century: how best to carry on summer
of being part of a Jesuit school while also encountering the foundations of lgnatian spirituality and pedagogy. The formation of a strong Jesuit identity has thus been incorporated into the continuous process of professional growth and development for Prep 's teach e rs and administrators.
The Board of Trustees , for its part , has also engaged in a program of formation in Jesuit ideals. To date , mission-building activiti e s have included readings and spiritual direction in the area of lgnatian discernment , and , more recently,
the spiritual and academic traditions of lgnatian education even as the direct participation of Jesuits decreases In addition , these efforts will pave the way as the school works towards the primary Student Performance Objectives identified in Prep's recent process of re-accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools: "By 2014 all Saint Peter's Prep graduates will be critical thinkers ," and "By 2014 all Saint Peter's Prep graduates will meet th e Profile of a Jesuit High School Graduate at the Time of Graduation. "
Senior Class Gift
SAINT PETERS PREP
As their Senior Class Gift, the Class of 2009 is funding the renovation of what is now the JUG room into a new sen ior lo unge , which will also incorporate new office spa c e for the Campus M inist ry program The drive to create the lounge hit the ground running in January, thanks to the c oncurrent donation of a freshlyresurfa c ed billiard table by Dr Steve Bove Although he graduated from Xavier, Dr
Bov e chos e Prep as the new home fo r his beloved poo l table in part because the lounge-in-th e-making meant it w ou ld soon find an appreciative group of playe rs to add to t he 4 5 year s' w orth of m e mor ies it had helped create in th e Bove fami ly.
With t his late st t ransformat io n, the room i n the basement of Burke Hall w ill ha ve come nearl y full circl e Wh e n th e build ing opened in th e fall of 1965, the room served as a student commons, w ith the adjacent room (now home to the Prep Band) reserved as the Senior Room
Mission Possible
People are always intrigued when they hear me say that , around the world , lives have been changed due to the generous hearts of the Saint Peter's Prep community
Each year, some I 00 students take part in service-immersion trips that take them as close to home as Hudson County and as far away as New Orleans . In Fayetteville , West Virginia , for example , dozens of children count on visiting Prep students to serve as their counselors at a camp for kids living below the poverty line.
Beyond our Christian Service work , the annual Mission Drive contributes around $35 ,000 to Jesuit works around the world The drive -a school-wide challenge where homerooms try to out-fundraise each other - lasts through Lent. Prep boys have turned to everything from dress down days and bake sales to fencing tournaments , concerts , and video game challenges , to
Repl et e wi th it s new maroon surface , the tab le is ready for Prep senio rs t o "rack ' em up "
raise funds At Xavier High School in Micronesia, Prep donations have been used for scholarships and to close the gap between the school's tuition income and its operating costs Ditto at Loyola Jesuit College in Nigeria.
For our Mission Drive to be truly successful , though , our financial donations must go hand-in-hand with education and advocacy .
That's why we ' re working to develop deeper connections with the Jesuit agencies that work with our Mission Drive Members of our community will take part in service-immersion trips to at least two of the missions we donate to ( the Working Boys Center, in Quito , Ecuador, and the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales , Ariz. and Mexico ) Not only will these be Prep 's first international immersion trips , but they also present the school with the opportunity to stand in solidarity with those in need . (Moreover, while we're abroad , we will be fostering dialog through an online blog that student participants will
While workers from
the construction of the table's rails.
maintain. )
We will soon begin using the Campus Ministry website - http :// ministry spprep org - as a forum to share Mission Drive information , in addition to developing solidarity and dialog through morning prayer, school assemblies , and Prep 's three flat-screen displays .
From its earliest days , the Society of Jesus has reached out to those in need Ignatius sent his first companions to the "frontiers " to "announce the Lord to faces and cultures that did not know him as yet. " Today, some 450 years later, many frontiers have been crossed and discovered , but there still exists need in our world There remain many who , faced with poverty, sickness , and other injustice , do not "know" the Lord.
Following their most recent General Congregation , the Jesuits wrote , "In a world torn by violence , strife , and division , we then are called with others to become instruments of God ." The Mission Drive enables us at Prep to do just that.
Ryan Heffernan is Prep's Director of Campus Mini stry
Blatt Billiards work on reassembling and resurfacing the pool table he donated for the senior lounge, Dr. Steve Bove (right) shows Prep president Bob Reiser, S.J.
By
The Prep community is often compared to afamily... hut some families are Prep communities unto themselves~
he Prep Campus Shop 's offerings include a range of items tailored to specific members of the Prep family. "Prep Alumni ," "Prep Mom ," and "Prep Dad" items hav e proven to be popular g ifts Within th e overal l "Prep Family," though , th ere are quite a few specific Prep families for whom these products just don't go into e n oug h detail. Until the "Prep Alumnus/ Dad/ Brother/Cousin/ Uncl e / In -Law " sweats hirt and the "P rep Mom / Siste r/ Aunt/ Daughter" coffee c up become available , these Families will ha ve to speak for t h e m se lv es , unassisted b y relationship-specific giftw are
Like all Families , these Prep families hav e th e ir s har e of sto ri es and traditions. Like all memb ers of the Prep community, they hav e followed different path s to Grand & Warren and beyond. But in talking to members of so me of Prep's lar ges t families , where the Prep traditi o n run s both broad and deep , it is remarkable h ow mu c h is shared in common : A bond w ith the school, formed early in life b y join in g older relatives at Prep eve nt ( foot ball games see m to be a prime opportunity for passin g along the Prep tradition) or by seeing the strong fri e ndships forged in the course of a Prep educa tion ; a sense that the Prep experience is not just about academic or a thletic excellence but rather about shaping the whole person ; a feeling that the Prep co mmunity is a family unto itself ; and a continued interest in seeing the lifeshaping Prep experience extended both to relativ es and to relati ve n ewcome rs
Th e stor ies that follow only scratch the surface of t h e traditions that grow into Prep le gacies, but they d o offer great insight into what makes th e Prep com munity as strong as it iswhether your ow n Prep journey began four ge n eration and nearly a century a go, or o n February 7 th at registration for the Class of 201 3.
