Prep Magazine: Spring 2017

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Prep

Saint Peter’s Preparatory School

SPRING 2017

Prep Fencing: State Champs!


Journeying Together Life in a school community often seems to take place on two different timelines. For the students, there’s a more linear one – at Prep, it might begin at an open house, progress through freshman orientation to the classroom, and onward to waypoints like the Kairos and Emmaus retreats, punctuated by memorable moments on the athletic field or around the lunch table, and culminating in graduation – while for the teachers and administrators who stay on from year to year, things look more cyclical. A decade after returning to my alma mater as a staff member, however, it’s clear to me that it’s not so simple. Yes, the 2017-18 school year will begin with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, and end with graduation, just as so many before. And yes, the daily routines will carry on as always. But to view each lap around the calendar as a return to the starting point is to miss much of what makes life at Grand & Warren such a vibrant place. The truth is that just as Prep strives to form graduates who are open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice, the pursuit of that essential goal of Jesuit education calls upon the school itself to live those traits as fully as possible. That’s why each year sees Prep and its students embark upon new ventures and breathe new life into old ones. From the meteoric rise of Prep Fencing from club sport to state championship, to our ever-stronger Campus Ministry proram, to the increasingly global outlook of our academic and co-curricular offerings, an institutional openness to growth means the experience of a Prep education gains breadth and depth each year. Prep is forever embarking upon new journeys, walking alongside our students as they find their way. As we invite students to live a commitment to justice through service immersion trips, we strive to eliminate financial hurdles that might bar some students from those experiences – or from attending Prep at all. As we challenge students to maintain a loving perspective in a world where hate seems to come too easily, we work to welcome dialogue and understanding within our own walls. Experiences of Ingnatian spirituality and opportunities for professional development help our faculty and staff to grow more deeply religious and intellectually competent. With one cycle drawing to a close, and another about to begin, my colleagues and I look forward to doing it all again. It is another opportunity to move forward, while remaining grounded in the Prep traditions that sustain us.

Mike Jiran, ’03 Director of Communications


Section Contents

Prep

Cover Story 8

Volume 27 - Number 2 Spring 2017

Ken Boller, S.J. President

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Hand a Marauder a Sword...

Jim DeAngelo, ’85 Principal

Chris Casazza, ’97 Editor Mike Jiran, ’03 Managing Editor John Irvine, ’83, P’11 Sports Editor Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16 Pete Geary, ’05 Declan Intindola, ’17 Kate Lillis Magnus Greg Morissey, ’08 Mike Settembrino, ’01 Chirayu Shah, ’17 Contributors

Among Prep’s 19 varsity sports, fencing is one of the youngest – and now it’s the latest to earn an overall state championship!

Feature 10 There and Back Again (Hopefully!) As Prep’s 10th annual Gala returns to a familiar venue in the spring, the event’s impact for Prep students and families is stronger than ever!

Departments 2

Mark Wyville, ’76, P’11,’18 Select Photography Mace Duncan Ohleyer Hotplate Original Design Concept

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Photo File Dedicating Burke Hall, 50 years ago this spring.

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Alumni Relations: alumni@spprep.org or 201-547-6413 Communications: communications@spprep.org or 201-547-2308

facebook.com/spprep

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@spprep

To Whom Much is Given Each member of the Lillis family has had a unique experience of the many gifts of Prep. And and each has found a unique way to give back.

Sports Indoor relay teams earn state titles and national recognition; Football’s journey from Dublin to the Meadowlands; Soccer reclaims county title, joining swimming and bowling as Hudson’s best.

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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. On the Cover: Prep Fencing’s state championship trophy, and scenes from the 2016-17 campaign.

5 Questions Ten years after becoming Prep’s principal, Jim DeAngelo, ’85 looks back – and forward.

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Stay Up-to-Date

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Copyright © 2017, Saint Peter’s Prep. All publication rights reserved. Contact us:

144 Grand Gala, Food Drive, and Mom Prom records; Rowing to Mission Drive glory;

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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

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Alumni Athletic HOF welcomes new members; Awards for McGovern, ’76 and La Forgia, ’63; Nate Keating, ’10 at Kilamanjaro’s peak.

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More than half of the canned food items Prep collected in the Great Ignatian Challenge were delivered in a massive shipment, after being donated via YouGiveGoods by Prep students and their families. The delivery flooded the Campus Ministry lounge in the Shalloe Hall basement.

Rising to the Challenge Each year, the Thanksgiving Food Drive invites the Prep community to share our blessings with area families in need. Since the opening of the Prep Food Pantry in 2013, the focus has shifted from providing Thanksgiving meals for several families, to re-stocking the food pantry so it can meet the needs of the local community throughout the year. As Thanksgiving 2016 approached, the Great Ignatian Challenge added another dimension to the annual drive, and the response of Prep community – and students in particular – was outstanding! An anonymous donor – later revealed to be Fordham Prep board chair Jim Rowen – pledged a prize fund of up to $250,000 in tuition support to be divided among the five Jesuit high schools of the metropolitan area (Fordham Prep, Loyola, Regis, and Xavier on the New York side, and Prep on the New Jersey side) based on the amount of food the schools could collect in their Thanksgiving drives. All told, the five schools collected more than 100,000 food items, with Prep’s 22,199-item haul going directly to the Prep Food Pantry. The effort at Grand & Warren was organized jointly by the Advancement, Campus Ministry, and Student Life offices, while the Student Council helped build support among the student body. Aided by the introduction of an online donation option via YouGiveGoods.com, the total represents a 600% increase over last year’s Thanksgiving drive. Combined with the $34,000 contributed from the prize fund to assist Prep families with tuition, it adds up to a great success for all parties.

The Seat Not Taken An extra seat appeared in some Prep classrooms this spring: La Silla Roja, or the Red Chair. By standing conspicuously empty while students and teachers go about their routine, the chair symbolizes a missing student – namely, one of the estimated 263 million children and young adults around the world with no access to education. This advocacy and mobilization effort began in 2012 with Entreculturas – Fe y Alegría, a Jesuit work based in Spain and devoted to the pursuit of justice through education. It has since spread to Jesuit schools throughout the world. Prep’s two red chairs were prepared by students in the Art & Design class, with guidance from their teacher, Patrick McCoy. They were displayed in the Moriarty lobby before making the rounds of various classrooms. “The red chair isn’t just a symbol,” said Gabe Rossi of Prep’s religion department, who organized the project. “It’s also an object that gives the students pause to reflect how they can respond to these inequalities through their vocations to serve the world.” 2 spring 2017 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE


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Eileen Markey

Carol Blazejowski, P’17

Prep Introduces Women’s History Month Speaker Series During Women’s History Month in March, two distinguished speakers gave lectures in Prep’s Siperstein Library. The first guest was Eileen Markey, an investigative journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal, National Catholic Reporter, America, and Commonweal, and most recently the author of A Radical Faith: The Life and Death of Sister Maura Clarke. She shared excerpts from the book, as well as reflections on the life and faith of Sister Maura Clarke, a Maryknoll nun who was murdered in 1980 with three other church women – Sister Dorothy Kazel, Sister Ita Ford, and Jean Donovan – by a Salvadoran death squad. A week later, Prep hosted Carol Blazejowski, P’17. The pioneering women’s basketball star, U.S. Olympian, and longtime holder of the singlegame scoring record at Madison Square Garden spoke about her journey on the court as well as behind the scenes. Hers has been a life shaped by the game of basketball, but also one that has shaped the development of the game. From her days as a Cranford High School student lobbying for the creation of a girls’ team, she has gone on to lead her Montclair State teams to national prominence, play a key role in the NBA’s highly successful marketing efforts in the 1990s, and build a winning tradition as general manager of the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Video from both lectures is available at spprep.org/PrepMag Khalil Gibran Muhammad, P’18

Arrupe Series Examines Mass Incarceration Prep's 2017 Arrupe Week – marking the 20th year of the Arrupe Lecture Series – began with keynote address by Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Ph.D., P’18, professor of history, race, and public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Muhammad was the first Prep parent ever featured as an Arrupe keynote speaker. He opened a weeklong discussion of mass incarceration in the United States with a historical overview of policies and conditions that have contributed to the U.S. accounting for 5% of the world's total population, but 25% of its prison population. The conversation continued throughout the week, ending in a day of breakout sessions offering various perspectives on the issue, as well as Mass with guest homilist Zachariah Presutti, S.J., the founder and Executive Director of Thrive for Life Prison Project in New York City. Thrive for Life offers services and resources to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and men in six correctional facilities in the New York metropolitan area.

