Prep
Saint Peter’s Preparatory School
spring 2016
Prep’s Generosity Decade
Transferable Experiences As a Prep alumnus of the Class of ’85, I feel a special connection to this edition of the magazine. Just thinking about fellow Prep grads who are profiled in the pages that follow brings back a flood of happy memories from my time as a student at Grand and Warren from 1982-1985. That’s not a typo; I spent just three years at Prep, having transferred in as a sophomore. As a transfer student, I paid close attention to how things were done and quickly – if somewhat awkwardly, at times – learned the Prep way of doing things. One of the first things I noticed was how smart the other kids were: how incredibly challenging questions in class and unusual amounts of homework did not seem to faze them. I also noticed, and experienced within the first week, the cameraderie and brotherhood among my fellow Prepsters. Prep was so big, few even knew I was a transfer stduent and just assumed I was in another section of their freshman classes. My experience on retreat (Emmaus XLII) was a pivotal moment in what would become a decades-long association with Prep. It was there on retreat at the Jesuit villa in Sea Bright that I came to seek God in all things in my life, something I strive to do even to this day. The teachers I experienced here were unparalelled in their level of dedication and care for me. In classes with men and women like Bob Howard, Jim Horan, Maureen DeCresce, Bill Donahue, Ken Dandorph, John Mullin, S.J., and Tom Garvey, S.J., to name a very few, I was challenged to think for myself in ways that served me well in college and provided a roadmap for my own career as a member of the Prep faculty. When I speak these days with students – especially our transfer students – about their time at Prep, I am struck by how similar their experience of their classmates and teachers is to mine. One significant difference, however, is how much more aware our school community is of our identity as a Jesuit school than when I was a student. Perhaps it was the large number of Jesuit priests, brothers and scholastics we had on the faculty and staff back then. Ironically, with far fewer Jesuits today, our students’ understanding of what it means to be a student at a Jesuit high school is far more sophisticated and deeply held than I could have articulated as a junior or senior. I have been privileged to serve as Prep’s principal for the last nine years and am often challenged to learn and grow in different ways every year by our faculty and student body. If you haven’t been to Prep in a while, you should come for a visit to see how the work of our school has changed with the times, yet has remained firmly grounded in the principles of Saint Ignatius and the early companions. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.
Jim De Angelo, ‘85 Principal
14Section Contents
Cover Story 14
Ken Boller, S.J. President
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Six Guys from the ’80s
Volume 26 - Number 2 Spring 2016
Call it the “Greed Decade” if you must, but the 1980s have turned out to be fertile ground for generosity among Prep alumni. Jim DeAngelo, ’85 Principal
Chris Casazza, ’97 Editor Mike Jiran, ’03 Managing Editor John Irvine, ’83, P’11 Sports Editor John Dougherty Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16 Jim Horan, ’70 Will Ryan, ’11 Maura Toomb Ken Trotta Contributors Mark Wyville, ’76, P’11 Select Photography Mace Duncan Ohleyer Hotplate Original Design Concept Mike Jiran, ’03 Additional Photography and Layout Prep Magazine is a publication of the Advancement Office of Saint Peter’s Preparatory School. It is distributed in print, free of charge, to Prep alumni, faculty, staff and parents, and online at spprep.org/prepmag
Features 8 2 Philly 4 Francis: A Pilgrimage Six students and two faculty members were among the multitudes in Philadelphia to welcome Pope Francis last September.
12 Always in Fashion Year after year, the generosity of the Prep family is on display at the PPA Fashion Show.
Departments 2 2
5 Questions A chat with Ken Trotta of Prep’s science department about audio and video alike.
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11 To Whom Much is Given Steve Hendzak, ’62 lived with a quiet dedication to Prep, but his surprise bequest will be impossible to overlook.
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Alumni Relations: alumni@spprep.org or 201-547-6413 Communications: communications@spprep.org or 201-547-2308
22 Photo File A glimpse of the future, 1986 style.
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Stay Up-to-Date
8 spprep.org facebook.com/spprep
144 Grand Remembering Fr. Raulli; Breaking ground for the Perkins Center; CLCs enrich Prep’s faith life.
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Copyright © 2016, Saint Peter’s Prep. All publication rights reserved. Contact us:
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Sports Football exits Hudson County competition with championship and win streaks intact; Another county title for Cross Country.
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To subscribe to our weekly P-Mail newsletter, contact us at communications@spprep.org with your name, class year (if applicable) and preferred e-mail address.
Alumni Celebrating the stuff of Legends; Prep shines in the Sunshine State.
On the Cover: Scenes from Prep life throughout the 1980s, a decade of continuity and change at Grand & Warren.
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Images from the 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1988 Petrean, and well as Prep Magazine’s inaugural Fall 1981 issue. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 1
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Rico Raulli, S.J., 1932-2016
In January, Prep said goodbye to one of its most colorful and spirited faculty members, as Enrico Raulli, S.J. passed away at age 83. Fr. Raulli had served as a guidance counselor and English teacher at Prep since 1979. He will be remembered by generations of students for his quick wit, his easygoing manner, and his seemingly limitless enthusiasm for helping them to explore the depths of their creativity as they developed as writers. He taught his long-running Creative Writing elective (and moderated the Paper and Pen literary magazine, known in other eras as Inkscape or Literama) with a focus on sharpening the quality of the work, while allowing students nearly complete creative freedom. “Through that freedom, I began to find my voice,” recalled Will Ryan, ‘11, now a member of Prep’s Alumni Service Corps. “If it weren’t for him, I don’t know where I’d be.” His colleagues – who affectionately knew him as simply “Rico,” – will remember an avid tennis player, a fervent opera lover, a valued spiritual adviser, a beloved friend, and a vibrant personality, so often the first on the dance floor at any social gathering of Prep’s faculty and staff. “In so many ways,” remarked one longtime colleague, “he was the consummate Jesuit.” After entering the Society of Jesus in 1952, Fr. Raulli’s teaching career included stints at Brooklyn Prep (1959-62) and Canisius High School (1967-77) before he arrived at Grand & Warren. In addressing the Class of 2001 at their graduation, Fr. Raulli summed up a special spirit or quality that had brought that class together over their years at Prep, something no doubt familiar to Prep men of other classes as well. “These experiences or high points,” he said, “reminded me of a term used in sports when a team or player is at a high point. It’s called being in the zone. The term refers to an athlete...who in a particular game is giving an extraordinary performance. He’s playing head and shoulders above everyone, even above his own usual level of play... It’s amost as if he’s possessed by something larger than himself which lifts him and those around him to new heights.” As Prep bids farewell to “Rico,” we give thanks for a life that lifted our community to new heights, a life lived, “in the zone.”
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A Groundbreaking Moment for Prep Athletics For the first time in half a century, an all-new building is rising on Prep’s campus. The William O. Perkins, III, ‘86 Athletic Center, the first new, ground-up addition since the opening of Burke Hall (now the Moriarty Science Center) in 1965, is now under construction alongside Keenan Field. A ceremonial groundbreaking took place in late January. The Perkins Center will provide an impressive and functional training facility for several Prep athletic programs, including baseball, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, and wrestling. For the past decade, these teams have been using Keenan Field and two adjoining buildings that had been repurposed from their industrial past. The new, purpose-built facility will house a weightroom, a wrestling practice area, batting cages, three locker rooms with showers, and a suite of offices and meeting rooms for the athletic department. The three-story, 15,000 square foot building was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, and Fields Development Group of Hoboken is serving as general contractor. The building is scheduled to open in the fall. Funding for the $6 million project comes from the recent sale of the former industrial properties near the field, as well as fundraising support from Prep alumni, parents, and friends through the Imagine Fund. William (Guy) Perkins III, ‘86, has provided the lead gift of $1.5 million. For more on Guy Perkins, please see page 14. If you’d like to follow the construction progress, timelapse video (updated weekly) is available on Prep’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/SPPrep1872
As Prep’s president ,Ken Boller, S.J., supervises from the excavator, the ceremonial shovels signal the beginning of construction. Front row, left to right: Jim DeAngelo, '85, principal, Jim Horan, '70, VP for planning and principal giving, William (Guy) Perkins, '86, the building's namesake, Phil McGovern, '76, P'11, chairman of the board of trustees, Rich Hansen, P'03,'09, athletic director and head football coach, and Jack Caulfield, '71,P'00,'03, VP for finance.
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Students in the Spotlight In February, Prep debuted a new web feature, Student Spotlight, offering insights into daily life at Grand & Warren through the eyes some of the people who know it best. The first ten featured students were selected by John Morris, Prep’s dean of students, and Billy Fitzpatrick, ‘16, student council vice president. The inaugural Spotlights – and more to be posted in the future – are available at spprep.org/Spotlight
During Registration Day, Joseph Doody, ’20 poses with Diane Casazza, P’95,’97, of Prep’s admissions office.
Meet the Class of 2020! Get ready to feel your age: the Class of 2020 is just a few months away from Grand & Warren! With admissions season behind us, we can begin to get a sense of the first class of the new decade – Prep’s 16th. As of this writing, 269 young men are registered to begin their Prep journeys in the fall, up from the 254 as of registration day in February. They hail from 77 communities in nine New Jersey counties, plus New York City, and represent 119 grammar schools – 60 public, 40 Catholic, 10 charter and nine private, non-Catholic. Nearly 20% (64 students) are Ignatian or Sheehan Scholars. Significantly, 133 students – almost half the current class! – are 2015 graduates of Prep’s summer Higher Achievement Program, demonstrating HAP’s outstanding value in introducing middle school students to the experience of Jesuit education.
