To Whom Much is Given: Frederick Stevens, ’70

Finding Prep donors to spotlight in each issue can take some wrangling. Many supporters do not want the public recognition for something they consider so ordinary. And when one cites the Bible as the reason for not wanting any acknowledgement, then you know it’s going to be a tough sell: “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.”(Matthew 6:3)

And so it was the case with Frederick Stevens, ’70, who was less than thrilled when asked to share some thoughts on his steadfast philanthropy to Prep. His reluctance stemmed from his humility, but when informed of how his sharing might be helpful to Prep combined with a writer in a bind due to a short deadline, Fred humbly acquiesced to help someone he never met. What’s really remarkable about Fred’s philanthropy is not the amount that Fred has given over the years—although that, too, is generous. Rather, it’s the fact that Fred has not missed one single year of donating to Prep since the school began keeping digital records back in 1982! Four straight decades of giving requires more than a generous spirit; it takes consistency, good organization, and a reliable mail system!

Fred’s reasons for supporting his alma mater include not only the academic education, but also the overall lessons learned in daily school life. “We learned just by witnessing the way teachers like Mr. Charles Rooney and Mr. Robert Mulivhill conducted themselves,” Fred remembers. “They commanded so much respect.”

Fred added, “The Prefect of Discipline was Father Edward Lynch, S.J., and he gave me some sound advice on several tense occasions which I happily remember to this day.” Years later, Fred visited Fr. Lynch in his retirement home at Fordham to thank him for providing “the gutsy, simple direction that stuck with me all these years.”

Other mentors Fred appreciated included Tennis Coach Tom Podesta, ’67. “Tom was an excellent player when he was at Prep, and he taught us how to analyze the game and play percentage shots,” Fred stated. “Tom coached my senior year and we won the Hudson County Championship! Tom was a good guy and later became a good friend.”

Fred’s relationship with Prep began in the mid-1960s while he was living in Jersey City’s Sacred Heart parish, when his dad took him to a Prep football game at Roosevelt Stadium. “Timmy Hawkes, ’65—another Greenville boy—ran all over the field scoring touchdowns left and right,” Fred remembers. “That performance sealed the deal for me.” And Fred has been a stellar Prep supporter ever since, believing wholeheartedly in Prep’s mission statement of “forming young men of competence, conscience and compassion…Prep is a community of learners seeking to find God in all things.”

“Saint Peter’s Prep had—and I believe, has—a Christian value system,” Fred stated. “It’s really aspirational, but the traditions make good sense when applied and interpreted correctly. I’ve been impressed by the competence and professionalism of the administration and faculty I have met. In

We at Prep believe Fred has been beyond good to us, too. We are so grateful for his unbroken legacy of support all these years.