There's Always an Identification
Dave Finn is a memb er of the Prep Class of 1982 . At this j un ct ure , m e mbers of the classes of 1965 , 2007 and 2008 who are c urrentl y scratching their head s and wondering whether they 're mistaken in thinkin g Dave Finn was actually their classmate are to be exc used Dave Finn , '65 is this Dave Finn 's uncle ; Dave , '07 is hi s cousin ; and David , '08 is hi s so n Even if o ne were only to consider the Dave Finn s , it would b e an impressive Prep leg acy, spanning five d ecades and three generations
But that 's just the beginning. For mor e than half a century , the various bran c h es of the Finn clan hav e been as much a part of life at Grand & Warren a JUC , Latin cla ss and the Petro c, and today the family remains deeply co nn ec ted with th e sc h oo l. Dave Finn , ' 82 serves on th e Alumni Board and the Development Committee as the Annual Fund Chair Hi s aunt, Mary, wife of Ed Finn , '67 , is familiar to Pr ep s tud e nts in h er role as Assistant to the Dean of Students. Their lat e son Dan Finn , '99 is the namesak e of the Dan Finn Classic at the Jersey C ity Armory , where Prep defeated Seton Hall Prep in basketball for th e first time in history this winter. Sean Finn, '09, John Zadroga, ' 10 and Ian Carner, ' 11 represent the family among the current student body
Acc or ding to Dave , '82 , for th e men of the Finn family , the decision to attend
Prep is virtually a foregone conclusion "At Saint Al's o n We st Side Avenue , the conversation in 7t h and 8th gra de was , 'Where are you go ing to go to hi g h school ?'" he recalls "And I ne ver really participated in those co nver sa tions it was just always und erstood for me " He attributes th e ongoi n g Prep connection les s to pre ss ure or word - of -m o uth from other Prep alumni in the family , and m ore to the immer s io n in Pr ep culture that co me s with being part of a family with s uc h close ties to the sc h oo l. "By the time my so n s were o ld enough to b e tak e n place s [ in th e early ' 90s ], we were at Caven Point with the doubl e s t ro ller watching Pre p football ," he lau g h s "T here 's alwa ys an identifi catio n It will always be there. "
For Dave Finn , one way of maintaining a c o nnection with Prep and giving back to th e sc hool that has been a way of life for him , his brothers Uohn , ' 8 1, James , ' 85 , Tom , '87 and Robe rt , '9 4 ), hi s father ( th e lat e Jack , ' 52, a Legend of Prep) , his uncles ( Bill , ' 55, Dave , '65 and Ed, '67 ), hi s cousins, his in-laws and hi s so n s ha s b ee n through the De ve lo pment Committee. "Thi s is reall y a n interesting time to be involved with Prep, because of what's about to happ e n [with the Imagine
Dave Fin n, '82 wi th his so n Da vid, '08 and his fath er in-law Denis Forker, '57 at Da vid 's graduation.
Dave Finn, '65 and his son Dave , '07. The four David Finns alone span five decades at Prep and three generations , and they are just the tip of the Finn family iceberg
Fund]. As much of a shining star as the school is , we have great expectations for the future ," he says 'The economy is what it is but I think this could be a good era for Prep to become even more than it is today, and I' m excited just to be asked to be part of it. "
Prep is , no doubt , a part of the Finn family. The bond between school and family is so strong that it extends even to female family members. Tara Zadroga Schmitt , Kristen Zadroga Hart and Catherine Zadroga were all Prep cheerleaders in the 1980s. But for Dave Finn's daughter Emily, at age 4 , only the full experience would do "About five years ago , we had [Prep 's then - president] Jim Keenan over for dinner," he recalls . "And after dinner, my daughter said to Fr Keenan, 'So , when is Prep going to let girls in? I want to go to Prep! "'
No Mere Coincidence
In the second floor hallway of Shalloe Hall , there hangs a diploma from what was then officially known as "Saint Peter's College High School. " The handsomely printed document certifies that, in June 1918 , a young man named Bernard Michael Hartnett had successfully completed the requirements for graduation . To the casual passerby, perhaps preoccupied with a pressing technical issue that has necessitated a trip to the nearby computer services office , the diploma
is probably just a curiosity, a representative relic of the hazy "days of long ago " recalled in the words of "Pride & Glory. "
What the casual passerby might not realize is that this artifact from Prep 's 40th Commencement belongs as much to the present as it does to the past. Bernard Hartnett was the father of Bernie Hartnett , '47 , the grandfather of Ed Hartnett , '78 and the greatgrandfather of Eamon Hartnett , '08 , who , by following in Bernard 's footsteps 90 years later, became a fourth generation Prep alumnus But the plot thickens : Eamon Hartnett's mother, the former Mimi McDonald , is the daughter of Bill McDonald , '45 , who is in turn the son of Bernard Hartnett's classmate , William McDonald, '18.
It 's a striking coincidence that the grandchildren of two Prep classmates would later send a son of their own back to Grand & Warren , but it 's probably just that: a coincidence. Bernie Hartnett , ' 47 does not know his father and the elder McDonald to have been friends in their Prep days.
What is not coincidental , however, is the link with the school that has transcended generations . "My father told me and I told my son that it was the best school in Jersey City, perhaps the best school in the state or the country," he recalls "But it really was the dedication of the teachers that
sticks out in my mind. When I was a student , we had Jesuit misters and priests and they were dedicated , but even when my son and grandson attended there was no difference in how dedicated these teachers were to their students ."
His grandson, Eamon , now a freshman at the University of Chicago , concurs "My freshman English teacher was Mr. Koszyk , who had taught my father thirty years earlier," and Walter Koszyk 's dedication to the work of teaching had an unmistakable impact. 'To think that the same lessons were being taught for so long , and seeing how they must have affected those who had gone before me , made me realize how important those lessons were ."
