Prep Magazine: Summer 2024 by Saint Peter's Prep

A Great Introduction to Good Company

Prep Magic. Prep Pride. The Brotherhood. Grand and Warren. Sub umbra Petri.

These words have so much meaning once someone becomes a part of the Prep Family. They are the spirit of this special place that is Saint Peter’s Prep. A few months into my own Prep journey, these words have gone from simple phrases to powerful concepts that are beginning to shape my understanding of this great institution. Yet I know I have only begun to appreciate the true depth of what “Pride and Glory” means.

Twenty-nine years ago, as a freshman in high school, I first heard of this school called “Prep.” Some of my friends were attending the all boys Jesuit school while I was attending Lacordaire Academy, an all girls Dominican school. I remember my first time on campus attending a semi-formal, traveling to the big city called Jersey City to the school at 144 Grand.

Many years later, I began my fundraising career at Saint Peter’s University, where I also earned an MBA. It was there that I learned what a Jesuit education means. I learned the value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. I learned the importance of the magis, striving for more and seeking excellence in all endeavors. And I learned how these ideas make a meaningful impact in our communities. It taught me to look beyond myself and to consider how my actions could serve the greater good.

Then, a few months ago, I started working at Prep. In my short time here, I have already begun to see and feel the embodiment of that experience and the unique place that is Saint Peter’s Prep. Each member of the Prep community has enriched my understanding.

The students. They are the essence of our magic. My first student assembly was last spring. The whole student body gave a standing ovation for the accomplishments of Sivin Damodar, ’24, who would be attending West Point. The roar of these young boys, soon to become men, supporting and loving their own, brought me to tears.

The faculty, staff, and coaches. They are the pillars of our community. Their dedication and passion for teaching and mentoring our students are unparalleled. Rich Peters, ’85 an English teacher, graciously let me sit in on a class. The discussion of Dickinson and Frost brought me back 29 years earlier. Rich and his colleagues are not just educators, but also role models who live out our Jesuit values on a daily basis.

The alumni. Their love for Prep is evident in everything they do. Paul Schaetzle, ’71 is the perfect example of what Prep for Life means. He and so many others carry with them the spirit of Prep wherever they go, living out the values instilled in them during their time here. Their achievements and contributions are a testament to the strength of a Prep education.

The parents. Their support and involvement are crucial in nurturing the next generation of Prep men. Jenn Prichard, P’26, was one of the first parents with whom I met. She welcomed me with open arms to a family that extends beyond the walls of the school, a family that supports, encourages, and uplifts one another.

As I continue my Prep journey, it is under the shadow of Peter where I will embrace this incredible community filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. I look forward to working with all of you to continue the Jesuit mission and legacy of Prep.

Sarah Lacz Vice President of Advancement

Prep

Volume 34 | Number 2

Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91 President Chris Caulfield, ’03 Principal

Mike Jiran, ’03 Editor

John Irvine, ’83, P’11 Sports Editor

Joe Giglio, ’87

Matthew Holowienka, ’11 Jim Horan, ’70 Sarah Lacz

Mike Murcia, ’08 Contributors

Mark Wyville, ’76, P’11,’18 Select Photography

Mike Jiran, ’03

Matthew Holowienka, ’11 Additional Photography

Mike Jiran, ’03 Layout

Mace Duncan Ohleyer | Hotplate Original Design Concept

Prep Magazine is a publication of the Office of Communications 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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ON THE COVER: Prep Crew’s Freshman 8+celebrated their national championship on the podium in May.

Photo courtesy Prep Crew.

Rowing for Glory

This spring, the Freshman 8+ earned Prep’s second-ever national title in rowing, and first in an 8-oar category. This latest among many recent rowing successes promises to be a sign of favorable waters ahead.

Not Addio, but Arrivederci

As he begins his retirement, an appreciation of Prep Legend John Mullin, S.J., “a force for positivity, love, and deep faith.”

A 50-Year Foundation of Unity

Prep’s oldest cultural organization, the Ebony Club, celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary during the 2023-24 school year.

Departments

144 Grand

Class of 2024 walks together in good company; Making an impact for Covenant House; Model UN and Robotics complete a banner year. 17

Photo File

A look back at HAP’s first summer, 60 years later.

Sports

Title defenses for swimming, wrestling, indoor and outdoor track, and basketball; individual championship for wrestling’s Ricciardi; Swimming’s Prekop makes a splash with four school records.

Alumni

Twin brothers from Class of ’80—Bill and Wally Brandt—in focus; Regional reunions kick off in Belmar; alumni build a dream into a thriving business; Gloria and Lou Parisi, ’44 celebrate 75

Class of 2024: One More Walk in Good Company

When the freshmen of the Class of 2024 took their first steps at Prep, they did so separated by time into hybrid-learning cohorts on a staggered schedule, and separated by distance in seats six feet apart. Now, together, the graduates of the Prep Class of 2024 strode along the Keenan Field turf, welcomed by members of the faculty and staff at either side. It was the first procession to begin Prep’s commencement ceremony since 2019, and it was one last walk, together, for this remarkable class.

Having begun their Prep journey in such a splintered manner, perhaps the Class of 2024 was uniquely qualified to appreciate Prep as a place where everything converges, bringing together varied perspectives and backgrounds and interests to forge something greater, something whose first chapter ended on June 4, but whose next chapter will last a lifetime.

Student speaker (and student council president) Nicolai Mendoza captured this sentiment, shifting the focus from the usual nexus at Grand & Warren to the other end of the block, and what he called a “golden spot” near the Saint Peter statue: “[I]f you stand exactly on the coordinates 40.716° North, 74.039° West, and then look forward, you will be centered at three of America’s greatest sights: the Statue of Liberty to your right, the New York City skyline at your front, and—of course—Jersey City’s downtown to your left.”

It was here, at this place of convergence, that “our family – once differentiated by the distinct customs of 118 communities” became woven into the vibrant community of downtown Jersey City. It was here in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, which “has inspired generations to ascend beyond their limits and forge new paths,” that the Class of 2024 discovered the freedom and responsibility inherent in life at Prep and came to realize what is possible, “even in times of triumph, of loss, and of adversity.” And it was here, viewing “the wondrous spectacle of New York City’s skyline… the complex concrete jungle symbolizing our abundant opportunity,” that the class left their mark—in academics, in the arts, in athletics, in co-curriculars, and throughout the halls of the place they called home.

In short, it was here “that we reminded ourselves what AMDG can mean through the concerted efforts of 203 teenage boys… We are, after all, a brotherhood built on shared experiences, not just these physical landmarks.” But the stage where those experiences played out will always be there as a reminder of lessons learned, challenges met, lifelong friendships forged. “We should never forget that, if we simply look behind us, the distinctive red bricks of Warren Street still remain, reminding us that we have walked and will forever walk the road of Saint Peter’s Prep together.”

Offering the faculty address, Kitty McNally, completing her 17th year as a member of the English Department, recalled the way the late Tony Azzarto, S.J., celebrated “everyday saints… people who are good, kind, open, and loving because that is just who they are, who they want to be, not for

recognition or glory…” As Ignatius put it, “to labor and not to ask for reward.” Or, as Kurt Vonnegut put it, “‘You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.’ Decency is something that people need and expect from each other… However, in the jumbled world we live in, it can seem easily forgotten, or not so very valued. It needs armies of kindness, dignity, and compassion. It needs people like you, and believe me, the world is waiting for you!”

She added, “You have the ability to bend this world to your will by insisting on practicing kindness and gratitude, and finding God everywhere and in everything, being funny, a little Jersey City-scrappy, and, of course, [borrwing a favorite phrase of former Prep President Bob Reiser, S.J.] aggressively friendly. Class of 2024, go forth and make this world a better place by being you!”

On a day that celebrated the value of being in good company, and the way those connections can grow from the unlikeliest of beginnings, a fitting highlight was the presentation of the Insignis Award to longtime faculty member John Mullin, S.J, who begins his retirement this summer (more on page 11). In presenting the award, Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91 recalled a story Fr. Mullin shared at his Legends of Prep induction, about a young Jesuit scholastic—the then-Mr. Mullin—getting lost in Jersey City on his first visit to Prep in 1970. “I repeat this story…because it tells us something about our potential to grow and overcome. Think of Fr. Mullin as we know him and love him. The nervous young man who was lost that evening has guided so many—along the road to Emmaus, and onward to great things beyond…And the place that seemed so alien to him in 1970 would become home, a place where he would spend 31 of the past 54 years, a place he would come back to again and again even after being called away to serve elsewhere. And he has done so much to help make it home for all of us as well.”

Building bridges, striving for more, acting with generosity, rebounding from adversity—these have always been the hallmarks of a Prep graduate, and the experience of the Class of 2024, with their halting, unusual introduction to life at Grand & Warren, has challenged them to work just a bit harder at each, even before striding beyond Grand & Warren. Despite spending much of their first year confined to the thumbnails of a Zoom meeting screen, they have transcended limitations and contributed unique gifts to the life of Saint Peter’s Prep, learning along the way the value of walking together. Wherever the go next, they will forever be connected by the experience of four years at Prep, and they will always walk in good company.

A procession returned to the graduation program for the first time since 2019, with members of the faculty and staff saluting the graduates along the way.

THE LEGACY CONTINUES • Many of Prep’s newest graduates join brothers, fathers, or grandfathers who are Prep alumni, continuing the Prep tradition within their own families. Here is a look at the Class of 2024 graduates who received diplomas from legacy family members!

LEGEND: Diplomas presented by the...

Graduate’s father

Graduate’s brother(s)

Graduate’s father & brother(s)

Graduate’s grandfather & brother

Alexander Ayala with Luis, ’91 & Julian, ’21

Finnegan Freeman with Tucker, ’14, Owen, ’17 & Gavin, ’18

Gerrit Bankuti with Martin Shanahan,’63 & Connor Bankuti, ’22

Alexander Giattino with Joseph, ’21 and Jack, ’22

Michael Guasconi with Mike Guasconi, ’71 & Alexander Perez, ’10

Anson Hart with Loren Hart, ’91 & Ian Garner, ’11

Xavier Miles with Anthony Gaskins, ’04 & Keith Miles Jr., ’22

Ivan & Liam Rocks with Niko, ’22

Daniel Kramer with Kenneth, ’23 & Jack, ’19

Matthew Uy & Michael, ’20

Loghan Weeda & Declan, ’20

Grant Zaleck & Craig, ’89

Jack Halligan & Daniel ’22

Noah Baccay & Logan, ’21

Michael Egan & J.P., ’20

Andrew Fonticoba & Robert,’88

Fady Elqumos & Marc, ’22

Andres Hernandez & Eduardo,’20

Christian Costanzo & Jared, ’93

Cole Holland & Mason, ’19 Matthew Corwin & Sean, ’93

Dante Lamantea & Giuseppe, ’91

Domenick Lettini & Felix, ’22

Chasen Kirk & Max, ’23

Michael Lawler & Ryan, ’22

Chaz Mainor & C.J., ’18

Nicolai Mendoza & Richard, ’98

Kieran O’Connor & Robert, ’90

Joseph Petrecca & Joseph, ’93

Rafael Rothkegel & Gabriel, ’20

Elie Riancho & Lucas, ’22

William Santomauro & Billy, ’89

Chad Christian Santos & Dean, ’17

Luke Schreiber & Jason, ’22

George Streit & William, ’22

Joseph Salameh & Michael, ’17

A Breakthrough for the “Tech Terrors”

This spring, Prep’s robotics team—officially known as Team 5438, the Technological Terrors—worked their way to a significant milestone in program history, winning the FIRST Robotics event at Mount Olive High School. It was Prep’s first overall event win in eight years of competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition. Although the team did not advance to the Mid-Atlantic district competition in Philadelphia, it was a solid step forward, building upon an upset round win (vs. the top-ranked team) in a 2023 event. The future looks bright for Prep Robotics!