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Taking to the Oars for Prep’s Mission Drive Prep Rowing got a head start on this year’s Mission Drive, taking over the Moriarty Science Center lobby for two days in February as they hosted the Million Meter Magis. Four rowing machines were set up in the lobby, each corresponding to one of four mission activities that Prep supports both through the Mission Drive and the Christian Service program: the Bethel Shelter in Bethel, Alaska; Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles; the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador; and the Prep Food Pantry. Passersby were invited to add their support either by placing donations in buckets next to each machine, or by logging a few thousand meters on their own. The initial goal was to log one million total meters on the four machines – about 621 miles, if your calculator isn’t handy – but the final total was 27% more: an astonishing 1,274,500 meters, or nearly 800 miles! Among those pitching in were four of Prep’s Jesuits – Bob O’Hare, S.J., Tony Azzarto, S.J., Matt Cassidy, S.J., and John Mullin, S.J. – perhaps recalling the arrival of the first Jesuits in Jersey City by rowboat more than 140 years ago!

Marauders at the Next Level As of this writing, 12 members of Prep’s Class of 2017 – ten football players, one baseball player, and one swimmer – had committed to continue their athletic endeavors at the collegiate level. Nine football players plus swimmer Grant Thieroff made their commitments during a signing ceremony in February. Prep baseball’s Matt McDermott signed at a separate event in November, while football’s Cameron Clarke committed in the spring. Please join us in wishing them success in the next chapter of their journeys! Main photo, front row: Mitchell Jones – Cornell University, Harley Monteiro – Western New England University, Grant Thieroff (swimming) – Claremont McKenna College, John Lewis – Rutgers University, Benji Mowatt – University of Pennsylvania. Back row: Jan Brentjens – Davidson College, Masaki Aerts – Dartmouth College, Ben Petrula – Boston College, Dakari Falconer – Dartmouth College, Jorge Portorreal – Lehigh University. Inset photos: Cameron Clarke – U.S. Military Academy, Matt McDermott (baseball) – College of William and Mary

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The More Things Exchange... Prep’s oldest and newest exchange programs brought visitors from abroad to Grand & Warren earlier this year, living proof of the increasingly global outlook of life at Prep (see page 10).

Sal Veniero, ’05 Elected AATG Chapter President

In February, ten students and two faculty members from Colegio de La Inmaculada in Lima, Peru, spent two weeks with their Prep hosts, enjoying a series of on- and off-campus activities. The Peruvian students made side trips to other Jesuit institutions – Cristo Rey High School, Fordham University and Fordham Prep, and Xavier High School – and concluded their visit with a lunchtime discussion comparing Jesuit education in the two countries (pictured below). Andrienne McLoughlin of the English department and Prep’s president, Ken Boller, S.J., will lead Prep students on a return visit to Lima this summer.

In addition to organizing another exchange, this year has seen Prep German teacher Sal Veniero take on a leadership role among his peers throughout the region. In November, he was elected president of the Northern New Jersey chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German.

Just before the Easter break, Prep welcomed 20 students from Clara-Fey-Gymnasium in Schleiden, Germany (pictured above). The visit marked the two schools’ 16th exchange program together since 1985, and included cultural outings both in New York City and in Washington, D.C. Prep’s German teacher, Sal Veniero, ’05, will lead the Prep participants as they head to Germany this summer.

The president leads the chapter’s executive board in organizing professional development opportunities for the 171 members of the chapter, and other events for local teachers, professors and students of German.

Video from the U.S.-Peru discussion is available at spprep.org/PrepMag

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An “Expression” of Prep Pride The 2016 PPA Fashion Show, Express Yourself, took over Mayfair Farms in November, with nearly 650 guests (mostly Prep moms, as always) enjoying a day of fun and fashion for a good cause. As the “Men of Prep” and “Sisters of Prep” hit the runway, 243 gift baskets met their lucky winners in the tricky tray raffle. This year’s Fashion Show raised more than $112,000 to support Prep’s mission of Jesuit education! The generosity of many guests, basket item donors, and volunteers made it all possible, with co-chairs Maureen Hess, P’17,’19, Lisa Franconeri, P’18, JoAnne Nacheff, P’18, and Kathy Verdi, P’18​leading the way.

Clockwise from top left: Another basket on its way to meet its lucky winner; Fr. Boller congratulated departing director of special events Frances Salvo on her sixth and final Prep Fashion Show; The Sisters of Prep, the Casual Men of Prep, and the Formal Men of Prep were once again the stars of the runway.

Stephen Kellner, ’15 and Molly Oser

Prep’s Biggest and Best “Mom Prom” Yet! It was another record-setting Mother-Son Dance, as more than 700 Prep students and moms packed the Venetian for what has become the PPA’s largest single event of the year. The “Mom Prom” moved to a new, larger venue for its 19th edition, having outgrown O’Keefe Commons, Casino in the Park, and the Fiesta. But the seemingly limitless enthusiasm for this celebration meant it was yet another sellout despite the extra capacity. It’s a testament to the central role of families within the Prep community, and it promises to make the 20th annual event next year even bigger!

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The Gala’s Grand Homecoming The tenth Grand Gala on April 8 saw the event return home to the Westin Jersey City Newport, where it had previously been held from 20112013. With two of the Gala’s founding influences – inaugural co-chair Seton Ahearn, P’01 and former Prep president Bob Reiser, S.J. – on hand as honorary chairs, and an 80th birthday tribute to another former president, Jim Keenan, S.J., on the program, it would prove to be a truly grand evening for Prep – and for the families who rely on Prep’s financial assistance program. More than 525 guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner and dancing, along with some spirited competition in the live and silent auctions. Before the night was out, the Gala had raised more than $437,000 for financial assistance, including a record $200,000 in direct Fund-a-Scholar pledges. Working with co-chairs Monica and Paul Cuccinelli, P’17, Trish and Bill Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16, Jennifer and Mike McGuire, P’17, and Liz and Bill Ruvo, P’15,’17, Prep’s new director of special events, Dalma Santana, was inspired by her first Grand Gala. “To see parents, alumni, and friends come together to support Prep’s financial aid program, really speaks volumes of the importance of education, support, and camaraderie for all those influenced directly and indirectly by Prep,” she said. Student speaker Jorge Portorreal, ’17 expressed his gratitude for the opportunities financial aid has opened to him and many of his classmates at Grand & Warren. “I thank you for giving us young men the opportunity for a bright future and believing in us,” he told the Gala guests. “I challenge you to inspire another student the way my benefactors have inspired me.”