Live from Jersey City, it’s the Prep TV Studio! Beginning with the Mass of the Holy Spirit last fall, Prep’s TV Studio has entered a new dimension, producing live online broadcasts of school events for Prep’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/spprep1872). The club had last produced live programming in the 1990s, when its newscasts were seen in the Burke Hall cafeteria via closed circuit TV. Much has changed since then – most significantly, the ability to invite viewers far from Grand & Warren to share in the life of the school. In addition to school Masses and assemblies, the TV Studio has covered various sporting events and the annual Christmas Concert by the Prep Band and Vox. Under the guidance of second-year moderator Ken Trotta, seniors Anthony Minunni (president), Dimas Sanchez (vice president), and Eric Hartl have taken the lead in shaping this new initiative. They are joined by several other committed members – including a number of underclassmen, who will help to ensure continued growth.
Anthony Minunni, ’16 monitors the streaming video output as Eric Hartl, ’16 mans one of two cameras covering the Mass of the Holy Spirit
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The Sky’s the Limit Sophomores Nick Cao and Harshal Shah were selected in February for full scholarships to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will experience the “Advanced Space Academy” program this summer. The two Prep students were among six winners selected by the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children, based on grades, co-curricular activities, teacher recommendations, and essays. The program immerses students in science, technology, engineering and math education while focusing on college and career preparation. Trainees also undergo hands-on drills, experiencing some of the mental and physical demands of astronaut training – including microgravity exercises, the “Multi-Axis Trainer,” and the “1/6 Gravity Chair.”
NJSIAA Award for Prep Hockey Coach Coach Mike Goodrich was recognized with the NJSIAA Ice Hockey Award in December. The annual NJSIAA awards honor coaches and other individuals who demonstrate outstanding service in high school athletics, and dedication to New Jersey student athletes “over an extended period of time.” As Prep Hockey’s head coach since 2010, Coach Goodrich has guided the Marauders to the state tournament each year, reaching the semifinals in 2011-12, and the quarterfinals in 2014-15 and 2015-16, while growing the overall stature and visibilty of the program.
CLCs Bring Faith to Life and Life to Faith All around Prep, small enclaves of faith and fellowship, known as Christian Life Communities (CLCs), meet regularly. For freshmen, this can often be a way to make a large school feel a bit smaller. For busy faculty and staff members, it can be a great place to connect on a deeper level. Once a cycle, over 20 groups meet in offices, classrooms, and conference rooms. Father John Mullin, S.J., hosts juniors and seniors in his CLCs. He says: “CLC provides a weekly opportunity for students to share a meal and reflect on their faith in everyday life. Lunch conversation flows easily into reflections based on scripture. As the year goes along, students establish deeper bonds of friendship as well as a spiritual connection with one another.” A large group of sophomores meet with Ms. Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07, ’16, and Mr. Fred Galano, so many attending that chairs must be dragged in from nearby offices. It’s a boisterous group, but one which quickly comes to order when reflection questions are posed. It might be as simple as “what is your consolation and desolation this week?” Jerry Narramore, ’18, a two-year veteran of this group, remarks: “CLC provided me with an opportunity to slow down and become comfortable with reflection. Eating with my friends and pursuing depth in our conversation, I found my spiritual life enriched.” Christian Life Communities are also an essential part of the formation of the Campus Ministry Team. A group of students who will ultimately lead a Kairos or sophomore retreat, work together on social justice issues, or participate in the liturgical life of the school, have the opportunity to get to know each other well over their senior year. As Matt Moriarty, ’16 says: “As high school age kids, we all experience good weeks and bad weeks. CLC gives us the opportunity to share and discuss the things we might not always show on our face in the hallways. When my CLC groups leads a Kairos this spring, we will do so after having shared our faith journeys together for the whole year.” Maura Toomb, Director of Campus Ministry, talked about the importance of this consistent time with one another: “These regular meetings help team members grow with one another in faith, and root their leadership in an experience of God and others.” To find a space which gives comfort and consolation, to have a venue to embrace spirituality, and to form the bond which make Prep men brothers, is the gift of Prep’s many Christian Life Communities.
A lively sophomore CLC fills the Markey Conference Room
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Onward and Upward As the Class of 2016 moves toward graduation, several senior athletes have committed to accept athletic scholarships. These students will build upon their Prep experiences on the playing field as well as in the classroom. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are:
• Prep Football running back Sa’id Boykin (Southern Connecticut), wide receiver KJ Gray, (Rutgers), wide receiver Kolton Huber, (University of Pennsylvania), and tight end Tommy McIntyre, ‘16 (Cornell).
• Prep Baseball catcher Colin Powers (University of New Haven), joined by his parents, Edward Powers and Lisamarie Tusa.
• Prep Cross Country captain Will Delaney (Saint Bonaventure University).
Padre Melo: From Honduras to Jersey City Ismael Moreno Coto, S.J., better known in his native Honduras as Padre Melo, joined the Prep community in November, for a prayer service in memory of the six Jesuits, their housekeeper, and her daughter, who were murdered in neighboring El Salvador in 1989. Padre Melo, who speaks only Spanish, spoke with interpretation by Prep modern language teacher Tom Powers. He explained that the killing of the martyrs, who had worked to bring about dialogue between government and rebel factions in their country’s civil war, ultimately hastened an end to the fighting. Although their position had led the government to view them as enemies of the state, and the rebel guerillas to view them with suspicion, Padre Melo said, “The Jesuits left their unforgettable footprint in Central America. For as deep and polarizing as conflicts may be, and despite how antagonistic the confronting parties are, the fundamental answers can only be found by way of negotiations between the conflicted parties. “To remember the martyrs,” he added, “is to dig through our history to uncover signs to continue believing, because martyrs are that force that invites us to leave behind fatigue and discouragement, and keeps us fighting for that ultimate victory of the just.” Padre Melo is the director of Radio Progreso and E.R.I.C, (Team for Reflection, Research and Communication) in Honduras, providing grassroots radio programming; training on human rights, community organizing, and empowerment; the formation of leadership committed to social change; and aiding migrant families.
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Padre Melo with Prep Spanish teacher Tom Powers, who served as his interpreter.
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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Prep fine arts teacher Nyugen Smith was invited to the White House in October, where he joined fellow artists in a two-day program on “Justice and Opportunity: The Power of the Arts.” A day of workshops was developed by Cheryl Pope, a member of the fashion faculty at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an interdisciplinary artist, consisted of three panel discussions and small group art-making sessions. These groups included White House employees working in the arts, such as the chief calligrapher, speechwriter, and videographer, paired with invited contemporary artists – including Prep’s own Mr. Smith, along with Allison Glenn, Scheherazade Tillet, and JC Lenochan – as well as youth from Chicago and Washington. Each group was challenged to generate a work that merges the aesthetics of the state and the aesthetics of urban contemporary experience responding to issues that surfaced in the morning panels and performances. The next day, October 15, Smith and Pope performed a new collaborative work, addressing issues of juvenile justice, in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House. Pope and Smith began seated at a typewriter in the center of the room wearing referee uniforms. Area youth entered the room two at a time, whispering poems and truths written and submitted by incarcerated youth in the DC Incarcerated Youth Program. Pope and Smith played the roles of recorder, interpreter, and questioner, typing their Truths into a document they consider Evidence. These carbon-backed documents produce an exact copy that was available for viewers to take, as a means of continuing to extend the reach of these voices and to break the silence around the issue of juvenile justice. The Truth as Evidence documents were shown in November as part of an installation in the exhibition, I Am the Many, on view along the White House tour route in November. “As an Ignatian educator, this was a program and performance that truly examines issues that are at the core of what we stand for,” says Smith. “The arts allows for a deep level of examination of what commitment to justice also looks like.”
A Transatlantic Kickoff for Prep Football
Celebrating Prep Families
Prep Football will begin the 2016 season in a very special setting (not that Caven Point is without its charms, of course!) as the Marauders cross the pond and take part in Dublin Friday Night Lights in the Irish capital, August 30 through September 4.
The PPA’s 18th annual Mother-Son Dance took place at The Fiesta in Wood-Ridge on March 13. This ever-popular evening is an opportunity to celebrate the unique role Prep moms play in shaping the lives of their sons at Grand & Warren and beyond. As always, it was a night full of special moments, particularly for the mothers of seniors, as they prepare to watch their sons embark on the next chapter of their lives.
This high school showcase is held in conjunction with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, which this year pits fellow Jesuit powerhouse Boston College against Georgia Tech.
More than 525 mothers and sons shared an evening to remember, and there’s little doubt the underclassman families on hand are already looking forward to next year!
If you’ve been thinking about a trip to Ireland, now is your chance to experience the Emerald Isle and cheer on Prep Football all at once. A special tour package from Anthony Travel is available, featuring a bus tour of Dublin; an excursion to Glendalough, County Wicklow; and tickets to both the Prep game and the BC‑Georgia Tech game. Alumni, parents and all other fans can learn more about the official tour package and make reservations at spprep.org/Ireland2016.