Model UN Shines on an International Stage

In the winter Prep Magazine, we shared some highlights of a breakout season for Prep’s ascendant Model UN team. But as of that writing, the biggest and best moment was yet to come!

In March, the team participated in their first ever international conference—the Global Citizens Model UN, held at the (real) United Nations campus in New York. The conference brought together more than 3,000 delegates representing schools from 30 different countries.

Amidst their toughest and most prestigious competition yet, Prep once again took home the Best Small Delegation award—their fourth of the year. Each of the 11 delegates also earned an Honorable Mention award, the only level of individual recognition awarded at this conference.

Additionally, Gavin Rutledge, ’24 and Jay Johnson, ’26 were selected by the chairs of their respective committees to give final presentations to the full gathering of more than 3,000 delegates.

Rising Senior a Winner in Gilder Lehrman Essay Competition

Abraham Went, ’25 was one of ten winners of the 2023-24 Voting Rights Prizes, presented in a national essay contest organized by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Abe’s essay, titled “Beyond Democracy: Exploring Voter Participation in Hudson County, NJ,” examines the conditions that contribute to Hudson County’s generally low voter turnout—which hovers about ten percentage points lower than New Jersey as a whole. In announcing the winners, Gilder Lerman noted, “This outstanding student work demonstrates a commitment to civic engagement by focusing on an issue related to voting in the winners’ respective community, county, or state.”

ABOVE: Prep’s delegation, seated in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations.

LEFT: The delegates posed with their awards. From left: Jay Johnson, ’26, Finn Getz, ’25, Gavin Rutledge, ’24, Gabe Santos, ’24, Jeremy Kamber, ’24, Nicolai Mendoza, ’24, Kevin Aby, ’27, and Liam Morrison, ’25.

Student Artist Honored in Congressional Competition

This summer, Nicholas Cornell, ’27 was selected as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s 8th district. The rising sophomore’s Hoboken Ferry Terminal will be on display in the passage between the United States Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building until next summer, alongside winners from House districts nationwide.

Since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has given members of the House of Representatives the opportunity to honor high school artists in their districts each year. Each representative’s office organizes its respective district’s contest, and the winning artists are invited to an awards ceremony and the opening of the new year’s exhibition at the Capitol in June.

Congressman Rob Menendez congratulated Nicholas via social media, and in person at the June ceremony, and we are proud to congratulate an outstanding Prep artist once again!

Striving to Lead as “Contemplatives in Action”

In June, six emerging student leaders, representing various areas of school life, joined Dean of Student Life Catherine Eppler to represent Prep at the spring summit of the Contemplatives in Action Coalition at Boston College High School. The summit brought together groups from seven Jesuit high schools on the East Coast to focus on leadership through the lens of our shared Jesuit mission.

The summit included presentations by several of the student delegations, sharing experiences and best practices from their respective schools. Prep’s representatives gave an overview of student life programming at Prep, including co-curricular student leadership, the various Student Life committees, the Student Life Internship program, and the arts. Other presentations included looks at Xavier’s JROTC program, a house system at BC High, and Women & Leadership at the co-ed Loyola School.

In addition to the student presentations, the summit featured keynotes on student leadership. One, on viewing leadership through a Jesuit lens, cited former Prep President Jim Keenan, S.J., as an example.

The summit aims to “build shared collaboration around authentic Ignatian Leadership and Identity.” By bringing student leaders together to share the experiences of their respective Jesuit schools, the aim is to “develop regional partnerships to address pertinent issues,” examine “how we can look inward to lead outward,” and focus on “staying centered in Christ when leading others.”

Summit participants also enjoyed a visit to Fenway Park for a game between the Red Sox and the Phillies.

Prep’s summit participants outside BC High. From left: Aneel Ward, ’25, Dylan Sullivan, ’25, Tyler Barksdale, ’26, Evan Nguyen, ’25, Noah Mendoza, ’25, and Declan Schultz, ’25

Nicholas Cornell, ’27 and Rep. Rob Menendez at the Capitol with Hoboken Ferry Terminal.

Prep’s Sleep Out Makes an Impact for Covenant House

Prep’s annual Student Sleep Out for Covenant House set a new fundraising record for the second year in a row, and that was just the beginning. In fact, with $76,222 raised (surpassing last year’s benchmark of $62,207), Prep’s hundreds of student participants not only set a school record, but also raised the highest total in the nation among 2024 Covenant House Sleep Out events. Sleep Out participants spend a night outdoors in solidarity with individuals who experience homelessness. The pledges they collect support the mission of Covenant House, a nonprofit which “empowers young people to overcome homelessness and trafficking by providing them with safe housing, food and clothing, and relentless support.”

In addition to spending a night in the Prep courtyard with only cardboard boxes available for shelter, students participated in a discussion led by Covenant House New Jersey representatives, heard from Covenant House alumni who have overcome homelessness with the organization’s support, and prayed in a candlelight vigil for all who have been impacted by homelessness.

Covenant House New Jersey recognized Prep’s tremendous support during their “Night of Broadway Stars” gala at NJPAC in May, presenting the annual Student Impact Award to the members of Prep’s Sleep Out Committee. Honored at the event were Aidan Maione, ’24, Peyton Monaghan, ’25, Evan Nguyen, ’25, Luke Bae, ’26, John McClelland, ’26, Patrick Naughton, ’26 and Sasha Tyazhelkov, ’26, along with Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Keith Cummings, ’10, who coordinates Prep’s Christian Service program.

In a video promoting the Sleep Out, Aidan Maione explained his committment to supporting Covenant House’s mission: “Prep’s Sleep Out is one of the most important events in my entire Prep career...We refuse to sleep inside when 4.2 million youths have to sleep outside.” Aidan, who is also a Senior Representative for the Covenant House Junior Board, personally collected $16,230 for the Sleep Out, making him the #1 individual fundraiser in New Jersey and #3 individual fundraiser in the nation.

COVER STORY

Rowing has always held a special place in the story of Saint Peter’s Prep, starting well before 1872 with the “rowboat mission” from Saint Peter’s Church in Manhattan that established a similarly-named church on Grand Street. So while Prep Crew may be one of Prep’s younger athletic offerings, it’s only fitting that the program has steadily grown and thrived over its first decade-plus. This spring, the Freshman 8+ earned Prep’s second-ever national title in rowing, and first in an 8-oar category. This latest among many recent rowing succeses promises to be a sign of favorable waters ahead.

Rowing for Glory

by Matthew Holowienka, ’11

Exhausted but empowered by a grueling two days of competition with teams from across the United States and Canada—including a breathtaking semi-final victory just a few hours earlier—nine Marauders from the Class of 2027, members of Saint Peter’s Crew Team, boarded their boat for the Boys Freshman 8+ Grand Final of the SRAA (Scholastic Rowing Association of America) National Championships this May.

Pulling away from the dock to a powerful start, the eight rowers and one coxswain, buoyed by excitement and determination, maintained their lead in a close race, surging forward in the climactic final meters to claim a wellearned national title for Prep, the second in Crew history. This year’s Freshman triumph marks Prep’s first ever national title in an eight-oared shell; a four-oared victory came in 2013 during the tenure of founding head coach Alex Canale, ’05.

The “Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) has been the principal source of rules and procedures governing high school rowing…High school athletics does not allow sporting events to be held which decide national champions. This regatta, nevertheless, is informally recognized by the rowing community as a national championship,” according to the SRAA website. The first regatta occurred in 1935, and the event has been held annually since.

Going into the Grand Final, “We got on the boat, nerves flying, because we weren’t sure how good the other teams were, if they were holding back in previous races,” team member Dmitri Sobolev, ’27, recalled.

He was joined onboard by teammates Ronan Finnegan, ’27; Eric Farrell, ’27; Kaden Kashlan, ’27; Michael McCall, ’27; Matias De Rosa, ’27; Leandro Valentiner, ’27; and Emory Nam, ’27, with Mahir Jariwala, ’27 as coxswain. Because the rowers sit facing the stern while racing, Sobolev recalled the morale boost of seeing the other boats trailing behind them as they finished that day.

“The first reaction I had was just: ugh! I was just exhausted! Everyone else was celebrating, and I was just trying to get my breaths in,” he said. “But then after that, we started splashing water. It was ecstatic! Then we got back on the dock. We all ran up to hug Coach McKenna. And then later on, when the docks had cleared a bit, we got our coxswain, and we just threw him in the water. We did a giant swing. We were all cheering the whole time! It was just a great day.”

Freshman Coach John McKenna arrived at Prep five years ago, along with Head Coach Felix DeCarvalho and Varsity Assistant Coach Kevin Lowry. Under their tenure,with the support of five other coaches across all levels, the Crew program at Prep has continued to flourish, now hosting 50+ young athletes.

The national champion freshman 8+ crew: coxswain Mahir Jariwala, ’27; Ronan Finnegan, ’27; Eric Farrell, ’27; Kaden Kashlan,’27; Dmitri Sobolev,’ 27; Michael McCall, ’27; Matias De Rosa, ’27; Leandro Valentiner, ’27; and Emory Nam, ’27

“The SRAA championships are bringing power-teams that have qualified from their State Championships,” McKenna explained. “So for us to get invited, we would have to come in the top-three in our State Championships. The freshmen came second to a Montclair crew [this year].”

They thus set the stage for the 2024 National Championships in May.

“In the last five years, a short time, it’s great to see the Varsity already winning a State Championship and the Freshmen bringing home a National Title. The team is still growing, and this is just the start to the pathway to success,” McKenna said.

In 2023, Prep’s Varsity 8, Novice 8, and Freshman 8 boats earned State Championship titles. This year, the whole team also boasted strong performances at the USRowing Mid-Atlantic Regional Regatta, with Men’s Varsity 2earning silver and bronze medals and the Novice 8+ boat taking home a gold medal.