In addition to an appreciation for Prep's academic excellence , the Hartnett tradition , like other Prep legacies , also rests upon an identification with the Prep family that begins early in life Before ever entering a Prep classroom , "I was impressed by how my father and my grandfathers remained good friends with their high school peers ," says Eamon "From about the age of 11 onwards I was fairly confident that I would go to Prep. " But Eamon 's affinity for the school had begun even earlier. "In 199 7, when Prep celebrated its I 25th anniversary , I was only about seven years old , but I remember getting a plastic football that said 'Saint Peter's Prep' on it. And it was important to me merely because it came from Prep"
Following in the footsteps of older family members also has a way of making the Prep experience itself even more rewarding, in Eamon 's view. Reflecting on the fact that his father, Ed Hartnett ,
'78 wa s one of the retreatants on the very first Emmau s in I 977, he says of his own Emmaus and Kairos retreats , "The meaning of both retreats was deeply enriched for
At Prep's 130th Commencement in 2008 , Eamon Hartnett joined his grandfathers, Bernie Hartnett, ' 47 (left) and Bill McDonald , ' 45 (right), his father, Ed Hartnett, '78 (second from left) and his great-grandfathers, Bernard Hartnett , '18 and W illiam McDonald , ' 18 in the brotherhood of Prep alumn i.
Hanging in the Shalloe Hall corridor, Bernard Hartnett 's diploma from Prep's 40th Commencement in 1918 gives passersby just a hint of the rich family history - and Prep history - it symbolizes
me. I had a personal connection with the origin of both of these retreats , and that strengthened my experience. By leading Kairos I, I felt as though my own legacy had brought the retreat experience at Prep full circle. "
From the Bleachers to the Boardroom
"For me, with my own father and my uncles , it started very early on , with things like tagging along with them to the Thanksgiving Day game," reminisces Jack Caulfield , '71 . He chuckles as he recalls the first steps in his own Prep journey. "You go to those games every year, and it starts to become second nature "
It's a journey that has taken him from the bleachers to the boardroom. Besides being a Prep grad himself , Jack Caulfield is the son , nephew, brotherin-Iaw, uncle and father of fellow Prep alumni. And in case that's not enough, he's also the
chairman of Prep 's Board of Trustees - a relationship he views , in part , as an opportunity to share his own family's Prep tradition with other families . "The thing is to keep the traditions and the mission of the school alive ," he says , "so kids who might have had no link with the school previously can say , This place is special , I had a great experience here , both in the academics and in the way it developed me ' Those are the guys who go on to start their own multi -generational experiences of the school. "
Starting a Prep tradition of similar scope would be a tall order. Jack 's sister Seton is married to Bill Ahearn , '75 , and their son Liam graduated in 200 I His other sister, Maureen , married Jed Doolan , '69 , and their son James is a member of the class of ' 06 His wife , the former Mary Beth O ' Connell , is a link to numerous O 'Connells , Roartys and O ' Briens with Prep ties of their own Mary Beth and Jack are the parents of Edmund , '00 and Chris , '03. And that's only part of it. How pervasive is the Prep influence in this family? Just ask Jack Caulfield : "I've thought about this a couple of times ," he laughs "My mother, Rose Caulfield , had one brother. That was Neil Haggerty. He went to Prep . She married a guy who was a Prep grad [Edmund Caulfield , '37]. She had two i sisters, and one of them married Tom Gallagher, who graduated from Prep in 1941 and later taught there. She had one son, me, who went to Prep She had four grandsons , and all of them went to Prep And her two sons-in-law are both Prep grads. So aside from her father and one brother-in-law, every male family member associated
Jack Caulfield, '71 (r ight) and his son Chris, '03 at this fall 's Athlet ic Hall of Fame dinner.
"I want my classroom to invite students to be part of the Prep family I have known all my life;' says Chris , a firstyear teacher in Prep's English department.
with my mother has been a Prep guy. " Any aspirants to building such a legacy should find it encouraging , however, that the commitment to expanding the "Prep family " runs deep in this particular Prep family. As event co-chairs , Seton and Bill Ahearn were instrumental to the success of the inaugural edition of The 144 Grand Gala in 2008 . Thanks in no small part
Seton & Bill Ahearn , ' 75, P'01 served as co-chairs for The 144 Grand Gala in 2008.
to their efforts , the Gala raised more than $190 , 000 in its first year for Prep's financial assistance program , which has gone a long way in helping academically qualified students overcome financial need and begin Prep traditions of their own
And then there is Chris Caulfield , who joined Prep's English department this past fall. As part of the contingent of recent Prep alumni who have returned to Grand & Warren as faculty and staff members , he has set about the task of sharing his own Prep experience with the current crop of Prep men "I want my students to see the amazing effects Prep can have on its students," he remarks . "Any time I can spend describing my experiences at Prep and how they have shaped the man I am today is worthwhile. I want my classroom to invite students to be part of the Prep family I have known all my life." And how did a lifelong connection with Saint Peter's Prep begin for Chris Caulfield? How else? "I can remember my grandfather taking me to Prep football games , and the joy he would take in sharing those experiences with me " i.
I
es
Guided by a core group that has remained involved since its inception, Prep's Alumni Board continues to shape the school's relationship with the alumni community.
By Chris Casazza, '97 with Ray Aumack, '55
hroughout Prep 's history, alumni have played a great part in the school 's life But it was only about 20 years ago that the Alumni A ssociation received a formal structure with the creation of the Alumni Board.