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FEATURE
2 Philly 4 Francis: A Pilgrimage by Maura Toomb and John Dougherty From September 24th until the 28th, we accompanied six Prep students on a pilgrimage...not a vacation. It’s a pilgrimage...not a vacation! was The Prep contingent joined their fellow pilgrims on the long walk from Saint the rallying cry of the close to 300 people who gathered at Saint Joseph’s Joseph’s Prep to Independence Mall to see Pope Francis. From left: Durkin Prep in Philadelphia for Pope Francis’ visit to the United States this fall. McCarthy, ’18, Robert Bulka, ’17, Andrew Pappalardo, ’16, Jack Bonnet, ’16, Lucas Coleman, ’17, and Nicholas Cao, ’18. Representatives from 42 Jesuit high schools in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico gathered at SJP for the four-day “2 Philly 4 Francis” pilgrimage – two days of fellowship and education about Pope Francis, and two days dedicated to walking all over Philadelphia to be in the presence of the Holy Father himself. The students who went were Jack Bonnet and Andrew Pappalardo, ‘16, Robert Bulka and Lucas Coleman, ‘17, and Nicholas Cao and Durkin McCarthy, ‘18. Their applications were selected from a lottery last spring, and the eight of us spent the summer preparing for our trip by reading Pope Francis’ homilies and preparing ourselves to spend a weekend sleeping on classroom floors with the other pilgrims. We purposely selected students from across the grade levels in order to accurately represent our students, and to allow this experience to live on at Prep for as many years as possible. The conference preceding our time with Pope Francis focused on three themes of his spirituality – joy, mercy, and encounter. Presenters from around the Philadelphia area were brought to SJP to help break open these themes, including Prep trustee and former English teacher Mike Gomez, ‘91. This conference was a time for us to not only immerse ourselves in the teachings of Pope Francis, but also to build community with the 41 other Jesuit schools that were there. The energy in the halls of Saint Joe’s Prep for those two days was palpable; we were inspired by the Ignatian identity of Pope Francis’ spirituality - it was a language we all spoke.
Pope Francis greeted the pilgrims from Prep and other Jesuit schools as he approached Independence Mall.
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FEATURE
ABOVE: The Church of the Gesu, at Saint Joseph’s Prep, served as the “home base” for the pilgrims from Jesuit schools across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. RIGHT: The Prep students met noted Jesuit author and commentator Jim Martin, S.J.
We were privileged to be in the presence of the Holy Father twice during the weekend. First, all 300 of us were gifted tickets to Pope Francis’ address at Independence Mall on September 26. This was a smaller gathering of pilgrims and we were able to hear Pope Francis speak on themes like religious freedom and immigration. At the end of this address he asked all of us to pray for him “un poquito,” we joined hands with those around us, and the Holy Father himself led us in the Our Father. A truly graced moment. On the 27th, our final full day in Philadelphia, we trekked across the city and joined close to a million other Catholics on the Ben Franklin Parkway for the papal mass. We camped out near the “pope chute,” an area where we knew Pope Francis would drive by. The atmosphere on the Parkway was celebratory, despite a cloudy day. We spent seven hours waiting for the Mass to begin – making friends, playing cards, preparing to pray with the Holy Father. By the opening song, one could imagine we’d be tired, but we were anything but. We were awakened, mentally and physically, by the experience of praying in God’s creation with so many others, in three different languages. As one of our students said, “I’ve never felt so connected to the Catholic Church before.” We learned that day the true meaning of the word “catholic” – universal. After the papal Mass, we ended our weekend back at Saint Joe’s Prep with a surprise visit from Jim Martin, S.J., author of The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything. He led us in a reflection that helped us to capture just how similar our experiences on our pilgrimage (not a vacation) were to Saint Ignatius’. Throughout this weekend, we found ourselves comparing our experience to that of Ignatius in many ways. Like Ignatius we took a pilgrimage – both in the sense of a literal journey, and a special time of prayer and reflection with a group of faithful companions.
Pope Week at Grand & Warren Although only a handful of students were able to experience the 2 Philly 4 Francis pilgrimage, the U.S. visit of the first Jesuit pope was a cause for celebration throughout New Jersey’s Jesuit high school. The week of September 21-25 was “Pope Week” on campus, and from the celebratory banners on the Warren Street Plaza, to the halls that echoed with Pope Francis’ voice as homerooms watched his address to the United Nations, the excitement was hard to miss.
LEFT: Students and teachers paused in the Mulry lobby to watch part of the papal address to Congress. ABOVE: Rocko Tejada, P’18 of Prep’s operations staff installed a Pope Francis banner on the plaza. PREP MAGAZINE PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING n 2016 SPRING 9 2016 9
5 QUESTIONS
with Ken Trotta, Science Teacher and TV Studio Moderator
In his third year at Grand & Warren, physics teacher Ken Trotta added a new class to his schedule: Prep’s first video production elective since 2003, which coincides with the expansion of the Prep TV Studio into live video streaming. An accomplished musician away from the classroom, he paused to talk with Prep Magazine about audio as well as video. Prep Magazine: As you wrap up your third year at Prep, what stands out to you about life at Grand & Warren? Ken Trotta: Having taught in the public sector for a majority of my career before Prep, I am still struck by the atmosphere at Prep and how different it is from a public school. I was first amazed by the students’ attitude, opening doors for each other, helping each other out and the general feeling of brotherhood at the school. Prep is truly a community. PM Before you started moderating Prep’s TV studio, did you have a background in film and video production? KT Before the 2008 economic crash, I was a partner in a consulting business that had a large video production component. I also worked as a set teacher on TV and movie sets for awhile with On Location Education. I still occasionally get a call to work as a set teacher. PM The live video streaming this year has raised the TV studio’s profile, while inviting the broader Prep community into the daily life of the school. What was the genesis of the project? KT At the end of last year, I set a goal to expand the video program for the 2015-16 year. That
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involved researching new software for the Video Production class, upgrading the computers in the BJ Giannonne, ’11 Media Center, and continuing to farmiliarize myself with the equipment in the studio. While giving myself a crash course in the TriCaster editing platform, I realized we already had the potential for live-streaming. With some help from the Educational Tech Department to integrate the Tri-Caster to Prep’s network, we now had the ability to stream a semiprofessional product. From there it was a matter of training the students and actually live-streaming the events. All our live streams are now entirely student-produced. PM Where do you see room for future growth? KT In the coming years the TV Studio goals are to expand the coverage of Prep sports – next year we plan on livestreaming all home basketball games and wrestling matches – and other Prep events and activities. We will also be continuing to train students in both live and pre-recoreded video production, both through the TV Studio co-curricular, and in the video production class. PM When you’re not around Grand & Warren you can be found playing bass around Jersey City and beyond. How does music fit into your life? KT I enjoy all genres of music. My original degree is in music, and I have been playing professionally since before I recieved my undergraduate degree. In addition to playing a variety of genres in the Tri-state area over the years with groups like the Crosstown Country All-Stars, the Dave Case Combo, and Dan O’Dea and Eagle Ridge, the majoritiy of my musical performances have been as a session musician. I’ve played traditional Irish music with a variety of acts inculding Whiskey and Porter, the Three Irish Tenors, Chris Finnegan, and Jay Duckworth and Money in Both Pockets. I am currently working on a project with Lauren Bock Mullins (wife of Ed Mullins, ’98) called Pop Arcana. We’re working on a demo now, and plan on performing in the area in the summer.
alumni Section
To Whom Much is Given: Steve Hendzak, ’62 Whether by their constant presence at Prep events, or by their financial largesse toward their alma mater, it’s impossible to overlook the connection some alumni feel to Grand & Warren, long after graduation.
Others, though just as grateful for the many gifts of a Prep education, might keep a lower profile, turning up at some reunions, making an occasional gift to the Annual Fund, quietly carrying their fond memories along life’s roads. So it was with Steve Hendzak, ’62, who passed away
in February, and surprised both Prep and his classmates by leaving the school more than $1.8 million through his estate. “Obviously, he could have announced it a lot earlier,” reflected Jack Kelly, ’62, the class chairman, who first met Steve in their freshman homeroom. “He never told anybody.” Born in Elizabeth and raised in Linden, Steve was a graduate of Saint Theresa’s grammar school. Although Prep’s student body was less geographically diverse in those days, Kelly explained, “most of the kids who came to Prep, like Steve, from out of town, were really bright kids, and really thrived in the school.” In his own words, following their 50th reunion, Steve wrote to his classmates: “Sr. Antonilda [his principal and 8th grade teacher] discussed Saint Peter’s Prep with our parents. Of course, we didnt want to go (no girls!), but four of us got in – must’ve been an easy test that year!