With six out of eight entries making the finals in that competition and three boats qualifying for Youth Nationals, these results marked the best finishes in the program’s history.

“We’d been wanting to win ever since we placed second at Stotesbury,” Sobolev said. “We really wanted to just win a national championship this year.”

Earlier in May, the Freshman boat claimed a Silver Medal in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the largest high school regatta in the world, behind Saint Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia, “a powerhouse in the country for rowing,” McKenna added.

Prep’s ultimate success at the SRAA Championship was made even more meaningful as a head-to-head triumph over longtime rival, Montclair High School, who took bronze.

“After they beat us at States, they were looking to solidify that,” Soboloev said. “And then we beat them at Stotesbury. They were looking for revenge, and when we beat them again at Nationals, it was really exciting.”

The Freshman boat’s victory marks the conclusion of months of rigorous work.

“What makes this team special is the camaraderie that is formed by the whole team. Starting from day one, the freshmen are practicing right alongside the Varsity, who act as true leaders,” McKenna said.

At the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the Freshman 8+ finished second to longtime powerhouse Saint Joseph’s Prep. Montclair, who had beaten the Marauders to the gold at the state championships, placed third. Prep and Montclair would clash again at nationals, with Prep taking the gold.

COVER STORY

“It’s six days a week of practice throughout the whole year,” Sobolev added. “During the fall and the spring, it’s trying to get as much water time as possible because water time is crucial. Maybe once a week, or whenever we have inclement weather, we’d be in the Erg Room, which is good just to stay consistent and get a recording of how well you do.”

The Crew Team’s state-of-the-art Erg Room in the basement of Prep’s Mulry Hall boasts multiple rowing machines for on-land training and becomes a hub for the entire team throughout the school year.

“They were training, putting in extra workouts in the springtime, sometimes coming in before school to do a workout, going all through the school day, and then going back out onto the lake in the afternoons, which was great,” McKenna said.

“The atmosphere around the team can be quite competitive around boat selection time, but the guys form strong bonds,” he continued. “They know that everyone is putting in the same hard work, day in and day out, because at the end of the day, they are a crew of one. It’s a great atmosphere of everyone helping and supporting one another. It’s probably the reason that most of the top rowing schools in the nation are Jesuit schools! That’s what makes rowing a special sport here at Prep.”

Sobolev agreed. “There are two main aspects I like about Crew. First, it’s the team aspect. Everyone is working together with the same goal, and you get this great bond between all the guys in the boat,” he said. “And the other thing I like is this feeling once you’ve finished a race. You’re done with this physical effort. And if you’ve won that race, it’s just one of the most rewarding feelings.”

Beyond training and competing, the entire team also took plenty of opportunities to bond this year, including a team barbecue and participating in the Ironman Erg Classic rowing machine competition hosted by Don Bosco in Ramsey, New Jersey. In December, Prep’s Crew also attended a special preview screening of the film The Boys in the Boat, detailing the underdog Olympic victory of the United States rowing team in 1936.

“Before [the movie], they played our promotional video, which just got released. So everyone was excited to see that,” Sobolev said, recalling the team’s passion at seeing themselves on the big screen that day.

“Not many kids get to begin rowing until freshman year of high school,” McKenna said. “Our number one job as freshman coaches is making sure that freshmen love the sport so that they can carry on the next three years.”

Prior to high school, Prep itself hosts “learn to row” camps at their facilities in Ridgefield, New Jersey, where Sobolev himself first got started prior to attending Prep as a student. “Crew is just one of those sports you don’t think about at first when joining Prep, but once you do it, the mental strength you develop, the physical strength you develop, it’s a rewarding result of all the hard effort you put in,” he said.

And he, too, hopes to continue growing along with the program as an upperclassman.

“I’m just hoping we can replicate the success we had as a freshman team in Varsity. For myself, I’m hoping to reach the 1V boat, which is the top boat, hopefully by the end of my sophomore year and then represent the team at our best levels,” he said.

“Our ultimate goal will be to have the team ready to compete amongst the powerhouses in the sport across the pond at the Royal Henley Regatta in England,” McKenna added. “We hope to be there in 2027!”

“To be able to accomplish that and reach there would just be crazy,” Sobolev agreed.

This October, Prep Crew will host their inaugural Golf Outing, welcoming alumni, current rowers, and parents for a day in support of the rowing program. Learn more at birdease.com/spprowing.

ABOVE: Occupying the Mulry Hall basement that was once a student locker room, the Erg Room is the on-campus hub of the rowing program. Success on the water begins here, below ground.

RIGHT: With raised oars, the Freshman 8+ celebrated their silver medal at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in mid-May.

Fr. John Mullin, S.J., a 2022 Legends of Prep honoree, spent 31 of the past 54 years at Grand & Warren in roles ranging from science teacher to campus minister to guidance counselor (not to mention superior of the Jesuit community, resident opera buff, and reliable pastoral presence). As Fr. Mullin begins his well-earned retirement, Prep’s Director of Guidance and College Counseling, Joe Giglio, ’87, P’27, shares an appreciation of a dear friend, colleague, and mentor.

Not Addio, but Arrivederci

by Joe Giglio,

’87, P’27

When I think of the mission of Saint Peter’s Prep I can’t think of a person who has embodied it more over the course of a long career than my dear friend and Prep Legend, Fr. John Mullin, S.J.

Fr. Mullin has been a major part of my life since I first stepped through the Burke Hall (now MSC) doors in September of 1983. For the last 13 years, since joining the Prep faculty as Director of Guidance & College Counseling, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Fr. Mullin, my colleague and mentor. During his time at Grand & Warren, John has been ever-present to our students, and to the community of adults. He has always had a twinkle in his eye; he is a force for positivity, love, and deep faith. This spring, after a long career at Prep, Fr. Mullin retired to the Jesuit Community at Murray Weigel Hall at Fordham University.

I think of the thousands of young men whose lives were made better, whose Prep experience was enhanced by John Mullin. As a guidance counselor who worked with 9th and 10th graders, he relished his role of welcoming these youngsters to Prep. Fr. Mullin has a quality that is rare and so special: he makes every person that he speaks with feel special and important. He stops and takes the time to see you, engage you, look you in the eye, hold your hand, and pull you in. As my classmate, Prep trustee Bill Price, ’87, puts it, he is “a unique builder of communities, wherever he goes. He is a warm, humorous and compassionate man, and he brings people together in a quiet and unassuming way.”

Year after year, day after day, colleagues passing his office door could count on John calling them in and introducing them to the young man he was speaking with at the moment. This is probably how I’ve met most of the freshman class over the years, with a personal VIP introduction from Fr. John Mullin. What a great moment each and every time, a wonderful reminder of why we are here in the first place: it’s the kids, of course!

Fr. Mullin in 2013.

His message has always been undeniably affirming and loving to each and every person. A true pastor, a shepherd, and like a good Jesuit, taking our Lord’s message to heart and living it. “Padre, as we called him, has a special way of appreciating each person’s special talents or situation, and persuading them to join him,” Bill Price said. “He understands each individual’s strengths or struggles.”

From his arrival in 1970 to his first departure in 1986, John Mullin played a key role in shaping the modern Prep, alongside fellow Legends Fr. Joe Parkes, Fr. John Browning, Fr. Ned Coughlin, Brother Joe Wuss, Fr. Ray Balduf and Fr. Tony Azzarto. The modern post-Vatican II retreat program, Emmaus, guidance classes, campus ministry—Fr. Mullin helped create and shape all of it. Ned Coughlin started the Emmaus retreat program, but it was John who set it on the road to becoming the iconic retreat for Prep students for many decades. In recalling those days I must also remember John’s dear friend, Brother Tom Garvey, who died suddenly at Christmastime in 1985, who was a key collaborator in all that good work. Those efforts in creating retreats and developing ways to love and affirm the young men of Saint Peter’s Prep continue to shape the spiritual growth of our students today.

I made my own Emmaus retreat with Fr. Mullin my junior year (1986), and it was at the end of that year that he left Prep to lead the Campus Ministry program at Saint Peter’s College. He would bring the life-changing power of the Emmaus experience with him across town, and then onward to the Bronx in his next assignment at Fordham University. It was there at Rose Hill, in my first week working at Fordham in 1992, that I ran into a familiar face walking across the quad. Fr. Mullin immediately greeted me as a long lost brother, and before long he had drafted me into volunteering with Fordham’s fledgling Emmaus program.

After an additional stop at Xavier parish in Manhattan, Fr. Mullin came back to Grand and Warren in the fall of 2003, joining the guidance department where he would serve until his retirement. His additional roles included rector to the Jesuit community and frequent pastoral minister for us all, saying mass, administering sacraments, and spearheading the “Sunshine Club,”which provides gifts to members of the Prep employee community who have experienced a recent major life event. As a faculty and staff colleague, in guidance, in campus ministry, in the Jesuit community, John has been a loving and supportive friend and pastor to many of us—not only in celebrating the happy milestones but also holding us up in the times of loss. He has meant so much to me in my own life, celebrating my marriage to my wife Nora and acting as a “Jesuit grandpa figure” to my son Dylan, ’27.

And then there is the Saint Peter’s Performing Arts Club, or SPPAC. Founding and shepherding the club was a labor of love for this lifelong opera lover and patron of the performing arts. For more than a decade, John regularly led groups of students to attend a variety of arts performances, including the opera, the ballet, the symphony, modern dance and Broadway. By encouraging students—most especially in freshman year—to attend a performance they may have never considered otherwise, John undoubtedly opened the cultural horizons of hundreds of Prep men.

Of course, all these gifts to the Prep community have been above and beyond John’s outstanding work as a counselor. To students and colleagues alike, he has been a guiding light and a model for good counseling. The atmosphere and community he created in

Fr. Mullin’s legacy at Grand & Warren includes extensive collaboration with fellow legendary Jesuits who have left their mark at Prep. LEFT: Fr. Mullin with Fr. John Browning, S.J., ’46 during the 1979 Walkathon. ABOVE: Fr. Joe Parkes, S.J., ’62, Fr. Ned Coughlin, S.J., and Fr. Mullin on the altar during the 1979-80 school year. 1972

guidance class is one that we always strive to emulate. Fr. Mullin has always made it obvious to his counselees that he is there for them. Over the last 13 years as it has been my privilege to be his supervisor, John always demonstrated openness to growth, a willingness to try new approaches, utilize technology and keep current on the myriad of challenges that adolescent boys experience in our increasingly complex world. I echo the sentiments of Bill Price once more: “He has always had a sense of what people needed—a big hug and support, or a gentle push and firm counsel. I see in him the Jesuit qualities and beliefs that I will always admire.”