Clockwise from below: Live music and a lively dance floor, a Gala staple from the beginning; A cascade of $80 Fund a Scholar pledges in honor of Fr. Jim Keenan’s 80th birthday; Fr. Keenan with his longtime assistant during his Grand & Warren days, Maryphyllis Locricchio, P’95,’96; Fr. Boller and Jorge Portorreal, ’17.

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Cover story

Hand a Marauder a Sword...

Prep Fencing, 2016-17 State Champions. FRONT ROW: Alexander Wasden, ’20, Robert Walker, ’20, David Garrelick, ’19, Owen Possick, ’18, Ben Wang, ’17, Bryce Belser, ’19, Alec Nossa, ’19, Damiano Servidio, ’18. BACK ROW: Head Coach Marat Israelian, Jon Sozer, ’17, Sean FitzGibbon, ’18, Dalton Walker, ’17, Declan Alvidrez, ’18, Lucas Motir, ’20, Joaquin Matamis, ’18, Ethan Diaz, ’19, Desmond Luck, ’19, Juan Carlos Nieves, ’18, Christian Matos, ’19, Michael Morano, ’19, Assistant Coach Michael Settembrino, ’01

by Mike Settembrino, ’01

With an outstanding upset victory over the perennial favorites from Columbia High School, Prep Fencing took its first ever state championship this February. Assistant coach (and Prep registrar) Mike Settembrino, ’01 shares an insider’s perspective on the Marauders’ journey to the top. In the brief nine years since its rebirth, Saint Peter’s Prep fencing team, made up of a powerful sabre squad, youthful foil squad, and stalwart épée squad, conquered the state rankings and the perennial state champions, Columbia High School, to earn the program’s first state championship. This road was not without hardships. The fencing season is short, but intense, taking up the majority of the winter months. Our practices are long and plentiful, and seem even more so when one adds the requirements of carrying a multitude of blades, safety gear, and various other accessories needed to bout. In the four years I have been assistant coach for Prep Fencing, I have seen an incredible growth in the program. This growth is due to the dedication and determination of our fencers to become the best in the state. In that time, I have seen our team go from #26 in New Jersey, to #6, then to #5, and, this year, to an unprecedented championship season. Not only was this past season one for the record books, but our Marauders made sure there was no question who was the best team in the state by finishing it undefeated. At the beginning of the season, Coach Israelian stated “we will be the best,” and he showed our team that they do indeed have the hearts of champions within them. This year our team was led by Head Coach Marat Israelian and Team Captain Dalton Walker, ’17. The discipline of these men only furthered the drive and determination of all members of the team. I would see our starters and alternates working on both their strengths and weaknesses in earnest throughout the season. Practices during the holidays and tournaments during the weekends required a high level of commitment, but paid off in furthering the skill level of all our members.

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Cover Story Section

Head Coach Marat Israelian gives foil captain Declan Alvidrez, ’18 some final advice before a bout.

some of the best fencers in the United States – there is no question about that – and our area is in no short supply of these fencers. There were many meets where Prep was up against a wall, but persevered. I can remember four meets in particular where our perfect record could have been smashed to pieces. These meets were against Christian Brothers Academy and Columbia High School, both during the regular season and again during the playoffs. During those four meets, Prep was trailing by the third- to halfway point. This did not stop the Marauders, who continued to fight and did not give an inch until the final bout was over. Foil captain Declan Alvidrez, ’18 stated, “This means everything to us,” and these words were, without a doubt, backed up by the actions of all of our team members. The final meet against Columbia for the New Jersey State Fencing Championship was a battle to say the least. Although Prep started the meet with a loss, we quickly took the lead. Unfortunately, this lead was short-lived, as Columbia would not back down and reclaimed the lead, 5-4, before the end of the first round. The second round could be represented by a pendulum, where the lead was shifted between schools multiple times. It was the effort of alternate Ben Wang, ’17 who took down two of Columbia’s starter épées, that inspired our sabre squad to dismantle Columbia in the third round. A triple sweep by Dalton Walker, ’17, Bryce Belser, ’19, and Owen Possick, ’18 visibly deflated the Columbia team, who now trailed 10-13. Columbia, perennial champions for a reason, quickly claimed two bouts, bringing them one point away from Prep. This comeback drive was crushed by Prep foil captain Declan Alvidrez, ’18 who stepped onto the strip and claimed the clinching point to cement Prep fencing as 2016-17 state champions. Whether it was a near-perfect season by Dalton Walker, Sean FitzGibbon, ’18 battling injury to win an all-important bout in the playoffs, Ben Wang showing the team the true meaning of dedication in action, Jon Sozer, ’17 teaching younger fencers the nuances of the sport, or Declan Alvidrez’s shout of victory that still echoes in Columbia’s ears, one

would be hard pressed not to find a moment in each meet that exemplifies what it means to be a Saint Peter’s Prep student-athlete. I am incredibly proud to be a member of the team, and I look forward to what the future holds!

BELOW: Bryce Belser, ’19, pictured in a regular-season bout vs. Columbia, had an excellent sophomore season, a sign of a winning Prep Fencing tradition to come. RIGHT: Team captain Dalton Walker, ’17 led by example, posting a nearly perfect individual record in the midst of the team’s undefeated season.

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Feature

There and Back Again (Hopefully!)

Greg Morrissey, ’08 (left) and Pete Geary, ’05, with the bikes they plan to ride from Canada to Mexico this summer, in support of the Global Opportunities Scholarship

by Pete Geary, ’05 and Greg Morrissey, ’08

Even as Prep’s world remains centered at Grand & Warren, our Jesuit mission calls us to global education. In recent years, this has seen students travel far from home – on service immersion trips, cultural exchanges, and other learning experiences. While these opportunities offer students many benefits, their costs can be burdensome to families. That’s why two members of Prep’s English department are working to develop a Global Opportunities Scholarship, and planning a summer journey of their own to raise awareness. When Gandalf urges Bilbo Baggins to accompany him as a “burglar” on a campaign away from his home, Bilbo initially refuses for fear of leaving the familiar for that yet unknown to him. Initially, the reticent hobbit would rather remain in the comfort and predictability of the Shire, but it is his “Tookish side” that motivates movement towards worlds outside of his own. Like other great adventure tales, Bilbo’s curiosity and innate desire to seek and to be challenged by new terrain inspire him to follow Gandalf and the company of dwarves to partake in a quest that will inevitably have both hardships and rewards, self-doubt and sincere, genuine growth. Be it fiction or non-fiction, storytellers like Tolkien encourage us to think about alternatives, to pursue situations and encounters that cast us beyond what is considered normal or expected. As John A. Shedd informs, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” At its center, the Prep experience is itself an adventure that calls, perhaps for the first time, young men out of their comfort zones with hopes that they develop into lifelong learners, those intent on better understanding not only themselves, but others around them for the greater good. Many of our students choose to attend an institution beyond their hometowns and away from the friends and classmates they have known for years. Many opt to travel considerable distances to Paulus Hook, sacrificing hours in transit. A great many students seek employment throughout the year to take ownership of their own educations while offsetting tuition costs and lessening potential burdens for parents and guardians. They are willing to take these risks and responsibilities because they feel the learning that takes place, both within and outside the concrete walls of Grand and Warren, will provide life-changing opportunities. A valid education is one that allows for ideas to be cultivated and explored, for awareness to be challenged and readjusted. Jesuit pedagogy relies heavily on this very idea of remaining open to growth while maintaining a sense of intellectual curiosity, competency, and responsibility. Prep is fortunate to have a rich blend of racial, cultural, and economic diversity; this diversity makes us who we are. Students arrive to Prep from many areas and backgrounds across two states. Along with its catalog of academics, co-curriculars, and athletics, Prep offers many service and enrichment programs designed to provide students with invaluable contact outside of downtown Jersey City. For some of our boys, the chance to participate in these extraordinary opportunities, sometimes costing upwards of $3,000 per trip, is not feasible because of familial financial restrictions. 10 spring 2017 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE


Section Feature Rosalie Romano, a seasoned teacher and the current Department Chair of Foreign Languages, has organized Prep’s Italian Exchange program for 17 years. She knows firsthand the importance of exposing students to new cultures and customs, as well as the hindrances many face with cost. “I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable effects the exchange has had for many participating students,” she said. “Students develop greater global and cultural awareness, and many find the determination to speak Italian fluently, to study in Italy for a college semester abroad, to return for vacation trips with family and friends, or to experience post-college internships in Italy. And most importantly, some form overseas friendships that do last a lifetime. However, despite the rewards, there has always been a frustration for me in not being able to select other deserving students due to financial difficulties.”