“Thank you, Sr Antonilda; and thank you mom, who went to work in a factory shellacking compacts every day, so I could go to Prep – then $300 tuition, plus trains every day, and mustard and bologna, PBJ, or egg salad lunches.” His Prep connection followed him all the way to Vietnam, where Joe Vieradka, ’62, spotted Steve’s name on a roster of incoming soldiers, and selected him to join his Army motor pool. The two classmates completed their service together, and would reconnect at their reunion in 2012. Steve went on to a varied career, as a physicist at Resyn Corporation in his hometown of Linden, then in state and county government after moving to Florida in 1975. When Prep’s Annual Fund Phonathon began in the early 1980s, during the presidency of Joe Parkes, S.J., ’62, Jack Kelly began to call him each year. “We would always have nice conversations; he really loved the school,” he recalled. “He
always came to the reunions, and he loved participating and talking with the guys over the years, but he was pretty private.” Although he lived quietly, the impact of his bequest to Prep – the largest the school has ever received – will be significant and wide-ranging, with $800,000 going to support capital projects, and another $800,000 going to Prep’s scholarship endowment – an area which will be a focus for the school in the coming years. The balance will provide direct tuition support for current students in need. Steve Hendzak would no doubt be filled with pride at the impact his generosity will have in the lives of Prep students. “Our families didn’t come on the Mayflower...” he wrote in 2012. “We were Statue of Liberty plaque kids...Thank you, Prep, for letting me live the American dream.” “The class was not surprised that Steve would do something like this,” Jack Kelly said. “We were surprised by the magnitude.” But it’s in keeping with the generosity of a class whose members have already helped to create seven endowed scholarships – including the Class of ’62 Scholarship established during their 50th reunion, which will be renamed in honor of its largest benefactor. What might explain this class-wide level of devotion? Perhaps it was Steve himself who said it best following the reunion. “It
was a special,
sacred place...We were ready to grow, and Prep was a great garden. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 11
Feature
Always in Fashion
The “Men of Prep” return to the runway for a curtain call at the conclusion of the 2015 Fashion Show
Year after year, the PPA Fashion Show brings together Prep parents, past and present. It’s a celebration of the bonds among Prep families, but it’s also a celebration of Prep itself. The longstanding tradition continued last fall, with “Fall Into Prep.” As sure as spring at Grand & Warren promises the white dinner jackets and red carnations of graduation, fall means it’s time for another sartorial celebration. Since the late 1980s, when the annual Fashion Show evolved from the Mothers’ Club Card Parties of years past, Prep students have taken to the runway in the latest fashions, and Prep moms and their friends have gathered to cheer them on, support Prep’s Jesuit mission, and of course, try their luck in the ever-popular raffles. And as 630 guests brought Mayfair Farms to life last November, they once again filled the room with Prep Pride, as they raised $116,845 to support the vibrant Brian Cardino, ’00 on the runway in the 1996 Fashion Show – and nearly 20 years later, much remains day-to-day life of Prep. Thanks to the work of a tireless team the same. The switch from professional models to the Sisters of Prep for the women’s fashions has been of volunteers, starting with fashion show co-chairs Cyndee the most significant change. Alegria P’03,’07,’14,’16, Maureen Hess, P’17,’19, JoAnne Nacheff, P’18, and Kathy Verdi, P’18, Over time, the face of the runway has changed. Professional models once displayed a range of women’s fashions, from furs to sleepwear, and Prep students would accompany them for the formal looks only. But the students gradually became the stars, eventually showing both formal and casual wear themselves. And in 2011, they were joined by the “Sisters of Prep”– the sisters and cousins of Prep students and alumni – as the show’s female models. This year saw 24 “Men of Prep” and 12 “Sisters of Prep” under the lights. Frances Salvo, who organizes the Fashion Show as Prep’s director of special events, views this new tradition as a lasting success. “Not only do the girls love being part 12 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
Feature Section of it, but I also think it’s a great way to get Prep’s extended families involved in our efforts,” she said “It’s always nice to watch
moms who have a son or daughter – or both! – on the runway. The beaming pride on their faces is priceless!” In keeping with this year’s theme, “Fall into Prep,” the casual looks provided by 580 South in Livingston and Willow Street Boutique in Summit were perfect for a crisp autumn day. The formal attire once again came from Mori Lee by Madeline Gardner and Tuxedos by Rose of North Bergen. “Every year the Fashion Show committee comes up with a great theme,” Another outstanding array of donations made the basket raffle as popular as ever! Salvo noted, “The themes help to showcase different aspects of why Prep is a great place, not only for our young men, but for our Prep families and community.” The fall theme was a celebration of the season that brings the promise of a new school year and all its possibilities home to Grand & Warren. Returning this year was the ever-popular, biennial Alumni Parents’ Reception, which extends a special invitation to past parents, who are often among the event’s most dedicated fans. “I’ve been attending the Fashion Show since 1991, and haven’t missed one yet,” said Diane Casazza, P’95,’97, a member of Prep’s admissions office staff, whose late husband Joe served as PPA president in the 1990s. “I just love having the boys and their sisters doing the fashion show. Showing clothes that they would actually wear, and the dresses the girls wear, is perfect!” One change to the Fashion Show in 2015 involved the date, and proved popular with attendees. Rather than the Sunday immediately before Thanksgiving, as has been customary, the event took place one week prior, on November 15. The new date provided a bit of breathing room for busy Prep families, allowing Fashion show participants to enjoy the day without the pressures of planning Thanksgiving gatherings or travel. “Moving the Fashion Show a week earlier was very well received,” Salvo remarked. “Many of our moms expressed that it was a good idea, and so we plan on keeping the earlier date in the future.
You read it here first: mark your calendars for the 2016 PPA Fashion Show and Luncheon, Sunday November 13!
LEFT: The tuxedo models and the Sisters of Prep brought an air of elegance to the runway. BELOW LEFT: Fashions from 580 South helped the casual models look ready for a crisp fall day. BELOW: A friendly Prep student, bearing a newly-won basket, is always a welcome sight at the Fasion Show!
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Cover Story
John Feeney, ’80
Jim Donofrio, ’81
Mark Hogan, ’83
Vincent DiDomenico, ’84
Jeff Kellner, ’85
Guy Perkins, ’86
Looking back at the 1980s, it’s easy to get swept up in the notion of “the Greed Decade” A swirl of conspicuous consumption and personal excess grabbed the headlines, and left its mark throughout popular culture, giving us indelible images like the rise of Madonna, the fall of Al Pacino’s Tony Montana, and the immortal words of Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko: “Greed is good.” More recently, Martin Scorcese reinforced that perception with The Wolf of Wall Street.
Six Guys from the ’80s by Jim Horan, ’70, Mike Jiran, ’03, and Will Ryan, ’11
But at Grand & Warren, even as the very first Prep Magazine (Fall 1981) ran the story, “Jersey City Seeks to Rise From Its Own Ashes,” something different was happening: a generation of men was being formed who would distinguish themselves not by greed, but by generosity. Three decades later, they are continuing the proud tradition of alumni giving back to Prep, and paving the way for the students who follow in their footsteps. These are some of their stories. Guy Perkins, ’86: “I was encouraged to try everything, and I think I did.” When asked what Bill “Guy” Perkins, ’86 does for a living, even he himself has to take a moment to construct a concise response. Owner, CEO, investor, venture capitalist, entrepreneur…in sectors including energy, media, real estate: they all fit the bill. And, for fun he also does a bit of world-class card-playing, participating in poker tournaments that have aired on ESPN. It’s fair to say that he ranks among the country’s most unique and eclectic individuals of his generation. Given that mélange of disparate interests and activities – coupled with the reality that he shares his time between his business interests in Houston and his home in the Virgin Islands, where he lives with his two children – one might wonder if he has time to maintain a relationship, even arm’s-length, with his high school alma mater. 14 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
Section Cover Story That thought was, as they say, put to bed on January 20th of this year, when Guy flew up to Jersey City to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Prep’s new $6 million athletic training facility that will bear his name, in honor of his seven-figure gift in support of the project. This latest gift put an exclamation point on his decade of support to Prep at a leadership level. Like successful Prep grads throughout the school’s history, Guy points to his four years at Grand & Warren as being crucial to his development as a young adult and beyond. “Despite my best efforts to be a slacker, Prep did wonders for me,” he remarked with a laugh. “It was instrumental and wonderful, giving me the ability to navigate the world beyond my Jersey City neighborhood (near Lincoln Park).” As a seventh grader at the Bergen School, he was hoping to attend Snyder High School with his friends, but his father (an attorney and former professional football player) had other plans for him. Fortunately, Guy attended Prep’s Higher Achievement Program (HAP) after seventh grade. “I absolutely loved it,” he remarked. “I made great friends and had great teachers, especially Rev. Ercel Webb. They taught me what to expect in high school, and how to interact with kids who were different than me. And I came to accept the idea of attending Prep.”
as an African‑American, that was a crucial time of my life. Prep had so many resources Guy Perkins (center) with fellow members of Homeroom 3B, 1985: through which my classmates and I could socialize and learn Alex Ramos, Tom Riley, Dave Southern, Scott Tuzzo, and Tom Tacik. about, and from, each other. Football, of course, was very important to Guy Perkins, ’86
He added, “Especially
me, but so was the chess team, forensics, and the Ebony Club. I was encouraged to try everything…and I think I did.” He continued his education at the U. of Iowa, earning a B.S. in electrical engineering.
“Looking back, my Prep experience was an advantage by a hundredfold over other schools – learning how to communicate, to adapt, to thrive in different scenarios, to develop critical thinking skills, to approach a problem from various angles. It was an invaluable skill set that I tap into every day of my life. Every five years or so, I realize more and more what Prep did for me. I’ve fallen in love with the reality of what Prep did for us when we were impressionable teenagers. Spiritually and emotionally, it was a great place to ‘get the tools’ needed to be successful.” In June 2013, Guy met with then school president Fr. Bob Reiser and other administrators in order to get a clearer sense of the Prep of today. During the three-hour meeting, they spoke candidly about the school’s mission, enrollment, demographics, curriculum, college placement, fundraising, and both short- and long-term goals. For Guy, that meeting was an important preface to the discussions that would take place two years later, over Skype in fall 2015, regarding his willingness to make the lead gift toward a new athletic training facility. “When Coach Hansen [with whom Guy had stayed in close contact over the years], Fr. Boller and Jim Horan called to discuss the gift, I thought back to my Prep career and the things I learned that made me who I am today – critical thinking skills, reading ‘The Right Stuff’ to understand what it took to become a Mercury astronaut, things like that. And then Coach said to me, ‘Guy, it has to be you [referring to the naming opportunity connected to making the lead gift toward the new building]. Having someone from your generation, especially as an African-American former Prep football player, will speak volumes to the next generation of kids like you when they come to Prep. It will underscore that Prep can be a beacon for them, inspiring these kids, especially from the local neighborhood, to realize what is possible to achieve.’ “Obviously, Coach made a compelling case, and it underscored my own willingness to do something impactful for Prep.” Mark Hogan, ’83
Mark Hogan, ’83: “I knew that this place was special.” Mention Saint Peter’s Prep to Mark Hogan, ’83 – in any context – and his trademark smile and enthusiasm immediately kick into high gear. He is one of those alumni who proudly “bleeds maroon and white,” and he has been providing leadership support to virtually every major Prep initiative for the past 15 years. “In grammar school in Bayonne, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to attend high school,” he recalled, “and then I attended the Prep open house. Everything about the school captivated me, especially the friendliness and enthusiasm of the students and faculty. I knew that this place was special.”