The love our students and alumni have for Fr. Mullin is always evident as well. Whether on an SPPAC trip, or meeting in a Christian Life Community (CLC) or Interfaith Life Community (ILC), seeing our guys smile and bask in the simple joy of John’s presence has been a delight. As he returned to campus at the end of May to quietly say goodbye to the boys, there were a lot of hugs, and a few tears (my own included).

Another Prep legend, Jack Raslowsky, ’79—who brought Fr. Mullin back to Prep just at the end of his storied tenure as Prep’s first lay principal—is fond of saying that the current Prep faculty stands on the shoulders of giants. There is no question that Fr. John Mullin is one of those titans. His influence on our school might seem quiet, but it’s profound. It’s hard to imagine this place without him!

As John “retires” to Murray Weigel Hall on the campus of Fordham University, I know I speak for so many here at Prep in asserting that we say not “addio” but “arrivederci”...Let’s see each other again! He will always have a home here at Grand & Warren, and numerous friends will no doubt be coaxing him to come visit. I am so grateful that he has graced my life since we first met in 1983, and I know so many others who feel the same way!

Prep’s faculty and staff had the opportunity to wish Fr. Mullin a happy retirement during an end-of-year celebration in June. BELOW: Fr. Mullin with his most recent colleagues in Campus Ministry (l. to r.) Maureen Hess, P’17,’19; Susan Woolever, Ph.D., and Keith Cummings, ’10 RIGHT: The author, Joe Giglio, ’87, P’27, shared a moment with Fr. Mullin after introducing him during the celebration.

Five students, with the support of a legendary Prep Jesuit, established the Ebony Club during the 1973-74 school year. Half a century later, the trailblazer for Prep’s numerous student cultural organizations remains focused on forming connections among its members, within the broader Prep community, and with the world beyond Grand & Warren.

A 50-Year Foundation of Unity

Prep’s oldest cultural organization, the Ebony Club, celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary during the 2023-24 school year by organizing a variety of events to spread awareness and build community—goals that have informed its tenure at Grand & Warren since its inception.

According to its entry in the 2024 yearbook, the Ebony Club “provides a foundation of unity among the students of color, particularly those with ancestry from the African diaspora, at St. Peter’s Prep through empowerment, education, and cultural enlightenment. It provides an opportunity for students of all races and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate Black culture, lifestyle, and history.”

Among this year’s initiatives were a Diaspora Breakfast, held in conjunction with the Spanish Club and Diversity Board, inviting guests to learn about and try an array of dishes representing the cultures of African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latin Americans, and Africans; a Black History Month “PM in the AM” (Prep Men in the Morning) assembly welcoming alumni speakers and former Olympic track medalist Dr. John Carlos, well-known for displaying the Black Power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith at the 1968 Summer Olympics; dressdown days raising funds for local charities; opportunities for exchange with other schools, both at the Ebony Club’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. and beyond; and more.

Throughout Black History Month, representatives of the Club also led the entire Prep community in daily prayer.

“The Ebony Club is really more like a meeting place, if that makes sense,” current member Amanuel Asnake, ’26, explained. “My freshman year, I didn’t really know anyone at Prep… and nobody from my school came to Prep. Joining the Ebony Club was my first step to finding my friend group.”

by Matthew Holowienka,

with Jim Horan,’70

“I feel like everyone has a voice, and when I come to the meetings, everyone has boundless energy. And everyone’s willing to participate,” member Elijah Jones, ’25 agreed. “So, I feel like those are really my brothers here that are in the club, and I feel like anyone would be happy to join our community.”

That amplification and empowerment of student voices has defined the club’s continued success and growth over the past 50 years, and the tradition continues with the support of current co-moderators Shaina Turner-Franklin of the Theology Department and Anthony Rodriguez of the Guidance & College Counseling Department.

“I think our boys are not afraid to use their voice,” Rodriguez said. “If something does happen, and if it immediately affects the club, they will speak up, whether it’s in front of their own peers or in front of the administration...they want their voices and sentiments and their feelings heard.”

“I think it’s awesome that Prep has been a place for them to practice their voice in that way and to see substantial change from having used their voices,” TurnerFranklin added. “I hope that for the next 50, 150, 200 years that the Ebony Club will always be the kind of place for that practice and that honing…to be ready to go out into the world.”

According to an entry recognizing the Ebony Club’s founding, published in the 1974 Petrean, “the purpose of this club is to ‘get the students more interested and active in the school and to amend race relations between the students.’ This club helps growth into self awareness and [awareness] of others’ needs.”

Ron Allen, ’75, an early member of the club, recalled, “Through HAP [Prep’s summer Higher Achievement Program for rising eighth graders], many of us arrived as freshmen with at least a handful of friends from that previous summer.”

’11,

The Ebony Club as featured in the 1974 Petrean.

HAP’s director, Fr. John Browning, S.J., ’46, was a driving force, providing both logistical and organizational support during the club’s origins.

“But as upperclassmen a few years later, the Ebony Club provided the additional comfort of just being together at various times with other Black students,”

Allen added. “It was a special part of the Prep experience.”

In March 2024, Allen “semi-retired” from NBC News, following an award-winning career as a top correspondent for the three major television networks.

“Our Ebony Club activities were a vehicle through which we could encourage more kids of color to consider Prep as their high school option,” he continued. “We wanted them to see Prep as welcoming, and as such, we were creating an important legacy.”

He gave profound credit to Michael Lewis, ’74 and the late Robert McIntyre, ’74 for being “leaders as founders of the Club.” Another influential early supporter, he said, was Joel Kelly, ’71, a Prep studentathlete who served as a HAP tutor and later became a Prep faculty member.

“In those early days, we only numbered about a dozen or so members,” Allen said. “But we had a focus, and we had goals. And it was a rewarding experience to be part of it from the beginning.”

One such goal was to raise funds in support of Prep’s tuition assistance program, with a particular focus on helping qualified Black students afford the school’s tuition.

Allen himself was pictured in the Jersey Journal in 1974 alongside Michael Lewis, ’74, Robert McIntyre, ’74, Ray Oquendo, ’75, and the late Anthony Powell, ’75 presenting a check to then-President James Fischer, S.J., in the amount of $2,750—approximately an astounding $17,495 when adjusted for inflation.

“We knew that affordability often was a factor when Black students were applying to Prep,” Allen said, “and our events, while very social in their nature, were important sources of scholarship funds, especially our dances, held in the Burke Hall cafeteria with a DJ.”

And making a tangible impact on Prep through social, community-driven events remains central in the Ebony Club in 2024.

“The Diaspora Breakfast was my favorite...since we had so many people participate, even those who weren’t in the club…we really got together as a community to try different foods of different backgrounds,” Elijah Jones, ’25 said.

“It’s so important to share food…and just be in company that way. I think it decreases the power dynamic, especially between adults and students in the learning community in a way that makes the Ebony Club special,” Turner-Franklin agreed. “So anytime we get to eat together or feed the community is important.”

The breakfast, which welcomed hundreds of students, faculty, and staff, occurred in conjunction with the Ebony Club’s Black History Month celebrations. Later that February, the club organized a special PM in the AM assembly featuring Olympic medalist, civil rights activist, former track and field athlete, and USA Track & Field Hall of Fame member Dr. John Carlos. He was joined by two Prep alumni, Clark Burnett, ’15, former Ebony Club president, film director, and Yale graduate, and Brandon Wimbush, ’15, former Prep and Notre Dame quarterback and co-founder of the company MOGL. Throughout the presentation the trio discussed their lives, careers, and achievements.

In this 1974 photo, then-Prep President James Fischer, S.J. accepted the proceeds of an early Ebony Club fundraiser from (l. to r.) Ray Oquendo, ’75, Michael Lewis, ’74, Anthony Powell, ’75, Bob McIntyre, ’74, and Ron Allen, ’75. The photo appeared in the Jersey Journal at the time, and again in Prep Magazine in 1986!

ABOVE: Ebony Club members hosted members of Saint Dominic Academy’s African-American Appreciation Club this past winter. RIGHT: The Ebony Club co-hosted a Diaspora Breakfast with the Diversity Board and the Spanish Club.

FEATURE

“I knew that for the 50th year, I wanted to get a big person to speak at the school,” explained Charles Mays III, ’25, who says he has never missed an Ebony Club meeting since his freshman year. He was the student to make the invitation to Dr. Carlos. Mays’s grandfather, the late Charles Mays Sr., who served six years on the city council in Jersey City and two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, was Carlos’s teammate (as a long jumper) at the 1968 Olympics.

“I’m not trying to be a leader as much as I’m trying to just set examples,” Carlos said in his opening words that day, speaking of how he strove to inspire others to be daring enough to “go beyond the realms of society.”

From her perspective as a faculty member, Turner-Franklin noted: “I think it’s so important just to have that space in your school— whether it’s a school like Prep, where Black students may be in the minority, or it’s an HBCU [Historically Black College or University]—where you can feel at home, where you can be vulnerable and ask for help, where you can be celebrated for your academic and non-academic successes, where you can be challenged, where you can be exposed to new ways of being, where you can be affirmed in other ways of being.”

She called the Ebony Club a “home base,” where students of all backgrounds can come together to learn allyship, what it really means to be in community, and how to use their own privilege in practical, day-to-day ways.

“I love being in the Ebony Club because I get to meet with people who are similar to me, and we get to speak about our experiences and how we’d like to improve Prep for not just Black people, but everybody,” Mays added.

The club’s activities extend far beyond Grand & Warren. In March, more than 30 members embarked on an annual trip to Washington, D.C., which included visits to historically Black colleges and universities.

“We stopped at Morgan State as our first college, and we were led by Mason Simmons, who graduated last year. He did a fabulous job of showing the boys the campus,” Mr. Rodriguez said. Club member Brendan Wadley, ’24 was able to help organize an additional visit to Howard University, where another familiar face, Bryce Anderson, ’23, served as the group’s tour guide.

benefactors who give specifically to the Ebony Club year after year and let them know that their dollars are gratefully appreciated and going to work in meaningful ways,” Turner-Franklin said. “Year after year, for instance, we see students going to Howard, and we see students going to their summer programs. And we have, I think, two or three alumni at Morgan State.”

Alumni benefactors, along with the club’s own fundraising efforts, have offset costs for on-campus activities and also enabled students to go on the trip to the capital each year. On this year’s trip, club members also visited fellow Jesuit institution Gonzaga College High School and connected with Onyx Inc., Gonzaga’s Black Student Union, to exchange ideas and experiences.

“I got to see that, even though we’re not in the same state or we’re not near each other, all Jesuit schools really have the same core belief of being a man for others,” Asnake said.

At the end of 2023, Ebony Club members hosted a similar exchange at Prep with representatives of the African-American Appreciation Club at the all-girls’ Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City.

“One point that I think is really underrated about the Ebony Club [is that] all the teachers who are involved with the club...treat you almost like you’re their son,” Asnake added.