It was the realization of these financial burdens that inspired the creation of the Global Opportunities Scholarship. Having both graduated from Saint Peter’s, and now on the other side of things as teachers, we feel it is time to try, in some small way, to make a real, concrete difference beyond our classrooms and coaching responsibilities. As a result, we mapped out a way to start helping these students.

Eric Nieves, ’17 gained new perspectives on his Latino heritage at a conference last summer. He hopes to make similar experiences more accessible to fellow students.

Beginning in late June, we will set out on a five-week, 2000+ mile cycling journey from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. The goal of this adventure is to raise $25,000 to develop this initiative designed to allow more students the freedom to participate in one of Prep’s service, cultural, or adventure trips through need-based financial assistance. As teachers of English literature, we are fortunate to spend time daily discussing with students different aspects of the human condition. We are allowed the space to explore and to exist together in real places perhaps not yet traveled, or even in those we cannot go – time periods of the past or in imagined worlds and landscapes. As we explore these paths and avenues together in our classrooms, we are acutely aware of their captivating effects on young minds and the many lessons the world has in store for our students beyond these walls. However, through these same conversations, we also recognize and grasp the disconnect that some of our boys maintain through no faults of their own. For some, the stories we read, complete with their potential ideas and themes, are too far removed from their lives. For some, traveling beyond Hudson County simply for the experience is not a reality, but instead a foreign concept. The scholarship intends to bridge that gap for all students so that the very ideas we explore in class become both tangible and accessible for all Prep students. Sometimes it takes a journey across a continent to usher in self-discovery. Eric Nieves, a current senior and one of the student leaders for the Global Opportunities Scholarship, traveled to San Francisco last year to participate in a conference for Latino students at a Jesuit high school in the Bay Area. “Being a member of the Latino community while living in a homogeneous suburb, I lose touch with my Latino roots sometimes,” he reflected. “This trip allowed me to explore deep into myself and into my Latino identity. At the conference we spoke about many difficult topics, some affecting a single school, some affecting a single region, and others affecting our entire country. We dove deep into topics related to Latino culture, and how Latinos are weaving themselves and their culture into mainstream America. Exploring these issues in such a productive and

open environment really allowed me to grow intellectually and morally.”

LEFT: Prep’s exchange programs, in partnership with schools in Germany, France, Italy, Spain (pictured), and now Peru, provide students with transformative opportunities to encounter a new culture. RIGHT: Frankie Gagliano, ’17 played with local youth during a service immersion trip to Bethel, Alaska. These summer Christian Service experiences, in places as near as Camden, New Jersey, and as far as Ecuador, have grown to become a mainstay of Prep life.

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Feature

Cesar Esteban, ’17 found inspiration in a summer backpacking tour of the Grand Canyon and other national parks in the western United States. He called it “an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

He added, “This opportunity allowed me to expand my horizons in ways I could have never imagined four years ago. I still keep in touch with some of the people I met at that conference, and because I challenged myself, and questioned things I never thought to be questionable, I gained so much. I can’t be more grateful to Prep for offering me such an amazing opportunity.” Fellow senior and scholarship team leader Cesar Esteban engaged in a different sort of adventure last summer, as he joined a group backpacking through the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. “I was forced out of my comfort zone,” he recalled. “This experience allowed me to broaden my horizons while forging friendships that I have maintained to this day. Immersing myself in nature allowed me to focus on what is truly important: people. The relationships I created on this trip taught me the value of human interaction especially in adverse conditions. In the process I was also able to discover a new passion of mine: the outdoors. This discovery has allowed me to pursue multiple leadership opportunities within my community, and as a result, I have been able to grow more confident in my abilities.” Maura Toomb, now the associate provincial assistant for secondary and pre-secondary education for the Jesuits’ USA Northeast province, oversaw a drive for greater global awareness and immersion in her years as Prep’s director of campus ministry. “When I was at Saint Peter’s, we did all we could in Campus Ministry to expand opportunities for students to immerse themselves in new and different communities, whether those communities were in Quito, Ecuador, rural West Virginia, or even just down the road in Jersey City,” she recalled. “We saw that

these trips did more than just give students the opportunity to serve – rather, they expanded their worldview, deepened their compassion, and helped them to develop new passions. Often, students who participated in these immersive experiences wanted to do more, see new places, and meet new people.” Those trends have taken hold in other areas of the Prep experience over the years, and are reflected in the curricula of other Jesuit high schools. “Now that I work for the Province, I see many schools up and down the East Coast develop their Global Education programs. We cannot deny that the world ‘around us’ is now a global one.” She adds, however, that access and affordability are essential “to ensure that these programs are a viable option for all students. The Global Opportunities Scholarship will be an important way to raise the funds necessary to give every student a chance to have a beyond-the-classroom global experience – one that could shape his worldview, and affect his discernment for years to come.” It is this very idea, the belief that travel has an ineffable ability to inspire growt h through heightened discernment, that drives the Global Opportunities Scholarship. We hope to allow Prep students, regardless of finances, the freedom to engage with others, known and new, in exciting, unique ways in different landscapes. As we prepare for our own cycling journey, we are reminded time and again of Tolkien’s fascination with meaningful exploration and adventure: “Not all those who wander are lost.”

For more information on the GO Scholarship, or to make a donation, please visit spprep.org/GOscholarship

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Photo File Section

Photo File: 50 Years Young Burke Hall (now the Moriarty Science Center) opened in time for the 1965-66 school year, but was not formally dedicated until the spring of 1967, 50 years ago. The 1967 Petrean gives us the view above from the dedication of the new science and math facility on April 2, 1967, with Archbishop Thomas A. Boland presiding. The building was named for Br. Maurice Burke, S.J., who had been to Prep in the 1930s and ’40s what Prep Legend Br. Paul Harrison, S.J., would be in the ’80s and ’90s: a tireless worker in maintaining Prep’s physical plant, and always happy to lend a hand to students and colleagues. The dedication plaque and a suitably Modernist crucifix (at left) were originally located in the buildng’s York Street stairwell. The former was later moved to the passage between Mulry and Burke Halls. The latter spent many years in the Mulry Hall lobby before finding a new home in the Moriarty Science Center’s second floor corridor (below) after the 2011 renovations. “[T]he dedication of Burke Hall was not merely the blessing of a building,” the Petrean staff tell us, “but the manifestation of gratitude for the Prep’s past and of faith in its future.”

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Sports

5 QUESTIONS

with Jim DeAngelo, ’85, principal

As he completes his tenth year as Prep’s principal – that’s in addition to 16 years in the Modern Language department – Jim DeAngelo is well-positioned to weigh in on how Prep has grown, and where it’s headed. A decade after his Fall 2007 Prep Magazine Q&A, we checked in again.