Of course , alumni made their presence known with active participation before the Alumni Board 's formation : reunions were wella t tended , alu~ni participated in the Annual Fund , and overall the "vital s ig ns " of alumni engagement were s trong . But by the late 1980s, the de s ire for something more was beginning to take shape Alumni wanted a means to take the class reunions and fundraising to another
level ; they saw the possibilities blossoming from the kinship that already existed among alumni across the nation
"In 1990 , Don Rasmussen , '72 , John Marra , '62 , Jake Meyers , '70 and I started what became a long process of design and development" remembers Ray Aumack , '55 in regard to the Alumni Board 's beginnings. "We chose not to be confined to existing models and decided that whatever we developed would be unique to the needs of the alumni community of i Saint Peter's Prep . We worked for two years , sifting through possible models , goals and objectives. It was difficult work because it took so much effort with little to show for it - until it all came together. "
And come together it did . After many early morning meetings and evening brainstorming sessions , th e Alumni Board was born Don Rasmussen , one of the co-founders , served as the first president. In addition to Don , the original Board consisted of Ray Aumack , ' 55 , Ernie Baker, ' 38 , Gene Boyl e, ' 56 , Ed Wilcynski , ' 58 , John Marra , '62 , Jake Meyers , ' 70 , andJack Savage , '57. These original members understood that they needed something to get the ball rolling . After much discussion , Jake Meyers came up with the idea of a dinner-dance. But a dinner -dance, in and of itsel( was not a notable enough event to invigorate Prep 's alumni , until Jake refined his idea into the concept for what is now known as Legends of Prep Fusing the dinner with the election of alumni to a "hall of fame " created the significant event the early founders had been seeking.
The Alumni Board envisioned Legends becoming the school's highest honor and the criteria for the award were honed with that in mind Legends of Prep was created to celebrate commitment to Prep , lifetime achievement in business and the community, and work reflective of the spirit of Saint Ignatius. Of course , even ' with all the planning , there was risk involved. The Alumni Board was in its infancy and an event of this magnitude hadn 't been tried by Prep in recent memory. It was also the first year as president for Jim Keenan , SJ and his green-lighting of the project took enormous courage at the time. The pressure was on to ensure the first edition of Legends was a "home run."
And of course it was . The first Legends of Prep in 1993 drew more than 600 people , and the event was both a social and a financial success. Since then , both Legends of Prep and the Alumni Board itself have l:iecome ingrained as part of the fabric of Prep life
Today, the Board meets in full four times a year and assists in planning ' alumni events , supporting the Annual Fund , and in numerous other activities. In addition to Legends , the Alumni Board sponsors and organiz e s major social and fundraising activities , among them the annual Golf Tournament , JUG Night , the Athletic Hall of Fame , and , for the first time this year, an
Founding board member Ray Au mack, '55 (right) and board member Rich Hamilton, '90 (center) with Chris Casazza , '97. director of
re la tions & annua l giving, during a planning meeting for Legends of Prep
alumni family picnic. The continuity within the Alumni Board's membership has been remarkable - six of the original eight members are among the 3 1 current members of the Board.
The underlying purpose of the Board is to promote and advance the best interests of Saint Peter's Prep in its religious , educational and charitable functions , to strengthen the bond between its alumni and the school. Its main objective is to foster fraternity among alumni , creating settings where
one Prep alum can get together with another to relive old memories , see old friends, and see how Prep is doing today Many of the Alumni Board members also serve as class chairs , working on yet another level to keep alumni in touch with one another and in touch with Prep. The Board's functioning is almost a mirror to the story of Saint Ignatius , forming a band of brothers , under the shadow of Peter, working for the greater glory of God.
"As a member of the Board , I have
had the privilege of working with talented alums who have inspired me because of their continued dedication to Prep many years after graduation, " says John Feeney, '80 , current President of the Alumni Board . "I think of my own classmates who continue to help me with phonathons , attend Prep events with me , and have supported the McGovern Tournament for the past 15 years To me , they represent what Prep is all about."
Prep has grown a great deal in the past two decades , and the alumni , through the Alumni Board , have been a great part of that growth "In considering my own class , in 1990, I 4 percent of my classmates were contributing $8 ,000 to the Annual Fund ," says Ray Aumack "Last year we had a participation rate of over 53 percent. Considering all other factors , that's a lot of growth in that period of time!"
Board members bring a wealth of valuable experience to the table , from the worlds of business and finance , education and marketing; all of this experience goes toward making Prep a better place for the current students and for the alumni . But they also get something in return . "My time on the Board has allowed me to receive another education from Prep ," adds John Feeney. "It's an education in the rich tradition of Prep and its proud history."
alumni
Alumni Board president John Feeney, '80 with Fr Reiser and fellow board member Paul Schaetzle, ' 71 at th e 2008 Ath letic Hal l of Fame dinner The Hall of Fame dinner is one of severa l Prep events overseen by the Alumni Board
Football
Given all of the accomplishments of Will Hill and the impact h e had on the football program over the last four years , most who follow the team assumed that void would be difficult, if not impossible , to fill. At this time last year, Coach Rich Hansen had hoped that the team , "in some ways could actually be b e tter."
"My concern was that we might struggle to find an identity," Hansen reflected on the '08 season " It had been Will's team and so new chemistry and leadership roles had to b e established ." The t ea m 's development was slowed as much by the graduation of four offensive
lin emen as the departure of Hill. Hansen stated, "Our quarterbacks did a good job and our defense was outstanding , bu t no one was playing the same position as la st year on the a-line." Throw in a few key injurie s and the t eam found itself in unfamiliar territory - 0-2.
The early losses to Saint Joe's of Montvale and Good Counsel in
Maryland h elped the team to mature and taught the pl aye rs how to fight through adversity. The Marauders extended their winning streak against Hudson County opponents to 78, capturing a ninth consecutive county
Cross Country
title along the way As Hansen concluded, "8 -3 is a bit disappointing , but we found a way to win a County Championship and a state playoff ga me and that is a t est am ent to th e t ea m 's resilience. " ..s'l.
The varsity team came into the season hoping to improve on last year's second place finish in the two county meets. Despite it s best efforts and steady imp rovement in each race, Prep could not trade that si lver medal for a gold one. The team took second in the Jersey City Champ io nship, t he HCIAA Champ ionship and the Hudson Co unty Tr ack Coaches Association Championship.
As was the case in his junior year, the team was led by Joseph Livi from Fair Lawn who repeated as a FirstTeam All County selection. Livi wi ll attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis next year. Sophomore Kevin Garrigan of Cli fton joined Livi on the Al l County team as a Second Team selection
In one of the biggest meets of the season , Kevin Garrigan took 5th place in the Sophomore Class Meet atWarinanco Park
Captain and four-yea r sta rt er, Kha li l Wi l kes will take his talent to the PAC-10 as he begins hi s college caree r at Stanfo rd
Ian Buzzio led the team in scoring with 12 goals and 7 assists.