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Cover Story At Saint Peter’s, Mark enjoyed intramurals, dances, and “just being on campus during what I now recall as the best four years of my life.” In the classroom, he excelled in math and marveled at the talent of the faculty, especially Carl DeLorenzo, ’67, Harry Oppido, S.J., and Jack Campion. But one class in particular – Adrianne Wozniak’s senior elective in accounting – would have a profound impact on his future career. He recalls loving the subject matter and listening attentively as a guest speaker, who was a CPA, talked about his profession. Mark was hooked, and after graduation he received his B.S. in accounting at Pace University and, later, earned his CPA. As an aside, he noted that his freshman accounting textbook at Pace was the same book that Ms. Wozniak used. “It gave me confidence,” he noted. “I immediately knew I could handle the subject matter.” Mark Hogan and fellow BCB Community Bank board members – including Jimmy Most notable for Mark, however, was the fact that he worked after school Rizzo, ’77, P’10 – were invited to ring the NASDAQ closing bell on last November, in and on weekends throughout his Prep career to help support his ducation. honor of the bank’s 15th anniversary. “Those lessons I learned as an impressionable teen – especially how to manage my time – to this day are the foundation of my professional career,” he noted. “I worked hard and I played hard during those great years at Prep, and that balance continues to help me manage my personal and professional life.”
In the early 2000s, Mark’s career as a highly regarded CPA, coupled with other business opportunities in real estate and banking, enabled him to support Prep at a higher level – most notably, his leadership gift to Phase One of the Imagine Fund. His motivation was clear: “When you give back, you ‘get back’ ten times over. I feel that through my support I am giving back the dividends of the investment that was made in me by my family and my Prep teachers. They made me who I am today, and I
never take the ‘Men for Others’ phrase lightly; I try to live by it
every day.” His support of Prep also has included two terms as a member of the board of trustees, where he served on the Finance Committee. A resident of Colts Neck, where he lives with wife Karey and their two daughters, Mark credits Prep’s Jesuit influence as being “a huge part of my make-up,” especially being in a network consisting not only of Prep grads, but of grads from other Jesuit schools. He noted, “Businesswise, it serves as a great entrée. Jesuit-educated people tend to enjoy working with others who share those same values. You are part of the same extended family. My wife, like many others, refers to it as ‘the cult,’ and in the best sense, she is correct. It’s like they say in the MasterCard ads – ‘priceless.’” Vincent DiDomenico, ’84: “We were absorbing tremendous life lessons.” In the winter of 1980, the decision by Vincent DiDomenico, ’84 to register at Prep did not surprise many observers. After all, he was not only the son of a Prep grad (Class of ’53), but he had the same name, with the suffix “Jr.” added to avoid confusion. Continuing that legacy was important to the younger Vincent, but equally important was Prep’s educational stature. As he put it, “Especially at St. Henry’s Grammar School, Prep was the referred high school for many of us.” Vincent DiDomenico, ’84
Today, Vincent sits on Prep’s board of trustees and chairs its Student Life Committee, in addition to serving on the Master Planning Committee. He also continues to provide leadership financial support on many levels, particularly the first two phases of the Imagine Fund, which is upgrading and renovating the campus on a building-by-building basis. Vincent easily speaks with passion about both his student days and the Prep of today, and in particular he remembers witnessing first-hand the “profound role” that Joe Parkes, S.J., ’62 had on the school in his role as president (1979-86) – especially outside the office. He explained, “Father Parkes taught a senior religion elective on the history of the Jesuits, and it was probably my most memorable class. His teaching style was great, as was the subject matter. But what struck me even back then was that here he was, president of this large school, and he seamlessly transitioned each day from CEO to teacher. It underscored for me what makes Jesuits, as a religious order, so impressive.” Vincent went on to recall his other memorable teachers, including Jesuits Ed Dolan, S.J. and Frank Stroud, S.J. , as well as Carl DeLorenzo, ’67, Jim Horan, ’70 and Jack Campion. “They and many others were incredible educators,” he noted, “and encouraged me to think about life and the path I should take after I graduate.” He also recalls relishing the diversity of his classmates, especially their cultural, geographic and socio-economic differences. “Just
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being
Section Cover Story
Seniors on the 1983-84 Student Council, from left: Bill Herenda, Vincent DiDomenico, Albert Francesco, moderator Ned Coughlin, S.J, Kevin O'Connor, and Francisco Yu
with these guys taught me to be open-minded and how to conduct myself,” he said. “We were all malleable
teenagers back then, and without realizing it we were absorbing tremendous life lessons. The school’s DNA seems to weave together people from various walks of life, and in many cases they stay connected for a lifetime. It was like that for my dad and for me, and I see it occurring now daily.” “To me, supporting Prep is a result of both my head and my heart,” he said. “Intellectually, I see the type of young men that the school produces each year, and emotionally it gives me great satisfaction to help make this possible. Also, I am always struck by the dedication of the people who work at Prep, as well as my fellow trustees and other volunteers. It’s a very thoughtful, committed group of individuals.” A graduate of Villanova with an MBA from Fordham, Vincent lives in Bernardsville with wife Nicole and three children, and spends much of his professional life concentrating on real estate development and other entrepreneurial endeavors. He noted: “For many Prep guys in my generation, we feel that now is our time – three decades later – to step up. The reality is that donors can create what I call a ‘pull effect,’ in which their generosity encourages others to do the same. It’s a warm embrace, a soft challenge Jim Donofrio, ’81 with his sons (left to right) that says, ‘Come join me…it’s worth it!’” Matthew, ’14, Luke, ’20, and Andrew, ’11
Jim Donofrio, ’81: “Very simply, I believe in the mission.” When Jim Donofrio, ’81, P’11,’14,’20 began his relationship with Prep in the fall of 1977, the school and its surroundings were in transition, working to find their place in a changing world. The once-busy industrial waterfront to Prep’s east and the once-handsome residential blocks to Prep’s west, it seemed, had been forgotten by the march of time. “In 1980, there was nowhere to go,”Jim said. “The million-dollar brownstones you see today were gutted, there were no high rises, and the neighborhood was not inviting for an afternoon stroll.” But despite the less-than-sunny environs, the dawn of the 1980s brought new energy to Grand & Warren, particularly under the leadership of new president Joe Parkes, S.J., ’62 beginning in 1979, and new principal John Browning, S.J., ’46, in the fall of 1980. Then, as now, and in years prior, Prep’s mission was brought to life by the dedication of its teachers and administrators. As a Prep parent as well as an alumnus, he has seen his sons, Andrew, ’11 and Matthew, ’14, expereince an education that not only challenges them intellectually, but also challenges them to serve the broader Jim Donofrio (center) perusing college community. Through service trips and other opportunities on admission posters with senior classmates campus and farther afield, their immersion in life at Prep has Milton James and Frank Gentile. offered a window into the true meaning of being “men for others.” Youngest son Luke will follow in their footsteps starting this fall. Asked to compare his formative years at Grand & Warren with those of his sons, Jim sees many similarities, but one difference is particularly striking: the physical plant. With both school and neighborhood reflecting the benefits of 30 years’ outstanding growth and investment, the younger Donofrio brothers have had the benefit of a Prep campus that matches the quality of school life. ”The facilities today are becoming a requirement for top-tier high schools,” he said, “and Prep is stepping up.” Whether as a longtime fixture at the Prep golf tournament, as a PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 17
Cover Story co-chair of the 144 Grand Gala along with wife Jane in 2012 and 2013, or as a member of Prep’s Board of Trustees, where he serves on the finance committee, Jim gladly strives to make an impact at Prep in whatever way he can. Committing the time to stay involved is an easy choice. “Very simply, I believe in the mission,” he said. “I believe in the Magis. I believe in ‘men for others,’ and I believe Prep helped me to become the person I am today.” With more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services profession, where he currently works as a managing director at Deutsche Bank Securities, Jim is well-equipped to guide Prep’s fiscal future as a trustee. He’s grateful for the opportunity. “I
do believe that, at some level, we all have a responsibility to give back, and Prep allows me to not only do my small piece, but to accomplish it while doing something for which I have a passion.” Jeff Kellner, ’85: “Everything in my life would be different.” It should come as no surprise that Jeff Kellner, ’85, P’13,’15,’17 and wife Michele have been avid supporters of the 144 Grand Gala nearly since its inception, and are set to co-chair the event for the third time this spring. In its first eight years, the event has nearly doubled the financial assistance available to Prep families – $3 million in assistance has been made available to more than 40% of the student body in the 2015-16 school year – and that’s a cause near and dear to Jeff’s heart, because financial aid is what allowed his own Prep story to begin nearly 35 years ago. “I believe that everything in my life would be different,” he explained. “That’s
Jeff Kellner, ’85, with his sons Thomas, ’19, James, ’13, and Stephen, ’15
really why I give back, as a ‘thank you’
for the aid I received.” “The thought that I can now help a kid in need, the same way I was helped, makes me feel good,” he added. The generosity of a previous generation of Prep alumni and supporters allowed him to enter a classroom setting defined by names like Ana García, Ken Dandorph, and Jack Campion, all rooted in a spiritual dimension shaped by the likes of Tony Azzarto, S.J., and John Mullin, S.J. And although some of the names have changed, it’s the familiar fabric of Prep life that connects his experience with that of his sons, James, ’13, Stephen, ’15, and Thomas, ’19.