Prep Magazine: At the end of next year, you will equal Jack Raslowsky, ’79 as Prep’s longest-tenured principal. What have been the biggest changes at Prep over the past decade? Jim DeAngelo: I think that the pervasive presence and use of technology by both students and teachers has had the biggest impact on Prep. Inside the classroom, things like Google Drive, Schoology, and Canvas have created opportunities for quicker communication between teachers and students, as well as much greater and more meaningful collaboration. Those programs have expanded the walls of our classrooms and stretched time in many creative ways. PM As principal, you’ve made a few forays back into the classroom, but do you ever miss being there full-time? JD Absolutely. One of the biggest adjustments moving into the principal’s office – and 10 years in, I’m still adjusting on some level – is the lack of regular daily contact with students that a teaching schedule allows. The direct access to students and the ability to witness students’ growth over time is something I very much miss. At the same time, as principal, I do have a much broader view of the school and am privileged to see great things happening in every corner of the campus by walking around and visiting classrooms and labs. PM What experience has made you proudest of Prep? JD Without exaggeration, I have reason to be proud of Prep’s students and faculty and staff every day. The dedication to learning and openness to growth and new experiences I witness on a daily basis is truly humbling. But if I had to pick a singular moment, it would be the week after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 when we first returned to classes with just the English Building available for all of our classrooms and offices. It was in those days that I gained a new appreciation for the great loyalty and flexibility that every single member of our school community showed in returning as quickly as we did. And, the unbelievable generosity of our alumni in helping to pay the bills was equally moving. PM What is one goal you’d still like to see realized? JD I would love to be able to see a student center dedicated and be part of integrating an intentionally designed center into the life of our school. A few years ago when we began discussions on our most recent Master Plan – which

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has resulted in so many positive changes to our physical plant--a student center was our starting point because it had the potential to have the most transformative effect on the everyday life of our school. PM Back in 2007, you noted Br. Tom Garvey, S.J. as the teacher who most influenced you as a Prep student. But here’s the curveball question: If you had to pick one name, who has most influenced you as a Prep teacher and administrator? JD I can easily tick off five names without hesitating a second. But one face the keeps returning to my mind’s eye is that of Fr. John Browning, S.J. He was Prep’s principal when I transferred in as a sophomore. His initial interview with me was not easy and at times uncomfortable, but only because he was trying to get me to articulate the reasons why I wanted to be at Prep, and not anyone else’s reasons. His gentle manner and patience belied a fierce commitment to wanting me to be the most authentic person I could be and to strive toward that goal. John was able to meet others where they were and, through his example, influence and inspire them to become better people. In the early 1990’s, when he was still serving as a guidance counselor and I was a new German teacher, John, in his inimitable way, would regularly sneak up behind me and whisper in my ear, “Remember, I’m the only the reason you’re here at Prep.” and then disappear in peals of laughter. One time, after a couple of years of this, he turned back and said, “And someday you’re going to be principal!”


Sports alumni Section

To Whom Much is Given: The Lillis Family

to whom

LEFT TO RIGHT, FRONT ROW: Kate Lillis Magnus, Pat Lillis, and Barbara Lillis DeMarco, P’19. BACK ROW: Bob Lillis, P’14, John Lillis, ’77, and Bill Lillis, ’80.

The late Marty Lillis spent decades toiling at Colgate Palmolive in downtown Jersey City, providing all he could for his family, while Pat Lillis has has spent her life giving unconditional love to her ten children – including John, ’77 and former religion teacher Bill, ’80 – and her thirteen grandchildren, including Ryan Lillis, ’14 and Nick DeMarco, ’19. Pat and Marty’s belief in Catholic education is obvious: the Lillis “kids” who didn’t attend Prep went to Saint Anthony, Saint Dominic Academy, and Marist. “I’ve always appreciated the various religious – Sisters of Charity, Marist Brothers, Felician and Dominican Sisters, and of course the Jesuits – who staffed our children’s schools,” Pat says. “Continuing to support these institutions is paramount to their survival.” For this proud Jersey City family, supporting Prep is a way of life. “In the ’70s,” Bill recalls, “the dedicated Prep faculty was a wonderful gift from God for me and my classmates, providing guidance, wisdom, and true examples of the Christian spirit. My return in the ’90s as a faculty member was an even more precious gift.” Beyond those years in the classroom and as moderator of Prep’s SADD chapter, Bill has remained connected to Prep, both as an Annual Fund supporter, and as an active member of the Alumni Spirituality Committee. John shares Bill’s gratitude: “I’m grateful for the alumni during my years at Prep whose donations helped to keep tuition reasonable for my parents... now, as a father of two girls, one with special needs, while a struggle, I still find a way to give back financially to help those who commit to Prep behind me.” Even the siblings who didn’t attend Prep find that Grand & Warren holds a special place in their hearts. Barbara Lillis DeMarco, and Mark DeMarco, ’79, P’19, are longtime President’s Council members, and hosted a Gala gift gathering party this year. They happily send their son Nick back to Jersey City each day from their Berkeley Heights home, “not only for the great education at Prep, but for the diversity that we were able to experience growing up.” Most days, Nick catches a ride with his aunt, Kate Lillis Magnus, who is completing her first year as Prep’s director of annual giving. “I’m a true believer in single-gender education, and working both at Saint Dominic Academy and at Prep has given me great joy,” Kate reflects. “Being a woman for others is something we learned at home.” But perhaps the greatest endorsement comes from Bob Lillis, P’14. “My dad used to say, ‘Not all six of my sons were Prep material,’ so even as a proud Saint Anthony Friar, I’m glad my son Ryan had the ‘goods’ for Prep. His experience is paying dividends already.” PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2017 15


Sports

Football The 2016 football season began with an away game unlike any other. The team traveled 3,178 miles to Dublin where they faced Blessed Trinity from Georgia in the American Football Showcase. It marked the first time a New Jersey high school team had played outside the United States. Prep returned home with a 41-28 victory a lifetime of memories. Upon their return, the Marauders began play in the newly formed North Jersey Super Football Conference and what Coach Rich Hansen described as, “Our toughest schedule ever. Perennial powers, Paramus Catholic, Don Bosco, St. Joseph’s and Bergen Catholic are now part of our yearly schedule.” Prep finished the regular season 6-3 and handled Delbarton 34-13 in the first round of the state playoffs creating a rematch with Bergan Catholic. For the second time in the season Prep defeated the Crusaders (28-7), giving Prep the chance to play Paramus Catholic for a State Championship at MetLife Stadium. The title eluded Hansen’s squad (33-28), leaving the team just shy of their preseason goal of starting with a win in Dublin and ending with a win in East Rutherford.

Johnathan Lewis posted impressive numbers at QB: 1557 passing yards and 10 touchdown passes, while rushing for 992 yards and 21 TDs.

Paul Kondratowicz led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 3 assists. He was voted the Hudson County Player of the Year.

Soccer In the August heat, while the team trained in Pennsylvania, winning a County Championship was a clear goal for every player and coach. A county title had eluded Prep since 2011 and this year’s team was determined to take ownership of that trophy. Three months later, the Marauders cruised by Union City (5-1) in the semi-final and found themselves in the championship. North Bergen was a talented, physical opponent, but Prep prevailed 1-0, and the title was theirs once again. The team finished the season with a 16-5-1 record, a top 25 state ranking and a #5 ranking among parochial schools. Twelve players received some post-season accolades, led by senior goalkeeper, Michael Salameh, junior Paul Kondratowicz and sophomore Christian Arcos – each selected as one of the Top 11 Parochial Players in New Jersey. 16 SPRING 2017

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Sports Section Four-year varsity runner Brandon Rossi, on his way to second place in the Jersey City Championship.