John Irvine Day: Prep Soccer Marks fnd of an fra
Soccer
The 2008 season began with a sight Prep soccer players and fans have not seen in 18 years -a coach other than John Irvine, 18 3, P' 1 1 on the sideline. Irvine stepped down last spring and proudly handed the reins to Josh Jantas, '95. "Josh played for me, was a captain, came back as an assistant for four years and has been the head coach of a high school program for the last six years. He could not be better prepared and the transition could not be smoother," said Irvine.
After dropping three of their first four matches, the team lost only one of their next ten (7-1-2), earning impressive victories over Bayonne, Dickinson and Union City. The Marauders ended the season in third place in the league and after a 1-0 firstround win over Union City, fell to
Senior Tom Cianc i of Bloomfield records a save during one of his seven shutouts
Memorial 2-0 in the semis.
Prep sent three players to the All State dinner: senior Ian Buzzio of Harding who was a third team selection and senior Stephen Conley of North Arlington and junior Andrew Hayes of Hoboken who made honorable mention.
On a beautiful Saturday in early September, the soccer team opened its season against Jesuit rival Regis . To the Regis fans there was noth i ng unusual about the game, but for the Prep fans something was noticeably different. For the first time in more than two decades, John Irvine, '83, P'11 was sitting in the stands with the Prep supporters instead of roaming the sideline w ith the team
Irvine announced last spring that he was stepping down after a 23-year career that included 18 as head coach. He
Irvine with his former captain and successor, Josh Jantas, '95. reflected, "More than half my life has been spent coaching Prep soccer and it has become part of
John Irvine, '83, P'11 receives a plaque on a day in his honor. Pictured with Irvine are (I to r) Prep's principal, Jim DeAngelo, '85, former head coach and principal, Jack Raslowsky, '79 and Athletic Director Rich Hansen, P'03, '09.
who I am Many of my closest friends are guys who played for me, and many of my greatest memories have come from camp, or practices, or the sidelines:·
For Irvine, knowing his successor made the decis ion to resign an easy one Josh Jantas, '95 played on three consecutive county championship teams ('92 - '94) and was captain and an All State selection his senior year. He coached the JV for two seasons and served as a varsity assistant for two seasons before tak ing the head coaching job at Secaucus High School. Josh turned their program into a winner, leading the team to its first State Tournament appearance.
When asked about Jantas, Irvine commented , "I am thrilled that Josh is now the coach; he is as dedicated to Prep soccer as anyone I have ever coached."
CLASS NOTES
"We're Listening!"
Tell us what you have been up to recently. degrees, career, marriages, births and adoptions, awards, community service .. . we 'll share the news with your classmates, teachers and fellow alumni in this section of the magazine. Please include your graduation year and a phone number E-mail: alumni@spprep org; Fax: 201-547-6421; Online : http ://alumni spprep org.
The 50's
1954: Jim Merz has returned to teaching and research at the University of Notre Dame after serving for 18 months as Dean of the College of Engineering He expects to be named emeritus in July.. . James Reilly resides in Carlsbad , California and works as a riding instructor and horse educator.
The BU's
1962 : Dr. Denis Hruza, PhD., retired aft e r 40 1/2 years as a chemist with International Flavors & Fragrances. He and his wife Anne will be able to spend more time traveling Denis can also devote more time to his hobby of duck decoy carving , already having won 23 ribbons at the Ward World Wildlife Carving Championships. They have one son , Denis Jr, who resides in Florida
Presidential Award for Dr. Donald W Landry, , 72
Dr. Don Landry, '72, chairman of the Columbia University Department of Medicine and a member of Prep's Board of Trustees, received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bush in a ceremony on December 10.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was created in 1969 recognize U.S citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for the nation. It is one of the highest honors the President can confer upon a civilian , second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Or. Landry was one of 24 citizens recognized with this prestigious award during this year's ceremony, and the complete list of this year's honorees
places him in truly esteemed company, as winners were recognized for outstanding achievements and public service in fields ranging from medicine to law to academia. Following is the text of Dr. Landry's award citation : As a physician , organic chemist, and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University, Dr Donald Landry has applied his passion for discovery to expanding human knowledge and improving patient treatment . A man of science and a man of faith , he has demonstrated that there are responsible and ethical ways to advan ce stem cell research The United States honors Donald Landry for his diverse and pioneering research and his efforts to improve the wellbeing of his fellow man
1968 :John Garibaldi is working as a nuclear safety services manager for JRS Corporation in Princeton He resides in Toms River, and is the grandfather of Maggie , age 1Vi
The 70's
1970 :Leo Hurley was named Grand Marshal for the 29th Annual Bayonne Saint Patrick's Day Parade. An active member of Bayonne's Irish-American community, Leo has also served as the chairman of the Bayonne Saint Patrick's Day Parade Committee Tony Giordano is teaching geometry at East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs , Florida. "I still use 'Do you want to bet your lunch money on that answer? "' h e reports. "Mr. Outty, back in ' 67, taught me well. God bless the Prep!"
Prep is proud to congratulate a distinguished alumnus and a dedicated trustee on receiving this exceptional honor.
Don Landry, '72 with President Bush during the Pres idential Citizens Medal ceremony in December.
Mark Mauriello, '75 was appointed Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection by Governor Corzine in November A member of the DEP staff since 1980, he had most recently served as Assistant Commissioner for Land Use Management. Among the many credentials he has amassed during his long career in environmental management, Mauriello is also the founder of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management and regional director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers , as well as the author of a number of papers and publications on environmental issues in New Jersey.
1973 :Steve Smith is the proud grandfather of Madelyn , age 4, prompting him to note, "Time passes so quickly! "
1974: John Tyrrell, D.O ., is currently the medical director of Overlook Emergency Services , Union Campus .
The BO's
198]: Curt Philipczak, CPA, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants , and Secretary of the New Jersey CPA Political Action Committee .