As is true for so many aspects of the “good company” at Saint Peter’s Prep, the relationship between student and faculty for mutual growth proves paramount.

“I think that we would be remiss if we didn’t shout out our generous

“One of the things that I selfishly get from Ebony Club is just motivation as a Black teacher to keep going, to keep trying hard, to just give everything that I have and more because I think in the Ebony Club, we see our students in a way that they don’t always show others,” TurnerFranklin said.

“One of the most rewarding things, I think, from the grueling work of moderating is, when the time comes, they’re ready,” she concluded. “And we step back and watch them.”

Brandon Wimbush, ’15, Dr. John Carlos, and Clark Burnett, ’15 spoke during a Black History Month assembly hosted by the Ebony Club.

Recent Prep graduate Mason Simmons, ’23 served as tour guide when the club visited Morgan State University.

PHOTO FILE:

Aiming Higher

This summer marked the 60th anniversary of Prep’s Higher Achievement Program. Over the decades, HAP has launched thousands of Prep careers—not to mention thousands of additional academic and professional success stories even for participants who never attended Prep for high school—by introducing rising eighth graders to the opportunities for academic, personal, and spiritual growth that a Jesuit high school can offer.

HAP debuted at Prep in the summer of 1964 as part of a provincial initiative to improve outreach to underserved communities. Along with similar programs at Regis and at Brooklyn Prep (which would close in 1972) that debuted that same year, it would become a model for summer programs at other Jesuit institutions.

In 2002, Bill Pickett, ’49, P’00, who had served as HAP’s first director when he was a Jesuit priest in the 1960s, recalled, “in the summer of 1964, we had a dream: a dream of a HAP that would last, a dream of a HAP that would grow, a dream of a HAP that would help a lot of young men get a better education.” In an interview with the Catholic Advocate during that first summer, the then-Fr. Pickett, S.J. explained what would become the magic of HAP: “[W]e try to discover each boy’s needs and interests and develop his work along those lines. The boys know what they need and we are here to give it to them.”

What began as a pilot program for 25 young men from Jersey City now serves well over 200 students each summer—this year’s group of 261 (pictured above right) is the largest group since 2019! By the mid-1990s, the program’s growth made room for residents of communities throughout Hudson County, and it now serves boys from throughout the region. The featured image is a July 1964 clipping from the Jersey Journal. Along with countless HAP memories documented over 60 years, the clipping is part of the extensive archive maintained with care by HAP’s directors, including Prep Legend John Browning, S.J., ’46, and now his successor in the role, fellow Prep Legend John Irvine, ’83, P’11.

SPORTS

indoor track//To sustain dominance, a program needs contributions from every team member. That is certainly the case for Prep’s indoor track team, with individuals and relay teams making their mark at every meet. That allowed the Marauders to retain their Hudson County Relay Championship, as well as the Hudson County and Jersey City Titles. At the state level, the team finished second in the NJSIAA Non-Public A meet and ended the season as the #5 program in New Jersey.

Highlights at the Non-Public A meet included wins for Corey Greenfield, ’25 in the 55m hurdles and Del Lindsay, ’24 in the 400m, while Tyler Bell, ’26 took third in the high jump. Additionally, the team of Nelson Lindsay, ’24, Greenfield, Jaycen Peterson, ’25 and Del Lindsay won the 4x100m relay at the Meet of Champions and finished #4 in the US at Nationals.

wrestling//Despite having a relatively young team, Coach Anthony Verdi, ’95 guided his squad to an impressive18-5 record, a state ranking of #3 and a national ranking of #25. The Marauders also kept hold of their District 21 and Hudson County Titles.

Max Nevlin, ’25 (32-11) was a Region 6 and District 21 champion, and he finished in fifth place at the State Championships. Laudan Henry, ’26 (27-11) was a District 21 champion and placed sixth at the State Championships. Anthony Verdi, ’26 (31-14) was a Region 6 and District 21 champ and placed seventh at the State Championships.

fencing//

The team did its part to maintain Prep’s reputation as one of the stronger programs fencing in the state, going 12-2 while placing sixth in the State Championships.

With regular season victories over Millburn (15-12), Columbia (15-12) and Newark Academy (14-13), Prep was poised for a run in the District 4 playoffs and the NJSIAA Tournament. The Marauders took second in the Districts and dropped a hard-fought match to Montclair (12-15) in the State quarterfinals.

Brendan Wadley, ’24 (Foil), Elisha Wasden, ’25 (Foil), Kyle Alave, ’27 (Saber), Sebastian Bonomo, ’24 (Foil), Caleb Greenfield, ’27 (Epee) and Maxwell Huang, ’25 (Saber) had stellar performances at the NJSIAA match.

Caedyn Ricciardi, ’25 (23-1) had an amazing season as a NJ State, Region 6, and District 21 Champion. He was ranked #3 nationally for his weight class.

Elisha Wasden took first place in foil at the District 4 Playoffs.

basketball// Head Coach Alex Mirabel and his assistants were named the Hudson County Staff of the Year by the NJ Coaches’ Association. That award was welldeserved as Prep compiled a 26-3 record and once again proved the program belongs in the conversation for the best in the state. Prep defeated Hudson Catholic (ranked #6) twice, Ramapo (ranked #5), Bergen Catholic (ranked #7) and Rutgers Prep (ranked #8). The team won the Governors’ Challenge (Christmas Tournament), retained its Hudson County Championship, advanced to the State Sectional Finals and finished as the #4 ranked team in New Jersey.

A pair of buzzer-beaters by sophomore Richie Rosa—vs. Hudson in January and vs. Bergen in the state playoffs— added a dose of Prep Magic. The former even made the ESPN top ten! See both at spprep.org/Rosa (or scan at

swimming// The Prep swim team put together another stellar winter, going 8-0 in the regular season, and beating four state-ranked teams along the way. The Marauders kept a stronghold on their county title and finished ranked #9 in New Jersey.

Prep sent an impressive six swimmers – Will Heinze, ’25, Isaac Rivers, ’26, Thomas Gaughan, ’24, Fabio Yepez, ’24 Francis Prekop, ’24 and Jonah Briggs, ’26 – to the Meet of Champions.

Francis Prekop put his name on four individual school records (50m, 100m and 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke). He also joined Rivers, Briggs and Gaughan in setting a new school record in the 200m medley relay.

hockey// Highlights of a challenging campaign included wins over Jesuit rival Xavier, and over Gill St. Bernards in the NJSIAA play-in round. Senior Thomas Apelizan and junior Brandon Larraga earned all-conference honorable mention. The team looks to the future with incoming head coach Thomas Keough.

bowling//The keglers defeated Bayonne twice at the end of the season to secure first place in the Hudson County South Division. Prep finished the season 14-2 and had two bowlers—Andrew Diaz, ’24 and Xavier Muniz, ’26—qualify for the State Individual Tournament.

Junior forward Brandon Larraga (#18) led the team in scoring (5G, 2A).

Senior Nico Peña was a First Team All-County and Third Team All-State selection.

Senior Francis Prekop was named All-State First Team in the 100m freestyle. He will continue swimming at Lehigh University.

right)!

tennis// The Prep tennis team capped off another outstanding season by successfully defending their Division and County championships. The Marauders also won the HCIAL Individual Tournament in First and Third Singles as well as First and Second Doubles.

Senior Eric Saunders and juniors Jean Oh, Kyle Oh, and Hernan Gamble earned First Team All-County recognition, while junior Yash Khanna was selected Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

baseball// The team opened the season with a trip to St. Louis to compete in a Jesuit tournament. The Marauders returned to Jersey and amassed a final record of 17-9, which included going 11-1 in league play. The team’s attempt at a third straight county championship fell short in the final game.

Ray Stein, Logan Chi and Gianluca Logan earned First Team AllLeague accolades.

Senior Joe Haines was named the Hudson County Player of the Year. Haines also joined the exclusive group of players to reach 100 career hits at Prep.

lacrosse//Prep’s lacrosse team put together a very solid season finishing with a record of 9-9 and a #10 Non-Public A ranking in the state. The wins included victories over Columbia (7-5), Madison (11-5), MKA (8-4), Blair Academy (10-7) and division rival Delaware Valley (18-2). The team finished in second place in the Bianchi Division. Seniors John Kearns and Henry Walker, and juniors Will Kohl and Aneel Ward, were named to the First Team All Division. Kearns will continue playing next year at the University of Scranton.

With 631 career saves, senior goaltender Henry Walker finished as Prep’s all-time leader.

Brothers Jean and Kyle Oh captured the County title in First Doubles.

outdoor track// With consistent success comes increased pressure. The Prep track program has built a winning culture and each member of the team feels the need to contribute. That winning attitude enabled the Marauders put together another impressive outdoor season, as Prep kept its stronghold on the Jersey City, South Hudson, Hudson County and Hudson County Relay Championships. Beyond the team success, several individual performances stood out. Corey Greenfield, ’25 won two NJSIAA NonPublic A State Championships (110m hurdles and 400m hurdles), and placed fifth in both events at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

Other individual highlights at the Non-Public A meet came from Tommy O’Brien, ’25 (fourth in the 3200m), Del Lindsay, ’24 (fourth in the 400m), and Noah Willingham, ’24 (second in the long jump and third in the 110m hurdles), while three of Prep’s relay teams finished in their respective top fives. These included a second place for the 4x400m of Nelson Lindsay, ’24, Corey Greenfield, Chad Stone, ’26 and Del Lindsay; a third for the 4x800m of Danny Kramer, ’24, Lucas Hernandez, ’25, Aiden Dunn, ’26, and Abraham Went, ’25; and a fourth for the 4x100m of Neko Luzzi-Liggins, ’26, Nelson Lindsay, Isaiah Polanco, ’24, and Andres Perez, ’25.

At the Meet of Champions, in addition to Greenfield’s pair of fifth place finishes, Tommy O’Brien took eighth in the 1600m, while the 4x400m relay (N. Lindsay, Greenfield, Darryl Coleman, ’25, D.Lindsay) captured fourth.

volleyball//Despite struggling through a difficult 4-18 season, Prep’s volleyball players maintained great morale and outstanding sportsmanship. In an early-season tournament, Prep won silver—its best tournament result in several years. Late in the season, the team pulled out a three-set thriller over Dickinson on Senior Night.

golf//Prep’s golfers finished the spring with a 4-6 record, which included big wins over Don Bosco and Montclair Kimberly Academy. The top contributors were juniors Jack St. Ledger, Zachary Mendoza, and Luca Blake, along with sophomore Joakim Pagcu. Highlights of the season included wins over Riverdale Country Day (19-7, 18-8) and an 8-5 result against Blair Academy.

Jack St. Ledger, ’25 finished his junior season in the top 100 in the state and the top 15 in the Non Public North A Division. He had an average of 37 in match play.