Cross Country Autumn saw Prep’s cross country team continue its local dominance as it captured another Jersey City Championship. The runners also had solid results in several other major races: Hudson County Championship (2nd place), Battle of Ocean County (3rd place), Nike Cross Country Regionals (6th place).

Crew The fall season was a memorable one for the Prep crew team. They began by christening a new 8-man shell, and then headed to Massachusetts to compete in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta. Rowing against teams from all over the United States, and even several teams from outside the country, Prep rowed well enough to earn (for the first time) an automatic bid for next year’s race. That boat had three seniors who are committed to rowing in college next fall: David Espina (University of Wisconsin), Sam Phelan (College of the Holy Cross), and Will Curtis (LaSalle University).

Basketball Reflecting on his team’s 19-8 record, head coach Alex Mirabel, the Jersey Journal Hudson County Coach of the Year, said, “I am very proud of this group; they came a long way.” With wins over Paterson Kennedy, #7 state-ranked Teaneck, Snyder, and Rutgers Prep the Marauders proved they could compete with anyone. The team showed just how much it had grown by playing its best basketball at the end of the season. A 61-43 victory over Snyder sent Prep to the county finals for a second straight year, and their 73-64 win at home versus Pope John moved the Marauders into the state sectional semifinals. The team lost a hard-fought county final and lost by one point in the state semis. Brendan Thiele drains three of his 32 points in the county quarterfinals. The junior was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13 per game. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2017 17


Sports

Bowling Under the guidance of Coach Carmela Schlitzer, the bowlers completed the regular season with an unblemished 11-0 record. The team finished second in their league tournament, but went on to capture the Hudson County Championship in the county-wide tournament. Senior Kevin O’Mara, junior Jared Ammugauan and freshman Zack Oswald qualified for the individual Hudson County Championship Tournament. O’Mara (pictured top center) qualified for the State Individual Tournament.

Indoor Track The winter saw great individual performances leading directly to the team’s overall success. With contributions from many, Prep retained its twelfth straight Jersey City, fourth straight Hudson County Relay, and second straight Hudson County Individual championships. The team also finished an impressive third at the NJSIAA Group Championships. The season’s most impressive results were registered by the 4x400 and 4x200 relay teams. Markus Bagley, Masaki Aerts, Gus Nations IV, and Dakari Falconer ran 3:28.55 to win the Non Public A State Championship in the 4x400 meter relay. Aerts, Bagley, Falconer, and Cameron Blair broke the indoor and outdoor school record in the 4x200, running 1:29.13 at the New Balance National Meet. The team finished fourth overall and became the first Prep relay team to earn All American status since the creation of the HS National Track and Field Championships. The relay team also won the Non Public A State Championship.

Seniors Cameron Blair and Masaki Aerts contributed to the success of both the 4x400 and 4x200 relay teams.

Wrestling The wrestlers completed the winter season with a 9-9 record and championships in both the Hudson County Tournament – their ninth straight – and the Bob Dougherty Tournament at Rutgers Prep. Nick Santos (36-7) and Mike Kelly (24-5) consistently contributed points in their matches. Santos was a District and Region champion and he took fourth place in the state finals in Atlantic City while Kelly, also a District and Regional champion, took eighth place in the state finals. Senior Nick Santos crossed the illustrious 100-win threshhold this season, finishing his Prep career with a four-year record of 130-34. 18 spring 2017 n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE


Sports

LEFT: Before the season opener vs. Canisius, senior Matt Koziel greeted Tom and Karym Hoens, P’17 at center ice during a ceremony in memory of their son, the late Jeff Hoens. BELOW: Senior defenseman Matt Gallo found the back of the net in Prep’s 6-3 win over previously-undefeated Pope John.

Hockey In an emotional campaign that began with a tribute to fallen teammate Jeff Hoens, ’17, Prep skated fiercely, competing in the brutal Gordon Conference. The team posted an impressive win over a previously undefeated Pope John team, and won the Lancer Beanpot Tournament. Senior Matt Gallo was named 3rd team All Non Public, and Matt and Nick Gallo were named Honorable Mention in the conference. Prep’s 10-10-1 record was good for the #7 final ranking in the state.

Swimming Prep Swimming dominated county competition en route to a sixth consecutive championship. The team defeated in Delbarton in state playoff competition and finished with a top-20 ranking. Andres Orbe (pictured) was named Hudson County MVP, setting school records in the 200 medley and the 500 freestyle. Max Geller also set a school record in the 100 backstroke. Andres Orbe, Gabriel Orbe, Max Geller and Grant Thieroff were all individual state qualifiers. PREP MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPRING 2017 19


Alumni

The 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees with their families. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: •  Edmund Caulfield, ’00 Swimming •  Pedro Cirino, ’96 Football •  Matt Foster-Moore, ’00 Soccer •  Eileen O’Donnell, P’93,’95, accepting on behalf of the late Bill O’Donnell, ’95 Football •  The 1989 Football Team •  Bob Zakhar, ’62 Football •  Barry Tyne, ’59 Baseball & Football •  Jack Gordon, ’92 Basketball

Honoring Great Prep Athletes Nearly 300 guests were on hand at the Fiesta in Wood-Ridge last October, to salute seven athletes and one team as they joined the ranks of Prep’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees represented swimming (for the first time), soccer, baseball, basketball, and two eras of success for Prep Football. And in a larger sense, they represented the very finest of Prep’s proud athletic tradition. Learn more about the inductees at spprep.org/Hall_of_Fame

Join as we celebrate outstanding members of the Prep community! The fourth Hall of Fame Professional Achievement and Service Awards will be presented in the fall of 2017!

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Section Alumni

Rashad Davis, ’09

Keith Cummings, ’10

Young Alumni Open Black History Month Rashad Davis, ‘09 and Keith Cummings, ‘10 returned to Prep for an assembly marking the start of Black History Month. The two young alumni shared stories from their roads to success, and answered questions from current students in a broad-ranging discussion. Rashad is an illustrator and animator, about to release his first children’s book, Carefree Like Me. Keith, a graduate of The Citadel and a three-sport athlete at Prep, is a corporate wellness specialist and the founder of Stay Low and Build, a community service organization and clothing line based in Jersey City.

Team Walker Honors McGovern Phil McGovern, ’76,P’11, chairman of Prep’s Board of Trustees and managing partner in the law firm Connell Foley, was honored with the “Hero Award” by the Team Walker organization at its Evening of Dreams event in October. “We are really excited to be presenting Phil with the Hero Award,” said Jerry Walker. “This is a person who cares about people and has been extremely good to Team Walker. He is part of a group of honorees that believe in our programs and have been a large part of our success in helping many kids in Jersey City. We are thrilled to have them as part of our team.” Team Walker works in the Jersey City community to provide safe and constructive alternatives to the negative influences that plague inner city youth today. Through structured recreational involvement, children learn how to focus on teamwork, responsibility, persistence, and unity. The program grown from one basketball court and a handful of children, to over 1,000 participants and year-round academic and athletic programs.