1984: Tim McGovern recently joined a pharmaceutical consulting firm , SciLucent , in Herndon , Virginia . He and wife Pam live in Crownsville , Maryland.
1985: Christopher Shamburg, Associate Professor of Educational Technology at New Jersey City University, gave three presentations at the 2008 Convention of the National Council of Teachers of English in San Antonio.
1986: Joseph D Guarino received the Stivale D ' ltalia Award Of Excellence, presented annually in recognition of leadership within N e w Jersey's ItalianAmerican business community. Joe is a partner practicing labor and employment law at the national law firm of Epstein Becker & Green , and works principally out of its Newark, New Jersey office He is pictured below with one of his law partners , Carmine Iannaccone , a previous winner of the award .
1987: Bill Price was recently promoted to Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Johnson & Johnson Corporation Navy Lt . Don Wilson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by Vice Admiral H. Denby Starling II , USN , Commander of Naval Network
Prep Men lake Their Pride on the Road
As it's been sung time and aga in in the i mmortal words of Pride & Glory, the men formed at Grand & Warren take Prep w ith us " wherever we go :· Sometimes it's in the lessons in Latin , in literature and in li f e that guide us through the life 's tw ist s and turn s. Other times , it' s a bit more lite ral. How so? Take a look
Logan Williams , '03 and Rob Komorowski, '03 remembered to pac k their Prep Pride w hen they visited the University of Notre Dame for a football game this past fall. If you we re wondering ho w many Prep alumni it takes to create a liveaction tribute to Notre Dame's landmark "Touchdown Je s us " mural , now you kno w.
Ben Blanchfield , '09 isn't quite a Prep alumnus yet, but =-- :::: + -~~; l~~ai:e~;ows _ _when he's on the road. Here we find him at the headq uarters of L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. Beh ind him stand s "The World 's Largest Bean Boot;' who se wintertime warmth could be matched only by the affection of Prep men for their o ld "home" at Grand & Warren.
Warfare Command , in recognition of his distinguished service in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008. Don is currently serving at Naval Network Warfare · Command as the Deputy Director for Exercise Planning and Support He resides in Southampton County, Virginia , along with his wife Christy and their sons Christopher, Dylan and Joshua .
1988: Greg Bellotti has recently accepted a new post within Siemens (IT Solutions and Services) to direct North American IT services to certain Siemens operating companies. He expresses his pride at being a part of the world's largest electronics company, as well as being a Prep alum: "Siemens' history is very rich , and the future looks even brighter - much like Prep."
1989 : Hernan Hernandez, Esq., '89 and Henry Hernandez, Esq., '92 are working together as attorneys in Miami, Florida .
The 90's
1991: Bill Dwyer is assigned to Juneau , Alaska as a Coast Guard Judge Advocate Bill reports that he, Erin , Martha and Mary are enjoying the Last Frontier, and adds a hearty "All Prepsters Welcome!" Bob Salmon resides in California with his wife Fran and three adopted sons, and works for Gallo Wineries.
1993: Rob Smith is an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law, teaching federal Indian law. He is also engaged to be married to Susannah Carr this summer.
1994: James Gutierrez remains associated with the law firm of Strock & Strock & Lavan , LLP, in its financial restructuring group. He resides in New York City.
1998: Darrow Deluca graduated from Sydney University's Faculty of Medicine in December 2008 and began his residency at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital , Sydney, in January 2009. He current ly lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife , Elizabeth.
The OO's
2002: Peter Cecinini is currently studying at Rutgers School of Law in Newark. Peter completed his undergraduate work at RutgersNewark.
2008 :Rob Coloney is the co-host of Sacred Heart University 's first ever sports-talk radio program, The Rob and Spyder Show. The show can be heard liv e on www.whrtradio.com , and archived shows and more can be found at www robandspyder.com.
Mark Hogan , '8 3 Honors Parents with Imagine Gift
For Mark Hogan , ' 83 , a recent $500 ,000 gift to Prep 's Imagine Fund , in honor of his parents , Agnes & Jerry Hogan , was more t h an an investment in Prep 's future It was a way of giving back to the two influences that have shaped his life and career more than any other - his alma mater and his family . "I've been fortunate to be blessed with a successful business career," H ogan remarked , "and it was my mom and dad who started me on my way, and then put me in the hands of the Jesuits , who built me up and made me the person who I am ."
Hogan would like to see his gift inspire others to
Mark Hogan, ' 83 , during the 2008 Saint Peter's PrepDiFeo Au t o Group Golf Tournament.
follow. "I hope that starting off with this contribution will 'rally the troops,' if you will ," he explained, "and encourage other alumni to get behind us ," in support of Ima gine.
"The years you're at Prep [as a student] are some of the most important years, and probably the greatest years of your life ," he added. "I'm hoping that this money helps Prep continue doing its great work ."
Alumni Weddings
Craig Addeo, '99 and Lala Musayev, September 20, 2008
Jon Foster-Moore, '98 and Marisa Kelly, September 27, 2008
Mike McGuire, '93 and Kourtney, October 11, 2008
Kate Walsh , former faculty member, and Ken Caffrey, D ecember 6, 2008
Tom Zuber, '99 and Meissa Miklusch, December 27, 2008
Births &Adoptions
Paul Evangelista, '91 and wife Renee : son Nicholas Andrew, May 28 , 2008
Patrick Drennan, '83 and wife Denise : daughter Teagan Maureen, June 21, 2008
Jim Salmon, '91 and wife Jamie: son Jack Christopher, August 27, 2008
Eric Cantada, '88 and wife Abrielle, son Cole Magnus, October 31, 2008
Sean McDonald, '93 and wife Susan: daughter Leah Mary, December 18 , 2008
The 2009 Inductees:
Carmine Campisi, '50 t
John Crotty, '56 IBasketball)
'62-'63 Prep Basketball Team Honored at Dan Finn Classic
The 1962-63 Prep Basketball team was honored during the Fifth Annual Dan Finn Classic at the Jersey City Armory in January Forty-six years ago, on the same court, Coach Jerry Halligan's team clinched the HCIAA championship and completed a three-peat as county champs by defeating Memorial, 52-32. Coach Mike Kelly's 2008-09 Prep squad kept up their end of the bargain , beating Seton Hall Prep for the first time in team history, 48-43
A crowd of 300 packed Jersey City's Liberty House restaurant on a cool October evening to commemorate the great contributions of seventeen individuals and one team to Prep's proud athletic heritage. The program included the induction of 17 individuals and one team into the pantheon of the school's greatest athletic achievements. The third biennial Hall of Fame celebration spanned generations, with inductees ranging from the class of 1909 to the class of 1998
To see more photos, visit www.spprep .org and click the " PhotoA/bum" tab.