Corey Greenfield, ’25 took home two titles at the NJSIAA Non-Public A Championships.

IN FOCUS:

Bill and Wally Brandt, ’80

by Mike Murcia, ’08

Bill and Wally Brandt, the dynamic duo behind the custom music creative house, We3Kings, can easily trace the beginnings of their successful paths in the music industry back to the West Side section of Jersey City. Growing up on Harrison Avenue, Bill and Wally began their Prep careers in the fall of 1976. Their first day at Prep was a memorable experience that might well resonate with many sets of twins who have entered the halls at Grand and Warren. “Our mother used to love dressing us alike,” recalls Bill. “Of course, on our first day of high school, she sent us to Prep in matching outfits. As soon as we arrived, we noticed a group of upperclassmen standing outside the cafeteria. As a freshman, these guys seem like giants with facial hair! I’ll never forget them seeing us approach in our matching outfits and identical faces…we heard one of them say out loud, “Well, fellas, look what we have here!”

From an early age, the Brandt brothers were deeply passionate about music. Bill pursued a career in engineering within the pharmaceutical industry, while Wally became an architect. Despite their divergent professional paths, their shared love for music was a unifying force in their lives. Their journey into the music industry began when they attended a winter music conference in Florida, where they connected with record label executives seeking new dance music talents, despite their forte being rock music. They successfully secured their first independent record deals with ZYX Music and Strictly Rhythm, both major players in the dance music scene.

Their big break came in 1999 when they were signed by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun of

Atlantic Records. Their band, Seven and the Sun, saw their single, “Walk With Me,” hit #38 on the Billboard Adult Top 40, #27 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 50, and #40 on the Billboard Top 40 Tracks charts. Wally spent time touring across the country with Seven and the Sun while Bill worked on producing the band’s music back home. While recording their album in California, Bill and Wally connected with industry professionals and created the theme song for the Fox Network reality show, The Simple Life, featuring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. This marked the beginning of their prolific career in creating TV theme songs. To date, they have supplied the most themes for Fox TV in the network’s history.

Encouraged by Cliff Downes, an industry leader in the country music scene, the Brandt brothers formed the band Whiskey Falls. Signing with Midas Records, the band achieved two Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs with “Last Train Running” and “Falling Into You.” Their immediate success was recognized in 2008 as Nashville’s Music Row’s “Breakout Band of the Year.” One of Whiskey Falls’ most notable works is “Load Up the Bases,” a song featured in promos for the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies. “Performing ‘Load Up the Bases’ in Atlanta could be tough for me and Wally at times,” said Bill. “We’re Mets fans!”

While touring with Whiskey Falls, Wally not only performed at the Grand Ole Opry, but had the privilege of sharing the stage with legendary artists, such as Alice Cooper, Robby Krieger (of the Doors), Lynrd Skynyrd, and many others. “One of the coolest memories was hearing Skynrd introduce us on stage as

their ‘kid brothers,’” added Wally.

The demanding nature of touring ultimately led Bill and Wally to focus more on writing and composing music for film and TV. Amid their success in creating TV theme songs, the Brandt brothers founded We3Kings and quickly established themselves as a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. We3Kings has composed over 50 theme songs and underscores for major films, documentaries, sports franchises and networks, national advertisers, and television, including all of the music for Lifetime’s most successful TV show, “Dance Moms.” Within the music industry, they’ve composed and produced music for major recording artists, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Bronski Beat, YaKidK of Technotronic, members of Deep Purple, INXS, and many others.

Today, Bill and Wally reside in California, where they continue to manage, record, and produce for We3Kings. With family members still in the Garden State, both brothers often return to Jersey City and make note of all its changes. “We love New Jersey and especially enjoy visiting,” said Bill. “From being on the Gymnastics team to creating the Guitar Club at Prep, we never forget the teachers and friends who impacted us in remarkable ways. Being twin brothers at Prep meant being part of a wonderfully shared experience. The Prep experience blessed us in our formative years and molded us into the men we are today. No matter how far our paths took us, we never forget where it all started, and we look forward to our 45th anniversary as alumni next spring.”

The Brandt brothers, Wally (left) and Bill, with Prep President Michael Gomez, Ed.D., ’91

A Taste of Summer Greens at the Prep Golf Tournament

The 46th Annual Prep Golf Tournament welcomed generations of Prep alumni and their guests to Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield on June 10. This year’s installment of Prep’s longest-running fundraiser offered two shotgun tee-offs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, for 18 holes on the challenging, par-71 course designed by A.W. Tillinghast.

In addition to friendly competition and camaraderie, participants enjoyed meals at the clubhouse and outdoor patio, cigars rolled on-site, access to the club’s outdoor pool, and more. As the day concluded, everyone gathered for a buffet dinner, awards ceremony, and the drawing of the annual Super 50/50, the winner of which took home more than $7,500. With the awards presented, our good company then concluded the day by gathering in the clubhouse to sing renditions of Prep’s alma mater “Pride & Glory” and fight song.

John Alexander secured the overall winner’s trophy, the coveted Wagner Cup, presented in memory of longtime tournament participant Marcel E. Wagner, ’56. The day’s other award recipients included: • Ladies Cup Champion: Anne Magnus • 1st Place Team: Patrick Lee, ’81, Jim Conheeney, Kevin McGrath, ’01, Brian McGrath, ’04 • 2nd Place Team: Patrick Matts, P’20, Owen Matts, ’20, John Alexander, Chris Draegar • 3rd Place Team: Robert Thorburn, P’26, Jack Thorburn, P’21, Peter Breihof, P’26, John Chi, P’26 • Closest to the Pin: John Kunka, ’70 • Longest Drive: Matt Labus, ’89. Special congratulations go to Brian Lauer, ’05 for his hole-in-one on Hole 5!

Regional Reunions Kick Off Down the Shore

The annual Marauders Down the Shore gathering brought together generations of Prep alumni at Bar Anticipation in Belmar. This summer happy hour at Bar A marks the start of another year of regional alumni gatherings (not to mention those back home at Grand & Warren!) The tour continues in October with the New York City regional reunion. Full details on that event, and more to come in the spring, will be shared via Prep’s social media, at spprep.org, and via email. To make sure you don’t miss out, take a moment to update your contact info... scan below or visit spprep.org/AlumniContactUpdate

save the dates...

Here are some upcoming alumni events for your calendar! More details to follow via email, social media, or at spprep.org.

• New York City Regional Happy Hour

Thursday, October 10, 2024

• Jesuit and Alumni Mass of Remembrance

Sunday, November 3, 2024

• Jubilee Reunion Weekend

(Class Years ending in 0 & 5) Fri/Sat, March 28-29, 2025

Share your photos, class notes and other news with us at spprep.org/classnotes or email info@spprep.org!

The ’40s

Lou Parisi, ’44 and his wife Gloria celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on July 2. They are believed to be New Jersey’s longest-married couple! Lou is a 1999 Legends of Prep honoree, in recognition of his 20 years teaching civics, English, and Latin at Grand & Warren. Together, they have four children (including Lou Parisi Jr., ’70), 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Their milestone anniversary even made the front page of the Howell (NJ) Times...check it out at spprep.org/Parisi!

The ’50s

Eugene Graziano, ’52 continues to work two days per week in a diet center, following a 50-year career in OB-GYN medicine.

Dan Robeson, ’54, prior to his passing in June, wrote to inform us that he had retired following 14 years as town historian in Middlesex, New York. Dan also previously coached football at Marcus Whitman High School in nearby Rushville.

Roger LaGratta, ’59 and his wife Connie spend their winters in Pelican Landing, Bonita Springs, Florida.

The ’60s

Stu McGregor, ’62 and Bob Ryan, ’62, members of the Prep Hall of Fame 1961-62 basketball team, recently caught up at Stu’s Tuxedo Park, NY, summer home. Bob, a professional engineer, founder, President/CEO, and Chairman of the Board recently turned over the reins of his very successful engineering firm, Walker US Inc., to his daughter but continues working as a force in the electrical power industry. Stu, a retired attorney, has recently published his third book, a must-read available on Amazon, asking the question if social history today has changed from the Gilded Age.

The ’70s

Sig Grudsinski, ’73 checked in from a Commemorative Air Force event at Hancock Airport in Syracuse, New York, in June. “Had a great time watching the old warbirds flying,” he writes.

Research by Joe Murray, ’73 into New Jersey’s 1937 gubernatorial election led to published articles in New Jersey Studies, the academic journal published jointly by the New Jersey Historical Commission, Rutgers University Libraries, and Monmouth University. “The Real ‘Stolen Election’: Frank Hague and New Jersey’s 1937 Race for Governor” features in the Winter 2023 edition with a supplemental Research Note appearing in the Journal’s Summer 2024 edition.

Joe has also received media industry recognition with a ProMax Asia Gold Award for Best Voice Over Performance 2023; and for narrating a 2024 Houston International Film Festival Gold Remi Award-winning nature and wildlife documentary, Enduring Space and Time:Taiwan’s South Penghu Marine National Park.

Ralph Quaglia, ’73 retired five years ago and lives in Lewes, Delaware. He and his wife Nancy recently took a 12-day trip to England, Scotland, and Wales. They look forward to their youngest son’s wedding in October 2025. This July, Ralph scored his first ever hole-in-one at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Course in Manolia, Delaware. He notes that the 137-yard 7-iron shot was “Only 40 years in the making!”

The ’80s

Members of the Class of ’81 gathered in Point Pleasant on July 21, to celebrate the life of their classmate, Drew Mooney, who died suddenly in May. Drew’s Prep brothers and friends sailed out on the water to share stories and reaffirm their bonds of fellowship.

Philip Duvalsaint, ’86 was appointed in 2022 by then-President of the Florida Bar, Gary Lesser, to serve on the Media and Communications Law Committee. This esteemed committee plays a crucial role in shaping the public image of the legal profession and fostering positive relationships with the media. “I am honored to contribute my expertise and dedication to the field in this capacity,” Philip wrote. He has also been selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of Who’s Who in America. “I am grateful for the education and support I received at Saint Peter’s Prep, which has played a significant role in my success,” he added. “I am proud to be a part of the Prep community and hope that my accomplishments will inspire future generations of Prep students.”

The ’90s

Lt. Col. Stephen Trynosky, ’94, his wife Jill, and sons Stephen and Robert are currently living in Maryland. Steve is on military leave from his civilian job as an attorney with the Department of Homeland Security and is on active duty as a Practitioner-in-Residence in the National Security Studies Program at George Washington University. He recently

graduated with an MSS degree from the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. after a deployment as CO of the 993 Medical Detachment, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

The ’00s

Col. Danny Stupinski, USAF, ’96, relinquished command of the Defense Contract Management Agency, Twin Cities command, on June 25, 2024, and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. On July 9th, 2024, he subsequently assumed command of the Defense Contract Management Agency’s Boeing Seattle command.