Jeff Kellner during the 1984 Prep Walkathon
As for what has changed in the intervening years, the Bayonne native recalls Prep looking more than a bit different. “Taking the 14C bus to football practice everyday was a journey. We’d have practice at Old Colony, a dirt football field that had a sewer plate in the middle of the field,” he recalls. “The facilities have been upgraded a bit with the addition of the state-of-the-art science center, and now the athletic facility.” And of course, there is the geographic makeup of the student body, which has changed in part because of alumni like Jeff who no longer call Hudson County home, but now send their sons back to Grand & Warren from all over New Jersey. “In the ’80s, Pequannock and Montclair were considered another world for us guys from Hudson County,” he laughed, “Now, we have kids coming from as far away as Monmouth and Ocean counties.”
As students and parents from farther afield would no doubt attest, the trip is a worthwhile one. “Why would I put my 15-year-old son on a 6:30 am train from Montclair every morning, when there are other good schools much closer to Verona?” Jeff remarked. “Sure, there
good schools that can teach to a test and get kids into really good colleges but, in my opinion, it’s the Jesuit education at Grand and Warren that makes Prep so special.” John Feeney, ’80: “It’s a bond that continues over the years.” John Feeney, ’80 might have been a student at Prep only for the first few months of the 1980s, but he captures the spirit of Prep in those days as well as anyone. “When I try to think of a bond or a thread that runs through my years at Prep, I think about the faculty,” he said. “They wanted to make sure the students thrived. I think of people like Tony Azzarto, S.J., Jack Casey, and Walter Koszyk, ’60, people 18 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
John Feeney, ’80
are other
Cover Story who, regardless of what was going on around us, stayed focused on our development as students, and on showing care and concern.” Amidst an uncertain period at Prep and beyond, this core dedication to cura personalis – caring for the student as a whole person – remained intact, and provided fertile soil for the growth of a lifelong bond among classmates, and between the Class of 1980 and their alma mater. “The uncertainty around us brought us together with a sense of, ‘we can do this.’” In those first years after graduation, John recalled, the sense surrounding Prep was a hopeful one, as administrative stability brought steady improvement in the school’s academic and athletic programs. “By the time I got out of college, having stayed close with some of the people at Prep who had helped me get to that point, I wanted to sort of repay that,” John said. That led him to become class chair – a role he retains to this day, and one he would be instrumental in defining as an example to his peers – but it was the untimely death of classmate John McGovern, ’80 in 1988 that would truly galvanize the class. “I felt – we felt – that we could not let John’s memory die with him. He epitomized what a true friend was, and he was too good a guy, with too much love for Prep, for us to just let it go.” Working with then-alumni director Frank Briamonte, ’86, John was instrumental in creating the John McGovern, ’80 Memorial 3-on-3 Tournament, which began in 1995, in support of the McGovern scholarship. He would join the board of the Prep Alumni Association that same year, where a second Prep education would begin. “I
got my academic Though it wasn’t quite a banner era for Prep Football, John Feeney’s rather apt education from ’76 to ’80,” John reflected, “but uniform number helped him fly the flag for his class. meeting those guys on the alumni board, I got a better education on the history of Prep and the passion those older alumni had for the school. That re‑invigorated me, and inspired me to double down in my efforts.” As president of the Alumni Board from 2006-2010, John continued to pour countless hours into helping Prep stay connected with its alumni, near and far. “It’s really about knowing what I was able to achieve, and wanting to make sure someone else has that opportunity.” Even as John and wife Joanne have raised three children together, and he has risen through the ranks during 32 years at Prudential, he has always found time to make an impact back at Grand & Warren. It’s plain to see in the engagement of his classmates – in the Annual Fund, at reunions, on the Alumni Spirituality Committee, and of course at the McGovern Tournament, the Class of 1980 is impossible to overlook. “We’re still the same group that gets together, even away from Prep,” John said. “It’s a bond that continues over the years.”
Five More Guys from the ’80s Alumni have always found many ways to support Prep’s mission, and those who serve as members of the school’s faculty and administration might live that commitment most thoroughly of all. Of the more than 30 alumni who bring their talents to Grand & Warren each day, there are currently five graduates of the 1980s. Pictured left to right are Dave Burokas, ’85 (Classics/Director of Accreditation), John Irvine, ’83, P’11 (Director of Admissions), Jim DeAngelo, ’85 (Principal), Joe Giglio, ’87 (Director of Guidance and College Counseling), and Rich Peters, ’85 (English/ Director of Curriculum and Assessment). Their total years of service add up to a number in keeping with the theme: 86. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 19
Sports
Seniors Kolton Huber (above) and KJ Gray (right) have accepted scholarships to Penn and Rutgers, respectively.
Football
The 2015 season marked the end of an era, as the football team will no longer compete in Hudson County. After notching records for consecutive county wins (115) and county championships (15), Prep will move on to the new North Jersey “super conference.” The Marauders have become accustomed to facing opponents from beyond the county limits. This year, the young team defeated Avalon (MD) and Eastern Christian Academy (MD), and suffered a tough loss to St. John Bosco Prep (CA). Prep’s potent offense was led by junior Jonathan Lewis at quarterback (1669 yds, 19 tds) and his two star receivers, seniors KJ Gray (820 yds, 11 tds) and Kolton Huber (619 yds, 6 tds). Senior running back Sa’id Boykin amassed 550 yards and nine touchdowns on 88 carries. Junior linebacker Damion Abrams (78 tackles) and seniors Miles Strickland (54 tackles) and Eddie Reaves (54 tackles) anchored the defense. Excitement is already growing in anticipation of the 2016 season, when Prep will return seven offensive and seven defensive starters.
Soccer
Juan Alcantara finished his Prep career with 34 shutouts, tying the school record by Mike Silvia, ’00.
The Marauders put together another solid season, posting a 12-5-3 record while making an eighth straight appearance in the county semifinals. Coach Josh Jantas, ’95 had one of his youngest teams with four sophomores and one freshman in the starting lineup. He noted, “The upperclassmen worked well with the new players and the future looks very bright.” Senior goalkeeper Juan Alcantara topped the post-season awards being honored as one of the top five keepers in New Jersey. Seniors Alex Dillon (12g, 7a) and Dan Acevedo (1g, 10a) received second team all state recognition. 20 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
Sports Section
Will Delaney (leading Brandon Parrado and Brandon Rossi) placed 9th at the State Groups Meet, qualifying him for the New Jersey Meet of Champions.
Cross Country Prep’s distance runners left the local competition behind as they swept – varsity, JV and freshman – the Jersey City and Hudson County championship meets. The team was led by senior captains Will Delaney and Brandon Parrado. Delaney set a new school record in the 5k with a time of 15:58.
Crew
Prep Rowing enjoyed an outstanding fall season. The team earned entry into the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston. Although the Marauders did not place, Prep’s boat had a strong showing while competing against high schools and club teams from across the country. The boat was made up of the team’s fastest and most technical rowers: (pictured below r. to l.) Enric Adilon, Mark Chester, Jack Bonnett, Sam Phelan, Ben Warco, Alec Maxwell, James Niland, Will Curtis, and Sam Gardner.
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Photo File
Photo File: The Future in Our Hands The Fall 1987 Prep Magazine offered a highlight of the Prep Alumni Businessmen’s Luncheon in November of 1986: “Thomas J. Sullivan, ’53, executive vice president of McGraw-Hill, Inc., displays a disk [sic] which is part of the ongoing revolution in information storage and retrieval.” The following 15 years would bear this out: CD-ROM would supplant the magnetic floppy disk as the preferred medium for offline software distrubition and data storage – particularly with the advent of the CD-R and CD-RW formats and desktop CD burners. Another 15 years on, and those technologies seem positively quaint. But in late 1986, this was an impressive peek into the future: the equivalent of more than 500 floppy disks in one convenient and portable package, and a concrete illustration of Tom Sullivan’s topic: “The Information Revolution: How It’s Changing the Way We Think, Work, and Live.” Both speaker and topic would continue to resonate at Prep right up to the present day, as Tom would go on to be a Prep parent (P’93) and grandparent (GP’14), a trustee and eventually chairman of the board, a Legend of Prep, and an active presence at a variety of Prep events. 22 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
Alumni Section
Clockwise from top left: Bonita Springs, hosted by Val and Bob Esti, ’55; Venice, hosted by Helen & Kevin Collins, ’57; Hollywood, hosted by Jason Swineford, ’91; Palm Beach, hosted by Eileen and Larry Fell, ’54
Prep Under the Palms Prep’s winter tour of Florida alumni gatherings has become an annual tradition, and this year’s events were as popular as ever. Ken Boller, S.J., Prep’s president; Jim Horan, ’70, vice president for planning and principal giving; and Mike Wieners, ’04, director of alumni relations, criscrossed the Sunshine State to greet alumni and bring them “up to speed” on life at Grand & Warren. Returning as hosts were Eileen and Larry Fell, ’54 in Palm Beach, Val and Bob Esti, ’55 in Bonita Springs, and Helen and Kevin Collins, ’57 in Venice. Jason Swineford, ’91 hosted a new reception in Hollywood, which also featured a special guest appearance by Prep legend and longtime Spanish teacher Ana García. The Florida swing kicks off the ever-growing cycle of regional alumni gatherings for the year. Returning events in Washington, D.C. (April 14) and Boston (fall date TBA) will be joined by newcomers Philadelphia (April 7) and Manhattan (May 10).
In Memoriam: Gertrude “Fuss” Mahon Each year in the President’s Report, we honor the Dolan Society, those widows of Prep alumni who have continued to make Saint Peter’s Prep an important part of their lives through their generosity in support of Prep’s mission. One longtime member of the Dolan Society was Mrs. Gertrude Mahon, whose late husband Justin Mahon was a member of the Prep class of 1927. For nearly three decades after her husband’s passing, she remained a loyal friend of Saint Peter’s Prep – just one of the many charitable causes she supported year after year. We at Grand & Warren were saddened to learn that Mrs. Mahon had passed away on February 18, at age 100. A native of Paterson, she had lived in Fair Lawn since 1951, and was an active member of the Saint Anne’s parish community. She was a proud member of the Georgian Court College Class of 1935, and supported her alma mater for many decades. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 23
Alumni
A Legendary Evening The newest Legends, with Prep's president, Ken Boller, S.J., and master of ceremonies Jim Horan, ’70. From left: Jerry Sheehan, ’48, Paul Schaetzle, ’71, Seton Ahearn, P’01 (who accepted on behalf of her late husband, Bill Ahearn, ’75,P’01), Ana García, Jack Campion, and Rich Hansen, P'03,'09.