Hugh Doherty, 1909 t !Football , Ba sketball and Baseball Coach)
Ed Grant, •43 !Sports Journali st/S upporter)
Ken Harbace, ·53 t !Football)
Dave Ila ri a, '98 !Wrestling)
Joe Kealy, '88 !Tennis)
George Murtaugh, '22 t (Football)
Tommy Myers t !Football Coach)
Frank Nicoletti, '62 IBasketball)
Tom Schember, '79 !Soccer)
Rich Skinner, 57 !Football)
Johnny Slane, '22 t !Football, Baske tball and Baseball )
Jack Szeigis, '58 !Baseball)
Elnardo Webster, '87 !Football)
Jack Welter, •43 !Football and Baseball)
Wayne Zdanowicz, '60 !Football)
The 1958 Football Team t Posthumous
Frank Nicoletti, '62 accepts his award from Prep president Bob Reiser, S.J. and master of ceremonies Joe Parkes, S.J., '62.
~hat
J. '70s Band
Calling all '70s alumni Were you and your Prep buddies in an "American Band" "At Seventeen"?
Just because your "Rock 'N Roll Fantasy" might have been "Shattered" doesn 't mean you can't still be "One of the Boys! " Whether you look back o~ your band's eventual breakup as "Nobody's Fault" or "Nobody's Fault but Mine ," you can "Turn the Page" back to those days of "Life in the Fast Lane ." Don't be "The Stranger" just "Jet" over to your nearest computer (or take a "Slow Ride " if you weren't "Born to Run" ) and tell us your story. Email alumni@spprep org and tell us "Everything You Did ." You're certainly not "Under Pressure," but your band's story may be featured in a future issue of Prep Magazine.
Members of the 1958 Football Team with their Hall of Fame plaques.
With members of the current Prep Bas ketbal l team looking on, Ed Finn, '67, P'93;99 (right) and Prep Basketball coach Mike Kelly (center) present an award to Richie Kacprowicz, '63 !left) and Vince McFadden, '63 of the 1962-63 county championship team.
The reunion participants proudly show off the Class Cup, which the Class of '58 earned with the highest rate of attendance for any 2008 Prep reunion class.
Class of 1 58 Enjoys a "Golden" Weekend
In October, 73 members of the Class of 1958 came back to Prep to celebrate their 50th Reunion. Alumni came back home to Grand & Warren from as far as San Francisco and as near as Washington Street to enjoy a full slate of events organized by Class Chairmen John Connors and Allan McCarthy,
along with Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Chris Casazza, '97
The weekend began with a "Bachelor Evening" for the reunion grads and a concurrent "Ladies' Night" for their wives at Prep on Friday evening. Alumni also watched the Marauders defeat Bayonne at Cochrane Stadium on Saturday before a dinner dance at Puccini's. Sunday saw the festivities draw to a close with Mass and the presentation of Colden Diplomas, honoring Prep's newest Cepheans.
The Class of '58 followed in the
footsteps of the Class of '57 in two aspects of their reunion weekend in particular: First, by posting the highest rate of participation among this year's reunion classes , the Class of '58 earned the Class Cup, hoisted last year by the Class of '57 Second, in an effort led by Ed Burke, members of the Class of 1958 are working to create a permanently endowed scholarship , which would eventually provide the full tuition for one deserving Prep student each year To date, over $30,000 has been contributed to this effort.
Class Co-Chair John Connors, '58 addresses his classmates dur ing the Friday "Bachelor Evening."
Fr. Ed Bradley, '58 (center) presides at Mass, with Fr. Michael Joyce, O.FM., '58, and Fr Bob Reiser, S J., Prep's president, conce lebrat ing
Class of 1957 Scholarship
In 2007, as the Class of 1957 was preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its graduation from Prep , Gerry Brill , '57 stepped forward with a pledge of $50,000 to serve as the basis for the Class of 1957 Scholarship. He
hoped this initial contribution would serve not as a challenge but as an inspiration to his classmates to join in the effort to create a permanent scholarship in celebration of the Class of 1957's milestone anniversary.
And participate they did. Including Gerry Brill, 43 me mbers of the Class of '57 made gifts to their namesake
Donors to the Class of 1957 Scholarship:
William J. Bell
John W. Black
George Blaney
Will iam J. Borden
Edward J. Borrone
Lawrence PBrady
Vincent F. Brennan
Gerard R . Brill
Arthur J. Brown
lay th e groundwork for the Cla ss of 1957 Scho la rsh ip wi th a $50,000 don ation in t he summer of 2007.
An open bar.
All you can eat beef.
Catching up with your Prep buddies.
Some would call it a perfect evening.
We call it
scholarship fund during fiscal year 2008. Prep students are already experiencing the benefits of the Class of 1957 Scholarship, and the spirit of giving back has proven contagious. Members of the Class of 1958, not to be outdone , created a scholarship of their own in celebration of their 50th reunion last fall.