Jude Anthony Tiscornia, ’01 was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court, Criminal Division, for Hudson County, following confirmation by the New Jersey Senate in June. He had previously served as an administrative law judge since 2016.

Pat O’Keefe, ’03 invites any rising college juniors looking for an internship in finance to contact him. “Fidelity Investments has a great program, often leading to employment post-graduation,” Pat writes. He can be reached at Patrick.O’Keefe@fmr.com

Jim Coe, ’04, a member of the faculty at Newark Academy, gave a presentation at the George Washington Symposium this March at the Dey Mansion in Wayne. Jim discussed “the groundbreaking lives of New Jersey women between 1776 and 1807.”

Bobby Cole, ’07 was elevated to Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at New Jersey City University in May 2024, after serving as

Director of Athletics since 2022. At the time of his initial appointment, he was the youngest Athletic Director in the school and conference history. He remains one of the youngest directors in the NCAA at any level. Among his major accomplishments is a strategic partnership with FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL for international and professional team training sessions on NJCU’s grass pitch. He hosted various members of the U.S. Women’s National Team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, Bobby’s proudest moment has been watching the Prep basketball team win the 2024 County Championship on the NJCU court in February!

The ’10s

Andrew Ferrier, ’17 now works in Private Wealth Solutions at Blackstone. His previous employer, Rockefeller Capital Management, presented him with their Enterprise Connectivity Award in April. That award recognizes employees “whose enterprise-wide mindset and actions are making a notable difference at the firm...team players of the highest order...who seek connectivity across all businesses, collaboration among all groups, and the integration in goal setting that sets great companies apart...”The award included a $10,000 donation to a cause of the recipient’s choice, and we are grateful to report Andrew chose Prep!

David Reverendo, ’18 graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from NJIT this spring. He is working as a Civil Design Engineer with Neglia Group in Lyndhurst, NJ.

The ’20s

Mark Armstrong, ’22 signed with the Brooklyn Nets and represented the team at the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Prep Basketball’s all-time scoring leader made his presence felt in the Nets’ summer league finale, where he led the bench with 10 points, two rebounds, and five assists.

Connor Bankuti, ’22 was named a 2024 Academic All American by National Collegiate Rugby. Connor was one of nine Holy Cross rugby players selected this year—a program record.

With Carlos Pomares, ’89 as driver and his friend Steve Martino as navigator, Team Bloomfield Cruisers completed the 2024 Great Race, one of the country’s premier vintage car endurance and rally events. The time/speed/distance rally ran from Owensboro, Kentucky to Gardiner, Maine (about 2,300 miles). Cars built before 1974 are eligible, and most entries predate World War II. Carlos and Steve competed in a 1931 Ford Model A Victoria. For each daily stage, the driver and navigator are given precise instructions that detail every move down to the second. Scoring is based on precision timing, with penalties assessed for every second early or late. Team Bloomfield Cruisers utilizes the Great Race and other events to raise funds for a local scholarship and other charities.

Grant Thieroff, ’17, recently concluded his time at Stanford University, where he has been pursuing his MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. During his year at Stanford, Grant benefitted from numerous fellowships and grants to travel to Armenia, Kazakhstan, and the Czech Republic to support his Russian language studies and academic research. His coursework now complete, Grant will receive his master’s degree after studying abroad in Dushanbe, Tajikistan during the upcoming year as a Boren Fellow.

The Prep community was close in spirit even as Grant pursued his studies on the opposite side of the country. While writing his capstone thesis on the post-independence development of Kazakhstan’s oil, gas, and mining industries, Grant benefitted from the Honorable George Krol’s (’74) wisdom and generosity as he shared his insights from his own prior service as U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan. Yet another highlight of his time in Palo Alto was reuniting with his dear friend and Prep brother Theo MacMillan, ’17, who is currently pursuing a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford. Grant (left) and Theo are pictured here outside Stanford Memorial Church.

CLASS OF ’82 CELEBRATES 60TH BIRTHDAYS AT ST. ANNE’S SHRINE • A group of eight lifelong Prep brothers celebrated their 60th birthday year at Isle La Motte in Vermont. The host was Rev. Brian Cummings, SSE, who has been a resident of the state of Vermont for over 30 years. Brian has served as the Spiritual Director of St. Anne’s Shrine for most of that time. The friends enjoyed great food and drink as well as a tremendous amount of laughs proving the old stories are still funny and stand the test of time. LEFT TO RIGHT: Sean Dugan, Charlie Cresci, Ed Macchi, Brian Cummings, Ron Witkowski, Pat McGeehan, Dave Finn, and Maurice Caldarola.

RIGHT: As President of the Essex County Board of Commissioners, Carlos Pomares, ’89 (right), had the honor of swearing in fellow classmate, Michael Parlavecchio, ’89, as Assistant Town Attorney in Belleville on July 1.

Lawrence Alexander, ’99 and former Prep Principal Jack Raslowsky, ’79 celebrated July 4 together in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Lawrence has taken a position on the admissions staff of Brown University in addition to his ongoing consulting on DEI issues. Jack has begun his 16th year as president of Xavier High School.

LEFT: In April, Mike Chiorazzi, ’73 organized and hosted a Musical Desert Fest at his home in Tucson, Arizona, to showcase the musical talents of his ‘73 classmate, singer/ guitarist Mark Lonergan. Fellow ’73 alumni Joe Murray and Bob Waldron flew in for the event and joined Mark on stage for a few numbers. The concert was live-streamed on Facebook, and well attended by those unable to be there in person. “A splendid time was guaranteed for all,” Joe reports.

ABOVE: Pete Begans, ’71 organized this May gathering of the Class of ’71 in Belmar. Clockwise from bottom left: Jack Caulfield, Charlie Russell, Rick Baker, Mark Diverio, Tom McGinty, John Bradley, Ed Lennon, Gerry Chiara, Joe Petri, Mike Venditti, Bob Zito, Pete Begans, John Ciuppa, and John Fisher.

BELOW: The Class of ’58 held their annual “Summa Bash” reunion at Bar A in Belmar this July. In addition to the 30 in-person participants, Vince Grillo, ’58 reports several more classmates joined virtually via Zoom—an option he plans to continue offering at future gatherings.

ABOVE: Lou Cappadona, ’57 and Tony Jaswinski, ’57 caught up with their Saint Peter’s College (now University) classmate Frank Machuga in Boca Raton, Florida.

LEFT: What began as a celebration of 50 years since graduation is now a nearly-20year tradition: a monthly lunch for members of the Class of ’55. This St. Patrick’s Day-themed March gathering just missed the deadline for the winter issue.

ABOVE: On hand at an outdoor watch party in Bayonne for a Mets-Yankees game in July were (L-R) Gene Keohane, ’88, Ed Nestor, ’88, Prep President Michael Gomez, ’91, John Hester, ’88, John Hughes, ’88, Liam Hester, ’23, and Rob O’Connor, ’90

A Thriving Business Sprouts Among Classmates

Alfalfa, a restaurant chain currently with six locations, was co-founded in 2018 by four members of the Prep Class of 2009—Andrew Arrospide, Dan Londono, Ben Sobsey, and Dan Sobsey—who grew up together in Hoboken. After pursuing different corporate careers, they were brought back together by their desire to make a true difference in our world and in their community. A dearth of restaurants offering healthy, high quality, and balanced meals in Hoboken caused the birth of Alfalfa, and what started out as a salad stand at the Hoboken farmers market in 2018 quickly grew into a brick-and-mortar location in Hoboken in 2019. By 2021 they had expanded to Southern California, due to multiple ties to that region. In 2022, a fifth classmate, James Blauvelt, joined the Alfalfa family as their lead investor through his Blue Falcon Capital angel investment fund. Alfalfa is quickly expanding and bringing joy and balance to more and more cities across the US coasts. “At Alfalfa, we believe that joy is found in the pursuit of balance,” the company’s website explains. “We aim to inspire healthier communities through real food and joyful experiences.”

founders

Dan Londono, ’09, Dan Sobsey, ’09, Andrew Arrospide, ’09, and Ben Sobsey, ’09.

LEFT: A Class

’79 gathering in Weehawken this June. From left: Jack Raslowsky, Carl Hamill, Eric Atanda, Joe Popovich, Mike Kennedy, and Pete Rasmussen, plus honorary guests Paul Schaetzle, ’71 and Anthony Keating, ’78.

The

outside Alfalfa’s Jersey City location. Left to right:

James Blauvelt and family with Dan Londono. James joined his classmates in the business as the lead investor in 2022.

BELOW: Coach Josh Jantas, ’95 reports that more than 40 Prep Soccer alumni made it to Keenan Field for the team’s annual Alumni Game on May 19. Although some missed the group picture, it was a great day helped along by some beautiful weather.

ALUMNI

Alumni

Donald R. Rasmusson Sr., ’44

Father of Donald Rasmusson, ’72, Joseph Rasmusson, ’75†, and Peter Rasmusson, ’79; Grandfather of Daniel Rasmusson, ’06, Gregory Rasmusson, ’06, Stephen Rasmusson, ’08, Christopher Rasmusson, ’12, and Pierce Rasmusson, ’16

James P. Boyle, ’51

Anthony J. Graham, ’51

Michael E. Cozine, ’52

Brother of William Cozine, ’55; father of Mark Cozine, ’86; grandfather of Michael Cozine, ’14

Charles E. Starkey, ’52

Rev. Maynard G. Nagengast, O.S.B., ’53

Laurence T. Fell, ’54

Former Prep trustee; 2005 Legends of Prep honoree; Grandfather of Kevin Fell, ’18

Stephen M. Gresdo, ’54

George G. King Sr., ’54

Robert E. Lubanski, ’54

Daniel Robeson Sr., ’54

Rev. John P. Holian, ’55

Lawrence P. Brady Jr., ’57

Gregory G. Gannon, ’57

Anthony M. Alessi Jr., ’58

John D. Leather, ’58

Andrew J. Repka, ’58

Arthur E. “Ned” Weyman, ’58

Emanuel J. Comandatore, ’59

Father of Kenneth Comandatore, ’86 and Stephen Comandatore, ’96

Vincent A. McGrath, ’59

William R. Proskow, ’59

Dominic J. Mustello, ’60

Cousin of Gabriel Pompeo, ’62 and Charles Bruen, ’63

James C. Stokes Jr., ’62

Paul W. Miller Jr., ’65

Brother-in-law of Jack Bellini, ’70

Robert J. Frees, ’66

Richard O. Alberque, ’67

Brother of Edward Alberque, ’59; cousin of Robert Alberque, ’45†

Joseph B. Amejka, ’67

Anthony Catanzaro Jr., ’67

Daniel R. Longo, ’70

James A. Wolowitz, ’75

Drew M. Mooney, ’81

John P. Petrick, ’81

Brother of William T. Petrick, ’79† ;