On hand to celebrate Phil McGovern, ’76,P’11 (third from right) were Ken Boller, S.J., Jimmy Rizzo, ’77,P’10, Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16, Diana McGovern, P’11, Vincent Di Domenico, ’84, and Jim Horan, ’70

Humanitarian Award for Barry La Forgia, ’63 Barry La Forgia, ’63 received the Bishop Charles Francis Buddy Award for contributions to humanitarian causes., at the University of San Diego Alumni Honors this April. In 1989, after La Forgia participated in a relief mission to Peru to construct shelters, he was inspired to start his own nonprofit, International Relief Teams, to provide assistance to victims of disaster, poverty and neglect. Since then, the organization has given more than $350 million in humanitarian aid and deployed more than 6,500 medical and construction volunteers to 68 countries including the United States. After Prep, Barry graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1967. He then served in Vietnam, flying more than 100 tactical missions, and earning advanced degrees in law, business, and economics – including his 1976 law degree from USD. He ran a successful law practice for 12 years before founding International Relief Teams.

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Alumni

Class Notes

The ’70s Lou Parisi, ’70 made his fourth appearance at the Ms. Senior America Pageant at Resorts Atlantic City. He not only hosted the finals, but also wrote and performed the opening song. Bill Waldron, ’73 is currently retired. He and his wife Donna own and operate a boat rental company in Seaside Heights.

The ’80s

The ’40s

Fr. Matt Pawlikowski, ’82 is an Army chaplain based at the U.S. Military Academy, and often seen on the sidelines during Army football games. According to Salute, the magazine of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, he joined fellow Army fans in praying the rosary during the Army-Navy game last December, moments before Army took the lead for their first victory in the annual rivalry game since 2001!

Bill Valente, ’46, now 87 years old, is enjoying his retirement after 30 years teaching math at Essex Catholic High School. “God bless my Jesuit educators!” he writes.

Steven McGill, ’83 was named Jersey City’s interim Fire Chief in March. The 30-year veteran of the department was promoted following the retirement of Chief Darren Rivers.

The ’50s

John Boccassini, ’85 was named managing partner of the law firm McCarter & English in January, following a unanimous vote of the firm’s executive committee. John first joined the firm in the summer of 1991 as a summer associate, joined full-time in 1992, and became a partner in 2001. He represents commercial clients in a variety of complex civil matters, in both federal and state courts in New York and New Jersey.

Dear Prep,

CLASS NOTES

Don Williamson, ’54 recently published a memoir, Confrontations: No Challenge Too Tough. The book details his rise, overcoming both financial and phsical obstacles, to achieve success in the legal profession, all while striving to live as a “Man for Others.” Tom Floyd, ’59 serves as trustee and treasurer of the Loyola Jesuit Retreat Center in Morristown.

The ’60s Bob Dolan, ’60, a retired surgeon, recently published Death to Death, a study of American capital punishment. The book illuminates multiple areas of dysfunction within the system, and argues for its abolition. Mike Berkowitz, ’61 and his wife Mary are now up to 12 children, 30 grandchildren, and just welcomed their second great grandchild. Frank Nicoletti, ’62 and his wife Irina are the owners of Claryville Center, a “unique destination site” in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, feauturing the Blue Hill Cafe and Blue Hill Lodge, as well as arts and event facilities. Frank is also the founding and managing partner of the law firm Nicoletti, Gonson, Spinner in New York City. Joseph Napoli, ’64 received the New Jersey Psychiatric Association Platinum Award “for exceptional service,” the organization’s highest honor. Robert Barkovitz, ’69 is in his 45th year teaching physics, and has been commissioned as a Stephen Minister at Saint Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes. He and wife Jean celebrated 40 years of marriage in September.

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Tonio Favetta, ’86 recently published published Falling From the Ground, a fast-paced science fiction adventure set in the fictional town of Cape November, New Jersey. Aimed at a young-adult audience, it’s the first novel from the longtime high school English teacher. Learn more at TonioFavetta.com.

The ’90s Pat Fitzpatrick, ’96, an attorney with Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP in Indianapolis, has been elected to serve a three-year term on the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) Board of Directors. COTA is a national 501(c)3 charity that provides fundraising assistance and support to transplant families. Since 1986, COTA’s priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. John Alston, ’78 was sworn in as Chief of the New Haven Fire Department in December. Prior to this appointment, he had served as Deputy Chief in Jersey City.


Class Notes

Jude Tiscornia, ’01 was appointed last June by Governor Christie to serve as an Administrative Law Judge, and was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate in September. When he was sworn in on September 29 at age 32, he became the state’s youngest serving administrative law judge.

alumni

8 Share your photos, class notes and other news

with us...and the Prep community! Email us at communications@spprep.org

The ’00s Armando Hernandez, ’00 was appointed by the 11th Judicial Circuit Committee on Professionalism to serve as chair of the circuit’s local professionalism panel. The panel members address conduct of practicing Miami-Dade attorneys that are inconsistent with the Standards of Professionalism and Civility.

Scott Hart, ’85 congratulated his son, Matthew Hart, ’16, at Matthew’s Prep graduation last spring. In the print edition of the Fall 2016 issue, we inadvertently left their names out of the caption for the “Prep Legacies” group photo, so we wanted to give this “dad and grad” pair their moment in the spotlight!

Todd Schild, ’04 has purchased a dental practice in Clifton, offering family and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Schild has pledged to make a donation to Prep for any new patients who mention “Dr. T. SPP” when scheduling. Justin Lo Re, ’07 earned his D.O. degree at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey in May 2016. He has since begun his residency in neurology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Greg Kohles, ’09

Paul Beckmann, ’09 is the founder of Beckmann Designs, offering web marketing and graphic design services to small businesses. He has recently started a t-shirt campaign, with proceeds supporting Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a national pediatric cancer charity. Learn more at BeckmannDesigns.com. John Bratowicz, ’09 works at CLS Bank International. He recently spent time in the company’s London offices training employees on banking compliance regulations.

Greg Kohles, ’09 earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama Law School in December. The 2013 Princeton graduate is pictured courtesy of his grandfather Ed Alberque, Nate Keating, ’10 (third from left) ’59, who notes, “I’m busting my atop Mount Kilamanjaro. buttons with pride!”

The ’10s Nate Keating, ’10 reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in below zero temperatures February 16, 2017 with a group led by Nelson Mrema of Tanzania. Ryan Kearns, ’11 is attending Georgetown University, studying toward a master’s degree in American government.

Carl Kraus, ’05 was in good company as he celebrated his 30th birthday in December. On hand were, left to right: Kevin Smith, ’05, James Cifelli, ’04, Ian Bernaiche, ’05, Andrew Dougherty, ’05, Carl Kraus, ’05, Mike Rooney, ’04, Bradley Keating, ’05, Doug Barone, ’07, former Prep president Jim Keenan, S.J., and Thomas Barone, ’05

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Alumni

VITA MUTATUR NON TOLLITUR (LIFE IS CHANGED, NOT ENDED) Current as of May 1, 2017

Alumni John V. McGovern, ’42 Thomas M. Flaherty, ’46 Grandfather of Kevin Geraghty, ’03 and Thomas Geraghty, ’07 Thaddeus J. Wheeler, ’47 Francis X. Scerbo, ’48 Frederick Haubold, ’51 Robert N. McLaughlin, ’52 Vincent B. DiDomenico, Sr., ’53 Father of Vincent B. DiDomenico, Jr., ’84; uncle of Francis O’Donnell, ’77, Guy O’Donnell, ’79, and James DiDomenico, ’80 Alfred H. Zywicki, ’53 Thomas D. Kiernan, ’54 Joseph P. McGovern, ’54 John J. Vill, ’54 Patrick M. McGrath, ’56 Edward W. Strugala, ’57 Cosmo F. Ferrara, ’58 Brother of John Ferrara, ’56, and Joseph Ferrara, ’66. Francis J. Meola, ’58 Denis I. Howe, ’61 Brother of William Howe, ’63; son of William Howe, ’29† Charles H. McAuliffe, ’62 Gary P. Compa, ’63 Brother of Paul B. Compa, ’61 Dennis Santomauro, ’63 Daniel A. Crifo, ’65 Stanley Kabrt, ’67 Brother of Richard G. Kabrt, ’79 Eugene H. Greenan, ’68 Stanley P. Pazden, Jr., ’69 Thomas J. Murray, ’69 brother of John Murray, ’71, and Joseph Murray, ’73; son of James Murray, ’35†