Philip A Cole
Kevin J. Collins
Martin PDaly
Peter A. Decarlo
Patrick J. Downes
Gregory G. Gannon
William J. Garry
Charles M. Glashausser
Robert P Groesbeck
Nicholas A. Cannarozz i Paul M. Guyet
Phillip J. Catanzaro
Robert S Harney
Theodore J. Heiart
John R. Hogan
Anthony J. Jaswinski
James N. Kyriazis
George G Malito
Edwin P Murray
Ferdinand S Pieroni
Francis PPiscal
Robert C Pollock
Raymond M. Ralph
Thomas H. Rogers
Charles A Sabino
John J. Santianna
John E. Savage
Philip A Sheeran
Michael J. Sheyker
Robert J. Sinnott
William J. Spataro
Joseph E. Stevens
John J. Verdon
Michael J. Wallace
You've got JUG ... Night!
On the even ing before Thank sgiv ing, about 400 of Prep's young alumni pi led into the cafeteria to enjoy free burgers and hot dogs , catch up with old friends, and relive the i r favorite Prep memories at JUG Night. This year's JUG Night was also the five-year reun ion for the Class of 2003, and the honored class turned out in full force, setting the bar high for the Class of '04 at next year's event.
Deborah and Gerry Brill, '57 help ed
Members of the Class of '03 (left to right: Steve Spiewak, Eric Anderson, Harry McCann, Chris Pareja) catch up at JUG Night, which was also their five-year reunion
VITA MUTATUR NON TOLLITUR
(Life is changed, not ended)
ALUMNI
Donald J. Kane, '40
brother of Thomas W Kane , ' 36 t and Robert P. Kane , '45
Robert Risden, '40
John J. Egan, '43
Brother of James J. Egan , '28t and Rob e rt P. Egan , ' 36t
Thomas J. Lynch, '46
William Morley, '47
EdwardJ. Conway, 15'.2
Anthony L. Grazioso, '5'.2
John Mulrain, 15'.2
James M. Reilly, '56
Stephen J. Debello, ' 58
William J. O'Day, 16'.2
Paul W. Roehrenbeck , '63
son of William Roehrenbeck , ' 30t
John Tarrant, 163
John A. Jordan, 166
John Czeterko, '71
George Holowchak, '71
John D. Pflug, '06
FAMILY MEMBERS OF ALUMNI
Nora Boyle
Mother of Seamus Boyle , '77, John Boyle , 18 l and Micha e l Boyle , '84
Carol Cantanese
Mother of Vin Cantanese, '0 I
William E Cummings
Father of William D. Cummings, '67, Kevin A. Cummings , '72 and Rev Brian Cummings , '82; grandfather of Kevin A. Cummings , '05
Carmen DeMaria
Father of John DeMaria , '77
Barbara Felice
Wife of Frank Felice , '56
James E. Hickey
Father of Albert Hickey, '82
Seton Fell Holt
Daughter of Lany Fell, '54
Joyce Gurian
Mother of Scott Curian, '97 and Drew Curian , '00
Gloria Javier
Grandmother of Peter LeBron , '08
Stephen Lembo, Sr.
Father of Stephen Lembo , '63 and Robert Lembo , '67
Joseph M . Lobo
Father of Jordynne Lobo , 168
Michael Mecca
Father of Mauro Mecca , '68, Anthony Mecca, '73 and Michael Mecca, '75
Ronald Messenger
Father of Mark Messen ge r, '95 , Micha e l Messenger, '91 and Matthew Messenger, '02
Sophia Marchel
Mother of Mark Marchel , '72
Imelda Neuschwanter
Mother of Keith , '83
Pat W. Presa
Father of Donald Presa, '75 and Stephen Presa , '86
Teresa Scian
Mother of David Scian , '68
Lillian Sciarra
Mother of John Sciarra, '77 , Paul Sciarra , '80 and Charles Sciarra , '8 l
Gail Spataro
Wife of William Spataro, ' 57;
Mother of Matthew Spataro, '96 and Thomas Spataro , '97
Karen Vecellio
Mother of AJ Vecellio , '06
FORMER FACULTY & STAFF MEMBERS
Robert G. Cregan, SJ, 15'.2
Brother of John Cregan , 148
Robert M Flynn , SJ
FAMILY MEMBERS OF FACULTY & STAFF
Michael J. Annetta
Father of faculty member Rosemary Annetta
Mary Campion
Mother of faculty member Jack Campion
James R. DeAngelo
Father of principal James C. DeAngelo , '8 5
Robert G. Cregan, S.J., '52, 1935-2009
Fo rmer Prep facu lty member Robert G. Cregan, S.J., '52 died on January 4 at the age of 73. A Jes uit for over 56 years and a prie st fo r more than 42, Fr. Cregan followed a winding career path w ithin the New York Province that brought him back to his alma mater fr om 1989 until 2002
Throughout the province, whe re he served many institution s in many capac itie s ove r the years, Fr. Cregan will be remembered for h is commitment to lgnatian education, his care and conce rn for students and
Bob Cregan as a Prep senior in 1952 (left) and as a faculty member at Fordham Prep in 2008.
colleagues alike , and his seemingly endless supp ly of wi tty and enlightening anecdotes. As a student at Fordham Prep , where Fr. Cregan had been a faculty member since 2002, put it i n a testimonial, "he really made us be lieve [in his freshman English class] that we could do well here:' T hat sent ime nt will no doubt be s hared by co untle ss Saint Pe ter's Prep alumni whose lives Fr Cregan helped to shape.
The 144 Grand Gala Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe , 6:00 pm
60th Reunion - Class of 1949
Mass in Madonna Chapel, Noon
Prep Spring Musical , Once Upon a Time in New Jersey
Roy Irving Theatre , 8:00 pm
Alumni Reunions - Classes of '64, '69 , ' 74, '79, '84, '89 , '94, '99
Mass in Saint Peter 's Church, 6:30 pm
15th Annual Student Art Exhibition
Siperst e in Library, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Pride & Glory Night
Mass in Saint Peter's Church, 6:00 pm
Baccalaureate Mass Prep Courtyard, 4:00 pm
131st Commencement
Saint Pe t er's College , 11 :00 am
32nd Annual Saint Pete r's Prep -
Difeo Au t o Group Golf Tournament
Spring Lake Golf Club, first shotgun 8:30 am
President's Dinner Valley Regency, Clifton, NJ
Legends of Prep IX Mayfair Farms, W e st Orange, NJ
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