Uncle of Andrew F. Petrick, ’15

Bruce M. Gatewood Jr., ’87

Keith Pidane, ’90

Brother of Kevin Pidane, ’93; uncle of Justin Pidane, ’25 and Evan Pidane, ’27

Ronald S. Gain, ’91

Ryan C. Clemente, ’02

Brother of Eric Clemente, ’04

Corey M. Davis, ’10

Family of Alumni

Donald J. Aumack

Brother of Raymond Aumack,’55 (2007 Legends of Prep honoree); uncle of Sean Aumack, ’89 and Craig Aumack, ’93

Nan T. Corcoran

Mother of Patrick Corcoran, ’87

Robert D. Cunningham

Father of Bobby Cunningham, ’22

Through August 7, 2024

Andrew T. Filak

Father of Andrew T. Filak Jr., ’70, Michael Filak, ’72, Douglas Filak, ’79, and Ronald Filak, ’84

Gerald A. Friend

Father of John J. Friend, ’98

Catherine A. Forrester

Wife of Charles Russell, ’71; sister of William Forrester, ’76†, Michael Forrester, ’83 and former Prep Trustee Virginia Bender; sister-in-law of Richard Bender, ’72, Mark Russell, ’74, and Kevin Larkin, ’82; aunt of Patrick Bender, ’04, Matthew Bender, ’09, Kevin Larkin, ’12, Conor Larkin, ’17, and Christopher Larkin, ’20

Jerzy Glazewski

Father of Chester Glazewski, ’92 and Joe Glazewski, ’94

Lorraine Graham

Mother of Timothy Graham, ’07

Christine Jablonski

Wife of Jeffrey R. Jablonski, ’88; mother of Nate Jablonski, ’21 and Eli Jablonski, ’23

John “Jack” Hallanan Jr.

Father of John J. Hallanan III, ’99

Marian Kelly

Sister of Tom Leane, ’65 (2009 Legends of Prep honoree); aunt of Tom Leane, ’04

Charles LoBello

Father of Charles LoBello Jr., ’78 and David LoBello, ’84

Sandya Magge

Wife of Ketan Jhaveri, ’92

Robert E. McEntee

Father-in-law of former Prep Trustee

James Donofrio, ’81; grandfather of Andrew Donofrio, ’11, Matthew Donofrio, ’14, and Luke Donofrio, ’20

Abner G. Merluza Sr.

Father of Robert Merluza, ’87 and Abner Merluza Jr., ’98; grandfather of Bryan Angeles, ’05

Grace Ann O’Boyle-Swab

Mother of Robert Swab, ’08 and Michael Swab, ’11†

Juan Bautista Perrupato

Father of Patrick Bocco, ’87

Laura A. Petrillo

Wife of Alfonso Petrillo, ’85; sister-inlaw of Adam Petrillo, ’93

Josephine Petrizzo

Mother of John Petrizzo, ’73

Geraldine H. Price

Mother of William Price, ’87 (Prep Trustee)

Mary Beth Savage

Wife of John E. Savage, ’57 (former Alumni Board president and 2012 Legends of Prep honoree); sister of Nicholas Micucci, ’62; daughter-in-law of Arthur Savage, 1922†

Kathleen Ann Stein

Mother of Robert Stein, ’02

Frank Viggiano

Father of David Viggiano, ’79, Anthony Viggiano, ’80, Gregory Viggiano, ’85, Douglas Viggiano, ’89, and Robert Viggiano, ’93

Family of Faculty & Staff

Mark A. Baber

Brother of Susan Baber (faculty member 1985-2004)

Weddings

Samueldo Mompoint, ’13 and Tolani Waller

April 2, 2024

Michael Wright, ’10 (Associate Director of Admissions) and Moira Harden

May 11, 2024

John Kelly, ’03 and Sara Morgan

June 1, 2024

Robert Puhak, ’16 (Faculty Member) and Marianna Muratore

July 27, 2024

Births

Victoria Worthen Lang and Brian Lang, ’04 daughter Alice Jaxon, born March 6, 2024

Mary Elizabeth and Matt Feeney, ’10 son Benjamin James, born March 8, 2024

Emily and Andrew Colaneri, ’09

daughter Loretta Marion, born March 14, 2024

Justyna and Mark Inocencio daughter Sofia Anne, born March 23, 2024

Daiane Hemerich Brennan and PJ Brennan, ’03 daughter Alice Anna, born May 19, 2024

Marissa and Dave Finn, ’07 son Nathaniel Harrison, born June 5, 2024

A Correction

The print edition of our Winter 2023-24 issue included a misspelling and an incorrect date for the wedding of

regret the error.

Here, definitively, are Caitlin McGarrity and Craig Styles, ’09, married July 22, 2023.

Alice Lang, born March 6, 2024

The May wedding of Michael Wright, ’10 and Moira Harden brought together Prep alumni ranging from the Class of 1972 up to the Class of 2015...plus Mike’s admissions colleague Trish Fitzpatrick, P’07,’16

Caitlin and Craig Styles, ’09. We

Nathaniel Finn, born March 14 and looking to get a head start on some reading. As the son and grandson of Prep alumni (Dave Finn, ’07 and Dave Finn, ’65, respectively) and the nephew and cousin of many more, he has a lot of Prep history to catch up on!

Sofia Inocencio born March 23, 2024

Loretta Colaneri born March 8, 2024

University of Alabama • University at Albany, SUNY • Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • Albright College • Alvernia University

• AMDA College of the Performing Arts, Los Angeles • American University • Anglo-American University • Arcadia University • Arizona State University, Tempe • University of Arizona • Assumption University

• Auburn University • Ball State University • Bard College • Bates College • Baylor University • Belmont Abbey College • Binghamton University • Universita Bocconi • Boston College • Boston University

• Brandeis University • University of Bridgeport • Bryant University • Bucknell University • University at Buffalo • Butler University • California Polytechnic State Institute • Caldwell University • University of California, Irvine • University of California, San Diego • University of California, Santa Barbara • University of California, Santa Cruz • Carleton College

• Carnegie Mellon University • Case Western Reserve University • Catholic University of America • University of Central Florida • Chapman University • College of Charleston • Citadel Military College of South Carolina • City College of New York (CUNY) • Clark Atlanta University

• Clark University • Clarkson University • Clemson University • Coastal Carolina University • Colgate University • University of Colorado, Boulder

• University of Colorado, Colorado Springs • University of Colorado, Denver • Concordia University • University of Connecticut • Cornell University • Creighton University • Davidson College • University of Dayton • Delaware State University • Delaware Valley University

• University of Delaware • DePaul University • DePauw University • Dickinson College • Drew University • Drexel University • Duquesne University • East Carolina University • East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania • Elon University • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University • Emerson College • Endicott College • ESADE Business School • Fairfield University • Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus • Fashion Institute of Technology • Felician University • Florida Institute of Technology • Florida International University • Florida State University • University of Florida • Fordham University • Franklin and Marshall College • The George Washington University • Georgetown University • Georgia State University • Gettysburg College • Grinnell College • Hamilton University • Hampton University • University of Hartford • High Point University • Hofstra University • College of the Holy Cross • Howard University • IE University, Madrid • University of Illinois, Chicago • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign • Illinois Wesleyan University • Indiana University, Bloomington • Indiana University, Indianapolis • University of Indianapolis • Iona University • University of Iowa • Ithaca College • Jackson State University • James Madison University • John Cabot University • Johnson & Wales University • Kean University • Kennesaw State University • King’s College

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania • Lafayette College • Le Moyne College • Lehigh University • LIM College • Long Island University, Post • Long Island University, Brooklyn • Louisiana State University

MEMBERS OF THE PREP CLASS OF 2024 EARNED ACCEPTANCES TO NEARLY 300 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE U.S. AND BEYOND. Our newest alumni have chosen to continue their journeys at institutions as diverse as their personalities, their interests, and the paths that led them to Grand & Warren in 2020. These young men are Our Pride and Our Glory, not only because of where they are going next, but because of who they will be when they get there, and who they will be for life: Prep men. The people they encountered, the experiences they shared, and the lessons they learned in these halls will be the banners that guide them, wherever they go.

• Loyola Marymount University • Loyola University Chicago • Loyola University Maryland • Loyola University New Orleans • Lynn University • University of Maine • Manhattan College • Marist College • Marquette University • University of Maryland, College Park • Marymount Manhattan College • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences • University of Massachusetts, Amherst • University of Massachusetts, Boston • McGill University • Merrimack College • Miami University, Oxford • University of Miami • Michigan State University • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor • Misericordia University • University of Mississippi • Monmouth University • Montclair State University • Moravian University • Morehouse College • Morgan State University • Muhlenberg College • University of Nebraska, Lincoln • University of New Hampshire • University of New Haven • New Jersey City University • New Jersey Institute of Technology • The College of New Jersey • New York Institute of Technology • New York University • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill • University of North Carolina, Pembroke • North Carolina State University, Raleigh • North Dakota State University • Northeastern University • Northern Arizona University • Northern Illinois University • University of Notre Dame • Nova Southeastern University • Ohio State University, Main Campus • University of Oregon • Pace University • Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus • Pennsylvania State University, Altoona • Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton • University of Pennsylvania • University of Pittsburgh • Pratt Institute • Princeton University • Providence College • Purdue University • Quinnipiac University • Ramapo College of New Jersey • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • University of Rhode Island • Rice University • University of Richmond • Rider University • Rochester Institute of Technology • University of Rochester • Roger Williams University • Rollins College • Rowan University • Rutgers University, Camden • Rutgers University, New Brunswick • Rutgers University, Newark • Sacred Heart University • University of St Andrews • Saint Joseph’s University • St. John’s University, New York • Saint Louis University • Saint Michael’s College • Saint Peter’s University • St. Thomas University • Saint Vincent College • San Diego State University • University of San Francisco • Santa Clara University • Savannah College of Art and Design • University of Scranton • Seton Hall University • Seton Hill University • Siena College • Skidmore College • University of South Carolina, Columbia • University of South Florida, Main Campus • University of Southern California • Springfield College • Stanford University • State University of New York at New Paltz • Stevens Institute of Technology • Stockton University • Stonehill College • Stony Brook University • Suffolk University • SUNY Buffalo State • Susquehanna University • Swarthmore College • Syracuse University • The University of Tampa • Temple University • The University of Tennessee, Knoxville • The New School – Parsons School of Design • Thomas Jefferson University • University of Toronto • Towson University • Trinity College • Tufts University • Tulane University of Louisiana • Union College • United States Military Academy • Ursinus College • Utica University • Vassar College • Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology • University of Vermont • Villanova University • Virginia Tech • University of Virginia •