Kenneth M. Halpin, ’72 Father of Eoin Halpin, ’07 Richard D. Forte, ’73 Brother of Dominick Forte, ’77 Marcus Alston, ’75 Warren P. Schiff, ’78 Barry L. Whitehead, ’78 Michael S. Gallagher, ’82 Brother of John Gallagher, ’72 Phillip A. Ryan, ’88 Brother of Timothy Ryan, ’98 Robert C. Sunga, ’01 Brother of Michael Sunga, ’98 Daniel C. Cooney, ’15 Grandson of Joseph M. Cooney, ’48

Family of Alumni John J. Agostini Father of John Agostini, ’04 Thomas M. Basil, Sr. Father of Thomas M. Basil, Jr., ’87 Suzanne Clerihew Mother of Alec Clerihew, ’57 Jane Colford Wife of Paul D. Colford, ’71; Mother of Liam D. Colford, ’09; Sister-in-law of Joseph Colford, ’68, Christopher Colford, ’73, Peter Colford, ’74, and Brian Colford, ’81; Daughter-in-law of Joseph Colford, ’38† Dorothy S. Collins Wife of Charles M. Collins, ’53 Marietta Cutillo-Harper Mother of Michael Harper, ’94 Kevin Dwyer Father of Eric Dwyer, ’01 Peter D. Daly Father of Peter D. Daly, ’95 Annie Bell Edge Mother of Greg Roberts, ’89 Marie Galdieri Mother of James Galdieri, ’77 and Michael Galdieri, ’80†

Mark L. Di Gesu Father of Mark A. Di Gesu, ’99 John Hurley Brother of Leo J. Hurley, ’70 Mary Ann Koszyk Wife of Walter Koszyk, ’60, Prep Legend and former faculty member; mother of Frank Koszyk, ’92; grandmother of Michael Koszyk, ’60 Maureen “Penny” Linehan Wife of James Linehan, ’60 Patricia Murphy Sister of Dennis Murphy, ’67; mother of Robert Alvarez, ’91 John F. Norton Father of John Norton, ’84 and Jeffrey Norton, ’90 Robert A. Pisko Father of Michael J. Pisko, ’06 Chandrakant S. Rana Father of Mark C. Rana, ’07 Licino “Sonny” Reverendo Father of Lee Reverendo, ’83 and Stephen Reverendo, ’84 Alfred J. Rinn Father of Alfred J. Rinn, ’66 and Ronald F. Rinn, ’68† Lillian E. Rizzo Mother of Dennis Rizzo, ’66, Frank Rizzo, ’70, Mark Rizzo, ’72, Christopher Rizzo, ’76, and John Rizzo, ’77 John W. Roberts Father of Gregory Roberts, ’89 Michael Ruzek Father of Michael Ruzek, ’08 Irene M. Seremba Mother of Thomas Seremba, ’80 Michael D. Sullivan Father of Michael Sullivan, ’16 Leonardo Tavarone Father of Thomas Tavarone, ’83 Juliana Usarzewicz Mother of Mark J. Usarzewicz, ’87

Wilma Vaughan Mother of Patrick Vaughan, ’87 and Robert Vaughan, ’87 Thomas M. Venino Father of Paul E. Venino, ’80 Cynthia Ward Wife of Martin J. Ward, ’66 Richard J. Zaszewski Father of Richard A. Zaszewski, ’93 and John Zaszewski, ’02 Thomas M. Zuber Father of Thomas B. Zuber, ’99 and Daniel M. Zuber, ’02

Family of Faculty & Staff Vincent J. Boller Brother of Kenneth Boller, S.J., president Gerald Campbell Father of Jerry Campbell-Clark, math teacher Farrell Cassidy Father of Matthew Cassidy, S.J., history teacher James Ford Husband of Catherine Ford, assistant VP for finance

Vita mutatur, non tollitur. Life is changed, not ended.

24 SPRING 2017

n SPPREP.ORG n PREP MAGAZINE


alumni Section

WEDDINGS | BIRTHS

Elise Garafolo, born September 27, joins older brother Joshua.

Weddings Jonathan Chiluisa, ’03 and Sophia Lashbrook June 11, 2016 Steve West, ’03 and Emily Prather June 24, 2016

Sophia De Pinto, born January 3.

William Innis, born January 26

Julie Groark (former English teacher) and Alex Canale, ’05 (science teacher): son Devin Alexander, December 28, 2016 Kaitlin and Vincent De Pinto, ’05: daughter Sophia Grace, January 3, 2017

Domenico Callipari, ’03 and Destiny Crutchfield August 7, 2016

Julie and Frank Giordano, ’99 (former French teacher): son Wesley Francis, January 16, 2017

Konrad Dudziak, ’04 and Tatiana Johnson October 1, 2016

Bernadette and Brian Innis (history teacher): son William John, January 26, 2017

Carmela (science teacher) and Steve Schlitzer: daughter Stella Rosaria, February 3, 2017 Jenna and Francis LaMonica, ’03: son Parker James, March 15, 2017 Daria and Jesse Luis, ’03: daughter Ava Juliet, March 29, 2017

Thomas Barone, ’05 and Margaret Lohmann October 8, 2016 Jonathan Fedors, ’03 and Claire Bourne December 17, 2016 Vince Ruiz, ’02 and Meghan McShea December 31, 2016

Births

Alex Canale, ’05, with Devin, born December 28.

Jane and Mark DiGesu, ’99: son Charles Edmund, July 28, 2016 Ingrid and Joseph Garofalo, ’99: daughter Elise Christine, September 27, 2016 Caroline and Gary Bogdanski, ’02 (former alumni director): daughter Juliette Haven, October 9, 2016 Stella Schlitzer, born February 3.

A strong Prep contingent turned out for the wedding of Thomas Barone, ’05 and Margaret Lohmann in October: Front Row: Douglas Barone, ’07,Michael Rooney, ’04, Kevin Smith, ’05, Matthew Gnall, ’04, and Giancarlo Capodanno, ’05. Second Row: Andrew Dougherty, ’05, former Prep president Jim Keenan, S.J., Thomas Barone, ’05, Kevin Cummings, ’05, and Gianfranco Wilbeck, ’07. Back row: Joseph Battista, ’02, Ian Bernaiche, ’05, Theodore Yager, ’06, Bradley Keating, ’05, James Cifelli, ’04, John Bowker, ’06, and Carl Kraus, ’05.

PREPPREP MAGAZINE MAGAZINE n SPPREP.ORG n SPPREP.ORG n FALLn2016 SPRING 25 2017 25


Saint Peter’s Prep New Jersey’s Jesuit High School Since 1872

Office of Communications 144 Grand Street | Jersey City, NJ 07302

iF YOU LOVE MAROON, tHE GREENS ARE CALLING.

SPP 2017

SAINT PETER’S L A NU

EP GOLF TOURN PR AMENT

40TH AN

Monday, June 19, 2017 Upper Montclair Country Club Clifton, New Jersey Tickets, sponsorships, 50/50s and more at

spprep.org/GolfTournament


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