Nearly 500 alumni, parents, friends and well-wishers flocked to Mayfair Farms in November, for a celebration of six new Legends of Prep, whose lives and work have profoundly shaped the life and mission of the school. That meant it was a celebration of loyalty, generosity, compassion, educational excellence, and a desire to change the lives of others for the better – the very best Prep has to offer. From the classroom to the boardroom, from Salamanca to the state football playoffs, each member of this eleventh class of Legends has contributed a unique, personal touch in his or her relationship to Prep. Former faculty members Ana García and Jack Campion routinely raised the bar for their colleagues, as they defined and re-defined students' Prep experience for more than a generation. Rich Hansen continues to match his success on the field – as Prep Football's all-time winningest coach and the director of an ever-expanding athletic program – with personal care and mentoring for athletes and colleagues alike. Paul Schaetzle, despite a rigorous schedule of business travel, finds seemingly infinite time to devote to Prep's well-being in general, and to his classmates in particular. Jerry Sheehan combined financial largesse with a singluar vision in helping Prep to attract "as many as possible, of the very best" with his namesake scholarship program. And the late Bill Ahearn, '75, P'01 devoted his life to sharing his love of Saint Peter's Prep with friends, family, and neighbors, while serving the school in a variety of capacities, all the way from dance committee chairman as a senior to Chairman of the Board of Trustees during his final years. BELOW LEFT: Accepting his award, Jack Campion lived up to his reputation as one of Prep’s favorite raconteurs. CENTER: Jerry Sheehan, ’48 posed with Sheehan Scholar Declan Intindola, ’17 RIGHT: Rich Hansen, P’03,’09 shared a laugh with his family before the ceremony.
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Class Notes
Section Alumni
8 Share your photos, class notes and other news with us...and the Prep community! Drop us a line at communications@spprep.org
Dear Prep,
CLASS NOTES The ’30s Kevin Harty, ’38 tells us he’s “passing 95 years as I hesitate to follow my Tipperary mother’s 107-year record!”
The ’40s Tom Fleming, ’45 published his latest book, The Great Divide: The Conflict between Washington and Jefferson that Defined a Nation, with Da Capo Press in 2015. The book examines the two men’s vastly different ideas about how the newly created presidency – and the United States itself – should develop. Kirkus Reviews named The Great Divide one of its Best Books of 2015.
The ’50s Ron Semple, ’52 is the author of Black Tom: Terror on the Hudson. The historical novel is a tale of sabotage, subterfuge and political shenanigans, in the colorful, raucous setting of Jersey City in 1916. Jim Deveney, ’53 writes, “I was thrilled to have the Pope visit our area in September,” and notes his pride at hearing the media “extolling the virtues of the Jesuits and their effect on all the students they teach. It all makes life very Grand at Warren.”
Before his retirement, Gerry had also served for twelve years as president of Local 755 of the United Services Workers Union, which represents nearly 800 Bergen County employees.
The ’60s Nick Acocella, ’60 hosts the public television show, Pasta and Politics, featuring conversation and cooking with New Jersey politicians. Past episodes are archived at njtvonline.org Donald Brennan, ’60 published his second book, A Chance Encounter, in December. The collection of short stories is available in print and ebook form on Amazon, alongside his first book, ’Til Now. Charlie Sanders, ’61 retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York last year. Charley Gallagher, ’63 is the proud grandfather of 2015 HAP graduate and soon-to-be Prep freshman Aidan Foca. He says Aidan’s HAP experience “made a great impression.” Neil Heskin, ’63 is semi-retired and living on Lake Wisconsin. He has seven grandchildren. Ed BonGiovanni, ’65 writes to tell us, “The 50th Reunion was great – always good to spend time with old friends!” Kevin Cummings, ’72, CEO of Investors Bank, received the Corporate Entrepreneur of the Year award from Rising Tide Capital, during the fourth annual Start Something Champions Gala in Jersey City last November.
Dave Schreck, ’53 is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, with 32 years’ active and reserve duty in the infantry branch in Korea, and the JAG branch in the continental U.S. Charles DeFuccio, ’56 was voted one of the “Best Lawyers in New Jersey” for the 20th consecutive year. Hank Quense, ’56 published Moxie’s Decision, his 15th book, in October. It’s a direct sequel to last year’s Moxie’s Problem Nick Cannarozzi, ’57 is in the 44th year of his medical practice. He is a rheumatologist with Atlantic Health System. Gerry Drummond, ’58 retired last year from the Bergen County Department of Human Services, where he had worked for 35 years. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 25
Alumni
Class Notes
Mike Rinaldi, ’67 works as an engineer at Crestron Electronics, in Rockleigh, New Jersey. James Ruane, ’67 was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Connecticut Law Tribune’s 2015 Professional Excellence Awards. As one of the state’s leading criminal defense attorneys for nearly 40 years, he has developed a reputation for seeking the best qualities in people – whether they are his clients or fellow lawyers. In addition to his distinguished trial record, the article noted his mentorship of young attorneys over the years. One former colleague remarked, “His lessons were invaluable, and quite frankly, he taught me how to be a good person, and how to be a good lawyer.”
The ’70s Jim Wolowitz, ’75 had some help from fellow alumni when it came time to celebrate the wedding of his daughter, Deana, and Eugene Chernovetsky. Pictured at right are Ray Schaetzle, ’75, Jim Wolowitz, Larry DeBello, ’75, and John Chester, ’74. Roman Tatarowicz,’76 has been appointed Medical Director of Obstetrics at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The Bucks County hospital sees approximately 2,400 births per year.
The ’90s Joe Amatrucola, ’94 was presented with the Patricia Hannon Ignatian Educator Award last fall at Regis High School, where he serves as director of information technology and chair of the computer science department. The award recognizes Jim Wolowitz, ’75 and friends “a faculty member whose dedication to his or her students fosters a learning environment that is the model of Ignatian pedagogy.” Kevin Reed, ’96 was honored as Irish Educator of the year at the Jersey City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Kevin teaches social studies at Ferris High School, and previously taught at Lincoln.
Kevin Reed, ’96, with wife Wendy and son Conor (class of 2032!)
Jeff Kaczka, ’77 recently retired to Florida, where he met Al Bozzo, ’54 and John Miniutti, ’55 at the Marco Men’s Club in Marco Island. “Prep alumni are all around!” Jeff commented.
Kevin Cocca, ’92, on hand to celebrate his uncle Jack Campion’s induction, posed with Jenn Cardino, the wife of classmate and alumni board president Mike Cardino, ’92 during last fall’s Legends of Prep dinner.
John Rizzo, ’77 is the author of Wisdom Learned at the Feet of the Lord: 33 Lessons for Peace, Hope, Love, and Eternal Life, which he describes as “A Christian Guidebook.”The book can be purchased via Amazon or CreateSpace. Greg Herenda, ’79 guided his Fairleigh Dickinson Knights to an upset victory over Wagner in the Northeast Conference tournament in his third season as head coach, earning FDU its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2005. Although the Knights fell to Florida Gulf Coast in the First Four round, hopes are high for next season!
The ’80s Erik Harrison, ’85 and wife Susan have a son and daughter attending high school. Erik is an attorney, and Susan works for J. Crew.
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Scott Gurian, ’97 was part of a panel of journalists interviewed on NJTV recently to discuss their reporting on a series looking at industrial contamination in New Jersey. Check out his work at toxicnj.com
alumni The ’00s Joe Dailey, ’03 is now offensive coordinator for the Liberty University football program. Colin Hanley, ’03 received the Dallas Catholic Foundation’s Work of Heart Award, which recognizes unsung heroes in Dallas-area Catholic schools who model the Catholic faith and serve their communities. He is in his fourth year teaching English at Dallas Jesuit High School. Rich Pawlowski, ’03, a Kearny police officer, received the Citizen of the Year award from the Kearny VFW for organizing a care package drive in support of a New Jersey National Guard unit deployed on a humanitarian mission in Africa.
The ’10s
Matt Jasko, ’13 and his parents
Matt Jasko, ’13 welcomed his parents, Stephen and Carol Jasko, to Parents’ Weekend at Georgetown University last fall.
Billy Bludgus, ’01 is the dean of students at Cristo Rey High School in San Jose, California, and Mo Ryan, ’01 is an assistant lacrosse coach at Stanford University. These Bay-area classmates caught up with Prep principal Jim DeAngelo, ’85, who was attending a National Association of Independent Schools conference in San Francisco.
Prep was well represented in September, at the Cambridge Park 5k, which raised money to help fund a playground in memory of Owen Taraskiewicz, son of Mark Taraskiewicz, ’97. Pictured left to right are: Niccolo Colucci, ’19, John Caprio, ’01,Mike Zadroga, ’92, Andrew Verdi (class of 2027), AJ Caprio, ’99, Mark Taraskiewicz, ’97, Rob Kolakowski, ’97, Emmalee Taraskiewicz, Anthony Verdi, ’95, Olivia Verdi, Paul Schaetzle, ’71, and Anthony Verdi, Jr. (class of 2025).
Bishop John Flesey, ’60 presided last year at the confirmation of Gianna Peko, the daughter of Jim Peko, ’85. Rounding out the trio of Prep alumni pictured along with Gianna is her cousin, Kyle Lillis, ’10.
Anna Cardino, the daughter of David Cardino, ’88, displayed her family’s Prep Pride during their Christmas vacation in San Francisco.
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Alumni
VITA MUTATUR NON TOLLITUR (LIFE IS CHANGED, NOT ENDED) Current as of March 15, 2016
Alumni James P. Crowley, ’36 John L. Botti, ’37 Cousin of John A. Botti, ’40 † John A. Botti, ’40 Cousin of John L. Botti, ’37 † Paul A. Lacey, ’40 John E. McArdle, ’40 Brother of James P. McArdle, ’43 † Edwin J. Gilson, ’42 Father of Edwin J. Gilson, ’65 James F. Adams, ’43 Brother of Richard Adams, ’42 † Rev. John J. Carroll, S.J., ’41 Vincent LaPaglia, ’43 August A. Hund, ’46 John C. Dwyer, ’47 Edward G. Budnick, ’48 Joseph A. Corbo, ’48 James J. Barbi, ’49 Steven A. Yurko, ’49 James F. Taormina, ’52 Peter P. Slagus, Jr., ’52 Dennis J. Collins, ’54 Charles Carey, ’55 former math teacher Rev. John F. Kennedy, ’55 Daniel M. Algie, ’56 Francis M. McInerney, ’56 Cousin of Walter E. McInerney, ’58 Edward M. Paradine, ’56 Joseph J. Bloyder, ’57 Thomas J. Hogan, ’57 Brother-in-law of William P. Pickett, ‘49 †; uncle of Edward Pickett, ‘00 Joseph D. Lo Turco, ’57 Thomas Manley, ’57 George B. Schadewald, ’57 Carl A. Stetz, ’57 Kenneth Ward, ’57 Michael F. Bodner, ’58 Robert V. Kelly, ’58 Brother of Frank J. Kelly, ’54 †; uncle of Scott Kudlacik, ’96 John J. Blaney, ’62 Thomas J. Floriani ’63 brother of Lawrence Floriani ’56
Christopher R. Herchold, ’66 Brother of Kazimierz J. Herchold, ’64, Jacek M. Herchold, ’68, and Adam J. Herchold, ’71 Robert J. Tuohy, Jr., ’67 Glenn S. Williams, ’67 Father of Kellen Williams, ’00, former faculty member Thomas P. Myers, ’69 Matthew Armistead, ’70 E. Peter Wolf, ’70 Thomas M. Findlay, ’71 Douglas W. Noonan, ’71 Brother of David R. Noonan, ’80 Thomas R. O’Connor, ’72 Brother of James J. O’Connor, ’67 Bernard W. Ozarowski, ’72 James P. Frees, ’74 Alexander J. Ciesmelewski, ’75 Guy P. Angione, ‘77 Timothy S. O’Donnell, ’85 Keith W. Wall, ’86 William J. O’Donnell, ’95 Brother of Thomas P. O’Donnell, ‘93 Matthew J. Gordon, ’06 Brother of James P. Gordon, ’03
Family of Alumni John J. Bruno Father of Dominick J. Bruno, ’10; uncle of Joseph D. Watkins, ’10 and Jeffrey A. Watkins, ’05 Rosemary Carney Wife of Ronald Carney, ’47 Rose J. Caulfield Widow of Edmund J. Caulfield, ’37 †; mother of John V. Caulfield, ‘71(VP for finance and former chairman and trustee); mother-inlaw of James J. Doolan, ’69, Mary Beth Caulfield (Browning Center staff member) and William J. Ahearn, ’75,† former chairman and trustee; grandmother of Edmund Caulfield, ’00, Liam Ahearn, ’01, Christopher Caulfield, ’03 (English teacher), and James J. Doolan, ’06 Dorothy Connell Widow of Edward W. Connell, ’35†, mother of Edward V. Connell, ’71; grandmother of Ryan A. Connell, ’02 Mary Connelly Widow of Michael J. Connelly, ’36 †
Alma I. Correa Mother of Michael Smith, ’05 Mary Cruoglio Mother of Robert Cruoglio, ’73 Nettie Czochanski Mother of Robert Czochanski, ’68 Monir A. Dawoud father of Medhat Dawoud, ’92 and Mark Dawoud, ’93 James Dowden Father of James Dowden, ’78 and David Dowden, ’83 Marion Fabyanski Mother of Thomas J. Fabyanski, ’69 and Mark Fabyanski, ‘79 Adeline Fischetti Mother of Anthony Fischetti, ’02 Pietro Gigante Father of Joseph L. Gigante, ’91 and Marc Gigante, ’94 Carlos Gomez Father of Joseph Gomez, ‘84, Stephen Gomez, ‘87, and Michael Gomez, ‘91, former English teacher and current trustee. Charlotte Irwin Widow of Robert C. Irwin, ’35 † Kathleen Joyce Mother of Timothy Joyce, ’01 Ruthanne M. Robeson Wife of Daniel C. Robeson, ’54 Donna Rae Luizzi Wife of Leonard Luizzi, ’86 Olga Madsen Mother of William Madsen, ‘69; Grandmother of William Madsen, ‘97 and Christopher Tricarico, ‘01 Elizabeth Markey Wife of Andrew Markey, ‘48 Michael Niscia Father of Justin Niscia, ‘10 Bridget O’Donnell Daughter of Timothy S. O’Donnell, ’85 William O’Donnell Father of Terrence K. O’Donnell, ’10 Theresa O’Gorman Mother of Anthony O’Gorman, ‘73, Joseph O’Gorman, ‘75 and John O’Gorman, ‘76 Vera Payton Moher of Harry Payton, ’80 William O. Perkins, II Father of William O. Perkins, III, ’86 Elvira Rettino Widow of Louis J. Rettino, ‘59 †
Ruthanne Robeson Wife of Daniel Robeson, ’54 Catherine Ruane Grandmother of Travis Ruane, ’03, Thomas Ruane, ’07, Kevin Ruane, ’11 and Brian Ruane, ’18 Eileen Rush Widow of Richard J. Rush, ‘47 † Elaine Wraga Wife of Joseph Wraga, ’57 Moira McCarthy Zwiebel Mother-in-law of Joseph Ryan, ’76; Grandmother of Sean Ryan, ’09 and James Ryan, ’14
Family of Faculty & Staff Diane Abbondante Mother-in-law of Erica Rivera, athletics staff member Barbara Burgess Wife of Michael Burgess, former track coach William Hartling Father of Jeffrey Hartling, religion teacher Catherine Rowan Mother of Kathleen Rowan, former guidance counselor Jeenarain Sawh Father of Arvind Sawh, operations staff member; grandfather of Dave Sawh, ’01
Faculty Members Enrico Raulli, S.J. Guidance counselor and English teacher since 1979
Vita mutatur, non tollitur. Life is changed, not ended. 28 SPRING 2016 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE
alumni Section
WEDDINGS | BIRTHS
Weddings
Births
AJ Caprio, ’99 and Falynn Wzorek June 27, 2015
Jill and Stephen Trynosky, ’94: son Robert Derek, born October 15, 2014
Tyrone Pitts, ’03 and Tyshea Tatum June 27, 2015
Daria and Jesse Luis, ’03: son Dylan Jesse, born May 23, 2015
Marc Amadeo, ’03 and Jamie Kalman July 24, 2015
Nikole and Mike Santucci, ’99 daughter Tessa Rose, born July 28, 2015
Matt Ward, ’07 and Lindsay Small August 1, 2015
Ally and Liam Ahearn, ’01 son William Kelly, born September 16, 2015
Mike Pisco, ’06 and Trina Felton September 6, 2015
Kuang Chiang and Adam Supple, ’96: son Edward Declan, born October 13, 2015
Vincent Di Angelo, ’03 and Rachel Ryan September 19, 2015
Sally and Michael Struk, ’91: son Colin Michael, born October 20, 2015
Joe Danatzko, ’03 and Jennifer Korkin October 10, 2015
Lauren Chandler and Jerry Rooth, ’03: son Theodore Gerald, born December 4, 2015
Nathan Lane, ’74 and Devlin Elliott November 17, 2015
Krystle Hipolito and Joseph Gomez, ’03: son Jaxson Marc, born January 6, 2016
Michael Mahoney, ’03 and Heather Gallo February 20, 2016
Sharon Garwood and Brian Robinson, ’01: daughter Samira Grace, born February 18, 2016
Tom Leane, ’04 and Courtney Arfin March 12, 2016
Matt Ward, ’07 and Lindsay Small, married August 1, 2015
8 Share your photos, class notes and other news with us...and the Prep community! Drop us a line at communications@spprep.org
Prep Goes Hollywood No fewer than 21 Prep alumni, spanning the classes of 1970-2003, made the trip to Hollywood, Florida, for the wedding of AJ Caprio, ’99 and Falynn Wzorek. In addition, former Prep president Jim Keenan, S.J. was on hand to officiate. Pictured below: Jason Swineford, ’91, James Luty ’99, John Caprio, ’01, Michael Fonseca ’99, Greg Ilaria ’99, Angelo Caprio ’70, Sammy Salem, ’99, AJ Caprio, ’99, Kevin Kelly, ’99, Lawrence Alexander, ’99, Billy Cunningham, ’97, Jim Keenan, S.J., Jude Tiscornia, ’01, Alexander Santucci, ’03, Kevin Murray, ’03, Mark Taraszkiewicz, ’97, Patrick Farrell ’01, Anthony Verdi, ’95, David Ilaria, ’98, Kevin Reed ’96, and Peter Botsolas ’00.
Colin Struk, born October 20, 2015 William Ahearn, born September 16, 2015
PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2016 29
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